Trading and Business
Biden’s Electric-Car Ambitions Face Real-World Roadblocks
Auto makers want congressional moves on charging stations and tax incentives; consumer support also is needed.
Neighbors’ Deaths From Covid-19 Have an Arkansas Town Reassessing Vaccines
With many still deeply skeptical of the vaccines, community leaders are trying everything to persuade a reluctant populace to take them.
Greenwood, AR is about 90 minutes north of Mena, AR where I once lived. It's roughly double the population. Both communities are pretty close to the Oklahoma state line. Small town medicine is a very different experience from living in a city. Sometimes things — because of the nuances of the supply and service chains — would be quite complicated. I remember I once had to pay cash at a public health office for a tetanus booster (around $10 if I recall). I had health coverage, however County Health were the only office around that had this extremely common shot available. They didn't accept my insurance and I earned way over the limit where they would provide it for free. So ten bucks. Shrug.
I probably need another booster.
My point here is that small towns are different from big towns. Rural communities, indigenous, communities, senior living developments, and hipster enclaves all have their nuances. It's proper that local officials be engaged and use persuasion. However, a government that can't find the wisdom to persuade its own people to do something sensible in their own interest, can't be trusted with the power to force them to.
The death of a neighbor, while poignant, isn't really the best lens for balancing the costs, risks, and benefits though. Ultimately it's an appeal to to emotion. We're always too young to die, but no, this well liked Greenwood architect wasn't that young.
At 49 he was, like me, already in an age bracket that has seen about as many deaths as those in their twenties and thirties. And he was right on the cusp of the age where mortalities quintip[le form there
It's sad. But it's not shocking. He's not an atypical Covid-19 fatality. Although he may have been a preventable one. The vaccine seems to mitigate the severity of illness even when vaccinated people do become sick. That for me is probably it's biggest selling point — the one local officials should be shouting from the rooftops. It's much easier to persuade someone to act in their self-interest than for the common good.
But then again I'm fully vaccinated and don't really need to be convinced by emotion.
When Amazon Customers Leave Negative Reviews, Some Sellers Hunt Them Down
Don’t share personal information in reviews or with Amazon sellers; save messages in case you decide to report them.
If they're that unhinged over a bad review already stronger safety preparations than that are in order. The sellers very likely have enough personal information from the order itself to connect review with the reviewer.
In Other News
GOP senator says he disagrees with DeSantis on mask mandates
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Sunday said he disagrees with the order by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Tears, standing ovation mark Messi's farewell to Barcelona
Between trying to compose himself, wiping away tears and facing a long standing ovation, it took Lionel Messi more than a minute to start his farewell news conference on Sunday at FC Barcelona, where the Argentine has spent all of his playing career.
Pentagon attacker previously targeted couple next door
Seen on Reddit
r/technicallythetruth
Entertainment & Tech
ISS astronauts show off zero-gravity moves in the space Olympics which should be a real thing
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station “competed” in events that included synchronized space swimming, no-handball, lack-of-floor routine, and weightless sharpshooting.
Watch Out, Beyond Burgers—the Fungi Renaissance Is Here
While the popular plant-based meats grab all the headlines, a much more humble foodstuff is poised to lead the next wave of alternative proteins.
And also this...
NASA's Mars rover fails to pick a rock sample in 1st attempt
Previous NASA missions on Mars have also encountered surprising rock and regolith properties during sample collection and other activities.
Photo credit: Jared Rice / Unsplash