Thursday, December 2, 2021

And another day of stopgaps bills, the riot committee, ‘slow motion’ Jan 6, omicron says ‘here I am,’ brain problems, FL and taxpayer money, NFL suspensions, autism, HIV, Google tries to help with healthcare, and coastal life on the Pacific Garbage Patch comes to a close:

“Welcome to America, where we can’t force you to wear a mask, but we can force you to give birth.” — Irishrygirl

“Can you imagine being so privileged in life that you don't have to fight for any rights, other than the right to shoot someone without consequence?” — Jean Mobilia

“Don’t trust the person who has broken faith once.” — William Shakespeare

“Beware of the politics of neutrality.” — Habiba Ibrahim

Deaths

US: 806,398 (+1394)

World: 5,249,589 (+7714)

Cases

US: 49,716,825 (+143,703)

World: 264,443,056 (+708,123)

21 states poised to ban or severely restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. When the Supreme Court hands down its decision in a highly-watched Mississippi abortion case this summer, access to legal abortion could end for more than 100 million Americans, including those living in nearly every Southern state and large swaths of the Midwest.

Senate passes stopgap funding bill, avoiding shutdown. The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill Thursday that avoids a short-term shutdown and funds the federal government through Feb. 18 after leaders defused a partisan standoff over federal vaccine mandates. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

Capitol riot committee has interviewed 250 people so far. The House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection has interviewed about 250 people so far, its chairman said Thursday, a staggering pace over just five months as lawmakers work to compile the most comprehensive account yet of the violent attack and plan to hold public hearings next year.

Colorado Secretary of State warns of 'slow motion' Jan. 6 happening now. In a panel at the Reuters Next conference, Griswold warned of multiple dangers to democracy in the United States, including bills designed to suppress voting, death threats against election officials and mistruths perpetuated by politicians both nationally and on a state level.

Omicron coronavirus variant found in multiple US states. The omicron variant of COVID-19, which had been undetected in the U.S. before the middle of this week, had been discovered in at least five states by the end of Thursday, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease.

Brain problems found in 1% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients; real-world data shows Moderna vaccine highly effective.

Germany is banning unvaccinated people from accessing all but the most essential businesses, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Florida's DeSantis wants to hand out taxpayer dollars to businesses that defy vaccine mandates. Florida is one of a handful of states that now ensures people who refuse the shot remain eligible for unemployment benefits if they lose their job over their stance. Iowa, Kansas and Tennessee have done the same. — Republicans abuse the usage of our tax dollars.

NFL suspends Antonio Brown, two others following investigation into faked vaccination cards. The NFL has suspended Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown and two other players for three games following an investigation into claims that they faked their COVID-19 vaccination cards. Brown, along with Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards and free agent wide receiver John Franklin III, accepted their punishments and waived their rights to appeal, according to a statement from the league.

Republican senator blocks gun control law in wake of Michigan shooting. The Iowa senator Chuck Grassley, the leading Republican on the Senate judiciary committee, blocked a request on Thursday to proceed on gun control legislation in the Senate following the Michigan school shooting this week.

New data suggests 1 in 44 US children affected by autism. In an analysis of 2018 data from nearly a dozen states, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that among 8-year-olds, 1 in 44 had been diagnosed with autism. That rate compares with 1 in 54 identified with autism in 2016.

Population of People with HIV on Treatment in U.S. Projected to Keep Increasing Through 2030. “Additionally, nearly 1 in 4 people with HIV will be 65 years or older in the next decade, and we need to prepare to meet the medical needs of these individuals. Older adults with HIV are heavy consumers of health care, due to the increased burden of comorbidities and declines in physical and cognitive functioning related to both aging and HIV infection.”

Google Can Now Help You Navigate the Mess That Is American Healthcare. The healthcare system in the U.S. is incredibly flawed, to say the very least. It’s no surprise that Google is attempting to insert itself as a helper when it comes to navigating the big mess.

On the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, scientists find a surprise: Coastal life. Scientists documented more than 40 coastal species clinging to plastic trash, including mussels, barnacles and shrimp-like amphipods.

Fossil remains of herd of 11 dinosaurs discovered in Italy. Exceptional find includes biggest and most complete dinosaur skeleton ever unearthed in the country.

Scientists discover 'featherweight' planet with an 8-hour year. GJ 367b is likely a rocky planet rather than a gas planet like Jupiter or Saturn. "It seems to have similarities to Mercury. This places it among the sub-Earth sized terrestrial planets and brings research one step forward in the search for a 'second Earth.'"

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

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