The RIGHT Side Of The Bed

COVID-19 Snapshot

As cases ratchet up, we’ll be turning our focus to COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU capacity to monitor how the healthcare system is coping.

• Across the U.S., ICU bed capacity currently sits at ~64%. For context, average U.S. ICU bed capacity was estimated at 68% from 2005 to 2007 (the most recent data we could find).
• In Florida, at least 56 hospital intensive care units have reached capacity (up from 43 yesterday). Across the state, about 16% of ICU beds are available. Check out your state.
• Major virus news from yesterday: The Ivy League announced the cancellation of all fall sports.

Supreme Court Upholds Birth Control Exemptions

The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s broad exemptions to the Affordable Care Act’s birth control mandate on Wednesday. The 7-2 ruling grants religious exemptions to a wider range of employers who object to offering contraceptives as part of their health coverage for moral or religious reasons.

Great Firewall Of China Descends Over Hong Kong

At midnight on Tuesday, the Great Firewall of China - the system that governs and censors the country’s internet - was put in place over Hong Kong. On Wednesday, China inaugurated its new HK national security headquarters, housed in the former Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay.

Follow-up: In the ‘Central Park Karen’ case we covered Tuesday, Black birdwatcher Christian Cooper has declined to cooperate with police, presenting a potential challenge to Amy Cooper’s prosecution.

The Coronavirus Effect

• United Airlines is expected to furlough 36,000 of its employees (~45% of domestic workers). The decision will be finalized in August and go into effect Oct. 1 - the first day permitted by terms of the $25B gov’t bailout.
• Brooks Brothers filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. The company operates ~250 stores in North America.
• Bed Bath & Beyond will close 200 stores over the next two years as it reported a 50% decrease in sales for Q2.

Status Update

An external civil rights audit commissioned two years ago by Facebook - and released yesterday - found that the company has not done enough to protect its users from discrimination, falsehoods, and incitement to violence. Among other things, the audit cites Facebook’s decision not to hold politicians accountable to its fact-check program as a specific failure in the company’s policies.

More: Separately, Facebook suspended a network of social media accounts connected to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro it said were used to spread misinformation.

Even More: The company also removed more than 100 social media accounts and pages with links to Trump associate Roger Stone and the far-right Proud Boys movement for posting misinformation.

Coming Soon: Loon Balloons

Alphabet-owned Loon launched its first internet-delivery balloons in Africa following a deal with the Kenyan government. Its "floating network of cell towers" aims to provide internet coverage to 19,000 sq. miles in western and central parts of the country.

More: One internet speed test of the service reportedly demonstrated download and upload speeds of 18.9 Mbps and 4.74 Mbps, respectively.

School Of Hard Knocks

Rehan Staton of Bowie, MD, was only eight years old when his mother left his father, throwing his family into financial insecurity. As a result of the stressors at home, Rehan began to perform poorly in his academics, focusing instead on boxing to relieve his emotional turmoil. When a shoulder injury prevented him from pursuing the sport beyond graduation, the troubled teen began working as a sanitation worker.

This summer, the 24-year-old Rehan was accepted into Harvard Law School after graduating as an Honor Roll student from the University of Maryland. Rehan, who was inspired to pursue higher education by his colleagues at the sanitation agency, hopes to provide college counseling and LSAT tutoring to other young people in need.

You CAN Dance At Two Weddings

From balmy weather to timely caterers to stainless dresses, mothers want everything to go smoothly on their daughters’ wedding days. When the mother of one bride - Jodi Damrow of Holdrege, NE - witnessed a car accident on the way to the wedding ceremony last week, she went above and beyond to make the day a success.

Jodi, an ER nurse with over 35 years of experience, entered the wreck and performed triage on a woman injured in the two-car pileup, keeping her airway open and calling a helicopter to the scene. The marvelous mom, who wore a long gown for the duration of the heroic encounter, made it to her daughter’s wedding with 10 minutes to spare.

Come Sail Away

After Garry Crothers of County Londonderry, Ireland, lost his left arm in a motorcycle accident in 2008, he became heavily involved in sailing. He began to train out at sea with an organization that provides opportunities to people with disabilities. Thus, when pandemic began, the 64-year-old enjoyed the fruits of his labor by lounging in a yacht off the coast of a Caribbean island.

Despite the cancellation of all flights back to Ireland, Garry was determined to return home, sailing 4,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean over 37 days. The monumental mariner was greeted by a warm welcome upon arrival in his hometown, receiving commendations from friends, family, and even the mayor.

Have You Tried Adding Chiles to Your Diet?

Chile peppers give life to so many dishes that we all love. Capsaicin is a naturally occurring chemical in peppers that protects them from hungry and curious critters in the wild. It does not, however, protect them from adventurous humans – and it shouldn’t. Cultures that eat spicier foods have long been known to live longer, and there are many healthful properties in peppers that explain this. Why? Go check out our blog and find out!

Who is Don Juan Chiles?

Don Juan Vizcarra, or the Don, was the patriarch of the Vizcarra family. For over 25 years, Don Juan Chiles has channeled the Don’s spirit through high quality Chiles, Spices, Herbs, and Teas. We hope to take your dishes to the next level with bold flavor and high-quality ingredients. You can learn more by visiting our site or checking out our Instagram and Facebook.

The health benefits of chiles
This week, we dove into the positive health benefits chiles can bring to your diet.

If your meals are lacking that kick of spice that drives what we do here at Don Juan Chiles, we would love for you to try one of our world class dried peppers to see what chiles can do for your next meal.

Take 10% off your entire order and FREE shipping on our website with the code “DONUT”.

Heat things up and try adding chiles to your diet this summer.

¡Provecho!