Pope Francis offers guidance.

15 February 2022

By Christopher Wells

With a new motu proprio (click here) published on Tuesday, Pope Francis has modified canon law for both the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches, changing the areas of competence for various bodies within the universal Church. Specifically, with the Apostolic Letter Assegnare alcune competenze (“Assigning certain competencies,” taken from the opening words, or incipit” of the document), Pope Francis transfers certain responsibilities from the Vatican to local bishops.

Fostering collegiality
The new norms deal with different areas of Church life, in each case specifying the authorities competent to make decisions with regard to those issues. “The intention,” of the changes, writes Pope Francis at the beginning of his Letter, “is above all to foster a sense of collegiality and pastoral responsibility on the part of Bishops […] as well as Major Superiors, and also to support the principles of rationality, effectiveness, and efficiency.”...

Febraury 15, 2022
By Jackie Turvey Tait and Tobias Winright

A full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine (click here) seems imminent, but nobody really wins if this happens. The global economic and food security impacts would fall disproportionately on the most vulnerable. Catholic concern for the common good and just war principles require us to look for a diplomatic solution that might avert the evils such a conflict would unleash. In particular, a personal intervention by Pope Francis may be our last hope for successful negotiations to preserve peace.

Notably, Pope Francis writes in “Fratelli Tutti” that “it is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a ‘Just War’” (No. 258), in part because of the destructive power of modern weapons. However, this does not mean contemporary Catholic ethics calls for unqualified pacifism; the just war framework allows leaders to judge whether military action is reasonable in light of traditional principles and pragmatic considerations....

It is child abuse. I agree.

But, what will the International Olympic Committee do to protect her from further abuse? Ms. Valieva will place with Gold as she is a magnificent skater with dignity, grace and every aspect of perfection the sport requires and dreams. But, Russia did it again, ruined yet another Olympics for the athletes they have sent to represent their country. No ceremonies in the Women's Ice Skating Competition. That seems interesting to what is sincerely a global issue with Russian althletes. 

A sixteen year old with performance enhancing medication in her system and her lawyer makes the excuse it is a trace of something that her grandfather takes for his heart. So, is the lawyer saying this 16 year old dabbled in performance enhancing drugs all by herself only to be caught in a drug test? I doubt her grandfather force fed it to her.

This is negligence at the very least by Russia to be sure their athelets are not involved with such issues. But, truly the adults, especially the coachs are responsible for child abuse. This was not a mistake, it was a medication given to her to ensure her performance and it is malicious and typical.

The international community should offer Ms Valieva and her famiy, including her grandfather, asylum from the abuse that permiates the ugly history of Russian Olympic contestants. This must stop. A 16 year old women's ice skating champion with sheer perfection in her movements was given a performance enhancing drug for absolutely no reason at all, except to make a political statement that the Olympics will allow tainted athletes to compete and win, but, alas without a metal ceremony as punishment.

Don't think for one minute this isn't put front and center with a beautiful child to demean this democratic arena where fairness outweighs dictators wishes. There is no doubt, as far as I am concerned, that she is a victim, not just of Russian doping, but, of the maniacal global politics of a bitter president and his demands for attention. It wasn't enough to have the world's greatest woman skater in the world, she had to be used to make a statement by a Russian president that knows only bitterness for the "arena of democratic fairness."

Putin's Russian arrogance, in a country that bows to his every whim, is on full display with Ms. Valieva and his wish to make a beautiful sport bittersweet. Still yet another reason for the "Russian people" to feel beleagured by world judgement and a real reason yet again to fight the war that will pheonix the Soviet Union.

She and her family need asylum if she is ever to grace the world with her magnificent potential and with all the honors that accompanies it.

February 15, 2022

By Rosie DiManno

Beijing - She will always be the girl with the ghost medal, a tragic figure. (click here)

If Russian teenager Kamila Valieva wins Olympic gold here on Thursday — because even when she’s imperfect, she’s brilliant — there will be no medal ceremony. Not for her and, as drive-by victims, not for the other two figure skating podium finishers either. It’s all too pending, too pendulous, too hanging fire.

And they’d have to take it away from her later, should the doping case against Valieva be substantiated down the road. Best not to even let her touch it.

But if the sports authorities get all mushy about the teen’s guilt, find an exculpating wedge of amnesty, just as the Court of Arbitration for Sport did on Monday — examining the dilemma through a very narrow lens of culpability and allowing the shy adolescent to compete in Tuesday’s short program despite testing positive for a banned substance — then the medal (medals) will be yielded later. Still radiating toxicity, though, tainted rather than burnished.

As spectral in her possession at some future date as it is phantom-like now: the gold she’ll probably win and the gold she’s already won in the team event.

Can it ever bring her pleasure or would it burn her fingers?

The fingers she laced together and held over her eyes at the end of her “In Memoriam” program on Tuesday evening, covering her tears, the strain of the past few days finally breaking through.

We need reminding, maybe, that this is a child and the ordeal she’s experiencing is akin to child abuse...

The New York Times is reporting there were many drugs in her system (click here). That is nothing but child abuse. Plain and simple.

The Olympics are not front and center this year. Go figure. I guess President Biden isn't there to damage politically.

February 11, 2022

The U.S. (click here) grabbed more shiny hardware Saturday at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Lindsey Jacobellis, 36, won her second gold medal of these Games, finishing first alongside American teammate Nick Baumgartner in the debut of mixed-gender team snowboardcross. The Americans were the oldest team in the field with a combined age of 76.

For Baumgartner, 40, who was heartbroken after failing to advance to the men's individual final, it was a second chance to earn his first Olympic medal in what was likely his fourth and final Olympic Games....

February 15, 2022

Team USA (click here) continued to add to its medal count at the 2022 Winter Olympics, but was it enough to lift them higher on the leaderboard?

With the help of two Chicago-area speed skaters, the U.S. scored a bronze medal in the men's team pursuit overnight....

Hare the top nations in the medal count so far:

1. Norway – 26 (12 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze)

2. ROC - 20 (4 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze)

3. Germany- 18 (9 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze)

4. United States- 17 (7 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze)

5. Canada- 17 (2 gold, 4 silver, 11 bronze)

The U.S. now sits in a tie for fourth place with 17 medals.

Norway continues to lead the way with 12 gold medals.

An exciting Gold Metalist is Kallie Humphreys.

14 February 2022
By Bryan Armen Graham

Interesting side story about Kallie in "Self." (click here)

Kaillie Humphries of the United States (click here) validated her reputation as one of the best pilots in the history of bobsleigh, surging to victory in the debut of women’s monobob and adding a third Olympic gold to her career haul with a strong chance for a fourth by week’s end.

The 36-year-old, who captured two-woman golds with Canada in 2010 and 2014 before joining the US team in 2019, finished with a four-run combined time of 4min, 19.27 sec to win by 1.54sec, the widest margin in any bobsleigh event in 42 years. She becomes the second athlete to win a Winter Olympic title for two different countries, joining short track speed skater Victor An....

I will be blogging this evening.

I understand that President Biden's sarcasm got him in trouble with Wall Street. That is Joe. He, up to now, has been very sarcastic. That is what got him in trouble with Peter What's His Name from FOX. 

That's Joe.

Either you love it or you don't. His sarcasm is actually disgust with the subject he addresses. I can respect that. Of course, we are not going to have bombs falling in the USA. But, President Biden is steadfast in his support of NATO and he is spot on. This is enough. Putin means to move into NATO countries and not stop at Ukraine. A communist regime is trouble for the human being. Not business. Not capitalism. Not the elite. But, average people are chronically having problems and live under a great deal of stress.

I want an investigation to the mental status of the USA woman skier Mikaela Shiffin. What occurred at the Olympic is not at all her norm.

Febuary 9, 2022
By Jenna Lemoncelli

Mikaela Shiffrin (click here) is getting support from past and present Olympians after the US alpine skier was brought to tears over her second straight disqualification at the 2022 Olympics.

Retired Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn, who’s commentating on the Beijing Games for NBC, said she was “gutted” for Shiffrin after the 26-year-old’s early exit in the first run of the slalom race on Wednesday.

The shocker came two days after Shriffin did not finish the giant slalom race, in which she was the defending gold medalist, after crashing 11 seconds into the opening run....

That said, I want to point to the arrogance of the Chinese woman's skier Eileen Gu. This is the profound problem in The West's average person understanding of communism, but, what is occurring with Eileen Gu is exactly the problem in communist countries. 

February 15, 2022

By Eduardo Baptista

Beijing - When Eileen Gu won Olympic gold in the Big Air, (click here) sales of her red Anta ski suit, complete with slipdrag reduction technology, surged 20-fold on Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com.

Luckin Coffee sold out of Gu-endorsed drinks, with a spike in cup-holders bearing her image, and the Chinese chain immediately said it would launch more Gu-linked products throughout the year.

The San Francisco-born skier won a silver medal in Tuesday's slopestyle final, earning more praise on Chinese social media for redeeming herself on a third jump after an earlier mistake....

Eileen Gu has a dual citizenship, China and the USA. She is on the China woman's ski team by choice.

In a recent press conference she stated, "I am just living my best life." She is an international model with acceptance by the Chinese people in many of their advertisements. But, she also skies in championship contests globally. She does not apologize for her glamourous life and ski championships. She simply is enthralled with herself. 

Her glib attitude about her popularity is ignoring the complete tragedy that exists in China among the people. China is as a known human rights violator. Ms. Gu doesn't speak to that, nor does it effect her focus in the wealths in her life, both financial and athletic elite. She is definitely more Chinese than American in her demeanor and ego. 

It is one thing to have talent and win. No one has a problem with that, but, her success in life and her igorance to her status in China is a tragedy all itself. Basically, so long as she is comfortable and happy the world is perfect. In China, the world is far from perfect.

I am also suprised in realizing China has had the Olympic games in only a fourteen years apart, the other being 2008.. That is not all that long. That is only three rotation of games both summer and winter.

Why is it that other countries such as Vietnam have no hope in sponsoring the games. Vietnam's reconstruction after the USA war there is stunning. They host a healthy tourism industry. Why are these countries lagging in prestige? The International Olympic Committee needs to discover ways for less wealthy countries to sponsor Olympics and develop their sports venues. Perhaps engaging them in other international events that will lead to a good effort in competing for sponsorship of Olympic games.

Until later.

Sorry, a little late tonight. It has nothing to do with the NFL. But, out of respect for the sports fans that can't help themselves I will postpone this until later in the week,

Enjoy the game, regardless of any racism

NATO is standing strong and that is reassuring.

February 12, 2022

...Macron visited Moscow (click here) earlier this week and then and in their call on Saturday the two discussed ways to move forward on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements on achieving peace in eastern Ukraine, as well conditions for security and stability in Europe, the Elysee said separately in a statement.

Macron also spoke on Saturday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and was due to speak with U.S. President Joe Biden.

In the call with Zelenskiy, Macron restated his support for the Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Elysee said.

Scholz is due to visit Kyiv on Monday followed by Moscow on Tuesday, and the Elysee said the French and German positions were "perfectly aligned".

MINSK I (click here)

Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists agreed a 12-point ceasefire deal in the capital of Belarus in September 2014. Its provisions included prisoner exchanges, deliveries of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of heavy weapons, five months into a conflict that by that point had killed more than 2,600 people - a toll that has risen to more than 14,000 now, according to the Ukrainian government. The agreement quickly broke down, with violations by both sides...

MINSK II

Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the leaders of two pro-Russian separatist regions signed a 13-point agreement in February 2015 in Minsk. The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine gathered there at the same time and issued a declaration of support for the deal.

The deal set out a series of military and political steps that remain unimplemented. A major blockage has been Russia's insistence that it is not a party to the conflict and therefore is not bound by its terms. Point 10, for example, calls for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the two disputed regions, Donetsk and Luhansk: Ukraine says this refers to forces from Russia, but Moscow denies it has any there....

Perhaps the issue with Russia is national security and it is concerned that Ukraine has grown strong enough to be a potential problem for Russia's western border. Putin cannot expect NATO to understand the idea of MINSK Agreements if there is an escalation in tensions.

The MINSK agreements need to show not just improvement of the people in regard to humanitarian aid, but, also a plan for peace that includes new trading agreements. Ukraine under the new leadership of President Zelensky has worked very diligently to remove corruption from it's politics and it's economy. I am sure Ukraine is concerned all that will return if there were open relations again between the two countries. 

At some point President Putin needs to realize Russia's occupation of Crimea and the continuing civil war on Ukraine's eastern border is not condusive to a trusting relationship. That has to change. The people of Ukraine want their sovereignty. They are interested in being a neutral state without ill will to any other country. That is not a country that is interested in conflict, especially with a major power such as Russia.

Ukraine is not interested in crossing the Russian border. It fights in eastern Ukraine to protect it's own border. With a clear understanding that Ukraine wants peace and has not indicated a priority to enter a war with Russia there should be a strong de-escalation of tensions and a strong will to find terms in MINSK to move forward with peace and the promise of a trade relationship that is not offensive to either country and built on a new trust that will prove permanent.

February 12, 2022
By Jim Heintz and Aamer Madhani

Washington - President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin (click here) that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.

Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.

The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.

Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice....

Civil litigation is going forward regarding Flint Water Crisis.

February 11, 2022
By Ron Fonger

Flint - A bellwether trial (click here) brought by attorneys for four children who are suing two engineering companies for alleged negligence related to the Flint water crisis is scheduled to start next week in Ann Arbor but Flint residents can still watch the proceedings remotely.

An announcement from U.S. District Court says the trial will be available to the public via Zoom because of limited seating in the Ann Arbor courthouse due to social distancing requirements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To register for the live stream, go to the court’s website at www.mied.uscourts.gov and click on the “Court Calendar” on the lower right side of the screen. On the next page, use the “Jump to Date” option and click on “Go” to get to the calendar for Feb. 15.

Click on “Access Attendance Information.” On the next screen, enter the two numbers shown in reverse order, check the box indicating you have read and understand the rules against recording, photographing, or broadcasting court proceedings, and click on “Submit.”

The next page will provide an access link to get to the proceedings, which are expected to start at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15....

There is other litigation being conducted not making the newspapers.

Walters et al v. Flint et al, (click here) No. 5:2017cv10164 - Document 523 (E.D. Mich. 2021)

Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part 340 Motion to Exclude Testimony and Report of Mr. Richard Humann; granting 454 Motion for Leave to File Supplement; and Scheduling Evidentiary Hearing on 349 Motion to Exclude Testimony. Signed by District Judge Judith E. Levy. (WBar)

Walters et al v. Flint et al, (click here) No. 5:2017cv10164 - Document 645 (E.D. Mich. 2022)

Court Description: OPINION and ORDER denying as moot 489 Motion in Limine; granting in part and denying in part 490 Motion in Limine; denying 492 Motion in Limine; granting in part and denying in part 511 Motion in Limine; granting in part and denying in part 513 Motion in Limine. Signed by District Judge Judith E. Levy. (WBar)

February 10, 2022

By Sidley Austin

On Monday, February 7, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (click here) denied in part a professional engineering company’s motion for summary judgment in Walters et al. v. Flint et al., part of the ongoing Flint water litigation. Plaintiffs in the litigation sought to hold the engineering company, which has served as a water engineer for the City of Flint since at least 2011 and had been involved in discussing and planning the city’s possible switch of water source, liable for professional negligence based on the company’s failure to warn the city of its plan’s shortcomings or otherwise recommend corrective measures.

Although the district court granted summary judgment for the engineering company on one of three theories of liability, it found sufficient facts existed to proceed to trial on two other theories—its negligent and incorrect advice to the city regarding its water treatment plant and (ii) its negligent failure to warn the city of the consequences of the city’s decision not to use orthophosphates after it also decided not to use appropriate corrosion controls. Although bellwether trials are set to begin this month and the factual record may cause the court to reach a different outcome, the case is an inherent warning to engineering companies to be aware of their professional duties in environmental matters.

Case No. 17-10164 (click here)

08-26-2020

IN RE FLINT WATER CASES. This Order Relates to: Walters v. Flint

...In this case, Flint residents are bringing a lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") under the Federal Tort Claims Act ("FTCA"), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346, 2671 – 80, alleging that the EPA was negligent in its response to the Flint Water Crisis, which resulted in injuries to Plaintiffs. There are other Flint Water FTCA cases assigned to the Honorable Linda V. Parker and consolidated in Burgess v. United States, No. 17-cv-11218. Meeks v. United States, No. 19-cv-13359, however, was assigned to this Court, and because of the common issues of fact and the overlap between Plaintiffs in Meeks and in this Court's other Flint Water Cases, the Court consolidated it with Walters v. Flint, No. 17-cv-10164. (ECF No. 294.) For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint....

No lead ever again in Flint schools. That is something wonderful. Children with peace of mind.

February 9, 2022
By Darryn John

Thanks to a donation (click here) from The Elon Musk Foundation, school students in Flint, Michigan have clean drinking water for the first time since 2016.

A total of 136 hydrations were recently installed at 12 different Flint school buildings.

One of the stations was unveiled at a special ceremony on Tuesday at the Flint Southwestern Academy. Fifteen of the 136 stations were installed at this school, which provides education to students in grades 8 through 12.

The hydration stations were made possible through a $480,000 donation by The Elon Musk Foundation, which also provided $423,000 to buy laptops for middle school students.

With the addition, the school will no longer have to supply students with bottled water, something which it has done on a daily basis for the past six years.

Each hydration station filters for lead, chlorine, and bacteria. They also feature a built-in chiller to keep the water cold.

The stations were tested by researchers at Kettering University, and in particular by Laura Sullivan, a professor of mechanical engineering who has been pioneering bring back clean drinking water to Flint schools.

The testing was also validated by Arc Environmental, an environmental consultant hired by Flint schools.

The charges against the Flint Nine lead to the deaths and maiming of Flint residents. These charges are light considering what they should be charged with. If the State of Michigan is going to reconsider these more minor charges then it will have to reconsider other more severe charges as well.

February 8, 2022

By Ron Fonger

An attorney representing former emergency manager Darnell Earley (click here) says Flint water crisis prosecutors waited too long -- beyond the statute of limitations -- to charge his client with the crimes he’s facing.

Attorney Juan Mateo asked Genesee Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth A. Kelly to dismiss three felony counts of misconduct in office against Earley, each count punishable by up to five years in prison, in a hearing Tuesday, Feb. 8....

The populous presidency of Trump was always a cult carried over from "You're fired, apprentice."

His presidency lead people right into death by virus no different than any other cult. If it weren't for Dr. Fauci the USA would be a complete shambles.

February 10, 2022
By Stephen Proctor

Former “Stop the Steal” supporter Keith Scott (click here) appeared Wednesday with CNN’s Elle Reeve on Erin Burnett OutFront, where he spoke about how he became deeply devoted to the movement that spread lies about the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

Scott, who was there that day but did not take part in the attack, said, “Jan. 6, 2021 was the greatest day of my life. I felt like a patriot that was standing beside our founding fathers, speaking up against King George. I felt like Braveheart.”

But the violence that ensued that day caused Scott to reflect.

“After January the 6th,” Scott said, “I came here and I kept mumbling, ‘I feel like I just got out of a cult.’”

Scott had spent months living out of his car attending as many rallies as he could, despite never having even been to a Trump rally leading up to the election....

The demonstrations at the Canadian border are ridiculous.

Authorities that institute regulations regarding COVID-19 and it's variants have more and more reasons for the regulations. Liberty takes a backseat when there is a maiming and deadly virus that has launched into a global pandemic.

There is proof that points to brain damage to people that have suffered with the virus. The reason for this finding was known at the time of the pandemic when surgeons were finding blood clots in the brain that continued to spawn even as surgery to remove the clot was being performed.

It was learned early on the virus was causing blood clots and many of them microscopic in size, thus effecting the smallest of blood vessels resulting in COVID TOES. What was happening in macro diagnosis was a result of what was occurring microscopically. The capillaries were destroyed by tiny blook clots and resulting in blood circulation problems and pooling of blood in places like the toes. 

There is now proof that the tiny blood clots resulting from the infection of COVID-19 also causes heart problems. That also was evident early on, especially in New York City where chest pain was being reported so frequently the ambulances and emergency rooms could not keep up. The heart blood vessels are small and a clot can do a lot of damage.

February 9, 2022
By Nancy Lapid

The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. (click here) They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review.

Risk of new heart problems much higher after COVID recovery

Long after recovery from COVID-19, people face significantly higher risks for new heart problems, a large study has found.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs compared rates of new cardiovascular problems in 153,760 individuals infected with the coronavirus before vaccines were available, 5.6 million people who did not catch the virus, and another 5.9 million people whose data was collected before the pandemic. An average of one year after their recovery from the acute phase of the infection, the COVID-19 survivors had a 63% higher risk for heart attack, a 69% higher risk for problematic irregular heart rhythm, a 52% higher risk of stroke, a 72% higher risk of heart failure, and a nearly three times higher risk of a potentially fatal blood clot in the lungs compared with the other two groups, according to a report published on Monday in Nature Medicine. The elevated risks among former COVID-19 patients were evident in young and old, Blacks and whites, males and females, people with and without diabetes and with and without kidney disease, as well as smokers and nonsmokers, said Ziyad Al-Aly of the VA St. Louis Health Care System and Washington University in St. Louis.

The risks were high even in people who had mild COVID-19 and did not need to be hospitalized for it, he noted in a Twitter thread. "It really spared no one," Al-Aly told Reuters. "People with COVID-19 should pay attention to their health and seek medical care if they experience symptoms like chest pain, chest pressure, palpitation, swelling in the legs, etc."...

This study compared SIDE EFFECTS OF A COVID-19 infection to millions of other patients. These are not minor findings. The most common side effect of the mRNA vaccines is a sore arm at injection site.

The authorities ELECTED to office in the USA and Canada have a responsibility to citizens and not to demonstrators. There are far more citizens than demonstrators. I imagine feeling exhilarated at the idea of protesting and finding friends and being among others that want to change the path of government findings and policies is a welcome change after two years, but, the protests are irrelevant.

Democratic liberty takes a back seat to insults to the human body. Findings of "Layman Quackery" in Supreme Court prove politics overtaking science. The entire idea of staging a mass spreading event in demostrations against a virus is a waste of time and only complicates the country's future.

The inconvenience of shutdowns in car and truck production by major manufacturers is not going to cause the virus to go away. Shutting down major traffic routes at the Canadian-US border is not achieving liberty, it is causing a mass spreading event. 

...Omicron's route into cells helps explain symptom profile

The Omicron variant's method of infecting cells is different from the mechanism most often used by earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants, which could help explain Omicron's milder symptom profile, a study published in Nature suggests.

Earlier variants use the ACE2 protein on cell surfaces and an enzyme called TMPRSS2 to fuse themselves to the cell membrane and inject their genetic material inside. Omicron prefers to enter cells by creating tiny sacs in the cell membrane called endosomes that cells use to transport materials internally, researchers found. Omicron still attaches itself to ACE2 proteins, but it does not need help from TMPRSS2. In fact, Omicron multiplies most readily in tissues where TMPRSS2 is scarce, such as the nose. In the lungs, where TMPRSS2 is plentiful, Omicron has spread less effectively and caused less damage than earlier variants.

The findings help explain "why the disease is less severe and causes less pneumonia" with Omicron, said Dr. Ravindra Gupta of the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the UK. Gupta also noted that drugs targeting TMPRSS2, such as camostat mesylate, a pancreatitis treatment that has shown some benefit in COVID-19 patients, may be less useful with Omicron....

Never should a democratic government ever lean into minimalizing regulations to benefit their politics in relation to human wellness. Government needs to follow the science not because it is popular, but, because it is the best and moral route. I don't recall a time since COVID-19, even with vaccines and a booster on board, that I went without a mask into an indoor facility like a gym or mall willing to expose myself to what others may have brought with them to damage my wellness.

This pandemic is not over. The side effects of BEING INFECTED is certainly not over.

Trump denies stuffing paper down toilets. Was the White House plumber busy?

Limo arrives after 3 minute mark. (click here for article)

  

New England Journal of Medicine

January 26, 2022

...We found that the primary two-dose regimen (click here) of the mRNA-1273 vaccine elicited detectable neutralizing antibodies against the omicron variant in 85% of the participants 1 month after the second dose....

...Neutralization titers against the omicron variant 6 months after the third (booster) dose of vaccine were 6.3 times lower than the peak titers assessed 1 month after the booster injection, but the titers remained detectable in all the participants.... 

The boosters work well so far. That is why a fourth is being recommended by doctors as major hospitals. One of the reasons for the fourth booster is a higher death rate with omincron. It infects more people and the vulnerable die due to omicron. 

Feb. 9, 2022

With the Omicron variant (click here) now accounting for almost 100% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, the seven-day average of daily COVID-related deaths hit 2,600 recently, the highest rate in about a year,The Washington Post reported.

That’s higher than the approximately 2,000 daily deaths last autumn during the Delta surge, but less than the 3,000 daily deaths last January, when COVID vaccines were not widely available, The Post data analysis said.

The Omicron variant generally causes less severe disease than other strains of COVID, but because it is so transmissible, Omicron is infecting higher raw numbers of people that previous strains....

The precautions instituted by government at all levels may still serve a larger number of people and protect life. The hospitals have to be able to accommodate any people infected.

February 9, 2022
By Roshan Abraham and Kavya B

WHO Dashboard Covid (click here)

Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 400 million on Wednesday, (click here) according to a Reuters tally, as the highly contagious Omicron variant dominates the outbreak, pushing health systems in several countries to the brink of capacity.

The Omicron variant, which is dominating the surge around the world, accounts for almost all new cases reported daily. While cases have begun to level off in many countries, more than 2 million cases are still being reported on average each day, according to a Reuters analysis. Deaths, which tend to lag cases, have increased by 70% in the last five weeks based on the seven-day average....

Kennedy and FOX News owe President Biden an apology. This is a distraction tactic.

Alabama congressman tweets ‘inaccurate’ claim Biden giving out ‘free crack pipes’

They did this on purpose to distract from the facts being found by the January 6th committee. It can always be retracted, right?

February 9, 2022
By Howard Koplowitz

President Biden is not giving out “free crack pipes” to drug addicts,(click here) the administration said Wednesday -- contrary to a tweet by an Alabama congressman who cited a Fox News story White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said was among “inaccurate reporting” on the topic.

“More than a million Americans have died from drug overdoses. Joe Biden’s plan? Free crack pipes,” tweeted Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, on Wednesday night....

I can't believe this is still occurring. A 15 year old asked to take a performance enhancing drug. That should be criminal.

The reason (click here) why Trimetazidine is banned is because it can increase blood flow efficiency and improve endurance, which are both crucial to high-end athletic performances like skating.

February 10, 2022
By Dan Wetzel

Susanne Lyons, (click here) chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, made it clear Thursday in Beijing that the pending “legal matter” surrounding Russian skating sensation Kamila Valieva and a failed drug test is more than just who winds up winning gold in the figure skating team event.

“Really the whole credibility of the Olympic Movement and the Paralympic Movement stands teetering on the edge of us saying that we really believe and live the values that we say we stand for,” Lyons told Around the Rings.

“It is so important to the athletes of the world that the values of this [Olympic] Movement be upheld, and one of the most important values is integrity of sport,” Lyons said. “And it’s just terribly upsetting to the athletes today to have that wound potentially reopened again.”

The 15-year-old Valieva reportedly tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart medication, according to the Russian newspaper RBC. The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits the drug because it can aid in endurance and increase blood flow....

He gave orders for the insurrection to the crowd at the time of the speech.

He then went to the Oval Office to watch it all.

He had his general at the insurrection, he didn't need to micromanage. There were witnesses to Trump's behavior, demeanor and focus. The testimony of these people need to be obtained and recorded since there is missing information. 

The idea that information was deliberately removed from the record also brings up the question, who erased the information, was it recorded elsewhere and was that person ordered to carry out that task?

February 10, 2022

By Andrew Feinberg

Mr Trump’s habit (click here) of using mobile phones belonging to his aides is causing a headache for investigators

Investigators working for the House select committee investigating the 6 January insurrection have found significant gaps in White House call logs which have reportedly hindered their efforts to reconstruct his communications during the worst attack on the Capitol since the 1814 Burning of Washington.

Thank you US Senator Mitch McConnell.

It isn't easy being on the right side of the US Constitution these days, but, Senator McConnell did exactly that and he has my thanks. What was astounding was the backlash he received from "toe the line" Trump loyalists. The Trump loyalists are simply wrong. They are on the wrong side of history and outside the parameters of the USA Constitution.

I not only appreciate the words Senator McConnell spoke, I appreciate the way he said it. His voice was strong and unequivocal. 

February 9, 2022
By David Morgan

Washington, DC - Top U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell (click here) on Tuesday criticized his party's censure of two prominent Republican critics of Donald Trump, joining an intra-party battle that could upend his efforts to project an image of party moderation in this year's midterm elections.

Last week, the Republican National Committee censured Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, the only two Republicans serving on the House of Representatives select committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Trump stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory....

There should be fines to countries that do not stop these cyberattacks.

There are countries that do not have internet laws and if they do sometimes choose to ignore them. If I recall correctly it was not difficult for the Pakistani police to follow the cyber trail of the murderers of Daniel Pearl. If Pakistan can do this any country can do this.

The cyber arena is thought of as the Wild West, I don't believe that is necessarily the case.

There is no excuse for cyber attacks or ransomwear attacks. They can be traced and people held responsible. I would think if the attacks are from within the USA it should be even easier. But, I remind that while we are waiting for Russian hackers to decend on the USA to cause problems, fining Russia through the banks might work to begin enforcement of hackers and stop them from causing problems.

I would think if ransomwear were traced to Russia it would be the government consenting to the attacks and reaping the ransom.

January 5, 2022
By Alexander Panetta

The director of the FBI (click here) compares this moment to 9/11: A time of reckoning about a threat that's increasingly proven its ability to destabilize society.

He's referring to cyberattacks.

Recent digital ransom attacks have accelerated an acknowledgment in Washington that the current trajectory is untenable.

That's after meat plants were shuttered temporarily including in Canada this week; after cars lined up at empty U.S. gas stations when a major pipeline was hacked.

A hacker recently tampered with chemical levels at a water-treatment plant in Florida. Nuclear and other power facilities, voting systems, political parties, hospitals and governments have all been compromised.

"This is our new normal," said Nicole Perlroth, a cybersecurity reporter at The New York Times and author of a new book on the history of cyberattacks....

Stand up mirror

Not everyone doing the at home COVID test will have one, but, for those with a stand up mirror, I found it helpful in conducting the nose swab. 

Set the mirror up before hand washing to start the test to remove any surface germs that may have been on the mirror.