🌱 The Great Resignation Hits Oregon + New COVID Drug Arrives

It's another Friday, peoples! The end to another fine week. But before we get the party started, let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

Lots of clouds, but we might see some sun, and the high will be around 50.

Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. A Portland software developer designed a website that makes it easier for shoppers find at-home COVID test kits online. Scott Krager said the site tracks 17 tests every 60 seconds from multiple online retailers including Amazon, Walgreens and Rite Aid. Krager's timing is good. Starting Saturday, a new policy under the Biden administration will require insurance companies to reimburse people for up to eight COVID tests a month. That means a family of four would qualify for 32 tests a month. (KGW.com)
2. Oregon employers are getting desperate. In October, 56,000 Oregonians quit their jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s 3% of the state’s workforce — and a higher rate than the rest of the nation, which just set its own record for resignations. Like contestants on The Bachelorette frantic for attention, Oregon companies are making extraordinary offers to lure replacements for the employees they lost. The most conspicuous? Signing bonuses: cash up front as an incentive to take a job. (Willamette Week)
3. Columbia Sportswear announced it will terminate employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, the company said Wednesday. Headquarter employees have until February 1 to be vaccinated or obtain a medical or religious exemption or they will be terminated. Nike announced a similar requirement. Workers have until Saturday to get vaccinated. (KOIN)
4. Oregon has given most of its initial supply of Paxlovid, a promising new antiviral drug from Pfizer to treat COVID-19, to community health clinics across the state. The clinics, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers, provide primary care to low-income, uninsured, rural, and historically disadvantaged populations. Nationwide, the drug is in extremely limited supply due to the time it takes to manufacture it. Oregon had received just 680 doses of Paxlovid as of Tuesday. (OPB)
5. It's been a tough season for Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers guard started out and hasn't really seemed to find his groove. Part of that has had to do with a lingering abdominal injury that forced him to sit for games at a time. after consulting with doctors and the team, Lillard has decided that the best course of action is surgery. He could go under the knife as early as Thursday. (Portland Patch)

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Today in Portland:

• There's comedy in SW Portland this evening, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ as they present The Chocolate Factory. The headliner is Nate Jackson, who is currently recurring on the upcoming NBC series Young Rock. He has appeared on Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'N Out (MTV), All Def Comedy (HBO), Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City (Comedy Central), Off The Chain (Bounce TV), Comic View (BET). Tickets available online. 7:00 - 10:30 PM.
• There's music tonight at the Soul Sunday Reunion at the Jack London Revue in downtown Portland. Featuring Brika De Tar & Onyx Sol with Eldon T Jones and special guests Ian Knighton and Tracy J. Get your tickets online. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
• Drag shows in Portland aren't at all hard to find. Tonight, there's one going on at the Escape Bar & Grill in NE Portland. They're presenting Mixed B.A.G., a DJ and Drag event. Featuring Sequin McQueen and other local talent! Get your tickets online.7:30 - 11:30 PM.
• In the mood for some deathcore music? Then you'll want to head to Dante's in downtown Portland to catch Fit for an Autopsy. But wait, there's more! Also performing will be Ingested, Enterprise Earth, Signs of the Swarm and Great American Ghost. Tickets available online. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
• Looking to hear everything from dubstep, glitch hop, west coast bass, IDM, psybass, halftime, drum n bass, and everything in between? Then check out System Sessions 001 at Mighty Joe's Tanker in SE Portland. System Sessions, a new event series focused on high-fidelity music on Elevated Intentions' Intent Audio sound system. Tonight will feature Hobi, Blanck, Chahan, and glasseye on vibe control with dark and boppin' dubs to start 2022 off right. Paint pushers Rob Tichinel & Yert Yert will be collaborating on an epic psychedelic canvas sure to entrance attendees. The fun starts at 9:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "About an hour outside of Portland on the way to the Oregon Coast, you may notice something that will make you smile. A giant smiley face made of trees appears every fall as the trees’ needles change color. Learn more about this wonderful..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Have you ever seen a Bufflehead suddenly disappear under water and then reappear elsewhere, like magic? When foraging, these tiny ducks spend half their time underwater so a little patience is rewarded if you’re looking for them. They us..." (Instagram)
• Portland Trail Blazers: "Damian Lillard has undergone surgery this morning to repair a core injury causing chronic abdominal pain. He will be reevaluated in six weeks. Get well soon, @damianlillard ❤️" (Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "Jess Perlitz’s "Burned Beast" is a mismatched creature, resembling an ill-fitted hobby horse with visible seams and dowels. The basswood has been hand-chiseled and sanded, and burnt in the final stage, at once creating a pragmatic and pr..." (Instagram)

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Wow, now that's a Friday. With a start like that, I can't wait to see what the weekend brings. So meet me back here tomorrow and let's see what Saturday has to offer.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.