Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Should we go back to the office?

Now that millions of employees have dipped their toes into the remote work world, many may not want to go back to the office once coronavirus-related restrictions ease up. Some 60% of U.S. workers said they’d prefer to work from home as much as possible even after the pandemic calms. It’s easy to see why: Saving time and money commuting, escaping coworkers in order to focus, and getting more control over your day. Granted, not all have the option to skip the office. But for those who do, the change could become permanent. (The New York Times)

Changing careers during a pandemic

Many people are questioning their career paths due to the pandemic. Some are even looking for work in new industries. Career strategists say that people should evaluate their desire and financial ability to attempt a change during this difficult time. Additionally, they should examine their preferences and strengths to help identify a new field. Lastly, they may want to try out the new sector by working on a part-time project. (LinkedIn)

Truckers making longer trips, earning less amid coronavirus outbreak

Millions of truckers are shuttling goods across the country amid the coronavirus outbreak, but their trips are longer and they are making less money. There are too many truckers chasing down too few loads as the industry takes a hit because of the coronavirus. That’s forced truckers to stay on the road longer to try to recoup some of their losses. There were a lot of companies that shut their doors and left their drivers across the country to fend for themselves. The drivers are also trying to safe and healthy during the outbreak. The one thing that they do miss is the ability to go into a restaurant and get a meal or go into the fitness centers in the truck stops, or even the truck lounges. (Houston Chronicle)

Elon Musk said he plans to move Tesla headquarters outside of California after not being allowed to re-open operations at Tesla’s Fremont production facility

Musk said “future programs” will be re-located to Texas and Nevada immediately, as the company files a lawsuit against Alameda County, which has not allowed Tesla to resume production at its facility. California Governor Gavin Newsom has updated recommendations to allow manufacturing, but insisted that local orders could supersede state guidelines. Alameda County recently revised its shelter-in-place order, but does not allow for manufacturing. Tesla has sued Alameda County over the issue. In his tweet, Musk indicated that some Tesla production may be moved to Texas, which has been considered as a future site of a new production facility. Tesla published a “Return to Work Playbook,” a 37-page outline of health and safety procedures that would be followed when the company reopens its facility. Despite the lawsuit, Alameda County said it has been communicating with Tesla on a safety plan for the production facility when it re-opens. (Elon Musk Twitter)

Is this the return of big plastic?

The importance of personal protective gear and fear of contagion via shared items have driven up demand for disposables, colliding with a collapse in oil prices that has suddenly made it cheaper to produce brand new plastic. The result is potentially disastrous for eco-friendly movements that have taken years to see results. States including California and New York have already lifted bans on plastic bags during the pandemic. (Bloomberg News)

City life may be losing its shine

As many start to realize that the COVID-19 pandemic will likely last for years, not months, some are beginning to rethink city living altogether. Some 40% of respondents in a recent Harris poll said they are considering ditching the city, in favor of less dense suburbs and rural areas. A virus-fueled urban exodus would only pile on to an existing trend away from cities. Large U.S. metro areas had already seen slowing population growth, and even net losses, before the pandemic. (Brookings Institute)

More colleges are freezing tuition

As students consider postponing their college plans amid the pandemic, more schools are freezing tuition in a bid to entice enrollment. The College of William & Mary and Central Michigan University lead a growing number of schools that won’t bump up tuition and fees, countering higher education industry trends that average 3% tuition hikes each year. The question is whether big name universities will follow suit. Meanwhile, urban schools like New York University and the University of Southern California face an uncertain future as cities cope with the pandemic’s economic fallout. (CNBC)

Teen invited to apply for police job after finding $135,000 in cash on the ground and turning it in

 A teenager in New Mexico was just trying to buy his grandpa some socks when he stopped at an ATM and stumbled upon $135,000 laying on the ground. Now, he has a potential job offer. The 19-year-old found the clear bag full of cash near a Wells Fargo ATM in Albuquerque. He immediately called the 1-800 number on the ATM, as well as the police. It turns out, the money was left behind by a Wells Fargo subcontractor, whose job is to fill the ATM. The worker had mistakenly left the cash there by accident. The young man currently studies criminal justice at Central New Mexico Community College and hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement. He said he knew he had to do the right thing after finding the money. “In the back of my head, I was just thinking about my parents, especially my mom. What she would do if I came home with the money and what she would do with her chancla to hit me,” he said. He was recognized by Albuquerque Police Chief and the Mayor at the police academy for his good deed. He was also presented with a $500 check from New Mexico electricity provider PNM, a gift card from a local restaurant, season tickets to the University of New Mexico Lobos football games and a signed football by former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. (KRQE)

Hong Kong customs officials have made their largest shark fin seizure ever, uncovering 26 tons taken from 38,500 endangered sharks inside a pair of shipping containers from South America

The two consignments, worth $1.1 million, more than doubled the 12 tons of shark fin seized in all of 2019, according to assistant superintendent of the Customs and Excise Department’s marine enforcement group. “Each consignment consisting of 13 tons broke the previous record seizure of 3.8 tons of controlled shark fins made in 2019,” he said. Both consignments were sent from the same shipper to the same Hong Kong logistics company. Customs officers have arrested the owner of the logistics firm, but the 57-year-old man has been granted bail pending further investigation. A law enforcement source said the value of the seizure would have been much higher if it had been the highest-grade shark fin, which can cost thousands of dollars per kilogram. (South China Morning Post)

Pennsylvania just became the third state to ban child marriage

Pennsylvania Governor signed into law a ban on child marriage, making it the third state to fully outlaw marriage for people under the age of 18. Only Delaware and New Jersey also ban child marriage. Pennsylvania’s legislature unanimously voted to approve the ban last, and Wolf signed it into law as part of House Bill 360, which set 18 as the minimum age to obtain a marriage license. Before the ban, an applicant younger than 16 could obtain a marriage license with court approval, and those between the ages of 16 and 18 could obtain one with parental consent. According to Unchained, an organization that works to end forced and child marriage in the United States, an estimated more than 2,300 children between 15 to 17 living in Pennsylvania were married under those exceptions since 2014. (WKBN)

Missouri Lawmakers Defeat Amendment To Require They Consume Marijuana Before Voting

Missouri lawmakers rejected an amendment to a health care bill that would have required House members to consume a “substantial” amount of marijuana before performing their legislative duties. The amendment, introduced by Representative Andrew McDaniel, was defeated in a voice vote. Text of the measure stipulated that “members of the Missouri House shall consume a substantial dose of medicinal marijuana prior to entering the chamber or voting on any legislation.” The lawmaker said that, this time of year, lawmakers tend to pile on amendments to bills. The current health care-focused legislation has “a whole bunch of crap” that’s been attached to it, he said, and so he saw an opportunity to “get everyone to chill out and get a little chuckle” with his proposal. (Marijuana Moment)

A beer shortage leaves Mexico with a case of sud sadness

Our neighbor to the south has deemed the suds industry nonessential in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and beer brewers there have largely shut down. Now thirsty citizens are having a hard time commandeering a precious 6-pack and a black market has emerged to quench their thirst. The nation’s wine, mezcal, and tequila industries are still cranking out booze — but cerveza is king.

• The average Mexican adult drinks 18 gallons of beer a year, compared to a quart of wine (that’s 72x as much).
• The industry generates 55k jobs directly, but as many as 650k when you count everyone involved, according to a Mexican beermakers’ group
• The head of an association for Mexican mom-and-pop stores said beer makes up about 40% of those shops’ sales during hot weather.

Oxxo, Mexico’s largest chain of convenience stores, said in late April that it only had 10 days’ worth of beer left. Facebook groups have popped up to help people locate beer at reasonable prices, an increasingly rare commodity thanks to price gouging. Twitter users are posting memes and videos paying tribute to #LaÚltimaChela (the last beer), and saluting the lucky ducks striking it rich with their stockpiles. Mexico is the world’s biggest exporter of beer, and the US is a major customer. (The Washington Post)

Iranian Warship Hits Another With A Missile Killing 19 

One Iranian warship accidentally struck another with a missile during an exercise, killing 19 sailors and wounding 15 others, Iran’s navy said. The incident took place during training in the Gulf of Oman, a sensitive waterway that connects to the Strait of Hormuz through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Iran regularly conducts exercises in the area. The frigate Jamaran fired at a training target released by a support ship, the Konarak. However, the support ship stayed too close to the target and was hit. (Reuters)

Tuesday Shines On With:

• Hug Your Cat Day
• International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases
• International Nurses Day
• Lag B’Omer
• Limerick Day
• Native American Rights Day
• National Nutty Fudge Day
• Odometer Day