By Lambert Strether of Corrente.
Chicken Track of the Day
Northern Mockingbird, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. “This hen’s tune consists of mimicry of Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, and probably Tree Swallow (ultimate phrase at 0:44).”
“Knowledge.” What a beautiful title (like “Sophia,” which I ponder why the Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t select):
Like different Laysan albatross, or mōlī in Hawaiian, Knowledge returns to the identical nesting web site annually to reunite together with her mate and if ready, lay one egg.
For many years she did this with the identical companion, Akeakamai, however that hen has not been seen for a number of years. pic.twitter.com/TnWozHdKUH
— USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) December 3, 2024
In Case You May Miss…
- UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot useless in Midtown Manhattan .
- DNC race begins .
- UAW cuts off pay from putting staffers.
Politics
“So lots of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are the truth is a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles
Trump Transition
“Trump Mulls Changing Pete Hegseth With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis” [Wall Street Journal]. “President-elect Donald Trump is contemplating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a attainable substitute for Pete Hegseth, his choose to run the Pentagon, in accordance with individuals acquainted with the discussions, amid Republican senators’ issues over mounting allegations concerning the former Fox Information host’s private life. Selecting DeSantis, a 2024 GOP major rival for the presidency, would quantity to a surprising flip for Trump. However he would additionally discover within the governor a well known conservative with a service file who shares Trump’s—and Hegseth’s—view on culling what they see as ‘woke’ insurance policies within the navy. Trump allies more and more suppose Hegseth could not survive additional scrutiny, in accordance with individuals near the president-elect’s crew, which considers the following 48 hours to be essential to his destiny. DeSantis, who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, was on an earlier checklist of potential protection secretary candidates that transition officers offered to the president.” • If conservative Republicans suppose fixing wokeness will repair the Pentagon, they’re out of their minds.
* * * “Kash Patel Is Trump’s Scariest Cupboard Appointment But” [The Nation]. “Gina Haspell, Trump’s CIA director, likewise threatened to resign fairly than settle for Patel as her No. 2.” That “Bloody Gina” objects appears to me to be a powerful argument on Patel’s favor. Extra: “Patel has additionally duly minted his battles over management of the deep state right into a ebook, Authorities Gangsters, which derides the company he’s now charged with administering as ‘some of the crafty and highly effective arms of the Deep State,’ the place rampant corruption has turn out to be ‘an existential risk to our republican type of authorities.’ He has vowed, ought to he be entrusted with overseeing the company’s operations, to close down its Hoover Constructing headquarters in Washington on day one, and convert it into ‘a museum of the deep state.’…. There are after all, a battery of sound causes to assault the investigative overreaches of the FBI, which has lengthy empowered right-wing covert surveillance agendas and has by no means in its historical past had a non-Republican director.” • Certain, however the Democrats by no means acted on all these “sound causes,” and so now we’ve Patel. Sheesh.
Blurting it out:
NEWS
President-elect Trump says that Peter Navarro will function his senior counselor for commerce and manufacturing.
Navarro served 4 months in federal jail for contempt of Congress. pic.twitter.com/hdRLebVkcr
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 4, 2024
“… the Deep State, …” (see from 2014 right here).
2024 Put up Mortem
“A Requiem For Postmortems” [3 Quarks Daily]. “Donald Trump, no matter how you are feeling about him, is a gigantic political expertise—in a category with Barack Obama, Invoice Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. He has his personal form of eloquence—a mesmeric mass of malaprops, fabrications, threats, jokes, insults, syntaxial flights of lunacy—that every one work for him. Trump has been accused of blowing the canine whistle. It’s true within the conventional sense of the phrase, however Trump provides a dimension like no different politician. His followers, his public, are in a position to hear a melody the place the remainder of us hear solely noise. Kamala Harris simply couldn’t play at his stage. I’m not within the class of those that say she was a hopelessly unhealthy candidate. She wasn’t. However she was rather a lot nearer to John Kerry than Barack Obama. Presidential energy stays the facility to influence, and Harris had bother closing the sale. The argument that she would have improved if she’d had extra time, or extra of a problem in getting the nomination has some superficial enchantment, however that’s all it’s. Let’s not neglect, this is similar Kamala Harris who stalled early in 2020, and, whereas she acquired higher, it was by levels, not leaps and bounds. It’s very laborious for even the very best pitching coach to show a soft-toss specialist right into a strike-out machine. Harris didn’t have the arm for it, and she or he was dealing with somebody who did.
“The Finish of Democratic Delusions” [George Packer, The Atlantic]. The conclusion: “Just a few weeks earlier than the election, Consultant Chris Deluzio, a first-term Democrat, was campaigning door-to-door in a carefully divided district in western Pennsylvania. He’s a Navy veteran, a reasonable on cultural points, and a homegrown financial populist—crucial of companies, deep-pocketed donors, and the ideology that privileges capital over human beings and communities. At one home he spoke with a middle-aged white policeman named Mike, who had a Trump check in his entrance yard. With out budging on his selection for president, Mike ended up voting for Deluzio. On Election Evening, in a state carried by Trump, Deluzio outperformed Harris in his district, particularly within the reddest areas, and received comfortably. What does this show? Solely that ” • It has occurred to me that outlawing all digital political promoting (Web and TV) would have two salutary results: It will power candidates (and their proxies) to talk on to voters, Lincoln-Douglas fashion; and it might give paper-based, native media a assured market. (I’d additionally outlaw political polling, as IIRC some European international locations do, for some interval earlier than the election; say two months. Mix all this with handmarked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, and we would have a more healthy electoral system.
Republican Funhouse
“‘Have the abdomen’: Republican claims Dems must again Social Safety and Medicare cuts” [Raw Story]. “‘We’re gonna should have some laborious choices,’ claimed [Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA)] throughout his Fox look Tuesday. ‘We’re gonna have to herald the Democrats to speak about Social Safety, Medicaid, Medicare.’” • Ah, “laborious choices.” Arduous for whom? Extra:
It took these alleged males of the individuals per week or two to zero in in your Social Safety verify. https://t.co/XgmRJu40to
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) December 4, 2024
I can see the chin-stroking Op-Eds in The New York Occasions already. Absolutely, this time, we are able to obtain the Grand Cut price? What an thrilling means for Democrats to indicate they’re actually severe!
Democrats en déshabillé
“Why Democrats ought to choose — or go over — potential contenders for DNC chair” [Politico]. “However the race for his or her chief, scheduled for Feb. 1, and determined by 448 committee members, stays large open.” • Ken Martin, Martin O’Malley, Ben Wikler, James Skoufis, Michael Blake, and [drumroll] Rahm Emmanuel (see under). DNC = Democratic Nationwide Committee.
“DNC hopes to spotlight success forward of post-election assembly” [ABC]. “DNC Chair Jaime Harrison wrote in a grassroots memo obtained first by ABC Information that whereas Democrats fell quick within the presidential race, beefy and historic investments in down-ballot contests provide a roadmap to success. The get together was in a position to salvage 4 Senate races in states President-elect Donald Trump received and achieve Home seats regardless of headwinds on the prime of the ticket…. ‘In 2024, the DNC made strategic marketing campaign grants in each state get together for the primary time in historical past, and delivered record-breaking investments on to coordinated campaigns in each state — totaling over $264 million,” he added. “These investments yielded outcomes and underscore the significance of continued state get together funding…’” • In the meantime:
Joe Biden is an efficient & first rate man. He’s a public servant who has at all times strived and attempt to do what he believes is greatest for all.
Joe Biden can also be an incredible father.
Right now, he did what was greatest… what was proper… what was simply.
— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) December 2, 2024
Pricey Hunter!
“DNC chair frontrunner gives ‘uncomfortable’ recommendation to Democrats after crushing loss to Trump” [FOX]. “Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Get together chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair who has led the affiliation of state Democratic Get together chairs, on Tuesday unveiled a 10-point memo titled ‘A New DNC Framework.’ Martin’s memo calls on Democrats to “present up in nontraditional and uncomfortable media areas frequently, improve outreach to native messengers and trusted validators, and create our personal platforms for genuine engagement.” And: “Martin seems to be the early frontrunner within the race, and his marketing campaign says he has the backing of at the very least 100 DNC voting members, which is almost half of what a candidate must safe the chair. Additionally working and thought of aggressive is Ben Wikler, who’s chaired the state Democratic Get together in battleground Wisconsin for 5 years and is well-known by the voting members.” And at last: “A celebration insider who requested to stay nameless to talk extra freely advised Fox Information that ‘the DNC insiders/institution have important affect over this membership, so the race shall be very shut.’” • You don’t say!
“Even Centrists Agree: Ben Wikler for DNC Chair” [Politico]. The deck: “The president of Third Method endorses a MoveOn alum to steer the Democratic Get together.” • Oh.
* * * And talking of the DNC = Democrat Nationwide Conference:
I used to be a Sanders delegate at that conference, and it was sufficient for me to by no means wish to have something to do with the Democrat get together ever once more https://t.co/DEsMznznkF
— Mary Anne Cummings (@razorgrrl) December 3, 2024
* * * In the meantime, on Rahm Emanuel”
This clip is genuinely stunning. It’s like George W. Bush angrily demanding accountability for the Iraq Conflict. https://t.co/uoZ2a3YiHI
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) December 4, 2024
And:
Ezra and the New York Occasions at the moment are touting Rahm Emanuel as an anti-corruption crusader, as a result of actually nothing issues in any respect. pic.twitter.com/AYYeNfw6eE
— David Sirota (@davidsirota) December 3, 2024
“Can Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Once more?” [New York Times]. “There’s a buzz round Rahm Emanuel — the previous Invoice Clinton adviser, former Illinois congressman, former chief of workers to President Barack Obama, former mayor of Chicago — probably changing into the following head of the Democratic Nationwide Committee. The progressive left despises his pragmatism and liberal centrism…. However he additionally has a present for developing successful coalitions with tough, surprising companions.” And: “‘I feel Democrats desire dropping and being morally proper to successful,’ he says. ‘Me, I’m not into ethical victory speeches. I’m into successful.’” • What precisely about Biden’s Democrat Get together is “morally proper”? The genocide? (Anti-trust, for certain however Kamala didn’t run on that, and Emanuel doesn’t point out it. It’s painfully clear that Emanuel as nothing new to say. However he can at all times punch left!
“Rahm Emanuel is ‘not ’ in DNC chair however is way from completed with politics” [Chicago Sun-Times]. “Together with his time as America’s ambassador to Japan ending, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel stated Tuesday he has no real interest in main a Democratic comeback as his get together’s nationwide chairman, however nonetheless loves public service and isn’t completed with it. ‘I’m not within the get together. I’m focused on what the get together can do for individuals … My enjoyment [is] in what I’ve completed in public service,’ Emanuel advised the Solar-Occasions.” • No one mentions Homan Sq. when interviewing Rahm, oddly.
* * * I swore I’d surrender snark…
Yeah- new title?
THE
UnD
👇🏼(Pronounced undie— sure, the outdated torn pair that needs to be thrown away)
— Farrukh Shamsi (@farrukh_shamsi) December 3, 2024
… however “UnD” isn’t that unhealthy…..
Syndemics
“I’m in earnest — I can’t equivocate — I can’t excuse — I can’t retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison
Covid Assets, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; consists of many counties; Wastewater Scan, consists of drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, however nationwide information). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Common Ideas” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).
Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be happy to contact me on the tackle given with the vegetation. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!
Assets, United States (Native): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater stories); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur d’Alene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard); NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard); PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (wastewater); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).
Assets, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Authorities of Canada).
Assets, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).
Hat tricks to useful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).
Keep protected on the market!
“Influenza A(H5N1) shedding in air corresponds to transmissibility in mammals” [Nature]. “A rise in spillover occasions of extremely pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses to mammals suggests collection of viruses that transmit nicely in mammals.” • Oh.
TABLE 1: Day by day Covid Charts
Lambert right here: Although the Covid numbers appear low, please do not forget that the information isn’t practically pretty much as good because it as soon as was, that it lags, and that the draw back dangers of catching Covid are appreciable. For many who have developed their very own private protocols, I wouldn’t chill out them. Possibly subsequent 12 months.
| Wastewater | |
| This week[1] CDC November 25 | Final week[2] CDC (till subsequent week): |
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| Variants [3] CDC November 23 | Emergency Room Visits[4] CDC November 23 |
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| Hospitalization | |
| ★ New York[5] New York State, information December 3: | Nationwide [6] CDC November 28: |
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| Positivity | |
| Nationwide[7] Walgreens December 2: | Ohio[8] Cleveland Clinic November 23: |
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| Vacationers Information | |
| ★ Positivity[9] CDC November 11: | Variants[10] CDC November 4: |
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| Deaths | |
| Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] CDC November 2: | Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] CDC November 2: |
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LEGEND
1) ★ for charts new immediately; all others aren’t up to date.
2) For a full-size/full-resolution picture, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Home windows) on the chart thumbnail and “open picture in new tab.”
NOTES
[1] (CDC) Excellent news!
[2] (CDC) Final week’s wastewater map.
[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* nonetheless standard. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, “Ommicron,” has completed a terrific job normalizing successive waves of an infection.
[4] (ED) Down.
[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.
[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Truly improved; it’s now one of many few charts to indicate your complete course of the pandemic to the current day.
[7] (Walgreens) Down.
[8] (Cleveland) Down.
[9] (Vacationers: Positivity) Leveling out.
[10] (Vacationers: Variants). Positivity is new, however variants haven’t but been launched.
[11] Deaths low, positivity down.
[12] Deaths low, ED down.
Stats Watch
Employment Scenario: “United States ADP Employment Change” [Trading Economics]. “Personal companies within the US added 146K employees to their payrolls in November 2024, the least in three months, following a downwardly revised 184K rise in October, and barely under forecasts of 150K.”
Manufacturing: “United States Manufacturing unit Orders” [Trading Economics]. “New orders for manufactured items within the US elevated by 0.2% from the earlier month to $586.7 billion in October of 2024, in step with market expectations, after two consecutive month-to-month decreases.”
Manufacturing: “United States ISM Companies PMI” [Trading Economics]. “The ISM Companies PMI within the US declined to 52.1 in November 2024 from 56 in October and nicely under forecasts of 55.5. The studying pointed to the slowest progress within the companies sector in three months…”
The Bezzle: “Godot Isn’t Making it” [Ed Zitron, Where’s Your Ed At?]. Seize a cup of espresso, however ensure you have a spot to set it down becuase you’ll be laughing so laborious. From the peroration: “As soon as the AI bubble pops, there are not any different hyper-growth markets left, which can in flip result in a massacre in huge tech shares as they understand that they’re out of massive concepts to persuade the road that they’re going to develop eternally. There are some that can boast about ‘being proper’ right here, and sure, there may be some satisfaction in being so. Nonetheless, understanding that the results of this bubble bursting shall be large layoffs, a dearth in enterprise capital funding, and a way more fragile tech ecosystem. Generative AI is the proper monster of the Rot Economic system — a expertise that lacks any actual objective bought as if it might do actually something, one with no actual enterprise mannequin or killer app, proliferated as a result of huge tech not innovates, however fairly clones and monopolizes. Sure, this a lot cash might be this silly….” • Hopefully some shorts become profitable on this factor.
Right now’s Concern & Greed Index: 67 Greed (earlier shut: 66 Greed) [CNN]. One week in the past: 64 (Greed). (0 is Excessive Concern; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Dec 2 at 1:53:27 PM ET.
Gallery
Unsure about this one. Cubism is about cubes, or I suppose polygons. I suppose the occasional curve (as of a guitar or the sting of a desk) suits into the paradigm, however circles? Numerous them?
On Brooklyn Bridge by Albert Gleizes pic.twitter.com/R179yBYRJg
— Guggenheim Artwork Bot (@guggenheimbot) December 4, 2024
Then once more:
Colonial Cubism https://t.co/4EMTEzqJMn pic.twitter.com/2cdQw8stgO
— Stuart Davis (@StuartDavisArt) December 3, 2024
So what do I do know?
The 420
“How weed received over America” [VOX]. “In the previous few many years, marijuana’s had a serious glow-up. In 1992, lower than 1 million individuals had been utilizing it day by day or practically each day — a low level, in accordance with an evaluation of knowledge from the US Nationwide Survey on Drug Use and Well being, which started surveying Individuals within the Nineteen Seventies. Ten occasions as many individuals, in the meantime, reported consuming alcohol day by day or virtually day by day. Within the Nineteen Nineties, weed was unlawful nationally and in each state. However marijuana’s since had a serious rebrand: Three many years later, it’s authorized for leisure grownup use in practically half of the 50 states. Now, it’s even difficult alcohol for its standing as America’s favourite day by day intoxicant. In 2022, for the primary time, extra Individuals had been utilizing marijuana day by day, or close to day by day, than consuming alcohol on the identical price, in accordance with a examine by Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon College. The variety of day by day or close to day by day marijuana customers has grown from lower than 1 million in 1992 to 17.7 million in 2022; when it comes to per capita price, that’s a 15-fold improve.” • Hmm.
Healthcare
UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was simply 50 years outdated on the time of his homicide, which is much more tragic when you realize that his life expectancy as a member of the Prime 1% was 88, or 15 years longer than the life expectancy of the typical American male https://t.co/VU5Xoi7cqD
— moe tkacik (@moetkacik) December 4, 2024
“UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed exterior Manhattan Hilton lodge” [Daily Mail]. “Witnesses stated the suspected gunman was seen ready exterior the lodge earlier than the capturing, and knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from earlier than capturing him at point-blank vary.” And: “United is the largest well being insurer by market share in America. The corporate has been the topic of frequent protests by activists for allegedly systematically denying take care of sufferers. One such protest earlier this 12 months led to the arrests of 11 individuals exterior the United Healthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The corporate made headlines in February after it was subjected to a cyber-attack which price $872 million.” • Commentary:
CLAIM DENIED: Something over .22 caliber doesn’t qualify as a “preexisting situation.”
— Go/F./Your self (@BestTexanYeah) December 4, 2024
And:
As a consequence of lack of preauthorization and because the ambulance trip did not lead to admission Brian Thompson’s household faces a excessive invoice
— Watson Ladd (@WatsonLadd) December 4, 2024
“UnitedHealth makes use of AI mannequin with 90% error price to disclaim care, lawsuit alleges” [Ars Technica]. From 2023. “UnitedHealthcare, the most important medical health insurance firm within the US, is allegedly utilizing a deeply flawed AI algorithm to override docs’ judgments and wrongfully deny crucial well being protection to aged sufferers. This has resulted in sufferers being kicked out of rehabilitation packages and care amenities far too early, forcing them to empty their life financial savings to acquire wanted care that needs to be lined underneath their government-funded Medicare Benefit Plan. That’s all in accordance with a lawsuit filed this week within the US District Courtroom for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit is introduced by the estates of two deceased individuals who had been denied well being protection by UnitedHealth. The swimsuit additionally seeks class-action standing for equally located individuals, of which there could also be tens of hundreds throughout the nation. The lawsuit lands alongside an investigation by Stat Information that largely backs the lawsuit’s claims. The investigation’s findings stem from inner paperwork and communications the outlet obtained, in addition to interviews with former workers of NaviHealth, the UnitedHealth subsidiary that developed the AI algorithm known as nH Predict.”
“Anthem Insurance coverage points new edict to cap anesthesia protection at a time restrict” [FOX]. “On Nov. 14, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put out a letter that sounded the alarm that Anthem insurance coverage all of a sudden determined to cap its protection of anesthesia at an arbitrary time restrict. It’s a change that docs say isn’t primarily based on good medication…. Docs received’t be waking sufferers as much as ask them permission to proceed medically essential anesthesia, however meaning after they do get up, they might be whacked with an surprising out-of-pocket expense. ‘There are circumstances the place they received’t pay for any of the anesthesia even as much as the purpose of the place they are saying it’s justified. It’s simply absurd,’ stated [Connecticut Anesthesiologist Dr. Kenneth Stone]. … Docs cite real-world examples of surgical procedures taking longer than anticipated for causes comparable to blood loss, tough anatomy, a complication or comorbidity. Docs say medication isn’t one measurement suits all.” • Why not simply put an computerized cutoff on the fuel pumps?
I ought to have thought to make this joke myself, however so it goes:
Trump has instructed that Canada turn out to be the 51st state in our union.
Does that imply that we are able to undertake the Canadian well being care system and assure well being care to all, decrease the price of prescribed drugs, and spend 50% much less per capita on well being care?
I am all for it. https://t.co/Nwkk7lykXd
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 3, 2024
Class Warfare
“UAW Employees Strike Ignored as Labor Influencers Concern Shedding UAW’s Social Media Attain” [Payday Report]. “Yesterday, UAW staffers went on strike within the northeast in opposition to their worldwide union. Staff say that the union is relying closely on momentary workers, a observe they’ve criticized on the Huge Three, and trying to exclude them from the workers union. Some UAW organizers are saved on momentary standing for as much as three years. … Right now, the UAW introduced that they had been reducing off pay in a hardball transfer designed to intimidate staffers.” Solidarity eternally! Extra: “So, why would so many labor journalists ignore this story of hypocrisy by UAW President Shawn Fain? They want the social media engine of the UAW as a way to make their work go viral.” • This can be a must-read. It exhibits the place Payday Stories donation mannequin actually shines.
“My Smartphone Was Ruining My Life. So I Stop.” [The Free Press]. “Nonetheless, I realized that my followers’ love was contingent on excessive engagement ranges, and since the algorithm was always altering, I needed to change with it. I used to be always adapting my visible and verbal fashion to maintain up with traits. One persistently efficient technique was being susceptible. No matter what I drew, no matter how good it was, I’d get extra likes and feedback on my artwork after I paired it with an emotional disclosure, ideally of the tragic selection. In 2018, I shared a tiny drawing of a shark: ‘Crying nonstop & blowing my nostril on my shirt,’ the caption learn. ‘Thanks all for being my web household, I actually want that in my life.’ I bought extra after I wrote issues like this, presumably as a result of my followers took pity on me and needed to assist. I leaned into this impact, mining my life for ache. By the start of 2019, I had handed the 100,000-follower mark. I nonetheless wasn’t incomes above minimal wage, however I used to be promoting sufficient prints by way of my web site to name myself an artist. Extra precisely, although, I used to be an influencer.” • I don’t suppose it’s the cellphone that’s the issue.
Information of the Wired
I’m not feeling wired immediately.
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K0G writes: “Caught this a bit in the past on one of many Finger Lakes.”
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