RSN: FOCUS: Juan Cole | How Incompetent Boob Trump Took Down America and Launched the Chinese Century

 

29 December 20

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FOCUS: Juan Cole | How Incompetent Boob Trump Took Down America and Launched the Chinese Century

Juan Cole, Informed Comment
Cole writes: "The twentieth century was dubbed 'the American Century' in 1941 by Time magazine publisher Henry Luce. Luce hoped that Americans would abandon their isolationism and seek international allies, joining against the Axis in WW II. It was then more wishful thinking on his part than reality, but his wish arguably came true."

It seems increasingly clear that the 21st century will be the Chinese century. And, China is going to get there sooner thanks to a new isolationism and a paroxysm of ignorant reality-denial for which Donald J. Trump has been the cheerleader and chief implementation officer.

The BBC reports that a British think tank predicts that China will overtake the US as the world’s largest economy in 2028 instead of 2033, as a result of its deft handling of the pandemic and as a result of outgoing president Trump’s monumental screw-up, the largest public health disaster in American history.

By the way, the report of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) is using more scientific means to come to the same conclusion that I did earlier this year. On October 19, I asked, Will historians look back at Trump’s disastrous Pandemic Response as the Moment Beijing Overtook the US?

China will grow 2% this year. The US economy will contract 3.5%. China’s growth is enabled by government health policy.

Even next year and through the 2020s, American growth is expected to be anemic. In contrast, China will likely grow 5 percent a year for a while starting next year, then as it matures further as an advanced economy, fall to 4% growth.

And it isn’t just a matter of growth rate. The US comes out of four catastrophic years of Trump with a massively ballooning budget deficit.

I noted in October, “The US budget deficit in 2020 will be $3.1 trillion. The average budget deficit in Obama’s last two years was slightly over $500 bn a year. This Republican administration has given us a one-year budget deficit six times larger than Obama’s last ones. And mind you, Trump’s massive 2017 tax cut on the superwealthy had already put the annual budget deficit back up over $1 trillion a year.”

One of the most important growth sectors in this century will be green technologies, a sector in which China has developed a worrying lead over the United States. China is responsible for 23% of global green energy investment. It is the world’s largest maker of wind turbines and produces 63% of the world’s photovoltaic panels.

The US government is hostage to Big Oil and has not moved fast enough or vigorously enough to outperform China in this area. Only about 19% of US electricity is from renewables, which means we are paying trillions for fuel, whereas sunshine and wind are free.

Some analysts expect China’s energy mix to be 62% renewables by 2030, with massive cost savings of 9%.

Trump spent four years knee-capping green energy and trying to bolster planet-killing coal.

President-elect Biden wants a 100% green electricity by 2035, but given that he will very likely not have the Senate, it isn’t clear he can in fact move that fast. I hope so, because otherwise China is going to eat our lunch.

I keep hearing people say that the pandemic isn’t really Trump’s fault. It makes me want to tear my hair out. The fact of the pandemic was not his fault, of course. But that you had no national health policy to speak of was his fault. He closed down the economy too late and opened it too early. He left states to compete for scarce resources, driving up their costs. He refused to encourage mask-wearing (82% of Chinese masked up, only about half of Americans did). Early on, China had a testing and contact tracing capability that allowed them to contain outbreaks. They’ve gone long stretches since the summer without having new case reported at all. The US never had enough tests, and results were coming back beyond the 3-day limit of when they were useful. We had no national contact tracing corps, no ethos of quarantining once you’ve been exposed. We quickly went to community spread, at which point there are too many people to carry out effect contact tracing. State and county public health offices had been shrunk by long years of austerity — tax cuts for the wealthy, fewer services for ordinary folk. China nipped this thing in the bud (as did South Korea and Taiwan). Trump, by a combination of bad policy and no policy, let the thing snowball– so that states have had to impose repeated shutdowns on a rolling basis, deeply harming the economy.

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Rescuer At The Bridge

 

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Rescuer At The Bridge

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge to watch. They knew this was something special.

It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on the pathway...the ones who had been at Rainbow Bridge for a while...knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.

Although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him. The way you see him now, with graying fur and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody to escort him across the Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"

As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.

From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.

The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that couldn't be placed on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."

"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.

"So does God," was the reply.

Hari Kunzru, tRump supporters

 

Shared from a friend but spot on

"Trump Supporters:

We don’t trust you. We’ve decided to minimize our interactions with people who cannot be reasoned with. This is for our own safety.

In private groups - where you’re not invited - we share our bewilderment of your descent into madness. We all have stories about how we’ve cut ties with you, our family and former friends, because we don’t want your hatred poisoning our social media streams. We can’t stand to listen to you vomiting the lies of your cult, day after day. You used to be different. We liked you. But now that we know what was inside your heart all along, we’ve decided you don’t deserve to know about our lives.

We’ll skip family reunions, even after the “vaccine.” We’ll make up some excuse just to be polite. But in reality, we just don’t feel like sitting around eating potato salad and making small talk with people who have such monstrous beliefs.

To all the brothers and aunts and cousins and dads and neighbors out there who just can’t wrap their heads around what this means going forward, know that these scars aren’t going away anytime soon. We won’t be reaching out, and we won’t be mending fences. It’s not up to us to apologize for the wounds you have gleefully inflicted upon us and our friends. You poured the gasoline, you lit the match. You burned this to the ground.

So if we seem different from now on, I guess we are, in a way. We’ve seen your truth laid bare, and we’re horrified.

I hope Trump was worth it."

A political fond farewell from British-Indian novelist Hari Kunzru...

"Mike Pence you repressed joyless would-be witchfinder, every time you spoke you always looked like you were straining to expel an enormous bolus of your own hypocrisy from your clenched sphincter.

“Betsy DeVos you blandly foolish soulless entitled child-stealing witch, rotting like a corpse inside your Chanel suit.

“Kayleigh McEnenay, you evacuated husk of a mean-girl cheerleader, the cavity where your heart once was pumped full of spite and moronic lies.

“Bill Barr you vast pompous pus-filled bladder of casuistry, you are an enemy of justice, bloated with resentment and cruelty, wobbling like a jelly at the feet of the oligarchs.

“Jared Kushner you vacuous dainty preening overpromoted nub of mediocrity, squeezed like an entitled smear of toothpaste into a silk suit bought with tear-stained dollars wrung out of the suffering tenants of your slum apartments.

“Ivanka Trump you monstrous slug of vanity, you infantile ninny so marinaded in self-regard that in your pea brain you believe we ought to love you for your crimes.

“Mike Pompeo, you bubble, you booby, you flatulent zero, that roiling in your ample guts that you mistake for world shaking significance is just the acid reflux of irrelevancy.

“Don Junior, you scabrous single-nostriled unloved elephant-murdering human wreckage, vibrating with bitterness and impotent rage at all the opportunities you’ve squandered.

“Interlude: all you staffers and interns, so eager to crunch your way in your shiny new work shoes over the bodies of the poor and powerless, I smite you and cast you out one by one.

“Eric Trump, you pallid clammy suppurating nocturnal semi-human grub, your absence of charisma is your only notable trait and the act of flushing you from memory will so be smooth and painless that in a month people will find it hard to picture your moon face.

“Rudy Giuliani, you capering cartoonish skull-faced bag of graft and corruption, too stupid even to ask who’s pulling your strings just so long as you can cake your crusty face in tv make-up and clack your jaw at a camera.

“And of course Stephen Miller, you weeping pustule upon the social body, you dreg, you homunculus, you noxious slime felched from the gaping cavity of Jim Crow, one day may you find yourself walking barefoot across hot sand, desperate for water, crying for your missing child.

“With that I'll rest a while, and go to find a street corner to dance on."

Hari Kunzru

JARED SHADOW COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM

Posted this information earlier, ZERO WAS DONE, ACCOUNTABILITY NOW, CORRUPTION IN PLAIN SIGHT

PURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST with Jared’s SHADOW COVID-19 response team lead by penny pence this OCCURRED WHEN jared was allowed to recruit PRIVATE EQUITY EXECUTIVES AND HEALTHCARE PROFITEER’S WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC WAS NEVER INFORMED, the White House/ trumpER 45 never revealed these fats to the public?

These Crimes hidden from hardworking American taxpayers by trumpER 45, jared and pence...FACTS TRUTH MUST LEARN NOWas CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CONTINUES KILLING.

jared former ROOMMATE Adam Boehner, a private equity and venture capital bro who was a deputy to SEEMA VERMA (of MEDICAID CO-PAY INFAMY) before taking charge of the

International Development Finance Corporation. Boehler’s replacement Brad Smith also on the jared team. SMITH, like Boehner, made it big as an entrepreneur by building a home- based palliative CARE COMPANY, which got him a COO job at an ANTHEM SUBDIVISION.

Last of the jared team was Andy Slavitt head of Obama’s center for MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES. Slavitt’s $115 venture capital has AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT SUM OF MONEYS IN BOEHLER’S old firm Landmark Health.

We were arrested

 

There we were, on the steps of Capitol Hill chanting, “What do we want? Climate Justice! When do we want it? Now!” And when we would not back down from our protest, we were whisked away by police officers. It wasn’t a surprise, as Jane had been arrested several times during previous Fire Drill Friday protests for doing the same thing, but this was our first time taking direct action together. And I’ll tell you what, it was worth it to shed light on the climate emergency we are in. It's a privilege for us to choose to put our bodies on the line and use our fame to draw the much-needed attention to the climate crisis.  When you give today, you’ll be fighting for a Green New Deal to mobilize our government and every sector of the economy to tackle the overlapping crises of climate change, inequality, and structural racism at the scale and speed our communities require. You'll fight to protect vital ecosystems, the oceans and forests vital to cooling the planet and sheltering so many of its inhabitants. And you’ll be fighting for a world beyond fossil fuels while creating millions of family-sustaining, union jobs, that prioritize justice and equity for working people and communities of color on the frontlines of climate disaster and fossil fuel exploitation, so the clean energy transformation leaves nobody behind. Clearly, we have our work cut out for us. But with you by our side, we know we can overcome the challenges before us. This matching gift opportunity is incredible, but the seven to one match can go EVEN FURTHER when you make a monthly gift today. When you join Greenpeace as a monthly supporter, you’ll become part of a millions-strong global community of people working around the clock to protect the planet we all depend on. Sincerely, Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda Actors, Activists and Friends Greenpeace 702 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 | 1-800-722-6995   Greenpeace Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(4) organization. As a result of our effective work for new environmental policies, contributions are not tax-deductible.

Mass. House overrides Gov. Charlie Baker abortion bill veto

By Chris Lisinski State House News Service 

Published Dec 28, 2020 

Lawmakers are on the verge of expanding access to abortion in Massachusetts over objections from Gov. Charlie Baker about sections of their proposal involving minors seeking the procedure and abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

With most House Democrats banding together, the House voted 107-46 on Monday to override the Republican governor's Christmas Eve veto of legislation (H 5179) reforming reproductive rights.

The Senate adjourned Monday afternoon without tackling the matter, but plans to take up the bill today, when it is expected to complete the override after voting several times in recent weeks to advance the bill.

If the Senate follows suit as expected, state law would codify abortion rights, make abortions more accessible to 16- and 17-year-olds and allow the procedure after 24 weeks of pregnancy in some cases.

The bill is based on measures that had strong support throughout the 2019-2020 session from members in both branches, but gained traction only after this year's elections and during lame-duck sessions on Beacon Hill.

For most of the two-year session, legislation referred to as the ROE Act sat before the Judiciary Committee untouched after a lengthy and heated hearing.

Bill supporters raised the pressure to act on reproductive rights at the state level after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September and the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, widely viewed as a step that could jeopardize the precedent set in Roe v. Wade.

The legislation will enshrine abortion rights in state law, which backers argue is a crucial protection if the court changes any protections granted under Roe v. Wade, and will allow abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases with a fatal fetal anomaly.

It will also lower the age, from 18 to 16, at which individuals can seek an abortion without first receiving the consent of a parent or a judge.

Supporters have said the existing threshold of 18 forces some teenagers, who can legally consent to sex once they reach 16, either to face a potentially unsupportive family or the stigmatizing experience of going to court in order to get permission for an abortion.

Baker said he supported several sections of the bill, including reforms to the judicial bypass system and eliminating the 24-hour waiting period for an abortion, but he bristled at reducing the age of consent by two years and sought more restrictive language around abortions after 24 weeks.

"I cannot support the sections of this proposal that expand the availability of late-term abortions and permit minors age 16 and 17 to get an abortion without the consent of a parent or guardian," he wrote.

His amendment would have scrapped lowering the age limit and would have changed the qualifying condition for an abortion after 24 weeks to when it is "necessary, in the best medical judgment of the physician, to preserve the patient's physical or mental health," rather than to "preserve the patient's physical or mental health" as lawmakers proposed.

Both branches rejected those suggested alterations, 107-50 in the House and 32-8 in the Senate. Baker in response vetoed the entire bill on Christmas Eve.

After voting to approve the language as an amendment to the fiscal 2021 budget — to reject Baker's amendment and to re-enact the original bill — representatives had little left to say about the proposal: with no introduction or debate, they voted 107-46 on Monday, surpassing the needed two-thirds majority to override.

Only one Republican, Rep. James Kelcourse of Amesbury, supported the proposal.

Sixteen Democrats cast votes against the override: Reps. Paul Donato, Brian Ashe, Linda Dean Campbell, Michael Finn, Colleen Garry, Russell Holmes, Christopher Markey, Joseph McGonagle, Paul McMurtry, Angelo Puppolo, David Robertson, John Rogers, Paul Schmid, Alan Silvia, RoseLee Vincent and Bud Williams.

Democrat Rep. Marcos Devers voted present, while Reps. Carole Fiola, David Nangle, Thomas Petrolati and Angelo Scaccia did not vote.

Baker's veto drew criticism from Democrats and reproductive rights activists.

"Charlie Baker's cowardice doesn't take a break for the holidays. Hoping that we would all be too busy to notice, Charlie Baker once again caved in to the extreme right wing of his Republican Party by vetoing critical abortion access provisions that would put our laws in line with neighboring states like Maine, New York and Connecticut," Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford said in response. "Charlie Baker is choosing to stand with right-wing extremists, instead of doctors, women and the vast majority of voters in Massachusetts."

Within Baker's own party, the timing of the veto was also noted.

"Gov. Baker correctly recognized that this legislation simply goes too far, and he should be applauded for standing up and saying 'no' to the abortion lobby," said Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Jim Lyons, with whom Baker has clashed in the past. "Gov. Baker's decision, made the day before millions celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, should send a message to the lawmakers that this legislation has no place in a humane society."

Massachusetts Citizens for Life said it mobilized thousands of people since Thanksgiving to pressure Baker.

"Kill the bill, not the baby!" said Fernando Limbo, a member of the group based in Revere. "Even our pro-choice governor can see the harm in this bill, and thank God for this Christmas Eve gift protecting life."

MASSterList: DeLeo’s legacy | Filibuster alert | Traveling blues: Today's sponsor - The New England HBPA

 

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This email may be cut off by your email provider. To see today's full MASSterList, click "View entire message" at the bottom, or view the online version here. By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan 12/29/2020 DeLeo’s legacy | Filibuster alert | Traveling blues   Keller at Large     Whaddaya wanna do, Marty?   In his latest Keller at Large on MassterList, Jon Keller finds it hard to believe Marty Walsh would give up his dream job of doing what he does best – making hands-on decisions as mayor of Boston – for a bureaucratic cabinet post in Washington. ... Note: Text of Jon’s commentary accompanies his podcast. Check it out! Keller at Large     Happening Today   DeLeo’s farewell, Senate session   -- Mass. Lottery Commission meets to hear an update on sales and the Lottery's plan to move its North Shore operations and retail center to Lawrence early in the new year, 10: 30 a.m. -- The House resumes its formal session with roll calls expected to start at 1 p.m., with House Speaker Roebert DeLeo planning to give a farewell address around 3:30 p.m. ahead of his official 6 p.m. resignation. -- The Massachusetts Senate meets in a full formal session without a calendar, 12: p.m. -- Robert DeLeo of Winthrop officially resigns as House speaker after nearly 12 years wielding the gavel, and simultaneously resigns as a House member after nearly three decades in office, 6 p.m. For the most comprehensive listing of calendar items, check out State House News Service’s Daily Advances (pay wall – free trial subscriptions available), as well as MassterList’s Beacon Hill Town Square below.         Today's News   Reminder to readers: SHNS Coronavirus Tracker available for free   A reminder to our readers as the coronavirus crisis unfolds: The paywalled State House News Service, which produces MASSterList, is making its full Coronavirus Tracker available to the community for free on a daily basis each morning via ML. SHNS Coronavirus Tracker.     The coronavirus numbers: 48 new deaths, 11,900 total deaths, 4,060 new cases   WCVB has the latest coronavirus numbers for Massachusetts.     Changing of the guard: DeLeo out, Mariano in   As expected, Robert DeLeo, the longest-serving House speaker in state history, will officially resign today as head of the chamber and as a state representative, clearing the way for state Rep. Ron Mariano to become the next speaker. SHNS’s Matt Murphy (pay wall) and the Globe’s Matt Stout and Andreas Estes have more on the end of the DeLeo era and expected start of the Mariano reign. Meanwhile, MassLive’s Steph Solis reports that state Rep. Russell Holmes yesterday officially dropped his bid for speaker as it became all too obvious that Mariano had the votes.         DeLeo’s legacy: Centralized power but lots of results   GBH’s Mike Deehan and CommonWealth’s Michael Jonas have good pieces this morning on outgoing House Speaker Robert’s DeLeo’s legacy at the State House. Sure, his secretive, control-freak leadership style centralized decision making, suffocated debate and infuriated opponets. But he did get the job done, as WBZ’s Jon Keller notes, and delivered a “string of impressive accomplishments rightly praised by liberals, while curbing some of the left’s riskier instincts.”     Progressives, you have only yourselves to blame   The Globe’s Joan Vennochi has had it with progressives bemoaning the pending election of yet another septuagenarian white guy to lead the Massachusetts House. Progressives had their chance two years ago to promote diversity in House leadership – and they chose political purity over political pragmatism instead, she writes. She does have a point, right? And progressives recently had yet another chance to promote diversity by backing Russell Holmes as the next speaker. Many went with Ron Mariano. And the rest, as they say, is history. Boston Globe     Sponsored The return of thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts would create as many as 1000 jobs. It would provide tax revenue to the Commonwealth and preserve our historic agricultural and horse breeding culture. For more than 85 years, the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has advanced the sport of horseracing and the preservation of our rural way of life. Please support Sports Betting at a Racetrack Facility with an Online Mobile App. Help restore thoroughbred racing with NO taxpayer support.     Lawmakers poised to override Baker’s veto of abortion-access bill   The Massachusetts House yesterday narrowly voted to override Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of legislation that would expand abortion access in Massachusetts – and the Senate today is expected to follow suit. The Herald’s Erin Tiernan and SHNS’s Chris Lisinski (pay wall) have more.     Filibuster alert: Sanders and Markey vow to block defense bill override until $2,000 checks are included   U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey think they’ve found a way to get $2,000 stimulus checks to most Americans: Holding a defense bill hostage until Senate Republicans agree to pass the relief payments. Sanders is even threatening to filibuster a planned override vote on the defense bill. Politico’s Burgess Everett and the Globe’s Shannon Larson have more.     Good news: Turns out Mass. workers won’t miss jobless payments   Here’s some good news for a change: Contrary to prior media reports, the Globe’s Larry Edelman writes that unemployed workers in Massachusetts will not have to forgo any weekly benefits as a result of President Trump’s tardy signing of the $900 billion stimulus-relief package. Edelman explains. Boston Globe         Christmas travel surge: ‘We are in for a very long January’   WCVB’s Julie Loncich and the Globe’s Travis Andersen report on the apparent spike in travel, nationally and locally, before and after the Christmas holiday, despite repeated pleas for people to stay home during the holiday. The probable result: ‘Surge upon surge’ (Globe).     Non-frontline health-care workers: Suddenly, they’re at the front of the lines when it comes to vaccinations   WBUR’s Gabrielle Emanuel has an update on how the vaccination rollout is unfolding at hospitals across the state and nation – and how many health-care workers regularly exposed to COVID-19 aren’t always getting shots while those with little or no exposure have managed to receive vaccinations. The same phenomenon is happening across society, it should be noted. WBUR     Sponsored The pandemic has tragically demonstrated that terminally ill Massachusetts residents need access to all end-of-life care options, including medical aid in dying, to peacefully end unbearable suffering. Lawmakers must pass the End of Life Options Act without delay. Visit CompassionAndChoices.org/Massachusetts for more.     Nantucket’s ‘Lord of the Flies’   The severe coronavirus outbreak on Nantucket hasn’t exactly brought out the best in some residents living on one of the nation’s richest resort islands, according to Erin Banco at Yahoo News. Yahoo News     Now they tell us: Disinfecting surfaces really doesn’t matter much   After stuffing our kitchen-sink cabinet with lord knows how many household cleaners and disinfectants, now they tell us that cleaning surfaces doesn’t really matter during the pandemic? NPR’s Patti Neighmond has more at GBH on what scientists are now saying about cleaning and re-cleaning all those surfaces in your home. At least we can now call off our search for the Holy Grail of Hoarding: Formula 409. GBH     Way back rollback? Salem Board of Health may shutter indoor dining   The only question may be: How far back? The Salem Board of Health is meeting Wednesday to consider rolling back to tougher local Covid-19 restrictions -- and completely banning indoor dining is among the options now on the table, Dustin Luca at the Salem News and Guthrie Scrimgeour at the Lynn Item report.          Coronavirus updates: Nursing-home vaccinations, state nabs millions to fight pandemic, Cardinal O’Malley gets his shot   Another busy day on the coronavirus front, so here goes with some quick summaries and headlines, starting with Tori Bedford at GBH: “Mass. Will Get Millions For COVID Testing, Vaccines In Stimulus.” ... From SHNS’s Katie Lannan (pay wall): “’Day of Hope’ as Vaccines Arrive in Long-Term Care Facilities.” ... From MassLive’s Steph Solis: “In Massachusetts, retired teacher Shirley Nolan is first to get COVID vaccine at Benjamin Healthcare Center in Boston.” ... From CommonWealth's Bruce Mohl: “Sudders finally feeling hopeful.” ... From CBS Boston: “Cardinal O’Malley Gets COVID Vaccine, Encourages ‘All People To Be Vaccinated.’”     Coming next year: Minimum wage hike and family leave act   MassLive’s Jim Kinney is looking ahead to 2021, not looking back at 2020, and reports on major labor-market changes that take effect on Friday in Massachusetts, including a minimum wage hike to $13.50 an hour and implementation of the state’s landmark family and medical leave act. MassLive     Springfield church fire likely set, may be a hate crime, officials say   Springfield officials say a fire in the Martin Luther King Community Presbyterian Church may have been intentionally set -- and could be a hate crime, Patrick Johnson at MassLive and Naomi Martin at the Globe report. A $5,000 reward is being offered for tips leading to an arrest and officials say at least three other suspicious fires were reported in the area over the weekend.          Cancel culture update: Did Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ get banned in Lawrence?   Normally, a pundit’s musings on the culture wars doesn’t attract our attention much. But when the musings are prominently splashed across the Drudge Report and involve a Lawrence teacher allegedly bragging about banning Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ in classes, well, it gets our attention. Here’s the WSJ column (pay wall) that started it all and the Lawrence teacher’s denial that Homer has been banned in Lawrence.     To honor or not to honor: A decorated Marine’s dying wish to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. But there’s a catch …   It’s one of the most-read stories at the Globe this morning, Shelley Murphy’s report on the dying wish of a decorated Marine, wounded during the Vietnam War, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The catch: Joe Labriola, 75, who died this summer, was a convicted killer and his sentence needs to be posthumously commuted by state officials before he can be buried at Arlington.  Boston Globe     Local option: Greenfield may consider ranked choice voting in 2021   They’re kicking the tires. Greenfield’s Charter Review Committee is considering proposing that the city switch to ranked-choice voting for municipal elections, saying the current preliminary election approach isn’t working as designed. Anita Fritz at the Greenfield Recorder reports city voters backed the failed statewide referendum on ranked-choice voting by 55 to 45 percent in November.  Greenfield Recorder     Pay dirt: Public records push confirms Southborough Town Hall theft   He was right. A Southborough resident’s public records request has resulted in the release of a police report that confirmed what he suspected all along: That a former recreational department employee was fired after using a town credit card for personal expenses. Alison Bosma at MetroWest Daily reports that the worker was not criminally charged and that the money has been recovered.  MetroWest Daily News         Today's Headlines   Metro   Boston Arts Venues Cheer Stimulus Bill, But It's Too Late For Some - WBUR Developers plan Quincy apartment tower near Neponset River - Boston Business Journal   Massachusetts   Tapestry’s needle exchange program marks 25 years in Northampton - Daily Hampshire Gazette Number of Cape Cod Hospital patients with Covid-19 soars - Cape Cod Times Salem cancels Christmas tree bonfire - Salem News   Nation   New York lawmakers approve sweeping eviction moratorium - Politico Senate GOP faces stimulus dilemma as Democrats side with Trump - Bloomberg       Jobs   Reach MASSterList's 22,000 Beacon Hill connected and policy-minded subscribers with your job postings. Have friends interested in one of these positions? Forward the newsletter to them! Contact David Art at dart@massterlist.com or call 617-992-8253 for more information.   Recent postings to the MASSterList Job Board:   Executive Director - new!, Asian American Commission (AAC) Program Manager VI, Department of Housing and Community Development Executive Director, Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators Vice President (Labor Communications), 617MediaGroup Diversity and Inclusion Manager, City of Brockton Director of Membership, Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education Finance & Operations Manager, NAIOP Massachusetts   To view more events or post an event listing on Beacon Hill Town Square, please visit events.massterlist.com. Beacon Hill Town Square   Jan. 5, 6 p.m. The Struggle for Freedom: Patriots of Color at Bunker Hill Hosted by: Boston Public Library and the National Park Service   The American Revolution was an era-changing historical earthquake, but little told is the role of people of color in the struggle for independence. More Information     Jan. 12, 2 p.m. Breathless in Boston: An Exploration of Lung Function in the Era of COVID-19 with Dr. Christopher Fanta, MD Hosted by: Boston Public Library and Beacon Hill Village   Join the Boston Public Library in partnership with Beacon Hill Village for this online program. Dr. Fanta will take us on a tour of how our lungs work in health and disease, including strategies to keep our lungs healthy and strong throughout our lives. Dr. Fanta will discuss several issues relating to the lungs including the special effects of COVID-19 on lung function. More Information     Jan. 13, 6 p.m. The New Administration: Opportunities and Challenges Hosted by: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum   Panelists including Lisa Lerer, reporter at the New York Times, and Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and CNN Political Analyst, discuss opportunities and challenges for the incoming administration as well as reflections on the significance of the Biden-Harris victory in 2020 elections. NBC News Correspondent Harry Smith moderates. More Information     Jan. 14, 9 a.m. Recover Boston: The Road Ahead - Economic Issues in 2021 Hosted by: Boston Business Journal   As the country looks ahead at the days when a vaccine will be available to wider parts of the community and as a new administration gains its foothold in Washington, D.C., a distinguished panel of business leaders will discuss the issues they're expecting in 2021. What will economic recovery look like in Greater Boston? How will businesses move forward safely? More Information     Jan. 14, 1 p.m. Making a Ruckus: Volunteer Managers as Activists for Change Hosted by: VolunteerNow   Explore strategies to create a new path forward for volunteer engagement in your organization in these changing times. VolunteerNow is collaborating with TVMC to offer free professional development webinars to provide guidance, networking and practical ideas to help you move forward during these challenging times. Upon registration you will receive instructions to join the webinar via WebinarJAM. More Information     Jan. 14, 2 p.m. A League of Their Own: The Future of Network Partnerships Hosted by: Verizon   Verizon is unveiling the 5G network's potential for venues with features like real-time access to video highlights, screening of multiple angles, instant updated stats and fantasy scores on players, and immersive fan experiences. Having just been named the official technology partner of the NHL, Verizon is paving the way for the future of network partnerships. More Information     Jan. 14, 2 p.m. How to Pivot Your Small Business During Covid-19 Hosted by: Virtual Minority Small Business Conference and Expo   The Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for small businesses in the Boston area and all over the country. Consumer habits have changed and small businesses have to be able to adapt to the new dynamic. Join Beth Ann Dahan, Project Manager for COVID Business Recovery as she shares ways that you can pivot your small business and survive during difficult times. More Information     Jan. 15, 2 p.m. How to Pivot Your Small Business During Covid-19 Hosted by: Virtual Minority Small Business Conference and Expo   The Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for small businesses in the Boston area and all over the country. Consumer habits have changed and small businesses have to be able to adapt to the new dynamic. Join Beth Ann Dahan, Project Manager for COVID Business Recovery at CWE as she shares ways that you can pivot your small business and survive during difficult times. More Information     Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m. 2021 Economic Outlook Hosted by: Boston Business Journal and CIBC Commercial Banking   Join the Boston Business Journal and CIBC for an expert look at the latest information concerning global, national and regional trends impacting the economy. The 2021 Economic Outlook will offer unique access to economic insights from world-class experts and professionals to help translate economic trends into competitive intelligence to grow your business and find opportunity in the coming year. More Information     Jan. 25, 6 p.m. Human Trafficking 101 Hosted by: The Key2Free   The Key2Free is committed to education and increased awareness with the goal of preventing trafficking before it starts. Across all states, victims of sex trafficking are enslaved every day through force, fraud, or coercion. Together, we can call attention to and fight the shocking realities of the injustice happening right here in our communities. More Information   How to Contact MASSterList     For advertising questions and Beacon Hill Town Square submissions, please email: dart@massterlist.com. For Happening Today calendar and press release submissions, please email: news@statehousenews.com. For editorial matters, please email: editorial@massterlist.com.   MASSterList, 568 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02482