Monday, July 13, 2020

The Sky before the Tropical Storm


40 comments:

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    1. ". . .fears about infected children unknowingly spreading the virus led many in Oregon and in states across the nation to question whether it will be safe to allow children to return to school in the Fall."

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  2. VT: 1301 cases (+6)
    56 deaths (0x26days)
    Now 151 active cases
    Recovered 1096
    In Hospital = 2 ( 0)
    Tests 76,581 (+1330)

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    1. The numbers seem confusing today, because yesterday the number was 1297 and today it’s 1301, yet the site says “6 new” cases. My math says 4. Also, WCAX-TV says yesterday as 1296, which would make it “5 new.”
      Hmmm.

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    2. Sounds like data passing in the night.

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  3. Progress with synthetic coronavirus antibodies derived from special class of llama antibodies. [Click] Passive immunity is not as good as active immunity, but it is better by far than nothing.

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  4. Three in four UK firms unprepared for Brexit, study shows [Click] “. . . half of companies questioned cannot fully plan for end of transition period due to lack of clarity on rules.” This seems likely to be very “interesting.”

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    1. I suppose that it will increase interest in home schooling, but that is impractical for many people.

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    2. In my view, this problem should be on the shoulders of the adults, not the children. Employers and parents and those who care about them need to get creative about flexible hours and helps. We shouldn’t be putting children in danger to educate them.

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    3. Agreed. It is rather late to begin thinking about such things, but that now seems in character for the U.S., I'm sorry to say.

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  6. OHIO: As of Monday afternoon, there have been at least 66,853 confirmed or probable cases in the state, 3,064 deaths, and 8,915 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

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  7. Earlier this morning I read that the Navy spokesperson in San Diego said the fire on the Bonhomme Richard was a Class A fire (i.e., wood and suchlike, that can be extinguished with water). I was racking my brains to think of what sort of Class A materials would be on a warship in such quantities. Now I read that the fire started in a hold storing Marine Corps landing supplies. It wouldn't be the first time building contractors have allowed fires to start, and of course if the ship is undergoing repairs/modifications most of the fire control systems would be disabled, an of course the ship's fire and damage control parties are ashore. There's going to be Hell to pay for this. I am reminded of the fires on the Oriskany, [Click] Forrestal, [Click] and
    Enterprise, [Click] although those started in different ways and under different circumstances. When I was on the San Diego Naval Base a few years back I saw, if not the Bonhomme Richard, a ship of the same class; IT IS HUGE. I think he only bigger warship is a supercarrier.

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  8. I just saw a disturbing video. Some guy, just an ordinary guy - the channel name is Blue Collar Catholic - going on and on about how the Black Lives Matter movement is evil and violent, that they incite riots, tear down statues of Catholic saints, call Pope Francis a racist and burn Catholic churches. Oh and, he said they replace statues of the Blessed Virgin with satanic and pagan images. I didn't bother leaving a comment. What can you say to that kind of nonsense? I think things are going way too far in some cases; but I find it very hard to believe that Black Lives Matter activists are burning down Catholic churches. The speaker started his video by affirming that if you are a racist, you are not a Christian of any kind, especially not a Catholic...which is absolutely true. But he went on to spew all this bullshit, which certainly sounded racist to me. Now, maybe I'm so insulated as not to know exactly what is going on. Maybe Black Lives Matter activists do burn churches and destroy statues. If so, then I condemn such violence. But I'm not going to take some dude's word for it. I need reliable proof. Where can I find a reliable, non biased discussion of the movement?

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    1. I don't think the movement is unified enough for there to be a reliable discussion. But if any churches had been burned down, I think we would have heard about it. We haven't. They've certainly pulled down a lot of statues, some apparently at random (prominent Black anti-slavery advocates) but I don't think any saint's statues have been displayed in the places they were targeting.

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    2. Not that I can speak authoritatively, but it sounds to me like that fellow is doing the Devil's work.

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    3. It certainly sounds like the Devil's work to me. Thanks, Bill. The total lack of specifics was a big give away that the whole thing was worthless. But, it's very dangerous. Demonstrates yet again the double edged nature of the democratization of the Internet, in that it gives kooks as much access as sober, sane people. And it isn't always easy to tell which are which, especially for the unsophisticated.

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  9. Replies
    1. Bars and inside dining at restaurants re-forbidden a couple of days ago.

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    2. It’s so sad, so hard.

      How are you and Miyoko holding up, Alan?

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    3. Hope things remain well for you and years. New cases in Illinois dropped back below 1000 yesterday, but I've noticed that Sunday reports tend to be low so I'm not yet putting a lot of faith in that.

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    4. We are doing OK. On Saturday we attended a memorial service that had been postponed twice by the lockdown, and if it hadn't happened then it might have been delayed for weeks again. Everybody wore masks and maintained social distance pretty well. Other than that we stay at home just about as during lockdown; little more than shopping and occasional trips to the Post Office. A little cabin fever. I have one sprinkler head to change, but there is no rush about that, and also I need to vacuum the dead algae off the bottom of the swimming pool. The weather is hot, so we shelter inside most of the day.

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  10. Why Joe Biden Has His Eye on Karen Bass [Click] “The California representative’s low-key manner and progressive credentials could strengthen Biden’s campaign when he needs it most.” I didn’t know anything about her, but this column makes some very good points.
    And George Will Agrees. [Click] Not that I agree with everything George Will says, but I respect him.

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  11. Replies
    1. So much, I hope. And we need every Democratic Senator we can get; no sense taking chances.

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