Tag: trump

COVID-19 3Mar20

Yes, it is still spreading. Yes, the President is considering further travel restrictions. No, there is still no reason to panic. Lots of reasons to pay attention and make rational and reasonable preparations, but no need to panic.

First, read this article in the NEJM about our response to the outbreak. A good bit of solid info, from one of the prime leaders in the fight, though one might wish for just a bit more meat on the response part. Then read this post and this post from some people who’s opinion is shaped by their expertise, and keep that in mind when listening to/reading politicians in government and the media (yes, I agree with Instapundit that the vast majority of “journalists”/media are Democratic operatives with bylines/chyrons). Alas, Dr. Carson hits it on the head. Politics and political gain (and personal) are far more important than the health and safety of the Citizens of the Republic, or the Republic itself.

The CDC continues to cover itself in glory. One reason things got so bad so fast in China (and Iran, and similar countries) is that bureaucracies in highly socialist countries are not adaptive. For that matter, bureaucracies anywhere have a track record on adaptability that make the wooly mammoth and the dodo seem like jet racers.

In America, the problem is not going to be the number of deaths. Here’s where the real crunch lies for all. And, here’s a post that makes good points (already pointed out in several previous posts) on why things are likely to be different here in terms of severity, mortality, etc. Never mind cleaner air, differences in smoking rates, etc.

Also, two interesting things to be thinking about. First, has Sen. Chris Murphy carried COVID-19 into the Senate (and all those closed sessions with members of his party)? A bit alarmist, but an interesting question. Sadly, this next has been building for a few weeks now — China has been testing the idea of blaming the U.S. for the virus. PJ Media and Claudia Rosett are on top of it. I will note that if Xi and others think this will fly internally or externally (except with idiots and those paid to promote it), they really have underestimated how much their control has slipped.

More to come, I’m sure.

As always:

Use the interactive graphic to keep track of things. Is COVID19 an epidemic? Yes. Is it a Pandemic? Not according to WHO, but most everyone else is saying yes, it is. Is there need for panic? No. Should you be paying attention? Yes. Hell yes. Should you be preparing? Yes, better late than never.

Want to avoid catching COVID19 here in the U.S.? Wash your flippin hands frequently, wash them thoroughly every time you use the bathroom, then follow with hand sanitizer after every washing, use hand sanitizer liberally when you can’t wash on a regular basis. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, and stay away from those who don’t. Also, keep your bugger hooks out of/away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Do NOT shake hands with anyone, and avoid touching or being touched by strangers. Or your strange friends.

Avoid travel if at all possible. Right now, there is no way I’m going to a trade show, major convention, etc. If you can telecommute, get that set up now. If you have to travel, use lots of hand sanitizer and go to full flu protocols. If you have to use a public restroom, take full precautions including using paper towels and such to handle faucets, doors,etc.  Believe it or not, this was highly recommended before now, and major grocery chains have long told employees to use those practices to avoid getting or spreading colds, flu, etc.  Not many actually do it, but…  

If you own a business, make sure your employees know the above protocols. Have someone who refuses to wash their hands or otherwise follow the protocols? Talk to them, write them up, and if necessary fire them as they now pose a risk of infection to you and your customers. Extreme? Yes, but while the CDC and others are working to slow it down, odds are it is already here and could hit hard and fast. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I want to reiterate that there is no need for panic, but there is a strong need to be alert, be informed, and be prepared.

Other COVID19/COVID-19/2019-nCoV articles:

COVID-19 What Am I Doing?

COVID-19 2Mar20

COVID-19 1Mar20

COVID-19 29Feb20

Quick Additional Thoughts On The Bureaucracy

Panic Is Off And Running

COVID-19 28Feb20 Reasons To Hope, Reasons To Fear

COVID-19 A Plea To The Politicians (And Media)

COVID-19 27Feb20

COVID-19 Breaking A Chain?

COVID-19 26Feb20

COVID19 The Situation In China Gets Even Weirder

COVID19 25Feb20

COVID19 24Feb20 Raising DEFCON

COVID19 23Feb20

COVID19 22Feb20

COVID19 21Feb20: Just Look At The Blooms Dear

COVID19 Update 20Feb20

COVID19 Update

Update & Quick Thoughts On Preparedness

Expansion On A Theme

Well Maybe I Was Wrong

Some Quick Thoughts On Coronavirus 2019-nCoV

Why Should You Be Prepared?

Keeping Alert

Coronavirus And Practical Preparedness

COVID-19 28Feb20 Reasons To Hope, Reasons To Fear

Yesterday, I wrote that I was fairly happy with what I had heard of the press conference and the steps that have been taken by President Trump. I stand by that, and in fact will double down on it. I think that if we get through this in good shape, that it will be because of the steps taken by him, by Vice President Pence, by Alex Azar, and others in that team. They, along with a robust public hygiene system and fairly decent personal hygiene, are my hope. My fear is the bureaucracy, as it has already botched things in other countries. In this case, my fears are compounded by the incest and corruption in our own bureaucracy.

Since some seem determined to spread fear and panic, let’s start there. In fact, let’s start with the CDC refusing initially to test the positive case in California because it didn’t meet bureaucratic criteria that was already set in stone. This led, in turn, to a press conference by Nancy Messonnier at the CDC which led to a lot of fear and even panic. There was, at the time, also a strong media push to note that she was not part of the White House response.

Well, there might be a reason for that. One of which is that she is Rod Rosenstein’s sister. If you don’t know who he is, shame on you. Look it up and write his name 50 times on the blackboard. When I say the swamp that is our bureaucracy is incestuous, this is what I mean. I also agree very much with Trent Telenko’s take:

“In hind sight the gloom and doom CDC newsconference  Tuesday by Doctor Nancy Messonnier, the Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease in the CDC seems to be an attempt to distract the public from the CDC’s role in delaying this identification of community spread in California with the uber-flawed CDC testing program and guidelines.“

I would also commend his article as he also notes the CDC is not allowing better testing being used elsewhere because those tests have not been through the full FDA approval. Again, the bureaucracy is our greatest enemy, not coronavirus. Bureaucratium and Administratium are two of the densest materials in the known universe, and if our efforts fail, it will fail because of them.

For all that St. Rod has lit the virtue signal and flounced to the holy fainting couch (his symbol) over Trump (won’t someone note my piety!), he notes that there may be another case almost identical to the refusal to test the patient in California. If so, this needs to be gotten to the White House asap. If you have a patient you think is infected and you get stonewalled, go public and go large. Call the White House (switchboard number is readily available) and leave a message; tweet at Trump, Pence, Azar, etc.; call the media, and they are going to be appreciative as it gives them a chance to go after Trump and create a panic. Just make sure to get the names of the people at the CDC and give them out too. Name and shame, and hold them accountable. Not joking. If this complaint is true, hope someone does here too.

As I’ve noted a time or two before, the CDC is first and foremost a political agency, not a medical. The abandoned that role a few decades ago as they sought to increase their budget and their reach, as such is the way one moves up in the entrenched DC elite. Glenn Reynolds took them to task in 2014, and it is even more relevant today.

So, my greatest fear in the fight is our bureaucracy. So what’s my greatest hope? That comes in two parts.

The first part is that we have a robust and modern public hygiene system. This includes modern and effective (for the most part) sewage transport and treatment. We also have a different cultural “look” at personal hygiene. Both of these are important, as they limit the spread of not just COVID-19, but a number of other diseases. Not eliminate, but limit — often to very small amounts not seen before in human history.

The second part is that the team announced by Trump is solid, and rather pointedly excludes swamp dwellers. Don’t take my word for it, take a look at what a biochemist has to say about that team.

More to come, but that’s some good food for thought to start your day. Meantime, note those who are politicizing this event, from pundits to politicians. They deserve your contempt, your opprobrium, and to be shunned in all things by all good people.

As always:

Use the interactive graphic to keep track of things. Is COVID19 an epidemic? Yes. Is it a Pandemic? Not Yet Is there need for panic? No. Should you be paying attention? Yes. Hell yes. Should you be preparing? Yes, better late than never.

Want to avoid catching COVID19 here in the U.S.? Wash your flippin hands frequently, wash them thoroughly every time you use the bathroom, then follow with hand sanitizer after every washing, use hand sanitizer liberally when you can’t wash on a regular basis. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, and stay away from those who don’t. Also, keep your bugger hooks out of/away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Do NOT shake hands with anyone, and avoid touching or being touched by strangers. Or your strange friends.

Avoid travel if at all possible. If you can telecommute, get that set up now. If you have to travel, use lots of hand sanitizer and go to full flu protocols. If you have to use a public restroom, take full precautions including using paper towels and such to handle faucets, doors,etc.  Believe it or not, this was highly recommended before now, and major grocery chains have long told employees to use those practices to avoid getting or spreading colds, flu, etc.  Not many actually do it, but…  

If you own a business, make sure your employees know the above protocols. Have someone who refuses to wash their hands or otherwise follow the protocols? Talk to them, write them up, and if necessary fire them as they now pose a risk of infection to you and your customers. Extreme? Yes, but while the CDC and others are working to slow it down, odds are it is already here and could hit hard and fast. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I want to reiterate that there is no need for panic, but there is a strong need to be alert, be informed, and be prepared.

Other COVID19/COVID-19/2019-nCoV articles:

COVID-19 A Plea To The Politicians (And Media)

COVID-19 27Feb20

COVID-19 Breaking A Chain?

COVID-19 26Feb20

COVID19 The Situation In China Gets Even Weirder

COVID19 25Feb20

COVID19 24Feb20 Raising DEFCON

COVID19 23Feb20

COVID19 22Feb20

COVID19 21Feb20: Just Look At The Blooms Dear

COVID19 Update 20Feb20

COVID19 Update

Update & Quick Thoughts On Preparedness

Expansion On A Theme

Well Maybe I Was Wrong

Some Quick Thoughts On Coronavirus 2019-nCoV

Why Should You Be Prepared?

Keeping Alert

Coronavirus And Practical Preparedness

COVID-19 27Feb20

I did not get to watch the press conference last night, but hope to do so today. What I’ve been able to skim and from various reports I’ve read, it sounds like we have a good start. Putting Pence in charge makes sense, as a President has a wide range of responsibilities that require attention, and would detract from his ability to focus over a long period of time. Having the vice president take command ensures focus and oversight. Yes, there are political overtones to it, but that happens with anything delegated.

So that we can all hear what was said (versus what is reported to be said, which is — far too often — the case), here’s what should be a fairly full-length video.

Yes, we do have our first case on non-travel-related COVID-19. To be honest, I just lost a side bet I had with myself, as I figured it would pop up in a town with a university or large college. So far, it sounds like everyone is doing what they should. Maybe the lessons of Japan and elsewhere are having an impact at all levels here. We can but hope…

As always:

Use the interactive graphic to keep track of things. Is COVID19 an epidemic? Yes. Is it a Pandemic? Not Yet Is there need for panic? No. Should you be paying attention? Yes. Hell yes. Should you be preparing? Yes, better late than never.

Want to avoid catching COVID19 here in the U.S.? Wash your flippin hands frequently, wash them thoroughly every time you use the bathroom, then follow with hand sanitizer after every washing, use hand sanitizer liberally when you can’t wash on a regular basis. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, and stay away from those who don’t. Also, keep your bugger hooks out of/away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Do NOT shake hands with anyone, and avoid touching or being touched by strangers. Or your strange friends.

Avoid travel if at all possible. If you can telecommute, get that set up now. If you have to travel, use lots of hand sanitizer and go to full flu protocols. If you have to use a public restroom, take full precautions including using paper towels and such to handle faucets, doors,etc.  Believe it or not, this was highly recommended before now, and major grocery chains have long told employees to use those practices to avoid getting or spreading colds, flu, etc.  Not many actually do it, but…  

If you own a business, make sure your employees know the above protocols. Have someone who refuses to wash their hands or otherwise follow the protocols? Talk to them, write them up, and if necessary fire them as they now pose a risk of infection to you and your customers. Extreme? Yes, but while the CDC and others are working to slow it down, odds are it is already here and could hit hard and fast. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I want to reiterate that there is no need for panic, but there is a strong need to be alert, be informed, and be prepared.

Other COVID19/COVID-19/2019-nCoV articles:

COVID-19 Breaking A Chain?

COVID-19 26Feb20

COVID19 The Situation In China Gets Even Weirder

COVID19 25Feb20

COVID19 24Feb20 Raising DEFCON

COVID19 23Feb20

COVID19 22Feb20

COVID19 21Feb20: Just Look At The Blooms Dear

COVID19 Update 20Feb20

COVID19 Update

Update & Quick Thoughts On Preparedness

Expansion On A Theme

Well Maybe I Was Wrong

Some Quick Thoughts On Coronavirus 2019-nCoV

Why Should You Be Prepared?

Keeping Alert

Coronavirus And Practical Preparedness

Some Thoughts For The Day

I could hope that some sanity would break out this morning, but don’t expect it. Indeed, I fully expect to see the usual suspects double down on a variety of fronts.

The hysterics shouting about WWIII, the return of the draft, gloom, doom, despair, and excessive misery (points if you get the reference) are idiots. Or, in a few cases, cynical provocateurs who know better but also know that the gullible will (once again) buy into those themes.

No, this is not WWIII nor is it likely to morph into that anywhere in the next couple of years. No, the draft is not returning you snowflakes as none of the troops or their competent leadership want to have to carry your useless ass. The all volunteer force, despite the best efforts of Obama, remains an amazing and effective force. Not what it once was, but on track to get back IMO. If they brought you in, a troop of girl scouts armed with popsicle sticks could probably do you and those like you in, and do so in less than a minute. Not going to happen.

But, you keep rising to the bait. How many times has the draft been coming back? How many times has an evil conservative President been going to be responsible for WWIII? How far did Obama expand Presidential war powers? How many times did Obama conduct military strikes, including the targeted assassination (just like was done with by Trump on the General) of a U.S. Citizen who technically was a high school sophomore without Congressional consultation or approval? Hint, there were more than 2,500 such strikes.

Iran lacks the military to do any serious punching; and, in fact, their military is hurting. The leadership in Iran is quite literally shocked and scared right now, for all the bluster, as they finally have realized that they personally can (and would) be targeted. A message was sent, and from all reports it has been received.

Will they do something and call it a major victory? Likely. In addition to realizing that they are now personal targets and not exempt, they also know that they are in a bad place. It would not take 52 targets, but would take about 35 minutes, to destroy Iran via taking out the only things left propping up the regime. Nice thing is, no American forces actually need to go into the danger zone to do this. There are a couple of other options available that stop short of the complete destruction of the current critical infrastructure, options that would leave something for the population to rebuild with after the regime has fallen.

Meantime, the so-called leadership of the Democratic party is once again hard at work to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Orange man can’t be allowed to succeed, because, reasons. Most reasons revolve around power, graft, and an impressive amount of outrage that the “experts” were not consulted. That is the insult that has driven them into a frenzy, and they have taken it extremely personally.

Nancy et al were fine with Obama assassinating an American citizen without warrant or let; but, Orange man must be stopped before he has any other success. Nancy et al were and are fine with the deaths of Americans (military and civilian), so long as prevention of same doesn’t make Trump or the evil Republicans look good and/or harm the Democrats.

In all the hand-wringing panty-peeing pearl-clutching hysteria of American “bumbling” towards war with Iran (here’s a hint as you flounce to your fainting couch, they’ve already been at war with us since app. 1979), a few things are being missed.

One, look at what else got hit with the initial strikes against the PMF forces in Iraq, the ones who injured and killed Americans. Tend to agree the people were collateral damage, but in this case quite good with the collateral damage.

Two, look at what happened when our embassy was attacked. We held. We reinforced. We pushed back. Things didn’t go to the terrorist (or democrat) script.

Three, this brought not only Soleimani (Suleimani is what I’m seeing in a number of Iranian sources) to Baghdad, but look at who all else was traveling with him. Hint, it wasn’t a troop of girl scouts armed with popsicle sticks. More than one general and/or leader got popped, and that’s a good thing because you rarely have that many top people in one spot in a country they are not supposed to be in, if they were only planning an ice-cream social.

Four, this has shaken the top leadership of Iran; is causing some potentially major fracturing of both the public and the leadership in Syria; has had additional impacts in at least four other countries; and, has exposed some extremely ugly anti-Americanism at home and abroad.

On a different front, I’ve been extremely amused at the media vs. public response to the Golden Globes opening (and later jokes); and, at the panty-peeing by a reporter at CNN about the Babylon Bee.

On many fronts, the masks have been ripped away so that the only ones not seeing the hideousness beneath are those who deliberately and willfully do not want to see.

The good news this morning, is that not only have the masks been ripped away, but some interesting stands have been taken. Both Rowling and Gervais have taken important stands against cancel culture and woke culture. We may well have just witnessed the watershed moment for both, and the start of some long-needed pushback. The winds of change are blowing, despite frantic efforts to block them.

Some Unpalatable Food For Thought On Our Military Leadership

I’ve written a small bit about the purge of the military that occurred under Obama. If you were a warfighter (especially a proven warfighter/leader), didn’t embrace making the military a social experiment, or otherwise didn’t toe a very progressive line, you were gone. While most focus on the officer corps, the NCO ranks also were thinned out.

There is far less data on the enlisted loss, but the purge — and there is no better word — of the officer corps was unprecedented. There is some bitter fruit to come from that purge, as I am very concerned that despite a lot of effort on the part of Chaos and others, the rot could cost us dearly on many levels.

Bookworm has two excellent pieces you need to read. The first one is here, and the second one is here. Read them. Also, read Jim Hanson’s take here.

The uniform matters. It matters on many levels. On that note, I leave you with some extremely unpalatable food for thought. I would also add my thoughts that with the purge and the rise of those like Vindman, that our troops face peril because they will not be up to the task of leading in real conflict.

Some Food For Thought

There is a lot going on, both here with me and in the world at large.

In the latter, the soft-coup against Trump is well underway. I said a while back that the Republic was dead, and that we just didn’t want to accept it yet. More than ever, I’m afraid I believe that. Why?

Well, here’s a group of physicians and other health professionals that one would have to be a fool to let treat you, even if you were a full-blown SJW as you could never be SJW enough for their best efforts. Don’t believe me? Then read their own words.

The rot that is the modern media has been on full show for a while, but you really should read this take (and I agree whole-heartedly with the thoughts presented on the reprehensible and self-centered Amy Robach) and this takedown of the ABC excuse for spiking the story. It makes no sense, from any standpoint, especially a true journalistic standpoint.

Here’s a good take on the CNN response to the Project Veritas story. There is a lot of effort to smear Project Veritas (not just at CNN), but unlike the major media, they have always put up the full info so you can learn and decide. Good people, doing a lot of good work — and doing the journalism the media is unwilling to do. After all, there is a great deal of truth to the adage that the media covers the truly important stories — with a pillow, until they quit moving. Along those lines, something that hits a point that I glanced on in my ‘Saving Pvt. Journalism’ posts many years ago. The media has long paid lip service to “objectivity” but when there is no standard, there can be no real activity. Hat tip to This Ain’t Hell.

Finally, amid the smoke screen being deployed large and thick out Congresscritter Shitt’s ass, a major point that is frantically being hidden by those behind the latest front in the coup effort. Yes, it does matter and no, it is NOT against the law to name the whistleblower. Anyone want to place a bet that ABC (and possibly CBS) are going to do everything they can to name and destroy the (former) ABC whistleblower, and yet demand that the so-called Whistleblower in DC be protected? Hypocrisy much?

As for here, I had to give more blood on my lunch break the other day as one of the tests got screwed up somehow. Was told it was one vial, but it was three. Joy. Getting some results, and am interested in what the rheumatologist will say/want to do next. As for me, I want to get to the bottom of this, and find out what is going on. Meantime, if you care to hit either the Bard’s Jar or the wishlist in the top right corner, please do so. My current joint coctail seems to be doing at least some good, but at a cost.

Thanks for reading.

The Whistleblower Revealed?

Hmmmmmm

I’m thinking about making Wednesday a day for humor (Hump Day Humor?). Given all that is going on, think we could all use a good laugh midweek.

That said, I’m combining both humor and some interesting food for thought with today’s post. Juliet Akinyi Ochieng, better known to us old farts as Baldilocks, posts an amusing yet interesting idea over at DaTechGuy blog.

Enjoy your Wednesday, find something to smile at if not laugh with (if you want to laugh at, Congress usually provides plenty of targets), and be safe.