Congress rescinds military vaccine mandate: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-spar-over-marijuana-energy-permits-in-defense-bill-talks-11670355641 . However, this continues to be a bad idea. Politics should not trump science or logic.
2022 flu shot effective: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-shots-influenza-very-good-match-this-season-cdc-says/ . So apparently the spike in hospitalizations is among the unvaccinated.
Pandemic lockdowns reduced twin births: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-07/pandemic-lockdowns-linked-to-decline-in-u-s-twin-births-study-suggests . This surprising connection comes from reduced access to fertility treatments, argue the authors. Their case convinces me.
US nursing shortage: https://apnews.com/article/health-business-covid-philanthropy-aarp-b1e359dec146d1c0246cfd9e4a08ac7f .
WSJ: New Alzheimer’s treatment gets mixed reviews: https://www.wsj.com/articles/alzheimers-treatment-thrills-investors-as-doctors-debate-effect-11670284776 .
DNA evidence for human consciousness: https://www.salon.com/2022/12/06/ancient-gave-us-a-gene-called-arc-and-it-may-explain-consciousness/ . So this is not exactly comforting. The article postulates that we may just be “virus-controlled meat bags”. It is possible this portion of our DNA came from a virus. However, the article indicates that all mammals have this DNA, and our consciousness clearly differs from other mammals. So, over millions of years, humans may have evolved to take maximum advantage of this virus residual. In other words, we are not virus-controlled meat bags.
WSJ: Juul settles over 5,000 lawsuits: https://www.wsj.com/articles/juul-reaches-settlement-of-over-5-000-lawsuits-11670374226 .
Ukraine strikes Russian military bases 300 miles from border: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-united-states-europe-european-union-a1a82a936964ee01b86e3502e16e9ff4 . The attacks raise serious questions about Russia’s ability to defend its own airspace. Ukraine has now followed up with additional attacks within Russia: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-8ade16c890a92e353f11cae01a01e498 . Russia is continuing its bombing campaign against Ukrainian civilians. So the Ukrainians have now escalated the war by hitting military targets well within Russia. However, Russia’s ability to respond is unclear, as other reports indicate Russia is running short of ammunition for its aerial attacks.
With the ground war slowed by winter, it is not surprising that the two sides would now focus on the aerial campaign. However, the US has tried to limit Ukraine from attacks within Russia by limiting the type of military equipment it has supplied. Ukraine has apparently decided to ignore those limits.
Why the yield curve inversion is a strong sign of a coming recession: https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20221206312/bank-of-america-stock-plunges-leading-selloff-in-shares-of-largest-us-banks . Note that the yield curve inversion just touched 86 basis points, the worst inversion since 1980. We have had 5 recessions since 1980. The coming recession continues to look relatively severe, certainly more severe than Wall Street is pricing in. More bad news: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/this-little-known-but-spot-on-economic-indicator-says-recession-and-lower-stock-prices-are-all-but-certain/ar-AA14V0cv?cvid=86f03447f49d4b5683bbd4ffe0a6a6c6 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/goldman-ceo-david-solomon-prepares-for-a-possible-recession-11670357873 .
WSJ: TSMC triples Arizona plant investment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tsmc-raises-arizona-chip-investment-to-40-billion-as-biden-visits-11670318568 .
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock wins re-election: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/raphael-warnock-wins-georgia-runoff_n_638fdd00e4b07530543ec866 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/warnock-walker-georgia-runoff-election-polls-11670279392 . The Democrats spent $400 million on this race. Warnock defeated Walker 50.7% to 49.3%. However, this election tells us all that almost 50% of Georgia voters would vote for an Orange Julius candidate with absolutely no qualifications to be in the US Senate: https://thecomeback.com/politics/herschel-walker-confused-senate.html . So don’t assume MAGA madness is over or democracy is no longer at risk.
GOP leadership snubbed by Capitol police families: https://news.yahoo.com/capitol-police-gold-medal-ceremony-mccarthy-mcconnell-family-snubbed-185612016.html . “Two-faced” is too generous a description of Kevin McCarthy or Mitch McConnell.
Jury finds OJ Inc. guilty on 17 of 17 counts of tax fraud: https://news.yahoo.com/new-york-jury-finds-trump-org-guilty-on-17-counts-of-tax-fraud-215144622.html . The fine of $1.6 million is relatively small, but real estate runs on loans. Presumably a felony conviction for financial fraud will make borrowing from banks or other traditional lenders very difficult. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-organization-convicted-of-criminal-tax-fraud-in-new-york-trial-11670360422 .
Other OJ legal troubles: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/us-courts-just-ruled-against-103056262.html .
Anderson Cooper’s take on OJ’s ramblings: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anderson-cooper-drunk-relative-donald-trump_n_638f5323e4b0411f9e7c7874 .
January 6 committee will make criminal referrals to DOJ: https://news.yahoo.com/january-6-committee-criminal-referrals-justice-department-173200958.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jan-6-committee-plans-criminal-referrals-chairman-says-11670351770 .
Meanwhile, Justice Alito proves once again that he lacks the intellectual capacity or judgment to be on the Supreme Court: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/justice-alito-jokes-black-santa-ashley-madison-supreme-court-arguments-rcna60168 . Alito continues to be a total embarrassment to thoughtful people.
Ted Cruz’ daughter may have tried to harm herself: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/police-called-to-ted-cruz-s-texas-home-for-teen-with-self-inflicted-wounds/ar-AA14ZLVY?cvid=b70806df27d34416a4756870228edc1f . This newsletter worried about those kids almost 2 years ago. So let’s hope Ted’s wife gets both kids into counseling tomorrow.
Reporter claims powerful evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald worked for the CIA: https://www.rawstory.com/lee-harvey-oswald-cia/ . It is way past time for the government to release its files on JFK’s assassination.
WSJ: World Cup 2022: Morocco defeats Spain in major upset: https://www.wsj.com/articles/morocco-spain-world-cup-penalty-kicks-bono-11670350410 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/morocco-spain-world-cup-penalty-shootout-achraf-hakimi-panenka-11670357956 .