Congratulations to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers today. Brady has proven himself as a great and somewhat infamous Quarterback. On to the Super Bowl.

I find the lack of information stunning in this article.

I don't think blaming the pandemic for youth suicide is the correct path to take although it is the most convenient. There are a lot of things at work in these dynamics and closing schools seems to me to be the least of the issues. 

In a 2005 study of suicides among young people (click here) shows the likelihood is more strong in young men than women except in countries where woman are undervalued and there the statistics are higher. From the information in this New York Times article that demographic has held up in the USA. So, the idea the pandemic is driving more young men to commit suicide is probably not likely. What is probably at work here is negative self-talk and how they identify themselves.

The youngest is nine and that is where puberty begins with hormones raging. I think there is a deeper driver to this and as a society, we need to look at it and not simply blame the pandemic.

In the case of the older age bracket, there is the issue of social contact and DATING. There isn't much of that being discussed and the idea of a date on Friday night at the movies is an impossibility. Young people identify intensely when it comes to who they feel attracted to and sexual attractiveness. School is an incubator to those issues. Even if school attendance change to in-person, the social component is still missing for dating and person to person contact.

Young Americans are intent on successful lives when they approach adulthood. Some of these young people feel alienated from those goals. Academics online is like an out of body experience. I think as a society we need to erase the academic performance for the period this virus has caused altered learning patterns. Those years have to be looked at with skepticism when a young person is applying to college and work. There will be some students that find online learning better than in-class learning, but, that would be the case in or out of school. Some adapt better than others. In interviews, there is nothing wrong with students expressing their reality during these years such as, "My academics dropped a bit during the pandemic. I didn't do as well with online classes, but, I tried."

Where are college achievement exams being conducted? What is the indication there?

What I believe is driving this dynamic is the fact screen time is not limited. Children now have more access to social media to be with friends and that opens up greater opportunities for bullying. It also opens up different measures that children will use to bully. In other words, when a child has a school environment where bullying occurs it can be based on physical stature and sports activities. Online there are issues with character issues and physical appearance. When children are in school the online component is an element to the bullying but not the entire picture. Bullying is also mitigated by teachers and principals when in class attendance occurs, that supervision/mitigation isn't happening with stay-at-home students.

January 24, 2021
By Erica L. Green

The reminders of pandemic-driven suffering among students in Clark County, Nev., (click here) have come in droves.

Since schools shut their doors in March, an early-warning system that monitors students’ mental health episodes has sent more than 3,100 alerts to district officials, raising alarms about suicidal thoughts, possible self-harm or cries for care. By December, 18 students had taken their own lives.

The spate of student suicides in and around Las Vegas has pushed the Clark County district, the nation’s fifth largest, toward bringing students back as quickly as possible. This month, the school board gave the green light to phase in the return of some elementary school grades and groups of struggling students even as greater Las Vegas continues to post huge numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths....

The health statistics among children still favor staying at home. There are about 3.4 percent of all children up to the age of 18 that have contracted COVID-19. That means more than 96 percent of all school-age students are still safe. I think as a country we need to decide how best to protect the health of our children and THEN provide an education that helps maintain the status quo but might fall short of the usual outcomes.

As of January 14, about 2.5 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 (click here) since the onset of the pandemic. Over 211,000 new child COVID-19 cases were reported last week, the highest weekly increase since the pandemic began.

The age distribution of reported COVID-19 cases was provided on the health department websites of 49 states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Children represented 12.6% of all cases in states reporting cases by age. A smaller subset of states reported on hospitalizations and mortality by age; the available data indicated that COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death is uncommon in children.

At this time, it appears that severe illness due to COVID-19 is rare among children. However, there is an urgent need to collect more data on longer-term impacts of the pandemic on children, including ways the virus may harm the long-term physical health of infected children, as well as its emotional and mental health effects....

I think parents, as well as children, need support groups to bring about their best outcomes in coping as a family in very unusual times.

Unemployment also plays into family tensions. Financial difficulties are not adequately handled either. There used to be such a thing called welfare for families in need and there was rental assistance as well.

September 2019

The number of children under age 18 in the United States (click here) increased from 47.3 million in 1950 to 74.1 million in 2010, before declining slightly to 73.7 million in 2012. Since 2012, the number of children has remained between 73.6 and 73.7 million, and is projected to increase to 74.1 million by 2020....

The overall biggest problem is the PROLONGED success of SARS-CoV-2 in our society. The USA's dynamic is alone globally. That is a clear sign the way this virus is handled in the USA is completely wrong.

Liberate!

Alexia Navalny

Yulia Navalny

Free the Russian people from oppressive        Putin regime!

Republicans are being ridiculous.

The Arizona Republicans have censured the spouse of the great John McCain, Cindy McCain, Former Senator Jeff Flake, and Governor Doug Ducey.

The Republicans are making fools of themselves and deliberately causing acrimony and sowing dissension.

Nothing is going to stop the defense of the USA Constitution.

The number of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop, both daily and the 7 day rolling average. The people are moving the right direction. Maybe, just maybe, Americans are all pulling in the same direction.

Defend the USA Constitution

I expect every person who trespassed on federal grounds to assault the country’s Capital to be charged with crimes. There are no innocent people. The Congress was there to establish the victor of the hard fought elections of 2020 and those assaulting the building were expecting to see people hung. There were no innocent people on those grounds.

The insurrectionists weren’t there for a pep-rally, they were there to witness hangings. Because the scene was chaotic and didn’t achieve their goals doesn’t mean the intent wasn’t there. It didn’t happen because those that protect this country’s most hallowed halls of governance were just that good at their preparedness. 

I want to know the injuries to law enforcement along with the death of a Capital Police Officer. Those in attendance of the insurrection meant to harm this country and it was no minor scuffle.

I expect a trial of Donald John Trump as well. If USA Senators are squeamish about protecting this country from a leader that fully intended to be a dictator, then they are traitors and a disgrace to the Senate. 

Those Senators that are alive and breathing were saved by the National Guard. Not just police officers, the National Guard. And it wasn’t Donald John Trump that sent them. 

Political pettiness ends now!

Deal or No Deal?

The Michigan Attorney General needs to ask for evidence  still in the public sector that clearly spells out Snyder's malicious intent to favor cronies and a draconian practice that drained cities of their assets to satisfy his idea of MONETARY JUSTICE.

The facts are very simple. He didn't care about the people but only the balance sheet and if poisoning people to achieve a balance sheet him approved then so be it.

The Attorney General needs a liaison between herself and the people of Flint to decide deal or no deal. She also needs to have a call for evidence that is published in all 50 states because people effected by the poisoned water have moved away,

January 19,2020

...Investigators reviewed thousands of documents, (click here) searched computers, iPads and phones to try to figure out a timeline. The question is: When did the governor know that there was an issue with Flint’s water? When did he realize it was a public health emergency.

“He testified under oath about a date when he says he learned or knew, or became aware, of a problem. Now the investigators are going to look at other evidence that shows that governor Snyder apparently wasn’t telling the truth,” said legal analyst Neal Rockind.

Tuesday’s hearing is to decide whether the case moves to trial or if a deal can be made. There are eight other former Michigan state leaders charged in the case....

Ron Johnson is a traitor still doing Trump’s bidding.

The USA Constitution clearly states a trial will follow impeachment. Questions?

Senator Schumer, Majority Leader, has worked out a schedule for the impeachment. Questions?

Just because Trump threw the USA Constitution out during his shared 4 years with Putin doesn’t mean that will continue. Trump inspired a insurrection and his trial will proceed according to the schedule set by the Majority Leader. I don’t see any real reason for questions. It is the Rule of Law.

I have not seen Anthony Fauci smile like that before. He is different. Empowered.

The Cabinet level scientist is a geneticist. The vaccine from Moderna and Pfizer is the first time mRNA was used to developed it.

The scientific community has peace of mind with a Cabinet level representative. One of the issues that has to be addressed is genetic manipulation of animals that are used for food in the USA diet. The authority for that TECHNOLOGY has been placed in the Agricultural Department under Trump and Perdue. It belongs under HHS.

The alterations made in the American diet MUST be researched by HHS. Experiments on animals to investigate enhancements for profits is not a study that guarantees a safe food supply. We do not need a genetically altered food supply to cause “New Age Prions.”

The University of Montana, Mansfield Ethics is concerned about the well being of the animals, hence, the people that consume them. There are alterations in proteins in these genetically manipulated animals that are then consumed by people. The huge overriding question to all animals being manipulated genetically is the availability of essential nutrients for basic human biological needs such as amino acids. 

I don’t really care if the animals are easier on profitability, do they supply every aspect of nutrition demanded by the human body for its metabolism? The science belongs in HHS.

January 8, 2021

The highest daily toll of new infections from SARS-CoV-2 since this health emergency started a year ago; 300,594 new cases with a running 7 day average of 259,564 new cases. There has been a decline since that day which is significant at 186,235 new cases on January 20, 2021 with a seven day running total of 194,966 new cases. That is called progress. 

Americans need to continue to wear masks, social distance, and practice excellent hand hygiene. We are not out of danger yet.

Yuma County, Arizona is the hottest of hotspots. I believe it is a language barrier. We saw the same kind of issue with HIV. Those speaking Spanish are not getting the “emotional machismo” message that great parents and community leaders practice the same important practices without relenting to peer pressure.

It is naive to believe the same “machismo” that voted for Trump will dissipate because he lost the election. What the Federal Communications Commission should be doing as I write this is check for lies that endanger minority communities. There MUST be public service announcements made by all forms of media to state the facts and bring an understanding of the truth. The arrogance that accompanied Trumpism must be laid to rest to end the viral spread.

Announcements and Speeches by Joe Biden must be broadcast in Spanish with written translations in other languages that exist in the USA. This is a deadly pandemic. If translation is available in all other languages other countries around the globe will use it, too. No one is to assume written translation will end the virus. There is illiteracy in other languages, too. A strong effort must be made for the illiteracy in all languages. There are also hearing impaired. 

Communication and compliance to federal standards to stop the spread is vital. There are social anthropologist and social workers that have the ability to reach the unreachable. It is the First Amendment. People have a right to hear from government to save their own lives.

Lake Michigan looks good today.

Snow squalls, wind, one and a half foot swells but to flooding. There will be beach erosion but there is plenty of time to ready beach renourishment for the tourist season. This is the best I have seen of the lake in more than two years.

There is a fine balance with the Great Lakes. They provide an income to the business community including shipping. But, that must be balanced with commercial interests in real estate and tourism. It would not be the Great Lakes without that balance. I am sure Canada is pleased today

The commercial fishers are giving Governor Whitmer arguments. As if she is the only governor along the Great Lakes. They are complaining they will be going out of business. They will be going out of business anyway because the lakes have been overfished for four years and the fisheries are depleted. I don’t remember the Great Lakes ever depleted of commercial fisheries because they were well managed.

This is what anarchy does to an economy. The Great Lakes have a carrying capacity for fish. That is why commercial fishing has existed for so long, but, when they are overfished it can collapse fresh water fishing for years. Fish can only lay so many eggs each year. That includes the state’s ability to stock rivers. Fishing along Michigan rivers is a much sought after sport and past time.

Commercial fishers need to behave and harken back to when there was sufficient fisheries and not stressed fisheries from overfishing. What often happens when governance of fisheries are lost (deregulation) is an increase number of commercial fishing enterprises. The larger number of fishing enterprises then complains that the government is doing something wrong because their catch is too low and they can’t keep a healthy cash-flow. 

No, that is not it. Somewhere in the magical thinking of supply side economics there is supposed to be an over abundance of fish everyday. The fisheries be they fresh water or ocean have limits. It only makes sense that a limited number of fish divided among more and newer fishing enterprises means there will be less income for ALL the commercial fishers.

Grow up! This is not the magical world of Disney!

Review Leadership at the Pentagon

Yahoo News is reporting even as of January 20th the Pentagon was still refusing to meet with President Biden’s national security team. President Biden needs to demote a few people at the Pentagon, run background checks for Trump sympathizers and put his own people in place.

Major Biden

President Joe Biden has a dog named Major Biden. He has raised money for the animal shelter in Delaware. It is nice to have a First Pet in the White House again.

Too expensive to be employed.

The Trump family, excluding Donald J. Trump and his spouse, has spent more than 10 times more on security details and “away” expenses than any other administration, bar none. The expenses need an audit and where there was extravagance, they need to be billed for their abuses.

Trump hated government spending except where his family was concerned. Contrary to popular beliefs employees to the federal government have prudent expenses and NOT every comfort of Trump hotels, casinos and secret service!

They have to be held accountable otherwise it sets ridiculous precedent. They cannot be the exception to THE RULE written or unwritten!

Conservationist now have a place in the USA.

Thanks to Joe Biden the people that protect the land AND the people now have a place within the President’s Cabinet that can have a lasting effect on the beauty of this country and the health of the people. 

I am looking forward to the return of clean air and water for all the citizens of the USA. Good health needs to belong to everyone not just those that can afford it. 

The science community has a great deal of work to do to close out a devastating warming across Earth. A return to the Paris Climate Accords is a great first step and the USA must set an example and demand the best outcomes from all countries.

A Full Court Press

I noticed President Biden huddled briefly with the Former Presidents Clinton, W. Bush and Obama. He also mentioned Former President Jimmy Carter. 

Former President Carter is going to be helpful in many areas both domestic and international. President Carter was well received in the Middle East and brokered the Camp David Accords. 

Jimmy Carter is the Democrats best kept secret. He commanded the Panama Canal Treaty, was involved with Afghanistan before bin Laden, developed full diplomatic relations with China and closed on SALT II. And that was only his international achievements.

He created the US Department of Education and expanded national lands as well as took up the mantle of the environment making it sustainable for some regulation reform for the trucking and airline industries. He protected Social Security and removed racial barriers for minorities and women. He created 8 million jobs and cut the deficit during his administration. It is unfortunate the politics only allows for him to be branded with a failed hostage rescue. 

Honestly, not bad work for a former Navy officer.

We saved our country to be at this moment.

Congratulations to all Americans. We have saved our democracy.

It is a great day.

We have the perfect team elected to the Executive Branch. We will prevail with the dedication I know Joe Biden and Kamala Harris brings to their leadership.

Has the COVID-19 team arrived to disinfect the White House?

I am assuming the limo has been disinfected from top to bottom, including the trunk. 

Hopefully, Camp David is pristinely clean.

Marine One now has to be disinfected. Pay attention to the hand rails. Trump was always hitting them for some reason as he entered all the vehicles.

“...if we had not been hit by the pandemic...”

Amazing. Of course Trump was helpless against the pandemic and the 400,000 dead was beyond control considering it would have been 2.2 million if Dr. Fauci didn’t stand in opposition to every aspects of the Trump regime.

The cheerleaders are there to shine him on instead of exposing him to reality.

“... in some form.” Shape shifting again? 

Trump put a $30,000 Wall Street in place while the country’s GDP plummeted. Ah, but, it was all because Trump was helpless against COVID. Amazing. Such disparity between the economic classes in the USA, just like every other country with a dictator.

Trump has endangered every American life with his destructive cabinet that erased decades of work on regulations to KEEP AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.o

Disinfect the letter on the Resolute Desk! Seriously! Open the envelope and disinfect the letter in all its pages. Biden’s first mail delivery by the most infected package handler on the planet.

Steve Bannon?

 A pardon? Trump just exonerated the Alt Right and reinforced hate.

President Biden has to stand by his Cabinet choices.

Hawley’s objection of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas is based in hatred and racism. Hawley supports the violence of the insurrectionists and does not deserve an opinion yet alone an objection.

Secretary Mayorkas will have to serve as an “Acting” Secretary until things change. He is perfectly qualified and there should be no objection. 

Gallows

Reports today are in the newspapers about how murderous the insurrectionists were with their intent to hunt down Congressmen and women to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.

If one examines the actual gallows that they built, it was planned for killing. The gallows was made of two telephone polls with a platform to carry out lynchings. Those structures went up in a short period of time. 

The crowd of insurgents were on a mission to murder the people of the Congress. It was never conceived as a symbolic gesture. They all should be charged with attempted murder. They were all in on it. They were all invested in that outcome.

Trump had to know their plans. It was to well organized and funded. That is another thing. Money was flowing into these efforts. At least one group, the anti-vaccine groups received more than $850,000 in PPP loans. There was no national security check for the PPP loans. These people are crackpots and got their hands on nearly a million US. There is a lot wrong.

How did anyone get telephone polls near the Capital? Pence had his family there as well. Why? Was he afraid to leave them at home and thought them more secure in his office?

To many unanswered questions. They had money from a non-profit and access. Were any of the authorities to protect life that day told to stand down? By whom?

McConnell and Pepsi’s homes were vandalized. Each member of Congress should submit a statement to their experience that day. They are strong people and it may just be much of their thoughts will never be know or included as evidence. They are an important piece to the puzzle surrounding this assault on the US Capital and them. Their identities were spoken in the mobs manhunt.