Wannabe ‘King’s’ New Ride

Little Donny is on his second overseas trip this time he will visit Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar…..the visit is said to be for talks on the Middle East….while on the visit to Qatar he will accept delivery of his new Air Force One from the Qatari government.

U.S. President Donald Trump—no stranger to allegations of blatant corruption—faced an onslaught of criticism on Sunday in response to ABC Newsreporting that his administration is preparing to accept “what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government.”

Ahead of Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, sources told ABC that the administration “is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar—a gift that is to be available for use by… Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.”

The unnamed sources also explained that “lawyers for the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concluding that is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to the Trump library, and that it does not violate laws against bribery or the Constitution’s prohibition (the emoluments clause) of any U.S. government official accepting gifts ‘from any king, prince, or foreign state.’

…

Amid the uncertainty, a range of people across the internet blasted the supposed plan, slamming it as “indefensible,” “incredibly illegal,” and “comically corrupt.” Some critics pointed out that the reporting comes after the Trump Organization, the Saudi partner DarGlobal, and a company owned by the Qatari government last month reached a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar.

Some critics highlighted security concerns. One legal expert declared, “An emolument and security risk all wrapped up in one!”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-air-force-one

If a new Air Force One is needed what was wrong with American manufacturer, Boeing?

This incident should keep the tongues wagging for some time or at least until the next bombshell that falls out of Donny’s mouth.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Cost Of Your Meds

As an old fart that must take meds daily I am always interested in news that someone is making me spend less money to continue in good health.

Yesterday the news broke that Donny and his Magic Sharpie would go to work to bring down the cost of medication.

Prescription drugs taken by millions could soon become more affordable under a new executive order from President Donald Trump.

Trump plans to revive a policy from his first term that would require drug companies to charge Americans no more than what they charge in other countries.

According to officials familiar with the plan, Trump will sign an executive order next week instructing federal health agencies to adopt a ‘most favored nation’ pricing model for certain drugs covered by Medicare.

The model is designed to lower costs by ensuring the US pays no more than the lowest price charged elsewhere.

In many developed countries, single-payer systems allow governments to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies.

But in the US, a fragmented, privatized system gives drugmakers broad pricing power — with some medications costing up to 10 times more than abroad.

The order would mark a major shift in how pharmaceutical companies operate and could lead to lower drug prices for American consumers.

Industry leaders warn the move threatens profits and innovation, with one executive calling it the biggest ‘existential threat to the industry and U.S. biosciences innovation.’

Three people familiar with the matter told Politico the proposal is still being finalized and Trump has not approved any plans, but he did tease a ‘very big announcement’ that would be coming next week.

The president said: ‘We’re going to have a very, very big announcement to make — like as big as it gets.

‘It will be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14696157/Trumps-earth-shattering-new-executive-order-thats-set-slash-cost-drugs-millions-rely-on.html

For decades the drug industry has used the old dodge of R&D to justify the high costs of medication prescriptions….and it will be used again and the lobbyists will descend on Congress to stop and progress on making drugs cheaper….

There is a story about one drug….

David Armstrong has been writing about sky-high health care costs and the tactics of Big Pharma for years. His latest story in ProPublica has a far more personal angle: After being diagnosed with cancer—multiple myeloma—in 2023, he started taking a drug called Revlimid made by Celgene. The great thing is that it works. The major downside is that it cost $1,000 for each daily pill, out of reach for many patients. “When I started taking the drug, I’d look at the smooth, cylindrical capsule in my hand and consider the fact I was about to swallow something that costs about the same as a new iPhone,” writes Armstrong. Why so much? That’s what Armstrong wondered, too. Some key points of his investigation:

The first thing to know about Revlimid may be a surprise: It’s a derivative of thalidomide, the 1950s drug infamous for causing birth defects. But it’s been repurposed to fight multiple myeloma, and the story explains the mechanics, which involves blocking the growth of new blood vessels.

The second thing to know is that it costs only 25 cents to manufacture a single pill, which Armstrong discovered in a deposition marked “highly confidential.”

So how do you get from spending 25 cents to make a pill to charging $1,000? Think legal loopholes, FDA red tape, and plenty of doctor schmoozing to mute critics, all of which Armstrong details. In particular, the company’s legal battles have delayed the entry of generic competitors. “Those tactics, detailed in reams of court filings, allowed Celgene to treat Revlimid like a piggy bank, tapping it whenever it wanted,” writes Armstrong.” In fact, the company has hiked the price 26 times since its 2005 launch. The cost increases have only continued since Celgene was bought by Bristol Myers Squibb for $74 billion in 2019.

Will the Magic Sharpie actually make our drugs cheaper?

Damn good question!

I am not sure how this will work and if this will bring down my drug prices….and I am not alone….

…

Trump’s first-term rule—“Most Favored Nation”—was focused on lowering the cost of Medicare payments on certain drugs, but it barely made it out of the White House. The policy was blocked by federal courts shortly after it was announced in late 2020, and was then rescinded by President Joe Biden in 2021.

This time around, Trump’s order sets a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to negotiate lower prices. If there is no deal, then the U.S. will tie its drug prices to those paid by other countries. But as of now, nothing has changed.

Trump reiterated that the U.S. would no longer “subsidize” drug prices in other countries, telling reporters that the “game is up,” while alluding to potentially increasing auto tariffs if they don’t comply.

“If they want to get cute, they don’t have to sell cars into the United States anymore. They won’t get cute,” Trump said. “I’ll defend the drug companies from that standpoint.”

He was also characteristically vague on how much prices would change.

“Drug prices will come down by much more really if you think,” Trump said. “But between 59 and 80 and I guess even 90 percent.”

“We’re getting them down 60, 70, 80, 90 percent. But actually more than that if you think about it in a way, mathematically.”

https://newrepublic.com/post/195126/donald-trump-drug-prices-executive-order-nothing

I am not believing this for a minute, I want to but he has given us nothing in return for our patience….in other words he has lied to us before why should we believe him now?

I will watch and write.

If you depend on meds for your continued good health the surely you have something to say.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Bribery Vs Lobbying

Since it became a major thing I have been telling anyone who would listen of the evils of “K” Street, the lobbyist central.

To me lobbyists, there is about 12000 lobbyists on K Street, that is about 22 lobbyists per every member of Congress and they all have buckets of money to give away for favorable rulings, is nothing more than bribery masked as campaign donations.

But what is what?

Bribery and lobbying are often conjoined in the public mind: Critics of lobbying suggest that it’s bribery in a suit. While both seek a favorable outcome, the two remain distinct practices. Bribery is considered an effort to buy power; paying to guarantee a certain result; lobbying is considered an effort to influence power, often by offering contributions.

One key difference is that bribery is considered illegal, while lobbying is not.

Lobbyists try to shape laws, legislation, and public policy to the benefit of the group or entity that employs them. Their campaigns (which are legal) can sometimes be public ones (or fed to the media to influence the public), but they more typically target politicians, elected officials, legislators, and government agency employees; the movers and shakers on Capitol Hill and in state capitals too.

Lobbyists—the term referring to both individuals and organizations—have existed as long as governments; they traditionally have been considered “information givers,” a valuable source of facts and data, though admittedly in support of their cause or industry. Lobbyists systematically build up support for their causes, over years and decades. Often, they fund a study, survey, or research that might sway a politician’s opinion or their constituency’s opinion.

…

In contrast, a bribe usually occurs on an individual level. And it is anything but public. A bribe giver usually gives an offer of money “under the table” in order to subvert standard processes. This could be paying a tax officer to clear reports with under-reported revenue or sending goods without an invoice.

The bribe may be in the form of a donation or favor in kind. A company’s purchase manager may award an order to a supplier in return for undue favor in the form of money, against his company’s policy of awarding orders based on criteria of quality and price. Public officers are offered bribes to enable evasion of taxes and the corresponding liabilities at an individual or company level.

However it’s done, a bribe—along with its cousin, the kickback—results in an unfair advantage for the bribe giver. Bribes may seem like small amounts compared to lobbying contributions, but therein lies the problem: They often cannot be accounted for.

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/the-differences-between-bribery-and-lobbying.aspx

Sorry but they are the same thing…..only difference is one is a crime and the other has been sanctioned by the Supreme Court…..a bunch of political hacks that are just as easily swayed by cash as the Congress.

So where is the damn difference?

There is none! Both get what the person offering wants….they have to pay to play….and the politicians get flush with cash and that is why they all want to stay for decades in Congress….the more influence they have the bigger the payouts.

Time for this to change…..all cash should go into an election fund and all politicians share in it equally.

Just my take on this conundrum.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Those China Negotiations

If you will recall the prez slapped a tariff of 125% or was it 145%….any way he recently slacked off to a 80% tariff on goods coming in from China.

All the while we are told that there is massive negotiations going on to try and moderate these trade limitations.

News came out over the weekend that some progress in those negotiations is being made…..

“I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Sunday in Switzerland. He didn’t go so far as to say an agreement was reached, though the White House did, putting the headline “US Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva” on a transcript of Bessent’s remarks on its website. No one provided information in support of that conclusion, but Bessent said details would be released Monday, NBC News reports.

Signs of a truce in the trade war sparked by President Trump’s tariffs would pump up the financial markets, per the New York Times, and reassure those fearing it will bring the global economy down. Later Sunday, per the AP, the Chinese delegation held a news conference in Geneva in which it described the weekend talks as “candid, in-depth and constructive dialogue.” The two sides agreed to “establishing a consultation mechanism” for more discussion on trade and economic issues, said Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Before Sunday’s round of talks began, Trump posted online that “great progress” was being made toward what he said could be a “total reset” on his tariffs, per the AP. Trump said Friday that the US might lower the tariffs on China from 145% to 80%, per the Washington Post. China has maintained it won’t make trade concessions in reaction to the tariffs. The two sides have not agreed on whose idea the negotiations were. Chinese officials say the US asked them to participate. American officials disputed that.

That is good news indeed….but is it?

This administration is noted for a whole bunch of misinformation…..is this to try and placate the markets or is it just wishful thinking?

As I was working on this post at 5 am news that the markets, the futures, jump almost a 1000 points….so I guess my previous questioned was answered.

I am hoping that some sort of deal can be made because without one Christmas is going to be really expensive this year.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

India/Pakistan News

Last week old enemies started yet another cross border conflict….a conflict that has been basically going on since 1947 and on occasion becomes deadly….sometimes it appears as if they start these things on a whim….Conflict between India and Pakistan is not rare, with the two countries having periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British India in 1947.

After several days of firing across at each other these two nations have said to have agreed to a ceasefire and a halt to hostilities….

India and Pakistan said they won’t escalate hostilities if the other reciprocates, after they both fired volleys of missiles across their borders. It was the most serious increase in hostilities so far in a conflict triggered by a gun massacre last month that India blames Pakistan for. Pakistan’s foreign minister said on Saturday that his country would consider de-escalation if India stopped any further attacks. However, Ishaq Dar warned that if India launched any further strikes, “our response will follow.” Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told a news conference in New Delhi that her country was committed to “non-escalation, provided the Pakistan side reciprocates.” However, Pakistani ground forces were observed mobilizing toward forward areas, she said, “indicating an offensive intent to further escalation.”

President Trump said the detente is now official. “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed as much from the US side with his own tweet announcing a ceasefire, and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, also made the same acknowledgment. The AP reports that India also confirmed the ceasefire.

Good news right?

Diplomacy has won again, right?

Apparently not so much…..

Not long after India and Pakistan said they had agreed to an immediate ceasefire on Saturday, both nations said the other had violated it. Multiple explosions were heard in two large cities of Indian-controlled Kashmir, the AP reports, and shelling was reported along the border hours after the announcement. “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire?” Omar Abdullah, chief minister of India-controlled Jammu and Kashmir, wrote in posting video of tracer fire and artillery sounds, per the Washington Post. “Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!” Blasts were heard in Jammu, as well, and blackouts followed in both cities.

India’s foreign secretary accused Pakistan of violating the truce, per the New York Times. Vikram Misri told reporters there were “repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries today” and said India would respond strongly. Pakistan’s foreign ministry denied any violations, with a spokesman saying his nation “remains committed to faithful implementation of ceasefire between Pakistan and India” and suggesting India had broken the peace. The clash began Wednesday with India launching airstrikes on Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. It’s the largest military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, per the BBC.

Looks like the unqualified idiots at State did not do such a good job after all.

Last Week At The Sh*t Show–11May25

For all the Moms out there….Happy Mother’s Day.

Another week and another batch of outlandish BS from Little Donny and his Magic Sharpie…..

Donny opened with this idea…..

President Trump announced Sunday that he’s moving to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the former prison on an island in California’s San Francisco Bay that shut its doors in 1963 and is currently a popular tourist destination. In a post on Truth Social, Trump directed federal agencies—including the Bureau of Prisons, the Justice Department, the FBI, and Homeland Security—to work on reopening and rebuilding the facility as a place for what he described as the country’s “most ruthless and violent” offenders, the AP reports. Trump argued the move would restore “Law, Order, and JUSTICE” and serve as a national symbol:

“For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,” he wrote on Truth Social. “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Alcatraz, once home to infamous inmates such as Al Capone and James “Whitey” Bulger, is now managed as part of the National Park Service, and it’s not clear how exactly Trump’s directive would be carried out. The prison was closed due to how much more expensive it was to run than mainland prisons, Fox News reports. Trump’s order comes amid legal disputes over the president’s efforts to send accused gang members—and, reportedly, some US citizens—to a prison in El Salvador, bypassing standard legal processes. There’s no word yet from federal officials or California authorities on whether Trump’s directive will result in actual changes.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-alcatraz-prison-fabe3385415ae03829d44e50efb3c1fb

May I point out that there is a prison just waiting for people….and it is almost completely empty….it has a name….GITMO.

Then after that idiotic rant he followed up with issuing a ‘national security threat’…..

President Trump announced a new round of surprise tariffs Sunday, this time on the entertainment industry. “I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” he posted on Truth Social Sunday night. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” The Los Angeles Times reports that movie executives contacted by the newspaper “privately wondered” how such a tariff would be imposed. No further details were forthcoming from the Trump administration, but the Guardian reports that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick quickly issued his own social media post stating, “We’re on it.”

As CNN points out, as intellectual property rather than actual physical goods, movies are not currently subject to any tariffs, but “some services can be subject to certain non-tariff trade barriers, such as regulations and tax incentives,” so that may be what Trump is referring to. Also complicating matters is the fact that while movies sometimes film in other locations (filming is in fact down in California this year), post-production often still happens in the US.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump’s post asserted. “Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”

These idiots are wearing out the ‘national security threat’ meme.

The White House, thanks to Little Donny, has its own news site…..

Critics called out the Trump administration for running its own propaganda network after the White House publicized “White House Wire,” its own news website that features news articles from conservative news outlets like the Daily Caller and Fox News.

The White House Wire (WHWIRE) primarily features positive coverage of the president and administration, with stories mainly sourced from conservative outlets and contributions from government staffers. One early headline, “100 Days Of Hoaxes: Cutting Through The Fake News,” was notable but did not include a direct link to a story.

The website resembles the Drudge Report, a well-known political site that functions as a bulletin board for links. While the Drudge Report was initially a conservative-friendly platform, famous for breaking the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal in the 1990s, it has become critical of Trump in recent years.

The development follows a press briefing held by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who addressed what she referred to as the “new media,” stating that she was honoring a commitment made at the start of the Trump administration to engage with “all media outlets.”

(comicsands.com)

I think Goebbels would be proud.

Is it possible that Donny is preparing to ‘dump’ on some of the sycophants that are hanging onto his coat tail?

The Trump administration’s slash-and-burn approach to shrinking the size of the federal workforce may soon be coming to the White House.

President Donald Trump is gearing up for a wave of White House firings that could come as soon as late next week in a plan that West Wing aides have branded “The Purge,” Politico reported Thursday, citing an unnamed administration official.

“A lot” of terminations are on the table, a second official told Politico. The plan reportedly involves firing staff in a massive wave rather than doing it piecemeal, starting with mid-level White House staffers.

Trump has so far restrained himself from replaying the chaotic turnover that plagued his first term, but Mike Waltz’s ouster as national security adviser and swift reassignment as United Nations ambassador may be a sign of a brewing storm.

Waltz got the boot in the wake of “Signalgate” in late March, when he mistakenly added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat of high-ranking national security officials discussing sensitive details of a military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Trump reportedly held off on firing Waltz despite the major blunder partly to avoid the appearance that he was reacting to negative media coverage.

“Waltz has been on thin ice for a while,” a White House ally told Politico at the time. “This made the ice thinner but at the same time… may actually save him for now because they don’t want to give Goldberg a scalp.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-is-plotting-shock-and-awe-purge-of-white-house-staff/

Oh good….that means he can fine less qualified people than he has now….

There is more silliness coming from Donny and the thugs….right now it does not involve the Magic Sharpie but is just as disturbing….

IST Saturday News Dump–10May25

Another week has ended and the news has been pouring out like water from a barrel and these articles are the ones that few got to see or hear.

Locally–Lots of rain and a bit cooler temps….some think it is depressing but we will go 2 months with little to no rain and extreme heat…..so I enjoy the time before the burn.

The Coast has seen shootings increase…..shootings with death and injuries…..last week we had one shooting a day for 5 days.

Personal—I had my infusion yesterday and it makes me feel like crap so my weekend will be sucky at best.

Still waiting on information for Sue’s estate…..it is slow going and every time I talk to someone it brings up more emotions that I try to keep under wraps.

Enough chit chat…..

I live in the Gulf South and we have many eateries that are proud to display ‘fresh gulf seafood’….but is that accurate?

It would be reasonable to expect Gulf Coast shrimp on your plate when dining by the water in the South, but many restaurants are serving imports sourced from thousands of miles away—without lowering their prices. As Brett Anderson writes for the New York Times, a newly developed genetic test that can quickly pinpoint seafood species is revealing just how common seafood mislabeling has become. Dave Williams, a commercial fisheries scientist and founder of SEAD Consulting, has been using his test at randomly chosen restaurants in the South since late 2024 to make clear the scope of the fraud.

On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, only eight out of 44 restaurants tested were serving local shrimp, despite restaurant decor and menus that suggested otherwise. SEAD found a 77% fraud rate in both Wilmington, NC, and Savannah, Georgia. The article’s figures don’t stop there: Half the shrimp consumed in the US was sourced from the Gulf just 40 years ago; cheaper imported shrimp, mainly from Asia and South America, now make up more than 90% of the US market. It’s making it increasingly impossible for American shrimpers to make a living. To wit, in 2013, Louisiana harvested 57 million pounds of white shrimp, valued at $128 million. In the last year, a nearly identical amount was worth only $54 million.

And yet restaurants “are charging historically high prices for shrimp cocktails,” notes Anderson. To add insult to injury, a 2020 LSU study found two-thirds of imported shrimp in Baton Rouge contained banned veterinary drugs.

Read the full article

Keeping with the food thing…..

Aside from dusty powders and chalky shakes, there are a bunch of (actually) delicious foods that are naturally packed with protein — and we’re not just talking about eggs. While the humble egg does have a reputation for being an incredibly great source of this vital nutrient, anything from a can of tuna to a handful of nuts or a bowlful of grains can deliver just as much if not more dietary protein. What you might not know, however, is that certain vegetables also teem with loads of protein, especially edamame.

From keeping you satiated to building muscle and regulating metabolism, protein helps the body function at its finest, which is why consuming enough is so important. Although a large egg can provide a generous 6 grams of protein, edamame boasts even more. With an average of 18 grams of protein, all it takes is 1 cup of savory edamame to reap its protein-packed benefits. But that’s not the only thing that makes the vegetable great.

Along with having an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, edamame is rich in nutrients (namely, vitamin K and folate) and antioxidants that support cardiovascular health by lowering inflammation and cholesterol. Not to mention that the vegetable is also chock-full of fiber. Protein and health perks aside, edamame tastes incredible too. Grassy and nutty with a subtle sweetness, edamame has an incredibly complex flavor profile coupled with a velvety texture that proves pretty hard to resist, which brings us to our next topic.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1844594/high-protein-vegetable-edamame/

I have tried these and I personally will stick to eggs for protein.

Do you eat fast food regularly? Then this story is for you….

We all eat them — ultraprocessed foods such as frozen pizza and ready-to-eat meals make our busy lives much easier. Besides, they are just darn tasty — who isn’t susceptible to hot dogs, sausages, burgers, french fries, sodas, cookies, cakes, candy, doughnuts and ice cream, to name just a few?

If more than 20% of your daily calorie intake is ultraprocessed foods, however, you may be raising your risk for cognitive decline, a new study found.

That amount would equal about 400 calories a day in a 2,000-calories-a-day diet. For comparison, a small order of fries and regular cheeseburger from McDonald’s contains a total of 530 calories.

The part of the brain involved in executive functioning — the ability to process information and make decisions — is especially hard hit, according to the study published Monday in JAMA Neurology.

Men and women in the study who ate the most ultraprocessed foods had a 25% faster rate of executive function decline and a 28% faster rate of overall cognitive impairment compared with those who ate the least amount of overly processed food.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/health/dementia-ultraprocessed-food-wellness/index.html

That study could explain so many things that have been asked.

One of the more famous eateries was one that was found tom be fooling the public and was given a hefty fine.

In medical news….something that I am dealing with prostate cancer….

Scientists have discovered a set of markers in urine for prostate cancer, an advance that could lead to a simpler and better method to diagnose the deadly condition.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading global causes of death among men, with hundreds of thousands succumbing to the malignant condition each year and over a million new cases diagnosed annually.

However, its diagnosis remains a challenge due to the lack of specific signs of an early tumour in the body. Currently, a blood test called the PSA is used to detect the cancer by measuring the level of a protein produced by the prostate gland.

Elevated levels of the protein prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could indicate prostate cancer, but also other non-cancerous conditions.

Screening based on PSA often leads to false positives and unnecessary biopsies, and sometimes even missed diagnoses.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/prostate-cancer-diagnosis-urine-test-b2742202.html

Now we move on to the health stuff….

If a person suffers from diabetes then they have heard of Ozempic…..to help control blood sugar but it is also used for weight loss and now it may have other medical uses…

Experts exploring what other conditions semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, might help apart from diabetes and weight loss say the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial suggest it may reverse a common liver disease. Some 15 million US adults have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), an advanced form of fatty liver disease in which too much fat is stored in the liver, causing inflammation, cell damage, and scarring, per the New York Times. Many sufferers require liver transplants. The study, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at 800 mostly white patients with moderate or advanced levels of liver scarring. The majority had Type 2 diabetes and almost 75% were obese.

Among participants who received semaglutide injections over 72 weeks, almost 63% saw the fat and inflammation in their livers disappear with no worse scarring, compared to around 34% of participants who received a placebo, and almost 37% saw less scar tissue with no worse inflammation or fat buildup, compared to around 22% among the placebo group. Ozempic and Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk, sponsor of the trial, is asking the FDA to approve Wegovy as a treatment for MASH, with a decision expected as early as late this year. There’s only one FDA-approved treatment for the disease, and it only helps about 25% of patients, a doctor tells NBC News.

Eli Lilly, maker of competitor drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound with the active ingredient tirzepatide, has also found early promise in its studies testing tirzepatide as a MASH treatment. While it’s possible semaglutide reduces inflammation in the liver, study author Dr. Arun Sanyal of Virginia Commonwealth University says weight loss was a key driver of change in this trial. Participants in the semaglutide group lost 11% of their body weight on average, compared to 2% with the placebo group, and had lower blood sugar and insulin resistance, which likely contributed to better liver outcomes, per the Times. Participants in both the semaglutide and placebo groups also received nutrition and exercise counseling.

Do you eat or drink so-called diet stuff? If so then this may interest you.

Erythritol, a sugar substitute often found in “sugar-free” or “healthy” foods and drinks, may not be as safe as many people think.

According to new research that will be presented at the 2025 American Physiology Summit, erythritol could hurt brain and heart health by damaging tiny blood vessels and interfering with a key compound that keeps blood flowing smoothly.

Erythritol is commonly used in products like sugar-free energy drinks, protein bars, and snacks because it has very few calories and doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels the way regular sugar does.

This makes it popular among people trying to manage diabetes or reduce their sugar intake. But recent studies have raised concerns about its safety. Some earlier research has already linked erythritol to a higher risk of serious heart problems, including strokes.

https://knowridge.com/2025/05/popular-sugar-substitute-may-harm-heart-and-brain-health/

Finally–the news is buzzing with tariff news and this one piece needs to be front and center….there is a possible crisis brewing because of this trade stuff….and it will hit families hard in the coming weeks and months….

President Donald Trump‘s trade war is triggering alarm among global paper suppliers — one that could lead to a dreaded shortage in US supermarkets of a household staple: toilet paper.

Suzano SA, the world’s largest exporter of pulp, said US levies are disrupting shipments of the key raw material used in making toilet paper and other hygiene products.

The Brazilian company, which produces bleached hardwood pulp used by many American manufacturers, reported a 20% drop in US-bound exports in April compared to the same time last year.

Brazil, like other US trading partners with the exception of China, currently faces a 10% universal tariff on exports.

The warning comes as memories of the 2020 toilet paper shortages, sparked by panic buying and pandemic-related logistics snarls, remain fresh for many consumers.

https://nypost.com/2025/05/09/business/toilet-paper-shortage-could-be-coming-to-us-thanks-to-trump-tariffs/

Remember the panic during Covid? Then be prepared.

Sorry guys but that crappy feeling has returned so I shall close it down for this Saturday….

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend…..and as always…..Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Soon You Will Be Paying More

+++Note….this will be a another short day….sorry about that…..I go for another chemo session and I will be in no shape to do what I usual do.+++

This is just to let you know what will be hitting you the hardest in your wallet if this tariff crap continues.

Things like….clothes, party stuff, back to school supplies, etc…..

In the past few weeks, Trump has imposed massive import taxes on many U.S. trading partners ― including an astonishing 145% tariff on Chinese goods ― only to abruptly change or suspend some of these tariffs. But Trump’s chaos is already starting to freeze supply chains. U.S. businesses are cancelling or postponing shipment orders from China.

Don’t expect a toilet paper shortage like what we experienced during COVID lockdown. Because many essential goods like food, beverages and paper goods are more likely to be made domestically, they are more immune from these shortages, said Casey Armstrong, chief marketing officer of ShipBob, a global fulfillment and supply chain platform.

“You’re not going to run out of food or toilet paper, but don’t be surprised if your $3 spray bottle or favorite pair of $5 socks vanishes from shelves or doubles in price,” Armstrong said

HuffPost talked to supply chain experts about which categories of common goods are most vulnerable to disappearing from shelves soon.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/monicatorres2/donald-trump-tariffs-items-most-likely-impacted

The international trade wars provoked by President Donald Trump’s tariffs are becoming very real. Experts expect the increase in importation and exportation taxes to have a profound impact not only on prices, but on the inventory of everyday goods sooner rather than later. U.S. importers are already canceling and delaying orders from China, subject to tariffs as high as 145%. Other companies are front-loading imports from countries with lower import taxes before the 90-day pause ends July 9. Overall, imports are slowing down, “because importers are not sure what the ultimate demand for products will be. They know they have to raise prices because they are paying the tariffs,” Jason Miller, a professor who studies supply chains at Michigan State University, told the Christian Science Monitor this week. According to experts, these 15 products will likely vanish or become significantly more expensive by summer.

https://www.eatthis.com/products-that-may-vanish-by-summer-due-to-supply-shortages/

Christmas is about to get more expensive if these things stay in place.

Speaking of Christmas….what is the most bought item for the day….toys…and Donny has taken exception to a decision by a major toy company….Mattel….

President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on toy-maker Mattel after the company said it would diversify its production to other countries, but not the United States.

Sitting in the Oval Office Thursday, Trump indicated he was not afraid to punish Mattel, the creator of Barbie, Hot Wheels, Uno, American Girl and more, for refusing to move its production in the U.S. – the ultimate goal of Trump’s tariffs.

It was in response to Ynon Kreiz, the chairman and CEO of Mattel, telling CNBC on Tuesday that it was unlikely the company would move production into the U.S as a result of tariffs; preferring instead to diversify production to other countries or just raise prices on U.S. consumers.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-dolls-mattel-production-tariffs-b2747530.html

If this becomes reality then that $10 Barbie will cost $20….

This will suck for the kids.

These tariffs will also effect food prices and other necessities….

This does not include the predicted rise in food prices or gas prices….do not understand the gas price stuff since according to most the US is an oil exporting country…..why would we have to pay more if there is no tariffs that need to be covered?

Just wondering.

I hear that the tariffs on China will remain at 125%…..if that continues Christmas will truly suck….that was before this possible waffle….

Earlier this week, the US struck a deal with the UK on tariffs. Now, President Trump appears ready to strike another with China. “80% Tariff on China seems right!” Trump wrote Friday morning on Truth Social. He added that it would be up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who plans to meet this weekend with Chinese officials in Switzerland, reports the Wall Street Journal. The figure of 80% would mark a pullback from the current 145% levy on Chinese goods, but it’s still higher than analysts hoped—and it would “still pose serious hurdles to trade between the world’s two largest economies,” per the Journal.

Bloomberg News reported earlier that the US would float a 60% tariff ahead of the talks in the hope that China would reciprocate. That might be why Wall Street seems only modestly pleased with Trump’s suggestion: Dow futures rose about 60 points in the wake of the news, notes CNBC. Meanwhile, a separate story in the Journal notes that Chinese exports to the US plunged 21% in April when compared to last year, as Beijing directed more of its goods to Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa

Sorry to be a bummer but better you consider this and make preparations for the increase prices of goods for Christmas than get caught flat footed.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

He Has A Trade Deal

Before I begin–I am sure that most people know there was white smoke at the Vatican and that means yes we have a pope, he will be Pope Leo XIV….and he is an (wait for it) American!

Just in case you are interested in the history of Pope Leos…..https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/08/europe/papal-leo-pope-cardinal-pontiff-intl

Moving on to important news.

I have been very critical of Donny and his tariff stuff and I would like to report that he has a new trade deal with the UK.

The US and the UK have struck a deal on trade after President Trump’s imposition of tariffs, the first of what could be dozens to follow, reports the Washington Post. Details are scant at the moment, but President Trump plans to address it at a 10am Eastern news conference. Even if this ends up being just the broad outline of an agreement, markets are happy with the precedent: Dow futures rose about 400 points early Thursday on the news, reports CNBC.

The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!”

However, the Wall Street Journal doubts any deal struck in such a short time can be “comprehensive” and instead expects a narrowly focused pact. Trade attorney Timothy C. Brightbill tells the New York Times it’s probably “just an agreement to start the negotiations, identifying a framework of issues to be discussed in the coming months.”

The US imposed a 10% tariff on most goods imported from the UK, and the UK also is subject to Trump’s 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum. The UK has retaliated in turn, and the BBC predicts the deal might result in lower tariffs on US cars imported there. The UK might get a break on the steel and aluminum tariffs, but the baseline 10% tariff is likely to remain, per the Journal.

I am very pleased to see that there is now a deal with the UK.

The markets liked it so the openings were really positive….which is good (I guess) but I would like to know what this deal will do for us struggling peasants.

If possible I would like to see more deals follow suit…..so we can get our economy back to some sort of normalcy.

This is another look at the UK trade deal…..

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled the framework of a trade deal with the United Kingdom that was extremely light on details despite being billed as a “full and comprehensive agreement,” leading critics to describe the fanfare surrounding the announcement as a cynical photo op for both sides.

In a statement, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer touted the deal as “historic” while acknowledging that it is incomplete. Trump insisted the deal is “maxed out,” though he told reporters in the Oval Office that “the final details are being written up in the coming weeks.”

…

Melinda St. Louis, Global Trade Watch director at Public Citizen, said Thursday that “Trump may have enjoyed having his ego stroked by Starmer and [U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard] Lutnick fawning over him for ‘closing’ a deal—one that is obviously not actually done—but his con on American workers continues.”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/us-uk-trade-deal-trump-starmer

So is this a good deal or just a stroke of ego said to get the focus off his failed attempts to control world trade?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Today Is VE Day

Victory In Europe Day.

The president has decreed that today, 8 May, will be deemed “Victory Day For World War II….we can celebrate but there will be no recognition as a federal holiday…..so free money on your payroll.

He didn’t leave much time for planning, but President Trump has issued a proclamation designating Thursday as a day for the US to celebrate victory in World War II as countries in Europe already do. Cities from London to Moscow are holding parades, flyovers, and memorials this week as the world observes Thursday’s 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, when Nazi Germany surrendered to Allied forces including the US. Trump had complained in recent social media posts that the US doesn’t spend enough time celebrating its military victories like the rest of the world does. He said he was renaming May 8 as Victory Day for World War II and Nov. 11 as Victory Day for World War I, the AP reports.

“We did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II,” he posted last week, adding: “We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything—That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so!” World War I ended on Nov. 11, 1918, with an armistice between Germany and the Allies, though fighting continued elsewhere. Nov. 11 is the Veterans Day federal holiday in the US, and only Congress has the authority to create or rename holidays. Trump backtracked this week, saying he’d declare national holidays instead, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Nov. 11 will still be Veterans Day with an added element. The war against Japan went on past V-E Day.

The proclamation Trump signed Wednesday says: “As we commemorate Victory Day for World War II, we offer our unending thanks to every patriot from the Greatest Generation who left behind his home and family to fight for our freedom in distant lands. We honor the memories of all those who perished. Above all, we renew our commitment to keeping America and the entire world safe, secure, prosperous, and free.” He said the country would not be shutting down for the new holidays, per the Hill, because “we already have too many Holidays in America—There are not enough days left in the year.”

I do not have a problem with this recognition….I do have a problem with stating that the USA did more than any other country to win that war.

Try to remember that the US was well compensated for our participation….I think millions of Englishmen, Poles, French, etc would disagree that we did more….yes we contributed but only after Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, and the war had been raging across Europe and Asia for 2 years or more.

So yes recognize even celebrate the end of WW2….but do not pretend that the US was the sole reason for the Nazi defeat.

Whatcha thinking?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

In Saner Thought

"It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error"..Thomas Paine

Month: May 2025

Wannabe ‘King’s’ New Ride

The Cost Of Your Meds

Bribery Vs Lobbying

Those China Negotiations

India/Pakistan News

Last Week At The Sh*t Show–11May25

IST Saturday News Dump–10May25

Soon You Will Be Paying More

He Has A Trade Deal

Today Is VE Day