Odds and Ends — 21 October 2024

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:

Stripe Inks $1.1B Deal To Buy Stablecoin Platform Bridge

Why the Oil Market is Not Shocked

Conflict in the Middle East always used to mean a spike in gas prices. So what’s changed?

Governments must tax or ban Bitcoin to maintain deficits: Minneapolis Fed

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis suggests that a ban or tax on Bitcoin could ensure its ability to run permanent budget deficits…
Bitcoin introduces a “balanced budget trap,” an alternative state where the government is forced to balance its budget, the Fed wrote.

Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:

Covid pandemic disproportionately affected younger Americans of color, says study

Older Americans had highest number of deaths, but younger Americans of color had highest disease rates

Politics:

“I’ve got no cognitive problem. I have no cognitive… There’s no cognitive problem… Got no cognitive.” — Donald Trump, at a Pennsylvania rally.

https://twitter.com/RWPUSA/status/1848002081157755343

Trump’s Ground Game Plagued by Fake Door Knocks

Donald Trump’s campaign may be failing to reach thousands of voters they hope to turn out in Arizona and Nevada, with roughly a quarter of door-knocks done by America PAC flagged by its canvassing app as potentially fraudulent.
The potentially fake door-knocks – when canvassers falsely claim to have visited a home – could present a serious setback for Trump as he and Kamala Harris remain even in the polls with fewer than 20 days until an election.

https://twitter.com/7Veritas4/status/1848064139974901798
https://twitter.com/TristanSnell/status/1848082854028153164
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1848085646075724083
https://twitter.com/NYMag/status/1848168783057232074

Harris Crushed Trump in Fundraising Last Month

Kamala Harris’ campaign outraised Donald Trump by more than 3-to-1 in September, with the vice president’s massive $222 million haul further extending her financial advantage in the final stretch of a tight presidential election.
Harris’ campaign notably did not announce its September figures ahead of Sunday’s deadline to file with the Federal Election Commission, as it had in previous months, amid reported concerns that strong fundraising numbers could discourage donors.

One in Five Republicans Say Trump Should Seize Power

Said pollster Robert Jones: “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and these answers are keeping me up at night.”

https://twitter.com/WillieHandler/status/1848000513725313025

60 Minutes responds to Trump’s ‘false’ claims about Harris interview

https://twitter.com/meiselasb/status/1848164358968238496

The MAGA Hat Hat

Donald Trump’s new inception hat has really made hats great again.

South Korea calls for immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops allegedly in Russia

Hmmmm… South Korea makes some damn fine military equipment. Will they start supplying it to Ukraine at scale?

Serendipity:

This Disease Can Damage the Liver for Years Without Being Detected

Four in 10 people are thought to have a potentially serious liver condition known as MASLD. Reversing it is possible if you catch it early.

Egypt declared malaria-free after 100-year effort

^{Badge thanks to @arcange}

meme source

^{Want a free Hive account? Join Hive using my referral link.}

What is Hive?