\n<\/p>\n
Bird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Sage Thrasher, Gunnison, Colorado, United States. Twelve minutes! I guess people become fascinated with the mimicry and wonder what will come next?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#kamala\">Kamala\u2019s speeches on the economy<\/a> (transcripts).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#election\">Election integrity<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Negotiations restart at Boeing<\/a>, as suppliers and customers begin to feel pain.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nasal\">Potential good news on the nasal spray front<\/a> (albeit a mouse study).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong>Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital.\u201d \u2013Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"assassination \"\/>Trump Assassination Attempts (Plural)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBiden pretends to squish a bug on the table on The View after Whoopi Goldberg compared Trump to an insect following two assassination attempts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-13891365\/Biden-pretends-squish-bug-table-View-Whoopi-Goldberg-compared-Trump-insect-following-two-assassination-attempts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u2022 Forty days to go, so there\u2019s still time for the light bulb to go on in some lone gunperson\u2019s brain\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>Wowsers:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ready for a mindf**k? <\/p>\n<p>This video includes a precise POV rendition of the golf course assassination attempt on Trump<\/p>\n<p>It is 2 1\/2 years old <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eUr52mziLk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/eUr52mziLk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/walterkirn\/status\/1839035097850458446\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Not sure what to make of this\u2026. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Less than fifty days to go!<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/free.timeanddate.com\/countdown\/i8ubjj5e\/n179\/cf100\/cm0\/cu1\/ct0\/cs1\/ca0\/cr0\/ss0\/cac000\/cpc000\/pcfff\/tcfff\/fs100\/szw320\/szh135\/tatTime%20left%20to%20Election%20Day%2C%202024\/tac000\/tptTime%20since%20Event%20started%20in\/tpc000\/mac000\/mpc000\/iso2024-11-05T00:00:00\/bo2\/pd2\" allowtransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"322\" height=\"137\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p> <a name=\"rcp\"\/>Friday\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RCP<\/a> Poll Averages:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rcp_2024-09-20.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"851\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-279077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rcp_2024-09-20.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rcp_2024-09-20-212x300.png 212w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Once again, the Democrats must be very puzzled to have virtual unanimity across the political spectrum that \u201cHarris is the one,\u201d and yet the election is a virtual tie. How can this be? Perhaps a few more Republicans, generals, or celebrities will turn the tide.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/kamala\"\/>Kamala (D): \u201cFULL TRANSCRIPT: Kamala Harris\u2019 Speech At Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 25, 2024)\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/singjupost.com\/full-transcript-kamala-harris-speech-at-pittsburgh-pa-sept-25-2024\/?singlepage=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Singju Post<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/singjupost.com\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">venue<\/a>)].<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>And I promise you I will be pragmatic in my approach. I will engage in what called \u201cbold, persistent experimentation.\u201d Because I believe we shouldn\u2019t be constrained by ideology and instead should seek practical solutions to problems. Realistic assessments of what is working and what is not. Applying metrics to our analysis. Applying facts to our analysis. And stay focused, then, not only on the crises at hand, but on our big goals. On what\u2019s best for America over the long term.<\/p>\n<p>And part of being pragmatic means taking good ideas from wherever they come. Listen, you all know my career. Andrea shared it with you. I am a devout public servant. I also know the limitations of government. I\u2019ve always been and will always be, and be clear about this, I\u2019ve always been and will always be a strong supporter of workers and unions. I also believe we need to engage those who create most of the jobs in America.<\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019m a capitalist. I believe in free and fair markets. I believe in consistent and transparent rules of the road to create a stable business environment. And I know the power of American innovation. I\u2019ve been working with entrepreneurs and business owners my whole career.<\/p>\n<p>And I believe companies need to play by the rules. Respect the rights of workers and unions and abide by fair competition. And if they don\u2019t, I will hold them accountable. And if anyone has a question about that, just look at my record as Attorney General.<\/p>\n<p>Look at my record in California, taking on the big banks for predatory lending.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>For Kamala\u2019s record on taking on big banks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/08\/how-kamala-harris-sold-out-struggling-homeowners-to-save-banks-in-2012-and-then-lied-about-it.html\">see NC here<\/a>. On the mortgage settlement after the Crash, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2019\/01\/kamala-harris-tells-big-lie-2012-mortgage-settlement-good-deal-homeowners.html\">see NC here<\/a>. And in any case, if you believe Biden now, Kamala was <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/biden-peace-decision-exit-2024-race-view\/story?id=114071812\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">practically co-president during his entire term<\/a>. So why are we only hearing about this now, 40 days before the election? (And when did people start saying \u201cFranklin Roosevelt\u201d instead of \u201cFDR\u201d? Under Obama, wasn\u2019t it? It always bugged me that now we leave out \u201cDelano,\u201d too.<\/p>\n<p>Kamala (D): \u201cRead the transcript of Kamala Harris\u2019 exclusive solo MSNBC interview\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/read-transcript-kamala-harris-msnbc-interview-rcna172771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MSNBC<\/a>]. The start:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>RUHLE: Madam Vice President, you just laid out your economic vision for the future.<\/p>\n<p>HARRIS: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>RUHLE: But, still, there are lots of Americans who don\u2019t see themselves in your plans. For those who say, these policies aren\u2019t for me, what do you say to them? [what a banal softball \u2013lambert]<\/p>\n<p>HARRIS: Well, if you are hardworking, if you have the dreams and the ambitions and the aspirations of what I believe you do, you\u2019re in my plan.<\/p>\n<p>I have to tell you, I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people. We have ambition. We have aspirations. We have dreams. We can see what\u2019s possible. We have an incredible work ethic. <\/p>\n<p>But not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things. But we don\u2019t lack for those things. But not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter. And so my vision for the economy \u2014 I call it an opportunity economy \u2014 is about making sure that all Americans, wherever they start, wherever they are, have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead, right?<\/p>\n<p>I think we can\u2019t and we shouldn\u2019t aspire to have an economy that just allows people to get by. People want to do more than just get by. They want to get ahead. And I come from the middle class.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The rest of it is in substance the same as the Pittsburgh speech, except (naturally) no mention of FDR (Pittsburgh being a union town). Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Strong interview for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KamalaHarris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@KamalaHarris<\/a> just now w\/<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SRuhle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@SRuhle<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MSNBC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@MSNBC<\/a>. Good, detailed conversation on the economy. The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@VP<\/a> made a good case for her plan and the values behind it.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidaxelrod\/status\/1839086806844760145\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I think Axelrod is stretching it with \u201cconversation.\u201d (Here the Daily Mail uses \u201chow<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-13892517\/Kamala-Harris-stumped-question-crucial-economic-policy-MSNBC-interview.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> you gonna pay for it<\/a>\u201d as a gotcha; NC readers know about MMT, so there\u2019s no gotcha here. Kamala doesn\u2019t know, and so slithers off into \u201cfair share\u201d foofra).<\/p>\n<p>Kamala (D): \u201cHuge ad spending pours into defining Harris in the \u2018blue wall\u2019 battlegrounds\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/huge-ad-spending-pours-defining-harris-blue-wall-battlegrounds-rcna172538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NBC<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cMichigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are absorbing more than half of the presidential campaigns\u2019 ad spending, with both sides trying to fill in voters\u2019 perceptions of Harris.\u201d And: \u201cHarris\u2019 campaign is running an equal mix of positive and negative ads on broadcast TV, according to the tracking firm AdImpact, while former President Donald Trump\u2019s campaign is running almost exclusively negative and contrast ads \u2014 a demonstration of how focused voters and both campaigns are on defining Harris as she runs against a three-time candidate who has inspired entrenched views among American voters. \u2018It\u2019s simple: Everyone has made up their mind about Donald Trump. Trump\u2019s numbers are the stickiest things in politics; they don\u2019t move,\u2019 said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and presidential campaign veteran. \u2018What\u2019s moveable is Harris \u2014 we\u2019ve seen a lot of movement in her numbers since she entered the race,\u2019 Conant continued, noting the dramatic increase in Harris\u2019 favorability numbers since she took over as the Democratic Party\u2019s presidential candidate. \u2018And there are a lot of voters who haven\u2019t made up their minds about her because she\u2019s new to the campaign, so there\u2019s an ability to introduce new information. That\u2019s why you\u2019re seeing Trump pounding negative information about Harris and Harris feeling the need to give positive information to push back.\u2019 The trend is similar to how the two parties handled the same period in the 2020 election \u2014 when Joe Biden ran a significantly higher share of contrast and positive ads compared with Trump, who relied primarily on contrast and negative ads but still ran a small share of positive spots.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Trump (R): \u201cTrump Should Be Running Away With the Election. Why Isn\u2019t He?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/donald-trump-campaign-race-kamala-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Free Press<\/a>]. \u201cWith only a handful of interviews and some help from a sympathetic press corps, Harris has shed her image as the most unpopular vice president in recent history and rebranded as a viable candidate. But more to the point, Trump has <em>allowed<\/em> her to rebrand\u2026. Instead of working hard to convince voters Harris is unfit for the top job, the Trump campaign has wasted too much time on two things: stupid stuff and bad stuff. First, the stupid. On Saturday, Trump posted a video on Truth Social, hawking silver \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113175718594981285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trump Coins<\/a>.\u2019 \u2026 Last week he paid a visit to a bar in Greenwich Village, where he bought a burger with cryptocurrency (all part of a Trumpworld crypto push). None of this screams \u2018I am laser-focused on delivering victory in November. Second, the bad. Hanging out with nutso racist troll Laura Loomer. Preemptively blaming the Jews if he loses in November. Indulging an unproven, sinister fantasy about pet-eating Haitian migrants in Ohio. Greenlighting J.D. Vance\u2019s onstage appearance with Tucker Carlson last Saturday\u2014just weeks after Carlson interviewed a Nazi apologist [<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/q0d1IFBW0U8?si=K-asDfDhsD-1gUkA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Darryl Cooper<\/a>] who he called the \u2018best and most honest popular historian working in the United States today.\u2019 All of this\u2014the stupid and the bad\u2014hurts Trump\u2019s reelection chances. (Though at least the Trump campaign was smart enough to snub Mark Robinson from a recent North Carolina rally after reports revealed the gubernatorial candidate calls himself a \u2018black Nazi\u2019 on porn websites.) All of this is to say: We are a long way from Butler, Pennsylvania. In the aftermath of the Trump assassination attempt, people around the former president described him as a changed man.\u201d \u2022 Yep. As I pointed out at the time, Trump had the opportunity to<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kayfabe#Faces_and_heels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> \u201cturn\u201d from a \u201cHeel\u201d into a \u201cFace<\/a>\u201d (which he tried for a moment at the beginning of his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, but he didn\u2019t persist in it). There\u2019s still a chance for him to make a populist turn in the next 40 days, because IMNHSO Kamala\u2019s support cannot but be shallow in the newly persuaded, but the bell will soon signal the end of the round.<\/p>\n<p>Trump (R) (Smith\/Chutkan): \u201cThe fruits of Jack Smith\u2019s 2-year investigation into Trump will land on Tanya Chutkan\u2019s desk today\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/09\/26\/jack-smith-trump-investigation-dossier-00181108\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cOn Thursday, Smith\u2019s prosecutors are scheduled to submit to Chutkan a 180-page dossier distilling their case against Trump \u2014 the fruits of a two-year investigation that included secret grand jury testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence and former chief of staff Mark Meadows. It is likely the special counsel\u2019s final chance before Election Day to lay out his case for why Trump deserves to be put on trial and convicted. The filing \u2014 a legal brief accompanied by supporting exhibits \u2014 is expected to contain never-before-seen evidence about Trump\u2019s efforts to subvert the last election. It could include snippets of interviews prosecutors conducted with some of Trump\u2019s top advisers, documents Smith procured from the National Archives and a log of Trump\u2019s Twitter activity as violence raged [oh come on] on Jan. 6, 2021. But prosecutors are not going to file these documents publicly. They must first submit them \u2018under seal\u2019 to Chutkan, who will then decide how much of the evidence is fit for public release. It\u2019s all a far cry from the dramatic courtroom showdown Smith\u2019s team had been preparing for a year ago, when they hoped to bring the case quickly before a jury. But it is likely to include damaging details for Trump just weeks before Election Day. Trump\u2019s lawyers oppose any disclosure of the evidence that prosecutors have amassed, arguing that it amounts to interference in the final weeks of the campaign. They have repeatedly called for the entire case to be dismissed in light of the Supreme Court\u2019s July 1 decision granting broad immunity for official presidential acts. But of Smith\u2019s brief is to advise Chutkan on how much of the case can proceed in light of the immunity ruling. Prosecutors are expected to argue that most of Trump\u2019s allegedly criminal acts were in his capacity as a political candidate, not as president \u2014 or that any purportedly official acts are not entitled to immunity.\u201d \u2022 \u201cThe very purpose\u201d my Sweet Aunt Fanny.<\/p>\n<p>Trump (R): \u201cWatchdog report on Justice Department\u2019s Jan. 6 response won\u2019t be done by election\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/09\/25\/january-6-inspector-general-report-delay-00181085\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u2022 How odd.<\/p>\n<p>Trump (R): \u201cIn blow to Trump campaign, Nebraska won\u2019t go through with electoral vote change\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scrippsnews.com\/politics\/america-votes\/presidential-election\/in-blow-to-trump-campaign-nebraska-wont-go-through-with-electoral-vote-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scripps<\/a>]. \u201cIn a blow to the Republican party and its presidential nominee, Donald Trump, Nebraska\u2019s governor said Tuesday he wouldn\u2019t call a special session to change how electoral votes in the state are awarded. The decision follows a key state senator saying he would not support the effort. Former President Trump and his allies have been pressuring the state to change its 32-year law that awards electoral votes by congressional district instead of a statewide vote, otherwise known as a winner-take-all system. In winner-take-all states, the candidate winning the popular vote receives all of the state\u2019s electoral votes. But in Maine and Nebraska, the state\u2019s popular vote winner receives two electoral votes, and the popular vote winner in each congressional district receives one electoral vote. Nebraska has three congressional districts, and the Republican party believes their candidate will win two along with the two electoral votes coming from the state\u2019s popular vote. But it\u2019s Nebraska\u2019s 2nd District that\u2019s pushed the party to rally for a change in the electoral system, as the Omaha-based seat has tilted blue recently and could be the single electoral vote to decide a 269-269 tie.\u201d \u2022 But no.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just Springfield, Haitians being flown to small towns nationwide\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/national\/article_caaf905c-7a14-11ef-adcb-234686fb00ca.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Center Square<\/a>]. Note lack of agency in \u201cbeing flown.\u201d This continues throughout the story. Springfield, MO: \u201c\u2018due to an influx.’\u201d Sylacauga, AL: \u201cbeing dropped into their community.\u201d Coffee County, TN: \u201care scheduled to arrive.\u201d Charleroi, PA: \u201chas grown.\u201d Del Rio, TX: \u201cdescended on.\u201d Is it too much to ask who, if anyone, organized the flying, the influx, the arrival, the growth, and the descent? Surely it would not have been hard for the writer to have included this information in the story. Is there a Haitian refugee program, as for the Hmong? (For example, a few Somalis chose Lewiston, ME because of low cost of living and cheap land, despite the snow. More followed. The process was organic.)<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Undecided Voters Are Not Who You Think They Are\u201d [Ron Brownstein, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/KpZah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Atlantic<\/a>]. \u201cWhen most people think about a voter still trying to make up their mind, they probably imagine a person who is highly likely to vote but uncertain whether to support Harris, Trump, or a third-party candidate. Both political parties, however, are more focused on a different\u2014and much larger\u2014group of undecideds: potential voters who are highly likely to support Harris or Trump, but unsure if they will vote at all. Campaigns typically describe the first group of reliable but conflicted voters as persuadable; they frequently describe the second group as irregular voters. Persuadable voters get the most attention from the media, but campaigns recognize that irregular voters can loom much larger in the outcome\u2014especially in presidential elections when more of them ultimately participate.\u201d And: \u201cAmong the operatives and strategists that I spoke with in both parties, the best estimate is that just 4 to 7 percent of voters in the battleground states are such persuadables\u2014people highly likely to vote but genuinely uncertain about whom they will support.\u201d But: \u201cCatalist, a Democratic voter-targeting firm, shared with me data rarely disclosed in public, based on its modeling, that attempt to quantify the number of infrequent voters in each of the swing states who lean strongly toward Harris or Trump. That research shows, first, that across the battleground states white people without a college degree routinely account for 70 percent or more of the Trump-leaning nonvoters; and, second, that people of color make up a big majority of Harris\u2019s potential targets across the Sun Belt battlegrounds, as well as in Michigan. In the three big Rust Belt battlegrounds\u2014Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin\u2014working-class white women without a college degree, Catalist\u2019s projections show, also make up a significant share of the voters who lean Democratic but don\u2019t vote regularly. Page Gardner, a Democratic expert on voter turnout, told me. \u201cPeople are discouraged about their lives and feel \u2026 I\u2019m trying really hard and I\u2019m not getting anywhere.\u201d Against that backdrop, she said, the challenge for Democrats is \u2018giving them some sort of agency to feel like my vote matters, because a lot of people feel that no one is paying attention to them.’\u201d \u2022 This accords well with alert reader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/200pm-water-cooler-9-25-2024.html#comment-4106808\">ChrisRUEcon\u2019s comment yesterday<\/a>: \u201cThose \u2018undecideds\u2019 are likely Chris-Arnade-Dignity adjacent\u201d (for \u201cundecided,\u201d read \u201cirregular\u201d). If you squint, you can see Kamala trying to make the irregular voters believe their vote counts; I\u2019m not sure her logos, ethos, and pathos are up to the task, though. Trump taking over a MacDonald\u2019s grill would blow that verbiage away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHappiness swings votes \u2013 and America\u2019s current mood could scramble expectations of young and old voters\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/happiness-swings-votes-and-americas-current-mood-could-scramble-expectations-of-young-and-old-voters-234622\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Conversation<\/a>]. \u201cResearch worldwide indicates that happy people prefer keeping things the same, and they tend to vote for the incumbent in political elections. Voters who aren\u2019t as happy are more open to anti-establishment candidates, seeing the government as a source of their discontent. These findings may help to explain the Democratic Party\u2019s waning support among young people\u2026. The changing political preferences of unhappy young Americans are particularly revealing when compared with those of older Americans, who have been getting happier in recent years\u2026. The 2024 presidential candidates seem to have intuited this. The Harris campaign is all about \u201cjoy\u201d and celebrating happiness and community. The Trump campaign adopts an angrier tone and a grievance-filled approach.\u201d \u2022 Change (not happy) vs. More of The Same (happy). Somehow, I don\u2019t think the irregular \u201cdignity\u201d voters (see above) are happy. But will they be unhappy enough to get off the couch?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en D\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cNYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on 5 federal public corruption charges, including bribery and wire fraud\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/09\/25\/us\/new-york-city-mayor-eric-adams-indicted\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. Well, so much for Black cop with a million-watt smile. More: \u201cThe indictment alleges illegal actions stretching back to 2014, from when he was Brooklyn Borough president. \u2018For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,\u201d the indictment reads. Specifically, Adams received luxury travel and other benefits from a Turkish official and later in exchange pressured the NYC Fire Department to open a Turkish consular building without a fire inspection, the indictment says. The mayor \u2018engaged in a long-running conspiracy,\u2019 Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Thursday. ;Mayor Adams took these contributions even though he knew they were illegal,\u2019 Williams said. \u201cHe knew these contributions were attempts by a Turkish government official and Turkish businessmen to buy influence with him.\u2019 Adams said Thursday morning he was not surprised by the charges and encouraged the public to \u201cwait to hear our defense before making any judgments,\u201d adding he would not be changing his day-to-day responsibilities in light of the indictment.\u201d \u2022 Turkey? Why?!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"election\"\/>\u201cPartisan Split on Election Integrity Gets Even Wider\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/651185\/partisan-split-election-integrity-gets-even-wider.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Gallup<\/a>]. \u201c\u2013 Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they are very or somewhat confident that the votes for president this year will be accurately cast and counted. That aligns with how Americans have viewed the election results most years since 2008. However, it masks Democrats becoming more confident in the process and Republicans becoming less so. This has led to a record-high 56-percentage-point partisan gap, with .\u201d \u2022 This is a big problem, to understate radically. Any Sanders voter knows Democrats have no issue with jiggering election results. Any Green voter knows that Democrats ruthlessly control all aspects of the balloting process (that being the distinctive competence of the modern political party). And given that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cs.cmu.edu\/~rdriley\/487\/papers\/Thompson_1984_ReflectionsonTrustingTrust.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">digital = hackable<\/a>, hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, are the only way to truly secure the vote (and how odd that nobody in the intelligence community, which is quietly but busily amassing the power to legitimate or delegitimate election results, supports them). All that said, Trump\u2019s attempt to challenge the 2020 election result \u2014 driven by the kraken lady and poor old brokedown Rudy Guiliani, and taking into account exactly zero technical experts from the balloting communmity \u2014 was farcically bad; given every advantage, the AZ recount effort came up dry. So we the voters are in the unenviable position of knowing that the opportunity for fraud exists, while having no evidence that a fraud has been committed in the last Presidential election (and don\u2019t @ me without showing a non-crank lawsuit now wending its way through the courts). And <em>that<\/em> said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/investigates\/section\/campaign-of-fear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">threatening election workers<\/a> makes me want to <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/election-workers-2024-threats-security-police-trump-kamala-biden-steal-c4f27414a5a90b67983b0349a370dd13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">defend<\/a> the little old church ladies who checked my name against the voter roll, and gave me an \u201cI voted\u201d sticker after I handed in my ballot. Very unpleasant possibilities for stochastic terrorism here, I would say. Nobody said the volatility would stop the day after election day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Potential National Security Consequences of Unplanned Domestic Military Missions\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawfaremedia.org\/article\/the-potential-national-security-consequences-of-unplanned-domestic-military-missions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lawfare<\/a>]. The headline, combined with the \u201cLawfare\u201d venue, gives me pause. What missions do they have in mind, exactly? It reads like Imperial bafflegab, but if I wanted to translate this concluding paragraph into something more menacing, it would not be hard to do: \u201cMany interrelated factors should be carefully examined when considering the use of the military. The defense mission and core capabilities developed to carry it out often do not correspond to the skills needed to perform domestic tasks. Serious and likely harmful consequences flow from diverting the armed forces and the resources that support them to missions more appropriately tasked to domestic agencies. Those consequences include distracting the military from its main function\u2014deterring and if necessary fighting America\u2019s wars\u2014and blurring the lines between what civilians are trained and resourced to do and what is expected from a professional military.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpeedrunning The History Of The Intelligence State\u201d [Mike Benz, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/video\/2024\/09\/24\/mike_benz_the_history_of_the_intelligence_state.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearPolitics<\/a>]. Good research, and you should consider reading in full. Here\u2019s how it starts out: \u201cWe\u2019ll sort of speed-run the essential history all the way up to the present, but we\u2019re going to start in the year 1948. This is the sort of \u201cYear Zero\u201d of the founding of the intelligence capacities of the U.S. government. Instead of learning what you\u2019d find in an ordinary history book, we\u2019re going to start with a document that I\u2019m curious if anyone has ever seen, called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/history.state.gov\/historicaldocuments\/frus1945-50Intel\/d269\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare<\/a>.\u201d Did you know that George Kennan, in 1948, wrote this memo called \u2018The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare\u2019? George Kennan is known as a godfather figure of American diplomacy and the Central Intelligence Agency. He was famous for his \u2018long telegram\u2019 and was the chief strategist of the containment strategy against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. But before all that, when all of this was getting started, he penned this top-secret memo, which was not declassified for 60 years. It was declassified in 2005, and I think it helps elucidate the story as we\u2019re going to proceed here. We\u2019re going to go through this memo, but I want to give some context first. \u201cThe Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare\u201d was written just 12 days after the Central Intelligence Agency did its first government overthrow operation, its first election-rigging event. That was on April 18, 1948, and this memo was written just 12 days after that.\u201d \u2022 Quite an introduction. Read the whole thing, and you\u2019ll see why I place it here. It\u2019s hard to draw connections without creating a yarn diagram \u2014 especially in the right-wing fever swamp \u2014 but Benz avoids that here. Very clarifying.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Syndemics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am in earnest \u2014 I will not equivocate \u2014 I will not excuse \u2014 I will not retreat a single inch \u2014 AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u201d \u2013William Lloyd Garrison<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=Risk&null=Risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>); Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>, <del><a href=\"https:\/\/biobot.io\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Biobot<\/a><\/del>; includes many counties; <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wastewater Scan<\/a>, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/businesssolutions\/covid-19-index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a>); \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/iowacovid19tracker.org\/hospitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Iowa COVID-19 Tracker<\/a>\u201d (in IA, but national data). \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/icemsg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts<\/a>\u201d (especially on hospitalization by city).<\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put \u201cCOVID\u201d in the subject line. Thank you!<\/p>\n<p>Resources, United States (Local): AK (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/af2efc8bffbf4cdc83c2d1a134354074\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AR (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/633006d0782b4544bd5113a314f6268a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AZ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/covid19\/data\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); CA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CID\/DCDC\/Pages\/COVID-19\/CalSuWers-Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.marinhhs.org\/surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marin, dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalerts.stanford.edu\/covid-19\/wastewater-dashboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stanford, wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/?v=SC2_N&l=Oakland%2C+CA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oakland, wastewater<\/a>); CO (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.colorado.gov\/data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/cdphe.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/d79cf93c3938470ca4bcc4823328946b#utility=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); CT (<a href=\"https:\/\/data.ct.gov\/stories\/s\/COVID-19-data\/wa3g-tfvc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); DE (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.delaware.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); FL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/5b9d75ba683849928dc1a49c39ab0b1c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); GA (<a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/ga-nwss-wastewater-surveillance-reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); HI (<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); IA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmmwra.org\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater reports<\/a>); ID (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Boise; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/?plantId=1056f05c-0e46-4e3d-b007-c0453ba7dc0d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Central Idaho; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/#:SARS-CoV-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Coeur d\u2019Alene; dashboard, <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.srhd.org\/topics\/spokane-county-case-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Spokane County<\/a>); IL (<a href=\"https:\/\/iwss.uillinois.edu\/wastewater-treatment-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); IN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.in.gov\/indiana-covid-19-dashboard-and-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); KS (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov\/160\/COVID-19-in-Kansas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/4456bae8a38f4b6180e008477382fff9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Lawrence); KY (<a href=\"https:\/\/louisville.edu\/envirome\/thecoimmunityproject\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Louisville); LA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldh.la.gov\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/covid-19-wastewater-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MD (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.maryland.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); ME (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dhhs\/mecdc\/infectious-disease\/epi\/airborne\/coronavirus\/data.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/coronavirus\/stats\/wastewater-surveillance\/dashboard\/sentinel-wastewater-epidemiology-evaluation-project-sweep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/gisportal.state.mi.us\/portal\/apps\/insights\/index.html#\/view\/52bbb104ed574887918f990af9f3debe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.state.mn.us\/diseases\/coronavirus\/stats\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MO (<a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f7f5492486114da6b5d6fdc07f81aacf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MS (<a href=\"https:\/\/msdh.ms.gov\/page\/14,0,420.html#Mississippi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>MT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=7c34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; NC (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.ncdhhs.gov\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard)<\/a>; ND (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NE (<a href=\"https:\/\/atlas-dhhs.ne.gov\/Atlas\/Respiratory_Illness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NH (<a href=\"https:\/\/wisdom.dhhs.nh.gov\/wisdom\/dashboard.html?topic=covid-19&subtopic=recurring-updates&indicator=covid-19-wastewater#tabnavbarid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NJ (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.nj.gov\/forms\/datadashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NM (<a href=\"https:\/\/cvprovider.nmhealth.org\/public-dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NV (<a href=\"https:\/\/nvhealthresponse.nv.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/empower.unlv.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Southern NV); NY (<a href=\"https:\/\/mbcolli.shinyapps.io\/SARS2EWSP\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OH (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.ohio.gov\/dashboards\/other-resources\/wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OK (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>OR (<a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/oregon.health.authority.covid.19\/viz\/OregonsCOVID-19DataDashboards-TableofContents\/TableofContentsStatewide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; PA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.pa.gov\/topics\/disease\/coronavirus\/pages\/Cases.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); RI (<a href=\"https:\/\/ri-department-of-health-covid-19-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SC (<a href=\"https:\/\/scdhec.gov\/index.php\/covid19\/covid-19-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SD (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.sd.gov\/COVID\/Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/health\/cedep\/ncov\/data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TX (<a href=\"https:\/\/txdshsea.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/4ae43eefd0f641d59d35c3df82ee59cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); UT (<a href=\"https:\/\/avrpublic.dhhs.utah.gov\/uwss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/coronavirus\/sars-cov-2-in-wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthvermont.gov\/disease-control\/covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WA (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/emergencies\/covid-19\/data-dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.bfhd.wa.gov\/cases-and-roadmap-to-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.wisconsin.gov\/covid-19\/wastewater.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); WV (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/oehs.wvdhhr.org\/news\/oehs-coivd-19-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>); WY (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/covidwastewatermonitor.wyo.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/health-infobase.canada.ca\/covid-19\/wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Government of Canada<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthontario.ca\/en\/Data-and-Analysis\/Infectious-Disease\/COVID-19-Data-Surveillance\/Wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); QC (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inspq.qc.ca\/covid-19\/donnees\/eaux-usees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>les eaux us\u00e9es<\/em><\/a>); BC (<a href=\"https:\/\/bccdc.shinyapps.io\/respiratory_wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); BC, Vancouver (<a href=\"https:\/\/metrovancouver.org\/services\/liquid-waste\/testing-for-the-covid-19-virus-in-wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Hat tips to helpful 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, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Morbidity and Mortality<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cPredictors for COVID-19-Specific and Non-COVID-19-Specific Deaths: A Cohort Study in Taiwan\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/384267887_Predictors_for_COVID-19-Specific_and_Non-COVID-19-Specific_Deaths_A_Cohort_Study_in_Taiwan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health<\/a> (RK)]. N = 2196. From the Abtract: \u201cPredictors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-specific and non-COVID-19-specific deaths have not been extensively studied. This cohort study in Taiwan investigated predictors for COVID-19-specific and non-COVID-19-specific deaths among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. From January to July 2022, 2196 COVID-19 patients at Taipei City Hospital were consecutively recruited in this cohort study\u2026 Our study findings suggest that vaccination and Paxlovid treatment are crucial for reducing SARS-CoV-2-specific mortalities, while comorbid patients need careful monitoring to reduce non-COVID-19-specific deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Science Is Popping<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"nasal\" a=\"\">\u201cToward a Radically Simple Multi-Modal Nasal Spray for Preventing Respiratory Infection\u201d (PDF) [<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1qh2rCjdkEOl9LZa2SBeaK-55cDuc7Lqs\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Advanced Materials<\/a>]. Mouse study (sigh). See the Conflict of Interest statement (page 18). Nevertheless, very big if true. The Abstract:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Nasal sprays for pre-exposure prophylaxis against respiratory infections show limited protection (20\u201370%), largely due to their single mechanism of action\u2014either neutralizing pathogens or blocking their entry at the nasal lining, and a failure to maximize the capture of respiratory droplets, allowing them to potentially rebound and reach deeper airways. This report introduces the Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS), which utilizes a multi-modal approach to enhance efficacy. PCANS coats the nasal cavity, capturing large respiratory droplets from the air, and serving as a physical barrier against a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, while rapidly neutralizing them with over 99.99% effectiveness. The formulation consists of excipients identified from the FDA\u2019s Inactive Ingredient Database and Generally Recognized as Safe list to maximize efficacy for each step in the multi-modal approach. PCANS demonstrates nasal retention for up to 8 hours in mice. In a severe Influenza A mouse model, a single pre-exposure dose of PCANS leads to a >99.99% reduction in lung viral titer and ensures 100% survival, compared to 0% in the control group. PCANS suppresses pathological manifestations and offers protection for at least 4 hours. This data suggest PCANS as a promising daily-use prophylactic against respiratory infections.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And from the Conclusion:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>PCANS presents a promising chemoprophylactic approach against respiratory infections. Besides its potential to act as a first line of defense against respiratory pathogens and emerging variants for which there are no vaccines available, our approach could also be potentially used as an added layer of protection with existing vaccines. Given its broad-spectrum prophylactic activity and shelf stability, we anticipate PCANS holds the potential for global distribution, especially in countries with low vaccination rates against respiratory pathogens. Alongside, the benefits of PCANS can also be extended to immunocompromised patients, high-risk individuals with co-morbidities, and vaccine-hesitant populations. Its pocket-sized spray format allows for easy portability, making it convenient to carry during social gatherings and travel. With these significant benefits, we believe PCANS will experience rapid widespread adoption, enhancing the accessibility of respiratory infection prevention.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let\u2019s see what the regulators think. And Big Pharma.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<blockquote>\n<p> This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 16<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Last Week[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> (until next week):<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png 602w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2-300x188.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"align: left; margin-left: 0px !important; padding: 9px 0 9px 0;\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-278578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Variants<\/strong> [3] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> <strong>Emergency Room Visits<\/strong>[4] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_select_7dayeddiagnosed_00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-278833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-300x236.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-2-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Hospitalization<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> New York[5] <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.health.ny.gov\/daily-hospitalization-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York State<\/a>, data September 23:<\/td>\n<td>\n<blockquote>\n<p> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> August 31:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-14.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-14.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-14-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-2-300x265.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Positivity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> September 23:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> September 7:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-3-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-278400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-300x198.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Travelers Data<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279084\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2-300x186.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2-300x204.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Deaths<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11]<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12]<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronadisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-positivity.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-positivity.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-ed.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-ed.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-ed-300x198.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>LEGEND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1) <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> for charts new today; all others are not updated.<\/p>\n<p>2) For a full-size\/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and \u201copen image in new tab.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[1] (CDC) This week\u2019s wastewater map, with hot spots annotated. Keeps spreading. NOTE The date seems to be wrong, but the number of sites has changed so this is new.<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* very popular. XDV.1 flat.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down, but worth noting that Emergency Department use is now on a par with the first wave, in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Definitely down.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). The visualization suppresses what is, in percentage terms, a significant increase.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Big drop continues!<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Dropping.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Down. Those sh*theads at CDC have changed the chart so that it doesn\u2019t even run back to 1\/21\/23, as it used to, but now starts 1\/1\/24. There\u2019s also no way to adjust the time range. CDC really doesn\u2019t want you to be able to take a historical view of the pandemic, or compare one surge to another. In an any case, that\u2019s why the shape of the curve has changed.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants) What the heck is LB.1?<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, but positivity up.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED up.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>GDP: \u201cUnited States GDP Growth Rate\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/gdp-growth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe US economy grew at an annualized rate of 3% in the second quarter of 2024, unchanged from the second estimate and above an upwardly revised 1.6% expansion in the first quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Initial Jobless Claims\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/jobless-claims\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US dropped by 4,000 from the previous week to 218,000 on the period ending September 21st, below market expectations of a rise to 225,000, and reaching a new 4-month low. Despite this decline, the claim count remained above the averages seen earlier this year, as the US labor market has softened since its post-pandemic peak, although it remains historically tight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Durable Goods Orders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/durable-goods-orders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cNew orders for manufactured durable goods in the US were loosely unchanged from the prior month in August of 2024, compared to the revised 9.8% surge in July which was the highest in four years, and contrasting sharply with market expectations of a 2.6% drop. The result challenged the growing pessimism over manufacturing activity in the United States, suggesting the current slowdown may be temporary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Kansas Fed Manufacturing Index\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/kansas-fed-manufacturing-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe Kansas City Fed\u2019s Manufacturing Production index fell to -18 in September 2024, from 6 in the previous month, marking the lowest reading in 14 months and way below forecasts of 9.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\" a=\"\">Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing, workers union to resume talks on Friday\u201d [<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.manilatimes.net\/2024\/09\/27\/business\/foreign-business\/boeing-workers-union-to-resume-talks-on-friday\/1974823\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. So much for the \u201cfinal\u201d part of \u201cBest And Final Offer.\u201d \u201cNegotiators from Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will meet with federal mediators in a bid to break the deadlock, after two days of previous talks collapsed a week ago\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cCan the Machinists Save Boeing from Its Management?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.labornotes.org\/2024\/09\/can-machinists-save-boeing-its-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Labor Notes<\/a>]. \u201cWhile Boeing wailed that the strike may cause mortal wounds to the company, the Machinists union has for decades been fighting against the company\u2019s self-wounding practices: rampant outsourcing, undermining of quality inspections, moving work to non-union shops, and hollowing out what used to be a coveted family-sustaining job. Company policies have resulted in the loss of experienced workers, production delays, mismatched and shoddy parts, and the disastrous quality lapses that led to an Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January. It was the union that was originally responsible for pushing the separation of quality inspection from production pressures, said Steve Cabana, a quality assurance inspector for 13 years. \u2018Having quality separate in the supervisory chain is the only way quality can have any teeth,\u2019 he said. \u2018I can look at a process and stop it.\u2019 This is not true at vendors the company buys parts from, Cabana said, where they have \u2018the same management system for manufacturing and quality.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s how the company figured it could save money by outsourcing, because other people didn\u2019t have the same rigorous standards,\u2019 Cabana said. \u2018It\u2019s a fragile network of suppliers who honestly aren\u2019t compensated all that well for the work that they do,\u2019 said Mylo Lang, an apprentice machinist at Auburn with six years at the company. \u2018They\u2019ve really been squeezing them, in fact, over the years.\u2019 In Boeing\u2019s own plants, the company has tried to slash inspections, too. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires in-person inspections by qualified workers, but in 2017 Boeing tried to speed up production by having mechanics sign off on their own work. At the company\u2019s assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, which currently has no union, the lack of worker power and input meant the company tested out cuts to quality inspections there first, around 2017, then expanded into the Puget Sound plants, where union members rallied to stop the cuts, flooding meetings and making the question a shop floor issue.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing confirms production of 737s has halted\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2024\/09\/25\/boeing-737-production-halted-stopped\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing\u2019s production of 737 jets has come to a \u201ccomplete halt\u201d as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) strike continues, according to a Bank of America analyst note sent out on Tuesday. Two separate representatives for Boeing confirmed the production stoppage to Fortune. \u2018Airplane production in Washington state is temporarily paused including work on the 737 MAX, 767, 777\/777X, P-8, KC-46A Tanker, E-7 Wedgetail,\u2019 a spokesperson wrote Fortune in an email Wednesday. \u2018Work at our Fabrication sites in Washington and Oregon will also temporarily pause. Employees not represented by this union will continue to report to work as normal.\u2019 Boeing\u2019s stock fell more than 2% on Wednesday, at the time of publication. The stoppage\u2019s full impact on actual deliveries of the planes \u2018remains uncertain,\u2019 BofA analysts wrote. But the pace has nonetheless \u2018slowed significantly.\u2019 Only two 737s have been delivered in the last week, which they say is \u2018well below normal levels.\u2019 As for the 787 jets\u2014a different, less embattled model\u2014Boeing has made zero deliveries over the past week, and has only delivered two in all of September. But BofA \u2018expects Boeing to maintain the same levels of rollouts compared to last month\u201d because As a result, BofA maintained its rating on the stock as neutral.\u201d \u2022 That \u201cunaffected by unions\u201d (carbon fibre) makes me think. I believe Boeing promised to make <a href=\"https:\/\/simpleflying.com\/boeing-797-update-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the next aircraft, the \u201c797,\u201d<\/a> in Seattle, presumbly also from carbon fibre, if they began it during the life of the contract currently being negotiated. But did Boeing promise the 797 would be built with union labor? Readers?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cSpirit Aerosystems beginning to see effects of Boeing strikes \u2013 reports\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.airport-technology.com\/news\/spirit-aerosystems-sees-effects-boeing-strikes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Airport Technology<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems has reportedly warned it may begin furloughing employees soon if the strikes at the aircraft manufacturer\u2019s production plants continue much longer. The supplier, which is set to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airport-technology.com\/news\/spirit-aerosystems-boeing-coordinated-deal-airbus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fall back under Boeing\u2019s control<\/a> next year, is currently using the lull in work at the aircraft factories to address a backlog of orders but will soon begin seeing the effects of the work stoppage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing strike squeezes California aerospace suppliers, including Independent Forge in Orange\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2024\/09\/25\/boeing-strike-squeezes-california-aerospace-suppliers-including-independent-forge-in-orange\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Orange County Register<\/a>]. \u201cMachine tool and metal shops across the region are feeling the effects of the Boeing strike, as is a complex supply chain that stretches across the world\u2026. \u2018This could be devastating for us,\u2019 said Andrew Flores, president of Independent Forge Co. Inc. \u2018Forgings are the start of most parts made in the aviation business, and that\u2019s the first thing they want to stop.\u2019\u2026 The company also is worried about a second strike that emerged earlier this week when unionized machinists with a general aviation unit owned by Textron Corp. in Kansas walked off their jobs for higher wages and benefits, Flores said.\u201d \u2022 Hmm. Only Textron, then?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing strike leaves Asian airlines sweating on plane deliveries\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/international\/global\/boeing-strike-leaves-asian-airlines-sweating-plane-deliveries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Business Times<\/a>]. \u201cThe Seattle factory strike crippling production at Boeing is triggering delays to 737 Max deliveries across Asia, a region that\u2019s already home to some of the biggest order backlogs for the flagship aircraft. The US manufacturer is due to hand over 981 Max jets to carriers in Asia, led by Air India and Indonesia\u2019s Lion Air, by 2030, according to data from Cirium. That\u2019s close to one-third of all scheduled deliveries of the aircraft worldwide over that period. But with Boeing at loggerheads with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents some 33,000 Boeing employees who have been striking for almost two weeks, concerns are escalating about the reliability of the plane pipeline. Responding to queries from Bloomberg News, Korean Air Lines, Vietjet Aviation and Japan Airlines said they were either suffering delivery delays due to the strike, expecting planes to arrive late or concerned about handover dates slipping. Others including Singapore Airlines said they were working with Boeing on delivery schedules in light of the factory shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cSenators want to see major changes at Boeing. The FAA says that could take years\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/09\/25\/mike-whitaker-hearing-faa-boeing-00181076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cThe head of the Federal Aviation Administration warned senators Wednesday that ensuring troubled planemaker Boeing rights its ship will take years \u2014 not months \u2014 even with the FAA looking over its shoulder\u2026. But [FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker] said that while Boeing has improved on short-term challenges in its manufacturing lines, \u2018[we] would be kidding ourselves to think you can change 170,000 people, culture in 18 months \u2014 so it\u2019s going to be a long haul.’\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cMillions of Vehicles Could Be Hacked and Tracked Thanks to a Simple Website Bug\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/i3X1L\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wired<\/a>]. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 65 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 60 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Sep 25 at 1:55:41 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Current Cinema<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Coppola\u2019s Megalopolis:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"qme\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AMCTheatres?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">#AMCTheatres<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Megalopolis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">#Megalopolis<\/a> \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f\ud83c\udf7f\ud83e\udd64 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IiaP66e2J0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/IiaP66e2J0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 MAC (@mci41827) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mci41827\/status\/1839306640501408204\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Universal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/m\/megalopolis\/reviews\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">derision from the reviewers<\/a>, which intrigues me. Has anyone seen it?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Quite modern:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Incantation, 1797 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Etgr3YnUjN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Etgr3YnUjN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Francisco Goya (@artistgoya) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/artistgoya\/status\/1839141376350359662\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmazon Logistics under investigation for alleged labor violations\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/business\/amazon\/amazon-logistics-under-investigation-for-alleged-labor-violations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Seattle Times<\/a>]. \u201cSeattle\u2019s Office of Labor Standards is investigating Amazon Logistics \u2014 the company\u2019s vast network of delivery services \u2014 for alleged violations of labor laws, including the city\u2019s ordinance requiring paid sick time for gig workers that went into effect this year. The investigation appears focused on Amazon\u2019s Flex drivers, who operate like gig workers and make deliveries for the company using their own vehicles and on their own schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe history of telecoms is at an end\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/iicintermedia.org\/vol-52-issue-3\/the-history-of-telecoms-is-at-an-end\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Intermedia<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cIn his latest book, William Webb argues that we mostly have all the connectivity we need. The telecoms industry needs to refocus away from technical innovation and towards efficiency. Governments and regulators, he says, will need a new mindset.\u201d \u2022 Perhaps even too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe power of leisure: How everyday hobbies stop cognitive decline\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/studyfinds.org\/everyday-hobbies-cognitive-decline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Study Finds<\/a>]. \u201cIn community centers across the country, seniors gather for book clubs, chess matches, and art classes. These social hubs of mental stimulation may be more than just pleasant diversions \u2013 they could be unofficial cognitive health clinics, according to new research. The study suggests that engaging in cognitively stimulating leisure activities (CSLAs) might be key to preserving cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This research offers hope for those looking to stave off cognitive decline and potentially reduce their risk of developing dementia.\u201d \u2022\u00a0Maybe I should stop reading <em>Model Railroader<\/em> and build a layout, Perky Pat-style. Not.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/200pm-water-cooler-9-25-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From: JG:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pitcher.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"803\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-279355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pitcher.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pitcher-224x300.jpeg 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>JG writes: \u201cMy old neighbor gave me the Roseville pitcher decorated with an abstract landscape and a chain of bows in relief. The mesh pattern on the vase comes from the screen window which provided the lighting on the subject. The zinnias came from another kind neighbor.\u201d A lovely \u201cpitcher\u201d indeed!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"donate\"\/><strong>Readers<\/strong>: Water Cooler is a standalone entity <em>not<\/em> covered by the annual NC fundraiser. Material here is Lambert\u2019s, and does not express the views of the Naked Capitalism site. If you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldn\u2019t see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! <em>Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know I\u2019m on the right track with coverage<\/em>. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:<\/p>\n<p>Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-226891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"606\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png 606w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/200pm-water-cooler-9-26-2024.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bird Song of the Day Sage Thrasher, Gunnison, Colorado, United States. Twelve minutes! I guess people become fascinated with the mimicry and wonder what will<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":85115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-spotlight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Sage Thrasher, Gunnison, Colorado, United States. Twelve minutes! I guess people become fascinated with the mimicry and wonder what will come next?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#kamala\">Kamala\u2019s speeches on the economy<\/a> (transcripts).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#election\">Election integrity<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Negotiations restart at Boeing<\/a>, as suppliers and customers begin to feel pain.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nasal\">Potential good news on the nasal spray front<\/a> (albeit a mouse study).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong>Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital.\u201d \u2013Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"assassination \"\/>Trump Assassination Attempts (Plural)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBiden pretends to squish a bug on the table on The View after Whoopi Goldberg compared Trump to an insect following two assassination attempts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-13891365\/Biden-pretends-squish-bug-table-View-Whoopi-Goldberg-compared-Trump-insect-following-two-assassination-attempts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u2022 Forty days to go, so there\u2019s still time for the light bulb to go on in some lone gunperson\u2019s brain\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>Wowsers:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ready for a mindf**k? <\/p>\n<p>This video includes a precise POV rendition of the golf course assassination attempt on Trump<\/p>\n<p>It is 2 1\/2 years old <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eUr52mziLk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/eUr52mziLk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/walterkirn\/status\/1839035097850458446\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Not sure what to make of this\u2026. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Less than fifty days to go!<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/free.timeanddate.com\/countdown\/i8ubjj5e\/n179\/cf100\/cm0\/cu1\/ct0\/cs1\/ca0\/cr0\/ss0\/cac000\/cpc000\/pcfff\/tcfff\/fs100\/szw320\/szh135\/tatTime%20left%20to%20Election%20Day%2C%202024\/tac000\/tptTime%20since%20Event%20started%20in\/tpc000\/mac000\/mpc000\/iso2024-11-05T00:00:00\/bo2\/pd2\" allowtransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"322\" height=\"137\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p> <a name=\"rcp\"\/>Friday\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RCP<\/a> Poll Averages:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rcp_2024-09-20.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"851\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-279077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rcp_2024-09-20.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rcp_2024-09-20-212x300.png 212w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Once again, the Democrats must be very puzzled to have virtual unanimity across the political spectrum that \u201cHarris is the one,\u201d and yet the election is a virtual tie. How can this be? Perhaps a few more Republicans, generals, or celebrities will turn the tide.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/kamala\"\/>Kamala (D): \u201cFULL TRANSCRIPT: Kamala Harris\u2019 Speech At Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 25, 2024)\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/singjupost.com\/full-transcript-kamala-harris-speech-at-pittsburgh-pa-sept-25-2024\/?singlepage=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Singju Post<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/singjupost.com\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">venue<\/a>)].<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>And I promise you I will be pragmatic in my approach. I will engage in what called \u201cbold, persistent experimentation.\u201d Because I believe we shouldn\u2019t be constrained by ideology and instead should seek practical solutions to problems. Realistic assessments of what is working and what is not. Applying metrics to our analysis. Applying facts to our analysis. And stay focused, then, not only on the crises at hand, but on our big goals. On what\u2019s best for America over the long term.<\/p>\n<p>And part of being pragmatic means taking good ideas from wherever they come. Listen, you all know my career. Andrea shared it with you. I am a devout public servant. I also know the limitations of government. I\u2019ve always been and will always be, and be clear about this, I\u2019ve always been and will always be a strong supporter of workers and unions. I also believe we need to engage those who create most of the jobs in America.<\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019m a capitalist. I believe in free and fair markets. I believe in consistent and transparent rules of the road to create a stable business environment. And I know the power of American innovation. I\u2019ve been working with entrepreneurs and business owners my whole career.<\/p>\n<p>And I believe companies need to play by the rules. Respect the rights of workers and unions and abide by fair competition. And if they don\u2019t, I will hold them accountable. And if anyone has a question about that, just look at my record as Attorney General.<\/p>\n<p>Look at my record in California, taking on the big banks for predatory lending.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>For Kamala\u2019s record on taking on big banks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/08\/how-kamala-harris-sold-out-struggling-homeowners-to-save-banks-in-2012-and-then-lied-about-it.html\">see NC here<\/a>. On the mortgage settlement after the Crash, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2019\/01\/kamala-harris-tells-big-lie-2012-mortgage-settlement-good-deal-homeowners.html\">see NC here<\/a>. And in any case, if you believe Biden now, Kamala was <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/biden-peace-decision-exit-2024-race-view\/story?id=114071812\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">practically co-president during his entire term<\/a>. So why are we only hearing about this now, 40 days before the election? (And when did people start saying \u201cFranklin Roosevelt\u201d instead of \u201cFDR\u201d? Under Obama, wasn\u2019t it? It always bugged me that now we leave out \u201cDelano,\u201d too.<\/p>\n<p>Kamala (D): \u201cRead the transcript of Kamala Harris\u2019 exclusive solo MSNBC interview\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/read-transcript-kamala-harris-msnbc-interview-rcna172771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MSNBC<\/a>]. The start:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>RUHLE: Madam Vice President, you just laid out your economic vision for the future.<\/p>\n<p>HARRIS: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>RUHLE: But, still, there are lots of Americans who don\u2019t see themselves in your plans. For those who say, these policies aren\u2019t for me, what do you say to them? [what a banal softball \u2013lambert]<\/p>\n<p>HARRIS: Well, if you are hardworking, if you have the dreams and the ambitions and the aspirations of what I believe you do, you\u2019re in my plan.<\/p>\n<p>I have to tell you, I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people. We have ambition. We have aspirations. We have dreams. We can see what\u2019s possible. We have an incredible work ethic. <\/p>\n<p>But not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things. But we don\u2019t lack for those things. But not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter. And so my vision for the economy \u2014 I call it an opportunity economy \u2014 is about making sure that all Americans, wherever they start, wherever they are, have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead, right?<\/p>\n<p>I think we can\u2019t and we shouldn\u2019t aspire to have an economy that just allows people to get by. People want to do more than just get by. They want to get ahead. And I come from the middle class.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The rest of it is in substance the same as the Pittsburgh speech, except (naturally) no mention of FDR (Pittsburgh being a union town). Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Strong interview for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KamalaHarris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@KamalaHarris<\/a> just now w\/<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SRuhle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@SRuhle<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MSNBC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@MSNBC<\/a>. Good, detailed conversation on the economy. The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@VP<\/a> made a good case for her plan and the values behind it.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidaxelrod\/status\/1839086806844760145\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I think Axelrod is stretching it with \u201cconversation.\u201d (Here the Daily Mail uses \u201chow<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-13892517\/Kamala-Harris-stumped-question-crucial-economic-policy-MSNBC-interview.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> you gonna pay for it<\/a>\u201d as a gotcha; NC readers know about MMT, so there\u2019s no gotcha here. Kamala doesn\u2019t know, and so slithers off into \u201cfair share\u201d foofra).<\/p>\n<p>Kamala (D): \u201cHuge ad spending pours into defining Harris in the \u2018blue wall\u2019 battlegrounds\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/huge-ad-spending-pours-defining-harris-blue-wall-battlegrounds-rcna172538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NBC<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cMichigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are absorbing more than half of the presidential campaigns\u2019 ad spending, with both sides trying to fill in voters\u2019 perceptions of Harris.\u201d And: \u201cHarris\u2019 campaign is running an equal mix of positive and negative ads on broadcast TV, according to the tracking firm AdImpact, while former President Donald Trump\u2019s campaign is running almost exclusively negative and contrast ads \u2014 a demonstration of how focused voters and both campaigns are on defining Harris as she runs against a three-time candidate who has inspired entrenched views among American voters. \u2018It\u2019s simple: Everyone has made up their mind about Donald Trump. Trump\u2019s numbers are the stickiest things in politics; they don\u2019t move,\u2019 said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and presidential campaign veteran. \u2018What\u2019s moveable is Harris \u2014 we\u2019ve seen a lot of movement in her numbers since she entered the race,\u2019 Conant continued, noting the dramatic increase in Harris\u2019 favorability numbers since she took over as the Democratic Party\u2019s presidential candidate. \u2018And there are a lot of voters who haven\u2019t made up their minds about her because she\u2019s new to the campaign, so there\u2019s an ability to introduce new information. That\u2019s why you\u2019re seeing Trump pounding negative information about Harris and Harris feeling the need to give positive information to push back.\u2019 The trend is similar to how the two parties handled the same period in the 2020 election \u2014 when Joe Biden ran a significantly higher share of contrast and positive ads compared with Trump, who relied primarily on contrast and negative ads but still ran a small share of positive spots.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Trump (R): \u201cTrump Should Be Running Away With the Election. Why Isn\u2019t He?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/donald-trump-campaign-race-kamala-harris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Free Press<\/a>]. \u201cWith only a handful of interviews and some help from a sympathetic press corps, Harris has shed her image as the most unpopular vice president in recent history and rebranded as a viable candidate. But more to the point, Trump has <em>allowed<\/em> her to rebrand\u2026. Instead of working hard to convince voters Harris is unfit for the top job, the Trump campaign has wasted too much time on two things: stupid stuff and bad stuff. First, the stupid. On Saturday, Trump posted a video on Truth Social, hawking silver \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113175718594981285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trump Coins<\/a>.\u2019 \u2026 Last week he paid a visit to a bar in Greenwich Village, where he bought a burger with cryptocurrency (all part of a Trumpworld crypto push). None of this screams \u2018I am laser-focused on delivering victory in November. Second, the bad. Hanging out with nutso racist troll Laura Loomer. Preemptively blaming the Jews if he loses in November. Indulging an unproven, sinister fantasy about pet-eating Haitian migrants in Ohio. Greenlighting J.D. Vance\u2019s onstage appearance with Tucker Carlson last Saturday\u2014just weeks after Carlson interviewed a Nazi apologist [<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/q0d1IFBW0U8?si=K-asDfDhsD-1gUkA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Darryl Cooper<\/a>] who he called the \u2018best and most honest popular historian working in the United States today.\u2019 All of this\u2014the stupid and the bad\u2014hurts Trump\u2019s reelection chances. (Though at least the Trump campaign was smart enough to snub Mark Robinson from a recent North Carolina rally after reports revealed the gubernatorial candidate calls himself a \u2018black Nazi\u2019 on porn websites.) All of this is to say: We are a long way from Butler, Pennsylvania. In the aftermath of the Trump assassination attempt, people around the former president described him as a changed man.\u201d \u2022 Yep. As I pointed out at the time, Trump had the opportunity to<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kayfabe#Faces_and_heels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> \u201cturn\u201d from a \u201cHeel\u201d into a \u201cFace<\/a>\u201d (which he tried for a moment at the beginning of his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, but he didn\u2019t persist in it). There\u2019s still a chance for him to make a populist turn in the next 40 days, because IMNHSO Kamala\u2019s support cannot but be shallow in the newly persuaded, but the bell will soon signal the end of the round.<\/p>\n<p>Trump (R) (Smith\/Chutkan): \u201cThe fruits of Jack Smith\u2019s 2-year investigation into Trump will land on Tanya Chutkan\u2019s desk today\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/09\/26\/jack-smith-trump-investigation-dossier-00181108\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cOn Thursday, Smith\u2019s prosecutors are scheduled to submit to Chutkan a 180-page dossier distilling their case against Trump \u2014 the fruits of a two-year investigation that included secret grand jury testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence and former chief of staff Mark Meadows. It is likely the special counsel\u2019s final chance before Election Day to lay out his case for why Trump deserves to be put on trial and convicted. The filing \u2014 a legal brief accompanied by supporting exhibits \u2014 is expected to contain never-before-seen evidence about Trump\u2019s efforts to subvert the last election. It could include snippets of interviews prosecutors conducted with some of Trump\u2019s top advisers, documents Smith procured from the National Archives and a log of Trump\u2019s Twitter activity as violence raged [oh come on] on Jan. 6, 2021. But prosecutors are not going to file these documents publicly. They must first submit them \u2018under seal\u2019 to Chutkan, who will then decide how much of the evidence is fit for public release. It\u2019s all a far cry from the dramatic courtroom showdown Smith\u2019s team had been preparing for a year ago, when they hoped to bring the case quickly before a jury. But it is likely to include damaging details for Trump just weeks before Election Day. Trump\u2019s lawyers oppose any disclosure of the evidence that prosecutors have amassed, arguing that it amounts to interference in the final weeks of the campaign. They have repeatedly called for the entire case to be dismissed in light of the Supreme Court\u2019s July 1 decision granting broad immunity for official presidential acts. But of Smith\u2019s brief is to advise Chutkan on how much of the case can proceed in light of the immunity ruling. Prosecutors are expected to argue that most of Trump\u2019s allegedly criminal acts were in his capacity as a political candidate, not as president \u2014 or that any purportedly official acts are not entitled to immunity.\u201d \u2022 \u201cThe very purpose\u201d my Sweet Aunt Fanny.<\/p>\n<p>Trump (R): \u201cWatchdog report on Justice Department\u2019s Jan. 6 response won\u2019t be done by election\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/09\/25\/january-6-inspector-general-report-delay-00181085\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u2022 How odd.<\/p>\n<p>Trump (R): \u201cIn blow to Trump campaign, Nebraska won\u2019t go through with electoral vote change\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scrippsnews.com\/politics\/america-votes\/presidential-election\/in-blow-to-trump-campaign-nebraska-wont-go-through-with-electoral-vote-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scripps<\/a>]. \u201cIn a blow to the Republican party and its presidential nominee, Donald Trump, Nebraska\u2019s governor said Tuesday he wouldn\u2019t call a special session to change how electoral votes in the state are awarded. The decision follows a key state senator saying he would not support the effort. Former President Trump and his allies have been pressuring the state to change its 32-year law that awards electoral votes by congressional district instead of a statewide vote, otherwise known as a winner-take-all system. In winner-take-all states, the candidate winning the popular vote receives all of the state\u2019s electoral votes. But in Maine and Nebraska, the state\u2019s popular vote winner receives two electoral votes, and the popular vote winner in each congressional district receives one electoral vote. Nebraska has three congressional districts, and the Republican party believes their candidate will win two along with the two electoral votes coming from the state\u2019s popular vote. But it\u2019s Nebraska\u2019s 2nd District that\u2019s pushed the party to rally for a change in the electoral system, as the Omaha-based seat has tilted blue recently and could be the single electoral vote to decide a 269-269 tie.\u201d \u2022 But no.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just Springfield, Haitians being flown to small towns nationwide\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/national\/article_caaf905c-7a14-11ef-adcb-234686fb00ca.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Center Square<\/a>]. Note lack of agency in \u201cbeing flown.\u201d This continues throughout the story. Springfield, MO: \u201c\u2018due to an influx.’\u201d Sylacauga, AL: \u201cbeing dropped into their community.\u201d Coffee County, TN: \u201care scheduled to arrive.\u201d Charleroi, PA: \u201chas grown.\u201d Del Rio, TX: \u201cdescended on.\u201d Is it too much to ask who, if anyone, organized the flying, the influx, the arrival, the growth, and the descent? Surely it would not have been hard for the writer to have included this information in the story. Is there a Haitian refugee program, as for the Hmong? (For example, a few Somalis chose Lewiston, ME because of low cost of living and cheap land, despite the snow. More followed. The process was organic.)<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Undecided Voters Are Not Who You Think They Are\u201d [Ron Brownstein, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/KpZah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Atlantic<\/a>]. \u201cWhen most people think about a voter still trying to make up their mind, they probably imagine a person who is highly likely to vote but uncertain whether to support Harris, Trump, or a third-party candidate. Both political parties, however, are more focused on a different\u2014and much larger\u2014group of undecideds: potential voters who are highly likely to support Harris or Trump, but unsure if they will vote at all. Campaigns typically describe the first group of reliable but conflicted voters as persuadable; they frequently describe the second group as irregular voters. Persuadable voters get the most attention from the media, but campaigns recognize that irregular voters can loom much larger in the outcome\u2014especially in presidential elections when more of them ultimately participate.\u201d And: \u201cAmong the operatives and strategists that I spoke with in both parties, the best estimate is that just 4 to 7 percent of voters in the battleground states are such persuadables\u2014people highly likely to vote but genuinely uncertain about whom they will support.\u201d But: \u201cCatalist, a Democratic voter-targeting firm, shared with me data rarely disclosed in public, based on its modeling, that attempt to quantify the number of infrequent voters in each of the swing states who lean strongly toward Harris or Trump. That research shows, first, that across the battleground states white people without a college degree routinely account for 70 percent or more of the Trump-leaning nonvoters; and, second, that people of color make up a big majority of Harris\u2019s potential targets across the Sun Belt battlegrounds, as well as in Michigan. In the three big Rust Belt battlegrounds\u2014Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin\u2014working-class white women without a college degree, Catalist\u2019s projections show, also make up a significant share of the voters who lean Democratic but don\u2019t vote regularly. Page Gardner, a Democratic expert on voter turnout, told me. \u201cPeople are discouraged about their lives and feel \u2026 I\u2019m trying really hard and I\u2019m not getting anywhere.\u201d Against that backdrop, she said, the challenge for Democrats is \u2018giving them some sort of agency to feel like my vote matters, because a lot of people feel that no one is paying attention to them.’\u201d \u2022 This accords well with alert reader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/200pm-water-cooler-9-25-2024.html#comment-4106808\">ChrisRUEcon\u2019s comment yesterday<\/a>: \u201cThose \u2018undecideds\u2019 are likely Chris-Arnade-Dignity adjacent\u201d (for \u201cundecided,\u201d read \u201cirregular\u201d). If you squint, you can see Kamala trying to make the irregular voters believe their vote counts; I\u2019m not sure her logos, ethos, and pathos are up to the task, though. Trump taking over a MacDonald\u2019s grill would blow that verbiage away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHappiness swings votes \u2013 and America\u2019s current mood could scramble expectations of young and old voters\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/happiness-swings-votes-and-americas-current-mood-could-scramble-expectations-of-young-and-old-voters-234622\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Conversation<\/a>]. \u201cResearch worldwide indicates that happy people prefer keeping things the same, and they tend to vote for the incumbent in political elections. Voters who aren\u2019t as happy are more open to anti-establishment candidates, seeing the government as a source of their discontent. These findings may help to explain the Democratic Party\u2019s waning support among young people\u2026. The changing political preferences of unhappy young Americans are particularly revealing when compared with those of older Americans, who have been getting happier in recent years\u2026. The 2024 presidential candidates seem to have intuited this. The Harris campaign is all about \u201cjoy\u201d and celebrating happiness and community. The Trump campaign adopts an angrier tone and a grievance-filled approach.\u201d \u2022 Change (not happy) vs. More of The Same (happy). Somehow, I don\u2019t think the irregular \u201cdignity\u201d voters (see above) are happy. But will they be unhappy enough to get off the couch?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en D\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cNYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on 5 federal public corruption charges, including bribery and wire fraud\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/09\/25\/us\/new-york-city-mayor-eric-adams-indicted\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. Well, so much for Black cop with a million-watt smile. More: \u201cThe indictment alleges illegal actions stretching back to 2014, from when he was Brooklyn Borough president. \u2018For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,\u201d the indictment reads. Specifically, Adams received luxury travel and other benefits from a Turkish official and later in exchange pressured the NYC Fire Department to open a Turkish consular building without a fire inspection, the indictment says. The mayor \u2018engaged in a long-running conspiracy,\u2019 Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Thursday. ;Mayor Adams took these contributions even though he knew they were illegal,\u2019 Williams said. \u201cHe knew these contributions were attempts by a Turkish government official and Turkish businessmen to buy influence with him.\u2019 Adams said Thursday morning he was not surprised by the charges and encouraged the public to \u201cwait to hear our defense before making any judgments,\u201d adding he would not be changing his day-to-day responsibilities in light of the indictment.\u201d \u2022 Turkey? Why?!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"election\"\/>\u201cPartisan Split on Election Integrity Gets Even Wider\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/651185\/partisan-split-election-integrity-gets-even-wider.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Gallup<\/a>]. \u201c\u2013 Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they are very or somewhat confident that the votes for president this year will be accurately cast and counted. That aligns with how Americans have viewed the election results most years since 2008. However, it masks Democrats becoming more confident in the process and Republicans becoming less so. This has led to a record-high 56-percentage-point partisan gap, with .\u201d \u2022 This is a big problem, to understate radically. Any Sanders voter knows Democrats have no issue with jiggering election results. Any Green voter knows that Democrats ruthlessly control all aspects of the balloting process (that being the distinctive competence of the modern political party). And given that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cs.cmu.edu\/~rdriley\/487\/papers\/Thompson_1984_ReflectionsonTrustingTrust.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">digital = hackable<\/a>, hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, are the only way to truly secure the vote (and how odd that nobody in the intelligence community, which is quietly but busily amassing the power to legitimate or delegitimate election results, supports them). All that said, Trump\u2019s attempt to challenge the 2020 election result \u2014 driven by the kraken lady and poor old brokedown Rudy Guiliani, and taking into account exactly zero technical experts from the balloting communmity \u2014 was farcically bad; given every advantage, the AZ recount effort came up dry. So we the voters are in the unenviable position of knowing that the opportunity for fraud exists, while having no evidence that a fraud has been committed in the last Presidential election (and don\u2019t @ me without showing a non-crank lawsuit now wending its way through the courts). And <em>that<\/em> said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/investigates\/section\/campaign-of-fear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">threatening election workers<\/a> makes me want to <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/election-workers-2024-threats-security-police-trump-kamala-biden-steal-c4f27414a5a90b67983b0349a370dd13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">defend<\/a> the little old church ladies who checked my name against the voter roll, and gave me an \u201cI voted\u201d sticker after I handed in my ballot. Very unpleasant possibilities for stochastic terrorism here, I would say. Nobody said the volatility would stop the day after election day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Potential National Security Consequences of Unplanned Domestic Military Missions\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawfaremedia.org\/article\/the-potential-national-security-consequences-of-unplanned-domestic-military-missions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lawfare<\/a>]. The headline, combined with the \u201cLawfare\u201d venue, gives me pause. What missions do they have in mind, exactly? It reads like Imperial bafflegab, but if I wanted to translate this concluding paragraph into something more menacing, it would not be hard to do: \u201cMany interrelated factors should be carefully examined when considering the use of the military. The defense mission and core capabilities developed to carry it out often do not correspond to the skills needed to perform domestic tasks. Serious and likely harmful consequences flow from diverting the armed forces and the resources that support them to missions more appropriately tasked to domestic agencies. Those consequences include distracting the military from its main function\u2014deterring and if necessary fighting America\u2019s wars\u2014and blurring the lines between what civilians are trained and resourced to do and what is expected from a professional military.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpeedrunning The History Of The Intelligence State\u201d [Mike Benz, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/video\/2024\/09\/24\/mike_benz_the_history_of_the_intelligence_state.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearPolitics<\/a>]. Good research, and you should consider reading in full. Here\u2019s how it starts out: \u201cWe\u2019ll sort of speed-run the essential history all the way up to the present, but we\u2019re going to start in the year 1948. This is the sort of \u201cYear Zero\u201d of the founding of the intelligence capacities of the U.S. government. Instead of learning what you\u2019d find in an ordinary history book, we\u2019re going to start with a document that I\u2019m curious if anyone has ever seen, called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/history.state.gov\/historicaldocuments\/frus1945-50Intel\/d269\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare<\/a>.\u201d Did you know that George Kennan, in 1948, wrote this memo called \u2018The Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare\u2019? George Kennan is known as a godfather figure of American diplomacy and the Central Intelligence Agency. He was famous for his \u2018long telegram\u2019 and was the chief strategist of the containment strategy against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. But before all that, when all of this was getting started, he penned this top-secret memo, which was not declassified for 60 years. It was declassified in 2005, and I think it helps elucidate the story as we\u2019re going to proceed here. We\u2019re going to go through this memo, but I want to give some context first. \u201cThe Inauguration of Organized Political Warfare\u201d was written just 12 days after the Central Intelligence Agency did its first government overthrow operation, its first election-rigging event. That was on April 18, 1948, and this memo was written just 12 days after that.\u201d \u2022 Quite an introduction. Read the whole thing, and you\u2019ll see why I place it here. It\u2019s hard to draw connections without creating a yarn diagram \u2014 especially in the right-wing fever swamp \u2014 but Benz avoids that here. Very clarifying.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Syndemics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am in earnest \u2014 I will not equivocate \u2014 I will not excuse \u2014 I will not retreat a single inch \u2014 AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u201d \u2013William Lloyd Garrison<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=Risk&null=Risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>); Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>, <del><a href=\"https:\/\/biobot.io\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Biobot<\/a><\/del>; includes many counties; <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wastewater Scan<\/a>, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/businesssolutions\/covid-19-index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a>); \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/iowacovid19tracker.org\/hospitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Iowa COVID-19 Tracker<\/a>\u201d (in IA, but national data). \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/icemsg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts<\/a>\u201d (especially on hospitalization by city).<\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put \u201cCOVID\u201d in the subject line. Thank you!<\/p>\n<p>Resources, United States (Local): AK (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/af2efc8bffbf4cdc83c2d1a134354074\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AR (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/633006d0782b4544bd5113a314f6268a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AZ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/covid19\/data\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); CA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CID\/DCDC\/Pages\/COVID-19\/CalSuWers-Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.marinhhs.org\/surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marin, dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalerts.stanford.edu\/covid-19\/wastewater-dashboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stanford, wastewater<\/a>; 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MI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/coronavirus\/stats\/wastewater-surveillance\/dashboard\/sentinel-wastewater-epidemiology-evaluation-project-sweep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/gisportal.state.mi.us\/portal\/apps\/insights\/index.html#\/view\/52bbb104ed574887918f990af9f3debe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.state.mn.us\/diseases\/coronavirus\/stats\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MO (<a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f7f5492486114da6b5d6fdc07f81aacf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MS (<a href=\"https:\/\/msdh.ms.gov\/page\/14,0,420.html#Mississippi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>MT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=7c34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; NC (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.ncdhhs.gov\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard)<\/a>; ND (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NE (<a href=\"https:\/\/atlas-dhhs.ne.gov\/Atlas\/Respiratory_Illness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NH (<a href=\"https:\/\/wisdom.dhhs.nh.gov\/wisdom\/dashboard.html?topic=covid-19&subtopic=recurring-updates&indicator=covid-19-wastewater#tabnavbarid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NJ (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.nj.gov\/forms\/datadashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NM (<a href=\"https:\/\/cvprovider.nmhealth.org\/public-dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NV (<a href=\"https:\/\/nvhealthresponse.nv.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/empower.unlv.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Southern NV); NY (<a href=\"https:\/\/mbcolli.shinyapps.io\/SARS2EWSP\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OH (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.ohio.gov\/dashboards\/other-resources\/wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OK (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>OR (<a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/oregon.health.authority.covid.19\/viz\/OregonsCOVID-19DataDashboards-TableofContents\/TableofContentsStatewide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; PA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.pa.gov\/topics\/disease\/coronavirus\/pages\/Cases.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); RI (<a href=\"https:\/\/ri-department-of-health-covid-19-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SC (<a href=\"https:\/\/scdhec.gov\/index.php\/covid19\/covid-19-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SD (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.sd.gov\/COVID\/Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/health\/cedep\/ncov\/data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TX (<a href=\"https:\/\/txdshsea.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/4ae43eefd0f641d59d35c3df82ee59cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); UT (<a href=\"https:\/\/avrpublic.dhhs.utah.gov\/uwss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/coronavirus\/sars-cov-2-in-wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthvermont.gov\/disease-control\/covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WA (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/emergencies\/covid-19\/data-dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.bfhd.wa.gov\/cases-and-roadmap-to-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.wisconsin.gov\/covid-19\/wastewater.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); WV (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/oehs.wvdhhr.org\/news\/oehs-coivd-19-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>); WY (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/covidwastewatermonitor.wyo.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/health-infobase.canada.ca\/covid-19\/wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Government of Canada<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthontario.ca\/en\/Data-and-Analysis\/Infectious-Disease\/COVID-19-Data-Surveillance\/Wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); QC (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inspq.qc.ca\/covid-19\/donnees\/eaux-usees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>les eaux us\u00e9es<\/em><\/a>); BC (<a href=\"https:\/\/bccdc.shinyapps.io\/respiratory_wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); BC, Vancouver (<a href=\"https:\/\/metrovancouver.org\/services\/liquid-waste\/testing-for-the-covid-19-virus-in-wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Hat tips to helpful 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, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Morbidity and Mortality<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cPredictors for COVID-19-Specific and Non-COVID-19-Specific Deaths: A Cohort Study in Taiwan\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/384267887_Predictors_for_COVID-19-Specific_and_Non-COVID-19-Specific_Deaths_A_Cohort_Study_in_Taiwan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health<\/a> (RK)]. N = 2196. From the Abtract: \u201cPredictors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-specific and non-COVID-19-specific deaths have not been extensively studied. This cohort study in Taiwan investigated predictors for COVID-19-specific and non-COVID-19-specific deaths among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. From January to July 2022, 2196 COVID-19 patients at Taipei City Hospital were consecutively recruited in this cohort study\u2026 Our study findings suggest that vaccination and Paxlovid treatment are crucial for reducing SARS-CoV-2-specific mortalities, while comorbid patients need careful monitoring to reduce non-COVID-19-specific deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Science Is Popping<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"nasal\" a=\"\">\u201cToward a Radically Simple Multi-Modal Nasal Spray for Preventing Respiratory Infection\u201d (PDF) [<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1qh2rCjdkEOl9LZa2SBeaK-55cDuc7Lqs\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Advanced Materials<\/a>]. Mouse study (sigh). See the Conflict of Interest statement (page 18). Nevertheless, very big if true. The Abstract:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Nasal sprays for pre-exposure prophylaxis against respiratory infections show limited protection (20\u201370%), largely due to their single mechanism of action\u2014either neutralizing pathogens or blocking their entry at the nasal lining, and a failure to maximize the capture of respiratory droplets, allowing them to potentially rebound and reach deeper airways. This report introduces the Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS), which utilizes a multi-modal approach to enhance efficacy. PCANS coats the nasal cavity, capturing large respiratory droplets from the air, and serving as a physical barrier against a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, while rapidly neutralizing them with over 99.99% effectiveness. The formulation consists of excipients identified from the FDA\u2019s Inactive Ingredient Database and Generally Recognized as Safe list to maximize efficacy for each step in the multi-modal approach. PCANS demonstrates nasal retention for up to 8 hours in mice. In a severe Influenza A mouse model, a single pre-exposure dose of PCANS leads to a >99.99% reduction in lung viral titer and ensures 100% survival, compared to 0% in the control group. PCANS suppresses pathological manifestations and offers protection for at least 4 hours. This data suggest PCANS as a promising daily-use prophylactic against respiratory infections.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And from the Conclusion:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>PCANS presents a promising chemoprophylactic approach against respiratory infections. Besides its potential to act as a first line of defense against respiratory pathogens and emerging variants for which there are no vaccines available, our approach could also be potentially used as an added layer of protection with existing vaccines. Given its broad-spectrum prophylactic activity and shelf stability, we anticipate PCANS holds the potential for global distribution, especially in countries with low vaccination rates against respiratory pathogens. Alongside, the benefits of PCANS can also be extended to immunocompromised patients, high-risk individuals with co-morbidities, and vaccine-hesitant populations. Its pocket-sized spray format allows for easy portability, making it convenient to carry during social gatherings and travel. With these significant benefits, we believe PCANS will experience rapid widespread adoption, enhancing the accessibility of respiratory infection prevention.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let\u2019s see what the regulators think. And Big Pharma.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<blockquote>\n<p> This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 16<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Last Week[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> (until next week):<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png 602w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2-300x188.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"align: left; margin-left: 0px !important; padding: 9px 0 9px 0;\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-278578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Variants<\/strong> [3] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> <strong>Emergency Room Visits<\/strong>[4] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_select_7dayeddiagnosed_00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-278833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-300x236.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-2-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Hospitalization<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> New York[5] <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.health.ny.gov\/daily-hospitalization-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York State<\/a>, data September 23:<\/td>\n<td>\n<blockquote>\n<p> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> August 31:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-14.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-14.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-14-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-2-300x265.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Positivity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> September 23:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> September 7:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-3-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-278400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-300x198.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Travelers Data<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279084\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2-300x186.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2-300x204.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Deaths<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11]<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12]<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronadisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> September 14:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-positivity.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-positivity.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <span class=\"Apple-tab-span\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-ed.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-279080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-ed.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/covid-cdc-death-ed-300x198.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>LEGEND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1) <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> for charts new today; all others are not updated.<\/p>\n<p>2) For a full-size\/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and \u201copen image in new tab.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[1] (CDC) This week\u2019s wastewater map, with hot spots annotated. Keeps spreading. NOTE The date seems to be wrong, but the number of sites has changed so this is new.<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* very popular. XDV.1 flat.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down, but worth noting that Emergency Department use is now on a par with the first wave, in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Definitely down.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). The visualization suppresses what is, in percentage terms, a significant increase.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Big drop continues!<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Dropping.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Down. Those sh*theads at CDC have changed the chart so that it doesn\u2019t even run back to 1\/21\/23, as it used to, but now starts 1\/1\/24. There\u2019s also no way to adjust the time range. CDC really doesn\u2019t want you to be able to take a historical view of the pandemic, or compare one surge to another. In an any case, that\u2019s why the shape of the curve has changed.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants) What the heck is LB.1?<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, but positivity up.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED up.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>GDP: \u201cUnited States GDP Growth Rate\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/gdp-growth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe US economy grew at an annualized rate of 3% in the second quarter of 2024, unchanged from the second estimate and above an upwardly revised 1.6% expansion in the first quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Initial Jobless Claims\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/jobless-claims\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US dropped by 4,000 from the previous week to 218,000 on the period ending September 21st, below market expectations of a rise to 225,000, and reaching a new 4-month low. Despite this decline, the claim count remained above the averages seen earlier this year, as the US labor market has softened since its post-pandemic peak, although it remains historically tight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Durable Goods Orders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/durable-goods-orders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cNew orders for manufactured durable goods in the US were loosely unchanged from the prior month in August of 2024, compared to the revised 9.8% surge in July which was the highest in four years, and contrasting sharply with market expectations of a 2.6% drop. The result challenged the growing pessimism over manufacturing activity in the United States, suggesting the current slowdown may be temporary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Kansas Fed Manufacturing Index\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/kansas-fed-manufacturing-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe Kansas City Fed\u2019s Manufacturing Production index fell to -18 in September 2024, from 6 in the previous month, marking the lowest reading in 14 months and way below forecasts of 9.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\" a=\"\">Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing, workers union to resume talks on Friday\u201d [<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.manilatimes.net\/2024\/09\/27\/business\/foreign-business\/boeing-workers-union-to-resume-talks-on-friday\/1974823\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. So much for the \u201cfinal\u201d part of \u201cBest And Final Offer.\u201d \u201cNegotiators from Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will meet with federal mediators in a bid to break the deadlock, after two days of previous talks collapsed a week ago\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cCan the Machinists Save Boeing from Its Management?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.labornotes.org\/2024\/09\/can-machinists-save-boeing-its-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Labor Notes<\/a>]. \u201cWhile Boeing wailed that the strike may cause mortal wounds to the company, the Machinists union has for decades been fighting against the company\u2019s self-wounding practices: rampant outsourcing, undermining of quality inspections, moving work to non-union shops, and hollowing out what used to be a coveted family-sustaining job. Company policies have resulted in the loss of experienced workers, production delays, mismatched and shoddy parts, and the disastrous quality lapses that led to an Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January. It was the union that was originally responsible for pushing the separation of quality inspection from production pressures, said Steve Cabana, a quality assurance inspector for 13 years. \u2018Having quality separate in the supervisory chain is the only way quality can have any teeth,\u2019 he said. \u2018I can look at a process and stop it.\u2019 This is not true at vendors the company buys parts from, Cabana said, where they have \u2018the same management system for manufacturing and quality.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s how the company figured it could save money by outsourcing, because other people didn\u2019t have the same rigorous standards,\u2019 Cabana said. \u2018It\u2019s a fragile network of suppliers who honestly aren\u2019t compensated all that well for the work that they do,\u2019 said Mylo Lang, an apprentice machinist at Auburn with six years at the company. \u2018They\u2019ve really been squeezing them, in fact, over the years.\u2019 In Boeing\u2019s own plants, the company has tried to slash inspections, too. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires in-person inspections by qualified workers, but in 2017 Boeing tried to speed up production by having mechanics sign off on their own work. At the company\u2019s assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, which currently has no union, the lack of worker power and input meant the company tested out cuts to quality inspections there first, around 2017, then expanded into the Puget Sound plants, where union members rallied to stop the cuts, flooding meetings and making the question a shop floor issue.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing confirms production of 737s has halted\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2024\/09\/25\/boeing-737-production-halted-stopped\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing\u2019s production of 737 jets has come to a \u201ccomplete halt\u201d as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) strike continues, according to a Bank of America analyst note sent out on Tuesday. Two separate representatives for Boeing confirmed the production stoppage to Fortune. \u2018Airplane production in Washington state is temporarily paused including work on the 737 MAX, 767, 777\/777X, P-8, KC-46A Tanker, E-7 Wedgetail,\u2019 a spokesperson wrote Fortune in an email Wednesday. \u2018Work at our Fabrication sites in Washington and Oregon will also temporarily pause. Employees not represented by this union will continue to report to work as normal.\u2019 Boeing\u2019s stock fell more than 2% on Wednesday, at the time of publication. The stoppage\u2019s full impact on actual deliveries of the planes \u2018remains uncertain,\u2019 BofA analysts wrote. But the pace has nonetheless \u2018slowed significantly.\u2019 Only two 737s have been delivered in the last week, which they say is \u2018well below normal levels.\u2019 As for the 787 jets\u2014a different, less embattled model\u2014Boeing has made zero deliveries over the past week, and has only delivered two in all of September. But BofA \u2018expects Boeing to maintain the same levels of rollouts compared to last month\u201d because As a result, BofA maintained its rating on the stock as neutral.\u201d \u2022 That \u201cunaffected by unions\u201d (carbon fibre) makes me think. I believe Boeing promised to make <a href=\"https:\/\/simpleflying.com\/boeing-797-update-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the next aircraft, the \u201c797,\u201d<\/a> in Seattle, presumbly also from carbon fibre, if they began it during the life of the contract currently being negotiated. But did Boeing promise the 797 would be built with union labor? Readers?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cSpirit Aerosystems beginning to see effects of Boeing strikes \u2013 reports\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.airport-technology.com\/news\/spirit-aerosystems-sees-effects-boeing-strikes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Airport Technology<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems has reportedly warned it may begin furloughing employees soon if the strikes at the aircraft manufacturer\u2019s production plants continue much longer. The supplier, which is set to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airport-technology.com\/news\/spirit-aerosystems-boeing-coordinated-deal-airbus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fall back under Boeing\u2019s control<\/a> next year, is currently using the lull in work at the aircraft factories to address a backlog of orders but will soon begin seeing the effects of the work stoppage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing strike squeezes California aerospace suppliers, including Independent Forge in Orange\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2024\/09\/25\/boeing-strike-squeezes-california-aerospace-suppliers-including-independent-forge-in-orange\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Orange County Register<\/a>]. \u201cMachine tool and metal shops across the region are feeling the effects of the Boeing strike, as is a complex supply chain that stretches across the world\u2026. \u2018This could be devastating for us,\u2019 said Andrew Flores, president of Independent Forge Co. Inc. \u2018Forgings are the start of most parts made in the aviation business, and that\u2019s the first thing they want to stop.\u2019\u2026 The company also is worried about a second strike that emerged earlier this week when unionized machinists with a general aviation unit owned by Textron Corp. in Kansas walked off their jobs for higher wages and benefits, Flores said.\u201d \u2022 Hmm. Only Textron, then?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing strike leaves Asian airlines sweating on plane deliveries\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstimes.com.sg\/international\/global\/boeing-strike-leaves-asian-airlines-sweating-plane-deliveries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Business Times<\/a>]. \u201cThe Seattle factory strike crippling production at Boeing is triggering delays to 737 Max deliveries across Asia, a region that\u2019s already home to some of the biggest order backlogs for the flagship aircraft. The US manufacturer is due to hand over 981 Max jets to carriers in Asia, led by Air India and Indonesia\u2019s Lion Air, by 2030, according to data from Cirium. That\u2019s close to one-third of all scheduled deliveries of the aircraft worldwide over that period. But with Boeing at loggerheads with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents some 33,000 Boeing employees who have been striking for almost two weeks, concerns are escalating about the reliability of the plane pipeline. Responding to queries from Bloomberg News, Korean Air Lines, Vietjet Aviation and Japan Airlines said they were either suffering delivery delays due to the strike, expecting planes to arrive late or concerned about handover dates slipping. Others including Singapore Airlines said they were working with Boeing on delivery schedules in light of the factory shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cSenators want to see major changes at Boeing. The FAA says that could take years\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/09\/25\/mike-whitaker-hearing-faa-boeing-00181076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cThe head of the Federal Aviation Administration warned senators Wednesday that ensuring troubled planemaker Boeing rights its ship will take years \u2014 not months \u2014 even with the FAA looking over its shoulder\u2026. But [FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker] said that while Boeing has improved on short-term challenges in its manufacturing lines, \u2018[we] would be kidding ourselves to think you can change 170,000 people, culture in 18 months \u2014 so it\u2019s going to be a long haul.’\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cMillions of Vehicles Could Be Hacked and Tracked Thanks to a Simple Website Bug\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/i3X1L\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wired<\/a>]. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 65 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 60 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Sep 25 at 1:55:41 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Current Cinema<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Coppola\u2019s Megalopolis:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"qme\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AMCTheatres?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">#AMCTheatres<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Megalopolis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">#Megalopolis<\/a> \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f\ud83c\udf7f\ud83e\udd64 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IiaP66e2J0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/IiaP66e2J0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 MAC (@mci41827) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mci41827\/status\/1839306640501408204\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Universal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/m\/megalopolis\/reviews\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">derision from the reviewers<\/a>, which intrigues me. Has anyone seen it?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Quite modern:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Incantation, 1797 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Etgr3YnUjN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Etgr3YnUjN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Francisco Goya (@artistgoya) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/artistgoya\/status\/1839141376350359662\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">September 26, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmazon Logistics under investigation for alleged labor violations\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/business\/amazon\/amazon-logistics-under-investigation-for-alleged-labor-violations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Seattle Times<\/a>]. \u201cSeattle\u2019s Office of Labor Standards is investigating Amazon Logistics \u2014 the company\u2019s vast network of delivery services \u2014 for alleged violations of labor laws, including the city\u2019s ordinance requiring paid sick time for gig workers that went into effect this year. The investigation appears focused on Amazon\u2019s Flex drivers, who operate like gig workers and make deliveries for the company using their own vehicles and on their own schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe history of telecoms is at an end\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/iicintermedia.org\/vol-52-issue-3\/the-history-of-telecoms-is-at-an-end\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Intermedia<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cIn his latest book, William Webb argues that we mostly have all the connectivity we need. The telecoms industry needs to refocus away from technical innovation and towards efficiency. Governments and regulators, he says, will need a new mindset.\u201d \u2022 Perhaps even too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe power of leisure: How everyday hobbies stop cognitive decline\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/studyfinds.org\/everyday-hobbies-cognitive-decline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Study Finds<\/a>]. \u201cIn community centers across the country, seniors gather for book clubs, chess matches, and art classes. These social hubs of mental stimulation may be more than just pleasant diversions \u2013 they could be unofficial cognitive health clinics, according to new research. The study suggests that engaging in cognitively stimulating leisure activities (CSLAs) might be key to preserving cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This research offers hope for those looking to stave off cognitive decline and potentially reduce their risk of developing dementia.\u201d \u2022\u00a0Maybe I should stop reading <em>Model Railroader<\/em> and build a layout, Perky Pat-style. Not.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/200pm-water-cooler-9-25-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From: JG:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pitcher.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"803\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-279355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pitcher.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pitcher-224x300.jpeg 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>JG writes: \u201cMy old neighbor gave me the Roseville pitcher decorated with an abstract landscape and a chain of bows in relief. The mesh pattern on the vase comes from the screen window which provided the lighting on the subject. The zinnias came from another kind neighbor.\u201d A lovely \u201cpitcher\u201d indeed!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"donate\"\/><strong>Readers<\/strong>: Water Cooler is a standalone entity <em>not<\/em> covered by the annual NC fundraiser. Material here is Lambert\u2019s, and does not express the views of the Naked Capitalism site. If you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldn\u2019t see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! <em>Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know I\u2019m on the right track with coverage<\/em>. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:<\/p>\n<p>Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-226891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"606\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png 606w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/09\/200pm-water-cooler-9-26-2024.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bird Song of the Day Sage Thrasher, Gunnison, Colorado, United States. Twelve minutes! I guess people become fascinated with the mimicry and wonder what will<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":85115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-spotlight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}