Fauci apologizes for comments on UK vaccine approval: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-fauci-apol/fauci-apologizes-for-casting-doubt-over-uks-approval-of-pfizer-vaccine-idUSKBN28D3AH . WSJ: UK vaccine approval: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-approved-in-the-u-k-what-you-need-to-know-11606905307 .
COVID long-haulers lung scarring: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55017301 .
Pfizer vaccine shipment estimate for 2020 cut in half to 50 million: https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/12/03/pfizer-to-ship-half-as-many-coronavirus-vaccine-do/ . Sad to say, skepticism about vaccination claims are warranted. Also, I should have noted yesterday that a Pfizer vaccination requires two shots, 21 days apart. So, technically those considered vaccinated by February 1 must have their first shot by January 10. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-slashed-its-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-target-after-facing-supply-chain-obstacles-11607027787 .
WSJ: Vaccine winners still evolving: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-contest-isnt-over-11606995181 . The prior story makes this pretty clear.
WSJ: Dry ice a hot commodity: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-start-a-frenzy-for-dry-ice-its-like-a-herd-of-mustangs-11607007166 .
US breaks more COVID records: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/morning-briefing/u-s-sets-records-covid-deaths-cases-hospitalization-cdc-director-n1249823 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-covid-19-patients-stretch-hospitals-some-doctors-ration-intensive-care-11607022592 . ICU rationing has begun …
Russia breaks another COVID case record: https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2020-12-03/russia-reports-record-28-000-new-daily-coronavirus-cases .
California moves toward stay-at-home orders: https://apnews.com/article/business-gavin-newsom-california-coronavirus-pandemic-326daa8a6038706a95cafbe1839ff96b .
Florida governor puts his ambitions over science and human life: https://www.foxnews.com/health/florida-tops-1m-coronavirus-cases-desantis-denounces-masks-mandate-lockdowns .
Iowa called out for COVID inaction: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/12/how-iowa-mishandled-coronavirus-pandemic/617252/ .
Two Kansas counties reject new CDC quarantine periods: https://www.koamnewsnow.com/two-kansas-counties-reject-new-guidance-on-covid-19-quarantines/ (link replaced 1/4/21). I agree with these counties. (The original link also covered this story: https://www.ksn.com/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-in-kansas/majority-of-kansas-inmates-housed-in-arizona-have-covid-19/ – added 1/4/21).
Virginia county rejects governor’s orders: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/12/02/941584691/virginia-county-votes-to-reject-gov-northams-coronavirus-restrictions . These people, however, are nuts clinging to their guns and their worship of a false Orange icon. The county is just southwest of Appomattox.
WSJ: Biden’s 100-day mask request: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-expected-to-tap-zients-as-white-house-coronavirus-coordinator-11607029678 .
Former presidents volunteer to get shot on TV: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-12-03/obama-bush-clinton-would-take-coronavirus-vaccine-on-camera-to-show-safety . Yes, it is a terrible double-entendre. Apologies for any offense …
Facebook to remove vaccine “fake news”: https://apnews.com/article/facebook-remove-vaccine-misinformation-99b6f1057c0b23af035f68f215a63fbb . Good luck with this one. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-to-remove-covid-19-vaccine-misinformation-from-platforms-11607015562 .
WSJ: Interpol warns of vaccine disruption from organized crime: https://www.wsj.com/articles/virus-vaccines-are-liquid-gold-to-organized-crime-interpol-warns-11607000854 .
Doctor incentives face federal fraud alert: https://www.wsj.com/articles/health-care-industry-faces-greater-scrutiny-around-payments-to-doctors-to-promote-products-11606991402 . It’s about time …
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims fall to 712,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-13-2-2020-11606950268 . Caution is urged because of potential data distortion around Thanksgiving.
WSJ: COVID shrinks the labor market: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-shrinks-the-labor-market-pushing-out-women-and-baby-boomers-11607022074 .
WSJ: Negotiate your airline card fees: https://www.wsj.com/articles/airline-cards-lose-luster-as-coronavirus-persists-11606991400 . No, that’s not what WSJ said, but it’s a more useful interpretation of the WSJ information. You’re welcome.
Stimulus pot moved to slow boil: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/03/coronavirus-stimulus-update-mcconnell-says-relief-compromise-within-reach.html . Will a turtle get cooked in this pot?: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-congress/908-billion-coronavirus-aid-bill-draws-conservative-backing-in-u-s-congress-idUSKBN28D2DF . Couldn’t happen to a slimier amphibian. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcconnell-calls-democratic-shift-on-coronavirus-stimulus-a-move-in-the-right-direction-11607011152 .
WSJ: Will Biden revive SEC? (Yes.): https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-audit-watchdog-could-ramp-up-oversight-under-new-sec-leadership-11606991402 . “Resuscitate” is more like it.
WSJ: More lying for more money: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-rnc-raised-207-5-million-after-election-day-11607042954 . Fleecing the flock will go down as Trump’s most successful “business” venture.
Trump’s pardon palooza: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/03/trump-considers-more-pardons-442727 . Another trashing of the rule of law. The pardon is intended as clemency after a crime has been charged and the individual has been convicted and sentenced.
The only preemptive pardons I am aware of (after research): (1) President Nixon, after he resigned, by his successor, President Ford; (2) Vietnam draft dodgers, by President Carter; (3) Caspar Weinberger (former Secretary of Defense), by President George HW Bush, which was quite controversial: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1862257_1862325_1862322,00.html . A pardon normally indicates that there is evidence of a chargeable crime. That is rather ironic in this evidence-free presidency.
WSJ: NFL promotes rapid COVID tests: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nfl-rapid-covid-test-coronavirus-11607005009 . It’s hard to get more impressive than a perfect match …
WSJ: COVID-19 takes Giscard d’Estaing, 94: https://www.wsj.com/articles/france-mourns-former-president-valery-giscard-destaing-a-modernizing-force-in-europe-11607003932 . Rafer Johnson passes: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/olympic-champion-rafer-johnson-has-died-at-age-86/ . The first black captain of the US Olympic team (1960), Johnson helped subdue Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin.