Speculation on vaccine booster frequency: https://bestlifeonline.com/news-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-frequency/ . This speculation has as much to do with investor interest as it does with medical science. It is based on the influenza analogy. Influenza variants come from animal populations with which humans have close contact. Coronavirus variants currently come from other humans. The critical element in the pandemic is to reduce the viral load in humans. This may create more control over the variants than we have with influenza. And by the way, we now know masks are very effective against influenza.
Messaging vaccine setbacks: https://apnews.com/article/johnson-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-pause-fd7619af5d5bf65c3b4f92491cebeb19 . There is an inherent tension between the truth and skeptics. “Spin” has been a common antidote, but it often serves to enhance skepticism. The brazen lying of Orange Julius’ press secretaries has now been replaced by the highly competent briefings from Jen Psaki.
However, the truth can be uncomfortable even when presented faithfully. Massive spin reduction hardly means it is no longer present. Has our highly educated society become unable to overcome listener bias? That is the problem with the existence of Fox News and its ilk. There are a large number of uncritical minds out there. Freedom of speech is not a perfect solution if money and bias dominate content.
COVID hospitalizations fall sharply among seniors: https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-hospitalizations-tumble-us-senior-citizens-37f5a0ca5ab76149c1e9bfca9e34eadf . This result should be highly publicized to support encourage vaccinations among all age groups. The pandemic is clearly not over, but vaccinations are blunting the mortality effects.
Vaccinated moms’ breast milk offered online: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-04-22/women-are-selling-breast-milk-online-after-getting-a-covid-vaccine . Sometimes entrepreneurial spirit goes too far.
UC and CSU systems to require students to be vaccinated: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-education-california-coronavirus-vaccine-28a4729ef178edad794d4362c5f2482a . Together, 765,000 students at California’s public universities are covered by this directive. Medical and religious exemptions are available.
WSJ: COVID situation improves in LA: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-rates-in-los-angeles-have-gone-from-worst-to-among-the-best-11619096400 .
EU declines more AstraZeneca vaccines, may sue: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-04-22/european-union-declines-to-order-more-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine . This vaccine was the early leader in the race, but continued mechanical problems have sent it back to the pit.
COVID reaches Everest: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56854986 (link replaced 5/29/21). It’s hard to imagine having a respiratory/vascular disease at altitude. It would seem extremely dangerous.
India’s COVID tsunami worsens: https://news.yahoo.com/indias-covid-tsunami-is-the-worst-in-the-world-why-that-should-worry-americans-140203352.html . As you know, variants are our biggest worry right now. They are spawned by global viral load. India is almost 20% of the world population. This is a desperate situation. More: https://news.yahoo.com/fire-covid-19-hospital-kills-034048812.html .
WSJ: India has detected new variants: https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-hits-global-record-for-daily-new-covid-19-cases-11619074547 . The so-called “double mutant” variant has gone from 16% of samples to 70% of samples in 3 weeks. It is apparently very highly infectious.
Democrats propose age 50 Medicare eligibility: https://money.yahoo.com/new-bill-would-allow-americans-aged-50-64-to-buy-into-medicare-expanding-options-213115933.html . Obviously, this could bring us a lot closer to Medicare for all. As Social Security benefits can start as early as age 62, would age 60 or 62 be a more reasonable goal?
Fertility clinic litigation back in the news: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-cleveland-science-technology-b15af26f90c64dbdcaf6e55630991bb7 . The ongoing dispute between the former administrator and the hospital focuses on who is at fault for this tragedy.
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims decline again to 547,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-04-22-2021-11619041467 .
WSJ: Credit Suisse losses on Archegos grow: https://www.wsj.com/articles/credit-suisse-taps-investors-for-cash-after-archegos-loss-widens-11619070830 .
FTC ‘s enforcement authority hammered by Supreme Court: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/22/9-0-supreme-court-ruling-guts-ftcs-ability-to-seek-redress-for-consumers-484194 . One wonders if a legislative fix can be passed in the current environment. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-cuts-federal-trade-commission-powers-to-recover-ill-gotten-gains-11619102862 .
Social Security claimants win at Supreme Court: https://lawandcrime.com/supreme-court/despite-justices-concerns-about-sandbagging-all-nine-of-them-sided-with-social-security-claimants/ . This reminded me that Judge Posner wrote a few years ago that Ginsburg and Breyer were the only Supreme Court justices qualified for the Court: https://abovethelaw.com/2016/10/judge-richard-posner-on-scotus-the-supreme-court-is-awful/ . With Justice Ginsburg replaced by what’s-her-name, people pressing for Breyer’s retirement should be careful what they wish for.
House passes DC statehood: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/22/dc-statehood-bill-passes-house-second-time-heads-senate/7291924002/ . DC would become the “blackest” state by far. More on the DC debate: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-blew-up-after-a-democratic-congressman-accused-them-of-spreading-racist-trash-in-a-debate-over-giving-washington-dc-statehood/ar-BB1fWo2D?li=BBnb7Kz . This bill is going nowhere in the Senate. A more important conversation (which is not occurring) is statehood for Puerto Rico.
Biden announces aggressive climate change goals: https://news.yahoo.com/4-things-that-could-sink-bidens-climate-plan-171108051.html . This is Biden’s Moon shot. The goals are aggressive, but absolutely necessary to save the planet. The really tough part of this program politically is that the globe will continue to warm. Lamebrains will claim the expenditures are ineffective. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-urge-climate-action-at-world-leaders-summit-11619085614 .
By the way, the need to restructure the grid is the perfect opportunity to take over the Texas grid and upgrade it. That might flip Texas blue.WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-india-complicate-bidens-climate-ambitions-11619116604 . The Journal really has no concept of leadership. If we do what we say, there will be enormous pressure on China and India to cut emissions. This is because everyone in the world will know who is killing the planet.
WSJ: Biden moves to reverse relaxation of auto emissions rules: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-moves-to-unwind-trump-auto-emissions-policy-11619129948 .
Biden will tax the rich to pay for his next economic package: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-may-seek-raise-taxes-rich-bankroll-latest-legislative-relief-n1265022 . How is this even news? Biden told us over and over again in his campaign that he would not raise taxes on those earning under $400,000 annually. What is more interesting is that Biden continues to roll out big spending programs to restructure America’s economy and government’s role.
The biggest legal ruling of the year may be the Senate parliamentarian allowing multiple reconciliation bills. The infrastructure bill together with the previous stimulus bill would be a huge accomplishment. If Biden can pass these two additional items, it will be the most transformational presidency since Lyndon Johnson.
Republican senators remain unable to spend their time usefully: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/22/republicans-infrastructure-package-484226. What part of “dead on arrival” is unclear?
Sailor allowed to leave abandoned ship after 4 years: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56842506 . This fellow had a better day than you did yesterday. But that’s only because his last 4 years have been worse than just about everyone’s.
Russia pulls back from Ukrainian border: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-suddenly-says-its-pulling-back-troops-from-ukraines-borders-after-weeks-of-tensions-and-fears-of-an-invasion/ar-BB1fWkCu?li=BBnb7Kz . The deployment of 100,000 troops seems like a lot more than a military exercise. It looks like a capability demonstration. Interestingly, Ukrainians have mostly neutralized the ground battle and engagement could rapidly escalate: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/military-experts-told-us-who-they-think-would-win-if-russia-invaded-ukraine/ar-BB1fW3Sg?li=BBnb7Kz .
Tidal turbine: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/worlds-most-powerful-tidal-turbine-gears-up-for-operation-.html . Wind turbines are tough on birds. What do these machines do to sea life? Are they a navigation hazard?
Perseverance makes breathable air on Mars: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mars-perseverance-rover-oxygen-nasa/ . What’s holding up the launch of Ted Cruz? The rover can make 20 minutes of breathable air in an hour, which seems about right.
Gateway to the Moon: https://bgr.com/science/lunar-gateway-images-esa-nasa-5921036/ . This is the first I’ve heard of this NASA project. The Moon’s proximity makes it a much more logical target for exploration than Mars. Of course, the seas are even more logical than the Moon given their participation in global warming. We really need to figure out how to operate this planet before we go screwing up other locations.