Updated booster shot reduces hospitalizations: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/updated-booster-shot-prevents-majority-covid-hospitalizations-older-ad-rcna62073 . More: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/overnights/3778636-health-care-new-cdc-data-backs-up-bivalent-booster-potency/ . Yes, Republicans continue to suffer worse consequences from COVID than Democrats because of lower vaccination and booster rates. I am reminded of a convicted January 6 insurrectionist: “I can’t believe I’m going to jail for an NFT salesman.”: https://www.salon.com/2022/12/16/capitol-rioter-cringes-at-stunt-i-cant-believe-im-going-to-jail-for-an-nft-salesman_partner/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-nft-digital-trading-cards-bring-in-millions-of-dollarsand-gop-ridicule-11671216029 .
Omicron subvariants continue US rise: https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2022-12-16/cdc-bq-xbb-responsible-for-3-out-of-4-coronavirus-cases .
Current COVID protection advice: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/how-to-protect-yourself-and-your-family-from-covid-this-winter-010829674.html . So this advice is basic and should be well-known to readers. However, it may be useful to provide to those less familiar with the basic protocols. Reminders are also an effective antidote to COVID fatigue.
Major progress reported on an HIV vaccine: https://www.gq.com/story/hiv-vaccine-progress .
China faces over 1 million COVID deaths: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-16/new-covid-model-predicts-over-1-million-deaths-in-china-through-2023 . Again, this is mass murder.
Meanwhile, China is not reporting COVID deaths, but they’re already happening: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-16/chinese-capital-beijing-reports-first-covid-deaths-since-policy-easing . WSJ: Excess deaths in Beijing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-crematoriums-death-surge-points-to-rising-covid-toll-in-china-11671219181 .
Medicare Advantage oversight shortcomings: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/12/12/1141926550/medicare-advantage-plans-overcharged-taxpayers-dodged-auditors .
WSJ: Will China improve its business environment?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-pro-business-shift-may-prove-fickle-11671196051 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-shows-more-pragmatismand-less-ideologyon-economy-11671205971 . However, the Journal is apparently oblivious to the coming catastrophic failure of the reopening.
WSJ: Russia continues barrage of Ukraine’s power grid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-targets-infrastructure-across-ukraine-in-latest-barrage-11671181559 .
House approves bill creating self-determination for Puerto Rico: https://apnews.com/article/referendums-puerto-rico-b96884274da9c970e710b6d7d2f65a4d .
WSJ: Japan beefs up its military: https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-to-build-a-more-powerful-military-citing-china-as-its-no-1-menace-11671177530 . This undoubtedly comes from US encouragement.
WSJ: Meanwhile, the US moves to arm Taiwan: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-upgrades-ways-to-arm-taiwan-against-china-with-new-legislation-11671214690 .
Sources: January 6 committee will refer criminal charges against Orange Julius to DOJ: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jan-6-committee-preparing-trump-criminal-referral-doj/story?id=95440940 . Given the dramatic information revealed by the hearings, the criminal referral is a likely climax to this proceeding. But other sources say a decision has not been made.
WSJ: Will the public see Orange Julius’ tax returns next week?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-tax-returns-may-be-released-after-house-panel-meets-tuesday-11671220933 .
Accountants step away from crypto proof of reserves: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/12/16/binance-proof-of-reserves-auditor-mazars-pauses-all-work-for-crypto-clients/ . You may recall Mazars’ involvement with (and departure from) OJ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazars . It strikes me that these people do not stand behind their work. Isn’t that a major problem for an auditing firm? WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/binance-says-accounting-firm-pauses-work-for-its-crypto-clients-11671200654 .
SBF’s high school senior prank: Phony $100 bills with his face on them: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sam-bankman-fried-attended-top-162449232.html . Once again, truth is stranger than fiction. Stephen Colbert noted last night (Thursday) that the FTX bankruptcy was not that surprising from a guy whose name sounds like “Bankman Fraud”.
WSJ: Information sharing on the FTX bankruptcy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ftx-managers-explore-information-sharing-deal-with-bahamian-officials-11671209442 .
WSJ: The latest Musk kerfuffle: https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitter-suspends-accounts-of-several-journalists-11671165191 . Musk simply does not grasp the issues associated with a social media platform. You can’t be a “First Amendment absolutist” and then suspend journalists on the platform for publishing public knowledge on your whereabouts.
North Carolina Supreme Court rejects GOP voter ID law, gerrymandered electoral map: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-12-16/north-carolina-high-court-rejects-voter-identification-law-electoral-map . This NC crap has reached the US Supreme Court multiple times. Bottom line, it has been the long-term policy of the NC GOP to discriminate against minorities. They are unwilling to come into the 20th Century, let alone the 21st.
New JFK files suggest CIA is hiding its methods rather than blockbuster assassination information: https://news.yahoo.com/newly-released-jfk-documents-point-to-what-the-cia-was-hiding-002728388.html . Of course, the conspiracy theorists will tell you that’s what the CIA wants you to believe.
WSJ: What’s ahead in fusion development: https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-will-fusion-be-ready-for-prime-time-watch-these-three-numbers-11671159158 .
Huge Berlin aquarium bursts: https://apnews.com/article/berlin-245c16f6e6481b1739f7db1de000edf1 . Offhand, it is not at all obvious how this aquarium burst. The freezing temperature theory seems wrong, because the aquarium is heated (it contains tropical fish). If it’s an acrylic tank, it would not make shards of glass or plastic; that must be from damage in the hotel and mall. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/giant-aquarium-in-berlin-bursts-injuring-two-11671190362 . The Journal says the tank was made of plexiglass. But that doesn’t explain the shards either.