WSJ: COVID stigma: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-stigma-lingers-long-after-disease-fades-11609070403 . COVID stigma may be irrational; there’s no doubt it’s real. The comparison with leprosy is interesting but not accurate. Even now medical science does not fully understand how leprosy is transmitted. However, persons recovering from COVID no longer shed virus.
December is pandemic’s deadliest month: https://www.cnn.ph/world/2020/12/27/December-deadliest-month-US-since-pandemic-began.html . January’s projections are worse.
No ICU beds south of San Francisco: https://www.capradio.org/articles/2020/12/31/california-coronavirus-updates-december-2020/ (link replaced 1/4/2021; see entry for 12/24/20).
How Pfizer and BioNTech won the vaccine race: https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-biontech-pfizer-won-the-great-global-coronavirus-vaccine-race/ .
Pandemic’s child: Super gonorrhea: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/12/27/super-gonorrhea-may-be-spreading-from-antibiotic-overuse-for-covid-19-coronavirus/?sh=72f8a1a175ba . The hits just keep on coming.
Black-footed ferrets vaccinated: https://khn.org/news/at-risk-of-extinction-black-footed-ferrets-get-experimental-covid-vaccine/ . Here’s yet another wild word combination. This is another angle on the danger of virus spread in wild animal populations.
Putin to receive Sputnik V vaccine: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-russia-putin/putin-decides-to-receive-coronavirus-vaccine-kremlin-idUSL1N2J7078 .
WSJ: A rebalanced EU: https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-double-down-on-stocks-pushing-margin-debt-to-record-11609077600 .
Blame the Democratic governor, don’t think through your problem: https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/coronavirus-restrictions-party-rental-industry . We know that once vaccinations are widespread, Trump supporters will say he’s their savior. And every problem that’s there on January 21 is Biden’s fault.
WSJ: Businesses adapt to the pandemic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/businesses-adapt-better-to-covid-19-after-lessons-learned-from-spring-surge-11609065001 . Or, think through your problems.
WSJ: Frackin’ Ted Cruz: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-fracking-billionaires-drew-covid-19-aid-while-investing-in-rivals-11609070400 . Lyin’ Ted is a multifaceted slimeball.
WSJ: Margin debt levels should scare you: https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-double-down-on-stocks-pushing-margin-debt-to-record-11609077600 . Clearly there is considerable gambling going on.
WSJ: More on FAA worries: https://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-chief-helped-delta-retaliate-against-whistleblower-in-previous-role-administrative-judge-rules-11609085771 .
Sign or veto: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/531769-bipartisan-lawmakers-urge-trump-to-either-sign-or-immediately-veto . The weird aspect of this is that there are veto-proof majorities for both the defense bill and the stimulus/government shutdown bill. Trump vetoed the defense bill, so that can be overridden. But Trump’s inaction on the stimulus freezes everything, and will shut down the government end-of-day Monday short of a separate funding bill. There is utterly no integrity or regard for others in his behavior.
Unemployment benefits expire for millions: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/27/unemployment-benefits-expire-for-millions-as-trump-rages.html . Dimwit follies, day 1436. 24 days to go for national survival.
UPDATE: Trump may now sign: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-aid-bill-remains-in-doubt-as-congress-braces-for-showdown-with-trump-11609089335 . I am so tired of government by tweet. Perhaps someone informed the dimwit that among the 14 million losing benefits were millions of his voters.
FURTHER UPDATE: Several sources, including WSJ, are now reporting that Trump has signed the bill: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-signs-covid-19-aid-bill-averting-government-shutdown-11609117841 . More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/27/trump-signs-900-b-covid-relief-package-he-called-disgrace/4023316001/ . So according to Trump, he has won concessions from lawmakers. Let’s watch and see what they are.
Here’s the big open question: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/531774-gop-problem-solvers-caucus-co-chair-says-hell-vote-in-favor-of-2000-checks . I’m skeptical this will go anywhere in the Senate. Apparently the House Democrats will try to pass it Monday, based on Friday reporting: https://fortune.com/2020/12/25/us-covid-relief-stimulus-package-checks-pelosi-trump-republicans/ . More: https://www.newsweek.com/2000-stimulus-checks-gain-momentum-republicans-democrats-press-new-vote-1557486 .
Eat your tree?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-christmas-tree-disposal-method-eat-it-11609098488 . This is completely nuts. Oregon, as you may know, is the nation’s largest producer of Christmas trees. It is common for growers to use crop dusters to spray pesticides on trees. As Mr. Kallas tells you, Do not do this.