"A Recurring Feeling of Impending Doom"

I sympathize greatly with CDC Director Walensky for feeling the way she does, because I've been feeling the same way.  Everyone else seems to be celebrating the end of the pandemic; the coronavirus coverage in the media isn't as frequent as it had been (thought CNN is always reliable); and Fox News is attacking Dr. Fauci every day. I just don't get it. While the virus is definitely on the decline, it can come roaring back, since there's so much about it that we still don't know.  I trust the COVID map at Covid Act Now, and right now I sure don't see any states in green (low risk).

Lots 'o Links

For more reading than you know what to do with, visit PJ Media, Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness, and Larwyn's Linx.

Beverly Cleary: Great Childhood Author

When I saw the brief news flash announcing Beverly Cleary's death at age 104, I could immediately name several of her books even after more than 50 years: "Beezus and Ramona", "Henry and Ribsy", "Fifteen", "Ellen Tebbits", "Otis Spofford" (where I saw the word "Swiss chard" for the first time); and "Jean and Johnny". 

It makes me want to read all of them again.

Terrorism in Colorado

As soon as I heard about the slaughter of ten people in the King Soopers market, I guessed the killer was  either a terrorist or a disgruntled ex-employee. When I heard his name, I knew I was right. It made me think of that horrific San Bernardino terrorist attack where the killers also put on tactical vests. 

I also remembered how we were warned just last year of attacks on supermarkets, as in this headline:  "Homeland Security warns grocery stores, gas stations, COVID-19 testing sites of potential terror threats. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants grocery stores, gas stations and even COVID-19 testing sites to be aware that they could be targeted, though such an event may be unlikely."

It's more likely I'd believe the terrorism angle than the usual "mental illness" angle. It's just too bad the police didn't kill him when they shot him.

Generation S (as in Selfish)

Get a load of this article about young people getting the vaccine ahead of older people who really need it. I loved the extremely urgent reason Mia gave:

"'No One Asked Questions': Young People On Jumping The Vaccine Line"

"Four 20-and 30-somethings share why — and how — they got a shot."

"Mia doesn’t consider herself to be a line skipper. 'I wanted to get the shot because I’m single and dating,” she says. 'This sounds shallow, but I felt like the shot was a way for me to return to normalcy in a way I haven’t been able to do.'"

It's amazing you can even admit to such a thing. It not only sounds shallow, it is shallow -- as well as selfish and stupid.

Lots 'o Links (and Burl Ives, too)

For some of the best posts of the week, visit Maggie's Farm and Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness; and if you can stomach it, read "What Happened to Our Country?" by Mike Miller.

One of the most powerful acting performances I've ever seen is that of Burl Ives as Big Daddy in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Even with the presence of the gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, he dominates every scene and you are held spellbound. I read that Tennessee Williams wrote the part with him in mind, and he was criticized for putting a folk singer/non-actor in that crucial role. But the electrifying results and the mastery of the language show he made the right decision.

Here are just two of many scenes you can watch and listen to over and over again, the first with the great Judith Anderson, who was also a perfect Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca"; and the second about mendacity. 

Vaccinated vs. Contaminated

I've been wearing my "I've Been Vaccinated!" sticker to work and have wondered if there's such a thing as a similar pin version I can wear once the sticker disintegrates.  I shouldn't have wondered: you can find pins at Amazon.com and on Etsy.  It's a small way to counter the anti-vaccination cult.

Look at this disgraceful news from Israel:

"‘Worse than Mengele’: Medics reveal antivaxxer threats as union calls for probe."

"Health Ministry condemns messages as doctors are told they are ‘Hitler’s future neighbor in hell’ and will ‘soon pay the price’

The Israeli Medical Association called on Wednesday for a criminal investigation into threats and incitement from antivaxxers against health care professionals working to encourage vaccination.

The statement came the day after the revelations that Prof. Galia Rahav, a member of the Health Ministry panel that has been advising on vaccinations, was receiving threatening messages from antivaxxers.

'Galia, I hope and long for a day when God will soon take you,' read one message, while another described her as  'Hitler’s future neighbor in hell.'

The Health Ministry said in a statement of condemnation that the messages were 'shameful and a disgrace.'"

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Obviously these insane people don't see any difference between a torturer/murderer like Mengele and doctors who are trying to save lives.Too bad they can't all quickly die off from COVID without infecting others.

Lots 'o Links

For the best news and culture links around, visit Maggie's Farm, Larwyn's Linx, Stephen Kruiser's Morning Briefing, Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness, and Stephen Green's Insanity Wrap #162.

This AG is crazy! "AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is threatening to sue the City of Austin, after the city decided to keep its mask mandate and COVID-19 orders in place despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to lift those protocols Wednesday statewide." So your continuing to protect others by wearing a mask is against the law now?

If you liked Piers Morgan, you'll love Melanie Phillips in her latest column:  "The contemptible Oprah /Sussex circus. It told us nothing about the Royal Family and much more about Meghan, Harry and America." Maybe Harry and Meghan can have their own TV reality show next.

The above cartoon is by Michael Ramirez, of course! And can you explain why we must keep, house, feed, and free thousands of illegal aliens here instead of busing them back into Mexico as soon as they arrive?

Here are a few Argus Hamilton quips:  "Oprah Winfrey's interview with Meghan Sunday about her complaints of mistreatment by the Royal Family did not draw sympathy in a pandemic-stricken America and England. An actress complains to a billionaire about the racism she suffers as a Duchess. How our hearts all bleed for her.".  

"Maury Povich marks the thirtieth anniversary of his TV show in which mothers discover the fathers of their babies from a pool of ex-lovers. A DNA test determines the culprit. I learn all the latest dances from watching the guys on Maury celebrating when they find out they aren't the father."

Lots 'o Links

It's time to catch up on the news with Maggie's Farm, Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness, and Stephen Green's Insanity Wrap #158!

Here's an editorial from the Miami Herald titled  "The last thing we need: Spring Breakers escaping COVID restrictions for Miami Beach." How reassuring for the elderly residents there.  These immature partygoers need their heads examined. Their parents should have to pay the medical costs of everyone they infect with the virus.

Here's more proof that people still have way too much time on their hands either changing things that don't need changing (like poor Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Dash),  or looking for things that offend them: "Amazon changes app logo that 'resembles Adolf Hitler''.  Who's more ridiculous, the few people who somehow are convinced that this resembles Hitler's mustache, or Amazon, for caving in?

Putting the Cart Before the Horse

I wouldn't refer to Texans as Neanderthals, but I have to agree with Biden about this hasty decision in the face of dangerous variants and despite what we've gone through the past year.  And if you look at today's map at COVIDActNow, the entire state of Texas is in red, the color of an active outbreak. I wish them good luck.

From the New York Times: "Texas, meanwhile, has gone further than any other state or city, and on Tuesday moved to lift its mask requirement and allow all businesses to fully reopen. While Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged that 'Covid has not suddenly disappeared,' he said that state mandates were no longer needed because treatments for Covid-19 are available, the state is able to test widely, and 5.7 million vaccine shots have already been distributed among the population of 29 million." 

"President Biden’s response today was blunt about the need to give the vaccination campaign more time. 'The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask and forget it,' he told reporters at the White House. 'It’s critical, critical, critical, critical that they follow the science. Wash your hands, hot water. Do it frequently, wear a mask and stay socially distanced. And I know you all know that. I wish the heck some of our elected officials knew it.'"

Renaissance Music

Today I heard this catchy tune called Bourée d'Avignon, which was written by an anonymous composer, and performed here by the ensemble Le Banquet du Roy.

Here's another version, where you can see how people danced to it.