COVID temporarily impairs male fertility: https://news.yahoo.com/covid-decrease-male-fertility-what-to-know-190503500.html . The study finds an 18% decrease in conception for the 60 days following infection, but no effect thereafter.
Vitamin B-9 reduces suicide attempts: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/folic-acid-lower-risk-suicide-attempts-study-222707354.html . Folic acid is a form of Vitamin B-9. In prescription strength, it was found to reduce suicide attempts by 44%. Also, every additional month of treatment reduced attempts an additional 5%. The study examined 867,000 adults. Folic acid is readily available and inexpensive.
The 2023 Social Security COLA increase problems: https://news.yahoo.com/social-security-increase-drawbacks-182450907.html . This article details various financial problems created by the COLA increase coming in 2023. We all realize that inflation erodes the value of a dollar. The COLA increase is designed to simply replace earning power lost to inflation. But for many retirees, 85% of their Social Security benefits are taxable, and our tax system is “progressive”, meaning that as the numbers go up, the rate of tax increases. Therefore, the COLA increase does not fully replace the lost earning power.
Another problem is that the suite of Social Security benefits designed to provide financial protection for retirees, the disabled, and widows and children have trust funds which are in financial trouble. Specifically, as of June, 2022, the main Social Security trust fund (OASDI) is expected to become insolvent in 2035. Medicare (Part A, the hospital fund) is expected to become insolvent in 2028, just 6 years away. The large 2023 COLA increase may advance the 2035 date for the main fund.
California voters consider ban on flavored tobacco: https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-california-campaigns-covid-eb2aaa303ed5ea50281c082d1a10f9b2 . This is selling death and disability, as far as I’m concerned.
Oklahoma City Apple employees unionize: https://apnews.com/article/health-new-york-business-oklahoma-city-3faca3dea5a53225f49f73a974a6d895 . The first two-thirds of the 20th Century was perhaps the height of union power in America. After that, corporations busted unions to the extent that the union movement retreated to the trades and government. Now, finally, the union movement is penetrating the white collar workforce.
Economists forecast a US recession: https://www.wsj.com/articles/economists-now-expect-a-recession-job-losses-by-next-year-11665859869 . At least 63% are now on board with something that in my view has been obvious for months. But they are forecasting an extremely mild recession. The news is so uniformly negative both globally and in the US that the recession will likely be noticeably deeper than this forecast.
Rising US heating bills: https://www.wsj.com/articles/higher-heating-bills-poised-to-hit-u-s-households-this-winter-11665805210 . Inflation will be with us for a while …
Mutiny on the HMS Tory: https://apnews.com/article/health-business-london-covid-economy-a3ab83f5a9eb2dcae0dc6a85dba86338 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-prime-minister-liz-truss-battles-to-hang-on-after-budget-u-turn-11665939908 . Doubts grow about Liz Truss’ understanding of government. Perhaps a strong slogan would help. “Truss is Uplifting”? No. Although true in general, she is a counterexample … “Conservative Government Needs a Truss”? Hmm, needs work …
Reaction to Xi’s speech opening Communist Party congress: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-10-16/reactions-to-xis-speech-opening-chinas-communist-party-congress . A key point is missing from the article. The emphasis on security is precisely the language Putin uses to justify his invasion of Ukraine. Together with Xi’s comments that a coming military build up could resolve the Taiwan question, one expects that Xi will try to absorb Taiwan during his third term.
WSJ: A key Russian failure in Ukraine was failure to control the skies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/failure-to-control-ukraines-skies-betrays-key-flaw-in-russias-war-strategy-11665915386 . While readers here have known this for months, the article provides some new details on how the air war has evolved.
WSJ: Will Russians open a second front from Belarus?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-troops-in-belarus-spark-fears-of-new-front-for-ukraine-11665925358 . Recall that Kyiv is not far from the Russian and Belarusian borders. This is an ominous development. Winter war preparations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-gets-help-bundling-up-for-frigid-winter-fight-11665928802 .