Thursday, March 11, 2021

And another day of addresses, making it harder to vote, gambles, resignation demands, bans, bills, DNA, a minimum teacher’s salary in TX, WA State counties all move to Phase 3, and in case you forgot, Tucker Carlson is still an asshole all comes to a close:

“We know what we need to do to beat this virus. Tell the truth.” -- Joe Biden

Deaths

US: 543,721 (+1530)

World: 2,641,762 (+9766)

Cases

US: 29,925,902 (+63,778)

World: 119,113,952 (+483,907)

Biden urges Americans to ‘stick with the rules’.

Arizona Republican lawmakers join GOP efforts to target voting, with nearly two dozen restrictive voting measures. "There's a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans," [Rep. John] Kavanagh said. "Democrats value as many people as possible voting, and they're willing to risk fraud. Republicans are more concerned about fraud, so we don't mind putting security measures in that won't let everybody vote -- but everybody shouldn't be voting."

As GOP makes it harder to vote, few Republicans dissent. “It’s appalling what’s happening,” said former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, who condemned the silence of the GOP’s elected officials. “There have been no provable, obvious, systemwide failures or fraud that would require the kind of ‘legislative remedies’ that Republican legislatures are embarking on. What the hell are you so afraid of? Black people voting?”

Mayday aim: Biden wants everyone vaccine-eligible by May 1.

GOP gambles against the popularity of Covid relief. Republicans are calculating that they can win over more voters in the next election by making everything Biden does controversial by dint of their opposition to it.

How a year of living online has changed us. The truth is that we're in the midst of a massive social experiment and there are few clear answers about what happens next. Experts don't know, so users must become detectives, sorting through their digital lives for clues about how their well-being is tied to their internet use. What matters most to one's mental health in this context, beyond standard advice about how to use the internet well, has everything to do with who you are and what you do online.

Germany sees jump in infections as health watchdog issues warning about third wave.

Four former presidents, first ladies urge Americans to get COVID vaccine in PSA. The PSA features Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter as well as first ladies Michelle, Laura, Hillary and Rosalynn.

Washington state’s first case of the P.1 coronavirus variant – that was first detected in Brazil - has now been discovered in King County, state health officials said Thursday.

All Washington State counties move to Phase 3 on March 22.

The emotional toll of living with a health care worker in the pandemic. We’re not on the front lines like our partners. But many of us still carry the weight of secondary trauma.

Rep. Ilhan Omar: "I introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancelation Act, which would permanently cancel all rent and mortgage payments until April 2022."

American, United cancel 27,000 furloughs after stimulus package passes.

Resignation demands grow as police get Cuomo groping report. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s grip on power appeared increasingly threatened Thursday as a majority of state legislators called for his resignation and police in the state capital said they stood ready to investigate a groping allegation.

Tucker Carlson slammed by military leaders for mocking pregnant service members. -- Tucker Carlson is a horrible person.

Mississippi governor signs bill banning transgender students from women's sports, approving first anti-trans law of 2021.

500+ Student Athletes to NCAA Leadership: Speak Out for Trans Athletes. We, the undersigned NCAA student-athletes, are extremely frustrated and disappointed by the lack of action taken by the NCAA to recognize the dangers of hosting events in states that create a hostile environment for student-athletes.

A Republican state lawmaker in Alabama was caught looking at transgender porn online, just a week after he voted in favor of a bill that attacks transgender minors’ access to lifesaving health care. 

House passes two gun bills to broaden background checks.

How do you define genocide? “Genocide is a crime on a different scale to all other crimes against humanity and implies an intention to completely exterminate the chosen group. Genocide is therefore both the gravest and greatest of the crimes against humanity."

The real threat to women's sports isn't trans athletes. It's sexually predatory coaches.

German police solve a nine-year-old burglary after DNA found on a half-eaten piece of sausage matched that of a man detained in France over an unrelated crime.

Texas state lawmaker introduces bill to set minimum teacher salary at $70K.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.