There's battle lines being drawn.
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong.
Young people speaking their minds
getting so much resistance from behind

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Linkee-poo Tuesday

"The atmosphere of Mars has a distinct green glow, just like Earth's… The European Space Agency's Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spotted an emerald glow in Mars' wispy atmosphere, marking the first time the phenomenon has been spotted on a world beyond Earth, a new study reports."

"A new study suggests up to 8.5% of people who overcome the coronavirus do not develop antibodies against a second infection… Scientists from St George’s University of London looked for the immune-fighting proteins in 177 people in the weeks after they fought off the infection." That's not a good sign.

"Unlike clinicians focused mainly on diagnosing individual patients, these scientists study states, communities and other subgroups. But their jobs are made much harder, they say, in the absence of substantial federal funding, standards and coordination."

"For several weeks in May, it seemed as though the coronavirus was finally ebbing… Now, cases are rising again, prompting fears that a second wave has hit the U.S.… NBC News reached out to several experts who study patterns of disease. All agreed: No, this isn't a second wave."

"A cheap and widely available drug can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus… The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say." Still not a cure, but it's helpful.

"Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., said Monday that he, his wife and their son have the coronavirus illness, COVID-19… In a statement, Rice called the illness the 'Wuhan Flu,' a term that has been criticized as inaccurate and even racist." You may remember Tom Rice previously for having refused to wear a mask while in Congress.

"In effect, it will be one of, if not the first, mass participation events indoors anywhere in the world in months. Trump's 20,000-strong crowd will be packed together, flouting social distancing, at a moment when major North American sports leagues are weeks away from playing games -- without spectators amid fears of creating 'super-spreader' events." I'm sure it'll be fine. I mean, we're already seeing new spikes. Plus this part… "'If you don't test, you don't have any cases,' he said… 'If we stopped testing right now, we'd have very few cases, if any. But we do,' Trump said…"

"Alcohol sales may have boomed during lockdown, but our return to air travel will be an altogether more sobering experience… Airlines including Easyjet and KLM in Europe, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines in the United States, and Asia's Virgin Australia, are suspending all or part of their alcoholic drinks service in response to Covid-19."

"A man was shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Monday night as protesters tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the city museum. Authorities later announced that the statue would be removed until next steps could be determined." It was bound to come to this. The question is, does this unleash the right or will there be a pause and reflection.

"President Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday outlining the administration's efforts to track officer misconduct, incentivize some departments and involve social workers and mental health professionals on some calls… The order comes as the president faces tremendous pressure to take action following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police last month." Of course, the devil will be in the details, but hopefully this will be a Good Thing™.

"The NYPD has determined that the sickening of three cops with bleach at a Lower Manhattan Shake Shack was not intentional." The police union is relieved that this wasn't an intentional attack, which they still claim.

"Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are reviewing investigations into the deaths of two Black men who were recently found hanging in Southern California… Sheriff's officials have said there are no signs of foul play in the death of Robert Fuller last week in Palmdale, north of Los Angeles, or the death May 31 of Malcolm Harsch in Victorville, but investigations continue."

"Retail sales shattered already-lofty expectations for May as consumers freed from the coronavirus-induced lockdowns began shopping again." Settle down, it's called "pent-up demand."

"The Trump administration cited Beck's scientific training and long career working on science and health policy for the federal government in its nomination announcement. But many scientists and public health experts say Beck has not adequately protected the public from toxic chemicals and pollution over the course of her career."

"After nearly two decades, the federal government will once again begin executing criminals, the Justice Department announced Monday. Four convicted child-murderers are set to be put to death by lethal injection." Nothing says "Law and Order" like killing people.

"The Voice of America's two top executives stepped down Monday following Senate confirmation of President Trump's pick to run the agency that oversees the international broadcaster."

"Three Indian soldiers were killed during a 'violent face-off' with Chinese troops along the countries' de facto border in the Himalayas late Monday, the Indian army said in a statement… The incident occurred during a 'deescalation process' underway in the Galwan Valley in the disputed Aksai Chin-Ladakh area, where a large troop build up has reportedly been taking place for weeks now on both sides of the border, before senior military commanders began talks earlier this month." Nothing big, just two (well, three) nuclear powers having a border spat with shootings.

"North Korea has blown up a joint liaison office used for talks between itself and South Korea, the latest sign that ties between the two longtime adversaries are rapidly deteriorating." That doesn't sound good.

"Just a week before the much-awaited book by President Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton is set to go on sale, the Trump administration is expected to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking an injunction to block the book from being released in its current form, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News." Because of course they are.

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