Tuesday, November 30, 2021

And another day of wondering what matters, 80 million unvaccinated, requiring 60+ to be vaccinated, NYC safe havens, another mass shooting, banning the sharing of private images without consent, Lara Logan, and Lauren Boebert comes to a close:

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -- George Santayana

Deaths

US: 803,045 (+1719)

World: 5,233,046 (+8591)

Cases

US: 49,428,913 (+127,843)

World: 263,035,743 (+659,708)

Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land for nearly 50 years. Will that matter? But lurking behind the law is another question that goes to the stability of the court as an institution. The justices will also weigh in on how seriously they should consider the very fact that Roe has been on the books for nearly a half-century. Put another way: if the court uses cases as building blocks to construct the rule of law, what happens when one block -- put in place in 1973 -- is yanked out? -- If Roe v. Wade is overturned, then law and precedence mean nothing. It’s like the Republican Party is working to create anarchy in America. They may just succeed.

80 million eligible Americans remain unvaccinated, according to federal data. About 100 million Americans remain completely unvaccinated, according to federal data. Nearly 80 million of those people are over the age of 5 and therefore eligible to get the shot.

Brazil and Japan report first cases of the omicron variant. Brazil and Japan joined the rapidly widening circle of countries to report cases of the omicron variant Tuesday, while new findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe close to a week before South Africa sounded the alarm.

England wakes to mask mandate. ‘If it prevents lockdown, I’ve no problem’. But as the public balanced frustration at new restrictions with hope they could prevent another lockdown, there were clear signs far more people were covering their faces.

Greece will require COVID-19 vaccines for citizens over the age of 60. Those older than 60 have until January 16 to receive at least the first dose, Mitsotakis said in a news conference.

NYC OKs safe sites for drug use, aiming to curb overdoses. The first officially authorized safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics have been cleared to open in New York City in hopes of curbing overdoses, the mayor and health commissioner said Tuesday. The “overdose prevention centers” — commonly known as supervised injection sites — have been discussed for years in New York and some other U.S. cities and states. They already exist in Canada, Australia and Europe.

Outrage as Fox News commentator likens Anthony Fauci to Nazi doctor. Lara Logan compares top US infectious diseases expert to Dr Josef Mengele who experimented on Jews in concentration camps. — Like the Republican Party, Fox News explicitly gives people permission to hate others.

Anti-Defamation League and Auschwitz Museum condemn Fox host for comparing Fauci to Nazi doctor who performed medical experiments at death camp. -- Lara Logan is trying to stoke fear and anger and get people killed. Her comments are a danger to America.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) plays a horrific death threat she received following Rep. Lauren Boebert’s (R-CO) recent Islamophobic attacks on her. Warning: It's incredibly graphic.

Another video shows Lauren Boebert suggesting Ilhan Omar was a terrorist. -- The Republican Party has no agenda but white supremacy. They explicitly give people permission to hate others. This is shown by the words they use, like Boebert’s, and the overall actions of the party members. The Republican Party is America’s greatest threat.

A far-right former TV pundit with hate-speech convictions officially has entered the race for France's presidency and warned his supporters that they will likely be called racists for backing his anti-immigration and anti-Islam views. Zemmour has drawn comparisons in France to former U.S. President Donald Trump because of his rabble-rousing populism and ambitions of making the jump from the small screen to national leadership. — Here’s hoping French people are way smarter than Americans.

Authorities: Student kills 3, wounds 8 at Michigan school. A 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday, killing three students and wounding eight other people, including at least one teacher, authorities said.

1st of 4 accusers takes stand at Ghislaine Maxwell trial. A woman testified on Tuesday that British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was often in the room when the witness, then just 14, had sexual interactions with the financier Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell “was very casual,” she told a New York City jury. “Like it was no big deal.” She claimed the defendant instructed her on how to give Epstein sexual massages and sometimes physically participated in the encounters as well.

'I can’t even afford to buy a cart of groceries': Spiraling inflation leaves some grocery workers struggling. The gap between hourly wages and the cost of food means many grocery workers often face the daily experience of being around food they can’t afford.

Twitter bans sharing 'private' images and videos without consent. Twitter has expanded its private information policy to include media, banning users from sharing photos or videos of a private individual without their permission.

Celebrity surgeon Dr. Oz running for Senate in Pennsylvania. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon best known as the host of TV’s Dr. Oz Show after rocketing to fame on Oprah Winfrey’s show, announced Tuesday that he is running for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat as a Republican. Oz, 61, will bring his unrivaled name recognition and wealth to a wide-open race that is expected to be among the nation’s most competitive and could determine control of the Senate in next year’s election. -- Yes, he fits right in with the Republican Party. The best people do not aspire to seek public office, especially in the Republican Party.

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

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

Monday, November 29, 2021

And another day of warnings, booster shots, long Covid, denying requests, a CA town declares itself ‘constitutional republic,’ abuse in convents, and the world’s first living robots can now reproduce comes to a close:

“Republicans hate Fauci, and the worst thing he ever did was try to keep them alive.” -- John Collins

Deaths

US: 801,326 (+1912)

World: 5,224,455 (+7369)

Cases

US: 49,301,070 (+201,480)

World: 262,376,035 (+615,039)

WHO warns that new virus variant poses ‘very high’ risk. The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the omicron variant is “very high” based on the early evidence, saying the mutated coronavirus could lead to surges with “severe consequences.”

US health officials urge more vaccinations as they work to answer 3 key questions about the new Omicron variant. It could be weeks before we have the answers…With much about Omicron still unknown, officials say vaccinations and boosters remain the best protection available.

All adults should get Covid booster shots when they're eligible, CDC says, striking a much stronger tone than its recommendations just a few weeks ago.

If needed, Moderna could begin testing and making an Omicron-specific vaccine in 2 to 3 months, official says.

One study found more than 200 symptoms associated with long COVID, many of which affect multiple organs or systems within the body. Deep fatigue is one of the most frequently reported long-term effects of COVID-19.

Pentagon denies Oklahoma governor's request and insists National Guard members must be vaccinated. The letter added that National Guard members who don't get vaccinated could be banned from "participation in drills and training conducted," and their status in the service could be jeopardized.

California town declares itself 'constitutional republic' to evade COVID rules. The declaration states any executive orders from the State of California or the federal government, which are "overreaching" or "clearly violate... constitutionally protected rights", will not be enforced by the city.

Why WHO skipped two letters of the Greek alphabet in naming Omicron. The naming of the new coronavirus variant Omicron is causing some confusion.

Catholic nuns lift veil on abuse in convents. As the Roman Catholic Church pays more attention to the closed world of convents, where women spend much of their time in prayer and household work, more episodes of psychological, emotional and physical abuse are coming to light. — Such bullshit to treat people this way. Religion and belief in God are not necessary nor sufficient conditions for being a good person.

Bisexual Superman writer reveals coming out was years in the making – and it's just the beginning.

Twitter CEO steps down, leaves company at a crossroads. Jack Dorsey is out of his post as Twitter’s chief executive for the second time in his career — this time, he says, by choice.

Apple says it will notify users whose iPhones were hacked by spyware. “These users are individually targeted because of who they are or what they do,” Apple said in the support document.

World's first living robots can now reproduce, scientists say. The US scientists who created the first living robots say the life forms, known as xenobots, can now reproduce -- and in a way not seen in plants and animals.

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

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

Sunday, November 28, 2021

And another day of more omicron cases, the all-or-nothing abortion fight, Maxwell’s trial, blame-shifting is a feature, the Taliban’s new rules, voluntary evacuations, ‘good bots,’ and women sharing stories of sex with celebrities comes to a close:

"That's okay. I'm just gonna do my job, and I'm gonna be saving lives, and they're gonna be lying." -- Dr. Fauci on Republicans scapegoating him

“People like to say that the conflict is between good and evil. The real conflict is between truth and lies.” — Miguel Angel Ruiz

Deaths

US: 799,414 (+276 over two days)

World: 5,217,086 (+10,821 over two days)

Cases

US: 49,099,590 (+48,673 over two days)

World: 261,760,996 (+883,979 over two days)

More omicron cases pop up as world rushes to learn more. Cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it’s not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versions of the virus. The variant was identified days ago by researchers in South Africa, and much is still not known about it, including whether it is more contagious, more likely to cause serious illness or more able to evade the protection of vaccines. But many countries rushed to act, reflecting anxiety about anything that could prolong the pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people.

Canada reports North America's first cases of omicron COVID-19 variant. Canadian health officials reported two cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant on Sunday, confirming for the first time that the variant has spread to North America.

Supreme Court set to take up all-or-nothing abortion fight. Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in Wednesday’s showdown over abortion. The justices can either reaffirm the constitutional right to an abortion or wipe it away altogether.

The People v. Ghislaine Maxwell: What’s Really on Trial? Nearly 17 months after Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged accomplice was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges, her trial begins on Monday.

Blame-Shifting Gives a Pass to Abusers—and It’s a Dominant Feature of U.S. Culture and Law. When it comes to sexual assault and harassment, women are routinely held responsible for controlling men’s urges, turning misconduct into the fault of the victim rather than the abuser. As a matter of course, survivors are faulted for dressing provocatively, smiling, not finding a way to stop the assault or harassment and so forth. Even women who do next to nothing may nonetheless be blamed for their abuse, since their existence alone is seen as temptation enough. Simply by being, a woman can activate our blaming impulses. 

Afghanistan: What Taliban's new media rules mean for female actors. By imposing new restrictions on the media and female actors, the Taliban once again reaffirmed their misogynistic ideology, rights advocates say. Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unveiled a new set of restrictions on Afghan media earlier this week, banning television channels from showing dramas and soap operas featuring women actors…The broadcasting of films that promote foreign cultures or traditions in Afghan society, or which provoke immorality, is also to be prohibited, the directive said.

UT-Austin professors criticize university for halting antiracism study with preschoolers. The decision to halt the study comes after a University of Michigan-Flint professor filed an Office for Civil Rights complaint against the study, arguing it discriminates against children of color. But professors said pausing the study sets a negative precedent that could impact academic freedom.

Voluntary evacuations requested due to potential flooding in Northwest. In Washington state, flood watches have been issued for Whatcom County, Skagit County, Snohomish County and King County, according to The Seattle Times. In Whatcom County, residents in Sumas and Everson have been advised to voluntarily evacuate from their homes.

Phil Saviano, key clergy sex abuse whistleblower, dies at 69. Phil Saviano, a clergy sex abuse survivor and whistleblower who played a pivotal role in exposing decades of predatory assaults by Roman Catholic priests in the United States, has died.

Women Are Sharing Stories Online About Sex With Celebrities. Stories like Jenny’s are emblematic of the messy post-#MeToo debates swirling around sex, power, and agency — especially in celebrity–civilian encounters. More and more stories are popping up on social media about these interactions and the complicated feelings women have about them — particularly around expectations of honesty. And perhaps most crucially, women now feel more comfortable uniting with each other to call out the power imbalances. But not everyone agrees on the most effective way to do it or how best to untangle the thorny questions that arise.

Twitter feature labels 'good bots' that send automated tweets. A robot icon identifies automated accounts so they won't be taken for human-helmed ones. The focus is on potentially helpful bots. Bad bots? Twitter says it's "proactively sniffing them out."

Researchers try producing potatoes resistant to climate change. University of Maine researchers are trying to produce potatoes that can better withstand warming temperatures as the climate changes.

Skeleton of new dinosaur species found at secret location in Missouri. “I can’t imagine anything that’s more impressive than what we discovered here,” Darrough told Fox2Now. “A new genus in species. It’s [a] world-famous discovery.”

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

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

Friday, November 26, 2021

And another day of the new omicron variant, restricting travel, the US gun culture vs the rest of the world, first ever weather ‘red alert’ for BC, PTSD service dogs, a gay Santa Claus, AI controlled weapons, and Madonna and IGs nipple policy comes to a close:

“Giving thanks that I have managed to maintain my sanity through four decades of censorship… sexism… ageism and misogyny.” -- Madonna

Deaths

US: 799,138 (+587)

World: 5,206,265 (+7284)

Cases

US: 49,050,917 (+51,180)

World: 260,877,017 (+574,427)

World races to contain new COVID threat, the omicron variant. Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the world raced Friday to contain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent.

Rise of a new coronavirus variant in Africa looks like the disaster scenario experts warned of if rich nations hoarded vaccines for themselves. Experts are describing B.1.1.529 as worrying, pointing to its high number of mutations, which means it could render existing antibodies, vaccines, and treatments less effective.

Belgium has become the first European country to confirm the presence of the new COVID variant first detected in South Africa.

Biden to restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday. Acting on advice from the nation's top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Biden administration will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.

Canada is closing its borders to travelers who have recently been to seven southern African nations to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant, its health minister says.

How US gun culture stacks up with the world. Ubiquitous gun violence in the United States has left few places unscathed over the decades. Still, many Americans hold their right to bear arms, enshrined in the US Constitution, as sacrosanct. But critics of the Second Amendment say that right threatens another: The right to life. America's relationship to gun ownership is unique, and its gun culture is a global outlier…The United States is the only nation in the world where civilian guns outnumber people…In 2019, the number of US deaths from gun violence was about 4 per 100,000 people. That's 18 times the average rate in other developed countries. Multiple studies show access to guns contributes to higher firearm-related homicide rates…The country recorded the largest number of gun-related suicides in the world every year from 1990 to 2019…Half of the world's developed countries had at least one public mass shooting between 1998 and 2019.* But no other nation saw more than eight incidents over 22 years, while the United States had over 100 — with almost 2,000 people killed or injured…Many countries around the world have been able to tackle gun violence. Yet, despite the thousands of lost lives in the US, only around half of US adults favor stricter gun laws, according to the recent Pew survey, and political reform remains at a standstill. The deadly cycle of violence seems destined to continue.

Editorial: And speaking of American gun culture. Matt Gaetz is actively trying to get more people killed “I will be introducing a National Stand Your Ground Law following Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial.”

Many parents of color see the not guilty verdicts in the Rittenhouse trial as just one example of what their children face every day.

Canada issues weather 'red alert' for British Columbia. Environment Canada has issued its first "red alert" for British Columbia ahead of what officials are characterizing as a dangerous weather system expected to push more atmospheric rivers into the province. "The red level is something new that we have not issued,"

More veterans with PTSD will soon get help from service dogs. Thank the 'PAWS' Act. A growing body of research into PTSD and service animals paved the way for President Joe Biden to sign into law the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act. The legislation, enacted in August, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to open its service dog referral program to veterans with PTSD, and to launch a five-year pilot program in which veterans with PTSD help train service dogs for other veterans.

Madonna’s defiant lingerie photoshoot removed by Instagram for violating its nipple policy. Across a series of photographs, the 63-year-old posed in leather lingerie and fishnets sprawled across – and under – her bed. In some shots, one of her nipples can be seen. It was Madonna doing what she does best – fighting against the pernicious idea that older women no longer matter…Madonna also laced into the unfair double standards that mean men can freely show their chest while women cannot. “Can’t a man’s nipple be experienced as erotic ??!!” she fumed. “And what about a woman’s ass which is never censored anywhere. Giving thanks that I have managed to maintain my sanity through four decades of censorship… sexism… ageism and misogyny.’

Santa Claus is gay in new Norwegian ad. An ad titled "When Harry met Santa" depicts Father Christmas in a relationship with a man to mark 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalized in Norway.

'World-leading' Down's syndrome bill clears first hurdle in Parliament. Plans to ensure people with Down's syndrome get lifelong care have passed the first hurdle on the way to being law in England.

The Pentagon Inches Toward Letting AI Control Weapons. Drills involving swarms of drones raise questions about whether machines could outperform a human operator in complex scenarios. “Is it even necessary to have a human in the loop?” — And Skynet smiles. 

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

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

Thursday, November 25, 2021

And another day of a new variant, 500 homicides, tear gassing protestors, Congressional Gold Medals, LGBTQ+ football fans in Qatar, ancient galaxies, $200K for your face, and a female Doctor Who robs boys of role models comes to a close:

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” -- Henry David Thoreau

Deaths

US: 798,551 (+309)

World: 5,198,981 (+7219)

Cases

US: 48,999,737 (+29,945)

World: 260,302,590 (+603,123)

South Africa's health minister has announced the discovery of a new coronavirus variant that appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of the country.

U.K. Stops Some Flights From Africa Over Covid Variant Worries. While questions abound about the new variant, what’s clear is that it has the most mutations of any strain yet identified and that it’s very different from previous incarnations of the virus. That’s raised concerns both inside South Africa and internationally, with authorities fearing a wave of cases that could increase the pressure on already strained health-care systems.

Philadelphia reaches 500 homicides for 1st time since 1990. Gun violence is not unique to Philadelphia. In cities all over the country, homicides have been on the rise this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. From January to September, there were 6,502 homicides in the United States, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, an organization of police chiefs who represent the largest cities in the country. During the same time period in 2020, there were 5,904, according to the agency. Cities that had a large increase in homicides include Austin, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Nashville, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; and Houston.

Marjorie Taylor Greene introduces bill to award Congressional Gold Medal to Rittenhouse. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can award an individual or institution. It is highly unlikely the bill will go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled House and Senate, and it has no co-sponsors.

Turkish police have fired tear gas to break up a protest by women in Istanbul. They were marching to demand the country return to a landmark international treaty that is meant to protect women from violence.

LGBT+ football fans 'will be welcome' in Qatar for World Cup, FA insists as criticism mounts. The 2022 World Cup will be the first one held in the Arab world and has been a hot-button issue since Qatar won the hosting rights in 2010.  Among them in the last decade of controversy and scandal: accusations of corruption, the cost, the emirate’s treatment of migrant workers, women and LGBT+ people. But for queer football fans, they will apparently have nothing to fear in the Gulf state that sees their existence as illegal. Punishments include jail time, flogging and death.

Female Doctor Who robs boys of role models, claims Tory MP. A Tory MP has linked young men turning to crime to women playing traditionally male roles in TV and film. Nick Fletcher said "female replacements" in shows like Doctor Who were robbing boys of good role models.

Canada taps into strategic reserves to deal with massive shortage ... of maple syrup.

The Pentagon’s New UFO Office Has a Specific Job. A new office will seek to track and assess unidentified aerial phenomena—the possibly-alien things formerly known as UFOs—that enter military training airspace.

Surprising Discovery of Two Ancient Galaxies Exposes Our Cloudy View of the Cosmos. Upwards of 10 to 20 percent of the earliest galaxies are hidden by thick blankets of cosmic dust, new research suggests.

Robot Company Will Pay $200k for Your Face—If It’s Friendly Enough. “...seeking a face for a humanoid robot-assistant which will work in hotels, shopping malls and other crowded places. The company is ready to pay out $200,000 to somebody willing to transfer the rights to use one’s face forever.”

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

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

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

And another day of guilty verdicts, white men taking the law into their own hands, 52-year low jobless claims, burner phones, water shortages in San Francisco, outrage, Squid Game, and the alleged first crime in space comes to a close:

“Happy heavy traffic day! If you’re vaccinated, drive carefully. If you’re not, stay home and make a plan to stop endangering everyone around you.” — Walter Shaub

Deaths

US: 798,242 (+1923)

World: 5,191,762 (+8794)

Cases

US: 48,969,792 (+134,576)

World: 259,699,497 (+684,743)

The significance of the guilty verdicts in Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. The three white men who shot the 25-year-old Black man dead won’t walk free. Whether the verdict changes behavior or not, Arbery’s death has already led to legal reform in Georgia, including the passage of a hate crimes law as well as the gutting of a slavery-era citizen’s arrest law that the men used to defend their killing. These changes could eventually ripple across the country. But most states still have these laws in effect, giving citizens and vigilantes what some legal scholars say is undue power to act on their worst biases.

2 trials, 1 theme: White men taking law into their own hands. The two cases, which ended with an acquittal for Rittenhouse last week and guilty verdicts for Arbery’s killers on Wednesday, highlighted polarizing issues about gun and self-defense laws, and racial injustice. They also forced the questions: Who or what is being protected? And from whom? Should peace of mind for white Americans come at the expense of the protection and safety of Black Americans? “So much of this issue about protection and safety is about the safety and the protection of whites or white property,” said Carol Anderson, historian and professor of African American studies at Emory University. “There is a hubris of whiteness. The sense that it is on me to put Black lives back into their proper place.”

US jobless claims hit 52-year low after seasonal adjustments. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits plummeted last week to the lowest level in more than half a century, another sign that the U.S. job market is rebounding rapidly from last year’s coronavirus recession. — The lowest level since 1969.

Jan. 6 Organizers Used Anonymous Burner Phones to Communicate with White House and Trump Family, Sources Say. Some of the organizers who planned the rally that took place on the White House Ellipse on Jan. 6 allegedly used difficult-to-trace burner phones for their most “high level” communications with former President Trump’s team. Kylie Kremer, a top official in the March for Trump group that helped plan the Ellipse rally, directed an aide to pick up three burner phones days before Jan. 6, according to three sources who were involved in the event. One of the sources, a member of the March for Trump team, says Kremer insisted the phones be purchased using cash and described this as being “of the utmost importance.”…According to the three sources, some of the most crucial planning conversations between top rally organizers and Trump’s inner circle took place on those burner phones. “They were planning all kinds of stuff, marches and rallies. Any conversation she had with the White House or Trump family took place on those phones,” the team member says of Kylie Kremer.

Fact check: Greg Abbott attack ad deceptively alters Beto O'Rourke's comments on policing. In three important ways, the Abbott ad deceptively edited O'Rourke's words about policing to try to make him sound more extreme.

Sweden has named Magdalena Andersson as the country's first female prime minister. Andersson, 54, replaces Stefan Löfven, who recently stepped down as both the country's premier and as leader of the Social Democrats party. All the other Nordic countries -- Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland -- have previously elected female national leaders.

Water shortage emergency declared in San Francisco. In a vote on Tuesday, the commission adopted a system-wide water reduction use of 10 percent, an announcement from the mayor's office said…As the drought persists in California, San Francisco’s reservoir supply is at nearly 73 percent capacity. At this time of year, 80 percent capacity would be considered normal. Roughly one-third of that supply, however, is not able to be touched because of state policies regarding the drought.

New documentary highlights plight of missing Black women and why their cases go ignored. A third of the almost 300,000 U.S. girls and women reported missing in 2020 were Black. That's according to the National Crime Information Center. Yet those cases are often marginalized or ignored by law enforcement and national media. Now, a four-part documentary series on HBO follows the lives of two women working to bring awareness to these cases. Amna Nawaz has the story.

Femicide is on the rise in Germany, the latest figures show. In Germany, there is on average one reported attempted homicide of a woman every single day. And according to new statistics, every two-and-a-half days a woman actually dies at the hands of her partner or former partner. In 2020, 139 women were killed.

Sweden's first female prime minister resigns hours after appointment. "I understand that this may look very messy, and what has happened is completely unique," Andersson said, according to Bloomberg. "Despite the fact that the parliamentary positions appear unchanged, the issue should be tried anew. I don’t want to lead a government whose legitimacy might be questioned."

Parents are scrambling after schools suddenly cancel class over staffing and burnout. Schools and districts around the country have been canceling classes on short notice. The cancellations aren't directly for COVID-19 quarantines; instead schools are citing staff shortages, staff fatigue, mental health and sometimes even student fights…”We all feel like we're witnessing the death of public education up close and personal." — And that is the point: to destroy public education.

Oklahoma GOP Head: RNC Chair 'Must Resign' For LGBTQ Support. In a 1,100-word fundraising email headed “RNC Chair MUST Change Course or RESIGN,” OKGOP chair John Bennett said McDaniel “must resign” if “she cannot or will not stand for who we say we are.” — Because the Republican Party gives explicit permission for people to hate others.

Outrage as India court reduces child abuse sentence. Just days after India's Supreme Court struck down a controversial order that cleared a man of sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl because "there was no skin-to-skin contact" with the victim, another judgement that reduced the jail term of a man convicted of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him has caused outrage.

North Korea has sentenced to death a man who smuggled and sold copies of the Netflix series “Squid Game” after authorities caught seven high school students watching the Korean-language global hit show.

NASA investigating first allegation of crime in space. Astronaut Anne McClain is facing the first allegation of a crime committed in space, reports The New York Times. McClain's estranged wife, Summer Worden, accused the astronaut of accessing her bank account while on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is spawning in an explosion of color as the natural wonder recovers from life-threatening coral bleaching episodes. Scientists on Tuesday night recorded the corals fertilizing billions of offspring by casting sperm and eggs into the Pacific Ocean off the Queensland state coastal city of Cairns.

Flying Taxis Just a Few Years Away According to Paper of Record. Yes, it’s flying taxi season, something that comes around like clockwork every six months or so—especially during a holiday week when the news might be slow. You’ll notice Thanksgiving is a just a few days away, something that we’re sure is merely a coincidence.

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

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