BA2 wave arrives in America: https://www.eatthis.com/news-covid-widespread-areas-now/ . We have been warning that the US was once again reopening too soon, and that a wave was growing in Europe. Europe is often about two weeks ahead of the US in developing new waves. Now the evidence is appearing, both in Europe and the US.
J&J vaccine has high durability: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/jj-covid-vaccine-promising-long-term-durability-rcna20714 . Also, those receiving the J&J vaccine have the lowest rate of breakthrough infections. This suggests the need to rethink the merits of the mRNA approach versus more traditional approaches. The cross-dosage approach (receiving a second shot of a different manufacturer’s vaccine) also bears further review.
Stretching reduces arterial stiffness: https://www.wellandgood.com/stretches-arterial-stiffness/ .
End to federal pandemic emergency will cut Medicaid benefits to many: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/coronavirus/about-85-000-residents-to-lose-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/article_c37ddc62-a645-11ec-839f-9b9f1f6d088a.html .
Why didn’t Putin invade Ukraine when Orange Julius was in office?: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-bill-maher-asks-why-didnt-putin-invade-ukraine-when-his-boyfriend-trump-was-in-office/ . There is general agreement among those paying attention that democracy could not have survived a second term of Orange Julius. As we have often commented in other contexts, stupidity knows no bounds.
WSJ: Mariupol battles reach city streets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukrainian-forces-try-to-hold-mariupol-as-combat-reaches-city-streets-11647690670 .
Ukraine kills fifth Russian general: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ukraine-claims-to-have-killed-fifth-russian-general-since-start-of-the-war/ar-AAVgzX1?li=BBnb7Kz .
Ukrainian refugees now exceed 3.2 million, and another 6.5 Ukrainians are displaced within the country: https://www.aol.com/news/russia-ukraine-war-key-things-093038432-163336848.html . Over 2 million of these refugees have fled to Poland. About half the refugees are children and the other half are women and elderly men. Men between 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine: https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5q383/ukraine-men-leave-russia-war .
Russia legalizes intellectual property theft to replace departing businesses: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mc-donalds-starbucks-and-others-have-no-recourse-for-stolen-ip-in-russia-174530523.html . However, customers of these new copycats are unlikely to be fooled into thinking there has been no change. This appears to apply the “You can’t fire me, I quit” mentality to international relations. Russia will be a pariah to the global community for a long time.
St. Peter’s Peacocks strut into the Sweet Sixteen: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/saint-peters-university-murray-state-march-madness-ncaa-tournament/ . St. Peter’s led Murray State wire-to-wire. The Peacocks ended Murray State’s 21-game winning streak, the longest current streak until tonight. The new longest streak belongs to … St. Peter’s, at 9. By beating Kentucky and Murray State, the Peacocks single-handedly eliminated the entire state of Kentucky from this year’s March Madness.
Also, it looks like the Selection Committee stacked this bracket to have an all-Kentucky game, Kentucky against Murray State. But St. Peter’s sure screwed that up.
Some terrific photos of the Milky Way: https://www.livescience.com/milky-way-photos.html .