Skimm’d with a backup plan
November 15, 2021
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Quote of the Day

"A bit unbelievable" – A woman, who set a world record after running 95 marathons in 95 days. *Stares at treadmill.*

Warning Signs

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The Story

Europe is at the epicenter of COVID-19. Again.

How?

On Friday, the WHO said that Europe had nearly 2 million coronavirus cases in a single week – the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic. And found that virus-related deaths have also gone up 10% there – even as they drop or remain the same almost everywhere else in the world. Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria are breaking their own infection records. The delta variant is driving numbers up – and many are pointing the finger at unvaxxed Europeans for the rise in cases. Some countries are now looking to bring back restrictions. But Austria’s saying ‘we don’t have time to wait.’ 

Tell me more. 

Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe (65%). That's still about 5% more than the US. But vaccine hesitancy – apparently fueled by Austria's far-right Freedom Party – is making it difficult to get the rest on board. Now, the gov wants to take matters into its own hands. Starting today, it's enforcing a national lockdown – for the unvaccinated only. Some 2 million unvaccinated Austrians ages 12 and up will be restricted from leaving their homes except for groceries and doctor's visits. Those who don’t follow the rules could be fined. The gov says the move is "necessary" amid the rise in cases. The far-right sees it as treating unvaccinated people as second-class citizens.

Will other countries do the same?

It’s unclear. But health experts say the rise in cases in Europe could be a warning sign. About 60% of the US population is fully vaxxed – a number even lower than some European countries already dealing with thousands of new daily cases. Meanwhile, those like Spain and Portugal who have vaccination rates above 80% haven’t had a major surge. But the combo of low vaccination rates, waning immunity among the vaxxed, and relaxed restrictions has health experts around the world concerned. (Cue the convo on booster shots.)  

theSkimm

Europe’s setback is a reminder of the pandemic’s fragile state. And that even if many people are vaxxed, it'll take a larger effort to get the world back to any sort of normal.

And Also...This

What didn’t rise to the occasion...

COP26.On Saturday, nearly 200 countriesreached a climate dealafter negotiationsstretched into overtime.Diplomats and world leaders gathered in Glasgow, Scotland,in a last-ditch attempt to stop climate change. But after two weeks,it looks like they didn’t understand the assignment. In the 11th-hour of negotiations, India and China weakened provisions on fossil fuels.Now, govs have agreed to “phase down”not “phase out”coal –the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions.To follow through on their promise to givepoorer countries$100 billion to fight climate change. And to circle back at the end of 2022 with bigger promises to cut emissions.

  • The reviews are in: The UN said the conference fell short of expectations – especially without a commitment to cutgreenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.But others like the US (historically the world's No. 1 greenhouse gas emitter) are saying ‘hey better than nothing, right?’

Who people are remembering…

Indigenous kids.Researcherssaid they discovered the names of102Native American studentswho diedat a federal boardingschoolin Nebraska.From 1884to 1934, the Genoa Indian Industrial Schoolreportedly served as one of 25federally-run boarding schools in the US. Their purpose: to assimilateNative Americanchildrenand erase their cultural identities. Students at these schools faced violence, abuse, disease, and death.Now, researchers say they’ve used newspaper archives to identify dozens of them. But that it’s likely a vast undercount.It comes as state officials are still working to find the school’s cemetery. 

  • Dark histories: The discovery comes as other countries like Canadaand Australia have had to reckon with their treatment of Indigenous and Aboriginal youth.And as Interior SecDeb Haalandhas launched a review into deaths in US schools. Findings from that investigation are expected in April.

Who got what she wants, what she needs...

Britney Spears. On Friday,a Los Angeles judge ended the pop star’s 13-year conservatorship.Since 2008, Britney’s dad, Jamie Spears, has controlled much of her personal life on issues related to her career, health, and finances. Since last year, the pop star has pleaded for her father to be removed from the conservatorship. And in September,a judge suspended her dadas a conservator.Now, the court’s completely shredded the agreement.And said the singer doesn’t need to undergo a mental health evaluation (something that a judge can require). Read: Britney’s free to live her life. The judge’s decision is a big win for the #FreeBritney movement and especially for Britney. But it also shined a light on the judicial process of conservatorships and guardianships in the US, where there's an estimated 1.3 million cases. The singer thanked her fans for their support, adding "#FreedBritney."

Who you may want to check out…

Taylor and Taylor.

Merry and Bright-Eyed

Gift shopping. Cookie making. Celebration hopping. The holidays are full of fun...but they’re also a lot. Enter: Thrive Causemetics’ clean, nourishing, 100% vegan makeup and skincare. It’ll help you look merry and bright-eyed no matter how much you’ve got going on. Aaand makes for great presents and stocking stuffers. Think:

Plus, for every product purchased, Thrive Causemetics donates to nonprofits helping women thrive. Oh, and Skimm’rs get 15% off.

On theSkimm Screen

The remote wilderness might seem like a nice alternative to the high school cafeteria. But it can get real dark real fast. See for yourself thanks to Showtime’s new show:

“Yellowjackets”

It’s...part survival epic, part psychological horror, and part coming-of-age drama. 

And...it doesn’t just show the girls going primal after their hs soccer team’s plane crashes. It also shows the women 25 years later as they try to make sure what happened in the wild, stays in the wild.

Plus...you’ll see familiar faces. Like Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis. 

Psst...the first ep premiered last night. Stream it ASAP here. Then keep your cal open every Sunday night. ‘Cause you won’t wanna wait.

Skimm Picks

1. Soft essentials from your fave sock brand. Stay warm from head to toe with this brand’s holiday collection. They’ve got colorful shirts, underwear and slippers designed to keep you niiiiice and warm. Sans overheating. Plus Skimm’rs get 20% off their first purchase. Sweet.*

2. A subscription you need if you’re trying to go green(er). Proud o’ you. This toilet paper is made with 100% bamboo. And not the 27K trees cut down daily for other TP. Plus it comes in plastic-free packaging. Here’s 30% off and free shipping.*

3. Comfy, cute essentials that are designed to move and groove with ya. No matter the temp. Athleta’s cold weather gear makes great gifts...even if you want something for you, from you. Think: insanely soft compression tights, plush sweats, and lightweight outerwear. Shop now.*

4. A new kind of health and wellness platform. That does all the heavy-lifting (pun intended) for ya. Noom uses a psych-based approach to help you build healthier habits. The kind that’ll actually stick. And it all starts with this free quiz. Get in on it.*

5. Kitchen must-haves for Thanksgiving dinner. Bird day is around the corner. Reach your highest home-chef potential with this silicone baking set, a handy meat thermometer, and a turkey baster set. Oh, and for even more cooking essentials, check out our Amazon storefront.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

PPS: Check out our selection of the best holiday gifts for everyone on your list.

Skimm'rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Brewing support...Randy H (WI). He’s honoring veterans this month with Village Roasters LLC. A portion of each Heroic Roast coffee blend sold will go to De Pere VFW Post 2113 and the Old Glory Honor Flight. Learn more. 

Shine bright...Bethany F (NC) and Hope F (UT). They’re a mother-daughter duo who are using their experience with depression and anxiety to encourage people to get mental health help. They just launched Collecting Stars, a blog and subscription box service. Check it out. 

(Some) Birthdays...Dan Mason (WA), Lee Pepper (NY), Patricia Climaco (CA), John Reese (IL), Sue Hurley (IL), Trisha Engelman (NY), Caryn Bregman (NJ), Luciana Allegra (IL), Maggie Rufe (IA), Marisa Simmons (GA), Elizabeth Marino (NY), Brett Chinn (CA), Jillian Kurtz  (MN), Nellie Dubin (NJ), Beth Rankin (TX )

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Skimm More

Emily Ratajkowski is a household name. (Even if it’s a little hard to say.) Last week on “9 to 5ish,” she told us about the lack of protection in the modeling industry, her new collection of essays, and more.

And if you’re looking for other smart ways to spend your time...

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Skimm’d by Rashaan Ayesh, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain

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