News for January 9 — Scratch and Sniff COVID Tests

Scratch and sniff COVID testing from university researchers: https://coloradosun.com/2021/01/04/colorado-coronavirus-scratch-and-sniff-test/ . As previously reported, there is good science behind this approach. Thanks to Andrew Martin for sending this link along.

US sets another daily record for COVID cases: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-sets-another-record-daily-covid-19-cases-n1253650 .

False reports of US variant came from Deborah Birx: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210110/reports-of-new-us-covid-variant-are-inaccurate (link replaced 1/23/21). It is sad to see someone destroy their career and reputation in one year. Her retirement cannot come soon enough.

WSJ: Vaccine roll-out in Connecticut outpaces nation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-goes-smoothly-in-connecticut-11610211604 .

California desperate for medical workers: https://apnews.com/article/gavin-newsom-california-coronavirus-pandemic-373408d4d240e77d8a58e85645932f24 .

Ireland contains South African variant: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ireland/irish-health-officials-believe-south-african-covid-19-variant-contained-idUSKBN29E0J1 . The US, of course, cannot do the same because of the lack of genomic testing here.

WSJ: COVID carnage among Mexico’s health workers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-takes-outsize-toll-on-mexican-health-workers-11610214842 .

Tuskegee airman, 100, passes away from COVID: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/09/theodore-lumpkin-jr-tuskegee-airman-dies-coronavirus .

WSJ: Chuck Schumer and the people’s business: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chuck-schumer-faces-hectic-start-to-senate-term-11610207729 . Reconciliation is the logical path to financial issues.

The list of nuns dying in church retirement homes continues to grow: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/death-nuns-highlights-toll-coronavirus-convents-75085822 .

WSJ: Muslim countries pursue halal compliance for vaccines: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccination-efforts-in-muslim-nations-try-to-overcome-halal-concerns-11610197200 .

WSJ: Italy’s government teeters over COVID: https://www.wsj.com/articles/italys-government-teeters-over-how-to-revive-the-economy-post-covid-19-11610193601 . So, pretty much like the US … except for the armed insurrection part …

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Idiots are fired up, and fired: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/associate-gc-loses-his-job-after-posting-video-of-himself-outside-capitol-during-riot . This stable genius graduated from law school, passed the bar, and posted a video of himself at the insurrection, inside the Capitol. His 15 seconds of fame turned out to be 15 seconds of shame. It had immediate and lasting consequences. Another fool: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-pictured-carrying-pelosi-s-lectern-during-capitol-riot-arrested-n1253628 . This is likely to be a long list once federal prosecutors unravel this disaster.

Another Looney Tune turns himself in: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jake-angeli-fur-horns-capitol-riot-arrested_n_5ff77b70c5b612d958ea63ed . Well, at least someone stepped in to defend Wookies. More on Angeli and QAnon: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/united-states-of-qanon-capitol-insurrection-riot-conspiracy-theory-1110622/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-qanon-what-we-know-about-the-conspiracy-theory-11597694801 .

More on federal charges against the insurrectionists: https://www.wsj.com/articles/man-photographed-in-pelosis-office-is-charged-11610140538 .

Why do people accept conspiracy theories?: https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/11/conspiracy-theories . Obviously, this lunacy is a threat. Here is a start at understanding it.

If any of your Trump acquaintances try to argue this mess is an isolated incident, here’s a piece from the 2016 election: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-supporters-angry-media_n_5800381fe4b0e8c198a74744 . Orange Julius made “Fake News” the coin of Nut World. It boiled over in a spectacularly bizarre flood of conspiracy theories and disinformation, soaked up by a bunch of armed sheep.

Majority of Americans want Trump removed immediately: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-trump-poll/majority-of-americans-want-trump-removed-immediately-after-u-s-capitol-violence-reuters-ipsos-poll-idINKBN29E0CL .

Murkowski is first Republican senator to call for Trump to resign: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/murkowski-becomes-first-republican-senator-to-say-trump-should-resign-01610148319 . And she may leave the party. That is, whatever is left of it after this disgrace.

Sherrod Brown calls for Hawley and Cruz to resign: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/533503-sherrod-brown-calls-for-hawley-cruz-to-resign-or-be-expelled-from-senate . As do other senators: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/09/hawley-cruz-2024-capitol-riots-456671 .

Twitter bans Flynn and Powell, YouTube tosses Bannon, Google Play axes Parler, and Reddit shuts down Trump subreddit and the chief moderator: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/twitter-parler-reddit-youtube-crackdown-on-qanon-michael-flynn-steve-bannon_n_5ff90577c5b691806c4925d7 . Amazon also suspends Parler: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/amazon-suspends-parler-threatening-to-take-pro-trump-site-offline-indefinitely/ar-BB1cCkNH?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-suspends-parler-from-app-store-11610241352 . The fringe is being sent to the fringe.

The fringe’s death will likely be slow: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lindsey-graham-trump-supporters-airport-twitter_n_5ff8cd70c5b656719885a346 . Airport security beefed up for members of Congress: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/travel-security-tightened-members-congress-after-harassment-n1253647 . We now have copycat idiots.

Pence will attend inauguration: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-pence/pence-to-attend-bidens-inauguration-official-says-idUSKBN29F007 .

White House forced out senior DOJ attorney in Atlanta: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/u-s-attorney-ousted-amid-trumps-georgia-pressure-campaign.html .