American long COVID cases grow: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-07-08/how-many-people-have-long-covid-the-statistics-are-pretty-scary . Over one-third of US patients develop long COVID, and over half of those are still experiencing symptoms.
California COVID tests near record positivity: https://deadline.com/2022/07/californias-covid-test-positivity-record-level-ba-5-1235060818/ .
Shanghai faces ongoing COVID spread: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-08/shanghai-faces-relatively-high-risk-of-further-covid-community-spread .
Israelis develop antiviral drug platform: https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/article-711343 . So a primary advantage of the mRNA vaccines is their ability to be adapted to new variants of a virus. The Israelis look to create a more adaptable antiviral drug development platform.
WSJ: California to make its own insulin: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-to-make-its-own-insulin-to-lower-cost-of-drug-11657309658 .
NY Fed president sees 2022 GDP growth below 1%: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-07-08/feds-williams-sees-growth-lagging-below-1-in-2022 . This is perilously close to recession. WSJ: Jobs report supports another 75 basis point increase: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jobs-report-could-keep-fed-on-track-for-0-75-point-rate-rise-in-july-11657287586 . Also, the rapid interest rate rises have every chance of shocking certain sectors into either much slower growth or contraction.
OJ White House counsel Pat Cipollone testifies before January 6 committee for 8 hours: https://www.rawstory.com/pat-cipollone-2657635805/ . Cipollone “did not contradict” prior witnesses: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3550694-logfren-says-cipollone-did-not-contradict-the-testimony-of-other-witnesses-in-meeting-with-jan-6-panel/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pat-cipollone-trumps-white-house-counsel-testifies-friday-11657285992 .
The nuts turn on each other: https://apnews.com/article/covid-technology-health-government-and-politics-new-york-cfb56a95aec23dddbabcf3ebbe839f05 . When you doubt everything, you detach yourself from external reality. It is more than ironic that in the cellphone age, the exploding volume of videos and recordings are resulting in less trust of reality. The functioning adult must combine critical analysis with trust. Those who refuse or are unable to do so are indeed being left behind by reality.
Colorado will not assist in enforcement of other states’ abortion restrictions: https://news.yahoo.com/colorado-secretary-of-state-we-will-stand-firm-in-blocking-extradition-of-women-who-travel-to-get-abortions-222108470.html .
World governments react to Shinzo Abe assassination: https://www.aol.com/news/reaction-shooting-japans-former-pm-044826631-114040759.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/japans-shinzo-abe-enduring-leader-who-bolstered-national-defense-dies-at-67-11657271996 . The Internet has united the lunatic lone wolfs of the world. It is the perfect mechanism to withdraw from reality into your own world of grievance. Those then emboldened to act out their grievances represent a clear and present danger to the rest of us.
Suspect’s home yields multiple homemade guns: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/homemade-guns-are-seized-raid-abe-shooting-suspects-home-police-say-rcna37260 .
Yes, Shinzo Abe is well-known internationally. But we have multiple gun homicides in this country every day. Why are we unable to act in a humane manner to solve this problem?
FBI fails to complete over 1 million background checks in 2020 and 2021: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-gun-background-checks-delayed-rcna36391 . So, over 11,000 people got guns that would have been denied if the FBI had completed timely checks. We can’t even enforce the puny gun controls we do have.
Musk terminates Twitter purchase; company will sue: https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-4193a27d86458952542dfa2176150a01 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/musk-says-he-is-terminating-twitter-deal-11657315905 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitter-elon-musk-deal-11657325525 . There is no question that Musk’s actions have damaged the company. A court order for specific performance (that is, Musk must buy Twitter) remains a real possibility unless Musk can show that Twitter materially misled him. Stay tuned.
Jayland Walker’s barbaric death: https://news.yahoo.com/barbaric-jayland-walkers-family-attorney-questions-fatal-police-shooting-231606189.html . How can police possibly justify over 60 bullet wounds in Walker’s body? Even if every bullet fired hit Walker, the 8 police firing each fired an average of 8 shots. Walker was unarmed. Police had reported to other pursuing officers that Walker had fired from the window of his car. A weapon was found in the car. However, police executed a man fleeing from a routine traffic stop.
Earth’s energy balance deteriorates: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/a-disturbing-shift-has-affected-earths-delicate-energy-balance-scientists-report/ar-AAZnGaA?li=BBnb7Kz . It’s not clear here that these folks are looking at the root of the problem. I am concerned about elements of the system where feedback loops are developing. The article mentions one such element – the disappearance of reflective ice and snow cover is increasing energy absorption, which leads to more loss of this cover.
Also, 93% of the absorbed energy is going into the oceans – but it is not staying there. The increasing number and strength of hurricanes, for example, reflects their movement over warmer waters. To me, it is way past time to begin actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which in turn will allow the planet to emit more of the absorbed energy.
WSJ: First test image from Webb telescope impresses: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nasa-reveals-dazzling-test-image-from-james-webb-space-telescope-11657310145 .