The latest scoop of the latest factlets is here. What’s a factlet? Well you have heard of factoid. The term was first coined by the American author Norman Mailer in his autobiography of Marilyn Monroe in 1973. He referred to factoids as “facts which have no existence before appearing in a magazine or newspaper”. Since then, the meaning has evolved to mean a true but brief or trivial item of news or information. In contrast, a factlet in this context is a brief item of news or information, but is not trivial, especially if it hits its demographic target of those interested in the topic.
We live in a barrage of data and information. My web scrapers dip their nets into this vast flow and scoop out bits from the factlet faucet online. My Natural Language Processing tools summarize them for me to curate. So here is a factlet cluster munition that is intelligence for your life.
Using Zoom is off my list!
Do you have video meetings with Zoom? Zoom's new terms of service say that they might let AI listen to conversations on the video tool. Don't reveal company secrets or personal secrets on Zoom video calls — or use Google.
Aging? Can’t Sleep?
If you are a senior citizen, and having all sorts of sleep issues, including insomnia and bad dreams, cannabis may be the answer. People over the age of 65 — are now the fastest growing group of cannabis users in the United States and Canada. Sleep aid and pain relief are the most commonly reported benefits of cannabis. In the US, 23 states have legalized recreational marijuana. In Canada it is legal in the entire country. In Europe, the wacky tabacky is recreationally legal only in Malta, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Spain (the fun countries). In South America, you can legally indulge in reefer madness Uruguay. It is also legal in Mexico and South Africa. In any other country, you perhaps may get a medical exemption. If not, you are totally buggershmucked in attempting to get a legal herbal high.
Painkiller addiction?
Are you addicted to opiods? Recent studies show that those receiving substance use treatment via telehealth were nearly 40 times more likely to receive medications for opioid use than those who did not receive telehealth treatment. My guess is that health officials are more apt to give prescriptions remotely because it eliminates the subtle clues that triggers bias in face-to-face settings.
Specialty Coffee Lover?
You may find your specialty coffee harder to find. Arabica coffee from Brazil usually rated lower grade has arrived in big volumes on the world's main price-setting market, traders said, in a fresh challenge for hand-picked premium beans from less efficient, smaller farms elsewhere in Latin America and Africa. However, if you are a fan of Kopi Luwak, also called civet poop coffee in the West, you are in luck. It's a coffee made from coffee beans that are excreted whole by an animal called a civet cat, found in Indonesia and environs. Previously, these poop beans were harvested by searching for them in the wild, but now farmers have these civet cats in cages, feed them coffee beans and catch the pooped out ones. The resultant coffee is luxuriously smooth with an unctuous mouth feel and doesn’t have the acidity of regularly coffee.
Where automation will hit the worst in Europe
In Europe, you are most likely to lose your job to automation in Hungary according to a recent study by the European Union.
Skin Condition?
Suffer from eczema? A new drug called Respegaldesleukin made by Nektar Therapeutics has been shown to offer help. It has not yet come to market.
I would put the fork down instead of swallowing the pill
Thinking of taking miracle weight loss drugs Ozempic or Wegovy? These types of drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Studies found people using these drugs and making lifestyle changes lost about 33.7 pounds (15.3 kilograms) versus 5.7 pounds (2.6 kilograms) in those who didn't use the drug. They mimic a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, promoting a feeling of fullness. There's a catch though. They are being investigated for side effects of people's mental health had been impacted. There are reports of the risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide. There have also been reported side effects of stomach paralysis and other health risks.
It’s just not for old folks anymore
There is a trend to early dining in American restaurants. The pandemic and remote work has made the 5PM and 6PM time slots busy, whereas before it was the 7PM slot that was the most coveted.
Beating the Baby Blues
A new medication just approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could revolutionize the treatment of postpartum depression, a condition that affects as many as 1 in 8 women who have recently given birth. The medication, Zuranolone, to be sold under the brand name Zurzuvae, is the first oral pill to ever be approved by the FDA to treat postpartum depression, a depression that occurs after having a baby.
Tell the teacher we're surfing ,,, Surfin' USA
Are you a California surfer? This is one of the benefit of global warming. Waves are getting bigger and surf at least 13 feet (about 4 meters) tall is becoming more common off California’s coast as the planet warms, according to innovative new research that tracked the increasing height from historical data gathered over the past 90 years. Hang Ten!
Breaking News! Legislation Changes A Light Bulb!
We are now into a few days where incandescent light bulbs have been officially banned from use. The regulation kicked into effect this past weeks. There are exceptions like the light bulb in your oven for example. Moi, I began hoarding them when the ban was announced a few years ago. I like the gentle incandescent light instead of the harsh glare of LEDs.
So that’s the serving of factlets for today’s edition. I don’t endorse anything, mentioned here. I am just reporting the factlets.
Thanks for reading.