Shock of color.

Vatican Tells Catholics How to Make ‘Faith-Consistent’ Investments - WSJ

They call for “proactive positive investing” in industries such as renewable energy and microfinance.

These guidelines are a paradox.

Don’t invest in fossil fuels, which has lifted billions out of poverty and delivered mobility, economic stability, and food security.

Invest in wildly speculative renewable energy and driving the poor into perpetual debt through micro finance.

Other industries on the blacklist include makers of armaments

Because Catholic moral theology doesn’t permit for a right to national sovereignty and self-defense?

FAA: Pilots should be capable of flying aircraft manually when needed

“Multiple crashes have shown a need for pilots, who might switch on autopilot soon after takeoff, to sharpen their abilities to fly without automation in case they have to take over during an emergency,” the FAA said in the advisory.

Good tip.

Backers of Farmworker Visa Overhaul Make Year-End Push for Immigrant Labor Deal - WSJ

A bill providing a path to citizenship for about one million farmworkers—and creating a capped number of new year-round visas—passed the House in March 2021, with the support of 217 Democrats and 30 Republicans.

Why stuff through in the lame duck session? You’ll never have a political monopoly, so negotiate and figure it out!

Internet down at the office, so impromptu work/school session at the local coffee shop.

Ukrainian Hospital Stymied Russians With Defiant Doctors and a Fake Covid Outbreak - WSJ

By August, Russian soldiers were showing up at hospitals in droves, complaining of headaches or back pain in hopes they’d get sent home. “One guy said he had problems with his knees,” said Andriy Koksharov, head of Tropinka’s trauma department. A scan showed there wasn’t much wrong, but the soldier asked Dr. Koksharov to exaggerate. Dr. Koksharov wrote that he had arthritis and needed to leave the front. “The fewer of them the better,” he said.

Thanksgiving table.

Gentle music in the background, heavy rain in the vicinity, working away on my websites at my desk.

This is true relaxation!

I’ve got that very deep feeling of rest and relaxation that comes with the end-of-year holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

🦃

U.S. Poised to Grant Chevron License to Pump Oil in Venezuela - WSJ

The developments come just ahead of new Western sanctions on Russian oil that threaten to tighten global supplies and lift prices. The Biden administration’s move to ease sanctions on Venezuela has been seen as an effort to send a well-timed psychological signal to markets concerned about a potential future shortfall.

Shifting oil profits from one ruthless dictator to another, all while American oil stays in the ground.

For the Biden administration, U.S. domestic political blowback over the policy change is seen as manageable following the midterm elections, said people familiar with the matter, partly because Florida, whose large Cuban and Venezuelan communities support Venezuelan sanctions, is now seen as lost to the GOP.

Nice to see that the political calculation was carefully weighed by the Virtue Signaler-in-Chief.

I don’t know what happened to Safari in this year’s upgrade cycle, but I just switched my default browser to Brave.

Biden Administration Extends Pause on Federal Student Loan Payments - WSJ

Payments were set to resume Jan. 1, but they now will resume 60 days after litigation over the loan-forgiveness program is resolved or the program is implemented.

This is the final, final final extension. Super serious this time, guys!

Saturday fire.

FTX Fraud Scandal: Here’s What You Should Know - Babylon Bee

A quick Google search revealed that FTX stands for Futures Exchange, which is apt because its customers exchanged their future financial security for meaningless cryptocurrency.

Fetterman Realizes American Dream Of Living With Parents Til You’re 50 And Then Getting A Government Job - Babylon Bee

Fetterman waved solemnly to his parents as he packed up his things before he remembered he doesn’t start his congressional term until next year. He quickly turned back around and asked what was for dinner.

It Takes Too Long to Count Votes - WSJ Opinion

Florida managed to count seven million votes within hours Tuesday, in part because it preprocesses incoming mail ballots and has an Election Day deadline. So far the U.S. has been Las Vegas lucky in avoiding a mail vote debacle, but only a fool keeps spinning the roulette wheel.

Moving in Together Doesn’t Match the Financial Benefits of Marriage, but Why? - WSJ

“We’re already saving a lot of money and splitting the cost on most things,” she said. “I don’t understand how married couples are accumulating wealth in a way we’re not doing.” 

Because married couples are a team with permanence? Not a pair of people going Dutch on every line item every month.

“I care a little bit less than I thought I would about marriage,” she said. “Once you start living together, it almost feels like you made that commitment.”

Until he dumps you for a younger woman and now you’re single AND homeless.

Donald Trump Rallies for . . . Donald Trump - WSJ Opinion

But his focus on his own prospects, and criticizing his fellow Republicans even before a crucial midterm election, is one more reminder that Mr. Trump’s only abiding principle is what’s good for Donald Trump.

Good reminder.