Listener—I don’t know if one weather website is better than another, but I use Weather Underground. Currently they say that the AQI is 143. Frankly it doesn’t seem that bad, but walking is out. They also say that the pollen count is high, mostly ragweed. Daytime UV index = 9. But predicted high temperature only 93F.
Speaking of which...the storm called Henri is making it's way north now, and looks destined to plow right over Catreona's town before turning east and heading for the Atlantic. My house is also currently "in the cone." Stay tuned.
Cat, listener--batten down your hatches! I remember once being alone in my wife's house in Japan as a typhoon was beginning to pass by (eye about 60 miles away, as I recall). That was scary--I had never seen anything like it before. Japanese houses typically have storm shutters, which I proceeded to close before the family came home.
It's about to become the first storm in recorded history that formed so far north (by Bermuda) and became a hurricane! The planet's climate is passing the tipping point.
It looks like Cat may have a hard storm. So glad she's not along the coast! My cousin is in Southbury CT...a wee bit inland, but near the Housatonic River. She used to live right at the coast.
Notes from elsewhere: “Several Republican Governors have painted themselves into a very costly corner by opposing preventive Covid health measures. Many are pushing for universal access to Regneron’s ‘Covid cocktail’ antibody treatment at a cost of $2,100 per dose. And of course, nothing could be more costly than a stay in the ICU.”
And medical insurance companies are beginning to limit or withhold coverage for Covid treatment if the patients have not been vaccinated.
"community" is a term that applies to ethnic groups. The GOP is for, by and of individualists who have nothing in common, except perhaps antagonism. I have been trying for years to address local officials on matters of public health and safety and have finally decided that they do not understand what that means. They have built themselves a new public safety complex out in the country for police and fire and EMS administrators and a large auditorium where they can sit high and dry and conduct table exercises.
I suspect that what Veblem called the price system has had the perverse effect of rendering anything free suspect. So, the free vaccine was off-putting and then the realization that hospitalization costs would be covered by the feds provided an additional incentive for not getting what was not wanted until it could not be avoided. The reality is that medical/surgical care is not a desideratum, nor does the major benefit go to the patient. That is why it is not suitable for the market. It is not a desideratum. Insurance companies not providing coverage will just reinforce that they cannot be trusted. Whether this promotes medicare for all we will see. My limited experience tells me that charges are unreasonable and medicare makes them rational. We only have plain medicare with no supplements. The office staff were delighted to hear that (much less paper work).
This just makes sense. Unless a medical person has a reason for not being vaccinated (immune system issue, allergy...) it needs to cost more. And I say that as a person who opted out of some vaccines for a time in my children's history. (Back then, vaccines weren't as safe as they are now...and even our celebrated pediatrician opted out at that time.)
I dunno. I get that we need to champion the Affordable Care Act. But there does need to be something to balance out the huge costs unvaccinated people are causing during a pandemic. There need to be some sort of consequences, because the rest of us are bearing the brunt of their stupidity.
Y'know it would be a positive thing if the chief common denominator in the Insurrection was mental illness (rather than sane malice). But, geesh, we really need to put the FUN back in "dysFUNctional"!
The idea of a revolving account to purchase shoreline property, rent it out until it is paid for, then raze it sounds very good. Assuming that California does it, we will have the bugs worked out long before properties around Lake Champlain might need it--although I hope they never need it.
The weather forecast for Springfield says gale-force winds Sunday evening to Monday morning; only up to about 8 mph in Jericho (albeit with thunderstorms).
Yeah, the cone of probability has relented where I am concerned. It's a great relief to me, as I have one last Monarch butterfly to release later today.
Listener—I don’t know if one weather website is better than another, but I use Weather Underground. Currently they say that the AQI is 143. Frankly it doesn’t seem that bad, but walking is out. They also say that the pollen count is high, mostly ragweed. Daytime UV index = 9. But predicted high temperature only 93F.
ReplyDeleteI use WU for hurricane forecasts.
DeleteSpeaking of which...the storm called Henri is making it's way north now, and looks destined to plow right over Catreona's town before turning east and heading for the Atlantic. My house is also currently "in the cone." Stay tuned.
Just saw this in The Guardian:
DeleteNew England braces for first hurricane in 30 years as Henri barrels toward coast [Click]
Cat, listener--batten down your hatches! I remember once being alone in my wife's house in Japan as a typhoon was beginning to pass by (eye about 60 miles away, as I recall). That was scary--I had never seen anything like it before. Japanese houses typically have storm shutters, which I proceeded to close before the family came home.
It's about to become the first storm in recorded history that formed so far north (by Bermuda) and became a hurricane! The planet's climate is passing the tipping point.
DeleteIt looks like Cat may have a hard storm. So glad she's not along the coast! My cousin is in Southbury CT...a wee bit inland, but near the Housatonic River. She used to live right at the coast.
GOP Governors Have Betrayed the Public Trust [Click] The columnist paints the GOP’s problem in rather strong terms.
ReplyDeleteNotes from elsewhere:
“Several Republican Governors have painted themselves into a very costly corner by opposing preventive Covid health measures. Many are pushing for universal access to Regneron’s ‘Covid cocktail’ antibody treatment at a cost of $2,100 per dose. And of course, nothing could be more costly than a stay in the ICU.”
And medical insurance companies are beginning to limit or withhold coverage for Covid treatment if the patients have not been vaccinated.
"community" is a term that applies to ethnic groups. The GOP is for, by and of individualists who have nothing in common, except perhaps antagonism.
DeleteI have been trying for years to address local officials on matters of public health and safety and have finally decided that they do not understand what that means. They have built themselves a new public safety complex out in the country for police and fire and EMS administrators and a large auditorium where they can sit high and dry and conduct table exercises.
Should the unvaccinated pay more for healthcare? That’s an easy call [Click]
DeleteI suspect that what Veblem called the price system has had the perverse effect of rendering anything free suspect. So, the free vaccine was off-putting and then the realization that hospitalization costs would be covered by the feds provided an additional incentive for not getting what was not wanted until it could not be avoided.
DeleteThe reality is that medical/surgical care is not a desideratum, nor does the major benefit go to the patient. That is why it is not suitable for the market. It is not a desideratum. Insurance companies not providing coverage will just reinforce that they cannot be trusted. Whether this promotes medicare for all we will see.
My limited experience tells me that charges are unreasonable and medicare makes them rational. We only have plain medicare with no supplements. The office staff were delighted to hear that (much less paper work).
Hospitalizations Getting More Expensive for Unvaccinated [Click]
DeleteThis just makes sense.
DeleteUnless a medical person has a reason for not being vaccinated (immune system issue, allergy...) it needs to cost more. And I say that as a person who opted out of some vaccines for a time in my children's history. (Back then, vaccines weren't as safe as they are now...and even our celebrated pediatrician opted out at that time.)
~listener: I strongly disagree. In my view, the protections in the Affordable Care Act are essential.
DeleteI dunno. I get that we need to champion the Affordable Care Act. But there does need to be something to balance out the huge costs unvaccinated people are causing during a pandemic. There need to be some sort of consequences, because the rest of us are bearing the brunt of their stupidity.
DeleteNorthern California wildfire grows 10 times in size in just 48 hours
ReplyDeletehttps://weather.com/en-IN/india/environment/news/2021-08-20-california-wildfire-grows-10-times-in-size-in-just-48-hours
That could be contributing to the smoke we have here, certainly.
DeleteCutting Jobless Benefits Had Little Impact on Unemployment [Click] Think it might be time to try raising the minimum wage? A bunch?
ReplyDeleteThe Only Lawmaker to Vote Against the War in Afghanistan [Click] “Barbara Lee Speaks For Me”
ReplyDeleteArizona ‘Audit’ Records Must Be Made Public [Click]
ReplyDeleteJosh Marshall: The Fall of Kabul, Washington and the Guys at the Fancy Magazines [Click]
ReplyDeleteFirst murder hornet nest of 2021 found in Washington state [Click]
ReplyDeleteYipe!
DeleteCapitol bomb claim suspect charged with weapon of mass destruction threat [Click] Floyd Roseberry to undergo mental competency hearing.
ReplyDeleteY'know it would be a positive thing if the chief common denominator in the Insurrection was mental illness (rather than sane malice). But, geesh, we really need to put the FUN back in "dysFUNctional"!
DeleteIncredibly good sounding plans for California to deal with rising sea levels are working their ways through the legislature. [Click] But we need to keep Newsom in office. . .
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a revolving account to purchase shoreline property, rent it out until it is paid for, then raze it sounds very good. Assuming that California does it, we will have the bugs worked out long before properties around Lake Champlain might need it--although I hope they never need it.
DeleteGo California!
DeleteThe weather forecast for Springfield says gale-force winds Sunday evening to Monday morning; only up to about 8 mph in Jericho (albeit with thunderstorms).
ReplyDeleteYeah, the cone of probability has relented where I am concerned. It's a great relief to me, as I have one last Monarch butterfly to release later today.
DeleteJudge: California ride-hailing law is unconstitutional [Click] YAY!
ReplyDelete