News: Daily Skimm: You are a beautiful, strong soul

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Daily Skimm: You are a beautiful, strong soul

February 16, 2022

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Woman on Fidelity website thinking about vacationing

Daily Skimm

Skimm'd while building a dream-worthy retirement plan

Quote of the Day

"This is a very rare incident" — An airline official after a snake forced a plane to re-route. We're all thinking it.

An HIV Breakthrough

The Story

A new treatment may have cured a woman of HIV.

Sorry, I'm going to read that again.

Yesterday, scientists said a woman who received treatment in New York hasn't shown any signs of HIV for over 14 months. Doctors remain cautious and consider her to be in remission. But she could be the third or fourth person ever — and first woman — to have been cured of the virus by scientists.

How'd it happen?

In 2017, the woman — also battling leukemia — received two transplants to help fight her HIV and cancer. Doctors gave her umbilical cord blood from a donor. And stem cells from a relative to boost her immune system. The donor cord blood had a mutation that blocks HIV. But it wasn't an exact match.

And it worked?

It seems like it. Three years after her transplant, the woman stopped antiretroviral therapy — an HIV treatment to reduce the amount of virus in the body. Some doctors reportedly say that cells from cord blood are naturally more adaptable to a new environment because they're newborn cells. But this transplant may have saved her from going through with a risky and invasive bone marrow transplant used on two other HIV patients who've been cured.

Wow.

There's more: Women make up over 50% of the nearly 38 million HIV cases in the world. But reportedly only account for 11% of participants in cure trials. That means women are largely underrepresented. And HIV's a virus that can affect women differently than men. But that's not all.

Go on.

She's also mixed race. Important, because Black Americans make up over 40% of HIV cases in the US. But the majority of donors in registries are white. So, allowing a partial match opens up the donor pool to people of color who may have been left out. But doctors say the stem cell strategy may only help people fighting cancer and HIV.

theSkimm

Millions of people live with HIV every day. And while treatment options make it easier for HIV-positive people to have normal lives, the world is still in need of a cure.

And Also...This

Who wants to put this story away...

Prince Andrew. Yesterday, the royal reached a settlement in a civil sexual assault case. In August, Virginia Giuffre sued the prince, accusing him of sexually assaulting her on three separate occasions when she was 17 — including on Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Now, after repeatedly denying responsibility, Andrew has agreed to make a "substantial donation" to Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights. He acknowledged her as an "established victim of abuse" who suffered because of "unfair public attacks." But still isn't admitting to assault. A lawyer for Giuffre said the moment "speaks for itself."

Not feeling jubilant: The deal avoided a trial that could have further embarrassed the monarchy. And Buckingham Palace isn't commenting as it looks like the Queen won't touch this story with a 10-foot scepter. But people are asking 'where's the settlement money coming...taxpayers?'

Who's seeing some justice…

Families of the Sandy Hook victims. Yesterday, they announced a landmark $73 million settlement. In 2012, a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six adults in Newtown, CT, using a Remington Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle. Two years later, families sued the manufacturer and spent years battling a US law that protects gun manufacturers from being held liable in crimes involving their products. Now, a gunmaker has agreed to a major settlement in a US mass shooting. An attorney for the families hopes the victory will be part of an "avalanche" of change in the gun industry and for everyone involved.

Who's facing fallout…

Alec Baldwin. Yesterday, the family of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the actor and others involved in the film "Rust." In October, Baldwin fired a prop gun killing the 42-year-old and injuring the director. Now, Hutchins' family is blaming reckless behavior and cost-cutting for her death. Baldwin has denied responsibility for her death and his attorney said any claim he was reckless is "entirely false."

Who's saying 'get in rich people, we're going to space'...

Virgin Galactic.

Retirement Ready

Would you rather hit "add to cart" on a new outfit right now…or take a trip to Europe in 40 years? OK, so it's not that black and white. And we know balancing distant dreams with things happening in the here and now can be tough.

But these magic words can help you stay motivated to invest for the future: compounding interest. It's how small investments could get big. Because if you start today and consistently contribute even a little bit, your money will have more time to earn money than if you start later. Psst…if you need more tips for putting your money to work, Fidelity's† gotchu. They can help you build a plan for retirement that balances your short-term and long-term goals. See what we mean.

†Fidelity Brokerage Services, Member NYSE, SIPC

Thing to Know

Squalane

The makeup- and skincare-friendly version of squalene, which is a lipid (read: fat) our body makes to lock in moisture and protect our skin. Often sourced from olives and sugarcane, squalane is an intensely hydrating compound that can smooth the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and make skin look more vibrant — all without clogging pores. Talk about multitasking.

Now for the really good news: Squalane is used in a ton of clean beauty products, like the kind you can find at Sephora. They've got a growing list of over 100 best-in-class brands that adhere to their industry-leading clean regulations. Learn more — and get shopping — here.

Skimm Well

Something that's gotten a lot of parents talking: The COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5. Pfizer's vaccine could be the first one available for children this young. Even though its authorization process has caused some confusion. If it's gotten your head spinning, you're not alone. So we called up some experts to tell us about what's happening with the vaccine, including its safety, dosage, and possible side effects. Our guide will help you make sense of it all for you and your family.

Skimm Picks

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. A TP subscription that makes it easy to be green. Reely. This toilet paper is made out of 100% bamboo. (Instead of the 150 pounds of trees used per person, per year for the other stuff.) And Skimm'rs get a special deal. Nature's literally calling.*

2. A must-queue podcast ep. On our latest episode of "Pop Cultured," sponsored by Babbel, we take a look at how the dating game's changed since social media entered the chat. And share tips from relationship experts and (drumroll, please…) TikTok phenom Tinx. Turn it up.*

3. One-and-done looks you can wear for practically every event on your cal. This brand's best-selling jumpsuits are comfy, flattering, and (ICYMI) extremely versatile. Just throw on your fave shoes and prepare for compliments. PS: Skimm'rs get 20% off. The party really is jumpin' jumpin'.*

4. Laundry products that'll make the chore a breeze. Like these washing bags for delicates, detergent cup holders, and anti-vibration pads so your machines won't rattle. Looking for more recs to make everyday life tasks a bit easier? Check out our Amazon storefront.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

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.

Sweet moves…Stacy M (NY). Last year, she launched Bliss Pastries LLC. It offers chocolate chip cookie pies, chocolate chip cookies, and brownies that happen to be gluten- and nut-free. And she's launched it all while working as a full-time attorney.

(Some) Birthdays…Nathan Brown (IN), Katie Liestman (TX), Caroline J Davis (RI), Anne Eliason (ND), Wendy Kaplan (PA), William Robertson (CT), Pam Gunnell (UT), Jami Averwater (TN), Katherine Beggiato (NJ), Taylor Gardner (AL), Dorie Shapiro (CA), Jenn Dabbelt (OH), Andrea Padilla (CA), Sarah Eulitt (NC), Jennifer Geist (MN)

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

Skimm More

Taking time off from work? Groundbreaking. (But it shouldn't be.) We Skimm'd six perfectly good reasons to call out of work — and how to do it. Vacation bag, secured.

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

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