It is the new year in Sydney, Australia.

 

Cruise at your own risk.

December 30, 2021

By Morgan Hines

As clusters of COVID-19 cases (click here) continue to emerge on cruise ships since the omicron variant emerged, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned travelers against taking cruises.

"Today, CDC increased the Cruise Travel Health Notice (THN) to a Level 4, recommending people avoid cruise travel regardless of vaccination status," the CDC said in a statement provided by spokesperson Dave Daigle.

The agency noted the decision was made as COVID-19 cases are increasing on ships, in the U.S. and around the globe.

Between Nov. 30 and Dec. 14, cruise ships operating in U.S. waters reported 162 cases of COVID-19 to the CDC. Between Dec. 15 and Dec. 29, cruise ships sailing in U.S. waters reported 5,013 COVID-19 cases to the CDC.

That's nearly 31 times the number of cases reported in the first two weeks of December, the CDC said....

Same ole Somalia.

That country has more militant fighters than citizens. The tensions are incredible once again between the president and prime minister. They each have their own dedicated militias and a civil war is only a breath away if one or the other leader decides he has had enough.

December 29, 2021

Amid political turmoil in Somalia, (click here for additional information) France 24 is joined by Matthew Bryden, Head of Sahan Research Think Tank. Mr. Bryden takes us to the origins of the current crisis, which began back in April, when President Mohamed tried to extend his term by two years. Violent clashes ensued, but a political agreement was eventually reached, explains Mr. Bryden. Prime Minister Roble took charge of "organizing the parliamentary elections," but he says the PM was undercut by the president and his loyalists. Mr. Bryden describes "widespread, and very credible, allegations of rigging," and now the PM is demanding the "isolated" president "step aside, ideally leave the country, and give the PM a free hand to finish the elections properly.

The instability always feeds the terrorists in Somalia and this time it is no different. So, to say there are only two power structures in Somalia is a false understanding. The terrorists absolutely are a power within the country ready to take advantage of any destablizing issues.

December 30, 2021

Mogadishu -Fighters from Somalia's al-Shabab militant group (click here) attacked a town north of the capital, Mogadishu, on Thursday, killing at least seven people as they battled government security forces, a resident and police said."We were in a mosque praying when a heavy exchange of gunfire took place at the bridge. Al-Shabab thus captured the town, overrunning the soldiers at the bridge," Hassan Nur, a shopkeeper in Balad, an agricultural town that links Somalia's Middle Shabelle region to Lower Shabelle, told Reuters by telephone."There were few police forces in the town. (The police) were missing. When the firing started people ran into their houses. I counted five dead soldiers and two civilian women," he said....

The attack happened amid a political dispute between Somalia’s president and prime minister which its international partners worry has distracted the government from the fight against the insurgents.

Police and residents in Balad, 30 km (18 miles) north of Mogadishu, said fighters from the al-Qaida-linked group attacked and overran government forces guarding a bridge at a town entrance early in the morning....

A few weeks ago a band of rebels attacked the northwest (Tigray area) area of Somali. They looted towns and broke into banks. They left and the areas' military forces called it a victory. I don't believe the military did anything except secure the area after the fact.

I think the conflict which Somalia's government reported on was near Tigray and was part of the ever continuing conflict in Ethiopia (click here). If that is the case then Somalia is receiving problems due to that conflict there.

That cache of supplies and money was destined to reinfuse who I believe are the Somalia pirates. The region effected speaks to the fact the UN currently has boats in the waters surrounding Somalia for at least the next three months. It is uncertain whether the UN plans a presence in the waters there beyond those three months. The pirates when they can't raid ships need food and munitions from somewhere. It could easily be that the raids on the Somalie towns were the pirates currently out of work.

These are vicious attacks. What the raiders did not steal they destroyed so no one else could be strengthened by those items they could not carry.

From the sounds of things and the latest aggressions in the region I think the UN knows it is in for more instability which will reopen wounds and begin the civil war all over again. 

This is the stuff that is published in recent months and it has not added to the favorable outcome for the people. 

By Ahmed Yusuf
Editor-in-Chief, EthipoianCitizen.com

Updated on December 29, 2021 (click here) to include author’s name as it was omitted by mistake

An article that is said to have been written by General Tsadkan was published yesterday on the Elephant, a Nairobi based online platform critical of Ethiopia’s war against the TPLF terrorists.

The article titled “Pertinent Issues on the War in Tigray” was written mainly to the Western world in order to gain the much needed help TPLF requires after its embarrassing defeat in Amhara and Afar.

The General, in an attempt to desperately appease his Western allies, has not shied away from painting the article with many lies that if not exposed will surely mislead many who are unaware....

This type of reporting leads to all kinds of power playing among the people. Depending what side of the conflict one is on means the reporting aids the effort or adds greater aggression in opposition. These news reports do sway public opinion in the region. There are educated folks that believe the African Union Forces are a waste of time and money and would rather see monies be spent on the people and not a chronic war. They also believe nonsense, suchas, the violence is encouraged by the Taliban when in fact it is al Shabab (click here).

To say the circumstances in this region is turbulent is an understatement. Everything from wars to fishing is a propaganda item and it keeps citizens upset and confused to where the truth is and why the conflicts never end.

Somehow it seems cell phone towers are the greatest contribution to the wars.

The Overton Window - elections need to "beat the window of manipulations."

The Republicans relying on a scheme to win elections by justifying extremist views per the Overton Window, sets up the USA democracy for destruction.

Some weathered Republicans return to their office repeatedly because they practice such methods to win an election, but, never translate their extremist views into policy. To those Republicans the extremism is a vehicle and not the final result, hence, the practice of that method is benigh to the integrity of governance.

The problem for the Overton Window being applied during elections is that extremists such as Trump abide by their campaign promises and their own personal agendas and set about destroying the Rule of Law and opposing the USA Constitution.

In my opinion, the Overton Window is an attack vehicle on democracy, the rule of law and the USA Constitution. It is no longer a benign method in elections.

Voters need to be sure of their issues in elections and vote for candidates with anwers and not populism that feels good. Having a job that pays a living wage while supplying health care benefits, including paid vacation time, should be at the top of their agenda. Secondly, with higher incomes come the responsiblity of higher taxes. Those taxes help fund schools and well paid teachers. 

The average household income in Georgia's 14th District is under $100k and half of those households earn less than $50k per year. That is enforced poverty and lower middle class stagnation and it completely unacceptable. 

One question voters of Georgia's 14th District need to ask themselves before they vote is, "What has Majorie Taylor Greene" done to improve my life, the lives of my children and grandchildren?" The Build Back Better program might actually be a campaign promise when the voters understand it. When Americans earn more they can provide for better outcomes for themselves and their children.

It is districts like this in the USA that are heartbreaking to most other Americans not engaged in permanent impoverishment. The voters here have to abandon the popularity test for elections and employ demands for better quality of life.

Stand at a rally with a favorite WWF performer, be it male or female.

The Republican Party's excuse for a violent country, "The Overton WIndow."

The Overton window (click here) of political possibility is the range of ideas the public is willing to consider and accept.

In the United States, the idea of different races mixing in public or women’s suffrage were once considered fringe, extreme policies. That they’re now deemed common sense, reflects progress in shifting the Overton window.

A politician seeking to maximise their chances of reelection should determine where the Overton window for key policy issues is, via public opinion polls and other means, so they can successfully campaign on those ideas....

The US Treasury needs to take the fines accumulated by the right wing out of their paycheck!

The Republicn Party has become extremists because they only seek to appeal to a voter's worst instincts rather than elevating and educating their position. This has resulted in an electorate that is chronically conflicted and pushed into divisions where their moral compass takes them. I guess if all one wants is to pad their war chest, it works but leaves voters with demands that are uncivilized and dangerous.

It is an excuse rather than a method because it doesn't seek to do anything except be popular enough to be elected. There is no morality to PANDERING to voters.

Elected officials are supposed to know the problems voters are facing and address the problems in proposed policy. When a candidate talks down to people that lacks integrity and quite frankly knowledge that is debasing the electorate and reducing a campaign to cartoons rather than politics.

It works for them. The can call on all sorts of negative values such as racism and make arguments to win voters. This excuse is long lived in the Republican Party and is granting permission to insurgency. Marjorie Taylor Greene came out of nowhere carrying military style weapons and riding swamp buggy. The images play to preferences in the electorate and if feels good regardless of her inability to lead and make policy that matters. (click here). When the Republicans reflect on their Senate loss in Georgia they need to take responsibility for the poorest and extremist elections stands on the planet.

Greene is a racist and loves being one. Anyone knows what electorate she is vying for and she is willing to do their bidding.

December 27, 2021
By David Goldiner

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (click here) denounced Kwanzaa as a “fake religion” just as millions of Black people start to celebrate the weeklong holiday.

The far-right Georgia lawmaker berated the national College Republicans for “pandering and BS” after the GOP group tweeted a seemingly innocuous happy holiday message....

Greene (click here) supports the White Supremacist/Nationalist movement in her politics and is attractive to the Evangelical Christians in her district. Like, what? There is nothing within her politics that should bring those two voting groups together, unless, Evangelical Christians are also White Supremacists in their majority. It appears that is the case in this district.

Georgia's 14th district is primarily poor to lower middle class caucasians with few percents of minorities. 11.7 percent are below the poverty line and the Build Back Better bill along with the child tax credit should be passed into law with the approval of this district.

The majority population demographics by age is disconcerting. It breaks down into nearly a dynamic that shows aging is seldom important to the people. From newborn to age 59 there are evenly divided groups between 13 to 15 percent. That demographic speaks to WELLNESS and the potential of death across all age groups. I guarantee if viewed under a microscope the quality of life is riddled with poor choices due to settled poverty.

The Build Back Better bill will revitalize the workers with new jobs and infrastructure that contributes to an optomistic and hopeful outcome to their lives. These folks live in the moment. That is what poverty does, so when FOX News flashes ads for the latest sleep pillow, the item is cheap enough to buy and fill some financial empowerment.

According to Ballotpedia (click here) the Democrats are well funded and so long as the primary is not a circular assassination of each other, they should win this district.

It is official. A vaccinated woman in Israel has died of omicron.

Bennett doesn't rule out lockdown, (click here) says Israel on eve of COVID-19 infection storm with nearly 3,000 cases diagnosed in a single day.

Omicron

Just to clarify, omicron is mutating. That has been reported by all authorities I have read. If the Israeli death is omicron it needs to be looked at from the issue of co-morbidities as well as the arrival of a Level Three omicron virus that has mutated into a deadly strain that no immunity can oppress. The Israeli death could be the first of a deadly mutant strain.

If by chance a COVID variant becomes deadly, given how quickly it spreads and the transmission between countries, there is no reason to postpone a shutdown of the globe to end it before it gets started. The New Zealand model is the only one that applies, no exceptions.

Omicron should not be taken lightly. It is a Level Three virus still mutating.

Israel is reporting it's first death from omicron of a vaccinated woman. The vaccine when followed up with a booster is invaluable to the well being of people.

28 December 2021
By Tal Schneider

Over 600 new cases of strain confirmed; (click here) eight patients with variant hospitalized, including 2 unvaccinated in serious condition; PM: Pfizer treatment pill due to arrive Wednesday

The Health Ministry on Tuesday announced the death of a woman from a suspected Omicron infection, as it confirmed over 600 more cases of the new coronavirus variant.

The woman had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and had received a booster shot, according to a ministry statement.

If verified, the woman would be the first Omicron fatality recorded in Israel. A reported death from Omicron last week was later clarified to have been caused by the Delta strain of coronavirus....

I would like to address an issue with coverage of Ukraine.

Ukraine has a very violent history. It is the strength of democracy to realize how far the people of Ukraine have brought their democracy since the massacre in the Maidan. 

Ukraine has been a border state with Europe while a part of the Soviet Union. It was that part of the Soviet Union that specialized in nuclear weapons and their deployment, especially as a threat to Europe, ie: The Cuban Missile Crisis for the USA. But, also the continued existence of intermediate nuclear weapons in proximity of Europe can't be overlooked.

Ukraine has had all sorts of issues, including genocide in it's history. The entire existance of Ukraine while under Soviet control has been laced with a population difficult to unite (typical of communists) because of ethnic issues. The population of Ukraine, as exampled in Crimea, where severely division exists into ethnic groups that oppose each other.

We saw in Ukraine, under Viktor Yanukovych the decommissioning of the Ukraine military and the splintering of domestic interests with each major city or town equiped with a military unit that would serve to keep order. There was no national military under Yanukovych. In that, kindly realize, ethnic divides were enforced which allowed Putin to rule in Ukraine as a person able to maintain order and protect national security. Putin was a very populous figure in Ukraine. He always made appearances with wresters and basically storng men known for their phyiscal strength.

These enteries are heavily based on the insights of primarily one scholar, Professor Ivan Katchanovski. He is based securly away from Russian influence in:

School of Political Studies

University of Ottawa 

Ottawa, ON

K1N 6N5

Canada 

Tel. 613-407-1295 

ikatchan@uottawa.ca

Professor Katchanovski's writings are prolific since the Maidan Massacre and have inspired others to right including women professors on women's rights. The collection of evidence as exhibited in the writings of these magnificent people is extensive and could easily bring about it's own small library of collected works, of which I have witnessed nearly weekly in my inbox. That is incredible since the Maidan Massacre was on February 20, 2014.

First to address the misconceptions of The West regarding the Maidan massacre. The violence of the Maidan went unrecognized for it's diverse participants. That I find a little unsettling since Ukraine is such an important ally in freedom, anti-corruption and democracy.

This is a bit of a lecture, but, The West cannot be afraid of being liberators and eager to recognize how divided a peoples are during and after such rebellious acts. To know the DIVERSITY of an event, be it good and/or evil, if there is such a thing, is only to realize the aftermath that claimed democracy as it's governance, FINALLY, and over came hatred, fear of independence from Russia and the willingness to live an autonomous existance as an ally to those in the world that love democracy.

There is significant criticism by Professor Katchanovski of the Western Press. That is due to the lack of insight of the entire domestic picture of Ukraine and the proposful ethnic divisions enforced by Russian influence. We still see those ethnic divides in Crimea and the civil war at the Russian border.

Professor Katchanovski can be a very valuable voice to the Western Press in understanding the domestic picture of Ukraine and the hopes of it's people. As I have said there are others that began publishing to benefit the goal of democracy and Ukraine's journey to freedom of oppression and hatred.

Prof. Ivan Katchanovski: (click here) My studies found that the Maidan massacre of the protestors and the police on February 20, 2014 involved the far right and oligarchic parties, and it was a key element of the violent overthrow of the corrupt and oligarchic but democratically elected government in Ukraine. This mass killing was a successful false ag operation, which was organized and conducted by elements of the Maidan leadership and concealed armed groups in order to win the asymmetric conict during the “Euromaidan” and seize power in Ukraine.

Various evidence examined in my studies shows that concealed groups of Maidan snipers, which were based in particular in Music Conservatory and the Hotel Ukraina, started the massacre in the early morning on February 20 by targeting Berkut and Internal Troops units on the Maidan itself with live ammunition re, inicting their mass casualties, and forcing them to retreat. Then the armed Maidan groups, in particular the same ones, massacred the unsuspecting Maidan protestors from concealed positions. The analysis of circumstances, timing, and locations of specic killings of 49 protestors presents evidence that at least the absolute majority of them were killed from the Maidan-controlled buildings....

"How Russia is trying to erase its Soviet past in bid for geo-political strength" (click here)

It is best to understand the divisions and hatred by Post Soviet countries to best understand the people and their ambitions to be autonomous. Democracy and freedom require acceptance of DIVERSITY not its enforcement.

This article in JStor (click here) can explain the domestic geopolitics of the USSR. It is not an article by the Ukraine scholars I referred to, but, does precede one of the articles that speak to genocide that occurred under the flag of WWII. Kindly remember, the Soviet Union lead by Joseph Stalin was an ally in WWII.

The Soviet Union without czars was not that old or well established at the time of WWII. The Russian Revolution was begun in 1917 when there was a beginning of the global bird flu pandemic which claimed the lives of 50 million people (click here). The Russian Revolution ended in 1923. A dictatorship or COMMITTEE following the revolution was placed in governance as the country recognized a single czar. The idea of a communist committee representing the people satisfied the populous unrest by the rebels which included the rebel known as Joseph Stalin.

As with many other issues of genocide it sometimes is viewed as a conflict or war. Certainly, the Baltic States under Clinton (click here) is a clear example of that. Below is the abstract to the paper that raises clear divergence of opinion by scholars. I think it is time to reconcil those opinions to a clear understanding of genocide or not. It most certainly appears to be a genocide that was carried out during WWII.

There can be such dynamics in a major war. The USA is mostly vigilant of that possiblity as witnessed by prosecution of the individuals that carried it out. That type of prosecution existed with Vietnam and Iraq.

Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide or Ukrainian-Polish Conflict? The Mass Murder of Poles by the OUN and the UPA in Volhynia1 

Ivan Katchanovski, Ph.D.

Paper prepared for presentation at the 19th Annual World Convention of the Association for the Study of Nationalities, Columbia University, New York, US, April 24-26, 2014. 

Draft

This paper analyzes the mass-murder of Poles in Volhynia (click here) in Western Ukraine during World War II. The mass murder of Poles by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Stepan Bandera faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-B) during the Nazi occupation of Volhynia in 1943 became an important political issue in Poland and Ukraine after the collapse of communism. Previous studies by Polish, Ukrainian, and Western researchers offered different and often divergent theories of this historical event. It is often presented in Ukraine as a mutual Ukrainian-Polish conflict. In contrast, in Poland, the mass murder of Poles in Volhynia is often characterized as genocide. A research question is whether this was a Ukrainian-Polish conflict, ethnic cleansing or genocide. This study analyzes a variety of archival documents, historical studies, and eyewitness accounts. It offers an estimate of Polish casualties derived from analysis of OUN-UPA, Polish, and Soviet, and sources and demographic data. This study concludes that the mass murder of the Polish minority in Volhynia by the OUN-B, the UPA, and their security service (SB) represented not a mutual Ukrainian-Polish conflict or genocide of Poles but that it was a part of ethnic cleansing. 

The reason I decided to bring this to the blog is because Russia has amassed a large number of troops at the borders of the Post-Soviet States. It along with Belrus has begun a humanitarian crisis at the feet of Western Democracy to use as a propaganda tool. This strategy by the communists is a clear understanding of injecting still yet another unsettled ethnicity into the region.

If the Soviet Union carried out ethnic cleansing during WWII, that has to be viewed as a reason to bring about clarity to such dynamics at a time when the communists seem intent on rebuilding the Soviet Union and all it's human rights abuses.

In reporting about this region, there needs to be a clear understanding that the history of these lands is unsettling to say the least, that countries with smaller footprints than the USA or Russia carry heavy ethnic populations and that unification against human rights abuses is the focus and NOT DIVISION of people to facilitate hate and increased reasons for war.

Ukraine and the Maidam are clear indications that strong democracies emerge when given strong allies unified for one purpose of peace and the end of human suffering.

I might add, the 50 percent of Russian citizens now demanding democratic elections for their leaders must be preserved and fostered. Democracy will happen without divisions that bring about hatred and violence. Currently, the Russian elections are extremely corrupt with power players that imprison under the current court system. The Russian Duma has given permission for the corruption time and again.

Very Trumpian, conflating the truth. "Oh, this is so unfair."

The image from Thesaurus.com leaves out the word TRUTH.

Trumpian politics has a clear element of criminality. One thing Trump said very frequantly, was how life was treating him unfairly. This conflating of two separate events on opposite sides of the country is so much like the politics of Trump. Included in Trumpian politics is the idea that Trump appointed judges should be indulging "The Big Lie."

The rioters in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2020 weren't attempting a coup of the 2020 elections. That should be very plain in the differences of the severity of the lawbreakers.

December 29, 2021
By Katelyn Polantz and Marshall Cohen

Two Trump-appointed federal judges (click here) have rejected claims from January 6 defendants that they're being treated unfairly, because of their conservative politics, compared with left-leaning rioters in Portland, Oregon, in the summer of 2020.

Judge Trevor McFadden on Tuesday became the second judge in two weeks to reject the comparisons, which are popular in right-wing circles, after his colleague in Washington, DC's, federal court Carl Nichols made a similar ruling last week.

McFadden and Nichols both said the US Capitol riot defendants' arguments didn't have enough evidence to show discrimination....

Harry Reid, a career dedicated to the USA and the people of Utah.

December 28, 2021
By Dennis Romboy

Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, (click here) one of the highest-ranking Latter-day Saint elected officials during his long tenure in office, died Tuesday at age 82.

“I am heartbroken to announce the passing of my husband, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He died peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by our family, following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer,” his wife of 62 years, Landra, said in a statement.

“We are so proud of the legacy he leaves behind both on the national stage and his beloved Nevada. Harry was deeply touched to see his decades of service to Nevada honored in recent weeks with the re-naming of Las Vegas’ airport in his honor.”

Landra Reid described her husband as a devout family man and deeply loyal friend.

Reid, a Democrat, retired in January 2017 after five terms in the U.S. Senate, including eight years as majority leader and four as minority leader. He also served for years in the U.S. House before being elected to the Senate....

Tesla needs a new marketing department. A complete revamp of the information the public needs.

This is an easy fix. The cars have to be sold with an extended warranty. Apple customers have a relationship with the company because the phones touch on the privacy of life and they are expensive. Tesla needs to do the same thing. But, the current marketing department has to go. They have no clue what people are facing and aren't adapting to the reality of owning and driving a Tesla.

Elon Musk is a genius before his time. But, in all honesty, he is the best person to secure a zero greenhouse gas emission for Earth and it's people. Elon seems to me to be a man with a moral compass and passion for the path he takes.

This is a shame and more or less continues to prove the anger deep within the American people. It is an anger that stokes government opposition in an insurgency and it propagates outrageous demonstrations that seem to say, this is the wrong way. It is the wrong way to express frustration and anger, but, it is obviously a statement of the times we live in.

Steve Jobs knew one thing in his moral compass, if he wanted people to believe in his computers he needed to supply them with information, involvement and be willing to look at the weaknesses of the company's products and act to correct them.

It is why NASA exists to send out satellites and rovers and rockets to the beyond because to ask another human being to mount a gigantic rocket ship and ride it into the future without any notion as to safety and longevity is simply wrong and highly immoral and a human rights abuse. It is why the accidents that happened within NASA have long lived scares. They represent a moment in time when that moral compass took a jog off the path of promise of life and longevity.

I believe Elon Musk has that moral compass and is on the correct path. No different than great Greta Thurnberg. These people need to be as secure in their mission, moral compass and path they are on and that means people surrounding them that knows they are right.

Elon Musk is one of the people that is not surrounded by people that believe in his UNBLEMISHED mission. He needs to do better at the top of his companies to fill soon to be vacant seats with competent and compassionate people that care about the human condition in an age of perfection.

December 27, 2021
By Fred Smith

When Tesla Model S owner Tuomas Katainen (click here) brought his 2013 Tesla Model S to a shop with an error code, he was shocked to learn that the car required a $20,000 battery pack replacement. Used cars of his model year go for around $40,000 with functional batteries, but Katainen had no interest in recouping value. He had an interest in telling the shop that he was going to blow the car up....

I love the demolition people. They are great. It is a show to behold and no one could have done better. I think eneryone got the message.

And "Time" was absolutely correct. Musk is unmatched in his accomplishments in life and will lead this world in a direction of peace, moral content and prosperity. I don't doubt it for a minute regardless of all the naysayers.

He is highly influential in the very success he has had in his life. None of his companies are failures. And the moral content of his mission with his companies is clearly understood as a man of his generation. Earth is in trouble and we need to survive as human beings.

Elon Musk is the future of Wall Street and they need to get over themselves now.

Michigan COVID levels have been high.

I am not surprised the omicron variant is escalating quickly, very few people wear masks in public. They don’t want to. Just that simple.

Dr. Peter Hotez also writes for the Washington Post along with Dr. Vin Gupta

Rumble with Michael Moore, Episode 225 (click here)

In this episode with Michael Moore, Dr. Peter Hotez speaks about his effort to vaccinate the world. The vaccine he developed can be produced in a sterile setting and he is willing to provide others sincerely interested in vaccinating people no matter the country with the start doses needed.

This is the article that discusses his accomplishments. If it makes a difference in the comfort with the vaccine, Houston is one of the blueberries in the Texas Red State.

October 19, 2021
By Karen Brooks Harper

Maria Bottazzi, left, and Peter Hotez at the Tropical Medicine Lab at Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development in Houston on Oct. 5, 2021.

The day before COVID-19 (click here) claimed its first Texas victim in 2020, Dr. Peter Hotez was a guest on the popular Austin-based podcast “The Drive.”

After 10 years of research into coronavirus vaccines, Hotez and his Houston team needed an infusion of cash to build on their past work and make a vaccine that could, as Hotez told listeners then, “rescue the world” from the deadly emerging coronavirus pandemic.

“You’d think that people would be pretty eager to support us to move this forward, but so far it hasn’t happened,” the Houston pediatrician and vaccine scientist told the host, Dr. Peter Attia, on March 14, 2020....

...Now, nearly 18 months later, the Houston team’s vaccine, called Corbevax by its maker in India, is cheap, has no patent, can be made by many vaccine producers globally — including those in low- and middle-income countries — and is poised to receive approval for widespread global use.

The Indian government has promised the biopharmaceutical company Biological E Limited, which is making the vaccine in that country, that it will buy 300 million doses with the potential for more.

A halal version of the vaccine, for use in Islamic countries because it doesn’t contain animal-based ingredients, is also about to start clinical trials in Indonesia.

And later this year, the company hopes the vaccine will be endorsed by the World Health Organization for use globally, which could open the doors to quicker authorization in several countries that need it....

Dr. Hotez does all the work no one else seems to take on with  chagas and schistosomiasis. He has now developed a RBD based vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. This is not an mRNA vaccine.

This is an article about RBD based vaccines in relation to this virus. When Dr. Hotez heard the call for "all hands on deck" he didn't hesitate to perfect the ability for this vaccine to be ready to assist in a global innoculation.

Maria Bottazzi holds a vial of the RBD-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at the Tropical Medicine Lab at Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development in Houston on Oct. 5, 2021.

Scientific rationale for developing potent RBD-based vaccines targeting COVID-19

• By Harry Kleanthous, 
• Judith Maxwell Silverman, 
• Karen W. Makar, 
• In-Kyu Yoon, 
• Nicholas Jackson & 
• David W. Vaughn 

Published in npj Vaccines volume 6, Article number: 128 (2021)

Vaccination of the global population against COVID-19 (click here) is a great scientific, logistical, and moral challenge. Despite the rapid development and authorization of several full-length Spike (S) protein vaccines, the global demand outweighs the current supply and there is a need for safe, potent, high-volume, affordable vaccines that can fill this gap, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Whether SARS-CoV-2 S-protein receptor-binding domain (RBD)-based vaccines could fill this gap has been debated, especially with regards to its suitability to protect against emerging viral variants of concern. Given a predominance for elicitation of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that target RBD following natural infection or vaccination, a key biomarker of protection, there is merit for selection of RBD as a sole vaccine immunogen. With its high-yielding production and manufacturing potential, RBD-based vaccines offer an abundance of temperature-stable doses at an affordable cost....

The real danger with the decision regarding Project Veritas is it's anti-democracy precedent.

"Project Veritas" is an organization involved in seeking legal opinions so it can TAYLOR it's work to appear to be legitimate. That form of advise is illegal. Lawyers are not suppose to give opinion on how to break the law so that there is a minor fraction of truth and protection to lies, deceit and political danger to this democracy.

Currently, the January 6th Committee is engaged in exposing the truth regarding the impetus of persons of power and how a gathering of protesters in Washington, DC turned into a stolen mob first attending a rally with Donald John Trump. If such hidden lies by lawyers are allowed to stand, it could cause problems for the January 6th Committee in that lawyers abound in Trump's world to do exactly what Veritas' lawyers do in advising on how to effectively break the law.

The Rule of Law is how the USA governs itself. If that is polluted by liars and theives the American people can lose their democracy and find themselves in a cesspool of violent authority know to be the result of dictatorships.

The decision regarding "Project Veritas" is completely and utterly wrong. It protects dangereous criminals engaged in upholding at the very least organized crime and it's pursuit for political power. The decision must be overturned, but, the correct dialogue in that needs to be made clear; Project Veritas is not a journalism enterprise, it is a political enterprise masquerading as a news organization.

At the very least, at this point, Project Veritas lawyers need to be investigated and reviewed by New York State lawyers' associations. The type of lawyering they perform is not protected by Client Priviledge. 

Project Veritas is lead by a "Fraudmaker," not a filmmaker. It is a political organization, not a disinterested non-profit.

The entire right wing movement in adopting journalism rights when it is political dogma, rhetoric adn propaganda and nothing more is long lived.

Hannity's America features a segment on The Advocate's (click here) 7-state investigation into Planned Parenthood's dirty money--employees accept donations from racists to abort Black Babies. Planned Parenthood has been targeting minorities since it was founded by elitist Margaret Sanger, who wanted to use abortion to control and limit minorities...And with almost 80% of Planned Parenthood clinics in minority neighborhoods, with African American women almost 4 times more likely than whites to abort, Planned Parenthood's founder's vision is lived out today...By killing over 1400 Black babies a day, Planned Parenthood and abortion affiliates are accomplishing what the KKK could only dream about...Don't excuse this kind of killing. Demand that the Federal Gov. cut the $300 million a year in tax money that it gives Planned Parenthood.The Advocate is an independent student magazine at UCLA. Go to Laadvocate.com for the full story.

For sometime O'Keefe has been creating lies to back his politics. Veritas is nothing new for O'Keefe as CEO. He is still producing political propaganda and not even close to journalism. The premise for the lawsuits are incorrect. Project Veritas is a political organization KNOWN to have lies and falsehoods leveled as part of their politics.

"Was Margaret Sanger a Racist?" (click here)

Margaret Sanger, as a young public health nurse, witnessed the sickness, disease and poverty caused by unwanted pregnancies. She spent the rest of her life trying to alleviate these conditions by bringing birth control to America. During the early 20th century, the idea of making contraceptives generally available was revolutionary. Contraceptive usage was considered a distinguishing feature of the 'haves.' In recent years, some revisionist biographers have portrayed Sanger as a eugenicist and a racist. This view has been widely publicized by critics of reproductive rights who have attempted to discredit Sanger's work by discrediting her personally. The basic concept of the eugenics movement in the 1920s and 1930s was that a better breed of humans would be created if the 'fit' had more children and the 'unfit' had fewer. This concept influenced a broad spectrum of thought, but there was little consensus on the definitions of fit and unfit. In theory, the movement was not racist--its message intended to cross race barriers for the overall advancement of mankind. Most eugenicists agreed that birth control would be a detriment to the human race and were opposed to it. Charges that Sanger's motives for promoting birth control were eugenic are not supported. In part of her most important work, "Pivot of Civilization," Sanger's dissent from eugenics was made clear. By examining extracts from her books, the author refutes the notion that Sanger was a eugenicist. Another unsupported argument raised by the anti-Sanger group was that Sanger, in her position as editor of "Birth Contol Review," published eugenicists' views. It would be more accurate to say that the review covered a wide range of opinions and research; the eugenicists views were included because they conferred respectability. David Kennedy, author of "Birth Control in America," does Sanger a grave injustice by falsely attributing to her the quotation: 'More children from the fit, less from the unfit--that is the chief issue of birth control.' This quotation should be attributed to the editors of "American Medicine." The only area Sanger is in agreement with the eugenicists is in her belief that severely retarded people should not bear children. Several authors, including Linda Gordon, argued that Sanger's interest in providing contraceptives to black Americans was motivated by racism. This notion is entirely misconstrued by distortions of language quoted by Sanger. Rather than wanting to exterminate the Negro population, Sanger wanted to cope with the fear of some blacks that birth control was the white man's way of reducing the black population.

Everyone knows abortion is about socio-economic disparities and not that of racism. Margaret Sanger wrote and in that reflected a revolution for the USA introducing birth control to promote the HEALTH AND WELL BEING of women unable to care financially for a family. The idea this is racism, isn't accurate. 

Sanger's focus was empowerment and brought opportunity to Black Women to decide about their future and that of their children. If Black Women are a majority of abortions (I don't recall anything like that reported anywhere) it is because racists in government did exist and through neglect of the Black population in the USA created great disparity in wealth and income.

The burden of a Black Woman with family disintegration and oppressive forces within the American society would provide a greater accent on Black Women for the same reasons White Women sought birth control and abortion. Nothing is different for minority women in acceptance of their decision to abort or use contraception. The failure of the USA to adequately address racism put a larger burden on Black Women in deciding about their reproductive rights.

This early work by O'Keefe defined his future. He was a right wing political extremist that carries PLAUSABLE lies and falsehoods into films designed to discredit opposing parties, candidates and VALUES. There is absolutely no reason why such extremist political views can't be exposed for what they are and to that end the lawsuit against the New York Times is extremely wrong and anti-American.

It is my best estimation that Project Veritas is producing video to create the "Big Lie" as reality. He needs to be exposed and the judge in the case is grossly out of touch with what occurred on January 6th.

March 29, 2017

By Camila Domonoske

Two anti-abortion rights activists (click here) who covertly recorded themselves discussing fetal tissue with Planned Parenthood staff are facing felony charges in California, for allegedly violating state law by filming people without their permission.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the charges against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on Tuesday, saying the state "will not tolerate the criminal recording of confidential conversations."

In a statement, Daleiden called the charges "bogus" and reiterated claims that Planned Parenthood has violated the law by selling fetal tissue — an allegation that has been investigated by more than a dozen states, none of which found evidence supporting Daleiden's claim....

...Last year, a grand jury in Texas was examining Daleiden's allegations. The grand jury determined there was no sign of criminal wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood.

Instead, in a surprise twist, it indicted Daleiden and Merritt on felony charges of using fake drivers licenses to gain access to a Planned Parenthood meeting. They also indicted Daleiden on misdemeanor charges of trying to buy human tissue — the kind of misconduct he was trying to pin on Planned Parenthood...

The fraudmakers were not only facing criminal indictments, but, liable suits as well.

November 15, 2019
By Sabrina Tavernise

Planned Parenthood (click here) was awarded as much as $2.2 million in damages on Friday, after a federal jury in San Francisco ruled that an anti-abortion activist had broken federal and state laws when he secretly recorded workers for the organization.

The activist, David R. Daleiden, recorded the videos in 2015 in an attempt to show that Planned Parenthood was illegally selling fetal tissue, a claim that created a political uproar and mobilized conservatives against the organization.

Mr. Daleiden, the leader of a group called the Center for Medical Progress, posed as a biotechnology representative to make the recordings. The jury found that he had trespassed on private property and committed fraud, according to court papers. Planned Parenthood said in a statement that the jury had ruled in its favor on each of its claims, including a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act....

Why give it up now? Don't send the children back to school after Winter recess.

Children are not exempt from COVID-19 long haul. The children that have stayed home from any risk of exposure are for the most part happy and healthy. That has been my experience as an Online Teaching Substitute. I think the children belong at home until the entire Pandemic is declared over and the coast is clear.

There needs to be aggressive accounting for the children that had COVID-19 and those with Long Haul Covid-19 with variants and which variant it is. Every city, town and hamlet in the USA needs to keep accurate statistics, so the US Government can begin to plan for intervention as more children become infected. Currently, children are the highest statistic in COVID-19 new onset illnesses.

Sending children back to a social setting is the worst idea anyone ever had. They need to be home and happy and healthy. Enough of this economic martyrdom. There is going to be a disabled society in greater numbers as the years pass. It is my estimation the youngest generation will have shortened longevity due to the damage caused by microscopic blood clots. Such microscopic damage most easily observed in "COVID Toes" cuts down on the residual life of any organ. The virus' microscopic blood clots sometimes turns into larger ones, but, the microscopic blood clots are just as deadly over time because the residual of any human organ that would provide longevity, is now reduced by these unseen clots. 

I TOLD YOU SO!

December 9, 2021
By Stacy Weiner

When Haley Bryson’s post-COVID-19 symptoms began, (click here) they struck mightily. The 9-year-old from Manassas, Virginia, suffered headaches, earaches, exhaustion, soreness in her chest and throat, and stomach problems so bad they sent her to the emergency department twice. She quickly dropped 20 pounds from her 75-pound frame, according to her mom, Javanese Hailey.

The fourth grader — who previously reveled in performing handstands, cartwheels, and forward rolls — felt sick every day starting in August 2021, just a few weeks after a fairly quick recovery from COVID-19.

“I was really sad because being sick was preventing me from doing a lot of things I like to do” — even arts and craft projects, she says.


Haley, who’s been seen at the Post-COVID Care Program at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, since October, is feeling much better now. But before, she explains, “all I wanted to do was lay down because everything hurt so much.”

Although COVID-19 infections in children are usually not severe, even those with mild cases can suffer from long COVID-19 months later....

It has to be a nightmare for children and their parents with isolation and illness. Any pediatric floor or PICU must be a nightmare by now.

December 9, 2021

By Sheryl Gay Stoleberg

Courtney Grund, (click here) whose husband died of Covid-19 in August, got an alarming text message last week: Her 16-year-old son was “talking about self-harm,” according to the message, sent by his friend. She quickly signed him up for grief counseling, she said in a tearful interview, using her maiden name to protect his privacy.

John Jackson, a disabled veteran on a fixed income, said he had struggled to find help for his 14-year-old daughter, whose mother died in the pandemic. “I can see it in her, where she’s suffering,” he said.

Pamela Addison, a reading teacher whose husband died, said she felt fortunate that she could afford therapy — $200 a session out of pocket — for her grieving 3-year-old.

Although Congress has allocated trillions of dollars to combat the pandemic, including more than $100 million for existing children’s mental health programs Dand $122 billion for schools, the Biden administration and lawmakers have not yet created initiatives specifically for the tens of thousands of children who have lost parents and primary caregivers to Covid-19....

Mental health issues as well as disabiling outcomes are a real concern. The children that are already handicapped have it worse now. All those on "The Spectrum" are not going to do well while ill. I do not believe there is over-regulation anywhere, actually. Staying alive and healthy is the result of caution and regulation. There is nothing shameful in government being aware and acting to protect precious lives in the USA.

December 16, 2021

By Laura Rosen Cohen

As the parent of a severely disabled and non-verbal child, (click here) I've spent his entire life as a caregiver looking out for his medical, educational, social and equipment needs and ensuring he leads the most meaningful, healthy and safe life possible. More often than not, this requires hours advocating and negotiating with countless officials, educators and medical specialists. Some are incredibly kind, but many are unspeakably indifferent. It's soul sucking and relentless but the buck stops at me.

And pandemic over-regulation has made the challenges of my son's life infinitely harder—as it has the lives of countless other individuals with disabilities.

Throughout the pandemic, young children with autism and other special needs have been kicked off of flights, have been banned from flying, denied entry into museums, thrown out of bookstores and had their education stunted. They have been generally treated like loathsome vectors of disease, like contagiants....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Poinsettia (click here)

I have an incredible story to tell about the scamming taking place with people. I just think the day after New Years is a better time for this story.

I do believe we have a real concern with the legal antics of a very inflammatory "Project Veritas" that seeks to destroy main stream media. That is not funny. I think the expertise that could be lost with more and more disintegration of the news media should be a concern to all Americans.

So, I hope your holiday has been wonderful, even if at home where being safe is important. Seriously. This is just a time when a runaway virus needs to be taken seriously. As we have witnessed in South Africa, the virus does become contained if we are consistent in attempts to control it. 

Good night.

A flawless launch of the James Webb telescope.

There is great expectations of the James Webb telescope. It also has a rather short life of 5 to 10 years for it's expectations. It launched from it's home in Peru in a joint effort with the European Space Agency and NASA.

The James Webb telescope will not be seen again by human beings. It is now out of reach of any camera.

The launch was fascinating. The telescope was rotated during the launch to protect it's sensitive instruments from exposure to the sun. It also served to acclimate the instruments to the environment of space.

The telescope passed over several stations on Earth that will monitor it. The California center will serve to receive and interpret the data sent by James Webb Space Telescope.

The journey of this telescope won't be complete for 6 more months when it will be deployed and begin returning data. This is a highly anticipated launch that was delayed for several reasons over the years. I am certain this enterprise will prove important and valuable to all those that participated in it's engineering and the countries that funded it.

 

On the eve of Christmas, I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.

15 December 2021
By Kenneth Libbrecht

SNOWFALL in Pasadena, California, (click here) is so rare, it’s almost unheard of. Except, that is, at the California Institute of Technology, where Kenneth Libbrecht can conjure it up using the world’s most sophisticated snowflake-making equipment.

As a physicist, Libbrecht has tackled some fairly epic questions, like the nature of gravitational waves and the internal workings of the sun. But he also has a delightful sideline in the science of snowflakes, which are far more complex and mysterious than you might think. One of the biggest unanswered questions about them is why they appear to come in two distinct types.

Libbrecht went on a 20-year odyssey to solve this mystery. Recently, he published the fruits of that journey in the form of a monograph that runs to more than 500 pages. It contains a kind of grand unified theory of snowflakes, explaining for the first time how and why they grow into the delicate shapes they do.

Joshua Howgego: What got you interested in snowflakes?

Kenneth Libbrecht: One day I was chewing the fat with one of my students and we got talking about how crystals grow and take on shapes. We started thinking about what we could study in this area and I thought: well, water would be cheap and easy. Then I thought: actually, that would be the physics of snowflakes, I wonder how that works? Apropos of nothing – I was just curious – I started reading up on research on snowflakes and I found it really fascinating....

No matter where an American lives it looks as though "caution first" is prudent when travelng. Please.

Remember to get updates at Weather.gov (click here) the USA National Weather Service.

Looks like NORAD is still focused on the North Pole. (click here)

The "Met Office" (click here) in Europe is reporting Santa is over France.

Below right are storm totals thus far for Eureka, California from Weather.gov when clicking on color of warning.

December 24, 2021
By Doyle Rice

Forget (click here) about trying on those new coats or boots if you live in the south-central U.S.: Record, spring-like warmth is forecast to overspread the region into the Christmas weekend.

"Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Little Rock and Memphis all stand to match or top the record high for Dec. 25, this Saturday," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

Highs in the 70s and 80s, which will be common for much of the south-central region, are more typical of early to mid-October, he said.

Weather.com meteorologist Domenica Davis said these highs are 25 to even 30 degrees above average for this time of year and that "dozens" of records are likely to be broken.

The National Weather Service in Houston said record highs remain "a very distinct possibility" for Christmas Day as temperatures surge into the lower 80s there....