Delta more dangerous than original COVID: https://apnews.com/article/indiana-michigan-muncie-grand-haven-d52201655d54b71aa0d544245c1ecc97 . We know that Delta is much more transmissible than the original strain. This study says those infected with Delta are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized. You can certainly infer that Delta is also deadlier.
US faces 100,000 more COVID deaths this year: https://apnews.com/article/science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-6df4471c64e40e7e319ae368d4c1db0b . So the most-watched model is the IHME model at University of Washington, but it is giving the same prediction: http://www.healthdata.org/covid . Note that UW has added analysis based on excess deaths. I completely support this. COVID data is much more subject to political manipulation than is excess death data.
Heart inflammation risk 4 times greater with COVID than with vaccine: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9929045/Covid-FOUR-TIMES-likely-cause-heart-inflammation-Pfizer-vaccine-study-finds.html .
Judge tells DeMentis to stuff his school mask mandate ban: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/desantis-school-mask-mandate-ban-unlawful-florida-judge-rules-n1277788 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-schools-covid-19-mask-mandates-upheld-by-judge-11630082086 . Leon County includes Tallahassee. The state will appeal to establish its right to endanger children. This crap cannot be popular with parents in Florida, Ron.
WSJ: UK forges forward on Delta variant challenge trials: https://www.wsj.com/articles/researchers-ready-lab-grown-covid-19-delta-variant-for-human-trials-11630053797 . In my view, this is playing with fire. Looking at the lead article above on Delta, there is a very real chance that someone will die in these trials. The article is negligent in failing to explain that challenge trials are typically used only when a cure is available. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/unlike-clinical-trials-new-covid-19-study-needed-only-a-few-volunteers-11630056600 . Same criticism applies to this article. This writer does not understand the science or what the numbers mean. The ethical criticisms are entirely valid. Like the unvaccinated in this country, apparently someone has to die to return these researchers to reality.
WSJ: China continues to play politics with death: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-delays-approval-of-biontech-covid-19-shot-to-preserve-confidence-in-chinese-vaccines-11630069630 . I feel fortunate not to be subject to a government with so little regard for human life.
Remote work is the new employee benefit: https://news.yahoo.com/workers-are-ready-to-give-up-pay-and-benefits-to-stay-remote-161008740.html . The economics of this are stunningly obvious. The worker provides their own office. They eliminate commute time. The question for employers is, what work do their employees do which can’t be done over the phone, Zoom or Skype? The need for traditional office space will also be significantly reduced.
Also, there are many nonproductive interruptions in the office. And employees are willing to work more hours, and outside the traditional 8 to 5, to work remotely. This isn’t going to work for a sandwich shop, but most consulting and business service functions fit this model. The Internet has significantly reduced the need for both business office space and retail locations. As people become accustomed to working over Zoom, business travel will also reduce. Again, the economics are stunningly obvious. Businesses will be forced to adapt to attract and retain the best talent.
My view is that employers created this environment by reducing their loyalty to employees and focusing on short-term economic goals. It was natural for employees to do the same. Employers tried to react by doing things like team building meetings, which quite frankly are expensive, time consuming and a drain on productivity. The model of 35 years and a gold watch has been dead for a long time. We are moving toward much more gig work and independent contracting. It becomes the employee’s burden to maintain skills and offer productive time.
As this newsletter has regularly maintained, we are going through a significant economic dislocation as various trends have been massively accelerated by the pandemic. Remote work is one of them. This will ultimately affect the nature of employment and the structure of our cities. This in turn will alter businesses, and all of these trends are interactive and reinforcing.
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims increase slightly as economy may be cooling: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-08-26-2021-11629924663 . The Journal is often clueless. The major issues playing out right now are the end of federal unemployment assistance and the coming eviction wave.
The rule of law still prevails, sort of: https://apnews.com/article/indiana-michigan-muncie-grand-haven-d52201655d54b71aa0d544245c1ecc97 . The courts refuse to get involved in voting rights, but they’re delivering for pornography collectors. Where else can someone get over $30,000 in cash for their pornography collection? This appears to be a federal case because the son and the parents now live in different states.
States return surplus stimulus to citizens: https://money.yahoo.com/stimulus-checks-states-send-payments-194317130.html . Note that the two states with broad-based return programs are Democrat-led. The 3 Republican states mentioned – Florida, Texas and Georgia – have narrower programs targeted to public safety personnel and teachers. However, these people are all employed, and many public safety personnel are very well compensated. Also, in these Southern states, these employees are more predominantly white than the general population. Sorry, but the GOP is not trying to meet the needs of its residents, and is distributing funds in a racist manner. And note that we have the hand of Abbott and DeMentis in these policies. What losers they are.
The nature of emerging cybersecurity threats: https://news.yahoo.com/cybersecurity-threats-facing-us-122710451.html . The increasing reliance on the Internet means the need for increasing focus on maintaining network and data integrity.
Afghan death toll rises in Kabul attack: https://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-in-kabul-rises-as-evacuation-flights-continue-amid-terror-threats-154608506.html . Some sources place the number of Afghan dead at 130. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghanistan-kabul-airport-explosion-11629976397 .
Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis: https://news.yahoo.com/u-n-says-afghanistan-humanitarian-124836692.html . Given the 20 years of financial, military and political support the US has provided, many Americans will say, “We gave at the office”. China’s influence is likely to grow in this region, although mainly because China does not want terrorism on its border.
Background on ISIS-K: https://news.yahoo.com/under-trump-national-security-officials-battled-over-the-isis-k-threat-161823654.html . There is no evidence that Orange Julius knew how to take action of any kind. Seriously, the only thing he ever did was tear up agreements – oh, and pass tax cuts for the rich, and screw up the Supreme Court for a generation.
US to ISIS-K: We delivered a calling card to your cave: https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-evacuations-kabul-islamic-state-group-7f146c8ae5d9e9ab225025527e421226 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghan-crowds-return-to-kabul-airport-after-deadly-explosions-11630065498 . This clarifies any question about our readiness and ability to retaliate. ISIS-K wanted to embarrass the Taliban and position themselves for the post-US Afghanistan. They accomplished that mission. Let’s see if they are able to step back until we leave. Our drones will still be in the air. And the White House has been clear: https://news.yahoo.com/he-didnt-want-them-to-live-on-the-earth-anymore-psaki-clarifies-bidens-isis-k-threat-191828037.html . Again, Jen Psaki is the best press secretary in years.
WSJ: We’re into the latest tone deaf trends: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-delays-approval-of-biontech-covid-19-shot-to-preserve-confidence-in-chinese-vaccines-11630069630 . Really? Head scarves as fashion? And it was a great idea to get a dark-skinned model to model this new “trend”. This publicity may help her catch the eye of a Taliban leader looking for a forced marriage. Next week: The new Aunt Jemima steps out.