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2:00PM Water Cooler 2/28/2024 | bare capitalism

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By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

For G&S followers, for the upcoming Leap 12 months day:

“You’re solely 5 and a bit of bit older.”

Fowl Track of the Day

Winter Wren, Ferd’s Lavatory, Hamilton, New York, United States.

* * *

Politics

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

2024

Lower than a 12 months to go!

* * *

Trump (R): “Trump leads in Wisconsin and overtakes Biden in all swing states” [Washington Examiner]. Yee haw:

I believe the multiway polls, versus Trump-Biden head-to-head, usually tend to be predictive this 12 months (all different issues being equal), since so many individuals detest each main candidates and are on the lookout for options. After all, 250 days is a very long time in politics, however for the Democrats base — not the professionals — these numbers have to be deeply, existentially disturbing, since they reside in a psychological universe the place “this could’t be taking place.”

Trump (R): “Why the chief of some of the highly effective unions in America is courting Trump” [MSNBC]. “Teamsters Common President Sean O’Brien met with Trump twice in January, together with a non-public go to to Mar-a-Lago, after which the union posted a photograph of the pair. Then information got here out that the Teamsters donated $45,000 to the Republican Nationwide Committee’s conference fund — the utmost quantity allowed from the union’s political motion committee. It seems to be probably the most vital contribution that the Teamsters have made to the RNC in twenty years.” And: “Organized labor consultants say that O’Brien seems to be strategically positioning himself, each for inner political causes and since he may very well be making an attempt to place phrase in with Trump in case he wins the election. That maneuvering raises two regarding questions. One, is a serious union enjoying footsie with Trump as a result of it views President Joe Biden as notably weak on this election cycle? Second, might this course of end result within the union successfully nudging some on-the-fence union members and their communities to consider Trump as something however the foe of labor he actually is?” • Good questions!

* * *

Biden (D): “Ought to Biden Drop Out and Decide a New Candidate? Perhaps Later. It’s nearly panic time” [Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine]. “Trump is at present main the nationwide polls by about two factors. In every of the final two elections, the Electoral Faculty has given Trump a transparent benefit, and the present polls present the identical dynamic. The tipping level state within the Electoral Faculty proper now’s Michigan, the place Trump has been main persistently and at present has a five-point edge within the polling common. The following greatest likelihood for Biden after Michigan could be North Carolina, the place he trails by 6 %, after which Georgia, the place he trails by 6.8 %. In order of now, it could take a five-point nationwide swing to make the race a pure toss-up. Preserving Biden is sensible in the event you suppose he’s operating only a hair behind Trump. My learn is that he’s in a dire spot, although not fairly a hopeless one. It’s not fairly a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation, but when he sees no enchancment inside a couple of months, it is going to be.” • A “few months” being uncomfortably near the Conference.

Biden (D): “Trump Retains Biden within the Race” [RealClearPolitics]. “Donald Trump is conserving Joe Biden within the race. That is true on a number of ranges; the one which issues most is numerical: Trump can not draw back within the polls. Trump could find yourself successful, however he seems unable to place Biden away – now or for the rest of the marketing campaign. Biden, due to this fact, has motive to remain in and Democrats causes to stay with him… By all approval measures, Biden ought to be heading for the exit, not the marketing campaign path. So, why is he nonetheless operating? As a result of in a head-to-head matchup with Trump, Biden is outperforming his presidential efficiency, trailing Trump by two factors – even in a five-way contest, he trails 38-41. Regardless of his low approval rankings, Biden stays inside hanging distance of victory. Biden remains to be in as a result of he’s operating towards Trump.” And: “Nonetheless, at present’s polling outcomes towards the at present unpopular Biden increase the query of whether or not Trump hit his ceiling in 2020. Whereas Biden is definitely dropping help, most is just not going to Trump; as an alternative, it’s parked within the undecided column or with third-party candidates.” And: “Biden and his crew are nonetheless within the race as a result of Trump has not put him out of it.” • Yep. The place’s that compilation of Biden’s gait issues? The shadows forged by each Biden and Trump loom far bigger than the precise figures of each man.

Biden (D): “It’s nonetheless a Biden referendum. That’s not good for him” [Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call]. “And but, even with Biden’s weak ballot numbers, many Democratic strategists suppose the present president can essentially change the trajectory of the marketing campaign. As soon as voters begin specializing in the final election and evaluating Biden to Trump, they predict, the whole race will change. That’s attainable, but it surely’s not self-evident how or why the present form of the presidential contest would change. In any case, each Trump and Biden have almost common title identification, and each have been within the public’s highlight for weeks, months and years. We learn about them as a result of we now have seen them day after day. It’s not as if the present president and the previous commander in chief will say one thing to vary our opinions of them. People know the 2 males very effectively, which is why they’re so sad with the selection they’ve for 2024…. For the second, if the election is both a referendum on Biden or a alternative between the 2 nominees, Biden finds himself in serious trouble. He wants November to be about Trump — and particularly about Trump’s most outrageous feedback and most harmful beliefs. That could be the one approach for Biden to vary the trajectory of the race and end up the Democratic demographic teams and swing voters he must win.”

Biden (D): “Biden’s Chilly Conflict Nostalgia Is Dooming His Presidency” [Jeet Heer, The Nation]. “The paradox of the Biden presidency is that he and his overseas coverage crew (notably Secretary of State Antony Blinken, nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan, and White Home aide Brett McGurk) are the final Scoop Jackson Democrats, a crew of neoconservatives and liberal hawks who’re pursuing a wildly anachronistic coverage. This was evident lengthy earlier than October 7, when the Hamas bloodbath and Biden’s ensuing help for Israel’s devastation of Gaza introduced the issue into stark aid. The killing fields of Gaza are solely making seen the horrific and ongoing human prices of Biden’s long-standing dedication to an out of date Chilly Conflict liberalism that’s fully insufficient to the challenges of the twenty first century. Like Scoop Jackson, Joe Biden is an over-eager and uncritical fanatic for army Keynesianism—the usage of arms spending to gas financial progress. The best of Chilly Conflict liberalism was to fuse overseas and home coverage, creating an built-in warfare/welfare state. Jackson, who grew to become generally known as ‘the senator from Boeing’ for his ardent help for the airplane producer—a serious employer in Washington State—was the main exponent of the concept lavish authorities funding of armament manufacturing was one of the best path for creating a big unionized workforce pressure and a strong home manufacturing sector. The logic right here is just not a lot ‘weapons and butter’ however that in the event you manufacture sufficient weapons, you’ll create sufficient high-paying jobs that may permit People to purchase butter. Underlying this undertaking is the brute political actuality that it’s simpler to get bipartisan consensus and elite comity (which Biden, nonetheless a person of the Senate in his worldview, all the time seeks) in the event you push for protection spending moderately than social spending. Additional, it’s a lot simpler to get funding for social spending (as within the buildup of universities after the Russians launched Sputnik in 1957) if you may make the case that nationwide safety is determined by it.” • One might, I suppose, view the American Restoration Act as a pivot from this, but it surely’s actually extra of a parallel undertaking. And I don’t see People shopping for a variety of butter nowadays.

Biden (D): “Is Biden’s Gaza Coverage Alienating Black Voters?” [Foreign Policy]. “To start with of January, in an try to spice up political morale amongst his most loyal constituency, Biden made an look on the Mom Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina… At this sacred web site, it was becoming that Biden spoke about home points equivalent to racism and political violence. Sadly, Biden’s foreign-policy woes adopted him to the pulpit, the place he was interrupted by protesters demanding a cease-fire within the Israel-Hamas conflict. Church buildings like Mom Emanuel AME play a key position in shaping the voting choices of the bigger Black neighborhood. An increasing number of members of the clergy are talking out from the pulpit towards Biden’s help for Israel. A current New York Instances article revealed that over the previous a number of months greater than 1,000 Black pastors—starting from conservative Southern Baptist church buildings to progressive nondenominational congregations within the Midwest and Northeast—have referred to as for an finish to Israel’s offensive operations in Gaza in addition to the discharge of all hostages held by Hamas. As in different components of the American public, a lot of the momentum behind Black religion leaders’ requires a cease-fire is coming from youthful congregants.” • Hmm.

* * *

MI: “4 takeaways from the Michigan main” [WaPo]. “Early Wednesday morning, with almost all votes in, Biden was main ‘uncommitted’ 81 % to 13 %, whereas Trump led former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley 68 % to 26 %.” 13% “uncommitted” is just not quantity for the final in any respect. After a variety of foofra about earlier “uncommitted” elections, this: “These uncommitted votes clearly sign one thing fairly completely different — and doubtlessly extra troubling for the incumbent president — than these 2012 protest votes. The actual query is whether or not help may be marshaled in different states and in different methods to make Biden actually really feel as if he wants to vary his methods and thoughts his left flank. The protest vote bought a foothold after an preliminary false begin in New Hampshire; now it’s about signaling that the motion has some endurance.” Oh, and: “[Dean] Phillips on Tuesday completed in fourth place (2.7 %), behind Williamson (3 %). Williamson suspended her marketing campaign three weeks in the past.” • Oh effectively.

MI: “Some very worrying indicators for Joe Biden” [CNN]. “A depressed vote is just not Biden’s solely concern. So too are fears that former President Donald Trump’s improved ballot numbers with Black and Latino voters would possibly point out the actual potential for the GOP to chop into conventional Democrat constituencies. Tuesday night time, the numbers from Michigan counsel that the issue is actual. Biden is dealing with resistance within the Wolverine State from Arab-American Democrats who led the cost in pushing voters to vote ‘uncommitted’ to ship a message to the Biden marketing campaign. A vital quantity of individuals have sided with that marketing campaign.” And the same old: “However is that this deadly? No, it’s not. There’s appreciable time between now and November. The scenario within the Center East is dynamic and it’s attainable the frustration and anger, that are very a lot in play at present, received’t be as a lot a precedence for voters come Election Day.” • I wouldn’t characterize opposing genocide as “frustration and anger.” And if genocide is your subject, then the selection is evident: Biden, clear-eyed, dedicated one (and dedicated the entire nation to it, as effectively). Trump didn’t and hasn’t. It’s not exhausting! Notice the vote in Dearborn:

MI: “‘Unprecedented’ Ballot Numbers For Trump In Michigan Are Unhealthy Signal For Biden” [Sean Trende, RealClearPolitics]. “Even as little as 2-3% [loss in support in the Democratic primary] is an issue for Biden as a result of that may translate to love a share level off his margin in a basic election. If a fraction of these voters don’t present up, he’s executed… If there’s a pro-Palestinian candidate on the poll, he’s going to have a extremely exhausting time successful that state. He doesn’t have a variety of margin for error there…. If he doesn’t win Michigan, it’s just about over…. If he’s shedding Arab American voters due to his place on Israel, it is going to be very tough for him to win the presidency with out Michigan.”

Spook Nation

“Tucker Carlson: U.S. Intel Companies Spied On Me Throughout Russia Journey, Leaked To Semafor That I Met Snowden” [RealClearPolitics]. “Tucker Carlson accused U.S. intelligence of hacking his communications and leaking to Semafor that he met with Edward Snowden whereas he was in Russia and stated ‘one of many greatest regulation corporations’ within the nation warned him that the U.S. authorities would arrest him if he gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a ‘softball’ interview. ‘The lawyer stated very particularly, relying on the questions you ask Putin, you realize, you possibly can be arrested or not,’ Tucker Carlson advised the Lex Fridman podcast in an interview launched Tuesday. ‘He stated, ‘Look, lots will depend upon the questions that you just ask Putin. In the event you’re seen as too good to him, you possibly can get arrested once you come again….’” • I’ve gotta say, liberal Democrats constructing a twenty first Century Okhrana wasn’t on my bingo card, although I suppose after [genuflects] Brennan and Obama’s “disposition matrix” it ought to have been.

“Obama’s CIA Requested International Intel Companies To Spy on Trump Marketing campaign” [RealClearPolitics]. RCP once more, WTF. There’s nothing new right here, but it surely’s abstract of the work that Taibbi, Shellenberger, et al. have executed. “The revelation that the U.S. intelligence neighborhood, underneath the Obama administration, sought the help of the “5 Eyes” intelligence alliance to surveil Donald Trump’s associates earlier than the 2016 election is a chilling reminder of the lengths to which the Deep State will go to guard its pursuits and problem its adversaries…. This bombshell, reported by a crew of impartial journalists, exposes a darkish chapter in American political historical past, the place overseas intelligence providers have been reportedly mobilized towards a presidential candidate. The alleged operation towards Trump and his associates, which predates the official begin of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation, is a stark instance of political weaponization of intelligence…. The narrative that has been pushed for years, that the investigation into Trump’s marketing campaign started with an Australian tip a few boastful Trump aide, now seems to be a canopy for a extra in depth and coordinated effort to undermine Trump. If experiences are correct, , lengthy earlier than the official narrative claims. The implications of this are profound. It suggests an unprecedented stage of collusion between U.S. intelligence businesses and their overseas counterparts to affect the result of an American presidential election. The usage of overseas intelligence to bypass American legal guidelines and surveillance limitations represents a grave risk to our nation’s sovereignty and the ideas of democracy.” • One can solely marvel who the spooks began surveilling in 2018 and 2019.

Republican Funhouse

“Biden, Republican Johnson maintain ‘intense’ Ukraine talks at White Home” [Reuters]. “Chatting with reporters afterward, Schumer stated it was some of the intense conferences he has ever been part of, because the Democrats sought to steer Johnson to comply with funding Ukraine. ‘It’s in his palms,’ Schumer stated of Johnson. ‘We advised him how vital it was. It was passionate.’ Johnson referred to as the talks ‘frank and sincere’ and stated his main concern is addressing migration alongside the U.S. southern border with Mexico, a topic he stated he returned to repeatedly together with in a one-on-one session with Biden. Biden stated he believed an answer may very well be reached on funding the federal government by a Friday deadline to keep away from a partial authorities shutdown, which he stated could be damaging to the U.S. financial system. Ukraine funding turns into extra pressing daily, Biden stated earlier than the assembly.” I hate this recurrent story; it’s a “Perils of Pauline” factor, the place the heroine — on this case, the Federal price range — all the time will get saved on the final second. However possibly not this time? On the border, Trump has stated he desires to run on it, so no deal. It’s not clear to me, nonetheless, whether or not Trump’s phrase is writ with the Home management. On Ukraine, Ukraine has misplaced; the one query is who will get the blame. Because it’s a Democrat conflict via and thru, Biden ought to, however the Democrat story might be that it’s the Republicans’ fault for denying them weapons; and given the media setting, that’s not a tough promote to make. If I have been Johnson, I’d wish to keep away from that, it doesn’t matter what his hardliners suppose. I maintain making an attempt to think about what sort of poison tablet Johnson might add to the invoice to make it painful and tough for Johnson to signal. Perhaps attempt to impose a diplomatic monitor? (A tough promote on the suitable, I’m certain). Not {that a} diplomatic monitor would have any actuality, you perceive. Or maybe audits of weapons distribution? A listening to on the 2014 Maidan coup, now that the spooks have opened that may of worms? How about Vicky Nuland’s head on a platter?

* * *

“Column: As measles spreads, ‘herd stupidity’ grips Florida’s authorities” [Michael Hiltzick, Los Angeles Times]. “9 instances could not look like lots, but it surely’s sufficient to alarm epidemiologists. They level out that measles is among the many most contagious viruses recognized to humankind, which implies that the instances recognized to date are more likely to be the tip of the iceberg. Who’s unconcerned? The chief public well being official of the state of Florida, that’s who. He’s Joseph Ladapo, whom I earlier recognized as ‘probably the most harmful quack in America.’… Ladapo has now cemented his place on the prime of the listing of public officers hazardous to your well being. He did so with a letter issued Feb. 20 to folks with youngsters on the elementary college struggling the outbreak. The letter famous that it’s ‘usually really helpful’ that youngsters keep house till the tip of the infectious interval, which he pegged at March 7. However he added: ‘Because of the excessive immunity price locally, in addition to the burden on households and academic price of wholesome youngsters lacking college,’ his company would let mother and father or guardians make their very own choices about sending their youngsters to highschool. The letter was additionally notable for what it didn’t say. It didn’t suggest that folks of nonimmunized youngsters get them vaccinated instantly.” And: “However as epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina noticed on her weblog, Your Native Epidemiologist, whereas the vaccination price in Florida is simply over 90%, that’s ‘not excessive sufficient — as a result of measles is so contagious, the brink for herd immunity towards measles is 95%. This implies there are pockets within the college, different colleges, and a neighborhood that measles might burn via.’ Measles is already on the march within the U.S. in 2024… To place it one other approach, Ladapo’s attraction to the precept of ‘herd immunity’ is outweighed by the herd stupidity of the anti-vaccination motion that he is part of.” • I assume the subsequent declare might be that measles are “gentle”:

I hate to file this in a partisan bucket, however Ladapo is an elected….

“10 measles instances reported in Florida as criticism rises over prime well being official’s response” [Orlando Sun-Sentinel]. “In the meantime, all media questions on whether or not these instances are within the unvaccinated, whether or not the youthful youngsters with measles are siblings of contaminated at Manatee Bay and whether or not the latest case is in a school scholar have gone unanswered by Florida’s well being officers. Much like the early days of COVID, Florida well being officers usually are not offering solutions to questions the general public desires to know: How did measles get to Florida, is it simply the unvaccinated, how precisely is that this once-eradicated illness spreading in South Florida? How many individuals in Broward County have been vaccinated on the current occasions? Native well being officers in Broward County and Polk County have redirected reporters inquiries to the Florida Division of Well being’s essential communications workplace in Tallahassee. That workplace has not reply to a number of inquires from the South Florida Solar Sentinel and the Orlando Sentinel.” • Commentary:

Democrats en Déshabillé

The notion that Democrats must “make a case” retains cropping up. No. What the Democrats wanted to have executed was ship:

So Kamaka owes me much more than 600 bucks (and that “two thousand” determine should have been workshopped). Cf Matt 7:16-20.

“How Panera Bread Ducked California’s New $20 Minimal Wage Regulation” [Bloomberg]. “Billionaire Greg Flynn, who made his fortune operating one of many world’s largest restaurant franchise operations, is getting a brand new increase from sourdough loaves and brioche buns That’s as a result of a California regulation that’s about to lift the state minimal wage at fast-food spots to $20 an hour from $16 gives an uncommon exemption for chains that bake bread and promote it as a standalone merchandise. Governor Gavin Newsom pushed for that break, in keeping with individuals conversant in the matter. Among the many essential beneficiaries is Flynn, a longtime Newsom donor whose California holdings embody two dozen Panera Bread places.”

Realignment and Legitimacy

I believe we must always simply assume that Google’s picked a aspect within the tradition wars, and act accordingly:

Re-upping this from Hyperlinks two days in the past:

Commentary: “I’m executed with @Google” Mario Juric. A protracted Tweet. Key paragraph:

I’ve been studying Google’s Gemini harm management posts. I believe they’re merely not telling the reality. For one, their text-only product has the identical (if not worse) points. And second, if you realize a bit about how these fashions are constructed, you realize you don’t get these “incorrect” solutions via one-off harmless errors. . With that prior, the stability of chances is strongly towards the outputs being an harmless bug — as @googlepubpolicy is now making an attempt to spin it: .

These values seem to incorporate a need to reshape the world in a particular approach that’s so robust that it allowed the individuals concerned to rationalize to themselves that it’s not simply acceptable however fascinating to coach their AI to prioritize ideology forward of giving person the info.

Google’s whole administration heirarchy signed off on Gemini. It’s doing what they need it to do (like, for instance, MCAS). Unsure how this matches in with Doctorow’s enshittification thesis; this seems like a complete new factor, to me.

#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). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Common Ideas” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).

Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be at liberty to contact me on the deal with 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 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 (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

Hat tricks to useful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).

Keep secure on the market!

* * *

Covid is Airborne

I like the concept SARS-CoV-2 would evolve in a route that prevented us from listening to coughs, reworking the symptomatic into the asymptomatic:

Do readers discover this? I see “everybody’s coughing” lots on my feed, however the accounts I observe are fairly doomstruck (and likewise biased towards the UK, which I suppose is worse off.)

Morbidity and Mortality

“Gentle!” “Only a chilly!” “Immunity debt!”

All lies.

Elite Maleficence

* * *

TABLE 1: Every day Covid Charts

LEGEND

1) ★ for charts new at present; all others usually are not up to date.

2) For a full-size/full-resolution picture, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Home windows) on the chart thumbnail and “open picture in new tab.”

NOTES

[1] (Biobot) Biobot drops, conformant to Walgreen positivity information (if that’s certainly not a knowledge artifact).

[2] (Biobot) Regional separation re-emerges.

[3] (CDC Variants) “As of Might 11, genomic surveillance information might be reported biweekly, based mostly on the supply of optimistic take a look at specimens.” “Biweeekly: 1. occurring each two weeks. 2. occurring twice per week; semiweekly.” Appears like CDC has chosen sense #1. In essence, they’re telling us variants are nothing to fret about. Time will inform.

[4] (ER) Doesn’t help Biobot information. “Charts and information offered by CDC, updates Wednesday by 8am. For the previous 12 months, utilizing a rolling 52-week interval.”

[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Not flattening.

[6] (Hospitalization: CDC) Nonetheless down. “Maps, charts, and information offered by CDC, updates weekly for the earlier MMWR week (Sunday-Saturday) on Thursdays (Deaths, Emergency Division Visits, Take a look at Positivity) and weekly the next Mondays (Hospitalizations) by 8 pm ET†”.

[7] (Walgreens) That’s an enormous drop! It will be fascinating to survey this inhabitants usually; these are individuals who, regardless of a tsunami of official propaganda and massive peer stress, went and bought examined anyhow.

[8] (Cleveland) Flattening, according to Biobot information.

[9] (Vacationers: Posivitity) Down, albeit within the rear view mirror.

[10] (Vacationers: Variants) About time for one thing to problem JN.1. However what’s “different”? One thing to stay up for, I suppose!

Stats Watch

GDP: “United States GDP Development Charge” [Trading Economics]. “The US financial system expanded an annualized 3.2% in This fall 2023, barely beneath 3.3% within the advance estimate, following a 4.9% price in Q3. The downward revision is because of non-public inventories which subtracted 0.27 pp from the expansion, in comparison with an addition of 0.07 pp seen within the advance estimate. However, shopper spending was revised larger (3% vs 2.8% within the advance estimate), led by providers (2.8% vs 2.4%) whereas items rose much less (3.2% vs 3.8%). Additionally, authorities spending rose far more (4.2% vs 3.3%)…..”

Retail: “United States Retail Inventories Ex Autos” [Trading Economics]. “Retail inventories excluding autos in america rose by 0.3% month-over-month in January 2024, following a 0.4% improve within the prior month. On a yearly foundation, retail inventories excluding autos fell by 1.4% in January.”

* * *

The Bezzle: “Klarna says its AI assistant does the work of 700 individuals after it laid off 700 individuals” [Fast Company]. “One month after taking its OpenAI-powered digital assistant international, the Swedish buy-now, pay-later firm has launched new information touting its potential to deal with buyer communications, make buyers happier, and even drive higher monetary outcomes.” • We will’t make a robotic automotive, however we are able to automate a fintech name heart.

* * *

Right now’s Worry & Greed Index: 79 Excessive Greed (earlier shut: 77 Excessive Greed) [CNN]. One week in the past: 75 (Excessive Greed). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Feb 28 at 12:55:14 PM ET.

Zeitgeist Watch

“Match” for what?

If solely there have been a solution to put shared air on a subscription foundation. (Truly, that’s an fascinating query, and doubtless some economist has written a paper on it: Why can some issues be rented, and others not? Since we reside in a rentier-driven, financialized society, that query could be of greater than passing curiosity…).

“The Psychological Trick Scammers Depend on and How one can Defend Your self” [Time]. “There’s one easy and efficient trick many scams depend on: emotional manipulation. ‘They use fear-based ways to get us into our primitive mind, which is all the time on alert,’ says Alex Melkumian, founding father of the Monetary Psychology Heart.” So in some sense, avoiding “dwelling in concern” is a helpful heuristic (and I’m wondering if scammers are inclined to current themselves as PMC). Extra: “If you end up in a scenario that is perhaps elevating pink flags, [Megan McCoy, assistant professor of personal financial planning at Kansas State University] suggests reminding your self to decelerate. ‘I can consider only a few instances in life the place this invoice can’t be paid in an hour or two hours later,’ she says. Ask for a quantity to name again, and take the time to do an web search and seek the advice of these round you.’” • Do an web search, a minimum of till OpenAI infests the whole lot with information from scammers, as search engine optimisation has already executed with Google.

Information of the Wired

I’m not feeling wired at present.

* * *

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 examine if you’re allergic to PayPal and (b) to learn the way to ship me photographs of vegetation. Greens are high-quality! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary vegetation! In order for you your deal with to look as a credit score, please place it firstly 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) right here. From lcm:

lcm write: “Final of the winterberries (Ilex verticillata).” Somewhat small, however I just like the touches of pink towards the wetland.

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not lined by the annual NC fundraiser. So in the event you see a hyperlink you particularly like, or an merchandise you wouldn’t see anyplace else, please don’t hesitate to precise your appreciation in tangible type. Keep 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 fearful. Extra tangibly, a relentless trickle of donations helps me with bills, and I consider that trickle when setting fundraising objectives:

Right here is the display that may seem, which I’ve helpfully annotated:

In the event you hate PayPal, you possibly can electronic mail me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I provides you with instructions on how one can ship a examine. Thanks!

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