RationalGround.com

Wholesale prices rose 6.5% in the 12 months through October, the largest increase since November 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Goods prices rose 10.2%. In January the yearly rise was 3.1%. There is no 12-month consumer figure for October: the 2025 shutdown canceled that month's survey. rationalground.com

Microsoft 365's outage ran close to 18 hours. Its standard agreement promises 99.9% monthly uptime; below that customers can claim 25% of the month's fee, below 99% (7.2 hours) 50%, below 95% all of it. Credits aren't automatic. rationalground.com

Generation Covid, the new documentary from @JenniferSey and Andrew James, premieres today on SalemNOW. Four years of filming, and the most complete record yet of what school closures did to kids. Our review: rationalground.com/p/generat…

The FDA's top vaccine official refused even to review Moderna's mRNA flu shot. Two weeks later the agency reversed. What was in the file, and who was lobbying in between: rationalground.com/p/how-mod…

In 2023 we reported the CIA paid analysts to drop the lab-leak theory. The records say that's wrong. What they show instead: Fauci picked which scientists the spies consulted. rationalground.com/p/they-bu…

Peer reviewed: Pfizer vs. Moderna, 1.47 million matched Florida adults. Deaths per 100,000 over 12 months: 847 vs. 618. Most of the gap wasn't COVID. What it shows and what it doesn't: rationalground.com/p/the-vac…

Hiring is back to 2012 levels, and job openings have fallen from 7.5% in 2022 to 4.5%. On the Beveridge curve, that was the easy part: unemployment barely moved. From here, fewer openings usually means more people out of work. rationalground.com

One year ago today, the 43-day government shutdown ended, the longest on record. Government funding now runs out Dec. 11, and Bloomberg reports congressional Democrats are weighing using that deadline to force limits on the Iran war, now in its ninth month. rationalground.com

Anthony Fauci's diary, Jan. 2, 2022: "It has become extremely clear that the CDC is truly a dysfunctional organization." He added that he did not want to "make this explicit in writing of the book." From records released by Sen. Rand Paul. rationalground.com

The AI water panic, to scale. Every data center in America, AI included, uses about 17 billion gallons of water a year on site. Golf courses use about 531 billion. More at rationalground.com

When Democrats lose in November, they legislate in December. 1980, 1994, 2010, 2022: the same play every time. Republicans have until Jan. 3. rationalground.com

The average U.S. household had 3.67 people in 1940, 3.33 in 1960 and 2.5 in 2025, Census data show. rationalground.com

Moderna's four big flu-shot trials: deaths from all causes were even, 102 vs. 97. Deaths with no stated cause were not: 29 vs. 12. None of the 29 had an autopsy. The FDA called that "residual uncertainty" and approved the shot.

In its own trial, Moderna's mRNA flu shot prevented about 1 flu case per 137 people, compared with a standard shot. Severe reactions were 6 times as common. Medicare pays $171.21 a dose for it. A standard flu shot: $23.89.

53 House Democrats now represent districts Trump carried in 2024. In 24 of them, his margin was 10 points or more; in 8, it was 15 or more. Counts from Cook Political Report. rationalground.com

In 1960, 23% of U.S. households had five or more people and 13% were one person living alone. In 2025: 9% and 29%. The average household went from 3.33 people to 2.5. rationalground.com

The FDA refused to even review Moderna's mRNA flu shot on Feb. 3. Nine days later, Blackstone, which has up to $750M in Moderna's flu program, hired lobbying firm Checkmate. It lobbied FDA and HHS that quarter. The filing doesn't say on what. Five days after that, the FDA reversed. What was in the file: rationalground.com/p/how-mod…

Republicans held 10 of North Carolina's 14 House seats under their own map. Five flipped to Democrats and four are still uncalled, per Cook Political Report. Every district in the state moved 13 to 25 points toward Democrats from 2024. rationalground.com

From Anthony Fauci's diary, April 13, 2022: "even the CDC admits that their data about 15 minutes is really based on almost no science." He wrote that CDC Director Rochelle Walensky wanted the close-contact guideline changed. Released by Sen. Rand Paul. rationalground.com

U.S. turkey production peaked at 293 million birds in 1996. In 2025 it was 191 million, down 35%, USDA data show. The birds got bigger: about 24 pounds then, 32 now. rationalground.com