March 26, 2020

Staggering jobless claim numbers: 3.2M - what a difference a month makes

February:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/05/us-weekly-jobless-claims.html
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week.
The data suggested the labor market was on solid footing despite the coronavirus outbreak.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped to 216,000 for the week ended Feb. 29, the Labor Department said.

March:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-the-horrific-jobless-claims-report-is-actually-worse-143929909.html
New unemployment claims surged to a record high last week, topping 3 million. But that staggering leap in joblessness likely understates the full damage the coronavirus outbreak has inflicted on the U.S. labor market, according to multiple economists.

For the week ended March 21, new unemployment claims totaled 3.283 million, seasonally adjusted, or more than twice the 1.7 million consensus economists polled by Bloomberg had expected. The figure was more than four times greater than the previous record high of 695,000 from 1982.
And the level was astronomical compared to the prior week’s 282,000 claims, and the 190,023 initial claims filed during the comparable week in 2019. As the Department of Labor put it, “Nearly every state providing comments cited the COVID-19 virus impacts.”
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It will get worse before it gets better.

March 19, 2020

Seeking advice on planting crape myrtle & retama trees saplings

Hi folks,
I have 6 Arapaho Red Flowering Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemi) Tree saplings, 5 retama saplings (Texas native xeriscaping shrub/tree) & 3 redbud saplings i need to put into the ground this weekend. I've planted trees before, but usually the larger size. This is the first time i'm planting trees from saplings. I've read up on the spacing (at least 12-15 ft apart, 5 ft. from the fence), but need to know whether i should brace the saplings with a stake. I've read some don't recommend tying them to a stake but i'm afraid they may be buffeted by strong winds and break.

Also, i've read saplings don't grow as fast - about 6 - 12 inches rather than up to 2 ft/year. If you've planted saplings i'd be happy to read your advice. I'm in zone 8B.

Thanks in advance,
OneTexan

March 11, 2020

Re: the RW talk of Joe slurring his words, here's Trevor Noah's take of the man with the best words

heroilynn, ice offices, susbesdig, delegitimatize, infantroopen, transpants, resaption, herridje, benefishers, protecterd,...

Right back atcha pal!

March 11, 2020

MSNBC just now: Gabby Gifford will be endorsing Biden for his gun position!

Heidi Przybyla is discussing it right now.

Apparently the confrontation with that one construction worker is benefiting Joe!