Government Medicare drug negotiation targets: https://apnews.com/article/medicare-prescription-drug-negotiations-biden-inflation-2bf6775c3431111a2cd03fd033caefa7 . The 10 targeted drugs represent $50 billion in annual Medicare drug payments. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/expensive-drugs-from-pfizer-other-companies-targeted-for-first-u-s-price-negotiations-9942b20b .
Cancer cells transformed into muscle: https://www.sciencealert.com/aggressive-cancer-cells-transformed-into-healthy-cells-in-breakthrough . New pathways continue to emerge in humanity’s fight against cancer.
Common vaccines may lower Alzheimer’s risks: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/routine-vaccinations-linked-with-lower-alzheimers-risk .
Another eye drop recall: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/eye-drop-recall-know-113000884.html . Clearly, not every manufacturer is taking quality control seriously. Also note that retailers cannot legally sell the eye drops recalled here, as they contain illegal products.
The life-shortening effects of air pollution: https://www.aol.com/dirty-air-biggest-extrenal-threat-120552793.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/health/polluted-air-shortens-human-lifespans-more-than-tobacco-study-finds-bbcf8f48 .
WSJ: The US childcare crisis: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/as-pandemic-funds-expire-child-care-centers-struggle-to-survive-6cefdf5b . This service is critical to maintaining workforce participation. Its loss will increase demands for remote work arrangements.
WSJ: US job market: https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/job-openings-slip-in-latest-sign-labor-market-is-gradually-slowing-b1cd05f5 .
Chances of another Fed rate hike above 50%: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2023-08-29/marketmind-quietly-absorbing-one-more-fed-hike . Less than a week ago, the Journal “expert” said the Fed was done with rate hikes, and the question was when they’d start cutting. I said a hike was still in the cards, and rates would be held high into at least the second half of 2023. So far, I’m winning.
WSJ: Ambulance chasers descend on Maui: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/lawyers-descend-on-maui-after-historic-wildfire-15bfaaf5 .
WSJ: Hurricane Idalia coming to Florida: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/climate-environment/hurricane-idalia-storm-bears-down-florida-6a0d3401 . The storm now looks to come ashore as a Category 4 hurricane.
Welcome to the Moron States of America: https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981 . Let’s briefly think about this conservative-fueled garbage. The idea is to replace the ideas of the Founders, Abraham Lincoln and generations of American political thought with the fantasies of a narcissistic business failure who has no interest in anything other than himself. So that’s one more sentence than this manure deserves.
Back to sane programming … except to note, in the picture of the two fairgoers and the two conservatives, who the two worst-dressed people are. You know without looking, don’t you? But go ahead – you’re unlikely to see a jeans skirt and cowboy boots on anyone ever again.
WSJ: We don’t even understand Orange Julius: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trumps-free-speech-runs-up-against-courtroom-decorum-4a9dd0c4 . So, OJ is just running his standard playbook – whine in order to distract from the main event, which is that he’s on trial and likely to be convicted. The judges will give him enough rope to hang himself, then tighten the screws.
Steve Scalise diagnosed with multiple myeloma: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-majority-leader-steve-scalise-diagnosed-blood-cancer/story?id=102647885 . Sad news; best wishes for a full recovery. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/steve-scalise-undergoes-treatment-for-multiple-myeloma-2c2d4438 .
WSJ: Meta crushes China covert influence operation: https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-uncovers-largest-ever-chinese-influence-network-4e20be8e . This will be a long-term problem for the Internet.
Prehistoric bird thought extinct returns to wild: https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/29/prehistoric-bird-thought-to-be-extinct-makes-a-comeback-in-new-zealand-19412736/ .
Metallic spheres interstellar in origin: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/29/metallic-spheres-interstellar-origin-avi-loeb-finds/70699783007/ . These are very small meteor fragments, presumably shaped into spheres from the heat of entering the Earth’s atmosphere. However, the alloys show a composition not seen in this solar system.