Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Are morning people happier?

Night owl? That might make you less happy than your morning counterparts, suggests new study. The report notes that prior research has also shown early risers are at less risk of depression than those burning the midnight oil. There are plenty of reasons for this, including a better grip on work-rest cycles, as well as longer exposure to light for those who get up early. There are a number of hacks to get to bed earlier, though, such as not eating late and minimizing electronics use before bed. (CNBC)

Texas hospital experiences ‘summertime baby boom,’ delivering 100 babies in two stretches totaling 91 hours

A Texas hospital said it experienced a summertime “baby boom” in the lead-up to July 4, delivering 100 babies in two stretches totaling 91 hours. Beginning on June 24th, Andrews Women’s Hospital at Baylor Scott and White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth said it delivered 52 babies in 47 hours. Then, on June 28th, the hospital’s labor and delivery team delivered 55 babies in 44 hours, Baylor Scott and White said in a release. The baby boom beat the hospital’s 2018 record, when staff delivered 48 babies in 41 hours, the hospital said. “Atlas” and “Daniel” were popular names for the boys of the group, the hospital said, while six of the baby girls were named “Gianna.” (CNN)

Listeria fears prompt Tyson recall

Tyson has recalled 8.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken over concerns the products may be contaminated with listeria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the chicken was shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and federal government sites. An investigation by the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state officials linked the chicken to three listeria cases, including one death, in Texas and Delaware. (Yahoo News)

‘Colossal’ cyberattack unleashed

Businesses are rushing to control the damage from a “colossal” ransomware attack affecting at least 200 companies. REvil, the Russian-speaking ransomware syndicate that recently collected $11 million from meat producer JBS, is believed to be behind the attack, with their primary target being Kaseya, a software supplier to small and large businesses worldwide. In Sweden, railways and a pharmacy chain were affected, and most locations of the Coop grocery chain couldn’t reopen. Kaseya’s CEO said the company believes the source of the vulnerability has been identified and vowed to “release that patch as quickly as possible.” (The Verge)

California driver ticketed for SpaceX Starlink dish bolted to car’s hood

One motorist ticketed by authorities recently had a satellite dish bolted to his car’s hood that looked like one of SpaceX’s Starlink antennas. The California Highway Patrol of Antelope Valley said in a Facebook post that the driver had the dish fastened to the hood of his red Toyota Prius. “Sir, I stopped you today for that visual obstruction on your hood. Does it not block your view while driving?” the highway patrol wrote on Facebook. According to the post, the motorist answered that he had an obstructed view “Only when I make right turns.” The motorist told troopers that he used the antenna to get Wi-Fi service for a business that is operated out of the vehicle. The highway patrol said it was illegal to mount a satellite dish on the hood of a vehicle, citing section 26708(a)(2) of the California Vehicle Code. Drivers are also prohibited from hanging items from a rearview mirror or mount a GPS or cellphone in an unapproved area of the vehicle’s windshield. (California Highway Patrol – Antelope Valley Facebook)

Owners face fines as council in Australia introduces 24-hour ‘cat curfew’

from the start of October they will be subject to a “24-hour cat curfew” in one municipality in the Australian city of Melbourne. Introduced by the Knox City Council, the new rule will require owners to keep their cats on their property at all times. “When allowed to roam, cats are at a much higher risk of illness and injury,” the Mayor said in a statement. “Keeping cats within their owners’ property also protects wildlife and prevents them causing nuisance for neighbors and their pets.” Wandering cats may be picked up and fines may be issued, the council said. The rule was introduced after a trial period last year which required cats to be confined overnight. It will come into force October 1st. However, some residents have taken issue with the new rule and an online petition calling for it be reviewed has received more than 740 signatures. (Knox City Council)

The Internet Is Rotting

As growing portions of our historical record, government records, published books, academic research, goes digital-only, we run the risk of losing this information for good. The web wasn’t built by a central authority with record-keeping rules. Over time, massive amounts of links to information simply die off, leaving readers completely in the dark, and digital records can be altered without a trace. Published works can be edited, or completely erased, without notice. Creating permanent links and archives of digital records, and keeping transparent records of how our digital information has been changed, according to some experts. (The Atlantic)

Yes, the 2020 census has been completed, but full redistricting data hasn’t been released

The first results of the 2020 census were released in April 2021, however, the full redistricting data will not be delivered until September 2021. The United States Census Bureau encountered a number of issues while collecting data for the 2020 census, including controversy surrounding a citizenship question former President Donald Trump wanted included in the survey, as well as other problems that arose amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, the Census Bureau’s acting director addressed some of the other problems the agency faced while collecting data for the 2020 census, citing processing anomalies, design changes and “additional complications” that were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, including household response rates and duplicate responses. (Verify)

Joey Chestnut won his 14th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday, breaking his own world record by eating 76 hot dogs

Joey Chestnut set the previous world record for most hot dogs eaten in a 10-minute period last year, when he ate 75 in a contest held without fans. The 37-year-old Chestnut has won the event, held every year on July 4, in 14 of the past 15 years. The 76 hot dogs Chestnut ate contained an estimated 22,800 calories and 836 grams of protein. Michelle Lesco won the women’s title by eating 30.75 hot dogs in 10 minutes. ESPN’s live stream of the event glitched in the contest’s final moments, as Chestnut was about to break the record. This year’s event took place with 5,000 fans in Maimonides Park, a minor league ballpark in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC. (Fox News)

Archaeologists in Costa Rica are celebrating the return of more than 1,300 artifacts from the Brooklyn Museum

The pieces were looted from Costa Rica more than 100 years ago by railroad tycoon Minor Cooper Keith and brought to the U.S. along with banana shipments. This is the first time many researchers in Costa Rica have seen the pieces. The artifacts include an unfinished tomb that may be more than 2,000 years old and a tall vase that archaeologists think was used to store seeds or water. This is the second time the Brooklyn Museum has returned Costa Rican artifacts in its collection. (Reuters)

Butcher creates burger-shaped hot dogs

A butcher shop based in New Jersey is now selling round hot dogs. Meat delivery service Rastelli’s got the idea to sell round hot dogs after receiving numerous requests for pre-sliced hot dogs. The company said the round hot dogs hold more condiments and prevent choking hazards. The cost for eight round hot dogs is $18. In case you are wondering, they do ship nationwide. (KMOV)

World’s tallest horse, Big Jake, dies in Wisconsin at age 20

The world’s tallest horse has died in Wisconsin. The 20-year-old Belgian, named Big Jake, lived on Smokey Hollow Farm in Poynette. Big Jake was 6-foot-10 and weighed 2,500 pounds. The Guinness Book of World Records certified him as the world’s tallest living horse in 2010. The owners say that Big Jake was a “superstar” and a “truly magnificent animal.” He said Big Jake was born in Nebraska and weighed 240 pounds at birth, about 100 pounds heavier at birth than a typical Belgian foal. He said he plans to memorialize Big Jake by keeping his stall empty and inserting a brick on the outside of it with his picture and name. (Associated Press)

Oregon Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment

The Oregon Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment is on the ballot in Oregon as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 8, 2022:

• A “yes” vote supports repealing language from the state constitution that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments and adding language that authorizes an Oregon court or a probation or parole agency to order alternatives to incarceration for a convicted individual as part of their sentencing. 
• A “no” vote opposes this amendment to repeal language from the state constitution that prohibits slavery or involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime.

On June 24, 2021, the Oregon State Legislature voted to refer the amendment to the 2022 ballot. Oregonians Against Slavery Involuntary Servitude (OASIS) is leading the campaign in support of the amendment. (Ballotpedia)

Tuesday Stays “Kewl” With:

• Fried Chicken Day
• Hand Roll Day
• International Kissing Day or World Kiss Day
• Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day

Historical Events

• 1253 – Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania.
• 1483 – Richard III is crowned King of England.
• 1779 – Battle of Grenada: French victory over British naval forces during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1854 – In Jackson, Michigan, the first convention of the United States Republican Party is held.
• 1885 – Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies. The patient is Joseph Meister, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.
• 1893 – The small town of Pomeroy, Iowa, is nearly destroyed by a tornado that kills 71 people and injures 200.
• 1957 – Althea Gibson wins the Wimbledon championships, becoming the first black athlete to do so.
• 1967 – Nigerian Civil War: Nigerian forces invade Biafra, beginning the war.
• 1999 – U.S. Army private Barry Winchell dies from baseball-bat injuries inflicted in his sleep the previous day by a fellow soldier, Calvin Glover, for his relationship with transgender showgirl and former Navy Corpsman Calpernia Addams.
• 2003 – The 70-metre Eupatoria Planetary Radar sends a METI message (Cosmic Call 2) to 5 stars: Hip 4872, HD 245409, 55 Cancri (HD 75732), HD 10307 and 47 Ursae Majoris (HD 95128). The messages will arrive to these stars in 2036, 2040, 2044 and 2049 respectively.