2:00PM Water Cooler 3/1/2024 | bare capitalism

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Chook Music of the Day

Winter Wren, Grand Manan Island; Center Dam Pond, New Brunswick, Canada. “JUMBLED COLLECTION OF MUSICAL NOTES.” Hardly!

Politics

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

2024

Lower than a 12 months to go!

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Trump (R) (Willis, Election Interference) “Ex-divorce lawyer’s testimony complicates Willis, Wade controversy” [The Hill]. “The protection is searching for to disqualify Willis, Wade and the whole lot of the Fulton County district legal professional’s workplace from persevering with to prosecute the sweeping racketeering case in opposition to Trump and a number of other allies. On the coronary heart of their argument is the timeline of Willis and Wade’s relationship, which protection attorneys say started previous to Wade’s hiring. The protection claims Willis has benefited from Wade’s employment through journeys the pair took collectively whereas relationship. Wade was employed in November 2021. Each prosecutors have maintained that they started relationship in early 2022 — after Wade’s hiring — and broke it off in summer time 2023, simply earlier than Trump’s indictment was handed down, insisting there isn’t a battle. However testimony this week threw their timeline additional into query. Ashleigh Service provider, an legal professional for 2020 Trump marketing campaign operative Michael Roman, who first publicly surfaced allegations of the connection, introduced Bradley with the protection’s silver bullet Tuesday: textual content messages exhibiting the ex-Wade legislation associate confirming the protection’s timeline…. Regardless of Bradley’s demurring on the witness stand, his textual content messages align with testimony given at an earlier listening to by an ex-friend of Willis. Robin Yeartie, who met Willis in faculty, testified earlier this month that Willis and Wade started a romantic relationship in 2019, after a municipal courtroom convention — and a number of other years sooner than the prosecutors have claimed, below oath. Willis dismissed Yeartie’s testimony.” And: “Choose Scott McAfee will hear arguments from the attorneys Friday afternoon and can then proceed to craft a call. He beforehand stated the allegations in opposition to Willis and Wade ‘might end result’ of their disqualification if proof reveals an ‘precise battle of curiosity or the looks of 1.’”

Trump (R) (Willis, Election Interference) “Texts Present Witness Readily Helped Construct a Case to Disqualify Trump Prosecutors” [New York Times]. undreds of textual content messages obtained by The New York Instances present that Bradley, a former legislation associate and good friend of Wade, helped a protection lawyer to reveal the connection between the 2 prosecutors. The texts reveal that Bradley, who served for a time as Wade’s divorce lawyer till the 2 males had a bitter falling-out, assisted the trouble to disclose the romance and supply particulars about it for a minimum of 4 months — countering the impression he left on the witness stand that he had recognized subsequent to nothing in regards to the romance.” And: “Earlier than exposing the romance in her Jan. 8 submitting, Service provider requested Bradley in a textual content, ‘Do you assume it began earlier than she employed him?’ ‘Completely,” Bradley replied, including that the romance had began when the 2 served as native judges, earlier than Willis’ election as district legal professional in 2020. However on the witness stand this week, Bradley stated he had solely been ‘speculating’ in regards to the timing. Though Wade had informed him in regards to the relationship, he stated on the stand, he didn’t have direct information about when it started.”

Trump (R) “Trump’s one loss this week: His 2024 courtroom technique” [Axios]. “Trump’s delay ways are paying off in courtroom, however he could also be shedding one in all his most potent venues for his grievance-centered marketing campaign: courthouses. It now seems probably that simply one in all Trump’s 4 felony circumstances — the one in New York involving hush cash paid to an grownup movie actress — will conclude earlier than the 2024 election. Meaning Trump — who’s used courtroom appearances for rants in opposition to in opposition to Democrats and fundraising pleas — might have new backdrops in casting himself as a sufferer of politically motivated prosecutors. Whilst he’s orchestrated his courtroom appearances as marketing campaign messaging, Trump has complained of being ‘caught right here’ as an alternative of being on the marketing campaign path. However a few of Trump’s greatest fundraising hauls of the marketing campaign have come after his courthouse speeches, his staff has stated. The U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s resolution on Wednesday to listen to arguments over whether or not Trump has immunity for any crimes dedicated as president has thrown a wrench into his courtroom calendar — an extension of his marketing campaign schedule.” • I’m certain the Democrats will give you one thing else…

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Trump (R): “‘She sits in a troublesome chair’: Meet Susie Wiles, the operative making an attempt to information Trump via 4 indictments to the White Home” [NBC]. “In a uncommon on-the-record interview the day after Trump romped to victory over Nikki Haley in South Carolina, the platinum-bobbed and blue-eyed Wiles, 66, stated his success up to now is attributable to exactly one individual: ‘President Trump.’” She had higher! Extra: “She stated his pure political abilities — ‘willpower’ and being a ‘scholar of individuals’ and a ‘good reader of sentiment’ — have been coupled with invaluable expertise gained over eight years within the political and coverage arenas. ‘He’s now extra educated about what it takes to be president after his first time period. He’s extra educated about learn how to work together with the media. His personnel instincts are, I believe, higher honed,’ Wiles stated in a 30-minute cellphone name. ‘The brand new abilities are contained in the bundle of the identical Donald Trump, and I believe that’s what’s making the distinction this time.’” However then there’s this: “A former Trump marketing campaign official, talking on the situation of anonymity to keep away from angering him and Wiles, pointed to Trump’s money crunch as a motive to doubt Wiles’ effectiveness. This individual stated Wiles is succesful in state-level races and presidential primaries, by which shut relationships with outdoors energy gamers matter greater than they do in a full-scale nationwide marketing campaign for the White Home.” • We’ll see. However it is smart to spend early and lock the nomination up. s

Trump (R): “No, Trump, ‘the Black individuals’ aren’t in your facet” [Renée Graham, Boston Globe]. “‘I believe that’s why the Black individuals are a lot on my facet now as a result of they see what’s taking place to me occurs to them,’ Trump stated. ‘Does that make sense?’ No. It doesn’t. It’s a secure guess {that a} majority of ‘the Black individuals’ don’t equate the authorized wages of Trump’s self-inflicted sins — 91 federal felony counts from 4 indictments in 4 jurisdictions — with the greater than 400 brutal years of legalized, systemic, and institutional discrimination that Black individuals in America have all the time confronted.” • Certainly not all and even most. However I can’t assist however recall the (Black) individuals cheering Trump’s motorcade as he drove by on his strategy to being arraigned. Nicely-to-do suburbanites they weren’t. “What’s taking place to me occurs to them”? Yep.

Trump (R): “Trump Says He Is ‘Completely’ Contemplating Gov. Greg Abbott As Potential VP Decide” [HuffPost]. “In a joint interview with Fox Information’ Sean Hannity throughout a go to to the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump stated the governor is ‘completely’ included on his vice presidential shortlist. ‘Actually, he can be someone that I might very a lot contemplate,’ Trump stated in a joint look with Abbott. Trump praised Abbott as a ‘spectacular man,’ including that he was honored to obtain his endorsement this previous November. Abbott, although [as he must], informed CNN’s ‘State of the Union” Sunday that he stays targeted on Texas and serving to Trump win re-election in his present place as governor.” • What’s Abbot going to do? Swing Texas Trump’s means?

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Biden (D): “Axelrod: Biden Wants To Fear About Black Voters, Particularly If Trump Picks Tim Scott As VP” [RealClearPolitics]. “[Trump’s] polling, you realize, 20, 21% amongst, African-American voters right here. Biden, received 88% of that vote, again in 2020. And that is going to be a marginal race. So, it is a concern. And, sure, Black males and notably youthful Black males are those which might be drifting away. Some could vote for Trump, some could not vote in any respect. And, this needs to be a priority, for the Biden marketing campaign. Trump is aware of that. And I, by the way in which, I believe it might affect on his vice presidential alternative. And, you realize, there’s numerous discuss Tim Scott as a vice presidential candidate. I believe if he picks Tim Scott, it’s partly as a result of he acknowledges this could be useful in type of sealing in, that portion of the African-American vote that he now has.”

Biden (D): “The Growing Assaults on Kamala Harris” [The New Yorker]. The deck: “The Vice-President is to forged herself as a pacesetter and join with voters who will not be excited in regards to the Democratic ticket.” • I learn the entire article, and it boils all the way down to “making an attempt.” There’s nothing there.

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Williamson (D): “Marianne Williamson Re-Enters 2024 Race After Successful 3% in Michigan” [Bloomberg]. “Self-help creator Marianne Williamson stated she is “unsuspending” her long-shot presidential marketing campaign a day after profitable 3% of the vote within the Michigan Democratic major…. ‘Some individuals would say, ‘you’re delusional.’ However I’ll let you know what’s delusional. What’s delusional is simply closing our eyes and crossing our fingers and hoping that in some way Biden and Harris will have the ability to beat that juggernaut of darkish, darkish imaginative and prescient,’ she stated, referring to Republican Donald Trump, in a video posted on X, previously Twitter. Williamson, 71, has championed progressive concepts, together with Medicare-for-all and free faculty tuition. Her re-entry into the race is supposed to seize ongoing dissatisfaction with Biden, 81, amongst some Democrats amid issues about his dealing with of the financial system and psychological acuity.” • Right here’s the Tweet:

#Unsuspended pic.twitter.com/7BEcIo3iij

— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) February 28, 2024

Williamson (D): “Marianne Williamson ‘unsuspends’ her 2024 presidential marketing campaign” [WXYZ Detroit]. The Democratic candidate introduced Wednesday she is throwing her hat again within the ring, ‘unsuspending’ her marketing campaign after saying she was calling it quits three weeks in the past. ‘I had suspended it as a result of I used to be shedding the horse race, however one thing a lot extra necessary than the horse race is at stake right here, and we should reply,’ she stated in a video posted to X. … Williamson, working as a progressive to the left of President Biden, got here in third with round 3% of the votes, beating out fellow presidential hopeful Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota regardless of having already suspended her race.” • Williamson beats Phillips like a gong. That’s fairly humorous.

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“In opposition to Democrats’ ‘What, Me Fear?’ Method to Dropping Working Class Voters” [Ruy Tiexeira, The Liberal Patriot]. Extra recycled Thomas Frank, although it does appear that Tiexeira has the zeal of the apostate. Nonetheless, verify this out: “… the progressive or intersectional left…. ” Tiexeira ties his shoelaces collectively proper there. He apparently can not — precisely as liberal Democrat can not — of empowering the working class, interval. Right here is the mathematical defintion of intersection: “{1,2,3} ∩ {2,3,4} = {2,3}. “Much less is much less.” Certainly what we wish is “extra is extra”? Maybe what we wish is, not coincidentally, union {1,2,3} ∪ {2,3,4} = {1,2,3,4} (if I’ve that notation proper, and I’m unsure I do.

“People Aren’t Paying Shut Consideration to the 2024 Election” [The Liberal Patriot]. Sure, Labor Day is a methods away. Attention-grabbing chart, although:

“Our democracy.”

#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 knowledge). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Basic 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 tackle 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 (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

“SARS-CoV-2 Contamination on Wholesome People’ Palms in Group Settings Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic” [Cureus]. From the Summary: “We collected 1,022 swab samples from the fingers of wholesome members. In keeping with the factors for knowledge assortment, 97 samples have been excluded, and 925 samples have been analyzed utilizing RT-qPCR…. The RT-qPCR-positive samples didn’t include viable viruses, as confirmed by the plaque assay outcomes…. The detection charge of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the fingers of wholesome people was extraordinarily low, and no viable viruses have been detected. These outcomes counsel that the danger of contact transmission through fingers in a neighborhood setting is extraordinarily uncommon.” • Shocked, shocked. Anyone inform CDC!

Maskstravaganza

“Influence of neighborhood masks mandates on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Ontario after adjustment for differential testing by age and intercourse” [PNAS Nexus]. Mannequin research. From the Summary: “In Ontario, Canada, irregular regional introduction of neighborhood masks mandates in 2020 created a quasi-experiment helpful for evaluating the affect of such mandates… The prevented fraction related to masks mandates was 46% (95% CI 41–51%), with 290,000 scientific circumstances, 3,008 deaths, and lack of 29,038 quality-adjusted life years averted from 2020 June to December, representing $CDN 610 million in financial wealth. Underneath-testing in youthful people biases estimates of SARS-CoV-2 an infection danger and obscures the affect of public well being preventive measures. After adjustment for under-testing, masks mandates emerged as extremely efficient. Group masking saved substantial numbers of lives, and prevented financial prices, through the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.”

Conversational tip:

Once I speak to individuals about my masks the one factor that resonates is after I say
” I haven’t been sick for 4 years”.
I see the wheels turning and the longing of their eyes.
I’ve cracked what works.
No one desires to be sick!

— Jacaranda Cease the #PopulationCull (@Randall87454048) February 29, 2024

* * *

“Analysis of the Efficacy and Aerodynamic Intervention of Face Shields in opposition to Pathogenic Aerosols Utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics and Wells-Riley Transport Mannequin” (accepted article) [Philippine Journal of Science]. From the Summary: “Outcomes confirmed that the face protect is simply efficient in opposition to coughs hitting perpendicular to the floor. At different angles of assault, the safety by the face protect diminishes, and sporting a face protect can as an alternative enhance the an infection danger in opposition to pathogenic aerosols.”

* * *

“The Industrial Designer behind the N95 Masks” [Scientific American]. “[At 3M, Sara Little Turnbull] dug into that non-woven expertise and all its many potential makes use of. She got here up with 100 authentic product concepts, together with one whose results would resound throughout the globe: the moldable bra cup. As an alternative of an excessively inflexible and uncomfortable form, the moldable cup match snugly to the breast–and with fewer seam traces at that! [But] that moldable bra cup would pave the way in which for an additional invention – one with a lot farther-reaching results… Whereas she was working with 3M, Sara was additionally caring for three sick relations. Each her dad and mom and her sister have been dying, all on the similar time, which meant that Sara spent numerous time in hospitals. And she or he started to note the masks the medical doctors have been sporting – a flat piece of cloth, with a tie within the again. Possibly it was the boredom of lengthy hours spent in hospital rooms; perhaps it was a racing mind that couldn’t be tamed; perhaps it was a venture designed to distract herself from her personal intense grief – we are able to’t say for certain. However Sara had an concept. What if she might take that moldable bra that she’d designed… and switch it into a greater medical masks? In 1972, 3M produced a masks… and it appeared an entire lot like a moldable bra cup!” • Speculating very freely: Will Dr. Freud please choose up the white courtesy cellphone? Is it attainable that the N95 prompts unconscious taboos, and that that is one supply for the unreasoning resistance to them?

“Compliance with containment measures to the COVID-19 pandemic over time: Do delinquent traits matter?” [Personality and Individual Differences]. 2021. From the Summary: “This research investigated the relationships between delinquent traits and compliance with COVID-19 containment measures. The pattern consisted of 1578 Brazilian adults aged 18–73 years who answered sides from the PID-5, the Affective resonance issue of the ACME, and a questionnaire about compliance with containment measures…. Our findings indicated that delinquent traits, particularly decrease ranges of empathy and better ranges of Callousness, Deceitfulness, and Danger-taking, are immediately related to decrease compliance with containment measures. These traits clarify, a minimum of partially, the rationale why individuals proceed not adhering to the containment measures even with rising numbers of circumstances and deaths.” • Numerous libertarians in Brazil, then? (Severely: I deprecate cross-country/cross-cultural research. And I don’t assume snarking on anti-maskers is efficient, pragmatically, although heaven is aware of what’s.)

Prevention

“Lowering Vaccinia virus transmission indoors inside 60 seconds: Making use of SAFEAIR-X aerosol with Iodine-V as a disinfectant” [PLOS One]. “Iodine-V ((C₂₆H₃₉N₄O₁₅)_x * (I₂)_y) demonstrates an in vitro virucidal exercise by deactivating SARS-CoV-2 viral titers. The antiviral properties of Iodine-V scale back viral load within the air to inhibit viral transmission indoors. This antiviral property was utilized to kind a disinfectant answer referred to as SAFEAIR-X Aerosol. … The experiment measured the antiviral efficacy of SAFEAIR-X following publicity to the Vaccinia virus (VACV) samples as a confirmed surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. The SAFEAIR-X confirmed 96% effectiveness, with 2 seconds of spraying period and 60 seconds of contact time releasing lower than 0.0001 ppm of iodine into the air, and a log discount worth of 1.50 at 60 seconds in 2 out of three checks was noticed. Subsequently, this research demonstrates SAFEAIR-X aerosol as a possible indoor floor and air disinfectant.” • Superior. When can we purchase it?

Elite Maleficence

“PETITION TO THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW CHALLENGING ALLEGED UNDERGROUND REGULATION” (PDF) [World Health Network] (embedded on the finish of at present’s Water Cooler). This petition challenges the California Division of Public Well being (CDPH) “someday” steering for Covid isolation, shortly to be adopted by the CDC, as we noticed in Hyperlinks this morning. Right here is the important thing paragraph:

CPDH simply promulgated the rule, arbitrarily. They don’t get to try this. CDPH should assume they’re the CDC, or one thing. (On “underground regulation,” see “The California ‘Division of Political Well being’ Mandates Covid An infection with Its New ‘One Day’ Order (and How one can Cease Them)” at NC.)

“PETITION TO THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW CHALLENGING ALLEGED UNDERGROUND REGULATION” [World Health Network] (embedded on the finish of at present’s Water Cooler). The identical argument, however for California’s division of Occupational Security and Well being (DOSH), often known as “Cal/OSHA.”

TABLE 1: Each day Covid Charts

LEGEND

1) ★ for charts new at present; all others will not be 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 knowledge (if that’s certainly not an information artifact). Observe, nonetheless, the world “below the curve,” apart from peaks. That space is bigger below Biden than below Trump, and it appears to be rising steadily if inconsistently.

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

[3] (CDC Variants) As of Might 11, genomic surveillance knowledge will probably be reported biweekly, based mostly on the provision of constructive check specimens.” “Biweeekly: 1. occurring each two weeks. 2. occurring twice per week; semiweekly.” Appears to be like 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 knowledge. “Charts and knowledge 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 knowledge offered by CDC, updates weekly for the earlier MMWR week (Sunday-Saturday) on Thursdays (Deaths, Emergency Division Visits, Check Positivity) and weekly the next Mondays (Hospitalizations) by 8 pm ET†”.

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

[8] (Cleveland) Flattening, in keeping with Biobot knowledge.

[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 look ahead to, I suppose! Alert reader RoadDoggie factors out that “Different” is NV.1, which is (very out of the blue) 12.5% of the overall, even when JN.1 nonetheless dominates. Right here is the Biobot historical past of HV.1:

As you possibly can see, HV.1 was dominant in November 2023. On at present’s CDC variant “NowCast,” it’s fairly low. Odd.

Stats Watch

Manufacturing: “United States ISM Buying Managers Index (PMI)” [Trading Economics]. “The ISM Manufacturing PMI in the US fell to 47.8 in February 2024 from 49.1 within the earlier month, firmly under market expectations of 49.5 to level to the sixteenth consecutive interval of declines in manufacturing exercise, erasing earlier hopes of contemporary traction within the sector.”

Antitrust: “Google ‘predatory’ promoting practices probe expanded by Canada antitrust watchdog” [New York Post]. “As a part of the Competitors Bureau’s probe — which expands on an investigation that originally started in 2020 — the legislation enforcement company obtained an order from the Federal Courtroom of Canada requiring Google to producing related information and written data, in line with The Wall Road Journal. The Competitors Bureau was issued its first courtroom order associated to their investigation into Google’s conduct within the online-display-advertising market in October 2021, which sought to find out whether or not the Alphabet subsidiary was ‘impeding the success of rivals’ and surging costs in consequence, The Journal reported.”

Tech: “Elon Musk sues OpenAI accusing it of placing revenue earlier than humanity” [The Guardian]. “Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI and its chief govt, Sam Altman, of betraying its foundational mission by placing the pursuit of revenue forward of the good thing about humanity. The world’s richest man, a founding board member of the bogus intelligence firm behind ChatGPT, claimed Altman had ‘set aflame’ OpenAI’s founding settlement by signing an funding cope with Microsoft. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on Thursday, claims OpenAI is now growing synthetic common intelligence (AGI) – a theoretical type of AI that may carry out a variety of duties at or above a human stage of intelligence – for revenue quite than for the good thing about humankind. ‘OpenAI Inc has been remodeled right into a closed-source, de facto subsidiary of the biggest expertise firm on the earth: Microsoft. Underneath its new board, it isn’t simply growing however is definitely refining an AGI to maximise earnings for Microsoft, quite than for the good thing about humanity,’ the lawsuit alleges.” • I don’t perceive. Revenue is “the good thing about humanity.” What different motive might there be?

In the present day’s Worry & Greed Index: 77 Excessive Greed (earlier shut: 79 Excessive Greed) [CNN]. One week in the past: 77 (Excessive Greed). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Mar 1 at 1:22:35 PM ET.

Photograph E-book

“Astronomy Image of the Day” [NASA]. “How does the sky flip darkish at night time? In levels, and with totally different attribute colours rising from the horizon.” Picture Credit score & Copyright: Dario Giannobile:

Zeitgeist Watch

“A brand new firm is delivery Arctic ice from Greenland to relax posh drinks in Dubai” [CNN]. “The startup firm, Arctic Ice, shipped its first container of round 22 tons of Greenland ice to Dubai this 12 months on the market to high-end bars and eating places. Based in 2022 by two Greenlanders, Arctic Ice has an attention-grabbing — and controversial — enterprise mannequin. It scours the fjord close to the nation’s capital metropolis of Nuuk for icebergs which have naturally indifferent from the ice sheet.​ “We’re searching for the clearest and thereby additionally oldest and purest ice,” stated Malik V. Rasmussen, one of many co-founders of Arctic Ice.” • Get pleasure from it whereas it lasts!

Air as a Service enterprise mannequin (alert reader DG):

Class Warfare

“Dr. Pangloss’s Panopticon” [Crooked Timber]. “What Acemoglu and Robinson are saying is one thing fairly totally different than what Noah depicts them as saying. For certain, they acknowledge that persuasion has some stochasticity. However they stress that it isn’t a collection of haphazard accidents. As an alternative, below their argument, there are some sorts of people who find themselves systematically extra probably to reach getting their views listened to than other forms of individuals. This asymmetry can fairly be thought-about to be an asymmetry of energy. Underneath this definition, energy is a type of social affect. Once more, it’s fully true that it’s extraordinarily troublesome to isolate social affect from different elements, proving that social affect completely brought about this, that, or the opposite factor. But when Noah himself doesn’t consider within the significance and worth of social affect, then why does he stand up within the morning and fireplace up his keyboard to exit and affect individuals, and why do individuals help his dwelling by studying him? I think about Noah would concede that social affect is an actual factor! And if he have been really put to it, I believe that he would additionally should conform to a really believable corollary: that on common he, Noah Smith, exerts extra social affect than the modal punter argufying on the Web. A lot of individuals pay to obtain his e-newsletter; a lot of different individuals obtain it without spending a dime. Meaning that he’s, below a really affordable definition, extra highly effective than these different individuals. He’s, on common, extra able to persuading giant numbers of individuals of his beliefs than the modal reply-guy goes to be. This understanding of energy is neither purely semantic nor empirically ineffective.” • Yep.

Information of the Wired

“The Butterfly Redemption” [Hakai]. “Together with eight different incarcerated girls, Heather is entrusted with the care and feeding of practically 4,000 members of an endangered species, the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. With this belief comes the privilege of working simply past the razor-wire fence through the day earlier than returning to life among the many common jail inhabitants every night time…. Recognizing the necessity for pressing motion, the Oregon Zoo started a captive breeding program for the species in 2003. In 2011, the zoo helped set up the breeding program at Mission Creek as a part of The Evergreen State School and Washington State’s Sustainability in Prisons Venture. Since then, the work undertaken by these incarcerated girls has develop into one of many final finest hopes for the species’ survival.” • That’s good, or a minimum of higher, definitely for Heather. It’s too dangerous each citizen doesn’t have a straightforward pathway to changing into a citizen scientist. We’d like extra of them!

“What To Do After You End the NY Instances Crossword Puzzle” [Kottke.org]. Good compendium of crossword hyperlinks. “However actually the principle factor to do after ending the puzzle is to open the Spelling Bee again up… Am I proper???” • I’m so previous I keep in mind when the paper model of the Instances was really an occasion. It weighed a metric f*ckton, price below two bucks, and generally it was really good! In my lifetime!

Contact data for crops: 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 photos of crops. Greens are nice! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary crops! If you’d like your deal with to seem as a credit score, please place it at the beginning of your mail in parentheses: (thus). In any other case, I’ll anonymize by utilizing your initials. See the earlier Water Cooler (with plant) right here. From SR:

SR writes: “The majesty of bark. Sorry I don’t know what sort it’s. However I haven’t seen you function bark. And it’s stunning. Maybe some woodpeckers’ handiwork too.” Extra bark can be pretty. In any case, I stan for stumps, why not bark?

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Petition on CalOSHA Underground Regulation

Petition on CDPH Underground Regulation