CDC eases masking requirements Friday; BA2 grows but COVID cases fall

BA2 multiplies but COVID cases fall: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/who-says-omicron-subvariant-is-not-stopping-global-cases-from-falling-and-u-s-nearing-940-000-covid-deaths/ar-AAUd9JK?ocid=hponeservicefeed . The US continues to barrel toward 1 million reported COVID deaths. However, the evidence indicates the reporting undercounts total actual COVID deaths.

WSJ: Update on the BA2 subvariant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-we-know-about-the-ba-2-omicron-variant-11643300997 . Note that BA2 emerged at the same time as BA1, but there are 20 mutation differences between the two.

Experts criticize Bill Gates’ COVID vaccination comments: https://news.yahoo.com/we-need-to-think-about-the-covid-19-vaccines-well-need-in-3-to-5-years-public-health-expert-155855572.html . Assuming you are trying to save individual lives, vaccination makes enormous sense. Otherwise, you’re managing humanity like an animal cash crop.

US vaccination drive stalls out: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-us-news-alabama-4c0026679a346ea83a6a04f475a518ef . Onward, natural selection. Unfortunately, I am betting that Putin somehow received a quality Western vaccine instead of the inferior Russian product.

DeMentis works on sinking lower: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/floridas-coronavirus-guidance-buck-cdc-232902739.html . This seems like a risky route to the 2024 GOP nomination. And it looks like a loser in the general election. But this anti-science crap may help him to re-election in 2022.

Majority of US abortions now done by medication rather than surgery: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/half-us-abortions-now-pills-surgery-83084649 . There may be ways to manage around various abortion bans by the Neanderthals elected by the GOP. More on US abortion trends: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-8fe14b7608c105c67c1d1ee1021423b8 . You know damn well that if any of these Neanderthals had a daughter (or mistress) who wanted/needed an abortion, they’d ship her out of state to get it done. This is just gender-based bull manure.

Fewest Americans collect unemployment since 1970: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-unemployment-jobless-claims-aea70c27cbaebdb732cf7426e37a5b58 . As the population is 60% larger now than in 1970 (331 million/205 million), this is a very low level. However, as we have repeatedly noted over the past eighteen months, many workers have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are thus unable to collect. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-claims-fall-amid-tight-labor-market-11645710732 .

Biden Supreme Court nomination probably coming Friday, but no later than Monday: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/24/politics/biden-supreme-court-nominee-decision/index.html . Also, note the additional evidence that the nominee will be Ketanji Brown Jackson. We named her as our expected pick four weeks ago. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-has-reached-decision-on-supreme-court-selection-11645759677 .

White House deputy press secretary pulls no punches in response to Putin and Orange Julius: “Two nauseating, fearful pigs”: https://news.yahoo.com/white-house-trump-putin-fearful-pigs-who-hate-what-america-stands-for-183236813.html . Wow. And, well said.

Blinken cranks up pressure on Putin: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-antony-blinken-soviet-bloc-expansion/ . The US continues to win the public relations war against the Russian dictator.

Carnegie Hall tosses two pro-Putin Russians: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/valery-gergiev-carnegie-hall/ . So practice is not the only thing you need to get into Carnegie Hall.

Internet proclaims “Ghost of Kyiv” first ace of Ukranian air force: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ghost-of-kyiv-unconfirmed-ukrainian-mig-29-pilot-credited-with-six-kills/ar-AAUhk0Z?ocid=hponeservicefeed . But six kills in one day is essentially unheard of. However, with advances in guided missile systems, it is conceivable. But for now, the Ghost provides hope to the Ukrainian people.

Kasparov on checkmating Putin: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-698594 . This strategy is also in line with the maximum sanctions approach.

Meanwhile, Snake Island defenders obliterated: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/snake-island-soldiers-defiant-last-words-as-russian-warship-targets-them/ar-AAUhq0Y . However, given the obvious nature of this target, it would have been prudent to set up a remotely triggered transmission and evacuate the site.

WSJ: China’s position on Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-nods-to-russias-interests-in-attack-on-ukraine-11645709132 . Note that the byline here is Taipei. Taiwan is working to publicize its similarity to Ukraine before China swallows it.

News for February 24 — CDC Eases Masking Requirements Friday