Queen Elizabeth has announced at her Platinum Jubilee that when Charles becomes King, Camilla will be allowed to be called Queen.
I imagine Diana's family will feel it is a slap in the face. Have to say I'm not thrilled with the decision either (not that I was asked my opinion). In fact, I'd just as soon she'd skip right over that spoiled baby and go straight to William.
The one thing in favour of Charles getting to be King for a time is that it means William wouldn't have to yet. So, he can be a dad with time for his children, more than if he were King.
These numbers came out a week or ten days ago. I had seen them before. But seeing them mentioned again today just made me marvel. In December 2021 unvaccinated people in the United States were 97 times more likely to die of COVID than people who are vaccinated and boosted. 97 times more likely. Just think about that number.
The metric is ‘only’ 14 times more likely compared to people who are vaccinated but not boosted. That is a remarkable level of protective benefit by any standard. But I find the degree of benefit from the booster even more eye-popping. It’s not a marginal difference. And to think tens of millions of Americans simply refuse to take this simple, free step.
What I think is that we have a country with a widesperead death wish. Both the teen suicide rate and the persistant rate of auto fatalities suggst that. Also, there is factitious disorder, which involves people feigning sickness or making themselve sick to get sympathy. The announcement that COVID treatments would be free removed the last inhibition to going to the emergncy room. Back in the '80s people would go to the hospital emergency room when the heat in their rented hovels failed.
As an American, I am embarrassed that some fool at the protest was brandishing a large DT'24 flag.
You'd think that right now in Canada there would be a rule that people can't gather in groups larger than 100 during the pandemic. They could break up the protest based on that safety rule.
They are now protesting all Covid restrictions. They are also parking illegally, disturbing the peace, engaging in felonious assault, air pollution, illegal assembly, etc., etc. I wonder if the British Riot Act applies in Canada. It would not be surprising if local residents were to take the law into their own hands if it is not enforced by the government.
That would work for me. It would be interesting if Tesla were to put in a bid for the new electric trucks, since they are the only US company with the required manufacturing capacity. But the state of relations between Biden and Musk is such that such a thing seems most unlikely.
Back from Capricon. For obvious reasons I didn't enjoy it as much as usual, but it was nevertheless a satisfying experience. I saw friends it hadn't seen in person for two years, read from my book to a small audience, was on three panels that went well and to which I contributed, and attended a number of other interesting panels. I'm looking forward to more in-person cons in the future and hope it may soon be possible to dispense to masks.
While I was gone, Marc talked to Penny's current doctor and came around to the idea of hospice. We will sign he paperwork tomorrow. Marc reports that Penny seemed in significant pain when he visited yesterday, but when we went this evening she was sleeping. When she sort of woke up there was no indication of pain but she was barely coherent ("You can't get out of the basement." "Try it and see," repeated.) We hope that she will do better in hospiace.
Sorry to be a tad late with the page tonight.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that Starling's wing gorgeous? They just look like black birds, but are really beautiful.
Queen Elizabeth has announced at her Platinum Jubilee that when Charles becomes King, Camilla will be allowed to be called Queen.
ReplyDeleteI imagine Diana's family will feel it is a slap in the face. Have to say I'm not thrilled with the decision either (not that I was asked my opinion). In fact, I'd just as soon she'd skip right over that spoiled baby and go straight to William.
The one thing in favour of Charles getting to be King for a time is that it means William wouldn't have to yet. So, he can be a dad with time for his children, more than if he were King.
Queen Consort, not Queen. I believe there is a difference.
DeletePer Wikipedia it is rather complicated, but not all that different.
DeleteIt's just...Diana was so ill treated by Charles and Camilla. I think they're both unworthy of the titles.
DeleteI agree. They were both monstrous. Charles is weak and Camilla is a raddled old hag.
DeleteThe example of Edward VIII should have provided guidance. "That was then and this is now" is a less than noble motto.
DeleteEye-Popping
ReplyDeleteJosh Marshall
These numbers came out a week or ten days ago. I had seen them before. But seeing them mentioned again today just made me marvel. In December 2021 unvaccinated people in the United States were 97 times more likely to die of COVID than people who are vaccinated and boosted. 97 times more likely. Just think about that number.
The metric is ‘only’ 14 times more likely compared to people who are vaccinated but not boosted. That is a remarkable level of protective benefit by any standard. But I find the degree of benefit from the booster even more eye-popping. It’s not a marginal difference. And to think tens of millions of Americans simply refuse to take this simple, free step.
I was surprised too. I think I heard last night something like 75% of eligible Vermonters have been boosted whereas nationwide it's less than a third.
DeleteWhat I think is that we have a country with a widesperead death wish. Both the teen suicide rate and the persistant rate of auto fatalities suggst that. Also, there is factitious disorder, which involves people feigning sickness or making themselve sick to get sympathy.
DeleteThe announcement that COVID treatments would be free removed the last inhibition to going to the emergncy room. Back in the '80s people would go to the hospital emergency room when the heat in their rented hovels failed.
Ottawa: Protest battle lines harden on both sides amid concerns chance for peaceful end has passed [Click] This from the [Canadian] National Post, which is a decidedly conservative publication.
ReplyDeleteAs an American, I am embarrassed that some fool at the protest was brandishing a large DT'24 flag.
DeleteYou'd think that right now in Canada there would be a rule that people can't gather in groups larger than 100 during the pandemic. They could break up the protest based on that safety rule.
They are now protesting all Covid restrictions. They are also parking illegally, disturbing the peace, engaging in felonious assault, air pollution, illegal assembly, etc., etc. I wonder if the British Riot Act applies in Canada. It would not be surprising if local residents were to take the law into their own hands if it is not enforced by the government.
DeleteTrucker convoy: What options do [Canadian] police have amid ‘illegal,’ ‘unlawful’ conduct? [Click]
DeleteNapoleon found that "a whiff of the grape" [Click] had a salutary effect on the behavior of mobs, but that approach is generally unpopular today and probably neither the Canadian nor Ottawa forces stock any "grape" these days.
EPA, White House warn Louis DeJoy to halt plan to replace USPS fleet with gas-powered trucks
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2022/02/03/politics/epa-postal-service-gas-electric-trucks/?iid=ob_mobile_article_footer_expansion
“ Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat who chairs the House subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service, called for DeJoy's resignation.”
Yea, please…!
That would work for me. It would be interesting if Tesla were to put in a bid for the new electric trucks, since they are the only US company with the required manufacturing capacity. But the state of relations between Biden and Musk is such that such a thing seems most unlikely.
DeleteBack from Capricon. For obvious reasons I didn't enjoy it as much as usual, but it was nevertheless a satisfying experience. I saw friends it hadn't seen in person for two years, read from my book to a small audience, was on three panels that went well and to which I contributed, and attended a number of other interesting panels. I'm looking forward to more in-person cons in the future and hope it may soon be possible to dispense to masks.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was gone, Marc talked to Penny's current doctor and came around to the idea of hospice. We will sign he paperwork tomorrow. Marc reports that Penny seemed in significant pain when he visited yesterday, but when we went this evening she was sleeping. When she sort of woke up there was no indication of pain but she was barely coherent ("You can't get out of the basement." "Try it and see," repeated.) We hope that she will do better in hospiace.
ReplyDeleteOh, my. . . If she can be spared pain, that is not insignificant. Best wishes to all.
Delete