I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Friday, March 20, 2020

Linkee-poo Friday

Sorry, alligators still expect to be addressed even as the state is shutting down.

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom… issued a statewide order encouraging residents to stay at home… His actions were similar to those of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, who ordered all 'non-life-sustaining' businesses to shut down, or risk enforcement from state police."

"President Donald Trump touted two drugs — including one currently on the market for other uses — that he said show 'really good promise' as therapies to COVID-19. But he left the misleading impression that the drugs were 'approved' to treat the coronavirus and available for 'immediate delivery.'… In fact, neither of the drugs the president highlighted at a press conference on March 19 have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as therapy for COVID-19, though the FDA is moving forward rapidly with clinical trials." That's because the president still doesn't understand how government works and he's a complete moron to process. The president doesn't deal in facts, he peddles hype. That's his whole gig. Also note, the president has financial stakes in several of the companies involved.

"'We have to remove every barrier or a lot of barriers that were unnecessary and they've done that to get the rapid deployment of safe, effective treatments and we think we have some good answers,' Trump said… FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn carefully tempered the President's remarks regarding his team's work to develop treatments for coronavirus."

"As of Thursday afternoon, Italy has registered 41,035 diagnoses of the coronavirus and 3,405 deaths. The death toll is now higher than China's known COVID-19 deaths of over 3,200. Earlier this month, Italy became the first Western country to launch a nationwide lockdown to contain the outbreak, but despite strict measures, the number of cases continues to rise." With a little bit about the triage that will happen if we fail to flatten the curve. Also a little on how the virus was most likely circulating in the population before we knew about it.

How bad could it get? "Coffins awaiting burial are lining up in churches and the corpses of those who died at home are being kept in sealed-off rooms for days as funeral services struggle to cope in Bergamo, the Italian province hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic." Italy and Iran were not prepared to flatten the curve.

"As Europe’s daily new cases of the coronavirus now eclipse China’s at the peak of its epidemic, doctors in Wuhan -- the city in central China where the pathogen first emerged -- are seeing worrying signs of similar mistakes unfolding." Same in the US because we decided to go with the "not invented here/we don't need it" route.

"President Donald Trump’s directive for governors to buy their own medical supplies to fight the coronavirus has run into a big problem -- the federal government… Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told Trump during a video conference on Thursday that his state three times lost out to the federal government on purchases of critical supplies, creating an awkward moment during the made-for-TV event at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington." Oh look, he's running it like a business.

"'Get off the beach': Florida's governor under pressure as images of crowded beaches go viral." Not helping.

"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday defended the Senate Republicans coming up with a proposed $1 trillion economic stimulus plan to battle the coronavirus without any input from Democrats, saying bipartisan negotiations were skipped in favor of speed." Turtle man is still a dick. The conservatives just want to make sure the Democrats don't make it all fair and stuff.

"President Trump's notes from Thursday's coronavirus briefing show someone crossed out the word 'Corona' in coronavirus and replaced it with the word 'Chinese.'" What's a little racism during a global pandemic. Gotta blame someone else for your own failings. You know, like the Chinese are trying to do as well.

"The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee warned a small group of well-connected constituents three weeks ago to prepare for dire economic and societal effects of the coronavirus, according to a secret recording obtained by NPR… The remarks from U.S. Sen. Richard Burr were more stark than any he had delivered in more public forums." One message for the plebes, the other for those who can afford to belong to the right clubs.

"Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr and his wife sold as much as $1.7 million in stock last month ahead of the sharp market decline that's resulted from the novel coronavirus global pandemic, according to Senate documents." And then he started warning the rest of us how terrible it might be.

"On March 18, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced findings by the European Union watchdog group EUvsDisinfo, which reported that Russia was pushing false information about COVID-19 and the coronavirus that causes it. Peskov said the report included 'groundless accusations' that he attributed to 'Russophobia,' a common Kremlin refrain." Waves to my Russian friends.

"The Agriculture Department said Wednesday that it would appeal a judge’s ruling that it would be 'arbitrary and capricious' to move forward during a global health crisis with food stamp changes that could force hundreds of thousands from the program." Cruelty is the point. (Grokked from Vince O'Connor)

"A group of anti-Trump conservatives released a new ad Thursday targeting President Donald Trump on his messaging over the coronavirus outbreak." Here we go.

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