Wednesday, April 14, 2021

And another day of Covid-19, charges, pensions, gun control laws, expanding SCOTUS, sanctions, ‘slave-trading games,’ sex ed rules, sending parents to prison, legalizing brass knuckles, musical spider webs, and ‘magic mushrooms’ comes to a close:

“Maybe this thing was a masterpiece ‘til you tore it all up.” -- Taylor Swift

Deaths

US: 578,092 (+913)

World: 2,985,467 (+13,603)

Cases

US: 32,149,223 (+78,439)

World: 138,828,234 (+815,160)

Why are so many babies dying of Covid-19 in Brazil? There is a misconception that children are at zero risk for Covid, says Dr Fatima Marinho, who is also a senior adviser to the international health NGO Vital Strategies. Marinho's research has found that a shockingly high number of children and babies have been affected by the virus.

Daunte Wright, a doting dad and ballplayer, slain by police.

Kim Potter, the former Brooklyn Center, Minn., police officer who shot Daunte Wright, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, according to Minnesota authorities.

What to do instead of calling the police. Now more than ever, even people who previously had little personal experience with police brutality are learning about the racist history of policing and becoming interested in alternative ways to keep communities safe — without calling the cops. Still, in a society where the police are presented as the solution to problems from noisy neighbors to serious violence, it can be hard to know where to begin...Below are four ways to start planning for what to do and who to turn to when police seem like the only solution.

Former Buffalo officer who stopped fellow cop's chokehold on suspect will get pension after winning lawsuit. A former Buffalo Police officer who said she was fired for intervening when a White officer attempted to choke a Black suspect will receive her pension after winning a lawsuit on Tuesday.

2 in 3 support stricter gun control laws.

Democrats to introduce bill to expand Supreme Court from 9 to 13 justices. The move intensifies a high-stakes ideological fight over the future of the court after President Donald Trump and Republicans appointed three conservative justices in four years, including one who was confirmed days before the 2020 election.

The Biden administration is expected to sanction Russia and expel several Russian diplomats from the US in response to hacks and election interference.

Texas high schoolers disciplined for 'slave-trading game' that auctioned off classmates based on race. A student posted "$1 for Chris" and "would be better if his hair wasn't so bad."

Arizona has passed new sex education rules that would require parents to sign off on their children learning about LGBT issues.

Biden begins to undo Trump’s ban on abortion referrals. The Biden administration on Wednesday began to undo a Trump-era ban on clinics referring women for abortions, a policy directive that drove Planned Parenthood from the federal family planning program and created new complications for women trying to get birth control.

Texas bill could send parents to prison for providing gender-affirming care. The measure would redefine child abuse to include parents who consent to hormone therapy and puberty blockers for their transgender children. -- Isn’t it wonderful how Republicans believe the government should stay out of our personal business.

Biden's infrastructure plan calls for cities to limit single-family zoning and instead build affordable housing. A house with a white picket fence and a big backyard for a Fourth of July BBQ may be a staple of the American Dream, but experts and local politicians say multifamily zoning is key to combating climate change, racial injustice and the nation's growing affordable housing crisis.

Ohio law takes effect legalizing concealed knife carry; also allows for brass knuckles. The law also permits manufacturing, sale and possession of brass knuckles, cestuses, billy clubs, blackjacks, sandbags, switchblade, springblade and gravity knives. -- Hunger Games 2021.

NYPD Deploys "Creepy" New Robot Dog In Manhattan Public Housing Complex. The bot has also sparked fears about increasing police militarization, and the possibility that it could pave the way for even more concerning technology, such as weaponized drones, in the future.

UN: Only half of women in developing world have body autonomy. Whether it's sex, health care or using contraception, women in developing countries lack control over decisions affecting their bodies, the UN says. Attacks includes rape, forced sterilization and genital mutilation.

Bernie Madoff is dead. Bernie Madoff, the financier who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the largest Ponzi scheme in history, died Wednesday in a federal prison...Madoff admitted swindling thousands of clients out of billions of dollars in investments over decades.

Psychedelic drug worked for depression as well as common antidepressant, small trial finds. A growing body of evidence suggests that the psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms" could help ease depression symptoms.

Epic’s tool that lets you make realistic digital humans is now in early access.

MIT scientists translated spider webs into music. It could help us talk to them.

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

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