Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The latest TikTok challenge encourages users to pee in their pants

One recent trend, the “pee your pants challenge,” is certainly low on effort, although it may take some extra post-production cleanup.  Videos of the challenge do demonstrate people actually urinating on themselves.

• Step one: Film yourself in front of the mirror saying “pee your pants challenge.” 
• Step two: Pee your pants. 

The challenge began with a post on April 21 by Liam Weyer. He is a 19-year-old filmmaker and comedian from Kansas who hopes to write for TV one day. He said he created it as a parody to begin with. (Insider)

Llamas may lead to virus treatment

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Ghent University combined two copies of an antibody unique to llamas. This antibody combo successfully blocked the spike protein that lets coronaviruses infiltrate host cells, at least in a lab environment. Next up? Tests with hamsters and non-human primates. The finding could pave the way for a treatment that could be used to prevent infection and lessen the severity of an existing infection. (Futurity)

Cops raid strip club that tried to open as ‘restaurant with entertainment,’ with no lap dances

A Texas strip club that tried to re-brand itself as a “restaurant with entertainment” was forced to shut down shortly after opening its doors at midnight Friday, the first day of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Phase 1 reopening plan. The plan allows retail stores, movie theaters, malls and restaurants to reopen with 25% capacity after a six-week coronavirus lockdown. Club Onyx in Houston apparently tried to circumvent the new order by promoting its adult entertainment facility as a restaurant and vowing not to allow lap dances or parties larger than six people, among other social distancing measures. “Seating will be limited as we will be following state guidelines and health recommendations of social distancing,” club officials wrote on social media. But shortly after the club re-opened, police and the fire marshal raided the building and turned off the music as they tried to determine whether the business had a restaurant license and was allowed to re-open. The club’s owner eventually agreed to close the facility after cops threatened to charge him, but he’s still not convinced he can’t re-open. In an overnight interview outside the building, the owner showed his club’s health permit, which apparently describes the establishment as a “full-service restaurant.” He said “the reality of it is, with about 25% occupancy, we can have about 75 people here. We’re not going to make money, but our employees will make some money, and people will get to get out of the house.” In the Texas Governor’s executive order, which has been described as “vague and unenforceable,” also allows museums and libraries to open under the same 25% occupancy limitation. In counties with fewer than five COVID-19 cases, most businesses can reopen with up to 50% capacity. (KHOU)

Many Covid-19 patients are reporting neurological symptoms

Several recent studies have identified the presence of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 cases. Some of these studies are case reports where symptoms are observed in individuals. Several reports have described Covid-19 patients suffering from Guillain–Barré syndrome. Guillain–Barré syndrome is a neurological disorder where the immune system responds to an infection and ends up mistakenly attacking nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. Other case studies have described severe Covid-19 encephalitis (brain inflammation and swelling) and stroke in healthy young people with otherwise mild Covid-19 symptoms. Larger studies from China and France have also investigated the prevalence of neurological disorders in Covid-19 patients. These studies have shown that 36 percent of patients have neurological symptoms. Many of these symptoms were mild and include things like headaches or dizziness that could be caused by a robust immune response. Other more specific and severe symptoms were also seen and include loss of smell or taste, muscle weakness, stroke, seizure, and hallucinations. (Inverse)

Sex offender, sprung from California jail due to coronavirus, arrested for indecent exposure

A California sex offender released from jail early due to the coronavirus crisis had been charged with exposing himself at a parole resource center, according to a report. The 39-year-old man was released from jail under a court order on April 13 after serving 71 days of a 180-day minimum sentence. The sentence was imposed after he was accused of failing to charge his GPS monitor. Prosecutors said he has a history of child molestation, indecent exposure, assault, battery and criminal threats. He’s also been accused of inflicting injury on an elder adult and violating parole five times since 2017. He along with six other sex offenders were released apparently as part of the state Supreme Court’s efforts to keep jail populations lower than usual during the pandemic. Four of the seven have been arrested since their release. (Fox 11 Los Angeles)

Man caught camping on Disney’s Discovery Island says it was ‘tropical paradise’

A Florida man is facing trespassing charges after security found him camping on Walt Disney World’s Discovery Island, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said they were called after the 42-year-old man was spotted on the Disney-owned property, which is currently closed to the public. Orange County deputies searched for the man on foot, by helicopter, and by boat before finally making contact with him, according to an arrest report. When deputies told him they had been using a loud speaker to address him, he said he didn’t hear them because he was sleeping inside one of the buildings on the island, which he referred to as a “tropical paradise,” according to the report. According to an arrest report, he told deputies he was not aware that the property was off limits and that he had been camping there and planned to stay for about a week. He was arrested and charged with trespassing on posted property and was also ordered not to return to any additional Walt Disney World properties. (Click Orlando)

Nursing home boards up fence, man kept from visiting wife through window

After nursing homes were closed to visitors, one man found solace visiting his wife outside her Midwest City, Oklahoma nursing home window. But recently, he discovered the fence was repaired, and he believes it was a personal attack. The man and his wife have been close since high school. Then a few years ago, she had a seizure and her memory was damaged, even forgetting at first who her husband was, but he visited her almost everyday in her nursing home. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and his visits to her nursing home were cut off, he found what he believes was a safe way to visit. He could get through a broken fence and access her window from the courtyard. For the past month, he’s been visiting most days of the week, calling her on the phone while they look at each other through the window. Because of her memory, he must remind her each day why he can’t go in and embrace her. “It’s really hard for me behind closed doors,” the husband said. “But when I’m there, I’ve got to stay strong for her, I’ve got to keep her laughing, and as long as I can keep her laughing, it makes me laugh.” It was a small comfort he said staff knew about, and that he had never been reprimanded for. But on Thursday, he discovered the fence boarded up. He believes it was a personal attack over a paperwork dispute after current staff refused to sign his FMLA papers so that he can get time off of work when he needs to care for his wife. He said he doesn’t want a fight, he just wants to care for his wife. “Somebody’s got to do something about this,” he said. “With all this stuff going on, at least have some compassion and let me see my wife.” (KFOR)

Asian giant hornets were spotted in the U.S. for the first time, threatening honey bee populations

Sightings of Vespa mandarinia, which measures up to 2 inches long, were reported in Washington state, as well as British Columbia last fall. They attack beehives starting in late summer and can destroy colonies within hours. Scientists worry they could devastate bee populations in the U.S., which are already declining. They typically become active in April, according to Washington State University. State officials there are tracking them and deploying traps to try and eradicate them. The hornets have been linked to as many as 50 deaths a year in Japan. However, entomologists say that it’s unlikely they would kill anyone, as they don’t typically go after humans. (USA Today)

Americans earn less, but save more

As nervous Americans slash spending and hoard their cash, banks are recording a major uptick in savings. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the monthly savings rate surged to 13.1% in March, up from 8% in February, despite income falling 2% and a $327.6 billion drop in workers’ salaries, due to stay-at-home orders. The Fed said that it keeping interests rate near zero; with around 30 million filing unemployment claims, economists say the outlook hasn’t looked this bleak since 1939. (CNN)

Will we all work from home forever?

Now that companies have overcome the up-front costs to facilitate employee work from home setups amid the coronavirus pandemic, there is no going back. As millions of office workers continue to work remotely, a permanent shift in work patterns has emerged. This will hurt commercial real estate businesses as companies discover they need less space, and will “flatten the competitive curve for jobs,” with hiring managers are not limited by geography when considering potential employees. (The Information)

School closings stall economy

Despite some states trying to reopen, there is one giant roadblock to economic recovery they face: Schools are still largely closed. With millions of parents taking care of their kids in the absence of school, and in some cases, summer programs, economists warn that the U.S. economy will be “stuck in neutral” until schools are back in session. What needs to happen for roughly 124,000 schools to reopen? The Brookings Institution says widespread virus testing could change the tide. Until then, school closings will cost the U.S. economy over $50 billion in lost productivity a month. (Bloomberg News)

McDonald’s has put items including burger patties, bacon, and sausage on controlled allocation

That means the company’s supply chain will send restaurants meat shipments based on calculated demand across the system, as opposed to the usual practice of management ordering the amount believed will be needed. McDonald’s is able to meet the system’s needs at this point, distribution centers went on managed supply and restaurants on controlled allocation out of an abundance of caution. The new approach does not necessarily mean that McDonald’s is facing shortages, but instead that the company is more closely monitoring and managing meat supply across the U.S. as the situation changes on a daily and hour basis. Meat industry executives at companies including Smithfield Foods and Tyson have warned of shortages in recent weeks, as meat processing plants shutter across the U.S. More than 5,000 workers have contacted COVID-19, with at least 20 workers dying, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (MSN)

U.S. Navy ships enter Barents Sea for first time since the mid-1980s

Four U.S. and British Navy ships on Monday entered the Barents Sea, just north of Russia, in a joint mission to conduct maritime security operations above the Arctic Circle, the U.S. 6th Fleet announced. The move marks the first time since the mid-1980s that U.S. Navy surface ships have entered the Barents sea. Russia is reportedly monitoring the movement just north of their border, Interfax news agency reported. The U.S. Navy said it had notified the Russian Defense Ministry of the operation on May 1 “in an effort to avoid misperceptions, reduce risk, and prevent inadvertent escalation.” The ships involved in the mission include three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers — USS Cook, USS Porter, USS Roosevelt, and are supported by fast combat support ship USNS Supply. (Washington Times)

Wednesday Humps Along With:

• Great American Grump Out (First Wednesday)
• International Management Accounting Day
• Joseph Brackett Day
• National (Deaf) Interpreter Day (First Wednesday)
• National Skilled Trades Day (First Wednesday)
• No Diet Day
• National Golf Day
• No Homework Day
• Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day
• Russel Stover Candies Day
• School Nurse Day