Thursday, August 6, 2020

If you find yourself procrastinating more these days, you’re likely not alone, says a report

Our current crisis may have something to do with it. Factors like added stress and anxiety, a lack of mental preparation for work that comes with a commute, massive outside stressors making work seem trivial by comparison and less friendly socializing, among other things, feeds our need to procrastinate as a coping mechanism. (Fast Company)

Relationships more vital in crisis

Relationships became a bigger driver of happiness throughout the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey on wealth trends. From this January to June, the importance of maintaining relationships for millennials, Gen X and baby boomers increased significantly more than money and career prospects. Lifestyle choices became more important to happiness for baby boomers, while health became less important. Respondents also rethought the value of their money, saying it would take a net worth of $655,000 to feel “financially comfortable,” down from $934,000 just five months earlier. (Charles Schwab)

Job cuts loom over older workers

Bad news for boomers: your job may be at risk. New research shows that age discrimination in the workplace rises alongside the unemployment rate, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. While the unemployment rate has begun to rebound, the crisis isn’t over yet. As the pandemic continues to roil the economy, some employers may take the opportunity to replace more experienced, higher-paid workers with cheaper, novice talent. (Market Watch)

Big Auto gives 3D printing a go

Advances in 3D printing tech has made it possible for big automakers to embrace the manufacturing approach, potentially paving the way for faster car production with lighter, stronger materials. Until recently, 3D printing in the auto world was mainly relegated to the world of race cars, with dedicated teams generating specialized parts to give racers an edge over rivals. But large automakers like VW have begun to experiment with 3D printing as a supplement to traditional manufacturing. 3D printing allows auto makers to blend several different materials together to make car parts, opening the door for the potential development of safer, more efficient vehicles. (The New York Times)

A blood test to spot Alzheimer’s early

Researchers from Washington University in the U.S. and Lund University in Sweden have found that a blood test can spot Alzheimer’s disease in patients, even before the onset of symptoms of the degenerative brain condition. The test, which seeks a protein called p-tau217, detects Alzheimer’s with as much as 96% accuracy. Spotting the condition early could be critical to treating the disease, which affects 10% of Americans 65 and older and is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. For now, this test will be used in research situations, but the finding could potentially pave the way for a clinical version of such a test. (BBC)

Employers sued over infected workers

The families of several frontline workers who were infected and died from the coronavirus are suing their loved ones’ employers. The relatives argue that they should be compensated, since their family members weren’t adequately protected during the pandemic. The actions are a “first wave,” saying that lawsuits have been filed against Walmart, Safeway, Tyson Foods, health care centers and nursing homes. Unions and consumer advocates say the latest stimulus package being pushed by Senate Republicans could make it harder for workers to seek restitution if they get sick on the job. (The Wall Street Journal)

Eskimo Joe’s announced they are keeping their name and logo

The announcement came after a debate over whether the Stillwater icon’s logo and name were ‘racially insensitive.’ Towards the end of July 2020, two online petitions are circulating about Stillwater restaurants Eskimo Joe’s and Mexico Joe’s. One petition urged Eskimo Joe’s to re-brand their ‘racially insensitive’ name and mascot. The petition on Change.org demanding the rebranding of the restaurant said, “the term ‘Eskimo’ is racial slur.” The other petition asked people to leave Eskimo Joe’s alone and keep the tradition alive. Officials with Eskimo Joe’s posted on Facebook they will not be rebranding at this time, saying they received over 30,000 comments from their customers and the public. Of those 30,000 comments, officials said over 90 percent encouraged the restaurant owner to keep the branding they’ve had for the past 45 years. (KJRH)

Woman Punches Teen Boy in Walmart For Not Wearing Face Mask

A middle-aged couple is under fire after they berated a group of teenagers and punched one of the boys because they were not wearing face masks inside a Walmart in Post Falls, Idaho. “You guys are abusing your freedom. Stop it,” the woman said just before hitting one of the boys in the shoulder. The police were contacted and the victim intends to press charges. The woman was literally screaming to anyone who would listen, “Their parents are teaching them this garbage”. The mother of the boys in the video, told North Idaho Exposed in an exclusive interview that she infuriated by the attack. She was just as upset with the store’s management. “Walmart did nothing about it,” she said. “The employees – some of them stood around laughing – mask shaming with this couple.” The woman’s son said he and his friends were asked to wear masks when they first walked into the store, but they declined to do so. The boys were still allowed in the store. One of her sons said that the couple approached them and immediately began harassing the boys. “We hope your grandparents die of COVID,” the couple allegedly said. When they came back, one of the boys turned on his cell phone and recorded the encounter. (Town Hall)

Sex is banned in homes of people who live in Greater Manchester and East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire, England

Under the new lockdown rules, if you don’t live together, you can still do it in a hotel. The rule state that people will be be no longer allowed to gather in a group of two or more inside a house. It says: “no person may participate in a gathering in the protected area which consists of two or more persons and takes place in a private dwelling, including a houseboat”. It added: “there is a ‘gathering’ when two or more people are present together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other, or to undertake any other activity with each other”. Anyone caught could risk a fine, equivalent to $130.59. However, the rules don’t apply to meetings inside other places – such as hotels, hostels, campsites, or bed and breakfasts. And they won’t apply to people who are already in an extended bubble – for example people that live alone or single parents with kids under 18. (The Sun)

Animal rights group offers $5,000 reward for information on who put ‘Trump 2020’ sticker on a bear

Black bears will not be voting in the upcoming election, but that’s not stopping one bear from unknowingly showing a little support for the incumbent president. Help Asheville Bears (HAB), an organization in North Carolina, has put out a $5,000 reward to find the person or people responsible for putting a “Trump 2020” sticker on the tracking tag of a black bear. “Whoever put these political stickers on these bears is cruel and heartless,” HAB wrote in a Facebook post. “HAB and our followers hope to stop and expose you. This is now the second bear this happened to, which can only mean either someone in the study is doing this or it is someone in the public. Either way, a full investigation needs to be done.” (CNN)

Wrong-way driver thanked them for using lights, siren to ‘clear traffic for her’

On July 28th, Elkhart County, Indiana Police say a woman driving the wrong way on US 20 hit speeds of 100 mph, waved at an officer attempting to pull her over, and once she finally stopped told police she was headed to a friend’s house for a picnic and thanked them for using their lights and sirens to clear the way for her so she could get there faster. She was taken into custody by officers and transported her to Elkhart Police Department detention where she was booked and processed. (ABC 57)

Canada goose found with explosive taped to its body

A Long Island, N.Y. man has saved a Canada goose after finding the bird with an explosive device taped to its chest. A member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) said that he rescued the bird after spotting it on Friday at Silver Lake Park in Baldwin. The explosive did not explode and it was safely removed from the bird. According to a post on its Facebook page, LION said the firecracker appeared to have been lit but was soaked in water. The man speculates that when the perpetrator lit the fuse, it scared the goose, causing it to run into the water. The bird was injured by the tightly wrapped duct tape around its body and was immediately taken to a vet after it was captured and the explosive was removed. The goose was treated and released back into the lake. (CTV News)

Vegas man accused of unemployment benefits fraud, ID theft

A 38-year-old man in Las Vegas, Nevada has been charged with identity theft and fraud-related charges after investigators said he possessed nearly two dozen unemployment benefits cards in other people’s names, federal officials said. He also had dozens of other debit and credit cards issued in other people’s names and was arrested, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney in Nevada. He was charged in federal court with one count of possession of a counterfeit and unauthorized access device and one count of aggravated identity theft. He has not yet made an initial court appearance or had a hearing scheduled in the case. Investigators found in his home more than 100 credit and debit cards not issued in his name, prosecutors said. The discovery included 11 unemployment benefits debit cards issued by Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation and 12 unemployment benefits debit cards from Arizona’s Department of Economic Security. They also found more than $100,000 in cash and money orders, mail with various names and addresses, postal mailbox master keys and a forged Canadian passport, according to court documents. Authorities say that fraud in Nevada’s unemployment benefits system is widespread. Investigators said in court documents that they found the material in his home while searching it under a warrant for an unrelated fraud case involving bank accounts tied to email phishing schemes. (AP News)

Thursday Cracks Up With:

• Fresh Breath Day
• Hiroshima Day
• India Pale Ale Beer Day (First Thursday)
• IPA Day
• Root Beer Float Day
• Wiggle Your Toes Day