Call It Like I See It

Another named variant of the 2019 coronavirus has emerged, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the emerging Omicron variant, society’s initial reaction to the news of its emergence, and how our mindset in terms of dealing with COVID-19 must continue to evolve over time as circumstances change (01:25).  The guys also consider the significance of falling birth rates for humans around the world and also how societal factors influence, and will be influenced by, people having less babies (30:21).

New evidence shows omicron likely spreads twice as fast as delta in South Africa (NPR)

Study: Omicron could be more transmissible due to sharing genetic material with common cold (The Hill)

Which COVID-19 variants are most common in the US? (USA Facts)

First data on Covid omicron variant’s severity is ‘encouraging,’ Fauci says (CNBC)

Why birth rates are falling, and why it’s no big deal (Popular Science)

Why a decline in US birth rates could actually help our economy (Popular Science)

Americans are quitting their jobs in unprecedented numbers, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how this “Great Resignation” has been spurred by many different technological, cultural, and economic trends, several of which have operated to expand what is possible as far as earning a living (01:09).  The guys also discuss how the constant stream of notifications that many receive on the electronic devices may have a greater impact on us than it seems (38:50). 

The ‘Great Resignation’ is more of a ‘Great Reckoning,’ led by low-wage and minority workers (CNBC)

A record number of Americans quit their jobs in September (CNN)

The ‘Great Resignation’: Why workers are quitting (Local NBC - KOBI-TV 5)

The ‘Great Resignation’ is altering the workforce dynamic — maybe for good (CNBC)

Part of the ‘great resignation’ is actually just mothers forced to leave their jobs (The Guardian)

These entrepreneurs used the ‘Great Resignation’ to reinvent themselves. Here’s how they did it (CNBC)

Ping. Ding. Chirp. Notifications Are Driving Us Crazy. (WSJ) (Apple Link)

Marshall, the 2017 biopic on Thurgood Marshall, tells us about a time in Marshall’s life before the Supreme Court and Brown v. Board of Education, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss what stood out most in this Reginald Hudlin film as well as Thurgood Marshall’s legacy and how he fits into the story of America.

Marshall (Netflix)

Keeping the Earth habitable for humans would seemingly be in everyone’s interest, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider how multi-faceted our environmental issues can be and how COP26 and the Glasgow Climate Pact each show far we have come, and how far we still have to go, from a global cooperation standpoint (01:30).  The guys also discuss how human bodies are constantly emitting odors and how these odors actually tell a lot about you and your health and lifestyle, not just your hygiene (38:51).

What is a COP? (COP26 Website)

COP26: What was agreed at the Glasgow climate conference? (BBC)

In surprise move, U.S. and China vow to work together on climate change (NBC News)

American bumblebees have disappeared from these 8 states. Now they could face extinction. (USA Today)

Here's What Will Happen If Bees Go Extinct (Green Matters)

Judge approves $626 million settlement in Flint water crisis case (CBS News)

US intelligence community warns of devastating long-term impact of coronavirus pandemic (CNN)

What Your Smell Says About You (WSJ) (Apple link)

Even with Zillow’s decision to get out of real estate buying and selling, the “ibuyer” trend still seems to be just getting started, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the possibilities brought by the entrance of technology companies, and algorithms, into the real estate market (01:23).  The guys also consider the concept of toxic positivity and how being around it can make it harder to deal with adversity (33:27).

Zillow just gave up on ibuying. What’s the deal with the algorithmic home sales? (LA Times)

Inside the collapse of Zillow: hundreds of homes to hit Orlando market (WFTV)

What the rest of us can learn from Zillow’s real estate stumbles (Fortune)

Zillow’s flip-flop shows limits for Big Data in property (Financial Times)

Toxic Positivity Is Very Real, and Very Annoying (WSJ)

After seeing the existence of violent threats against school board members turned into a media event, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the need to protect public servants, freedom of speech, and how content that drives media consumption now determines our political discussions (01:47).  The guys also discuss reports of the first autonomous killer drone being deployed in combat and how this could change everything (40:11).

Our dumbed-down debate over the Justice Department and schools (WaPo)

Garland defends memo on violent threats to school boards (CBS News)

Ted Cruz Asks Merrick Garland If 'Nazi Salutes' Are a Form of Protected Free Speech (Newsweek)

What Does Free Speech Mean? (uscourts.gov)

One Woman’s Mission to Rewrite Nazi History on Wikipedia (Wired)

Philadelphia nativist riots (Wikipedia)

Autonomous Drones Have Attacked Humans. This Is a Turning Point (Popular Mechanics)

Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” is said to be the bestselling spiritual book of the past 20 years and has been read by millions, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look a some of the key concepts that were addressed in the book (01:14) and consider the extent to which the teachings in the book could help humans on a societal level (36:38).

The Power of Now (Publisher - New World Library)

Excerpt of The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle)

With supply chain and inflation issues taking hold in the economy, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the how these issues reveal the incredible level of efficiency that the economy had previously operated with as well as what it will take to get things back on track (01:06).  The guys also discuss the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s effort to try to cajole food companies and restaurants to all reduce sodium content in the foods (34:52).

There Is No Shortage of Reasons for the Broken Supply Chain (Bloomberg)

What you need to know about the supply chain bottlenecks (The Hill)

U.S. supply chain too snarled for Biden Christmas fix, experts say (Reuters)

Start your holiday shopping now. Here are some goods that may be running out of stock (CNBC)

Conservatives take to social media to blame Biden for the supply chain crisis with #BareShelvesBiden, while others hit back with images of fully stocked stores (Business Insider)

Top White House official retweets post calling inflation, supply chain issues ‘high class problems’ (FoxNews)

Pizza pockets and late-night fries: How the government is urging food companies and restaurants to reduce our salt consumption (WaPo)

The reaction to Dave Chappelle’s “The Closer” has included a lot of debate about what is scientific fact, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether this debate mirrors other disagreements over matters of science and if truth is being sought or if want to yell at each other (01:31).  The guys also discuss China’s reported efforts to force greater cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities in order to build a national collective consciousness (25:02).

‘I’m team Terf’: Dave Chappelle under fire over pro-JK Rowling trans stance (The Guardian)

China’s Communist Party Formally Embraces Assimilationist Approach to Ethnic Minorities (WSJ) (Apple Link)

Seeing all the handwringing over the debt ceiling and the so called “meteor headed to crash into our economy,” James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether politics surrounding the debt ceiling illustrate dysfunction or gamesmanship, and the extent to which this is just the new normal (01:17).  The guys also discuss some findings on how living with high levels of uncertainty is difficult for us as humans (37:10).

Biden warns ‘meteor headed to crash’ into US economy amid debt struggle (The Guardian)

As Senator, Joe Biden Opposed GOP Debt Ceiling Votes and Mitch McConnell Hasn't Forgotten (Newsweek)

Schumer forces debt limit vote to squeeze Republican resistance (Politico)

Democrats Are Holding America Hostage, and Trying to Blame the GOP (Daily Beast)

Our Brains Were Not Built for This Much Uncertainty (Harvard Business Review)