Vaccines effective against severe COVID for up to 6 months: https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/vaccines-have-90-efficacy-against-severe-covid-19-six-months/ . My view has been that COVID is embedded in the global population and will be an endemic disease until medical technology advances to more effective control. Everything in this article reinforces that conclusion. This suggests we will need regular boosters to prevent severe COVID, perhaps every 6 months to a year. To prevent infections, boosters while have to be even more frequent.
Preschooler COVID shots by June 21: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-government-and-politics-51bdbc5b3ddb19d1d42f2075bfb121cb . Optimistically, shots may be available within 3 weeks if the FDA and CDC approve.
Alameda County reinstates mask mandates: https://www.thestreet.com/technology/musk-holds-mackenzie-scott-responsible-for-his-political-problems . California is in the midst of another COVID surge.
Omicron BA.5 pounds Portugal: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-06-02/omicron-sub-variant-fuels-portugals-covid-19-surge . We receive another grim reminder that the pandemic is not over, and South Africa continues to churn out dangerous variants.
Prince Andrew to miss Queen’s Jubilee with COVID diagnosis: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-06-02/uks-prince-andrew-tests-positive-for-covid-to-miss-jubilee-service . How … convenient … that this black sheep will be out of site for the state event …
Americans continue to support Roe v. Wade: https://www.wsj.com/articles/upholding-roe-v-wade-is-supported-by-most-americans-wsj-poll-finds-11654162200 .
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims fall 11,000 to 200,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-benefits-fell-last-week-extending-stretch-of-low-filings-to-four-months-11654174339 .
Social Security, Medicare bankruptcy dates pushed back: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-government-and-politics-medicare-5961f59de9a537099fc4ae462bbaa22d . Medicare’s bankruptcy date is now 2028; Social Security fails in 2035. In actuarial terms, this is the blink of an eye. That is the important point here. The determination of the actual date smacks of arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/social-security-reserves-expected-to-be-depleted-in-2035-year-later-than-prior-projection-11654199367 .
Biden calls for reinstatement of assault weapons ban: https://news.yahoo.com/enough-biden-calls-for-assault-weapons-ban-002644979.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-urge-progress-on-gun-talks-following-mass-shootings-11654189263 .
Tulsa gunman targeted surgeon who left him with chronic pain: https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-oklahoma-texas-school-shootings-61bba0dcf04e2f8dbc34ec4ee7fd02b0 . However, he killed 4 people and then ended his own life. So the targeting was flawed, to say the least. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gunman-who-killed-four-people-in-tulsa-hospital-had-back-surgery-there-in-may-11654186747 .
The Culture Wars continue: Lynda Carter reminds fans that Wonder Woman is “a queer icon”: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lynda-carter-wonder-woman-queer-icon_n_62985427e4b07aa93895dc56 . Of course, no one spoke this idea when the series ran. However, Wonder Woman did come from an all-female island of Amazons …
Elon Musk unravels, blames Bezos’ ex for his problems: https://www.thestreet.com/technology/musk-holds-mackenzie-scott-responsible-for-his-political-problems . It is not possible to find rational thoughts in Musk’s latest fixation.
January 6 committee questions former Attorney General William Barr: https://www.wsj.com/articles/william-barr-appears-before-jan-6-committee-11654198731 .
Phil Knight makes offer for Portland Trailblazers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/phil-knight-portland-trail-blazers-nike-11654211411 . The terms of Paul Allen’s will require a team sale within the next 18 months. This is the key point, reported here in Portland but apparently unknown to the Journal.