Tuesday, October 12, 2021

And another day of undercutting, defiance, twisting research, extending deadlines, quitting jobs, Vatican immunity, LGBTQ mental distress, CA bans gas lawn mowers, and FDA authorizes e-cigarettes comes to a close:

“The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.” -- John Burroughs

Deaths

US: 737,584 (+2973)

World: 4,881,487 (+8748)

Cases

US: 45,431,167 (+117,813)

World: 239,472,714 (+445,539)

Texas order reflects growing GOP vaccine mandates hostility. With the governor of Texas leading the charge, conservative Republicans in several states are moving to block or undercut President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers before the regulations are even issued.

Texas-based American and Southwest Airlines defying Abbott's state ban on vaccine mandates. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines will continue to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees as required by the Biden administration, defying Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) executive order banning all vaccine mandates in the state.

A Harvard Study Is Going Viral Among Anti-Vaxxers. The Author Says They Are All Wrong. New research backing vaccines is being twisted to smear them.

LA schools extend deadline for staff vaccinations. Under the agreement, employees who have at least one vaccine dose by Oct. 15 will be allowed to report to work as long as they receive their second dose by Nov. 15. Employees without record of any vaccination by Oct. 15 will not be separated before Nov. 1.

Americans quit their jobs at a record pace in August. The jump in quits strongly suggests that fear of the delta variant is partly responsible for the shortfall in workers. In addition to driving quits, fear of the disease probably caused plenty of those out of work to not look for, or take, jobs. As COVID-19 cases surged in August, quits soared in restaurants and hotels from the previous month and rose in other public-facing jobs, such as retail and education. Nearly 900,000 people left jobs at restaurants, bars, and hotels in August, up 21% from July. Quits by retail workers rose 6%.

Catholic Church sex abuse claims: Vatican has immunity, rules ECHR. The Vatican has sovereign immunity that protects it from being sued in local courts over sexual abuse cases, the European Court of Human Rights said in a chamber ruling on Tuesday. It dismissed a case brought by 24 French, Belgian and Dutch nationals, who said they were sexually abused by Catholic priests when they were children. — What a bunch of bullshit.

Trump’s presidency linked to LGBTQ mental distress, studies find. While Trump is no longer in the White House, the ongoing introduction of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the states continues to expose LGBTQ people, especially children, to the risk of significant mental health consequences, according to some advocates and researchers.

California to ban gas lawn mowers, leaf blowers. The bill directs state regulators to stop selling gas-powered equipment that has small off-road engines by Jan. 1, 2024, or once the California Air Resources Board says such a law is "feasible," whichever date comes later.

FDA has authorized e-cigarettes for the first time, citing benefits for smokers. Health officials on Tuesday authorized the first electronic cigarettes in the U.S., saying the R.J. Reynolds vaping products can benefit adult smokers.

Advice shifting on aspirin use for preventing heart attacks. Bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and up who haven’t had a heart attack or stroke outweigh any potential benefits from aspirin, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said in its draft guidance.

Synthetic chemical in consumer products linked to early death, study finds. Synthetic chemicals called phthalates, found in hundreds of consumer products such as food storage containers, shampoo, makeup, perfume and children's toys, may contribute to some 91,000 to 107,000 premature deaths a year among people ages 55 to 64 in the United States, a new study found.

Fifa’s biennial World Cup plan draws negative reaction from sponsor Adidas. New criticism of plans to stage a World Cup every two years has appeared from an unexpected source, the chief executive of one of Fifa’s main sponsors, Adidas.

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

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