Bird flu vaccination promoted: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-02-17/bird-flu-alarm-drives-world-towards-once-shunned-vaccines .
Turkey-Syria earthquake updates: Al Jazeera confirms the death toll of 46,000 we reported yesterday: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/2/18/turkey-syria-updates-death-toll-from-earthquakes-passes-45000 . WSJ: Syria receiving more aid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/earthquake-aid-flows-increase-into-northwest-syria-69b5f86f . The Journal reports a total of 46,400 confirmed deaths for the area, but uses an older Syria figure. The death toll from all reports suggests the number is now around 47,000 and still rising.
WSJ: Wagner claims advances toward Bakhmut but lack of ammunition: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-wagner-group-claims-advances-on-bakhmut-but-says-its-running-low-on-ammunition-215822cf . Apparently both sides agree that Wagner has been taking horrific casualties. As the recruitment of prisoners into Wagner has allegedly halted, it is hard to see how they will remain an effective fighting force in the future.
Russians take more losses in eastern Ukraine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/when-russian-troops-got-stuck-in-a-minefield-near-vuhledar-they-deployed-a-flamethrower-rocket-launcher-the-ukrainians-blew-it-up/ar-AA17EXFQ?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=39c9955b9306455aa3c4ac6817f5fb22 . The more obvious explanation for this rocket launcher not having a tank escort is that the Russians have already lost more than half of their tanks in eastern Ukraine. Still, the Ukrainians desperately need the promised Leopard 2 tanks.
WSJ: Kamala Harris calls out Russian war crimes in Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kamala-harris-says-russia-has-committed-crimes-against-humanity-94f65c82 . We’ve seen the video evidence. The West needs to clarify with China that its support for Russia will lead to its ostracism from the developed world.
WSJ: We publish opinion as fact, even when it’s logically inconsistent: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-war-in-ukraine-revives-the-westfor-now-2a7f78b8 . Sigh. The conservative movement embraces white supremacy. Therefore, the US will remain Eurocentric, according to conservative doctrine. The Journal becomes more pathetic with each passing day …
Pinpointing market irrationality: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-stock-market-has-been-flipped-upside-down/ar-AA17DHCj?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=d86661fa78984f13942a32b273b9a681 . This article does a good job of highlighting current irrationality in the stock market. Because the nature of gambling on momentum stocks is “first one out wins”, there is an increasing risk of market volatility. As we have previously discussed, there are now significant bets on this volatility. The point is, if those bets come in, stocks must be sold to cover them, which further increases volatility.
WSJ: Pennsylvania Senator Fetterman anticipates lengthy hospital stay: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sen-john-fetterman-set-for-lengthy-hospital-stay-b04139ac . Kamala Harris’ presence at the Senate will be needed to maintain the Democratic majority.
The OJ-DeMentis relationship continues its devolution: https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-ron-desantis-2659437362/ .
Former McConnell senior aide sentenced for concealing Russian contribution to Orange Julius campaign: https://www.axios.com/2023/02/18/gop-operative-sentenced-scheme-russian-money-trump-campaign . Is rampant corruption in the GOP still a story? Yes …
Is Florida the Fourth Reich?: https://www.alternet.org/florida-teacher-who-posted-viral-video-of-empty-library-shelves-fired-day-after-desantis-claimed-it-was-a-fake-narrative/ . Unless Florida can produce evidence the teacher faked or misrepresented this photo, a lawsuit would appear imminent.
Tesla’s “recall” appears highly justified: https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-injuries-fires-59d22dced75ec1ce6929c9dfb094524c . Musk’s drive in pushing a product to market creates great risk involving public safety issues. Mr. Musk’s excessive self-involvement is killing people. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-crashes-into-firetruck-in-fatal-accident-2af6bc60 .
In case you forgot, the US Supreme Court is really, really screwed up: https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/3864056-the-north-carolina-supreme-court-has-thrown-scotus-a-lifeline/ . This opinion piece properly describes the problem, although I disagree with the author’s solution. As the author notes, the North Carolina Supreme Court properly decided the original case. Having a Republican state supreme court override that decision is just wrong, plus it screws up North Carolina. The US Supreme Court needs to solve its own problem, that is, take the case on and affirm the North Carolina decision. Otherwise, the rule of law in this country will devolve further into partisan politics.
WSJ: Oregon coughs up a rare Lamborghini: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-super-rare-lamborghini-he-found-at-the-end-of-an-oregon-dirt-road-cd831b1 . Oregon is well-known as an almost perfect climate to maintain older cars. The details of the article suggest the owner gives himself way too much credit for declaring he was rehabilitating a “barn find”.
Jimmy Carter enters hospice care: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/18/jimmy-carter-to-enter-hospice-care-00083575 . Whatever one’s politics or opinion of his presidency, to me Jimmy Carter was unquestionably the finest ex-President in history. The many initiatives of the Carter Center, including the eradication of some diseases in Africa and an internationally recognized election monitoring program, have changed the world, strengthened democracy globally, and inspired many others by its phenomenal example: https://www.cartercenter.org/ . Carter’s long-term involvement in Habitat for Humanity is also noteworthy. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jimmy-carter-to-receive-hospice-care-at-home-4311ccf9 .
Tiger makes Genesis cut, despite earlier reports: https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/35681576/tiger-woods-1-miss-cut-genesis-invitational . As this article explains, play was called for darkness on Friday. When play resumed Saturday, not enough of the remaining players reached even par to exclude those at 1 over. From there, Tiger shot one of the best third rounds of the field and now sits tied for 26th. His round of 67 was 4 under par, his best round to par since 2020: https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/35689986/tiger-woods-cards-4-67-best-round-par-2020 .