A6 THE BULLETIN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021
Vaccine
DEAR ABBY
Continued from A5
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I recently
moved from the U.S. to
Germany. It has been a big
change, and I honestly don’t
know how to handle it. A lot
of the kids at school make
fun of me and call me names.
My family plans to stay
here another two years. My
parents say that when/if we
move back to the United
States, we won’t return to our
hometown. I find this very
hard to accept because it was
the only home I’ve known. I
tried asking them if I could
live with a friend there, but
they always brush me off.
I don’t want my family to
worry about me since my
mom is working hard going
back to college, but keeping
my feelings bottled up inside
seems like the wrong choice.
Should I tell them honestly
how I feel or keep crying into
my pillow every night?
— Lost and Depressed
Dear Lost: Crying in your
pillow every night isn’t pro-
ductive. You should tell your
parents everything you are
experiencing — that you are
being bullied at school and
made to feel you don’t fit in,
and that you miss your old
hometown terribly. They
might want to consult with
the school administrator
about it.
Geographical distance
does not mean you must lose
relationships forever. While
moving back to the town you
left may not be practical, you
can keep in touch with your
friends online and may even-
tually be able to visit them.
Dear Abby: A beautiful
flower arrangement was de-
livered to me at my home
today. While on the phone, I
told my friend about the gift
and mentioned that my two
cats wouldn’t leave it alone.
She said, “I hope there aren’t
any lilies in it!” There were,
Abby — white oriental lil-
ies. I Googled it and discov-
ered they are poisonous to
cats, although not to other
animals. When I called the
florist, they claimed not to
know. Thought your readers
should!
— Loves My Felines
Dear Loves: I agree. And
thank you for sharing that
information. I learned from
my own Google search that
lilies are not the only flowers
that are poisonous for pets.
Azaleas, daffodils, amaryl-
lis, chrysanthemums, tulips,
oleander, hyacinth, English
ivy, sago palm, cyclamen, au-
tumn crocus, widow’s thrill,
hydrangea, aloe vera, cala-
dium, pothos, philodendron,
lily of the valley, castor bean,
poinsettia, asparagus fern,
peace lily and corn plants can
be lethal, as well. Kitty lovers,
be warned!
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
õ õ õ õ õ DYNAMIC | õ õ õ õ POSITIVE | õ õ õ AVERAGE | õ õ SO-SO | õ DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 2021: Magnetic,
insightful and worldly, you9re approaching your most ambitious year. You be-
come more realistic and capably guide a success to great heights. This year you
should feel proud of yourself. If single, love can be tumultuous, and it might be
healthiest to spend part of this year alone. If attached, you9re known for many
marriages, but this year is your most romantic yet. LIBRA worships you.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
õõõõ Today affects your health sector. A dream or intuitive perception
brings insight into fitness factors. Seek ways to ease a stressful daily sched-
ule. A much loved animal companion might require extra love and attention.
Tonight: Eliminate clutter and begin spring cleaning early.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
õõõõõ Today gives you renewed energy and enthusiasm. You9ll enjoy
sports, creative projects and hobbies. Love and admiration come your way.
Children have much to share. Young people are sources of inspiration, pride
and hope. Tonight: A relationship becomes more supportive.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
õõõõ Today generates mood swings in a loved one. Offer words of encour-
agement. Be a good listener. A visitor offers to help with chores or repairs. A
household gathering is peppered with lively discussions. Tonight: Ideas and
stories that family shares will inspire you.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
õõõõ Today indicates that you might look for a new vehicle or consider
alternative travel and transportation arrangements. Mobility issues will be
resolved satisfactorily. Hesitate if an acquaintance suggests a risky proposal.
Tonight: If something just doesn9t feel right to you, back off.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
õõ Double-check suggestions others make regarding finances. Today9s
opposition could allow the actions taken by another to drain your resources.
Trust your own judgment, particularly if something sounds too good to be
true. Tonight: Deep disappointment in a loved one.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
õõõõõ Today generates enthusiasm and motivation. Control impatience
and anger though. It is especially important to be constructive in your focus.
Both love prospects and finances are very promising. A desirable relationship
grows. Tonight: Extra hours of sleep to catch up.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
õõõõ Old and poignant memories surface. Past life regression might be
useful to aid in understanding and accepting the present situation. A deep
rapport with wild creatures and the spirit of wilderness prevails. Tonight: Talk
deeply with a mentor from your past.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
õõõõõ Friends include you in their plans. The expectations of others draw
you into group activities or a prominent role within an organization. You
might assume the role of mediator or overseer. Tonight: A light illuminates
the future of an important relationship.
While J&J is seeking FDA
authorization for its single-dose
version, the company is also
studying whether a second dose
boosts protection.
Panel member Dr. Paul Of-
fit warned that launching a
two-dose version of the vaccine
down the road might cause
problems.
“You can see where that
would be confusing to peo-
ple thinking, ’Maybe I didn’t
get what I needed,’” said Offit,
a vaccine expert at Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia. “It’s a
messaging challenge.”
J&J representatives said they
chose to begin with the single
shot because the World Health
Organization and other experts
agreed it would be a faster, more
effective tool in an emergency.
Cases and hospitalizations
have fallen dramatically since
their January peak that followed
the winter holidays. But pub-
lic health officials warned that
those gains may be stalling as
more variants take root in the
U.S.
“We may be done with the
virus, but clearly the virus is not
done with us,” Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention
Director Dr. Rochelle Walen-
sky, said, speaking at the White
House on Friday. She noted
that new COVID-19 cases have
increased over the past few
days.
While it’s too early to tell if
the trend will last, Walensky
said adding a third vaccine “will
help protect more people faster.”
More vaccines are in the pipe-
line.
On Sunday, a CDC panel
Labor
Continued from A5
If employees could file civil
lawsuits for violations of work-
place protection rules, it would
create a “positive feedback
loop” that frees up state agency
resources, raises revenues
through fines and reduces vio-
lations, Smith-Warner said.
Workers in the agriculture,
manufacturing and retail sec-
tors are particularly vulnerable
to abuses and would greatly
benefit from HB 2205, she said.
“We need enforcement tools
that promote deterrence,” said
Terri Gerstein, a senior fellow
at the Economic Policy In-
stitute, a think tank focused
on policies affecting low- and
middle-income workers.
The bill is an “elegant solu-
tion” that’s similar to the fed-
eral False Claims Act, which
has allowed whistleblowers to
sue for abuses of government
programs since the Civil War,
Gerstein said.
“They root out fraud; they
deter violations; they bring in
money for the government.
The same would happen here,”
she said.
An amended version of HB
2205 would reduce the scope
of the legislation to clarify that
it only applies to the state’s Bu-
reau of Labor and Industries
Shoppers
Continued from A5
The transition online hasn’t
always been easy, and children
and senior living staff often
have to help, an experience that
can be both gratifying and dif-
ficult.
Barbara Moran, director of
social programs for Atria Se-
nior Living where Mont lives,
says one of the biggest chal-
lenges residents face with their
devices is that they are used
to pushing, not tapping, as if
they’re using a touch-tone tele-
phone. She has to repeat tips
often.
“I would lie if I didn’t say
I was frustrated sometimes,”
said Moran, who sits with
Mont — masked and gloved
— in the facility’s dining
room for weekly shopping
sessions.
Internet retailers and deliv-
ery services hope people over
65 keep up the online shopping
habit. Freshly, which delivers
prepared meals, is looking at
adding smaller portions and
low-sodium options aimed at
seniors; grocery delivery ser-
vice Instacart set up a phone
support line; Target’s delivery
service, Shipt, is scrapping its
Capital Press file
A worker dumps cherries from his picking bucket into a bin. Employees
could pursue lawsuits to enforce Oregon labor regulations under a bill
being considered by lawmakers.
is expected to meet to recom-
mend how to best prioritize use
of the J&J vaccine.
Other parts of the world al-
ready are facing which-is-best
challenges. Italy’s main teachers’
union recently protested when
the government decided to re-
serve Pfizer and Moderna shots
for the elderly and designate As-
traZeneca’s vaccine for younger,
at-risk workers. AstraZeneca’s
vaccine was deemed to be about
70% effective in testing. Canada
became the latest country Fri-
day to allow use of AstraZene-
ca’s vaccine.
visions, such as the right of
aggrieved parties to remain
anonymous, which would hin-
der legal discovery and prevent
companies from developing
an adequate defense, Bernasek
said.
Workers who bring law-
suits that are not in good faith
would face no consequences,
he said. Only plaintiffs can re-
cover attorney fees under the
bill, while defendants cannot.
Under the current system,
state agencies can pursue
meaningful settlement oppor-
tunities during the investiga-
tory and administrative pro-
cess, which keeps cases out of
court, Bernasek said.
“The bill undermines the
state agency enforcement ac-
tions. The investigators and the
state agencies are the experts
in their areas. Trial lawyers are
not,” he said.
The bill appears to be a
solution in search of a prob-
lem and will increase costs for
companies that must defend
themselves against allegations
of violations, said Tyler Ernst,
policy counsel with the Oregon
Forest & Industries Council.
“This is a seismic change to
the state’s regulatory landscape
and the effect would be unbe-
lievably destabilizing to those
entities that exist within these
regulatory systems,” he said.
and Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, said
Kate Suisman, attorney for the
Northwest Workers’ Justice
Project.
Several business organiza-
tions testified against HB 2205,
arguing the legislation would
undermine the state’s existing
system of labor law enforce-
ment.
State authorities have other
tools besides penalties to bring
companies into compliance,
such as mandatory training
and random spot checks, said
Paloma Sparks, vice president
of government relations with
the Oregon Business & Indus-
try Association.
A similar law in California
has led to a situation where
penalties are the “only real
tool,” with employees reaping
minimal rewards, she said.
“Where does that money go?
To attorneys. The only real
beneficiaries of that system are
the attorneys.”
The state’s court system is
already under strain, and HB
2205 would only add to that
burden, said Tim Bernasek, an
attorney representing the Ore-
gon Farm Bureau.
The bill contains unfair pro-
$99-a-year fee for some low-in-
come seniors.
Diane Shein, 73, from Bo-
nita Springs, Florida, turned to
Instacart and Amazon-owned
Whole Foods for groceries be-
cause of the pandemic.
“I’m not sure how much it
costs, but I don’t care,” Shein
said. “It’s very easy and safe.”
Instacart president Nilam
Ganenthiran predicted that
online groceries will be a “new
normal” for older people even
when the pandemic ends.
Still, there are many barri-
ers, from struggling to use new
technology to high prices to
access.
People 65 and older are less
likely than younger people to
have home internet or a smart-
phone. Nearly 22 million, or
42% of Americans 65 and
older, lack broadband at home,
according to a 2021 study from
nonprofit Older Adults Tech-
nology Services. Low-income
and Black and Latino older
adults are more likely to be left
out, the study says.
“We are asking them to stay
at home, and yet a lot of se-
niors are not connected,” said
Lauren Cotter of the Com-
munity Tech Network, a San
Francisco nonprofit that trains
low-income residents on tech-
nology and provides free tab-
lets and hot spots.
Those with devices and in-
ternet may wrestle with how
to use an app or fear giving out
personal information because
they worry about fraudsters.
Online shopping scams cost
Americans $245.9 million last
year, according to the Federal
Trade Commission. And on-
line grocery shopping, which
includes tips and delivery
charges, costs more than going
to stores.
The pandemic has also ex-
posed the shortcomings of the
internet, which often fails to
accommodate people with dis-
abilities or an aging population
with visual and hearing issues.
Then there’s the simple fact
that older people did not grow
up with the internet so things
may not come as intuitively
compared with those who
have.
Lynnette White, 72, buys
clothes and household items
from Amazon and Target on-
line on her iPhone. But she
finds other apps, including the
Safeway grocery one, too hard
to navigate. When she tries to
check out her shopping cart,
she finds herself starting all
over again. She says it’s frus-
trating that there are too many
steps.
Still, she said she likes learn-
ing new skills and her grand-
children, who she sends Am-
azon gift cards as presents,
approve.
“They’re very impressed that
at my age, I am excited about
technology,” White said.
Natural gas from factory
farms is not “truly clean en-
ergy,” and the state government
should instead encourage pas-
ture-based farming and tech-
nologies such as wind and so-
lar electricity, Wong said.
“Oregon should not use
public dollars to support large,
private corporations at a time
Oregon is facing a budget
shortfall,” she said.
The Oregon Center for Pub-
lic Policy, which advocates for
“inclusive economic policies”
for workers, also opposes SB 151
because the tax credit costs the
state $5.5 million per biennium
that could be invested in more
valuable projects and services.
The bovine manure tax
credit was originally included
in a broader tax credit for bio-
mass energy created in 2007,
but it was renewed as a stand-
alone tax credit in 2017, said
Kyle Easton, an economist with
the Legislative Revenue Office.
In recent years, most of the
financial benefit from the tax
credit has gone to four compa-
nies, he said. “There is a concen-
tration in a few of the entities
that are receiving this credit.”
Knowing that such a tax
credit will continue to exist can
help digester investments “pen-
cil out” financially for compa-
nies that may not otherwise be
able to afford them, he said.
Economic studies have indi-
cated size is an important con-
sideration in investing in di-
gester technology, Easton said.
“The larger the herd, the more
financial sense it makes for the
farm to have an on-farm di-
gester.”
Jeff Chiu/AP
Lynnette White uses her tablet in
San Francisco on Feb. 16.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
õõõõõ Today puts a positive spin on your status and career situation. You9ll
be highly visible. A Zoom meeting goes especially well. Others express ad-
miration and see you as a role model. Burn sage to cleanse your workplace.
Tonight: Excitement builds about your future: constructive daydreaming.
Tax credit
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Continued from A5
õõõõõ Today reveals new potentials on the horizon. Your luck is changing
for the better. Select goals for the long-range future. Write a wish list. In-
formation and new ideas are directed your way. Opportunities are likely to
come about. Tonight: The world is your oyster.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
õõõõ Today will be memorable. Be receptive to growth and change. Don9t
be surprised by the magnitude of changes brewing. There can be a debate or
some points of controversy to settle. Tonight: A partner needs convincing.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
õõõõõ Listen carefully and honor others9 freedom of thought, even if you
disagree. A long-standing partnership 4 in business or in love 4 might be
ending or a new one beginning. Your imagination and creativity are excel-
lent. Tonight: An original idea solves a problem 4 and it9s profitable.
At best, such digesters only
capture the added methane
generated by the development
of factory farm systems, Van
Saun said.
CAFOs should be required
to trap their emissions if they
choose to raise animals in this
manner, rather than be paid
for it by the public, said Amy
Wong, policy director of the
Friends of Family Farmers
nonprofit.
Living Well Begin s with Top -rate Ser vi c e
w w w.w h i sp er i ng w i nd s .i n fo • 5 41-312 -9 6 9 0 • 2 9 2 0 N E C on ner s Ave ., B end , OR 9 7 701
For almost 20 years Whispering Winds Retirement community has stood strong •
Being local and family owned, we’ve never waived on the values and dedication it
takes to make retirement living the best it can be.
We are all banded together in the love for our residents and team members.
We are dedicated to their safety and security, especially in these unsure times.
We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Whispering Winds...we are all in this together.
Providing End less Amenities to Ensure a High Qua lit y of Life