“A growing body of preliminary research suggests the Covid vaccines used in most of the world offer almost no defense against becoming infected by the highly contagious Omicron variant.”
“All vaccines still seem to provide a significant degree of protection against serious illness from Omicron, which is the most crucial goal. But only the Pfizer and Moderna shots, when reinforced by a booster, appear to have success at stopping infections, and these vaccines are unavailable in most of the world.”
“The other shots — including those from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and vaccines manufactured in China and Russia — do little to nothing to stop the spread of Omicron, early research shows. And because most countries have built their inoculation programs around these vaccines, the gap could have a profound impact on the course of the pandemic.”
It occurs to me that people who can afford both a summer home and a winter home should be able to weather fairly stiff fines. I suppose that betrays my vindictive and classist nature.
Floridians do not like snowbirds. They do not like transients. Having transient voting is doubtless particularly galling. That there are distinct differences between migrants from the East Coast and migrants from the Mid-West makes little difference to local sentiment. The population of Florida has actually been decreasing compared to prior records because the lack of services for the very elederly is very real.
Some years ago I saw an article investigating people who were registered to vote in both NYC and Florida. There were several hundred but only one had actually voted twice.
It's a good article for schools, who really do need some encouragement and fresh ideas to figure out how to integrate the back and forth.
Home schoolers really have no need of it, though, for three key reasons. First, they are already encouraging natural, individualised learning. Secondly, in the approach many take to home schooling, a child doesn't use a computer until at least age 9, and then minimally. Screen time really gets in the way of focus and general interest in hands-on learning. Thirdly, there is no need for the back and forth so there's nothing special to integrate. Truly, the vast majority of home schoolers I know are doing NOTHING differently during the pandemic than they were doing before the pandemic. There's still a LOT of read-aloud time, writing and artwork, exploration of topics and interests, projects and experiments.
Isn't it FUN?!! I am definitely not into the "Santa" thing* (too commercialised for my tastes), but Will Ferrell captures the freedom of the child so well! It's adorable.
*Our kids got a gift from The Christmas Angel instead (it was always wrapped in red tissue paper, held in place by gold twine.) We wanted to keep the sweet mystery without them seeing images everywhere interpreting that mystery for them.
My mother felt guilty about giving me clothing for Christmas, but I was fine with that. Since there was no bookstore in our town, books came from the Sears or Montgomery Ward catalogs. My most special present was a toy fire engine that I looked and looked at in a store window was we walked through town of an evening before Christmas 1952. I didn't ask for it, but I sure looked at it, and there it was under the tree come Christmas morning. It had a ladder that turned and extended, and a bell mounted on the front bumper. I played with it for years and years.
We drove to Maine Saturday morning in the snowstorm, had a delightful time with Daughter, PhD*Son, DIL1, and 4 grands! It was our Christmas gift exchange and time to catch up. 12 year old grand is writing a story that is complex and involves creatures she has created and even a few new words that are so interesting. Impressive! Got home Sunday evening. Tired, but oh so happy.
Just one catch. While we were there, 12 year old grand learned she is a close contact of a schoolmate who tested positive for Covid on Friday. Most likely it was too soon for her to be contagious, IF she even gets it. But she's being tested Tuesday and we'll hear Weds or Thurs. At least she's had the first two shots.
NYT: Most of the World’s Vaccines Likely Won’t Prevent Infection From Omicron [Click] “They do seem to offer significant protection against severe illness, but the consequences of rapidly spreading infection worry many public health experts.”
ReplyDeleteExcerpts only:
“A growing body of preliminary research suggests the Covid vaccines used in most of the world offer almost no defense against becoming infected by the highly contagious Omicron variant.”
“All vaccines still seem to provide a significant degree of protection against serious illness from Omicron, which is the most crucial goal. But only the Pfizer and Moderna shots, when reinforced by a booster, appear to have success at stopping infections, and these vaccines are unavailable in most of the world.”
“The other shots — including those from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and vaccines manufactured in China and Russia — do little to nothing to stop the spread of Omicron, early research shows. And because most countries have built their inoculation programs around these vaccines, the gap could have a profound impact on the course of the pandemic.”
Florida Officials Hunt for Snowbirds Who Voted Twice [Click]
ReplyDeleteIt occurs to me that people who can afford both a summer home and a winter home should be able to weather fairly stiff fines. I suppose that betrays my vindictive and classist nature.
DeleteFloridians do not like snowbirds. They do not like transients. Having transient voting is doubtless particularly galling. That there are distinct differences between migrants from the East Coast and migrants from the Mid-West makes little difference to local sentiment.
DeleteThe population of Florida has actually been decreasing compared to prior records because the lack of services for the very elederly is very real.
I figure that with sea levels rising, Florida will be a self-limiting disease. My bad.
DeleteSome years ago I saw an article investigating people who were registered to vote in both NYC and Florida. There were several hundred but only one had actually voted twice.
DeleteFive ice-age mammoths unearthed in Cotswolds after 220,000 years [Click] Amazingly well preserved; stone tools found also.
ReplyDeleteHow to do online learning well? A district in California’s Central Valley has some answers [Click] Also how to integrate it with in person classes, so changing back and forth is not difficult. Home schoolers should also find this story interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good article for schools, who really do need some encouragement and fresh ideas to figure out how to integrate the back and forth.
DeleteHome schoolers really have no need of it, though, for three key reasons. First, they are already encouraging natural, individualised learning. Secondly, in the approach many take to home schooling, a child doesn't use a computer until at least age 9, and then minimally. Screen time really gets in the way of focus and general interest in hands-on learning. Thirdly, there is no need for the back and forth so there's nothing special to integrate. Truly, the vast majority of home schoolers I know are doing NOTHING differently during the pandemic than they were doing before the pandemic. There's still a LOT of read-aloud time, writing and artwork, exploration of topics and interests, projects and experiments.
Hits ‘keep coming:’ Hospitals struggle as COVID beds fill [Click]
ReplyDeleteWatched "Elf" with Naomi this evening; I had not seen it before, and it was very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it FUN?!! I am definitely not into the "Santa" thing* (too commercialised for my tastes), but Will Ferrell captures the freedom of the child so well! It's adorable.
Delete*Our kids got a gift from The Christmas Angel instead (it was always wrapped in red tissue paper, held in place by gold twine.) We wanted to keep the sweet mystery without them seeing images everywhere interpreting that mystery for them.
My mother felt guilty about giving me clothing for Christmas, but I was fine with that. Since there was no bookstore in our town, books came from the Sears or Montgomery Ward catalogs. My most special present was a toy fire engine that I looked and looked at in a store window was we walked through town of an evening before Christmas 1952. I didn't ask for it, but I sure looked at it, and there it was under the tree come Christmas morning. It had a ladder that turned and extended, and a bell mounted on the front bumper. I played with it for years and years.
DeleteAn Erector Set was another great present, but not as special as the fire truck.
DeleteWe drove to Maine Saturday morning in the snowstorm, had a delightful time with Daughter, PhD*Son, DIL1, and 4 grands! It was our Christmas gift exchange and time to catch up. 12 year old grand is writing a story that is complex and involves creatures she has created and even a few new words that are so interesting. Impressive! Got home Sunday evening. Tired, but oh so happy.
ReplyDeleteJust one catch. While we were there, 12 year old grand learned she is a close contact of a schoolmate who tested positive for Covid on Friday. Most likely it was too soon for her to be contagious, IF she even gets it. But she's being tested Tuesday and we'll hear Weds or Thurs. At least she's had the first two shots.