And another day of deals, delays, strategies, reluctance, infecting, complaining, debating ‘gifted and talented’ programs in schools, name changes, gene-edited strawberries, and the ‘penis plant’ blooms for the third time in 20 years comes to a close:
“White parents trying to ban Toni Morrison’s Beloved because their children are having nightmares. Those aren’t nightmares, they are reflections on the sins white people committed which gave you everything you have — and you can’t handle it.” — Frederick Joseph
Deaths
US: 763,784 (+1942)
World: 4,996,337 (+8570)
Cases
US: 46,685,145 (+97,704)
World: 246,262,919 (+494,117)
Biden announces deal, seeks votes: ‘Let’s get this done’. Biden’s remarks at the White House came after he traveled to Capitol Hill to make the case to House Democrats for the still robust domestic package — $1.75 trillion of social services and climate change programs the White House believes can pass the 50-50 Senate. “It will fundamentally change the lives of millions of people for the better,” Biden said at the White House. “Let’s get this done.”
House Democrats again delay infrastructure vote amid party divisions. House Democratic leaders on Thursday were once again forced to push back the timeline for a vote on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, a sign of ongoing divisions within the party and a major blow to President Joe Biden and party leaders eager to show they can deliver on their agenda. -- Of course.
Trump's strategy to overturn the 2020 election didn't work. Next time it might.
Vaccine reluctance in Eastern Europe brings high COVID cost. Ukraine is suffering through a surge in coronavirus infections, along with other parts of Eastern Europe and Russia. While vaccines are plentiful, there is a widespread reluctance to get them in many countries — though notable exceptions include the Baltic nations, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Hungary.
Double jabbed people are catching Covid and passing it on to those they live with, warn experts. Individuals who have had two vaccine doses can be just as infectious as those who have not been jabbed. Even if they have no or few symptoms, the chance of them transmitting the virus to other unvaccinated housemates is about two in five, or 38%. This drops to one in four, or 25%, if housemates are also fully vaccinated.
‘Stupid’ and ‘insane’: Some billionaires vent over tax plan. With a personal fortune that is flirting with $300 billion, [Elon Musk] the Tesla CEO — the richest person on earth — has been attacking a Democratic proposal to tax the assets of billionaires like him. -- Fuck off, Elon Musk.
Schools debate: Gifted and talented, or racist and elitist? Communities across the United States are reconsidering their approach to gifted and talented programs in schools as vocal parents blame such elite programs for worsening racial segregation and inequities in the country’s education system. A plan announced by New York City’s mayor to phase out elementary school gifted and talented programs in the country’s largest school district — if it proceeds — would be among the most significant developments yet in a push that extends from Boston to Seattle and that has stoked passions and pain over race, inequality and access to a decent education...Nationwide, 8.1% of white children in public schools are considered gifted, compared with 4.5% of Black students, according to an Associated Press analysis of the most recent federal data...Most gifted and talented programs have relied on tests to determine eligibility, with some families spending thousands of dollars on tutoring and expensive specialized programs to boost scores and increase their children’s chances of getting a coveted spot.
(Editorial: There are very few people in this country who are truly “gifted and talented” academically. Otherwise this country would be in better shape than it currently is. I question the validity of the percentages given in the article. Relying on “tests” is not a good indicator to determine if one is gifted or talented. How “gifted or talented” can one really be if thousands of dollars are spent on tutoring and specialized programs to boost one’s scores? Not at all, I would argue. That’s actually called “preparation.” One is studying and doing work to be successful. They have a support system to help them be successful. I would argue that is what’s missing from the students deemed not “gifted or talented.” The students labeled “gifted or talented” are not necessarily smarter than the other students, they just have more opportunities and support. So yes, like parochial schools, the “gifted and talented” programs are inherently racist and elitist. Maybe that’s the point.)
Facebook changes its company name to Meta. The change will demote Facebook's namesake service to being just one of the company's subsidiaries, alongside Instagram and WhatsApp, rather than the overarching brand. A rebranding could be part of an effort to overhaul Facebook's reputation and turn the page following a series of PR nightmares, including misinformation on its platforms, content moderation failures and revelations about the negative effect its products have on some users' mental health. -- Shit covered in candy sprinkles is still shit.
Companies planning gene-edited strawberries to reduce waste. J.R. Simplot Company and Plant Sciences Inc. (PSI) announced they are expecting to produce the first commercially available, gene-edited strawberries in the next few years. The goal for the gene-edited strawberries is to reduce waste by making the strawberries have a longer shelf life.
The rare 'penis plant' just bloomed for the first time in over two decades. In a Netherlands garden blooms a rare plant with a tall, phallic shape. It's known as the "penis plant," and this is only the third time the species has flowered in Europe since 1997.
Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.
Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.
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