*The United States leads the world’s list of “advanced economies” when it comes to the percentage of people who think major reforms are needed in politics (85%) and healthcare (76%). (Pew)

*People are afraid to speak their minds; over 80% regard this as either a “serious” or “very serious” issue. Compared with ten years ago, white people feel less free (38%) to talk about race relations, whereas black people (42%) feel more free. (NYT)

*Only 36% of white adults feel a “strong connection to their roots,” compared with 61% for African Americans and 71% for Hispanics. Some 38% of adults ages 25-54 are neither married nor living with a partner, up from 29% in 1990.  (Pew)

*If funding is available, the telephone number 988 (analogous to 911 or 211) will become a hotline for people needing help, particularly those with suicidal ideation. (NYT)

*There is a connection between having a sense of purpose (often reflected in volunteering) with better health, reduced likelihood of contracting Alzheimer’s, and greater longevity. (The Book of Joy)

*Some 40% of white adults age 25 or older have a Bachelor’s degree, compared with 19% for Latinos. With Democratic Party policies increasingly skewed to the interests of the former demographic, Latinos are less inclined to be automatic Democratic votes. In 2012, President Obama received 71% of the Latino vote; this dropped to 59% for President Biden. (NYT)

*Pedestrian deaths in New Jersey were the highest in more than 30 years (NYT).  Factors include bigger cars on average than in years past; distracted drivers and walkers alike (cell phones); an aging population; increased road rage; and more of a tendency to view Stop signs as suggestions or decorations, not actual legal requirements.

*The maternal mortality rate in 2020 rose 18% to 23.8 per 100,000 live births, continuing a pre-pandemic trend. The rate in Norway is less than two; France and Canada are less than nine. The death rate for over 40 year-old women is nearly eight times that of under 25. The African-American maternal mortality rate is almost triple that of white and Hispanic women.  (WSJ and NYT)

*Customs and Border Protection “apprehended or turned back” over 1.9 million people in 2021, the most in twenty years. Within categories of immigration motivation, Mexico is #1 when it comes to work (33%); India is #1 when it is family (22%), and China is #1 when it is education (20%).  (USA Facts)

*In 2021, there was a slight decline, to 30%, of high school seniors who had used marijuana in the past year. Meanwhile, covert consumption of cannabis edibles is replacing vaping with many teenagers bent on getting high. Note: there is a linkage between excessive marijuana consumption and depression/suicidal thoughts. (WSJ)

*In 2010, high income homeowners held 28% of housing wealth; by 2020, this had risen to 43%. Middle income housing wealth declined to 37% from 44% and low income’s share of housing wealth dropped sharply, to 20% from 28%. The rich get richer—often not because of income per se, but rather appreciation of owned assets, net of debt. Reparation proposals must be focused on wealth to put a dent in financial inequality, which is one reason why the former are so hard to construct. (WSJ)

*In 2021, the United States government had revenue of $4.1 trillion (about 17% of GDP, typical for the last four decades) and spent $6.8 trillion, which meant a deficit of $2.7 trillion. Since 1980, there has been only one year when there was a slight surplus. (USAFacts)

*The Four Immeasurables of Buddhism: loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity, and mudita — sympathetic joy, the antidote to envy. (The Book of Joy)

*Be careful, users of Course Hero (a platform for students and professors to share documents); a business law professor is suing a bunch of collegians for copyright infringement. (NYT)

*Assistance for young people, especially those who are first generation earners of diplomas and typically lack network advantages, is available from sites like Braven, Handshake, and COOP Careers. (WSJ)

A new game that is destined to go viral … or not.

Step One:     Identify an acronym known to at least a dozen people.

Step Two:     Create an alternative set of words using the same initials as the popular acronym. This new combination of words must be reasonably close in meaning to that of the acronym in common usage.

Step Three: Think of a way to monetize this harmless diversion.

Step Four:    Add some initials of your own. This is a ridiculously short list.

Step Five:     Return to doing something meaningful with your life.

BIPOC:           Beautiful iconic people of culture

BMW:            Big man’s wheels

COVID:          Concern over various individuals dying

CRT:               Challenging revisionist text

CIA:                Cleverly accumulated information

DEI:                Differences equal individuality

DOD:              Death or destruction

ESG:               Extra social gratification

FBI:                 For better information

FOMO:          Fatalistic over many options

FUBAR:         Failing unusually big and random

GDP:              Genuine dramatic purchasing

ICE:                 Intimidating civilian entrepreneurs

INS:                Interesting new society

IPA:                Imbibing premium alcohol

LGBT:             Latent grit beneath topography

LOL:                Large overlooking liquidity

MIA:              Many into agony

NBA:              No babies allowed

NFL:                Noted for legwork

ROFL:             Relaxing over funny limericks

SEL:                Strategic educational language

SPAM:           Super product afforded military

SPAM:           Substantially problematical awful material

TBA:               ‘Til bureaucrats articulate

TBC:               This begins contact

TBD:               Try being decisive