dailykos--2020-03-17--West Virginia Confirms First Case of COVID-19

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice just announced the first confirmed case COVID-19 in the state .
Gov .
Jim Justice announced the update Tuesday during a statewide address .
The person who tested positive lives in the Eastern Panhandle .
The governor said he is closing restaurants and bars and casinos .
Restaurants will still be able to offer take-out service .
Before anyone pulls out any broad generalizations or stereotypes , state health officials have been monitoring for cases for some time now , and have been taking the COVID-19 threat relatively seriously .
State health officials previously said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Mountain State but had just not been identified through testing .
Although the state has been testing for the virus , like many other US states , it has been limited in how many tests it could administer , despite a large high-risk population The news of the first confirmed case comes conspicuously after earlier in the day when Trump made some misguided public remarks about why West Virginia had not yet detected any cases “ Big Jim , the governor ” — referring to Gov .
Jim Justice , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump — “ he must be doing a good job of that .
That ’ s what ’ s reported .
… West Virginia is the only one that has no cases .
So obviously that ’ s being treated differently than a New York or California.
” Well , that ’ s not obviously the case , in fact .
There are a number of reasons West Virginia may not have any reported cases — and why it may have cases that haven ’ t been documented .
The problem here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state and Justice for their handling of the outbreak , but there ’ s no reason to think that the state ’ s actions are themselves actually preventing the spread of disease .
It may be that the lack of population density in much of the state plays a role , as does the limited number of cases of people seeding the virus .
But it ’ s also almost certainly true that there are cases that haven ’ t been detected yet , meaning that what the state is doing isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hope that ’ s not the case .
No state has a higher density of its population that is at higher risk from the virus than Justice ’ s .
Half of the state ’ s residents are either over 60 years old or have a health condition that means they might face complications should they contract covid-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
With this , all 50 states now have at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 .
As we all know , most states have enacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and slow the spread of the virus , to prevent over-burdening the USA ’ s fragile health system similar to what is happening in Italy .
But for reasons that are actually in complete opposite to what Trump claims , the situation in West Virginia only emphasizes the one critical factor where Trump ’ s response has been utterly abysmal , and will , frankly , lead to a lot of people dying : increasing testing immediately .

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice just announced the first confirmed case COVID-19 in the state.
Gov. Jim Justice announced the update Tuesday during a statewide address. The person who tested positive lives in the Eastern Panhandle. The governor said he is closing restaurants and bars and casinos. Restaurants will still be able to offer take-out service.
Before anyone pulls out any broad generalizations or stereotypes, state health officials have been monitoring for cases for some time now, and have been taking the COVID-19 threat relatively seriously.
State health officials previously said they believed the coronavirus was already here in the Mountain State but had just not been identified through testing.
Although the state has been testing for the virus, like many other US states, it has been limited in how many tests it could administer, despite a large high-risk population
"We've only had 84 tests in my state" as of Monday, said Joe Manchin, the state's senior senator. (living in West Virginia), I have over a million that could be absolutely, totally devastated by this virus if it hits." "I have over 720,000 elderly. I've got over 220,000 that are critically ill under 60 years of age," Manchin said. "If you put all this together, of the 1,800,000 people (living in West Virginia), I have over a million that could be absolutely, totally devastated by this virus if it hits."
The news of the first confirmed case comes conspicuously after earlier in the day when Trump made some misguided public remarks about why West Virginia had not yet detected any cases
“Big Jim, the governor” — referring to Gov. Jim Justice, whose flip to the Republican Party was celebrated by Trump — “he must be doing a good job of that. That’s what’s reported. … West Virginia is the only one that has no cases. So obviously that’s being treated differently than a New York or California.” Well, that’s not obviously the case, in fact. There are a number of reasons West Virginia may not have any reported cases — and why it may have cases that haven’t been documented.
The problem here should be obvious. Trump is praising the state and Justice for their handling of the outbreak, but there’s no reason to think that the state’s actions are themselves actually preventing the spread of disease. It may be that the lack of population density in much of the state plays a role, as does the limited number of cases of people seeding the virus. But it’s also almost certainly true that there are cases that haven’t been detected yet, meaning that what the state is doing isn’t preventing cases anyway. Let’s hope that’s not the case. No state has a higher density of its population that is at higher risk from the virus than Justice’s. Half of the state’s residents are either over 60 years old or have a health condition that means they might face complications should they contract covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.
With this, all 50 states now have at least one confirmed case of COVID-19.
As we all know, most states have enacted extreme measures to encourage people to stay home and slow the spread of the virus, to prevent over-burdening the USA’s fragile health system similar to what is happening in Italy.
But for reasons that are actually in complete opposite to what Trump claims, the situation in West Virginia only emphasizes the one critical factor where Trump’s response has been utterly abysmal, and will, frankly, lead to a lot of people dying: increasing testing immediately.


dailykos--2020-03-18--If This Were a Private Company, Trump Would Get Fired. Trump Needs to Resign

One thing you may have learned from the average Conservative , it is this notion that the government would run better , if it were run like a private business .
So , we end up with businesspeople — like Trump — in high levels of government , when they very likely would not be qualified for that position in any other sense .
Well , if we take that analogy to its logical conclusion — what would a private company do , when it ’ s current CEO has proven to be so incompetent , caused the company to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wildly off the mark in predicting how to plan for the future , and is at this very moment standing in the way of immediately reversing the company ’ s downward trajectory ?
Yeah , that company ’ s board wouldn ’ t even give him until the end of the week , before sending him the pink slip .
If this were any similar scenario in the business world that Trump is so fond of acting like he is a battle-tested veteran of , he would have been fired by now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the business world , the next best thing would be for Trump to resign .
As it stands now , it might not seem like there is grounds yet for calling for Trump ’ s resignation .
While COVID-19 cases are still on an exponential growth curve , and the markets , while battered , likely still have lower yet to go , we are still not at the worst yet .
The US hospital system still has not yet been burdened to the point of where Italy is at now , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of mass death quite yet .
And really , it is still too early to figure out how effective the extreme measures around the country to limit the spread of the disease , and flatten the curve , will truly be .
But that is why now would be in everyone ’ s best interests for Trump to resign .
Because he has already proven how poorly bad he is at leading the country during this time of crisis , we already know the caliber of that leadership , and we already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not nearly the level needed going forward for the country to avoid the worst that this crisis could have in store for us .
Most signs point to the current measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 to be insufficient , meaning a lot of lives are now likely hanging in the balance — but it is not too late .
With actual leadership , someone with an actual determination to make the tough decisions and put the interests of every American at the top of their priority list , we may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more lives than we are looking at now , with Trump still President .
With swift decisive action by our government , we can likely still save a lot of lives .
But as it stands right now , Trump is actually undermining those efforts .
Just as he has in the past several weeks .
And just as he predictably will continue to do going forward .
With so many lives now at stake , this is unacceptable .
I am well aware that if Trump steps down , the next in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence .
That is still likely going to be a far better response , although I wouldn ’ t bet on it .
And , perhaps , Pence would do some deep internal reflection , and realize that he , too , is not up to the task in leading this country through these dire times .
In which case he could also resign as well , leaving those responsibilities to Nancy Pelosi — who , in my mind , has shown that she is willing to do what it takes to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans confront this crisis .
She will not be intimidated by the monumental task at hand .
She will not let partisanship slow down a response to COVID-19 , that America really needs to be making at lightspeed right now .
Unfortunately , every step of the way so far , Trump and Pence have shown the exact opposite of this .
Having Pelosi in the White House may not help with getting bills passed quicker through McConnell ’ s Senate , but with Executive Orders and other powers afford to the Executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get far more resources out to the states and citizens .
She could accelerate the pace of expanding COVID-19 testing in this country , get more disaster relief and workers on the ground where they will soon sorely be needed , and get forces such as the Army Corps of Engineers mobilized more quickly .
Perhaps , with the onslaught of COVID-19 spreading so rapidly throughout this country , and there already being so much turmoil and unease in the general public , it may seem irresponsible to also suggest something as extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the contrary , I think it is really the move that would best help us respond to COVID-19 as urgently as the situation calls for .
And with a true leader like Nancy Pelosi finally calling the shots , we may finally have the calming , measured communication out of the White House , that has been the one vital necessity that has been sorely lacking throughout this ordeal .
By almost every conceivable measure , Trump ’ s leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been horrific .
Anywhere else , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that he is currently in a publicly elected office does not make his incompetence and poor decisions any less real .
And just like in the business world , sometimes one of the best ways to move forward after such horrific debacles , is a clean slate .
Trump , it ’ s time you , and this country , go our separate ways .

One thing you may have learned from the average Conservative, it is this notion that the government would run better, if it were run like a private business. So, we end up with businesspeople — like Trump — in high levels of government, when they very likely would not be qualified for that position in any other sense.
Well, if we take that analogy to its logical conclusion — what would a private company do, when it’s current CEO has proven to be so incompetent, caused the company to lose a huge percentage of its profitability, wildly off the mark in predicting how to plan for the future, and is at this very moment standing in the way of immediately reversing the company’s downward trajectory?
Yeah, that company’s board wouldn’t even give him until the end of the week, before sending him the pink slip. If this were any similar scenario in the business world that Trump is so fond of acting like he is a battle-tested veteran of, he would have been fired by now.
Since we are not actually in the business world, the next best thing would be for Trump to resign.
As it stands now, it might not seem like there is grounds yet for calling for Trump’s resignation. While COVID-19 cases are still on an exponential growth curve, and the markets, while battered, likely still have lower yet to go, we are still not at the worst yet. The US hospital system still has not yet been burdened to the point of where Italy is at now, and we have not yet suffered the same level of mass death quite yet. And really, it is still too early to figure out how effective the extreme measures around the country to limit the spread of the disease, and flatten the curve, will truly be.
But that is why now would be in everyone’s best interests for Trump to resign. Because he has already proven how poorly bad he is at leading the country during this time of crisis, we already know the caliber of that leadership, and we already know that it is lacking. It is not nearly the level needed going forward for the country to avoid the worst that this crisis could have in store for us.
Most signs point to the current measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 to be insufficient, meaning a lot of lives are now likely hanging in the balance — but it is not too late. With actual leadership, someone with an actual determination to make the tough decisions and put the interests of every American at the top of their priority list, we may still be able to save a lot more lives than we are looking at now, with Trump still President.
With swift decisive action by our government, we can likely still save a lot of lives. But as it stands right now, Trump is actually undermining those efforts. Just as he has in the past several weeks. And just as he predictably will continue to do going forward. With so many lives now at stake, this is unacceptable.
I am well aware that if Trump steps down, the next in line would be none other than Mike Pence. That is still likely going to be a far better response, although I wouldn’t bet on it. And, perhaps, Pence would do some deep internal reflection, and realize that he, too, is not up to the task in leading this country through these dire times. In which case he could also resign as well, leaving those responsibilities to Nancy Pelosi — who, in my mind, has shown that she is willing to do what it takes to make sure swift action is taken to help Americans confront this crisis. She will not be intimidated by the monumental task at hand. She will not let partisanship slow down a response to COVID-19, that America really needs to be making at lightspeed right now. Unfortunately, every step of the way so far, Trump and Pence have shown the exact opposite of this.
Having Pelosi in the White House may not help with getting bills passed quicker through McConnell’s Senate, but with Executive Orders and other powers afford to the Executive Branch, she would be able to get far more resources out to the states and citizens. She could accelerate the pace of expanding COVID-19 testing in this country, get more disaster relief and workers on the ground where they will soon sorely be needed, and get forces such as the Army Corps of Engineers mobilized more quickly.
Perhaps, with the onslaught of COVID-19 spreading so rapidly throughout this country, and there already being so much turmoil and unease in the general public, it may seem irresponsible to also suggest something as extreme as transitioning to new leadership.
But on the contrary, I think it is really the move that would best help us respond to COVID-19 as urgently as the situation calls for. And with a true leader like Nancy Pelosi finally calling the shots, we may finally have the calming, measured communication out of the White House, that has been the one vital necessity that has been sorely lacking throughout this ordeal.
By almost every conceivable measure, Trump’s leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been horrific. Anywhere else, he would have been fired by now, but that he is currently in a publicly elected office does not make his incompetence and poor decisions any less real. And just like in the business world, sometimes one of the best ways to move forward after such horrific debacles, is a clean slate.
Trump, it’s time you, and this country, go our separate ways.


dailykos--2020-03-18--US economy continues its steady decline

US economy continues its steady decline

This series seeks to track the progress of 26 key variables which show how well or how poorly the US economy is performing .
Our first article organised those variables into four performance levels : Sectors performing very well : none .
Sectors showing average or above average outcomes : four We then examined the four variables now tracking above average : unemployment , youth joblessness , median wealth and personal savings .
We will now assess more closely the areas of weakness .
Fourteen variables are now performing well below par .
We shall examine five of these here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjusted downwards to 1.00-1.25 % on 3 March in response to “ evolving risks to economic activity ” posed by the coronavirus .
This is far below optimum .
Then on 15 March , the Federal Reserve governors set the target range at the rock bottom range 0 to 0.25 % .
They noted that “ the effects of the coronavirus will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook ” .
This is an all-time catastrophic low which means this variable probably belongs in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to world ’ s worst .
We will keep it here for now , however , as many comparable developed countries are also in similar low interest rate regimes .
Not all , however .
About 40 economies have managed to keep interest rates in the optimum range between 2.25 and 4.75 % .
These including China , Brazil , Indonesia , Cuba , Romania , Malaysia , Croatia , Bolivia and the Philippines .
US rates are now far too low for retirees who had planned to live off interest income .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s inflation number reached 2.5 % , well above target .
February 2.3 % also remains above optimum .
Among the 36 comparable OECD member countries , the USA now ranks a lowly 27th , well below the leaders where it was just a few years ago and still should be today .
Wages are now increasing below inflation for most workers , leaving them poorer at the end of the year despite nominal pay rises .
Data is available from the comprehensive website payscale.com .
Over the fourth quarter of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the full year by just 2.5 % .
Inflation , as we have just seen , is now around 2.5 % , which automatically wipes out any real wage rises .
The latest annual rises for specific industries were 3.1 % in construction , 2.4 % in hospitality , 2.1 % in retail and customer service , 2.0 % in the arts and recreation , 2.0 % in manufacturing and just 0.4 % in energy and utilities .
Trading Economics shows average real wages growth , that is , after inflation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As shown in the chart at the top here , the US ranks a dismal 21st with 1.16 % .
The underutilization rate of workers , referred to as the U-6 , increased to 7.0 % in February , the highest in five months .
This is down slightly from 7.4 % a year earlier , but well above the jobless rate of 3.52 % .
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines this as the unemployed , plus those employed part time who want more hours , plus persons marginally attached to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the December quarter by just 2.63 % over the same quarter a year ago .
This is historically very low , and is barely keeping pace with inflation .
This is disturbing given the upswing virtually across the developed world in jobs , incomes and consumer spending .
We have to go back to the great recession to find a lower December spending rise .
That will do for now .
The other nine underperforming areas are homelessness , annual GDP growth , GDP per person , the housing index , industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption and retail and wholesale trade .
We shall come to these in due course .
Meanwhile , readers are invited to agree , disagree , add more variables and , if you find this helpful , onpass to others who may also benefit from access to accurate data .

This series seeks to track the progress of 26 key variables which show how well or how poorly the US economy is performing.
Our first article organised those variables into four performance levels:
Sectors performing very well: none.
Sectors showing average or above average outcomes: four
Below average outcomes: 14
Disastrous outcomes, close to world’s worst: eight
We then examined the four variables now tracking above average: unemployment, youth joblessness, median wealth and personal savings.
We will now assess more closely the areas of weakness.
Below average outcomes
Fourteen variables are now performing well below par. We shall examine five of these here.
Interest rates hit all-time low
The interest rates target range was adjusted downwards to 1.00-1.25% on 3 March in response to “evolving risks to economic activity” posed by the coronavirus. This is far below optimum. Then on 15 March, the Federal Reserve governors set the target range at the rock bottom range 0 to 0.25%. They noted that “the effects of the coronavirus will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook”.
This is an all-time catastrophic low which means this variable probably belongs in the fourth category here – disastrous outcomes close to world’s worst. We will keep it here for now, however, as many comparable developed countries are also in similar low interest rate regimes.
Not all, however. About 40 economies have managed to keep interest rates in the optimum range between 2.25 and 4.75%. These including China, Brazil, Indonesia, Cuba, Romania, Malaysia, Croatia, Bolivia and the Philippines.
US rates are now far too low for retirees who had planned to live off interest income.
Inflation inflicts more pain
The USA suffered another blow when January’s inflation number reached 2.5%, well above target. February 2.3% also remains above optimum. Among the 36 comparable OECD member countries, the USA now ranks a lowly 27th, well below the leaders where it was just a few years ago and still should be today.
Wages growth wanting
Wages are now increasing below inflation for most workers, leaving them poorer at the end of the year despite nominal pay rises. Data is available from the comprehensive website payscale.com.
Over the fourth quarter of 2019, wages increased 0.8%, and over the full year by just 2.5%. Inflation, as we have just seen, is now around 2.5%, which automatically wipes out any real wage rises.
The latest annual rises for specific industries were 3.1% in construction, 2.4% in hospitality, 2.1% in retail and customer service, 2.0% in the arts and recreation, 2.0% in manufacturing and just 0.4% in energy and utilities.
Trading Economics shows average real wages growth, that is, after inflation, for 32 developed countries at 2.85%. As shown in the chart at the top here, the US ranks a dismal 21st with 1.16%.
Waste of willing workers
The underutilization rate of workers, referred to as the U-6, increased to 7.0% in February, the highest in five months. This is down slightly from 7.4% a year earlier, but well above the jobless rate of 3.52%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines this as the unemployed, plus those employed part time who want more hours, plus persons marginally attached to the labor force.
Consumers curbing spending
Personal expenditure increased in the December quarter by just 2.63% over the same quarter a year ago. This is historically very low, and is barely keeping pace with inflation.
This is disturbing given the upswing virtually across the developed world in jobs, incomes and consumer spending. We have to go back to the great recession to find a lower December spending rise.
That will do for now. The other nine underperforming areas are homelessness, annual GDP growth, GDP per person, the housing index, industrial production, mining production, tourism, corruption and retail and wholesale trade. We shall come to these in due course.
Meanwhile, readers are invited to agree, disagree, add more variables and, if you find this helpful, onpass to others who may also benefit from access to accurate data.


dailykos--2020-03-19--Reports of Jared Kushner Leading "Shadow" Coronavirus Team Within White House, Adding to the Chaos

As Trump ’ s official COVID-19 response team struggles with the public and Trump himself to send the country a message of effective and competent response to the COVID-19 threat , there are now several reports that Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner is leading a “ Shadow ” task force , that is causing additional confusion , and nobody is fully sure about its composition .
But the setup is apparently causing confusion about who 's in charge , with two unnamed senior officials telling The Post they were confused about the private-sector employees ' role in the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were following government security protocols .
`` We do n't know who these people are .
Who is this ?
We 're all getting these emails , '' one unnamed official told the newspaper , referring to the nongovernmental employees emailing from private email addresses .
Kushner 's status as a senior member of Trump 's family also made it unclear whether communications from his team should be treated as orders , or requests , officials told the publication .
The implications on their own are rather troubling .
As a non-elected official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without Senate confirmation , like Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar , there is no clear accountability to the American public , should Kushner make decisions that ultimately impact the fates of people infected by or trying to defend themselves from the virus .
Furthermore , unlike a career medical expert like the NIH ’ s Dr. Anthony Fauci , there is no clear qualifications or explanation for why Kushner should be leading such a critical effort in the midst of a global pandemic in the first place .
But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is already the focal point for some of the Trump regime ’ s questionable decisions with regards to how it has been handling the COVID-19 response .
Reportedly , Kushner was one of the key figures early in the US COVID-19 response who shaped his understanding and helped Trump craft his early messaging downplaying the threat of COVID-19 .
Reportedly , Kushner is so out of his league on these matters , that he turned to facebook to crowdsource the White House ’ s coronavirus response .
And now complicating the situation further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to another aspect of the Trump regime ’ s coronavirus response — Trump ’ s claims that google was developing a testing website that was almost immediate debacle — where it seems he is linked to a company that is now doing something similar .
After Trump at a press conference last week falsely claimed that 1,700 Google engineers were developing a website that would within days be the central element of a national testing system , media reports noted that this misstep had occurred because Kushner had been talking to Verily , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program it was developing for the San Francisco area .
The project was in its infancy , but it looked to create a website that would let people evaluate their symptoms and direct them to nearby drive-through testing .
There were no websites or testing centers yet .
And no national website in the works at Verily or Google .
Nevertheless , at that press conference , Dr. Deborah Birx , a member of the coronavirus task force , held up a poster that Kushner ’ s team had prepared showing how Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s going to be very quickly done , unlike websites of the past , ” Trump inaccurately said .
That same day , Oscar , which bills itself as “ a tech-driven health insurance company , ” launched a website that it called “ the first testing center locator for COVID-19 in the U.S. ” It noted that this locator featured “ more than 100 centers today.
” And the company said the site was “ accessible to the general public and more testing centers are being added every day.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flow chart Kushner had developed was “ eerily similar ” to Oscar ’ s new website , and it noted that Oscar was “ Kushner-linked ” because “ Joshua Kushner ( brother to Jared ) is a major investor in Oscar Health.
” As it stands now , even as Trump has done an about-face and now is publicly taking the COVID-19 threat seriously , his actual actions are still effectively delaying the response that America is capable of , that America needs right now .
Added to that should be how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority on the White House ’ s coronavirus response , when all it is doing in reality is making things harder .
In my view , it is just one more reason why I believe Trump should resign , step aside , and let people who are actually capable of following through on the tough decisions necessary to truly combat this threat take command .
His response to COVID-19 so far has been utterly incompetent and underwhelming , that if he were in charge of a company , he would be fired .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ army , he would be demoted .
And it is appearing that it is just as important as getting rid of all the other incompetent lieutenants under his command , as well .

As Trump’s official COVID-19 response team struggles with the public and Trump himself to send the country a message of effective and competent response to the COVID-19 threat, there are now several reports that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is leading a “Shadow” task force, that is causing additional confusion, and nobody is fully sure about its composition.
But the setup is apparently causing confusion about who's in charge, with two unnamed senior officials telling The Post they were confused about the private-sector employees' role in the government response and were concerned about whether they were following government security protocols. "We don't know who these people are. Who is this? We're all getting these emails," one unnamed official told the newspaper, referring to the nongovernmental employees emailing from private email addresses. Kushner's status as a senior member of Trump's family also made it unclear whether communications from his team should be treated as orders, or requests, officials told the publication.
The implications on their own are rather troubling. As a non-elected official, like VP Mike Pence, and without Senate confirmation, like Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, there is no clear accountability to the American public, should Kushner make decisions that ultimately impact the fates of people infected by or trying to defend themselves from the virus. Furthermore, unlike a career medical expert like the NIH’s Dr. Anthony Fauci, there is no clear qualifications or explanation for why Kushner should be leading such a critical effort in the midst of a global pandemic in the first place.
But even without all of that, Kushner himself is already the focal point for some of the Trump regime’s questionable decisions with regards to how it has been handling the COVID-19 response.
Reportedly, Kushner was one of the key figures early in the US COVID-19 response who shaped his understanding and helped Trump craft his early messaging downplaying the threat of COVID-19.
His circle of loyalists is so lacking in policy expertise that the writing of his speech on the coronavirus from the Oval Office last week was left mainly to his nativist immigration counsellor Stephen Miller and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Reportedly, Kushner is so out of his league on these matters, that he turned to facebook to crowdsource the White House’s coronavirus response.
And now complicating the situation further, there are new reports tying Kushner to another aspect of the Trump regime’s coronavirus response — Trump’s claims that google was developing a testing website that was almost immediate debacle — where it seems he is linked to a company that is now doing something similar.
After Trump at a press conference last week falsely claimed that 1,700 Google engineers were developing a website that would within days be the central element of a national testing system, media reports noted that this misstep had occurred because Kushner had been talking to Verily, a Google subsidiary, about a pilot program it was developing for the San Francisco area. The project was in its infancy, but it looked to create a website that would let people evaluate their symptoms and direct them to nearby drive-through testing. There were no websites or testing centers yet. And no national website in the works at Verily or Google. Nevertheless, at that press conference, Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the coronavirus task force, held up a poster that Kushner’s team had prepared showing how Trump’s promised website would look. “It’s going to be very quickly done, unlike websites of the past,” Trump inaccurately said. That same day, Oscar, which bills itself as “a tech-driven health insurance company,” launched a website that it called “the first testing center locator for COVID-19 in the U.S.” It noted that this locator featured “more than 100 centers today.” And the company said the site was “accessible to the general public and more testing centers are being added every day.” As the Verge reported, the flow chart Kushner had developed was “eerily similar” to Oscar’s new website, and it noted that Oscar was “Kushner-linked” because “Joshua Kushner (brother to Jared) is a major investor in Oscar Health.”
As it stands now, even as Trump has done an about-face and now is publicly taking the COVID-19 threat seriously, his actual actions are still effectively delaying the response that America is capable of, that America needs right now. Added to that should be how he has allowed Kushner to commandeer so much authority on the White House’s coronavirus response, when all it is doing in reality is making things harder.
In my view, it is just one more reason why I believe Trump should resign, step aside, and let people who are actually capable of following through on the tough decisions necessary to truly combat this threat take command. His response to COVID-19 so far has been utterly incompetent and underwhelming, that if he were in charge of a company, he would be fired. If he were a general leading an army, he would be demoted.
And it is appearing that it is just as important as getting rid of all the other incompetent lieutenants under his command, as well.


dailykos--2020-03-19--Help!  I need a word/phrase I don't know.

Okay , so I wrote this sometime ago and never posted it .
But today , for whatever stupid reason , I ’ ve suddenly got your attention so I ’ m going to ask for your help .
We need a couple of words .
Please post what you know .
This is a practical application of the diversity principle : you know stuff I don ’ t .
And the next person reading will have a totally different life experience and knows stuff we both don ’ t know .
So what ’ s the need ?
WE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PHRASE ( OR POSSIBLY A VERB PHRASE ) FOR THE ACT OF DEFINING ONE ’ S OWN RACIST WORDS AS BEING NON-RACIST .
It ’ s been going on a long time .
Fundamental logic flaw : the speaker of racist argot gets to define the rules ?
Um , no , I think not .
And part 2 : WE NEED A NOMINAL ( NOUN ) PHRASE ( OR POSSIBLY A VERB PHRASE ) FOR THE ACT OR EVENT OF SAYING IT IS RUDE TO POINT OUT RACISM .
For that reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a well established series of words for this .
I KNOW I ’ m missing something here , but please enlighten me .
Something from Feminist theory , or from Africana studies , or from Twitter speak or a pop music song , or something from Sales or Sociology or Psychology or Prostitution or Party Making or TVTropes.com or Epistemology or Logic or Law Enforcement or Linguistics or Auto Mechanics or Memes ... Or anywhere on the rich quilt of human experience .
Hey , there are probably different views of the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need as many of them as possible available to us !
And I don ’ t know them .
Neither do you .
1 .
Don ’ t assume that someone else posting an answer solves this problem .
We need different words for different situations , for different levels of discourse , for different grammatical constructions and different communication contexts .
Frankly , we need different phrases for different people ’ s viewpoints .
We need choices for how to express this !
Post YOUR term even if others have posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you use .
Please post , even if a hundred people have already posted and have announced “ THE ” correct term .
2 .
And ... please do NOT anoint “ the ” correct term .
For all the reasons in 1 .
3 .
WE DON ’ T NEED ADJECTIVES .
This isn ’ t a George F. Will opinion column , with buckets of adjectives dumped on the unsuspecting reader in place of reason .
We need nouns and verbs .
4 .
Don ’ t bother insulting my knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post .
Go preen yourself elsewhere please .
5 .
English evolves .
We invent .
Feel free to get inventive !
If you can not think of a proper term , make up a proper term !
Or make up a humorous one .
Please , please , please… .
6 .
Yeah , courtesy levels can vary too .
It ’ s okay to post something that is , ahem , “ rude ” .
( Hopefully not to the old white guy . )
Please post first and then read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your answer will be YOUR answer !

Okay, so I wrote this sometime ago and never posted it. But today, for whatever stupid reason, I’ve suddenly got your attention so I’m going to ask for your help.
We need a couple of words. Please post what you know.
This is a practical application of the diversity principle: you know stuff I don’t. And the next person reading will have a totally different life experience and knows stuff we both don’t know.
So what’s the need?
It’s simple.
WE NEED A NOMINAL (ie NOUN) PHRASE (OR POSSIBLY A VERB PHRASE) FOR THE ACT OF DEFINING ONE’S OWN RACIST WORDS AS BEING NON-RACIST.
Mr. GOP announces, “And I’m not a racist!”
It’s been going on a long time.
Fundamental logic flaw: the speaker of racist argot gets to define the rules? Um, no, I think not.
And part 2:
WE NEED A NOMINAL (NOUN) PHRASE (OR POSSIBLY A VERB PHRASE) FOR THE ACT OR EVENT OF SAYING IT IS RUDE TO POINT OUT RACISM.
Caveat: I’m an old white guy.
For that reason, I’m sure that there is a well established series of words for this. I KNOW I’m missing something here, but please politely enlighten me. Something from Feminist theory, or from Africana studies, or from Twitter speak or a pop music song, or something from Sales or Sociology or Psychology or Prostitution or Party Making or TVTropes.com or Epistemology or Logic or Law Enforcement or Linguistics or Auto Mechanics or Memes...
Or anywhere on the rich quilt of human experience. Hey, there are probably different views of the same problem from LOTS of fields. And we need as many of them as possible available to us!
And I don’t know them. Neither do you.
1. Don’t assume that someone else posting an answer solves this problem. We need different words for different situations, for different levels of discourse, for different grammatical constructions and different communication contexts. Frankly, we need different phrases for different people’s viewpoints. We need choices for how to express this! Post YOUR term even if others have posted before. Post to indicate which phrase you use. Please post, even if a hundred people have already posted and have announced “THE” correct term.
2. And... please do NOT anoint “the” correct term. For all the reasons in 1.
3. WE DON’T NEED ADJECTIVES. This isn’t a George F. Will opinion column, with buckets of adjectives dumped on the unsuspecting reader in place of reason. We need nouns and verbs.
4. Don’t bother insulting my knowledge level, nor that of others who post. Go preen yourself elsewhere please.
5. English evolves. We invent. Feel free to get inventive! If you cannot think of a proper term, make up a proper term! Or make up a humorous one. Please, please, please….
6. Yeah, courtesy levels can vary too. It’s okay to post something that is, ahem, “rude”. (Hopefully not to the old white guy.)
Please post first and then read the comments of others AFTER, so your answer will be YOUR answer !
Please post ! (Politely)


dailykos--2020-03-19--CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL BERNIE, IT'S OVER?

With back to back embarrassing defeats in several key states thought to belong to Sanders , supporters are dwindling and his base is losing hope rapidly .
Yet Sanders seems oblivious to what 's unfolding before his very eyes .
It makes no sense delegate wise , nor is it wise to continue running fictitious ads , or forcing Biden to run ads harmful to Sanders , which in the end simply becomes fodder for Trump during a general election .
After all , is n't the end game , to defeat and remove the current threat to our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no possibility of prevailing , he should do the right thing for everyone , suspend his campaign immediately .
For Sanders , to hang in the election , just out of capriciousness , is harmful to everyone , including , and mostly to Sanders .
Continuing in a hopeless candidacy , simply forces the candidates to continue campaigning and being exposed to many young people , which as we have now learned , are the less affected , and the most careless age group that act as carriers of the coronavirus strain COVID19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most vulnerable of our population , the elderly and those with auto-immune deficiencies .
Yet , even more harmful , is to force attendance at the polls again in three weeks , during a pandemic , and a declared `` National State of Emergency , '' and a `` State of Emergency '' in most cities , towns , and states .
The question then becomes , If people became infected , then infected others , and any of those infected died , and the connection is made to a poll worker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could those deaths be laid at the feet of Bernie Sanders for pushing the electoral envelope , when in fact , he does n't have a snow ball 's chance in hell to win .

With back to back embarrassing defeats in several key states thought to belong to Sanders, supporters are dwindling and his base is losing hope rapidly. Yet Sanders seems oblivious to what's unfolding before his very eyes.
It makes no sense delegate wise, nor is it wise to continue running fictitious ads, or forcing Biden to run ads harmful to Sanders, which in the end simply becomes fodder for Trump during a general election. After all, isn't the end game, to defeat and remove the current threat to our country, Donald J. Trump?


dailykos--2020-03-19--Pandemicking in Yorkshire as Borish culls the herd

[ updated to include quote from Mike Davis , below ] Here in the UK we are in the middle of The incompetence pandemic , with Borish leading the charge .
A friend provided a link to the 16 March 2020 Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team ’ s Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions ( NPIs ) to reduce COVID- 19 mortality and healthcare demand which compares US and UK pandemic curve projections .
It makes for very grim reading indeed .
It 's important to be able to 'read the silences ' in this report .
You may notice that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical facilities , staff , or equipment .
You might think that it 's because this is intended solely a report on ‘ non-pharmaceutical intervention ’ strategies , and that is partly correct .
However , the situation in the UK actually even worse than the attached analysis indicates .
One reason for the polite silence on basic epidemic response priorities such as testing is lack of resources .
Doctors , including doctors with symptoms who have been exposed to COVID-19 , are being denied testing and medical personnel are being denied basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak up ' : A & E doctor asks for Covid-19 tests .
Doctors are moving between COVID/coughing patients and all other emergencies , and doctors who fall ill are being denied treatment as well as testing : ‘ There is a policy of surrender ’ : doctor on UK ’ s Covid-19 failures ’ The ONLY testing available is for people who are already admitted to hospital with COVID symptoms - in other words , people already very seriously ill .
The UK govt .
is instructing people with COVID to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only attempt to seek health care if “ symptoms worsen ” or `` in a medical emergency ” ... .talk about playing roulette with the basic ability to breathe !
There has been ( relatively ) little effort to date on the part of the UK government to ramp up facilities , supplies , or any financial provision for people who are financially , psychologically or physically fragile .
There is a horrific 'cull the herd ' mentality in the government here .
This is not an exaggeration - see the article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of elderly could benefit economy , also The U.K. ’ s Coronavirus ‘ Herd Immunity ’ Debacle .
There ’ s been pushback among the knowledgeable ( Health expert brands UK 's coronavirus response 'pathetic ' ; Coronavirus : Hundreds of scientists warn UK government ’ s response to outbreak ‘ risking lives ’ ) and passive acceptance among the populace .
UK government brutality is marketed better than the US shitstorm , but just as brutal or more so in enactment .
This not new , and it is not an anomaly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades of neoliberalism and conservative brutalism has gutted the NHS .
The UK has 2.8 doctors per 1,000 patients ( 28 % lower than the EU average of 3.9 ) .
The US isn ’ t that much better , with current estimates at 2.95 per 1,000 [ incorrect data updated ] In a crisis , resources count .
But strategy counts just as much , and so does leadership , compassion , and morality .
Those who are comforted by the thought of Borish pantomiming Churchill would do well to remember that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic of 1918 , which occurred in India ( where an estimated 12 million people died ) , was greatly exacerbated by the Churchillian policy of looting the empire to feed the British .
The East Asian subcontinent suffered horrific losses a century ago from influenza , starvation , indifference , and imperialism ( references ) , or recommended reading : The Great Influenza : The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History . )
From Mike Davis , the author of The Monster at Our Door — The Global Threat of Avian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ botched the response here to the pandemic through a toxic combination of class arrogance , hubris , and indifference .
Eventually , reality and truth will catch up with them : Pantomime clown Boris Johnson flounders as crisis deepens .

[updated to include quote from Mike Davis, below]
Here in the UK we are in the middle of The incompetence pandemic, with Borish leading the charge.
A friend provided a link to the 16 March 2020 Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team’s Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID- 19 mortality and healthcare demand which compares US and UK pandemic curve projections.
It makes for very grim reading indeed. It's important to be able to 'read the silences' in this report.
You may notice that there is little mention of ramping up the medical facilities, staff, or equipment. You might think that it's because this is intended solely a report on ‘non-pharmaceutical intervention’ strategies, and that is partly correct. However, the situation in the UK actually even worse than the attached analysis indicates. One reason for the polite silence on basic epidemic response priorities such as testing is lack of resources.
Doctors, including doctors with symptoms who have been exposed to COVID-19, are being denied testing and medical personnel are being denied basic personal protective gear: 'Everyone is scared to speak up': A&E doctor asks for Covid-19 tests.
Doctors are moving between COVID/coughing patients and all other emergencies, and doctors who fall ill are being denied treatment as well as testing: ‘There is a policy of surrender’: doctor on UK’s Covid-19 failures’
The ONLY testing available is for people who are already admitted to hospital with COVID symptoms - in other words, people already very seriously ill.
The UK govt. is instructing people with COVID to shelter in place: just stay home and only attempt to seek health care if “symptoms worsen” or "in a medical emergency” ....talk about playing roulette with the basic ability to breathe!
There has been (relatively) little effort to date on the part of the UK government to ramp up facilities, supplies, or any financial provision for people who are financially, psychologically or physically fragile.
There is a horrific 'cull the herd' mentality in the government here. This is not an exaggeration - see the article Telegraph journalist says coronavirus ‘cull’ of elderly could benefit economy, also The U.K.’s Coronavirus ‘Herd Immunity’ Debacle.
There’s been pushback among the knowledgeable (Health expert brands UK's coronavirus response 'pathetic'; Coronavirus: Hundreds of scientists warn UK government’s response to outbreak ‘risking lives’) and passive acceptance among the populace.
UK government brutality is marketed better than the US shitstorm, but just as brutal or more so in enactment. This not new, and it is not an anomaly confined to an epic crisis.
Three decades of neoliberalism and conservative brutalism has gutted the NHS. The UK has 2.8 doctors per 1,000 patients (28% lower than the EU average of 3.9). The US isn’t that much better, with current estimates at 2.95 per 1,000 [incorrect data updated]
In a crisis, resources count. But strategy counts just as much, and so does leadership, compassion, and morality.
Those who are comforted by the thought of Borish pantomiming Churchill would do well to remember that the greatest loss of life in the pandemic of 1918, which occurred in India (where an estimated 12 million people died), was greatly exacerbated by the Churchillian policy of looting the empire to feed the British.
The East Asian subcontinent suffered horrific losses a century ago from influenza, starvation, indifference, and imperialism (references), or recommended reading: The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.)
From Mike Davis, the author of The Monster at Our Door — The Global Threat of Avian Flu:
It is rarely appreciated, however, that fully 60 per cent of global mortality occurred in western India where grain exports to Britain and brutal requisitioning practices coincided with a major drought. Resultant food shortages drove millions of poor people to the edge of starvation. They became victims of a sinister synergy between malnutrition, which suppressed their immune response to infection, and rampant bacterial and viral pneumonia. In another case, British-occupied Iran, several years of drought, cholera, and food shortages, followed by a widespread malaria outbreak, preconditioned the death of an estimated fifth of the population.
The current technocratic elite has botched the response here to the pandemic through a toxic combination of class arrogance, hubris, and indifference.
Eventually, reality and truth will catch up with them: Pantomime clown Boris Johnson flounders as crisis deepens.
Political culture counts. It’s time to change ours.


dailykos--2020-03-20--Who is the true socialist?

Who is the true socialist?

Classical socialism is just around the corner .
Before long , we could have surrogates of presidents invited to the @ @ @ @ @ thanks to major equity stakes .
Socialism may be just around the corner .
We @ @ @ @ @ direction .

Classical socialism is just around the corner. Before long, we could have surrogates of presidents invited to the boards of major U.S. companies thanks to major equity stakes. Socialism may be just around the corner. We are quickly slipping in that direction.


dailykos--2020-03-23--Paula Jean Swearengin Talks Medicare for All

My name is Paula Jean Swearengin and I am running for the United States Senate to represent the State of West Virginia .
I am a poor coal miner ’ s daughter and granddaughter that has lived the reality that many West Virginia citizens live with on a daily basis .
I am a Bernie Sanders surrogate and a strong supporter of Medicare for All .
No one should have to go without lifesaving treatment or medication because they simply can ’ t afford it .
It is beyond time for West Virginia to have strong , progressive representation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , than us ?
West Virginia is one of the sickest and poorest states in the nations and I pledge that when I get to D.C. , I will fight for Medicare for All alongside Senator Sanders because West Virginians deserves better .
Americans deserve better and I am ready to fight for all of us .
Join us and help to # uniteourfight by going to www.paulajean.com and signing up to be a volunteer or to pledge your support with a donation to our campaign by clicking here → secure.actblue.com/ ... .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your help and every little bit will help us take down Shelley Moore Capito in November .
We appreciate each and every one of you .
Subscribe to our YouTube channel — Paula Jean for West Virginia Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @ PaulaJean2020

My name is Paula Jean Swearengin and I am running for the United States Senate to represent the State of West Virginia. I am a poor coal miner’s daughter and granddaughter that has lived the reality that many West Virginia citizens live with on a daily basis. I am a Bernie Sanders surrogate and a strong supporter of Medicare for All. No one should have to go without lifesaving treatment or medication because they simply can’t afford it.
It is beyond time for West Virginia to have strong, progressive representation in Washington. Who better to serve us, than us? West Virginia is one of the sickest and poorest states in the nations and I pledge that when I get to D.C., I will fight for Medicare for All alongside Senator Sanders because West Virginians deserves better. Americans deserve better and I am ready to fight for all of us.
Join us and help to #uniteourfight by going to www.paulajean.com and signing up to be a volunteer or to pledge your support with a donation to our campaign by clicking here → secure.actblue.com/...
. We can’t do this without your help and every little bit will help us take down Shelley Moore Capito in November. We appreciate each and every one of you.
Don’t forget:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel — Paula Jean for West Virginia
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @PaulaJean2020


dailykos--2020-03-25--Good News Roundup for Wednesday, March 25, 2020 – Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Tape and 2 hours to transform Oregon Convention Center into coronavirus homeless shelter ... in the Oregon Convention Center on Friday , they needed blue masking tape .
The tape was essential to making sure the homeless shelter opening there in just a few hours properly spaced residents far enough apart to maintain social distancing protocols .
The Oregon Convention Center will hold 130 people in a northeast corner of the building .
It ’ s the second temporary homeless shelter set up by Friday after local officials realized that existing shelters would not be able to protect residents if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repurposed from the Multnomah County Library -- of which all locations are closed -- and animal control entered through the loading doors and parked under the sign that said “ food court ” carrying hundreds of cots , blankets and other supplies .
The bathrooms are built for large numbers of people , and the rooms are built to be easily cleaned .
The next story is about the grocery store where I shop .
These days I go only once a week , during their “ senior shopping hour ” from 8:00-9:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
I went there today and found even more safety measures : all the checkout counters had large sneeze guards between the clerks and the customers , and there were circles painted on the floor to indicate where people should stand to be separated while waiting to be checked out .
Governor Kate Brown today issued Executive Order 20-12 , directing everyone in Oregon to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and remains in effect until ended by the Governor .
• All non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals are prohibited immediately , regardless of size , if a distance of at least six feet between individuals can not be maintained .
Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted .
• It closes and prohibits shopping at specific categories of retail businesses , for which close personal contact is difficult to avoid , such as arcades , barber shops , hair salons , gyms and fitness studios , skating rinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • It requires businesses not closed by the order to implement social distancing policies in order to remain open , and requires workplaces to implement teleworking and work-at-home options when possible .
• It directs Oregonians to stay home whenever possible , while permitting activities outside the home when social distance is maintained .
• It closes playgrounds , sports courts , and skate parks , among other types of outdoor recreation facilities .
Those that remain open are required to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines .
• It outlines new guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rules on amounts of children allowed in care , and outlining that child care groups may not change participants .
• Failure to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health and subject to a Class C misdemeanor .
Following this order will save lives , while still allowing businesses to function if they can protect employees and customers through social distancing .
While many businesses and organizations that are heavily dependent on foot traffic and in-person interactions have already closed or will close under the expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to meet social distancing requirements—and enforce those requirements—may remain in operation , preserving jobs while ensuring health .
Good news from around the nation Scientific American drops the paywall for its COVID-19 coverage If you want to keep up on the latest developments but want to avoid the daily news churn and read information from people who know what they ’ re talking about , Scientific American has you covered : www.scientificamerican.com/… From the Star Tribune in Minnesota : Upon hearing that a surge of COVID-19 cases could consume all hospital ventilators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the medical device lab at the University of Minnesota and built a homemade version .
In a first test last week , the prototype kept a pig breathing for an hour and raised the prospect that low-budget ventilators could be built to solve a shortage .
The makeshift ventilator was made from $ 150 in parts , with a motor ripped from another device and a red metal toolbox tray as its base .
“ We just went full-on MacGyver , ” said Richardson , a cardiac anesthesiologist at the U .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people a chance.
” Richardson said he awoke [ on March 15th ] with the gut feeling that he could quickly create a ventilator using common “ ambu ” bags that paramedics and emergency medicine specialists use to manually resuscitate patients .
All that was needed was an automated mechanism that could press the bag , and a way to adjust it to control the volume and limit the pressure of air being pushed into patients .
“ This is not a device that anyone would choose to use if they had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But it could be sold as a cheap backup , or its plans could be distributed online so hospitals could build their own .
Richardson called friends from MGC Diagnostics in Vadnais Heights , and soon they were scavenging parts from devices and soldering them together for the prototype .
After success in maintaining lung function in a pig , Richardson sought a more sophisticated prototype and gained custom parts from ... [ several ] companies .
... Richardson said the [ FDA ] has already issued emergency declarations for rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment amid this pandemic , and could issue a similar declaration for ventilator equipment .
How restaurants are stepping up to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic , from providing toilet paper to meal kits ... With creative solutions that can help struggling restaurants pivot to a new aid-focused business model ( like becoming a community kitchen or temporary grocery delivery service ) , or by simply donating extra food and resources to those in need , restaurants are on the front lines of the “ good news ” coming out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the ways that restaurants are reaching out to their communities .
Newport Beach , Calif.-based restaurateur Mario Marovic ... will be giving [ toilet paper rolls ] away for free for any community members in need on Friday , March 20 .
...
Chef José Andrés is turning eight of his shuttered restaurants in New York City and Washington , D.C. into temporary community kitchens ... [ Anoush ’ ella in Boston ] will now be giving away food for 60-70 restaurant workers every day for the next three weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Washington , D.C.-based pizza chain & pizza has been providing free pizzas to hospital workers , and 77-unit , Washington , D.C.-based salad chain Sweetgreen has started to do the same ... DiBella ’ s Subs [ in Rochester , NY ] ... is offering a 50 % discount for all first responders , healthcare workers and active military .
Some restaurant brands are skipping the discounts and directly raising money for charitable causes ... Grubhub on Friday announced it will temporarily forgo $ 100 million in commissions on the meals it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of helping those businesses contend with the coronavirus epidemic .
The delivery service also pledged to establish a fund to assist drivers and restaurants whose incomes have dropped because of the crisis .
Grubhub said it agreed to the concessions after meeting with the mayors of Chicago , New York City , San Francisco , Boston and Atlanta , among others .
Those and other jurisdictions have been urging all third-party delivery services to cut their commissions in hopes of enabling restaurants to keep more of their delivery sales .
The fees routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` These are trying times for restaurants , '' Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia said during a press conference in Chicago on Friday announcing the move .
`` It 's going to help restaurants in our 77 communities continue to pay their mortgages .
But , most importantly , make payroll . ''
And Parade Magazine compiled a list of U.S. distilleries making hand sanitizer as of March 20 .
They suggest you contact the distilleries directly for more information .
I occasionally buy tools and building supplies from Harbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list .
I today received the following email from the owner : As we ’ ve been following the news over the last few days , we ’ ve heard about the severe shortage of protective gear for hospitals , healthcare workers and first responders as the impact of COVID-19 is being felt across the country .
America depends on these heroes every day and in the days ahead we will depend on them even more .
At Harbor Freight , we want them to know that they can depend on us too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donate our entire supply of the personal protective equipment items listed below to front line hospitals with 24 hour emergency rooms in the communities served by our stores .
If you work at a hospital with a 24 hour emergency room in need of these items , please ask the office in charge of procurement at your hospital to click here so they can provide us with the information we ’ ll need to determine if we can make a donation .
If you ’ re not with a hospital , but would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital with a 24 hour emergency room in your community that might need our help , please email us at hospitalhelp @ harborfreight.com , identify the hospital ’ s city and state in the subject line , and our team will follow-up .
And in non-coronavirus news , here ’ s good news on the voting front : Wyoming makes it easier for Native Americans to vote Shower Cap frequently makes me guffaw out loud .
Here ’ s Cap at his best from last week : Randy Rainbow hits the nail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on “ Adelaide ’ s Lament ” from “ Guys and Dolls ” : Good news from around the world Good News Network has collected inspiring stories about the pandemic , both from the U.S. and from abroad .
The article is too long to quote , so just open the link .
Here are the headlines – there are several stories under each headline in the article : 1 ) World Health Organization ( WHO ) Officials Say There Are Now 20 Coronavirus Vaccines in Development 2 ) From Individuals to Countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 ) As Physicians Worry About Potential Ventilator Shortages , Researchers Develop Several Low-Cost Solutions 5 ) Communities and Countries Opening Up New Lanes of Free Entertainment for the Masses 6 ) More Than 100,000 People Have Already Recovered From the Virus Worldwide 7 ) Nobel Prize Winner Who Correctly Predicted COVID-19 Trends Says ‘ We ’ re Going To Be Fine ’ [ we self-isolate !
! ]
8 ) Celebrities and Businesses Have Contributed Millions Towards Feeding and Caring for At-Risk People 9 ) No Matter Where You Look , People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspired me to watch some of the Metropolitan Opera free live streams , which in turn inspired me to search out some videos of Pavarotti .
Here he is singing the aria that first made him famous , “ Che gelida manina ” from La Bohème .
This is a 1979 performance at La Scala , when Pavarotti was at the absolute height of his incredible powers .
And listen to the effect it had on the audience !
If you ’ ve never dipped your toe into the digital ocean of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time you probably have the leisure to do it .
It ’ s absolutely amazing !
!
!
Here are some goodies they gathered to keep us entertained while isolated : 7 Things To Do If You Can ’ t Leave The House We ’ ve all shared a lot of links to museums lately .
One of my favorite museums in the entire world is the Victoria and Albert Museum in London , the world 's leading museum of art and design .
Their textile and costume collection is fascinating to browse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it online .
The photo shows decorative slashing that was popular in the 17th century – perhaps today ’ s version is jeans with frayed hems and knee holes ?
I also love Japanese netsuke , the carved ornaments that were used as toggles on kimono sashes .
I found a link to a collection of over 1,300 of them !
Here ’ s a sweet example : three puppies !
Goodie mentioned some fascinating wildlife live cams on Saturday .
Here are a few more : NE Florida Bald Eagle Nest Cam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macaulay Library from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is an online resource where you can : • Archive your own bird photos and videos • Explore bird species – Maps , stats , photos , and sounds for any bird in the world Good news for and about animals Alone no more : People are turning to dogs , cats and chickens to cope with self-isolation Exotic Creature In Antarctica Has Survived More Than 30 Ice Ages This is a long article , and the story of how scientists came to their current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller than a sesame seed , survived in such harsh conditions is impossible for me to summarize here .
But it really is a fascinating read .
Seen in my neighborhood Since I ’ ve been especially close to our critters this week , here ’ s a three-fer of extreme close-ups : This is from David H. Rosmarin , an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School , and the founder/director of the Center for Anxiety in New York .
It was published in a March 22nd article for Scientific American : Thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I got a link to this heart-healing video of members of the Rotterdam Philharmonic coming together online to perform Beethoven ’ s “ Ode to Joy ” .
May we all keep joy in our lives as we help each other through this difficult time .
Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts , your hearts , and your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd .

Welcome!
Greetings Gnusies, Gnubies, lurkers, and first-time visitors! Come on into our peaceful, supportive corner of the internet, out of the storm of horrific news, and refresh yourself to face another day of life in the stressful time of coronavirus. There is a lot of good news out there, and love is manifest everywhere.
We are waves of the same sea...
For my intro today, I’m going to steal (with their enthusiastic permission) some portions of a truly beautiful statement from the lovely folks at Future Crunch in Australia. Do yourself a favor and click the link to read the whole thing.
Last week, a large consignment of crates arrived in Italy, addressed to the country's Civil Protection Department, from the consumer electronics giant, Xiaomi. Inside were tens of thousands of FFP3 face masks for Italy's healthcare workers, a “token of gratitude to the Italian people” for making their workers feel so welcome when the Chinese company opened its first European offices in 2018. Stapled to the side of each of the crates was a quote, in both Italian and English, attributed to the Roman philosopher, Seneca. "We are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden." ✂ Masks are a good symbol for this current moment in time. They arrive via planes and container ships, making their way to the frontlines via a global trade network that seemed inevitable, until it wasn’t. News organisations use them as symbols of fear and uncertainty, giving us images of masked figures hurrying across abandoned streets, or swarming around hospital beds. The stories ... inevitably include some aspect of the national interest. ‘Our’ casualties prioritised over ‘theirs,’ ‘our’ people stranded overseas, ‘here’ being infected by a traveller from ‘there’ something ‘their’ society does that ‘our’ society would not. This is what our media organisations know best, and so these kinds of stories dominate our screens. Alongside the anxiety and narrow-mindedness however, the mask also represents a world all in action at once… . When you put on a mask your features disappear, erasing the differences of skin colour or face shape that trigger so many of our socially conditioned responses to the news. The masks work just as well whether you’re black, brown or white, Chinese, Italian, or Nigerian. What we are seeing now is something truly global in scale. ✂ [COVID-19 is] acting as a mirror, forcing us to carefully examine our way of life. Earthquakes destroy much, but they also reveal valuable information about the deepest layers of the earth. Similarly, pandemics cause immense pain and suffering but teach us a great deal. They show us that the industrial economy we’ve always taken for granted is killing us. They force us to sit up and acknowledge that we’re sharing a planet with other species. They reveal who society’s real key workers are. Not the bankers. Not the politicians. Not the elite hedge fund managers. It’s the nurses. The doctors. The delivery drivers. The carers. The porters. The teachers. The shelf stackers. The check out staff. ✂ Eventually... six months, a year from now, the coronavirus will recede in our consciousness and become a part of history. We’ll rebuild, move on, and try as hard as we can to return to normal. We shouldn’t. We can do better. This time around, let’s not let a good crisis go to waste.
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Good news from Portland
Tape and 2 hours to transform Oregon Convention Center into coronavirus homeless shelter
From The Oregonian:
...in the Oregon Convention Center on Friday, they needed blue masking tape. The tape was essential to making sure the homeless shelter opening there in just a few hours properly spaced residents far enough apart to maintain social distancing protocols. The Oregon Convention Center will hold 130 people in a northeast corner of the building. It’s the second temporary homeless shelter set up by Friday after local officials realized that existing shelters would not be able to protect residents if someone inside had contracted coronavirus. ✂ Trucks repurposed from the Multnomah County Library -- of which all locations are closed -- and animal control entered through the loading doors and parked under the sign that said “food court” carrying hundreds of cots, blankets and other supplies. The bathrooms are built for large numbers of people, and the rooms are built to be easily cleaned.
The next story is about the grocery store where I shop. These days I go only once a week, during their “senior shopping hour” from 8:00-9:00. This new policy is most welcome! I went there today and found even more safety measures: all the checkout counters had large sneeze guards between the clerks and the customers, and there were circles painted on the floor to indicate where people should stand to be separated while waiting to be checked out.
New Seasons [grocery chain] begins limiting number of customers inside stores
From The Oregonian:
Upscale Oregon grocery chain New Seasons has begun limiting the number of customers it will allow inside its stores, joining other retailers in an effort to reduce the chances of the coronavirus spreading among shoppers or staff. ✂ New Seasons has about 20 stores altogether, including 18 in the Portland area. ... Like other chains, it also offers pickup and delivery options. New Seasons said it will soon adopt technology that enables customers to be summoned from their car or elsewhere nearby when it’s their turn to shop, so they don’t have to wait in a physical line. The company asked that families send a single shopper rather than come as a group.
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Good news from Oregon
Governor Kate Brown Tightens Social Distancing Measures, Tells Oregonians to “Stay Home, Save Lives”
From Oregon.gov:
Governor Kate Brown today issued Executive Order 20-12 , directing everyone in Oregon to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. The order is effective immediately, and remains in effect until ended by the Governor. ✂ • All non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained. Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted.
• It closes and prohibits shopping at specific categories of retail businesses, for which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, such as arcades, barber shops, hair salons, gyms and fitness studios, skating rinks, theaters, and yoga studios.
• It requires businesses not closed by the order to implement social distancing policies in order to remain open, and requires workplaces to implement teleworking and work-at-home options when possible.
• It directs Oregonians to stay home whenever possible, while permitting activities outside the home when social distance is maintained.
• It closes playgrounds, sports courts, and skate parks, among other types of outdoor recreation facilities. Those that remain open are required to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• It outlines new guidelines for child care facilities, setting limits and rules on amounts of children allowed in care, and outlining that child care groups may not change participants.
• Failure to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health and subject to a Class C misdemeanor.
Following this order will save lives, while still allowing businesses to function if they can protect employees and customers through social distancing. While many businesses and organizations that are heavily dependent on foot traffic and in-person interactions have already closed or will close under the expanded order, other businesses that make robust plans to meet social distancing requirements—and enforce those requirements—may remain in operation, preserving jobs while ensuring health.
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Good news from around the nation
Scientific American drops the paywall for its COVID-19 coverage
If you want to keep up on the latest developments but want to avoid the daily news churn and read information from people who know what they’re talking about, Scientific American has you covered: www.scientificamerican.com/…
‘Going full-on MacGyver’ – U of M doctor creates makeshift ventilators to battle COVID-19
From the Star Tribune in Minnesota:
Upon hearing that a surge of COVID-19 cases could consume all hospital ventilators, Dr. Stephen Richardson rummaged for parts in the medical device lab at the University of Minnesota and built a homemade version. In a first test last week, the prototype kept a pig breathing for an hour and raised the prospect that low-budget ventilators could be built to solve a shortage. The makeshift ventilator was made from $150 in parts, with a motor ripped from another device and a red metal toolbox tray as its base. “We just went full-on MacGyver,” said Richardson, a cardiac anesthesiologist at the U. “This device is designed to give people a chance.” ✂ Richardson said he awoke [on March 15th] with the gut feeling that he could quickly create a ventilator using common “ambu” bags that paramedics and emergency medicine specialists use to manually resuscitate patients. All that was needed was an automated mechanism that could press the bag, and a way to adjust it to control the volume and limit the pressure of air being pushed into patients. “This is not a device that anyone would choose to use if they had a ... super high-end alternative,” he said. But it could be sold as a cheap backup, or its plans could be distributed online so hospitals could build their own. Richardson called friends from MGC Diagnostics in Vadnais Heights, and soon they were scavenging parts from devices and soldering them together for the prototype. After success in maintaining lung function in a pig, Richardson sought a more sophisticated prototype and gained custom parts from...[several] companies. ...Richardson said the [FDA] has already issued emergency declarations for rapid production of new diagnostic and personal protective equipment amid this pandemic, and could issue a similar declaration for ventilator equipment.
How restaurants are stepping up to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic, from providing toilet paper to meal kits
From Nation’s Restaurant News:
...With creative solutions that can help struggling restaurants pivot to a new aid-focused business model (like becoming a community kitchen or temporary grocery delivery service), or by simply donating extra food and resources to those in need, restaurants are on the front lines of the “good news” coming out of this pandemic panic. Here are just some of the ways that restaurants are reaching out to their communities. Providing meal kits and groceries ✂ [Providing other supplies] Newport Beach, Calif.-based restaurateur Mario Marovic... will be giving [toilet paper rolls] away for free for any community members in need on Friday, March 20. ✂ Opening community kitchens and restaurants ...Chef José Andrés is turning eight of his shuttered restaurants in New York City and Washington, D.C. into temporary community kitchens... ✂ [Anoush’ella in Boston] will now be giving away food for 60-70 restaurant workers every day for the next three weeks. ✂ Fundraising and discounts for people in need ...Washington, D.C.-based pizza chain &pizza has been providing free pizzas to hospital workers, and 77-unit, Washington, D.C.-based salad chain Sweetgreen has started to do the same... DiBella’s Subs [in Rochester, NY]... is offering a 50% discount for all first responders, healthcare workers and active military. ✂ Some restaurant brands are skipping the discounts and directly raising money for charitable causes...
Grubhub Drops Commissions on Delivery Orders From Independent Restaurants
From Restaurant Business:
Grubhub on Friday announced it will temporarily forgo $100 million in commissions on the meals it delivers from independent restaurants as a way of helping those businesses contend with the coronavirus epidemic. The delivery service also pledged to establish a fund to assist drivers and restaurants whose incomes have dropped because of the crisis. Grubhub said it agreed to the concessions after meeting with the mayors of Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Boston and Atlanta, among others. Those and other jurisdictions have been urging all third-party delivery services to cut their commissions in hopes of enabling restaurants to keep more of their delivery sales. The fees routinely run as high as 30%. "These are trying times for restaurants," Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia said during a press conference in Chicago on Friday announcing the move. "It's going to help restaurants in our 77 communities continue to pay their mortgages. But, most importantly, make payroll."
Distilleries Race to Make Hand Sanitizer Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
From the NY Times:
Craft distilleries, hearing the call of duty to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, are adding a new product to their lineup of gins, whiskeys and rums: hand sanitizer. Many are reporting extraordinary demand for the product, which has been hard, if not impossible, to find on store shelves. Yet many distilleries are giving away hand sanitizer for free, despite losing sales of their traditional spirits because of the closing of restaurants, bars and their own tasting rooms. “This is not an economic lifeline for distilleries,” said Brad Plummer, a spokesman for the American Distilling Institute and editor in chief of Distiller Magazine. “We live in these communities. We know these people. We’re watching them suffer, and we have the ability to help.”
And Parade Magazine compiled a list of U.S. distilleries making hand sanitizer as of March 20. They suggest you contact the distilleries directly for more information.
Florida St. Augustine Distillery
Copper Bottom Craft Distillery Georgia Old Fourth Distillery Illinois Koval Distillery is providing hand sanitizers in bulk to the medical community, retirement homes and those on the front lines. They even created a GoFundMe to help support their mission. Kentucky Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
Organizations in need of hand sanitizer can email KentuckyAle@alltech.com to submit their request. Old Forester Woodford Reserve Rabbit Hole Distillery Maryland Twin Valley Distillers Michigan Ugly Dog Distillery Related: Avoid Cabin Fever With These 125 Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained During the Coronavirus Crisis New York Black Button Distilling North Carolina Durham Distillery Related: How to Help Service Workers During Coronavirus Pandemic Ohio Karrikin Spirits Company Oregon Shine Distillery & Grill Pennsylvania Boardroom Spirits Tennessee Corsair Distillery Junction 35 Spirits Old Glory Distilling Washington State Glass Distillery Bonus: Victoria, British Columbia Victoria Distillers teamed up with B.C.-based Nezza Naturals to create a free hand sanitizer for dentists, nurses and other health-care workers.
Harbor Freight donates PPE to hospital emergency rooms
From a diary on Daily Kos:
I occasionally buy tools and building supplies from Harbor Freight, and am on their mailing list. I today received the following email from the owner: Dear Harbor Freight Community, As we’ve been following the news over the last few days, we’ve heard about the severe shortage of protective gear for hospitals, healthcare workers and first responders as the impact of COVID-19 is being felt across the country. America depends on these heroes every day and in the days ahead we will depend on them even more. At Harbor Freight, we want them to know that they can depend on us too. So we’ve decided to donate our entire supply of the personal protective equipment items listed below to front line hospitals with 24 hour emergency rooms in the communities served by our stores. • N95 Masks
• Face Shields
• 5 and 7 mil Nitrile Gloves If you work at a hospital with a 24 hour emergency room in need of these items, please ask the office in charge of procurement at your hospital to click here so they can provide us with the information we’ll need to determine if we can make a donation. If you’re not with a hospital, but would like to give us the name of a hospital with a 24 hour emergency room in your community that might need our help, please email us at hospitalhelp@harborfreight.com, identify the hospital’s city and state in the subject line, and our team will follow-up.
And in non-coronavirus news, here’s good news on the voting front:
Wyoming makes it easier for Native Americans to vote
From The American Independent:
The governor of Wyoming signed legislation supported by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes to clarify laws surrounding the use of tribal IDs to register to vote, KPVIreported March 13. The law now allows a tribal ID to be used as identification to register, so long as the ID has either a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number printed on it. "What this bill does is provide clear expectations to the tribes, every county and the state regarding tribal IDs," state Rep. Andi Clifford (D) told KPVI. Tribal leaders would have preferred that Native Americans be allowed to use a tribal ID without additional information, but "we kind of met halfway to some degree on this," said Eastern Shoshone Business Council co-chair Karen Snyder.
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A little humor
Shower Cap frequently makes me guffaw out loud. Here’s Cap at his best from last week:
Perhaps worried that the American people were placing TOO much faith in a federal government that has not only stumbled at every turn, but actually sought out heretofore undiscovered turns simply to stumble at them, Florida Senator Marco Rubio figured he would helpfully use his Twitter platform to dispel rumors of the imminent imposition of “Marshall Law,” in the event anyone was terrified about the possibility of conquest by a zombie army led by underrated character actor E.G. Marshall.
Randy Rainbow hits the nail on the head as usual, riffing on “Adelaide’s Lament” from “Guys and Dolls”:
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At the end of a week of quarantine, you may wind up playing tic-tac-toe with your cat. x YouTube Video * * * * *
Good news from around the world
Good News Network has collected inspiring stories about the pandemic, both from the U.S. and from abroad. The article is too long to quote, so just open the link. Here are the headlines – there are several stories under each headline in the article:
1) World Health Organization (WHO) Officials Say There Are Now 20 Coronavirus Vaccines in Development
2) From Individuals to Countries and World Governments–Everybody is Sharing Face Masks
3) As Cities Close Up Amidst Outbreaks, Pollution Plummets
4) As Physicians Worry About Potential Ventilator Shortages, Researchers Develop Several Low-Cost Solutions
5) Communities and Countries Opening Up New Lanes of Free Entertainment for the Masses
6) More Than 100,000 People Have Already Recovered From the Virus Worldwide
7) Nobel Prize Winner Who Correctly Predicted COVID-19 Trends Says ‘We’re Going To Be Fine’ [ if we self-isolate!!]
8) Celebrities and Businesses Have Contributed Millions Towards Feeding and Caring for At-Risk People
9) No Matter Where You Look, People Are Being Kind to Each Other
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Musical break
Niftywriter inspired me to watch some of the Metropolitan Opera free live streams, which in turn inspired me to search out some videos of Pavarotti. Here he is singing the aria that first made him famous, “Che gelida manina” from La Bohème. This is a 1979 performance at La Scala, when Pavarotti was at the absolute height of his incredible powers. And listen to the effect it had on the audience!
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Self-Care: Enriching your life while isolating
If you’ve never dipped your toe into the digital ocean of the Internet Archive, now’s the time you probably have the leisure to do it. It’s absolutely amazing!!! Here are some goodies they gathered to keep us entertained while isolated:
7 Things To Do If You Can’t Leave The House
From Internet Archive Blogs:
Art online
We’ve all shared a lot of links to museums lately. One of my favorite museums in the entire world is the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the world's leading museum of art and design. Their textile and costume collection is fascinating to browse through, and now you can do it online. The photo shows decorative slashing that was popular in the 17th century – perhaps today’s version is jeans with frayed hems and knee holes?
I also love Japanese netsuke, the carved ornaments that were used as toggles on kimono sashes. I found a link to a collection of over 1,300 of them! Here’s a sweet example: three puppies!
Wildlife live cams
Goodie mentioned some fascinating wildlife live cams on Saturday. Here are a few more:
Gorilla Forest Corridor, GRACE Center, Kasugho, Eastern DRC
Sea Otter Cam, Elkhorn Slough, CA
Sea Lion Beach at OrcaLab, Hanson Island, BC
NE Florida Bald Eagle Nest Cam – there are two eaglets!
More for bird lovers
The Macaulay Library from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is an online resource where you can:
Archive your own bird photos and videos
Explore bird species – Maps, stats, photos, and sounds for any bird in the world
Explore regions
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Good news for and about animals
Alone no more: People are turning to dogs, cats and chickens to cope with self-isolation
From the Washington Post:
Forget toilet paper, milk and hand sanitizer: There’s now a rush to stock up on real necessities, such as cats and dogs. And rabbits and fish, and even a couple of chickens. As schools close and millions of people across the United States work from home, the promise of companionship even in a time of isolation is prompting some to take in animals. Many say they finally have the time to properly train and care for a new pet. Animal rescuers across the country say they are seeing spiking interest in adoption and fostering, as well as offers to help everywhere from open-admission shelters to smaller nonprofit groups. ✂ The decision to adopt pets flies in the face of some conventional wisdom that discourages adding a new animal to a household during a stressful or busy time of the year, such as the holidays. But the novel coronavirus has created an almost parental leave-like situation for many people — where, instead of dealing with a sleepless newborn, they’re teaching a dachshund puppy not to chew on the ottoman.
Mouse found atop a 22,000-foot volcano, breaking world record
From National Geographic:
Last summer, scientists reported finding the world’s highest-dwelling mammal, a yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse, which was seen scampering among the upper reaches of Llullaillaco, the world’s highest historically active volcano, straddling Argentina and Chile. It’s incredible that anything could live that high, at 20,340 feet—there is no vegetation, and seemingly nothing to eat. Here, at the edge of the Atacama Desert, there is little rain, and temperatures sometimes plunge below minus 75 degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s hard to overstate how hostile an environment it is,” says Jay Storz, a biologist at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a National Geographic Explorer. Intrigued by the discovery, Storz organized an expedition to the volcano in February specifically to search for rodents. ...he encountered another yellow-rumped mouse even higher than previously sighted, atop the very summit of Llullaillaco, at 22,110 feet—breaking the record announced just last year. The research, described in a study published this week on bioRxiv, where papers can be seen before peer review, is the beginning of a scientific quest to understand how these animals adapt to and survive such grueling conditions. The results could help us better understand how other creatures adapt to extremes, and could even have medical applications for humans coping with low levels of oxygen, for example due to disease, exertion, or altitude sickness.
Exotic Creature In Antarctica Has Survived More Than 30 Ice Ages
From Scientific American:
White and bristly when alive, Tullbergia quickly dries out and dies when exposed to air. On this individual’s remains—stained with dye and greatly enlarged—the hard exoskeleton appears red; the softer, cuticlelike membrane looks green. Two eyeholes are visible at the base of the antennae (top image)
In 1964 entomologist Keith Wise flew to Shackleton Glacier to see if he could find animals in one of the most secluded inland places on the continent. On December 13 he skied several kilometers up the glacier from camp until he arrived at the bottom of the Mount Speed ridge. Snowmelt trickled down a cliff, wetting the soil at its base. There Wise found two species of springtails: gray Antarctophorus subpolaris, which he had seen before in other places, and ghostly white Tullbergia, new to science. In the decades after Wise's discovery, scientists tried to piece together a rough history of the landscape where Tullbergia was found. Seafloor sediments revealed that Antarctica had experienced 38 ice ages in the past five million years.
This is a long article, and the story of how scientists came to their current theories about how this tiny animal, smaller than a sesame seed, survived in such harsh conditions is impossible for me to summarize here. But it really is a fascinating read.
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Seen in my neighborhood
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Obligatory pet photo
Since I’ve been especially close to our critters this week, here’s a three-fer of extreme close-ups:
arhpdx’s dog Rosy, cat Nora, and parrot Rascal
Words of wisdom
This is from David H. Rosmarin, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and the founder/director of the Center for Anxiety in New York. It was published in a March 22nd article for Scientific American:
It may seem hard to stay sane when so much is unknown, but I would argue that COVID-19 presents a tremendous opportunity to build our emotional resilience. The current crisis calls upon all of us to recognize and embrace the fact that nothing was ever certain or clear. In fact, human beings don’t need to control or know anything with certainty. We just need to do our best and live in the moment. Once we do, we will have the inner strength we need to face the current challenge.
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Final musical offering
Thanks to an email from National Geographic, I got a link to this heart-healing video of members of the Rotterdam Philharmonic coming together online to perform Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. May we all keep joy in our lives as we help each other through this difficult time.
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Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts, your hearts, and your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd.
❤💙 RESIST, PERSIST, REBUILD, REJOICE!💙❤