Current Events in September 2020

The state of New York has filed a civil fraud complaint against Johnson & Johnson, charging the pharmaceutical company and its subsidiaries of marketing opioid drug products while downplaying their risks.

The complaint, filed by the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), contends that the company specifically targeted elderly patients for opioid treatment despite known risks and used its marketing materials to brand opioid addiction as a myth.

"The opioid crisis has taken too many lives and New York state will continue to take action against those who helped fuel this public health catastrophe and bring a measure of justice to families who have lost loved ones," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "Misrepresentation of opioids to consumers for profit is inexcusable and we will use every tool necessary to help ensure those responsible are held fully accountable."

Johnson & Johnson did not immediately provide a comment or response to media outlets that requested one.

Specific allegations

Regulators say Johnson & Johnson manufactured a number of opioid products in New York, including the Schedule II drugs Duragesic, a fentanyl patch, and Nucynta, a tapentadol drug. The state’s complaint also alleges that the drug company controlled a large portion of the raw opioid supply chain through its patented "Norman Poppy," which at one point was responsible for up to 80 percent of the global supply for oxycodone raw materials.

The crux of the DFS complaint claims that Johnson & Johnson has had a “long-standing and multi-faceted leading role in originating, supplying, facilitating, and actively creating a dangerous market for opioids for chronic pain treatment.”

The complaint alleges that Johnson & Johnson not only tried to sell more of its own opioid drug products but sought to create an environment in which the medical community was comfortable prescribing these powerful painkillers for patients, increasing the demand for Johnson & Johnson’s opioid-related raw materials. 

Charged with violating insurance laws

The state is hanging its case on insurance laws, which may explain why the complaint originated at DFS and not the attorney general’s office. DFS charges Johnson & Johnson of violating two state statutes.

Section 403 of the New York Insurance Law prohibits fraudulent insurance acts, and Section 408 of the Financial Services Law prohibits intentional fraud or intentional misrepresentation of a material fact with respect to a financial product or service, which includes health insurance.

Those laws carry a penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, with the state alleging that each prescription found to be fraudulent constitutes a separate violation.

Johnson & Johnson has recently faced other opioid-related charges in other states, including Ohio and Oklahoma. 

Comcast has announced that it will roll out 1,000 free Wi-Fi “Lift Zones” in community centers across the U.S. in an effort to make sure low-income students have access to the internet.

The free Wi-Fi zones will initially be established in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Trenton, Minnesota's Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C.

“These Lift Zones, which will be installed in community centers in local neighborhoods that our partners have identified and will run, will be places where students and families can get online and access the resources they need, especially while so many schools and workplaces have gone virtual,” Dave Watson, Comcast’s President and CEO, said in a statement.

Closing the homework gap

With virtual learning in full swing due to the coronavirus, wireless carriers have unveiled initiatives meant to help close the digital divide. T-Mobile announced recently that it’s accepting applications for its “Project 10Million” plan, through which it plans to provide free internet connectivity to 10 million underserved student households. 

Comcast said its plan to bring free Wi-Fi to local community centers will be a multi-year effort. In addition to free internet connectivity, the carrier said it will provide access to “hundreds of hours of educational and digital skills content to help families and site coordinators navigate online learning” at Lift Zones.

“What we’ve learned throughout this pandemic is that although at-home Internet connectivity is the number one barrier to remote or hybrid learning, connectivity is only one barrier that prevents our nation’s kids from logging in and participating,” said Evan Marwell, CEO and Founder of Education SuperHighway. 

“No one single answer alone will solve this problem. These Lift Zones can offer families much needed support when at-home connectivity is either not available or the student is unable to participate in their home environment.”

Motorists seem to have parked their cars now that the summer driving season is over. Even a hurricane slamming the Gulf Coast failed to overcome a big drop in fuel demand.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $2.18 a gallon, two cents less than last Friday. The average price of premium is $2.79 gallon -- also two cents less than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.40, down from $2.42 last week.

Hurricane Sally stormed ashore from the Gulf of Mexico, forcing a shutdown of oil rigs in the region early in the week. But there was apparently little damage and operations resumed by Thursday.

Crews returned to at least 30 offshore oil and gas platforms. Chevron Corp. began restaffing its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Reuters.

The brief interruption had little lasting effect on oil prices and should have even less on what consumers pay for gasoline. AAA reports gasoline demand this month is at levels that haven’t been seen since mid-June when the country was just beginning to reopen from the long coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown.

While demand was low this week, so were supplies, at least compared to recent weeks. But AAA’s Jeanette Casselano says that balance favored consumers.

 “Despite the steady supply dip, continued low levels of demand helped push the national gas price cheaper on the week," Casselano said.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.25)

• California ($3.22)

• Washington ($2.82)

• Nevada ($2.67)

• Oregon ($2.64)

• Alaska ($2.54)

• Pennsylvania ($2.49)

• Utah ($2.45)

• Idaho ($2.45)

• Colorado ($2.31)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($1.85)

• Texas ($1.86)

• Arkansas ($1.88)

• Louisiana ($1.89)

• Missouri ($1.89)

• Alabama ($1.90)

• Oklahoma ($1.90)

• South Carolina ($1.91)

• Tennessee ($1.92)

• Kentucky ($1.93)

Companies that deliver unsafe products to consumers usually end up having to pay the piper in some form or another. Blue Bell Creameries, a manufacturer of ice cream products, is learning that the hard way this week. 

On Thursday, a federal court in Texas ruled that the company will have to pay $17.25 million in criminal penalties because of products that were linked to an outbreak of listeriosis back in 2015. The ruling follows a guilty plea that Blue Bell made in May 2020 and represents the largest criminal penalty a company has ever had to pay in a food safety case, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

“American consumers must be able to trust that the foods they purchase are safe to eat. The sentence imposed today sends a clear message to food manufacturers that the Department of Justice will take appropriate actions when contaminated food products endanger consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

Tainted products and improper sanitation

In allegations made against Blue Bell, federal officials said that the company violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by delivering ice cream products that had been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes -- a bacteria that can cause serious illness or even death in vulnerable consumers.

After being told about two contaminated products, the DOJ said that Blue Bell instructed delivery drivers to pull contaminated products from stock. However, the company stopped short of issuing a full recall or notifying customers about the contaminated products. Two weeks later, officials told that company that a third product had also tested positive for listeria, but the company again decided not to issue any formal notifications to customers.

Further investigations showed that two Blue Bell facilities had an array of sanitation issues, which forced the company to shut down all of its manufacturing sites in April 2015. While the company was eventually able to reopen these locations and improve its sanitation processes, federal officials say the company needed to be held accountable.

“The health of American consumers and the safety of our food are too important to be thwarted by the criminal acts of any individual or company,”  said U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official Judy McMeekin. “Americans expect and deserve the highest standards of food safety and integrity. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who put the public health at risk by distributing contaminated foods in the U.S. marketplace.”

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 6,640,540 (6,600,566)

Total U.S. deaths: 197,091 (196,103)

Total global cases: 29,925,969 (29,624,865)

Total global deaths: 942,076 (936,313)

Mixed messages on vaccine availability

As we reported in this space Wednesday, the Trump administration promised a speedy, nearly overnight rollout of any approved vaccine. But that message was contradicted the same day by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who told Congress it might be next summer before a vaccine is widely available.

President Trump said at a press briefing that Dr.Robert Redfield was mistaken when he said it might be a year from now before a vaccine is readily available to the general population. 

Redfield said that while a vaccine might be available by the end of this year, it will first be given to first responders and the most vulnerable population. He said it will take several months to produce and distribute enough for the entire country.

Lilly to team with Amgen to produce antibody drug supply

After reporting positive results for its antibody drug to treat the coronavirus (COVID-19), Eli Lilly is now figuring out how to produce a lot of it. Today, the drug company announced a deal with Amgen to work together to significantly increase the supply capacity available for Lilly's potential COVID-19 therapies. 

The two companies say their collaboration will allow them to quickly scale up production and serve many more patients around the world should one or more of Lilly's antibody therapies prove successful in clinical testing and receive regulatory approval.

"Increasing the manufacturing capacity for our neutralizing antibodies through this collaboration with Amgen is a crucial next step, and together we hope to be able to produce many millions of doses even next year," said Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific officer.

New unemployment claims continue to fall

The Labor Department reports that initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 33,000 last week, with total claims still well below 1 million, at 860,000. More importantly, continuing claims also went down, falling by nearly 1 million to 12.6 million.

Both numbers hit record highs in the early spring as the coronavirus pandemic led to a nationwide shutdown. Businesses have been slow to reopen, and many are working with fewer employees.

Economists say a number of factors may be holding back the labor market, including offices that remain closed in major cities. The sharp reduction in the downtown population on workdays has made it hard for many businesses to operate.

Expert: holiday travel will be different this year

People planning to travel to see friends and family over the holidays are likely making their plans now. But Dean Headley, co-author of the Airline Quality Rating, cautions that a lot can change between now and then because of the coronavirus

Headley says airlines have already said that they plan to furlough thousands of pilots before the end of the year. As a result, many carriers may reduce the number of flights they’re offering. That creates a potential headache for those who book passage on those flights.

Beyond the concern for safely traveling, Headley says the issues of fewer flights, altered schedules, and dropped destinations should be considered when thinking about holiday travel.

Play ball!

The Big Ten Conference, one of two major conferences to cancel its football season earlier this year because of the coronavirus, has decided to play some games after all.

According to the conference’s announcement on Wednesday, the shortened season will begin Oct. 23 and consist of eight games, lasting until a conference championship in December. The conference presidents said they reversed their previous decision after considering new medical data.

According to ESPN, the Big Ten can still finish its season and crown a champion in time to be considered for a semifinal spot, but it has to be approved by the playoff's management committee.

Around the nation

• New York: The New York City Council has approved a measure to help struggling restaurants hampered by the coronavirus. The measure allows restaurants to tack on a 10 percent surcharge to each restaurant check.

• Indiana: College students are fueling coronavirus numbers in some states, but health officials in Indiana are raising concerns about high school students. They say high school students account for about 19 percent of the most recent cases in the state.

• Florida: Despite the spike in cases in states that have loosened regulations, the backlash against face masks continues, at least in Florida. A group of anti-mask protestors recently marched through a South Florida Target playing the song “We’re Not Going to Take It.”

Consumers have done a little more of their Christmas shopping online in recent years, but a new survey shows a likely surge in online shopping this year.

For example, last season consumers made about 51 percent of their holiday purchases online. This year, CreditCards.com estimates that 71 percent will shop mostly online, both for convenience and to avoid potential exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Holiday shopping is going to look very different this year,” said CreditCards.com industry analyst Ted Rossman. “COVID-19 is accelerating the existing trends toward e-commerce and digital payments.”

Millennials appear to be the shoppers most likely to avoid stores this holiday season. In fact, 74 percent of millennials plan to shop online -- compared with 70 percent of Gen Zers, 70 percent percent of Gen Xers, and 70 percent of baby boomers. 

The oldest group, the Silent Generation, appears to be the group most likely to visit brick and mortar stores to do their shopping, even though they generally face the highest risk from the virus.

Deloitte also predicts a sharp rise in online spending

A separate report suggests that consumers will spend a little more this holiday season, despite the pandemic. Deloitte’s annual holiday forecast also predicts a significant increase in online shopping, with e-commerce sales rising as much as 35 percent.

In breaking down projected spending, Deloitte predicts that overall spending will rise by less than 2 percent, with consumers who haven’t been economically impacted by the coronavirus making up for reduced spending by those who have.

"The lower projected holiday growth this season is not surprising given the state of the economy,” said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte's U.S. economic forecaster. "E-commerce is likely to be a big winner because consumers have shown a clear movement towards buying online rather than at brick and mortar stores."

Debit cards over credit cards

The CreditCards.com survey also found a shift in the way consumers plan to pay for their holiday purchases, with an increase in a preference for debit cards and less reliance on credit cards.

While avoiding holiday debt is always a sound move, credit cards offer more consumer protections, along with other benefits like warranty and purchase protection.

Luis Rosa, certified financial planner and founder of Build a Better Financial Future, suggests using your credit card as though it were a debit card by paying off each purchase as you go, making a payment as soon as the purchase posts on your account.

“This way you don’t let the credit card balance rise and sneak up on you,” he said.

As drugmakers race to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, CDC director Robert Redfield contends that a different prevention method is more effective. 

Face coverings are “the most powerful public health tool” the nation has against the virus, Redfield told lawmakers on Wednesday. “We have clear scientific evidence they work, and they are our best defense,” Redfield said. “I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against Covid than when I take a Covid vaccine.” 

On Wednesday night, Redfield clarified that masks are currently the best defense against the virus and reaffirmed the importance of a viable vaccine.

Vaccine not yet available

Redfield’s remarks come as scientists work to develop a vaccine to combat the deadly virus. Companies including Pfizer have claimed they are on track to deliver one before the end of the year. 

Speaking to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Redfield said any vaccine that may be rolled out in the coming months may only have an “immunogenicity” -- or the ability to build up an immune response to the virus -- of about 70 percent. He also said a vaccine would only be initially available in limited quantities.. 

His comments are similar to those made by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert. Fauci said that the likelihood of scientists creating a COVID-19 vaccine that provides 98 percent or more guaranteed protection is “not great.” 

“The chances of it being 98% effective is not great, which means you must never abandon the public health approach,” Fauci said in early August. “You’ve got to think of the vaccine as a tool to be able to get the pandemic to no longer be a pandemic, but to be something that’s well controlled.” 

Fauci added that scientists are aiming to release a vaccine that is at least 75 percent effective. Even when a vaccine that delivers that level of protection is released, Redfield said face masks will be more of a sure bet in terms of protection. 

“If I don’t get an immune response, the vaccine’s not going to protect me. This face mask will,” Redfield told lawmakers. He predicted that the process of getting every American vaccinated will take roughly six to nine more months. The nation should see a return to “regular life” by the third quarter of 2021, he said. 

The holidays are just around the corner, which means the season of giving is nearly upon us. But a recent action taken by the FTC shows just how important it is for consumers to be cautious when it comes to the organizations and causes they choose to donate to. 

This week, the agency -- in coordination with regulators from New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Virginia -- secured a settlement with a charity funding operation that allegedly defrauded consumers out of millions of dollars in donations. 

The settlement names four defendants who ran several charities that were supposed to raise money for veterans, retired and disabled law enforcement officers, breast cancer survivors, and others in need. However, they allegedly pocketed up to 90 percent of these donations to pay themselves. Regulators say the sometimes less than two percent of proceeds went to the groups that were supposed to receive the funds.

As part of the settlement, the charity fundraising business is being forced to shut down and the defendants will have surrender tens of millions of dollars to the aforementioned states. The FTC says these funds will then be redistributed to legitimate charities “that perform services that mirror those promised by the sham charities.”

“This action puts fundraisers on notice: the FTC will not only shut down sham charities, it will aggressively pursue their fundraisers who participate in the deception,” said Andrew Smith, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. 

Do your research before donating

This case highlights just how important it is for consumers to do their research before donating money to a charity. New York Attorney General Letitia James says that establishing trust with a charitable cause through proper vetting can ensure that your generosity isn’t being exploited.

“My office will continue to work with partners such as the FTC and other states to take action that protects donors and charitable entities,” she said. 

Smith says consumers can use the FTC’s website at this address to learn how to spot a potential charity scam.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added Pine-Sol to its list of disinfectants that are effective against the coronavirus. 

The common household cleaner is the 66th Clorox product that has met the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Before it could meet EPA standards, Pine-Sol was tested in an independent lab where it showed that it could meet its effectiveness within a 10-minute contact time on hard, flat surfaces.

Clorox sees a unique angle with Black Americans

In its homework on how to posture the product as a COVID-19 deterrent, Clorox happened upon data that showed that nearly three in five Black American millennial women (age 26-38) are essential workers who, in all estimation, have come closer to situations where the coronavirus has been found to exist. 

Of those essential workers, Clorox found that more than half were worried about their health and the health of their family and friends. Another 40 percent expressed concern about access to necessary cleaning products. Given Pine-Sol’s widespread availability, the company feels that the EPA approval negates that concern. 

"(Pine-Sol has) a long-standing history of being a powerful cleaner and disinfectant, and the trusted brand choice within the Black community,” said Chris Hyder, Vice President and General Manager of the Cleaning division at Clorox said in a statement. "We hope this new Pine-Sol kill claim will increase access to disinfectants that can help prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Clorox recommends that consumers use Pine Sol at its full strength and apply it with a clean sponge or cloth to hard, nonporous surfaces. The company added that people should let the product remain wet on the surface for 10 minutes before rinsing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected consumers’ mental health in countless ways, and it can be difficult to find healthy and effective ways to cope with daily stressors. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Penn State has identified several ways for consumers to take control of their mental health and feel a bit of relief in the midst of the pandemic. 

“Things like keeping a consistent schedule, reminding yourself that things will get better, finding activities to distract yourself, and taking care of others who need help are all helpful,” said researcher Erina MacGeorge. “Additionally, adhering to the national recommendations for protecting oneself from COVID-19, like hand-washing, social distancing and masking, was also associated with better mental health.” 

Finding what works

For the study, over 440 participants completed surveys about their mental health at three points during the early months of the pandemic: one at the end of April, one in early May, and one at the end of May. Participants reported on any anxiety or depression symptoms they were experiencing, what they were doing to deal with pandemic-related stress, and the measures they were taking to protect against infection. 

The researchers learned several important things about mental health during the pandemic. For starters, how consumers spend their time -- and who they spend it with -- played an integral role in mental health outcomes. They explained that it’s important for consumers to have a solid support system that feels encouraging and helpful, rather than draining and stressful. They said this can go a long way toward alleviating some concerns. 

They also discovered that specific populations, including young people and those with chronic health conditions, were more likely to struggle with their mental health -- especially in the earliest points of the pandemic. 

The researchers also explained that taking actions designed to slow the transmission of COVID-19 can also help consumers feel more in control and reduce some of the worry and anxiety. 

“Sometimes we need to take a break from thinking about how we feel and do something to alleviate the threat and make us feel a lot better about our situation in life,” said researcher Jessica Myrick. “COVID-related messages that emphasize that even small actions are worthwhile might have doubly the positive effect of getting people to take small actions, like washing their hands more often, but also alleviate some mental strain, too.” 

As the pandemic continues to affect people across the country, the researchers hope that consumers can find some comfort in these strategies and work to prioritize their mental health during these uncertain times. 

“As individuals, we can help bolster our own mental health by protecting ourselves from COVID-19 as much as possible -- like with social distancing, hand-washing, and mask-wearing -- by seeking support when we need it, and choosing activities that keep us moving forward, such as looking for safe ways to have fun and help others.” 

Students who attended the college chain ITT Tech, which went bankrupt in 2016, will have their student debt forgiven under a nationwide settlement. 

This week, the attorneys general of almost all 50 states and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a settlement that will wipe out a collective $330 million in debt for the 35,000 students who attended the school and still have outstanding balances. 

The now-defunct school imposed high-interest loan payments through private lender PEAKS Trust, and these debts have continued to affect the credit scores of former students. 

"The default rate on the PEAKS loans is projected to exceed 80%, due to both the high cost of the loans as well as the lack of success ITT graduates had getting jobs that earned enough to make repayment feasible," the Ohio Attorney General's office said in a statement. "The defaulted loans continue to affect students’ credit ratings and are usually not dischargeable in bankruptcy.” 

Deceptive practices

In a complaint filed by the CFPB, government prosecutors said ITT knew borrowers would be unable to repay the high-interest loans. In some cases, the loans were signed by ITT employees without the borrower’s knowledge or permission. 

“Their tactics were wild,” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey wrote on Twitter. “ITT offered students temporary credit upon enrollment to be repaid the next year. When some students couldn't pay, ITT allegedly pulled them out of class and threatened to expel them if they did not refinance their debt with a high-interest PEAKS loan."

Former students don't need to take any action to have their ITT debt erased; PEAKS will send students a notice. Students with questions for PEAKS can email the company at customerservice@peaksloans.com or call 866-747-0273.

Oracle’s bid to buy TikTok has caught the attention of President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, he told reporters he’s not exactly itching to sign off on the deal quite yet.

What might be concerning to Trump is the way Oracle and TikTok parent company ByteDance framed the arrangement. In confirming its role in the deal, Oracle said it would be the “trusted technology provider.”

It must be “100 percent as far as national security is concerned,” Trump said, adding that he hasn’t received the complete breakdown of how the deal would work. However, he expects it to be on his desk Thursday morning. 

Political tensions with China

Trump’s posture adds a layer of complexity because the deal could go a long way towards remedying some of the political squabbling between the U.S. and China. Those tensions hit the roof when Trump threatened to ban the TikTok app or, at a minimum, have its U.S. operations transferred to a U.S. company. 

Trump also said the U.S. had been considering the possibility of accepting a payment as part of any deal. “Amazingly I find that you’re not allowed to do that,” Trump said, referring to the idea of receiving “key money” for brokering a deal, which he proposed last month. 

“I said, ‘What kind of a thing is this?’ If they’re willing to make big payments to the government, they’re not allowed because there’s no way of doing that from a -- there’s no legal path to do that.” 

The TikTok dating game

Ever since Trump demanded that ByteDance spin off TikTok to an American company, the dating game has been at a fevered pitch. First there was Microsoft, which thought TikTok might be a social media weapon against Facebook and Instagram. Then, WalMart decided it would get into the bidding war as one of Microsoft’s partners.

In the middle of it all, TikTok was accused of implementing a tracking device in Google Android users’ devices.

But, in the end, it was Oracle who came out on top -- at least for now. While it may not seem like a natural product fit, Oracle has become extremely rich by expanding its portfolio in the last 10 years. First, it bought Sun, which made Oracle a first-tier seller of servers for data centers. Then it snatched up Micros, a company that has the lion’s share of point-of-sale retail equipment. The company has also managed to keep its ties to Capitol Hill. 

“Oracle maintains ties to the U.S. government. CEO Safra Catz was part of Trump’s transition team, and Ellison hosted a fundraising event for Trump’s election campaign at one of his California homes earlier this year,” reported CNBC’s Jordan Novet. “It also has ties with Democrats: Leon Panetta, a former director of the CIA and secretary of the Defense Department under President Barack Obama, is on Oracle’s board.”

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Davis found a link between goal-setting and personality traits. Their work revealed that consumers are likely to set goals that align with the most dominant parts of their personalities; similarly, as people age, their goals change in accordance with their personalities. 

“This study was a unique opportunity to examine how individuals’ personalities and major life goals were related to each other across two decades of life,” said researcher Olivia E. Atherton. “We found that, in many ways, one’s personality shapes the types of life goals that are valued, and as a result of pursuing those goals, personality changes.” 

How personality plays a role in goal-setting

The study began with over 500 college freshmen who were asked to complete a survey about their biggest life goals. The researchers followed them for the next two decades, assessing both their personalities and their most prominent life goals as they aged beyond their college years. 

They found that the participants’ life goals were consistent with their most dominant personality traits, as they were more likely to aspire to things that aligned with their attitudes and beliefs. The researchers point to Einstein as a prime example of this trend, as his accomplishments can be traced back to his various interests and attributes. 

“Einstein’s tendency to be creative, curious, and intellectual likely fueled his scientific goals, as well as his more aesthetic goals, such as his passion for playing the violin,” the researchers explained. 

Because this was a long-term study, the researchers were also able to see how these findings changed while the participants themselves grew from young adults into more mature adults. Ultimately, they learned that while the participants’ goals became more streamlined over time, both goals and personality traits changed simultaneously, and the association between the two remained strong. 

“By identifying their own personal strengths and limitations, middle-aged adults may place less importance on certain major life goals because some goals may no longer be viewed as self-relevant,” the researchers said. 

The researchers emphasized the importance of consumers maintaining both short- and long-term goals so they can experience greater feelings of fulfillment. Goals provide a way for consumers to stay accountable to themselves while also staying in control of the final outcome. 

General Motors is recalling 105 model year 2020 Buick Encore GXs and model year 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazers.

The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

An occupied front seat missing the rear attachment bolts may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 630-2438 or Buick customer service at (800) 521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.

BMW of North America is recalling model year 2019-2020 Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i and model year 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles.

The headlamps are able to be adjusted horizontally.

This could increase glare and reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, or reduce visibility for the vehicle operator, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlamp vertical and horizontal adjustment plugs, correcting them as necessary free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2020.

BMW owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417; Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at (888) 270-9371.