2:00PM Water Cooler 8/4/2023 | bare capitalism

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Fowl Music of the Day

Western Meadowlark, Fred Hervey WTP (FWTX 4), El Paso, Texas, United States. “Music.”

Politics

“So most of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in reality a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

2024

Time for the Countdown Clock!

* * *

“Is the Trump indictment constitutionally official?” [The Hill]. “If there isn’t any jurisdiction, there’s no case. The query of jurisdiction is a query of the authority of the courtroom wherein the case is delivered to even entertain it. Importantly, the jurisdictional evaluation is regardless of the prison culpability of the defendant. The query of prison jurisdiction in a federal courtroom for a case involving acts of a then-sitting president is legally a query of first impression. It has lengthy been thought that the president enjoys immunity for his acts whereas in workplace — at the least for these acts linked together with his official duties. The DOJ has traditionally agreed with this and has repeatedly endorsed the place that they can’t indict a sitting president. The Structure, although, appears to go a lot additional.  As a treatment for the fee of ‘excessive crimes and misdemeanors,’ by a president, the Structure requires impeachment. The treatment of impeachment is the one one delineated within the Structure. The indictment on this case, in fact, follows a failed impeachment for a similar acts. The argument towards that is that the president has solely ‘certified immunity,’ that means that his immunity from prosecution is linked solely to acts which can be in furtherance of his official duties. There’s a protracted historical past in American politics of drawing this line in circumstances involving the prosecution of different politicians, together with state governors. However the American president is totally different. The president is a whole department of presidency embodied in a single particular person…. n order for a prosecution of this type to even arguably transfer previous the jurisdictional bar, the federal government would wish to determine — possibly even past an inexpensive doubt — that the acts within the indictment fall outdoors the scope of the president’s official duties. That shall be powerful for prosecutors. The chief has a direct curiosity in and obligation to make sure equity within the final result of elections. For instance, an govt who believes an election is being mishandled by public officers actually has the authority to touch upon such and to intervene as wanted — “”as wanted”” being the operative phrase. Along with his obligations as the chief, the president additionally enjoys a First Modification proper to discuss considerations with election legalities as he sees match.” • A extra intelligent technique to body the “First Modification” concern than the present cutting-edge. And whereas we’re speaking about mendacity and fraud:

Listed here are 24 STRAIGHT MINUTES of Democrats denying election outcomespic.twitter.com/gDnNqfruWD

— RNC Analysis (@RNCResearch) August 2, 2023

I hate to make use of RNC oppo, however I did search a number of the quotes, they usually try. Anyhow, RussiaGate.

NOTE To me, the center of the case is the “contingent electors.” I see the “mendacity” vs. “Free Speech” argument as not particularly salient or compelling, however instrumental; I’d argue that the press and each events are consumed with it as a result of resolving it somehow impacts the ability and functioning of the Censorship Industrial Copmplex.

* * *

“Trump pleads not responsible to federal costs that he tried to overturn the 2020 election” [Associated Press]. “U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Moxila Upadhyaya set the subsequent courtroom date for Aug. 28, when a tentative trial date shall be set, and directed Trump to not talk immediately in regards to the info of case with any particular person identified to be a witness. Three law enforcement officials who defended the Capitol that day had been additionally seen getting into the courthouse. One in all them, Aquilino Gonell, who retired from the Capitol Police after struggling accidents, took inventory of the placement’s symbolism, noting that it was ‘the identical courtroom wherein a whole lot of rioters have been sentenced. It’s the identical courtroom former President Trump is being arraigned in in the present day for his alleged involvement earlier than, throughout, and after the siege….He addressed the proceedings in a short assertion on a drizzly tarmac at Washington’s Reagan Nationwide Airport earlier than he boarded his airplane again to New Jersey. ‘That is the persecution of the individual that’s main by very, very substantial numbers within the Republican major and main Biden by rather a lot,’ he mentioned. ‘So should you can’t beat ‘em, you persecute ‘em otherwise you prosecute ’em. We are able to’t let this occur in America.’” • This account follows the proceedings. They’re a Trump supporter, however AFACT doesn’t make issues up. I just like the tart tone:

It’s all theatrics anyway. DOJ will come again with superseding indictments on this case which resets Speedy Trial clock. (This simply occurred in categorised docs case final week). They need to make it seem like Trump is liable for trial delay and the 🐑 will purchase it.

— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) August 3, 2023

Value interested by.

* * *

Rely Two of the conspiracy indictment is dependent upon 18 U.S. Code § 1512 (c)(2) and (okay) (from the MSNBC annotated copy of The USA of America v. Donald Trump:

Listed here are these two sections of 18 U.S. Code § 1512 – Tampering with a witness, sufferer, or an informant:

(c)Whoever corruptly—

(1)alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a document, doc, or different object, or makes an attempt to take action, with the intent to impair the item’s integrity or availability to be used in an official continuing; or

(2)in any other case ,

shall be fined beneath this title or imprisoned no more than 20 years, or each.

That’s the crime half. Part (okay) is the conspiracy half:

(okay)Whoever conspires to commit any offense beneath this part shall be topic to the identical penalties as these prescribed for the offense the fee of which was the item of the conspiracy.

I believe “obstructs, influences, or impedes any official continuing, or makes an attempt to take action” is fairly broad. For instance, the Medicare for All activists who disrupted Max Baucus’s sham ObamaCare hearings might have been despatched to jail for twenty years beneath “impede”, and who is aware of what “affect” would possibly imply; holding up an indication in a Capitol Constructing hallway? (Not that liberal Democrats wouldn’t applaud all this, in fact). However I believe it’s value noting that [genuflects] Jack Smith has beforehand misplaced a very broadly drawn case earlier than:

A unanimous Supreme Courtroom has overturned the corruption convictions of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, ruling that federal prosecutors relied on a “”boundless”” definition of the sorts of acts that would lead politicians to face prison costs.

If Jack Smith can’t convict Bob McDonnell of corruption, who can he convict? 

Lastly, I’m shifting into IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer) territory right here, however I’ve to consider that the statute’s heading (“Tampering with a witness, sufferer, or an informant”) has one thing to do with Congressional intent. No matter Trump was doing, it wasn’t witness tampering. So once more, I believe Smith has boundary points. (I’m not the one one who takes the view that 1512 has been interpreted too expansively; see right here, right here, and right here).

* * *

Bear in mind when liberal Democrats had been naming their canine after Bob Mueller? They by no means study:

Take a look at this slobbering over gritty triathlon man Jack Smith: “His aggressive strategy to his private well being and train correlates to how he approaches his prosecution” pic.twitter.com/vKNEJ1BHfo

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) August 3, 2023

Tracy’s not exaggerating with “slobbering”, both. Simply hear.

* * *

Vivek Ramaswamy slipstreaming behind Trump:

The corrupt federal police simply gained’t cease till they’ve achieved their mission: eradicate Trump. That is un-American & I decide to pardoning Trump for this indictment. Donald Trump isn’t the reason for what occurred on Jan 6. The true trigger was systematic & pervasive censorship of… pic.twitter.com/c1OpZNOl6c

— Vivek Ramas’wamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 1, 2023

“Vivek Ramaswamy Desires a Second American Revolution” (interview) [Bari Weiss, The Free Press]. RAMASWAMY: “However I’ll inform you what my story is. I’m the embodiment of the American dream. My dad and mom got here to this nation over 40 years in the past with virtually no cash. I’ve gone on to discovered multibillion-dollar corporations that created worth by doing invaluable issues for different folks, creating 5 medicines which can be FDA authorised in the present day. One in all them is a life-saving remedy for youths, one other one for prostate most cancers. I did it whereas getting married, whereas bringing two sons into this world, whereas following my religion in God, whereas rising up with the final word privilege on this nation. And I believe the factor that’s extraordinary about that story is that it isn’t extraordinary. It’s the story of this nation. And I don’t suppose we’re in decline. I believe we’re nonetheless a nation in our ascent, within the early levels of our ascent truly, a nation whose finest days are nonetheless forward. I believe it takes somebody in my sneakers to see our nation that approach, too. That’s actually what pulled me into the race.” • He’s distinctive.

“Pence seizes on Trump’s newest indictment as he appears to interrupt via in crowded GOP subject” [Associated Press]. “Because the launch of the indictment wherein he performs a central position, Pence has criticized Trump extra aggressively, casting himself as the one who stood as much as Trump, averting disaster…. However Pence’s new phrases stand out, partially due to simply how staunchly he refused to publicly criticize Trump throughout his 4 years as vp, dutifully and deferentially defending his boss, it doesn’t matter what. His newly powerful speak additionally contrasts with Trump’s different rivals, who’ve largely shied away from attacking the previous president over his mounting authorized troubles and efforts to stay in energy.” • I believe virtually all the things Pence believes is mistaken, but when there’s a Sleaze Service provider Scale™, he’s not very excessive on it. (Not the identical as vehemently disagreeing on coverage, to be clear.)

* * *

“‘Whistling previous the graveyard’: Dem worry grows over huge grassroots fundraising hit” [Politico]. “The most effective on-line fundraising days for Democrats this 12 months was the day of Joe Biden’s marketing campaign launch — however even that day’s haul was meager in comparison with his marketing campaign kickoff 4 years in the past. That’s among the many findings of an evaluation of fundraising for the primary half of the 12 months via ActBlue, the social gathering’s major donation processor. Small-dollar giving on the federal stage totaled $312 million within the first half of 2023 — a drop-off of greater than $30 million in contrast thus far within the 2020 cycle. The platform additionally had 32 % fewer donors within the second quarter this 12 months in comparison with 4 years prior, though its complete fundraising elevated barely attributable to a number of components, together with extra recurring donors and better giving to non-federal teams.’ As a result of small donors are a proxy for enthusiasm, if folks aren’t involved in regards to the drop-off in contributions, then they only aren’t paying consideration or whistling previous the graveyard,’ mentioned Ari Rabin-Havt, who served as deputy marketing campaign supervisor on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential marketing campaign. ‘The influence is from prime to backside. You possibly can see it within the ActBlue quantity, you may see it from the DNC down via each group. There must be a fast examination amongst Democrats about what’s creating this enthusiasm hole.’” • ‘Tis a thriller!

“”Darkish Brandon” is driving Biden’s marketing campaign merch gross sales” [Axios]. “Darkish Brandon” — an internet meme that portrays the 80-year-old president as a two-steps-ahead Machiavelli — is driving the Biden marketing campaign’s merchandise gross sales. Greater than 54% of the shop’s complete income is coming from Brandon-themed merchandise, his re-election group instructed Axios.” • You possibly can’t spell “Brandon” with out “Model” (as Devon Archer would probably agree):

A cup of Joe by no means tasted higher.

Seize yours: https://t.co/4fbxCBQNPZ pic.twitter.com/s2qboyE7C1

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 3, 2023

* * *

Trump Legacy

“How America Modified Throughout Donald Trump’s Presidency” [Pew Research]. • Nothing on economics! Outstanding. This was probably the most attention-grabbing chart, even when not all that helpful:

Fascinating that “entertained” is the very best optimistic for each Democrats and Republicans. 

Obama Legacy

Why are these folks laughing?

Wishing my brother and good friend, @BarackObama, a really pleased birthday. pic.twitter.com/BXAm9ybpLD

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 4, 2023

Democrats en Déshabillé

Affected person readers, it appears that evidently individuals are truly studying the back-dated submit! However I’ve not up to date it, and there are a lot of updates. So I must do 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 submit, 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 reality, a tough downside. 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. Depart 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 belongings within the press and the intelligence group.

Observe, in fact, that the category energy of the PMC each expresses and is proscribed by different courses; oligarchs and American gentry (see ‘industrial mannequin’ of Ferguson, Jorgensen, and Jie) and the working class spring to thoughts. Suck up, kick down.

* * *

#COVID19

“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

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). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Normal Ideas” (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 crops. 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 experiences); 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 (Authorities 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 protected on the market!

Maskstravaganza

Nicely, why not?

Final semester I gave further credit score for college students who wore a masks at school (utilizing a roster register sheet). Constant masking was about 70% in a single class and 90% within the different. I’ll do the identical this semester! 😷 #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsntOver #AcademicTwitter

— Sarah E. DeYoung PhD (@SarahDeYoung2) August 3, 2023

Scientific Communication

“ProMED, an early warning system on illness outbreaks, seems close to collapse” [STAT]. “The early warning illness community that alerted the world to the unique SARS outbreak and the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be in peril. Various the senior moderators of ProMED-mail, a program operated by the Worldwide Society for Infectious Ailments, posted a letter of protest early Thursday, difficult a just lately revealed plan to cost for subscriptions to the service. The group of 21 moderators, who introduced they had been suspending work for ProMED, expressed a insecurity within the ISID’s administrative operations, suggesting ProMED must discover a new house. ‘For many of us, creating ProMED’s content material is a labor of affection. Nevertheless, we can’t be anticipated to proceed engaged on good will alone,’ the moderators wrote.  The prospect of a possible collapse of the practically 30-year-old program has the infectious ailments group aghast.” • Hey, who wants early warnings after we’ve obtained Large Pharma? I wrote in regards to the fragility of our genomic surveillance infrastructure again in April:

Of the 2 important initiatives downstream from GISAID [Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data; they started with bird flu], Pango is dependent upon a tiny group of volunteers (!!), and Nextstrain is dependent upon the curation efforts of 1 particular person (!!!). Weak, weak, and weak. Harmful, harmful, harmful. What occurs if when the genomic sequencing instruments go down, and genomic surveillance can’t occur, when a brand new variant is multiplying geometrically? If when that occurs, we will’t afford to lose every week!

So whereas the PMC moans and wrings its fingers as a result of the rentier-servicing labor aristocrats of Silicon Valley gained’t be getting free massages or truffle-infused vegan stylings any extra, or the political class loses its thoughts as a result of we will’t ship the Azovs in Ukraine sufficient tanks to interrupt down for elements and promote on the black market, real scientists doing the work on which thousands and thousands of lives rely ought to look each methods earlier than crossing the road. What a scenario. In the meantime, some mind genius on the Rockefeller basis misplaced a decimal level. They mentioned one million, I assume as a result of they appeared beneath the sofa cushions, however ten million would purchase some redundancy. Possibly 100 thousands and thousands would purchase tech doc boring normals might use, who is aware of. What’s mistaken with these folks?

I imply, in addition to mind injury neurological seqeulae. Commentary, and ProMed’s electronic mail alert on the virus later dubbed SARS-Cov-2, 2019-12-30:

Speaking about an essential platform 🥲 pic.twitter.com/AZwwYacX9F

— Sean Wei (@XinWei57337546) August 3, 2023

Platform? Nicely, possibly… 

An infection

“Symptom profiles of group circumstances contaminated by influenza, RSV, rhinovirus, seasonal coronavirus, and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern” [Nature]. “The SARS-CoV-2 symptom profile more and more resembles that of different respiratory viruses as new strains emerge. Elevated cough, sore throat, runny nostril, and sneezing are related to the emergence of the Omicron strains. As SARS-CoV-2 turns into endemic, monitoring the evolution of its symptomatology related to new variants shall be crucial for medical surveillance.” • This may little question immediately mutate into the declare that SARS-CoV-2 actually is “identical to the flu,” however the flu doesn’t offer you mind injury. And there’s no such factor as Lengthy Widespread Chilly (I imply, that we all know of. I’m unsure we all know all that a lot about viruses, they usually could also be extra pervasive than we predict).

Sequelae

“An Vital Preprint” [Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts (Jason Boxman)]. “This preprint research [linked to yesterday] has some beautiful findings. The quick model is that even amongst those that had COVID however no signs, there may be tissue injury…. I believe that a part of the explanation that COVID appears much less damaging in youthful or more healthy populations is that they’ll extra simply deal with some tissue injury because the surrounding unaffected tissue can tackle a number of the load of the broken tissue. Nevertheless, as that unaffected tissue ages, it gained’t work fairly as effectively as when it was younger and wholesome, and the impacts of the COVID an infection will begin manifesting themselves as numerous continual ailments. The truth that we’re seeing many of those in such a short while is extraordinarily regarding. It suggests that we’ll see huge quantities of continual ailments amongst individuals who had COVID infections sooner or later.” • Yikes.

“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. Numerous exceptionally nasty sequelae, probably deriving from immune dysregulation (says this layperson). To which we’d add mind injury, together with character modifications therefrom.

* * *

Elite Maleficence

“Consultants warn the U.S. lacks COVID assets as circumstances tick up once more” [Axios]. Take a look at the wastewater information. No matter that’s, it’s not an “uptick.” “An infection ranges are nonetheless comparatively low [since we don’t test, how do we know?], and immunity [fading] from prior infections and vaccinations means the virus is unlikely to succeed in the identical excessive ranges seen throughout previous fall and winter waves [whatever that means]. Nonetheless, ‘We [who?] don’t have the assets now to fight it like we  [who?] did and we [who?] don’t have the political will to even push for these assets,’ mentioned Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and chief scientific officer for at-home testing firm eMed. That is partially as a result of expiration of the general public well being emergency, leaving People with much less entry to free COVID assessments and coverings for the primary time because the pandemic started.” • The general public well being emergency didn’t “expire.” It was ended. By Biden.

Case Information

From BioBot wastewater information, August 3:

Lambert right here: Shifting alongside fairly briskly now.

Regional information:

Lambert right here: Once more, backward revisions. I think about that dip within the South shall be smoothed away.

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

From CDC, August 5:

Lambert right here:  EG.5 on the prime of the leaderboard (after ready two weeks ffs). EG.5 is huge in Japan:

From CDC, July 22:

Lambert right here: Unsure what to make of this. I’m used to seeing a brand new variant take down the beforehand dominant variant. Right here it appears like now we have a “tag group,” all working collectively to chop XBB.1.5 all the way down to dimension. I certain hope the volunteers doing Pangolin, on which this chart relies upon, don’t all transfer on the inexperienced fields and pastures new (or have their entry to services minimize by directors of ailing intent).

CDC: “As of Could 11, genomic surveillance information shall be reported biweekly, primarily based on the provision of optimistic take a look at specimens.” “Biweeekly: 1. occurring each two weeks. 2. occurring twice every week; semiweekly.” Appears 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

NOT UPDATED From CDC NCIRD Surveillance, July 29:

Lambert right here: Enhance is much more distinct. (The black line is “mixed”, however it’s simple to see that Covid, the crimson line, is driving all the things.)

NOTE “Charts and information supplied by CDC, updates Wednesday by 8am. For the previous 12 months, utilizing a rolling 52-week interval.” So not the complete 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 each_{MR SUBLIMINAL I hate these folks a lot}. Discover additionally that this chart reveals, at the least for its time interval, that Covid is not seasonal, though CDC is attempting to get us to consider that it’s, presumably to allow them to piggyback on the present institutional equipment for injections.

Positivity

NOT UPDATED From Walgreens, July 31:

3.2%. Curiously, individuals are citing to this, too, in addition to Biobot. Vertical, 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 attention-grabbing to survey this inhabitants typically; these are individuals who, regardless of a tsunami of official propaganda and large peer stress, went and obtained examined anyhow.)

NOT UPDATED From CDC, July 10:

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 2:

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, through 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 reveals a complete of the three causes (prime proper). Readers?,,

Whole: 1,169,999 – 1,169,985 = 14 (14 * 365 = 5110 deaths per 12 months, in the present day’s YouGenicist™ quantity for “residing with” Covid (fairly a bit larger than the minimizers would love, although they’ll speak themselves into something. If the YouGenicist™ metric retains chugging alongside like this, I could must resolve that is what the powers-that-be think about “mission completed” for this specific tranche of loss of life and illness). 

Extra Deaths

The Economist, August 4:

Lambert right here: That is now being up to date day by day. Odd. Based mostly on a machine-learning mannequin. (The CDC has an extra estimate too, however because it ran ceaselessly with an enormous typo within the Legend, I figured no one was actually taking a look at it, so I obtained rid it. )

Stats Watch

Employment State of affairs: “United States Unemployment Fee” [Trading Economics]. “The unemployment charge within the US decreased barely to three.5 % in July 2023 from 3.6 % in June and beneath market expectations of three.6 %…. The labor power participation charge was unchanged at 62.6 %, remaining at its highest stage since March 2020.”

Imperial Collapse Watch (via):

And on this nation, neglect in regards to the California Excessive Pace Rail debacle, a brand new tunnel beneath the Hudson has a “potential” opening date of 2035, after we’ve identified for years that the present tunnel is failing, and when it fails, will convey rail visitors alongside the complete East Coast to a halt. I assume we might use helicopters and air taxis for the actually essential passengers, however what about freight?

Superconductor: “LK-99 Is the Superconductor of the Summer season” [New York Times]. “Dr. Das Sarma mentioned he knew that the analysis teams of a number of outstanding physicists had been working to synthesize the fabric and make measurements to find out whether or not LK-99 is certainly a superconductor. ‘A declare this large must be scrutinized very, very fastidiously,’ Dr. Das Sarma mentioned. ‘And must be duplicated by impartial teams in as some ways as doable earlier than we declare victory.’ He added, ‘I consider this could occur. However that doesn’t imply this has occurred.’”

At present’s Worry & Greed Index: 75 Excessive Greed (earlier shut: 74 Greed) [CNN]. One week in the past: 77 (Excessive Greed). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Aug 2 at 1:47 PM ET. Final up to date Aug 4 at 1:49 PM ET.

Our Famously Free Press

Class Warfare

Information of the Wired

I consider I’ve run this earlier than, however it nonetheless appears apt in so some ways:

NEW This, nonetheless, can also be apt:

I obtained this remark through electronic mail from desert canine the opposite day, whose picture of Tilford the Turtle graced in the present day’s Hyperlinks. He mentioned (quoted solely partially in Hyperlinks):

After studying each the Hyperlinks and your Water cooler I truly get a bit depressed and suppose it wont be lengthy until it’s throughout. Then I get this message picture from fiends down in Missouri. It’s my good friend Gregg feeding Tilford the turtle and  it simply makes me really feel that I’m lacking the nice issues in life. I simply obtained to pay extra consideration to the true life tales?

Nicely, I don’t need Water Cooler to be an train in doomscrolling. That’s why there are birds on the prime, within the sky, and crops on the backside, for the earth. That mentioned, the world isn’t in the most effective form, and we do must report that clearly, particularly within the face of denial, minimization, layers of impacted PMC bullshit. That mentioned, “if it bleeds, it leads,” that means that our famously free press has little incentive to report excellent news past clickbait-y heartwarming anecdotes. That’s one purpose I invented, quoting Mr. Rogers, “Search for the helpers” within the Covid part; to alleviate the bleakness. Let’s develop the precept! If readers want to ship me extra hyperlinks or photographs of helpers in motion, you may mail me with “Helpers” within the topic line. May very well be Covid, might be any scenario. Even useful animals! –lambert

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MT jefe writes: “Penstemon Montana.” Penstemon is certainly the identify of a flower, not [searches] a city in Montana.

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