Grumpy Editor

STORES CONCERNED ABOUT GROWING THEFT

Retailers are concerned about growing theft at stores, notes Grumpy Editor.

“It’s an industrywide trend,” Macy’s Chief Executive told analysts this month.

 

In the industry the swiping is called shrink.

 

“Theft is growing at a faster rate than sales,” said Dean Rosenblum, senior retail analyst at Bernstein Research.  It is starting to affect margins, he added.

 

In efforts to combat the problem, Macy’s, for example, is using radio frequency identification tags in tracking inventory, adding more security personnel and securing high-end brands with locked cables and sensors.

 

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HALF THE WORLD DUE TO BE OVERWEIGHT BY 2035.  Half the world will be overweight by 2035, warns the World Obesity Federation.  That means more than four billion people will be obese unless preventitive measures are implemented.

 

MEN NAILED FOR LEAVING STORE WITH MUCH BABY FORMULA.  Two men nailed shoplifting at a Georgia grocery store had an estimated $26,000 worth of baby formula in their car.  Seems they left a store near Atlanta with backpacks filled with cans of formula. Police found 662 more cans of formula inside the car.

 

NORDSTROM LEAVING CANADA.  Nordstrom, the luxury department store chain, is liquidating operations in Canada — closing 13 stores and laying off about 2,500 workers.

 

VAST VANDERBILT ESTATE SOLD.  The Vanderbilt estate --- on 40 acres of gardens on Long Island, N.Y. --- sells for $8 million.  It’s about the same size as the White House with 55,000 square feet and 106 rooms, the largest shingled-style home in the United States.

 

NORTH KOREA COMES UP WITH UPTEEN ANNOUNCEMENT.  In another periodic announcement, North Korea claims almost 800,000 people signed up to join or volunteer for the military to fight against U.S.  

 

INDIANA SCHOOLS SHELVE HANDWRITING.  Schools in Indiana are abandoning teaching children handwriting in favor of showing them how to type.  Individual schools will no longer be required to instruct pupils in longhand from the age of eight.  So now it’s only print.

 

NEW TITLE ON DAILY NEWSPAPER.  Remember when newspaper editorial room staffers only had titles such as managing editor, city editor, sports editor, etc.?  The Los Angeles Times just announced the newly-created editorial position of senior vice president for content business strategy.

 

U.S. SENDING $171 MILLION TO VENEZUELA.  The U.S. on Friday pledged more than $171 million in humanitarian assistance and development funding at a donor conference to help Venezuelans impacted by the South American country's economic and political crisis.  Some seven million people have fled as a result of the crisis in Venezuela in recent years.

 

OLDEST FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYER.  Linda Sinrod, of Lorton, Va., was a figure skater before becoming enamored with hockey at age 35 after a friend asked her if she wanted to try the sport during a visit to a frozen pond. Now she’s the world's oldest female hockey player, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

 

FRENCH BULLDOG GAINS NO. 1 SPOT IN U.S.  The American Kennel Club announced that after a record 31-year reign, the Labrador Retriever has been eclipsed as the most prevalent purebred dog in the U.S. by the French bulldog. The sturdy, push-faced, perky-eared, world-weary-looking and distinctively droll French bulldog became the nation’s most prevalent purebred dog last year.

 

TAX FILING TIME FACES CPA SHORTAGE

Tax filing time is approaching and there is a CPA shortage, notes Grumpy Editor.

The profession that thrives on numbers is now having a problem seeking people to tangle with numbers.

The Wall Street Journal points out 150 college credit hours are required to become a certified public accountant.

The shortage of accountants in the U.S. has firms boosting salaries  and sending work abroad, it adds.

Would-be CPAs need to attend college for five years to amass 150 hours of college credit required to get  licenses.

The Journal cites some in the field say the extra time and expense in schools “are keeping  students from entering the field.”

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FALSE NEWS IS SPEEDY.  A MIT study finds false news online reaches people about six times faster than the truth and falsehoods are 70 percent more likely to be retweeted on Twitter than the truth.

U.S. MOVIE SCREENS DECLINE.  The number of movie screens in the U.S. declines to 39,007 last year from 41,172 in 2019 while the North American count slips to 42,063 from 44,283.

GM OFFERS BUYOUTS.  General Motors is offering buyouts to most of its U.S. salaried workforce and some global executives in an effort to trim costs as it makes the transition to electric vehicles.  GM has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.

WORLD’S OLDEST LIVING DOG IS 30+ YEARS.  Bobi, a farm dog in Portugal, set a Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest living dog --- 30 years and almost 300 days. He is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo.

WOMAN MARINE BECOMES SERGEANT MAJOR.  U.S. Marines welcome Joy Kitashima as the first woman to become sergeant major of III Marine Expeditionary Force.  She is based in the Pacific.

HAWAII VOLCANO ERUPTION ENDS.  Most recent eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano stops after 61 days, note  scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.  Volcanic activity was confined to the crater’s floor.

CAMPBELL’S SOUP SALES RISE 12 PERCENT.  Campbell's Soup sales rise 12 percent for the quarter ended Jan. 29, topping analysts expectations.  Sales were led by popular brands Goldfish crackers and Pepperidge Farm cookies.

 

 

NEW WORD APPEARS IN WEATHER STORIES

A new word — graupel — worked into weather stories during the past week, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

It’s a German word referring to soft hail or snow pellets.

 

It forms when supercooled water droplets in the air freeze on falling snowflakes.

 

Graupel is distinct from hail and  ice pellets in both formation and appearance. However, both hail and graupel are common in thunderstorms with cumulonimbus clouds.

 

Got that?

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WOMAN SLATED TO BECOME ONE-STAR ADMIRAL.  Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, first woman to command a U.S. aircraft carrier, is slated to become a one-star admiral.  A 1994 graduate of the Naval Academy, she earned a master’s degree from the Naval War College and was designated a pilot in 1996.

 

GM CUTTING 500 SALARIED WORKERS.  General Motors is cutting about 500 salaried employees.  The auto maker seeks to cut costs while it prepares to roll out several new models this year.

  

MAN VISITS DISNEYLAND 500 DAYS IN A ROW.  Jeff Reitz likes to visit Disneyland.  He has visited the California amusement park nearly 3,000 days in a row.  That’s every day for eight years and about four months.

 

FRAUDULENT NURSING CREDENTIALS.  Three Florida schools are accused of selling thousands of bogus diplomas. Medical licensing officials in multiple states are scrambling to stop nurses with fraudulent academic credentials from caring for patients.

 

LIZ CHENEY BECOMES PROFESSOR.  Former Rep. Liz Cheney, the Wyoming Republican noted for her criticism of former President Donald Trump, is joining the University of Virginia's Center for Politics as a "professor of practice." 

DOG SLEEPING ON BED ABOARD AIRLINER DRAWS ATTENTION.  Picture of a dog sleeping on a lie-flat bed in business class of an airliner attracts much world-wide attention.  The South American flight shows the medium-size dog with its head on a pillow and resting comfortably .

NORDSTROM LEAVING CANADA.  Not seeing "a realistic path to profitability," Nordstrom is closing operations in Canada.  It involves 13 department stores and 2,500 workers.

SOME AMERICANS FALL BEHIND ON CAR PAYMENTS

Some Americans are falling behind on their car payments, notes Grumpy Editor.

An analysis by Moody’s Analytics reveals 9.3 percent of auto loans to people with low credit scores were at least 30 days behind on payments at the end of 2022.

A shortage of vehicles resulted in a jump in car prices.

Many borrowers took out higher loans to meet the increased price tags.  Thus, it was more difficult for some to keep up with payments.

Borrowers who took out big loans at the height of the boom owe more than their vehicles are worth.

So they are falling behind in their payments.

 

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HOUSING MARKET VALUE DROPS.  In the last half of 2022, the value of the U.S. housing market shrank by the most since the real-estate bubble popped in 2008, notes Bloomberg.  After peaking at $47.7 trillion in June, total value of U.S. homes declined by $2.3 trillion, or 4.9 percent, in the second half of 2022, tallies a real estate brokerage.

ALMOST THE SAME HEADLINE OVER THE YEARS.  For years, since after the Korean War, this headline appears, at least on a weekly basis.  From: Saturday newspapers…"North Korea test-fires missiles.”

U.S. TROOPS TO TAIWAN.  The U.S. is preparing to send 100 to 200 troops to Taiwan for training amid rising tensions with China. The Michigan National Guard also will train a contingent of the Taiwanese Army.  

WHITE HOUSE MESS REOPENS.  On March 6 the White House mess will open for in-person dining for the first time in President Biden’s White House.  The wood-paneled room with a nautical theme has been closed since the winter of 2020 under COVID restrictions.

BUT IS IT REFLECTED ON YOUR BILL?  Natural gas prices have dropped moe than 65 percent since mid-December.  That’s the lowest level since 2020’s pandemic lockdown.

ANOTHER JOURNALIST IS KILLED IN MEXICO.  A Mexican news photographer dies after being stabbed and beaten in an attack in Ensenada, a popular destination of tourists from California.

DOGS AND CAR WINDOWS TRIGGER REACTION.  Proposed Florida legislation to ban dogs sticking their heads out of car windows when vehicle is in motion gets animal lovers upset.

MILITARY SERVICE NOT ACTIVELY SOUGHT BY YOUNG PEOPLE

Seems few young people seek to go into the military these days, notes Grumpy Editor.

The Army wrapped up 2022 as the worst recruitment year in decades.

It fell about 15,000, or 25 percent, short of its 60,000 recruitment goal last year. 

In efforts to reverse the decline, the Army is promoting new programs plus advertising as it seeks 65,000 recruits this year.

One incentive gives Army recruiters bonuses up to $4,500 a quarter if they exceed their baseline enlistment requirement.

Maybe the military draft should return.

 

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ROLLING IN THE DOUGHnuts.  Krispy Kreme had a banner year in 2022. It sold a record-breaking 1.6 billion doughnuts sold in grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.

AGREEMENT TO END HARPER COLLINS STRIKE.  Harper Collins Publishers’ striking union members approved a tentative agreement ending a more than three months walkout and will return to work tomorrow.

SOUTH, NORTH KOREA CONTINUE BATTLE OF WORDS. Over the years, South and North Korea have been battling each other with words.  Latest has South Korea calling North Korea “our enemy.”

U.S. GAMBLING REVENUE BREAKS RECORD.  Commercial gambling revenue in the U.S. last year — more than $60 billion — broke the previous record  of $53 billion set two years ago.  Figures do not include revenue from tribal-owned casinos.

GOLDEN STATE’S POPULATION DROPS.  California’s population dropped by more than 500,000 between April, 2020 and July, 2022.  Primary reasons for the exodus are high housing costs, long commutes, crowds, crime and pollution.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER SUSPECT DIES UNDER CAR.  A woman accidentally ran over a man suspected of trying to steal her truck's catalytic converter in Palmdale, Calif.  The suspect later died. Deputies said the woman had fallen asleep in the truck when she heard sawing underneath. She turned on the vehicle, backed out of the space and felt a bump.

CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE OVERDUE, WARNS L. A. TIMES

Following the major earthquake in Turkey-Syria, the Los Angeles Times warned a major shaker is overdue in California, notes Grumpy Editor.

It mentioned an earthquake the size of the one that made headlines last week would bring devastation and death to Southern California, citing "A quake as strong as magnitude 8.2 is possible on the southern San Andreas fault and would bring disaster to all of Southern California simultaneously, with the fault rupturing from near the Mexican border to Monterey County.

“Such an earthquake would cause widespread damage from Palm Springs to San Luis Obispo — and everything in between,” it added.

Among the impacts, the report mentioned:

• Death toll could be among the worst for a natural disaster in U.S. history: nearly 1,800.
• Los Angeles County could suffer the highest death toll, more than 1,000, followed by Orange County, with more than 350 dead.
• Nearly 50,000 could be injured.
• Main freeways to Las Vegas and Phoenix that cross the San Andreas fault would be destroyed.
• Some 500,000 to 1 million people could be displaced from their homes.
• Southern California could be isolated for some time, with the region surrounded by mountains and earthquake faults.
• Major utilities such as gas, power and cell service would likely be severely compromised.

California’s most famous earthquake was the epic 1906 shaker from the San Andreas fault that smacked San Francisco.

 

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BEER SALES SOAR WITH SUPER BOWL GAME. For the Super Bowl game yesterday, it is estimated that nearly half (47 percent) the viewers purchased beer for the high viewership match.

 

NORTH KOREA SHOWS OFF LONG-RANGE NUCLEAR MISSILES.  A North Korea military parade showcased many long-range nuclear missiles to illustrate the country is producing missiles than can cross the Pacific.

 

WOODPECKERS STORE 700 POUNDS OF ACORNS IN HOME.  A pair of woodpeckers in Sonoma County, California, stored a massive 700 pounds of acorns in the walls of a home.  The birds entered through a hole in the attic.

 

GOLDEN RETRIEVERS FLOOD STREETS IN GOLDEN, COLO.  Over 1,000 Golden Retrievers gathered in appropriately-named Golden, Colo., and strolled the streets for an annual event called “Goldens in Golden,” which honors National Golden Retriever Day.

 

WORLD WAR II BOMB EXPLODES IN ENGLAND.   A World War II bomb exploded in Great Yarmouth, England, on Friday as workers attempted to defuse it.  Luckily, no one was injured in the unplanned detonation.

 

AUTO RENTALS REGAIN STRONG DEMAND.   Hertz Global Holdings reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, aided by strong demand for rental cars with improved hotel and airline bookings.

ABUNDANT RAIN IS GOOD NEWS FOR CALIFORNIA FARMERS

 

Californians are hoping that after three of the driest years in history, winter storms that brought an abundance of mountain snow will result in replenishing reservoirs with spring melting, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

Several reservoirs already are above historic averages.

 

Snowpack is more than twice the normal for this time of year, reports the California Department of Water Resources.

 

Snow water equivalent in the San Joaquin River basin is at the highest level in decades for this time of year.

 

So much rain water flowed into Folsom reservoir, near Sacramento, that it prompted release from the dam.

 

The abundant precipitation is good news for farmers and their crops.

 

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NAVY SHIPS FACE MAINTENANCE DELAYS.  U.S. Navy ships are encountering growing maintenance delays and costs.  That means fewer steaming hours, a troubling trend that comes at a time when the U.S. is struggling to keep pace with China’s growing fleet.

 

DR. PHIL TO DEPART TALK SHOW. "Dr. Phil” McGraw, TV daytime psychologist, plans to wrap up his talk show later this year after 21 years on the air.  “With this show, we have helped thousands of guests and millions of viewers through everything from addiction to marriage to mental wellness and raising children," he says.

 

FUNGAL INFECTIONS INCREASE WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES.  A January study shows warmer temperatures are being cited as the culprit behind an increase in dangerous fungal infections. Exposure to higher temperatures may prompt some disease-causing fungi to evolve faster to survive.

 

RALPH NADER STARTS NEWSPAPER. Consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, 88, is starting a newspaper --- the Winsted Citizen --- in his hometown in northwest Connecticut.  He says he is determined to do something about the “news desert” crisis in local journalism.

 BOEING 747 PRODUCTION ENDS.  Boeing delivered its last commercial 747 last week --- more than 50 years after the iconic airplane helped change air travel. The 747, the world's first twin-aisle passenger jet, came to symbolize the era in which mass travel by air became commonplace.

 UK ENTRY FEE AIMED AT AMERICANS.  U.S. travelers to the United Kingdom soon will have to pay an entry fee. The "permission to travel" fee requirement is aimed at those seeking to visit the area without a visa. 

MORE TREES CITED FOR LOWER TEMPERATURES.  Planting more trees in urban areas could help lower temperatures in cities, say researchers who add they could tackle rising heat-related deaths as climate change drives thermometers up.

 DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON DECLINE.  Data published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, find Americans’ consumption of alcoholic beverages on a steady decline since 1995, with 7.9 billion gallons consumed in 2020. Gallup finds the average number of drinks Americans consume in a week has been falling over the last several years, from 4.8 in 2009 to 3.6 in 2021.

 

To contact Grumpy Editor:  GrumpyEditor@cox.net

BEING A JOURNALIST OUTSIDE THE U.S. IS RISKY

It’s dangerous being a journalist overseas, notes Grumpy Editor.

Driven largely by attacks in Ukraine, Haiti and Mexico, 67 news media workers were killed around the world last year, up 50 percent from the previous year, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists. That’s the highest number since 2018.

 

The CPJ pointed out that 35 of the 67 killings took place in Ukraine, Mexico and Haiti.

 

Ukraine is a high danger area.  Fifteen news workers were killed there last year.

 

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TIPPING GETTING ATTENTION.  An Associate Press story reveals “across the country, there’s a silent frustration brewing about an age-old practice that many say is getting out of hand: tipping.”  It pointed out that “some fed-up consumers…wonder are we going to be tipping our doctors and dentists, too?” 

 

BUTTERFLIES GET FEDERAL AID.  California’s declining monarch butterflies are getting millions of dollars in federal aid.  A grant through the Monarch and Pollinator Highway Program aims to conserve habitat for butterflies, insects and other pollinators.

 

DYING AT HOME ACCELERATES.  Something triggered by Covid?  The proportion of Californians dying at home, rather than in a hospital or nursing home, accelerated during the pandemic, a trend that has outlasted the rigid lockdowns linked to the initial shift.

 

MEXICO FROWNS ON SMOKING AT BEACH.  In Mexico, smoking on the beach and other public places now could cost puffers a $500 fine.

 

WASHINGTON POST LAYS OFF 20 STAFFERS. In a rare move, The Washington Post laid off 20 people and will not be filling 30 vacancies. The number of layoffs was smaller than many staffers had anticipated.

 

CAN JOURNALISTS BE TRUSTED?   The annual Edelman Trust Barometer report, by international PR firm Edelman, reveals journalists are among the least trusted groups — and news sources remain widely distrusted.

 

POPULAR DOG NAMES OF THE YEAR.  The American Kennel Club reveals the most popular dog names for 2022:

Female:

1. Luna
2. Bella
3. Daisy
4. Lucy
5. Willow
6. Penny
7. Sadie
8. Maggie
9. Rosie
10. Ruby

Male

1. Max
2. Milo
3. Cooper
4. Charlie
5. Teddy
6. Tucker
7. Buddy
8. Bear
9. Rocky
10. Leo

 

 

 

WITH WATER, FISH GET PREFERENCE IN CALIFORNIA

When it comes to water, fish get preference over humans in northern California — and that is causing a stir, observes Grumpy Editor.

Bipartisan lawmakers say too much of the state's stormwater, stored to protect imperiled fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, is flowing to the Pacific rather than being pumped to reservoirs and aqueducts.

Legislators, many from drought-starved agriculture regions of the Central Valley, in strongly-worded letters have implored state and federal officials to relax environmental pumping restrictions that are limiting the amount of water captured from the delta. 

“When Mother Nature blesses us with rain, we need to save the water, instead of dumping it into the ocean,” Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) wrote in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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NUMBER OF FIREARMS IN TRAVEL BAGS GROWS.  Lots of firearms --- most of them loaded --- show up in travel bags at airports.  The Transportation Security Administration last year discovers a record of more than 6,500 firearms in carry-on bags during security checks at 262 airports.  That's the highest number since the federal agency was founded 22 years ago.

GAS-ELECTRIC CORVETTE SPEEDY.  General Motors' first Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, it's first gas-electric hybrid Corvette, also will be the fastest version of the sports car.  It can go to 60 miles an hour in 2.5 seconds.  Price tags start at about $104,000.

RECORD SIZE TOAD.  Australia’s Conway National Park captures a cane toad that weighs nearly six pounds, making it possibly the largest on record.  Because of its size, it is labeled Toadzilla.

OLDEST LIVING DOG.  Marking a Guinness World Record, the world's oldest living dog is Spike, a 23-year-old chihuahua mix in Camden, Ohio, that enjoys crunched up Doritos, walks and Saturday baths.

WARMING UP.  A report in Journal Nature notes temperatures on the Greenland ice sheet are the warmest in at least 1,000 years.  Scientists find between 2001 and 2011, average temperature was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than it was during the 20th century.

HIGH SCHOOL BRIGHT SPOT IN TOWN.  Lights in a large regional high school in Wilbraham, Mass. have been on around the clock for a year and a half.  Software that runs the 7,000 lights in the building failed in August, 2021, running up the bill for illumination.

BEAVERS RETURN AFTER 400 YEARS.  Two beavers are released in the southern English county of Hampshire. It’s labeled a “truly historic event because it marks the first time in 400 years beavers are in the area.  They were extinct for centuries in many parts of the continent after being hunted for their fur and meat. 

ALL ABOARD.   Husband and wife buy a bus for their dog walking business in Alaska.  Activity has grown so now the bus has a load of canine passengers that head for a daily adventure.  

 

LAST YEAR THIRD MOST COSTLY WITH CLIMATE, WEATHER DISASTERS

 

Climate and weather disasters last year resulted in about $165 billion in damage, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

That’s the third most costly year since 1980, tallies the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

NOAA says 18 disasters — from wind storms to floods — hit the U. S. in 2022. 

 

Extreme weather periods are costly when they strike developed population centers, putting more people in harm’s way.

 

 

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BACK TO THE OFFICE FOR DISNEY STAFFERS. It’s back to the office for Walt Disney Co. workers.  Employees are told they would have to work four days a week, Mondays through Thursdays, from a Disney office starting March 1. 

 

RETIREES RATE FLORIDA TOPS FOR RETIREMENT.  Florida is the most popular destination for retirees.  It is followed by North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona and Georgia.  About one in eight retirees who relocated out of state reported doing so to cut housing expenses. 

 

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FINES CITY NATIONAL BANK.  City National Bank is accused by the Justice Department of discrimination by refusing to underwrite mortgages in predominately Black communities.  It is requiring the Los Angeles-based bank to pay $31 million — largest redlining settlement in department history.

 

DRUG PRODUCERS PRIORITIZE MEDICINES.  Drug producers are prioritizing complex biotech medicines over treatments that can be given as pills because recent U.S. legislation gives biologics a longer runway before becoming subject to government price limits, say top industry executives.

 

UKRAINIANS TRAINING AT FORT SILL.  Ukrainian troops this week at Fort Sill will start training on the Patriot missile defense system.  It's to prepare the Ukrainians to use the Patriot system, which the U.S. is giving to them.

 

BALMY WEATHER TRIGGERS CHERRY BLOSSOMS.  Warm weather is making cherry blossoms appear early this year in Tokyo.  The blossoms are attracting visitors and photographers well ahead of usual peak time in late March and early April. 

 

 

MANY ACCOUNTANTS, AUDITORS EXIT THE FIELD

 

Many accountants and auditors around the country are calling it quits, observes Grumpy Editor.

 

In the past two years more than 300,000 — a 17 percent decline — left their jobs, according to The Wall Street Journal.

 

“The exodus is driven by deeper workplace shifts than baby-boomer retirements," it points out.  “Many college students don’t want to work in accounting.  Even those who majored in it.”

 

A recruiting firm director mentions  “the field still suffers from a stigma that it is uncool, with tedious work and daunting hours.”

 

 

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HOUSE DRAMA LIFTS C-SPAN RATINGS.  Speaker drama in the House of Representatives last week boosted C-Span’s television ratings.  First day of the new Congress was watched by 379,000 households, a hefty 161 percent increase from opening day of the prior Congress, according to a viewership tracker.

 

U.S. ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES GROW.  Electric vehicle sales in 2022 rose to 807,180 from 490,456 in 2021.  That accounts for 5.8 percent of all vehicles sold, up from 3.2 percent a year prior.

 

WORLD POPULATION UP 0.9 PERCENT IN YEAR. Entering the new year, the Census Bureau puts the world population at 7.9 billion, marking a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.

 

HOME RUN BALL SELLS FOR $1.5 MILLION.  Baseball player Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball, caught by a fan on Oct. 4, sells to an anonymous buyer at auction for $1.5 million.

 

PUTIN’S ANNUAL NEWS CONFERENCE SHELVED.  Russian president Vladimir Putin, in a ritual designed to polish his image, scrubs his annual year-end news conference following a series of setbacks in Ukraine. 

 

NEVER TOO OLD TO WRITE.  Joan Donovan donned a cap and gown for a private graduation ceremony outside her Florida home to celebrate earning her master's degree in creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University...at age 89.

 

D.C . MEMORIAL TO HONOR WORLD WAR II WOMEN.  A memorial, set to be built in Washington, will commemorate the millions of World War II women who took over jobs — ranging from pilots to letter carriers —  traditionally held by men.

Grumpy Editor is taking a holiday break, will return Jan. 9.

COLDER THAN EXPECTED WINTER MEANS HIGHER HOME HEATING BILLS

The “once in a generation” winter storm smacking a chunk of the U.S. will result in higher heating bills in coming days, notes Grumpy Editor.

Average home heating cost is projected to jump a hefty 17 percent from last winter,  according to a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

Those with homes relying on natural gas heating will spend an average of 25 percent more this winter, projects the U.S. Energy Information Administration while those using heating oil are projected to spend 45 percent more.  Electricity users face an 11 percent hike and propane the least, at one percent. 

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U.S. ADDS 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN 2022.  The U.S. population expanded by 1.2 million people this year, with growth largely driven by international migration.  The nation now has 333.2 million residents, according to estimates.

BIRD FLU OUTBREAK BOOSTS EGG PRICES. An avian-influenza outbreak is driving egg prices to new records.  The disease, hitting all states, has killed millions of egg-laying chickens and turkeys.

“MADE IN CHINA” LABEL FROWNED ON.  World Trade Organization arbitrators conclude the U.S. was out of line in requiring Hong Kong-made  products to be labeled “Made in China.”

HOME SALES SLIDE FOR 10TH STRAIGHT MONTH.  Existing home sales in November across the country slid for a 10th straight month.  Potential buyers are pushed out of the market by home prices and high mortgage rates.  

BARNES & NOBLE TO ADD 30 STORES.  With robust customer demand, Barnes & Noble plans to add 30 stores next year.  All booksellers are getting a sales boost from people turning to books while confined to homes.

D.C. METROBUS RIDES TO BE FREE.  In an effort to increase ridership and reduce road congestion, the District of Columbia plans to make its Metrobus service free for all passengers.  Not included are subway and rail services.

POSTAL SERVICE AIMS TO BUY ONLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES.  The U.S. Postal Service plans to buy only electric delivery vehicles starting in 2026.  USPS plans to spend $9.6 billion over the next five years updating its fleet.

GRUMPY EDITOR WISHES A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

ACTIVISTS CONCERNED ABOUT PROPOSED MINE NEAR ENDANGERED NEVADA WILDFLOWER SPECIES

 

Endangered items cited by activists always grab attention of media, observes Grumpy Editor.

Latest is a wildflower, Tiehm’s buckwheat, found only in a section of Nevada’s Esmeralda County.

 

Activists are concerned because a proposed lithium mine is slated to be built on much of the plant’s limited habitat and wipe out the species.

 

Ioneer, an Australian mining company, proposes a 1,000-foot deep open pit lithium mine where much of the buckwheat’s habitat lies.

 

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EARTH EXPERIENCES 5TH WARMEST FALL.  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports Earth had its 5th warmest autumn on record.  It also mentions last month was the ninth warmest November in 143 years.

ROBBERS IMPERSONATE FBI AGENTS.  Washington D.C. police are actively investigating a case where four people in tactical gear impersonated FBI agents during an armed robbery at a home. 

MOVIE THEATER ATTENDANCE DROPS.  Movie theaters, hit with COVID around the country, see b0x office action drop 34 percent from this time in 2019.  Analysts are hopeful things will improve in 2023 and beyond. 

MILITARY HOUSING ALLOWANCE RAISED.  The Pentagon plans to raise military housing allowances in the U.S. by 12 percent on average next year. It’s the largest year-over-year jump in housing allowances in many years.  The payments to about one million service members will total an estimated $26.8 billion.  

SOME DARK CHOCOLATE CONTAINS HEAVY METALS.  Consumer Reports says some kinds of dark chocolate contain potentially dangerous amounts of heavy metals.  Measuring the amount of heavy metals in 28 popular brands of dark chocolate bars, cadmium and lead is found in all. 

PARIS TOP DESTINATION CITY.  A report by British market research company Euromonitor places Paris as the world’s top city destination this year.  Here are Euromonitor’s top 10 ---

1. Paris 
2. Dubai 
3. Amsterdam 
4. Madrid 
5. Rome 
6. London
7. Munich
8. Berlin 
9. Barcelona
10. New York

 

IT’S BEEN A DANGEROUS YEAR FOR JOURNALISTS

The International Federation of Journalists says 67 journalists and media staff have been killed around the world so far this year, up from 47 last year, notes Grumpy Editor.

An Associated Press report also mentions the Brussels-based group tallies 375 journalists are in prison for their work, with the most in China, Myanmar and Turkey. Last year’s report lists 365 journalists behind bars.

 

With the number of media workers killed on the rise, the group called on governments to take more action to protect them and free journalism.

 

“The failure to act will only embolden those who seek to suppress the free flow of information and undermine the ability of people to hold their leaders to account, including in ensuring that those with power and influence do not stand in the way of open and inclusive societies," declares IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.

 

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WORDLE POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD.  Google’s most searched term globally:  Wordle. The daily word game has found mass appeal. It stems from software engineer Josh Wardle in 2021.  

 

OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP.  The U.S. Air Force leads the way on Operation Christmas Drop in delivering essentials to remote Pacific islanders — something it has been doing for seven decades. The U.S. Air Force this year is joined by air force crews and aircraft from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

 

NAVY ACCEPTING LOWER ENLISTMENT SCORES.  To bolster enlistment numbers, the  U.S. Navy is accepting recruits who score in a lower qualifying range on entrance exams as service leaders grapple with a complicated U.S. job market.

 

L.A. NOT AS BRIGHT AT NIGHT.  Los Angeles has become darker at night with  7,000 street light outages.  Most outages are due to copper wire theft— and the city lacks the budget to repair the outages.

 

UROLOGIST LABELED MOST STRESSFUL JOB.  There are many stressful jobs in the workforce but the most stressful in the U.S. is urologist, a medical position focused on the genitourinary systems.  But it pays around $208K a year.

 

HALF OF CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS HAVE COVID.  A cruise ship, The Celebrity Eclipse, is reported to have half of its 3,420 passengers Covid-positive. It docked at Sydney, Australia.

LOOKING FOR FUN?  Here's how U.S. cities rank.   

Top 20 Most Fun Cities in America 1. Las Vegas, NV 11. Cincinnati, OH 2. Orlando, FL 12. Tampa, FL 3. Miami, FL 13. Fort Lauderdale, FL 4. Atlanta, GA 14. Portland, OR 5. New Orleans, LA 15. Denver, CO 6. San Francisco, CA 16. San Diego, CA 7. Austin, TX 17. Washington, DC 8. Honolulu, HI 18. Houston, TX 9. New York, NY 19. St. Louis, MO 10. Chicago, IL 20. Los Angeles, CA

WHITE COLLAR WORKERS HIT BY RECENT LAYOFFS

 

Recent layoffs have smacked white-collar workers the hardest, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

“Demand has fallen sharply for profesionals in technology, legal, scientific and finance fields,” notes The Wall Street Journal.

 

Amazon. com, for example, is cutting roughly three percent of its staff.  That translates to about 10,000 workers in its retail, devices, human resources and other divisions.

 

Salaried and office staff also are being hit at Ford Motor Co. and Walmart.

 

 

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NEW YORK TIMES STAFFERS EYE WALKOUT.  Chairman of the guild representing New York Times staffers, advises the newspaper’s publisher that “if there is no contract by Dec. 8, we are walking out.”  That will involve more than 1,000 employees.

 

MORE WOMEN IN GOVERNOR POSITIONS.  Going into the new year, a record number of women will hold governor positions.  Four newcomers join eight already in that post.

 

‘GASLIGHTING’ IS WORD OF THE YEAR.  Merriam-Webster names “gaslighting” word of the year.  It means behavior that is grossly misleading or downright deceitful.

 

WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE TO FADE.  On Christmas Day The Washington Post is ending the print version of The Washington Post Magazine. The magazine has 10 staffers.  Those positions will be eliminated.

 

NEW FLYING WING AIRCRAFT DEBUTS. A B-21 Raider, first new long-range bomber in more than 30 years, debuts in Palmdale, Calif.  At a $750 million price tag, the B-21 boasts a futuristic flying-wing design and can fly deep behind enemy lines evading detection --- and could eventually fly without a pilot.

 

DOG SAVES OWNER IN HOUSE FIRE.   Kansas man, asleep in his bed, credits his dog with saving his life in a house fire.  With a portion of his house engulfed in flames, his whimpering six-year-old pit bull nudged his head.  Both escaped the flames.

 

CANINES FAVOR ELECTRIC CARS.  In other canine news --- after observing 20 dogs on short journeys in electric and diesel vehicles, researchers find they were more restless in diesel.  They also note dog heart rates are reduced up to 30 percent in electric cars.

 

NOW THERE’S A SHORTAGE OF BOMB-DETECTING DOGS

 

The pandemic has complicated a shortage of dogs needed in bomb detection work, notes Grumpy Editor. 

 

The U.S. draws about 90 percent of its detection canines from overseas, particularly from European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands. Dogs receive advanced training in a number of subspecialties, including bomb and drug detection, and search and rescue.

 

“The canine nose is the best technology we have for locating explosives, so we need to have a very consistent and high-quality source of dogs,” says Sheila Goffe, vice president of government relations at the American Kennel Club.

 

In 2016 testimony, Cindy Otto, executive director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania, warned the Senate Homeland Security Committee about these risks. “By outsourcing our national security requirements, we give up control of the type of dogs, the health of the dogs, and the early training of the dogs,” she said.  “We also are at risk for supply interruption due to politics, disaster or disease.”

 

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OVERBOARD SHIP PASSENGER RESCUED.  A 28-year-old man spends hours in Gulf of Mexico waters after falling overboard from Mexico-bound Carnival Valor about 10p.m. Wednesday.  Coast Guard rescue crews pulled the man to safety six hours after receiving word of the overboard passenger.  Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves says the man did not have a flotation device and survival at sea without one is unlikely.  "It makes it more miraculous that we were able to find him conscious and treading water," he points out. 

 

WORLD'S OLDEST LIVING CAT.  Flossie, at nearly 27 years old, is named the world's oldest living cat by Guinness World Records. The female feline lives in London and is in good health but has poor eyesight and is deaf.

 

TOKYO TOPS LARGEST CITIES LIST.  Largest city in the world in population is Tokyo:  37,435,181 at last count, estimates the United Nations. In second place is New Delhi, India, followed by Shanghai, San Paulo, Mexico City, Cairo and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

 

MARILYN MONROE ITEMS TO BE AUCTIONED.  More than 175 of actress Marilyn Monroe's personal belongings will  be auctioned Dec. 17 and 18 in Hollywood.  Among the items is a note from her father, Stanley Gifford.

 

BRITISH FISHERMAN LANDS MASSIVE CARP.  U.K. fisherman Andy Hacket, after a 25-minute battle, pulls in a massive carp that weighs 67.4 pounds from a lake in the Champagne region of France. The massive carp looks like an irregular-size goldfish.

 

AIRPORT AGENT SPOTS LIVE CAT IN BAG.  A JFK New York TSA agent spots a live cat trapped inside checked luggage and rescues the orange tabby from the bag headed for a flight to Atlanta.  A TSA spokesperson says the cat did not belong to the person with the suitcase.

 

AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES DOMINATE "BEST" LIST.  U.S. universities dominate the just-published “2022 Ranking of the Best Universities in the World” with 234 institutions listed.  It notes Harvard University hosts the highest number of leading scientists in the world --- with 2113 scholars.

GLOBAL POPULATION HITS 8 BILLION, SAYS THE U.N.

The United Nations reveals global population hits eight billion and India is expected to surpass China as the most populous country in the next year, notes Grumpy Editor.

Global population has more than tripled since 1950 as mortality dropped and life expectancy increased, due in  large part to better sanitation, access to clean drinking water and the development of vaccines and antibiotics, along with improved nutrition, adds the U.N.

It points out between 1990 and 2019, human life expectancy at birth increased by almost nine years to age 72 but people in the poorest nations died about seven years earlier than the global average due to high levels of child and maternal mortality, war and the HIV epidemic.

Although humanity is larger than it has ever been, the world population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950 as families have fewer children while the population is expected to peak at 10.4 billion in the 2080s and remain at that level into the 2100s, according to U.N. projections.

Life expectancy fell by a year to 71 in 2021, due in large part of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic --- still, people born in 2050 are expected to live until age 77 on average, the U.N. adds.

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NORTH KOREA INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE ABLE TO STRIKE U.S. MAINLAND.  North Korea fires one of the most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles it has ever launched with the potential trajectory to strike the U.S.  mainland.  The Communist nation has fired at least 88 ballistic and other missiles this year.

GANNETT CONTINUES TO SLASH COSTS.  Gannett’s news division, in the third move to slash costs in the last six months, on Dec. 1 and 2 is set to inform those affected by another round of layoffs.  

FIVE MOST POPULAR NAMES FOR DOGS AND CATS.  Rover finds we gravitated to similar pet names this year. Top five most popular names for canines are Max, Charlie, Cooper, Milo and Buddy.  For cats, it’s Luna, Bella, Daisy, Lucy, and Lily. 

 

U.S. PARTS FOUND IN DOWNED DRONES.  Intelligence collected from downed Iranian drones in Ukraine shows most of the parts are manufactured in the U.S., Europe and other allied nations, reveals The Wall Street Journal.

JUDY WOODRUFF TO DEPART NIGHTLY PBS NEWSHOUR.  PBS NewsHour lead anchor Judy Woodruff is leaving Dec. 30 and will embark on a two-year reporting project focusing on the nation’s divisions.  She has held her nightly job since 2013.

OWL STUCK IN PICKUP GRILLE IS RESCUED.   Wildlife rescuers in Colorado’s Colorado Springs area remove a great horned owl embedded in the front grille of a pickup truck.  The owl is recovering.

SALMON ROUTE GETS A BOOST.  A U.S. agency seeking to restore habitat for endangered fish gave final approval to decommission four dams straddling the California-Oregon border.  The removal is expected to improve the health of the Klamath River, the route Chinook salmon and endangered coho salmon take from the Pacific Ocean to their upstream spawning grounds.

AIRPOWER MISSES MARK.  All branches of the military are falling far short when it comes to keeping an array of war planes and attack helicopter fleets "mission capable," according to a government watchdog report.

GLOBAL TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO RISE

Global average temperature continues to rise, along with the sea level and record-breaking glacier melting in Europe, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

From 2013 to 2022, the global average temperature was an estimated 1.15 degrees Celsius (34.05 degrees Farenheit) above 1850-1900 levels, according to the U.N. agency's provisional State of the Global Climate in 2022 report.

 

"We just had the eight warmest years on record," the U.N. agency revealed, and “the global average temperature in 2022 is about 1.15 °C above the pre-industrial level.”

 

In the last eight years, melting glaciers and warming water have combined to push sea levels o.4 of an inch higher, tallies the World Meteorological Organization.

 

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NEW YORK’S ROCKEFELLER PLAZA TREE ARRIVES.  You know Christmas is getting closer when a crane hoists an 82-foot Norway spruce into place Saturday at Rockefeller Plaza, New York, where the 14-ton tree will be festooned with thousands of lights and topped with a star encrusted with millions of crystals --- and lit on Nov. 30.

 

POSTAL SERVICE READY FOR CHRISTMAS RUSH.  The Postal Service has stabilized its work force and is ready for the next challenge of delivering holiday cards and parcels, says Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

 

$1.5 BILLION IN ARTWORKS SOLD.  Sixty artworks formerly owned by Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, are sold at auction for more than $1.5 billion at Christie’s on Wednesday.

 

PINK DIAMOND GOES FOR $28.8 MILLION.  In another auction, a pear-shaped 18-carat pink diamond — largest of its kind — sells at a Geneva auction for $28.8 million, including fees and taxes.  But that is lower than the expected range.

 

PUBLISHING COMPANY MEMBERS GO ON STRIKE.  About 250 New York members of HarperCollins Publishers went on an open-ended strike Thursday in an effort to secure higher wages and improved benefits.

 

U.S. SOLDIER MISSING IN KOREAN WAR IDENTIFIED.  Remains of Tommie T. Hanks, 27, a U.S. soldier reported missing in action in 1950 during the Korean War, have been identified — 72 years later.

 

SENIOR DOGS FLY TO OREGON.  A rescue flight helps 23 senior dogs find homes.  Pet Rescue Pilots, with help from The Grey Muzzle Organization, fly the  dogs from California to Oregon, to help the older pets get adopted.

 

DOG DELIVERS RINGS AT WEDDING. In another dog story, bride and groom Paul and Annette Anthony in Pennsylvania celebrated their wedding in the company of the couple's nine dogs.  One of the canines trotted down the aisle in a custom dress to delive rings for the big moment.

 

BABE RUTH’S GLOVE SELLS FOR $1.5 MILLION.  A baseball glove worn by baseball great Babe Ruth during his time with the New York Yankees in the 1920s sold for a record-setting price of $1.5 million at auction on Saturday.

 

 

.

MILLIONS OF DRIVERS HAVE HEAVY EYES ON THE ROAD

About 37 million American drivers at least once a year get behind wheels when they are so tired they can barely keep their eyes open, reads Grumpy Editor.

That’s six in 10 people, finds a survey by the National Sleep Foundation.

"Drowsy driving is impaired driving," says Joseph Dzierzewski, the foundation's vice president of research and scientific affairs. "We see that while most Americans believe drowsy driving is risky, they still drive when not fully alert. The good news is -- drowsy driving is preventable."

In a survey conducted this fall, nearly 20 percent of respondents were overly confident in their ability to drive after sleeping only two hours or less the previous night.

Respondents claiming they get the recommended amount of sleep --- about seven to nine hours per night for adults and eight to 10 for teens --- were less likely to drive drowsy, says the foundation.

 

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DROUGHT HITS EAST AFRICA WILDLIFE.  During East Africa's worst drought in decades, the Kenya Wildlife Service and other groups count deaths of 205 elephants, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 51 buffalos, 49 Grevy's zebras and 12 giraffes in the past nine months.

GANNETT JOURNALISTS GO ON STRIKE.  More than 200 Gannett journalists around the country walked off their jobs on Friday. It was part of a one-day strike demanding better pay and benefits.

BANK ROBBERS ACTIVE IN NEW YORK.  New York City bank robberies jump 42 percent this year.  There have been 135 bank heists through Oct. 23 compared to 95 during the same period in 2021.  One mid-town bank has seen four robberies this year with the latest this month.

LENA HORNE THEATER OPENS.  Brooklyn-born singer and actress Lena Horne, who died in 2010, becomes the first Black woman in U.S. history to have a Broadway theater named in her honor.  The original Mansfield theatre, built in 1926, becomes the Lena Horne Theatre where the musical “Six” is now playing.

SHEPARD SMITH TO DEPART CNBC.  CNBC cancels “The News With Shepard Smith” which averaged about 222,000 viewers.  His final newscast airs later this month.  A newscast focusing on business will replace Smith’s show sometime next year.

SCAM ARTISTS BUSY WITH SENIORS.   Scam artists last year, focusing on consumers 60 years and older, result in 467,340 fraud reports filed on investment, business and government impersonation.  These result in losses of more than $1 billion, notes a report to Congress from the Federal Trade Commission.

COUPLE NOTED FOR RESCUING 13,000 DOGS.  Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw, who run the non-profit Danny and Ron's Rescue out of their Camden, South Carolina home, have rescued 13,000 dogs and now care for dozens of dogs looking for a second chance.

VETERINARIANS CAUTION AGAINST DRESSING ANIMALS FOR HALLOWEEN

Veterinarians warn against dressing pets in Halloween costumes which can cause them harm and spark anxiety on a day they already find stressful, notes Grumpy Editor.

Costumes designed for dogs, cats, rabbits and other furry friends have been rising in popularity, with people often posting images online of their pets dressed as pumpkins, ghouls and ghosts at this time of year.

In Great Britain where the day also is noted, the British Veterinary Association warns costumes could put pets at risk, as the extra layers and accessories could limit their movement.

 

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PANDEMIC AFFECTS FOURTH AND EIGHTH-GRADERS.   Fourth- and eighth-graders are behind in reading and are in the largest ever decline in math — an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Findings are based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading and math exams, often called the “Nation’s Report Card” and conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics, a branch of the Education Department.

IT’S PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.  As of September, 63 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a Lending Club report. That’s close to the 64 percent historic high hit in March and compares with 57 percent a year ago.

 

IRS HIRES 4,000 MORE.  The Internal Revenue Service hires 4,000 additional customer service representatives.  They are being trained to answer taxpayers’ questions during the 2023 tax filing season.

 

GDP UP 2.6 PERCENT IN THIRD QUARTER.  Gross domestic product rose 2.6 percent in the third quarter versus the estimate of 2.3 percent. The number is boosted by a narrowing trade deficit and increases in consumer spending and government outlays.

 

POPULAR SEATTLE DOG RODE SOLO TO PARK.  Eclipse, a black Labrador mix that became well-known in Seattle and worldwide for her solo bus rides to the dog park, has died.

 

PINE-SOL PRODUCTS RECALLED.  About 37 million bottles of Pine-Sol products are being recalled because they could contain a potentially harmful bacteria called pseudomonas aeruginosa, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

 

EMPEROR PENGUIN RECEIVES PROTECTION.  The emperor penguin will be receiving protections under the Endangered Species Act now that climate change has pushed it into "threatened" status, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Climate change has altered the penguins' sea ice habitat required for their survival.

 

BUSINESSES HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE’S LIVES: SURVEY

More than half of Americans --- 55 percent --- surveyed by Gallup and Bentley University say businesses have an "extremely" or "somewhat" positive impact on people's lives, notes Grumpy Editor.

Americans draw a sharp distinction between large and small businesses, the survey finds. They are twice as likely to say small businesses positively impact people's lives (82 percent) as they are to say the same about large businesses (41 percent).

The survey also finds Americans are very optimistic about businesses' potential to improve society.  About nine in 10 (89 percent) say businesses and companies have "a great deal of" or "some" power to make a positive impact on people's lives, similar to the percentages who say the same about state and federal government (90 percent and 88 percent, respectively).

Charitable and advocacy groups are seen as having less potential, with 71 percent of people saying they have a great deal of or some power to make a positive impact.

 

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LENSES IN UPPER EYELID.  A woman who felt like there was “something in her eye” actually had 23 daily disposable contact lenses stuck under her upper eyelid.  Dr. Katerina Kurteeva of California Eye Associates, discovered the clump of contacts “in a pancake stack.”

OLDEST TREE IN CALIFORNIA.  A bristlecone pine is the world’s oldest tree species, says Guinness World Records.  Growing in California, it is determined to be 4,854 years old, verified by the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona.

ALLIGATOR WANDERS IN — IDAHO.  An alligator, spotted wandering in New Plymouth, Idaho by a man walking his dog, surprises Idaho Fish and Game personnel because the reptile does not inhabit that state.  Besides, alligators are not legal to be kept in Idaho without a permit from the state.

TWO BROTHERS MAKE BASEBALL HISTORY. Two brothers make major league baseball history by playing against each other in NLCS game 2.  "He pitched his butt off," San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola says of his older brother Aaron, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.

RUSSIAN BOMBERS FLY NEAR ALASKA.  A pair of Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers off the coast of Alaska, operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, triggers sending two U.S. F-16 jet fighters to intercept them.

CALIFORNIA TOMATOES FACE SQUEEZE.  Rising interest rates, inflation and drought are putting the squeeze on tomatoes grown in California.  Normally, the period from July to October keeps tomato farmers busy as machines scoop up the fruit and free them from vines.

AMAZON TAKES TO THE AIR.  Hawaiian Airlines will operate 10 Airbus A330-300 cargo airplanes for Amazon.com starting next fall.  The transaction could lead to Amazon acquiring up to 15 percent of Hawaiian stock over the next nine years.

To contact Grumpy Editor:  GrumpyEditor@cox.net

STUDY FINDS CONSTANTLY READING NEGATIVE NEWS IS 'BAD’ FOR YOU

A constant flow of negative news, such as the long-running pandemic plus shootings, inflation and natural disasters, is bad for you, according to a new study, notes Grumpy Editor.

Researchers in Spain looked at how people are best able to manage feelings of anxiety and depression at the height of the pandemic, finding that one of the most effective methods is to take breaks from the barrage of bad news, reports NBC’s Erika Edwards.

The best predictor for having lower anxiety and depressive symptoms is to "avoid watching too much news," Edwards notes from lead study author Dr. Joaquim Radua, a psychiatrist in Barcelona.  

Others say there's only so much negative news coverage a person can take before that reporting affects mental health.

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BOOSTER SUGGESTED BY HALLOWEEN.  For maximum protection for the upcoming holidays, the White House says Americans should get updated COVID-19 booster shots by Halloween.  It also warns of a “challenging” virus season ahead.

PINK DIAMOND BRINGS ALMOST $50 MILLION.  A rare pink 11.15-carat diamond sells for $49.9 million U.S. in Hong Kong via Sotheby’s.  It sets an auction world record for the highest price per carat for a diamond. 

DELTA INVESTS IN ELECTRIC CRAFT.  Delta Air Lines invests $60 million in a startup that hopes to build electric-powered helicopter-like air taxis.  The aircraft take off and land vertically, like helicopters.

 CHIHUAHUA HOLDS OLDEST LIVING DOG TITLE.  A 21-year-old Florida chihuahua named Toby Keith, is "back on his throne" as the world's oldest living dog according to Guinness World Records.

BORDER PATROL SLIM IN ARIZONA.  Border Patrol agents say they’ve been largely pulled off the border in Arizona, allowing massive numbers of illegal immigrants to walk unstopped into the U.S. The National Border Patrol Council mentions only one in five agents in the Tucson region is assigned to patrol duties. 

GOLD COIN COLLECTION SELLS FOR $845,000.  A collection of 17th-18th century gold coins, found in England when a couple renovated their kitchen, sells at auction for $845,000.  The auctioneer describes the trove as "120 years of English history hidden in a pot the same size as a soda can.”

To contact Grumpy Editor:  www.GrumpyEditor.com

MURDER RATE RISES AT A SLOWER RATE

Despite almost daily front page stories on shootings, the number of murders rose at a slower rate last year, notes Grumpy Editor.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates murders rose four percent last year after jumping nearly 30 percent in 2020.

Law enforcement people have been extra busy working on shootings in cities and rural areas across the country.

As The Wall Street Journal points out:  “Soaring murder rates across the country since the onset of the pandemic have made crime a major issue in local and national elections.”

 

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DOGUE FEATURES DOGGIE CHOW.  A San Francisco restaurant, appropriately called Dogue, offers a range of fancy treats and special menus of French cuisine, tailored specifically for canine diners.  The restaurant’s in-house “pawtisserie” serves healthy and colorful snacks made from organic, locally-sourced  “human-grade ingredients.”  That includes a cake made with ingredients like pastured chicken, liver, wild sardines and organic vegetables.  The restaurant offers a $75 tasting menu every Sunday.

BOA CONSTRICTOR STRANDED ON ROOF.  Firefighters and police in High Point, North Carolina, conduct an unusual rescue when a boa constrictor is spotted stranded on the roof of a home.  They help an animal control officer get to the roof and bring the red-tailed boa constrictor down to solid ground.

UTAH CITY RESIDENTS SNIFF SOMETHING.  Officials in North Salt Lake City, Utah, are investigating the cause of a foul odor reported by residents.  It doesn't appear to be coming from the sewer.  Many locals compare the smell to rotting meat.

TEXAS DOG PERCHES ON ROOF.  An Austin, Texas, dog enjoys greeting neighbors and passers-by from the roof of his home.  Huckleberry the dog started climbing onto the roof of his home years ago and now is a local celebrity with his unusual routine.

$2 MILLION OFFERED FOR BASEBALL.  A baseball fan who caught Aaron Judge’s American League record 62^nd home run ball is offered $2 million for it by a sports memorabilia auction house owner.  The record price for a home run ball is $3 million, paid for Mark McGwire’s record 70^th in 1998.

POLAND SEEKS $1.3 TRILLION FROM WORLD WAR II.   Poland’s foreign minister requests about $1.3 trillion in reparations for damage incurred by occupying Nazi Germans during World War II.  A Polish official says action should be taken without delay to address the effects of Germany's 1939-45 occupation in a “lasting and complex, legally binding as well as material way.”

ELECTRIC PASSENGER AIRCRAFT TRAVELS EIGHT MINUTES.  Dubbed “Alice,” an electric passenger airplane built by Eviation Aircraft took off from Washington state’s Grant County International Airport and traveled at 3,500 feet for eight minutes.  Eviation said that Alice can last up to one to two hours per charge and can reach a top cruise speed of 287 m.p.h.

To contact Grumpy Editor:  www.GrumpyEditor.com

MORTGAGE RATES JUMP TO HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2007

 

Plan on buying a house?  It’s going to be a rough time, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

Mortgage rates ascend to their highest level in more than 15 years.  A survey of lenders shows average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage climbs to 6.7 percent.  That means a boost in monthly payments.

 

It's the highest mortgage rate since July, 2007 and marks the sixth straight week of rising rates.

 

The jump in mortgage rates follows a series of Federal Reserve interest rate increases.

 

The action means many who have been planning to buy houses will remain as renters.

 

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PAYING FOR MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS DIP.  For the first time in a decade, Americans next year will be paying lower monthly Medicare Part B premiums.  The 3 percent monthly decrease covers routine doctors visits and other outpatient care.

 

SUICIDE RATES RISE.  Suicide rates last year in the U.S. increased 4 percent after declining for two years, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Suicide remains a "major contributor to premature death, especially among people aged 10 to 34, for whom it is the second leading cause of death,” CDC finds.  Suicides last year reached 47,646.

 

DOG IS SPEED DEMON.  Reas, a muscular, 51-pound whippet from Michigan City, Indiana, is America’s No. 1 canine speed demon, covering two runs over a 100-yard grass track at the ABC competition in 5.878 and 5.816 seconds.  Averaging 34.98 miles per hour, gives him the title of 2022 Fastest Dogs USA.   

MEN ALLOWED TO WEAR SKIRTS.  Virgin Atlantic airlines, which already allows male employees to use females' showering facilities, updates its “Gender Identity Policy” to allow men to wear skirts while on the job. Previously, male employees on planes and in airports were required to wear burgundy trousers and blazers, while female staff wore red jackets and skirts.

BOX OFFICE REVENUE EBBS.  After a summer boom, domestic box office revenue last month plummets to a projected $328.7 million — worst showing for the month in a quarter of century, according to Comscore.  Last time it was that low — excluding 2020, during the heart of the COVID-19 crisis — was in September, 1996, with $326.7 million.

 

JPMORGAN CHASE CLOSES SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES.  Safety deposit boxes are being mothballed at JPMorgan Chase & Co.  The bank has stopped opening new safety deposit boxes for customers.

 

U.S. AD SPENDING RISES.  A new forecast indicates the U.S. advertising industry is on track to surpass $300 billion this year in total ad spending for the first time.  It shows nationwide ad revenues are poised to grow 9.8 percent year-over-year in 2022.

FOX RENEWS TMZ.  Fox Television renews TMZ and TMZ Live through the 2024-25 TV season.  Fox acquired TMZ from Warner Bros. in September 2021.

 

To contact Grumpy Editor:  www.GrumpyEditor.com

 

 

 

 

 

                              

POLICYMAKERS SEE SLIGHT SLOWING IN U.S. GROWTH THIS YEAR

Forecasts released by the Fed show policymakers expect U.S. growth to slow only o.2 percent this year, notes Grumpy Editor.

However, they see growth picking up 1.2 percent in 2023, but predict the unemployment rate will rise to 4.4 percent.  

"Higher interest rates, slower growth and a softening labor market are all painful for the public that we serve but they're not as painful as failing to restore price stability and then having to come back and do it down the road again,” says Fed chairman Jerome H. Powell.  

Many analysts are forecasting a recession next year but remain hopeful it will be relatively mild.

 

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HOLLYWOOD SIGN GETTING PAINTED.  The Hollywood sign (originally Hollywoodland), on a hill north of Hollywood, is getting a fresh coat of paint on its 45-foot-high letters just ahead of its 100th anniversary. The sign is now an American cultural landmark and culturalicon.

BANK DEPOSITS DECLINE.  Second quarter deposits in U.S. banks declined by a record $370 billion in the second quarter.  It’s the first decline since 2018.  

HOMEBUYERS FACE PAYMENT SHOCK.  Average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage edges up to 6.7 percent.  That is an increase of 3.3 percent from the start of the year.   While home prices have eased over the last couple of months, they are still up 13.1 percent from a year ago

TARGET PLANS MAJOR HIRING.  Target plans to hire up to 100,000 seasonal workers for its U.S. stores and warehouses.  This with inflation  pushing consumers to limit spending.

AUTUMN PUTS SOME IN BETTER MOOD.  Latest Rasmussen Reports survey finds 49 percent of adults say arrival of fall puts them in a better mood, 10 percent say they are in a worse mood, while 37 percent say change of seasons has no impact. 

EX-FBI DIRECTOR WRITING CRIME FICTION. Former FBI Director James Comey is into writing crime fiction.  His first novel, "Central Park West," features an assistant U.S. Attorney looking into ties between the Mafia and the murder of a local politician. The book is scheduled for release next spring.

DOG STEALER NABBED.  An Irvine, California man is facing grand theft charges after surveillance footage showed him taking a dog out of a parked car.  A small dog, named Mookie, was stolen in a parking lot.  Footage shows a man walking up to the car’s rear passenger side, seemingly talk to the dog and then take the dog through an open window within 40 seconds.

MAINTENANCE, PRODUCTION AFFECT U.S. NAVY’S SUBMARINE FLEET

An observer warns the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet is smaller than normal, due to maintenance and production delays, notes Grumpy Editor.

Seth Cropsey, former naval officer and deputy undersecretary of the Navy, points out in a Wall Street Journal piece that the fleet “is about three-fifths the size it should be” and it “comes amid stepped-up threats to Taiwan by China.”

He says U.S. submarines “are the most effective tool to counter an assault on Taiwan.”

The U.S., he adds, “has a world leading attack submarine force of 49 nuclear-powered boats, along with four guided-missile submarines each packed with 154 cruise missiles."

 

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370 WORDS ADDED TO DICTIONARY.  Merriam-Webster adds 370 words and phrases to its dictionary this month.  Two examples plucked from the myriad slang and informal coinages:  yeet --- to throw something with force and without regard for the thing being thrown; the other --- janky, meaning of very poor quality.

TOW TRUCK CALLED TO LIFT ALLIGATOR.  A tow truck had to be called to lift a massive alligator out of a neighborhood outside Houston, Texas.  The alligator, trapped four hours later with assistance from licensed trappers with Texas Parks and Wildlife, is relocated to a sanctuary in El Campo.

MASKED MEN STEAL DOGS.  In Northrige, Calif., a person left puppies with a friend when two masked men entered the residence and stole the dogs.  Police say bulldogs, especially French bulldogs, have soared in popularity in recent years. The high demand for the dogs has made them more prone to theft --- and sale at a steep price on the black market.

PET KANGAROO KILLS OWNER.  An Australian man dies after being attacked by his pet kangaroo.  Police say they were forced to shoot the marsupial dead so paramedics could reach the 77-year-old man who later died at the scene.  This is the first fatal attack by a kangaroo in Australia since 1936.

COAST GUARD BOOSTS ARCTIC OPERATIONS.  The U.S. Coast Guard will step up operations in the increasingly contested Arctic region, crack down on illegal fishing and forced labor, and improve oil spill response under legislation approved by a Senate committee wary of competition from Russia and China.

MICHAEL JORDAN’S JERSEY SELLS FOR RECORD.  Michael Jordan’s basketball jersey, worn during the 1998 NBA finals, sells for a record $10.1 million.  It ranks as the most expensive piece of game-worn sports memorabilia ever sold.

“PHANTOM” TO CLOSE AFTER RECORD RUN.  Broadway’s longest-running show --- The Phantom of the Opera --- is slated to close next Feb. 18.   The musical, on Broadway since 1988, will conclude with 13,925 performances.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS FORM UNION.  More than 5,500 minor league baseball players form a union in an effort to boost annual salaries as low as $10,400.  That compares with major league players getting millions a season. 

 

ANOTHER HOTEL FEE LOOMS FOR TRAVELERS

Will there be another hotel fee soon to greet travelers, asks Grumpy Editor.

It could be in the works.

The hotel industry is poised to start charging additional fees, according to an industry observer who points out, "We are in the middle of two major events:  COVID and the inflationary environment.”

"Hoteliers had to cut average daily rates by up to 60 percent during the pandemic,” he adds.

In trying to make up for lost revenue, the focus will be on hotel guests…and their wallets.

One area that may see a fee increase:  Daily housekeeping. 

Hotels cut back on daily housekeeping during the pandemic and that’s an area being eyed for new charges.

 

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REGAL CINEMAS OWNER FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY.  Movie chain Cineworld Group LLOC, owner of Regal Cinemas, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. as it deals with several billions of dollars in debt and lower attendance in theaters.

BURGER KING PLANS MAJOR INVESTMENT.  Over the next two years Burger King plans to invest $400 million in its 7,058 U.S. restaurants.  That includes $250 million for updates  nd $120 million in advertising. 

UPS PLANS TO ADD 100,000+ WORKERS.  United Parcel Service plans to hire more than 100,000 workers to help handle the holiday season rush.  UPS’s job openings are for package handlers, drivers and driver helpers.

WOMAN FIGHTS OFF TIGER.  In India a woman is hospitalized with serious injuries after fighting off a tiger that was trying to grab her 15-month-old son.  The attack occurs on the outskirts of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in the northeast part of the country.

F-35 FIGHTER JETS DELIVERIES PAUSE.  The Pentagon temporarily halts delivery of F-35 fighter jets to the military branches and international customers after Lockheed Martin discovers a metal component used in the jet’s engine is produced in China. 

STOLEN ART RETURNS TO ITALY.  New York’s district attorney returns $19 million worth of stolen art to Italy. The 58 pieces include a marble head of the goddess Athena dated 200 BC, worth an estimated $3 million. The stolen items were sold to museums and private dealers by convicted looters.

RUSSIA SEEKS NORTH KOREA ROCKETS, ARTILLERY SHELLS.  Affected by its six-month-old invasion of Ukraine, Russia approaches North Korea for rockets and artillery shells for its military forces, according to U.S. intelligence officials. 

FASCINATION WITH BRITAIN'S PRINCESS DIANA CONTINUES

Media continue the fascination with Britain’s Princess Diana on the 25th anniversary of her death in a Paris car accident, notes Grumpy Editor.

Diana, 37, died on Aug. 31, 1997, stunning people who felt they knew the princess after following her struggles and successes in media coverage over 17 years.

Anniversary stories focused on Diana's fans placing flowers, photos and messages outside the gates at Kensington Palace.

Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London.  It has been a residence of the British royal family since the 17th century.

 

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KIDS' MATH, READING SCORES DROP.  In a setback for the nation’s children, a federal study shows math and reading scores for nine-year-olds in the U.S. fell dramatically during the first two years of the pandemic. 

200-YEAR-OLD SAGUARO CACTUS TOPPLES.  Heavy rains in Tucson, Arizona, topples a 200-year-old saguaro cactus.  It had more than 30 arms and was more than 40 feet high.

DOLLY PARTON DEBUTS DOG APPAREL.  Singer Dolly Parton starts an apparel brand aimed for dogs.   Named Doggy Parton, it offers gingham check bandanas, feather-brimmed cowboy hats, Dolly Parton shirts and more 

POLAND SEEKS WWII REPARATIONS.  Poland is seeking the equivalent of $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany for the Nazis' World War II invasion and occupation.  It stems from a long-awaited report on the cost to the country of years of Nazi German occupation as it marks 83 years since the start of World War II.

YOUNGER AMERICANS DO SEEK DAILY NEWS.  A study shows 79 percent of Americans, ages 16 to 40, say they get news daily.  The report is contrary to the thinking that young people aren’t interested in daily news happenings. 

GOATS MUNCH ON PAPER WORK IN PATROL CAR.  A pair of curious goats broke into a Madison County, Alabama, sheriff's deputy's patrol car and ate his paperwork.  A video shows the hungry animals busy inside (in the passenger seat) and on top of the vehicle munching paper work.

SHORTAGE IN TOMATO PRODUCTS LOOMS.  California farmers warn ketchup, salsa, pasta sauce and other tomato products could soon be in short supply. The Golden State grows nearly all of America's processing tomatoes, but this year is shaping up to be another poor harvest season.

LEADERS PROVE SHADY IN MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES

Leaders who left office in at least 72 countries since year 2000 have been jailed or prosecuted, notes an Axios item spotted by Grumpy Editor.

 

Axios notes since 1980, about half the world’s countries have had at least one such case — and not counting impeachments or coups.  Included are democracies France, Israel and South Korea.

 

Most cases against the former leaders relate to corruption, adds Axios.

 

 

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17-YEAR-OLD FLIES SOLO AROUND WORLD.  Mack Rutherford, a 17-year-old Belgian-British dual national, becomes the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft.  He landed in Bulgaria, where he started his around the world flight. Rutherford says he hopes his achievement will inspire young people to pursue their dreams.

 

WASHINGTON STATE AIMS TO NIX GAS-POWERED VEHICLES.  Washington state plans to follow California in prohibiting the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.  California, largest auto market in the U.S., plans to phase out sale of gas cars over the next 13 years. 

AMBASSADOR FOR THE ARCTIC PLANNED.   Triggered by increased Russian military activity in the region, the U.S. plans to name an Ambassador for the Arctic. The Ambassador-at-Large will be put in place to advance U.S. policy in the northern polar region. 

U.N. CEMETERY IN SOUTH KOREA.  The Busan, South Korea veterans cemetery remains the only U.N. cemetery in the world.  Established in 1955 after the South Korean government offered the land for the U.N.'s permanent use to honor troops and medical personnel sent from 22 countries under the U.N. flag during the Korean War.  More than 2,300 people from 11 nations are interred there. 

 

SMUGGLER PUTS REPTILES IN PANTS.  Prosecutors in California say Jose Manuel Perez, 30, smuggled more than 1,700 wild animals, including 60 reptiles, worth $739,000 into the U.S.  Officials found reptiles hidden in his clothing in small bags.  When he was caught crossing into the U.S., federal agents said he had about 60 reptiles on him, including some in his pants.

INACCURATE WEATHER FORECASTS LEAD TO FIRING TWO.  The head and deputy head of Hungary’s National Meteorological Service were fired following an inaccurate rain forecast.  The forecast prompted postponement of a fireworks display set for St. Stephen’s Day, the country’s most important national holiday.

TWIN GIANT PANDAS BORN.  Twin giant pandas --- a male and a female --- are born at a breeding center in southwestern China.  The cubs are the second pair of twins born to their mother.

DROUGHT SENDS DANUBE RIVER TO LOW LEVEL.  Europe's worst drought in years has pushed the Danube River to one of its lowest levels in almost a century, exposing the hulks of dozens of explosives-laden German warships sunk during World War II near Serbia's river port town of Prahovo.