Wednesday, October 20, 2021

The Next Moment


Sometimes in life you reach a point where you are not sure what comes next, but you know it may be something special. It's hard to say how you know; maybe it is a physical thing, maybe it's an instinct. 

Whatever it is, the world around you starts to come alive in a new kind of way. The parts that were black and white burst into color. The still parts begin to move.

But along with the color and the movement there are storm clouds and an ominous drum roll way in the background. It's as scary as it is exciting.

The people you encounter at these moments can sense all of this about you too. They start reacting to you in a new way. It's like you are giving off chemicals that they pick up; maybe you are. Their nostrils twitch, their eyes widen. They smile.

At these times you're likely to do something rash. And that is a good thing.

In my life, these things tend to happen when one of several things are going to happen. It might be a story -- a big story. It might be a job change. It might be a new friend. Or something much better than all of those things...

Hey, maybe all of this is weather-related. This just in from the San Francisco Chronicle

"Gusty winds, cooler temperatures and occasional downpours will greet most of the Bay Area this morning as storms move in over Northern California. Forecasters say this won’t be the only hint of moisture seen this week, as an atmospheric river could reach the Bay Area this weekend and drop heavy rain."

***

THE HEADLINES:

Vaccine for Young Kids to Be Given at Schools, Care Sites, White House Says (WSJ)


* White House details plans to vaccinate 28 million children age 5-11 (AP)

The Economic Rebound Is Still Waiting for Workers -- Despite school reopenings and the end of some federal aid, many people are in no rush to land a job. Savings and health concerns are playing a role. (NYT)

White House doubles down on executive action as Democrats weigh trimming Hill climate plan (WP)

Reproductive justice advocates warned the country about a domino effect after Texas' abortion ban became law. It has already started.Arkansas state Sen. Jason Rapert (R) announced last week that he will introduce similar legislation that will include “a civil cause of action ― just like Texas.” [HuffPost] 

* Flooding in Venice worsens off-season amid climate change (AP)

* Gov. Gavin Newsom asked Californians cut water use by 15%. Newsom declared a state of emergency across California, adding San Francisco and seven other counties to the list of those severely affected by drought. (SFC)

Over the past month, Newsom signed a whopping 770 bills into law, including a new high school ethnic studies requirement, a ban on mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes and a measure allowing the state to strip bad police officers of their badges. (Cal Today)

* WHO: Europe the only region with rise in COVID-19 last week (AP)


Taliban Commander Who Launched Bombings in Kabul Is Now a Police Chief in Charge of Security (WSJ)

With Afghanistan’s war over, Taliban faces a new hurdle: Enforcing the law — and protecting Afghans from the Islamic State (WP)

After months of negotiations, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), whose home state and personal fortune depend on the continued burning of heavily polluting coal, appears to have effectively blocked the president’s Clean Electricity Performance Program from a sweeping government spending bill. The possibility that Democrats may fail for the second time in 12 years to pass a meaningful climate law has set off a high-stakes scramble to find a plausible alternative. [HuffPost]

Thousands Flee Myanmar for India Amid Fears of a Growing Refugee Crisis (NYT)

In-N-Out is fighting against S.F.’s indoor vaccination verification mandate, calling it “unreasonable, invasive and unsafe" to ask for cards at the door. (SFC)

Thousands of unvaccinated workers across the United States are facing potential job losses as a growing number of states, cities and private companies start to enforce mandates for inoculation against COVID-19. (Reuters)

Virus killed 65,000 more men than women in U.S. through August, study finds (WP)

Major economies will produce more than double the amount of coal, oil and gas in 2030 than is consistent with meeting climate goals set in the 2015 Paris accord to curb global warming, the United Nations and researchers said. (Reuters)

California’s cilantro yield has doubled in the past 15 years as its popularity has increased with an expanding Mexican food scene. (Merced Sun-Star)

Mix-and-Match Covid Boosters: Why They Just Might Work (NYT)

* Liz Cheney: Bannon refusal to cooperate suggests Trump was 'personally involved' in planning riot (CNN)

Facebook, under fire from regulators and lawmakers over its business practices, is planning to rebrand itself with a new name that focuses on the metaverse, the Verge reported on Tuesday. (Reuters)

U.S. women are largely dissatisfied with their treatment, poll finds. Most men don’t see a problem. (WP)

Trump’s Pentagon Chief Quashed Idea to Send 250,000 Troops to the Border (NYT)

Executives, beware! You could become your own worst enemy. CEOs and other managers are increasingly under the microscope as some investors use artificial intelligence to learn and analyse their language patterns and tone, opening up a new frontier of opportunities to slip up. (Reuters)

* Viking Artifacts Give Precise Date for Europeans’ Earliest Presence in North America (WSJ)


Increasingly Anxious Man Worried Order Confirmation Email Never Going To Come (The Onion)

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