Thursday, February 06, 2025

Chickadee Chowing Down

 


35 comments:

  1. Tonight, Democratic senators, led by Chuck Schumer (NY), Jeff Merkley (OR), Patty Murray (WA), Gary Peters (MI), and Brian Schatz (HI), will hold the Senate floor all night in a filibuster to stop the confirmation of Russell Vought, a key right-wing author of Project 2025, to direct the Office of Management and Budget. “Vought’s proposals to slash federal funding will threaten Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security,” the senators said. “Vought will also continue to carry out President Donald Trump’s illegal federal funding cuts, stopping taxpayer dollars from supporting local schools, police departments, community health centers, food pantries, firefighters, and other vital programs.”
    ~ Heather Cox Richardson
    Tonight's full HCR post

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  2. {listener}
    USAID was investigating StarLink's actions in Ukraine (in addition to shutting it off altogether until the US military started paying for it, they subsequently shut off connections in specific places at specific times, to Russia's advantage.)

    This explains why he shut down USAID first.

    Link

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  3. Replies
    1. from the article:

      "Kansas is experiencing one of the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks ever recorded in the US, as public health powers at the state and federal level have been greatly curtailed.
      Outbreaks like these may become more common and dangerous as officials’ efforts are hamstrung and their communications are limited, experts say.

      ...

      "The ban on external communications includes withholding the release of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a highly regarded epidemiological digest that updates the public and medical practitioners on emerging and continuing outbreaks, among other crises.

      "On Friday, hundreds of pages were also removed from health agency websites to comply with Donald Trump’s executive order to remove references to race, gender, sexual identity and disability, among other identities. Some of those pages have now been restored, sometimes with edits and omissions because of the order."

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    2. NOT "one of the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks ever recorded in the US." Don't get me wrong; TB needs to be treated with great respect. I am sure the outbreak early in the AIDS epidemic was far larger; thank goodness this one doesn't seem to be drug resistant. A large proportion of emigrants to Arizona in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had TB; they moved there for the dry weather and strong sunshin, both of which suppress the disease. Historically it has been more common among malnourished people who lived in crowded, unsanitary housing.
      -----Alan

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    3. A century ago or a bit more pretty much every physician was infected with TB by the time they graduated from medical school, and as memory serves me a sixth of them would die of it.
      -----Alan

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  4. Germany Tesla Sales Crash as Buyers Dump Elon Musk [Click] There is room for sales to decline further.
    —Alan

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  5. Replies
    1. from the article:
      "In advance of the protest, the city of Montpelier put out a press release stating that no permit had been filed for the protest and local police officers would be in attendance to ensure the community’s safety.

      "About an hour into the gathering, many participants marched down the State Street sidewalk toward Main Street to the tune of cars honking. However, protesters did not block roads and entrances, and VTDigger did not spot any counter-protesters."

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  6. Shortly back from grocery shopping; light wind, cool, light rain. Probably not picnic weather, even in Vermont.
    -----Alan

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  7. Replies
    1. Loved the use of the term: "The gang that can't shoot straight"

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  8. There's a new page that is updating outbreaks of Covid, Bird Flu, Tuberculosis, and other illnesses.
    Click to subscribe for free.
    CLICK HERE!

    This site is NOT government funded.

    Hi all, Good news for the U.S.!
    We’re launching an H5N1 dashboard in collaboration with USDA and the CDC. I’ve been in touch with officials there.
    I’ll keep sharing updates from the WHO and other trusted sources.
    Follow us for the latest on bird flu, COVID-19, and health news.
    We’re exploring a partnership with the CDC to help raise awareness.

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  9. The shelter where I walk dogs is dealing with bird flu because of the geese in the nearby pond. :(

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    Replies
    1. Ohhhh noooo! Please keep us posted, Renee. This could actually become a pandemic, now that it has crossed from birds to cows. It has figured out how to get into mammory glands!

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  10. I hope it isn't too bad for them. Fingers crossed--- it has been bad for sea lions.
    ----Alan

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  11. Econ Lessons video: Russian troops out of fuel— parallel history. [Click] A striking observation, I think.
    ——Alan

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    Replies
    1. Explanatory addendum: Russian troops in Ukraine are having to use horses and wagons (at least part of the time)because of severely limited fuel supplies.
      -----Alan

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    2. Three NATO members still rely on Russia to manage their electricity grid. They’re about to pull the plug

      “Estonia, along with fellow Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania, is counting down the days to finally ridding itself of one of the last vestiges of 50 years of Soviet occupation: an electricity grid controlled by Russia.”

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  12. A friend of mine in Maine just sent me a note:

    "I'm contacting Susan Collins so much, she'll think she's my new BFF."

    LOL

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  13. So....get this. I went to pick up my anti-viral medication that keeps me from getting shingles. I've been taking it for 23 years and the Immunologist says I will need to take it twice a day for the rest of my life. But it hadn't come in. They said to check back the next day and it would be in. The next day I learned that they can't get it for me, because their supplier no longer buys from that manufacturer. They recommended I try another pharmacy to see if they might have a different supplier. I tried two more, but their supplier was the same. Tried one more and was able to get it!! It will be in tomorrow. The pharmacist did caution that she doesn't know if she'll be able to get it again when this 3 month supply runs out. So I guess we'll see.
    But here's the interesting part. It's a particular brand of the medication that my doctor prescribes with "no substitutions" because it's the only brand that doesn't give me headaches. Folks...it's made in Ottawa, Canada.
    So I wonder how tariffs will affect this. I doubt the supplier will keep accepting meds from Canada if there's a huge tariff on them. Isn't it enough that DAss already IS a headache?
    Does anyone know if I could take a prescription over the border and have it filled in Ottawa? I would make the trip every three months if needed.

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    Replies
    1. I honestly would pay an extra 25% for it. (It's not cheap either.)

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    2. listener: re your Canadian-made medicine. I understand Canadian pharmacists honor US prescriptions. As I recall, Bernie was among those who organized trips to Canada for prescription medicines (e.g. insulin, heart meds) back in the day. Shouldn't be any need to go as far as Ottawa--- Quebec is a lot closer.
      -----Alan

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    3. Possibly helpful links on next thread.
      -----Alan

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  14. Republicans are complicit in the destruction of our democracy.
    They are the unsigners of the Constitution.

    BBC: Vought: Senate confirms Project 2025 co-author as Trump budget chief

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    Replies
    1. He wants our Social Security and Medicare money.

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    2. ALL Dems and Indys voted against Vought.
      But there are more Republicans and they all voted for him.

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