Human metapnuemovirus (HPMV) cases soar: https://www.prevention.com/health/a44038947/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-symptoms-treatment/ . So if the virus is not particularly infectious, why did cases soar this year? Enquiring minds want to know…
The US life expectancy problem: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/us-life-expectancy-problem-bigger-091059311.html . An MD performed this study, which does not seem to square with actuarial knowledge on this problem. Is this because we often look at working populations rather than the total population? Or has the MD done something technically incorrect in his study?
Abdominal fat impairs cognition: https://www.psypost.org/2023/06/new-research-indicates-visceral-fat-has-a-profoundly-negative-effect-on-cognitive-abilities-164382 . I’m surprised that this article says obesity is more prevalent in Asian societies and places the obesity rate there at 23%. My recollection is that the US population has an 80% obesity rate, with 50% morbidly obese.
WSJ: Brain cancer drug slows tumor growth: https://www.wsj.com/articles/treatment-breakthrough-for-an-intractable-brain-cancer-138402b9 .
Saudi Arabia cuts oil production by 1 million barrels: https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-opec-ap-news-alert-business-2bdc42bb8c85a99cdb0e23d0a8284d3f . So some inflationary pressures are outside our control. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-some-opec-members-clash-over-oil-production-quotas-87f43f0c .
Ukrainians again say counter-offensive is coming: https://www.aol.com/news/ukraines-military-urges-silence-ahead-170827373.html . So far, this is the most-announced attack with the least action in human history.
WSJ: Raids capture Russian troops in Russian territory: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-strike-kills-ukrainian-child-wounds-several-more-9b86289b .
WSJ: More on the India train crash: https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-train-crash-survivors-recount-crushed-railcars-dying-cries-for-help-dcb39840 .
DeMentis tries to out-OJ OJ: https://apnews.com/article/desantis-trump-criticism-2024-campaign-right-attacks-1258f3d15ae9683e85707c56a529ed79 . This political strategy is foolish, in my view. OJ voters do not care about policy because neither does OJ. Attacking OJ just means these voters are less likely to go for DeMentis if OJ, say, drops from the race due to, for example, criminal conviction. Also, Ron is not likeable. OJ needs to be attacked from the center, not the right, because Ron is currently promising even more turmoil than OJ. Again, foolish.
Chuck Todd to step down as anchor of “Meet the Press”: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/chuck-todd-meet-the-press-exit-kristen-welker-1235632401/ . I think this is the best Sunday morning talk program, and Todd has done an excellent job. I saw Todd’s exit statement a bit differently than Variety. Todd choked up only once, when he mentioned his promise “to be there for his family”. It seemed clear Todd has a personal motivation as part of this decision. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chuck-todd-to-be-replaced-by-kristen-welker-on-nbcs-meet-the-press-4239e43a .