First Name Dietrich

Allegheny County Courthouse courtyard update. 🎃

August 1, 2025 AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations Statement from the American Economic Association on the Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today. The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day. Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias. The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity. Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions. We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure. Lawrence Katz President, American Economic Association Katharine Abraham President-Elect, American Economic Association Karen Dynan Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics Kenneth Troske Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

The best part of being one of the only people in the courthouse courtyard at 6 AM is I get to take it all in alone, enjoy the peace, and always remember to Look Up.

I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.

This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.

It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.

“The tech industry has been roiled by layoffs and hiring freezes. The leading culprit for the slowdown is technology itself.”

MEDIA: Are you a communist?

MAMDANI: I am not ... I call myself a democratic socialist in many ways inspired by the words of Dr. King from decades ago, who said: 'Call it democracy or call it democratic socialism, there has to be a better distribution of wealth for all of God's children'

So am I reading this court decision correctly? We now have 50 micronations with their own laws interpreting the U.S. Constitution wholly separate from one another? But there's one guy with private law enforcement who is immune from all punishment who can do whatever he wants in those 50 states?

Courthouse Courtyard update! I swear this wasn’t me but also everything is better with googly eyes 👀 - Whoever did this let’s be friends. 👯‍♀️

The Allegheny County Courthouse is in full bloom and it’s my favorite time of year.

The pendulum swings 🥰
Love this for us!

Republicans want children to starve

crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their consultants

⬇️Which is why we need to defend the right to #TeachTruth so that students can learn from history to read critically and not be deceived by war propaganda and mis-information. #TeachOutsideTextbook

Severance: Defiant Jazz on Apple Music Playlist · 50 Songs

Defiant Jazz playlist!?! Hell yes.
music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

I did it! I got into the LinkedIn account I forgot someone else made for me 15 years ago and was reminded of 4 months ago - 10/10 start to the day.

The current democratic party is the result of 60 years of appeasement, mismanagement, and ego. Polling like this shows Americans are ready for strong true blue progressive politicians who fight for policies that work for All Americans.

Did she say “liberate” !!!???!!!! So like just full on Nazi propaganda playbook but they’re all just idiot TikTok podcast bros and plastic filled hags who would have burned women while screaming “witch”… huh?

The problem we face as a society is that people in positions of power with systemic control have no idea how anything works. They dont understand the intricate underlying mechanics that go into building, producing, and creating. Until now we’v gotten by but the disparity is now too blinding.

Oh.

The ugly, violent clearing of Chavez Ravine before it was home to the Dodgers Never forget. Before Dodger Stadium was a legendary baseball venue, the area was home to generations of families, most of them Mexican American.

If you can’t be in the streets protesting you can learn history and pass that on to the next generation. Not all acts of resistance look the same - the simple act of expanding your knowledge is an act of defiance by those who seek to limit you.

laist.com/news/la-hist...

In My Town by Ry Cooder on Apple Music Song · 2005 · Duration 5:40

LA is no stranger to the United States government displacing black and brown people by any means necessary. Listen to the album Chavez Ravine - learn some history today and dance a little.

music.apple.com/us/album/in-...

UPDATE: David Huerta was just released from custody!

“The right side of history will always expect you to be brave.”

Image of book in bookstore Takuboku: Poems to Eat trenslated by CARL SESAR With woodcut illustrations by M. KUWATA Selected Tanka

Poems and a feather from the previous owner of the book.

woodcut illustration in book

TABLE OF CONTENTS The woodcut illustrations found throughout the text have been prepared especially for this volume by Masa. kazu Kuwata, a leading Japanese illustrator.

Takuboku:
Poems to Eat

Instantly fell in love with this book the moment I picked it up. I opened it to find a love letter in art, poems, craftsmanship, and a bookmark from the previous owner with a mysterious story all its own. 🪶

My best lunch walks through downtown have often included eating a baguette out of a bag. Please do it! Get a bag of carbs from your fave local bakery and get on her level. 🫶

The girls are fighting and it’s one of those days that the internet was invented for.

RFK Jr. is absolutely poisonous. He has now caused Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos, the person in charge of COVID19 vaccinations at the CDC, to resign.

She did so because RFK Jr. demanded that the experts in charge of vaccine guidance listen to him and not to the scientific evidence.

Straight men are so fragile

This explains a lot actually