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

By SUN CARDZ
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By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

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

“You’re solely 5 and slightly bit older.”

Hen Track of the Day

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

* * *

Politics

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

2024

Lower than a 12 months to go!

* * *

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

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

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

* * *

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

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

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

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

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

* * *

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

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

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

Spook Nation

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

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

Republican Funhouse

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

* * *

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

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

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

Democrats en Déshabillé

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

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

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

Realignment and Legitimacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

#COVID19

“I’m in earnest — I cannot equivocate — I cannot excuse — I cannot retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison

Assets, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; contains many counties; Wastewater Scan, contains drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, however nationwide information). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Normal Ideas” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).

Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be happy to contact me on the handle given with the vegetation. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!

Assets, United States (Native): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater studies); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur d’Alene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard); NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard); PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (dashboard); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).

Assets, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Authorities of Canada).

Assets, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

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

Keep protected on the market!

* * *

Covid is Airborne

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

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

Morbidity and Mortality

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

All lies.

Elite Maleficence

* * *

TABLE 1: Each day Covid Charts

LEGEND

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

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

NOTES

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

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

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

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

[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Not flattening.

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

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

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

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

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

Stats Watch

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

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

* * *

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

* * *

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

Zeitgeist Watch

“Match” for what?

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

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

Information of the Wired

I’m not feeling wired at present.

* * *

Contact info for vegetation: Readers, be happy to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) learn the way to ship me a examine if you’re allergic to PayPal and (b) to learn the way to ship me photographs of vegetation. Greens are advantageous! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary vegetation! If you need your deal with to look as a credit score, please place it at first of your mail in parentheses: (thus). In any other case, I’ll anonymize through the use of your initials. See the earlier Water Cooler (with plant) right here. From lcm:

lcm write: “Final of the winterberries (Ilex verticillata).” A little bit small, however I just like the touches of purple in opposition to the wetland.

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not lined by the annual NC fundraiser. So should you see a hyperlink you particularly like, or an merchandise you wouldn’t see wherever else, please don’t hesitate to precise your appreciation in tangible type. Bear in mind, a tip jar is for tipping! Common constructive suggestions each makes me really feel good and lets me know I’m heading in the right direction with protection. Once I get no donations for 5 or ten days I get anxious. Extra tangibly, a continuing trickle of donations helps me with bills, and I think about that trickle when setting fundraising targets:

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

If you happen to hate PayPal, you possibly can electronic mail me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I provides you with instructions on the best way to ship a examine. Thanks!

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