The Data Says About Gun Deaths

 By John Gramlich

More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2021 than in any other year on record, according to the latest available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included record numbers of both gun murders and gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remained below the levels of earlier decades.

Here’s a closer look at gun deaths in the United States, based on a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the CDC, the FBI and other sources. You can also read key public opinion findings about U.S. gun violence and gun policy.

How we did this

How many people die from gun-related injuries in the U.S. each year?

In 2021, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 48,830 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. That figure includes gun murders and gun suicides, along with three less common types of gun-related deaths tracked by the CDC: those that were accidental, those that involved law enforcement and those whose circumstances could not be determined. The total excludes deaths in which gunshot injuries played a contributing, but not principal, role. (CDC fatality statistics are based on information contained in official death certificates, which identify a single cause of death.)

What share of U.S. gun deaths are murders and what share are suicides?

Though they tend to get less public attention than gun-related murders, suicides have long accounted for the majority of U.S. gun deaths. In 2021, 54% of all gun-related deaths in the U.S. were suicides (26,328), while 43% were murders (20,958), according to the CDC. The remaining gun deaths that year were accidental (549), involved law enforcement (537) or had undetermined circumstances (458).

What share of all murders and suicides in the U.S. involve a gun?

About eight-in-ten U.S. murders in 2021 – 20,958 out of 26,031, or 81% – involved a firearm. That marked the highest percentage since at least 1968, the earliest year for which the CDC has online records. More than half of all suicides in 2021 – 26,328 out of 48,183, or 55% – also involved a gun, the highest percentage since 2001.

How has the number of U.S. gun deaths changed over time?

The record 48,830 total gun deaths in 2021 reflect a 23% increase since 2019, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gun murders, in particular, have climbed sharply during the pandemic, increasing 45% between 2019 and 2021, while the number of gun suicides rose 10% during that span.

The overall increase in U.S. gun deaths since the beginning of the pandemic includes an especially stark rise in such fatalities among children and teens under the age of 18. Gun deaths among children and teens rose 50% in just two years, from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021.

How has the rate of U.S. gun deaths changed over time?

While 2021 saw the highest total number of gun deaths in the U.S., this statistic does not take into account the nation’s growing population. On a per capita basis, there were 14.6 gun deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 – the highest rate since the early 1990s, but still well below the peak of 16.3 gun deaths per 100,000 people in 1974.

The gun murder rate in the U.S. remains below its peak level despite rising sharply during the pandemic. There were 6.7 gun murders per 100,000 people in 2021, below the 7.2 recorded in 1974.

The gun suicide rate, on the other hand, is now on par with its historical peak. There were 7.5 gun suicides per 100,000 people in 2021, statistically similar to the 7.7 measured in 1977. (One caveat when considering the 1970s figures: In the CDC’s database, gun murders and gun suicides between 1968 and 1978 are classified as those caused by firearms and explosives. In subsequent years, they are classified as deaths involving firearms only.)

Which states have the highest and lowest gun death rates in the U.S.?

The rate of gun fatalities varies widely from state to state. In 2021, the states with the highest total rates of gun-related deaths – counting murders, suicides and all other categories tracked by the CDC – included Mississippi (33.9 per 100,000 people), Louisiana (29.1), New Mexico (27.8), Alabama (26.4) and Wyoming (26.1). The states with the lowest total rates included Massachusetts (3.4), Hawaii (4.8), New Jersey (5.2), New York (5.4) and Rhode Island (5.6).

The results are somewhat different when looking at gun murder and gun suicide rates separately. The places with the highest gun murder rates in 2021 included the District of Columbia (22.3 per 100,000 people), Mississippi (21.2), Louisiana (18.4), Alabama (13.9) and New Mexico (11.7). Those with the lowest gun murder rates included Massachusetts (1.5), Idaho (1.5), Hawaii (1.6), Utah (2.1) and Iowa (2.2). Rate estimates are not available for Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont or Wyoming.

The states with the highest gun suicide rates in 2021 included Wyoming (22.8 per 100,000 people), Montana (21.1), Alaska (19.9), New Mexico (13.9) and Oklahoma (13.7). The states with the lowest gun suicide rates were Massachusetts (1.7), New Jersey (1.9), New York (2.0), Hawaii (2.8) and Connecticut (2.9). Rate estimates are not available for the District of Columbia.

How does the gun death rate in the U.S. compare with other countries?

The gun death rate in the U.S. is much higher than in most other nations, particularly developed nations. But it is still far below the rates in several Latin American countries, according to a 2018 study of 195 countries and territories by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

The U.S. gun death rate was 10.6 per 100,000 people in 2016, the most recent year in the study, which used a somewhat different methodology from the CDC. That was far higher than in countries such as Canada (2.1 per 100,000) and Australia (1.0), as well as European nations such as France (2.7), Germany (0.9) and Spain (0.6). But the rate in the U.S. was much lower than in El Salvador (39.2 per 100,000 people), Venezuela (38.7), Guatemala (32.3), Colombia (25.9) and Honduras (22.5), the study found. Overall, the U.S. ranked 20th in its gun fatality rate that year.

How many people are killed in mass shootings in the U.S. every year?

This is a difficult question to answer because there is no single, agreed-upon definition of the term “mass shooting.” Definitions can vary depending on factors including the number of victims and the circumstances of the shooting.

The FBI collects data on “active shooter incidents,” which it defines as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” Using the FBI’s definition, 103 people – excluding the shooters – died in such incidents in 2021.

The Gun Violence Archive, an online database of gun violence incidents in the U.S., defines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people are shot, even if no one was killed (again excluding the shooters). Using this definition, 706 people died in these incidents in 2021.

Regardless of the definition being used, fatalities in mass shooting incidents in the U.S. account for a small fraction of all gun murders that occur nationwide each year.

How has the number of mass shootings in the U.S. changed over time?

The same definitional issue that makes it challenging to calculate mass shooting fatalities comes into play when trying to determine the frequency of U.S. mass shootings over time. The unpredictability of these incidents also complicates matters: As Rand Corp. noted in a research brief, “Chance variability in the annual number of mass shooting incidents makes it challenging to discern a clear trend, and trend estimates will be sensitive to outliers and to the time frame chosen for analysis.”

The FBI found an increase in active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2021. There were three such incidents in 2000. By 2021, that figure had increased to 61.

Which types of firearms are most commonly used in gun murders in the U.S.?

In 2020, the most recent year for which the FBI has published data, handguns were involved in 59% of the 13,620 U.S. gun murders and non-negligent manslaughters for which data is available. Rifles – the category that includes guns sometimes referred to as “assault weapons” – were involved in 3% of firearm murders. Shotguns were involved in 1%. The remainder of gun homicides and non-negligent manslaughters (36%) involved other kinds of firearms or those classified as “type not stated.”

It’s important to note that the FBI’s statistics do not capture the details on all gun murders in the U.S. each year. The FBI’s data is based on information voluntarily submitted by police departments around the country, and not all agencies participate or provide complete information each year. -Pew Research Center

When It Comes to HIV Treatment, It’s Your Choice

You get to decide which HIV medication fits your life best.

By Mathew Rodriguez

There’s a magic word to remember when it comes to picking your HIV treatment: choice. Though you may feel that it is best to simply take the pill that your doctor prescribes, the reality is that you are the expert when it comes to your body, and you have a say in which medication you take.

After having a conversation with your doctor that includes many of your own preferences around treatment and after they make a recommendation, the ultimate decision on what to take lies with you, as treatment must fit into your routine. Remembering that you get to choose your own treatment is a small mental adjustment that will empower you to live your best life with HIV.

The basis of any good decision is having all the available information before making your choice. Acquainting yourself with the different drugs will make any conversation between you and your doctor much smoother. Luckily, plenty of tools can help you make your decision, such as POZ’s HIV Drug Chart. Actively participating in your care, rather than letting it happen to you, is central to success with your HIV doctor and the rest of your care team.

“Engaging with your provider and that team that comes with an HIV clinic—including the social worker, the nurses, the pharmacist and others who may help in the process—all of these people can really be helpful advocates for you,” says Serin Edwin Erayil, MD, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and the associate program director of its Infectious Disease Fellowship Program.

Any discussion of treatment choice will also include some discussion about how the medication will fit into your lifestyle. “I usually say, “It doesn’t matter what time you take it as long as you are consistent with that time,’” Edwin Erayil says. To that end, Edwin Erayil often suggests that people either set an alarm, use a pillbox or couple taking the pill with a daily habit, such as drinking coffee. “I encourage consistency,” she adds.

However, the conversation about your HIV treatment is not one you have only once. That conversation can continue, especially if you’re considering switching regimens. “I provide a lot of agency,” Edwin Erayil says. “If they’re comfortable switching and it’s a safe and effective drug they’re bringing up, then switching is definitely OK.”

Understanding a patient’s lifestyle is a big factor in switching them to long-acting injectable medication as well, something Edwin Erayil has done with many patients. “It’s a collaborative decision,” she says. “Does this person’s life enable them to come in for pretty regular appointments?” These are questions that, Edwin Erayil emphasizes, ought to be asked and answered together as a team.

“If you find a provider that vibes with you and meets your style of compassion, that’s a big step,” she says. “My hope is that every patient encounters some version of that in their care.” -POZ

Dogs Can Detect If People Are Stressed

Study finds stress response changes people’s ‘odour profile’ – which dogs can sniff out

Whether it’s a tricky maths problem or an unexpected bill, daily life is full of stressful experiences. Now researchers have found that humans produce a different odour when under pressure – and dogs can sniff it out.

While previous studies have suggested canines might pick up on human emotions, possibly through smell, questions remained over whether they could detect stress and if this could be done through scent.

“This study has definitively proven that people, when they have a stress response, their odour profile changes,” said Clara Wilson, a PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast, and first author of the research.

Wilson added the findings could prove useful when training service dogs, such as those that support people with post-raumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“They’re often trained to look at someone either crouching down on the floor, or starting to do self-injurious behaviours,” said Wilson..

The latest study, she said, offers another potential cue.

“There is definitely a smell component, and that might be valuable in the training of these dogs in addition to all of the visual stuff,” said Wilson.

Writing in the journal Plos One, Wilson and colleagues report how they first constructed a stand bearing three containers, each topped by a perforated lid.

The researchers report they were able to train four dogs to indicate the container holding a particular breath and sweat sample, even when the line-up included unused gauze, samples from another person, or samples from the same person taken at a different time of day.

With the team confident the dogs understood the approach, they turned to breath and sweat samples collected from 36 people asked to count backwards from 9,000 in units of 17. The participants reported feeling stressed by the task and, for the 27 who carried it out in the laboratory, their blood pressure and heart rate rose.

The dogs were taught to pick out samples taken just after the task from a line-up that included two containers holding unused gauze.

The researchers then tested whether the dogs could do the same when the line-up included not only unused gauze but samples taken from the same participant just before the task, when they were more relaxed. Each set of samples was shown to a single dog in 20 trials.

The results reveal that the dogs chose the “stressed” sample in 675 out of the 720 trials.

“It was pretty amazing to see them be so confident in telling me ‘nope, these two things definitely smell different’,” said Wilson.

The team say while it was unclear what chemicals the dogs were picking up on, the study shows humans produce a different odour when stressed – confirming previous research that used instruments to analyse samples.

Wilson added that while the dogs were trained to communicate that they could tell different samples apart, it is possible that even untrained pet dogs might detect changes in odour when a human becomes stressed.

Claire Guest, co-founder and chief scientific officer at the charity Medical Detection Dogs, which was not involved in the research, said medical alert assistance dogs were trained to alert people with complex health conditions when they were in danger of having a potentially life-threatening medical event by detecting changes in their odour.

“Some of these conditions are thought to be due to a change in hormone levels so we are not surprised to learn that [dogs] can detect when humans are experiencing stress [as that can also be linked to hormonal fluctuations],” she said. -Guardian 

A Third Of Americans Will Live In Dangerously Hot Areas

 By Irina Ivanova

Intense heat this summer has set records in the U.S., with some regions topping 110 degrees. Utah residents suffered through 16 straight days of triple-digit heat — the longest such stretch in the 125 years that records have been kept. Around the world, extreme temperatures have killed thousands in Asia and Europe.

Despite this alarming picture of the present, it is likely just the beginning. By mid-century, nearly one-third of U.S. adults are likely to live in counties that experience hazardous heat, according to a new analysis from the First Street Foundation, which predicts a "heat belt" stretching from the Gulf Coast to Chicago.

The nonprofit research firm gathered surface temperature data using a peer-reviewed method that taps publicly available data from satellites and weather stations. It then modeled projected temperatures under a global warming scenario referred to as RCP 4.5, under which fossil-fuel emissions peak around 2040 and then decline.

"Lethal heat temperatures"

Today, about 50 counties around the U.S. experience one day per year with a heat index above 125 degrees, which is considered extremely dangerous by the National Weather Service. In 30 years, more than a thousand counties — a geographic area encompassing 107 million people — will be in the danger zone, First Street concludes.

"We were surprised at the emergence of that heat belt — these are lethal heat temperatures if there's prolonged exposure," Jeremy Porter, First Street Foundation's chief research officer, told CBS MoneyWatch. "At 125 degrees, heat stroke is likely."

The summertime humidity that often builds up in the middle of the continent is a major reason for hazardous heat-index temperatures. When it's humid, it's harder to cool off by sweating because the rate of evaporation from the body slows. That's why the heat index, or how hot a day "feels," relies on a combination of temperature and humidity.

As the climate continues to heat up, the humidity increases because warm air can hold more moisture. For every 1 degree Celsius the temperature rises, the air holds about 7% more water vapor.

The geography of the industrial Midwest, located inland east of the Rocky Mountains, makes it especially vulnerable to a buildup of hot air. 

"That area in particular isn't close to water — it's not getting any protection from wind running over the water and cooling. And because it's at a low elevation, the humidity is trapped," Porter said.

The danger zone stretches to Chicago and includes major cities like Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City, Kansas; Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cities also suffer from a "heat island effect," with urban temperatures getting much hotter than surrounding areas due to a lack of plants and the heat-trapping effects of building materials, such as concrete, dark pavement and rooftops.

The Inflation Reduction Act that passed the House last week promises to bring the U.S. close, though not all the way, to its goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Even so, lowering global temperatures will take a long time because much of the effects of climate change are "baked in" thanks to historic fossil-fuel emissions.

To be sure, humans can adapt and acclimate to hotter weather. But doing so will require many communities and governments that haven't dealt with severe heat — already the leading cause of weather-related deaths — to consider and plan for it. This more extreme future will likely demand physical adaptation — planting more trees and cooling roofs to lower the temperature, for instance, — as well as planning for emergency heat events, such as checking on residents, creating cooling centers and ensuring people can reach them.

"There's so much that can be done — there's many hot-weather warning systems around the world, " Kristie Ebi, a public-health expert at the University of Washington, told CBS MoneyWatch. "You don't have to start from scratch, but it would be helpful if we had our city and state agencies making it that much easier." -CBS News 

Survey Offers Some Good News-Some Bad

As usual, PRRI’s 2022 American Values Survey, released this morning, is chock full of interesting data points about the state of the nation and how it sees itself, from views on abortion and LGBTQ rights to QAnon and immigration. The good news, such as it is, to come from this report is that Americans agree on social issues more than might be suspected. There are nuances, to be sure, and the picture is muddied on some fronts, but overall Americans know what they think. 

The more difficult news is that there is a consistent minority opinion in hard opposition to the majority, and seemingly determined to impose its views on the rest of the nation. Longtime RD readers will not be surprised to hear that White evangelical Christians make up the core of that minority.

Consider these data points, for example:

• A whopping 92% of respondents believe that schools should teach American history honestly, even if it makes students “feel uncomfortable or guilty about what their ancestors did in the past
• 79% want birth control to remain legal. 75% oppose laws making it illegal to cross state lines to get an abortion.
• 76% support non-discrimination laws to protect the GLBT community.
• 62% think abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and 61% oppose the Dobbs ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade.

Turning things around to look at positions very much in the minority is equally revealing:

• 42% of Americans think that society has become “too soft and feminine.”
• 40% believe that newcomers pose a threat to American society
• 31% think that “God intended America to be a new promised land where European Christians could create a society that could be an example to the rest of the world.”
• 28% believe the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump.
• 19% can be termed “QAnon believers,” meaning they embrace the three central conspiracy theories driving the movement.
• Just 8% of respondents believe that abortion should be illegal in all cases. That’s a remarkable decline from the previous highwater mark of 19% set in 2014.
• It would seem that there is an American consensus on social issues, then, and it’s mostly a liberal one. But that’s not always the case. 68% believe that contemporary citizens bear little or no responsibility for American slavery or its continued effects; while 62% believe that there are only two genders—although many don’t have strong opinions on the subject.

And there are a few surprises in the data. For example, 24% of all respondents say they would only vote for a candidate who agrees with their position on abortion. But of those, 27% are in favor of reproductive rights, while 22% are opposed.

There were also some mixed views on some issues, particularly around voting. Republicans, motivated by issues such as the cost of living, immigration, and crime, are somewhat more likely to be excited about voting (67%) than Democrats (64%), but significantly more likely to be “very excited” than Dems (41-33).

Democrats seem to be motivated this election season primarily by issues like preserving American democracy, abortion, guns, and climate change. While 67% of all those surveyed say they’re motivated to vote by the repeal of Roe, the issue only came in fifth on the list of critical issues for voters, after inflation, immigration, crime and the health of the democracy.

The mixed messages continue on some social issues:

• 45% of respondents agree that the legacy of slavery makes it more difficult for African Americans to escape poverty today, while 51% disagree.
• The surveyed support restrictive bathroom regulations for transgender individuals by an 8-point margin, 52-44, even as they oppose laws banning medical care for gender transition among children.
• 48% disagree with the statement “the American way of life needs to be protected from foreign influence,” while 47% agree.

Sticking out like a sore thumb on these measures, as is often the case, are White evangelical Christians:

• 50% believe that America was founded as a Christian nation
• 65% see immigration as a threat to society
• 61% believe society has become too feminine
• 37% oppose overturning Roe v. Wade
• 19% agree with the idea that the legacy of slavery makes upward mobility harder for African Americans.

On issue after issue, White evangelicals skew to the Right. Sometimes, they’re followed closely by White mainline Protestants or White Catholics, but more often than not, they’re quite distinct from other religious groups. It’s hard to disagree with PRRI president Robert P. Jones when he says, “The survey shows a hardening rightward stance among Republicans, anchored by a white evangelical base, which is increasingly out of step with the values of most other Americans.”

While White evangelicals unsurprisingly find themselves at the opposite end of the scale as religiously unaffiliated citizens, the most striking contrast may be between White evangelicals and younger respondents, who are much more likely to embrace reproductive rights, multiple genders, the freedom to use one’s chosen bathroom, and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents brought to the US as children. Perhaps not surprisingly, those younger voters tend to be less religious than older members of society.

In fact, this edition of the American Values Survey could be used as pretty good evidence for the proposition that there’s a reciprocal relationship between conservatism and religious disaffiliation. Young people depart religious institutions in part because of disagreements with older generations about sexuality and reproduction, or they never bother to affiliate with them in the first place. The institutions they leave behind are filled with older, less educated, and more conservative members.

This is of course very nearly the reverse of the theory that liberalism emptied the pews of the mainline churches, popular since the 1970s. The data in this survey ought to put to rest the noxious fiction that being to the Left of center killed American Christianity (a fiction historian David Hollinger challenges in his forthcoming book covered here on RD).  

But there’s more to the story. Again and again, what we see in the responses is a willingness on the part of White evangelicals to embrace whatever bogeyman the Republican party throws their way. It could be immigrants, transgender individuals, educators, proponents of critical race theory, supposedly ineligible people voting, irresponsible Black people, or women able to exercise sexual agency without fear of repercussions. Whoever they are, White evangelicals appear to have decided that they’re a threat to the safe and decent functioning of American society, and the GOP is more than happy to stoke those sentiments for its political benefit.

Fear works, in other words, which is why Republican advertising this cycle has been filled with inflation, crime, immigration and anti-transgender moral panic. It’s a strategy designed to turn out the conservative base; which is to say, White evangelical Christians, in large part.

To flip things around again, it’s helpful to understand White evangelicalism not just as a religious demographic that’s becoming ever more conservative, but as the religious demographic of choice for many of the more reactionary elements of the political landscape.

That choice is shaped by a shared information landscape that’s relentlessly sealed off from outside influence. The people who get their news primarily from conservative news outlets are far more likely to reject the possibility of a diverse, multiracial, multiethnic, democracy, by the evidence of the American Values Survey. 

And White evangelicals, with their predilection for “Christian” media, pioneered and continue to embrace the reality constructed by outlets like OAN, Infowars, The Christian Post or WorldNetDaily. It now leaves them vulnerable to cynical mutations like the QAnon cult, which has grown alarmingly since 2020.

Even without the embellishments of conservative media, the environment of the past few years has been conducive to the rise of intolerance. It’s been fanned by authoritarian leaders like Trump, and fueled by an unprecedented pandemic and the economic insecurity it caused, among many other factors. In the midst of turbulence, people reach out for clear, simple, and firm answers, exactly the sort of thing you see reflected in the responses to this survey.

To come back to where we began, then, the good news here is that most people in the US share a more-or-less tolerant perspective on social issues—and to a lesser extent, on racial questions. The bad news is, the people who aren’t on board with that perspective not only make up a significant part of the population, but they’re very fired 

up and in just under two weeks they could very well ride a wave of dissatisfaction with the economy to control vast portions of American government on all levels. –Religion Dispatch

Once A Retail Giant, Kmart Down To 3

By Associated Press

The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.

There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like in days of old.

Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.

Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the US — once well over 2,000 — will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.

For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.

“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on US retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”

Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.

Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest US retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.

A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the US where it once had thousands.

Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.

It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.

“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.

“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying, but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”

Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment, and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.

Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.

Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.

Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try to save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.

“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”

The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.

“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” -NY Post

Omicron’s BA.2 Variant

 On March 22 the World Health Organization announced that the Omicron subvariant BA.2 had become the dominant form of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, worldwide. BA.2 shares many genetic similarities with its close relative BA.1, which fueled a global resurgence in COVID infections in recent months. But BA.2 is between 30 percent and 50 percent more contagious than BA.1.

Now, as this latest version of SARS-CoV-2 sweeps the planet, pandemic-weary people everywhere are asking the same question: Is society doomed to confront a succession of new viral variants, each one more contagious than the last?

“We still don’t know the full capacity of this virus to evolve and make radically new types of variants,” says Jeffrey Shaman, an infectious disease modeler at Columbia University’s School of Public Health. According to Shaman and other scientists, SARS-CoV-2 still has a lot of genetic leeway left in terms of how it infects human cells and skirts the immune system. New variants can emerge from stepwise changes in the viral sequence. But heavily mutated versions of SARS-CoV-2 that bear little resemblance to their predecessors “have also come from out of the blue,” says Ralph Baric, a virologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “And if any of these variants are better at infecting cells or evading immunity than their predecessors, then you’ll see increased transmission over the strains that came before.”

The Omicron subvariants were all detected around the same time last November in South Africa. These new and dramatically different versions of SARS-CoV-2 were jolting to many scientists, who had anticipated that the next major variant would descend incrementally from the Delta variant. BA.1 quickly overtook Delta as the dominant strain worldwide, while BA.2 lingered behind, “likely in a rural area where it didn’t have as much initial opportunity to spread,” says Bette Korber, a computational biologist who studies viral diseases at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. But after BA.2 got into bigger, more interconnected communities, “it began moving fast.” As soon as it could jump to other countries, BA.2 exploded across Africa, Europe and Asia, and it currently accounts for nearly 55 percent of all new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S., according to latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the likeliest scenario, BA.1, BA.2 and a third Omicron subvariant that never took off—BA.3—evolved over the course of chronic infections in a small population of immune-compromised people. Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds School of Medicine in the England, says that bouncing back and forth among the members of this population likely provided “a training ground for the virus,” allowing SARS-CoV-2 to probe and test new mutations that allowed it spread more efficiently.

BA.1 wound up acquiring 60 mutations that are not found in the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 that first surfaced in Wuhan, China. Among them are 32 genetic changes located specifically in the virus’s iconic spike protein, which is a target for immune cells and vaccines. BA.2 shares many of those same mutations but also has 28 unique genetic changes of its own, four of them in the spike protein.

According to Baric, Omicron is the first SARS-CoV-2 variant to evolve in the context of mounting immunity in the population—the result of vaccines and prior infection with other forms of the virus. Earlier variants, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, competed for dominance primarily on the basis of how well they infect human cells in high numbers and transit efficiently among people. But Omicron acquired the further advantage of being able to resist immune defenses against the variants that came before, thereby increasing the number of susceptible people in the population. The difference in neutralizing antibody responses against Omicron, compared with prior variants, “is massive,” Baric says. Neutralizing antibodies deflect SARS-CoV-2 from binding to ACE2 receptors, the virus’s entry point into human cells. “We’re talking about a 15- to 50-fold drop in antibody levels, depending on who runs the assay and how recently you’ve been infected or boosted,” Baric says.

Identifying the mutations that allow Omicron to “escape” neutralizing antibodies is now the focus of intense research. At least some of those mutations appear to affect parts of the spike protein that bind to ACE2. In the ancestral virus, those mutations would have interfered with the microbe’s ability to initiate an infection. But Omicron appears to tolerate the changes without losing its capacity for binding to ACE2. Ram Sasisekharan, a biological engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says that, so long as these mutations persist in the virus, “we can expect that Omicron-like variants will continue to emerge, driven primarily by immune evasiveness rather than enhanced intrinsic infectivity.”

But infectivity and immune escape are also deeply intertwined, and determining their respective roles in viral spread is exceedingly challenging. That is especially true at this current stage of the pandemic. Dozens of vaccines have been deployed against SARS-CoV-2, and numerous forms of the virus have swept the globe. Infections and vaccines are contributing to immunity through a dizzying array of combinations, and “this is all getting messier and messier for the scientific community to tease out,” Baric says.

Fortunately, evidence so far indicates that disease symptoms caused by BA.2 are not more severe than those caused by BA.1 in vaccinated people or people who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to Sasisekharan.

BA.1 clearly won out against Delta, largely on account of its capacity for immune escape. But to what degree does immunity from prior infection with BA.1 protect against BA.2? -Scientific America

Proud Boys Member Sentenced To 87 Months

 By Caleb Newton

A member of the violent, far-right organization known as the Proud Boys has been sentenced to over seven years in jail on weapons charges. The individual in question is 38-year-old Jonathan M. Cuney, whose sentence includes 87 months followed by three years of supervised release. In an earlier, related case, Cuney had previously been sentenced to a little over three years in prison on weapons charges related to his trafficking of guns from which serial numbers had been “obliterated,” per a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. These serial number-less weapons — colloquially known as “ghost guns” — are difficult for authorities to get a handle on in terms of figuring out their ownership, where they came from, and the like.

Cuney’s new offenses include “unlawfully possessing, as a felon, a Springfield Armory rifle and an FMK Firearms Inc. AR-15-style rifle receiver/frame, and… possessing three unregistered silencers, between September 9, 2019 and November 14, 2019,” that press release explains. That’s far from it, though — he “also admitted that from at least August 2018 until November 12, 2019, he purchased firearms parts from several dozen online retailers, and had these items shipped to East Greenbush[, New York]; Willits, California (where he maintained a residence); and Providence, Rhode Island (where he formerly maintained a legitimate firearms business).” (That’s also in the description of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.) He used these materials to put together ghost guns and silencers.

Cuney was also found to have unlawfully possessed thousands of rounds of ammunition. Federal Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., who handled Cuney’s sentencing, observed that “ghost guns are killing people on the streets every day in this country.” Notably, Cuney had trafficked ghost guns while also maintaining a front as a legitimate, appropriately licensed weapons dealer before his older case. Cuney is a veteran, having served in the Marines, but Scullin told him that “any credit you might get for being a veteran is outweighed by your conduct as a criminal.”

Cuney maintained storage units including a New York facility where authorities discovered “two rifles, one revolver, four serialized AR-15-style rifle receivers/frames, two completed ghost guns, five pistol parts kits, two completed silencers and enough parts to build more than ten silencers, and an assorted quantity of firearm parts and accessories – of which five would be classified as machine guns under federal law – and 3,250 rounds of assorted rifle and pistol ammunition,” according to that press release. Issues go on from there.

A number of individuals associated with the Proud Boys have been caught and charged in connection to the attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters in January — which Trump has repeatedly seemed eager to justify. It’s not as though the savage violence that took place there is a secret, but the ex-president has nevertheless insisted upon characterizing what happened that day as a mere “protest.” Trump has stated that observers’ “hearts and minds are with the people being persecuted so unfairly relating to the January 6th protest concerning the Rigged Presidential Election” — and when he pushes stuff like this, it’s organizations including the one that Cuney apparently felt at home with that he is defending. –Bipartisan Report

10 Tips to Avoid A Social Faux Pas In Japan

For anyone planning on visiting Japan, our team in Tokyo has helped pull together a handy list of don'ts to stay on the right side of Japanese customs.

So to avoid the social media firestorm that Patrick Schwarzenegger -- son of action hero and former California governor Arnold -- caused when he posted an Instagram video (since removed) of him tickling an unsuspecting fellow visitor's ear with a twig, take a look at our handy hints below.

1. No jaywalking

Many Japanese drivers are sticklers for the rules, and will honk disapprovingly -- even from a considerable distance -- if they see someone crossing the road at any point other than a designated crosswalk.

2. Smokers can be fined for lighting up outside

While there are no laws against smoking in bars and restaurants or any privately owned business, perversely it's the great outdoors that can present problems.

Smokers shouldn't even think about lighting up on the street, as many Japanese cities -- including Tokyo and Osaka -- have ordinances prohibiting lighting up outdoors, except in designated "tobacco corners."

Defying this ban is punishable by fines up to 50,000 yen (about $400).

3. Don't litter

While many other countries would turn a blind eye to a plastic carrier bag or cigarette butt adorning their streets, a zero-tolerance stance on street trash is taken in Japan.

Expect disapproving stares and/or aghast looks if that candy wrapper is disposed of in a less-than-proper fashion. There isn't really any excuse, anyway, as public trashcans are liberally spread throughout Japan's major cities.

4. Throw litter in the correct trashcan

And anyone disposing of refuse in a designated receptacle should make sure to do this properly, too. At the very least trash is separated into 'burnable' and 'non-burnable' bins, as Japan deals with much of its waste by incinerating it. Even fast-food outlets insist garbage is broken into plastics, papers and so on.

5. Don't point fingers at people

Again, this is fairly universal, but it's considered rude to point directly at someone, be it with a finger, chopstick or foot. If it's necessary to indicate someone, this should be done with a hand gesture, while keeping that outstretched finger under control.

6. It's very rude to cut in line

From trains to escalators in Japan, masses of people can be seen lining up in an orderly fashion.

Barging in is a strict no-no especially on trains where embarking passengers stand to the side to let disembarking passengers alight before piling in.

Major city subways and commuter trains can get seriously busy, particularly during morning rush hour, but manners still hold. Conversely, however, it isn't customary to hold doors open for anyone who may be following.

7. Silence is golden on trains

Conversations are quiet -- most people don't talk at all.

Doing makeup, sleeping, text-messaging and (quietly) playing cellphone games are all acceptable onboard activities, but silence is golden on Japan's extensive rail network.

Oh, and don't ever eat or drink on the train.

8. Take your shoes off at the door at someone's home

Clean, matching socks without holes should be worn -- which kind of goes without saying if you're over the age of 12.

Japanese people usually say "O-jama shimasu!" ("sorry for disturbing you") when coming into someone's home, and most often will bring a small present, called o-miyage, for their hosts.

Stunning photos of Japan's most serene and beautiful places

9. No need to tip when eating out or taking taxis

Service providers here won't accept it. Service is almost universally included, and stories abound of diligent restaurant employees chasing foreign patrons down the street to return their "forgotten" change.

Similarly, taxi drivers -- the majority of whom wear impeccable uniforms, hats and white gloves -- give back exact change and refuse any gratuity.

One other thing about taxis to note -- they are equipped with automatic doors controlled by the driver, and shouldn't be manually opened or closed.

10. No swimsuits in onsens -- go naked instead

Many Japanese consider it downright weird to see someone wear swim trunks or a bikini in a hot spring.

Bathers should remember to scrub up and rinse off before getting in the water, either in a public bath or at someone's home. The Japanese are used to sharing hot water so the actual cleaning part happens before jumping in the tub.

But while less clothing is the general rule when bathing, tattoos should be covered when at onsen, or public gyms, for that matter. They're often associated with the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. –Contribution by Ralph

United States Most Dangerous Country For Journalists For First Time

At least 63 professional journalists were killed doing their jobs in 2018, a 15 percent increase over last year, Reporters Without Borders said.

The murder of the Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi — in a year when more than half of all journalists who were killed around the world were targeted deliberately — reflects a hatred of the media in many areas of society, a free-press advocacy group said Tuesday.

At least 63 professional journalists were killed doing their jobs in 2018, a 15 percent increase over last year, said the group, Reporters Without Borders. The number of deaths rises to 80 when all media workers and people classified as citizen journalists are included, it said in its annual report.

The world's five deadliest countries for journalists include three — India, Mexico and, for the first time, the United States — where journalists were killed in cold blood, even though those countries weren't at war or in conflict, the group said.

"The hatred of journalists that is voiced ... by unscrupulous politicians, religious leaders and businessmen has tragic consequences on the ground and has been reflected in this disturbing increase in violations against journalists," Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement.

Khashoggi, a royal insider who became a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and began writing for The Washington Post after moving to the United States last year, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in October.

His death sparked worldwide outrage. Saudi officials have rejected accusations that the crown prince ordered his death.

Reporters Without Borders said the three most dangerous countries for journalists to work in were Afghanistan, Syria, and Mexico.

Meanwhile, the shooting deaths of five employees of the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, in June propelled the United States into the ranks of the most dangerous countries for the first time.

Reporters Without Borders said 348 journalists were being detained worldwide, compared with 326 at this time in 2017. China, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt hold more than half of the world's imprisoned journalists, it said. –NBC

New Sex Dolls

By David Marrs

The latest sex doll model is so realistic that they will only want to be friends with you unless you’re handsome, rich or successful.

The hyper-realistic dolls will put you straight in the friend zone unless you meet at least one of the three key criteria.

‘We believe that the previous models made it too easy for men. If you want to get laid, then you have to buck your ideas up. Simple as that,’ said doll manufacturer Ho-Lee Fuq.

The dolls will instead encourage men to better themselves. If they do, there will then be a ‘new relationship’ period where sex will become available.

This window will close in about six months and the sex dolls will begin to ask why there isn’t a ring on their finger yet.

‘You wanted realism, you’ve got it,’ said Mr. Fuq. –Daily Squat

New York To Open Tallest Outdoor Observation Deck

New York will soon have "the edge" when it comes to magnificent outdoor observation decks.

Already home to some of the most famous viewing spots in the world, the Big Apple is about to add another to its impressive collection.

Named Edge, the upcoming Hudson Yards observation deck is set to open next year, with incomparable views of the city skyline.

Standing at more than 1,100 feet, Edge will be the tallest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere and the fifth highest in the world.

After hopping on an elevator for 60 seconds, visitors will arrive at the 7,500-square-foot outdoor viewing area, which extends 65 feet from the 100th floor of the new 30 Hudson Yards tower and includes a glass floor, offering visitors a bird's-eye view of the city.

Edge also holds a signature 10,000-square-foot restaurant as well as a bar and event space.

While a launch date hasn't been announced as yet, group bookings are opened for the first quarter of 2020.

"Edge invites visitors to walk out into the sky and embrace unobstructed, panoramic views of New York City like never before," says Jason Horkin, executive director of Hudson Yards Experiences.

Unique structural design

"The name reflects both the unique structural design, which pierces the sky when observed from below, and the exhilarating feeling of being on the brink of something exceptional -- exactly where you are on edge."

Once launched, Edge will stand taller than the observation deck at the Empire State Building, which is 1,050 feet above street level, as well as Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center, 850 feet above street level.

The 30 Hudson Yards tower was designed by William Pedersen of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates as part of Manhattan's newest neighborhood Hudson Yards.

Built over 28 acres of a working rail yard on Manhattan's west side, Hudson Yards is the largest ever privately built real estate project in the US, with a cost of around $28 billion.

The complex will also include more than 100 shops and restaurants; The Shed, a cultural and performing arts venue and a public square and gardens. –CNN Travel

The Best Motivation Video

Reporting Agencies Have Been Lying

by Gillian B. White

A CFPB investigation concluded that Transunion and Equifax deceived Americans about the reports they provided and the fees they charged.

In personal finance, practically everything can turn on one’s credit score. It’s both an indicator of one’s financial past, and the key to accessing necessities—without insane costs—in the future. But on Tuesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that two of the three major credit-reporting agencies responsible for doling out those scores—Equifax and Transunion—have been deceiving and taking advantage of Americans. The Bureau ordered the agencies to pay more than $23 million in fines and restitution.  

In their investigation, the Bureau found that the two agencies had been misrepresenting the scores provided to consumers, telling them that the score reports they received were the same reports that lenders and businesses received, when, in fact, they were not. The investigation also found problems with the way the agencies advertised their products, using promotions that suggested that their credit reports were either free or cost only $1. According to the CFPB the agencies did not properly disclose that after a trial of seven to 30 days, individuals would be enrolled in a full-price subscription, which could total $16 or more per month. The Bureau also found Equifax to be in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which states that the agencies must provide one free report every 12 months made available at a central site. Before viewing their free report, consumers were forced to view advertisements for Equifax, which is prohibited by law.

That these credit agencies would abuse their power to mislead Americans attempting to take a more active role in monitoring their financial health is not only a violation of trust, it is dangerous.

These agencies—along with a third, Experian—make up the nation’s credit-reporting industry, and, as such, they wield a significant and unique influence over America's’ financial health. Many lenders use only the data from these providers to determine whether someone can get a loan and how much interests he will pay. “Credit scores are central to a consumer’s financial life and people deserve honest and accurate information about them,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray in a statement. Credit-reporting agencies keep track of an individual’s overall debt picture, how much credit they have access to, and how frequently payments are late, among other things. They then assign a score ranging from 300 to 850, which is consulted before one rents an apartment, gets a loan, opens a credit card, buys a car, or even gets a cellphone.*

Much of an individual’s ability to improve his or her finances is predicated on his or her ability to maintain a high credit score. To do that, he or she needs to be able to see accurate credit reports that reflect the information that lenders see when they assess them. The actions of Equifax and Transunion prevented that. And that’s especially troubling because the American credit system is a reinforcing cycle. Good credit often comes from having enough money to pay bills off in a timely manner, which raises one’s score and provides access to more credit at better interest rates. That can amount to tens of thousands of dollars in savings on mortgages, business loans, and credit- card interest. And having good credit means that a person’s score can sustain the decline that comes with lender inquiries for new credit cards or loans, which then gives them access to more credit—and raises their score once again. For Americans with bad credit and little income, the system works in exactly the opposite manner, and leaves people relegated to pricey and predatory options for basic financial needs. In 2010, the CFPB found that 26 million Americans had no credit history, and another 19 million had such limited credit history that they were considered unscorable. These groups were primarily made up of low-income and minority households.

Credit scores and the agencies that provide them have long been a point of contention among consumer advocates, not only because the system further marginalizes those who are already struggling, but also because it offers very limited opportunities to improve one’s financial standing. Even obtaining, understanding, and correcting official credit reports can be tricky, time-consuming, and, in some cases, costly.  As a result, consumer advocates have called for greater accessibility and pushed  alternative credit indicators. That two major providers of score data have been intentionally deceiving Americans confirms what those advocates have been saying all along: This is a deeply dysfunctional system that is hurting the Americans who can least afford it. –The Atlantic

Is Your ID Approved For Travel? These Are The Latest Rules

The Real ID Act requires that driver’s licenses meet standards set by the Department of Homeland Security by October 2020. Many states are already compliant and others have been given extensions.

In the past several months, there has been plenty of conversation about the Real ID Act and how it will affect air travelers. Passed by Congress in 2005, the act is intended to prevent identity fraud, and starting on Oct. 1, 2020, all fliers who reside in the United States, even if they’re flying domestically, will need Real ID identification to pass through Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints at airports.

Who exactly is affected and what exactly is Real ID identification? Here, answers to questions about what the Real ID Act means for travelers and why having a passport now may be more important than ever.

What exactly is the Real ID Act?

The act is intended to enhance national security by establishing minimum standards for the secure issuance of driver’s licenses and identification cards, according to Steve Yonkers, the director of the Real ID program for the Department of Homeland Security.

“The act is meant to stop the production of fake IDs,” Mr. Yonkers said.

Why is the act being implemented?

Congress passed the act on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, which advised that the federal government set minimum security standards for how states issue identification and for how that identification is used. “The commission recognized that sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists,” Mr. Yonkers said.

When does it go into effect and for which states?

Currently, all 50 states are either compliant or have extensions, meaning none of these residents need alternative identification. There are 28 states that are now Real ID compliant, including Texas, Ohio, Florida, Nevada and Colorado, while 26 states and territories have been granted extensions until Oct. 10, 2018 by the  department.  Note that travelers from states with extensions will not likely need to have Real ID compliant identification by Oct. 10 — the date is only a deadline for the Department of Homeland Security to receive a state's request for a renewed Real ID extension, if needed.  In past years, the agency has provided a grace period for approximately 90 days before enforcement would begin for a state not granted a renewed extension.  The department will issue information about the next extension cycle later this year. For a complete list, visit dhs.gov/real-id.

“Every state is working on getting compliant with all Real ID requirements,” Mr. Yonkers said. “The states that aren’t yet compliant are the ones that are requesting extensions to give them additional time necessary to complete implementation of secure identification standards.”

How does a state work to get compliant?

According to Mr. Yonkers, the Department of Motor Vehicles employees in a compliant state have to undergo background checks. Employees also have to be able to verify an applicant’s identity and lawful status — they can do the latter by checking an applicant’s immigration status with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Also, the licenses the D.M.V. produces in a compliant state must have anti-counterfeit technology built into them such as a hologram. “They [licenses] have to be very secure documents,” Mr. Yonkers said.

But what does the Real ID Act mean for air travelers?

Right now, nothing. On Jan. 22, however, residents of two United States territories, American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands, could be the subject of Real ID enforcement because they are still under review to get extensions. But as of Oct. 1, 2020, the T.S.A. will ask all travelers to have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or alternate acceptable identification to fly domestically.

Travelers won’t be able to pass through security without this acceptable identification.

Will I have to apply for a new, compliant license? Or will my state send me a new, compliant one automatically?

In order to get a Real ID-compliant license, residents must physically go to a D.M.V. office with their identification documents such as a birth certificate and passport.  

What exactly qualifies as acceptable identification?

The Department of Homeland Security has designated more than a dozen forms of acceptable ID, including a passport; a border ID card; a trusted traveler card, such as Global Entry; a Real ID-compliant driver’s license; and a permanent resident card. For a complete list, visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

Is one form of acceptable identification better than another?

The department does not recommend any particular form of acceptable identification, but Brenda Sprague, who oversees passport services for the State Department, encourages all United States residents without a passport to apply for one now. The turnaround time to get a new passport during the winter is usually around four weeks. In the summer, when passport applications peak, the wait for a new passport could be up to eight weeks.

Around 136 million Americans have passports in circulation, according to the State Department — that’s only around 40 percent of the population in the United States.

O.K., you’ve convinced me, and I’m ready to apply for a new passport. What’s the best way?

Ms. Sprague said that there are more than 8,000 passport application locations around the country. Around 60 percent are post offices while the rest are courthouses and libraries. Visit the State Department’s Where to Apply link for more details. In addition, there are 27 passport agencies, where travelers can apply for rush passports. “These agencies are for people who are traveling within two weeks,” Ms. Sprague said.

This link has a list of these agencies; applicants need an appointment for a visit and can make one online at passportappointment.travel.state.gov.

Also, the State Department is collaborating with Hilton Hotels & Resorts on the Hilton Passport Project, an initiative meant to encourage more Americans to apply for passports. Every few weeks, a Hilton location in the United States will have a Passport Concierge booth, where guests and the general public can have their passport pictures taken for free and apply for or renew a passport. Between one and three employees from the State Department will be on hand to answer passport-related questions and help fill out applications. The next Passport Concierge will be at the Travel and Adventure Show, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 and 21. At this event, applicants will actually be able to submit their applications to a State Department employee. For a list of coming locations, visit facebook.com/Hilton.

How much does it cost to get a new passport?

First-time applicants pay $110 and a $25 application fee. Passport renewals cost $110 and expedited passports are an additional $60. If you’re renewing your passport, you can do it by mail, but if you’re getting a new passport or if your existing one is lost or stolen, you must apply in person. –NY Times

15 Overrated Sex Acts

by Siobhan Rosen

Once upon a time—like 176,000 years ago—human sex consisted of a few grunts, a couple of thrusts, and a wham bam thank you caveman. Modern sex, on the other hand, is a cruise-ship buffet of options: Girl on Top! Reverse Twisted Pretzel! Tell Me I'm Pretty and Go Real Slow! And while we women are all for this brave new world of sexual variety, the reality is that some, maybe even most, acts of generosity in the bedroom are kinda overblown. Here are 15 moves that aren't worth the effort

Spooning

The Big Cuddle lobby is gonna come after me for this, but it needs to be said: Spooning is extremely uncomfortable. The big spoon must slip his or her lower arm under the body of the little spoon, bringing on hand numbness and spasms of shoulder pain. Then there's the heat. You've just finished a grueling two-minute workout, your bodies are furnaces, and now you want to smush your sweaty torsos together like a pair of spent sea lions? How about a quick kiss on the cheek and a hearty back scratch? Or just, you know, less spooning and more forking?

Erotic Eating

So you saw 9 1/2 Weeks waaay too young. Please don't take it out on us. And unless it's the middle of August, keep ice out of it, too.

69

Sixty-nining is so ruthlessly efficient it should be called Neunundsechzig, as it is in Germany. It takes something wonderful and adds nothing but physical labor and the risk of suffocation. Are you really that pressed for time? Unless you're a teenager crammed into the back of a Honda Civic, there's no reason for Lego-stacking a sexual delicacy. JUST TAKE TURNS. Call it 6…[30-minute window]…9-ing. Or, you know, oral sex.

70

Mathematically, it's 69 plus one digit. There's a chance there's a finger involved somewhere. There's also a chance I just made this up. But now that it's out in the world, I proclaim it overrated.

Saying Thank You Afterward
 

Thrilled that you have good manners, but this makes me feel like a cafeteria lady who just gave you a pudding cup. Find other ways to demonstrate your politeness. Thank you!

Lights-On Sex

I know, I know: We should all be super body-confident and proudly showcase our nubs 'n' nibs under the harshest lights—but contrary to popular belief, preferring dim doesn't necessarily mean you're shy about what you've got going on. Maybe you're like me and just don't want to see what your partner has going on—like, say, weird thigh pimples and upper-arm keratosis. It's called keeping a marriage alive.

Sex on the Beach

Of course it sounds lovely. But in practice, you wind up with a sand-chafed behind and a scarred child who wandered too far from his towel. Plus, you have to watch out for two types of crabs.

Reverse Cowgirl

To be fair, I know a number of women who swear by this position. But the vantage-point disparity troubles me. The man gets to look at a shapely posterior bopping up and down in all its full-moon glory, while the lady gets to look at a pile of dirty clothes and a graveyard of half-drunk bottles of Snapple.

Amateur Back Massage

The intention is plenty sweet, but unless you are a trained massage therapist (in which case, don't mix business with pleasure!), your feeble finger presses usually just feel like a 7-year-old is playing “Chopsticks” on my back. And as you should know, piano-playing 7-year-olds are not a turn-on.

Titty Boffing

I agree with babies and grizzly men at truck stops: Boobies are fun. Nature's bouncy balls! The googly eyes of the torso! By all means, touch them, squeeze them, and paw at them to your heart's content during sexy time. Just don't use Mr. Winky to go at her chest like you're giving some sort of lifesaving CPR. Believe me—she's not dead, she's bored.

Cunnilingus

I kid—cunnilingus is perfect. Practice it daily.

Most women are not Cirque du Soleil-level flexible, and most men can't even touch their toes. You can enjoy sex without contorting your bodies into the shape of a DNA double helix.

Threesome

You know when you're walking down the sidewalk with two friends and a dad pushing a stroller approaches from the other direction, forcing you to step behind your pals to make room? That's what three-ways are like. At some point, someone gets excluded and is left to awkwardly bat a boob or straighten up the throw pillows. I once slipped out of the bedroom mid-threesome to get a bowl of Kix because I was like, “Eh, these two are doing fine without me.” You know what threesomes are good for, though? Showing off that you once had a threesome, like I just did.

All “Sex Moves” Invented by 14-Year-Old Boys on Urban Dictionary, Including the Land Shark, the Dirty Sanchez, and Anything Else That Sounds Like a Villain from a 1930s Comic Book
No one's actually done any of these.

Grabbing Her by the Pssy*

You'd think this wouldn't have a place on a jokey list of overrated sex moves, because it's not so much a move as it is a form of sexual assault. But the barely sentient colostomy bag that America just elected president seems to think groping women is a handsier version of “May I buy you a drink?” So let me state, on behalf of all receptacles for male sexual gratification (formerly known as “women”): This is not okay, asshole.

Siobhan Rosen is the pseudonym this author uses so she doesn't end up on the “People I Am Gonna Get SO Much Revenge On” list you just know that POTUS keeps by his bed. –GQ

Why Does The New Year Begin On January 1?

New Year’s Day is a civil event. Its date isn’t precisely fixed by any natural seasonal marker.

The date of New Year’s Day seems so fundamental that it’s almost as though nature ordained it. But New Year’s Day is a civil event. Its date isn’t precisely fixed by any natural seasonal marker.

Our modern celebration of New Year’s Day stems from an ancient Roman custom, the feast of the Roman god Janus – god of doorways and beginnings. The name for the month of January also comes from Janus, who was depicted as having two faces. One face of Janus looked back into the past, and the other peered forward to the future.

For us in the Northern Hemisphere, early January is a logical time for new beginnings. At the December solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, we had the shortest day of the year. By early January, our days are obviously lengthening again. This return of longer hours of daylight had a profound effect on cultures that were tied to agricultural cycles. It has an emotional effect on people even in cities today.

The early calendar-makers didn’t know it, but today we know there is another bit of astronomical logic behind beginning the year on January 1. Earth is always closest to the sun in its yearly orbit around this time. This event is called Earth’s perihelion.

People didn’t always celebrate the new year on January 1. The earliest recording of a new year celebration is believed to have been in Mesopotamia, circa 2000 B.C. That celebration – and many other ancient celebrations of the new year following it – were celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, around March 20. Meanwhile, the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians began their new year with the autumnal equinox around September 20. And the ancient Greeks celebrated on the winter solstice, around December 20.

By the Middle Ages, though, in many places the new year began in March. Around the 16th century, a movement developed to restore January 1 as New Year’s Day. In the New Style or Gregorian calendar, the New Year begins on the first of January.

Bottom line: There’s no astronomical reason to celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1. Instead, our modern New Year’s celebration stems from the ancient, two-faced, Roman god Janus – for whom the month of January is also named. One face of Janus looked back into the past, and the other peered forward to the future. –Earth Sky

6 Surprising Health Benefits Of Hemp Seeds

By Larry Schwartz

Hemp is not just for stoners anymore.

Among the many benefits of the legalization of marijuana would be eliminating any lingering confusion about the legality of its close relation (read, basically the same plant), hemp. While the possession of industrial hemp, also known by its botanical moniker, Cannabis sativa, has never been illegal, the growing of industrial hemp was illegal until the recent passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. The hemp that is mostly illegal, with the exception, at this writing, of four states and the District of Columbia, the kind of hemp you smoke, put in brownies, and usually have a good ol' time after imbibing, contains a high concentration (three percent or more) of THC, the ingredient that induces the familiar Rocky Mountain high. Industrial hemp, on the other hand, has a very low concentration of THC (under three percent) and consuming it in any form won’t give you a buzz. That doesn’t make it worthless though. Turns out, just as actor Woody Harrelson says, hemp is a surprisingly valuable commodity.

In the 17th and 18th centuries in America, hemp was so valuable it was actually illegal not to grow it. You could even pay your taxes with hemp. Until the 1820s, with the invention of the cotton gin, more than three-quarters of the fabrics, textiles, ropes, sails, clothing, canvas, etc. in America were made from hemp. (In fact, the word canvas is derived from the Dutch word meaning cannabis.) In the 1930s, hemp was known as the billion-dollar crop, and during World War II, American farmers were actively encouraged to grow hemp to aid the war effort. A government film called Hemp for Victory extolled hemp’s value as a strong fabric for sails, ropes and clothing. A campaign against hemp had begun, however, even before the war.

The Dupont family led an anti-hemp campaign to boost sales of its synthetic nylon fibers. Andrew Mellon, one of the wealthiest men in America and Secretary of the Treasury under Coolidge and Hoover, had extensive holdings in Dupont and conspired with his nephew-in-law, Harry Anslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, to brand hemp a danger to society. They renamed hemp its ominous-sounding Mexican slang word, marihuana, and emphasized its power to destroy the American way of life. Another wealthy magnate, Randolph Hearst, who had heavy investments in timber to produce paper for his newspaper empire, also pitched in to discredit hemp, since it was a cheap substitute for paper pulp made from trees. The growing emergence of the drug war against all things marijuana-related, which began with hysterical films like Reefer Madness in 1936 and the passage of the Marihuana Tax Law of 1937, further stigmatized industrial hemp. Eventually, despite the incredible usefulness of the plant, hemp was bundled with its stoner cousin and production was banned outright in 1958.

Today, thanks to the 2014 Farm Bill and to activists like Harrelson, along with the potential positive environmental impact of using hemp, rather than cutting down trees or using synthetic oil-based products, hemp is making a comeback. Hemp thrives without the use of pesticides (cotton, on the other hand, is grown using a huge amount of pesticides), enhances the health of the soil and even kills weeds. More than 30 countries have legalized the production of hemp and the U.S. seems well on its way to joining them (24 and counting have relaxed hemp production laws). The potential earth-friendly uses for hemp are seemingly endless: paper, fabrics, paints, oils, lubricants, and gasoline, among others.

Besides the usefulness of the plant fibers, hemp seeds themselves have some incredible health benefits. Sharon Palmer, author of The Plant Powered Diet, told Care2.com that hemp is the next “it” food.

Here are six health benefits of hemp seeds that don’t involve psychedelic music or the munchies.

1. Hemp seeds may reduce your chances of a heart attack.

Hemp seeds contain a healthy dose of an amino acid called arginine. The consumption of arginine increases the amount of nitric oxide in the blood, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels, which in turn leads to lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease. One study of 13,000 people found that increased arginine in the blood was associated with lower amounts of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker linked to heart disease. The high amount of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in hemp seeds is also thought to be beneficial to the health of the heart.

2. Hemp seeds are nutritious.

Walk into any health food store or Trader Joe’s and you’ll find chia seeds and flaxseeds. These seeds have been extolled as nutritious powerhouses, with protein comprising up to 18% of their caloric value. Well, hemp seeds are 25% protein, and in addition are high in heart-healthy essential fatty acids. Technically, hemp seeds are nuts, with a mild, pleasantly nutty flavor. They are also referred to as hemp hearts. Hemp seeds can be eaten raw or roasted, are also high in vitamin E and several minerals like potassium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. In China, hemp seeds have been consumed for food and used as medicine for thousands of years.

3. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of complete plant-based protein.

As noted above, hemp seeds are 25% protein. Even better, they are a complete protein, i.e. they contain all the essential amino acids (essential amino acids are not made by the body and must be obtained through the diet). Not all plant sources contain the full regimen of amino acids. Ounce for ounce, hemp seeds are as good as beef or lamb as a protein source. Three tablespoons of hemp seeds provide 11 grams of complete protein.

4. Hemp seeds may reduce the effects of skin diseases like eczema.

Hemp seeds have an optimal balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (3:1). Fatty acids are thought to affect the body’s immune responses. The symptoms of some skin diseases (itchiness, redness, rash) like eczema are essentially immune responses, and hemp seeds, by improving the level of fatty acids in the body, may lessen the unpleasant symptoms of these skin ailments.

5. Hemp seeds are good for the digestion.

Un-hulled hemp seeds are an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gelatinous medium in the digestive system, favorable for healthy gut bacteria to flourish, and may also help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. Insoluble fiber helps waste to pass through and out of the system.

6. Hemp seeds may help with PMS and menopause.

Studies have shown that gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) can be effective in reducing the symptoms of PMS. It is thought that PMS symptoms are the result of a hormone called prolactin. Hemp seeds are high in GLA, which produces prostaglandin E1, which reduces the symptoms caused by prolactin. Some studies have shown another high-GLA plant product, primrose oil, reduces menopause symptoms. It is believed that hemp seeds may afford the same benefits. –Alternet