By Lambert Strether of Corrente.
Fowl Music of the Day
Jap Meadowlark, Clark MO Household Farm, Clark, Missouri, United States. That is quick, however I feel I hear a creaking tree department!
Search for the Helpers
“Vermont’s dairy trade saved majority of milk provide throughout catastrophic storm” [VT Digger (JF)]. “E.B. Flory’s voice broke a number of occasions on Friday describing how distinctive dedication in numerous elements of the dairy provide chain saved milk losses to a minimal this week…. ‘It’s been all fingers on deck with many alternative sectors making an attempt to get this carried out,’ Flory stated. Haulers had been extremely devoted, creatively making an attempt to get to farms in no matter manner potential, she stated. ‘They’d their very own crises at residence, . Their basements had been flooded, they usually had been on the highway getting the milk,’ Flory stated. And it wasn’t simply drivers. Within the Northeast Kingdom, company milk inspector Eric Perkins determined he would assist them, going forward in his automotive to the following farm to scout the most effective path to keep away from backups and turnarounds. That initiative was so profitable that the state’s different inspectors adopted the observe within the different corners of the state. ;He stepped up and did one thing actually modern that we’ve by no means carried out earlier than, and it actually labored,’ Flory stated.” • Price fascinated about for different… catastrophes (Rebecca Solnit’s A Paradise Inbuilt Hell is de facto good on this).
Politics
“So lots of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in truth a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles
Abortion
“Voters in Ohio reject GOP-backed proposal that may have made it harder to guard abortion rights” [Associated Press]. “Ohio voters resoundingly rejected a Republican-backed measure that may have made it tougher to alter the state’s structure, establishing a fall marketing campaign that may change into the nation’s newest referendum on abortion rights for the reason that U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturned nationwide protections final 12 months. The defeat of Difficulty 1 on Tuesday retains in place a easy majority threshold for passing future constitutional amendments, slightly than the 60% supermajority that was proposed. Its supporters stated the upper bar would shield the state’s foundational doc from exterior curiosity teams.” •
2024
Time for the Countdown Clock!
* * * “Trump says he received’t signal the loyalty pledge required for first GOP debate” [NBC]. “Throughout a Newsmax interview, Trump stated that he took subject with a specific clause of the pledge that claims the candidate will help the eventual GOP nominee. ‘I wouldn’t signal the pledge,’ Trump instructed host Eric Bolling. ‘They need you to signal a pledge, however I can identify three or 4 those who I wouldn’t help for president. So proper there there’s an issue.’ Trump declined to call the candidates he wouldn’t help, however criticized each former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie whom he stated would each ‘ask me nasty questions.’ The 2 former governors have been sharp critics of Trump, the GOP entrance runner within the polls.” • A celebration that requires loyalty oaths. Hmm.
“Trump Performs Hamlet Forward of the Republican Main Debate” [Karl Rove (!), Wall Street Journal]. “To debate, or to not debate, that’s the query. Donald Trump is asking, just like the prince of Denmark, ‘Whether or not ’tis nobler within the thoughts to endure / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ by declining to attend the Aug. 23 GOP presidential major debate in Milwaukee or to indicate as much as “”take arms in opposition to a sea of troubles / And by opposing finish them.””… If I had been a betting man, I’d say Mr. Trump exhibits up. He merely have to be the focus. However nobody is aware of now, most likely together with Mr. Trump. He could determine on the literal final hour.” • Here’s the entire soliloqy; I’m unsure Rove learn throughout. I don’t see “thus conscience does make cowards of us all” as being prime of thoughts for Trump…
“After Trump Interview, Newsmax Host Reads Disclaimer Acknowledging 2020 Election Outcomes as ‘Authorized and Closing’” [The Messenger]. • This jogs my memory (hear me out) of Napoleon’s Old Guard at the Battle of Waterloo: ” Amazingly, Napoleon’s immortals had been thrown again within the eleventh hour and, for the primary time ever, fled the sector. “‘The Guard is retreating,’ strange French troopers cried on the unbelievable spectacle. ‘Each man for himself!’” I can’t convey John Keegan’s The Face of Battle at hand, however in anatomizing Waterloo, he makes the purpose that when troops break, they break from the rear. That’s, “the sharp finish of the spear” just isn’t the place to observe. Have a look at the troops within the rear, not but dedicated to battle. Not Trump loyalists on the tip; these not engaged, or solely weekly engaged.
“Trump’s Authorized Group Is Enmeshed in a Tangle of Doable Conflicts” [New York Times]. “The authorized group that Mr. Trump has assembled to symbolize him within the twin prosecutions by the particular counsel, Jack Smith, is marked by a tangled net of potential conflicts and overlapping pursuits — a lot in order that Mr. Smith’s workplace has began asking questions. Whereas it isn’t unusual for legal professionals in complicated issues — like giant mob instances or monetary inquiries — to put on many hats or to play competing roles, the Gordian knot of intertwined imperatives within the Trump investigations is especially intricate and insular. A few of the legal professionals concerned within the instances are representing each charged defendants and uncharged witnesses. At the least one may finally change into a defendant, and one other may find yourself as a witness in a single case and Mr. Trump’s defender in a unique one. All of that sits atop one other thorny truth: Most of the legal professionals are being paid by Save America PAC, Mr. Trump’s political motion committee, which has itself been underneath authorities scrutiny for months. A few of the witnesses these legal professionals symbolize work for the Trump Group, Mr. Trump’s firm, however their authorized protection has not been organized by the corporate, however slightly by Mr. Trump’s personal authorized group, an individual with information of the matter stated.” • FlexNet Lawfare™? I imply, it’s not as if Smith, et al., should not additionally “a tangled net of potential conflicts and overlapping pursuits.” That goes for everybody and all people within the Beltway!
* * * “One other Marketing campaign Shake-up Not a Good Signal for DeSantis’” [Ed Kilgore, New York Magazine]. “it’s not nice information for the Florida governor that he’s simply undertaken the third spherical of main staffing adjustments in his marketing campaign in lower than a month…. Like [outgoing campaign manager Generra Peck], [his new campaign manager, James Uthmeier] is a 30-something with zero expertise in nationwide political campaigns.” • Plus they already labored for DeSantis, so no new blood.
* * * “Tim Scott: It’s ‘ridiculous’ to speak about local weather over border emergency” [The Hill]. “During an interview on ‘Fox & Friends,’ Scott, who’s working for the GOP presidential nomination, was requested about President Biden’s latest interview with The Climate Channel, through which the president stated that ‘successfully talking,’ [whatever that means] he already declared a nationwide emergency regarding local weather change. Fox Information’s Brian Kilmeade [serving up a softball] requested Scott why he believed Biden, who did the interview from the Grand Canyon the place he had established a brand new nationwide monument, didn’t as an alternative do the interview close to the southern border. Scott visited the southern border at Yuma, Ariz., final week. Calling it ‘a dereliction of responsibility,”” Scott [deftly fielded the question and] continued, ‘Let’s be clear about it. President Biden has failed this nation, particularly in declaring the precise emergency, which is an emergency at our border. Fentanyl has killed 70,000 Individuals; he ought to reinstate Title 42 for a well being emergency referred to as fentanyl. It’s killing Individuals.’” • Pink meat is dangerous for the local weather.
* * * “{Dollars} to Eating: Financial institution data present proximity of Joe Biden conferences to son’s overseas funds” [Just the News]. “Within the weeks earlier than she dined with Joe Biden at a swanky Washington D.C. restaurant in April 2014, Russian oligarch Yelena Baturina deposited $3.5 million right into a checking account tied to Hunter Biden’s companies and in addition dedicated to spend money on a New York Metropolis actual property mission with Biden’s companions, financial institution data collected by Congress and emails among the many youthful Biden’s enterprise companions present. ‘Any information on this?’ Hunter Biden emailed his accomplice Devon Archer on April 13, 2014, in search of an replace on an actual property deal within the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Metropolis….. Archer, who lately testified to Congress, wrote again the longer term presidential son that the Russian businesswoman and spouse of former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov was dedicated to the mission. “Vendor is flaking. Requested for 90 days. We made a $41mm supply. Yelena confirmed inexperienced mild to fund deposit,”” he replied. The emails and financial institution data clarify that Hunter Biden’s potential to supply overseas suitors entry to his father, then the vp, significantly got here at occasions when offers had been pending. The sample, in accordance with proof made public Wednesday by the Home Oversight Committee, was unmistakable. ‘It’s an enormous concern,’ Home Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer instructed the Simply the Information, No Noise tv present Wednesday evening. ‘. With these funds, Joe Biden was all the time inside vary.’ ‘Each single individual that wired the Bidens tens of tens of millions of {dollars} from all over the world had some kind of communication with Joe Biden. Joe Biden is the model. That’s what Devon Archer testified underneath oath. Joe Biden is the model, and his household was promoting the model,’ Comer added. The sample seen within the Baturina anecdote was repeated for different overseas shoppers in Kazakhstan and Ukraine as properly, the committee said.” • Explains the timeline presentation, fairly an enchancment over yarn diagrams.
“GOP memo argues direct funds to President Biden not wanted to indicate corruption” [The Hill]. • They’re right; see Zephyr Teachout at NC here.
“Does Ukraine Have Kompromat on Joe Biden?” [Max Abrahms, Newsweek]. “And what was this kompromat that Russia had over Trump, per our august media establishments? Putin apparently had intercourse tapes of Trump with prostitutes peeing on him. It appears so ridiculous that anybody—not to mention our most august media establishments—believed this in hindsight. We now know that the pee tape stemmed from Hillary Clinton’s marketing campaign. However the kompromat conspiracy idea was important for the [lying yet undicted] Democrats’ narrative that Russia possessed boundless affect over the president…. It’s a way more affordable query about Joe Biden than it ever was when posed as a certainty about Trump. In any case, Hunter Biden was paid many tens of millions of {dollars} by the shady Ukrainian power agency Burisma, regardless of having no {qualifications} for the job that anybody may level to past being the son of the Vice President on the time—which proved lucky when his father fired the overall prosecutor of Ukraine, Viktor Shokin, who had begun an investigation into the Burisma-Hunter gravy prepare.” • I’m afraid a misplaced the path with Shokin. I would like a timeline!
* * * “Pritzker’s Fact Police: How the Illinois Governor Made the Case In opposition to the Trump Indictment” [Jonathan Turley]. “Lately, a federal choose accurately dominated {that a} new Illinois regulation concentrating on pro-life facilities is ‘painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Modification.’ The Misleading Practices of Restricted Companies Being pregnant Facilities Act would have allowed the state to crackdown on facilities for what it considers ‘misleading ways’ to affect pregnant ladies to have their infants.. Essentially the most regarding assertion got here from Pritzker himself. In a CNN interview… Pritzker declared that the regulation is ‘identical to the case in opposition to President Trump. .’ … In 2012, within the United States v. Alvarez determination, the Supreme Courtroom held 6-3 that it’s unconstitutional to criminalize lies in a case involving a politician who lied about navy decorations. Notably, the Courtroom’s warning about criminalizing false or deceptive speech matches the Illinois regulation and Pritzker to a tee. The Courtroom stated that such legal guidelines ‘would give authorities a broad censorial energy unprecedented on this Courtroom’s instances or in our constitutional custom. The mere potential for the train of that energy casts a chill, a chill the First Modification can’t allow if free speech, thought, and discourse are to stay a basis of our freedom.’” • One may view this as a sign from Pritzker to the Censorship Industrial Complicated that he’s totally on board.
“‘Like a boxing match’: Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom embrace ‘danger’ in shock debate” [NBC]. “As political strategists on each side of the aisle instructed NBC Information, DeSantis’ acceptance was not coming from a spot of power; he agreed to the problem as his ballot numbers have been trailing off and he seeks to reset his marketing campaign. What’s extra, the one-on-one showdown carries appreciable danger for the Florida governor, these strategists stated, ought to he stumble or falter within the setting. With Newsom not working for president, DeSantis is taking time to confront an opponent who isn’t really an opponent for 2024. However some strategists stated this nonetheless is a danger value taking for DeSantis, in no small half due to the curiosity a California vs. Florida contest may attract prime time.”
Democrats en Déshabillé
Affected person readers, plainly persons are really studying the back-dated submit! However I’ve not up to date it, and there are a lot of updates. So I should try this. –lambert
I’ve moved my standing remarks on the Democrat Get together (“the Democrat Get together is a rotting corpse that may’t bury itself”) to a separate, back-dated post, to which I’ll periodically add materials, summarizing the addition right here in a “reside” Water Cooler. (Hopefully, some Bourdieu.) It seems that defining the Democrat Get together is, in truth, a tough drawback. I do suppose the paragraph that follows is on level all the best way again to 2016, if not earlier than:
The Democrat Get together is the political expression of the category energy of PMC, their base (lucidly defined by Thomas Frank in Hear, Liberal!). ; if the Democrat Get together didn’t exist, the PMC must invent it. . (“PMC” modulo “class expatriates,” in fact.) Second, all of the working elements of the Get together reinforce one another. Go away apart characterizing the relationships between components of the Get together (ka-ching, however not totally) these components comprise a community — a Flex Internet? An iron octagon? — of funders, distributors, apparatchiks, electeds, NGOs, and miscellaneous mercenaries, with property within the press and the intelligence group.
Observe, in fact, that the category energy of the PMC each expresses and is proscribed by different lessons; oligarchs and American gentry (see ‘industrial mannequin’ of Ferguson, Jorgensen, and Jie) and the working class spring to thoughts. Suck up, kick down.
* * * “It Is Fairly Doubtless That Some Of Our Faves Will Be Implicated” [Eschaton]. “I really don’t suppose a lot of curiosity will come out of the marketing campaign finance portion of the SBF prosecution, however it’s *potential* and a few individuals may be nervous.”
“The Secret Hand Behind the Girls Who Stood by Cuomo? His Sister” [New York Times]. “The menacing posts started cropping up on Twitter final September simply hours after a former aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York sued him over sexual harassment claims. The tweets attacked the aide, Charlotte Bennett, in starkly private phrases. ‘Your life will likely be dissected like a frog in a HS science class,’ learn one of the vital threatening, which additionally featured a photograph of Ms. Bennett dancing at a bar in lingerie. The submit was a part of a thread written by Anna Vavare, a pacesetter of a small however devoted group of principally older ladies who banded collectively on-line to defend Mr. Cuomo from a cascade of sexual misconduct claims that led to his resignation in August 2021. Nevertheless it seems, her tweets had secretly been ordered up by somebody even nearer to the previous governor’s trigger: Madeline Cuomo, his sister…. Removed from an remoted episode, the unvarnished alternate is a part of a trove of greater than 4,000 textual content messages, emails and voice memos between leaders of the group and Ms. Cuomo shared with The Instances this summer time.” Good individuals. Additionally unhappy: ‘She didn’t need to be my girlfriend — she was utilizing us.’”
“AIPAC steps up efforts to oust anti-Israel lawmakers” [Jewish Insider]. “In latest months, AIPAC has stepped up its recruitment efforts to problem Democratic incumbents who’ve clashed with the pro-Israel institution, pushing the activist left right into a defensive crouch because it prepares for a doubtlessly bruising major cycle. The bipartisan pro-Israel group has been actively courting a slate of Home candidates to oppose marquee members of the ‘Squad,’ together with Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), in accordance with a number of sources acquainted with AIPAC’s outreach who spoke with Jewish Insider on Tuesday. The recruitment efforts have come amid a shock shake-up at a number one progressive group, Justice Democrats, which laid off practically half of its workers final month. The embattled group has claimed a number of main victories over pro-Israel Democrats in earlier primaries, however has in any other case struggled to lift cash after an costly election cycle through which a number of progressive candidates had been defeated by institution Democrats. Whereas AIPAC quietly opposed Omar final cycle by contributing $350,000 to a separate group created to spice up a prime Democratic major challenger, its newest efforts level to a brand new and doubtlessly extra expansive route for the group, whose affiliated tremendous PAC, launched in late 2021, has largely engaged in open-seat races slightly than difficult incumbents.” • Election meddling, absolutely.
“Each expelled members of ‘Tennessee Three’ win again their state Home seats” [Associated Press]. “Tennessee Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, who turned Democratic heroes as members of the ‘Tennessee Three,’ reclaimed their legislative seats Thursday after they had been expelled for involvement in a gun management protest on the Home ground. The younger Black lawmakers had been reinstated by native officers after being booted from the GOP-dominated Statehouse, however solely on an interim foundation. They superior Thursday by means of a particular election to completely reclaim their positions.” • At Federal degree, may such a protest have been constructed as “influencing… an official continuing”? I’m guessing sure, relying.
“NYC shutters public well being library that was vital useful resource throughout COVID as a consequence of finances cuts” [New York Daily News]. “The William Hallock Park Memorial Public Health Library, situated in Lengthy Island Metropolis, Queens, has for many years supplied division epidemiologists and the general public with entry to peer-reviewed medical journals, databases, books and different analysis supplies, on web site and electronically in addition to by way of loans. The library is called after famend bacteriologist William Hallock Park, who was credited with creating vaccines to deal with and stop diphtheria within the early 1900s. However the division knowledgeable workers this summer time that it’s shuttering the library as a consequence of cost-saving directives ordered by Mayor Adams earlier within the 12 months.” • Cop-loving Democrats…
Realignment and Legitimacy
“The Senile State” [Michael Lind, Tablet]. “The issue of gerontocracy is straightforward to magnify, nevertheless, as a result of Biden and Trump should not typical of latest presidents. At their inaugurations, Obama was 47, George W. Bush 54, and Invoice Clinton 46. And the U.S. Home of Representatives is getting youthful. Whereas the median age in right now’s Senate is larger than ever at 55.3 years, the median age of members of the present 118th Congress is 57.9 years, down from the 117th’s median of 58.9. Furthermore, aged presidents, senators, and members of the Home don’t have aged staffs. Within the present Congress, the typical age of Senate staffers is 33 and the typical age of Home staffers is 32. Aged Supreme Courtroom justices have clerks simply out of regulation faculty to do analysis and draft opinions. A lot of the particular work of presidency in Washington in each department is finished by women and men between their 20s and their 60s…. Profitable politicians merely don’t have as a lot time to learn broadly and take into account alternate viewpoints as they did once they had been faculty college students or younger activists. The day-to-day work of campaigning and governing takes up most of their time and power, and there’s little time to replicate on whether or not they need to modify their primary assumptions—one thing few individuals do in any stroll of life. The issue, then, is that within the regular course of politics these whose political worldview froze once they had been 26 or 30 lastly ascend to a major place of energy solely on the age of fifty or 60 or 70. Now that they’re ready to really affect coverage, they naturally are inclined to attempt to perform a program that they had been dedicated to of their youth, even if speedy technological or financial or social change could have already rendered lots of their assumptions out of date…. Like several interpretation of politics, generational evaluation will be taken too far [no kidding]. My objective right here is to emphasise the mismatch of insurance policies fitted to one period by a politician who involves energy a technology later.” • One funeral at a time…
“Bananamerica: Unity Index Hits 29-Month Low Amid Biden’s Lawfare Turmoil” [TIPP Insights]. “In step with its modern custom, TechnoMetrica developed the Unity Index, a barometer of the nation’s unity primarily based on the query: Basically, would you say america is Very United, Considerably United, Considerably Divided, or Very Divided? It’s the solely goal measure that tracks unity in america.” • Helpful chart:
I feel unity is kinda like sincerity: In the event you pretend it, you’ve bought it made!
#COVID19
“I’m in earnest — I cannot equivocate — I cannot excuse — I cannot retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison
Sources, 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). “Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).
Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be at liberty to contact me on the handle given with the vegetation. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!
Sources, 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 reports); 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 (dashboard); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).
Sources, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Government of Canada).
Sources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).
Hat tricks to useful readers: 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, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Utah, Bob White (3).
Keep secure on the market!
Maskstravaganza
“Actual Madrid Gamers Prepare in Futuristic Masks Forward of New Season” [Sports Brief]:
I wish to see one thing slightly extra trend ahead; then once more, that is Actual Madrid, so maybe we’re seeing trend ahead outlined.
A fanfest will get it proper, and CDC’s “disease detectives” got it wrong. Go determine:
I’ll say my Flomask was not solely comfy to put on all day at fanfest however whilst somebody immunocompromised I got here away from fanfest + journey with no covid and even conflu.
Not sponsored however these masks kinda slap for the way low-cost they’re lol.
— Cinna (@CinnaVici) August 8, 2023
Alert reader JF (additionally) writes:
I lately discovered a dentist with strict COVID protections in place. This was my favourite line from their web site:
N95 & ASTM Stage 3 Masks
The attractive smiles of our scientific group – dentists, hygienists, and assistants – will likely be protected behind double-masking always.
I did a search. Scorching rattling. A number of locations, so some dentists are studying the identical sources:
Encouraging!
Superstar Watch
“Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger Pauses Present and Says His Throat Feels ‘Completely Destroyed’: ‘I Can’t Do This’ [People]. • Why? ‘Tis a thriller!
In the meantime, one other superstar, Andy Slavitt:
I truthfully want this was satire however I can’t even write these things anymore. He begins speaking at 1:36.
That is textbook dysphonia, probably covid. This sound signifies his vocal folds should not adducting properly. Whereas speaking about how Covid isn’t surging is an issue. W/ Covid voice https://t.co/wFEJiqBhA7
— ✨Kristennnn🎶💫 (@singingsox) August 9, 2023
I listened by means of the cringey advertisements, and sure, Slavitt’s voice sounds “completely destroyed.” No matter may it’s? (He’s interviewing Mandy Cohen, who is way too downy a fowl to present him a quote like Rochelle Walensky’s “scarlet letter.” Poor Rochelle, in over her head from the start.
Testing and Monitoring
“Why monitoring COVID reinfections has waned whilst extra individuals turned sick” [ABC]. “‘There’s been an actual want by everybody to return to a state of regular and so so long as we’re closely monitoring and reporting COVID numbers, issues should not feeling regular,’ Dr. Ashley Drews, Houston Methodist medical director of an infection prevention and management, instructed ABC Information.” • Oh. For some definition of “actual,” for some definition of “everybody,” and for some definition of “regular” (and “feeling,” if it involves that).
Sequelae
“Lengthy covid has derailed my life. Make no mistake: It may yours, too” [WaPo]. “I’ve watched in horror as our public establishments have turned their again on containment. The virus remains to be very a lot with us, however the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has stopped reporting on instances. States have shut down testing. Companies, slightly than enhancing air flow of their buildings, have pushed for defend legal guidelines indemnifying them in opposition to lawsuits. Regardless of the crystal-clear science on the injury covid-19 does to our our bodies, medical settings have dropped masks necessities, so sufferers now gamble their well being to obtain care. These of us who’re high-risk or immunocompromised, or who simply don’t need to roll the cube on loss of life and distress, haven’t solely been left behind — we’re being actively mocked and pathologized. I’ve personally been ridiculed, heckled and coughed on for carrying my N95. Acquaintances who had been understanding at first are actually irritated, even offended. One demanded: How lengthy are you going to do that? As if making an attempt to keep away from covid was an assault on her, slightly than an try to preserve myself from sliding additional into an abyss that threatens to swallow my household. The US has all the time been a horrible place to be sick and disabled. Ableism is baked into our myths of bootstrapping and self-reliance, through which well being is advantage and sickness is degeneracy. It’s long gone time for a bedrock shift, for all of us.” • An absolute ethical collapse, at a civilizational degree.
“One thing Terrible”
Lambert right here: I’m getting the sensation that the “One thing Terrible” could be a sawtooth sample — variant after variant — that averages out to a completely excessive plateau. A number of exceptionally nasty sequelae, more than likely deriving from immune dysregulation (says this layperson). To which we’d add mind injury, together with persona adjustments therefrom.
* * *
Elite Maleficence
The place are the lawsuits:
Took grandma to a vascular physician right now who didn’t put on a masks and sneezed within the room with us, we each wore N95s.
Me: Are you planning to put on a masks since instances are rising?
Doc: I don’t like carrying masks.
Me: COVID causes vascular points.
Doc: Sure, it does.
Me: 🤦🏻♂️
— Joaquín Beltrán (@joaquinlife) August 10, 2023
Case Information
NOT UPDATED From BioBot wastewater data, August 7:
Lambert right here: We’ve now surpassed the second peak (#2), of the earlier Covid pandemic an infection peaks. I wish to congratulate the Biden administration and the general public well being institution, the CDC particularly, for this huge and unprecedented achievement. And a tip of the ol’ Water Cooler hat to the Nice Barrington goons, whose insurance policies have been adopted so assiduously! I ponder which of the earlier peaks (#1, #3, or #4) we’ll surpass subsequent. A curious truth: All of Biden’s peaks are all larger than Trump’s peaks. Reveals you what public well being can do when it’s firing on all eight cylinders! Musical interlude.
Regional information:
Curiously, the upswing begins earlier than July 4, which neither accelerates nor retards it.
Regional variant information:
EG.5 (the orange pie slice) nonetheless appears evenly distributed.
Variants
NOT UPDATED From CDC, August 5:
From CDC, July 22:
Lambert right here: Undecided what to make of this. I’m used to seeing a brand new variant take down the beforehand dominant variant. Right here it seems to be like we have now a “tag group,” all working collectively to chop XBB.1.5 all the way down to measurement. I positive hope the volunteers doing Pangolin, on which this chart depends, don’t all transfer on the inexperienced fields and pastures new (or have their entry to services reduce by directors of ailing intent).
CDC: “As of Could 11, genomic surveillance information will likely be reported biweekly, primarily based on the supply of optimistic take a look at specimens.” “Biweeekly: 1. occurring each two weeks. 2. occurring twice every week; semiweekly.” Seems to be like CDC has chosen sense #1. In essence, they’re telling us variants are nothing to fret about. Time will inform.
Covid Emergency Room Visits
From CDC NCIRD Surveillance, August 5:
Lambert right here: Improve is much more distinct. (The black line is “mixed”, however it’s simple to see that Covid, the purple line, is driving every thing.)
NOTE “Charts and information supplied by CDC, updates Wednesday by 8am. For the previous 12 months, utilizing a rolling 52-week interval.” So not your entire pandemic, FFS (the implicit message right here being that Covid is “identical to the flu,” which is why the seasonal “rolling 52-week interval” is acceptable for eachMR SUBLIMINAL I hate these individuals a lot. Discover additionally that this chart exhibits, no less than for its time interval, that Covid is not seasonal, though CDC is making an attempt to get us to imagine that it’s, presumably to allow them to piggyback on the present institutional equipment for injections.
Positivity
NOT UPDATED From Walgreens, August 7:
3.4%. Curiously, persons are citing to this, too, in addition to Biobot. Vertical-ish, although absolutely the numbers are nonetheless very small relative to June 2022, say. Curiously, these don’t correlate with the regional figures for wastewater. (It could be fascinating to survey this inhabitants typically; these are individuals who, regardless of a tsunami of official propaganda and massive peer stress, went and bought examined anyhow.)
NOT UPDATED From CDC, July 17:
Lambert right here: That is the CDC’s “Traveler-Based mostly Genomic Surveillance” information. They are saying “maps,” however I don’t see one….
Deaths
Iowa COVID-19 Tracker, August 9:
Lambert right here: The WHO information is nugatory, so I changed it with the Iowa Covid Information Tracker. Their technique: “These information have been sourced, by way of the API from the CDC: https://information.cdc.gov/NCHS/Circumstances-Contributing-to-COVID-19-Deaths-by-Stat/hk9y-quqm. This visualization updates on Wednesday evenings. Information are provisional and are adjusted weekly by the CDC.” I can’t appear to get a pop-up that exhibits a complete of the three causes (prime proper). Readers?
Total: 1,170,864 – 1,170,792 = 72 (72 * 365 = 26,280 deaths per 12 months, right now’s YouGenicist™ quantity for “dwelling with” Covid (fairly a bit larger than the minimizers would really like, although they’ll discuss themselves into something. If the YouGenicist™ metric retains chugging alongside like this, I may must determine that is what the powers-that-be take into account “mission completed” for this explicit tranche of loss of life and illness).
• I knew I used to be proper to not use CDC charts:
The CDC hasn’t up to date deaths in two months, and there’s a 6-month backlog. Why?
As faculties reopen, we will likely be actively prevented from listening to in regards to the imminent threats to our collective survival, as politics & the economic system come first. We’re all in peril. https://t.co/CyP1AvoCdO
— Laura Miers (@LauraMiers) August 9, 2023
Extra Deaths
NOT UPDATED The Economist, August 6:
Lambert right here: Now not up to date day by day. Odd when it was, odd when it stopped. Based on a machine-learning model. (The CDC has an extra estimate too, however because it ran eternally with a large typo within the Legend, I figured no person was actually taking a look at it, so I bought rid it. )
Stats Watch
Employment Scenario: “United States Preliminary Jobless Claims” [Trading Economics]. “The variety of Individuals submitting for unemployment advantages jumped by 21,000 from the prior week to 248,000 on the week ending August fifth, the best in a single month, sharply above expectations of 230,000. Regardless of remaining at a traditionally low degree, the determine recommended that the US labor market is beginning to soften from stubbornly tight ranges for the reason that begin of the 12 months, loosely aligning with latest bets that the Federal Reserve could chorus from tightening financial coverage additional this 12 months.”=
Inflation: “United States Inflation Fee” [Trading Economics]. “Annual inflation price within the US accelerated to three.2% in July 2023 from 3% in June, however under forecasts of three.3%. It marks a halt within the 12 consecutive months of declines, as a consequence of base results.”
The Bezzle: “WeWork Faucets Administrators With Chapter Chops After Board Resignations” [Wall Street Journal]. “WeWork reshuffled its board after the resignation of three administrators who disagreed with its governance and technique, changing them with company chapter specialists because it solid doubt on its potential to outlive turmoil within the office-building market.” • Oh.
Tech: “Amazon Prime Air loses two key operations leaders, as drone supply struggles proceed” [CNBC]. “Amazon has misplaced two executives key to the corporate’s drone supply operations, the newest setback for an aspirational program that’s required hefty funding however has skilled scant success…. The departures come at a vital juncture for Prime Air, which has struggled to transition into a totally operational service since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos predicted in 2013 that inside 5 years Amazon would ship by drone packages weighing 5 kilos or much less to clients’ doorsteps… However issues for Prime Air predated the financial downturn. The drone unit has been hamstrung by regulatory restrictions that restrict the place deliveries will be made…. There’s additionally been a string of crashes.” • That’s a rattling disgrace.
As we speak’s Worry & Greed Index: 64 Greed (earlier shut: 67 Greed) [CNN]. One week in the past: 74 (Greed). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Aug 10 at 1:43 PM ET.
Our Famously Free Press
“All of the Information the CIA Sees Match to Print” [David Talbot, The Kennedy Beacon]. “John Kiriakou appeared up from his desk at CIA headquarters and was shocked to see The Washington Publish investigative reporter, Bob Woodward, strolling by means of the safe space with out an company escort. On one other event, Kiriakou—who rose on the CIA to change into govt assistant to the deputy in control of operations, the spy company’s darkish actions—noticed CNN host Wolf Blitzer wandering unattended by means of the identical space, regardless of the CIA’s ban on speaking with the media.” • As I urged:
Clearly, we have now moved very removed from the type of Constitutional authorities envisioned by the Framers. Right here is Madison on the particularities of workplace in Federalist 51:
However the nice safety in opposition to a gradual focus of the a number of powers in the identical division, consists in giving to those that administer every division the mandatory constitutional means and private motives to withstand encroachments of the others. The availability for protection should on this, as in all different instances, be made commensurate to the hazard of assault. Ambition have to be made to counteract ambition. . It might be a mirrored image on human nature, that such gadgets needs to be obligatory to regulate the abuses of presidency. However what’s authorities itself, however the best of all reflections on human nature? If males had been angels, no authorities can be obligatory. If angels had been to control males, neither exterior nor inner controls on authorities can be obligatory. In framing a authorities which is to be administered by males over males, the nice problem lies on this: you have to first allow the federal government to regulate the ruled; and within the subsequent place oblige it to regulate itself.
(By “”place,”” Madison means sense 9, “”a job, submit, or workplace,”” with “”individuals in excessive locations”” being the utilization instance.) For instance, it needs to be not merely fallacious, however not in any FBI agent’s curiosity to be censoring home communications on Twitter; however clearly that’s not occurring. With the particularities of workplace dissolved, all people will be on the identical “”group,”” all people can comply with the identical “”leaders,”” whatever the “”division”” they belong to (“”absolutely the fusion of state, company, and civil society organizations””). Beneath Fuherprinzip, each place turns into the identical place.
Clearly, then, Woodward, Blitzer, and the spooks all see themselves as being in the identical “place,” not totally different “locations.” They’re all on the identical group; all of the “departments” are merged into one… Blob. RFK’s substack, BTW.
Guillotine Watch
“The Gradations of @ssholery: A Jerks Week Explainer” [The Ringer]. • In precept I’m all for classification schemes. However “Billionaire” appears to be lacking.
Class Warfare
“What Tech Employees Need to Do Subsequent: AI and Cloud Computing” [Morning Consult]. “In a 12 months of huge unrest for tech employees, the practically quarter-million layoffs within the trade and the speedy development of the substitute intelligence sector are coloring tech employees’ skilled priorities and pursuits. A brand new Morning Seek the advice of survey of a whole bunch of employees in technical roles — together with software program engineers, software program product managers, information scientists, IT specialists and others — reveals the areas through which these people say they need to work, and what they’re in search of of their subsequent employer. Particularly, many are on the lookout for job safety and alternatives in AI or cloud computing.” • Clouds of bullshit….
Information of the Wired
Information you should utilize:
Any time Amazon mark my supply as “given to proprietor” once they go away it exterior, I report it as misplaced and get a refund whereas conserving the merchandise
— Fesshole 🧻 (@fesshole) August 4, 2023
Not that I like to recommend this, in fact.
On the chestnut tree:
Mountain individuals referred to as chestnut “the most effective wooden God ever growed.” They ate its fruit, uncooked, boiled, and baked. As furnishings chestnut might be rubbed to shine like a coon’s eye in a full moon. Their straight grained trunks turned sturdy cabins and lengthy lived rail fences. Shingles… pic.twitter.com/G1GffHMWBj
— Thomas Reis (@peakaustria) August 8, 2023
For extra on chestnuts, see NC here.
Contact data for vegetation: Readers, be at liberty to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) learn the way to ship me a verify in case you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to learn the way to ship me pictures of vegetation. Greens are advantageous! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary vegetation! If you would like your deal with to seem as a credit score, please place it in the beginning of your mail in parentheses: (thus). In any other case, I’ll anonymize through the use of your initials. See the earlier Water Cooler (with plant) here. From Into_The_Abyss:
Into_The_Abyss writes: “A pleasant shock whereas biking the opposite evening, solely see it bloom every year.”
Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not lined by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you happen to see a hyperlink you particularly like, or an merchandise you wouldn’t see wherever else, please don’t hesitate to precise your appreciation in tangible kind. Bear in mind, a tip jar is for tipping! Common optimistic suggestions each makes me really feel good and lets me know I’m heading in the right direction with protection. After I get no donations for 5 or ten days I get frightened. Extra tangibly, a continuing trickle of donations helps me with bills, and I think about that trickle when setting fundraising targets:
Right here is the display that may seem, which I’ve helpfully annotated:
In the event you hate PayPal, you’ll be able to e-mail me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I offers you instructions on learn how to ship a verify. Thanks!