Teamsters to create “Amazon Division”

You don’t hear much about the Teamsters union these days. If you do, it’s likely more about pension fund insolvency. Or one of Scorsese’s gangster flicks. Such news begs to ask, “Is organized labor trying to make a comeback?” And, if so, “What chance does it have of success?”

Union members vote to create a dedicated division to take on the e-commerce giant.

As for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, much of its future depends upon progress made in the field of autonomous road vehicles (aka, self-driving cars). I’m generally open with skepticism when it comes to overhyped and unproven technology.

I have yet to hear an answer to how machines will handle ethical dilemmas. For example, would a robot car risk sacrificing the safety of its occupants in order to avoid crashing into a school bus full of children?

My disdain aside, the future of the Teamsters — and their pension funds — is unquestionably tied to success in this field.

As an aside, how is this related to one of the saddest ironies of the past century? Public pension funds have largely been raided by municipalities unwilling to raise taxes and cut services.

But private pension funds, through the magical machinery of modern market economics, inevitably devour the businesses that built them. This generally involves eliminating the workers’ wages, causing the pension fund to implode. And, as it erodes tax bases, it leads to cuts in public services, causing further injury to public pensions.

Not only is all of this legal, but the pension funds mandate managers invest in the highest rate of return.

I’m still learning about all of this stuff, but it’s harrowing stuff to say the least.

Source: Teamsters vote to create dedicated Amazon division to unionize workers

Doctors warn of burns from asphalt as heat wave hits US West

Fried egg on asphalt.
Egg.

“If you look at hot pavement or asphalt at two o’clock in the afternoon in direct sunlight, the temperature is usually somewhere around 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.”

– Some doctor

In case you haven’t heard, it’s hot out there. Damned hot. Hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk?

Yeah.

Unconfirmed reports state this is possible. So, I may have to try it myself.

Film at eleven.

Perhaps I’ll make coffee as well.

Source: Doctors warn of burns from asphalt as heat wave hits US West

“Lift sanctions on space sector or we’ll exit space station”: Russia

Old Soviet PC
Soviet-era personal computer

Russia has announced that – due to recent U.S. technology embargoes – Roscosmos may be unable to launch its Soyuz-MS spacecraft to service the International Space Station.

“We have more than enough rockets but nothing to launch them with,” Rogozin said, in a rare admission by a senior Russian official that Western sanctions are seriously impeding the development of a given industry.

Since the retirement of America’s Space Shuttle, the Russian capsule was the only man-rated means of transport to and from the space station. Only in the last year has SpaceX begun testing a U.S.-based alternative.

Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft
The Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft, with Expedition 64 crew members Kate Rubins of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts just a few meters from docking to the Rassvet module.

The Soyuz vehicle is also used to intermittently boost Station Alpha’s altitude, as its orbit gradually decays due to the thin layer of earth’s atmosphere.

If this is an attempt at bargaining, it’s poorly-timed: SpaceX Dragon capsule seems to be shaping up as an effective alternative.

Source: Russia to U.S. -Lift sanctions on space sector or we’ll exit space station | Reuters