WSJ: COVID MIS-C risk in children fades: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-complication-among-children-fades-in-latest-wave-of-virus-11658307276 .
Australia faces new COVID surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-21/australia-battles-fresh-omicron-outbreak-as-covid-deaths-rise . So, just as a reminder, it’s winter in Australia. However, their generally mild climate makes seasonality a minimal disease issue there. More: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-19/australians-urged-to-work-from-home-as-winter-omicron-wave-swamps-hospitals .
WSJ: China COVID cases reach 2 month high: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-covid-19-cases-hit-two-month-high-11658307755 .
WSJ: Macau casinos to reopen Friday: https://www.wsj.com/articles/macau-casinos-to-reopen-saturday-after-covid-19-shutdown-11658331404 .
Micronesia has first COVID outbreak: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-new-zealand-micronesia-99151c153e05d9528777c9b832dbd66c .
Oregon hospitals face COVID crisis: https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2022/07/coronavirus-in-oregon-officials-ask-oregonians-to-mask-up-as-hospitals-face-crisis.html . Also, monkeypox is a growing problem here: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2022/07/20/monkeypox-cases-rising-oregon-covid-19-strains-hospitals/65378330007/ .
The debate over the monkeypox spread: https://news.yahoo.com/why-hasnt-the-us-been-able-to-contain-monkeypox-214330196.html . My view is that all of the commentators miss the most relevant comparison. Right now, the disease is spreading predominantly among gay men. That is a fact, not an opinion. As such, the relevant comparison is AIDS, not COVID. Not only is the disease spreading primarily among gay men, but the disease spreads mainly by close physical contact.
AIDS ultimately became an endemic disease affecting the entire population. Monkeypox already has that status in Africa (as does AIDS). But we are fortunate to already have a vaccine. The proper focus is indeed to vaccinate gay men and those who have close physical contact with them. However, that is much less than a guarantee that monkeypox will not gain endemic status in the developed world.
WSJ: The details of heat stress: https://www.wsj.com/articles/high-temperatures-affect-human-body-11658262757 . As the majority of the US population will be facing 100 degree temperatures this week, this is timely health information.
Marburg virus disease outbreak in Ghana: https://abcnews.go.com/International/ghana-declares-1st-outbreak-ebola-marburg-virus-disease/story?id=86999548 . This Ebola-like virus is Ebola-like scary.
More on Russia’s annexation plans in Ukraine: https://www.aol.com/news/white-house-russia-laying-groundwork-203737783-101545518.html . You may recall at the start of the war that US intelligence was instrumental in revealing Russia’s actual plans. So the US brings a lot of credibility into these new claims.
WSJ: Ukraine prepares counterattack: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-targets-key-bridge-as-it-prepares-counteroffensive-in-south-11658313958 .
Race to replace Boris Johnson down to 2: https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-elections-london-53e9ce2ffc55e109786fb74be2d24f6e . The winner will be announced September 5. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rishi-sunak-and-liz-truss-reach-final-round-to-become-next-british-prime-minister-11658330450 .
Musk’s Twitter problem increases: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/twitter-elon-musk-hearing-152545679.html . The big picture is that most litigation settles before trial. Sometimes the judge telegraphs their initial position. The SS Musk is taking on water …
Alex Murdaugh pleads not guilty to murder of wife and son: https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-south-carolina-violent-96f86507e5373c6c29ae8cbd14a4b33d . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/alex-murdaugh-pleads-not-guilty-to-murder-charges-11658333065 .
Steve Bannon prosecution rests after calling two witnesses: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3568060-prosecutors-rest-their-case-against-bannon-after-two-witnesses-testify/ . Translation: Prosecutors see this as an open-and-shut case, and are sure the judge does, too.
Some overenthusiastic analysis on the executive privilege argument: https://www.rawstory.com/nail-in-the-coffin-msnbc-analyst-explains-why-steve-bannon-and-mark-meadows-are-in-deep-doo-doo/ . However, the executive privilege argument has never made any sense. Overthrowing the government is not part of anyone’s job duty. These players have chosen to make frivolous arguments for the purpose of delaying the process. So they will continue to do that.
The global climate meltdown: https://news.yahoo.com/greta-thunberg-and-al-gore-react-as-climate-change-bakes-europe-with-record-heat-183215009.html . How bad does this have to get before humanity makes meaningful efforts to save the planet – and humanity? We are already way past the time for sane response. So we are now at “minimize the worst catastrophes”.
The effects of declaring a national climate emergency: https://news.yahoo.com/what-it-would-mean-for-biden-to-declare-a-national-climate-emergency-204936091.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-faces-pressure-to-declare-emergencies-after-climate-abortion-setbacks-11658318400 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-calls-climate-an-emergency-as-he-prepares-executive-actions-11658347066 .
How a carbon tax works: https://www.crfb.org/blogs/build-your-own-carbon-tax . This CRFB model gives you the opportunity to see the mathematics of a carbon tax. However, as readers know, my view is that reducing the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere is the key first step in saving the planet.
Quidditch transitions to Quadball: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/3566653-quidditch-announces-name-change-amid-furor-over-harry-potter-author-j-k-rowling/ . When will they transition to being an indoor sport? WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/quidditch-ditches-harry-potter-and-j-k-rowling-rebrands-itself-quadball-11658349525 .
Webb Telescope finds oldest known galaxy: https://turbofuture.com/news/space-galaxy-nasa-telescope-now-discovers-a-galaxy-nearly-as-old-as-time-itself .