An ugly COVID anniversary Thursday, March 11: https://www.yahoo.com/now/the-most-unusual-day-how-march-11-2020-marked-the-start-of-the-covid-era-100028842.html . This is a valuable perspective in our instant-everything world. Please read the linked article right now, if you haven’t yet. In many ways, this is the day the idiot Orange Julius’ chickens came home to roost. He is a mass murderer propped up by Quislings calling themselves the Republican Party. Biden is scheduled to address the nation on the anniversary.
COVID is here to stay: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/dr-adalja-there-should-not-even-be-any-talk-of-eradicating-covid/vi-BB1epSRs . Again, the only virus we have eliminated from the human population globally is smallpox. Smallpox had no animal reservoir.
Spring allergy season can raise COVID transmission 10% to 30%: https://www.yahoo.com/now/new-study-links-allergy-season-with-a-higher-risk-of-covid-19-190839653.html . The authors previously found allergy season raises the infectiousness of other viruses. So this result does not seem surprising. They found that pollen interferes with the immune response. Additionally, the inflammation of the airways could aid transmission. This is another reason now is an awful time to end the mask mandates.
Volunteering for a shot: https://apnews.com/article/volunteers-coronavirus-vaccine-sites-5dcef04d8b6fd33cd287ac3ab3e26137 . Community service for vaccination is a fair trade-off.
Alaska removes vaccine eligibility requirements: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/03/10/Alaska-removes-eligibility-requirements-coronavirus-vaccines/1511615350733/ .
WSJ: Updated vaccine distribution tracker: https://www.wsj.com/articles/walgreens-site-for-booking-covid-19-vaccine-crashes-11615321373 .
WSJ: Updated vaccination guide by state: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-a-state-by-state-guide-11611703769 .
Some positive news on Pfizer and the variants: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/542258-pfizer-vaccine-neutralizes-brazilian-virus-variant-in-new-study . While this is good news, it is a lab test, not observed effectiveness in humans.
Scientists say new CDC guidelines are asking for trouble: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/scientists-respond-to-cdc-covid-vaccine-guidelines-asking-for-trouble/ar-BB1ep2hy?li=BBnb7Kz . The variants remain a major unknown. In addition, vaccines are not 100% effective, even against the original coronavirus.
WSJ: Latino farm worker vaccine hesitancy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/advocates-fight-covid-19-vaccine-concerns-among-agricultural-workers-11615285801 .
More on Fluvoxamine, OCD drug that may help some COVID patients avoid hospitalization: https://www.newsweek.com/covid-treatment-fluvoxamine-explained-disease-clinical-trials-1574467 .
Vitamin D supplements don’t provide COVID protection: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/09/vitamin-d-supplements-may-offer-no-covid-benefits-data-suggests .
FDA authorizes COVID long-hauler T-cell test: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-authorizes-cell-test-game-changer-covid-19/story?id=76318248 . It’s a test, which is good. What we need are therapies.
Obesity is an underlying condition of most severe COVID cases: https://bestlifeonline.com/news-covid-obesity/ .
Vaccine global supply chain issues persist: https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/03/09/this-warning-from-the-ceo-of-the-worlds-biggest-va/ .
WSJ: Walgreens COVID appointment site crashes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/walgreens-site-for-booking-covid-19-vaccine-crashes-11615321373 .
WSJ: Lung cancer screening recommendation expanded: https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-smokers-should-be-scanned-for-lung-cancer-panel-says-11615305600 .
Koch pursues “personal option”: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/09/koch-network-tries-to-counter-biden-public-option-obamacare.html . The relief bill revitalizes Obamacare. Koch is apparently trying to create a talking point for the Republican minority.
Pelosi “predicts” Republicans will vote against COVID bill and then take credit for it: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/542395-pelosi-says-gop-will-vote-against-covid-19-relief-and-then-take-credit-for-it . There’s no question she’s right.
Relief bill provides small restaurants a lifeline: https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-small-business-bills-coronavirus-pandemic-eb58f48a99570165af24387424b9c047 . Restaurants are the most damaged part of Portland’s economy. They are also critical to our tourism industry. If managed properly, this is the single best use of business aid in our community.
Details of the relief package: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/09/974841565/heres-whats-in-the-american-rescue-plan-as-it-heads-toward-final-passage . WSJ: Unemployment benefits: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-to-know-about-unemployment-benefits-in-1-9-trillion-covid-19-relief-bill-11615294187 . More on the ACA provisions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-relief-bill-would-expand-affordable-care-act-subsidies-11615299486 .
Will the US economy surge?: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-economy-is-ready-to-rip-after-stimulus-and-faster-coronavirus-vaccinations-11615326516 . This depends on the variants, doesn’t it? WSJ: US surge could hurt developing economies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-growth-surge-could-unbalance-fragile-world-economy-11615284077 .
WSJ: US rejoins Paris Climate Accord: https://www.wsj.com/articles/paris-climate-agreement-11611254971 .
Mexico looks to China for vaccine help: https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-small-business-bills-coronavirus-pandemic-eb58f48a99570165af24387424b9c047 . The prior “America Alone” policy has hurt the US everywhere. If we do have adequate US supplies before the end of May, we should help others.
India turns attention to genomic sequencing: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56330595 . Once again, here is a country with a large viral load. Up to now there has been no meaningful information on variants.
WSJ: Another bankruptcy from the Texas power fiasco: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-energy-fallout-tips-power-retailer-just-energy-into-bankruptcy-11615307592 . Texas governor, state senate call for reversal of overcharges: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-governor-state-senate-call-for-reversal-of-16-billion-power-overcharges-11615352413 .
GOP focuses on the false icon: money: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-republican-donations-ins/republican-donations-surge-despite-corporate-boycott-after-capitol-riots-idUSKBN2B118K . Facts are facts. The nuts are raising a ton of money despite the false view of reality which Orange Julius and his minions promote. Money and the Internet allow targeting of the simple-minded in a way never seen historically. The question is whether Biden and the Democrats will be rewarded for sane governance. To comprehensively enact Biden’s agenda, the filibuster must go. We remain locked in a battle for the soul of the nation. More: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-db4b80536ac8571d2c0786e227822bf8 .
Biden isn’t going there: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-press-secretary-jen-psaki-says-bidens-name-wont-be-printed-on-dollar1400-stimulus-checks-to-deliver-them-as-quickly-as-possible/ar-BB1epU4L?li=BBnb7Kz .
The Republican playbook is now to interfere with governance: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/542285-republicans-put-procedural-delay-on-haalands-nomination . Approval of Biden’s cabinet picks is well behind the pace of recent administrations. There is no reason for it other than politics.
Texas AG tries to fake it, again: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/twitter-sues-texas-attorney-general-claiming-retaliation-trump-ban-n1260201 . It is established law that the First Amendment does not apply to private companies. Therefore, Twitter had the right to ban Orange Julius for repeatedly breaking its limited rules. Further, Twitter has First Amendment editorial rights which Paxton is attempting to chill. And Paxton has plenty of his own legal problems. This AP article could have been written (or reviewed) by their legal department.
One nut kept in the can: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-arizona-michael-pence-courts-a91f1bf25cef7a56df9752aef13b1f4f . The “QAnon Shaman” is now “the man who wore horns”. Not all publicity is good publicity.
Who’s the bomber?: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/fbi-releases-new-video-suspect-planting-bombs-capitol-riot-n1260293 .
Nevada Democratic Party staff decides not to work with the left after all: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/nevada-democratic-party-staff-quits-en-masse-after-socialists-win-leadership-roles/ .
Kansas reaps Miles and Miles of Les: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kansas-les-miles-part-ways-after-harassment-allegations-at-lsu-surface-040436051.html . This is a quick end to a long saga. One can only hope the answer would have been the same if Miles was 18-3 at Kansas instead of 3-18. You have to wonder about LSU apparently looking the other way for the last 8 years. Update: And here is an answer to that question: https://news.yahoo.com/ex-lsu-president-we-should-have-taken-stronger-action-against-les-miles-151533479.html .
“The Eyes of Texas”: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/texas-panel-finds-no-racist-intent-behind-eyes-of-texas-as-school-wont-require-athletes-to-sing-it-144409428.html . The word that comes to mind is “whitewash”. How does this band thing work? What if 2/3 of the band decides not to play? And by the way, what they’re playing is “I’ve been working on the railroad”, the song’s music. You may recall that song’s mention in Blazing Saddles, to which the black work gang responds by singing “I get no kicks from champagne”. Texas just tried to please both the alumni and the students. Big mistake.