The University of Mass publishes a report that puts Tesla on the list of America’s 199 largest polluters. Being put on this list additionally caused Tesla to be removed from the S&P500 ESG Index.
Other car companies are smart enough to either outsource or buy batteries from overseas producers. This helps keep them off the list.
Expect more manufacturing to move to Mexico.
Batteries and cars manufactured in Mexico, and Canada, are eligible for federal tax subsidies under the inflation reduction act.
The EurAsian times reported that with the US Congress approving a Patriot missile battery for Ukraine, that Putin will be delivering Isklander missile batteries and an S400 radar defense system to Belarus. The Isklander missile is the type of missile that a Patriot would defend against. Belarus and Ukraine share a border of ~675 miles in length. (221228)
The Washington Examiner reported that the annual Sun Bowl, El Paso, event was cancelled as the convention center is being converted into a shelter for migrants. El Paso received 10,000 migrants from Federal Immigration officials in the last week, and more then 84,000 in the most recent four months. El Paso, with a population of approximately 974K. So in 4 months 8.76% of the population was released. If the same ratio were applied to NYC, population 9,370,000, you could expect 808,000 migrants. (221223)
The Sun reported that McDonalds is experimenting with a zero employee restaurant in Texas. Jobs may still be available for technicians to service the automated equipment. (221223)
The NY Daily News reported the Democrat-led Legislature, with election season behind them, returned to Albany for a one-day special session to vote on the measure increasing their own salaries from $110,000 to $142,000. Nominally NY lawmakers are only in session from Jan to Jun. (221222)
The Moscow Times reported that has Putin inaugurated the Kovykta natural gas field in eastern Siberia, which will allow Russia to increase its gas exports to China amid soaring tensions between Moscow and the West.
Russian and China are increasing their bi-lateral trading which bypasses sanctions, and their use of the dollar. (221221)
Reuters reported that Formula One drivers will need prior written permission from the sport’s governing body to make ‘political statements’ from next season following an update of the International Sporting Code. (221220)
CNN reported the Biden Administration, with the election season behind him, is using funding derived from the American Rescue Plan(ARP), will award the Central States Pension Fund with $36 billion. Many state, municipal, and private sector retirement funds are underfunded through low funding, and overly generous benefits based on past funding. (221208)
The EurAsian Times reported that for the first time in the history of aerial patrolling, Russian aircraft landed at an airfield in the People’s Republic of China and Chinese planes landed at an airfield on the territory of the Russian Federation. South Korea’s military said it raced its warplanes as two Chinese and six Russian warplanes entered its air defense zone. China and Russia’s ties have been growing stronger under the US’s enforcement of sanctions. (221130)
The Guardian reported that China, after losing millions of pig to disease a few years ago, is now placing pigs in an environmentally controlled large building. The goal is more automation reducing costs. The downside is if a disease does get in, the chances of losing the buildings crop is high. An additional benefit are the Farm to Table time and costs are reduced. (221123)
The Wall Street Journal reported that universities, police departments, and non-profits are installing vending machines to dispense Narcan to opioid users struggling with an overdose.
With across the border street opioid drugs containing unpredictable dosage levels, users often find themselves in an overdose situation. (221121)
Newsweek reported, in an opinion piece, on how UC Berkeley.
At the beginning of the current academic year, nice law student groups at the UC Berkeley School of Law amended their bylaws to ensure that anybody who supports Israel or Zionism is allowed to speak.
Berkeley over the past decade has been increasingly less and less tolerant of diverging viewpoints. The Jewish Journal has also previously reported on this issue.
Recognizing rising campus antisemitism, former President Trump signed an Executive Order in 2019 on combatting antisemitism. Unfortunately, since then, not only has the campus situation for Jewish students not improved, it has taken a dramatic turn for the worse.
The San Jose Spotlight reported on Mountain View, California plan to give out monthly $500, tax free(?), to 166 low income families for two years. (500x24x166) is $1,992,00. The program is funded for $2.57million, leaving $578K for the city to fund it’s admin expenses. The program is funded from the cities $15 million grant from the Biden administration American Rescue Plan (ARP).
The Daily Star reported that Bus drivers in Beijing will now have their emotions, blood pressure, exercise and sleep tracked by the government who say it will make buses safer – but some have called it invasive. In a statement on Chinese social network Weibo, the company said: “The distribution of bracelets is a technological means to strengthen the physical and mental health of drivers.” (220926)
