Gender-affirming care advocates speak up: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-endocrine-society-evidence-fdb8562c . As readers know, I have considerable distaste for the Journal’s penchant for publishing anti-science conservative trash. At least WSJ printed a responsible letter calling them out. Will the Journal consider returning to more responsible journalism?
WSJ: Mental and physical peak ages: https://www.wsj.com/articles/heres-when-we-hit-our-physical-and-mental-peaks-3b0f9a01 . My sense is that “use it or lose it” is important in staying at or near peak performance.
CTE diagnosed in female professional athlete for the first time: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/04/australia/australia-cte-female-athlete-health-scn-intl-hnk/index.html . There certainly was no reason to think CTE was specific to males. Sadly, this is now verified.
Drone targets Southern California mosquitoes: https://apnews.com/article/mosquitoes-viruses-drones-california-497f435e177b2c14aed9b3693d922c17 . Drones can be important tools in combating this health threat.
WSJ: We don’t understand why older people invest in stocks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/it-isnt-just-boomers-lots-of-older-americans-are-stock-obsessed-ca069e1a . Good grief! This question is more complex than the author or the article’s contributors understand. A few points about the historical comparisons: (1) Baby boomers are living longer and healthier than prior generations – this moves back the date for increased conservatism; (2) The wealthiest (who hold a disproportionate share of the assets) plan to pass assets to their kids. The assets they plan to pass are being invested for the kids, which means a much longer time horizon.
(3) Many Boomers have significant assets outside the stock market, in particular real estate. With rentals, VRBO, AirBnB and so on, many of those investments throw off significant cash as well as tax advantages. All of the factors just named lead to more stocks versus bonds than prior generations.
WSJ: The insane pay of the highest-paid CEO’s: https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-ceos-who-pull-in-more-than-100-million-a-year-8409afe0?mod=hp_lista_pos2 . While I understand the concept of incentive options, couldn’t the annual payout be capped at, say, $50 million across all organizations? I just don’t think any one individual in a large organization should be paid these ridiculous amounts.
WSJ: Bank consolidation may be coming: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bank-deals-are-back-on-the-table-getting-one-done-could-be-messy-3d77a2b2 . With over 4,000 US banks and increased regulation, this has to be true.
WSJ: We catch up on US-China industrial relations: Chips: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-chip-industry-grim-but-defiant-as-new-u-s-sanctions-loom-73789348 . More on computing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-looks-to-restrict-chinas-access-to-cloud-computing-to-protect-advanced-technology-f771613 . Minerals: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-restricts-exports-of-two-metals-used-in-high-performance-chips-a649402b . This newsletter provided reports from other media sources yesterday, with these items part of the transition to the “two axes” supply chains now developing. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-latest-export-controls-prompt-countries-to-explore-supply-chain-diversification-318e74d1 .
Taiwan candidate for president speaks out: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-plan-to-preserve-peace-between-china-and-taiwan-candidate-election-race-war-7046ee00 .
WSJ: US funds foreign police operations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/law-enforcement-police-developing-countries-856c41e2 .
WSJ: We like to babble about President Biden: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-biden-goes-silent-at-some-key-moments-702478dc . The answer is, He has a brain, listens to his advisors and knows when to keep his mouth shut. This is a welcome contrast to the orange narcissist the Journal so dishonestly supported. The Journal would do better to follow Joe’s example and take a nice warm cup of shut the hell up.
Both sides accuse the other of plotting Zaporzhzhia attack: https://www.aol.com/russia-ukraine-accuse-other-plotting-201107098.html .
WSJ: Putin tries to reassure allies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-seeks-to-project-strength-abroad-in-wake-of-wagner-uprising-8505d886 .
Ukraine war splits Russian emigrants in Germany: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-ukraine-war-is-tearing-apart-the-wests-largest-russian-diaspora-283839bd . It’s interesting that so many Russians ended up in Germany.
WSJ: Is a US-Russia prisoner swap in the works?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-discusses-prisoner-swaps-with-u-s-66ee7212 .
WSJ: A summary of the House GOP lunacy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-are-republicans-biden-probes-headed-and-is-impeachment-possible-91413956 . The Journal dances around the central point: 2½ years into these investigations, there is no evidence of anything, just recycling of now-stale and apparently baseless allegations. Perhaps WSJ should rename as WSP – the Wall Street Panderer. The new initials are also more in line with their point of view.
Reducing Orange Julius: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trumps-summer-indictments-got-worse-last-week-rcna92363 . More: https://www.salon.com/2023/07/04/major-sleazebag-lashes-out-at-special-counsel-jack-smith-in-late-night-truth-social-post/ . Every cook knows that the way to reduce a slimy liquid is by putting it on a slow boil. There is growing expectation that Jack Smith will file additional document charges in New Jersey, which will not only give Smith a more favorable venue than South Florida but also rein in the questionable Judge (Loose) Cannon. https://www.rawstory.com/jack-smith-donald-trump-2662225160/ .
Challenging the Supreme Court: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/arizona-attorney-general-kris-mayes-tells-u-s-supreme-court-to-shove-it/ar-AA1dmNF7?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=12e8f2dd00c144abb294c1bfd522711b&ei=89 . This is not wise. The proper approach, as previously discussed, is to ask the Court for a rehearing based on recent evidence that there is no case or controversy here. Challenging the ruling first with an actual case is likely to lose, and it extinguishes the case or controversy issue unless the Supreme Court will reconsider the original case at that time. That is much less likely than the direct reconsideration approach.
Federal judge blocks part of Florida’s new election law: https://www.aol.com/news/federal-judge-blocks-two-parts-000707567.html . What was DeMentis doing that he was too busy to attend class at Harvard Law School? Attending Klan rallies?
Kari Lake’s book is a dud, too: https://www.rawstory.com/kari-lake-book-flops/ . As usual, there is something more disgusting beneath the surface here, which the media fails to recognize. Note that the NRCC spent $400,000 on DeMentis’ book, which they then used to raise money from GOP donors. You may also recall that DeMentis’ net worth has tripled based on the strength of his book sales. Doesn’t this mean that donor money (that’s what funds NRCC) has been funneled into DeMentis’ pocket? Yes, of course it does.
WSJ: Meet Pavitr Prabhakar, India’s Spiderman: https://www.wsj.com/articles/spider-mans-pavitr-prabhakar-based-on-peter-parker-drives-india-wild-179508d2 . Great stuff. The cultural changes made to fit India’s young audience are quite interesting. And be sure to watch the short clip to meet the character.
Yesterday was the hottest day ever globally: https://www.aol.com/news/world-registers-hottest-day-ever-155017176.html . Obviously, global warming not only continues but appears to be accelerating. It seems likely that we will break this record again this summer. The world must do more to address this existential threat now.
Joey Chestnut wins Nathan’s contest for 16th time: https://abcnews.go.com/US/joey-chestnut-wins-16th-hot-dog-eating-contest/story?id=100664133 . Somehow bizarre eating behavior qualifies as a sport. Chestnut made $500,000 last year and has a net worth of about $4 million: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12259781/Inside-Joey-Chestnuts-4-MILLION-net-worth-competitive-eater.html . His occupation is “competitive eater”, and his income comes from those competitions and endorsement deals.
Minor leaguer steals home to tie game, with 2 out in the bottom of the ninth: https://thecomeback.com/mlb/minor-league-kahlil-watson-steals-home-marlins.html . This is the play of the year so far, even if it is in the minor leagues. Watch the whole clip, because the end shows how daring the steal was.
I hope each of you had a wonderful Fourth. Remember, the US Founders gave humanity its greatest gift toward freedom of the individual. Yes, the country enslaved people, almost exterminated the Native Americans (mostly through European diseases), and still has plenty of problems. But the dream of personal self-determination was sparked around the world, and has yet to die out.