The need for US genomic sequencing: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-variants-surge-a-patchwork-of-surveillance-efforts-have-ramped-up-to-detect-them/ar-BB1fxlwG?li=BBnb7Kz . It is incredibly frustrating that we are over a year into the pandemic without building out this critical tracking capability.
Midwest surge: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/10/coronavirus-midwest-wave-michigian-illinois-minnesota .
Gottlieb expects US demand to outrun supply in the next 3 weeks: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-scott-gottlieb-discusses-coronavirus-on-face-the-nation-april-11-2021/ . The eligibility advance to April 19 for all adults is a real problem when combined with the screw-up of the J&J production.
Navajo activists campaign for better healthcare: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-activist-allie-young-is-stepping-up-to-protect-navajo-nation-our-cultures-are-in-danger-of-being-wiped-out-155007571.html .
Aspen Institute serves up restaurant Codes of Conduct: https://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspen-institute-dishes-out-food-for-thought-during-the-age-of-coronavirus/ .
WSJ: Mindsets change for the post-pandemic world: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-was-a-wake-up-call-leading-many-to-make-lifestyle-and-career-changes-11618133400 .
WSJ Economic Survey, data in Excel spreadsheets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/economic-forecasting-survey-archive-11617814998 .
Australia drops COVID vaccination targets: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-abandons-covid-19-vaccination-targets-after-new-advice-on-astrazeneca-shots-idUSKBN2BY0UY . Here is yet another black eye for the AstraZeneca vaccine. The US will be stepping up to provide vaccinations globally.
Brazil faces extreme hunger amid pandemic: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/11/tragic-combination-millions-go-hungry-brazil-covid-crisis . Again, Bolsonaro must go.
India bans remdesivir exports: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-remdesivir/india-bans-exports-of-anti-viral-drug-remdesivir-as-covid-19-cases-surge-idUSKBN2BY0EG . Once again, the US must maintain domestic pharmaceutical manufacture as a national security interest.
Japan begins vaccinating elderly: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/04/a075a80b3c11-japan-to-start-covid-19-vaccinations-for-elderly.html . Japan is behind most developed countries in vaccinating its population: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/04/17fbcf2e9b17-japan-trails-world-in-covid-19-vaccine-rollout.html .
COVID news round-up: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/04/11/covid-19-news-chinas-missteps-fueled-pandemic-blinken-says/7177411002/ . Chinese official admits their vaccines are not very effective.
Israeli pandemic experience: crime down but domestic violence up: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/covid-as-crime-rates-drop-domestic-sexual-offense-rates-rise-664798 . The study result confirms both logic and anecdotal reports.
WSJ: The fear of employment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-other-reason-the-labor-force-is-shrunken-fear-of-covid-19-11618163017 . So, when people feel safe again, they will come back into the workforce and the unemployment rate will go up.
WSJ: The rare earth metals supply chain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-faces-uphill-climb-to-rival-chinas-rare-earth-magnet-industry-11618133603 . Rare earths are essential to sustainable power technology.
Tax reform associated with the infrastructure plan: https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/its-bidens-turn-to-repeal-and-replacethe-trump-tax-plan-193530205.html . This provides useful details of Biden’s proposal. The minimum corporate tax proposed here is quite narrow. The article does not discuss the effect on individuals. The 2017 tax cuts for individuals were temporary, lasting only until 2025: https://www.investopedia.com/taxes/trumps-tax-reform-plan-explained/ . Will they be allowed to expire? Biden said he would not raise taxes on those making under $400,000. The expiration will do that as a practical matter. The increase in the top marginal rate just accelerates its 2025 expiration.
As 2025 is after the end of Biden’s current term, perhaps he feels no obligation to address the expiration, at least at this time.
WSJ: Infrastructure negotiations begin: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-infrastructure-plan-tops-priorities-as-congress-returns-to-work-11618138801 .
Alabama tax reform: Continuing the Confederate tax: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alabama-senators-confederate-tax-fund-black-history-77007870 (link replaced 5/31/21). It’s remarkable that Alabama is part of the United States but on another planet. This feels like an effort to somehow sanitize their monument to the largest act of domestic terrorism in the country’s history.
Boehner’s book comes out Tuesday: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/11/john-boehner-says-trump-abused-his-loyalists-lying-them/7074030002/ . Boehner on Orange Julius’ continued national presence: “An unemployed guy with nothing better to do”.
Republicans continue their circular firing squad: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/nevada-gop-secretary-of-state-responds-scathingly-after-party-censures-her-over-election-fraud/ar-BB1fxmh6?li=BBnb7Kz . It is quite bizarre to censure someone charged with election security for not participating in election fraud.
Rand Paul joins the execution party: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rand-paul-urges-voters-to-oust-gop-senators-murkowski-and-collins-this-is-our-problem/ar-BB1fwo9N?li=BBnb7Kz . What does this loser get out of kissing Orange Julius’ butt?
And here’s one who could lose a debate to a brick: https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/former-klan-member-claims-coincidence-after-posting-white-supremacist-message-110011973681 . Dear dimwits: Once again, posts are evidence. You own what you post. For example, these dimwits are Boogaloo-ing off to prison: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/a-boogaloo-extremist-group-destroyed-evidence-from-an-investigation-into-one-of-their-members-who-allegedly-killed-a-police-officer/ar-BB1fwi7o?li=BBnb7Kz .
WSJ: Reality arrives at the Masters: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hideki-matsuyama-masters-japan-first-major-green-jacket-11618181507 . So the Masters proceeded despite concerns over the Georgia voting law. And the tournament was won for the first time by an Asian. This was Matsuyama’s second victory in Augusta. Ten years ago he was low amateur, invited after winning an Asian qualifying tournament US golf sponsored to grow international appeal for the game. Golf (and humanity) is now a global, multiracial community. Duh.
While the Tokyo Olympics don’t seem very exciting, it will be something to see Matsuyama tee off in front of an all-Japanese crowd. He will be welcomed as a superhero. Matsuyama is also now likely to be chosen to light the Olympic flame.
The Grateful Dead Chuckle of the Day: https://www.wsj.com/articles/grateful-deads-wall-of-sound-lives-again-in-some-dudes-basement-11618161994 . Um, there have been enormous advances in speaker miniaturization and fidelity since 1974. This seems way over the top of the wrong mountain. But hey, if you want your sound from a “glorified clock radio”, go for it.