To Remember Who I Am

I walk the path Muddy through tall wet grass To the gravelly bank and stand in running water while the snow falls

I row slowly oar blades pulling against glass the face of water in a high tree lined lake

I run out from a launch to the sound of the my motor's call against tides and chop in the south salish sea

I stand on a beach in tide up to my knees the sound the waves in my ears...

Jared Bernstein at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. 15 Jan. 2026 (A. Kotok)

Today’s employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the U.S. job market declined by 92,000 in February 2026, with the unemployment rate rising 0.1 points to 4.4 percent. And Jared Bernstein, who chaired the president Joe Biden’s Council of Economic Advisors, is worried.

As a good economist, Bernstein cautions readers not to put too much stock into findings from a single month, but in his Substack, Bernstein notes, “the trend is no longer our friend and, as a long-time data-watcher, I don't like what I'm seeing here.”

Bernstein says those data show …

The U.S. economy is in a fragile place. The job market is stuck in an unwelcoming, low-hire state, with too few opportunities for job seekers and new entrants. As best we can tell, this isn’t a function of collapsing economic growth, which looks pretty good. And at 4.4%, the jobless rate is a point above its low point from a few years ago, but still on the low side. Wage growth, at 3.8% over the past year, is handily beating inflation.

So, what do you get when you’ve got decent GDP growth with weak job growth? You get faster productivity growth, which is also a positive development in a macro sense. But growth without jobs is recipe for weakening living standards and even greater affordability concerns. Add to that last point the fact that this AM’s national average gas price was $3.32, up $0.42 from a month ago, and you begin to get the picture. It’s a weird version of stagflation, with weak job (vs. GDP) growth and rising prices.

From the new data, Bernstein also notes overall labor force participation and employment rates ticked down in February, while Black American unemployment rose from a year ago. While these data can jump around from one month to the next, says Bernstein, they add to the disturbing economic trends.

Plus, manufacturing jobs declined by 12,000 in February 2026 after rising a bit in January. Manufacturing employment is down by 300,000 since peaking at 12.9 million in early 2023 — when Joe Biden, Bernstein’s boss, was president.

“Over the decades,” concludes Bernstein, “one develops a feel for such things, and I don’t like where I fear we could be headed. I don’t like it one bit.”

Since leaving the Biden White House, Bernstein became a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. He also writes a column for The American Prospect and op-eds for the New York Times and Washington Post, and contributes to the CNBC business network.

We photographed Bernstein leading a panel of economists and housing experts at Center for American Progress in Jan. 2026. Our exclusive photos from that day are available in our media and business leaders collection and the overall TechNewsLit portfolio at the Alamy agency.

Copyright © Technology News and Literature. All rights reserved.

I threw away some good stuff, nothing too crazy but some stuff for sure. I have a meeting with my boss in a little bit, but I wanted to remind myself that I no longer have to worry about trying to juggle my work with her outburst or behaviors. There were too many times where my dream job became a conflict with her behaviors, and I suffered a lot for it. I don’t have to worry about that anymore. There was so much volatility and things that were just not at all OK, and I’m so grateful that that’s gone. I need to remind myself that nostalgia only exists because we forget the reasons why we move from that place in the first case. There were so many issues and while I was in the relationship, I didn’t really want to fully be in it in some ways. The only thing I was clutching onto was the hope that things would change, and now that I have my confirmation I am grateful to have the experience, and I’m also grateful to be gone.

Rangers vs Mariners.

My Friday game to follow today is an MLB Spring Training Game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners. I don't have access to a video feed for this game, instead I'm watching the score and stats updated in real time on an MLB Gameday screen. The radio call of the game is coming from Seattle's KIRO 760 AM. GO Rangers!

I needed to catch up on sleep. As a wise friend said at dinner today: “I gotta sleep early”; and so I did.

Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Vibrant Citrus and Bold Yellows, Fall and winter fashion weeks, Accra is becoming expensive, A stroke at 25 years old? La Foundation for the Arts, and Gold Coast Restaurant & Lounge

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Vibrant Citrus and Bold Yellows. Nothing says “I’m here to take over” like a splash of citrus. Bright oranges, tangerine, and bold yellows have infiltrated the corporate scene, transforming the typical “business casual” into something far more lively and energizing. These colours represent creativity, optimism, and confidence — everything you need to get through a busy day at the office. Why it works: These colours stand out in the best way possible, bringing life and light to your wardrobe. Perfect for those moments when you want to shine in meetings or make a lasting impression. Style tip: Opt for a tailored yellow dress with a neutral blazer for balance, or throw on a fun orange silk scarf with a white blouse for a little extra pop. If you’re feeling daring, try a full citrus-coloured power suit! Bold Blues with African Influence: Blue has always been a corporate staple, but in 2026, the rich, regal blues of African culture are making a big splash. Think deep indigo, electric blue, and cobalt. These hues carry a sense of power, trust, and professionalism. They also pair perfectly with traditional African prints and fabrics, like Kente or Ankara, to create a sleek, modern twist on heritage. Why it works: Blue is a classic colour that’s synonymous with professionalism, but when done in shades inspired by African textiles, it brings that heritage connection to the forefront. Style tip: Pair a cobalt blue blazer with a pencil skirt or sleek trousers. Or, opt for a patterned Kente blouse with a crisp blue tailored jacket. It's all about balancing boldness with sophistication! Fall and winter fashion weeks. The season is here again, with New York, London, Milan and Paris leading the pack. Yes, in February we show what is to be worn next autumn/winter, and in September we show what to wear next summer. New York is more direction pop culture and streetwear, London is the most creative, Milan is about luxury and Paris does the haute couture. Of course there is much more to it, but this is what is in a nut shell. And then there is Tokyo, Avant Garde, Copenhagen for sustainability and minimalism, Berlin for thoroughness and Sao Paulo for South America. And for pure men's fashion we go back to Italy, to Pitti Uomo in Florence, for high-end tailoring, craftsmanship, and emerging trends in menswear. You can check on Youtube and see most of the defilés. Unusual this year was King Charles attending and opening the London Fashion week, with the statement that sustainability, craft skills, and young designers should get more attention, and maybe we should ask the Asantehene to be present at the next Accra Fashion Week. London also introduced fashion for the Ramadan break. Also news is Mark Zuckerberg (owner of Facebook) and his wife visiting the Prada show in Milan, he can afford anything for a dress and she could become a trendsetter.

Accra is becoming expensive. Why? The dollar is down, or the cedi is up, so things should cost less? A beef burger for 140 GHC is USD 11.65, for that money you can buy several burgers in the USA. Analysts talk of a dollar economy, too many expats, increasing population, shortage of housing, food shortages, fuel prices, electricity prices. Quite possible, but let's not forget all the illegal money floating around, from drugs, from scams, money stolen by politicians, and from countries like Nigeria. All nice and well, but the common and honest women suffer.

A stroke at 25 years old? Yes, it can happen. When blood flow to (part of) the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts it is called “stroke” and it causes rapid brain cell death resulting in sudden numbness/weakness, confusion, trouble speaking, vision issues, dizziness, balance issues, facial drooping, and arm weakness. Immediate treatment is critical. Risk factors are high blood pressure (the leading cause), smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and unhealthy diet/lifestyle. Rapid CT or MRI scans, angiograms, and echocardiograms are used to determine the type and location of the stroke. “Clot-busting” drugs (tPA) or mechanical thrombectomy are used to remove the blockage, or controlling bleeding and reducing brain pressure. Recovery: Rehabilitation involves physical, occupational, and speech therapy to regain lost functions and rewire brain connections. Do you know your average blood pressure? Your cholesterol level? Your diabetes status? For between 100 and 150 GHC you can do a yearly lab test and know your status. Early warning allows for change of lifestyle or treatment, no warning and “boom” is mostly far more expensive.

La Foundation for the Arts. 144 La Road, Sun City Apartments, Accra. La Foundation for the Arts is running a show till 3rd April titled “the language and image of us”. 13 Artistes show some of their works in various media. It's all around children, though sometimes it is difficult to discern what the link is. But Unesco sponsored, so maybe they better understood than I did. Interesting to spend a few minutes there anyway. And a bit further down the road is the Artiste Alliance (Omanya House, La Road, Accra), founded by very successful Ghanaian painter Professor Glover (his paintings go for 25000 USD and above) who created space for many Ghanaian artistes rather than keeping it all to himself. Ayeeko to both galleries. Artiste Alliance Gallery is definitely worth visiting, entrance is free.

Gold Coast Restaurant & Lounge. 32 Fifth Ave Ext, Cantonments, Accra, recently renovated and the place looks a bit chic. We went in the evening during the week and it was quiet. These days they have live bands on Fridays and Saturdays (sometimes with an entrance fee). A Guinness goes for 40 GHC, a Smirnoff Vodka for 35. And we had a chicken salad at GHC 120 and chicken chef's special at 160. Nothing special about the food, really, not bad either. Service is good.

Lydia...

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Kama 12:46 am, Sabado

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i'm humble enough to know that i maybe not everyone's first choice, but i'm confident enough to know that i'm not someone you find twice.

true