News for March 26 — The Disabled — Largest Minority Group

The disabled – largest minority group: https://www.prevention.com/health/a41248327/what-is-an-invisible-disability/ . An estimated 26% of Americans are disabled – including invisible disabilities. COVID has been a mass disabling event, because of long COVID.

Concentrated DDT off California coast: https://www.aol.com/news/scientists-uncover-startling-concentrations-pure-222417480.html . DDT now looks to be a forever chemical. It was dumped in huge quantities off the California coast.

Jim Cramer now thinks crypto is a “gigantic con”: https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/12/29981089/jim-cramer-says-crypto-is-a-gigantic-con-why-he-sold-bitcoin-ethereum-near-the-top-1 . This newsletter made the same call two days ago.

WSJ: Another risk to global growth: US bank failures: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-bank-failures-pose-risk-to-global-growth-1baafd89 . The much bigger issue is rising interest rates. However, these increases do raise reserving issues for banks that wish to lend. However, in general, lending money at higher interest rates is generally a good thing for banks.

Ukraine demands emergency UN meeting over Russia’s plan to put tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-belarus-tactical-nuclear-weapons-3aed32661ae3c218c59117d1ce593777 . Remember when we just used to say “saber-rattling”? Things are getting much more dangerous. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-warns-against-russian-threat-to-put-nuclear-weapons-in-belarus-fd94ae39 . Russia has attempted to compare this deployment with Western deployments, a position rejected by the West.

WSJ: The coming Ukrainian counteroffensive: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-offensive-takes-shape-with-big-unknowns-2f75f5ae .

WSJ: Pentagon wants Silicon Valley to join arms makers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-woos-silicon-valley-to-join-ranks-of-arms-makers-38b1d4c0 . Just so long as they don’t get into banking …

Fourth body recovered in chocolate factory explosion: https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-chocolate-factory-explosion-e4b3197a3cfa6d3a93a7519d83a7aa26 . No word yet on the cause of this explosion. UPDATE: The bodies of the three missing people have been found, bringing the death toll to 7 (link above has been updated to reflect the latest news). WSJ: More or less: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pennsylvania-chocolate-factory-explosion-leaves-four-dead-a0ea120c . At the time of this writing (1 am Eastern on 3/27), the Journal had still not updated its reporting beyond 5 total deaths.

WSJ: New York considers banning gas in new building construction: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-poised-to-ban-gas-stoves-in-new-buildings-as-part-of-all-electric-mandate-ad8bd655 . Buildings do explode because of gas leaks, so beyond the clean energy issue, there is a safety issue here.

March Madness 2023: Most upsets ever: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35959895/ranking-2023-men-march-madness-final-four . So after none of the 4 regional No. 1 seeds made the Elite Eight games yesterday and today (for the first time ever), the Final Four matchups next Saturday feature No. 4 UConn meeting No. 5 Miami and No. 5 San Diego State meeting No. 9 Florida Atlantic. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/san-diego-state-final-four-fau-uconn-f6f2e91c .