J&J case for its booster shot: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/21/1039168781/johnson-johnson-booster-shot-provides-increased-protection-from-covid . These numbers suggest that while J&J is an excellent choice for people who prefer or are targeted for one shot, it is really a two-shot vaccine. More: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/2nd-dose-jj-covid-19-vaccine-results-stronger/story?id=80138043 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-says-covid-19-vaccine-booster-two-months-after-first-shot-increases-protection-11632220201 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-vaccines-safe-kids-parents-11620405004 .
When medical care is rationed, should COVID vaccination status be considered?: https://news.yahoo.com/medical-care-rationing-should-covid-vaccination-status-matter-173621167.html . This is not a desirable circumstance to be in. However, when triage is necessary, doctors focus on the patients they are most likely to help. For someone with COVID, because vaccinated status is a factor in the severity of the disease, that status can be a factor. I state this as a practical consideration, not an ethics rule.
WSJ: Parents react to news on progress for kids’ COVID vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kids-covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-one-step-closer-some-parents-cant-wait-11632222062 .
US daily COVID death toll exceeds 1,900: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-09-21/soul-crushing-us-covid-19-deaths-are-topping-1-900-a-day . This equates to annual rate of 700,000, which is roughly all of the deaths the US has experienced in the first 21 months of the pandemic. This ain’t good, obviously.
New COVID treatment pathways emerging: https://scitechdaily.com/stopping-coronavirus-replication-inhibiting-targets-of-sars-cov-2-proteases-can-block-infection/ . This research relates to protease inhibitors.
WSJ: US confronts logistical hurdles in global vaccine donations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-pledge-to-vaccinate-poor-countries-stutters-amid-logistical-challenges-11632216602 . While this article’s content is arguably true, it puts too much emphasis on the “donation” aspect of our effort. China has and will ship many more doses externally this year than we have: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-7b3a7e0f5949b6976d4cf7f69bba71d0 . China’s vaccines use the older viral vector technology and are less effective than our mRNA vaccines. However, that is a rather academic point to countries which must currently choose between a Chinese vaccine or nothing.
WSJ: OECD decides current supply chain problems are transitory: https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-variant-set-to-slow-but-not-derail-global-economic-recovery-11632219656 . Note that the OECD did not change its China forecast despite the impending collapse of Evergrande. The markets do not agree with the OECD assessment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/developer-china-evergrandes-darkest-moment-will-pass-boss-tells-staff-11632219026 . Unless the Chinese government intervenes, Evergrande is toast. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-is-chinas-economy-in-a-nutshell-11632233862 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-china-must-do-to-contain-evergrande-fallout-11632234388 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-regulatory-storm-risks-triggering-wider-economic-damage-11632237032 .
Senate showdown coming over debt ceiling: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-bills-steny-hoyer-0bcca5e39573388f6a1229187556259b . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/debt-limit-suspension-set-to-pass-house-face-standoff-in-senate-11632251368 . Again, this limit has to be periodically raised and relates to previously approved GOP spending. You may also remember that Lyin’ Ted, tea party troll, made his bad bipartisan reputation by encouraging a government shutdown back in 2013: https://www.vox.com/2018/1/22/16921166/ted-cruz-2013-shutdownsays-he-has-consistently-opposed-shutdowns . Ted earned his “scarlet letter” with both parties for this stunt. It is an A, but he doesn’t wear it on his chest. It’s branded on his butt, and it doesn’t stand for “Adultery”. (I had to read this book in high school and still remember Hester Prynne. Now, where did I put my keys?). More on Lyin’ Ted: https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/lie-heart-ted-cruz-s-dangerous-debt-ceiling-strategy-n1279708 . Does this look like “consistently opposed”?
Meanwhile, a Democratic showdown is coming on the infrastructure/reconciliation package: https://www.wsj.com/articles/infrastructure-plan-faces-fresh-uncertainty-as-democrats-remain-divided-11632264888 . With 50 Democratic players in the Senate and over 200 in the House, it is utterly unclear what “meet in the middle” means on these bills.
OJ campaign knew its claims of election fraud were false: https://www.mediaite.com/print/just-in-internal-memo-reportedly-reveals-trump-campaign-knew-election-fraud-claims-were-false-all-along/ . This type of evidence is damning in a defamation suit.
Eric Trump lawyer withdraws: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/573261-eric-trump-lawyer-in-new-york-attorney-generals-fraud-case-quits . The court filing simply note the withdrawal, and we have not heard the reason. However, withdrawal is often an indication of trouble over trial strategy. Specifically, the two lawyers here are from different firms. Eric has apparently decided not to listen to Mr. Mukasey.
WSJ: Biden’s UN speech: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-stress-importance-of-alliances-in-u-n-speech-11632216602 .
Whitest-ever paint cools the building: https://www.livescience.com/whitest-paint-ever.html . This is an impressive advance. As noted in the article, durability is an important issue. I lived in downtown Washington, DC, in the 70’s on the third floor of an old, three-story row house. So, no central air, and DC gets very hot and humid in the summer. The house had a flat metal roof painted black, which I repainted white. Not only did this significantly cool the third floor, but the roof became a nice place to take a small table up the stairs and have dinner. The paint was very durable over the 7 years I lived there.
The statistics in this article give you a good idea of how serious the loss of snow coverage is in winter. Also, the roof is the prime location for this strategy because, like the snow cover, it reflects the light back into space. Otherwise, that energy will just go elsewhere in the atmospheric system and will not address global warming.