Linkee-poo is a hazy shade of winter

"Thousands of farm animals have died and many more are trapped by floods in desperate need of food and water after the Pacific north-west storm battered a major hub of Canadian agriculture… Abbotsford, one of Canada’s most intensively and diversely farmed areas, was among places hardest hit. Home to more than 1,200 farms, it supplies half of the dairy, eggs and poultry consumed by British Columbia’s 5.2 million residents." Wow, good thing global climate change isn't real or this could be a real problem going forward (note: global climate change is real, and yes, this is going to be a major problem going forward). Conservatives asked us to "look at the cost of mitigating climate change and what benefit it might have." Well, motherfuckers, here is the cost of not doing anything. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)

"Harry Potter fans have something big to look forward to in the new year. The cast and crew of the movies will be reuniting for a look back on the franchise. But one person you shouldn't count on seeing? Author J.K. Rowling."

"An increasing number of attacks by (wild boars), including one that bit a police officer last week, triggered an operation Wednesday night in a district less than half an hour’s drive from Hong Kong’s financial center. Experts used dart guns to capture seven wild boars, which were later put down via medicine injections, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in a statement." Wild pigs are very dangerous animals, but they're also very delicious.

"The longest partial lunar eclipse in nearly 600 years will grace the night sky late Thursday night and early Friday across the entire country, weather permitting… According to NASA, the eclipse will last three hours and 28 minutes, the longest partial eclipse of this century and the longest in 580 years."

"By now, you've likely heard of the metaverse… The thing is, the word and concept aren't new. Neal Stephenson coined the term in his 1992 science-fiction book Snow Crash, in which people use avatars to explore an online world. A number of small metaverses have since developed, where people meet, play games and even watch live shows… Some of those early adopters aren't happy with a large corporation staking claim."

"Apple today announced Self Service Repair, which will allow customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts and tools." And yes, this benefit is brought to you by lawsuits.

"Linda Holmes, who has worked as a technician with LiceDoctors for five years, came straight from her day job at a hospital after she got the call from a dispatcher that the Marker family needed her ASAP… According to those in the world of professional nitpicking, Pediculus humanus capitis, the much-despised head louse, has returned… Colds and more serious bugs like respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are also back. That may leave some to wonder: With all the COVID prevention measures in place, how are kids sharing these things?"

"A Maryland resident who recently returned to the country on a flight from Nigeria has tested positive for monkeypox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday. It is the second confirmed case of the rare disease in the U.S. since an outbreak infected 43 people in 2003."

"More than 100,000 people in the U.S. died of a drug overdose during the first year of the pandemic, a nearly 29% increase from the same time period in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday. The vast majority of those deaths were due to opioids, particularly synthetic opioids like fentanyl."

"When Greta Christina fell into a deep depression five years ago, she called up her therapist in San Francisco — someone she'd had a great connection with when she needed therapy in the past. And she was delighted to find out that he was now "in network" with her insurance company, meaning she wouldn't have to pay out of pocket anymore to see him… But her excitement was short-lived. Over time, Christina's appointments with the therapist went from every two weeks, to every four weeks, to every five or six." No do physical therapy as well.

"A steep rise in Covid-19 cases in Europe should serve as a warning that the US could also see significant increases in coronavirus cases this winter, particularly in the nation’s colder regions, scientists say… Evidence shows vaccine-conferred protection against hospitalization and death remains high several months after inoculation, vaccines for children older than 5 can reduce Covid transmission, and new antiviral medications hold the promise of making Covid-19 a treatable disease."

"Winter is almost here. After weeks of steady decline, Covid-19 cases appear to be on the rise again… Is a surge inevitable? How should families think about the winter ahead? What can they do to prepare and get through this period safely?"

"The Farm Bureau's calculations include turkey, stuffing mix, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk, with enough for leftovers. The turkey itself costs 24% more than last year, the group says; it's $23.99 for a 16-pound turkey… In order to find the average costs, the Farm Bureau used volunteer shoppers between Oct. 28 and Nov. 8. — but the group, which lobbies on behalf of the agricultural industry, acknowledged that prices have already fallen in the time since the survey was conducted."

"The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell for the seventh straight week to a pandemic low of 268,000… U.S. jobless claims dipped by 1,000 last week from the week before, the Labor Department reported Thursday."

"Some further thoughts on inflation and what to do next. Inflation has of course come in much higher than Team Transitory predicted — the Fed was predicting only 2.4% PCE growth as late as March. So the inflation worriers have in a way been vindicated, but… The details of what's happened are very different from what they predicted early this year." A Paul Krugman tweet thread about the economy. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)

"Deere & Co. workers approved a new contract Wednesday that will deliver 10% raises immediately and end a monthlong strike for more than 10,000 employees… The United Auto Workers union says 61% of the members approved the deal with the tractor maker on their third vote, even though this offer was strikingly similar to one that 55% of workers rejected two weeks ago." It is often very small things that make the difference between a yes and a no vote. And the report again focuses on the pay, which is usually the least of the problems (although in some cases the pay increases, or lack thereof, is a major stumbling block).

How goes Brexit? "The number of people who have been sent back to Europe after travelling to the UK across the Channel in small boats has plummeted since Brexit, an immigration minister has admitted to MPs… Tom Pursglove, a minister for the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice… replied: 'On returns related to small boat arrivals … the answer in this year is five.' Later he added: 'There is not a returns agreement with the European Union in place at the moment'… More than 23,000 people have arrived in the UK this year after crossing the Channel in small boats. This is almost three times the total of about 8,500 in 2020." Well done.

"The government has scrapped the Leeds leg of the HS2 high-speed rail line as part of a package that ministers promise will transform services… Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has told the Commons the overhaul will bring faster journeys up to 10 years earlier than planned… HS2 trains were to run on a new East Midlands-Leeds high-speed line, but will now run on existing routes… Critics accused Mr Shapps of breaking investment promises." We're not going to do anything, but you'll have better service. How does that work?

"A Chinese American teenager who was fatally shot by Pennsylvania State Police last year had his hands in the air when troopers opened fire, new videos reveal, prompting calls for an independent investigation… The videos, recorded by the State Police, show the final moments of Christian Hall’s life on the afternoon of Dec. 30, 2020." There is nothing "justifiable" about this. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)

"Turns out, Harvard students aren’t that smart after all." Duh. Exclusivity doesn't mean better.

"Julius Jones, 41, who has maintained his innocence for more than two decades, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday at the State Penitentiary in McAlester for the 1999 slaying of a Paul Howell, a businessman in the affluent Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond."

"Florida Republicans approved a sweeping bill Wednesday to hobble coronavirus vaccine mandates in businesses, rejecting claims that they were sacrificing public health to hand Gov. Ron DeSantis a win in his fight against White House virus rules." A state law doesn't trump a federal law (or rule). Although now this places Floridians in the position of either being fined by the federal government, or punished by the state government. Also this… "Separately, lawmakers passed a bill to stop the state health officer from being able to mandate vaccines during a public health emergency." Because despite conservative chest beating, yes public health officers do have that power and can enforce it.

"President Biden has nominated Saule Omarova, a law professor at Cornell University, to be the next head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which is responsible for regulating the assets held by more than 1,000 banks… Progressive Democrats applauded that announcement, seeing in her a person who would bring a tougher approach to banks at an agency that has been criticized for being too friendly with he sector. But Republican critics, including Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., see someone else: a 'radical' nominee who wants to nationalize banking."

"The House passed a resolution punishing Gosar by a vote of 223 to 207, with Republicans Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois joining all Democrats in support of the measure and one Republican voting 'present.' After the resolution was approved, Gosar stood in the well of the House chamber while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi read aloud the formal rebuke against him."

Tweet of my heart: @OutAndAbouter Do not go gently into that good night rage rage against the meticulously researched, peer reviewed, double blind science that could have saved your fucking life you obnoxious twat. (Dying of the light). (Grokked from Jim Wright)