AI delivers empathy to healthcare: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-empathy-business-applications-technology-fc41aea2 . Weirdly, this makes some sense. For example, suppose you are speaking with a medical professional over the phone. They have an AI program which provides real-time suggested empathetic response on the professional’s computer screen. Isn’t this input likely to improve the quality of the response?
WSJ: Kaiser strike ends for now: https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/kaiser-permanente-strike-workers-return-35cde418 . I remain surprised that Kaiser has not figured out how to end this strike.
WSJ: Status of UAW strike: https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/uaw-talks-turn-to-key-battleground-jobs-at-future-battery-plants-ffba7186 .
The Hamas attack in southern Israel: https://www.aol.com/news/gunmen-homes-captives-abducted-gaza-164152372.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/barrage-of-rockets-fired-at-israel-from-gaza-strip-d5b2f05f . US concerned over intelligence failures: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/07/politics/us-officials-israeli-intelligence-concerns/index.html . The Hamas attacks on Israel came as a surprise. However, Israel is considered to have by far the best intelligence operation in the Middle East. So how did this happen? More: https://www.aol.com/war-israels-netanyahu-says-hamas-101737346.html . Still more: https://www.aol.com/news/hamas-attack-israel-unfolded-141228438.html . WSJ: Still more: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/after-attack-israel-wrestles-with-question-how-could-this-happen-aa6d539a . Right now, no one knows how this happened, but Iran is suspected of providing logistical support to Hamas.
WSJ: Where did FTX’s money go?: https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/sbf-trial-ftx-customer-money-missing-6ba13914 . Utter theft. No more, no less.
Centrist Republicans make move to bring back McCarthy: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/07/some-republicans-making-bid-to-bring-back-mccarthy-to-move-on-aid-to-israel-00120501 . WSJ: Can Steve Scalise unify the House GOP?: https://www.wsj.com/politics/steve-scalise-gop-house-speaker-a4623269 . Good luck with that. Can Jim Jordan become Speaker? Only if the “more moderate” House Republicans have gone completely insane (so I’m not saying it’s impossible).
WSJ: More on the life of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/how-nobel-winner-narges-mohammadi-squares-up-to-irans-leaders-c49fbb94 .
“Ring of fire” annular eclipse cuts across US next week (October 14): https://www.cnn.com/travel/annular-eclipse-ring-of-fire-where-to-go/index.html .
WSJ: Pastor runs theft ring from his drug recovery program, fences $3 million of Home Depot goods: https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/home-depot-tracked-a-crime-ring-and-found-an-unusual-suspect-ed31f6e8 .
WSJ: Oklahoma beats Texas 34-30 in the annual Red River Showdown: https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/oklahoma-texas-red-river-shodwon-brent-venables-91ed7d33 .
Dear WSJ: I told you so: Two weeks ago, this newsletter called out Notre Dame for its utter incompetence in losing to Ohio State, and the Journal for suggesting that Notre Dame could still be a playoff team. “Notre Dame will not be a one-loss team by the end of the season.” Today, Louisville beat Notre Dame 33-20 after rolling over them in the second half. Notre Dame is now 5-2 with 5 MORE GAMES left to play, including USC next week.
Also, two days later, the newsletter called out USA Today’s bowl projections, saying it was too damn early for this. I also made two predictions about forecasts that would not happen. One was forecasting Texas as a playoff team in the Rose Bowl. However, as noted above, Oklahoma beat Texas today. This doesn’t end, but severely damages, Texas’ chance to be a playoff team.