Biden's Non-Recession Recession

From the New York Post: "WASHINGTON — President Biden claimed Thursday that the US was not in a recession despite new data showing GDP had contracted for a second straight quarter — meeting the long-accepted definition of a recession."

Meanwhile, from CNN:  "Sen. Joe Manchin’s stunning reversal on a clean energy package has suddenly put Democrats in a position to pass the largest climate investment in US history, and by far the biggest legislative win for the environmental movement since the Clean Air Act.
Wednesday night’s surprise resurrection of a deal on $369 billion worth of climate and energy text between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was a turn of events for critical climate measures that have died several times in the past year."

The Dems think we're stupid -- and this proves it!  My checking and retirement accounts prove there's a recession and high inflation; and on my list of worrisome issues, "climate change" doesn't even appear at all.

Biden's Upside-Down Priorities

Earlier, Biden gave a speech to say that "climate change is a clear and present danger."  I can think of real dangers, such as his policies; COVID-19; soaring crime; inflation; food shortages; high electric bills; the refusal to drill for oil; high food prices; and so much more!

(At least he didn't say what John Kerry said in 2014, that climate change is as big a threat as terrorism and poverty!)

Argus Hamilton Quips

Humorist Hamilton has a new column out that includes anecdotes such as this one:

"Donald Trump's first wife Ivana was found lying at the bottom of the stairs in her New York townhouse Thursday ruled dead of blunt force. Reaction was swift. Nancy Pelosi just formed the House July 14th Commission to investigate if Donald Trump could've pushed her down the stairs from Florida."

That isn't at all funny, but I saw online comments to this story that actually tried to blame Trump for this tragic accident.

Continued COVID Capitulation

Today, Dr Reiner said this on Twitter:

"97% of the US now has high or substantial transmission."

"I doubt there’s ever been this much COVID blanketing the entire country during the pandemic. Still no push for any mitigation. This is what capitulation looks like."

It looks like the COVID-deniers and minimizers are out in full force. Is the CDC afraid that the anti-vaxxers and the anti-mask crowd will riot in the streets if they bring back public health measures?  Whatever their problem is, they look very untrustworthy right now.

Don't Breathe It In: A Video

This video by the John Snow Project called "Don't Breathe It In" is very effective!

John Snow, Inc. is a global public health consulting organization dedicated to greater health equity and improving the health of individuals and communities.

When It Feels Like You're The Only Person Masking & Taking Precautions...

... it's because usually you ARE one of the only ones taking precaustions!  This section is from another of the coronavirus newsletters to which I subscribe, Time's Coronavirus Brief. If more Americans had been reading and educating themselves about the COVID pandemic all along, we might not be in this fix right now!

 Monday, July 11, 2022

What to Do When You’re the Only One Being Cautious

BY TARA LAW

There’s little doubt that COVID-19 is surging again. While the number of new reported cases is likely an undercount, since so many people now use rapid at-home tests, cases and hospitalizations are up, including in places where they’d previously been falling—like New York City, where I live. Looking around the subway, however, you wouldn’t know it. Although masking is still required on public transportation here, I’ve recently noticed more bare faces than I’ve seen since the start of the outbreak in 2020. This has made me wonder: now that I can’t rely on people taking precautions to protect me, how do I step up measures to keep myself safe—and, more importantly, protect my elderly relatives when I visit them?

Fortunately, since the start of the pandemic, experts have learned a lot about how to limit the spread of COVID-19. The key, several have told me, is not to count on any single measure to protect you—but to layer on different measures that can support overall protection.

Step up your masking. When fewer people around you are masking, it’s essential to wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask—preferably an N95—particularly if you’re going to be in a crowded area. Research has shown that N95s offer far more protection from infection than cloth or surgical masks.

Embrace the outdoors. Good ventilation is another great way to protect yourself from COVID-19, and in most cases, there’s no better way to guarantee that than stepping outside. (The virus can still spread outdoors, but much less efficiently than it does inside.) Studies have shown just how well vigorous indoor exercise can potentially spread COVID-19, so take advantage of the warm weather to exercise in your yard, local park, or at the beach.

Get boosted. If you're eligible for a booster shot but haven’t received it yet—or your second booster, if you’re over 50 or immunocompromised—it’s time to bulk up your immunity. Evidence suggests second boosters can help protect people from severe cases of COVID-19 as well as death.

Test, test, test. Although neither PCR nor rapid at-home tests can offer complete certainty that you don’t have COVID-19, they can help protect the people around you, especially if you’re about to travel or visit someone who’s more vulnerable, or if you're attending an indoor gathering.

Deciding which precautions to take requires weighing your personal risk tolerance and the level of risk in the community. However, there’s no bigger threat to your long-awaited summer fun than getting very sick from COVID-19—so it’s worth it to find the right mixture of precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe."

Breathtaking Photographs from Space!

Wow! These spectacular photographs were in the July 12, 2022 New York Times Science Times newsletter. The last two are my favorites so far.

The Carina Nebula, showing the earliest stages of star formation.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

The Big Reveal

On Tuesday, NASA unveiled the first set of scientific observations by the James Webb Space Telescope. (On Monday evening, President Biden got to show off one of the images, of a “deep field” that included some of the farthest galaxies ever seen.)

Stephan’s Quintet, showing five galaxies, four of which interact, colliding into each other and pulling and stretching each others’ gravity.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

The Webb telescope’s image of the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 includes thousands of galaxies, including the faintest objects ever observed in infrared. The light from SMACS 0723 in this image is 4.6 billion years old.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Webb’s first image of the Southern Ring nebula, a dying star expelling gas and dust, in orbit with a younger star.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

July 12, 2022

"Transmission is the Accurate Map"

While the media seems to have forgotten that there's a pandemic going on, and when the CDC keeps showing their misleading green maps, you know there are always a few people you can count on for the truth, including Dr Eric Topol and Dr Jonathan Reiner. I never followed Twitter until this year, when I realized I wasn't going to get the complete COVID news unless I read even more than I already did.

Here's Dr. Topol at Twitter today. Notice his "in denial" and "reality" captions!

 

 And here's Dr. Reiner: