WSJ: Regeneron antibody drug shows promise: https://www.wsj.com/articles/regenerons-antibody-drug-cuts-risk-of-death-in-some-covid-19-patients-11623819601 . This trial relates to severely ill patients in the UK.
CureVac vaccine flops in late-stage trials: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/16/curevac-covid-vaccine-only-47percent-effective-in-early-data-shares-tank.html . Considering this is an mRNA vaccine, a 47% effectiveness rate is a shockingly bad result. Ascribing this result to the prevalence of variants is bad news for all of the vaccines. More: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-germanys-curevac-vaccine-only-47-effective/a-57929473 . WSJ: Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/curevac-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-disappoints-in-key-study-11623886511 .
WSJ: We get paid to babble: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-fading-us-11623842522 . One tires of uninformed experts. Here’s what’s up, WSJ: (1) COVID will remain in the global population permanently, as the only virus ever eliminated from humankind (smallpox) did not have an animal reservoir. (2) There is no evidence the virus is seasonal, and plenty that it is not. (3) The variants are more transmissible and more virulent than the original strain. The influenza comparisons need to stop. The central question is how the vaccine-variant race will play out.
COVID vaccination rates by country: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-vaccine-lucky-america-133840539.html .
Times Square vaccination site gives almost 900 people expired shots: https://apnews.com/article/nyc-state-wire-ny-state-wire-health-coronavirus-pandemic-sports-3af5dc68742fa13bfed9804ef54e3553 . How did they manage to make this mistake over 5 days?
WSJ: New York City plans fine amnesty for small businesses: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-poised-to-ease-fines-on-small-businesses-hit-by-covid-19-11623853610 . I wonder how many are still in operation.
WSJ: China’s vaccine diplomacy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-steps-into-covid-19-vaccine-void-in-asias-developing-nations-11623848904 .
EU re-opening to Americans: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/eu-lifting-covid-restrictions-us-tourists . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-welcomed-back-to-europe-as-covid-19-restrictions-ease-11623853296 .
Royal Caribbean delays cruise as 8 crewmembers test positive for COVID: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/royal-caribbean-delays-cruise-ship-after-8-crew-members-test-n1270979 . So, the headline seemed nonsensical – why not just replace those 8 crewmembers? It turns out that the crew numbers 1,400 (!) and hundreds more are in quarantine because of these 8 (!!). Since a 14-day quarantine would still be over by the end of June, we may not yet have the full story. Everyone who signed up for this floating Petri dish to leave on July 3 must now reschedule to leave on July 31. How fun (not)! WSJ: Less: https://www.wsj.com/articles/royal-caribbean-postpones-july-cruise-after-crew-members-test-positive-for-covid-19-11623867232 . The Journal just took management at its word.
WSJ: Baby boomer retirements a factor in labor shortage: https://www.wsj.com/articles/recent-retirements-throw-wrench-into-feds-economic-recovery-plans-11623879150 . Among other things, this reinforces my contempt for the red states ending federal supplemental unemployment benefits. Their “rationale” continues to be without merit.
WSJ: DOJ sues to stop Aon-Willis deal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-sues-to-block-aon-acquisition-of-willis-towers-watson-11623875314 .
WSJ: Insurrectionists in disarray: https://www.wsj.com/articles/proud-boys-and-oath-keepers-forceful-on-jan-6-privately-are-in-turmoil-11623859785 . That’s okay. If things go right, they’ll have government-paid room and board coming up soon.
Juneteenth passes House; another Republican qualifies for the Idiot Olympics: https://www.aol.com/news/house-passes-bill-making-juneteenth-233117923.html . Matt Rosendale’s comments in this article are both nonsensical and illogical. I wanted to see if his statement actually said “call an ace and ace”, so here’s his actual statement: https://rosendale.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=191 . He said “an ace”, so that’s okay.
But that is not the correct “card phrase”, which replaces “ace” in the phrase (twice) with the black suit that is not clubs. That is an overtly racist phrase from the past (where it belongs): https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/09/19/224183763/is-it-racist-to-call-a-spade-a-spade (and I agree, it was originally a garden spade). Rosendale wants to “focus on what unites us”. So, he votes against this bill passed unanimously by the Senate and by the House 415-14. And he includes a racial dog whistle in voting against Juneteenth. Rosendale also voted against medals for the Capitol Police: https://www.newsweek.com/gop-vote-capitol-police-gold-medals-insurrection-1601129 . This boy is Idiot Olympics material for sure.
Idiot Olympics icon opposes COVID vaccine for kids: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/16/trump-rails-against-covid-vaccines-for-very-young-people-494975 . Right, let’s inject them with bleach instead.
This just in – Australian scientists figure out why only two of an echidna’s four penis heads are erect at one time: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/11/australian-researchers-discover-why-only-two-heads-of-echidna-penis-become-erect-at-one-time . Apparently these scientists had a lot of time on their hands during the pandemic. Thanks to Stephen Colbert for highlighting this scientific advance.