🌞 Grimace – September 03 2021

In Case You Missed It

credit: noaa

🌀 Dozens have died from the devastation of Hurricane Ida and there appears to be a mile-long oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from a nearby oil rig. 

🇯🇵 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that he will step down and not seek re-election. 

🛻 General Motors will shut down the production line on trucks next week because they don’t have enough chips to complete them. 

🐶 A man who claimed that his dog shot itself in the face has since admitted that he accidentally shot the dog while trying to load the guy while he was drunk. He has been charged with three misdemeanors and (in our opinion) should lose ownership of the dog. 

🇳🇿 A man in New Zealand stabbed at least six people before he was shot and killed by police within 60 seconds of the attack. Authorities say he was inspired by ISIS. 

​​​​Coronavirus Update: 🗣Total confirmed cases as of noon ET on Thursday: 39,417,142 — Total deaths: 642,255

• Preliminary data out of Israel shows that the third Covid booster shot has helped curb the infection rate. 
• Inmates at a Arkansas jail claim that they were given ivermectin without their consent to treat Covid. 
• Guatemala announced new travel bans and social restrictions as Covid cases surge. 
• The Italian Prime Minister said Thursday that the government may make the Covid vaccine compulsory. 

*stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00am ET.

• Markets: Stocks edged higher on predictions that today's jobs report will be better than expected. The August jobs report is seen as a critical indicator of the overall health of the economy. Pfizer and Moderna stocks both moved higher on news their close to an oral covid vaccine. 

The Lead: Inflation Double Trouble

credit: wh.gov

Inflation looks to double the previously forecasted rate, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The White House had predicted that inflation would rise 2% this year but the forecast now has that rate at 4.8%. 

This is for consumer prices. So no, you’re not imagining it. Everything is more expensive these days. Experts say that this is largely a result of supply chain disruption from the pandemic. 

The good news is that the forecast for 2022 is better. The consumer-price index should only rise 2.5% by the end of 2022 and 2.3% by 2023. So hold on tight because it is supposed to get worse before it gets better. 

Infrastructure stimulus

Inflation could be the thorn in the side of Democrats trying to pass President Biden's $3.5 trillion dollar stimulus package. Senator Joe Manchin, who previously voted to advance the bill, nows says we can't afford the price tag. 

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Anti-Abortion Bandwagon

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Since the Supreme Court allowed the new Texas abortion law, some lawmakers in Florida are saying, “We want to try that too!” 

This week the Supreme Court voted not to take up a case that challenged the new abortion ban in Texas that outlaws abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and allows private citizens to litigate anyone who they think has supported such abortions. That means you could even sue the Uber driver who drove the person to the clinic. Yes, that's true. 

Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson said that the state’s Republicans are “already working on” an abortion ban to present in the 2022 session. If the court will do nothing about one state, why would it do anything about another? It stands to reason that several other states will take a swing at something similar. 

Today's Live Show

INFLATION COULD DERAIL THE STIMULUS

Today we starting at our new time of 9AM Eastern. So you get to sleep in a little bit longer. Join us on today's live morning show where we'll look at the new jobs report, inflation numbers, and why Senator Joe Manchin can spend money on war but not the American people. Also we're sharing your Pet Photos.
. Click here to RSVP and I'll see you at 9:00 AM Eastern. 

News By The Numbers

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9 years old. That is the age of the child who created this treehouse in North Carolina using funds he saved from three years of birthday money. It is for rent on Airbnb for $150/night. 

1.5 million. That is how many people watched the live-streamed ABBA reunion concert as of this writing. The band is launching a “concert experience” in London with Digital versions of the band members singing the classics and new songs from an upcoming album to be released on November 5. 

6 months. That is how long you could spend in jail if you feed the peacocks in Los Angeles County. The peacock population is getting out of control so lawmakers have made it a crime to feed them. 

$25,000. That is how much the upcoming Tesla will cost when it launches in 2023. Elon Musk hinted that the car might not have a steering wheel.

Surprise! Insurance Companies Ripped People Off

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The insurance industry may have pocketed $30 billion in insurance premiums during the pandemic. That money was supposed to be returned to drivers but surprise, surprise! It was not. 

This comes from the Consumer Federation of America and the Center for Economic Justice. The groups analyzed insurance premiums paid on behalf of drivers who were not driving during lockdowns. The insurance companies collected $42 billion in “excess premiums” but only refunded $13 billion. This averaged out to about $125 per vehicle in overcharges. 

China's Cultural Revolution

credit: ap

The Chinese government has banned effeminate men from national television. This is in an effort to promote a “revolutionary culture” that promotes a stronger, more powerful China. 

The announcement of this law says that broadcasters must “resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics.” They must also refuse to give airtime to what the government calls “vulgar internet celebrities.” 

Recall that the Chinese government recently banned karaoke bars from playing songs that they thought were offensive. 

Cameras Off, Pants Off

credit: psycnet.org

A new study shows that turning the video off during virtual meetings is far more productive. Camera off, pants optional is the way to go! 

This comes from the University of Arizona Eller College of Management. They found that people who had their cameras on during meetings were more self-conscious and less likely to engage and express their ideas. People who had the cameras off did not feel that pressure and were more likely to focus on the content of the meeting. 

The researchers found that women and newer employees felt this on-camera fatigue more than others. 

But this doesn’t mean that we should ditch video chat altogether. The lead researcher says that a better solution is to give people the choice of taking some meetings without a camera throughout the day. 

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