\n<\/p>\n
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nBird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Westchester, New York, United States. \u201cAmazing repertoire of other species\u2019 songs woven into this song. This mockingbird was imitating several species including cardinal, robin, killdeer, Carolina Wren, and Tufted Titmouse. It is unclear whether it was also imitating a Song Sparrow, because one was very nearby and its voice can also be heard on the audio.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#thompson\">UnitedHealthcare assassination<\/a>: More details emerge.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Boeing <em>dropped a satellite<\/em><\/a>, says new whistleblower.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nietzsche\"> Nietzsche\u2019s typewriter<\/a>.<\/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 wp_automatic_readability=\"10.660231660232\">\n<p>\u201cSecret Service director vows reorganization as members of Congress press him over major lapses\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-assassination-attempts-secret-service-butler-rally-f05f3899c53bd98899175cce860808f5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cDuring the hearing, Rowe was repeatedly asked by flabbergasted lawmakers how problems so obvious in hindsight were allowed to happen, including communications difficulties between the Secret Service and local law enforcement that help secure events [in Butler, PA] and the building overlooking the rally being left unprotected.\u201d And: \u201cTrump has not yet named his pick to lead the agency.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"133.44063624314\">\n<p>\u201cJeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/04\/democrats-mutiny-against-leaders-jeffries-00192665\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cDemocrats are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and are no longer bowing to seniority rules to pick their committee leaders.\u201d About time. More: \u201cRep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, 76, announced this week that he would step down from the top Democratic spot on the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, 77, dropped his bid to continue leading Democrats on Judiciary in the face of a tough challenge from 61-year-old Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. And Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is facing multiple challenges for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee. It\u2019s akin to a mutiny, especially given Democrats\u2019 typical deference to seniority in who leads panels. But party lawmakers are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and full GOP control of Congress. Many feel it\u2019s crucial to have leaders who are proven fighters and can effectively push back on Republican priorities like harsh limits on legal immigration. It echoes the argument many used when they called on President Joe Biden to step off the ticket over the summer. At the center of it all is Jeffries, the minority leader, and his leadership team, who also skipped the seniority line in many ways when they rose to the top ranks two years ago. They have publicly stayed out of it, loath to stand in the way of lawmakers who, like them, chafed at the party\u2019s strict adherence to seniority.\u201d And: \u201c\u201dThe caucus will guide these kinds of discussions,\u201d said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 House Democrat. \u201cWe\u2019re confident that at this time it\u2019s going to take a Democratic Caucus that\u2019s firing on all cylinders to push back against extremism and to .’\u201d \u2022\u00a0Ick. Mush.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScoop: Pelosi backing \u201csome\u201d House Dem committee ousters\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/12\/04\/nancy-pelosi-committee-raskin-nalder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u2022 Maybe, for example\u2013<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScoop: AOC expected to run for top Oversight Committee role\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/12\/04\/aoc-house-oversight-committee-democrats-raskin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201cOcasio-Cortez said Tuesday she is \u2018interested\u2019 in the role and has had \u2018a lot of outreach from colleagues\u2019 about a run. She told reporters on Wednesday morning that she has \u2018spoken with many members of our caucus, including several members of leadership\u2019 about the race. Ocasio-Cortez also laid out her vision for the panel, saying she wants to use it as a \u2018communicative platform for public education\u2019 and a vehicle for \u2018real legislative work and investigatory work.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0And speaking of AOC:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.84375\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.329545454545\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With Governor Delgado having finally enacted the special master’s court-ordered redrawn map, we can now map the 2028 Presidential election by New York’s new districts<\/p>\n<p>Districts eliminated:<br \/>NY-10 (Hoylman)<br \/>NY-14 (Ocasio-Cortez)<br \/>NY-22 (Tenney)<\/p>\n<p>Posting info on key races below <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fm30EOypjF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/fm30EOypjF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lily in the City (@LilyArtemisTO) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LilyArtemisTO\/status\/1864599008297058343\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats are checked out after their drubbing \u2014 here\u2019s how they can reengage\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/campaign\/5019865-democrats-media-messaging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cDemocrats are tuning away from news networks and social media platforms in numbers that are impossible to ignore. MSNBC and CNN saw their ratings slashed in half as exhausted Democrats tuned out post-election. On Twitter (now X, after its acquisition by Elon Musk), lefty users have deserted the platform in droves in favor of competitor Bluesky.\u201d At some point, the exodus of \u201clefty [sic] users\u201d from X (611 million users) to Bluesky (20 million) will stop. When it does, we\u2019ll have a good reading on how many Blue MAGA there really are. More: \u201cPrint outlets are faring even worse, with furious Democrats still canceling their Washington Post subscriptions nearly a month after owner Jeff Bezos spiked the paper\u2019s endorsement of Kamala Harris. One in 10 Washington Post subscribers have quit the paper since October, blowing a sizable hole in the paper\u2019s already threadbare earnings. That raises an existential question for media outlets and for Democrats: Where will all those disillusioned eyes go?\u201d And: \u201cDemocrats were once masters of the populist message. If they want to rebuild after last month\u2019s electoral disaster, they\u2019ll need to reconnect with that part of their political psyche \u2014 fast. \u201d \u2022\u00a0They can\u2019t and won\u2019t. As Thomas Frank shows in <em>Listen, Liberal!<\/em>, liberal Democrats hate the working class. Since improved messaging, if it is to last, implies actually delivering on policy, they\u2019ll fight improved messaging tooth and nail (as will their wealthy donors, as we saw in the Kamala campaign\u2019s refusal to campaign on Lina Khan). Alternatively, of course, the Democrat leadership could believe there\u2019s no problem at all; a few thousand votes here and there and 2028 is practically in the bag. And of course, the Democrat leadership has gradually eviscerated the primary process, so all the leadership will really need to do is go into a smoke-filled room, pick a slightly better candidate than Kamala, and give them more runway than a hundred days. How hard could that be?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats need to take the working class seriously and literally\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salon.com\/2024\/12\/04\/democrats-need-to-take-the-working-class-seriously-and-literally\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Salon<\/a>]. \u201cAnd then there was the following phrase (or some version of it) that I heard many times on the bus, the train and in my conversations with Uber and Lyft drivers. \u201cDonald Trump may act crazy or be a jerk, but he is right about that!\u2026.\u201d Donald Trump\u2019s raw honesty and lack of a filter or self-censoring are central to his appeal. Many Americans may disagree with the specifics of what Donald Trump says about immigration, women, racial and ethnic minorities, or how he will rule when he is back in power. But as shown by polls and focus groups, many of them do like the fact that Trump, unlike Kamala Harris and the mainstream news media and other elites, is at least talking in a clear and direct way about the things that are causing them anxiety and upset in their daily lives\u2026.. To win back their own base voters \u2014 and more importantly to expand their support among independents, undecided voters and those who have dropped out of politics and the country\u2019s civic life \u2014 Democrats need to do a much better job of listening to everyday people, meeting them where they are and taking their concerns and agency seriously. Whatever one may think about Donald Trump, his propagandists and other agents, at this moment, they and the MAGAverse are doing a much better job of listening to and shaping public opinion and the national narrative and mood than are the Democrats and the legacy news media.\u201d \u2022 At first reading, this is another messaging take. But the <em>listening<\/em> part is not (and I don\u2019t mean a \u201clistening tour.\u201d If there were such a thing as a 21st century precinct captain \u2014 online? \u2014 <em>they<\/em> should be doing the listening).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI Watched the Democratic Collapse in Florida. I Fear It\u2019s Happening Nationally\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebulwark.com\/p\/democratic-party-collapse-in-florida-and-nationally\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Bulwark<\/a>]. \u201cThe truth is we got here because our brand sucks. We tend to put voters in different buckets\u2014black, Hispanic, young, gay, etc.\u2014and treat these groups like they are more progressive than they really are, and somehow unique from each other. At the same time, we\u2019ve made decisions to stop talking to large chunks of the electorate. Some of these decisions can\u2019t be fixed. For example, I wish we would have been more intentional about molding the Obama operation into something more permanent for the party to utilize. Coming out of 2008, rather than investing in partisan infrastructure, many in my party\u2014in some cases led by the Obama White House\u2014encouraged the development of \u201clong-term progressive infrastructure,\u201d with the idea that not-for-profit organizations could better address political needs, instead of state parties. Not only has this experiment failed at the core organizing level in states like Florida, but it has encouraged the idea that Democrats are beholden to progressive groups and values. We should have continued something akin to the old Howard Dean plan to invest in all fifty states.\u201d Thanks, Obama! And the conclusion: \u201c[B]asically, we must get back to listening to the median voter.\u201d Listening, but also leading. The author has this good metaphor: \u201cHas anyone had to buy refrigerator recently? After having previous had one for twelve years, I\u2019m now on my third in seven\u2014not because the actual refrigerator is breaking but because all the \u2018smart\u2019 technology on my fridge is. Last time I went in, I said, I just want a dumb fridge that works. Just the basics\u2014works for appliances and for elections.\u201d \u2022 Universal concrete material benefits<sub>MR SUBLIMINAL Socialism<\/sub> is that \u201cdumb fridge that works\u201d (see FDR. And the CARES Act). Lead the voters there. Don\u2019t commission another boatload of polling in quest of the mythical \u201cmedian voter,\u201d recognizable <em>only in retropect<\/em> by campaign professionals who, if you were sharing a post-prandial libation, would be the first to admit that nobody knows anything.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWill Democrats \u201cGet in Touch\u201d with Working-Class America?\u201d [John Halpin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/will-democrats-get-in-touch-with\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. By Betteridge\u2019s Law\u2026 \u201c[I]n a comprehensive post-election survey of 4800 working-class voters conducted by PPI and YouGov (including oversamples in the battleground states of AZ, GA, MI, WI, and PA), Republicans outperformed Democrats across every indicator of party leadership and values.\u201d Handy chart:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"579\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc-300x290.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wowsers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Left-Flank Albatross\u201d [Michael Baharaeen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/the-left-flank-albatross\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. \u201cOf course, liberals deserve representation too, and it\u2019s completely fair to be concerned about issues like abortion, climate change, and minority rights. But winning in politics requires meeting voters where they are and catering to the issues they care most about. Harris and her team may protest that they tried to make the economy a central focus of her campaign, downplay hot-button topics, and employ tough rhetoric about the southern border, but none of it resonated with the voters they needed most. As the party moves forward, it must grapple with this reality and learn from it if they are to repair their image and chart a new path.\u201d \u2022 It\u2019s weird for an organization that calls itself \u201cThird Way\u201d (cited approvingly in the piece) to keep pushing a <em>binary<\/em> (left-right) paradigm (as opposed to, say, right-liberal-left tripolar model). I suppose, for them, the \u201cthird way\u201d is rightwards (they would say they\u2019re chasing the median voter, but it\u2019s the chasing, and not leading, that\u2019s the problem).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"14.444444444444\">\n<p>\u201cThe Fight Has Only Just Begun\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/progressive.org\/magazine\/the-fight-has-only-just-begun-ali-20241204\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Progressive<\/a>]. \u201cOnce upon a time, a majority of U.S. voters rejected a capable, competent, and intelligent daughter of Black and Indian immigrants in favor of a diminished, ignorant, racist son of a multimillionaire, proving that the United States remained a great country for old, white men.\u201d \u2022 This is what passes for \u201cleft\u201d analysis at The Progressive.<\/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>Transmission: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAre flu and COVID high now? Here\u2019s how the season has started\u201d [Alexander Tin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/flu-covid-infections-december-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. Tin is a good guy, but Covid is not seasonal. That said: \u201cCOVID-19 emergency room visits are \u2018low\u2019 or \u2018minimal\u2019 in nearly all states, after this year\u2019s late summer wave of the virus. Levels of the virus in wastewater are \u201cminimal\u201d in all regions, compared to \u201chigh\u201d levels around this time last year. \u2018Does that mean that there was enough immunity built up in that summer wave that we\u2019re going to not see a winter wave? Does it mean the winter wave is going to come, but be a little bit later and maybe a little smaller,\u2019 said [University of North Carolina epidemiology professor Justin Lessler]. Both [Shaun Truelove, associate scientist at Johns Hopkins University\u2019s public health school] and Lessler said one major \u2018data gap\u2019 making comparisons to previous seasons challenging has been the lapse in nationwide COVID-19 hospitalization data during the summer surge. A pandemic-era emergency requirement for health care providers to report COVID-19 hospitalizations lapsed earlier this year, and only recently resumed under a new rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Other factors muddying the figures include changes to how people test and seek care for COVID-19 infections. Another big unknown is the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Most circulating variants right now are a medley of closely related variants like XEC and KP.3.1.1. \u2018We don\u2019t know, like we do for flu, what the average pace of COVID\u2019s evolution away from our immune system will be, when it settles down,\u2019 Lessler said. Early data released last month by researchers at The Ohio State University found XEC looked to be more infectious compared with the parent variant it shares upstream with KP.3.1.1, but not significantly more than its siblings. \u2018I actually have thought it had settled down a bit, after this year. We\u2019ll see what I think after the season\u2019s done. But right now, I\u2019m a little less sure,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 Oh good. Seems like the best indicator would be reports of coughing on the Mommy blogs, at this point\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.869565217391\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.625\">\n<td valign=\"top\">This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25<\/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\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6521739130435\">\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> November 23<\/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> November 23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1-300x171.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9102564102564\">\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 December 4:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 28:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3-300x258.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"2.5915492957746\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> December 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> November 23:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5932203389831\">\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> November 11:<\/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> November 4:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3-300x187.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.76\">\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> November 2:<\/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> November 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl-300x175.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"209.38064235061\">\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) Good news!<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it\u2019s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, positivity down.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/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>]. \u201cUS initial jobless claims rose to 224,000 for the week ending November 30, from 213,000 in the previous week, above market expectations of 215,000 and marking the highest reading in six weeks. Despite this rise, the results still support the view that the US labor market remains at historically strong levels despite the aggressive tightening cycle by the Federal Reserve in the last quarters, adding leeway for the central bank to slow the pace of monetary loosening should inflation remain stubbornly high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Challenger Job Cuts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/challenger-job-cuts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cUS employers announced 57,727 job cuts in November 2024, slightly higher than 55,597 in October and 45,510 a year earlier. The Automotive sector announced the most job cuts (11,506, the highest monthly total since April).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\"\/>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing whistleblower sounds alarm over safety at satellite factory: \u201cThey\u2019re not gonna listen to me until somebody dies\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/boeing-whistleblower-sounds-alarm-over-safety-at-satellite-factory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cNow, Garriott, 53, says, it\u2019s the lives of hundreds of technicians at the Boeing facility where he has worked for nearly three decades that need protecting from company management. \u2018They\u2019ve taken the focus off quality, the focus off the people on the floor, and they\u2019ve put it completely on profit and going fast,\u2019 Garriott said in an exclusive interview with CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave. \u2018I\u2019m afraid with Boeing in the hands that it\u2019s in now down here, they\u2019re not gonna listen to me until somebody dies.\u2019 He said efforts by Boeing executives to boost production at the company\u2019s Los Angeles-area military and commercial satellite plant have led to a \u2018toxic culture\u2019 that has put workers there in danger. \u2014 an incident so catastrophic he compared it to \u2018a plane falling out of the sky.\u2019 \u2018One person was underneath that satellite and they barely got out,\u2019 said Garriott, who also represents 600 hourly workers as the head of the local carpenters union. \u2018It\u2019s the worst thing that can possibly happen on a site.’\u201d \u2022 Boeing <em>dropped a satellite<\/em>????<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Plea Deal Over Fatal 737 Max Crashes Rejected by Judge\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/qqf05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing Co.\u2019s plea deal with US prosecutors over two 737 Max jet crashes was rejected by a federal judge, who said plans for choosing an independent monitor minimized the court\u2019s role and required the parties to consider the race of the person appointed. US District Judge Reed O\u2019Connor on Thursday sided with family members of people killed during the crashes, who urged him to reject the agreement on the grounds that it failed to adequately hold Boeing accountable for the 346 fatalities.\u201d \u2022 Oopsie.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Defense Fighter Jet Unit Head Retires Amid Leadership Shake-Up\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/simpleflying.com\/boeing-defense-fighter-jet-unit-head-retires-leadership-shake-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Simple Flying<\/a>]. \u201cThe head of Boeing Defense\u2019s fighter jet division will step down after two years in the role. Steve Nordlund will be replaced by Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, amid a challenging time for the company\u2026. [Boeing Defense Systems] continues to lose money, posting losses of $2.3 billion in the third quarter. Much of this was due to fixed-cost contracts, including the KC-46A Tanker and T-7 Red Hawk programs.\u201d \u2022 I bet there aren\u2019t a whole lot of companies that lose money on defense work.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Isn\u2019t the Only Plane Maker With Problems. Airbus Just Laid Off 2,000 Workers\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/boeing-airbus-layoffs-jobs-13245ba9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Barron\u2019s<\/a>]. \u201cWednesday, Airbus announced it was laying off 2,043 workers in its Defense and Space business. The layoffs amount to about 5% of that business and should be completed by mid-2026. The reductions \u2018aim to reduce the company\u2019s fixed cost base, with almost all of the positions affected being so-called overhead positions,\u2019 said Airbus in an emailed statement.\u201d And: \u201cProfits in Airbus\u2019 defense segment have struggled, too, and the company is expected to post a loss for the unit in 2024. Operating profit margins in 2023 came in at 2%, down from 6% in 2020. Airbus\u2019 defense sales in 2024 should amount to about $13 billion; Boeing\u2019s defense business will approach $25 billion. What hasn\u2019t been a problem for either company is commercial aerospace demand. Both companies have backlogs that stretch out years. Building the planes has been tougher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bezzle:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.25\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW: Amazon charges 48,000 DC residents in Wards 7 & 8 for full Prime membership while excluding them from Prime delivery benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Amazon failed to inform customers they were excluded.<\/p>\n<p>We are suing Amazon for deceiving DC residents into paying the same price for worse service. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/72RxzyIPfa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/72RxzyIPfa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DCAttorneyGen\/status\/1864301539520594246\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Probably wouldn\u2019t even buy a bathroom in one of Jeff\u2019s mansions, but every little bit helps!<\/p>\n<p>Tech: Yo, Elon:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.1939890710383\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9.1256830601093\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">“I don’t want to have to pay for Brain Premium to avoid getting Coca-Cola ads in my sleep.”<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 12 yo on why he won’t get a Neuralink implant<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Paul Graham (@paulg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paulg\/status\/1864349543346700655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cFederal Court Says Dismantling A Phone To Install Firmware Isn\u2019t A \u2018Search,\u2019 Even If Was Done To Facilitate A Search\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techdirt.com\/2024\/12\/04\/federal-court-says-dismantling-a-phone-to-install-firmware-isnt-a-search-even-if-was-done-to-facilitate-a-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TechDirt<\/a>]. \u201c[T]he narrative says the iPhone was \u2018inoperable\u2019 (to use HSI\u2019s own words). But the DHS sent it out to a \u2018partner forensic laboratory\u2019 (I\u2019m going to assume this was the FBI), which was able to finally obtain access to the phone by: <em>\u2026replacing its circuit board and re-flashing the device\u2019s firmware.<\/em> Now, that looks like the sort of thing not covered or considered by previous case law or the original warrant request. This is something else. This is another government party extensively modifying seized property to make it more receptive to phone-cracking efforts. One would think a court would need to be apprised of this opportunity before it became a reality, if for no other reason than the original warrant only authorized a search, not the literal cracking of a cell phone (or its casing, at least) to replace a circuit board and install new firmware. I think the defendant raises a good point. But I also think, given the lack of precedent, the court is not completely wrong to rule that reviving a device so it can be searched isn\u2019t actually a search under the Fourth Amendment. To put it in other physical terms, no court would believe pulling a car out of the water after dredging a lake would be a search, even if the recovered vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 58 Greed (previous close: 57 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 63 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 5 at 1:18:31 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ka-ching:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"6.1570247933884\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"14.776859504132\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just announced: Opening on May 23, 2025, “Good Business: Andy Warhol\u2019s Screenprints” examines why screenprints are an essential part of Warhol\u2019s body of work: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fLPpsNKwZe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/fLPpsNKwZe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Andy Warhol, “$ (1)”, 1982, \u00a9 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LAlxOG0Y8m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/LAlxOG0Y8m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Andy Warhol Museum (@TheWarholMuseum) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheWarholMuseum\/status\/1863961511477018827\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"thompson\"\/> More on the UnitedHealth shooting:<\/p>\n<p>The gun:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.3396226415094\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.283018867925\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There’s been a bunch of misinformation about today’s murder of United Healthcare’s CEO. I’m going to debunk some of the firearms nonsense that’s been stated.<\/p>\n<p>Myth 1: The pistol was a Welrod \/ B&T Station 6! <\/p>\n<p>Categorically false. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HhFcxKFhFw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/HhFcxKFhFw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Louis vil LeGun \ud83c\udf4c \ud83d\udcdf (@LouisvilleGun) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LouisvilleGun\/status\/1864452541397819899\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>More on the gun:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.0288461538462\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.6538461538462\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Welrod pistol uses a bolt action mechanism that requires a twist and pull action to open and close the breech. In this photo you can see how the rear of the pistol must be twisted and pulled out to chamber a new round <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jmDKHg5usW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/jmDKHg5usW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Louis vil LeGun \ud83c\udf4c \ud83d\udcdf (@LouisvilleGun) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LouisvilleGun\/status\/1864453376437518580\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The alleged shooter:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.7222222222222\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"5.5111111111111\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Not the same jacket or backpack. What\u2019s going on here? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dNTod8NgZe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/dNTod8NgZe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jacob Smith (@XrealJacobSmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/XrealJacobSmith\/status\/1864712250851786884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The bike:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.1984732824427\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.916030534351\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">guys this is not a citibike<\/p>\n<p>I don’t know if you’ve been to new york but they have a much much larger frame, dark blue etc<\/p>\n<p>also anyone who uses a silencer is not dumb enough to flee on a CITIBIKE <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bGoKXpVbOs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/bGoKXpVbOs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zeta (@zeta_globin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zeta_globin\/status\/1864406820455891295\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Hot take (1):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7885462555066\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.3656387665198\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I really really really don\u2019t want to live in a society where political expression happens through assassination. But you can\u2019t sanction endless mass murder by spreadsheet.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewstoller\/status\/1864675457532071943\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Hot take (2):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.5533980582524\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"4.9708737864078\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Skin in the Game is back. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3QdtNgC3dS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/3QdtNgC3dS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nntaleb\/status\/1864661227206480247\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>About those bullet casings:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.8636363636364\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.380165289256\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">!!! The shooter of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson wrote \u201cdeny\u201d \u201cdefend\u201d \u201cdepose\u201d on the shell casings left at the scene, ABC News reports.<\/p>\n<p>The words echo the name of a book about how insurers won\u2019t pay claims.<\/p>\n<p>This is an EARTHQUAKE for corporate America. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iBI255WPOl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/iBI255WPOl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexBerenson\/status\/1864573790686007608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Maybe someday we\u2019ll find the real killer:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Hillary Clinton's positions on Single Payer (Universal) Healthcare.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/loXJukQN1Tc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO\u2019s killing lays bare rising security risks facing health care leaders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/dIdVt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stat News<\/a>]. \u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/dIdVt\/https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/12\/04\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">killing of Brian Thompson<\/a>, the CEO of the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group, provided a window into the vitriol that prominent health care leaders have been facing\u2026. A longtime UnitedHealth executive who left the company about 10 years ago said the company\u2019s executives commonly received threats from people with grievances about UnitedHealth\u2019s coverage policies. The executive, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss a sensitive topic, said unauthorized people would come to the company\u2019s sprawling headquarters in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka and try to enter the buildings where executives\u2019 offices are located. Years ago, employees entered the buildings using their badges, but the company added security checkpoints on the ground floor when the threats became more common.\u201d \u2022 So the problem\u2019s been festering a long time\u2026 What a surprise! And the headline: Thompson was not a \u201chealthcare leader\u201d; he was an insurance executive, some would say the very opposite. Further, the airport bookstore business section-style \u201cleader\u201d is, as ever, vacuous and noxious. Use the title, \u201cCEO,\u201d or the generic, \u201cexecutives.\u201d I read plenty of accounts in the online Covid community who are a thousand times the \u201cleader\u201d Thompson putatively was, and probably wouldn\u2019t even use that word to describe themselves. Sheesh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWealthy Americans Are Now Paying for Their Own Personal Fire Hydrants\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/real-estate\/luxury-homes\/wealthy-americans-are-now-paying-for-their-own-personal-fire-hydrants-7d0c3e86\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cThe latest sought-after home amenity? Personal fire hydrants. The logic is that when there\u2019s a major disaster there may not be enough fire engines to protect every house in an area. If homeowners have their own hydrant ready to go\u2014along with hoses, nozzles and adapters\u2014and are trained to use it all, that could help reduce the number of homes destroyed. Real-estate agents say mentioning a personal fire hydrant in the marketing materials now helps sell homes\u2026.. Personal hydrants are part of a wider trend of homeowners taking wildfire prevention into their own hands. They\u2019re putting in elaborate sprinkler systems, eliminating wood on the exteriors, clearing combustible landscaping and fireproofing roofs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Surprising New History of Horse Domestication\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/horse-domestication-story-gets-a-surprising-rewrite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scientific American<\/a>]. \u201cScholars have long sought to understand how the unique partnership between humans and horses got its start. Until recently, the conventional wisdom was that horses were gradually domesticated by the Yamnaya people beginning more than 5,000 years ago in the grassy plains of western Asia and that this development allowed these people to populate Eurasia, carrying their early Indo-European language and cultural traditions with them.\u201d But: \u201cNew genomic analyses led by Pablo Librado of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona and Orlando indicate that the ancestors of modern domestic horses originated in the Black Sea steppes around 2200 B.C.E., nearly 2,000 years later than previously thought. Although we do not yet know exactly the details of their initial domestication, it is clear based on the timing that these horses belonged to post-Yamnaya culture. Patterns in the ancient genomes suggest that in the early centuries of domestication, the horse cultures of the western steppe were selectively breeding these animals for traits such as strength and docility.\u201d \u2022 Fascinationg detail on archeological evidence. Well worth a read.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"nietzsche\"\/>\u201cHow Typing Transformed Nietzsche\u2019s Consciousness\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thereader.mitpress.mit.edu\/how-typing-transformed-nietzsches-consciousness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MIT Press<\/a>]. \u201cAmid all this hubbub of opinion and research into the man and his ideas, however, hardly anyone has commented on, or sought to explain, another aspect of Nietzsche: his productivity, and how it changed during his career because of his adoption of a new writing technology. Consider this: Nietzsche wrote four books between 1870 and 1881, or almost one every three years, which is pretty good. After 1881, however, he managed to deliver 10 manuscripts to his publisher in the seven years to 1888, whereupon he became too ill to write any longer. That was a book and a half per year, which is really good. By 1881 Nietzsche had become almost blind, an infirmity that would surely have hampered his longhand writing. How did he manage to improve his work rate? What he did was something seemingly out of character, given his views on modernity and science: He bought a typewriter. To be precise, he purchased a top-of-the-line portable Malling-Hansen writing ball, which was sent specially to him from its inventor in Copenhagen.\u201d And: \u201cThe sudden mechanical punctuated strike of the typewriter contrasted starkly with the ruminative flow of the pen; the typewriter encouraged a binary decision, to depress the key or not; whereas the pen with its store of liquid ink, held by surface tension in the nib, or in a small reservoir in the fountain pen, was a more latent and nonmachinic technology\u2026.. The German philosopher of technology Friedrich Kittler has claimed that the analog typewriter in general was useful for certain forms of thought: the brief, the succinct, the forms that thrive on concision and quickness\u2026. As Kittler saw it, a celebrated Nietzschean style comprising sustained reflection, long sentences, and complex reasoning had changed \u2018from arguments to aphorisms, from thoughts to puns, from rhetoric to telegram style.\u2019 Nietzsche was an early adopter of the technology. He took it to the heady realms of Continental philosophy and \u2014 if we consider his immense influence \u2014 began to change it through a creative mind that was reshaped by the keys that had replaced the pen.\u201d \u2022 Also well worth a read. (In my own experience, the computer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/10\/my-life-in-writing-bits-and-bytes-partly-at-least.html\">enabled me to <em>finish the work<\/em><\/a>, like the typewriter (and the pen before that).<\/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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-4-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From AM:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>AM writes: \u201cThe last of the fall colors in Roger Williams Park, near the tennis courts. Hope we get some rain soon!!\u201d<\/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!<\/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<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-content --><\/p>\n<footer class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\tThis entry was posted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-5-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-05T14:00:18-05:00\">December 5, 2024<\/time><\/a><span class=\"by-author\"> by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/author\/lambert-strether\" title=\"View all posts by Lambert Strether\" rel=\"author\">Lambert Strether<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\" wp_automatic_readability=\"20.197005056398\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-avatar --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-description\" wp_automatic_readability=\"35.467911318553\">\n<h2>About Lambert Strether<\/h2>\n<p>Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (\u201cBecause markets\u201d). I don\u2019t much care about the \u201cism\u201d that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don\u2019t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. <br \/>\n <br \/>\nTo me, the key issue \u2014 and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me \u2014 is the tens of thousands of excess \u201cdeaths from despair,\u201d as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics \u2014 even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton\u2019s wars created \u2014 bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow \u2014 currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press \u2014 a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let\u2019s call such voices \u201cthe left.\u201d Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn\u2019t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I\u2019ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-link\t-->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-description -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-info --><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta --><br \/>\n\t<!-- #post --><\/p>\n<nav class=\"nav-single\">\n<h3 class=\"assistive-text\">Post navigation<\/h3>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-previous list-posts-older\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/murder-and-social-murder-the-case-of-unitedhealth-ceo-brian-thompson.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> Murder and Social Murder: The Case of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-5-2024.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Westchester, New York, United States. \u201cAmazing repertoire of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88063,"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-88062","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\/88062","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=88062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88062\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Bird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Westchester, New York, United States. \u201cAmazing repertoire of other species\u2019 songs woven into this song. This mockingbird was imitating several species including cardinal, robin, killdeer, Carolina Wren, and Tufted Titmouse. It is unclear whether it was also imitating a Song Sparrow, because one was very nearby and its voice can also be heard on the audio.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#thompson\">UnitedHealthcare assassination<\/a>: More details emerge.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Boeing <em>dropped a satellite<\/em><\/a>, says new whistleblower.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nietzsche\"> Nietzsche\u2019s typewriter<\/a>.<\/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 wp_automatic_readability=\"10.660231660232\">\n<p>\u201cSecret Service director vows reorganization as members of Congress press him over major lapses\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-assassination-attempts-secret-service-butler-rally-f05f3899c53bd98899175cce860808f5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cDuring the hearing, Rowe was repeatedly asked by flabbergasted lawmakers how problems so obvious in hindsight were allowed to happen, including communications difficulties between the Secret Service and local law enforcement that help secure events [in Butler, PA] and the building overlooking the rally being left unprotected.\u201d And: \u201cTrump has not yet named his pick to lead the agency.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"133.44063624314\">\n<p>\u201cJeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/04\/democrats-mutiny-against-leaders-jeffries-00192665\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cDemocrats are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and are no longer bowing to seniority rules to pick their committee leaders.\u201d About time. More: \u201cRep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, 76, announced this week that he would step down from the top Democratic spot on the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, 77, dropped his bid to continue leading Democrats on Judiciary in the face of a tough challenge from 61-year-old Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. And Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is facing multiple challenges for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee. It\u2019s akin to a mutiny, especially given Democrats\u2019 typical deference to seniority in who leads panels. But party lawmakers are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and full GOP control of Congress. Many feel it\u2019s crucial to have leaders who are proven fighters and can effectively push back on Republican priorities like harsh limits on legal immigration. It echoes the argument many used when they called on President Joe Biden to step off the ticket over the summer. At the center of it all is Jeffries, the minority leader, and his leadership team, who also skipped the seniority line in many ways when they rose to the top ranks two years ago. They have publicly stayed out of it, loath to stand in the way of lawmakers who, like them, chafed at the party\u2019s strict adherence to seniority.\u201d And: \u201c\u201dThe caucus will guide these kinds of discussions,\u201d said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 House Democrat. \u201cWe\u2019re confident that at this time it\u2019s going to take a Democratic Caucus that\u2019s firing on all cylinders to push back against extremism and to .’\u201d \u2022\u00a0Ick. Mush.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScoop: Pelosi backing \u201csome\u201d House Dem committee ousters\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/12\/04\/nancy-pelosi-committee-raskin-nalder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u2022 Maybe, for example\u2013<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScoop: AOC expected to run for top Oversight Committee role\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/12\/04\/aoc-house-oversight-committee-democrats-raskin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201cOcasio-Cortez said Tuesday she is \u2018interested\u2019 in the role and has had \u2018a lot of outreach from colleagues\u2019 about a run. She told reporters on Wednesday morning that she has \u2018spoken with many members of our caucus, including several members of leadership\u2019 about the race. Ocasio-Cortez also laid out her vision for the panel, saying she wants to use it as a \u2018communicative platform for public education\u2019 and a vehicle for \u2018real legislative work and investigatory work.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0And speaking of AOC:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.84375\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.329545454545\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With Governor Delgado having finally enacted the special master’s court-ordered redrawn map, we can now map the 2028 Presidential election by New York’s new districts<\/p>\n<p>Districts eliminated:<br \/>NY-10 (Hoylman)<br \/>NY-14 (Ocasio-Cortez)<br \/>NY-22 (Tenney)<\/p>\n<p>Posting info on key races below <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fm30EOypjF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/fm30EOypjF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lily in the City (@LilyArtemisTO) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LilyArtemisTO\/status\/1864599008297058343\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats are checked out after their drubbing \u2014 here\u2019s how they can reengage\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/campaign\/5019865-democrats-media-messaging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cDemocrats are tuning away from news networks and social media platforms in numbers that are impossible to ignore. MSNBC and CNN saw their ratings slashed in half as exhausted Democrats tuned out post-election. On Twitter (now X, after its acquisition by Elon Musk), lefty users have deserted the platform in droves in favor of competitor Bluesky.\u201d At some point, the exodus of \u201clefty [sic] users\u201d from X (611 million users) to Bluesky (20 million) will stop. When it does, we\u2019ll have a good reading on how many Blue MAGA there really are. More: \u201cPrint outlets are faring even worse, with furious Democrats still canceling their Washington Post subscriptions nearly a month after owner Jeff Bezos spiked the paper\u2019s endorsement of Kamala Harris. One in 10 Washington Post subscribers have quit the paper since October, blowing a sizable hole in the paper\u2019s already threadbare earnings. That raises an existential question for media outlets and for Democrats: Where will all those disillusioned eyes go?\u201d And: \u201cDemocrats were once masters of the populist message. If they want to rebuild after last month\u2019s electoral disaster, they\u2019ll need to reconnect with that part of their political psyche \u2014 fast. \u201d \u2022\u00a0They can\u2019t and won\u2019t. As Thomas Frank shows in <em>Listen, Liberal!<\/em>, liberal Democrats hate the working class. Since improved messaging, if it is to last, implies actually delivering on policy, they\u2019ll fight improved messaging tooth and nail (as will their wealthy donors, as we saw in the Kamala campaign\u2019s refusal to campaign on Lina Khan). Alternatively, of course, the Democrat leadership could believe there\u2019s no problem at all; a few thousand votes here and there and 2028 is practically in the bag. And of course, the Democrat leadership has gradually eviscerated the primary process, so all the leadership will really need to do is go into a smoke-filled room, pick a slightly better candidate than Kamala, and give them more runway than a hundred days. How hard could that be?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats need to take the working class seriously and literally\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salon.com\/2024\/12\/04\/democrats-need-to-take-the-working-class-seriously-and-literally\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Salon<\/a>]. \u201cAnd then there was the following phrase (or some version of it) that I heard many times on the bus, the train and in my conversations with Uber and Lyft drivers. \u201cDonald Trump may act crazy or be a jerk, but he is right about that!\u2026.\u201d Donald Trump\u2019s raw honesty and lack of a filter or self-censoring are central to his appeal. Many Americans may disagree with the specifics of what Donald Trump says about immigration, women, racial and ethnic minorities, or how he will rule when he is back in power. But as shown by polls and focus groups, many of them do like the fact that Trump, unlike Kamala Harris and the mainstream news media and other elites, is at least talking in a clear and direct way about the things that are causing them anxiety and upset in their daily lives\u2026.. To win back their own base voters \u2014 and more importantly to expand their support among independents, undecided voters and those who have dropped out of politics and the country\u2019s civic life \u2014 Democrats need to do a much better job of listening to everyday people, meeting them where they are and taking their concerns and agency seriously. Whatever one may think about Donald Trump, his propagandists and other agents, at this moment, they and the MAGAverse are doing a much better job of listening to and shaping public opinion and the national narrative and mood than are the Democrats and the legacy news media.\u201d \u2022 At first reading, this is another messaging take. But the <em>listening<\/em> part is not (and I don\u2019t mean a \u201clistening tour.\u201d If there were such a thing as a 21st century precinct captain \u2014 online? \u2014 <em>they<\/em> should be doing the listening).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI Watched the Democratic Collapse in Florida. I Fear It\u2019s Happening Nationally\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebulwark.com\/p\/democratic-party-collapse-in-florida-and-nationally\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Bulwark<\/a>]. \u201cThe truth is we got here because our brand sucks. We tend to put voters in different buckets\u2014black, Hispanic, young, gay, etc.\u2014and treat these groups like they are more progressive than they really are, and somehow unique from each other. At the same time, we\u2019ve made decisions to stop talking to large chunks of the electorate. Some of these decisions can\u2019t be fixed. For example, I wish we would have been more intentional about molding the Obama operation into something more permanent for the party to utilize. Coming out of 2008, rather than investing in partisan infrastructure, many in my party\u2014in some cases led by the Obama White House\u2014encouraged the development of \u201clong-term progressive infrastructure,\u201d with the idea that not-for-profit organizations could better address political needs, instead of state parties. Not only has this experiment failed at the core organizing level in states like Florida, but it has encouraged the idea that Democrats are beholden to progressive groups and values. We should have continued something akin to the old Howard Dean plan to invest in all fifty states.\u201d Thanks, Obama! And the conclusion: \u201c[B]asically, we must get back to listening to the median voter.\u201d Listening, but also leading. The author has this good metaphor: \u201cHas anyone had to buy refrigerator recently? After having previous had one for twelve years, I\u2019m now on my third in seven\u2014not because the actual refrigerator is breaking but because all the \u2018smart\u2019 technology on my fridge is. Last time I went in, I said, I just want a dumb fridge that works. Just the basics\u2014works for appliances and for elections.\u201d \u2022 Universal concrete material benefits<sub>MR SUBLIMINAL Socialism<\/sub> is that \u201cdumb fridge that works\u201d (see FDR. And the CARES Act). Lead the voters there. Don\u2019t commission another boatload of polling in quest of the mythical \u201cmedian voter,\u201d recognizable <em>only in retropect<\/em> by campaign professionals who, if you were sharing a post-prandial libation, would be the first to admit that nobody knows anything.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWill Democrats \u201cGet in Touch\u201d with Working-Class America?\u201d [John Halpin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/will-democrats-get-in-touch-with\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. By Betteridge\u2019s Law\u2026 \u201c[I]n a comprehensive post-election survey of 4800 working-class voters conducted by PPI and YouGov (including oversamples in the battleground states of AZ, GA, MI, WI, and PA), Republicans outperformed Democrats across every indicator of party leadership and values.\u201d Handy chart:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"579\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc-300x290.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wowsers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Left-Flank Albatross\u201d [Michael Baharaeen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/the-left-flank-albatross\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. \u201cOf course, liberals deserve representation too, and it\u2019s completely fair to be concerned about issues like abortion, climate change, and minority rights. But winning in politics requires meeting voters where they are and catering to the issues they care most about. Harris and her team may protest that they tried to make the economy a central focus of her campaign, downplay hot-button topics, and employ tough rhetoric about the southern border, but none of it resonated with the voters they needed most. As the party moves forward, it must grapple with this reality and learn from it if they are to repair their image and chart a new path.\u201d \u2022 It\u2019s weird for an organization that calls itself \u201cThird Way\u201d (cited approvingly in the piece) to keep pushing a <em>binary<\/em> (left-right) paradigm (as opposed to, say, right-liberal-left tripolar model). I suppose, for them, the \u201cthird way\u201d is rightwards (they would say they\u2019re chasing the median voter, but it\u2019s the chasing, and not leading, that\u2019s the problem).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"14.444444444444\">\n<p>\u201cThe Fight Has Only Just Begun\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/progressive.org\/magazine\/the-fight-has-only-just-begun-ali-20241204\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Progressive<\/a>]. \u201cOnce upon a time, a majority of U.S. voters rejected a capable, competent, and intelligent daughter of Black and Indian immigrants in favor of a diminished, ignorant, racist son of a multimillionaire, proving that the United States remained a great country for old, white men.\u201d \u2022 This is what passes for \u201cleft\u201d analysis at The Progressive.<\/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>Transmission: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAre flu and COVID high now? Here\u2019s how the season has started\u201d [Alexander Tin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/flu-covid-infections-december-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. Tin is a good guy, but Covid is not seasonal. That said: \u201cCOVID-19 emergency room visits are \u2018low\u2019 or \u2018minimal\u2019 in nearly all states, after this year\u2019s late summer wave of the virus. Levels of the virus in wastewater are \u201cminimal\u201d in all regions, compared to \u201chigh\u201d levels around this time last year. \u2018Does that mean that there was enough immunity built up in that summer wave that we\u2019re going to not see a winter wave? Does it mean the winter wave is going to come, but be a little bit later and maybe a little smaller,\u2019 said [University of North Carolina epidemiology professor Justin Lessler]. Both [Shaun Truelove, associate scientist at Johns Hopkins University\u2019s public health school] and Lessler said one major \u2018data gap\u2019 making comparisons to previous seasons challenging has been the lapse in nationwide COVID-19 hospitalization data during the summer surge. A pandemic-era emergency requirement for health care providers to report COVID-19 hospitalizations lapsed earlier this year, and only recently resumed under a new rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Other factors muddying the figures include changes to how people test and seek care for COVID-19 infections. Another big unknown is the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Most circulating variants right now are a medley of closely related variants like XEC and KP.3.1.1. \u2018We don\u2019t know, like we do for flu, what the average pace of COVID\u2019s evolution away from our immune system will be, when it settles down,\u2019 Lessler said. Early data released last month by researchers at The Ohio State University found XEC looked to be more infectious compared with the parent variant it shares upstream with KP.3.1.1, but not significantly more than its siblings. \u2018I actually have thought it had settled down a bit, after this year. We\u2019ll see what I think after the season\u2019s done. But right now, I\u2019m a little less sure,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 Oh good. Seems like the best indicator would be reports of coughing on the Mommy blogs, at this point\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.869565217391\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.625\">\n<td valign=\"top\">This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25<\/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\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6521739130435\">\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> November 23<\/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> November 23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1-300x171.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9102564102564\">\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 December 4:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 28:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3-300x258.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"2.5915492957746\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> December 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> November 23:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5932203389831\">\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> November 11:<\/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> November 4:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3-300x187.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.76\">\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> November 2:<\/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> November 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl-300x175.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"209.38064235061\">\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) Good news!<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it\u2019s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, positivity down.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/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>]. \u201cUS initial jobless claims rose to 224,000 for the week ending November 30, from 213,000 in the previous week, above market expectations of 215,000 and marking the highest reading in six weeks. Despite this rise, the results still support the view that the US labor market remains at historically strong levels despite the aggressive tightening cycle by the Federal Reserve in the last quarters, adding leeway for the central bank to slow the pace of monetary loosening should inflation remain stubbornly high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Challenger Job Cuts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/challenger-job-cuts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cUS employers announced 57,727 job cuts in November 2024, slightly higher than 55,597 in October and 45,510 a year earlier. The Automotive sector announced the most job cuts (11,506, the highest monthly total since April).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\"\/>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing whistleblower sounds alarm over safety at satellite factory: \u201cThey\u2019re not gonna listen to me until somebody dies\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/boeing-whistleblower-sounds-alarm-over-safety-at-satellite-factory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cNow, Garriott, 53, says, it\u2019s the lives of hundreds of technicians at the Boeing facility where he has worked for nearly three decades that need protecting from company management. \u2018They\u2019ve taken the focus off quality, the focus off the people on the floor, and they\u2019ve put it completely on profit and going fast,\u2019 Garriott said in an exclusive interview with CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave. \u2018I\u2019m afraid with Boeing in the hands that it\u2019s in now down here, they\u2019re not gonna listen to me until somebody dies.\u2019 He said efforts by Boeing executives to boost production at the company\u2019s Los Angeles-area military and commercial satellite plant have led to a \u2018toxic culture\u2019 that has put workers there in danger. \u2014 an incident so catastrophic he compared it to \u2018a plane falling out of the sky.\u2019 \u2018One person was underneath that satellite and they barely got out,\u2019 said Garriott, who also represents 600 hourly workers as the head of the local carpenters union. \u2018It\u2019s the worst thing that can possibly happen on a site.’\u201d \u2022 Boeing <em>dropped a satellite<\/em>????<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Plea Deal Over Fatal 737 Max Crashes Rejected by Judge\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/qqf05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing Co.\u2019s plea deal with US prosecutors over two 737 Max jet crashes was rejected by a federal judge, who said plans for choosing an independent monitor minimized the court\u2019s role and required the parties to consider the race of the person appointed. US District Judge Reed O\u2019Connor on Thursday sided with family members of people killed during the crashes, who urged him to reject the agreement on the grounds that it failed to adequately hold Boeing accountable for the 346 fatalities.\u201d \u2022 Oopsie.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Defense Fighter Jet Unit Head Retires Amid Leadership Shake-Up\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/simpleflying.com\/boeing-defense-fighter-jet-unit-head-retires-leadership-shake-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Simple Flying<\/a>]. \u201cThe head of Boeing Defense\u2019s fighter jet division will step down after two years in the role. Steve Nordlund will be replaced by Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, amid a challenging time for the company\u2026. [Boeing Defense Systems] continues to lose money, posting losses of $2.3 billion in the third quarter. Much of this was due to fixed-cost contracts, including the KC-46A Tanker and T-7 Red Hawk programs.\u201d \u2022 I bet there aren\u2019t a whole lot of companies that lose money on defense work.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Isn\u2019t the Only Plane Maker With Problems. Airbus Just Laid Off 2,000 Workers\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/boeing-airbus-layoffs-jobs-13245ba9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Barron\u2019s<\/a>]. \u201cWednesday, Airbus announced it was laying off 2,043 workers in its Defense and Space business. The layoffs amount to about 5% of that business and should be completed by mid-2026. The reductions \u2018aim to reduce the company\u2019s fixed cost base, with almost all of the positions affected being so-called overhead positions,\u2019 said Airbus in an emailed statement.\u201d And: \u201cProfits in Airbus\u2019 defense segment have struggled, too, and the company is expected to post a loss for the unit in 2024. Operating profit margins in 2023 came in at 2%, down from 6% in 2020. Airbus\u2019 defense sales in 2024 should amount to about $13 billion; Boeing\u2019s defense business will approach $25 billion. What hasn\u2019t been a problem for either company is commercial aerospace demand. Both companies have backlogs that stretch out years. Building the planes has been tougher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bezzle:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.25\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW: Amazon charges 48,000 DC residents in Wards 7 & 8 for full Prime membership while excluding them from Prime delivery benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Amazon failed to inform customers they were excluded.<\/p>\n<p>We are suing Amazon for deceiving DC residents into paying the same price for worse service. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/72RxzyIPfa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/72RxzyIPfa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DCAttorneyGen\/status\/1864301539520594246\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Probably wouldn\u2019t even buy a bathroom in one of Jeff\u2019s mansions, but every little bit helps!<\/p>\n<p>Tech: Yo, Elon:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.1939890710383\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9.1256830601093\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">“I don’t want to have to pay for Brain Premium to avoid getting Coca-Cola ads in my sleep.”<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 12 yo on why he won’t get a Neuralink implant<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Paul Graham (@paulg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paulg\/status\/1864349543346700655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cFederal Court Says Dismantling A Phone To Install Firmware Isn\u2019t A \u2018Search,\u2019 Even If Was Done To Facilitate A Search\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techdirt.com\/2024\/12\/04\/federal-court-says-dismantling-a-phone-to-install-firmware-isnt-a-search-even-if-was-done-to-facilitate-a-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TechDirt<\/a>]. \u201c[T]he narrative says the iPhone was \u2018inoperable\u2019 (to use HSI\u2019s own words). But the DHS sent it out to a \u2018partner forensic laboratory\u2019 (I\u2019m going to assume this was the FBI), which was able to finally obtain access to the phone by: <em>\u2026replacing its circuit board and re-flashing the device\u2019s firmware.<\/em> Now, that looks like the sort of thing not covered or considered by previous case law or the original warrant request. This is something else. This is another government party extensively modifying seized property to make it more receptive to phone-cracking efforts. One would think a court would need to be apprised of this opportunity before it became a reality, if for no other reason than the original warrant only authorized a search, not the literal cracking of a cell phone (or its casing, at least) to replace a circuit board and install new firmware. I think the defendant raises a good point. But I also think, given the lack of precedent, the court is not completely wrong to rule that reviving a device so it can be searched isn\u2019t actually a search under the Fourth Amendment. To put it in other physical terms, no court would believe pulling a car out of the water after dredging a lake would be a search, even if the recovered vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 58 Greed (previous close: 57 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 63 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 5 at 1:18:31 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ka-ching:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"6.1570247933884\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"14.776859504132\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just announced: Opening on May 23, 2025, “Good Business: Andy Warhol\u2019s Screenprints” examines why screenprints are an essential part of Warhol\u2019s body of work: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fLPpsNKwZe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/fLPpsNKwZe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Andy Warhol, “$ (1)”, 1982, \u00a9 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LAlxOG0Y8m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/LAlxOG0Y8m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Andy Warhol Museum (@TheWarholMuseum) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheWarholMuseum\/status\/1863961511477018827\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"thompson\"\/> More on the UnitedHealth shooting:<\/p>\n<p>The gun:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.3396226415094\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.283018867925\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There’s been a bunch of misinformation about today’s murder of United Healthcare’s CEO. I’m going to debunk some of the firearms nonsense that’s been stated.<\/p>\n<p>Myth 1: The pistol was a Welrod \/ B&T Station 6! <\/p>\n<p>Categorically false. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HhFcxKFhFw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/HhFcxKFhFw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Louis vil LeGun \ud83c\udf4c \ud83d\udcdf (@LouisvilleGun) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LouisvilleGun\/status\/1864452541397819899\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>More on the gun:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.0288461538462\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.6538461538462\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Welrod pistol uses a bolt action mechanism that requires a twist and pull action to open and close the breech. In this photo you can see how the rear of the pistol must be twisted and pulled out to chamber a new round <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jmDKHg5usW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/jmDKHg5usW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Louis vil LeGun \ud83c\udf4c \ud83d\udcdf (@LouisvilleGun) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LouisvilleGun\/status\/1864453376437518580\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The alleged shooter:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.7222222222222\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"5.5111111111111\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Not the same jacket or backpack. What\u2019s going on here? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dNTod8NgZe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/dNTod8NgZe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jacob Smith (@XrealJacobSmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/XrealJacobSmith\/status\/1864712250851786884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The bike:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.1984732824427\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.916030534351\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">guys this is not a citibike<\/p>\n<p>I don’t know if you’ve been to new york but they have a much much larger frame, dark blue etc<\/p>\n<p>also anyone who uses a silencer is not dumb enough to flee on a CITIBIKE <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bGoKXpVbOs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/bGoKXpVbOs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zeta (@zeta_globin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zeta_globin\/status\/1864406820455891295\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Hot take (1):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7885462555066\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.3656387665198\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I really really really don\u2019t want to live in a society where political expression happens through assassination. But you can\u2019t sanction endless mass murder by spreadsheet.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewstoller\/status\/1864675457532071943\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Hot take (2):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.5533980582524\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"4.9708737864078\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Skin in the Game is back. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3QdtNgC3dS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/3QdtNgC3dS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nntaleb\/status\/1864661227206480247\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>About those bullet casings:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.8636363636364\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.380165289256\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">!!! The shooter of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson wrote \u201cdeny\u201d \u201cdefend\u201d \u201cdepose\u201d on the shell casings left at the scene, ABC News reports.<\/p>\n<p>The words echo the name of a book about how insurers won\u2019t pay claims.<\/p>\n<p>This is an EARTHQUAKE for corporate America. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iBI255WPOl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/iBI255WPOl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexBerenson\/status\/1864573790686007608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Maybe someday we\u2019ll find the real killer:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Hillary Clinton's positions on Single Payer (Universal) Healthcare.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/loXJukQN1Tc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO\u2019s killing lays bare rising security risks facing health care leaders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/dIdVt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stat News<\/a>]. \u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/dIdVt\/https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/12\/04\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">killing of Brian Thompson<\/a>, the CEO of the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group, provided a window into the vitriol that prominent health care leaders have been facing\u2026. A longtime UnitedHealth executive who left the company about 10 years ago said the company\u2019s executives commonly received threats from people with grievances about UnitedHealth\u2019s coverage policies. The executive, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss a sensitive topic, said unauthorized people would come to the company\u2019s sprawling headquarters in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka and try to enter the buildings where executives\u2019 offices are located. Years ago, employees entered the buildings using their badges, but the company added security checkpoints on the ground floor when the threats became more common.\u201d \u2022 So the problem\u2019s been festering a long time\u2026 What a surprise! And the headline: Thompson was not a \u201chealthcare leader\u201d; he was an insurance executive, some would say the very opposite. Further, the airport bookstore business section-style \u201cleader\u201d is, as ever, vacuous and noxious. Use the title, \u201cCEO,\u201d or the generic, \u201cexecutives.\u201d I read plenty of accounts in the online Covid community who are a thousand times the \u201cleader\u201d Thompson putatively was, and probably wouldn\u2019t even use that word to describe themselves. Sheesh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWealthy Americans Are Now Paying for Their Own Personal Fire Hydrants\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/real-estate\/luxury-homes\/wealthy-americans-are-now-paying-for-their-own-personal-fire-hydrants-7d0c3e86\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cThe latest sought-after home amenity? Personal fire hydrants. The logic is that when there\u2019s a major disaster there may not be enough fire engines to protect every house in an area. If homeowners have their own hydrant ready to go\u2014along with hoses, nozzles and adapters\u2014and are trained to use it all, that could help reduce the number of homes destroyed. Real-estate agents say mentioning a personal fire hydrant in the marketing materials now helps sell homes\u2026.. Personal hydrants are part of a wider trend of homeowners taking wildfire prevention into their own hands. They\u2019re putting in elaborate sprinkler systems, eliminating wood on the exteriors, clearing combustible landscaping and fireproofing roofs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Surprising New History of Horse Domestication\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/horse-domestication-story-gets-a-surprising-rewrite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scientific American<\/a>]. \u201cScholars have long sought to understand how the unique partnership between humans and horses got its start. Until recently, the conventional wisdom was that horses were gradually domesticated by the Yamnaya people beginning more than 5,000 years ago in the grassy plains of western Asia and that this development allowed these people to populate Eurasia, carrying their early Indo-European language and cultural traditions with them.\u201d But: \u201cNew genomic analyses led by Pablo Librado of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona and Orlando indicate that the ancestors of modern domestic horses originated in the Black Sea steppes around 2200 B.C.E., nearly 2,000 years later than previously thought. Although we do not yet know exactly the details of their initial domestication, it is clear based on the timing that these horses belonged to post-Yamnaya culture. Patterns in the ancient genomes suggest that in the early centuries of domestication, the horse cultures of the western steppe were selectively breeding these animals for traits such as strength and docility.\u201d \u2022 Fascinationg detail on archeological evidence. Well worth a read.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"nietzsche\"\/>\u201cHow Typing Transformed Nietzsche\u2019s Consciousness\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thereader.mitpress.mit.edu\/how-typing-transformed-nietzsches-consciousness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MIT Press<\/a>]. \u201cAmid all this hubbub of opinion and research into the man and his ideas, however, hardly anyone has commented on, or sought to explain, another aspect of Nietzsche: his productivity, and how it changed during his career because of his adoption of a new writing technology. Consider this: Nietzsche wrote four books between 1870 and 1881, or almost one every three years, which is pretty good. After 1881, however, he managed to deliver 10 manuscripts to his publisher in the seven years to 1888, whereupon he became too ill to write any longer. That was a book and a half per year, which is really good. By 1881 Nietzsche had become almost blind, an infirmity that would surely have hampered his longhand writing. How did he manage to improve his work rate? What he did was something seemingly out of character, given his views on modernity and science: He bought a typewriter. To be precise, he purchased a top-of-the-line portable Malling-Hansen writing ball, which was sent specially to him from its inventor in Copenhagen.\u201d And: \u201cThe sudden mechanical punctuated strike of the typewriter contrasted starkly with the ruminative flow of the pen; the typewriter encouraged a binary decision, to depress the key or not; whereas the pen with its store of liquid ink, held by surface tension in the nib, or in a small reservoir in the fountain pen, was a more latent and nonmachinic technology\u2026.. The German philosopher of technology Friedrich Kittler has claimed that the analog typewriter in general was useful for certain forms of thought: the brief, the succinct, the forms that thrive on concision and quickness\u2026. As Kittler saw it, a celebrated Nietzschean style comprising sustained reflection, long sentences, and complex reasoning had changed \u2018from arguments to aphorisms, from thoughts to puns, from rhetoric to telegram style.\u2019 Nietzsche was an early adopter of the technology. He took it to the heady realms of Continental philosophy and \u2014 if we consider his immense influence \u2014 began to change it through a creative mind that was reshaped by the keys that had replaced the pen.\u201d \u2022 Also well worth a read. (In my own experience, the computer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/10\/my-life-in-writing-bits-and-bytes-partly-at-least.html\">enabled me to <em>finish the work<\/em><\/a>, like the typewriter (and the pen before that).<\/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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-4-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From AM:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>AM writes: \u201cThe last of the fall colors in Roger Williams Park, near the tennis courts. Hope we get some rain soon!!\u201d<\/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!<\/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<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-content --><\/p>\n<footer class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\tThis entry was posted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-5-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-05T14:00:18-05:00\">December 5, 2024<\/time><\/a><span class=\"by-author\"> by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/author\/lambert-strether\" title=\"View all posts by Lambert Strether\" rel=\"author\">Lambert Strether<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\" wp_automatic_readability=\"20.197005056398\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-avatar --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-description\" wp_automatic_readability=\"35.467911318553\">\n<h2>About Lambert Strether<\/h2>\n<p>Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (\u201cBecause markets\u201d). I don\u2019t much care about the \u201cism\u201d that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don\u2019t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. <br \/>\n <br \/>\nTo me, the key issue \u2014 and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me \u2014 is the tens of thousands of excess \u201cdeaths from despair,\u201d as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics \u2014 even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton\u2019s wars created \u2014 bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow \u2014 currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press \u2014 a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let\u2019s call such voices \u201cthe left.\u201d Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn\u2019t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I\u2019ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-link\t-->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-description -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-info --><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta --><br \/>\n\t<!-- #post --><\/p>\n<nav class=\"nav-single\">\n<h3 class=\"assistive-text\">Post navigation<\/h3>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-previous list-posts-older\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/murder-and-social-murder-the-case-of-unitedhealth-ceo-brian-thompson.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> Murder and Social Murder: The Case of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-5-2024.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Westchester, New York, United States. \u201cAmazing repertoire of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88063,"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-88062","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\/88062","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=88062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88062\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Westchester, New York, United States. \u201cAmazing repertoire of other species\u2019 songs woven into this song. This mockingbird was imitating several species including cardinal, robin, killdeer, Carolina Wren, and Tufted Titmouse. It is unclear whether it was also imitating a Song Sparrow, because one was very nearby and its voice can also be heard on the audio.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#thompson\">UnitedHealthcare assassination<\/a>: More details emerge.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Boeing <em>dropped a satellite<\/em><\/a>, says new whistleblower.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nietzsche\"> Nietzsche\u2019s typewriter<\/a>.<\/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 wp_automatic_readability=\"10.660231660232\">\n<p>\u201cSecret Service director vows reorganization as members of Congress press him over major lapses\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-assassination-attempts-secret-service-butler-rally-f05f3899c53bd98899175cce860808f5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cDuring the hearing, Rowe was repeatedly asked by flabbergasted lawmakers how problems so obvious in hindsight were allowed to happen, including communications difficulties between the Secret Service and local law enforcement that help secure events [in Butler, PA] and the building overlooking the rally being left unprotected.\u201d And: \u201cTrump has not yet named his pick to lead the agency.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"133.44063624314\">\n<p>\u201cJeffries stays out of the way as Dems mutiny against senior panel leaders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/04\/democrats-mutiny-against-leaders-jeffries-00192665\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cDemocrats are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and are no longer bowing to seniority rules to pick their committee leaders.\u201d About time. More: \u201cRep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, 76, announced this week that he would step down from the top Democratic spot on the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, 77, dropped his bid to continue leading Democrats on Judiciary in the face of a tough challenge from 61-year-old Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland. And Rep. David Scott of Georgia, 79, is facing multiple challenges for the top Democratic spot on the Agriculture Committee. It\u2019s akin to a mutiny, especially given Democrats\u2019 typical deference to seniority in who leads panels. But party lawmakers are increasingly anxious about the incoming Trump administration and full GOP control of Congress. Many feel it\u2019s crucial to have leaders who are proven fighters and can effectively push back on Republican priorities like harsh limits on legal immigration. It echoes the argument many used when they called on President Joe Biden to step off the ticket over the summer. At the center of it all is Jeffries, the minority leader, and his leadership team, who also skipped the seniority line in many ways when they rose to the top ranks two years ago. They have publicly stayed out of it, loath to stand in the way of lawmakers who, like them, chafed at the party\u2019s strict adherence to seniority.\u201d And: \u201c\u201dThe caucus will guide these kinds of discussions,\u201d said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 House Democrat. \u201cWe\u2019re confident that at this time it\u2019s going to take a Democratic Caucus that\u2019s firing on all cylinders to push back against extremism and to .’\u201d \u2022\u00a0Ick. Mush.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScoop: Pelosi backing \u201csome\u201d House Dem committee ousters\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/12\/04\/nancy-pelosi-committee-raskin-nalder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u2022 Maybe, for example\u2013<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScoop: AOC expected to run for top Oversight Committee role\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/12\/04\/aoc-house-oversight-committee-democrats-raskin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201cOcasio-Cortez said Tuesday she is \u2018interested\u2019 in the role and has had \u2018a lot of outreach from colleagues\u2019 about a run. She told reporters on Wednesday morning that she has \u2018spoken with many members of our caucus, including several members of leadership\u2019 about the race. Ocasio-Cortez also laid out her vision for the panel, saying she wants to use it as a \u2018communicative platform for public education\u2019 and a vehicle for \u2018real legislative work and investigatory work.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0And speaking of AOC:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.84375\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.329545454545\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With Governor Delgado having finally enacted the special master’s court-ordered redrawn map, we can now map the 2028 Presidential election by New York’s new districts<\/p>\n<p>Districts eliminated:<br \/>NY-10 (Hoylman)<br \/>NY-14 (Ocasio-Cortez)<br \/>NY-22 (Tenney)<\/p>\n<p>Posting info on key races below <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fm30EOypjF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/fm30EOypjF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lily in the City (@LilyArtemisTO) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LilyArtemisTO\/status\/1864599008297058343\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats are checked out after their drubbing \u2014 here\u2019s how they can reengage\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/campaign\/5019865-democrats-media-messaging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cDemocrats are tuning away from news networks and social media platforms in numbers that are impossible to ignore. MSNBC and CNN saw their ratings slashed in half as exhausted Democrats tuned out post-election. On Twitter (now X, after its acquisition by Elon Musk), lefty users have deserted the platform in droves in favor of competitor Bluesky.\u201d At some point, the exodus of \u201clefty [sic] users\u201d from X (611 million users) to Bluesky (20 million) will stop. When it does, we\u2019ll have a good reading on how many Blue MAGA there really are. More: \u201cPrint outlets are faring even worse, with furious Democrats still canceling their Washington Post subscriptions nearly a month after owner Jeff Bezos spiked the paper\u2019s endorsement of Kamala Harris. One in 10 Washington Post subscribers have quit the paper since October, blowing a sizable hole in the paper\u2019s already threadbare earnings. That raises an existential question for media outlets and for Democrats: Where will all those disillusioned eyes go?\u201d And: \u201cDemocrats were once masters of the populist message. If they want to rebuild after last month\u2019s electoral disaster, they\u2019ll need to reconnect with that part of their political psyche \u2014 fast. \u201d \u2022\u00a0They can\u2019t and won\u2019t. As Thomas Frank shows in <em>Listen, Liberal!<\/em>, liberal Democrats hate the working class. Since improved messaging, if it is to last, implies actually delivering on policy, they\u2019ll fight improved messaging tooth and nail (as will their wealthy donors, as we saw in the Kamala campaign\u2019s refusal to campaign on Lina Khan). Alternatively, of course, the Democrat leadership could believe there\u2019s no problem at all; a few thousand votes here and there and 2028 is practically in the bag. And of course, the Democrat leadership has gradually eviscerated the primary process, so all the leadership will really need to do is go into a smoke-filled room, pick a slightly better candidate than Kamala, and give them more runway than a hundred days. How hard could that be?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats need to take the working class seriously and literally\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salon.com\/2024\/12\/04\/democrats-need-to-take-the-working-class-seriously-and-literally\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Salon<\/a>]. \u201cAnd then there was the following phrase (or some version of it) that I heard many times on the bus, the train and in my conversations with Uber and Lyft drivers. \u201cDonald Trump may act crazy or be a jerk, but he is right about that!\u2026.\u201d Donald Trump\u2019s raw honesty and lack of a filter or self-censoring are central to his appeal. Many Americans may disagree with the specifics of what Donald Trump says about immigration, women, racial and ethnic minorities, or how he will rule when he is back in power. But as shown by polls and focus groups, many of them do like the fact that Trump, unlike Kamala Harris and the mainstream news media and other elites, is at least talking in a clear and direct way about the things that are causing them anxiety and upset in their daily lives\u2026.. To win back their own base voters \u2014 and more importantly to expand their support among independents, undecided voters and those who have dropped out of politics and the country\u2019s civic life \u2014 Democrats need to do a much better job of listening to everyday people, meeting them where they are and taking their concerns and agency seriously. Whatever one may think about Donald Trump, his propagandists and other agents, at this moment, they and the MAGAverse are doing a much better job of listening to and shaping public opinion and the national narrative and mood than are the Democrats and the legacy news media.\u201d \u2022 At first reading, this is another messaging take. But the <em>listening<\/em> part is not (and I don\u2019t mean a \u201clistening tour.\u201d If there were such a thing as a 21st century precinct captain \u2014 online? \u2014 <em>they<\/em> should be doing the listening).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI Watched the Democratic Collapse in Florida. I Fear It\u2019s Happening Nationally\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebulwark.com\/p\/democratic-party-collapse-in-florida-and-nationally\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Bulwark<\/a>]. \u201cThe truth is we got here because our brand sucks. We tend to put voters in different buckets\u2014black, Hispanic, young, gay, etc.\u2014and treat these groups like they are more progressive than they really are, and somehow unique from each other. At the same time, we\u2019ve made decisions to stop talking to large chunks of the electorate. Some of these decisions can\u2019t be fixed. For example, I wish we would have been more intentional about molding the Obama operation into something more permanent for the party to utilize. Coming out of 2008, rather than investing in partisan infrastructure, many in my party\u2014in some cases led by the Obama White House\u2014encouraged the development of \u201clong-term progressive infrastructure,\u201d with the idea that not-for-profit organizations could better address political needs, instead of state parties. Not only has this experiment failed at the core organizing level in states like Florida, but it has encouraged the idea that Democrats are beholden to progressive groups and values. We should have continued something akin to the old Howard Dean plan to invest in all fifty states.\u201d Thanks, Obama! And the conclusion: \u201c[B]asically, we must get back to listening to the median voter.\u201d Listening, but also leading. The author has this good metaphor: \u201cHas anyone had to buy refrigerator recently? After having previous had one for twelve years, I\u2019m now on my third in seven\u2014not because the actual refrigerator is breaking but because all the \u2018smart\u2019 technology on my fridge is. Last time I went in, I said, I just want a dumb fridge that works. Just the basics\u2014works for appliances and for elections.\u201d \u2022 Universal concrete material benefits<sub>MR SUBLIMINAL Socialism<\/sub> is that \u201cdumb fridge that works\u201d (see FDR. And the CARES Act). Lead the voters there. Don\u2019t commission another boatload of polling in quest of the mythical \u201cmedian voter,\u201d recognizable <em>only in retropect<\/em> by campaign professionals who, if you were sharing a post-prandial libation, would be the first to admit that nobody knows anything.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWill Democrats \u201cGet in Touch\u201d with Working-Class America?\u201d [John Halpin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/will-democrats-get-in-touch-with\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. By Betteridge\u2019s Law\u2026 \u201c[I]n a comprehensive post-election survey of 4800 working-class voters conducted by PPI and YouGov (including oversamples in the battleground states of AZ, GA, MI, WI, and PA), Republicans outperformed Democrats across every indicator of party leadership and values.\u201d Handy chart:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"579\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/democrat_reputation_wc-300x290.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wowsers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Left-Flank Albatross\u201d [Michael Baharaeen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/the-left-flank-albatross\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. \u201cOf course, liberals deserve representation too, and it\u2019s completely fair to be concerned about issues like abortion, climate change, and minority rights. But winning in politics requires meeting voters where they are and catering to the issues they care most about. Harris and her team may protest that they tried to make the economy a central focus of her campaign, downplay hot-button topics, and employ tough rhetoric about the southern border, but none of it resonated with the voters they needed most. As the party moves forward, it must grapple with this reality and learn from it if they are to repair their image and chart a new path.\u201d \u2022 It\u2019s weird for an organization that calls itself \u201cThird Way\u201d (cited approvingly in the piece) to keep pushing a <em>binary<\/em> (left-right) paradigm (as opposed to, say, right-liberal-left tripolar model). I suppose, for them, the \u201cthird way\u201d is rightwards (they would say they\u2019re chasing the median voter, but it\u2019s the chasing, and not leading, that\u2019s the problem).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"14.444444444444\">\n<p>\u201cThe Fight Has Only Just Begun\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/progressive.org\/magazine\/the-fight-has-only-just-begun-ali-20241204\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Progressive<\/a>]. \u201cOnce upon a time, a majority of U.S. voters rejected a capable, competent, and intelligent daughter of Black and Indian immigrants in favor of a diminished, ignorant, racist son of a multimillionaire, proving that the United States remained a great country for old, white men.\u201d \u2022 This is what passes for \u201cleft\u201d analysis at The Progressive.<\/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>Transmission: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAre flu and COVID high now? Here\u2019s how the season has started\u201d [Alexander Tin, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/flu-covid-infections-december-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. Tin is a good guy, but Covid is not seasonal. That said: \u201cCOVID-19 emergency room visits are \u2018low\u2019 or \u2018minimal\u2019 in nearly all states, after this year\u2019s late summer wave of the virus. Levels of the virus in wastewater are \u201cminimal\u201d in all regions, compared to \u201chigh\u201d levels around this time last year. \u2018Does that mean that there was enough immunity built up in that summer wave that we\u2019re going to not see a winter wave? Does it mean the winter wave is going to come, but be a little bit later and maybe a little smaller,\u2019 said [University of North Carolina epidemiology professor Justin Lessler]. Both [Shaun Truelove, associate scientist at Johns Hopkins University\u2019s public health school] and Lessler said one major \u2018data gap\u2019 making comparisons to previous seasons challenging has been the lapse in nationwide COVID-19 hospitalization data during the summer surge. A pandemic-era emergency requirement for health care providers to report COVID-19 hospitalizations lapsed earlier this year, and only recently resumed under a new rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Other factors muddying the figures include changes to how people test and seek care for COVID-19 infections. Another big unknown is the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Most circulating variants right now are a medley of closely related variants like XEC and KP.3.1.1. \u2018We don\u2019t know, like we do for flu, what the average pace of COVID\u2019s evolution away from our immune system will be, when it settles down,\u2019 Lessler said. Early data released last month by researchers at The Ohio State University found XEC looked to be more infectious compared with the parent variant it shares upstream with KP.3.1.1, but not significantly more than its siblings. \u2018I actually have thought it had settled down a bit, after this year. We\u2019ll see what I think after the season\u2019s done. But right now, I\u2019m a little less sure,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 Oh good. Seems like the best indicator would be reports of coughing on the Mommy blogs, at this point\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.869565217391\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.625\">\n<td valign=\"top\">This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25<\/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\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6521739130435\">\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> November 23<\/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> November 23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1-300x171.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9102564102564\">\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 December 4:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 28:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-2-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3-300x258.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"2.5915492957746\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> December 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> November 23:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5932203389831\">\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> November 11:<\/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> November 4:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3-300x187.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\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.76\">\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> November 2:<\/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> November 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl-300x175.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"209.38064235061\">\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) Good news!<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it\u2019s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, positivity down.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/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>]. \u201cUS initial jobless claims rose to 224,000 for the week ending November 30, from 213,000 in the previous week, above market expectations of 215,000 and marking the highest reading in six weeks. Despite this rise, the results still support the view that the US labor market remains at historically strong levels despite the aggressive tightening cycle by the Federal Reserve in the last quarters, adding leeway for the central bank to slow the pace of monetary loosening should inflation remain stubbornly high.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Challenger Job Cuts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/challenger-job-cuts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cUS employers announced 57,727 job cuts in November 2024, slightly higher than 55,597 in October and 45,510 a year earlier. The Automotive sector announced the most job cuts (11,506, the highest monthly total since April).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\"\/>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing whistleblower sounds alarm over safety at satellite factory: \u201cThey\u2019re not gonna listen to me until somebody dies\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/boeing-whistleblower-sounds-alarm-over-safety-at-satellite-factory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cNow, Garriott, 53, says, it\u2019s the lives of hundreds of technicians at the Boeing facility where he has worked for nearly three decades that need protecting from company management. \u2018They\u2019ve taken the focus off quality, the focus off the people on the floor, and they\u2019ve put it completely on profit and going fast,\u2019 Garriott said in an exclusive interview with CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave. \u2018I\u2019m afraid with Boeing in the hands that it\u2019s in now down here, they\u2019re not gonna listen to me until somebody dies.\u2019 He said efforts by Boeing executives to boost production at the company\u2019s Los Angeles-area military and commercial satellite plant have led to a \u2018toxic culture\u2019 that has put workers there in danger. \u2014 an incident so catastrophic he compared it to \u2018a plane falling out of the sky.\u2019 \u2018One person was underneath that satellite and they barely got out,\u2019 said Garriott, who also represents 600 hourly workers as the head of the local carpenters union. \u2018It\u2019s the worst thing that can possibly happen on a site.’\u201d \u2022 Boeing <em>dropped a satellite<\/em>????<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Plea Deal Over Fatal 737 Max Crashes Rejected by Judge\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/qqf05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing Co.\u2019s plea deal with US prosecutors over two 737 Max jet crashes was rejected by a federal judge, who said plans for choosing an independent monitor minimized the court\u2019s role and required the parties to consider the race of the person appointed. US District Judge Reed O\u2019Connor on Thursday sided with family members of people killed during the crashes, who urged him to reject the agreement on the grounds that it failed to adequately hold Boeing accountable for the 346 fatalities.\u201d \u2022 Oopsie.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Defense Fighter Jet Unit Head Retires Amid Leadership Shake-Up\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/simpleflying.com\/boeing-defense-fighter-jet-unit-head-retires-leadership-shake-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Simple Flying<\/a>]. \u201cThe head of Boeing Defense\u2019s fighter jet division will step down after two years in the role. Steve Nordlund will be replaced by Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, amid a challenging time for the company\u2026. [Boeing Defense Systems] continues to lose money, posting losses of $2.3 billion in the third quarter. Much of this was due to fixed-cost contracts, including the KC-46A Tanker and T-7 Red Hawk programs.\u201d \u2022 I bet there aren\u2019t a whole lot of companies that lose money on defense work.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Isn\u2019t the Only Plane Maker With Problems. Airbus Just Laid Off 2,000 Workers\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/boeing-airbus-layoffs-jobs-13245ba9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Barron\u2019s<\/a>]. \u201cWednesday, Airbus announced it was laying off 2,043 workers in its Defense and Space business. The layoffs amount to about 5% of that business and should be completed by mid-2026. The reductions \u2018aim to reduce the company\u2019s fixed cost base, with almost all of the positions affected being so-called overhead positions,\u2019 said Airbus in an emailed statement.\u201d And: \u201cProfits in Airbus\u2019 defense segment have struggled, too, and the company is expected to post a loss for the unit in 2024. Operating profit margins in 2023 came in at 2%, down from 6% in 2020. Airbus\u2019 defense sales in 2024 should amount to about $13 billion; Boeing\u2019s defense business will approach $25 billion. What hasn\u2019t been a problem for either company is commercial aerospace demand. Both companies have backlogs that stretch out years. Building the planes has been tougher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Bezzle:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.25\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW: Amazon charges 48,000 DC residents in Wards 7 & 8 for full Prime membership while excluding them from Prime delivery benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Amazon failed to inform customers they were excluded.<\/p>\n<p>We are suing Amazon for deceiving DC residents into paying the same price for worse service. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/72RxzyIPfa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/72RxzyIPfa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DCAttorneyGen\/status\/1864301539520594246\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Probably wouldn\u2019t even buy a bathroom in one of Jeff\u2019s mansions, but every little bit helps!<\/p>\n<p>Tech: Yo, Elon:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.1939890710383\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9.1256830601093\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">“I don’t want to have to pay for Brain Premium to avoid getting Coca-Cola ads in my sleep.”<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 12 yo on why he won’t get a Neuralink implant<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Paul Graham (@paulg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paulg\/status\/1864349543346700655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cFederal Court Says Dismantling A Phone To Install Firmware Isn\u2019t A \u2018Search,\u2019 Even If Was Done To Facilitate A Search\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techdirt.com\/2024\/12\/04\/federal-court-says-dismantling-a-phone-to-install-firmware-isnt-a-search-even-if-was-done-to-facilitate-a-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TechDirt<\/a>]. \u201c[T]he narrative says the iPhone was \u2018inoperable\u2019 (to use HSI\u2019s own words). But the DHS sent it out to a \u2018partner forensic laboratory\u2019 (I\u2019m going to assume this was the FBI), which was able to finally obtain access to the phone by: <em>\u2026replacing its circuit board and re-flashing the device\u2019s firmware.<\/em> Now, that looks like the sort of thing not covered or considered by previous case law or the original warrant request. This is something else. This is another government party extensively modifying seized property to make it more receptive to phone-cracking efforts. One would think a court would need to be apprised of this opportunity before it became a reality, if for no other reason than the original warrant only authorized a search, not the literal cracking of a cell phone (or its casing, at least) to replace a circuit board and install new firmware. I think the defendant raises a good point. But I also think, given the lack of precedent, the court is not completely wrong to rule that reviving a device so it can be searched isn\u2019t actually a search under the Fourth Amendment. To put it in other physical terms, no court would believe pulling a car out of the water after dredging a lake would be a search, even if the recovered vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 58 Greed (previous close: 57 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 63 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 5 at 1:18:31 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ka-ching:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"6.1570247933884\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"14.776859504132\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just announced: Opening on May 23, 2025, “Good Business: Andy Warhol\u2019s Screenprints” examines why screenprints are an essential part of Warhol\u2019s body of work: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fLPpsNKwZe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/fLPpsNKwZe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Andy Warhol, “$ (1)”, 1982, \u00a9 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LAlxOG0Y8m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/LAlxOG0Y8m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Andy Warhol Museum (@TheWarholMuseum) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheWarholMuseum\/status\/1863961511477018827\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"thompson\"\/> More on the UnitedHealth shooting:<\/p>\n<p>The gun:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.3396226415094\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.283018867925\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There’s been a bunch of misinformation about today’s murder of United Healthcare’s CEO. I’m going to debunk some of the firearms nonsense that’s been stated.<\/p>\n<p>Myth 1: The pistol was a Welrod \/ B&T Station 6! <\/p>\n<p>Categorically false. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HhFcxKFhFw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/HhFcxKFhFw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Louis vil LeGun \ud83c\udf4c \ud83d\udcdf (@LouisvilleGun) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LouisvilleGun\/status\/1864452541397819899\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>More on the gun:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.0288461538462\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.6538461538462\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Welrod pistol uses a bolt action mechanism that requires a twist and pull action to open and close the breech. In this photo you can see how the rear of the pistol must be twisted and pulled out to chamber a new round <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jmDKHg5usW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/jmDKHg5usW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Louis vil LeGun \ud83c\udf4c \ud83d\udcdf (@LouisvilleGun) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LouisvilleGun\/status\/1864453376437518580\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The alleged shooter:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.7222222222222\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"5.5111111111111\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Not the same jacket or backpack. What\u2019s going on here? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dNTod8NgZe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/dNTod8NgZe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jacob Smith (@XrealJacobSmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/XrealJacobSmith\/status\/1864712250851786884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The bike:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.1984732824427\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.916030534351\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">guys this is not a citibike<\/p>\n<p>I don’t know if you’ve been to new york but they have a much much larger frame, dark blue etc<\/p>\n<p>also anyone who uses a silencer is not dumb enough to flee on a CITIBIKE <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bGoKXpVbOs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/bGoKXpVbOs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 zeta (@zeta_globin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zeta_globin\/status\/1864406820455891295\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Hot take (1):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7885462555066\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.3656387665198\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I really really really don\u2019t want to live in a society where political expression happens through assassination. But you can\u2019t sanction endless mass murder by spreadsheet.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewstoller\/status\/1864675457532071943\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Hot take (2):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.5533980582524\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"4.9708737864078\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Skin in the Game is back. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3QdtNgC3dS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/3QdtNgC3dS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nntaleb\/status\/1864661227206480247\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>About those bullet casings:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.8636363636364\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.380165289256\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">!!! The shooter of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson wrote \u201cdeny\u201d \u201cdefend\u201d \u201cdepose\u201d on the shell casings left at the scene, ABC News reports.<\/p>\n<p>The words echo the name of a book about how insurers won\u2019t pay claims.<\/p>\n<p>This is an EARTHQUAKE for corporate America. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iBI255WPOl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/iBI255WPOl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexBerenson\/status\/1864573790686007608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Maybe someday we\u2019ll find the real killer:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Hillary Clinton's positions on Single Payer (Universal) Healthcare.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/loXJukQN1Tc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO\u2019s killing lays bare rising security risks facing health care leaders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/dIdVt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stat News<\/a>]. \u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/dIdVt\/https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2024\/12\/04\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">killing of Brian Thompson<\/a>, the CEO of the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group, provided a window into the vitriol that prominent health care leaders have been facing\u2026. A longtime UnitedHealth executive who left the company about 10 years ago said the company\u2019s executives commonly received threats from people with grievances about UnitedHealth\u2019s coverage policies. The executive, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss a sensitive topic, said unauthorized people would come to the company\u2019s sprawling headquarters in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka and try to enter the buildings where executives\u2019 offices are located. Years ago, employees entered the buildings using their badges, but the company added security checkpoints on the ground floor when the threats became more common.\u201d \u2022 So the problem\u2019s been festering a long time\u2026 What a surprise! And the headline: Thompson was not a \u201chealthcare leader\u201d; he was an insurance executive, some would say the very opposite. Further, the airport bookstore business section-style \u201cleader\u201d is, as ever, vacuous and noxious. Use the title, \u201cCEO,\u201d or the generic, \u201cexecutives.\u201d I read plenty of accounts in the online Covid community who are a thousand times the \u201cleader\u201d Thompson putatively was, and probably wouldn\u2019t even use that word to describe themselves. Sheesh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWealthy Americans Are Now Paying for Their Own Personal Fire Hydrants\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/real-estate\/luxury-homes\/wealthy-americans-are-now-paying-for-their-own-personal-fire-hydrants-7d0c3e86\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cThe latest sought-after home amenity? Personal fire hydrants. The logic is that when there\u2019s a major disaster there may not be enough fire engines to protect every house in an area. If homeowners have their own hydrant ready to go\u2014along with hoses, nozzles and adapters\u2014and are trained to use it all, that could help reduce the number of homes destroyed. Real-estate agents say mentioning a personal fire hydrant in the marketing materials now helps sell homes\u2026.. Personal hydrants are part of a wider trend of homeowners taking wildfire prevention into their own hands. They\u2019re putting in elaborate sprinkler systems, eliminating wood on the exteriors, clearing combustible landscaping and fireproofing roofs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Surprising New History of Horse Domestication\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/horse-domestication-story-gets-a-surprising-rewrite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scientific American<\/a>]. \u201cScholars have long sought to understand how the unique partnership between humans and horses got its start. Until recently, the conventional wisdom was that horses were gradually domesticated by the Yamnaya people beginning more than 5,000 years ago in the grassy plains of western Asia and that this development allowed these people to populate Eurasia, carrying their early Indo-European language and cultural traditions with them.\u201d But: \u201cNew genomic analyses led by Pablo Librado of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona and Orlando indicate that the ancestors of modern domestic horses originated in the Black Sea steppes around 2200 B.C.E., nearly 2,000 years later than previously thought. Although we do not yet know exactly the details of their initial domestication, it is clear based on the timing that these horses belonged to post-Yamnaya culture. Patterns in the ancient genomes suggest that in the early centuries of domestication, the horse cultures of the western steppe were selectively breeding these animals for traits such as strength and docility.\u201d \u2022 Fascinationg detail on archeological evidence. Well worth a read.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"nietzsche\"\/>\u201cHow Typing Transformed Nietzsche\u2019s Consciousness\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thereader.mitpress.mit.edu\/how-typing-transformed-nietzsches-consciousness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MIT Press<\/a>]. \u201cAmid all this hubbub of opinion and research into the man and his ideas, however, hardly anyone has commented on, or sought to explain, another aspect of Nietzsche: his productivity, and how it changed during his career because of his adoption of a new writing technology. Consider this: Nietzsche wrote four books between 1870 and 1881, or almost one every three years, which is pretty good. After 1881, however, he managed to deliver 10 manuscripts to his publisher in the seven years to 1888, whereupon he became too ill to write any longer. That was a book and a half per year, which is really good. By 1881 Nietzsche had become almost blind, an infirmity that would surely have hampered his longhand writing. How did he manage to improve his work rate? What he did was something seemingly out of character, given his views on modernity and science: He bought a typewriter. To be precise, he purchased a top-of-the-line portable Malling-Hansen writing ball, which was sent specially to him from its inventor in Copenhagen.\u201d And: \u201cThe sudden mechanical punctuated strike of the typewriter contrasted starkly with the ruminative flow of the pen; the typewriter encouraged a binary decision, to depress the key or not; whereas the pen with its store of liquid ink, held by surface tension in the nib, or in a small reservoir in the fountain pen, was a more latent and nonmachinic technology\u2026.. The German philosopher of technology Friedrich Kittler has claimed that the analog typewriter in general was useful for certain forms of thought: the brief, the succinct, the forms that thrive on concision and quickness\u2026. As Kittler saw it, a celebrated Nietzschean style comprising sustained reflection, long sentences, and complex reasoning had changed \u2018from arguments to aphorisms, from thoughts to puns, from rhetoric to telegram style.\u2019 Nietzsche was an early adopter of the technology. He took it to the heady realms of Continental philosophy and \u2014 if we consider his immense influence \u2014 began to change it through a creative mind that was reshaped by the keys that had replaced the pen.\u201d \u2022 Also well worth a read. (In my own experience, the computer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/10\/my-life-in-writing-bits-and-bytes-partly-at-least.html\">enabled me to <em>finish the work<\/em><\/a>, like the typewriter (and the pen before that).<\/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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-4-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From AM:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roger_williams-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>AM writes: \u201cThe last of the fall colors in Roger Williams Park, near the tennis courts. Hope we get some rain soon!!\u201d<\/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!<\/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<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-content --><\/p>\n<footer class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\tThis entry was posted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-5-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-05T14:00:18-05:00\">December 5, 2024<\/time><\/a><span class=\"by-author\"> by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/author\/lambert-strether\" title=\"View all posts by Lambert Strether\" rel=\"author\">Lambert Strether<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\" wp_automatic_readability=\"20.197005056398\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-avatar --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-description\" wp_automatic_readability=\"35.467911318553\">\n<h2>About Lambert Strether<\/h2>\n<p>Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (\u201cBecause markets\u201d). I don\u2019t much care about the \u201cism\u201d that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don\u2019t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. <br \/>\n <br \/>\nTo me, the key issue \u2014 and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me \u2014 is the tens of thousands of excess \u201cdeaths from despair,\u201d as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics \u2014 even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton\u2019s wars created \u2014 bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow \u2014 currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press \u2014 a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let\u2019s call such voices \u201cthe left.\u201d Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn\u2019t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I\u2019ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-link\t-->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-description -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-info --><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta --><br \/>\n\t<!-- #post --><\/p>\n<nav class=\"nav-single\">\n<h3 class=\"assistive-text\">Post navigation<\/h3>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-previous list-posts-older\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/murder-and-social-murder-the-case-of-unitedhealth-ceo-brian-thompson.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> Murder and Social Murder: The Case of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. 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