Breakthrough COVID infections increase: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/08/30/breakthrough-covid-19-cases-rise-mike-doyle-tests-positive-upmc-ahn-allegheny-health-network-vaccination/stories/202108270181 .
New COVID variant detected in South Africa: https://www.jpost.com/health-science/new-covid-variant-detected-in-south-africa-most-mutated-variant-so-far-678011 . Note that the initial increases in percent of cases in June and July look similar to the increase pattern for Delta. This suggests the new variant, C.1.2, may be as (highly) transmissible as Delta. As mentioned before, because different countries have different mixes of the various vaccines, we cannot currently tell to what extent C.1.2 could evade the current vaccines.
WSJ: Long COVID may mostly clear in children after a year: https://www.wsj.com/articles/most-children-with-rare-post-covid-19-condition-in-fine-health-year-later-u-k-study-finds-11630335617 . Obviously, we need more time to fully assess the long-term effects of COVID.
Florida withholds funds from two school districts over mask mandates: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/florida-withholds-funds-two-school-012640974.html . This appears to directly violate the state judge’s order previously reported. As that judge is in Tallahassee, one would expect an immediate request to that judge for a temporary restraining order against the state. Simply put, the state has to win on appeal before it can do this. Stay tuned. DeMentis appears to be fighting a losing battle here, both in the court and in the court of public opinion.
Spending Texas tax dollars to support the consequences of Governor Abbott’s anti-science approach to COVID: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/30/coronavirus-texas-hospital-staff/ .
Yet another conservative radio host promoting anti-vaccination trash dies of COVID: https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/08/29/3rd-conservative-radio-host-who-condemned-vaccines-dies-of-covid-1390555 . All three were in their 60’s. Two were based in Florida. Is it worth dying to support DeMentis?
Liberty University ignorance concerning public health protocols blows up its fall semester: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberty-university-campus-coronavirus-outbreak-190440953.html . This place has so many troubles it is difficult to consider it a place of higher education.
Chicago judge has unique take on an unvaccinated mother, but then withdraws ruling: https://people.com/human-interest/judge-who-revoked-unvaccinated-chicago-mothers-child-custody-withdraws-decision/ . The judge appears to have left the door open for the father to file on this matter and to brief this issue to the court.
The booster shot debate continues: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-debate-the-need-for-booster-shots-134723561.html . An important point mentioned here deserves more emphasis. It is currently unclear whether the booster currently being discussed is actually a booster or a third dose. Following the antibody levels of people who receive a third dose will answer that question. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-booster-shots-get-support-from-expert-panel-11630361918 .
The obvious consequences of cranking up evictions during a pandemic: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/750000-households-face-eviction-by-january-with-possible-severe-public-health-consequences-goldman-says/ar-AANUtoZ?li=BBnb7Kz .
New Orleans levees hold: the good news and the bad news: https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-new-orleans-floods-suburbs-f2a033ef3eca9b98d55351a0736657d9 . So flooding the suburbs is not a great result. It sounds like not all of the planned levees have been built out.
Comparing Ida and Katrina: https://www.yahoo.com/now/does-hurricane-ida-compare-hurricane-210255099.html . There is a lot of good information here, but it is too early for a post-mortem. Ida’s projected high rainfall will find its way to the Mississippi. WSJ: Also, the power grid has sustained severe damage: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ida-intensifies-into-a-category-4-hurricane-poised-to-strike-new-orleans-on-sunday-11630244323 . Some suggest New Orleans will be without power for more than a week – maybe up to 6 weeks!: https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ida-louisiana-new-orleans-c43c2c68946ceb6100c2239534c6c290 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/entergy-says-2-000-miles-of-high-voltage-lines-knocked-out-by-hurricane-ida-11630370133 . And don’t forget the COVID surge in this area.
Even the French people support mandates: https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-france-covid-immunity-passport-vaccine-pass/ . A majority of Americans do, too. However, we are currently stuck with some anti-science governors.
Moderna’s vaccine contamination problem grows in Japan: https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-suspends-1m-more-vaccine-doses-after-death-2-japan-and-more-contaminants-found .
WSJ: Still another grounding of Boeing jets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-jets-with-engines-in-denver-incident-may-not-fly-until-next-year-11630315801 . Can Boeing do anything right anymore? I continue to shocked at how their outstanding record of quality manufacture has gone in the toilet over the past few years. Some part of this is undoubtedly related to moving some manufacturing to South Carolina, where the nonunion workforce simply does not have the education and experience of the workforce in the Seattle area.
WSJ: Delta variant hurts China’s service economy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-delta-variant-pummels-chinas-services-sector-11630386778 . Again, lockdowns only buy time to vaccinate the population. Every government continues to emphasize one approach, which violates basic public health principles.
BLM protesters are receiving harsher sentences than January 6 insurrectionists: https://apnews.com/article/records-rebut-claims-jan-6-rioters-55adf4d46aff57b91af2fdd3345dace8 . It’s great that someone is doing this research, so we can substitute facts for political spin. But the article misses a very important point: Judge Howell, the chief judge overseeing most of the January 6 prosecutions, has questioned whether prosecutors are being too lenient.
In other news, Generalissimo Franco is still dead, and Ted Cruz is still an insufferable ass. And in better news, neither of them is getting much press lately.
Confusion about the Afghan withdrawal remains: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-kabul-islamic-state-group-c1dd950afee8daf535ce33f6d144b6fc . The reporting continues to shift. Here is my best sense of the numbers, from a variety of reports. The US evacuated a total of 123,000 people from Kabul. Of these, 5,500 are American citizens and some smaller number are allies. That suggests we evacuated about 115,000 Afghans, people who worked with Americans and their families. This compares to 263,000 Afghans on record as having worked with American forces. Around 150 Americans who wanted to leave are still in Afghanistan.
One would conclude that the 150 Americans are at some risk, and at least 150,000 Afghans are at significant risk. That risk will be determined by the Taliban, and to a smaller extent ISIS-K if they decide to continue attacks on these people. Also, to the extent that the Taliban follow through on a more moderate government, there is risk that their own fighters will defect to the more radical ISIS-K.
Commuting by sea-glider: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/regent-seaglider-wing-in-ground-effect-vehicle/index.html .
A pizza machine in Rome: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/rome-pizza-vending-machine-review/index.html . What? The Romans are disgusted by the idea – as am I. With the abundant, magnificent food in Rome, Italians are not eating this thing out of a machine. Frankly, it is a cultural insult. Maybe young American tourists will, but this won’t do much for our reputation abroad.