\n<\/p>\n
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nHappy Friday the Thirteenth to those who celebrate! \u2013lambert<\/p>\nBird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica Siboney-Jutici, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. \u201cThis is all one continuous cut even through my announcement.\u201d Grab a cup of coffee. Eighteen minutes (though the last two minutes or so are the \u201cannouncement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#vax\">RFK<\/a>, Trump, and vax.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#viral\">Covid \u201cviral reservoir\u201d theory<\/a> recieves support.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#oil\">Where oil profits went<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#table\">New Covid charts:<\/a> Good news, but positivity uptick.<\/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>Capitol Seizure<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"26.011441647597\">\n<p>\u201cWatchdog finds FBI intelligence missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/justice-department-inspector-general-capitol-riot-jan-6-79c7ea02cf66c874f9201ae8e9294239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cThe report from the Justice Department inspector general\u2019s office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events that day, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump\u2019s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the building in a violent clash with police. The review, released nearly four years after a dark chapter in history that shook the bedrock of American democracy, was narrow in scope, but aimed to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019d be a lot happier if I could cross two oddities off my list for the day: Nobody knows who built <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/01\/the-famous-gallows-of-january-6-who-what-where-when-and-why.html\">the gallows<\/a> or took them away; and nobody knows <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/3-years-jan-6-pipe-bomber-mystery-unsolved\/story?id=106131959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">who left the pipe bombs at the DNC<\/a> (when Kamala was there). For these two stories, take the Justice Department story as read: It wasn\u2019t the FBI. So, who was it?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDOJ IG reveals 26 FBI informants were present on Jan. 6\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/doj-ig-reveals-number-fbi-confidential-sources-ground-during-jan-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cJustice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said there were more than two dozen confidential human sources (CHSs) in the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but only three were assigned by the FBI to be present for the event, while stressing that none of the sources was authorized or directed by the bureau to \u2018break the law\u2019 or \u2018encourage others to commit illegal acts,\u2019 Fox News has learned.\u201d \u2022 \u201cWe were just informanting. We weren\u2019t agent provocateuring at all, totally.\u201d OK, fine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Trump Transition<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"47.37306122449\">\n<p><a name=\"vax\"\/>\u201cRFK Jr key adviser petitioned regulators to revoke approval of polio vaccine\u201d [Ed Pilkington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2024\/dec\/13\/rfk-jr-aaron-siri-polio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Guardian<\/a>]. \u201cA key legal adviser to Robert Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump\u2019s pick for health secretary, is at the center of efforts to push federal drug regulators to revoke approval for the polio and hepatitis B vaccines and block distribution of 13 other critical vaccines. Aaron Siri, a lawyer who has been helping Kennedy select top health administrators as part of the Trump transition process, is deeply embedded in longstanding efforts to force the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw a raft of vaccines that have saved the lives and health of millions of Americans.\u201d \u2022 I don\u2019t mind having a good faith discussion about rolling back the childhood vaccination schedule; heck, it looks like a spreadsheet. But my concern has always been that the anti-vaxxers want to roll back <em>all<\/em> vaccines, including the original Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), i.e., the ones I was given as a child, and a good thing, too. And now a RFK\u2019s legal running buddy wants to roll back polio vaccines, so my \u201clack of good faith\u201d priors are heavily reinforced. A bridge too far, for me. Maybe focus on MAHA? Unless getting rid of polio vaccines <em>is<\/em> MAHA, of course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump to discuss ending childhood vaccination programs with RFK Jr.\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/trump-discuss-ending-childhood-vaccination-programs-with-rfk-jr-2024-12-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cHe (Kennedy) does not disagree with vaccinations, all vaccinations. He disagrees probably with some,\u201d Trump said.\u201d \u2022 \u201cProbably\u201d is doing a lot of work there. And if Kennedy wanted to preseve polio vaccines, then his mimion wouldn\u2019t be trying to revoke their approval. And if you want to get rid of the polio vaccines, then you might as well \u201cdisagree\u201d with \u201call vaccinations.\u201d Trump should put RFK back in his box on this one.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump Transition Team Wants To End Crash Report Requirement Opposed By Tesla, Report Says\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/NbNP0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Forbes<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump\u2019s transition team wants to scrap a regulatory order requiring automakers to report crashes involving vehicles with automated driving systems, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/NbNP0\/https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/autos-transportation\/trump-transition-recommends-scrapping-car-crash-reporting-requirement-opposed-by-2024-12-13\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a> reported Friday, aligning with opposition to the rule by Elon Musk\u2019s Tesla, which accounts for most crashes reported under the requirement so far.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSEC charges Cantor Fitzgerald, led by Trump\u2019s Commerce pick, with breaking securities laws\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/12\/12\/sec-cantor-fitzgerald-charges-howard-lutnick-trump-commerce-spac-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNBC<\/a>]. \u2022 If we hadn\u2019t just had four years of Democrat lawfare, I\u2019d be aghast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"resistance\"\/>The #Resistance<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.972524327418\">\n<p>\u201cDemocratic governors quietly prep extensive plans to counter Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/11\/politics\/democratic-governors-counter-trump\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cDiplomatic and depressed as they have been in public, a small group of Democratic governors are deep into behind-the-scenes preparations and deliberations over how to balance the politics of pushing back on what they are expecting from President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s next turn in the White House. Since long before the election, they\u2019ve been poring through Project 2025 \u2014 it\u2019s helpful, several Democratic governors told CNN, to have a blueprint in public. They\u2019ve been studying their own executive powers and state laws\u2026. They\u2019ve been stockpiling the abortion medication mifepristone [(!!)] in secret warehouses and rehearsing their answers for if and when the incoming White House tries to nationalize their state police or National Guard units for use in deportation raids; some are planning to flat out refuse, while others intend to argue that the officers are busy with other work keeping the people in their states safe. (None have fully wrapped their heads around how it would work if units from other states are sent in and set themselves up for showdowns on the state borders.)\u201d And: \u201cSeveral have been running tabletop exercises behind closed doors for months, often with state attorneys general and other relevant officials involved. Officials in multiple governors\u2019 offices told CNN the circles have been tight to keep the incoming White House from being able to prepare for their own responses, or for the proactive innovations they\u2019re looking into.\u201d \u2022 Worth reading in full for the detail. And what is it with Democrats and these \u201ctabletop exercises\u201d? They keep running them, and they don\u2019t seem to be doing much good.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"16.95592048401\">\n<p>\u201cDemocrats\u2019 problem with working-class voters is bigger than free trade\u201d [Eric Levitz, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/politics\/391059\/democrats-working-class-voters-nafta-free-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Vox<\/a>]. \u201cIn light of deindustrialization\u2019s most pernicious effects, Democrats should make American workers\u2019 access to remunerative employment and collective bargaining rights less contingent on the market\u2019s whims, while rebuilding the party\u2019s reputation for sound economic management.\u201d \u2022 Daring! The problem is simple, from a 30,000-foot level (where indeed most things are simple). The Democrats are the party of the PMC. As the governing class, they are in the business of operating the many and varied rental extraction schemes that dominate our financialized economy, and which enrich the (propertied) ruling class at the expense of the (enwaged) working class (health insurance being one such). Therefore, the class interests of the Democrats and the working class are diametrically opposed. The Democrat Party founders on this contradiction. \u201cA house divided against itself cannot stand\u2026. I do not expect the house to <em>fall<\/em> \u2014 but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become <em>all<\/em> one thing, or <em>all<\/em> the other.\u201d \u2013Abraham Lincoln.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Republican Funhouse<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"12.889479277365\">\n<p>\u201cHouse Republicans launch investigation into CVS Caremark for potential antitrust violations\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/5037786-house-republicans-launch-investigation-into-cvs-caremark-for-potential-antitrust-violations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cHouse Republicans want to know whether pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) CVS Caremark violated federal antitrust laws by threatening independent pharmacies to keep them from using money-saving tools outside the PBM\u2019s network. In a letter to CVS obtained by The Hill, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked the company for documents and communications about pharmaceutical hubs, a type of digital pharmacy service that can streamline the process of accessing and managing complex, high-cost specialty medications for patients. Jordan expressed concern that CVS prevents independent pharmacies from participating in hub arrangements, because the company wants to head off potential competition. If an independent pharmacy works with a hub outside the PBM, it could be excluded from the PBMs network.\u201d \u2022 Good. <\/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>Airborne Transmission<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"4.3366093366093\">\n<p>Word of the day (or the decade):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.5614973262032\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.689839572193\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WORD OF THE WEEK: <\/p>\n<p>Ca\u2022cough\u2022ony<\/p>\n<p>A portmanteau of the words ‘cacophony’ + ‘cough’.<\/p>\n<p>An unpleasant chorus of loud of coughing. <\/p>\n<p>Often experienced during carol concerts, nativities, pantomimes, school assemblies & other indoor mass gatherings just before Xmas.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/susie_dent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@susie_dent<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nDyRqpBfQB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/nDyRqpBfQB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cat in the Hat \ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b \ud83c\udfa9 \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@_CatintheHat) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_CatintheHat\/status\/1867592482910765445\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"mask\"\/>Maskstravaganza<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"7.5688622754491\">\n<p>\u201cDays after Era Tour ends, Taylor Swift spreads holiday cheer at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in KC\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knoxnews.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2024\/12\/13\/taylor-swift-visits-childrens-mercy-hospital-kansas-city\/76963318007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Knox News<\/a>]. \u2022 And that\u2019s not all she\u2019s spreading, is it?<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"814\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283873\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift-221x300.jpeg 221w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Vaccines: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"18.900672143391\">\n<p>\u201cCOVID-19 vaccination and short-term mortality risk: a nationwide self-controlled case series study in The Netherlands\u201d (preprint) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2024.12.11.24318790v1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">medRxiv<\/a>]. From the Abstract: \u201cWe conducted a retrospective data-linkage study including all Dutch inhabitants to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on excess mortality using a modified self-controlled case series method. We found a 44% lower relative incidence of all-cause deaths in the first three weeks after the primary vaccination compared to more than three weeks after vaccination (IRR 0.56, 95%CI 0.54-0.57). This lower incidence was consistent across vaccine types, doses, genders, age groups, and individuals with or without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or comorbidities, and for non-COVID-19 related deaths. For booster vaccinations, the relative incidence was similar (IRR 0.49, 95%CI 0.49-0.50). In comparison, we observed a 16-fold higher incidence of all-cause deaths in the three weeks following a registered positive SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to more than three weeks after infection (IRR 16.19, 95%CI 15.78-16.60). A lower relative incidence of short-term deaths following COVID-19 vaccination support that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with the observed excess mortality.\u201d \u2022 \u201cNot associated\u201d for that (relatively short) time-frame, as they indeed say.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Variants: H5N1<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"11.843953185956\">\n<p>\u201cNovel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 virus in live poultry markets, China\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanmic\/article\/PIIS2666-5247(24)00317-3\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Lancet<\/a>]. \u201cIn January, 2024, findings from a surveillance study near Poyang Lake in southern China revealed a high prevalence of novel H5N1 viruses that showed enhanced binding affinity for human-type sialic acid receptors\u2026. Given the established role of [Live poultry markets (LPMs)] as a major source of human H5N1 infections, we highlight the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and public health interventions to mitigate the widespread transmission potential of these novel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 viruses in these markets.\u201d \u2022\u00a0\u201cNovel\u201d in the headline and repeated in the text doesn\u2019t sound good. Perhaps a kind reader can translate the entire abstract.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sequelae: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"18.699472759227\">\n<p><a name=\"viral\"\/>\u201cMulti-Organ Spread and Intra-Host Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 Support Viral Persistence, Adaptation, and a Mechanism That Increases Evolvability\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/jmv.70107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Journal of Medical Virology<\/a> (Jason Boxman). The Abstract:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"23\">\n<p>Intra-host diversity is an intricate phenomenon related to immune evasion, antiviral resistance, and evolutionary leaps along transmission chains. SARS-CoV-2 intra-host variation has been well-evidenced from respiratory samples. However, data on systemic dissemination and diversification are relatively scarce and come from immunologically impaired patients. Here, the presence and variability of SARS-CoV-2 were assessed among 71 tissue samples obtained from multiple organs including lung, intestine, heart, kidney, and liver from 15 autopsies with positive swabs and no records of immunocompromise. . All organs presented intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) with low, moderate, and high abundances. The iSNV abundances observed within different organs indicate that . In agreement with previous data from respiratory samples, our lung samples presented no more than 10 iSNVs each. But interestingly, when analyzing different organs we were able to detect between 11 and 45 iSNVs per case. . We elaborate on how compartmentalized evolution in multiple organs may contribute to SARS-CoV-2 evolving so rapidly despite the virus having a proofreading mechanism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Yikes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert: After repeated attempts, this is what I get for CDC\u2019s wastewater page:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"100\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww-300x50.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>I conclude that CDC doesn\u2019t know how to run a server, along with everything else they don\u2019t know how to do.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.919540229885\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6190476190476\">\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> December 2<\/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-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1-300x227.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\/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><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\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> December 7<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span><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> December 7<\/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-cdc-variants-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-300x255.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-er-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-300x157.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=\"3.9634146341463\">\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 12:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> December 12:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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-hospitalization-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-1-283x300.png 283w\" 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=\"2.6486486486486\">\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 9:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> December 7:<\/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-states.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-300x188.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\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-300x203.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=\"3.6363636363636\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span>Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span>Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25:<\/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-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2-300x188.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-variants-travelers-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1.png 1902w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-1024x719.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-768x539.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-1536x1079.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-624x438.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1902px) 100vw, 1902px\"\/><\/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=\"3.7647058823529\">\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 20:<\/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 20:<\/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-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-300x163.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-deaths-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"246.64596796853\">\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) XEC takes over. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) A little uptick.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Up!<\/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 leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no official statistics of interest today.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Plans $1 Billion Expansion in South Carolina\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/boeing-plans-1-billion-expansion-151811427.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Industrial Equipment News<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing yesterday announced plans to invest $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades at its Charleston County, South Carolina site. The expansion will create 500 new jobs over the next five years. The announcement was made by the South Carolina Department of Commerce (SCDC). Boeing South Carolina is home to the entire 787 Dreamliner production cycle and fabricates, assembles, and delivers the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10. The factory has been in operation for more than ten years.\u201d \u2022 That\u2019s <em>non-unionized<\/em> South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing, Airbus still struggle with supply chains and personnel shortages\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/leehamnews.com\/2024\/12\/13\/boeing-airbus-still-struggle-with-supply-chains-and-personnel-shortages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Leeham News & Analysis<\/a>]. \u201cMichael Haidinger, president of Boeing\u2019s European and Middle Eastern regions, and Juergen Westermeier, chief procurement officer for Airbus, agree challenges remain in the near future. \u2018There is always a shortage of skilled aerospace talent intensified by the pandemic,\u2019 Haidinger said this month at the annual Aviation Forum (2024) in Munich, Germany. \u2018As all the professionals retired, fewer new employees entered the field. Our industry needs more people who not only bring expertise but also embrace the mission of advancing aerospace.\u2019 Haidinger added, \u2018The deficit of skilled engineers, technicians, and other aerospace workers has made ramping up production more challenging. Attracting and retaining talent has become a top priority for us. [We are] with many companies investing in workforce development, partnerships with universities, training programs, and apprenticeship programs.’\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 50 Neutral (previous close: 48 Neutral) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 52 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 13 at 2:43:33 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Musical Interlude<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Toe-tapping goodness:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Derek And The Dominos & Johnny Cash & Carl Perkins - Matchbox\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/otz51kVxyaw?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><strong>Groves of Academe<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cComparative lit class will be first in Humanities Division to use UCLA-developed AI system\u201d (press release) [Newsroom, <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.ucla.edu\/stories\/comparative-literature-zrinka-stahuljak-artificial-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UCLA<\/a>]. \u201cThe textbook: AI-generated. Class assignments: AI-generated. Teaching assistants\u2019 resources: AI-generated.\u201d When I ran a Literary Hub post on this story, alert reader and critical thinker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-12-2024.html#comment-4146169\">PJay asked a great question<\/a>: \u201cAre we sure this isn\u2019t a Sokal-type hoax?\u201d So I went and dug up this press release; the odds of hoaxdom are vanishingly small. Here again, for your reference. is the AI art for the textbook. Put down your coffee:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"678\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover-265x300.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The course is Comp Lit 2BW in the UCLA College Division of Humanities [sic]. Would some kind soul with a UCLA connection be able to throw copies of the teaching material over the transom? I\u2019m sure the readership would enjoy them. My email address is down by the plants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Annals of Religion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow a Tale of Demonic Possession Predicted the Decline of an Early Medieval Empire\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/history\/how-a-tale-of-demonic-possession-predicted-the-decline-of-an-early-medieval-empire-180985596\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Smithsonian<\/a>]. \u201cHistorians can look back and see the tensions that resulted in the coup of 830, and how its lack of resolution led to another coup attempt in 833 and ultimately to a brutal civil war in the 840s. But throughout all the murder, treason and plotting, most historical sources, from the Annals of Fulda to the Annals of St. Bertin, remain committed to the myth of stability, inevitability and God\u2019s blessing.\u201d \u2022 <em>Plus \u00e7a change<\/em>\u2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealth Group C.E.O.: The Health Care System Is Flawed. Let\u2019s Fix It.\u201d [Andrew Witty, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/WzKWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. Witty is the chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. \u201cHe believed decisions about health care should start with the individual and championed plans in which consumers could see costs and coverage options upfront, so they could decide what\u2019s best for themselves and their families.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBrian Thompson, Not Luigi Mangione, Is the Real Working-Class Hero\u201d [Bret Stephens, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/ctKrr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. \u201cThompson\u2019s life may have been cut brutally short, but it will remain a model for how a talented and determined man from humble roots can still rise to the top of corporate life without the benefit of rich parents and an Ivy League degree.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Crisis of Elite Indifference to Corporate Mass Murder\u201d [Nathan Newman, <a href=\"https:\/\/nathannewman.substack.com\/p\/the-crisis-of-elite-indifference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Left Future<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cAnd a Modest Proposal to License No More than 10 CEO Murders Each Year to Improve Corporate Accountability\u201d NOTE: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A_Modest_Proposal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Satire<\/a>. Sort of like Shirley Jackson\u2019s <em>The Lottery<\/em>. As the author mentions!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>UPDATE A typically brilliant thread by Moe Tkacik:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9502840909091\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.534090909091\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The murder of the UnitedHealth CEO by a guy who underwent spinal fusion surgery for debilitating pain has unleashed a furious debate about US health care, most of it dumb<br \/>Thankfully I found a whistleblower suit filed by a surgeon UHC hired to deny spinal fusion surgery coverage.. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ekivc1k75l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Ekivc1k75l<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1867627601419813257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s really trying to be a blog post, and it\u2019s too long to screen capture, but here is the whistleblower (\u201cexpert witness\u201d) part:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.7492063492063\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.088888888889\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The expert witness surgeon was aghast, but when he took his evidence to his overlords at UnitedHealth, they\u2026. made him take de-escalation training. <br \/>Meanwhile, Durrani fled to Lahore, where he is\u2026currently performing unnecessary surgeries. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oi9zN3kJvV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/oi9zN3kJvV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1867642419002716336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Worth a clickthrough, though I assume the full article will appear shortly.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione\u2019s Mother Spent Months Searching for a Son Who Didn\u2019t Want to Be Found\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/d6XEo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cOver the past year, the family was at a loss for where Luigi was or what he was doing, according to the people close to the Mangiones. In the fall, his relatives emailed many of his friends to seek their help. One friend posted to Luigi on X, \u2018Hey, are you ok? Nobody has heard from you in months, and apparently your family is looking for you.\u2019 In November, his mother reportedly called the San Francisco Police Department to report her son missing. \u2018She would have done everything to find her son and couldn\u2019t,\u2019 said one of those close to the Mangiones.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLakeland woman threatens insurance company, says \u2018Delay, Deny, Depose\u2019: police\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfla.com\/news\/polk-county\/lakeland-woman-threatens-insurance-company-says-delay-deny-depose-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WFLA<\/a>]. \u201cA Lakeland woman was charged Tuesday after police said she ended a call to an insurance company with the words, \u2018Delay, Deny, Depose.\u2019 In an arrest affidavit, the Lakeland Police Department said officers were contacted by the FBI on Tuesday, Dec. 10 regarding an alleged threat made over the phone. Briana Boston, 42, had reportedly placed a call to BlueCross BlueShield regarding recent medical insurance claims she was denied. The entire phone call was recorded, according to the affidavit\u2026. Police made contact with Boston at her home in Lakeland, where she reportedly admitted to using those words during the call, telling detectives that \u2018healthcare companies played games and deserved karma from the world because they are evil.\u2019 \u2018My client is 42, married mother of three. Never had any criminal charges or convictions. May you release her on her own recognizance,\u2019 her attorney Jim Headley said to a judge during her first appearance in court. However, the judge set her bond at $100,000, stating, \u2018I do find that the bond of $100,000 is appropriate .\u2019 Boston was charged with threats to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, according to the affidavit.\u201d \u2022 Hoo boy. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWoman threatens BlueCross BlueShield, saying \u2018delay, deny, depose\u2019, then gets arrested\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/13wham.com\/news\/nation-world\/florida-woman-accused-of-insurance-company-threat-admits-to-using-delay-deny-depose-briana-boston-lakeland-police-fbi-phone-call-bluecross-blueshield-luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-charges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WHAM<\/a>]. \u201cBoston is charged with one count \u201cWritten Threat to Kill or Injure- Conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.\u201d \u2022 This looks like the relevant Florida statute;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1246\" height=\"1118\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat.png 1246w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-1024x919.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-768x689.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-624x560.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1246px) 100vw, 1246px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>But phone calls are exempt, and Boston made the alleged threat over the phone. Perhaps a legal expert from Florida can weigh in?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"guillotine\"\/><strong>Guillotine Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBioLab sets deadline for claims over Conyers chemical plant fire\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5atlanta.com\/news\/biolab-chemical-fire-deadline-claims-compensation-how-to-apply.amp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX5<\/a>]. \u201cTime is running out to file reimbursement claims in connection to the BioLab chemical plant fire in Conyers. The fires in September sent chemical-filled smoke into the air for days, leading to complaints about a strong chemical smell and haze and forcing thousands to shelter in place. The company is already facing multiple lawsuits, including one filed by Rockdale County commissioners. The commission chair says that the lawsuit is currently in process. As cleanup began, BioLab opened a website for residents to file a claim for expenses incurred as a result of the fire. The company says it has responded to more than 29,000 calls and 9,000 emails, and helped 4,000 people through its Community Assistance Center since Oct. 8. With the high volume of claims steadily decreasing, BioLab has set a deadline for New Year\u2019s Eve for any new submissions. After that, the company will no longer accept new claims.\u201d\u2022 The post gives directions on filing a claim, which is useful. Still, what about long term effects?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMusk\u2019s Charitable Foundation Sent Most of Its Millions to His Own Entities\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/kYCrP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cElon Musk\u2019s charitable foundation ballooned to $9.5 billion in assets last year while handing out $237 million in gifts, most of which went to other entities controlled by the world\u2019s richest person. The figures are part of the Musk Foundation\u2019s latest tax filing, obtained Thursday by Bloomberg News\u2026. The nonprofits Musk controls are part of his vast and growing empire, which counts a carmaker, rocket company, social media platform and, now, a major political apparatus\u2026. Though Musk has widened his lead as the richest person ever, his philanthropy remains muted\u2026. The IRS mandates that foundations deploy, on average, 5% of assets a year. Musk has repeatedly missed that bar. Over the years, even as the foundation has grown in wealth, he has kept the team small. Its latest filing lists the same handful of people, including himself and his fixer, Jared Birchall.\u201d \u2022 Lol, \u201cmuted.\u201d \u201cFixer\u201d is also quite a strong word to use, especially for Bloomberg. I mean, \u201cfixer\u201d is a Third World concept, no?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"oil\"\/>\u201cDistributional implications and share ownership of record oil and gas profits\u201d (PDF) [<a href=\"https:\/\/scholarworks.umass.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/4a4559c7-41c7-4a91-a9fd-fef265d58247\/content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">University of Massachusetts, Amherst<\/a>]. \u201cWe estimate that globally, net income in publicly listed oil and gas companies reached US$916 billion in 2022. The United States was the biggest beneficiary receiving US$301 billion in fossil fuel profits both from domestic extraction and through global shareholding, more than U.S. investments of US$267 billion in the low carbon economy that year. Analyzing the U.S. distribution including privately held US companies, 51% of profits went to the wealthiest 1%, predominantly through direct shareholdings and private company ownership. In contrast the bottom 50% only received 1%. The incremental fossil-fuel profits in 2022 over those in 2021 were enough to increase the disposable income of the wealthiest Americans several percent and compensate a substantial part of their purchasing power loss from inflation that year, thereby exacerbating inflation inequality. Record fossil-fuel profits also reinforce existing racial and ethnic inequalities and inequalities between groups with different educational attainments. Our results also show that only a small share of overall profits benefits institutions that serve the wider public such as pension funds.\u201d \u2022 Handy chart:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.4141689373297\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.476839237057\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW PAPER: The 2022 fossil fuel price jumps caused an oil and gas profit explosion. We show the US reaped the largest profit increase (USD 275bn) of any country. Big Oil claims this benefits the American people. In fact, 51% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A \ud83e\uddf5 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2p1SVQqImO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/2p1SVQqImO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Isabella M. Weber (@IsabellaMWeber) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IsabellaMWeber\/status\/1867349736585617547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 12, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMan alleges Sean Combs drugged and raped him during a meeting at a New York hotel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/three-men-sue-sean-combs-alleging-raped-sexually-assaulted-rcna183699\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NBC<\/a>]. \u2022 Been awhile since we heard from Diddy!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who are good at reading have different brains\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/people-who-are-good-at-reading-have-different-brains-244786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Conversation<\/a>]. \u201cClearly, brain structure can tell us a lot about reading skills. Importantly, though, the brain is malleable \u2014 it changes when we learn a new skill or practice an already acquired one. For instance, young adults who studied language intensively increased their cortical thickness in language areas. Similarly, reading is likely to shape the structure of the left Heschl\u2019s gyrus and temporal pole. So, if you want to keep your Heschl\u2019s thick and thriving, pick up a good book and start reading. Finally, it\u2019s worth considering what might happen to us as a species if skills like reading become less prioritised. Our capacity to interpret the world around us and understand the minds of others would surely diminish. In other words, that cosy moment with a book in your armchair isn\u2019t just personal \u2013 it\u2019s a service to humanity.\u201d <\/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-12-10-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From timotheus:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Timotheus writes: \u201cI took this photo of a monarch on a bee blossom bush in early September in the park in front of my building and only just now realized (by blowing it up) that it was tagged. I reported the number to MonarchWatch.org, which was easy. They said thanks.\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-12-13-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-13T14:00:21-05:00\">December 13, 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\/nyc-mayor-adams-trying-to-wriggle-free-from-sanctuary-city-restrictions-has-same-desire-as-trump-border-czar.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> NYC Mayor Adams Trying to Wriggle Free from Sanctuary City Restrictions; Has \u201cSame Desire\u201d as Trump Border Czar<\/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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Happy Friday the Thirteenth to those who celebrate! \u2013lambert Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88395,"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-88394","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\/88394","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=88394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88394\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Happy Friday the Thirteenth to those who celebrate! \u2013lambert<\/p>\n
Bird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica Siboney-Jutici, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. \u201cThis is all one continuous cut even through my announcement.\u201d Grab a cup of coffee. Eighteen minutes (though the last two minutes or so are the \u201cannouncement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#vax\">RFK<\/a>, Trump, and vax.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#viral\">Covid \u201cviral reservoir\u201d theory<\/a> recieves support.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#oil\">Where oil profits went<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#table\">New Covid charts:<\/a> Good news, but positivity uptick.<\/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>Capitol Seizure<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"26.011441647597\">\n<p>\u201cWatchdog finds FBI intelligence missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/justice-department-inspector-general-capitol-riot-jan-6-79c7ea02cf66c874f9201ae8e9294239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cThe report from the Justice Department inspector general\u2019s office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events that day, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump\u2019s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the building in a violent clash with police. The review, released nearly four years after a dark chapter in history that shook the bedrock of American democracy, was narrow in scope, but aimed to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019d be a lot happier if I could cross two oddities off my list for the day: Nobody knows who built <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/01\/the-famous-gallows-of-january-6-who-what-where-when-and-why.html\">the gallows<\/a> or took them away; and nobody knows <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/3-years-jan-6-pipe-bomber-mystery-unsolved\/story?id=106131959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">who left the pipe bombs at the DNC<\/a> (when Kamala was there). For these two stories, take the Justice Department story as read: It wasn\u2019t the FBI. So, who was it?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDOJ IG reveals 26 FBI informants were present on Jan. 6\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/doj-ig-reveals-number-fbi-confidential-sources-ground-during-jan-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cJustice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said there were more than two dozen confidential human sources (CHSs) in the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but only three were assigned by the FBI to be present for the event, while stressing that none of the sources was authorized or directed by the bureau to \u2018break the law\u2019 or \u2018encourage others to commit illegal acts,\u2019 Fox News has learned.\u201d \u2022 \u201cWe were just informanting. We weren\u2019t agent provocateuring at all, totally.\u201d OK, fine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Trump Transition<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"47.37306122449\">\n<p><a name=\"vax\"\/>\u201cRFK Jr key adviser petitioned regulators to revoke approval of polio vaccine\u201d [Ed Pilkington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2024\/dec\/13\/rfk-jr-aaron-siri-polio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Guardian<\/a>]. \u201cA key legal adviser to Robert Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump\u2019s pick for health secretary, is at the center of efforts to push federal drug regulators to revoke approval for the polio and hepatitis B vaccines and block distribution of 13 other critical vaccines. Aaron Siri, a lawyer who has been helping Kennedy select top health administrators as part of the Trump transition process, is deeply embedded in longstanding efforts to force the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw a raft of vaccines that have saved the lives and health of millions of Americans.\u201d \u2022 I don\u2019t mind having a good faith discussion about rolling back the childhood vaccination schedule; heck, it looks like a spreadsheet. But my concern has always been that the anti-vaxxers want to roll back <em>all<\/em> vaccines, including the original Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), i.e., the ones I was given as a child, and a good thing, too. And now a RFK\u2019s legal running buddy wants to roll back polio vaccines, so my \u201clack of good faith\u201d priors are heavily reinforced. A bridge too far, for me. Maybe focus on MAHA? Unless getting rid of polio vaccines <em>is<\/em> MAHA, of course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump to discuss ending childhood vaccination programs with RFK Jr.\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/trump-discuss-ending-childhood-vaccination-programs-with-rfk-jr-2024-12-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cHe (Kennedy) does not disagree with vaccinations, all vaccinations. He disagrees probably with some,\u201d Trump said.\u201d \u2022 \u201cProbably\u201d is doing a lot of work there. And if Kennedy wanted to preseve polio vaccines, then his mimion wouldn\u2019t be trying to revoke their approval. And if you want to get rid of the polio vaccines, then you might as well \u201cdisagree\u201d with \u201call vaccinations.\u201d Trump should put RFK back in his box on this one.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump Transition Team Wants To End Crash Report Requirement Opposed By Tesla, Report Says\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/NbNP0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Forbes<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump\u2019s transition team wants to scrap a regulatory order requiring automakers to report crashes involving vehicles with automated driving systems, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/NbNP0\/https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/autos-transportation\/trump-transition-recommends-scrapping-car-crash-reporting-requirement-opposed-by-2024-12-13\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a> reported Friday, aligning with opposition to the rule by Elon Musk\u2019s Tesla, which accounts for most crashes reported under the requirement so far.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSEC charges Cantor Fitzgerald, led by Trump\u2019s Commerce pick, with breaking securities laws\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/12\/12\/sec-cantor-fitzgerald-charges-howard-lutnick-trump-commerce-spac-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNBC<\/a>]. \u2022 If we hadn\u2019t just had four years of Democrat lawfare, I\u2019d be aghast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"resistance\"\/>The #Resistance<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.972524327418\">\n<p>\u201cDemocratic governors quietly prep extensive plans to counter Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/11\/politics\/democratic-governors-counter-trump\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cDiplomatic and depressed as they have been in public, a small group of Democratic governors are deep into behind-the-scenes preparations and deliberations over how to balance the politics of pushing back on what they are expecting from President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s next turn in the White House. Since long before the election, they\u2019ve been poring through Project 2025 \u2014 it\u2019s helpful, several Democratic governors told CNN, to have a blueprint in public. They\u2019ve been studying their own executive powers and state laws\u2026. They\u2019ve been stockpiling the abortion medication mifepristone [(!!)] in secret warehouses and rehearsing their answers for if and when the incoming White House tries to nationalize their state police or National Guard units for use in deportation raids; some are planning to flat out refuse, while others intend to argue that the officers are busy with other work keeping the people in their states safe. (None have fully wrapped their heads around how it would work if units from other states are sent in and set themselves up for showdowns on the state borders.)\u201d And: \u201cSeveral have been running tabletop exercises behind closed doors for months, often with state attorneys general and other relevant officials involved. Officials in multiple governors\u2019 offices told CNN the circles have been tight to keep the incoming White House from being able to prepare for their own responses, or for the proactive innovations they\u2019re looking into.\u201d \u2022 Worth reading in full for the detail. And what is it with Democrats and these \u201ctabletop exercises\u201d? They keep running them, and they don\u2019t seem to be doing much good.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"16.95592048401\">\n<p>\u201cDemocrats\u2019 problem with working-class voters is bigger than free trade\u201d [Eric Levitz, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/politics\/391059\/democrats-working-class-voters-nafta-free-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Vox<\/a>]. \u201cIn light of deindustrialization\u2019s most pernicious effects, Democrats should make American workers\u2019 access to remunerative employment and collective bargaining rights less contingent on the market\u2019s whims, while rebuilding the party\u2019s reputation for sound economic management.\u201d \u2022 Daring! The problem is simple, from a 30,000-foot level (where indeed most things are simple). The Democrats are the party of the PMC. As the governing class, they are in the business of operating the many and varied rental extraction schemes that dominate our financialized economy, and which enrich the (propertied) ruling class at the expense of the (enwaged) working class (health insurance being one such). Therefore, the class interests of the Democrats and the working class are diametrically opposed. The Democrat Party founders on this contradiction. \u201cA house divided against itself cannot stand\u2026. I do not expect the house to <em>fall<\/em> \u2014 but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become <em>all<\/em> one thing, or <em>all<\/em> the other.\u201d \u2013Abraham Lincoln.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Republican Funhouse<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"12.889479277365\">\n<p>\u201cHouse Republicans launch investigation into CVS Caremark for potential antitrust violations\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/5037786-house-republicans-launch-investigation-into-cvs-caremark-for-potential-antitrust-violations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cHouse Republicans want to know whether pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) CVS Caremark violated federal antitrust laws by threatening independent pharmacies to keep them from using money-saving tools outside the PBM\u2019s network. In a letter to CVS obtained by The Hill, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked the company for documents and communications about pharmaceutical hubs, a type of digital pharmacy service that can streamline the process of accessing and managing complex, high-cost specialty medications for patients. Jordan expressed concern that CVS prevents independent pharmacies from participating in hub arrangements, because the company wants to head off potential competition. If an independent pharmacy works with a hub outside the PBM, it could be excluded from the PBMs network.\u201d \u2022 Good. <\/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>Airborne Transmission<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"4.3366093366093\">\n<p>Word of the day (or the decade):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.5614973262032\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.689839572193\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WORD OF THE WEEK: <\/p>\n<p>Ca\u2022cough\u2022ony<\/p>\n<p>A portmanteau of the words ‘cacophony’ + ‘cough’.<\/p>\n<p>An unpleasant chorus of loud of coughing. <\/p>\n<p>Often experienced during carol concerts, nativities, pantomimes, school assemblies & other indoor mass gatherings just before Xmas.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/susie_dent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@susie_dent<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nDyRqpBfQB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/nDyRqpBfQB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cat in the Hat \ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b \ud83c\udfa9 \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@_CatintheHat) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_CatintheHat\/status\/1867592482910765445\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"mask\"\/>Maskstravaganza<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"7.5688622754491\">\n<p>\u201cDays after Era Tour ends, Taylor Swift spreads holiday cheer at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in KC\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knoxnews.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2024\/12\/13\/taylor-swift-visits-childrens-mercy-hospital-kansas-city\/76963318007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Knox News<\/a>]. \u2022 And that\u2019s not all she\u2019s spreading, is it?<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"814\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283873\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift-221x300.jpeg 221w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Vaccines: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"18.900672143391\">\n<p>\u201cCOVID-19 vaccination and short-term mortality risk: a nationwide self-controlled case series study in The Netherlands\u201d (preprint) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2024.12.11.24318790v1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">medRxiv<\/a>]. From the Abstract: \u201cWe conducted a retrospective data-linkage study including all Dutch inhabitants to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on excess mortality using a modified self-controlled case series method. We found a 44% lower relative incidence of all-cause deaths in the first three weeks after the primary vaccination compared to more than three weeks after vaccination (IRR 0.56, 95%CI 0.54-0.57). This lower incidence was consistent across vaccine types, doses, genders, age groups, and individuals with or without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or comorbidities, and for non-COVID-19 related deaths. For booster vaccinations, the relative incidence was similar (IRR 0.49, 95%CI 0.49-0.50). In comparison, we observed a 16-fold higher incidence of all-cause deaths in the three weeks following a registered positive SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to more than three weeks after infection (IRR 16.19, 95%CI 15.78-16.60). A lower relative incidence of short-term deaths following COVID-19 vaccination support that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with the observed excess mortality.\u201d \u2022 \u201cNot associated\u201d for that (relatively short) time-frame, as they indeed say.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Variants: H5N1<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"11.843953185956\">\n<p>\u201cNovel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 virus in live poultry markets, China\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanmic\/article\/PIIS2666-5247(24)00317-3\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Lancet<\/a>]. \u201cIn January, 2024, findings from a surveillance study near Poyang Lake in southern China revealed a high prevalence of novel H5N1 viruses that showed enhanced binding affinity for human-type sialic acid receptors\u2026. Given the established role of [Live poultry markets (LPMs)] as a major source of human H5N1 infections, we highlight the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and public health interventions to mitigate the widespread transmission potential of these novel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 viruses in these markets.\u201d \u2022\u00a0\u201cNovel\u201d in the headline and repeated in the text doesn\u2019t sound good. Perhaps a kind reader can translate the entire abstract.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sequelae: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"18.699472759227\">\n<p><a name=\"viral\"\/>\u201cMulti-Organ Spread and Intra-Host Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 Support Viral Persistence, Adaptation, and a Mechanism That Increases Evolvability\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/jmv.70107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Journal of Medical Virology<\/a> (Jason Boxman). The Abstract:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"23\">\n<p>Intra-host diversity is an intricate phenomenon related to immune evasion, antiviral resistance, and evolutionary leaps along transmission chains. SARS-CoV-2 intra-host variation has been well-evidenced from respiratory samples. However, data on systemic dissemination and diversification are relatively scarce and come from immunologically impaired patients. Here, the presence and variability of SARS-CoV-2 were assessed among 71 tissue samples obtained from multiple organs including lung, intestine, heart, kidney, and liver from 15 autopsies with positive swabs and no records of immunocompromise. . All organs presented intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) with low, moderate, and high abundances. The iSNV abundances observed within different organs indicate that . In agreement with previous data from respiratory samples, our lung samples presented no more than 10 iSNVs each. But interestingly, when analyzing different organs we were able to detect between 11 and 45 iSNVs per case. . We elaborate on how compartmentalized evolution in multiple organs may contribute to SARS-CoV-2 evolving so rapidly despite the virus having a proofreading mechanism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Yikes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert: After repeated attempts, this is what I get for CDC\u2019s wastewater page:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"100\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww-300x50.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>I conclude that CDC doesn\u2019t know how to run a server, along with everything else they don\u2019t know how to do.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.919540229885\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6190476190476\">\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> December 2<\/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-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1-300x227.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\/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><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\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> December 7<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span><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> December 7<\/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-cdc-variants-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-300x255.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-er-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-300x157.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=\"3.9634146341463\">\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 12:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> December 12:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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-hospitalization-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-1-283x300.png 283w\" 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=\"2.6486486486486\">\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 9:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> December 7:<\/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-states.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-300x188.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\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-300x203.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=\"3.6363636363636\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span>Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span>Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25:<\/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-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2-300x188.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-variants-travelers-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1.png 1902w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-1024x719.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-768x539.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-1536x1079.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-624x438.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1902px) 100vw, 1902px\"\/><\/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=\"3.7647058823529\">\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 20:<\/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 20:<\/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-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-300x163.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-deaths-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"246.64596796853\">\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) XEC takes over. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) A little uptick.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Up!<\/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 leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no official statistics of interest today.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Plans $1 Billion Expansion in South Carolina\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/boeing-plans-1-billion-expansion-151811427.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Industrial Equipment News<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing yesterday announced plans to invest $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades at its Charleston County, South Carolina site. The expansion will create 500 new jobs over the next five years. The announcement was made by the South Carolina Department of Commerce (SCDC). Boeing South Carolina is home to the entire 787 Dreamliner production cycle and fabricates, assembles, and delivers the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10. The factory has been in operation for more than ten years.\u201d \u2022 That\u2019s <em>non-unionized<\/em> South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing, Airbus still struggle with supply chains and personnel shortages\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/leehamnews.com\/2024\/12\/13\/boeing-airbus-still-struggle-with-supply-chains-and-personnel-shortages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Leeham News & Analysis<\/a>]. \u201cMichael Haidinger, president of Boeing\u2019s European and Middle Eastern regions, and Juergen Westermeier, chief procurement officer for Airbus, agree challenges remain in the near future. \u2018There is always a shortage of skilled aerospace talent intensified by the pandemic,\u2019 Haidinger said this month at the annual Aviation Forum (2024) in Munich, Germany. \u2018As all the professionals retired, fewer new employees entered the field. Our industry needs more people who not only bring expertise but also embrace the mission of advancing aerospace.\u2019 Haidinger added, \u2018The deficit of skilled engineers, technicians, and other aerospace workers has made ramping up production more challenging. Attracting and retaining talent has become a top priority for us. [We are] with many companies investing in workforce development, partnerships with universities, training programs, and apprenticeship programs.’\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 50 Neutral (previous close: 48 Neutral) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 52 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 13 at 2:43:33 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Musical Interlude<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Toe-tapping goodness:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Derek And The Dominos & Johnny Cash & Carl Perkins - Matchbox\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/otz51kVxyaw?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><strong>Groves of Academe<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cComparative lit class will be first in Humanities Division to use UCLA-developed AI system\u201d (press release) [Newsroom, <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.ucla.edu\/stories\/comparative-literature-zrinka-stahuljak-artificial-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UCLA<\/a>]. \u201cThe textbook: AI-generated. Class assignments: AI-generated. Teaching assistants\u2019 resources: AI-generated.\u201d When I ran a Literary Hub post on this story, alert reader and critical thinker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-12-2024.html#comment-4146169\">PJay asked a great question<\/a>: \u201cAre we sure this isn\u2019t a Sokal-type hoax?\u201d So I went and dug up this press release; the odds of hoaxdom are vanishingly small. Here again, for your reference. is the AI art for the textbook. Put down your coffee:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"678\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover-265x300.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The course is Comp Lit 2BW in the UCLA College Division of Humanities [sic]. Would some kind soul with a UCLA connection be able to throw copies of the teaching material over the transom? I\u2019m sure the readership would enjoy them. My email address is down by the plants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Annals of Religion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow a Tale of Demonic Possession Predicted the Decline of an Early Medieval Empire\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/history\/how-a-tale-of-demonic-possession-predicted-the-decline-of-an-early-medieval-empire-180985596\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Smithsonian<\/a>]. \u201cHistorians can look back and see the tensions that resulted in the coup of 830, and how its lack of resolution led to another coup attempt in 833 and ultimately to a brutal civil war in the 840s. But throughout all the murder, treason and plotting, most historical sources, from the Annals of Fulda to the Annals of St. Bertin, remain committed to the myth of stability, inevitability and God\u2019s blessing.\u201d \u2022 <em>Plus \u00e7a change<\/em>\u2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealth Group C.E.O.: The Health Care System Is Flawed. Let\u2019s Fix It.\u201d [Andrew Witty, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/WzKWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. Witty is the chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. \u201cHe believed decisions about health care should start with the individual and championed plans in which consumers could see costs and coverage options upfront, so they could decide what\u2019s best for themselves and their families.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBrian Thompson, Not Luigi Mangione, Is the Real Working-Class Hero\u201d [Bret Stephens, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/ctKrr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. \u201cThompson\u2019s life may have been cut brutally short, but it will remain a model for how a talented and determined man from humble roots can still rise to the top of corporate life without the benefit of rich parents and an Ivy League degree.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Crisis of Elite Indifference to Corporate Mass Murder\u201d [Nathan Newman, <a href=\"https:\/\/nathannewman.substack.com\/p\/the-crisis-of-elite-indifference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Left Future<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cAnd a Modest Proposal to License No More than 10 CEO Murders Each Year to Improve Corporate Accountability\u201d NOTE: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A_Modest_Proposal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Satire<\/a>. Sort of like Shirley Jackson\u2019s <em>The Lottery<\/em>. As the author mentions!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>UPDATE A typically brilliant thread by Moe Tkacik:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9502840909091\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.534090909091\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The murder of the UnitedHealth CEO by a guy who underwent spinal fusion surgery for debilitating pain has unleashed a furious debate about US health care, most of it dumb<br \/>Thankfully I found a whistleblower suit filed by a surgeon UHC hired to deny spinal fusion surgery coverage.. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ekivc1k75l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Ekivc1k75l<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1867627601419813257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s really trying to be a blog post, and it\u2019s too long to screen capture, but here is the whistleblower (\u201cexpert witness\u201d) part:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.7492063492063\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.088888888889\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The expert witness surgeon was aghast, but when he took his evidence to his overlords at UnitedHealth, they\u2026. made him take de-escalation training. <br \/>Meanwhile, Durrani fled to Lahore, where he is\u2026currently performing unnecessary surgeries. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oi9zN3kJvV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/oi9zN3kJvV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1867642419002716336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Worth a clickthrough, though I assume the full article will appear shortly.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione\u2019s Mother Spent Months Searching for a Son Who Didn\u2019t Want to Be Found\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/d6XEo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cOver the past year, the family was at a loss for where Luigi was or what he was doing, according to the people close to the Mangiones. In the fall, his relatives emailed many of his friends to seek their help. One friend posted to Luigi on X, \u2018Hey, are you ok? Nobody has heard from you in months, and apparently your family is looking for you.\u2019 In November, his mother reportedly called the San Francisco Police Department to report her son missing. \u2018She would have done everything to find her son and couldn\u2019t,\u2019 said one of those close to the Mangiones.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLakeland woman threatens insurance company, says \u2018Delay, Deny, Depose\u2019: police\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfla.com\/news\/polk-county\/lakeland-woman-threatens-insurance-company-says-delay-deny-depose-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WFLA<\/a>]. \u201cA Lakeland woman was charged Tuesday after police said she ended a call to an insurance company with the words, \u2018Delay, Deny, Depose.\u2019 In an arrest affidavit, the Lakeland Police Department said officers were contacted by the FBI on Tuesday, Dec. 10 regarding an alleged threat made over the phone. Briana Boston, 42, had reportedly placed a call to BlueCross BlueShield regarding recent medical insurance claims she was denied. The entire phone call was recorded, according to the affidavit\u2026. Police made contact with Boston at her home in Lakeland, where she reportedly admitted to using those words during the call, telling detectives that \u2018healthcare companies played games and deserved karma from the world because they are evil.\u2019 \u2018My client is 42, married mother of three. Never had any criminal charges or convictions. May you release her on her own recognizance,\u2019 her attorney Jim Headley said to a judge during her first appearance in court. However, the judge set her bond at $100,000, stating, \u2018I do find that the bond of $100,000 is appropriate .\u2019 Boston was charged with threats to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, according to the affidavit.\u201d \u2022 Hoo boy. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWoman threatens BlueCross BlueShield, saying \u2018delay, deny, depose\u2019, then gets arrested\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/13wham.com\/news\/nation-world\/florida-woman-accused-of-insurance-company-threat-admits-to-using-delay-deny-depose-briana-boston-lakeland-police-fbi-phone-call-bluecross-blueshield-luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-charges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WHAM<\/a>]. \u201cBoston is charged with one count \u201cWritten Threat to Kill or Injure- Conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.\u201d \u2022 This looks like the relevant Florida statute;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1246\" height=\"1118\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat.png 1246w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-1024x919.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-768x689.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-624x560.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1246px) 100vw, 1246px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>But phone calls are exempt, and Boston made the alleged threat over the phone. Perhaps a legal expert from Florida can weigh in?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"guillotine\"\/><strong>Guillotine Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBioLab sets deadline for claims over Conyers chemical plant fire\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5atlanta.com\/news\/biolab-chemical-fire-deadline-claims-compensation-how-to-apply.amp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX5<\/a>]. \u201cTime is running out to file reimbursement claims in connection to the BioLab chemical plant fire in Conyers. The fires in September sent chemical-filled smoke into the air for days, leading to complaints about a strong chemical smell and haze and forcing thousands to shelter in place. The company is already facing multiple lawsuits, including one filed by Rockdale County commissioners. The commission chair says that the lawsuit is currently in process. As cleanup began, BioLab opened a website for residents to file a claim for expenses incurred as a result of the fire. The company says it has responded to more than 29,000 calls and 9,000 emails, and helped 4,000 people through its Community Assistance Center since Oct. 8. With the high volume of claims steadily decreasing, BioLab has set a deadline for New Year\u2019s Eve for any new submissions. After that, the company will no longer accept new claims.\u201d\u2022 The post gives directions on filing a claim, which is useful. Still, what about long term effects?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMusk\u2019s Charitable Foundation Sent Most of Its Millions to His Own Entities\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/kYCrP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cElon Musk\u2019s charitable foundation ballooned to $9.5 billion in assets last year while handing out $237 million in gifts, most of which went to other entities controlled by the world\u2019s richest person. The figures are part of the Musk Foundation\u2019s latest tax filing, obtained Thursday by Bloomberg News\u2026. The nonprofits Musk controls are part of his vast and growing empire, which counts a carmaker, rocket company, social media platform and, now, a major political apparatus\u2026. Though Musk has widened his lead as the richest person ever, his philanthropy remains muted\u2026. The IRS mandates that foundations deploy, on average, 5% of assets a year. Musk has repeatedly missed that bar. Over the years, even as the foundation has grown in wealth, he has kept the team small. Its latest filing lists the same handful of people, including himself and his fixer, Jared Birchall.\u201d \u2022 Lol, \u201cmuted.\u201d \u201cFixer\u201d is also quite a strong word to use, especially for Bloomberg. I mean, \u201cfixer\u201d is a Third World concept, no?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"oil\"\/>\u201cDistributional implications and share ownership of record oil and gas profits\u201d (PDF) [<a href=\"https:\/\/scholarworks.umass.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/4a4559c7-41c7-4a91-a9fd-fef265d58247\/content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">University of Massachusetts, Amherst<\/a>]. \u201cWe estimate that globally, net income in publicly listed oil and gas companies reached US$916 billion in 2022. The United States was the biggest beneficiary receiving US$301 billion in fossil fuel profits both from domestic extraction and through global shareholding, more than U.S. investments of US$267 billion in the low carbon economy that year. Analyzing the U.S. distribution including privately held US companies, 51% of profits went to the wealthiest 1%, predominantly through direct shareholdings and private company ownership. In contrast the bottom 50% only received 1%. The incremental fossil-fuel profits in 2022 over those in 2021 were enough to increase the disposable income of the wealthiest Americans several percent and compensate a substantial part of their purchasing power loss from inflation that year, thereby exacerbating inflation inequality. Record fossil-fuel profits also reinforce existing racial and ethnic inequalities and inequalities between groups with different educational attainments. Our results also show that only a small share of overall profits benefits institutions that serve the wider public such as pension funds.\u201d \u2022 Handy chart:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.4141689373297\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.476839237057\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW PAPER: The 2022 fossil fuel price jumps caused an oil and gas profit explosion. We show the US reaped the largest profit increase (USD 275bn) of any country. Big Oil claims this benefits the American people. In fact, 51% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A \ud83e\uddf5 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2p1SVQqImO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/2p1SVQqImO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Isabella M. Weber (@IsabellaMWeber) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IsabellaMWeber\/status\/1867349736585617547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 12, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMan alleges Sean Combs drugged and raped him during a meeting at a New York hotel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/three-men-sue-sean-combs-alleging-raped-sexually-assaulted-rcna183699\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NBC<\/a>]. \u2022 Been awhile since we heard from Diddy!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who are good at reading have different brains\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/people-who-are-good-at-reading-have-different-brains-244786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Conversation<\/a>]. \u201cClearly, brain structure can tell us a lot about reading skills. Importantly, though, the brain is malleable \u2014 it changes when we learn a new skill or practice an already acquired one. For instance, young adults who studied language intensively increased their cortical thickness in language areas. Similarly, reading is likely to shape the structure of the left Heschl\u2019s gyrus and temporal pole. So, if you want to keep your Heschl\u2019s thick and thriving, pick up a good book and start reading. Finally, it\u2019s worth considering what might happen to us as a species if skills like reading become less prioritised. Our capacity to interpret the world around us and understand the minds of others would surely diminish. In other words, that cosy moment with a book in your armchair isn\u2019t just personal \u2013 it\u2019s a service to humanity.\u201d <\/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-12-10-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From timotheus:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Timotheus writes: \u201cI took this photo of a monarch on a bee blossom bush in early September in the park in front of my building and only just now realized (by blowing it up) that it was tagged. I reported the number to MonarchWatch.org, which was easy. They said thanks.\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-12-13-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-13T14:00:21-05:00\">December 13, 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\/nyc-mayor-adams-trying-to-wriggle-free-from-sanctuary-city-restrictions-has-same-desire-as-trump-border-czar.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> NYC Mayor Adams Trying to Wriggle Free from Sanctuary City Restrictions; Has \u201cSame Desire\u201d as Trump Border Czar<\/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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Happy Friday the Thirteenth to those who celebrate! \u2013lambert Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88395,"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-88394","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\/88394","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=88394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88394\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica Siboney-Jutici, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. \u201cThis is all one continuous cut even through my announcement.\u201d Grab a cup of coffee. Eighteen minutes (though the last two minutes or so are the \u201cannouncement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#vax\">RFK<\/a>, Trump, and vax.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#viral\">Covid \u201cviral reservoir\u201d theory<\/a> recieves support.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#oil\">Where oil profits went<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#table\">New Covid charts:<\/a> Good news, but positivity uptick.<\/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>Capitol Seizure<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"26.011441647597\">\n<p>\u201cWatchdog finds FBI intelligence missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/justice-department-inspector-general-capitol-riot-jan-6-79c7ea02cf66c874f9201ae8e9294239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cThe report from the Justice Department inspector general\u2019s office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events that day, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump\u2019s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the building in a violent clash with police. The review, released nearly four years after a dark chapter in history that shook the bedrock of American democracy, was narrow in scope, but aimed to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019d be a lot happier if I could cross two oddities off my list for the day: Nobody knows who built <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/01\/the-famous-gallows-of-january-6-who-what-where-when-and-why.html\">the gallows<\/a> or took them away; and nobody knows <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/3-years-jan-6-pipe-bomber-mystery-unsolved\/story?id=106131959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">who left the pipe bombs at the DNC<\/a> (when Kamala was there). For these two stories, take the Justice Department story as read: It wasn\u2019t the FBI. So, who was it?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDOJ IG reveals 26 FBI informants were present on Jan. 6\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/doj-ig-reveals-number-fbi-confidential-sources-ground-during-jan-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cJustice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said there were more than two dozen confidential human sources (CHSs) in the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but only three were assigned by the FBI to be present for the event, while stressing that none of the sources was authorized or directed by the bureau to \u2018break the law\u2019 or \u2018encourage others to commit illegal acts,\u2019 Fox News has learned.\u201d \u2022 \u201cWe were just informanting. We weren\u2019t agent provocateuring at all, totally.\u201d OK, fine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Trump Transition<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"47.37306122449\">\n<p><a name=\"vax\"\/>\u201cRFK Jr key adviser petitioned regulators to revoke approval of polio vaccine\u201d [Ed Pilkington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2024\/dec\/13\/rfk-jr-aaron-siri-polio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Guardian<\/a>]. \u201cA key legal adviser to Robert Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump\u2019s pick for health secretary, is at the center of efforts to push federal drug regulators to revoke approval for the polio and hepatitis B vaccines and block distribution of 13 other critical vaccines. Aaron Siri, a lawyer who has been helping Kennedy select top health administrators as part of the Trump transition process, is deeply embedded in longstanding efforts to force the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw a raft of vaccines that have saved the lives and health of millions of Americans.\u201d \u2022 I don\u2019t mind having a good faith discussion about rolling back the childhood vaccination schedule; heck, it looks like a spreadsheet. But my concern has always been that the anti-vaxxers want to roll back <em>all<\/em> vaccines, including the original Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), i.e., the ones I was given as a child, and a good thing, too. And now a RFK\u2019s legal running buddy wants to roll back polio vaccines, so my \u201clack of good faith\u201d priors are heavily reinforced. A bridge too far, for me. Maybe focus on MAHA? Unless getting rid of polio vaccines <em>is<\/em> MAHA, of course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump to discuss ending childhood vaccination programs with RFK Jr.\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/trump-discuss-ending-childhood-vaccination-programs-with-rfk-jr-2024-12-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cHe (Kennedy) does not disagree with vaccinations, all vaccinations. He disagrees probably with some,\u201d Trump said.\u201d \u2022 \u201cProbably\u201d is doing a lot of work there. And if Kennedy wanted to preseve polio vaccines, then his mimion wouldn\u2019t be trying to revoke their approval. And if you want to get rid of the polio vaccines, then you might as well \u201cdisagree\u201d with \u201call vaccinations.\u201d Trump should put RFK back in his box on this one.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump Transition Team Wants To End Crash Report Requirement Opposed By Tesla, Report Says\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/NbNP0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Forbes<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump\u2019s transition team wants to scrap a regulatory order requiring automakers to report crashes involving vehicles with automated driving systems, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/o\/NbNP0\/https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/autos-transportation\/trump-transition-recommends-scrapping-car-crash-reporting-requirement-opposed-by-2024-12-13\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a> reported Friday, aligning with opposition to the rule by Elon Musk\u2019s Tesla, which accounts for most crashes reported under the requirement so far.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSEC charges Cantor Fitzgerald, led by Trump\u2019s Commerce pick, with breaking securities laws\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/12\/12\/sec-cantor-fitzgerald-charges-howard-lutnick-trump-commerce-spac-.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNBC<\/a>]. \u2022 If we hadn\u2019t just had four years of Democrat lawfare, I\u2019d be aghast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"resistance\"\/>The #Resistance<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.972524327418\">\n<p>\u201cDemocratic governors quietly prep extensive plans to counter Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/11\/politics\/democratic-governors-counter-trump\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cDiplomatic and depressed as they have been in public, a small group of Democratic governors are deep into behind-the-scenes preparations and deliberations over how to balance the politics of pushing back on what they are expecting from President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s next turn in the White House. Since long before the election, they\u2019ve been poring through Project 2025 \u2014 it\u2019s helpful, several Democratic governors told CNN, to have a blueprint in public. They\u2019ve been studying their own executive powers and state laws\u2026. They\u2019ve been stockpiling the abortion medication mifepristone [(!!)] in secret warehouses and rehearsing their answers for if and when the incoming White House tries to nationalize their state police or National Guard units for use in deportation raids; some are planning to flat out refuse, while others intend to argue that the officers are busy with other work keeping the people in their states safe. (None have fully wrapped their heads around how it would work if units from other states are sent in and set themselves up for showdowns on the state borders.)\u201d And: \u201cSeveral have been running tabletop exercises behind closed doors for months, often with state attorneys general and other relevant officials involved. Officials in multiple governors\u2019 offices told CNN the circles have been tight to keep the incoming White House from being able to prepare for their own responses, or for the proactive innovations they\u2019re looking into.\u201d \u2022 Worth reading in full for the detail. And what is it with Democrats and these \u201ctabletop exercises\u201d? They keep running them, and they don\u2019t seem to be doing much good.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"16.95592048401\">\n<p>\u201cDemocrats\u2019 problem with working-class voters is bigger than free trade\u201d [Eric Levitz, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/politics\/391059\/democrats-working-class-voters-nafta-free-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Vox<\/a>]. \u201cIn light of deindustrialization\u2019s most pernicious effects, Democrats should make American workers\u2019 access to remunerative employment and collective bargaining rights less contingent on the market\u2019s whims, while rebuilding the party\u2019s reputation for sound economic management.\u201d \u2022 Daring! The problem is simple, from a 30,000-foot level (where indeed most things are simple). The Democrats are the party of the PMC. As the governing class, they are in the business of operating the many and varied rental extraction schemes that dominate our financialized economy, and which enrich the (propertied) ruling class at the expense of the (enwaged) working class (health insurance being one such). Therefore, the class interests of the Democrats and the working class are diametrically opposed. The Democrat Party founders on this contradiction. \u201cA house divided against itself cannot stand\u2026. I do not expect the house to <em>fall<\/em> \u2014 but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become <em>all<\/em> one thing, or <em>all<\/em> the other.\u201d \u2013Abraham Lincoln.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Republican Funhouse<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"12.889479277365\">\n<p>\u201cHouse Republicans launch investigation into CVS Caremark for potential antitrust violations\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/5037786-house-republicans-launch-investigation-into-cvs-caremark-for-potential-antitrust-violations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cHouse Republicans want to know whether pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) CVS Caremark violated federal antitrust laws by threatening independent pharmacies to keep them from using money-saving tools outside the PBM\u2019s network. In a letter to CVS obtained by The Hill, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked the company for documents and communications about pharmaceutical hubs, a type of digital pharmacy service that can streamline the process of accessing and managing complex, high-cost specialty medications for patients. Jordan expressed concern that CVS prevents independent pharmacies from participating in hub arrangements, because the company wants to head off potential competition. If an independent pharmacy works with a hub outside the PBM, it could be excluded from the PBMs network.\u201d \u2022 Good. <\/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>Airborne Transmission<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"4.3366093366093\">\n<p>Word of the day (or the decade):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.5614973262032\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.689839572193\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WORD OF THE WEEK: <\/p>\n<p>Ca\u2022cough\u2022ony<\/p>\n<p>A portmanteau of the words ‘cacophony’ + ‘cough’.<\/p>\n<p>An unpleasant chorus of loud of coughing. <\/p>\n<p>Often experienced during carol concerts, nativities, pantomimes, school assemblies & other indoor mass gatherings just before Xmas.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/susie_dent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@susie_dent<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nDyRqpBfQB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/nDyRqpBfQB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cat in the Hat \ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b \ud83c\udfa9 \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@_CatintheHat) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_CatintheHat\/status\/1867592482910765445\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a name=\"mask\"\/>Maskstravaganza<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"7.5688622754491\">\n<p>\u201cDays after Era Tour ends, Taylor Swift spreads holiday cheer at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in KC\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knoxnews.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2024\/12\/13\/taylor-swift-visits-childrens-mercy-hospital-kansas-city\/76963318007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Knox News<\/a>]. \u2022 And that\u2019s not all she\u2019s spreading, is it?<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"814\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283873\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/swift-221x300.jpeg 221w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Vaccines: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"18.900672143391\">\n<p>\u201cCOVID-19 vaccination and short-term mortality risk: a nationwide self-controlled case series study in The Netherlands\u201d (preprint) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2024.12.11.24318790v1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">medRxiv<\/a>]. From the Abstract: \u201cWe conducted a retrospective data-linkage study including all Dutch inhabitants to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on excess mortality using a modified self-controlled case series method. We found a 44% lower relative incidence of all-cause deaths in the first three weeks after the primary vaccination compared to more than three weeks after vaccination (IRR 0.56, 95%CI 0.54-0.57). This lower incidence was consistent across vaccine types, doses, genders, age groups, and individuals with or without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or comorbidities, and for non-COVID-19 related deaths. For booster vaccinations, the relative incidence was similar (IRR 0.49, 95%CI 0.49-0.50). In comparison, we observed a 16-fold higher incidence of all-cause deaths in the three weeks following a registered positive SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to more than three weeks after infection (IRR 16.19, 95%CI 15.78-16.60). A lower relative incidence of short-term deaths following COVID-19 vaccination support that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with the observed excess mortality.\u201d \u2022 \u201cNot associated\u201d for that (relatively short) time-frame, as they indeed say.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Variants: H5N1<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"11.843953185956\">\n<p>\u201cNovel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 virus in live poultry markets, China\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanmic\/article\/PIIS2666-5247(24)00317-3\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Lancet<\/a>]. \u201cIn January, 2024, findings from a surveillance study near Poyang Lake in southern China revealed a high prevalence of novel H5N1 viruses that showed enhanced binding affinity for human-type sialic acid receptors\u2026. Given the established role of [Live poultry markets (LPMs)] as a major source of human H5N1 infections, we highlight the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and public health interventions to mitigate the widespread transmission potential of these novel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 viruses in these markets.\u201d \u2022\u00a0\u201cNovel\u201d in the headline and repeated in the text doesn\u2019t sound good. Perhaps a kind reader can translate the entire abstract.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sequelae: Covid<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"18.699472759227\">\n<p><a name=\"viral\"\/>\u201cMulti-Organ Spread and Intra-Host Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 Support Viral Persistence, Adaptation, and a Mechanism That Increases Evolvability\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/jmv.70107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Journal of Medical Virology<\/a> (Jason Boxman). The Abstract:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"23\">\n<p>Intra-host diversity is an intricate phenomenon related to immune evasion, antiviral resistance, and evolutionary leaps along transmission chains. SARS-CoV-2 intra-host variation has been well-evidenced from respiratory samples. However, data on systemic dissemination and diversification are relatively scarce and come from immunologically impaired patients. Here, the presence and variability of SARS-CoV-2 were assessed among 71 tissue samples obtained from multiple organs including lung, intestine, heart, kidney, and liver from 15 autopsies with positive swabs and no records of immunocompromise. . All organs presented intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) with low, moderate, and high abundances. The iSNV abundances observed within different organs indicate that . In agreement with previous data from respiratory samples, our lung samples presented no more than 10 iSNVs each. But interestingly, when analyzing different organs we were able to detect between 11 and 45 iSNVs per case. . We elaborate on how compartmentalized evolution in multiple organs may contribute to SARS-CoV-2 evolving so rapidly despite the virus having a proofreading mechanism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Yikes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert: After repeated attempts, this is what I get for CDC\u2019s wastewater page:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"100\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cdc_ww-300x50.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>I conclude that CDC doesn\u2019t know how to run a server, along with everything else they don\u2019t know how to do.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.919540229885\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6190476190476\">\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> December 2<\/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-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-1-300x227.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\/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><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\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> December 7<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span><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> December 7<\/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-cdc-variants-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-300x255.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-er-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-300x157.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=\"3.9634146341463\">\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 12:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> December 12:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-7-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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-hospitalization-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-1-283x300.png 283w\" 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=\"2.6486486486486\">\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 9:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> December 7:<\/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-states.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-300x188.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\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-300x203.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=\"3.6363636363636\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span>Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span>Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 25:<\/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-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-2-300x188.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-variants-travelers-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1.png 1902w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-1024x719.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-768x539.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-1536x1079.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-1-624x438.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1902px) 100vw, 1902px\"\/><\/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=\"3.7647058823529\">\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 20:<\/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 20:<\/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-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-300x163.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-deaths-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"246.64596796853\">\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) XEC takes over. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) A little uptick.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Up!<\/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 leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no official statistics of interest today.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing Plans $1 Billion Expansion in South Carolina\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/boeing-plans-1-billion-expansion-151811427.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Industrial Equipment News<\/a>]. \u201cBoeing yesterday announced plans to invest $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades at its Charleston County, South Carolina site. The expansion will create 500 new jobs over the next five years. The announcement was made by the South Carolina Department of Commerce (SCDC). Boeing South Carolina is home to the entire 787 Dreamliner production cycle and fabricates, assembles, and delivers the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10. The factory has been in operation for more than ten years.\u201d \u2022 That\u2019s <em>non-unionized<\/em> South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing, Airbus still struggle with supply chains and personnel shortages\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/leehamnews.com\/2024\/12\/13\/boeing-airbus-still-struggle-with-supply-chains-and-personnel-shortages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Leeham News & Analysis<\/a>]. \u201cMichael Haidinger, president of Boeing\u2019s European and Middle Eastern regions, and Juergen Westermeier, chief procurement officer for Airbus, agree challenges remain in the near future. \u2018There is always a shortage of skilled aerospace talent intensified by the pandemic,\u2019 Haidinger said this month at the annual Aviation Forum (2024) in Munich, Germany. \u2018As all the professionals retired, fewer new employees entered the field. Our industry needs more people who not only bring expertise but also embrace the mission of advancing aerospace.\u2019 Haidinger added, \u2018The deficit of skilled engineers, technicians, and other aerospace workers has made ramping up production more challenging. Attracting and retaining talent has become a top priority for us. [We are] with many companies investing in workforce development, partnerships with universities, training programs, and apprenticeship programs.’\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 50 Neutral (previous close: 48 Neutral) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 52 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 13 at 2:43:33 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Musical Interlude<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Toe-tapping goodness:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Derek And The Dominos & Johnny Cash & Carl Perkins - Matchbox\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/otz51kVxyaw?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><strong>Groves of Academe<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cComparative lit class will be first in Humanities Division to use UCLA-developed AI system\u201d (press release) [Newsroom, <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.ucla.edu\/stories\/comparative-literature-zrinka-stahuljak-artificial-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UCLA<\/a>]. \u201cThe textbook: AI-generated. Class assignments: AI-generated. Teaching assistants\u2019 resources: AI-generated.\u201d When I ran a Literary Hub post on this story, alert reader and critical thinker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-12-2024.html#comment-4146169\">PJay asked a great question<\/a>: \u201cAre we sure this isn\u2019t a Sokal-type hoax?\u201d So I went and dug up this press release; the odds of hoaxdom are vanishingly small. Here again, for your reference. is the AI art for the textbook. Put down your coffee:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"678\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ucla-bad-ai-cover-265x300.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The course is Comp Lit 2BW in the UCLA College Division of Humanities [sic]. Would some kind soul with a UCLA connection be able to throw copies of the teaching material over the transom? I\u2019m sure the readership would enjoy them. My email address is down by the plants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Annals of Religion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow a Tale of Demonic Possession Predicted the Decline of an Early Medieval Empire\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/history\/how-a-tale-of-demonic-possession-predicted-the-decline-of-an-early-medieval-empire-180985596\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Smithsonian<\/a>]. \u201cHistorians can look back and see the tensions that resulted in the coup of 830, and how its lack of resolution led to another coup attempt in 833 and ultimately to a brutal civil war in the 840s. But throughout all the murder, treason and plotting, most historical sources, from the Annals of Fulda to the Annals of St. Bertin, remain committed to the myth of stability, inevitability and God\u2019s blessing.\u201d \u2022 <em>Plus \u00e7a change<\/em>\u2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealth Group C.E.O.: The Health Care System Is Flawed. Let\u2019s Fix It.\u201d [Andrew Witty, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/WzKWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. Witty is the chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. \u201cHe believed decisions about health care should start with the individual and championed plans in which consumers could see costs and coverage options upfront, so they could decide what\u2019s best for themselves and their families.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBrian Thompson, Not Luigi Mangione, Is the Real Working-Class Hero\u201d [Bret Stephens, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/ctKrr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. \u201cThompson\u2019s life may have been cut brutally short, but it will remain a model for how a talented and determined man from humble roots can still rise to the top of corporate life without the benefit of rich parents and an Ivy League degree.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Crisis of Elite Indifference to Corporate Mass Murder\u201d [Nathan Newman, <a href=\"https:\/\/nathannewman.substack.com\/p\/the-crisis-of-elite-indifference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Left Future<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cAnd a Modest Proposal to License No More than 10 CEO Murders Each Year to Improve Corporate Accountability\u201d NOTE: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A_Modest_Proposal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Satire<\/a>. Sort of like Shirley Jackson\u2019s <em>The Lottery<\/em>. As the author mentions!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>UPDATE A typically brilliant thread by Moe Tkacik:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9502840909091\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.534090909091\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The murder of the UnitedHealth CEO by a guy who underwent spinal fusion surgery for debilitating pain has unleashed a furious debate about US health care, most of it dumb<br \/>Thankfully I found a whistleblower suit filed by a surgeon UHC hired to deny spinal fusion surgery coverage.. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ekivc1k75l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Ekivc1k75l<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1867627601419813257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s really trying to be a blog post, and it\u2019s too long to screen capture, but here is the whistleblower (\u201cexpert witness\u201d) part:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.7492063492063\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"12.088888888889\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The expert witness surgeon was aghast, but when he took his evidence to his overlords at UnitedHealth, they\u2026. made him take de-escalation training. <br \/>Meanwhile, Durrani fled to Lahore, where he is\u2026currently performing unnecessary surgeries. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oi9zN3kJvV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/oi9zN3kJvV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1867642419002716336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Worth a clickthrough, though I assume the full article will appear shortly.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione\u2019s Mother Spent Months Searching for a Son Who Didn\u2019t Want to Be Found\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/d6XEo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cOver the past year, the family was at a loss for where Luigi was or what he was doing, according to the people close to the Mangiones. In the fall, his relatives emailed many of his friends to seek their help. One friend posted to Luigi on X, \u2018Hey, are you ok? Nobody has heard from you in months, and apparently your family is looking for you.\u2019 In November, his mother reportedly called the San Francisco Police Department to report her son missing. \u2018She would have done everything to find her son and couldn\u2019t,\u2019 said one of those close to the Mangiones.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLakeland woman threatens insurance company, says \u2018Delay, Deny, Depose\u2019: police\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfla.com\/news\/polk-county\/lakeland-woman-threatens-insurance-company-says-delay-deny-depose-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WFLA<\/a>]. \u201cA Lakeland woman was charged Tuesday after police said she ended a call to an insurance company with the words, \u2018Delay, Deny, Depose.\u2019 In an arrest affidavit, the Lakeland Police Department said officers were contacted by the FBI on Tuesday, Dec. 10 regarding an alleged threat made over the phone. Briana Boston, 42, had reportedly placed a call to BlueCross BlueShield regarding recent medical insurance claims she was denied. The entire phone call was recorded, according to the affidavit\u2026. Police made contact with Boston at her home in Lakeland, where she reportedly admitted to using those words during the call, telling detectives that \u2018healthcare companies played games and deserved karma from the world because they are evil.\u2019 \u2018My client is 42, married mother of three. Never had any criminal charges or convictions. May you release her on her own recognizance,\u2019 her attorney Jim Headley said to a judge during her first appearance in court. However, the judge set her bond at $100,000, stating, \u2018I do find that the bond of $100,000 is appropriate .\u2019 Boston was charged with threats to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, according to the affidavit.\u201d \u2022 Hoo boy. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWoman threatens BlueCross BlueShield, saying \u2018delay, deny, depose\u2019, then gets arrested\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/13wham.com\/news\/nation-world\/florida-woman-accused-of-insurance-company-threat-admits-to-using-delay-deny-depose-briana-boston-lakeland-police-fbi-phone-call-bluecross-blueshield-luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-charges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WHAM<\/a>]. \u201cBoston is charged with one count \u201cWritten Threat to Kill or Injure- Conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.\u201d \u2022 This looks like the relevant Florida statute;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1246\" height=\"1118\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat.png 1246w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-1024x919.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-768x689.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/florida_threat-624x560.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1246px) 100vw, 1246px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>But phone calls are exempt, and Boston made the alleged threat over the phone. Perhaps a legal expert from Florida can weigh in?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"guillotine\"\/><strong>Guillotine Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBioLab sets deadline for claims over Conyers chemical plant fire\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5atlanta.com\/news\/biolab-chemical-fire-deadline-claims-compensation-how-to-apply.amp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX5<\/a>]. \u201cTime is running out to file reimbursement claims in connection to the BioLab chemical plant fire in Conyers. The fires in September sent chemical-filled smoke into the air for days, leading to complaints about a strong chemical smell and haze and forcing thousands to shelter in place. The company is already facing multiple lawsuits, including one filed by Rockdale County commissioners. The commission chair says that the lawsuit is currently in process. As cleanup began, BioLab opened a website for residents to file a claim for expenses incurred as a result of the fire. The company says it has responded to more than 29,000 calls and 9,000 emails, and helped 4,000 people through its Community Assistance Center since Oct. 8. With the high volume of claims steadily decreasing, BioLab has set a deadline for New Year\u2019s Eve for any new submissions. After that, the company will no longer accept new claims.\u201d\u2022 The post gives directions on filing a claim, which is useful. Still, what about long term effects?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMusk\u2019s Charitable Foundation Sent Most of Its Millions to His Own Entities\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/kYCrP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cElon Musk\u2019s charitable foundation ballooned to $9.5 billion in assets last year while handing out $237 million in gifts, most of which went to other entities controlled by the world\u2019s richest person. The figures are part of the Musk Foundation\u2019s latest tax filing, obtained Thursday by Bloomberg News\u2026. The nonprofits Musk controls are part of his vast and growing empire, which counts a carmaker, rocket company, social media platform and, now, a major political apparatus\u2026. Though Musk has widened his lead as the richest person ever, his philanthropy remains muted\u2026. The IRS mandates that foundations deploy, on average, 5% of assets a year. Musk has repeatedly missed that bar. Over the years, even as the foundation has grown in wealth, he has kept the team small. Its latest filing lists the same handful of people, including himself and his fixer, Jared Birchall.\u201d \u2022 Lol, \u201cmuted.\u201d \u201cFixer\u201d is also quite a strong word to use, especially for Bloomberg. I mean, \u201cfixer\u201d is a Third World concept, no?<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"oil\"\/>\u201cDistributional implications and share ownership of record oil and gas profits\u201d (PDF) [<a href=\"https:\/\/scholarworks.umass.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/4a4559c7-41c7-4a91-a9fd-fef265d58247\/content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">University of Massachusetts, Amherst<\/a>]. \u201cWe estimate that globally, net income in publicly listed oil and gas companies reached US$916 billion in 2022. The United States was the biggest beneficiary receiving US$301 billion in fossil fuel profits both from domestic extraction and through global shareholding, more than U.S. investments of US$267 billion in the low carbon economy that year. Analyzing the U.S. distribution including privately held US companies, 51% of profits went to the wealthiest 1%, predominantly through direct shareholdings and private company ownership. In contrast the bottom 50% only received 1%. The incremental fossil-fuel profits in 2022 over those in 2021 were enough to increase the disposable income of the wealthiest Americans several percent and compensate a substantial part of their purchasing power loss from inflation that year, thereby exacerbating inflation inequality. Record fossil-fuel profits also reinforce existing racial and ethnic inequalities and inequalities between groups with different educational attainments. Our results also show that only a small share of overall profits benefits institutions that serve the wider public such as pension funds.\u201d \u2022 Handy chart:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.4141689373297\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.476839237057\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW PAPER: The 2022 fossil fuel price jumps caused an oil and gas profit explosion. We show the US reaped the largest profit increase (USD 275bn) of any country. Big Oil claims this benefits the American people. In fact, 51% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A \ud83e\uddf5 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2p1SVQqImO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/2p1SVQqImO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Isabella M. Weber (@IsabellaMWeber) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IsabellaMWeber\/status\/1867349736585617547\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 12, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMan alleges Sean Combs drugged and raped him during a meeting at a New York hotel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/three-men-sue-sean-combs-alleging-raped-sexually-assaulted-rcna183699\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NBC<\/a>]. \u2022 Been awhile since we heard from Diddy!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who are good at reading have different brains\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/people-who-are-good-at-reading-have-different-brains-244786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Conversation<\/a>]. \u201cClearly, brain structure can tell us a lot about reading skills. Importantly, though, the brain is malleable \u2014 it changes when we learn a new skill or practice an already acquired one. For instance, young adults who studied language intensively increased their cortical thickness in language areas. Similarly, reading is likely to shape the structure of the left Heschl\u2019s gyrus and temporal pole. So, if you want to keep your Heschl\u2019s thick and thriving, pick up a good book and start reading. Finally, it\u2019s worth considering what might happen to us as a species if skills like reading become less prioritised. Our capacity to interpret the world around us and understand the minds of others would surely diminish. In other words, that cosy moment with a book in your armchair isn\u2019t just personal \u2013 it\u2019s a service to humanity.\u201d <\/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-12-10-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From timotheus:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/monarch_3-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Timotheus writes: \u201cI took this photo of a monarch on a bee blossom bush in early September in the park in front of my building and only just now realized (by blowing it up) that it was tagged. I reported the number to MonarchWatch.org, which was easy. They said thanks.\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-12-13-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-13T14:00:21-05:00\">December 13, 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\/nyc-mayor-adams-trying-to-wriggle-free-from-sanctuary-city-restrictions-has-same-desire-as-trump-border-czar.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> NYC Mayor Adams Trying to Wriggle Free from Sanctuary City Restrictions; Has \u201cSame Desire\u201d as Trump Border Czar<\/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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Happy Friday the Thirteenth to those who celebrate! \u2013lambert Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88395,"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-88394","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\/88394","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=88394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88394\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}