Matthieu returns to boost your immune system with booster news and one of America's biggest retailers is closing stores in urban areas--and not because of climate change or online shopping...
My mom returned home yesterday after two weeks of hospitalization and physical therapeutics. In case you missed my last post, my mother broke her leg, and I’ve been away from home helping my parents through this family emergency for the past two weeks. I have a few more things to do here, but I’m returning home this weekend, and I feel like I can begin to get back to my ‘stack now. :)
I appreciate all the well wishes and I want to come up with something special for those who remained paid subscribers during my two-week absence.
Two weeks isn’t long; however, after getting four to six posts per week, that abrupt change scared away a few folks—not many, just a few—and I want to express my gratitude to loyal readers like you.
So, since you are still here, let’s get back to news snooping—sound good?
I just came across this today—a study showing how Covid vaccine takers generally are using more sick days at work. The numbers rise with each successive booster shot:
Overall, the boosters resulted in 27.9% of the entire sample taking at least one day off of work. Of 21 participants who received AstraZeneca for their first dose, fully 11, or 52%, landed on sick leave. Moderna was also clearly worse than the BioNTech-determined average, sending 106 of 255, or 46%, of participants who received it as their third dose home for recovery.
The broader subset of healthcare workers who took medication to relieve post-vaccination symptoms paints the same picture. By the third dose, the vast majority of everyone in the sample (86%) were taking drugs to relieve the acute symptoms of the jabs:
The gender breakdown is interesting: Males were less likely to take medication after the first and second doses (16.6% vs. 24% and 31.5% vs. 49.6% respectively), but by the third dose this gender difference disappeared. Men were consistently less likely to take sick leave after every dose, however.
The authors conclude that “COVID-19 vaccination has a non-negligible impact on the staff availability in the health sector” and that it is likely the enhanced immune response to each subsequent jab that is responsible for the escalating symptoms. We’re looking only at acute, immediate reactions to vaccination here – not at injuries or other more serious adverse events. The results of the study are clearly confirmed by the overwhelming disinclination of the general public to accept further vaccination after the booster campaign. Even when everything goes right, the vaccines make a lot of people feel sick, and the effect grows more pervasive and more powerful with each successive jab.
About a month ago, we looked at some troubling economic news here in the States.
So that’s why today’s news from Target isn’t surprising—what IS surprising is that it took them this long to respond.
Target said Tuesday that it will close nine stores in major cities across the country, citing violence, theft and organized retail crime.
The company will close one store in New York City's Harlem neighborhood, two locations in Seattle, three stores in the San Francisco-Oakland area and three more in Portland, Oregon. The discounter said it will shutter the stores for good on Oct. 21.
"We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests and contributing to unsustainable business performance. We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all." — Target press release
Target’s announcement reflects a significant economic crisis that snuck up on us. Let me explain…
We’ve all seen social media videos of smash-and-grab robberies done by flash mobs or just some random individual walking into a store and taking things without paying. We’ve come across many of these videos—yet I think we’ve all underestimated how much retail store theft affects us ALL economically.
Massive retail theft is a serious problem that is hurting businesses and harming consumers with higher prices, unsafe shopping environments, and now store closures.
Bezos must be laughing his butt off right now. Amazon will only continue to grow.
And did you notice which cities will be losing their Target stores? We know San Francisco is a disaster these days. Portland is also a mess. And hearing that Target will be fleeing from Seattle and New York is not surprising.
All four cities are run by a particular Party that begins with a D. That’s just a fact. Leadership? People living in those cities would love some sane leadership right about now.
Once you know the actual levels of retail store theft in America (HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of DOLLARS), those crazy videos of store theft are not just magnifying a few shoplifters out there. The U.S. has an economic plight on its hands—a dire issue worsening from rampant theft, and it’s seriously affecting us all.
Good to hear that Mom - and you - are home.
Yet, 75% Mom, 25% Stack.
🙏
Prayers sent for your Mom.