- Chinese military had deep ties to Wuhan lab suspected of COVID-19 outbreak.
- The case for more competition in Medicare.
- A deep dive into the statistically weak case for veganism.
- 2022 was a record year for the number of solar energy projects that were rejected by rural communities in the United States.
- One good thing that came out of the Vietnam war (and about the only good thing I can think of): our best malaria drug.
- Medicare sets price for 10,000 doctor services. What happens when the prices are wrong? Doctors and hospitals have perverse incentives to over provide services with high reimbursement rates and under provide services with low rates.
Category: COVID-19 and Public Health
Saturday Links
- Neil Ferguson’s infamous Imperial College London model predicted lockdowns would avoid 1.7 to 2.1 million COVID deaths. A new study finds the actual reduction in COVID deaths associated with lockdowns was 4,300 to 15,600.
- A positive obituary for Silvio.
- The left hates home schooling.
- Can noise reduce your life expectancy?
- Is most mental illness little more than socially disapproved preferences? Byron Caplan: Yes. Arnold Kling: No.
- The danger in exercising too much.
CDC: Flu Season Could be Bad Next Year, or Maybe Not
Remember Covid? Three years ago we were all hunkered down at home sheltering in place. Many businesses were closed, schools cancelled all in-person classes and social gatherings were taboo (if not illegal). Any time you left the house masks were required. It still amuses me seeing cars drive down the street with the driver alone in the car wearing a mask. I recall running errands to Kroger, Home Depot, Walmart, Lowes and the few other stores that were open and everyone was wearing masks. Retail establishments also required social distancing, asking people to stand at least six feet apart.
Friday Links
- Blockbuster story: First person sickened by COVID-19 was the Chinese scientist who oversaw the “gain of function” research that created the virus.
- Harvard Medical School morgue manager and others sold stolen human remains.
- Health care to consume one out of every five dollars of national income.
- More progress on quantum computing.
- Is Merck being “coerced” by Medicare? Michael Cannon: No. David Henderson: Yes.