Afternoon Tea 8.11.21 - Paper Stacking

Apple shuts its workers up, Kathy Hochul’s ascendance, assorted cop shenanigans, profound modernity & back-asswardness from China, women scientists have always been the rule not exception, and the 7 types of rest we all need. It’s Wednesday, August 11th 2021, and this is your Tea. Today’s vibe blends the stunning production of Skrillhouse with Jhay Cortez, producing a flavorful mix for dealing with the heat.

Apple Keeps Shutting Down Employee-Run Surveys On Pay Equity - And Labor Lawyers Say It’s Illegal (The Verge) Tell your coworkers, especially your female-identifying and BIPOC coworkers, how much you make. Help your fellow workers negotiate and don’t believe anything to the contrary.

Kathy Hochul: New York's next governor (Politico) & Who Said It: Cuomo or Your Ex?(The Cut) & New York Gets First Woman Governor in Most American Way Possible (Reductress) If the rumors that Lt. Gov Kathy Hochul hasn’t talked to Cuomo since February are true, this gives the new NYS governor Jedi-level forethought. Also Reductress is fantastic once again.

Andrew Cuomo Resigned Because the Democrats Aren’t a Cult (The Bulwark) Break this out for use whenever “the two parties are the same” zealots crop up. Gotta say we didn’t actually expect him to bounce before impeachment, but he is smarter than the average GOP member.

NYPD secretly spent $159 million on surveillance tech (Engadget) & Police Union Gives 'Officer Of The Year' Award To A Cop Who Spent Last Year Suspended (TechDirt) The first story is expected, the second is hilarious.

Marvel and DC face backlash over pay: ‘They sent a thank you note and $5,000 – the movie made $1bn’ (Guardian) Honestly, this is a no-brainer. If the MCU takes ideas from specific comic runs, they can pay more than thirteen raspberries for them. Each of these movies gross billions, pay your inspiration.

Kazakhstan is arresting protesters seeking information about missing relatives in Xinjiang (CodaStory) & Going Electronic Doubles the Workload in Chinese Offices (Banyuetan - Chinese) A pair of contrasts. China’s reach is so powerful, they’re able to get people arrested in bordering countries. But they’re so sclerotic in bureaucracy, workers being told to digitize their process are hesitant to, because the “height of the paper” is checked while electronic output is ignored. Can you imagine your work output being measured with a ruler in 2021, by a state with most technically advanced surveillance in the world?

Secret IRS Files Reveal How Much the Ultrawealthy Gained by Shaping Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Tax Cut” (ProPublica) & Scotland could pursue a money-laundering investigation into Trump's golf courses (Business Insider) Velveeta Elvis performed his function to a perfect T. The minutiae of changes made for business owners will be unraveled for decades to come. Though, he might not be as lucky.

COVID Has Devastated the Mental Health of Public Health Workers (Governing) We need to stop ignoring this. Misinformation, policy idiocy, and general PTSD is obliterating a generation of health workers.

Women Scientists Are the Rule Rather Than the Exception (Physics 14,49) Women scientists have never been the exception. If you’re a dude and this makes you sad, cry about it, then get back to work.

The 7 types of rest that every person needs (Ideas.Ted) Fascinating and totally believable article outlining the different types of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social and spiritual. Not sure there’s a mountain of science to support it, but the arguments are compelling.

Poem of the Tea: Gotta go with one of the best, Neruda, on this steaming day.

Yours,