Saturday, September 11, 2021

And another day of a double-edged sword, a ‘pivotal moment,’ living in a ‘country that has rules,’ stillbirths in unvaccinated women, disciplinary cases, and history made at the US Open comes to a close:

“The past cannot be cured.” -- Elizabeth I

Deaths

US: 677,737 (+720)

World: 4,638,502 (+7731)

Cases

US: 41,816,668 (+74,975)

World: 225,099,855 (+454,394)

Could Texas abortion ban strategy be double-edged sword? The unusual legal strategy used to ban most abortions in Texas is already increasingly being employed in Republican-led states to target pornography, LGBT rights and other hot-button cultural issues. While private residents filing lawsuits is a fixture of some arenas like environmental law, some warn that expanding it and applying it to new areas could have a boomerang effect if Democrats were to use it on issues like gun control.

UN chief: World is at `pivotal moment’ and must avert crises. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a dire warning that the world is moving in the wrong direction and faces “a pivotal moment” where continuing business as usual could lead to a breakdown of global order and a future of perpetual crisis. Changing course could signal a breakthrough to a greener and safer future, he said.

Salesforce to help workers leave states over abortion laws. The CEO of Salesforce said the company will help employees leave Texas, and he did so while retweeting a story linking the offer to concern about Texas’ new anti-abortion law. Salesforce, which sells customer-management software, joins a small number of companies that have reacted against the Texas law.

Not getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is like driving while intoxicated, health expert says. "We live in a country that has rules. You can't smoke in most buildings in the United States, and you can't drive drunk. You can't smoke on planes. And you can't blow virus into my face. That's how it has to be in this country. And if you're going to be a persistent threat to the public health by refusing to get vaccinated, well your actions have consequences, and the consequences may be you can't work at your job." -- Yep.

‘It Took Her So Fast’: 4-Year-Old Texas Preschooler Dies of COVID Within Hours of First Symptoms. A Texas preschooler died of COVID-19 this week within hours of a fever first coming on, her family says. Kali Cook, 4, died in her sleep early Tuesday morning, about five hours after she was found to have a fever.

Hard-hit states add another concern: Stillbirths in unvaccinated women. While anecdotal and still low, doctors have started to report higher than expected fetal deaths in women with Covid.

Yes, Gov. DeSantis, Studies Do Show Masks Curb Covid-19 In Schools. From a political and legal standpoint, the battle over whether mask wearing should be enforced in schools is still raging. But from a scientific standpoint, there's little debate: Masks really do help curb the spread of the coronavirus in school.

College football fans and traditions are back, even with Covid-19 still here. Some of the country's biggest powerhouses -- including Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma, to name a few -- are hosting games to full capacity on Saturday. And fans who attend these games won't have to prove their vaccination status, won't be required to social distance and won't have to wear masks in their seats.

US Capitol Police announces six disciplinary cases against officers from Jan. 6 insurrection. Violations sustained include three cases for conduct unbecoming, one for failure to comply with directives, one for improper remarks, and one for improper dissemination of information, according to a USCP statement released Saturday. The statement did not specify if the six cases involved six separate officers nor did it name any of them.

Britain’s Raducanu, 18, beats Fernandez, 19, to win US Open. Raducanu beat Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final at Flushing Meadows on Saturday to become the first player to go preliminary qualifying rounds all the way to a major title in the professional era.

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

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