[COVID NEWS] Co-chair of Biden's COVID task force on fighting pandemic

By artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 2:21pm |

Thank you @JudyWoodruff for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation on the current #COVID19 surge and what we can do to stop the spread of the virus. @NewsHour https://t.co/AqgrGEYfWo
— Vivek Murthy (@vivek_murthy) November 15, 2020

URL:

https://www.pbs.org/video/pandemic-surge-2-murthy-1605303764/

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"Breakthrough finding" suggests why some COVID-19 infection become severe https://t.co/HfVDDMGWMi pic.twitter.com/tWMtk6QNvi
— The Hill (@thehill) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 2:25pm

Thread by a journalism professor, husband and dad in Nebraska: https://t.co/BOBo1uO8vA
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 4:05pm

Really, it's time to go home now, unless you want to die:

BREAKING: US surpasses 11 million #coronavirus cases. It took just 6 days to go from 10 million to 11 million.
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 5:35pm

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced an epidemic order for 3 weeks, starting this Wednesday.

In-person learning for high schools and colleges are halted. Indoor dining, theaters, stadiums, organized sports (except pros) are no longer open. pic.twitter.com/kLOPFJXHbD
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 7:32pm

And then we have this asshole . . .

Trump coronavirus advisor Scott Atlas urged people to 'rise up' against new
restrictions in Michigan, then said he wasn't trying to encourage violence

Ashley Collman

1 hour ago

Dr. Scott Atlas at the White House in October 2020.

Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

https://www.businessinsider.com/scott-atlas-tweets-rise-up-against-michi...

~OGD~

by oldenGoldenDecoy on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 7:50am

They cannot make it any clearer that they are willing for us to die

The MAGA March was mostly maskless

Ben Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon, went maskless and got COVID

Now the recommendations from this guy.

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 9:03am

A colleague of Dr. Atlas at the Hoover Institution, Senior Fellow Richard A Epstein, published a paper on March 16 that forecast only 500 Americans would die of COVID, it was titled Coronavirus Perspective. These are people operating under an ideological prime directive, and it's not about preserving your health or your life.

by NCD on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 10:02am

Yea NCD... this smegma . . .

I remember the articles quite well . . .

Coronavirus Perspective

by Richard A. Epstein

Monday, March 16, 2020

[This article has been revised on April 6, 2020, and the updated version can be found here.]

Coronavirus Perspective

by Richard A. Epstein

Monday, March 16, 2020

[This article has been revised on April 6, 2020, and the updated version can be found here.]

The world is in a full state of panic about the spread and incidence of COVID-19. The latest world-wide tallies, as of this writing are:

The most dramatic news of the day has been the sudden spike in the number of Italian cases, totaling 24,747 with 1,809 deaths, which may grow to exceed the 3,099 in China.

Overlooked is the good news coming out of China, where the latest report shows 16 new cases and 14 new deaths, suggesting that the number of deaths in the currently unresolved group will be lower than the 5.3 percent conversion rate in the cases resolved to date. In my view, we will see a similar decline in Italy, for reasons that I shall outline in the remainder of this article.

From this available data, it seems more probable than not that the total number of cases world-wide will peak out at well under 1 million, with the total number of deaths at under 50,000. In the United States, the current 67 deaths should reach about 5000 (or ten percent of my estimated world total, which may also turn out to be low).

[Correction & Addendum as of March 24, 2020:

My original erroneous estimate of 5,000 dead in the US is a number ten times smaller than I intended to state, and it too could prove somewhat optimistic. But any possible error rate in this revised projection should be kept in perspective. The current U.S. death toll stands at 592 as of noon on March 24, 2020, out of about 47,000 cases. So my adjusted figure, however tweaked, remains both far lower, and I believe far more accurate, than the common claim that there could be a million dead in the U.S. from well over 150 million coronavirus cases before the epidemic runs its course.]

[APRIL 21, 2020 EDITOR'S NOTE:
DUE TO AN EDITING ERROR, THE CORRECTION & ADDENDUM ABOVE IS INACCURATE. IT SHOULD STATE:

That estimate is ten times greater than the 500 number I erroneously put in the initial draft of the essay, and it, too, could prove somewhat optimistic. But any possible error rate in this revised projection should be kept in perspective. The current U.S. death toll stands at 592 as of noon on March 24, 2020, out of about 47,000 cases. So my adjusted figure, however tweaked, remains both far lower, and I believe far more accurate, than the common claim that there could be a million dead in the U.S. from well over 150 million coronavirus cases before the epidemic runs its course.

WE REGRET THE ERROR AND ANY CONFUSION IT HAS CAUSED]

~OGD~

by oldenGoldenDecoy on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 11:57am

Thanks for the info. I was trying to mentally figure how far off in percentage 500 deaths is from the soon to be 250,000.

I got two % for Epstein:

His 500 estimate was 50,000% off. (fifty thousand percent off!)

His number deaths is 0.2% of the current total.

I guess that is a good enough "ballpark" estimate for the Hoover Institute.

If Fauci was as far off in the other direction, Fauci would have had to estimate 1.25 billion American would die of COVID, each one of us would have to die 4 times.

I'm forgetting though there is no math or science anymore with the right wing, it's all just politics.

by NCD on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:26pm

He's a lawyer. Why should anyone listen to him about a pandemic projection?

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:23pm

Fauci noted that the delayed transition could delay vaccine rollout

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fauci-trump-biden-transition-vaccines_n_5fb29899c5b6aad41f718acb

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 11:40am

Note the word "could" - it could snow in Chiapas and I could birth a reindeer as well.
Biden was declared winner 9 days ago. His team's already talking to the vaccine guys. Sure, it might be optimal if the GSA bitch would certify the transition, but it'd likely be even worse & more delayed if Trump had won.
In any case, the Pfizer vaccine is tough because it has to be stored so cold, so it's not like transition politics is the biggest issue. Moderna seems simpler, but can we guess "April/May", and also guess that transition politics still isn't the biggest roadblock between now and then?

When will the Moderna vaccine be available to the public?

They need to continue to collect data on the vaccine’s safety but, like Pfizer, will likely file with the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization in the next few weeks. If that is granted, it could start to be administered to high-risk groups like health care workers and the elderly as early as December. It probably won’t be available to the general public until the Spring of 2021.

They expect to ship 20 million doses in the U.S. by the end of the year and up to a billion doses worldwide in 2021.

Each person would need two doses, one month apart.

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:19pm

"Could" should not be in the equation.

Do you believe preparations will be in place with Trump in charge?

Advance planning for cold storage is better handling with a true transition team in place.

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:38pm

If wishes were horses beggars would ride. Thank god Biden doesn't think like you. Trump's there until Jan. 20, he's crazy, deal with it, do workarounds. What good are you doing constantly whining about Trump now? THE ELECTION IS OVER! Everyone on this website hates him. Who the fuck are you talking to? Every time you do this you make it more clear that you have Trump derangement syndrome and are contributing to the media attention he craves. Once again, if you want to affect something, you should be bitching about Emily Murphy of the GSA. The whining, it's the same thing he's doing. Biden is already performing way beyond my expectations by doing the opposite of you. You want Trump gone? He's already lost the election. Quit talking about him like executing him or something is gonna happen, it's not.

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:49pm

Trump is not gone.

I'm on a blog waiting for my call from Joy Reid.

Edit to add:

People with experience in government think the transition delay is a national security risk. Who is ordering coolers for vaccines? Etc.

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:36pm

"Trump is not gone."

If Trump had conceded like previous presidents he still would not be gone. Every losing president has continued to make executive decisions and changes after losing the election.

by ocean-kat on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:52pm

Thanks for the information

Do you think it important that the transition process begin ASAP

Do you see any possible security risks with the delay?

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 3:57pm

Considering Biden was in the White House for 8 years, i imagine the transition process will be quite a bit quicker and less confusing than usual. But go ahead and freak out if you want - you've earned it.

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 5:16pm

hey ocean-kat you bring up something I have always wondered about, how did we end up with that lame duck thingie while the mother country just sends the moving van over to 10 Downing Street the very next day! (Transition, what's that?) I always presumed that it was because of the travel time necessary in our huge country?

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 4:37pm

I can do one sentence paragraphs like someone else on this site does:

Biden team doing all kinds of things Covid-related TODAY.

Article on CDC I posted a few days ago clearly suggested they have already changed to Biden-think and are working with Biden transition team.

There is nothing and no one left at the White House worthwhile working with on Covid.

By design: White House hasn't done anything real in months, anyone who did so is gone.

Biden team does not need to nor want to have anything to do with anyone at White House on Covid.

Scientists at government jobs no longer fear being fired too late now for that; working as if Biden were president.

Georgia run off is a priority for Biden dealing with Covid because the composition of the Senate affects his planning and strategy; he already is working with the executive branch departments that would apply to what he can do through executive.

Edit to add: but I guess I am a failure at the one-sentence paragraph thing as I need to use long sentences damn that nuance thing really messes up black vs. white interpretation of situations.

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:06pm

"exceuse me, how do I get to Broadway?" "Practice practice practice..."

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:14pm

Bannon said Fauci and the head of the FBI should be guillotined.

Bannon was then cancel cultured from twitter or something. Fair? Will Obama take his guillotine away?

by NCD on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:19pm

Not guillotine - too French. He suggested "heads on pikes", which certainly, would require beheading first common sense would say, but the traditional meaning of "heads on pikes" is to have something (someone) serve as a warning. Bannon - out on bail for fraud - was too graphic in his formulation, but I'd say his comment "Blow it all up... That'll light them up" was even more objectionable, considering loony GOP supporters plotting kidnapping Governors and continually in a state of sexual excitation over some rebellion against the government. But Bannon's co-host was rather horrid as well (these people do feed off each other):

“These people were hung. This is what we used to do to traitors,” Maxey said.

Uh no, people like Fauci are not considered by any stretch of the imagination "traitors" according to the Constitution (that requires armed rebellion against the US government or abetting it - something many in the GOP were proposing last week and several times this year).

5 Americans have been executed for treason in the history of our country, the 1st one being John Brown. (his killing Kansas settlers before he attacked a US arms depot probably denied him any thought of commutation)
Saying "this is what we used to do to traitors - well no, we more often pardoned them or gave them lesser sentences.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_convicted_of_treason
Worse was Brumford hung by the invading Union force in a rather absurd non-treasonous event.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bruce_Mumford

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 1:43pm

Canada did thanksgiving about a month ago. The second wave spiked drastically afterwards. Just a heads up America. Don’t be silly. Stay home. pic.twitter.com/WbRodBq3Ck
— Sophia Banks (@sophiaphotos) November 15, 2020

What did they do when people went inside, weather got colder, spread, suffering, death increased as fall turned into winter during 1918 flu pandemic? Virus can't be stopped but we know what helped: ending gatherings, distancing, closure policies, quarantines, hygiene protocols. pic.twitter.com/8H1DhKhWqv
— Christopher Nichols (@CMcKNichols) November 15, 2020

We also know what did not work: ignoring the virus, continuing to gather in-person, not following hygiene practices, not distancing, not disclosing or acting on symptoms, not having clear, coherent, rapid communication & leadership at local, state, & federal levels. Devastating. pic.twitter.com/3tfUnDMAVu
— Christopher Nichols (@CMcKNichols) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 10:41pm

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams directly countering the crap from Scott Atlas' White House Task Force (using patriotic call including Rosie The Riveter)

Hard truths: 49/50 states with increasing cases, 34 in red or orange zones (ie significant rise).

Record cases over the past week will be record hospitalizations soon.

Our/ YOUR communities and hospitals simply can not sustain high level care at this rate of increase.
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) November 16, 2020

We MUST change the rate of rise of cases to alter our rapid rise in hospitalizations & preserve hospital capacity – and we can.

Europe has demonstrated the Fall surge CAN be contained and hospital capacity maintained if we all do our part.

If we don’t, more people will die.
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) November 16, 2020

PLEASE wear a mask at all times when outside your immediate household, practice good hand hygiene, & it’s critical we limit social interactions to our immediate household for the next several weeks. Otherwise hospitals won’t be able to provide care for #COVID19- or anything else.
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) November 16, 2020

This isn’t forever. It’s for long enough to flatten this curve and bridge to rapid vaccination of vulnerable populations.

Our country has been through worse, and sacrificed immediate comforts for the greater good.

Now we need short term sacrifice to protect the vulnerable.
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) November 16, 2020

We are truly at war with this virus. Our frontline troops are weary, and the enemy has us surrounded. But we have a secret weapon- the American spirit in each and every one of YOU.

So please- be a Patriot. Limit interactions outside your household, and wear a mask. pic.twitter.com/Q264ZVJldX
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) November 16, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 10:57pm

And then there's Ibram X. Kendi:

"The most precious resource the U.S. health-care system has in the struggle against COVID-19 isn’t some miracle drug. It’s the expertise of its health-care workers—and they are exhausted."

As an ER doc's spouse, I can attest. A must read by @edyong209.https://t.co/mJ1izayiMZ
— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 11:15pm

North Dakota is waaaayyy beyond just merely “hit hard”. It ranks as the #1 hotspot for #COVID19 mortality rate ***in entire world***. South Dakota, Cook County (Chicago), Wisconsin and Montana not far behind. (HT @greg_travis and @VanGennepD) https://t.co/1dSpAQIz75 pic.twitter.com/X3VZ6sYKC5
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

by artappraiser on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 11:59pm

Chicago hospitals about to get "Rocked":

4,000 cases in a day was our peak in the spring. This week? 15,000... For reference, New York’s peak in the spring was 10,000. Chicago-area Hospitals are about to get Rocked . I hope we’re ready. #ChicagoCovid #COVID19 #maskup #WashYourHands pic.twitter.com/G6yEiXr99F
— HaamidMD (@HaamidtheMD) November 16, 2020

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 12:26am

This morning’s “Minnesota” section in the Star Tribune — 10.5 pages of obituaries in a 16-page section. pic.twitter.com/ONylhnDXgz
— Colleen Kelly (@onecolleen) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:17am

[....] Ron Klain, who Mr. Biden announced last week would be his chief of staff, appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, where he discussed plans for addressing the surging coronavirus outbreak alongside Michael Osterholm, a member of Mr. Biden’s coronavirus advisory team.

During his appearance, Mr. Klain said that the team’s top scientific advisers and officials at drug companies would begin consultations this week.Mr. Klain served as the “Ebola czar” under President Barack Obama when the Ebola outbreak temporarily threatened to spill into the United States, and Mr. Biden’s coronavirus plans draw heavily from Mr. Klain’s experience [....]

from https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/15/us/joe-biden-trump/as-trump-continues-to-dwell-on-election-day-biden-is-looking-ahead

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 3:20am

wait, didn't he say something politically incorrect & objectionable sometime in his past?

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:13pm

NYTimes business section on vaccine logistics:

5 doses per vial, then 195 vials per tray. Up to 5 trays per cooler. And minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit in those coolers. https://t.co/EOdDkeafM2
— NYT Business (@nytimesbusiness) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 2:54pm

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 3:04pm

Southern Boy found the good part

"This recipe works best for a squirrel taken with 1 radial tire to the head. If the whole squirrel went under the tread, consider Road Pizza, or squirrel sauce on toast." https://t.co/uPZ09aJkJD
— Patrik D'haeseleer (@PatrikD) November 16, 2020

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 1:45am

hah, he didn't seem like such a fun guy in that thread, more like a pocket protector geek type; just goes to show you it's not smart to make quick judgments

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 1:51am

Gotta let his, er, hair(?) down sometime

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 2:43am

Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisors will meet with the leading drug companies developing coronavirus vaccines this week. Officials confirmed Pfizer was one, but stopped short of confirming others. https://t.co/8eVSMxcESf
— Captivate (@Captivate) November 16, 2020

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 3:09pm

Biden's just talked about right now in Live press conference on TV. He and Kamala just met with a huge group of Fortune 500 CEO's and the major labor unions all on board about plans for the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

(BTW then he moved on quite quickly how they talked about what a problem state and local governments are gonna have because they are broke and they won't be able to pay the firefighters police and mental health workers. Quite clever! Geez, he's got the stream of consciousness unity thing down, Mr. on a roll after that major zoom meeting li or whatever it is--on amphetamines?, like electric cars, infrastructure, jobs jobs jobs, dignity and respect, able to look the kid in the eye and say "honey it's going to be okay...economic growth...no red or blue states...we work with everyone...we can do this...I am so encouraged by this meeting...American people want us to cooperate....business and labor for all Americans...god bless our troops thrown in for good measure)

First question is on distribution of vaccines...mentions some may die if there's not more cooperation...mentions Ron Klain in charge of Ebola vaccine...says he needs coordination now, more lives saved...

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 3:21pm

While still listening to Biden press conference, there is a question on mask wearing. And he is praising the "conservative Republican governors" who have stepped up and done the right thing, he mentions some specifically and asks what is wrong with those who have been a problem and are so irresponsible, it's about being patriotic...

And I would like to add on that something I keep forgetting to say:

the libertarian anti-mask crowd and the herd-immunity believers, this is not at all unique to the U.S., it is a significant minority in most of western world, including supposedly socialist Sweden. They are not caused by Trump! He's merely a major supporter. They are not going away if Trump goes away. They will still be there. And they have a habit of not liking peer pressure, that doesn't work with them. Similar with anti-vaccine crowd. "Common good" people need to think about how we should deal with that in a democracy. Fining may not work. Having actual police involved may be counterproductive too? Best way to deal with this is culture change methods? Make it "cool" somehow to wear masks or use vaccines?

Edit to add: Biden was sort of using that method with his statement praising conservative governors who support pandemic control, instead of attacking hard at those that do not, more dismissive of the latter as not thinking right and unpatriotic who should rethink what's for their own good

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 3:44pm

Dr. Eric throws cold water, don't get over excited about first vaccines just yet:

WORRISOME—#COVID19 mutation becomes more concerning. The coronavirus can mutate swiftly in one person’s body.

New case study: #SARSCoV2 “resurged again & again in the body of an infected man, eventually killing him while showing fast-paced evolution”. https://t.co/dKVsdMHgho pic.twitter.com/GTUEbFg1v0
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

2) doctors “followed the course of #COVID19 in a 45-year-old man with autoimmune disorder, who was on immunosuppressants.”

Roughly 40 days after he first tested positive, follow-up tests indicated that virus was dwindling — but it surged back, *despite antiviral treatment*.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

3) “The man’s infection subsided and then returned 2x more before he died, five months after his first #COVID19 diagnosis.

“Genomic analysis showed that the man had not been infected multiple times. Instead, the virus had lingered and **quickly mutated in his body**.”
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

4) we don’t know for sure what this means for vaccine, but virus can gain mutations by allowing it to replicate over and over. there is something known as “passaging”—usually serially in animals—allowing accumulate mutations quickly—could be good/bad. This case in 1 person though
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

5) In another news, a widespread mutation of #SARSCoV2 called N439K has the potential to **evade the immune response** that some people mount after infection. (Thomson et al. https://t.co/X7C6XIPxDi; 2020).... https://t.co/dKVsdMHgho
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

6) “researchers found the mutation could hinder (read: block) the activity of potent neutralizing antibodies that block the virus.”

➡️ Among the neutralizing antibodies obstructed were those in the blood of people who had recovered from #COVID19.

This could affect reinfection.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

7) And worse, mutation N439K even inhibited neutralizing antibodies from “manufactured ‘monoclonal antibodies’ that are being developed into treatments”!

Basically this mutation could maybe thwart synthetic antibodies in Renegeron & Eli Lily drugs that Trump & Christie used.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

8) Folks—not making any of this stuff up! It’s all from a Nature news summary!

Scroll down to:

“11 November — A coronavirus mutation could weaken antibodies’ power”https://t.co/dKVsdMHgho pic.twitter.com/oYK0K0j0W7
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 6:02pm

By religion, who is willing to try the vaccine and who is not:

Who’s gonna take the #CovidVaccine? Looks like the most common view is folks wanna wait a bit to see how others respond to it. Evangelicals & Black Protestants are most likely to say they don’t plan to get it at all. Liberal Protestants & Seculars most like to get it immediately. pic.twitter.com/HepyX6Nd4Q
— Samuel Perry (@socofthesacred) November 17, 2020

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 10:07pm

Q&A Dr. Céline Gounder, Adviser to Biden, on the Next Covid Attack Plan, new @ NYTimes:

NEW: Biden-Harris have advisors to guide them on all things Covid. Among their ideas: schools are an essential service (restaurants are not); restore CDC's independence, and invoke Defense Production Act asap to make PPE, @celinegounder
says in this QAhttps://t.co/c1xUx63Tgi
— Apoorva Mandavilli (@apoorva_nyc) November 16, 2020

Notice that Mandavilli gives Gounder's Twitter address where you can follow her:

https://twitter.com/celinegounder

by artappraiser on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 11:06pm

Trump is right on this one thing, says Michael Spector, New Yorker staff writer, author of “Fauci” out now on Audible, and “Denialism.” I am also adjunct professor of bioengineering at Stanford University.

.@specterm writes about why individual states should not conduct their own coronavirus vaccine reviews: “Vaccine approvals in the United States follow a detailed, lengthy, and public process, and the F.D.A.’s success is unrivalled.” https://t.co/2UR4BZAj16
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) November 17, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 12:41am

Nobody Accurately Tracks Health Care Workers Lost to COVID-19. So She Stays Up At Night Cataloging the Dead. https://t.co/D6jtr9HHAT

As noted in #ApollosArrow, the death of health care workers is a basic feature of plagues. And we are still not doing enough to protect them.
— Nicholas A. Christakis (@NAChristakis) November 16, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 1:22am

the @washingtonpost editorial board calls for Scott Atlas to be fired immediately: "If Dr. Atlas’s advice is followed, more people will get sick and die." https://t.co/HwJsoHPcmR
— Stephanie M. Lee (@stephaniemlee) November 16, 2020

The remarkable thing is he’s expanding his brief from getting people killed by covid to inciting terrorist violence against elected officials over covid policy. Better bureaucratic infighter than we imagined. https://t.co/CuPa5GfjEV
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) November 17, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 2:14am

Internal email reveals 65 cases of Covid-19 among WHO Geneva staff.

Recall: WHO has been reluctant to accept that the virus is airborne; staff allegedly don’t wear masks if stay 1m distant. A letter from 238 aerosol scientists was ignored. https://t.co/cVxptvLz9L
— Trisha Greenhalgh #BlackLivesMatter (@trishgreenhalgh) November 17, 2020

(Dr. Eric retweeted this.)

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 4:40am

For real! Apparently just noted & now "trending"

Of course Dolly Parton was involved in funding a vaccine that has a 95% protection!!! pic.twitter.com/uSenF75qsF
— Dave Regis (@DaveRegis1) November 17, 2020

I want everyone to know that Dolly Parton gave us Buffy the tv series, the song 9 to 5, Dollywood, and of course the Covid vaccine. https://t.co/mCPB3QlCpZ
— Kevidently (@Kevidently) November 17, 2020

Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt for vaccine research.

Vanderbilt researchers were involved in the Moderna trials.

Ergo, Dolly Parton helped cure COVID.
— Jonathan "Boo and Vote" Cohn (@JonathanCohn) November 17, 2020

as she would say, "well bless your heart, darlin'"

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 5:13am

It's code: 9 to 5 (95%)

What a way to make a living.

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 5:19am

Curious what Vanderbilt's role is - not to be snitty, but to get an idea what it means "Dolly helped cure Covid...."
(whe was very early and public in donating last April, including a story on CNN, which no doubt encouraged other donors at a time when infections weren't that high but time needed to prepare different areas)

Vanderbilt's carrying out Phase 3 clinical trials on vaccines for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (possible other work as well - I imagine they don't get invited to carry out the clinical trials without strong prior experience, both HIV & early Covid work). Avg cost of Phase 3 five years ago was $19 million, and this one's being expedited - 30,000 participants for the Moderna one?, so say $50 million at least. $1 million was a nice early kickstart to all that.

A few links for the curious:
https://tennesseelookout.com/2020/08/24/how-nashville-will-play-a-critic...
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/vanderbilt-researchers-thrilled-over-m...
https://theconversation.com/video-an-infectious-disease-expert-explains-...

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 4:13pm

Here's a Guardian story about Dolly's contribution:

Dolly Parton partly funded Moderna Covid vaccine research | Music | The Guardian https://t.co/ySPa03Gcyt
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 17, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 4:24pm

to add to the confusion, this time on the side of good news:

“How long might immunity to the coronavirus last? Years, maybe even decades, according to a new study...” https://t.co/NDXTEXvaCF
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) November 17, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 3:11pm

Sobering:

“We have 10 Covid units & 1 of them is just a place to go to pass away unfortunately”.

"I have seen so many emergent intubations. I've seen people more sick than I've ever seen in my life." #COVID19 ICU nurse Lacie Gooch of @NebraskaMed pic.twitter.com/1LFW3oOTM1
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 17, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 7:55pm

BREAKING--WOW--FDA GREEN LIGHT ON THE PROCESS!!!

FDA adcomm dates are set, buckle up for vaccine EUAs in mid-December https://t.co/mKE5XiXPIx
— Ed MD (@notdred) November 18, 2020

Can we please just ask people to stay home for thanksgiving and let health care workers be vaccinated not in the middle of the thanksgiving surge that is perfectly timed to arrive Mid December?
— Walid Gellad, MD MPH (@walidgellad) November 18, 2020

Incredible!
— Stephen Goldstein (@stgoldst) November 18, 2020

Holy jesus
— Paul Kelleher (@kelleher_) November 18, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 9:23pm

p.s. found the above thread via this:

-> https://t.co/A82ghyW9U8
— Conor Sen (@conorsen) November 18, 2020

Conor Sen is Columnist for @bopinion Founder of Peachtree Creek Investments. Fintwit, demographics/elections, Atlanta. The future is a policy choice.

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 9:29pm

Note: "Ed MD" put a CNN link there, it's this

Pfizer has enough safety data about its coronavirus vaccine and is preparing to submit for FDA authorization, CEO says

By Elizabeth Cohen and Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Updated 6:42 PM ET, Tue November 17

I also found this

Important Vaccine news. Just heard that #Pfizer CEO @albertbourla said "Our safety milestone has been achieved already, and we are preparing now for submissions" for FDA Emergency use Authorization. #CovidVaccine
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta (@drsanjaygupta) November 17, 2020

We have only heard from #Pfizer so far. If this is true however, and an Emergency Use Authorization is granted, here is what it means. By the end of this year, people (outside of a clinical trial) could receive the #CovidVaccine for the first time. Potentially before Christmas.
— Dr. Sanjay Gupta (@drsanjaygupta) November 17, 2020

and this

Pfizer has enough safety data about its coronavirus vaccine for FDA authorization, CEO says https://t.co/7ivfFHU5iB
— News@cloud (@ShopperMeme) November 18, 2020

and this

Rockland-based Pfizer expects to have enough data to submit its COVID-19 vaccine to the FDA, and Dr. Stephen Thomas is the one man standing between the pharmaceutical company and that submission. https://t.co/2p4mqtxF1q
— News12HV (@News12HV) November 18, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 9:40pm

should be noted that don't-trust-the-FDA-on-vaccines forces like RFK Jr. have already ramped up their messaging; here from Nov. 15:

#FDA officials ignored input from outside experts, including one doctor’s warning of the potential for “a total disaster.”https://t.co/iomUTN8Dok
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 15, 2020

by artappraiser on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 9:47pm

In the News

Russia plays weak hand in Palestine
Russia plays weak hand in Palestine

submitted by PeraclesPlease 9 months ago

The intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow has precedent

Russia's hosted such meetings in the past, most recently Feb 2019

Russia has long lamented the US' "monopolization" of the peace process & tried to carve out a niche for itself: mediating among the disunited Palestinians/2
— Hanna Notte (@HannaNotte) February 29, 2024

Read the article at https://twitter.com/HannaNotte/status/1763116222256701787

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Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters
Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters

submitted by HSG 9 months ago

Here's what I told them: https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

Read the article at https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

2 comments

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Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes...
Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force https://t.co/pCoDg05irX
— Gareth Harris (@garethharr) December 28, 2023

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/brazil-law-indigenous-land-rights-claim-time-marker?CMP=share_btn_tw

1 comment

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Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (...
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (December 25, 2023)

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Location: U.S. Embassy and residential compounds

Events: Heavy gunfire is occuring around the area of the U.S. Embassy and residential compounds adjacent to the Trutier area of Tabarre. All Embassy personnel have been instructed to remain indoors and shelter-in-place until further notice. All others should avoid the area.

Actions to take:

Avoid the area;

Avoid demonstrations and any large gatherings of people;

Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; and

If you encounter a roadblock, turn around and get to a safe area.

Read the article at https://ht.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-port-au-prince-haiti-december-25-2023/

3 comments

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Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis
Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

By The Editorial Board @ Bloomberg.com, December 8, 2023

A mass expulsion of Afghan migrants could destabilize the region and fuel radicalization. The West should pressure Islamabad to change course.

Read the article at https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-08/pakistan-s-expulsion-of-afghan-refugees-risks-another-crisis

6 comments

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Internet shut down in Chad
Internet shut down in Chad

submitted by artappraiser 12 months ago

All eyes on #Chad right now
Chad has two internet trunks coming into the country: One from the Red Sea via Sudan; the other from Cameroon. Not possible for the totality of the country's internet network to be shut unless done centrally. A lot of rumors swirling; few facts. https://t.co/N6bDJZ2ixO

Read the article at https://x.com/_hudsonc/status/1732891968709992511?s=20

2 comments

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[Economy] where Joe's success falls short
[Economy] where Joe's success falls short

submitted by PeraclesPlease 1 year ago

Read the article at

3 comments

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[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across...
[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

BREAKING: Three loss prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed, one of them has died from stab wounds, @PhillyPolice sources tell me. Police converged on the store as the three workers were rushed to Jefferson Hospital. pic.twitter.com/4U1eKycL4W

Read the article at https://x.com/KeeleyFox29/status/1731713272942940365?s=20

38 comments

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Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As...
Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Former US Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba https://t.co/LDwo4ZJI1K
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) December 4, 2023

Read the article at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/manuel-rocha-ambassador-arrested-cuba_n_656d1e2ae4b028b0f3d07478

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[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny
[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

[Chapter I news is HERE, Oct. 7 til today]

You don’t get it.
It’s not about an UNRWA teacher who held an Israeli kid hostage in his house.
It’s all about how for 75 years you have destroyed the future of generations of Palestinians, including my family.
My cousins in Arab countries are still not citizens - not even the… https://t.co/nv6anubGhc
— George Deek (@GeorgeDeek) December 2, 2023

Note 'Community Notes' attached to UNWRA's statement.

Read the article at https://x.com/GeorgeDeek/status/1731020551328579863?s=20

58 comments

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Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From...
Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From a Neighbor

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Imperialism for me but not for thee?

It's wild that Venezuela is now holding a vote on whether 2/3 of Guyana actually belongs to them! Analysts suggest that Modoru may want military action to pump up his sinking popularity.

Could we have a war in South America?!?

"The people who live in Essequibo are largely… pic.twitter.com/QvMEjkkgwy

Read the article at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/world/americas/maduro-vote-essequibo-guyana.html

6 comments

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[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House...
[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House Republicans powerless

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

The lack of a cohesive delegation has allowed attention-seeking lawmakers to act on their own.

McCarthy: “You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail…”

Gaetz: “Tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.”https://t.co/LctPuz6Pcf

Read the article at https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/29/divisions-leave-floridas-house-republicans-powerless-00129200

10 comments

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‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-...
‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-Pelosi clashes

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

By Martinn Pengelly in Washington DC for TheGuardian.com, Nov. 30

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Ryan Grim life in Congress ‘completely transformed’ after Democratic leader stepped down

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/30/squad-book-aoc-nancy-pelosi?CMP=share_btn_tw

15 comments

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US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source
US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

@ Reuters, Nov. 29

Read the article at https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-health-insurers-humana-cigna-talks-merge-wsj-2023-11-29/

3 comments

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Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-...
Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-proofing

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

"Both the AU and the intl community place more weight on whether elections are held than whether they are free and fair. Sanctions/expulsions occur when there is a coup but not necessarily when elections are rigged or if an “institutional coup” occurs." https://t.co/m9dNimJP0D
— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) November 28, 2023

Read the article at https://africanarguments.org/2023/11/central-africas-dinosaur-regimes-and-the-art-of-coup-proofing/

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