Tuesday, May 4, 2021

And another day of vaccine information, Cheney and McCarthy not sharing love, The Big Lie, secret memos, speaking out, condemnations, ripping off employees, and all the queer Star Wars icons you’ve probably never heard of comes to a close:

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” -- Steve Martin

Deaths

US: 592,409 (+895)

World: 3,241,024 (+14,149)

Cases

US: 33,274,659 (+44,098)

World: 154,973,048 (+794,804)

The federal government plans to shift the way vaccine doses are allocated among states, allowing some governors to turn down doses they don't need or want, as President Joe Biden pushes to get at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to 70 percent of adults by July 4.

FDA preparing to authorize Pfizer Covid vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds as early as next week.

All Alberta students move to online learning starting Friday, premier says. All kindergarten to Grade 12 students in Alberta will move to at-home learning starting on Friday and continuing until after the long weekend, and all workplaces in the province with COVID-19 outbreaks will be closed.

Oregon State University will require COVID-19 vaccinations for on-campus students and employees.

Cheney sees cratering support in House GOP as McCarthy says she isn’t ‘carrying out the message’. -- In other words, she won’t promote The Big Lie.

Whose ‘Big Lie’? Trump’s proclamation a new GOP litmus test. Donald Trump and his supporters are intensifying efforts to shame — and potentially remove — members of their party who are seen as disloyal to the former president and his false claims that last year’s election was stolen from him.

Secret William Barr memo saying not to charge Trump must be released, judge says. A federal judge this week rejected the Justice Department's attempts to keep secret a departmental opinion to not charge former President Donald Trump with obstruction at the end of the Mueller investigation, calling the administration's lawyers "disingenuous."

70% of U.S. social media users never or rarely post or share about political, social issues. When asked about five potential reasons for why they do not post about these topics, the top two reasons users cite are concerns that the things they post or share will be used against them and not wanting to be attacked for their views.

Businesses speak out as Texas Republicans push voting restrictions. Business groups and voting rights organizations are attempting to apply public pressure on Texas Republicans as lawmakers gear up to finalize bills that would make it harder to vote in parts of the Lone Star State and criminalize some of the actions of election workers.

UN condemns violent repression of Colombia protests after at least 18 die.

US report: Taliban will likely curtail Afghan women’s rights. U.S. intelligence agencies are warning that any gains in women’s rights in Afghanistan made in the last two decades will be at risk after U.S. troops withdraw later this year.

How companies rip off poor employees — and get away with it. Already battered by long shifts and high infection rates, essential workers struggling through the pandemic face another hazard of hard times: employers who steal their wages. When a recession hits, U.S. companies are more likely to stiff their lowest-wage workers, research shows. Some businesses pay less than the minimum wage, make employees work off the clock, or refuse to pay overtime rates. In the most egregious cases, bosses don’t pay their employees at all.

Black man enslaved by white restaurant owner should be awarded more than $500K, court rules. John Christopher Smith, who has intellectual disabilities, was forced to work at a South Carolina restaurant for over 100 hours a week without pay for five years. Bobby Paul Edwards, who is white, pleaded guilty in June 2018 to one count of forced labor for using "violence and other coercive means" to make John Christopher Smith work at his restaurant for more than 100 hours a week without pay, the U.S. Department of Justice previously said in a press release. -- It’s much worse than what is stated here. Bobby Paul Edwards is a fucking asshole who should suffer greatly. What a disgusting excuse for a human being.

Undoing 4 years of 'damage': LGBTQ advocates on Biden's first 100 days. “Just because it's better doesn't make it good.”

Parents outraged after high school elects lesbian couple as prom king and queen. The winning couple says the backlash from adults doesn’t represent how their peers feel. Some parents made statements at a school meeting disparaging the teens and the school. -- Some parents need to shut the fuck up.

All the queer Star Wars icons you’ve probably never heard of. The road to more meaningful LGBT+ representation has been a long one for Star Wars, but in recent years, the hit sci-fi series has upped its game. Star Wars has expanded to more than just movies. There are Star Wars novels, comic books, video games and TV series that discuss the expanded universe at length. Within the expanded universe, Star Wars has highlighted characters of various sexualities and gender identities, creating new opportunities for LGBT+ fans to see themselves represented within the series.

60% of School Apps Are Sharing Your Kids' Data With Third Parties.

Pentagon tracking out-of-control Chinese rocket that could reenter Earth's atmosphere.

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

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