Louisiana tests vaccine distribution system with flu shots in Shreveport: https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/louisiana-department-of-heath-offering-free-flu-shots-drive-thru-style-in-shreveport/ .
WSJ: COVID-19 kills neurons: https://www.wsj.com/articles/damaged-sense-of-smell-in-covid-patients-holds-clues-to-how-recovery-might-work-11606140319 . More clues emerge on the mechanisms of the disease.
Front-line clinicians’ webinar: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-11-23/front-line-clinicians-share-lessons-from-battling-covid-19 . More on Dr. Choo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Choo .
AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine 70% effective; 90% effective if given as half-dose plus full dose: https://apnews.com/article/astrazeneca-vaccine-third-cheaper-oxford-c99d26eb2946f6fde45a1edc002ff028 . More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/11/23/covid-news-los-angeles-county-dining-nevada-bryan-steil/6383796002/ . Still more: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/another-covid-19-vaccine-success-candidate-may-prevent-further-coronavirus-transmission . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-up-to-90-effective-in-late-stage-trials-11606116047 . The transmission reduction feature is a new wrinkle in comparing vaccines.
Another study confirms kids usually have mild COVID-19 symptoms: https://consumer.healthday.com/amp/b-11-23-study-confirms-covid-is-usually-mild-in-kids-2648992141 .
Pennsylvania faces full ICUs: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-11-23/pennsylvania-faces-full-icus-within-a-week-as-coronavirus-cases-surge .
WSJ: Staten Island heads for tighter lockdown: https://www.wsj.com/articles/staten-island-faces-tougher-lockdown-measures-as-covid-19-surges-11606164714 .
Contact tracing still sucks: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Of-46-new-coronavirus-cases-Monday-Albany-County-15747872.php . And this is the New York state capital.
WSJ: Shoppers crowd malls as COVID-19 surges: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-surge-doesnt-keep-holiday-shoppers-away-from-malls-11606140468 .
US travel spikes as COVID-19 surges: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2020-11-23/us-prepares-for-first-covid-19-shots-as-another-vaccine-candidate-emerges .
WSJ: Europe looks to ease lockdowns for Christmas: https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-authorities-prepare-to-ease-covid-19-lockdowns-for-christmas-11606158715 .
Italy passes 50,000 COVID deaths: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-tally/italys-covid-19-death-toll-passes-50000-with-630-new-fatalities-idUSKBN28328P .
WSJ: European insurers seek deals: https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-insurers-gear-up-to-do-deals-11606127401 .
India lacks cold chain logistics for vaccine distribution system: https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/india-faces-cold-chain-logistics-challenge-for-virus-vaccination .
WSJ: Merck buying OncoImmune: https://www.wsj.com/articles/merck-to-buy-oncoimmune-amid-covid-19-vaccine-development-11606131900 .
JP Morgan warns US GDP growth to turn negative: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/20/economy/economy-coronavirus-jpmorgan/index.html .
WSJ: Bitcoin soars: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bitcoin-trades-again-near-record-driven-by-new-group-of-buyers-11606127401 . Uh-huh. This is the “investment” equivalent of a Beanie Baby. What is scarier is Tesla, and scarier still is the market in general. Unless, of course, you believe investment fundamentals don’t matter. That has never been true long-term in the history of economics.
Will TikTok be sold? The delayed CFIUS deadline is this Friday, November 27.
Michigan certifies election: https://time.com/5915060/michigan-pennsylvania-election-results-trump-biden/ . Time marches on.
AND late Monday afternoon: GSA chief signs off on transition: https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/emily-murphy-gsa-signs-off-biden-transition/507-7bd7213a-d31b-43e8-ace3-4a96a54f44aa . Trump vows to fight on. How? Maybe strap a jet-pack on Don Jr.? “To infinity and beyond!”. The WSJ take: https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-pressure-gsa-to-name-biden-winner-start-transition-11606172086 . Uh-huh. The GSA chief says she made the decision independently and without White House input or pressure. Trump’s tweet came after her announcement. WSJ should not withhold the facts from its readers – that’s Fox’s job.
Hawks, Falcons provide stadiums for early Georgia voting: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-georgia-wisconsin-a2f5155019a0c5aa09a7a6a82fb7d14b . It’s tough, but the Democrats have a chance in these Senate runoff elections.
Janet Yellen selected as Treasury Secretary: https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/11/23/938124791/biden-picks-janet-yellen-to-be-treasury-secretary . By definition, she’s already more accomplished than Steve Mnuchin. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/janet-yellen-is-bidens-pick-for-treasury-secretary-11606161637 .
Kerry selected as climate envoy: https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/11/23/938150511/john-kerry-tapped-for-newly-created-role-as-presidential-climate-envoy . For looking so much like Granddad, that is one cute kid. This is an impressive message to the world that the US will immediately rejoin the global stage in a sane manner. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-taps-john-kerry-to-help-regain-global-leadership-on-climate-change-11606166941 .
WSJ: Summary of Biden picks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-bidens-white-house-and-cabinet-picks-11606160202 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-reveals-some-cabinet-picks-11606152632 .
Dianne Feinstein steps down from Judiciary Committee: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/23/dianne-feinstein-step-down-senate-judiciary-439836 . “Steps down” means pushed out. Her term ends in January 2025. She would be 91 at that time. The WSJ take: https://www.wsj.com/articles/feinstein-to-step-asideas-top-democrat-on-judiciary-committee-11606173107 .
Who will replace Kamala Harris in the Senate?: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gavin-newsom-kamala-harris-seat_n_5fbb3d01c5b6e4b1ea43d269 .
GOP Senator Capito takes tentative steps toward a Biden presidency: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/527242-gop-senator-no-indication-of-widespread-voting-irregularities-window-for . Earth to The Hill: No GOP Senator is putting pressure on Trump. Each is trying to find some way to wriggle toward the reality coming on January 20. Trump will never concede unless he concludes it’s to his media image presence benefit to do so. So far that looks like “never”. If there is a traditional inaugural swearing-in, Trump will not show up. How extraordinary this prediction is.
WSJ: Republicans looking for a bus from Mars back to Earth: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-continues-to-challenge-election-results-as-legal-options-dwindle-11606066065 . It’s politically incorrect to speak the truth in the Republican Party. “Dwindle”, WSJ? There are no legal options because there is no evidence.
News from 5th grade: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/os-ne-carl-bernstein-rubio-scott-20201123-bqa7okrp6fbwlb4iujdyk465z4-story.html?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=notification&utm_campaign=2020-11-23-Rubio-Scott-des . Except it’s Republican Senators. Will their tune change before January 20? Yes, to “Biden is now president, and our beloved leader is in waiting”. That will change if and when the Orange Menace is awarded his matching jumpsuit and can’t broadcast from the can. While Bernstein mentions the two Florida senators, Trump won’t run in 2022 (Rubio is up). It’s beneath his “image” (imagine that!).
Trump in a can: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/what-trump-faces-jan-20-2021-n1247722 . Ford’s pardon of Nixon was a big mistake that is believed to have been a major factor in Ford’s failure to be re-elected. The state crimes are discussed here, and only Cuomo could pardon Trump. There’s no way …
More 5th grade “news”: Trump campaign now says Sidney Powell was not part of their legal team: https://www.axios.com/sidney-powell-trump-campaign-lawyer-b37fc70d-9935-4ffd-a810-0d01ae909584.html . Uh-huh. And she spoke for 45 minutes at the legal team’s 2-hour presser last week because …? We are all hardened to the Trump Conspiracy’s lies. What continues to astound is how absolutely awful they are at it. Putin joins Trump legal team: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-says-no-hidden-motive-in-not-congratulating-biden/30963116.html . He’s a better liar/lawyer and already spouts the Trump position. He will join remotely, however.
Still more from 5th grade (best for last): https://www.thewrap.com/trump-carrots-turkey-pardon-thanksgiving-refused-concede-video/ . Did someone remember this? Is this just the result of quarantine boredom? A great find in any event.
Exuberance: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/humankind-had-its-greatest-year-ever-in-2020 . While I love enthusiasm, this is too over the top for me. Vaccine researchers had a landmark year. It gives us hope for many great advances against viruses to come, and a global perspective on medicine and health.
Science in general had a poor year, as jackasses worldwide found “reasons” to ignore experts, logic and their fellow man. Democracy had its fifth straight miserable year. Education in America and elsewhere is focused on employing people rather than equipping them to think critically. And voter suppression now applies to all political opponents. Indeed, everyone who disagrees with you is now an opponent.
Passion is a higher and deeper value than enthusiasm.
As to the photo, I’m reminded of a dinner conversation at a CCA Annual Meeting (50th Anniversary in 2000?) with past president John Muetterties. Somehow Vietnam came up. I mentioned that 3 members of my blue-collar, 500-member high school class (so 250 males) were killed there.
John replied that every male in his high school graduating class (200; around 1941, so start of WWII) went into the service; 25 came back. The sacrifices Americans have made for democracy mean we should never waiver in its defense.