DAILY DOSE: July 17, 2021
Posted on 07/17/2021
1. Water consumption from cities and diversion have long depleted the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The lake’s level is inches away from a 58-year low, state official.
2. FRIENDS OR FOES? Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said they were coordinating with Facebook on targeting COVID posts, drawing ire from people complaining about internet censorship, government collusion with big tech, and free speech. “We’re flagging problematic posts for Facebook,” said Psaki on Thursday. Then on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden claimed Facebook was “killing people” by allowing COVID misinformation on its website. Facebook then hit back saying Biden was looking for a “scapegoat” for his failure to have more Americans vaccinate with the COVID shots. The Biden Administration wanted to have 70 percent of American adults partially vaccinated against COVID by July 4th, 2021, a goal that was missed by 3%.
3. PERSONAL SAFETY CONCERNS. Anthony Di Iorio (age 48) is a co-founder of the Ethereum network. Anthony Di Iorio is exiting the cryptocurrency world partially because of personal safety concerns and had a security team since 2017. He plans to sell Decentral Inc..
4. The Israel government claims the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is “weaker” against the Indian “Delta” variant. With a small population, Israel was once able to have around 61% of its population vaccinated. The country is dealing with a surge in new coronavirus cases. As of June 6, 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 gene therapy shot provides 64% protection against infection from the variant, according to the Israeli government.
There are reported cases in the U.S. where people who got both COVID shots have been infected by the Indian variant strain months later.
5. Pope Francis, once a former bouncer in Argentina, reversed a signature liturgical decision of Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis is strongly limiting the use of the old Latin Mass (pre-Vatican II Latin Mass), fostering disappoint among large segments of traditional Catholics. The Traditional Latin Mass had its use liberalized under Benedict in 2007.
6. Mexico Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said they are open to having diplomatic and commercial relationships with North Korea.
7. The Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva released a statement saying his officers would not be fining residents who do not comply with the order, as many are already vaccinated or have previously been infected with COVID-19. Los Angeles County had issued a new mask mandate order mandating all residents to wear facemasks inside, even if vaccinated. The LA Sheriff said the mask mandate was not “backed by science”.
8. Due to new COVID outbreaks, Greece banned music in restaurants and bars and imposed a nighttime curfew on its popular holiday island of Mykonos.
9. Some 19,000 people protested throughout France on Wednesday, police said. This is over new coronavirus rules introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron. The French protestors are against having to possess a COVID vaccine pass to enter public places and the obligation of health workers to take the COVID shots.
