By Lambert Strether of Corrente.
Blissful Friday the Thirteenth to those that rejoice! –lambert
Chicken Tune of the Day
Northern Mockingbird, Siboney; BIOECO Estacion Ecologica Siboney-Jutici, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. “That is all one steady reduce even via my announcement.” Seize a cup of espresso. Eighteen minutes (although the final two minutes or so are the “announcement.”
In Case You Would possibly Miss…
- RFK, Trump, and vax.
- Covid “viral reservoir” idea recieves assist.
- The place oil earnings went.
- New Covid charts: Excellent news, however positivity uptick.
Politics
“So lots of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in actual fact a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles
Capitol Seizure
“Watchdog finds FBI intelligence missteps earlier than Jan. 6 riot, however no undercover brokers have been current” [Associated Press]. “The report from the Justice Division inspector common’s workplace knocks down a fringe conspiracy idea superior by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI performed a job in instigating the occasions that day, when rioters decided to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the constructing in a violent conflict with police. The overview, launched almost 4 years after a darkish chapter in historical past that shook the bedrock of American democracy, was slender in scope, however aimed to make clear gnawing questions which have dominated public discourse, together with whether or not main intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether or not the FBI not directly provoked the violence.” • I’d be loads happier if I might cross two oddities off my record for the day: No one is aware of who constructed the gallows or took them away; and no one is aware of who left the pipe bombs on the DNC (when Kamala was there). For these two tales, take the Justice Division story as learn: It wasn’t the FBI. So, who was it?
“DOJ IG reveals 26 FBI informants have been current on Jan. 6” [FOX]. “Justice Division Inspector Normal Michael Horowitz stated there have been greater than two dozen confidential human sources (CHSs) within the crowd exterior the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, however solely three have been assigned by the FBI to be current for the occasion, whereas stressing that not one of the sources was licensed or directed by the bureau to ‘break the legislation’ or ‘encourage others to commit unlawful acts,’ Fox Information has discovered.” • “We have been simply informanting. We weren’t agent provocateuring in any respect, completely.” OK, tremendous.
Trump Transition
“RFK Jr key adviser petitioned regulators to revoke approval of polio vaccine” [Ed Pilkington, Guardian]. “A key authorized adviser to Robert Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump’s choose for well being secretary, is on the middle of efforts to push federal drug regulators to revoke approval for the polio and hepatitis B vaccines and block distribution of 13 different essential vaccines. Aaron Siri, a lawyer who has been serving to Kennedy choose prime well being directors as a part of the Trump transition course of, is deeply embedded in longstanding efforts to power the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw a raft of vaccines which have saved the lives and well being of tens of millions of People.” • I don’t thoughts having a superb religion dialogue about rolling again the childhood vaccination schedule; heck, it appears like a spreadsheet. However my concern has all the time been that the anti-vaxxers need to roll again all vaccines, together with the unique Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), i.e., those I used to be given as a toddler, and a superb factor, too. And now a RFK’s authorized operating buddy desires to roll again polio vaccines, so my “lack of excellent religion” priors are closely strengthened. A bridge too far, for me. Perhaps concentrate on MAHA? Except eliminating polio vaccines is MAHA, after all.
“Trump to debate ending childhood vaccination packages with RFK Jr.” [Reuters]. “He (Kennedy) doesn’t disagree with vaccinations, all vaccinations. He disagrees most likely with some,” Trump stated.” • “In all probability” is doing a variety of work there. And if Kennedy wished to preseve polio vaccines, then his mimion wouldn’t be making an attempt to revoke their approval. And if you wish to do away with the polio vaccines, then you definately may as nicely “disagree” with “all vaccinations.” Trump ought to put RFK again in his field on this one.
* * * “Trump Transition Staff Needs To Finish Crash Report Requirement Opposed By Tesla, Report Says” [Forbes]. “President-elect Donald Trump’s transition workforce desires to scrap a regulatory order requiring automakers to report crashes involving automobiles with automated driving programs, Reuters reported Friday, aligning with opposition to the rule by Elon Musk’s Tesla, which accounts for many crashes reported underneath the requirement thus far.” • Oh.
* * * “SEC expenses Cantor Fitzgerald, led by Trump’s Commerce choose, with breaking securities legal guidelines” [CNBC]. • If we hadn’t simply had 4 years of Democrat lawfare, I’d be aghast.
“Democratic governors quietly prep in depth plans to counter Trump” [CNN]. “Diplomatic and depressed as they’ve been in public, a small group of Democratic governors are deep into behind-the-scenes preparations and deliberations over the best way to steadiness the politics of pushing again on what they’re anticipating from President-elect Donald Trump’s subsequent flip within the White Home. Since lengthy earlier than the election, they’ve been poring via Undertaking 2025 — it’s useful, a number of Democratic governors informed CNN, to have a blueprint in public. They’ve been finding out their very own government powers and state legal guidelines…. They’ve been stockpiling the abortion treatment mifepristone [(!!)] in secret warehouses and rehearsing their solutions for if and when the incoming White Home tries to nationalize their state police or Nationwide Guard models to be used in deportation raids; some are planning to flat out refuse, whereas others intend to argue that the officers are busy with different work retaining the individuals of their states secure. (None have totally wrapped their heads round how it could work if models from different states are despatched in and set themselves up for showdowns on the state borders.)” And: “A number of have been operating tabletop workout routines behind closed doorways for months, usually with state attorneys common and different related officers concerned. Officers in a number of governors’ workplaces informed CNN the circles have been tight to maintain the incoming White Home from with the ability to put together for their very own responses, or for the proactive improvements they’re wanting into.” • Price studying in full for the element. And what’s it with Democrats and these “tabletop workout routines”? They preserve operating them, they usually don’t appear to be doing a lot good.
Democrats en déshabillé
“Democrats’ drawback with working-class voters is larger than free commerce” [Eric Levitz, Vox]. “In gentle of deindustrialization’s most pernicious results, Democrats ought to make American staff’ entry to remunerative employment and collective bargaining rights much less contingent available on the market’s whims, whereas rebuilding the social gathering’s status for sound financial administration.” • Daring! The issue is easy, from a 30,000-foot degree (the place certainly most issues are easy). The Democrats are the social gathering of the PMC. Because the governing class, they’re within the enterprise of working the various and different rental extraction schemes that dominate our financialized economic system, and which enrich the (propertied) ruling class on the expense of the (enwaged) working class (medical health insurance being one such). Due to this fact, the category pursuits of the Democrats and the working class are diametrically opposed. The Democrat Celebration founders on this contradiction. “A home divided towards itself can not stand…. I don’t count on the home to fall — however I do count on it’ll stop to be divided. It would turn out to be all one factor, or all the opposite.” –Abraham Lincoln.
Republican Funhouse
“Home Republicans launch investigation into CVS Caremark for potential antitrust violations” [The Hill]. “Home Republicans need to know whether or not pharmacy profit supervisor (PBM) CVS Caremark violated federal antitrust legal guidelines by threatening unbiased pharmacies to maintain them from utilizing money-saving instruments exterior the PBM’s community. In a letter to CVS obtained by The Hill, Home Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) requested the corporate for paperwork and communications about pharmaceutical hubs, a kind of digital pharmacy service that may streamline the method of accessing and managing complicated, high-cost specialty drugs for sufferers. Jordan expressed concern that CVS prevents unbiased pharmacies from taking part in hub preparations, as a result of the corporate desires to move off potential competitors. If an unbiased pharmacy works with a hub exterior the PBM, it might be excluded from the PBMs community.” • Good.
Syndemics
“I’m in earnest — I can’t equivocate — I can’t excuse — I can’t retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison
Covid Assets, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; consists of many counties; Wastewater Scan, consists of drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, however nationwide 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 crops. 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 reviews); 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 (wastewater); 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, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).
Keep secure on the market!
Airborne Transmission
Phrase of the day (or the last decade):
WORD OF THE WEEK:
Ca•cough•ony
A portmanteau of the phrases ‘cacophony’ + ‘cough’.
An disagreeable refrain of loud of coughing.
Usually skilled throughout carol concert events, nativities, pantomimes, faculty assemblies & different indoor mass gatherings simply earlier than Xmas.@susie_dent pic.twitter.com/nDyRqpBfQB
— Cat within the Hat 🐈⬛ 🎩 🇬🇧 (@_CatintheHat) December 13, 2024
“Days after Period Tour ends, Taylor Swift spreads vacation cheer at Kids’s Mercy Hospital in KC” [Knox News]. • And that’s not all she’s spreading, is it?
Vaccines: Covid
“COVID-19 vaccination and short-term mortality threat: a nationwide self-controlled case collection examine in The Netherlands” (preprint) [medRxiv]. From the Summary: “We carried out a retrospective data-linkage examine together with all Dutch inhabitants to research the influence of COVID-19 vaccination on extra mortality utilizing a modified self-controlled case collection technique. We discovered a 44% decrease relative incidence of all-cause deaths within the first three weeks after the first vaccination in comparison with greater than three weeks after vaccination (IRR 0.56, 95percentCI 0.54-0.57). This decrease incidence was constant throughout vaccine varieties, doses, genders, age teams, and people with or with out prior SARS-CoV-2 an infection or comorbidities, and for non-COVID-19 associated deaths. For booster vaccinations, the relative incidence was related (IRR 0.49, 95percentCI 0.49-0.50). Compared, we noticed a 16-fold increased incidence of all-cause deaths within the three weeks following a registered optimistic SARS-CoV-2 an infection in comparison with greater than three weeks after an infection (IRR 16.19, 95percentCI 15.78-16.60). A decrease relative incidence of short-term deaths following COVID-19 vaccination assist that COVID-19 vaccination isn’t related to the noticed extra mortality.” • “Not related” for that (comparatively brief) timeframe, as they certainly say.
Variants: H5N1
“Novel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 virus in stay poultry markets, China” [The Lancet]. “In January, 2024, findings from a surveillance examine close to Poyang Lake in southern China revealed a excessive prevalence of novel H5N1 viruses that confirmed enhanced binding affinity for human-type sialic acid receptors…. Given the established position of [Live poultry markets (LPMs)] as a significant supply of human H5N1 infections, we spotlight the pressing want for enhanced surveillance and public well being interventions to mitigate the widespread transmission potential of those novel human-type receptor-binding H5N1 viruses in these markets.” • “Novel” within the headline and repeated within the textual content doesn’t sound good. Maybe a form reader can translate the whole summary.
Sequelae: Covid
“Multi-Organ Unfold and Intra-Host Variety of SARS-CoV-2 Help Viral Persistence, Adaptation, and a Mechanism That Will increase Evolvability” [Journal of Medical Virology (Jason Boxman). The Abstract:
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.
Yikes.
Lambert: After repeated attempts, this is what I get for CDC’s wastewater page:
I conclude that CDC doesn’t know how to run a server, along with everything else they don’t know how to do.
| Wastewater | |
| This week[1] CDC December 2 | Final week[2] CDC (till subsequent week): |
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| Variants [3] CDC December 7 | ★Emergency Room Visits[4] CDC December 7 |
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| Hospitalization | |
| ★New York[5] New York State, information December 12: | ★ Nationwide [6] CDC December 12: |
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| Positivity | |
| Nationwide[7] Walgreens December 9: | ★ Ohio[8] Cleveland Clinic December 7: |
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| Vacationers Knowledge | |
| ★Positivity[9] CDC November 25: | ★Variants[10] CDC November 25: |
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| Deaths | |
| Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] CDC November 20: | Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] CDC November 20: |
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LEGEND
1) ★ for charts new immediately; all others are usually 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] (CDC) Excellent news!
[2] (CDC) Final week’s wastewater map.
[3] (CDC Variants) XEC takes over. That WHO label, “Ommicron,” has accomplished an amazing job normalizing successive waves of an infection.
[4] (ED) A little bit uptick.
[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.
[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.
[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.
[8] (Cleveland) Up!
[9] (Vacationers: Positivity) Leveling out.
[10] (Vacationers: Variants). Positivity is new, however variants haven’t but been launched.
[11] Deaths low, positivity leveling out.
[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.
Stats Watch
There aren’t any official statistics of curiosity immediately.
Manufacturing: “Boeing Plans $1 Billion Enlargement in South Carolina” [Industrial Equipment News]. “Boeing yesterday introduced plans to speculate $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades at its Charleston County, South Carolina web site. The enlargement will create 500 new jobs over the following 5 years. The announcement was made by the South Carolina Division of Commerce (SCDC). Boeing South Carolina is dwelling to the whole 787 Dreamliner manufacturing cycle and fabricates, assembles, and delivers the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10. The manufacturing unit has been in operation for greater than ten years.” • That’s non-unionized South Carolina.
Manufacturing: “Boeing, Airbus nonetheless wrestle with provide chains and personnel shortages” [Leeham News & Analysis]. “Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing’s European and Center Japanese areas, and Juergen Westermeier, chief procurement officer for Airbus, agree challenges stay within the close to future. ‘There’s all the time a scarcity of expert aerospace expertise intensified by the pandemic,’ Haidinger stated this month on the annual Aviation Discussion board (2024) in Munich, Germany. ‘As all of the professionals retired, fewer new staff entered the sector. Our business wants extra individuals who not solely carry experience but additionally embrace the mission of advancing aerospace.’ Haidinger added, ‘The deficit of expert engineers, technicians, and different aerospace staff has made ramping up manufacturing tougher. Attracting and retaining expertise has turn out to be a prime precedence for us. [We are] with many corporations investing in workforce improvement, partnerships with universities, coaching packages, and apprenticeship packages.’”
Immediately’s Worry & Greed Index: 50 Impartial (earlier shut: 48 Impartial) [CNN]. One week in the past: 52 (Impartial). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Dec 13 at 2:43:33 PM ET.
Musical Interlude
Toe-tapping goodness:
Groves of Academe
“Comparative lit class shall be first in Humanities Division to make use of UCLA-developed AI system” (press launch) [Newsroom, UCLA]. “The textbook: AI-generated. Class assignments: AI-generated. Educating assistants’ assets: AI-generated.” After I ran a Literary Hub put up on this story, alert reader and demanding thinker PJay requested an amazing query: “Are we certain this isn’t a Sokal-type hoax?” So I went and dug up this press launch; the chances of hoaxdom are vanishingly small. Right here once more, to your reference. is the AI artwork for the textbook. Put down your espresso:
The course is Comp Lit 2BW within the UCLA School Division of Humanities [sic]. Would some type soul with a UCLA connection have the ability to throw copies of the instructing materials over the transom? I’m certain the readership would take pleasure in them. My e-mail handle is down by the crops.
Annals of Faith
“How a Story of Demonic Possession Predicted the Decline of an Early Medieval Empire” [Smithsonian]. “Historians can look again and see the tensions that resulted within the coup of 830, and the way its lack of decision led to a different coup try in 833 and in the end to a brutal civil warfare within the 840s. However all through all of the homicide, treason and plotting, most historic sources, from the Annals of Fulda to the Annals of St. Bertin, stay dedicated to the parable of stability, inevitability and God’s blessing.” • Plus ça change….
Healthcare
“UnitedHealth Group C.E.O.: The Well being Care System Is Flawed. Let’s Repair It.” [Andrew Witty, New York Times]. Witty is the chief government officer of UnitedHealth Group, the mum or dad firm of UnitedHealthcare. “He believed selections about well being care ought to begin with the person and championed plans during which shoppers might see prices and protection choices upfront, so they might determine what’s greatest for themselves and their households.” • Oh.
“Brian Thompson, Not Luigi Mangione, Is the Actual Working-Class Hero” [Bret Stephens, New York Times]. “Thompson’s life might have been reduce brutally brief, however it’ll stay a mannequin for the way a proficient and decided man from humble roots can nonetheless rise to the highest of company life with out the advantage of wealthy mother and father and an Ivy League diploma.”
“The Disaster of Elite Indifference to Company Mass Homicide” [Nathan Newman, Left Future]. The deck: “And a Modest Proposal to License No Greater than 10 CEO Murders Every Yr to Enhance Company Accountability” NOTE: Satire. Kind of like Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery. Because the writer mentions!
UPDATE A usually good thread by Moe Tkacik:
The homicide of the UnitedHealth CEO by a man who underwent spinal fusion surgical procedure for debilitating ache has unleashed a livid debate about US well being care, most of it dumb
Fortunately I discovered a whistleblower go well with filed by a surgeon UHC employed to disclaim spinal fusion surgical procedure protection.. pic.twitter.com/Ekivc1k75l— moe tkacik (@moetkacik) December 13, 2024
It’s actually making an attempt to be a weblog put up, and it’s too lengthy to display screen seize, however right here is the whistleblower (“professional witness”) half:
The professional witness surgeon was aghast, however when he took his proof to his overlords at UnitedHealth, they…. made him take de-escalation coaching.
In the meantime, Durrani fled to Lahore, the place he’s…presently performing pointless surgical procedures. pic.twitter.com/oi9zN3kJvV— moe tkacik (@moetkacik) December 13, 2024
Price a clickthrough, although I assume the total article will seem shortly.
“Luigi Mangione’s Mom Spent Months Trying to find a Son Who Didn’t Wish to Be Discovered” [Wall Street Journal]. “Over the previous yr, the household was at a loss for the place Luigi was or what he was doing, based on the individuals near the Mangiones. Within the fall, his relations emailed a lot of his mates to hunt their assist. One buddy posted to Luigi on X, ‘Hey, are you okay? No one has heard from you in months, and apparently your loved ones is in search of you.’ In November, his mom reportedly known as the San Francisco Police Division to report her son lacking. ‘She would have accomplished every thing to seek out her son and couldn’t,’ stated a kind of near the Mangiones.” • Hmm.
“Lakeland girl threatens insurance coverage firm, says ‘Delay, Deny, Depose’: police” [WFLA]. “A Lakeland girl was charged Tuesday after police stated she ended a name to an insurance coverage firm with the phrases, ‘Delay, Deny, Depose.’ In an arrest affidavit, the Lakeland Police Division stated officers have been contacted by the FBI on Tuesday, Dec. 10 concerning an alleged risk revamped the cellphone. Briana Boston, 42, had reportedly positioned a name to BlueCross BlueShield concerning latest medical insurance coverage claims she was denied. Your entire cellphone name was recorded, based on the affidavit…. Police made contact with Boston at her dwelling in Lakeland, the place she reportedly admitted to utilizing these phrases in the course of the name, telling detectives that ‘healthcare corporations performed video games and deserved karma from the world as a result of they’re evil.’ ‘My consumer is 42, married mom of three. By no means had any legal expenses or convictions. Could you launch her on her personal recognizance,’ her legal professional Jim Headley stated to a decide throughout her first look in court docket. Nevertheless, the decide set her bond at $100,000, stating, ‘I do discover that the bond of $100,000 is suitable .’ Boston was charged with threats to conduct a mass capturing or an act of terrorism, based on the affidavit.” • Hoo boy.
“Girl threatens BlueCross BlueShield, saying ‘delay, deny, depose’, then will get arrested” [WHAM]. “Boston is charged with one depend “Written Risk to Kill or Injure- Conduct a mass capturing or an act of terrorism.” • This appears just like the related Florida statute;
However cellphone calls are exempt, and Boston made the alleged risk over the cellphone. Maybe a authorized professional from Florida can weigh in?
“BioLab units deadline for claims over Conyers chemical plant fireplace” [FOX5]. “Time is operating out to file reimbursement claims in connection to the BioLab chemical plant fireplace in Conyers. The fires in September despatched chemical-filled smoke into the air for days, resulting in complaints a few sturdy chemical odor and haze and forcing 1000’s to shelter in place. The corporate is already going through a number of lawsuits, together with one filed by Rockdale County commissioners. The fee chair says that the lawsuit is presently in course of. As cleanup started, BioLab opened a web site for residents to file a declare for bills incurred on account of the hearth. The corporate says it has responded to greater than 29,000 calls and 9,000 emails, and helped 4,000 individuals via its Neighborhood Help Middle since Oct. 8. With the excessive quantity of claims steadily lowering, BioLab has set a deadline for New Yr’s Eve for any new submissions. After that, the corporate will not settle for new claims.”• The put up offers instructions on submitting a declare, which is beneficial. Nonetheless, what about long run results?
“Musk’s Charitable Basis Despatched Most of Its Hundreds of thousands to His Personal Entities” [Bloomberg]. “Elon Musk’s charitable basis ballooned to $9.5 billion in belongings final yr whereas handing out $237 million in items, most of which went to different entities managed by the world’s richest particular person. The figures are a part of the Musk Basis’s newest tax submitting, obtained Thursday by Bloomberg Information…. The nonprofits Musk controls are a part of his huge and rising empire, which counts a carmaker, rocket firm, social media platform and, now, a significant political equipment…. Although Musk has widened his lead because the richest particular person ever, his philanthropy stays muted…. The IRS mandates that foundations deploy, on common, 5% of belongings a yr. Musk has repeatedly missed that bar. Through the years, whilst the inspiration has grown in wealth, he has saved the workforce small. Its newest submitting lists the identical handful of individuals, together with himself and his fixer, Jared Birchall.” • Lol, “muted.” “Fixer” can be fairly a powerful phrase to make use of, particularly for Bloomberg. I imply, “fixer” is a Third World idea, no?
“Distributional implications and share possession of report oil and gasoline earnings” (PDF) [University of Massachusetts, Amherst]. “We estimate that globally, web revenue in publicly listed oil and gasoline corporations reached US$916 billion in 2022. The USA was the most important beneficiary receiving US$301 billion in fossil gas earnings each from home extraction and thru international shareholding, greater than U.S. investments of US$267 billion within the low carbon economic system that yr. Analyzing the U.S. distribution together with privately held US corporations, 51% of earnings went to the wealthiest 1%, predominantly via direct shareholdings and personal firm possession. In distinction the underside 50% solely acquired 1%. The incremental fossil-fuel earnings in 2022 over these in 2021 have been sufficient to extend the disposable revenue of the wealthiest People a number of % and compensate a considerable a part of their buying energy loss from inflation that yr, thereby exacerbating inflation inequality. Document fossil-fuel earnings additionally reinforce current racial and ethnic inequalities and inequalities between teams with completely different academic attainments. Our outcomes additionally present that solely a small share of total earnings advantages establishments that serve the broader public corresponding to pension funds.” • Useful chart:
NEW PAPER: The 2022 fossil gas worth jumps brought about an oil and gasoline revenue explosion. We present the US reaped the biggest revenue enhance (USD 275bn) of any nation. Large Oil claims this advantages the American individuals. In reality, 51% went to the richest 1%, just one% to the underside 50%. A 🧵 pic.twitter.com/2p1SVQqImO
— Isabella M. Weber (@IsabellaMWeber) December 12, 2024
“Man alleges Sean Combs drugged and raped him throughout a gathering at a New York lodge” [NBC]. • Been awhile since we heard from Diddy!
“People who find themselves good at studying have completely different brains” [The Conversation]. “Clearly, mind construction can inform us loads about studying abilities. Importantly, although, the mind is malleable — it adjustments after we be taught a brand new talent or follow an already acquired one. For example, younger adults who studied language intensively elevated their cortical thickness in language areas. Equally, studying is prone to form the construction of the left Heschl’s gyrus and temporal pole. So, if you wish to preserve your Heschl’s thick and thriving, choose up a superb ebook and begin studying. Lastly, it’s value contemplating what may occur to us as a species if abilities like studying turn out to be much less prioritised. Our capability to interpret the world round us and perceive the minds of others would absolutely diminish. In different phrases, that cosy second with a ebook in your armchair isn’t simply private – it’s a service to humanity.”
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