Cumulative Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Be Smart. Don't Vote for Two-Faced Mamdani

If possible, I loathed Mamdani even more after his ridiculous excuse about how "frustration" caused his anti-police statements. It was a non-apology apology that means "I really do hate the police, but I'll say anything to win, so vote for me anyway."

There are 3 decent candidates running for Mayor:  Mayor Eric Adams, who has the mayoral experience and was himself a cop;  Andrew Cuomo, who has the gubernatorial experience; and Curtis Sliwa, who has the crime-fighting experience. Any of those three would be preferable to a Jew-hating, cop-loathing Communist with no experience.

And think of this. In 2026 it will be the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Do you really want to see Mamdani be the one to lead the commemorations at Ground Zero as the brave souls, the policemen, and the firemen are honored? I don't think so. 

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Michael Goodwin: Mamdani’s cop-hating agenda speaks louder than his hollow words after horrific NYC shooting 

by Michael Goodwin from NY Post 12:00 PM | July 31, 2025

"Sensible New Yorkers didn’t need yet another reason to vote against Zohran Mamdani for mayor, but Monday’s horrific Midtown slaughter provided a clear illustration of why the radical Democrat must not win the keys to City Hall.

"Mamdani is in Uganda celebrating his wedding, but his initial statement on X about the bloodbath on Park Avenue rings hollow given his past smears of the NYPD and repeated calls to ­“defund the police.”

“I’m heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts,” Mamdani posted on X late Monday.

“Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground.”

"By the time of that statement, Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch already had visited the scene and identified the dead officer as Didarul Islam, 36, who was killed while providing off-duty lobby security for 345 Park Ave.

"The mayor and the commissioner said he had emigrated from Bangladesh, had two children and was expecting a third with his pregnant wife.

"Adams, in moving remarks, said the officer was “doing what he does best . . . saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers.”

"Nonetheless, it took Mamdani another six hours before he named Officer Islam and repeated the biographical details Adams and Tisch had revealed.

Shallow platitudes

"In that second post, Mamdani added that when Islam “joined the police department, his mother asked him why he would pursue such a dangerous job. He told her it was to leave behind a legacy that his family could be proud of.”

“He has done that, and more,” the mayoral wannabe said, before concluding: “I pray for him, his family, and honor the legacy of service and sacrifice he leaves ­behind.”

"Fair enough, but given his past attacks on the NYPD, and his immaturity, it remains impossible to imagine Mamdani providing leadership or reassurance to a stricken police force and a rattled city at a moment of distress.

"The candidate is just 33 years old, and his burn-it-all-down attitude about long-established norms and traditions, especially his socialist, antisemitic and anti-police positions, make for a poor comparison next to the splendid example Adams and Tisch offered Monday.

"Both are seasoned public servants whose experience and values made for a compelling lesson in crisis leadership.

"The mayor, now 64, wore the NYPD uniform for 20 years, and is seeking re-election in the general election as an independent. 

"Other candidates on the ballot include former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

"Tisch is 44, and her pedigree is impeccable in that she served with distinction in critical roles under two of the most successful NYPD commissioners ever, Ray Kelly and Bill Bratton.

"Meanwhile, Mamdani is a rich-kid socialist whose wealthy parents made it possible for him to avoid work and try to become a rap artist.

"Indeed, he seems never to have held an actual job before winning election to the Assembly four years ago, which should never be confused with full-time work.

"One of the few things he’s done is steep himself in the toxic brew of NYPD hatred.

"Recall that fever was all the rage among his fellow travelers in the aftermath of ­George Floyd’s death in May 2020 and the subsequent riots in Minneapolis and elsewhere.

"As Fox News recounts, Mamdani has a nasty habit of attacking the NYPD on social media.

"On June 8, 2020, while running for office, he wrote that “we want to defund the police.”

"In November that year. he posted that “Queer liberation means defund the ­police.”

“We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD.”

"He looked for excuses to attack the department, accusing officials of using “budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts — defund the ­police.”

"In December that year, he demanded that the department “be dismantled.”

Blaming the cops

“All this misery. All for money. In the last budget, the City Council tried to make the NYPD reduce its overtime budget by half. They simply refused. There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of ­violence,” he wrote.

"See, he believes cops create violence, not actual criminals.

"It’s worth noting that during his serial bloviations, violent crime was spiking. As the department itself later noted in a report.

“The NYPD in 2020 confronted a + 97% (1,531 v. 777) increase in shooting incidents and + 44% increase in the number of murders (462 v. 319) amid the challenges” of the COVID pandemic.

"It went on to concede that “burglaries increased by 42% and car thefts increased by 67%.”

"The 2020 crime wave took place under Bill de Blasio, aka Mayor Putz, the worst inhabitant of City Hall New York has had in decades.

"Naturally, the Putz also had a terrible relationship with the NYPD.

"Hundreds if not thousands of ­officers showed their disdain by turning their backs on him when he spoke at the funerals of slain officers.

"The first incident came early in de Blasio’s tenure during rites for NYPD patrol partners Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were slain in December 2014.

"The second came three years later, when the mayor left New York the day after the ambush killing of Miosotis Familia, a 12-year veteran of the force, who was shot in the head while sitting in her mobile command unit in The Bronx.

"After her death, the mayor jetted off to Germany to participate in a demonstration against the G20 meeting of world leaders.

"He defended the trip, saying “it was important to let people in other parts of the world know that many Americans disagree with President Trump.”

“This was a particularly meaningful moment,” he insisted, saying people needed to know “that the cities of America, that the states of America were not going to follow along with President Trump on issues like climate change.”

"He returned and spoke at the police funeral, but many of those in uniform were furious and turned their backs as he spoke.

"Later, a police union official said the mayor’s “compass led him to Germany rather than the Grand Concourse.”

“He should have been here with the family . . . He should have been there with us,” the official said.

"How predictable that Mamdani has called the Putz “the best mayor of my lifetime.”

"Even more chilling, reports say that refugees from that failed administration are flocking to Mamdani’s team, and some are said to be giving him advice in hopes of returning to City Hall if he is victorious in November.

"For the city, that would be doubling down on disaster.

"Pray that New Yorkers are smart enough to say No, hell No! to a second coming of the Putz."

Yet Another Consequence of Getting COVID

If you've had cancer, do you really want to take further chances? 

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From MedPage Today 7/30/25:

COVID Infection May Ignite Dormant Cancer in Survivors, Study Says; These patients should consider vaccination against respiratory viruses, according to researcher

by Mike Bassett, Staff Writer

"Common respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and the flu may be able to awaken dormant breast cancer cells that have spread to the lungs and promote the development of new metastatic tumors, researchers suggested.

"Using findings from a mouse model, this conclusion was corroborated with observational data in humans that showed increases in death and metastatic lung disease among cancer survivors infected with SARS-CoV-2, reported James DeGregori, PhD, of the University of Colorado Cancer Center in Aurora, and colleagues in Natureopens in a new tab or window.

"Focusing on cancer survivors in the U.K. Biobank who had been diagnosed at least 5 years before the COVID pandemic, the team found that after excluding survivors who died from COVID, those who tested positive for COVID had an almost two-fold higher risk of dying from cancer compared with patients with cancer who had tested negative (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.14-3.02).

"When they reduced the follow-up period from January 2022 to December 2020, the OR increased to 8.24 (95% CI 3.43-19.77), indicating "that the increased risk of cancer mortality is greatest in the first few months after SARS-CoV-2 infection."

"The authors then looked at 36,845 women with breast cancer from the Flatiron Health database to specifically determine whether they had an increased risk of progression to metastatic disease in the lungs after COVID infection. They found that survivors who had COVID after their initial breast cancer diagnosis showed an age-, race-, and ethnicity-adjusted hazard ratio of 1.44 (95% CI 1.01-2.05, P=0.043) for subsequent diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in the lungs.

"Our findings indicate that individuals with a history of cancer may benefit from taking precautions against respiratory viruses, such as vaccination when available, and discussing any concerns with their healthcare providers," said co-author Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, PhD, of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Bronx, New York, in a press release.

"We don't want to scare people -- it's one study and more needs to be done," DeGregori told MedPage Today. "But, I think it would be reasonable to conclude that avoiding infection would be a good idea -- which is a good idea anyway. And these respiratory viruses are still very relevant. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, COVID is certainly here to stay, and there are likely to be future coronaviruses that cause disease."

"The researchers noted that prior evidence has suggested that inflammatory processes can awaken disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) -- cells that break away from a primary tumor and spread to distant organs.

"And if there is anything that is inflammatory, it is a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19," DeGregori said. "So we specifically set out to test whether respiratory virus infections might lead to an awakening of these cancer cells, leading to metastatic progression of the disease."

"He and his team tested this hypothesis by using a unique mouse model of metastatic breast cancer, which included dormant DCCs in the lungs, and then exposing the mice to SARS-CoV-2 or influenza.

"And the results were really dramatic," DeGregori said. "We saw a massive awakening -- a 100- to a 1,000-fold increase in the burden of these cancer cells in the mice after infection over a few-week period."

"In attempting to understand the mechanism of this process, the researchers conducted a molecular analysis that demonstrated that the awakening of these dormant DCCs was driven by interleukin-6 (IL-6), a protein that immune cells release in response to injuries or infection.

"We showed that without IL-6, these cancer cells would not awaken nearly to the same extent," DeGregori explained.

"The team also found that this process is followed "by a return to quiescence and establishment of CD4+ cell niches that inhibit DCC elimination, partly through the suppression of CD8+ cells."

"In other words, "once these cells have expanded, they are actually protected by the immune system," DeGregori said. "Instead of the immune system actively eliminating the cancer cells, it protects them from immune elimination. We need to better understand this mechanism of immune suppression so that perhaps we can reverse it and allow the immune system to better control the cancer."

"While acknowledging that species differences "warrant caution in interpreting mouse data," DeGregori and colleagues concluded that the population-based data "show that COVID-19 increases lung metastasis risk in female patients with breast cancer.""

No to a "Palestinian" State

If the Western countries are so concerned about "starvation" in Gaza, let them send food in. Why should Israel have to do this? Every time Israel gets momentum  in their fight to destroy Hamas for good, something happens to make them stop fighting and lose momentum. Then Hamas recovers, and the cycle starts over. It's not Israel's responsibility to feed people who want to wipe them off the map. The anti-Israel propaganda over this has been infuriating, and nobody seems to remember that if anyone's really starving, it's the October 7 hostages!

In a column by Elder of Ziyon titled "A Palestinian state would be a human rights disaster. And no one gives a damn", it says "Dozens of NGOs have hundreds of people employed to find or fabricate Israeli violations of human rights of Palestinians.  - and literally no one is dedicated to exposing human rights violations of Palestinians by their own leaders. 

"Which means that the world - including the Western European countries that are cozying up to the Palestinian Authority - really isn't interested in Palestinian human rights. It just wants an excuse to rake the Jewish state over the coals, using Palestinians as convenient pawns to achieve that goal.

"Palestinian Arabs want to live in Israel. Israeli Arabs do not want to be citizens in a state of Palestine (although they will buy vacation homes there.) That tells you everything you need to know about who cares more about human rights in the region.

"The world simply doesn't give a damn about Palestinian human rights unless Jews can be blamed."  

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Bring Back Normalcy!

Now, even a jeans commercial drives woke liberals mad! What don't these morons find "offensive"? All I see is a beautiful young woman doing an ad promoting American Eagle jeans. What I also see are the TikTok videos full of obviously jealous, ugly women who have been so thoroughly indoctrinated by political correctness that they can't even enjoy an advertisement! Sometimes a rose is a rose is a rose, and there's no hidden meaning.

I feel sorry for these idiots. These are miserable people who see things only through the lens of race and class.

George Orwell continues to be right when he said in his novel 1984, "The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”  The Democratic party and their woke believers are proof of it. It's so ridiculous that it's laughable.

I just hope Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle aren't pressured into apologizing for something they didn't even do wrong; and I also hope their sales go way up! That would serve the radicals right.

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Liberal media outlets argue Sydney Sweeney ‘Good Jeans’ ad promoting ‘Whiteness,’ ‘eugenics’

 "The advertisement, the choice of Sweeney as the sole face in it and the internet’s reaction reflect an unbridled cultural shift toward Whiteness, conservatism and capitalist exploitation. Sweeney is both a symptom and a participant," MSNBC producer Hanna Holland wrote in an MSNBC.com column on Monday."

(ps. What's wrong with being white, conservative, and a capitalist?) 

Defeat Mandami, Protect New Yorkers

 
Can you imagine how much worse Monday's massacre would have been had Mandami already been Mayor? He's anti-ICE, and a proponent of defunding the police and other radical measures that would mean disaster for New York.

Don't be fooled by his smile. He can claim to be pro-police all he wants, in order to get elected. Then after Election Day, his true self emerges and it's too late.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Blaming Israel For Everything

This 7/22/25 column is by Jeffrey Herf at The Times of Israel. Too bad the Israel-haters can't be forced to read things like this.

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The genocide accusation and Hamas’s disappearing responsibility; Blaming Israel alone for Gaza’s suffering erases Hamas’s role, distorts genocide’s meaning, and echoes old anti-Jewish tropes 

"In an over 3,000-word opinion piece in the New York Times of July 15, Brown University professor Omer Bartov concluded that Israel has committed genocide in the war in Gaza. His arguments are similar to those he has made since November 2023. Since then, together with many other historians of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, I have disputed his claims.

"Describing Israel’s wars of self-defense as examples of genocide was a theme of the propaganda of the Soviet Union, and Soviet bloc, the Palestine Liberation Organization during the war in Lebanon in 1982, and recently from the government of South Africa. It has been a frequent theme in the demonstrations and encampments on American campuses after October 7. The contribution of Bartov, and some other historians of the Holocaust, has been to seek to lend academic respectability to what has, for decades, been an effective but false tool of political warfare.

"The publication of Bartov’s essay in The New York Times, and at least so far, the absence of an equally long and detailed dissent is troubling. Historians and analysts at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University have provided such a much needed reply in their recently published “Debunking the Genocide Allegations: A Reexamination of the Israel-Hamas War (2023-2025).” The study critically examines accusations about starvation, intentional killing of civilians, the credibility of the Hamas Health Ministry figures, and the reliance of journalists on compromised sources.

"My rejoinder as a historian is to focus instead on the conceptual problem in the genocide accusation, whether from Bartov and others, namely, the disappearance and repression of the agency and responsibility of Hamas for launching a war of extermination, and then for fighting the resulting war with a strategy intended to maximize death and suffering in Gaza. As a result, Bartov et al. attributed genocidal intent where it does not exist and ignores it where it does. The clearly articulated consensus of the Israeli government is to wage war to defeat Hamas and other affiliated terrorist organizations, but not to wage war against the people of Gaza. Bartov does not mention Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties while also pursuing the military goal of defeating a terrorist organization fighting from a massive underground fortress which cynically uses civilian shields to foster the accusation of genocide against Israel.

"In citing figures of death and injury in Gaza, Bartov cites “Gazan health authorities.” That is a euphemism. The figures come from the Hamas-run Health Ministry. A historian should not consider those figures reliable. They make no distinction between military deaths and casualties and those of non-combatants. Further, none of those casualties would have occurred had Hamas surrendered long ago. If Hamas were to surrender, the war, and suffering would end immediately. Here as well, repressing the agency and actions of Hamas is central to Bartov’s argument and the genocide accusation.

"These silences are inseparable from the central conceptual flaw in Bartov’s argument, namely his refusal to give any causal significance to the ideology, agency, and responsibility of Hamas for launching a war of aggression and extermination. He is that most unusual historian who writes about a war as if there is only one actor involved, namely the state of Israel, and as if the strategic interaction between Israel and a terrorist organization with a massive, complex underground fortress was not a matter worth discussing. Hamas, both in its 1988 founding charter and in numerous statements by its leaders over many years has proudly expressed its intent to destroy the state of Israel and kill its citizens by force of arms. Bartov does not mention these crucial pieces of evidence.

"There is another element of Hamas’ agency that receives little or no mention in discussions of the genocide accusation, namely its refusal to surrender in the face of clear military defeat. Were Hamas to surrender, its leaders would be forced into exile or taken prisoner. The result would not be a genocide, nor ethnic cleansing or expulsion, but rather the end of the war, end of the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza, and beginning of planning for postwar reconstruction, both physically, economically, and politically, and perhaps, once Hamas was out of the picture, gradually over time, a move toward peaceful coexistence and compromise. The governments expressing concern about the impact of the war on Gazans would help bring about that result by calling on Hamas’ leaders to surrender. 

"Bartov’s dismissal of link between the history of the Holocaust and Israel’s determination to defend itself reverses logic and moral argument. Hamas and the attack of October 7, not to mention the genocidal threats made by the Islamic Republic of Iran, are not figments of the imagination of Israeli officials who supposedly and cynically use the memory of the Holocaust to wage unnecessary wars against non-existent threats. The threats exist. Any government of Israel committed to the defense of the lives of its citizens would have to fight a war to defeat Hamas and ensure that it did not return to power in Gaza. Indeed, no decent government on the planet could tolerate the existence of a terrorist dictatorship on its borders that was sworn to its destruction.

"The issues of how to defeat Hamas, free the hostages, end the war, and ensure a postwar order of peace and stability are matters of constant debate within Israel. The debates are not between those who favor a “war of extermination” or those who do not. They are not between those who favor a policy of genocide and those who do not. They are, instead, about how Israel can defend itself against an organization whose genocidal intent is a matter of public record, and which makes the deaths of its own citizens part of its strategy to survive and win a war of global public opinion. The genocide accusation, by obscuring its responsibility for the war and its losses, objectively serves to enhance the possibility that Hamas could survive the war and, yet again, to destroy the hopes for a compromise peace.

"Netanyahu should articulate a clear policy for some kind of Palestinian governing structure in a post-Hamas Gaza. It should not entail a permanent Israeli occupation. Yet no government or organization in world politics has offered a plausible plan for establishment of a government body in Gaza that is able to prevent a return of Hamas, and to form a government willing to coexist in peace with Israel. The deradicalization of the Gaza strip after the sixteen years of Hamas rule before 2023 will require some kind of armed presence that is willing and able to prevent a Hamas return to power. Israelis across the political spectrum have every right to be skeptical about the willingness and capacity of the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, or any other government or organization to accomplish that task. In expressing that skepticism they are not supporting a genocide or denying Palestinian self-governance in Gaza but are asking the practical questions of how such governance can be made compatible with peaceful coexistence.

"In rejecting the genocide accusation against Israel, we historians do not accuse its advocates of being themselves antisemites, though in the case of Hamas, hatred of the Jews is a point of pride, not embarrassment. Rather, we have argued that the arguments they make–the attribution of total responsibility to Israel and complete innocence to Hamas–represent a contemporary version of ancient libels against the Jews deeply embedded in Christian anti-Judaism, in Islamist visions of Jewish hostility to Islam, and in the secular antisemitic conspiracy theories of modern history. The genocide accusation resonates in world politics, in part, because it evokes these much older, religious fictions, and secular hatreds that resonate with hundreds of millions of people around the globe. It is the structure of the argument and its cultural themes, not necessarily the personal views of its advocates about Jews, that we have in mind. 

"Historians of Nazi Germany, World War II and the Holocaust have published works that document ideological affinities between the Nazi regime and Islamists during World War II, and of the aftereffects of their collaboration in the efforts by the Muslim Brotherhood and its Hamas offshoot to destroy the Jewish state. Ignoring that historical scholarship has led to an absence of discussion about the reactionary and virulent Jew-hatred of Hamas. Of course, we historians of the Holocaust hope that our work will serve as a warning to prevent its repetition. That is why we take the ideology and intent of both Hamas and its sponsor, the Islamic Republic of Iran, very seriously. Where there are continuities between the Jew-hatred of the 1940s and Hamas’ attacks on Israel, it is the historian’s responsibility to present that evidence, not to write as if those lineages did not exist." 

About the Author: Jeffrey Herf is Distinguished University Professor, Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. He has published extensively on modern German and European history, and its intersection with the Middle East. His recent publications include Three Faces of Antisemitism: Right, Left, and Islamist (Routledge, 2024), and “Free Palestine Terrorism,” The Free Press, (June 1, 2025). 

Grateful For Vaccines

Somebody should tell RFK Jr. to read this. 

All I know is, I still remember how inexpressibly relieved I felt when I was able to get my father vaccinated for COVID in 2021, and later myself.  It's something I'll never forget.

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From Medical Xpress 7/25/25: 

Globally, over 2.5 million COVID deaths prevented worldwide thanks to vaccines, data indicate

"Thanks to vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 in the period 2020–2024, 2.533 million deaths were prevented at the global level; one death was avoided for every 5,400 doses of vaccine administered. 

"Some 82% of the lives saved by vaccines involved people vaccinated before encountering the virus, 57% during the omicron period, and 90% involved people aged 60 years and older. In all, vaccines have saved 14.8 million years of life (one year of life saved for 900 doses of administered).

"These are some of the data released in an unprecedented study published in the journal Jama Health Forum and coordinated by Prof. Stefania Boccia, Professor of General and Applied Hygiene at Università Cattolica, with contributions from Dr. Angelo Maria Pezzullo, researcher in general and applied hygiene, and Dr. Antonio Cristiano, a medical resident in hygiene and preventive medicine.

"The two researchers spent a period at Stanford University, collaborating directly with the group of Professor John P.A. Ioannidis, director of the Meta-Research Innovation Center (METRICS), in the context of the project "European network staff eXchange for integrAting precision health in the health Care sysTems- ExACT."

"Professor Boccia and Dr. Pezzullo explain, "Before ours, several studies tried to estimate lives saved by vaccines with different models and in different periods or parts of the world, but this one is the most comprehensive because it is based on worldwide data, it also covers the omicron period, it also calculates the number of years of life that was saved, and it is based on fewer assumptions about the pandemic trend."

"The experts studied worldwide population data, applying a series of statistical methods to figure out who among the people who became ill with COVID did either before or after getting vaccinated, before or after the omicron period, and how many of them died (and at what age).

"We compared this data with the estimated data modeled in the absence of COVID vaccination and were then able to calculate the numbers of people who were saved by COVID vaccines and the years of life gained as a result of them," Dr. Pezzullo explains.

"It also turned out that most of the saved years of life (76%) involved people over 60 years of age, but residents in long-term care facilities contributed only 2% of the total number. Children and adolescents (0.01% of lives saved and 0.1% of life years saved) and aged 20–29 (0.07% of lives saved and 0.3% of life years saved) contributed very little to the total benefit.

"Professor Boccia concludes, "These estimates are substantially more conservative than previous calculations that focused mainly on the first year of vaccination, but clearly demonstrate an important overall benefit from COVID-19 vaccination over the 2020–2024.

"Most of the benefits, in terms of lives and life-years saved, have been secured for a portion of the global population who are typically more fragile, the elderly."

More information: Global Estimates of Lives and Life-Years Saved by COVID-19 Vaccination During 2020-2024, JAMA Health Forum (2025).

Monster in Manhattan

Evil stalked innocent people on Park Avenue last evening, and because of one killer, innocent people are dead and wounded, and New Yorkers are traumatized.

As usual, the Democrats right away brought up the topic of gun control and as usual, the excuse of "mental issues" came up.

Odd how killers like this can plan a murder spree, drive nearly 2,500 miles, casually stroll into an office building with a rifle in plain sight -- all while "mentally ill".  But it's only when they methodically kill others is the excuse dragged out.

I was so impressed by the quick response of the NYPD, who deserve to be called heroes. I hope that after this, and with the anniversary of September 11 around the corner, New York tightens up security at all its buildings. 

The only good news is that this murderer-coward killed himself.  It's just too bad he didn't do that before killing others. 

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New York Post 7/29/25 

Rifle-toting NYC shooter Shane Tamura kills 4 —including NYPD officer — before turning gun on himself at Blackstone, NFL HQ 

"A 36-year-old married police officer and three other people were shot and killed by a crazed gunman who stormed a swanky Midtown skyscraper early Monday evening — sparking mayhem in Midtown — before turning the gun on himself, police said.

"The 27-year-old maniac, identified as Las Vegas resident Shane Tamura, barged into the 44-story building — which houses Blackstone and the NFL headquarters — armed with a rifle and opened fire around 6:30 p.m. during the evening rush, cops and law enforcement sources told The Post.

"Tamura, who authorities said had a “documented mental health history,” unleashed his rampage after setting foot in the lobby, first gunning down officer Didarul Islam, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Monday evening press conference.

"Tamura then fatally shot a woman who was hiding behind a pillar as he continued “spraying” the lobby of 345 Park Ave. with bullets, Tisch said.

"The lone gunman didn’t stop there as he marched to the elevators and pumped a bullet into a security guard who took cover behind a desk, police said.

"In a chilling moment of apparent mercy, the wacko spared the life of a woman who came face to face with the killer as she exited an elevator, according to Tisch.

"Tamura then took the lift up to the 33rd floor, home to Rudin Management offices, where he “fired as he traveled,” striking and killing one person, before shooting himself in the chest.

"Tamura was seen splayed out on the floor, apparently already dead, in a shocking photo obtained by The Post.

"Another man was also shot in the lobby and survived his wounds.

"A witness on the first floor recalled that “it sounded like a barrage of shots … Like an automatic weapon. Like a high-capacity weapon.”

“I was at work and this guy came in with an assault rifle and started shooting,” a man, who was gasping for air outside, told The Post shortly after the bullets started flying.

"Tamura launched the mass shooting after driving across the country, police said.

"He crossed into the Big Apple from New Jersey earlier Monday afternoon, then drove to 345 Park Ave., parking between 51st and 52nd streets, according to Tisch.

"Chilling images showed the gunman calmly strolling across the building’s entry plaza with an assault rifle at his side before carrying out the carnage.

"Footage posted to social media shows bystanders running for their lives outside the building and workers were also later seen filing out of the high-rise with their hands up.

"Photos posted to X show frantic Blackstone employees stacking couches and other furniture in front of an office entrance during Tamura’s rampage.

"Sources said Islam, the officer, was shot at in the back and died at a hospital.

"With sirens blaring in the background, three cops dragged an injured woman in a dress away from the front of the building, according to disturbing footage. 

"Tamura is believed to have acted alone.

“His motives are still under investigation. We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location,” Tisch said.

"Police recovered Tamura’s bloodstained long gun, a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 assault rifle.

"A vehicle with Nevada plates registered to Tamura was found at the scene.

"Cops searched his car and found a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver, extra ammunition, magazines, a backpack and medication prescribed to him.

"Sources said Tamura was a security guard at a Las Vegas casino and didn’t show up for work Sunday morning, setting off alarm bells.

"The gunman had a concealed firearms permit from Las Vegas with a 2027 expiration date, according to a picture of the license obtained by The Post.

"Oleksandr Stupak, 30, was standing on the street nearby when he heard gunshots ring out — and watched in shock as armed police flooded the building

“I was on the one block away and I heard shots being fired and then a bunch of police, they came to neutralize it,” he said. “I went to the Citizen app and it says active shooting. A lot of police started to come. I mean. [It’s ] crazy.”

"The blocks surrounding the building were flooded with police cars, fire engines, ambulances and first responders, while helicopters filled the sky overhead.

"And footage from the scene showed officers hastily performing CPR on an apparent victim after hauling his limp body in the middle of the street.

"The FBI responded to the scene.

"Mayor Adams has been briefed on the incident, and cautioned New Yorkers to avoid the area.

"The 36-year-old slain officer was from the 47 Precinct, but was working a paid detail for the owner of the building, Rudin Properties, at the time of the shooting, sources said.

"He’s been on the force since December 2021 and leaves behind a wife who was pregnant with their third child, according to a high ranking police source.

"Meanwhile, two apparent protesters, including one who yelled, “Free Palestine, I’m not the shooter,” were arrested outside of the building around the time of the shooting."

Monday, July 28, 2025

Your Local Epidemiologist: The Dose - 7/28/25

It's time for another edition of The Dose newsletter from Your Local Epidemiologist, Dr Katelyn Jetelina:

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Covid-19 wimpy wave is here, corn sweats, SSRIs, the optimal number of steps, and more  

"It’s midsummer, and much is heating up: Covid-19 levels are rising, the air is thick with humidity (and some “corn sweat”), and a national conversation about antidepressants in pregnancy just hit a boiling point. We’re also exploring a more realistic step goal backed by science, and, as always, we have some good news!

"Here’s what you need to know for your health this Monday.


Disease “weather” report

"The summer Covid-19 wave has arrived, though so far, it’s been relatively wimpy. Wastewater signals, emergency department visits, and test positivity rates are all gradually increasing, but not yet reaching the levels we saw at this time last year. Hawaii and Florida are notable exceptions, with more significant activity. Hospitalizations and deaths remain low due to broad population immunity, though—as always—severe outcomes tend to lag behind other indicators. Currently, Covid-19 is causing about 100 deaths per week in the U.S.

Covid-19 ED visits and Test Positivity Rates in the United States. Source: CDC; Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist

"Can we still trust wastewater data? Yes! The U.S. wastewater surveillance system—anchored by the CDC and spanning 1,400+ sites—remains funded through FY2025. And it’s evolving, as many local systems are now also tracking measles, opioids, and more.

"For the data nerds: While wastewater is an important signal for Covid-19, I’m currently relying more on ED visits and test positivity. That’s because there’s no standardized wastewater baseline. Instead, some states compare to their own previous 12-month levels. But with unusually low Covid levels over the past year, even small increases can look artificially large right now and that is throwing a lot of states off.

"If you’re feeling sick: Even with Covid-19 increasing, odds are it’s not Covid. Most positive respiratory tests right now are still coming back as the common cold.

Source: CDC

"Norovirus ratesthink vomiting, diarrhea, and rapid spread—continue to linger after an unusually intense year thanks to a new variant. Currently, levels are still elevated compared to previous years, but are trending downward.

Source: CDC

"What to do: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water—sanitizer doesn’t kill norovirus. Be extra cautious if it’s going around your kid’s summer camp or your friend group.

"A recent norovirus outbreak in Utah was linked to frozen oysters, serving as a reminder that norovirus can spread rapidly through contaminated food and surfaces. (Note: The same oysters were sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Montana. If you’re here, pass on the frozen oysters for now.)


Heat and welcome to “corn sweat” season

"Mid-summer means an increase in heat-related illnesses. The Midwest, in particular, is in the thick of corn sweat.

'What is corn sweat? Cornfields release moisture into the air through a process called evapotranspiration. This is a natural process in which plants move water from their roots to the surface, and the water then evaporates into the atmosphere. With millions of acres of corn growing in the Midwest, that extra water vapor can make the air feel heavier and hotter. Dr. Zachary Rubin has a great explainer.

"But here’s an important nuance: While cornfields do add moisture to the air, they’re not the main driver. Research by Illinois State shows that most moisture originates from large-scale wind patterns that pull it in from the Gulf of Mexico.

"Why it matters: During hot weather, the real risk to your health is heat imbalance—when your body produces more heat than it can dissipate. Sweat helps cool us down, but high humidity (like from corn sweats) slows evaporation. This makes it harder for your body to cool off, increasing the risk of heat illness, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions, pregnant women, and older adults.

"How to protect yourself:

  • Hydrate early and often (don’t wait until you’re thirsty)

  • Stay indoors if possible during peak heat (10am–4pm)

  • Cool down fast with wet towels, ice packs, or a cold shower


New science: 7,000 steps is a solid target

"A new meta-analysis—a study that pools numerous studies to identify trends—found that walking 7,000 steps a day is associated with significant health benefits. However, the most dramatic benefit was for moderate step counts (compared to low). This makes sense because it lifts people out of the high-risk, sedentary zone. Increasing to just 5,000 steps/day (from 2,000) can dramatically improve:

  • Blood sugar control

  • Insulin sensitivity

  • Blood pressure

  • Inflammation

  • Mental health

"While these studies have limitations (for example, the healthier a person is, the more likely they are to walk, which introduces study bias), they do support what decades of research have shown: movement is important.

"But wait: wasn’t the goal always 10,000 steps?
Sort of. The 10,000-step benchmark originated from a highly successful 1960s Japanese marketing campaign for a pedometer, which preceded the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. (The number was chosen because the Japanese character for 10,000 resembles a person walking.) While catchy, it wasn’t based on scientific evidence, yet this arbitrary number became the global standard for step tracking.

"What does this mean for you? While more movement is best, you don’t need 10,000 steps to see the most significant benefits. The most important thing is to get moving.


SSRIs in pregnancy: Moms deserve better than this FDA panel

"Last week, RFK Jr’s FDA convened a panel to review the safety of SSRIs (a class of antidepressants such as Zoloft, Prozac, and Celexa) during pregnancy. Of the ten panelists, nine were known critics of antidepressants, and many had significant conflicts of interest. Instead of fostering a nuanced discussion, the panel overwhelmingly focused on the treatments’ risks, ignoring the well-established benefits and devastating risks of untreated perinatal depression, which is the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S.

"The fallout was swift: several fear-stoking social media posts went viral, and many moms flooded social media with questions, confusion, and concern.

"This is a deeply personal and complex topic that demands compassion, nuance, and scientific clarity. Yes, there is ongoing research on the safety of SSRIs in pregnancy, but we already have decades of data. The most robust population-level studies show no consistent evidence that SSRIs cause major birth defects, hypertension, or long-term developmental harm when accounting for confounding factors like maternal mental illness. There may be a slightly increased risk of preterm birth, short-term neonatal symptoms (like increased fussiness), and postpartum hemorrhage.

"Bottom line: SSRIs can be lifesaving. For many, the risks of untreated depression far outweigh the potential risks of medication. Moms know their bodies, and treatment decisions should be guided by them, their doctors, and a robust review of evidence, instead of whatever this panel was last week at FDA. 


Good news

  • This is the first week with no new reported measles cases linked to the Southwestern U.S. outbreak (Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas). If that trend continues for a few more weeks, it will signal that the outbreak has been contained. That’s a big deal for young families in these communities who have faced weeks of worry and disruption. It also helps protect the U.S.’s WHO measles elimination status, which is jeopardized if an outbreak lasts 12 months or more.

  • The Covid vaccine saved 2.5 million lives between 2020-2024 according to a new global study. The biggest benefits were for older populations: 9 out of 10 deaths prevented were among those aged 60 and above. Other researchers have found even larger effects, estimating that vaccines have saved more than 18 million lives in Europe and 3 million in the United States.

  • Flu vaccines also averted 33% to 42% of U.S. cases across 2022-2023, even though uptake was comparatively low.

     

    "Have a great week! Get those steps in, as long as it’s not too hot :)

    "Love, YLE"

Dr Ruth's COVID & Health News 7/28/25

Prepare for lots of important information here at Dr Ruth's 7/28/25 COVID & Health News newsletter:

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COVID & Health News, 7/28/25

"According to WastewaterSCAN, SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater are MEDIUM across the US, with higher levels seen in the Midwest. The CDC states that their data may be incomplete, but they report LOW levels of COVID in wastewater through 7/19/25. Louisiana COVID levels in wastewater are very high and Florida’s are high per the CDC. Emergency Department visits, an early indicator of a COVID wave, are increasing nationally and are more pronounced in Florida. Biobot shows SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels increasing in all regions. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports high wastewater COVID levels in many parts of the state compared to levels 21 days ago. Here in Santa Clara County, sewer shed levels of COVID are HIGH in San Jose and in Palo Alto.

"Per JP Weiland, as of 7/25/25, the Summer COVID wave has started with Florida in the lead. There are about 220,000 new COVID infections daily in the United States with about 1 in every 150 people currently infected. JP Weiland and Mike Hoerger believe that the United States Summer 2025 COVID wave will be more modest similar to Summer 2023, expecting about 600,000 to 700,000 infections per day nationally at its peak.

"The CDC’s COVID Variant Tracker has not been updated in over a month and the CDC also mixed up the variants that they reported according to JP Weiland. Raj Rajnarayanan reports that GIASD data shows that XFG is over 50% of cases and NB.1.8.1 represents about 15 to 20% of current COVID cases.

Acute COVID infections, General COVID info

"In a study of 996 people, UK researchers found that both COVID infected and uninfected people had measurable brain aging during the COVID pandemic. Chronic stress, isolation, and changes in daily routines likely contributed to reduced attention, memory, and processing speed. In addition, people infected with COVID also were noted to have cognitive decline.

"A group in Norway followed immunologic tests in people with asymptomatic COVID and those with moderate acute COVID infection. They found that unvaccinated people with asymptomatic COVID infections had higher NK, NKT and CD4 T cells and lower HGF and IL-1RA levels, as well as higher cross-reactive T cell responses.

Pediatrics

From: https://x.com/1goodtern/status/1949134691186979299

"A large cohort study of over 1.2 million children and youths ages 5 to 20 found that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a small, but significant increase in neuropsychiatric disease. "Children face increased risks for anxiety, OCD, ADHD, autism, and other conditions, while youths [teens] exhibit elevated risks for anxiety, suicidality, depression, and related symptoms." Risks persisted up to 2 years post-infection and were higher in adolescents. Neuropsychiatric impacts, even if small, “raise concern in a pediatric population given that childhood conditions often have lifelong consequences.”

"Rutgers and Stanford researchers studied 139 children and found that SARS-CoV-2 infection in children was linked to increased autoantibody production, indicating a potential risk for autoimmune complications. Autoantibody profiles varied slightly by disease severity, with some autoantibodies more common in mild cases and others in severe ones. While MIS-C and severe COVID-19 showed differences in IgG levels (mainly IgG1) there were no significant differences in Fc-mediated immune functions.

Vaccines

"Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden warns that recent moves by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. including defunding GAVI, firing CDC vaccine advisers from ACIP, and proposing to overhaul the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) undermine public health and vaccine access. Frieden argues the VICP, a no-fault system created in 1986 to compensate for rare vaccine injuries and shield manufacturers from lawsuits, is crucial to maintaining a stable vaccine supply. He suggests Kennedy’s actions may be driven by financial incentives tied to vaccine litigation. Undermining VICP could reopen the floodgates to lawsuits, reduce vaccine availability, and ultimately cost lives.

ME/CFS and Long COVID

"Scientists from the Jackson Laboratory, Duke University and the Bateman Horne Center developed a new artificial intelligence tool called BioMapAI that can identify Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) with 90% accuracy by analyzing multi-omics in blood and stool samples. The AI found hidden biological patterns across patients’ gut bacteria, immune cells, and metabolism to uncover unique biomarkers of ME/CFS. BioMapAI identified the critical role of microbiome imbalance and immune response (depleted butyrate, altered amino acids and bile acids, and activated inflammatory T‑cell subsets) as key disease markers. This is a significant breakthrough because it provides the first reliable biological markers for a disease that has long been misunderstood and often dismissed due to the lack of diagnostic tests. Researchers say the same approach may also help find biomarkers and treatments for Long COVID.

"A preprint of this article first came out in June 2024 and I was fascinated that a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut could lead to a reduction of regulatory immune cells and an increase in pathogenic, hyper-inflammatory T cells (MAIT and γδ T cells) leading to symptoms of malaise and loss of general health and social function in ME/CFS. The preprint also showed that an imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) also increased benzoate-producing bacteria that was associated with fatigue, as well as sleep and gastrointestinal symptoms.

"My daughter had severe Long COVID and I was trying to find something to help her. A randomized, double blinded, placebo trial from Hong Kong showed that a synbiotic (pre- and probiotics) called SIM01 with B. Adolescentis, B. Longum and B. Bifidum significantly improved Long COVID symptoms when taken for six months. SIM01 had high FODMAP prebiotics that my daughter would not be able to tolerate. I knew from several other studies that the gut microbiome from people with Long COVID and ME/CFS were low in butyrate-producing F. Prau and Roseburia species. So, I changed the prebiotics to low FODMAP kiwi powder which has been shown to increase both F. Prau and Roseburia and I added in some other immunomodulatory bacteria that are considered histamine reducing to come up with my synbiotic formula. The synbiotic has helped my daughter immensely. We have made this available for others to try at VivaBiome and are working to reduce costs while maintaining beneficial properties.

Long COVID

"A group from France studied SARS-CoV-2 infection in a golden hamster model of Long COVID. They found that SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the brainstem for at least 80 days after infection, triggering gene expression changes linked to neurodegeneration, inflammation, and metabolic changes. Infected hamsters displayed depression-like behavior, memory problems, and signs of anxiety which mirror brain changes seen in Long COVID patients.

"Researchers from Sweden showed that two small parts of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein called Spike601 and Spike685 can form amyloid-like fibrils, which interfere with clot formation and breakdown (fibrinolysis). This may explain persistent microclots observed in Long COVID and abnormal clotting in acute COVID infection.

"In a new review of Long COVID and autoimmune diseases, researchers examined how viral persistence, latent virus reactivation, and immune dysfunction in Long COVID can drive chronic inflammation. These processes may lead to the development of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Authors recommend immunomodulatory therapies such as probiotics or immunoglobulins tailored to individual immune profiles.

From: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568997225001429#f0005

"Taiwanese researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 damages mitochondria in infected cells, reducing energy production and increasing oxidative stress even after the virus is gone. This lasting mitochondrial injury may drive Long COVID symptoms including fatigue and brain fog. Targeting mitochondria may be a therapeutic strategy for Long COVID.

Fig. 2. SARS-CoV-2-induced mitochondrial disruption across different organs.

From: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725002794#fig2

"A new cohort study of 162 Long COVID patients at a South Texas rehab clinic identified that neuropsychiatric symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, depression, and brain fog clustered together in Long COVID patients and were the most common and burdensome. These symptom clusters also drove higher healthcare use and longer illness duration. “The symptom clusters experienced by both acute COVID-19 and Long COVID patients imply significant distortions to normal functioning of the central nervous system due to neurovirulent damage.” Findings underscore the need for neuropsychiatric-focused treatment strategies for Long COVID.

"Another study found that individuals with Long COVID had significantly higher rates of healthcare utilization for up to a year post-infection, including hospital visits, outpatient services, and medication use. The burden was highest among women and people with multiple comorbidities. Results emphasize the long-term strain Long COVID places on healthcare systems. Dr David Joffe commented, “The costs of doing nothing are really rather expensive.”

"A small clinical trial of 63 long COVID patients tested brain stimulation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training in people with post-COVID fatigue. They found that tDCS combined with cognitive training was a feasible, safe, and effective approach for reducing fatigue and enhancing cognition in Long COVID.

"Dr Akiko Iwasaki will join Invivyd’s SPEAR Study Group to investigate if the use of monoclonal antibodies for Long COVID and for post-vaccine syndrome can offer relief.

Measles

"As of July 22, 2025, a total of 1,319 confirmed measles cases were reported by 40 jurisdictions in the United States, with 13% of cases hospitalized (165 of 1319), and 3 confirmed deaths.

Hypermobility Disorders

"Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is the most common EDS subtype and part of a broader group of hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSDs), marked by joint hypermobility, pain, and tissue fragility. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in hEDS/HSDs and significantly impact quality of life. The AGA published an expert update that offers practical guidance for gastroenterologists on evaluating and managing gut–brain disorders in patients with hypermobile Ehlers‑Danlos syndrome, especially when complicated by POTS or mast cell activation syndrome.

Other news:

"Public hospitals in Santa Clara County train about half of California’s new doctors, yet federal budget cuts under the “Big Beautiful Bill” are projected to strip away about $1 billion in funding starting in late 2026. These cuts threaten residency training in essential fields like trauma, burn care, and OBGYN at trauma centers like Valley Medical Center, potentially reducing exposure to critical care specialties and impacting physician retention in Northern California.

"Psychiatrists and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) criticized an FDA panel for promoting misinformation about SSRIs in pregnancy, warning that overstating risks may lead to under-treatment of perinatal mental illness. They emphasized that untreated depression poses serious risks including suicide and poor birth outcomes, while most SSRIs are safe and effective when appropriately prescribed.

"A new review shows that gut microbes produce metabolites that influence every stage of T cell development and function, from thymic selection to peripheral responses. These findings highlight the microbiome’s crucial role in shaping immune health.

"A meta‑analysis of 11 trials found that patients on anti‑obesity medications (including GLP‑1 agonists, orlistat, phentermine‑topiramate) began regaining weight around 8 weeks after stopping treatment with weight gain continuing through 20+ weeks. "Significant weight regain after 12 weeks of drug discontinuation was observed only in studies with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) related drugs."

"Researchers were able to identify VOC signatures in people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and those with high‑grade lymphoma using the Breath Biopsy test from Owlstone Medical. Findings suggest that this fast, noninvasive breath test could screen for lymphoma.

Breath Biopsy from Owlstone Medical

"Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least 500 to 1000 years are now visible again on Oahu.

From: AP News https://buff.ly/EgeVFfV

"Native American nations presented a symbolic woven rug to the country of Ireland as a thank you for the country's assistance to Indigenous communities during the COVID pandemic when people from Ireland donated $3 million to a relief fund for the native American nations. This continues a historic bond that began when the Choctaw Nation sent aid to Ireland during the Great Famine in 1847. The rug was created by Navajo and Hopi artists and highlights mutual respect and cultural connection.

From: https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2025/0717/1524054-native-americans-gift-ireland/

"Have a good week,

"Ruth Ann Crystal MD"