Thursday, July 22, 2021

And another day of no participation, forfeiting games, not playing venues, MS asking SCOTUS to overturn Roe v. Wade, IRS warnings, stealing water in CA, a disappearing island, and schizophrenia linked to marijuana use comes to a close:

“One day when Mitch McConnell kills the filibuster and a president elected by voter suppression and state legislators picking the winner, I’m sure both sides will work super hard together to pass a voting rights bill because the rights of others is what the powerful care about.” — Walter Shaub

Deaths

US: 626,172 (+364)

World: 4,150,866 (+8401)

Cases

US: 35,213,594 (+67,118)

World: 193,371,433 (+547,887)

GOP’s vaccine push comes with strong words, few actions. Republican politicians are under increasing pressure to speak out to persuade COVID-19 vaccine skeptics to roll up their sleeves and take the shots as a new, more contagious variant sends caseloads soaring. But after months of ignoring — and, in some cases, stoking — misinformation about the virus, experts warn it may be too late to change the minds of many who are refusing. -- Throughout this whole ordeal, the GOP has literally been trying to kill you.

The Chinese government will not participate in a second phase of the WHO investigation into the origins of Covid-19, a top health official announced, after the possibility of the virus leaking from a Wuhan lab was included on the proposal.

NFL teams have been warned they could forfeit a game due to a COVID-19 outbreak among non-vaccinated players. Players on both teams wouldn't get paid that week.

Eric Clapton says he won't play any venue where fans are required to be vaccinated.

Olympics Taekwondo-Dutch athlete 'speechless' after testing positive for COVID-19.

Mississippi asks US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Mississippi’s attorney general told the Supreme Court on Thursday that Roe v. Wade was “egregiously wrong” and should be overturned as she urged the justices to allow a controversial law that bars most abortions after 15 weeks to go into effect.

IRS warns people not to fall for child tax credit scams. The IRS stressed in its video that the IRS does not leave people with messages that are pre-recorded, urgent or threatening.

Thieves in California are stealing scarce water amid extreme drought, 'devastating' some communities.

Tangier Island is in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay in the US state of Virginia and around a one-hour boat ride from the mainland. And it's slowly disappearing due to climate change.

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges in Los Angeles ahead of a second trial. He faces 11 charges of attacking five women between 2004 to 2013.

Catholic Monsignor Who Wanted to Deny Biden Communion Resigns After Cellphone data revealed that he used the gay dating app Grindr and regularly visits gay bars. 

Half of states now restrict conversion therapy for LGBTQ kids. Conversion therapy, also called reparative therapy, seeks to use counseling to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Medical associations and scientific groups have warned that such therapy can wreak significant harm on the long-term mental health of minors who are subject to the treatment. — Only half the states? Ugh.

Schizophrenia linked to marijuana use disorder is on the rise, study finds. The proportion of schizophrenia cases linked with problematic use of marijuana has increased over the past 25 years, according to a new study from Denmark. In 1995, 2% of schizophrenia diagnoses in the country were associated with cannabis use disorder. In 2000, it increased to around 4%. Since 2010, that figure increased to 8%, the study found.

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

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