Current Events in July 2022

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2022

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    Honda recalls model year 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles

    Frame corrosion may cause a fuel leak

    American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 112,060 model year 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles that were sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

    An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame mounting surface, where the fuel tank mounting bands are attached, to corrode and possibly detach from the fuel tank. This problem could result in a fuel leak.

    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    What to do

    Dealers will inspect and repair the rear frame -- as necessary -- free of charge.

    Depending on the extent of any corrosion damage, Honda may offer to repurchase the vehicle.

    Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on August 1, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at (888) 234-2138.

    American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 112,060 model year 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles that were sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois,...

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      Mining cryptocurrency uses a 'disturbing' amount of energy, lawmakers say

      The issue can impact consumers’ utility bills

      A group of U.S. Senators are raising concerns about the environmental impacts of cryptomining and are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to work together to require cryptominers to report their emissions and energy use.

      “The results of our investigation… are disturbing… revealing that cryptominers are large energy users that account for a significant – and rapidly growing – amount of carbon emissions. Our investigation suggests that the overall U.S. cryptomining industry is likely to be problematic for energy and emissions,” wrote Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA.), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI.) 

      “But little is known about the full scope of cryptomining activity. Given these concerns, it is imperative that your agencies work together to address the lack of information about cryptomining’s energy use and environmental impacts, and use all available authorities at your disposal…  to require reporting of energy use and emissions from cryptominers,” wrote the lawmakers.”

      Cryptomining requires a lot of energy

      Connecting cryptocurrency to energy usage is a difficult thing for most people to wrap their heads around. After all, most people just think of buying and selling cryptocurrencies on a phone or computer.

      However, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have a massive carbon footprint and require a lot of energy to produce. Bitcoin’s method of verifying transactions requires a sea of computers to solve complex mathematical problems, and those computers need energy to drive those processes.

      The senators noted that the total annual global electricity consumption associated with the two largest cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin and Ethereum – is comparable to the electrical usage of the entire United Kingdom for one year. Findings show that these mining activities resulted in almost 80 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2021.

      All of this cryptomining activity directly impacts how much consumers pay for electricity. According to a recent study, “the power demands of cryptocurrency mining operations in upstate New York push up annual electric bills by about $165 million for small businesses and $79 million for individuals.”

      The senators aren’t giving the DOE and EPA much time to come up with some answers to this issue. The agencies have until August 15 to lay out their plans on how they will require reporting about cryptomining’s energy use and environmental impact. Agency officials will also have to answer a series of questions about their collective ability to monitor the situation going forward.

      A group of U.S. Senators are raising concerns about the environmental impacts of cryptomining and are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and...

      Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to set new changes in motion

      Consumers may soon be charged for password-sharing

      Video streaming has hit a new high in the U.S. A new survey conducted by HarrisX for MoffettNathanson Research shows that 81% of American households did some form of streaming in the second quarter of 2022, up from 75% a year ago. 

      With all that extra attention, Amazon and Netflix are making some changes to entice even more subscribers and ensure that they’re getting paid what they think they’re due.

      Amazon Prime

      Streamers who have been Amazon Prime subscribers for a while have a pretty good handle on how to get around the platform. However, Amazon felt that it could do a better job and has decided to launch a Prime Video redesign.

      Starting this week, Prime Video’s updated experience is centered on apps that are connected with other living room devices. Amazon says there are several major adjustments in the redesign, including:

      An easy way to watch live and programmed sports. Now that we’re close to the kickoff of the 2022 NFL season – which, of course, includes Amazon’s hosting of Thursday Night Football – the company wants to make sure sports fans can find their games easily and quickly.

      The home screen of Prime Video will now feature a locked-in “Sports” sub-navigation menu. Using that as a hub, viewers can find live sports, events, and sports-centric streaming channels that feature content like game replays and sports documentaries.

      A more user-friendly navigation menu. Amazon wants to make it easier for consumers to navigate its menus so that they can find all the shows and videos they’re looking for. Fans of shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or The Boys will now have a direct path to those titles and episodes. 

      The new menu will be located on the side of the screen and will contain six primary pages to start: “Home,” “Store,” “Find,” “Live TV,” “Free with Ads,” and “My Stuff”. There will also be sub-navigation options so users can more easily browse by the content or offer type, such as “Movies,” “TV shows,” and “Sports” on Home, as well as “Channels” or “Rent or Buy” on Store.

      A faster way to find the shows you want. Taking a cue from Netflix’s Top 10 lists, Amazon’s app update will come with new “carousels” that feature the company’s own “Top 10 Chart” and a new “Super Carousel” that features its own originals and exclusives.

      Other improvements that Amazon says Prime Video watchers will notice are immersive visuals, clearly marked content so a subscriber can instantly see if a program or movie is free or paid for, and a new “Find” page that gives users the option to search for a specific title and get predictive results as they type.

      Netflix

      In addition to Netflix’s recent partnership with Microsoft to offset its recent tidal wave of canceled subscriptions, it’s testing out another way to keep red ink off its balance sheet. The company has been grumbling about password sharing for years, but it said in a Q2 earnings call on Tuesday that it is now in the early stages of testing a new ‘add a home’ option that will charge customers for password-sharing. 

      “Over the last 15 years, we’ve worked hard to build a streaming service that’s easy to use, including for people who travel or live together,” Netflix said in an announcement. “It’s great that our members love Netflix movies and TV shows so much they want to share them more broadly. But today’s widespread account sharing between households undermines our long term ability to invest in and improve our service.”

      The company said the add-a-home option is currently being tested outside the U.S., where 60% of its customers are. If those tests prove positive, the company said it can roll out the feature in all markets in 2023. When it makes its way to the U.S., here’s what Netflix subscribers can expect:

      One home per account: Each Netflix account - whatever your plan - will include one home where you can enjoy Netflix on any of your devices. 

      Buy additional homes: To use a Netflix account in additional homes, the company will ask subscribers to pay a little more. Members on the Basic plan can add one extra home, Standard subscribers can add up to two extra homes, and those in the Premium tier can add up to three extra homes. 

      Travel included: Users can watch Netflix all they want when traveling through the use of a tablet, laptop, or mobile device. 

      New “manage homes” feature: The main subscriber still has the power to decide who else is using their account and can remove other users and homes at any time.

      Video streaming has hit a new high in the U.S. A new survey conducted by HarrisX for MoffettNathanson Research shows that 81% of American households did so...

      Comparing doctors to each other increases risk of burnout, study finds

      Experts say many health care providers don't feel satisfied in their roles

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California explored how comparing job performances of physicians can be harmful. According to their findings, health care providers are more likely to feel unsatisfied with their roles and experience burnout when they're compared to their peers.

      “Behavioral interventions such as providing peer comparison information offer attractive, cost-effective ways to promote positive behavior change,” said researcher Dr. Justin Zhang. “This research highlights the importance of assessing less visible outcomes, such as job satisfaction and burnout, when policymakers and organizational leaders implement seemingly innocuous behavioral interventions.” 

      Long-term effects of job comparison

      The researchers conducted a five-month experiment with nearly 200 primary care physicians to understand how being compared to others can affect job satisfaction and burnout. One group of doctors received information about their job performance compared to their colleagues, which is a behavioral method traditionally used among health care providers to improve their caregiving. The second group of doctors didn’t receive any comparative data on their performance versus their peers. 

      Ultimately, the comparison among the physicians wasn’t found to be helpful. Rather than promote better preventative care, the doctors who received information on how their performances compared to other doctors experienced greater dissatisfaction in their roles and a higher likelihood of burnout. 

      The researchers explained that many of the health care providers felt that this practice of comparing them to their peers affected how they viewed their superiors. They didn’t feel supported by doctors in leadership roles, and that impacted how they felt about their own positions. 

      Moving forward, the researchers hope that more work is done to guide health care providers in a way that is more supportive. 

      “This work also underscores the importance of attending to the way in which an intervention may inadvertently change employees’ perceptions of their managers and thus elicit negative reactions,” said Dr. Zhang. “To preempt negative perceptions, such as reduced feelings of leadership support, this research suggests that organizational leaders ought to engage employees in the design phase of an intervention, probe their feelings, and revise the design if needed. 

      “Finally, this work highlights that when leaders offer the necessary context and support to accompany a peer comparison intervention, recipients may draw more positive inferences about their leaders’ intent. This can buffer against the harmful effects of peer comparison interventions on well-being.” 

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California explored how comparing job performances of physicians can be harmful. According to t...

      Chrysler recalls Ram 1500 & 2500 pickup trucks, and 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles

      The rearview camera image may not display

      Chrysler is recalling 117,759 model year 2022 Ram 1500 & 2500 pickup trucks, and 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles with a GVWR of less than 10,000 lbs.

      The radio software may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.

      A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Dealers will reprogram the radio software free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 29, 2022.

      Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z47.

      Chrysler is recalling 117,759 model year 2022 Ram 1500 & 2500 pickup trucks, and 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles with a GVWR of less than 10,000 lbs.The radi...

      CDC ends COVID-19 program for cruise ships

      The agency says it will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly

      It’s all aboard for cruisers – and without coronavirus testing requirements. Just months after lifting its cruise ship risk advisory program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has brought its COVID-19 program for cruise ships to a close.

      The CDC is not taking its eye off the situation completely though. With the BA.5 variant continuing to spread, the agency says it will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safe and healthy environment for travelers and their own crews.

      The cruise industry wasted no time weighing in on the good news. The association that represents the cruise industry – the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) – said it backed the CDC’s decision 100%. 

      "The Cruise Lines International Association and its member cruise lines welcome the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end the CDC COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters in favor of a set of guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships,” the group said in a statement.

      The CLIA said it will take a look at the CDC’s new guidance when it’s released and adjust accordingly from there.

      "This is an important step forward in the CDC aligning the guidelines for cruises with those it has established for other travel, hospitality, and entertainment sectors,” the association said, then gave kudos to the cruising industry for working through all the problems the pandemic presented.

      "The sunsetting of the CDC Program, effective 18 July 2022, is a testament to the effectiveness of the industry’s comprehensive and robust protocols. In fact, cruising has become one of the safest forms of travel and among the most successful industries in mitigating the spread and severity of COVID-19, resulting in few passengers or crew becoming seriously ill or requiring hospitalization compared to hospital statistics for landside patients."

      Travelers who are planning a cruise anytime soon should check periodically with the CDC to make sure they’re aware of any changes to the program. A list of FAQs can be found here

      It’s all aboard for cruisers – and without coronavirus testing requirements. Just months after lifting its cruise ship risk advisory program, the Centers f...

      Amazon sues thousands for allegedly posting fake reviews

      The case is directed at the administrators of 10,000 Facebook groups

      Under growing pressure to curb the number of fake product reviews on its site, Amazon is suing the administrators of 10,000 Facebook groups over claims that they have orchestrated the phony reviews for profit.

      According to Amazon, the defendants have recruited individuals who are willing to post misleading reviews on Amazon’s stores in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan in return for products and cash.

      The online retailer, which has been prodded by Congress to rein in the phony reviews, said it will use information discovered in this legal action to “identify bad actors” and remove the fake reviews.

      “Our teams stop millions of suspicious reviews before they’re ever seen by customers, and this lawsuit goes a step further to uncover perpetrators operating on social media,” said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of Selling Partner Services. “Proactive legal action targeting bad actors is one of many ways we protect customers by holding bad actors accountable.”

      According to Amazon, the administrators of these groups solicit fake reviews for hundreds of products sold on Amazon, including car stereos and camera tripods. The lawsuit identified one such group – Amazon Product Review – and said it had more than 43,000 members until it was removed from the Facebook platform earlier this year.

      Changing nature of marketing

      Lawmakers and regulators have pushed Amazon to take action against phony reviews on its site because of the changing nature of marketing. Traditional advertising no longer has the power it once did. Instead, consumers often find the experience of other customers to be more persuasive.

      Regulators say that when there is a paid effort to promote a particular product in the guise of a consumer review, it is highly deceptive and violates any number of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations.

      Amazon said it strictly prohibits fake reviews and employs more than 12,000 people around the world to protect its stores from fraud and abuse, including fake reviews. For example, it says an Amazon team is assigned to investigate fake review schemes on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

      10,000 fake reviews

      Since 2020, Amazon said it has reported more than 10,000 fake review groups to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Of these, Amazon said Meta has taken down more than half of the groups for policy violations and continues to investigate others.

      Fakespot, an app that identifies fake or unreliable reviews, says it has analyzed 3,629 products and 19,321,997 reviews for Amazon products and found that just under 20% are “unreliable.”

      In a recent survey, 2,000 U.S. consumers reported spending an average of $899 per year on disappointing online purchases that didn’t live up to reviews, with clothing, tech, and toys providing the most disappointment.

      Under growing pressure to curb the number of fake product reviews on its site, Amazon is suing the administrators of 10,000 Facebook groups over claims tha...

      More than half of Americans have owed medical debt in last five years, study finds

      Sixty-one percent of insured adults said they received a surprise medical bill

      With inflation on the rise, any kind of debt may prove to be a hardship. Medical debt appears to be especially burdensome, as the National Consumer Law Center reported last year that health-related debt was the leading cause of bankruptcy.

      A recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that 57% of adults reported owing medical debt during the last five years. Even people with health insurance often discovered that they owed large amounts of money for an uncovered expense.

      Among insured adults under age 65, 61% were reportedly hit with a large, surprise medical bill. Among that group, 53% said they received a medical or dental bill they thought contained an error.

      Some two-thirds of these patients said the error involved something that should have been covered by their health insurance. Other provider errors were also reported, including being billed for services never received or for bills that had already been paid.

      The KFF study found that just over half – 51% – of people who were wrongly billed for medical services could not resolve the matter to their satisfaction.

      Erroneous bills often end up in collections

      Making matters worse, 32% of people with disputed health care debt have had that bill sent to collections, damaging their credit score and limiting their future access to credit, loans, and financing.

      The KFF researchers say state Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs), established in 2010, have helped patients resolve disputed medical bills. Under the establishing law, CAPs not only help consumers file appeals and resolve billing disputes, but they also report data to regulators on consumer experiences to inform oversight.  

      “However, Congress has not provided funding for CAPs since the initial appropriation of $30 million in 2010,” the researcher wrote. “As a result, a few programs have since closed their doors.”

      With inflation on the rise, any kind of debt may prove to be a hardship. Medical debt appears to be especially burdensome, as the National Consumer Law Cen...

      Blood thickness may predict risk of dying from COVID-19, study finds

      Hospitalized patients with greater blood viscosity had a higher death rate

      A new study conducted by researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital explored how blood viscosity (or thickness) may affect COVID-19 patients’ risk of death. According to their findings, patients are more likely to die from coronavirus-related complications when their blood is thicker. 

      “This study demonstrates the importance of checking for blood viscosity in COVID-19 patients early in hospital admission, which is easily obtained through routine lab work,” said researcher Dr. Robert Rosenson. 

      Long-term health risks

      For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 5,600 COVID-19 patients from six hospitals in the Mount Sinai Health System from February 2020, through November 2021. All of the participants had tested positive for COVID-19, and the team tracked their health care outcomes until they were either discharged or had passed away. 

      The team found a clear link between high blood thickness and an increased risk of death among COVID-19 patients. The risk of death was higher than 30% when looking at small vessel circulation, and it surpassed 60% when measuring blood thickness in the arteries. 

      The researchers explained that the COVID-19 virus affects the way certain proteins in the blood respond to inflammation. Because the virus creates more inflammation, it makes our blood thicker and affects the way it flows throughout the body.

      Patients’ blood viscosity isn’t typically measured directly when they are admitted to the hospital, but measuring hematocrit and globulins can help health care professionals estimate blood thickness. The researchers say it's an important thing to measure when evaluating COVID-19 patients. 

      Moving forward, the team hopes more hospitals start paying attention to COVID-19 patients’ blood viscosity so doctors can identify those with a higher risk of dying. This can ensure that consumers get the treatments they need.

      “We are currently investigating the effects of therapeutic heparin to reduce the risk of complications during acute COVID-19 infections, which may greatly benefit those with blood viscosity,” said Dr. Rosenson. 

      A new study conducted by researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital explored how blood viscosity (or thickness) may affect COVID-19 patients’ risk of death. Acc...

      Chrysler recalls Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ram 1500s

      The high-pressure fuel pump may fail

      Chrysler is recalling 138,645 model year 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokees and model year 2014-2019 Ram 1500s with 3.0L diesel engines.

      A high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

      Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace -- if necessary -- additional fuel system components for free. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 29, 2022.

      Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z46.

      Chrysler is recalling 138,645 model year 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokees and model year 2014-2019 Ram 1500s with 3.0L diesel engines.A high-pressure fue...

      Mercedes-Benz recalls 2016-2018 Metris vans

      The value for the maximum combined load weight capacity of the tires is incorrect

      Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling 24,403 model year 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vans. The value for the maximum combined load weight capacity of the tires is incorrect.

      An overloaded vehicle may cause tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      A remedy for this issue is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 25, 2022.

      Owners may contact DVUSA at (877) 762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2LASTRE.

      Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling 24,403 model year 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vans. The value for the maximum combined load weight capacity of the...

      Creminelli Fine Meats recalls mini Parmesan salami sticks

      The product contains an egg white protein, an allergen not declared on the label

      Creminelli Fine Meat of Salt Lake City, Utah, is recalling approximately 4,207 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) Parmesan salami sticks.

      The product contains an egg white protein, which is an allergen that is not declared on the label

      There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions

      The following item, packaged from October 26, 2021, through April 26, 2022, is being recalled:

      • 2.6-oz. plastic pouches containing “CREMINELLI FINE MEATS salami minis UNCURED ITALIAN SALAMI PARMESAN” with “BEST BY” dates from 06/18/22 through 12/09/22.

      The recalled product, bearing the establishment number “EST34644” stamped on the back of the product packaging next to the best by date, was shipped to retail locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Utah. It was also sold on the internet nationwide.

      What to do

      Customers with an allergy or sensitivity to eggs who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they should discard or return it to the place of purchase.

      Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (801) 428-1820.

      Creminelli Fine Meat of Salt Lake City, Utah, is recalling approximately 4,207 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) Parmesan salami sticks.The product contains...