++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It has taken an inordinate amount of failures and hypocrisy to begin denting progressive stupidity:
In Alabama, Black Amazon Workers Vote Their Economic Interest
The failed unionization push highlights growing disillusionment with progressive priorities.
Union organizers from an Amazon fulfillment center in Birmingham, Ala., March 26.
Photo: patrick t. fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
The political left has a complicated relationship with its black supporters. When blacks vote to help elect Joe Biden, they are celebrated. When they vote to help undermine the progressive agenda, they are in the way.
Smarter Democratic strategists have been warning for some time that the party has been moving steadily to the left of the average black voter on everything from crime and gay rights to school choice and immigration. Progressive politicians and liberal activists may want to ban charter schools, reduce resources for law enforcement and empty out the prisons—“No more policing, incarceration and militarization,” Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib tweeted this week—but polling shows that such ideas have little support among the black rank and file.
This growing disconnect between political elites and ordinary blacks was on display again last week when Big Labor’s attempt to organize an Amazon facility in Alabama with a workforce estimated to be 85% black was rebuffed by a vote margin of more than 2 to 1. In what has been described as a major setback for organized labor, 71% of the workers who cast ballots voted against joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The union’s president, Stuart Appelbaum, responded by suggesting the workers had somehow been deceived. “Amazon has left no stone unturned in its efforts to gaslight its own employees,” he told reporters after the vote.
The employees themselves offered a different take. They expressed satisfaction with the pay, benefits and working conditions at Amazon and said that paying dues to a union to address any complaints they did have was unnecessary. For years, organized labor has been working to gain a foothold at Amazon, the nation’s second-largest private employer after Walmart. These efforts have failed repeatedly, and no wonder. Amazon offers relatively high pay and good benefits. Blacks and Hispanics are 49.3% of its hourly workers and 20% of managers. And Walmart, which has also been fighting off unionization for years, offers competitive salaries and benefits while having a similarly diverse workforce.
Nationwide, black unionization rates are slightly higher than those of whites. This is in part because a higher percentage of blacks work in the public sector, where unionization overall is more prevalent than it is in private business. Among private-sector workers, however, black unionization has steadily declined over the decades, just as it has among other groups. And contrary to the suggestion of labor officials like Mr. Applebaum, it’s not because black workers are confused or have been hoodwinked. Rather, they are acting in their own economic interests, and they happen to be in good historical company.
Black leaders of an earlier era, W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington, had their differences when it came to helping blacks advance, but there was little daylight between them on the subject of labor unions and black employment. Du Bois called them “the greatest enemy of the black working man,” and Washington wrote in the Atlantic Monthly that “the average Negro who comes to the town from the plantations does not understand the necessity or advantage of a labor organization which stands between him and his employer and aims apparently to make a monopoly of the opportunity for labor.”
Labor unions no longer openly discriminate against black workers the way they once did, but the union’s agenda still harms black employment prospects. Unions haven’t stopped attempting to “make a monopoly of the opportunity for labor.” And if you are a less educated or inexperienced worker, as a disproportionate number of blacks happen to be, a union’s ability to force companies to raise pay and benefits above what they would be in a free market only decreases your chances of employment.
In the name of helping the underclass, Democrats today work to keep big retailers that won’t unionize from opening new stores, even in depressed communities most in need of jobs and low-cost goods and services. In 2019, progressive activists and union leaders pressured Amazon into canceling plans to build a second headquarters in New York City’s borough of Queens. The company estimated that the facility would have created some 25,000 new positions, yet Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez strongly opposed the move and later celebrated Amazon’s decision to bow out. The lawmaker apparently believes that it’s better for certain New Yorkers to be unemployed than to be working at Amazon. Worse, she and her fellow leftists believe such decisions are theirs to make, even as polls showed that more than 60% of New Yorkers sided with Amazon.
According to the most recent jobs figures, New York City’s unemployment rate of 12.9% is significantly higher than the statewide average of 8.9% and more than double the national average of 6%. Amazon’s absence isn’t helping matters. Kudos, Congresswoman.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Good news Israel (edited.)
Best regards
Michael
The Jewish State in its true light.
-
In the 18th Apr 21
edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· 3 Israeli research breakthroughs
into cancer, aging and obesity.
· NASA names two asteroids after
their Israeli-Arab student discoverer.
· Japan praises Israel for its help
on the 10th anniversary of the tsunami.
· A hi-tech Israeli competitor to
zoom.
· Investment in Israeli startups
breaks three all-time records.
· Israelis once again were able to
properly celebrate the nation’s birthday.
·
ISRAEL’S
MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Vaccine
even protects the unvaccinated. Unvaccinated children of Covid-19 vaccinated parents are
far less likely to contract the virus. Researchers at Israel’s Technion and
health company Maccabi used data from 223 Israeli communities to show each 20%
increase in parental vaccination halves the incidence of child infection.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hope-for-herd-immunity-vaccines-shown-to-protect-israelis-who-dont-get-them/
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.26.21254394v2
How to control aging. Ben Gurion University scientist Dr Debra
Toiber and her team have identified several genes involved in the aging
process. Whereas SIRT6 helps repair DNA to promote healthy aging, other genes
cause damage. Longevity can be extended, and damage reversed with targeted gene
therapy and interventions.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/genes_aging.aspx https://www.aging-us.com/article/202755
The
hunger switch. Researchers at
Israel’s Weizmann Institute and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with UK
colleagues, have found that melanocortin 4 (MC4) receptor is the master switch
for hunger in the brain. It is normally “on” (“I feel full”) until energy
levels drop. Its discovery can help develop anti-obesity medications.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/304339
Brain
cancer treatment breakthrough. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a
potential treatment for the aggressive brain cancer Glioblastoma.
Over-secretion of the protein P-Selectin (SELP) boosts tumor growth. Inhibiting
SELP slowed growth and stopped cancer cells migrating to the brain.
https://www.israel21c.org/cure-for-deadly-brain-cancer-may-be-on-its-way/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaWYYwbayUI
The
impact of the microbiome on cancer. Israel’s MyBiotics (see here previously) is to partner Hadasit - the
technology transfer arm of Hadassah Medical Center, to identify gut
microbiome-based cancer therapies. They will study up to 100 melanoma patients
treated with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mybiotics-hadassah-to-study-impact-of-microbiome-on-cancer-therapies/
Breakthrough
cancer treatment device. Israel’s
IceCure already has US FDA approval for its cryogenic (freezing) treatment of
cancer (reported here previously). The latest FDA Breakthrough
Device designation, however, will speed up procedures regarding permits for
IceCure’s Prosense device to treat cancer patients.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/icecure-shares-up-as-tumor-freezing-tech-gets-fda-breakthrough-device-nod/
Home
telemedicine system approved. Israel’s MyHomeDoc has received US FDA approval to add to
its EU and Israeli certifications. The device has 4 embedded sensors to analyze
and report lung, heart, and bowel sounds, otoscopy for the ear, oximeter for
pulse rate and saturation, thermometer, throat and skin camera test.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3903190,00.html https://www.my-homedoc.com/
Speech
therapy for special needs. Israel’s
Ampliospeech has developed a digital intervention platform for special
education students. Originally addressing dyslexics, Amplio uses Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to improve the
speech-language capabilities of all children with special needs.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3903092,00.html https://www.ampliospeech.com/
Heart
surgery for Iraqi baby. Volunteers
at the Shevet Achim aid organization brought baby Hena from the minority
Yazidis of Iraq, for life-saving heart treatment at Israel’s Sheba hospital.
From a refugee camp in Iraq, Hena’s father said, “We are grateful to the State
of Israel for helping us in these difficult circumstances.”
https://unitedwithisrael.org/yazidi-baby-from-iraq-brought-to-israel-for-life-saving-surgery/
Muslims
and Jews save disabled woman. When a disabled woman suffered a heart attack at a care
facility, three EMTs from United Hatzalah’s Mevaseret region worked together to
save her life. They included Murad Barhom - a Muslim Arab who has had a home in
the Jewish Kibbutz of Kiryat Anavim for nearly 40 years.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/299728
World’s
kindest kidney donors. (TY UWI) Israeli charity Matnat Chaim (Gift of Life)
has facilitated 1,003 live kidney transplants since 2009 from altruistic donors
- people who are not related to their recipients. Israel has the highest per
capita rate of people donating kidneys to strangers. (See also here for previous news.)
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-tops-world-in-kidney-donations-to-strangers/
ISRAEL
IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israeli
in IBM’s top women in AI list. For the first time, IBM’s annual World’s 40 leading women
in artificial intelligence includes an Israeli. Hagit Tzafrir, head of the
Health Division at Harel Group. Hagit’s project “Ella the Digital Assistant”
provides digital customer service on Harel’s website and WhatsApp.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/ibm-names-israeli-to-global-list-of-leading-women-in-ai/
Starting
up together – round 3. Israel-founded
initiative Starting Up Together (reported here previously) is an online pre-accelerator
program that trains entrepreneurs locally and across the Middle East region.
Its Israeli track, for Arab and Jewish Israelis over 18, is now in its 3rd
session. There are 60 participants in the two tracks.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-decade-post-arab-spring-startup-nation-program-aims-to-build-startup-region/
Proud
female Muslim Arab IDF officer. Captain Ella Waweya, from the Israeli Arab town of
Qalansawe, is an officer in the IDF Spokesperson’s Office. She is proud to say,
“The Israeli flag gives me a feeling of excitement, belonging and love.” In
2015 she won the President’s medal of Excellence (see
here).
https://unitedwithisrael.org/female-arab-idf-soldier-says-i-am-100-percent-israeli-and-very-proud-of-it/
Israeli-Arab student
discovers two asteroids. (TY UWI) Aseel Namamade, a student at Israel’s
Technion Institute, discovered two asteroids when attending the NASA-affiliated
International Astronomical Search Collaboration. NASA has named them
ANI1801 and ANI2001 after Aseel’s initials and Israel.
https://www.israel21c.org/nasa-names-asteroids-after-israeli-student-who-found-them/
One
million masks for LA kids. Israeli
non-profit SmartAID is supplying one million children’s masks and 600,000
bottles of hand sanitizer in Los Angeles County. They are intended to protect
children in disadvantaged areas from catching the coronavirus. SmartAID
previously distributed masks in Washington state (see here).
https://www.israel21c.org/smartaid-donates-200000-masks-to-children-in-los-angeles/
“We will never forget Israel’s help.” (TY JNS) As Japan marks the 10th anniversary of its
devastating tsunami, Israel's medical teams are praised as heroes for coming to
the rescue. The IDF was the first foreign relief delegation to arrive – the
only country that could bring its own equipment at such short notice.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/03/30/we-will-never-forget-israels-help/
Saving
lives in the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Health has successfully
trialed the EVA cervical cancer screening system from Israel’s MobileODT
(see here previously) on 9,000 of its citizens.
The program has now been expanded to cover another 50,000 women over the next
six months.
https://nocamels.com/2021/04/israel-mobileodt-cervical-cancer-screening-dominican/
SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY
10
of top 100 AI companies are Israeli. CB Insights 2021 “AI 100: The Artificial Intelligence
Startups Redefining Industries” includes 7 Israeli startups with Headquarters
in Israel and 3 more with R&D in Israel.
https://www.israel21c.org/10-israeli-startups-on-cb-insights-ai-100-list-for-2021/
https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/artificial-intelligence-top-startups/
Europe
approves Israeli 20-sec Covid-19 test. (TY UWI & I24 News)) the SpectraLIT
developed by Israel’s Virusight Diagnostic (reported here Oct 2020) has now been given CE
certification. It can now be implemented throughout Europe, especially at
airports.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israels-20-second-corona-test-gets-green-light-in-europe/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=garDCU6LpL8
Truly
green building material. Israel’s
Kenaf Ventures has developed sustainable and eco-friendly raw materials for the
construction industry from the kenaf plant. The plant absorbs carbon and
pollutants as it grows. When harvested, its fibers and core are made into
insulation products, plastic alternatives and more.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-botanical-cure-for-constructions-heavy-carbon-emissions/
https://www.kenafventures.com/
Support
for grieving relatives. Israeli
startup Empathy has launched an app to guide US families through the logistical
and emotional complexities experienced with loss. It provides expert advice,
real-time assistance, helps locate and store important paperwork and helps
relatives navigate the traumatic process.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3903218,00.html https://www.empathy.com/
Low-carb
food for diabetics. Israel’s EatSane
is developing low-carbohydrate vegan food products without artificial
sweeteners or preservatives. EatSane’s high-fiber bread is made from nut flour
and contains just 2.6 grams of carbohydrate instead of the usual 15 grams.
Available in Israel and in the United States.
https://eatsane.co.il/en/ https://www.israel21c.org/global-baking-firm-grupo-bimbo-invests-in-israeli-startup/
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B08YKDBYXT
Smart
coffee. Israeli-Colombian
startup Demetria uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to select the perfect coffee
beans. Demetria’s small, handheld spectrometer gadget measures bean size,
weight, humidity and more. It then relays the information to a mobile app,
saving time and money for coffee growers, traders, buyers and baristas.
https://www.israel21c.org/an-ai-revolution-is-about-to-transform-your-cup-of-coffee/ https://demetria.ag/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ7vlf4w4Vk
Bringing
podcasts to any app. Israel’s
Audioburst (reported here Feb 2016) has now launched its Platform
for Apps – marketed as the world’s first podcast feed for mobile apps. The
service offers consumers personalized, up-to-the-minute audio content within
their favorite apps, while providing recurring revenue for app developers.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2021/04/01/audioburst-platform-brings-podcasts-to-any-app/
Zoom competitor means business. Israel’s VidiPlus has released its video
conferencing software for sales and marketing professionals. Its “in-person”
features include 3-D visuals, branding, slideshows, web browsers, and videos
that appear in real-time next to the presenter in the same frame for a full
“show-and-tell” experience.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2021/04/15/vidiplus-offers-new-video-conferencing-tech-like-zoom/
https://vidiplus.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3dcu4TIPVQ
ECONOMY
& BUSINESS
Investment breaks all
records. Israeli tech companies raised $5.3
billion in the first three months of 2021 - half the total for the whole of
2020; $1.5 billion was just by cyber companies. Israeli startups raised $2.8
billion in March, double the previous monthly record. And on 7th April, $1
billion was raised on a single day!
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-startups-raised-record-28b-in-march-1001365975
https://unitedwithisrael.org/1-5-billion-israeli-cyber-companies-set-new-investment-record/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3903550,00.html
Strategic
accord with Morocco. Three Israeli
trade organizations have signed an agreement worth hundreds of millions of
dollars with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises. It promotes
trade and technology cooperation, including food, agriculture, vehicles,
chemicals, equipment, renewable energy, water and health.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/04/01/israel-morocco-sign-strategic-accord-worth-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars/
Opening
soon for tourists. The prospects
for the resumption of tourism to Israel are good. Non-Israeli family members
can now visit first-degree relatives in Israel. Then on May 23rd, foreign tour
groups will be admitted. And soon thereafter the skies should open to allow
individual tourists to visit. Bookings are now flooding in.
https://www.touristisrael.com/when-will-travel-to-israel-resume/31963/
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-begin-receiving-vaccinated-tourists-on-may-23/
https://nocamels.com/2021/03/destination-israel-travelers-post-pandemic-trip/
Helping
US small businesses survive. Israeli
companies Tailor Brands and Melio have kept many US small businesses alive
during the pandemic. Tailor Brands provides branding services online, and
initially free, to 30 million customers. Melio (see here) provides a platform for transferring
digital payments between businesses.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/how-israeli-startups-help-small-businesses-in-us-during-corona-crisis/
https://www.tailorbrands.com/ https://www.meliopayments.com/
Vegan
formula for US babies. Following its
launch in Canada and India, the plant-based toddler formula from Israel’s Else
Nutrition (reported here previously) is on its way to 30,000
retail stores across the USA. The kosher, organic, gluten & soy-free,
FDA-approved formula is made from almonds, tapioca and buckwheat.
https://www.israel21c.org/else-nutrition-non-soy-vegan-baby-formula-hits-us-shelves/
Applitools
exits for $250 million. U.S.-based
investment firm Thoma Bravo is acquiring Israeli-founded Applitools (see here) for a reported $250 million. Applitools
provides software engineers with AI-based and cloud-powered solutions to help
automate functional and visual testing for their apps.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3902274,00.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-private-equity-fund-thoma-bravo-to-buy-israeli-founded-applitools/
Israel’s
largest ever seed funding. Israel’s
Talon Cyber Security has just raised $26 million in what is believed to be
Israel’s largest ever initial funding of a startup. Talon says it is developing
a first-of-its-kind technology that offers cyber protection from the unique
threats emerging in today’s era of distributed work.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/talon-raises-26m-in-largest-israeli-seed-funding-round-ever-664812
Investment
in Israeli startups: Trax raised $640
million; Memic raised $96
million; Capitolis raised $90
million; ClimaCell (now Tomorrow.io) raised $77
million; Zoomin Software raised $52
million; Augmedics raised $36
million; Fyllo raised $30
million; AmplioSpeech raised $27
million; Talon Cyber
Security raised $26
million; Rivery raised $16
million; Empathy raised $13
million;
CULTURE,
ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Museum
of the Jewish People upgraded. Tel Aviv’s Museum of the Jewish People (formerly Diaspora
Museum) has just completed a $100m makeover. Artifacts range from a 15th
century Book of Esther to Leonard Cohen’s guitar, making the rebranded ANU
(“We”) the world’s comprehensive Jewish museum.
https://www.israel21c.org/tel-avivs-museum-of-the-jewish-people-gets-100m-makeover/
Iranian
artists at Haifa exhibition. The
fourth Mediterranean Biennale in Haifa exhibited works by 60 artists and art
collectives from 17 countries - including Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and
Bahrain. This year’s theme was “Living Together – Crossing Borders.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CopPGqMi_-E
https://www.israel21c.org/artists-from-bahrain-iran-take-part-in-haifa-exhibition/
HBO
buys “On the Spectrum”. HBO
has bought the adaptation and syndication rights to Israeli TV show “On the
Spectrum” featuring the lives of adults on the autistic spectrum. It will air
both dubbed and subbed. Amazon studios has also purchased the series, to remake
an English language version (reported here previously).
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/israeli-tv-show-dealing-with-on-the-spectrum-adults-sold-to-hbo-max-663970
Amazon
studios partners Israeli director. (TY JNS) Alma Har’el, the award-winning Israeli
director behind Shia LaBeouf’s 2019 drama “Honey Boy,” has formed a new
production company “Zusa”. She will work with Amazon Studios to develop
and create a new TV series exclusively for Amazon Prime Video.
https://deadline.com/2021/04/director-alma-harel-inks-first-look-tv-deal-with-amazon-studios-1234733220/
THE
JEWISH STATE
Muslim
driver decorates bus for Passover. Muslim bus driver Ihab transformed his number 77 Jerusalem
bus into a “Passover bus” for his ultra-Orthodox passengers, with aluminum
foil, flowers, and a miniature Seder table. One of the passengers even found
the Afikoman, receiving dinner for two as a prize.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4948382,00.html
It’s
all happening in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon)
Recent Jerusalem rollercoaster activity included 24th Knesset swearing-in, Yom
Ha’Atzmaut flyover rehearsals, Yom HaShoah, spring weather and busy parks and
markets.
http://rjstreets.com/2021/04/11/jerusalem-up-and-down-weeks/
Independence Day. Israelis celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut
(Independence Day) with enthusiasm this year thanks to the relaxation of
coronavirus restrictions. Israel’s Air Force flew over Israeli cities in a
“Salute” to all Israeli citizens. Fireworks, public events and private parties
were held throughout the country. TY Jacob for hot sites.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-celebrate-independence-day-with-air-force-flyby/
https://jr.co.il/hotsites/israel-resources.htm
Why
I am a Zionist. Great new
5-minute video commemorating the 20th anniversary of the publication of
Professor Gil Troy’s essay “Why I am a Zionist.” Each year on Israel’s
Independence Day, we celebrate Zionism and the light and tremendous blessing
that Israel shines on everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlcdEGFEnyQ
Told
you so! A new video
summarizing 10 miracles of Israel, foretold in the Bible. The ingathering;
Barren to others; Blossoming with the return; Renewal of spoken Hebrew; Revival
of Torah; Economic success; Flowing milk & honey; Rebuilding Jerusalem;
Blessings to the world and Diplomatic recognition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAAHvQTXK3E
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Why are there so many Trump signs still up? The answer is not what you assume.
By Salena Zito
PENNSYLVANIA - From wealthy suburban enclaves to the middle-class post World War II bedroom communities located the first ring outside the city to the gritty blue collar city neighborhoods themselves Trump signs are everywhere across the country. The answer why may not be what you assume but is very important to know if you want to understand what is going on in our country.
The answer lies outside the glare, noise and assumptions cast on social media that are nonetheless held in mistaken regard by reporters and analysts who cling to it to keep them informed and by consequence you.
The reason instead is much different than those assumptions.
Click here for the full story.
And:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Let them.
Those turned off by radical Democrats are far more numerous than corporate executives. Republicans need to expand their base. Zito is correct., the underground vote is there for the taking.
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Sunday, April 18th, 2021
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