FDA authorizes second bivalent booster: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/fda-withdraws-authorization-older-covid-150110184.html . Those over 65 can receive a second bivalent booster four months after the first, the immunocompromised two months after. Also, FDA withdrew authorization for the older mRNA vaccines, so the bivalent vaccines now become the standard. FDA currently plans annual booster campaigns, with the vaccines updated to the variants then circulating. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/single-dose-of-omicron-targeting-vaccines-to-become-main-covid-19-shot-in-u-s-143c3ac0 .
New AstraZeneca COVID antibody treatment: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2023-04-18/astrazeneca-confident-new-covid-antibody-protects-against-known-variants . Readers may recall that AstraZeneca’s prior COVID antibody treatment, Evusheld, lost efficacy as new COVID subvariants appeared. AstraZeneca expects to have the new treatment approved by the end of this year.
New car smell cancer risk: https://www.pressrundown.com/health/study-links-new-car-smell-to-cancer-risk . It’s always something. Here, the materials in new cars emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) which are bad for you. Cars are hardly the only things around you that off-gas VOC’s. Residential or commercial construction or remodeling also often off-gas VOC’s. We just need to be aware of the risk, ventilate, and limit exposure.
Biden executive order to increase access to child care: https://apnews.com/article/biden-child-care-caregivers-executive-order-7e84b3a24ed80dc169823687456cd663 .
Questions about health risks of using PVC pipe in drinking water systems: https://www.beyondplastics.org/press-releases/beyond-plastics-pvc-plastic-pipes . We must take care not to replace lead pipe health risks with PVC pipe health risks.
Fox Not-the-News settles Dominion Voting defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-news-dominion-voting-systems-lawsuit-settlement/ . Additional details of the settlement are not known at this time. Dominion may have won a huge financial settlement, but American democracy has lost. The principle set by this case is that media organizations can intentionally lie for profit, as long as they pay off those injured when caught dead to rights. But who is paying for the damage to the US’s democratic institution? One hopes it is Orange Julius and his followers, but that outcome seems unlikely at this time.
If this game is now played by capitalist rules, the most effective solution would be economic boycott of Fox-Not-the-News’ 10 largest advertisers. Here is one list of 9: https://dropfox.com/advertisers/ . And another somewhat different list of 15: https://adage.com/article/media/beyond-mypillow-other-biggest-brand-advertisers-fox-news-revealed/2354321 . Here is an independent review of Balance of Nature, the leading (non-Fox) advertiser on the second list: https://illuminatelabs.org/blogs/health/balance-of-nature-review . Note that this company lists rather bizarre medical studies in support of its products, and has a 1.4 out of 5 Better Business Bureau rating.
Here is the BBB review for Relief Factor, which has a rating of 1.45 of 5: https://www.bbb.org/us/wa/kirkland/profile/online-retailer/relief-factor-1296-90002665/customer-reviews . So 2 of the major advertisers sell products with questionable behavior and poor customer service. Then there’s My Pillow …
My suggestion is that not only do you avoid doing business with the companies on these lists, but that you complain to the more reputable ones that you are disappointed with their financial support of Fox.
CNN’s Jake Tapper shows his disgust with Fox’s statement regarding the settlement: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/this-is-difficult-to-say-with-a-straight-face-jake-tapper-loses-it-when-reading-fox-statement-about-journalistic-standards/ .
Shaq served in FTX lawsuit: https://www.pressrundown.com/entertainment/shaquille-oneal-served-ftx-linked-lawsuit-after-3-month-chase . I would guess that the legal arguments will center on whether the various celebrities merely appeared in paid commercials (which they obviously did), or whether they endorsed crypto (which is where the due diligence argument comes in). Also, note that in the Dominion case, Murdoch admitted the various Fox-Not-the-News celebrity crooks endorsed OJ’s election lies knowing them to be false. That’s how we get to “actual malice”, since Fox’s lies about Dominion clearly did damage to their business.
WSJ: Most banks did not protect themselves against rising interest rates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/few-banks-are-hedging-interest-rate-risk-21ed1947 . This article explains this bizarre business failure by arguing that banks make more on loans in rising interest markets, offsetting their losses on long-term bonds. That is untrue on multiple levels. Many loans are at fixed interest rates (because borrowers have enough sense not to take the interest rate risk). But more importantly, the Fed raises rates to contract business activity. In that environment, there is less borrowing. The Journal continues to disappoint on understanding the basics of business economics.
WSJ: Reverse mortgage lenders struggle in rising interest rate market: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rising-interest-rates-brought-down-reverse-mortgage-lender-99207358 .
Pentagon explains Russian tank left at Louisiana truck stop for two days: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/pentagon-gives-statement-on-russian-t-90-tank-left-at-truck-stop . Ah, the world’s leading military in action … Meanwhile, the first US Bradley fighting vehicles are on the battlefield in Ukraine: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/pentagon-confirmed-first-bradley-infantry-194706751.html .
WSJ: Lockheed Martin says supply chain issues hampering resupply of Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lockheed-martin-lmt-q1-earnings-report-2023-db3de58 . Given the substantial Pentagon support of this effort, the company needs to solve these problems yesterday.
Fulton County DA indicates new criminal evidence, wants attorney for Orange Julius fake electors disqualified from case: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/fulton-county-trump-fake-electors/index.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/atlanta-prosecutor-in-trump-election-probe-seeks-to-disqualify-lawyer-58db60a2 .
DeMentis threatens to build state prison next to Disney World: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/desantis-threatens-build-prison-disney-world-1234716602/ . Would any sane person suggest building a prison in close proximity to the world’s most popular attraction for children? Would any sane governor threaten this against his state’s largest employer and largest source of tourist revenue? The dangers of DeMentis in charge of anything should become increasingly obvious to voters if and when he participates in a televised debate. Meanwhile, there are significant legal problems with punishing a specific employer for supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
UPDATE: Orange Julius, others pile in on Disney’s side: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ron-desantis-takes-flak-from-trump-other-republicans-over-battle-with-disney-5df01ae2 . So we didn’t have to wait for a debate for Ron to take incoming. It’s a small world, after all.
WSJ: McCarthy says text of debt ceiling bill coming: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kevin-mccarthy-has-plan-to-raise-debt-ceiling-and-republicans-have-questions-2988767c . Obviously, there is no agreement in the House GOP caucus on the contents of this bill. That makes it rather difficult to write text, don’t you think?
Tesla losing market share in China: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-faces-a-tougher-road-ahead-in-china-58bd6ce9 . Musk may be trying to pivot to battery manufacturing in China but car manufacturing in Mexico. That may not play well in either the US or China.
WSJ: Black teenager shot at wrong address recovering at home: https://www.wsj.com/articles/missouri-teen-who-was-shot-after-going-to-the-wrong-house-is-recovering-at-home-88c78197 .
Damar Hamlin medically cleared to return to pro football: https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-gm-says-damar-hamlin-is-fully-cleared-for-activity-and-working-out-with-the-team-151117151.html . Anyone who saw Hamlin collapse on the field is likely shocked by this development. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/damar-hamlin-news-cleared-bills-cardiac-arrest-d9f0e208 .
WSJ: Charles Stanley passes at 90: https://www.wsj.com/articles/charles-stanley-influential-pastor-dies-at-90-5b9e3cb2 . Dr. Stanley’s sermons continue to be televised on Sunday morning TV (along with pledge requests) even though he retired in 2020.