It may seem obvious, with double-digit unemployment and plunging economic output. But if there was any remaining doubt that the U.S. is in a recession, it's now been removed by the official scorekeepers at the National Bureau of Economic Research. The bureau's Business Cycle Dating Committee — the fat lady of economic opera — said the expansion peaked in February after a record 128 months, and we've been sliding into a pandemic-driven recession since. In making the announcement , the committee pointed to the "unprecedented magnitude of the decline in employment and production, and its broad reach across the entire economy." At the same time, the committee noted the recession could be short-lived. The U.S. added 2.5 million jobs last month after losing more than 22 million in March and April. Many forecasters said they expect economic output to begin growing again in the third quarter. The standard definition of a recession is "a decline in economic activity that lasts more than a few

Updated at 4:12 p.m. ET The Federal Reserve left interest rates near zero Wednesday and once again promised to deliver whatever monetary medicine it can to an economy that's badly ailing from the coronavirus pandemic. "The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time," the central bank said in a statement . While noting that "financial conditions have improved, in part reflecting policy measures to support the economy," the Fed's rate-setting committee reiterated its intent to leave interest rates at rock-bottom levels, "until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals." Notes released along with the committee's statement suggest no rate increases are expected at least through 2022. "We're not thinking about raising rates," Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said at a news conference. "We're not even thinking about thinking about

Our national fascination with sourdough starter appears to have stopped. Or at least slowed down a bit. The price of baking flour fell last month along with the price of eggs, suggesting that the baking craze that gripped hungry and housebound consumers in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic has cooled. "Sourdough is definitely a commitment," says Kristin Hoffman, who makes instructional YouTube videos for aspiring bakers. "I have heard a couple of people say that they really don't understand why somebody would want to put so much effort into a loaf of bread." Hoffman's Baker Bettie website saw a surge of interest from first-time bakers in late March and April, when tens of millions of Americans found themselves stuck at home with time on their hands. "I saw four to five times higher traffic than even during peak holiday-baking season," Hoffman says. "It has started to kind of level back out, now that things are reopening." Even if the bake-off was a turnoff for some, people

Jerome Powell has thrown himself, all guns blazing, into saving the nation's economy from the grips of the coronavirus recession. And yet the White House heaps ridicule on him. Last week, top White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Powell had "probably the worst bedside manner of any Fed chairman in history. ... The old joke in the marketing thing is, if Jay Powell was going to market sushi, he'd sell it as cold, dead fish." And top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Powell needed to lighten up a little: "You know, a smile now and then. ... I'll talk with him, and we'll have some media training at some point." The scornful comments came after the stock market went into a tailspin last week when Powell shared his view on where the U.S. economy is heading. He pointed out that even as people were returning to their jobs, the country is "still going to face, probably, an extended period where it will be difficult for many people to find work." His warning, combined with

Updated at 8:44 a.m. ET From airlines to paper mills, the job news is grim, and there are growing signs it won't be getting better anytime soon. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported nearly 2.4 million new applications for state and federal unemployment benefits last week. And United Airlines is warning that it may have to furlough as many as 36,000 employees this fall. Demand for air travel has collapsed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The president of the flight attendants union called the warning a "gut punch" but also "the most honest assessment we've seen on the state of the industry — and our entire economy." Union President Sara Nelson tweeted that demand for air travel had recovered a small fraction of its pre-pandemic levels this summer and "even those minimal gains evaporated over the last week due to surging COVID-19 cases across the country." Jobs in other industries are facing similar threats as the coronavirus tightens its stubborn grip on the country. Derse

Downticket Democrats highlights candidates for the House of Representatives and state legislatures in competitive districts, making it easy to donate for maximum impact.

Donations to House and state candidates can have a much bigger impact than donations to presidential and Senate campaigns. This site helps you find candidates by state or rating (toss-up, lean Democrat, or lean Republican), and offers lots of ways to donate, from links to the candidates' campaigns to featured slates that let you donate to several at once. All the data comes from MeFite Michal Migurski; he sources it from Sister District, Cook, and other reliable sources. He supplies the links and maps, as well. I was inspired to put together a quick website when Mike posted this:

I've started running a Downticket Dems bot on Bluesky (link) and Fedi (link) focused exclusively on D candidates in and near districts that Cook Political Report defines as competitive. Follow and donate!

Radio Static is a small and ultimately pointless internet radio that plays nothing but various forms of static and occasionally some industrial noises that also kind of sound like static (can also be downloaded here for offline play).

[Link

For the past almost 40 years, Treb Heining has engineered the balloon drops at every Republican National Convention and most Democratic National Conventions. I photographed how he and his team inflated and then dropped 100,000 balloons on the final night of the RNC this year in Milwaukee.

This is a story I'd been wanting to do since I noticed the balloons suspended from the ceiling during the 2016 conventions. I though, "Huh, there's got to be a story behind these balloons." What I found was Treb Heining, who got his start in balloons at age 15 selling balloons on foot at Disneyland. Heining went on to invent the balloon arch and built a balloon decorating business that now spans the globe. He invented the Glasshouse Balloon, a clear balloon surrounding the Mickey-shaped balloon sold at Disney resorts worldwide. And he's been in charge of the balloon drops at every RNC since 1988 and most DNCs since then (he was not involved in the 2004 DNC failure). He's also been in charge of the Times Square New Year's Eve confetti drop for more than 30 years and engineered balloon events at Super Bowls and Olympics opening ceremonies. For the conventions, Heining and a team of balloon decoration professionals and some local volunteers spend a couple days before the convention inflating and tying approximately 100,000 balloons by hand, putting them into giant net bags, and rigging them to the ceiling of the arena. Then, after the final speech on the last day of the convention, the balloons are dropped onto the delegates. I pitched this story to Bloomberg Businessweek in 2020, but the conventions were initially cancelled and then held in a modified form without balloon drops, so the story was killed. I pitched it again for this year, and it all worked out. Here's the Businessweek piece online and the larger edit with some videos and animated gifs on my website.

[Link

A 6-page guide for research-group leaders in academia, providing concrete suggestions to make labs more welcoming and accessible to autistic students and postdocs. Written by a late-diagnosed autistic academic.

Contents: 1. Dispel your misconceptions. 2. Communicate clearly. 3. Check the sensory environment. 4. Be aware of different cognitive profiles. 5. Model inclusivity to your group.

[Link

International Code of Signals Flags in the Browser – is an HTML/CSS implementation for the flags of The International Code of Signals (ICS), a system of signals and codes designed to communicate important safety and navigational messages when speaking is difficult, for use by vessels to communicate important messages regarding safety of navigation and related matters.

The project is published as open source, including a React plugin (ics-css-react) available in NPM, for all your phonetic alphabet enthusiasts who want to add flags to your site :)

[Link

Sandhouse’s latest single, “Bite Me Back,” is a strong follow-up to their debut release, “Sick Of Your Face,” and it plunges listeners into an atmosphere of intense, dark allure. With…

Eclectic Belgian singer/songwriter Sylvie Kreusch digs deep into the unbeaten path in her new LP Comic Trip. The 11-track album is adventurous, emotionally dark, and revealing all at once. Straying…

Atlanta-based emerging artist Captain Highside hones in on his funky yet sultry musicality with “Technicolor Rewind,” the focus track from upcoming LP SAGITTARIUS II, a smooth neo-soul anthem that comes…

French Horn Rebellion makes music that is an irresistible fusion of funky electronic pop and retro flair, where the grooves are as infectious as the melodies are catchy. Hailing from…

Today, we hear about the top issues of concern for residents in Richmond’s District One, and Author Jessica Carew Kraft on returning to wild roots while existing in modern life.

Residents in Richmond’s District 5 are calling for investment in arts and culture from their city leaders. And, in a new episode of Book It, the power of stories in medicine.

Today, improving caregiver working conditions through community and collective action. Then, parental stress levels are on the raise. And, 50 years of printing books about California.

How GLIDE is carrying on after losing their influential leaders. Then, a conversation with artist Barry McGee. Plus, a little taste of KALW’s Open Mic Night.

Today, we hear how states can begin to repair fractured histories around slavery. Then, local experts weigh in on Kamala Harris’s track record. And, we consider the power of Black immigrant voters.

Today, London Breed’s reelection bid for San Francisco Mayor may be vulnerable to an upset. Then, the joy of transforming into iconic characters. And we revisit one of our local haunts.

Today we go inside San Quentin’s mock elections. Then, we hear about comic books and mental health — for veterans. And, the passionate mix of music and movement of Flamenco.

There was a great battle at the cross. Pastor Doug tells of seven segments of Jesus' suffering and seven of His statements from the cross.

Everything you give to God, you get back. What you keep for yourself, you lose. The key to happiness is sacrifice.

FM Waveform Synthesizer free download: https://www.remodevicocomposer.eu/maxforlive/ ...

Lance’s life was out of control. His addictions were destroying him, and he urgently needed help. Because of your generous gifts, Lance discovered Amazing Facts online and it changed his heart. Learn how your support brought freedom to Lance!

The attempt on Donald Trump's life shook the whole world ! How should Christians respond, and does it have any prophetic significance ? Pastor Doug Batchelor addresses this in this special edition of Bible Answers Live. Tune in now ! 1.- Does the attempted assassination of Trump fulfill Revelation 13:6 where it says, “The beast receives a deadly wound, but its deadly wound is healed” ? 2.- What about Christian Nationalism and the rise of that in the U.S. today ? Could that somehow be the fulfillment of prophecy, and is that connected to Project 2025 ? 3.- As a Bible-believing Christian, what is our responsibility with reference to the government ? How involved should we get in politics ? What is our responsibility when it comes to voting ?

The waterfront town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore provides a timeless getaway for nature seekers and admirers of early American history and architecture.

The Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, and his counterparts in Britain and the European Union spoke at a conference in Portugal.

The decision followed a landmark 2020 decision that said much of eastern Oklahoma falls within an Indian reservation, limiting the authority of state prosecutors.

A new photo ID requirement is the latest in a Republican-controlled state. The law also does away with the state’s presidential primaries in favor of a series of caucuses.

As the chief law enforcement officer of the Senate, he did not seek the National Guard’s help in advance of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

Tim Miller fled Republican politics, disgusted with the party’s direction under Donald Trump. Now he has written a memoir that is as much a warning as it is a searing exploration of his own shame and regrets.

Explosive testimony by Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, has raised questions about President Donald J. Trump’s actions on the day of the Capitol riot.

In a forceful speech, the congresswoman also denounced Republican leaders who had “made themselves willing hostages to this dangerous and irrational man.”

This interview was originally conducted for inclusion in our “accessibility” theme. The topic for the month is accessibility. I turned to Nikola Simikic and John Creed in Los Angeles for some perspective on the topic. Nikola is a sound designer and re-recording mixer at Gypsy Sound, and John is a dialogue editor for Gypsy Sound […]

Diana Cardenas habla sobre la eliminación de los recobros del sistema de salud

Wadith habla sobre la eliminación de los recobros del sistema de salud

Carolina Urrutia habla sobre el problema de mala calidad de aire

Gabriel Silva habla sobre efectos económicos del Coronavirus

Arussi habla sobre el feminicidio en México

Bruce habla de trabajo habla sobre las cifras de desempleo en Colombia

Mejía habla sobre formalización laboral

Henao habla sobre el informe de la ONU respecto a la situación de los líderes sociales

Camilo Granada habla de la importancia de la ética frente a la crisis

Miranda habla sobre la importancia de proteger el consumo