Friday, April 30, 2021

And another day of travel restrictions, infected students, raves, anti-vaccine comments, banning proof of vaccinations, keeping things secret, a ‘strong message,’ McConnell’s racism, Manchin’s BS, and more sexual assault comes to a close:

“Age is not important unless you’re a cheese.” -- Helen Hayes

Deaths

US: 590,055 (+848)

World: 3,193,653 (+14,466)

Cases

US: 33,103,974 (+59,903)

World: 152,002,365 (+884,686)

Biden set to restrict travel from India amid coronavirus surge. The restrictions were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will go into effect Tuesday.

Number of Americans fully vaccinated tops 100 million. -- Now the rest of you get vaccinated.

Colorado’s K-12 school outbreaks now infecting more students than they did at December peak. Colorado is one COVID-19 outbreak short of the point where many K-12 schools moved to remote learning in December, with more students infected than at the previous peak...Outbreaks also continued to grow in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and child care centers.

Thousands hit Liverpool rave in trial reopening from lockdown. Around 3,000 revellers aged 18 to 20 danced to pounding music in a warehouse on the docks, in close contact with each other and without wearing masks, according to a Reuters witness.

Joe Rogan addresses his controversial anti-vaccine comments. Joe Rogan, Spotify's (SPOT) top podcast host, responded to the controversy surrounding his remarks that healthy young people should not get the Covid vaccine...”I'm not a doctor," Rogan said. "I'm not a respected source of information, even for me." — But people listen to you, you fuck. Your words have weight. They shouldn’t, but they do.

Florida passes bill banning proof of COVID-19 vaccine for students.

Antifa fears, UV lights: What the group running Arizona GOP's election audit tried to keep secret. The private companies hired by Arizona Senate Republicans to recount millions of ballots from the 2020 election are concerned about possible Antifa attacks and planned to use UV lights to hunt for fraud, internal documents released as part of a legal battle with Democrats revealed.

Trump allies worry Giuliani raid sent 'strong message' to ex-President's inner circle. A Wednesday raid by federal agents of an apartment and office belonging to former New York City mayor and one-time Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has left allies of the former President feeling uneasy about what could come next, according to sources close to Trump. "This was a show of force that sent a strong message to a lot of people in Trump's world that other things may be coming down the pipeline.”

McConnell sends letter to Education secretary demanding removal of the 1619 Project from federal grant programs. -- The GOP white supremacy is once again on full display.

Manchin pans DC statehood bill in another break with Dems. -- Manchin is not a Democrat. He also apparently knows nothing about statehood.

Idaho legislator accused of sexual assault resigns after ethics panel pushes expulsion.

"Game of Thrones" actress accuses Marilyn Manson of rape in new lawsuit.

W. Va. governor unable to cite one example to justify trans athlete ban. Ruhle responded, “But sir, you have no examples of this happening.” She added, “Why would you take your time to do this? Let’s talk about other things that I can give you examples of in your state. According to U.S. News & World Report, West Virginia ranks 45th in education, 47th in health care, 48th on the economy and 50th in infrastructure. If you cannot name one single example for me of a child doing this, why would you make this a priority? I just named four things that would seem to me like a much bigger priority.”

First lesbian couple elected prom king and queen in Ohio school district go viral.

Al Qaeda promises 'war on all fronts' against America as Biden pulls out of Afghanistan.

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

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

Thursday, April 29, 2021

And another day of the crisis in India, selfish Americans, requiring students to be vaccinated, FL restrictions on voting, the carbon monoxide poisoning catastrophe in TX, vulnerable clients, and opening up about being polyamorous comes to a close:

“After all, tomorrow is another day.” -- Margaret Mitchell

Deaths

US: 589,207 (+870)

World: 3,179,187 (+15,314)

Cases

US: 33,044,068 (+60,373)

World: 151,117,679 (+901,089)

India's Covid-19 crisis is a problem for the world. The more the virus spreads, the more chances it has to mutate and create variants that could eventually resist current vaccines, threatening to undermine other countries' progress in containing the pandemic, experts warn...That's why India's Covid outbreak is a global problem that needs a coordinated response.

There is growing alarm in Africa about the devastating coronavirus surge in India. African officials worry they could face a similar scenario and don't have enough health workers, oxygen or vaccine supplies.

About a quarter of adults say they won't try to get a Covid-19 vaccine. That vaccine-hesitant 26% is much more willing to return to regular activity, far less confident in the government health officials overseeing vaccine rollouts, and opposed to vaccine requirements for everyday activities. -- And they are all selfish, with no regard for the greater good of society.

More than 100 US colleges and universities are now requiring students to get Covid-19 vaccinations. Most schools adopting that policy are private, though some public institutions have as well.

Florida passes voting law that includes restrictions on vote-by-mail and drop boxes.

Three more officers on leave over arrest of woman, 73, with dementia. Two more Loveland, Colorado, police officers and a sergeant were placed on administrative leave after the arrest of a 73-year-old woman with dementia — an encounter that is now the focus of a criminal investigation.

Texas enabled the worst carbon monoxide poisoning catastrophe in recent U.S. history. A family used their car to stay warm when a storm brought down the Texas power grid. In a state that doesn’t require CO alarms, they had no warning they were poisoning themselves. In their desperation, thousands of Texans unwittingly unleashed deadly gases into homes and apartments that, in many cases, were not equipped with potentially lifesaving carbon monoxide alarms, resulting in the country’s “biggest epidemic of CO poisoning in recent history,” according to Dr. Neil Hampson, a retired doctor who has spent more than 30 years researching carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention. Two other experts agreed. In the aftermath of the unprecedented wave of poisonings two months ago, Texas lawmakers have taken few steps to protect residents from future carbon monoxide catastrophes. That choice caps more than a decade of ignored warnings and inaction that resulted in Texas being one of just six states with no statewide requirement for carbon monoxide alarms in homes, ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News found.

Amazon to raise wages for half a million workers. Amazon announced Wednesday night that it will give over half a million of its workers a raise but maintain its $15 per hour minimum wage.

Carers can help vulnerable clients visit sex workers. A senior judge has ruled it is lawful for carers in specific circumstances to help clients find and pay for sex. The ruling found it would be wrong to stop them helping a 27-year-old man with mental disabilities fulfilling a natural desire.

Willow Smith opens up about being polyamorous. Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, spoke to her mother and grandmother on "Red Table Talk" about being open to multiple intimate partners.

How to take advantage of Apple's new iPhone privacy features. What will it mean for the smartphone now that apps have to ask to track people? Let's dive in...The iPhone maker's smartphone software received an update Monday that is now asking users if they want to allow apps to track their digital activity. And while it might seem like a simple pop-up option, it's a change that has already sent shockwaves through the app economy — including at Facebook and Google, the internet’s two biggest ad businesses.

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

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

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

And another day of ‘hope,’ myths, vaccination proof, rises in hospitalizations, searches, redrawing districts, videos of shooting, opposing anti-trans legislation, and math shouldn’t be racist comes to a close:

“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” -- George Halas

Deaths

US: 588,337 (+953)

World: 3,163,873 (+15,092)

Cases

US: 32,983,695 (+56,604)

World: 150,216,590 (+887,732)

'A dose of hope': Biden's speech touts improving pandemic conditions, pitches $4 trillion in economic spending. Biden unveiled for the first time his American Families Plan, a roughly $1.8 trillion package that includes universal preschool, two years of free community college and expanded access to child care. It is the second phase of Biden's two-part push to boost the economy, following the $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs package, which he announced last month.

Covid-19 vaccine myths: These reasons for not getting a shot don't hold up. In fact, they'll set the US back. Americans have an easy way to crush Covid-19 -- one that would let businesses fully reopen safely, ditch the need for social distancing and restore a mask-free return to normalcy. But many Americans don't want to get vaccinated as myths and misunderstandings spread.

Washington State University will require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations this fall for students and employees. He said exemptions will be allowed for medical, religious or personal reasons. Students who are participating in fully online or remote programs are automatically exempted.

Health officials in Oregon and Washington say there's a rise in young people being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Federal investigators search Rudy Giuliani's NYC apartment. The searches are a sign that prosecutors are ramping up their investigation into former President Donald Trump’s lawyer.

Republicans will control the redrawing of 187 congressional districts — 2.5 times as many as Democrats (who will redraw 75 districts). — Computers should draw the districts.

Judge won’t release videos of deputies shooting Black man. A judge refused Wednesday to release body camera video showing North Carolina deputies shooting and killing a Black man, ruling that making the video public at this stage could jeopardize the investigation into Andrew Brown Jr.’s death. However, the judge did order authorities to allow Brown’s family to privately view five videos from body cameras and one from a dashboard camera within 10 days, with some portions blurred or redacted. Family members had previously been allowed to view only a 20-second clip from a single body camera.

Police in the Northern California city of Alameda have released body camera footage that shows officers pinning a man to the ground for more than 5 minutes during an arrest last week that ended in his death.

Video shows Texas officer fatally shoot man in front of his girlfriend and child. Video released by the Austin Police Department shows Alex Gonzales being shot multiple times by an officer after a "road rage incident" on Jan. 5.

3 men charged with federal hate crimes in killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.

Black or 'Other'? Doctors may be relying on race to make decisions about your health. At the heart of a controversy brewing in America's hospitals is a simple belief, medical students say: Math shouldn't be racist.

The American Medical Association is urging governors across the country to oppose legislation prohibiting transition-related care for minors, calling such proposals “a dangerous governmental intrusion into the practice of medicine.”

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls high school sports in Connecticut. The federal lawsuit sought to prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls high school sports in Connecticut.

In Sworn Testimony in Inauguration Scandal Case, Donald Trump Jr. Made Apparently False Statements.

Google is adding COVID-19-related information to searches for travel. Travelers can find out if quarantine or proof of vaccination is required at their destination

More than 200 employees at Simon and Schuster call on company to stop publishing books by Trump-linked authors.

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

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

And another day of strict voting bills, new guidelines, false claims, an ‘execution,’ CPS, more abortion bans, Title IX lawsuits, a fired CEO, gas stations running out of gas, and Toyota acquires self-driving technology comes to a close:

“When rights are considered privileges, only the privileged have rights.” -- Sarah Kendzior

Death

US: 587,384 (+773)

World: 3,148,781 (+15,277)

Cases

US: 32,927,091 (+52,046)

World: 149,328,858 (+855,974)

In his first 100 days, President Biden has signed 11 bills into law; 42 executive actions; and reversed 62 Trump-era executive orders. More key numbers from Biden's first 100 days:

Republicans in Florida's state senate passed a voting bill that imposes new restrictions on voting by mail and ballot drop boxes. A stricter version of the bill is still under consideration in the state House. —  None of this shit would be happening had Trump won and the GOP retained control of the Senate. The GOP is trying to stack the deck in their favor for future elections. We all lose when you vote Republican.

The CDC now says people who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear a mask when they're outdoors, unless they're in a crowd. The agency continues to recommend that everyone — including vaccinated people — avoid medium or large-sized gatherings. “If you are vaccinated, things are much safer for you," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Tuesday at a White House briefing. "If you are fully vaccinated and want to attend a small outdoor gathering — with people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated — or dine at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households, the science shows you can do so safely, unmasked."

Miami private school, citing false claims, tells vaccinated teachers they can't be around students. In the letter, Centner reportedly told employees that they would not be allowed to be around students if they received the coronavirus vaccine, pointing to reports she claimed that “surfaced recently of non-vaccinated people being negatively impacted by interacting with people who have been vaccinated. Even among our own population, we have at least three women with menstrual cycles impacted after having spent time with a vaccinated person.” — The disinformation war rages on. 

Women, people of color more likely to be financially worse off after pandemic year.

Independent autopsy shows deputies shot Andrew Brown Jr. 5 times with "kill shot" to the back of head, lawyers say.

Khalil Ferebee, the son of Andrew Brown Jr. who was fatally shot by deputies in North Carolina last week, said his father's death "was an execution" a day after viewing body camera footage.

FBI launching investigation into Andrew Brown shooting in NC.

Child Protective Services investigates half of all Black children in California. CPS investigators often need to make quick, high-stakes decisions about whether a home is safe and suitable for children, and the broad nature of neglect leaves such decisions rife with implicit bias. “Every single kind of social hierarchy and form of discrimination that you can think of plays into the child welfare system and identifies who are the families that are going to be split up,” said Roberts recently. “It’s racist. It’s sexist. It’s ableist. It’s classist.” Indeed, the disparities shown in the AJPH study went beyond race: Children born to adolescent moms and children receiving public insurance were among those far more likely to have CPS contact or experience family separation.

Montana bans abortions at 20 weeks. “Today we're taking action to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, the unborn -- we are celebrating life," the Republican said at the bill signing Monday, adding that he was "proud to sign three bills that will protect the lives of the unborn." — But they don’t give a shit about people once they’re born. The GOP is not “pro-life.” They are pro-birth. There is a huge difference.

The tiny American towns passing anti-abortion rules. In the last year, 23 Texas towns have declared themselves ‘sanctuary cities for the unborn’, making the procedure punishable, and in April, a Nebraska village became the 24th.

LSU facing Title IX lawsuit from multiple women claiming sexual discrimination, assault. The suit names as defendants the university itself as well as former athletic directors, team head coaches, presidents and various other staff members, alleging that LSU has “repeatedly engaged in discriminatory, retaliatory, and other unlawful actions” when students tried to report sexual assault, violating Title IX and the university’s own policies.

CEO fired after telling teen "you look like an idiot" for wearing dress to prom. -- The now former CEO is a hateful waste of flesh.

Coming this summer: Gas stations running out of gas. Not that there's a looming shortage of crude oil or gasoline. Rather, it's the tanker truck drivers needed to deliver the gas to stations who are in short supply.

CDC study says unsafe bedding leading cause of sudden unexpected infant death.

Toyota will acquire Lyft's self-driving technology unit for $550 million, the companies said, as the Japanese firm steps up its automation ambitions.

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the Washington coast would generate a tsunami capable of submerging not only coastal areas but also most of the Puget Sound shoreline with churning waves of seawater several feet high for up to 14 hours, says a new study.

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

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

Monday, April 26, 2021

And another day of census information, summer camps, traveling, shot in the back of the head, sweeping probes, OK and its 3 new abortion laws, Rick Santorum, ‘ready for the pop,’ Snapchat profanity at SCOTUS, CA recall, and Tucker Carlson needs to go comes to a close:

“The next time you hear Republicans rail against Biden's capital gains tax, remember that it would affect only the richest 0.32% of Americans.” -- Robert Reich

Deaths

US: 586,611 (+459)

World: 3,133,504 (+10,966)

Cases

US: 32,875,045 (+50,656)

World: 148,472,884 (+689,505)

US population declines to slowest rate since Depression.

Texas picks up two House seats in newest census while Democratic stronghold states lose out.

How the US went from having one of the worst Covid responses to being a global leader in vaccinations under Biden.

Anger as Twitter withholds posts critical of Indian government's Covid response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of downplaying the country’s response to the pandemic, which has killed at least 195,123 people. Anger was mounting in India on Monday after the government ordered Twitter to remove posts critical of its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was devastating swaths of the country...A spokesperson from Twitter confirmed to NBC News that they have partly complied with the government’s request, and withheld content in India only.

New CDC guidance says summer camps will be able to open for in-person activities — provided they take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for potential infections.

The European Union is finalizing plans to allow tourists from the United States to travel to the 27-nation bloc this summer.

Tucker Carlson needs to go. He is a danger to America.

A Black man [Andrew Brown Jr.] killed by deputies in North Carolina was shot in the back of the head and had his hands on his car steering wheel when they opened fire, attorneys for his family said Monday after relatives viewed body camera footage.

The Justice Department is opening a sweeping probe into policing in Louisville, Kentucky, over the March 2020 death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death by police during a raid at her home, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Monday.

Oklahoma governor signs 3 anti-abortion bills into law. The Republican-controlled Senate passed measures requiring physicians who perform abortions to be certified in obstetrics and gynecology, adding performing an abortion to the list of unprofessional conduct by doctors, and prohibiting abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected. In the case of the fetal-heartbeat bill, any doctor who performs an abortion after detecting a heartbeat would be guilty of homicide. -- The GOP is disgusting.

Oklahoma governor signs near-total abortion ban into law. The Sooner State became the second state this year to enact a so-called heartbeat ban -- a law barring most abortions at the onset of a fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy and before many people know they are pregnant. -- As I said, the GOP is disgusting.

If the nation is in the midst of a historic reckoning on racism, most leaders of the Republican Party are not participating. The moves reflect a stark political reality: As America grows more diverse, the Republican Party continues to be led almost entirely by white people, particularly men, who cater to an overwhelmingly white base. And despite fierce criticism from civil rights leaders and growing concern from business leaders who are traditional allies, many Republicans see no problem. -- The GOP is also the white supremacy party.

Rick Santorum says 'there isn't much Native American culture in American culture'. "We came here and created a blank slate," Santorum said. "We birthed a nation from nothing. I mean, there was nothing here. I mean, yes we have Native Americans, but candidly there isn't much Native American culture in American culture." -- Rick Santorum is what is often called an asshole. Now CNN needs to let him go.

A Colorado police officer is accused of dislocating the shoulder of a 73-year-old woman with dementia. According to surveillance video, he told fellow officers “ready for the pop?” as he watched his body camera footage of the arrest. -- That shit can’t be “reformed.”

Student’s Snapchat profanity leads to high court speech case. Fourteen-year-old Brandi Levy was having that kind of day where she just wanted to scream. So she did, in a profanity-laced posting on Snapchat that has, improbably, ended up before the Supreme Court in the most significant case on student speech in more than 50 years. At issue is whether public schools can discipline students over something they say off-campus. The topic is especially meaningful in a time of remote learning because of the coronavirus pandemic and a rising awareness of the pernicious effects of online bullying.

California recall has enough signatures to make ballot.

FDA poised to ban menthol cigarettes this week, experts predict. The action would not remove menthol tobacco from stores immediately, but rather kick off the rule-making process to do so, which could take several years.

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

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

Sunday, April 25, 2021

And another day of a lack of oxygen, hotspots, wrestling with the fear of catching the virus, a ‘more targeted’ infrastructure bill, the verdict was ‘wrong,’ GOP audits in AZ, killing wolves, and everything is too damn long comes to a close:

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.” -- James Thurber

Deaths

US: 586,152 (+1077 - 2 days)

World: 3,122,538 (+23,223 - 2 days)

Cases

US: 32,824,389 (+88,685 - 2 days)

World: 147,783,379 (+1,557,029 - 2 days)

Virus ‘swallowing’ people in India; crematoriums overwhelmed. With life-saving oxygen in short supply, family members in India are left on their own to ferry coronavirus patients from hospital to hospital in search of treatment as the country is engulfed in a devastating new surge of infections. Too often their efforts end in mourning.

Oxygen demand outstrips supply in India hotspots. India’s medical oxygen shortage has become so dire that a Sikh house of worship began offering free breathing sessions with shared tanks to COVID-19 patients waiting for a hospital bed.

Biden says US set on helping India with pandemic. In a tweet Sunday, Biden said, “Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need.”

Germany will send oxygen, medical aid to India to help in COVID crisis.

Michigan became hotspot as variants rose and vigilance fell. Doctors, medical professionals and public health officials point to a number of factors that explain how the situation has gotten so bad in Michigan. More contagious variants, especially the mutation first discovered in Britain, have taken root here with greater prevalence than other states. Residents have emerged from harsh, lengthy state restrictions on dining and crowd sizes and abandoned mask wearing and social distancing, especially in rural, northern parts of the state that had largely avoided severe outbreaks. The state has also had average vaccine compliance.

Even after being fully vaccinated, many still wrestle with a fear of catching Covid. With more than 93 million people, or more than a quarter of America, fully vaccinated, two camps have emerged: those making up for lost time in the form of house parties, happy hours and travel, and those who cannot shake the fear that they may still get the coronavirus.

Man arrested in Mallorca town on suspicion of infecting 22 people with Covid-19.

Pivotal U.S. Senate Democrat wants 'more targeted' infrastructure bill. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin on Sunday said he opposes using a maneuver that would enable his party to pass U.S. President Joe Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal without Republican support, saying he favors a smaller and "more targeted" bill.

Almost half of Republicans say Chauvin jury reached wrong verdict. -- You read that correctly. White supremacy runs deep in the GOP.

Biden recognizes atrocities against Armenians as genocide.

Election conspiracies live on with audit by Arizona GOP. Months after former President Donald Trump’s election defeat, legislative Republicans in Arizona are challenging the outcome as they embark on an unprecedented effort to audit the results in the state’s most populous county.

Sen. Johnson may offer insight into GOP’s 2022 positioning. Ron Johnson is in an uncomfortable class of his own. The Wisconsin Republican is the only senator in his party facing reelection next year in a state that backed Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race. But rather than moderate his politics to accommodate potentially shifting voter attitudes, Johnson is focusing even more intently on cultural issues that appeal to his party’s overwhelmingly white base. -- Senator Ron Johnson is a racist.

An unarmed man was shot by a Virginia deputy who gave him a ride home an hour earlier.

Chloe Zhao was awarded Best Director for Nomadland at the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first woman of color in history to win in the category and only the second woman director overall.

Idaho senate passes bill allowing 90% of the state's wolves to be killed.

Dear Netflix and YouTube, everything is way too long. Just like video games, movies are way too long. And the more I think about it, everything we consume -- TV, movies, video games, podcasts -- is just too damn long.

Mars helicopter achieves fastest, furthest flight yet.

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

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