By Lambert Strether of Corrente
Chook Tune of the Day
Loria’s Satinbird, Papua New Guinea. There may be precisely one recording of Loria’s Satinbird, from 1993. Right here it’s! (I believe there’s a waterfall within the background.)
Politics
“However what’s authorities itself, however the best of all reflections on human nature?” –James Madison, Federalist 51
“That they had realized nothing, and forgotten nothing.” –Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
“Right here’s meals for thought, had Ahab time to suppose; however Ahab by no means thinks; he solely feels, feels, feels” –Herman Melville, Moby Dick
2022
* * * PA: “Mehmet Oz’s new hometown is a personal, non secular group the place opinions on him are break up” [Philadelphia Inquirer]. “Lisa Oz’s mom is a minister with the Conference Church, a department of the [Swedenborgian] New Church, and her great-grandfather helped construct the cathedral [in Oz’s adopted town, Bryn Athyn]. Her mom is a member of the Asplundh household, certainly one of a number of extremely profitable households on the town. The household’s tree enterprise, Asplundh Tree Knowledgeable LLC, is without doubt one of the largest U.S. firms, with 34,000 staff and a few $5 billion in income. The corporate is owned by about 200 Asplundh members of the family, who collectively are price about $3 billion — and a number of other have contributed generously to Oz’s marketing campaign.” • American gentry! However again to Oz’s residency: “Jeremy Finkeldey, who lives down the highway from the house the Ozes purchased, sees the relocation as a political transfer which may not be everlasting. ‘Oz has by no means lived in Bryn Athyn,’ Finkeldey stated. ‘He married right into a Bryn Athyn household and after he determined to run for our Senate seat vacated by Toomey, he purchased Michael Pitcairn’s previous place … and put up two Oz indicators on the finish of the driveway.’ Oz doesn’t at present stay within the dwelling, which he’s stated nonetheless wants renovations. Up to now, no building permits have been filed in Decrease Moreland.” • Hmm.
2024
“Trump pushes for un-redacted affidavit’s launch, regardless of the dangers” [The Hill]. “Former President Trump is pushing for the complete, unredacted launch of the affidavit that led to the search warrant for his Mar-a-Lago property, a transfer that carries dangers for each Trump and the Justice Division. ‘Pres. Trump has made his view clear that the American individuals ought to be permitted to see the unredacted affidavit associated to the raid and break-in of his dwelling,’ Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for the previous president, stated Thursday after Federal Justice of the Peace Choose Bruce Reinhart stated he could also be keen to unseal parts of the doc. Reinhart ordered Justice Division officers to counsel redactions to the doc by subsequent Thursday. ‘As we speak, Justice of the Peace Choose Reinhard rejected the DOJ’s [Justice Department’s] cynical try to cover the entire affidavit from People,’ Budowich continued. ‘Nonetheless, no redactions ought to be needed and the entire affidavit ought to be launched, given the Democrats’ penchant for utilizing redactions to cover authorities corruption, similar to they did with the Russia hoax.’”
Democrats en Déshabillé
I’ve moved my standing remarks on the Democrat Celebration (“the Democrat Celebration is a rotting corpse that may’t bury itself”) to a separate, back-dated put up, to which I’ll periodically add materials, summarizing the addition right here in a “stay” Water Cooler. (Hopefully, some Bourdieu.) It seems that defining the Democrat Celebration is, in reality, a tough drawback. I do suppose the paragraph that follows is on level all the way in which again to 2016, if not earlier than:
The Democrat Celebration is the political expression of the category energy of PMC, their base (lucidly defined by Thomas Frank in Hear, Liberal!). ; if the Democrat Celebration didn’t exist, the PMC must invent it. . (“PMC” modulo “class expatriates,” in fact.) Second, all of the working elements of the Celebration reinforce one another. Go away apart characterizing the relationships between parts of the Celebration (ka-ching, however not completely) these parts 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.
Notice, in fact, that the category energy of the PMC each expresses and is restricted 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.
Realignment and Legitimacy
Attention-grabbing concept, however portraits are painted by the winners:
Let’s begin with the English Civil Warfare. Right here we now have Prince Rupert, Charles I, the dying masks of Oliver Cromwell, and John Pym. Present a toddler these photos, and ask who they suppose the great guys are, and the kid will say the extra good-looking royalists! His instincts are usually not mistaken. pic.twitter.com/GPgydR2rqE
— Arthur Bloom 🇺🇸 (@j_arthur_bloom) August 20, 2022
Counter-example:
Joey Metal was fairly the hottie, no query….
* * * However socialism:
Generally the govt. does such a superb job offering a service that individuals overlook it’s the govt. doing the job, and none dare name it socialism. Medicare & FDIC rely however my favourite instance is GPS, which everybody on the planet makes use of each day whereas by no means questioning who offers it. pic.twitter.com/2IB22hqb3a
— Carlos Mucha (@mucha_carlos) August 21, 2022
#COVID19
•”Fauci, prime infectious illness professional, to retire in December” [Associated Press]. That’s a rattling disgrace. “Fauci discovered himself marginalized by the Trump administration, more and more stored out of main choices concerning the federal response, however he continued to talk out publicly in media interviews, advocating social distancing and face coverings in public settings earlier than the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.” • What a whitewash. Fauci’s noble lies on masking (not “poor messaging,” however mendacity) had been the primary apparent step within the catastrophic destruction of belief in public well being (though maybe we must always not have been shocked).
• “Assertion by Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.” (press launch) [NIH]. “Whereas I’m transferring on from my present positions, I’m not retiring. After greater than 50 years of presidency service, I plan to pursue the subsequent section of my profession whereas I nonetheless have a lot power and keenness for my subject. I need to use what I’ve realized as NIAID Director to proceed to advance science and public well being and to encourage and mentor the subsequent technology of scientific leaders as they assist put together the world to face future infectious illness threats.” • MSNBC slot?
• Trump weighs in:
NEW Trump assertion on Fauci: pic.twitter.com/mYexvw1tPd
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) June 3, 2021
A refreshing lack of sycophancy…..
• That is completely terrific. Please distribute extensively:
Presenting v4.0 aka the “I can not consider we’re nonetheless doing this in August 2022” model.
Additions: new issues addressed, pdf with hotspot hyperlinks to references. Interactive pdf hyperlink right here: https://t.co/Rdup91LOMO https://t.co/PIUEDgkcxN pic.twitter.com/tFaLkPB6Qn— Amanda Hu (@amandalhu) August 22, 2022
This ought to be within the fingers of anybody who attends a college board assembly, or encounters resistance from the executive layer on fixing air flow points. You’d suppose there’d be one thing as easy, compact, and highly effective as this on the Facilities for Illness, however who am I kidding?
• ”Tip of the iceberg: erectile dysfunction and COVID-19″ [Nature]. We did run this again in February when it appeared, however for the bros: “Present proof illuminates endothelial dysfunction, direct testicular harm, and the psychological burden of COVID-19 which can be of the pathways of ED. Though the proposed underlying mechanisms partly fail to reply the questions by which COVID-19 results in ED, it is very important monitor males who recovered from COVID-19 relating to the sexual dysfunction sequelae of an infection and handle the lengthy‐time period penalties.” • Let me understand how the “monitoring” works out. Nonetheless. You’d suppose Pfizer (ahem) might climb up the worth chain and collectively a advertising and marketing marketing campaign on this. Too quickly?
• Maskstravaganza, as extra PMCs intentionally create superspreading occasions:
Guess which one is a video video games conference (#SGDQ2022) in Las Vegas, and which one is a microbiology convention (#ISME18) in Switzerland (throughout the identical respiratory pandemic)? 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/MByP5OxBtY
— Mattia Rigotti (@MattiaRigotti) August 21, 2022
• Extra on #ISME18:
Hey #ISME18 peeps – in case you’re sitting within the periods coughing (for no matter purpose), the LEAST you are able to do is put a masks on. I’m begging you.
— Kelli Mullane (@lab_witch_) August 19, 2022
• And this screencap:
The top of human intelligence /s pic.twitter.com/YqSsdA6OJ0
— Parmijohn | B.Eng (@_Parmijohn) August 21, 2022
• “Convention organiser” = hegemonic PMC, referred to as out by an distinctive PMC:
What I stated is on the market within the public document through screencaps and so forth and must be. The nameless convention organiser I discussed deserves all of the condemnation they acquired. Nonetheless, deleting the thread hopefully reduces collateral harm on others. V sorry I did not achieve this earlier
— Chris Greening (@greeninglab) August 22, 2022
• Extra on
It’s occurring throughout all tutorial fields within the West – totally again to unmasked, indoors in-person occasions. No care that #CovidIsNotOver. No regard to excluding #HighRiskCovid19 colleagues. Students behave mainly like anti-vaxxers
— Mr. T, PhD (@CactusInBayern) August 21, 2022
• Maskstravaganza:
Hey @defcon individuals, the masks coverage is fairly rattling clear, no slits, no exhale valves, or punctures…
Prefer it’s not that troublesome. Breathe high quality air in, and don’t exhale your probably harmful breathes into others, hold ‘em contained! pic.twitter.com/kelaQ9cooz
— Bert JW Regeer (@bertjwregeer) August 12, 2022
Hopefully those that would favor to not put on Darth Vader-style respirators to subsequent 12 months’s DEFCON received’t must, because the gross irresponsibility exhibited at #ISME18 received’t proceed.
• ”With or with out you?” [Pandemic]. “International locations with giant populations have the potential to considerably distort how we see the severity of the pandemic all over the world. Contemplating the pandemic efficiency of the US, China, India and Ethiopia, we assess how these inhabitants outliers have an effect on common mortality charges by World Financial institution revenue group. Because it seems, the rankings of pandemic severity are utterly upset. Excessive-income international locations, which have sone of the very best aged shares, haven’t been affected essentially the most throughout this pandemic; paradoxically, as soon as we exclude the US, they’re more likely to have been affected the least.” • One other manner of claiming that is that the US, regardless of its excessive revenue, has Third World-level efficiency that’s bringing down the curve for the opposite excessive revenue international locations.
In the event you missed it, right here’s a put up on my queasiness with CDC numbers, particularly case rely, which I (nonetheless) think about most vital, regardless of what Walensky’s psychos at CDC who invented “group ranges” suppose. However these are the numbers we now have.
Case Depend
Case rely for the US:
However look ahead to the regional tales…
Instances are undercounted, one supply saying by an element of six, Gottlieb pondering we solely decide up one in seven or eight.) Therefore, I take the nominal case rely and multiply it by six to approximate the true degree of instances, and draw the DNC-blue “Biden Line” at that time. The earlier rely was ~93,500. As we speak, it’s ~101,000 and 101,000 * 6 = a Biden line at 606,000 per day. (Keep in mind these information factors are weekly averages, so every day fluctuations are smoothed out.) The black “Fauci Line” is a counter to triumphalism, because it compares present ranges to previous crises. In the event you take a look at the Fauci line, you will note that regardless of the bleating and yammering about Covid being “over,” we now have solely only in the near past reached the (nominal) case degree of November 1, 2021, and we’re very removed from that of July 1, 2021. And the true degree is way worse.
Regional case rely for 4 weeks:
Wild stuff. Who knew the Midwest would soar?
The South:
Florida Man enters information?
The South (minus Texas and Florida):
The West:
If this retains up, California will degree out to a “excessive plateau.”
Positivity
From the Walgreen’s take a look at positivity tracker, August 20:
-1.6%.
Transmission
Here is CDC’s interactive map by county set to community transmission. (This is the map CDC wants only hospitals to look at, not you.)
NOT UPDATED Speedy Riser information, by county (CDC), August 19:
I suppose that if case counts are certainly degree, it’s doubtless there could be few speedy risers.
Earlier Speedy Riser information:
NOT UPDATED Hospitalization information, by state (CDC), August 19:
Flat calm on the hospital entrance. In the event you’re CDC, and that’s all that issues to you — as a result of Lengthy Covid isn’t a factor, and everyone who is admittedly sick can get to a hospital — you’re most likely feeling good proper now.
NOTE: Speedy Riser and Hospitalization information are up to date Wednesdays and Fridays.
Variants
Lambert right here: It’s past irritating how sluggish the variant information is. I regarded for extra charts: California doesn’t to a BA.4/BA.5 breakdown. New York does however it, too, is on a molasses-like two-week cycle. Does no one within the public well being institution get a promotion for monitoring variants? Are there no grants? Is there a single lab that does this work, and everyone will get the outcomes from them? Extra sources from readers welcome [grinds teeth, bangs head on desk].
NOT UPDATED Variant information, nationwide (Walgreens), August 6:
Full takeover by BA.5/BA.4. I ponder what’s coming subsequent?
NOT UPDATED Variant information, nationwide (CDC), July 30 (Nowcast off):
BA.5/BA.4 transferring alongside properly.
Wastewater
Wastewater information (CDC), August 16:
For grins, August 15:
What I’m actually nervous about is a rise in gray dots (“no current information”). as a result of that may imply the hassle is being shut down or defunded.
Deaths
Demise charge (Our World in Information):
Lambert right here: If in reality the drop in instances is actual, as CDC appears to consider, we must always begin seeing deaths, which lag, drop round September 1.
Complete: 1,065,569 – 1,064,780 = 789 (789 * 365 = 287,985; at the moment’s LivingWith™* quantity (fairly a bit larger than the minimizers would really like, thought they will discuss themselves into something. Fluctuates fairly a bit, however even the low numbers are unhealthy). I’ve added an anti-triumphalist black Fauci Line. It’s good that for deaths I’ve a easy, every day chart that simply retains chugging alongside, not like all the pieces else CDC and the White Home are screwing up or letting go darkish, good job.
Lambert right here: Sure, I multiplied by 365 this time!
• Ron, put down the pom-poms, I’m begging you:
As @potus stated final month, three free and extensively obtainable instruments we now have — boosters, assessments and Paxlovid — can just about wipe out COVID deaths if individuals use them. https://t.co/MH0VFuj4vV
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) August 20, 2022
Klain utterly erases an infection, therefore neurological harm, vascular harm, and Lengthy Covid. And as for Paxlovid, “a bevy of latest lab research reveals the coronavirus can mutate in ways in which make it much less prone to the drug… Researchers have discovered a few of these mutations in variants already circulating in contaminated individuals, elevating recent issues that physicians might quickly lose certainly one of their greatest therapies for combating COVID-19.
Stats Watch
There are not any official statistics of observe at the moment.
As we speak’s Worry & Greed Index: 47 Impartial (earlier shut: 51 Impartial) [CNN]. One week in the past: 54 (Impartial). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Aug 22 at 1:47 PM EDT.
Rapture Index: Closes down one on Wild Climate. “The three tropical zones have been typically quiet” [Rapture Ready]. File Excessive, October 10, 2016: 189. Present: 187. (Keep in mind that bringing on the Rapture is good.). They’re lacking Drought and Meals Provide. Ya know, I scan the full listing, and I’ve acquired to marvel if that is one more quantity that’s being rigged.
Zeitgeist Watch
Karen™? Is that you just?
An American girl is screaming at an Aer Lingus gate agent “THIS IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE” and the gate agent stated, “I definitely hope so, madam.”
— Kirsten Schofield (@ennuigo) August 21, 2022
I don’t know why anyone would assume that air journey would ever revert to its pre-Covid glory days. Your complete system is one ginormous superspreading system, and sooner or later sufficient individuals are going to determine that out.
Certainly that is irony? However I don’t suppose Matty goes in for irony a lot:
Confidence in small enterprise is so insane — put your belief in a big, well-known nationwide or international model with a status to fret about, a number of media scrutiny, and extremely professionalized administration.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) August 21, 2022
Class Warfare
“AL Coal Miners Should Pay $13 Million in Damages for Strike, Biden’s NLRB Guidelines” [Truthout]. “On August 3, the United Mine Employees of America (UMWA) and the Related Press reported that the subunit of the Nationwide Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for Area 10 (a lot of the South) has ordered the union to pay $13.3 million to Warrior Met Coal. About 1,000 staff from two mines and two aboveground amenities southwest of Birmingham, Alabama, have been on strike towards Warrior Met since April 2021, resisting brutal working circumstances. Now the Biden NLRB is demanding the UMWA pay what quantities to $13,000 per striker into the corporate’s pocket. The federal government says that is reimbursement for safety guards, safety cameras, repairs, and manufacturing misplaced due to the strike, plus buses for carrying scabs throughout picket strains.” • So strikes are actually unlawful? I do observe it is a subunit of the NLRB, so probably the UMW will enchantment. However I’ve the sensation this may solely culminate in direct motion. Think about if Starbucks takes the identical place!
Terrific thread on homelessness, price studying in full:
That thread asking individuals how they’d get out of homelessness in the event that they solely had $20 is actually individuals saying “I’d merely simply'” after which saying one thing that’s actually not possible, unavailable, or has been made unlawful by native metropolis governments.
— Housing 4 All is Sizzling (@ahouse4all) August 20, 2022
The fact of huge tent cities throughout America wasn’t on my Bingo card, again within the days when America put a person on the moon, and so forth.
Information of the Wired
“Shocker! Take a look at Reveals Bodily Buttons Are Much less Time-Consuming in Vehicles Than Touchscreens” [Car and Driver]. “Vi Bilägare examined a dozen automobiles—primarily new but additionally one 2005 Volvo—to see how lengthy it took to carry out a sequence of 4 duties. It took 10 seconds within the previous automobile and as much as 45 in one of many new fashions. By timing the duties because the automobiles had been in movement, we are able to see how a easy factor like turning on the radio to a selected station can imply a driver’s eyes and focus are on the display screen far more than they was. Future drivers might look again on the present development of changing swaths of easy, bodily buttons with touchscreens and marvel why we let this occur.” • If we’re fortunate, sure.
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