US leading causes of death: https://www.foxnews.com/health/these-are-10-leading-causes-death-us-adults-cdc . Sadly, USAFacts and/or Fox can’t do basic math. Total deaths are 3.46 million. The top 3 causes of death total 1,717,653, which is 49.6% of the total and so not a majority. Gee, there’s a quality control problem at Fox …
Older adults dominate COVID hospitalizations: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/older-adults-make-thirds-covid-hospitalizations-year-cdc/story?id=103749710 . The percentage of hospitalized patients over 65 has risen from 45.9% last year to 62.9% this year. There could be a bit of a feedback loop here. As those over 65 make up over 80% of COVID deaths, persons in this age category may now be hospitalized over less severe symptoms than previously.
Weight loss drugs cause rare but severe stomach problems: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ozempic-wegovy-linked-severe-medical-conditions-stomach-problems-study-rcna118823 . Stoach paralysis has been previously reported.
Kaiser strike causes surgery cancellations: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/surgery-medical-procedures-are-delayed-kaiser-strike-patients-say-rcna118861 . This is no surprise, of course. However, I am surprised Kaiser has been unable to settle this strike. This will likely cause some of their group and individual customers to seek other coverage at their next renewal.
Woman’s sweat turns blue during pregnancy: https://www.today.com/parents/pregnancy/chromhidrosis-blue-sweat-pregnancy-rcna118649 . This medical condition is rare but real.
WSJ: FDA plans to regulate lab test market: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-proposal-casts-cloud-over-startups-in-lab-testing-market-57702b2f .
New Mexico human footprints at least 21,000 years old: https://apnews.com/article/human-footprints-new-mexico-ancient-white-sands-33e086dac71d4054cd5f5122810a73bf . So when and from where did people first come to North America? More: https://www.inverse.com/science/when-did-humans-come-to-north-america-study .
Day care operators plead not guilty to murder: https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspects-plead-guilty-fentanyl-death-baby-new-york/story?id=103749821 . Much like yesterday’s discussion of the Michigan school shooter’s parents, the obvious charge is negligent homicide. Here, the conduct involved is almost unbelievably dangerous. Murder charges are justified. I also think this case could be charged as felony murder – that is, when someone is killed in the commission of a felony, all of the perpetrators are guilty of murder.
WSJ: FTX bankruptcy details: https://www.wsj.com/finance/ftx-employees-found-alamedas-secret-backdoor-months-before-collapse-7f983fcd . The prosecution contends SBF ordered secret programming giving Alameda Research access to the funds of FTX customers. More: https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/sam-bankman-fried-trial-ftx-prosecutors-fb641885 .
US fighter jet shoots down armed Turkish drone over Syria: https://abcnews.go.com/International/us-f-16-fighter-jet-shoots-armed-turkish-drone-syria/story?id=103758981 . So the US describes the drone as Turkish while the Turks say it’s not theirs. Surely both sides know the true answer here. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/world/u-s-jet-shoots-down-turkish-drone-over-syria-21634844 .
Putin says hand grenade fragments found in bodies from Prigozhin’s plane: https://apnews.com/article/prigozhin-wagner-plane-crash-hand-grenade-putin-3e60c6214ef1a6c0a859021b1f6c9056 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/putin-says-grenade-fragments-found-in-wreckage-of-prigozhins-plane-209942e5 . Putin is a lousy liar. Let’s apply logic here. Western intelligence believes the plane was brought down either by a surface-to-air missile or a bomb onboard. Putin adds a third version, a hand grenade. First, all three versions show Prigozhin was assassinated, and the intent was to kill more people than just Prigozhin. The bomb on board seems to be the most logical way to take the plane out. This act killed not only Prigozhin but all of Wagner’s top leadership. The hand grenade would not necessarily take down the plane, and it requires someone to pull the pin and commit suicide. Putin’s version is a stupid choice for bringing down the plane.
Federal court chooses new Alabama congressional district map: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4240225-court-picks-new-alabama-congressional-map-that-heightens-black-voting-power/ . The Alabama legislature’s attempt to defy the Supreme Court order in this case has now come to an end.
WSJ: Hawaiian Electric tries to BS regulators that they had a plan for wildfires: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/climate-environment/hawaiian-electrics-ceo-told-congress-it-had-a-wildfire-plan-that-was-news-to-regulators-73f9d604 .
WSJ: Biden restarts border wall construction: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/biden-administration-to-resume-border-wall-construction-in-policy-reversal-7ff41d2e . This is of course a waste of money as Biden has said. Why did he waive the federal laws standing in the way of construction? Why not just tie this up in court? It appears to be politics rather than sanity.
Nikki Haley now Orange Julius’ main competitor in New Hampshire as DeMentis fades: https://www.aol.com/news/nikki-haley-emerges-donald-trumps-134730984.html . So, OJ has 49% to Haley’s 19% in New Hampshire, the prime target state for those who wish to dump OJ. At present, it is doubtful that convictions will stop the GOP base from nominating OJ. I continue to view this as mass insanity.
OJ lawyers seek to delay prosecutions with specious arguments: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-asks-to-put-off-mar-a-lago-documents-trial-until-after-election-b0243ffa . Gawd … the president’s official duties cannot possibly include actions involving overthrow of a valid election. Each of the judges involved must consider sanctioning the defense attorneys.
IRS places lien on Rudy Giuliani’s penthouse: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/irs-places-lien-rudy-giulianis-021456503.html . Rudy is having very serious cash flow problems. I seriously doubt he is worth anything like $100 million.
Ex-campaign treasurer for George Santos pleads guilty to a fraud conspiracy: https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-nancy-marks-4d249e9d5e83fd25ed1a19a9e13d3246 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/george-santoss-former-campaign-treasurer-expected-to-plead-guilty-ed118ead . Meanwhile, Representative Santos remains in Congress although DOJ charged Santos in this and other matters in May: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/congressman-george-santos-charged-fraud-money-laundering-theft-public-funds-and-false . The GOP is utterly corrupt. No wonder the House Democrats stayed away from bailing out Kevin McCarthy.
What is the RFK Jr. threat to the presidential election?: RFK Jr. expected to announce independent candidacy October 9: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/how-rfk-jr-could-hurt-biden-trump-2024-election-with-independent-bid-2023-10-03/ . This is believable, as presumably his campaign has leaked the October 9 date. RFK Jr. could draw 15% of the vote: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-10-05/rfk-jr-could-draw-one-in-seven-us-voters-in-2024-presidential-election-reuters-ipsos-poll . So this is bull. The poll is an online poll with 1,005 respondents, and we’re more than a year before the election. However, a draw of as much as 5% could sink Biden; remember Ralph Nader? RFK Jr. has zero chance of winning the election. But he could sure as hell screw it up.
WSJ: Cornel West is also out there: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/cornel-west-slams-biden-trump-and-runs-as-2024-independent-d44a2af5 . And my view is, he is indeed out there – way out there. But he is also more likely to siphon votes from Biden than from Orange Julius.
Baseball playoffs continue after 4 sweeps in the wild card series: https://www.aol.com/mlb-playoff-matchups-teams-stack-163606398.html . Um, yawn. One hopes the next round produces better baseball.
Dick Butkus passes at 80: https://www.nfl.com/news/dick-butkus-hall-of-fame-linebacker-and-bears-legend-dies-at-age-of-80 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/dick-butkus-dies-obituary-nfl-chicago-bears-e295e885 .
Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to a Norwegian, Jon Fosse: https://www.npr.org/2023/10/05/1203690242/norwegian-playwright-jon-fosse-wins-the-2023-nobel-prize-in-literature . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/nobel-prize-in-literature-awarded-to-norwegian-author-jon-fosse-231ff605 .