Telemea Something I Can Print |
Telemea, as we all know, is a traditional Romanian cheese made by the Wallachian people, which has spread to Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Poland through their diaspora. Like Feta, it's used in salads and in pairings with snacks. It gets saltier with age, just like the author of this newsletter. Meanwhile, today's cheese pun paraphrases a journalist in desperate need of a story from a reluctant source. That's because today's cheddlines are full of spicy hot news nuggets, steaming off the presses! Extra! Extra! —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. We've got a robot bartender on our instagram! |
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"I think if you look at EV companies worldwide, to the best of my knowledge, no EV company is even profitable." — Elon Musk |
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1. Can Ozempic Help Prevent Alzheimer's? |
Yes, but there's a caveat. You'd need to have type 2 diabetes for the risk reduction to take effect (at least, based on the current research). That's not much help to those of us with Alzheimer's in the family who'd prefer to avoid it without getting diabetes first, but it's certainly hopeful news.
The long version of this story is that a study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia reveals that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease among individuals with type 2 diabetes (which increases one's likelihood of dementia and Alzheimer's).
The study, analyzing over 1 million patients' medical records aged 60 and above with type 2 diabetes, highlighted that those prescribed semaglutide faced a significantly lower Alzheimer's risk compared to those taking other diabetes medications, including insulin and older GLP-1 drugs like liraglutide. Remarkably, semaglutide users had a 70% lower Alzheimer's risk compared to insulin users.
The potential of semaglutide and similar drugs to serve as preventive treatments for Alzheimer's is under further investigation through two phase 3 clinical trials undertaken by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy. The trials aim to compare semaglutide against a placebo in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's, with results anticipated next year.
If those results even hint at Alzheimer's reduction, I'll be onto my doctor and asking for a prescription stat and not just because I'd like to lose a little more weight to get nimbler on the squash court, either. The mechanism by which semaglutide could protect the brain remains unclear; however, its beneficial effects against inflammation, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease — all risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer's — offer promising insights. Researchers and specialists in the field are emphasizing the need for more research to confirm these early findings. Read More |
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2. 'Happy Days' Richie Cunningham to Produce World Series Documentary for Apple |
Apple TV+ has announced an exclusive three-part docuseries that will cover the 2024 World Series featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, which as we all know, starts tonight.
Just reading the list of involved entities makes me think "the lawyers who inked this deal can probably afford box seats for the World Series." It's a collaboration between Apple, MLB, MLB Studios, Imagine Documentaries, Sony Pictures Television's This Machine, and Derek Jeter's Cap 2 Productions.
Oscar-winning director Ron "Don't Mention Happy Days But Instead Focus On The Entire Body Of Work From My Adult Career" Howard A.K.A Richie "Ron Howard" Cunningham will serve as an executive producer. Happy Days!
Viewers can expect exclusive interviews with players, coaches, journalists, fans, and family members, offering a comprehensive look at the World Series experience. There's good potential for the docuseries to draw baseball fans from around the world, the producers say, boosted by the star power of players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. I just wish they could figure out a way to bring The Fonz into it. Henry Winkler's Twitter feed is worth a follow, by the way. It's often a home run. Read More |
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| Can't decide what to drink? Let this robot do the choosing for you. 🥂🤖
Meet Scorpion, the AI-powered robot bartender by @richtechrobotics. This single-arm robot crafts personalized drinks in just one minute, using a mix of 20 ingredients.
Scorpion goes beyond just mixing cocktails—it reads your mood and preferences with AI, offering drink suggestions through intelligent conversation. |
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3. Would You Like a 35% Pay Raise? No? Boeing Strike Continues |
If you offered me a 35% wage increase over four years, I'd say "yes." The people who build Boeings just said "no," voting instead to continue their strike for the time being. The other day I wrote that it was a 3.5% wage increase because, frankly, who could have thought that 35% would be accurate? That's gotta be a typo, right?
Survey says "nah-ah!"
Nevertheless, 64% of Boeing's union voted against the deal presented by the company, affecting 33,000 Boeing workers across Washington, Oregon, and California, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
The proposed contract had offered a 35% raise over four years, an enhancement from a previously rejected 25% increase (why not make it 100%, guys!? Why not 200%?) along with a hike in the company's 401(k) contributions, a $7,000 ratification bonus, and a performance bonus. However, it did not meet workers' demand for a 40% pay increase or the reinstatement of a defined pension plan.
Relatedly, I'd like the moon on a stick by yesterday, but it might be…unrealistic?
The strike, ongoing for nearly six weeks, has prompted Boeing to announce significant financial losses amounting to $6.1 billion over the recent quarter, largely attributed to costs related to the strike. Union leaders express that the proposed concessions were insufficient, citing long-standing grievances since a contentious 2014 contract and impacts from the pandemic, crashes, and inflation.
As the strike proceeds, Boeing has faced $108 million in daily lost revenue, projected to hit up to $5.5 billion if extended to 50 days. Additionally, Boeing announced furloughs, pay cuts for some employees, and a reduction of 17,000 jobs, which is approximately 10% of its global workforce. I'm sure it's fine. Read More |
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4. Tesla Posts Surprising Third-Quarter Profit |
My father-in-law is considering selling his Tesla stock, but not so fast, Mike.
Tesla reported a third-quarter net income of $2.17 billion, marking a 17.3% increase compared to the same period a year ago, driven by stronger electric vehicle sales. The notable rise in profit signals a positive shift for the Austin, Texas-based company, which had experienced a decline in sales and profits during the first half of the year. Tesla's optimistic forecast suggests a growth in vehicle sales of 20–30% for the next year.
In the third quarter, Tesla's revenue rose by 7.8% to $25.18 billion, albeit slightly missing the expectations of Wall Street analysts, who estimated $25.47 billion. The company achieved adjusted earnings of 72 cents per share, surpassing analyst predictions of 59 cents. This financial performance led to a nearly 12% surge in Tesla's shares in after-hours trading — erasing the losses following the disappointing launch of its cybertaxi last week.
CEO Elon Musk highlighted that this profit increase was achieved despite the challenges in the auto sales environment, characterized by high loan interest rates. Musk underscored Tesla's efficiency and profitability in the electric vehicle (EV) market — a sector where many competitors are not yet profitable.
"I think if you look at EV companies worldwide, to the best of my knowledge, no EV company is even profitable," he said.
Additionally, revenue from regulatory credits hit $739 million during the quarter, one of the highest in Tesla's history. That's when other car companies literally pay Tesla to make electric vehicles on their behalf because they're missing government targets to do so. #America Read More |
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5. Home Sales Drop to Shockingly Low Levels |
Let's all buy a house. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, kidding...but the joke's on you, America; the joke is on all of us. That's because in 2023 sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. declined significantly, reaching the slowest pace in 30 years. A.K.A. the 1990s, which I remember! That's because I've been taking Ozempic to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's!
The slump was attributed to the convergence of high interest rates and rising home prices, which severely impacted affordability. Year-over-year sales dropped by 6%. The median home price continued to rise, jumping by over 4% from the previous year, recording the sixth consecutive month of annual gains. This hike brought the median home price to a record $382,600 for December. The challenging market conditions were particularly hard on first-time homebuyers, who struggled with limited inventory, elevated prices, and high mortgage rates. Buyers were younger in the 90s at a median age of 31, compared to 35 in 2023. Pretty soon, the median age of homebuyers, of course, is going to be "never," but at least then you won't have to worry about buying flood insurance because of climate change. #SilverLinings Read More |
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