I hope Homeland Security is taking a look at this.

Business isn't the only priority for national security. I doubt the school programs come with security software. It is time to protect the kids. Who knows what will show up online.

January 12, 2021
By Matthew Reisen

An ongoing cyberattack on Albuquerque Public Schools has led (click here) officials to cancel all classes districtwide for Thursday and possibly Friday.

APS Superintendent Scott Elder said the attack was discovered Wednesday morning “when teachers tried to log onto our student information system and were unable to gain access to the site.”

“This is the first time we have dealt with this situation and we are doing everything to address it that we can,” he said.

Elder said all APS classes are canceled Thursday and possibly through Friday. He said the situation is still developing.

“APS is working with local and national law enforcement as well as teams of cyber specialists to as quickly as possible limit our exposure to this attack, to protect all systems in our network and ensure a safe environment to return to school and business as usual,” he said. “I want to make clear that the closure of all APS schools tomorrow is not in anyway tied to the pandemic.”...

I hear there are shortages of some food items.

I don't have empathy for shortages of dry pasta, cream cheese or refigerated cinnamon rolls, they all have substitutes if people are willing to look for them. 

Dry Pasta can be substituted with fresh pasta from a pasta makers (click here). When there is a pasta maker in the kitchen all kinds of pasta can be made and eaten, like whole wheat and some vegetable puree with carrots or green vegetables. It all depends on the palate.

Not having cream cheese for bagels can be disappointing but bagels taste good with any type of spread, even butter or any substitute. There may be local dairies that also create their own and if not they can be asked if they would consider it. If they have a store front. Many dairies that cater to the public sometimes have the ability to create more and better products if there is a demand for it. The large dairy producers, I am confident, are doing all they can because there is a high demand for milk. 

If there is a shortage of milk and it is due to the processers and not the farmers, there needs to be some kind of priority on temporary laborers. This is an interesting time in the USA. The global pandemic has reshaped many household incomes and earners are finding better paying jobs. That is creating a shortage of workers in areas where they were abundant before. There is no reason to apologize for people that make better wages and are able to move up in quality of life, but, where there is a demand in the food supply there needs to be some priority placed on that either at the state or federal level.

This isn't the best example because previous to WWII women didn't really work outside their homes, but, during WWII when manufacturing for the war supplies was a primary focus of the country, there were rationing of food for those products that were in demand. It is better for everyone to get some of what they need if these dynamics continue. Governors should be taking inventory of their industries and the laborers that are within the state. If there needs to be a shift to faciliate the food supply it may be a priority. If every Governor reported to the federal Department of Labor about labor shortages that are vital such as the food supply, the US Department of Labor could be tasked to recommend answers. 

I don't see the US Department of Labor tasking recreational issues, but, simply vital areas such as the food supply to the country. There are somethings that cannot be substituted like baby formula. 

Another item people are complaining about is refrigerated cinnamon rolls. I only have one reply, "Really?" The solution is called a mixer, ingredients and an oven. My, my, how soiled are we?

I hear there are cats missing their favorite cat food. There are substitutions in the human food chain (click here). My cats loved having an egg for lunch. Hard boiled. It got to the point where I could hardly bake a cake when they heard the crack of an egg. They were a lot of fun.

But, Americans might find making their cat food will get them closer to understanding what the cats like and what they don't like. It could be fun and educational. So, it is time to muster up some ingenuity and decide what best is good for your cat in the absense of cat food.

But, the other most demanded product that is in short supply are cold remedies. It is completely understandable now that omicron has made it's debut. All, I can say is to be flexible in what type of cold remedies that will make a difference. If the favorite of the household is gone from the shelf, try another with similar or even better remedies. There are also household remedies such as a steamer in the bedroom to add humidity. Physicians should be placing advise on their offices webpage. Drug stores can advertise their products and availability. Cough drops and/or throat lozenges can provide relief as well.

This is a difficult time. The federal government might have to step in to be sure there is no hoarding. But, the stores can limit the number of items one person can purchase at a time.

Other than that, Americans have to put their thinking caps on and decide about substitutes. Ask Grandpas and Grandmas what they used before all these modern solutions.

Americans can do this. 

Yes, we can. 

Stop complaining and get busy.

This is the ideal circumstances for health mandates, legislative rather than executive.

But, when legislative branches of government are playing politics with the country's health, the executive branch must act. Congratulations to San Jose on a cohesive government with a resolve to keep people healthy.

January 12, 2021
By Maggie Angst

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the omicron variant, (click here) San Jose is about to become the first city in California to require all of its employees to get a booster shot in addition to the initial vaccine doses mandated earlier.

The City Council on Tuesday night also adopted a new ordinance requiring visitors of large, indoor events held at public facilities such as the SAP Center and San Jose Convention Center to show proof they received a booster shot — or at least submit a negative COVID-19 test — before entering.

While other jurisdictions like Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties have enacted booster mandates for certain frontline employees such as first responders and health care workers, San Jose’s order will apply to its full workforce of approximately 7,000 people, as well as any new hires....

Magnificent speech by President Biden. Long overdue. Democrats are best when they are truth tellers.

Rank Paul should have his medical license revoked.

I am glad we at least have a Chairwoman that stands up to the radical right. Everyone should remind her there is also a Sargent of Arms.

Dr. Fauci's death threat is the exact reason there needs to be financial liability to those in power when these paradigms are not only brought about, but, enforced to enhance their politics and donations.

 

Sometimes the truth hurts.

This is a "Huge Issue?" Really. Why are Republicans wasting time with this? I guess they don't care about voting rights for their constituents. That is truly an American shame.

Marshall is inappropriate. He is jealous of the salary of the highly qualified and dedicated Dr. Anthony Fauci. 

The US Senate Republicans have nothing else to do with their time, except, to try to cut the budget by firing the best of the best at the NIH. Amazing. They don't care. They do not care about the well being of Americans and excellence in governance.

Go get 'em, Doctor Fauci.

2020

As 12,000 medical doctors, (click here) research scientists and public health experts on the front lines of COVID-19, the infectious diseases community will not be silenced nor sidelined amidst a global pandemic. Reports of a campaign to discredit and diminish the role of Dr. Fauci at this perilous moment are disturbing.

Despite the nation’s vast resources and abilities, more than 135,000 people in America have died from COVID-19 – more than any other country, and the numbers keep rising. Every day now brings a new high in the number of newly infected people and deaths. This is a full-blown crisis unlike any America has ever faced and it needs to be treated as such.   

The only way out of this pandemic is by following the science, and developing evidence-based prevention practices and treatment protocols as new scientifically rigorous data become available.  Knowledge changes over time. That is to be expected.

If we have any hope of ending this crisis, all of America must support public health experts, including Dr. Fauci, and stand with science.

-IDSA President Thomas File, Jr., M.D., MSc, FIDSA