The Associated Press is reporting that the Trump administration is suppressing a report by Experts from the CDC that gives detailed guidelines on how to open the country safely. The significance of this: the White House wants to go full speed ahead in opening the country so it doesn't want the expert advice out there to contradict the speed of its own re-opening push. The … [Read more...] about Report: White House Suppresses CDC expert report on how to reopen country safely
Another 3.2 mn filed new US jobless claims last week
Washington (AFP) - New claims for unemployment benefits filed by US workers declined slightly last week, but were still a staggering 3.2 million, government data said Thursday.The data from the Labor Department bring the total claims filed since mid-March, when the coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to close their doors to stop the virus's spread, to 33.5 million.The number … [Read more...] about Another 3.2 mn filed new US jobless claims last week
Purple Hearts Approved for U.S. Soldiers Who Sustained Injuries in Iranian Missile Attack
Four months ago, as retaliation for the U.S strike that killed the Iranian Quds force commander, General Qassem Soleimani, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting two air bases in Iraq. Eleven of those missiles struck Ain al-Assad air base where approximately 1,000 U.S. troops were based. First, Trump touted “No Americans were harmed in last night’s … [Read more...] about Purple Hearts Approved for U.S. Soldiers Who Sustained Injuries in Iranian Missile Attack
Trump lashes out at George Conway for ‘Mourning in America’ video, about ‘deadly virus Trump ignored’ (VIDEOS)
Donald Trump reacted with fury on Twitter and to reporters after seeing the latest video released by prominent attorney George Conway's group, The Lincoln Project. It clearly got to him -- while Conway and others associated with the group seemingly basked in his anger and suggested more (and more forceful) videos will be coming during this Presidential election season. The … [Read more...] about Trump lashes out at George Conway for ‘Mourning in America’ video, about ‘deadly virus Trump ignored’ (VIDEOS)
Despite CDC Prediction of Surging Death Rate to Come, Pence Confirms Trump’s Coronavirus Task Force Winding Down
Embed from Getty Images "They are just going to declare victory, let thousands die, and hope nobody cares too much." by Eoin Higgins Common Dreams President Donald Trump's coronavirus taskforce is winding down, Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday, with operations expected to conclude by June 1—the very same day an internal document from the Centers for Disease … [Read more...] about Despite CDC Prediction of Surging Death Rate to Come, Pence Confirms Trump’s Coronavirus Task Force Winding Down
‘Medici’ Ends On A High Note
All three seasons of Medici are now available on Netflix Medici is a historical drama, and oftentimes political thriller, depicting the wealthy and influential Medici family of Florence who helped to usher in the Renaissance during much of the fifteenth century. The family, especially Cosimo de' Medici (the Elder) and Lorenzo de' Medici (the Magnificent) leveraged their … [Read more...] about ‘Medici’ Ends On A High Note
A crippled US Postal Service could throw a wrench in November election
SAN DIEGO — The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated problems for the U.S. Postal Service and sparked a debate in Washington, D.C., that could carry major ramifications for the November general election.The U.S. Postal Service, or USPS, has long been America's most popular public agency; a recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that 91% of Americans had favorable opinions … [Read more...] about A crippled US Postal Service could throw a wrench in November election
Still Joking About Obesity, Even Now?
No, I’m not on a rant. But I sure could be. What’s funny about a chronic disease that impairs health and renders people more sensitive to deadly co-morbid factors associated with COVID-19? Nothing. Nothing is funny at all. I write about obesity a great deal, have been caring for those with emotional and behavioral components related to the disease, speaking and teaching … [Read more...] about Still Joking About Obesity, Even Now?
TrumpZero (A Clay Jones animation)
Email Clay Jones at [email protected] … [Read more...] about TrumpZero (A Clay Jones animation)
Sweat the Small Stuff
by Barry Berman I panicked. A sign flashed on my TV from Netflix yesterday that it was having a problem with my payment. For the next 20 minutes, I struggled, desperately, pressing remote buttons and trying to get through on the phone. I mean really, Netflix is one of our comfort toys these days. It’s an escape from the constant drone of CNN, the new Covid-19 cases and … [Read more...] about Sweat the Small Stuff
New Investigation Ordered for Capt. Crozier (UPDATES)
UPDATE II: A great piece at The New York Times a few days ago goes into the character, qualifications and background of Admiral Michael M. Gilday who, after a swift internal investigation, recommended that Capt. Brett Crozier be restored to command of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Now that Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper has declined to endorse the … [Read more...] about New Investigation Ordered for Capt. Crozier (UPDATES)
Leaders’ empathy matters in the midst of a pandemic
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is near tears as he thanked the Kraft family for flying desperately needed protective masks from China to Boston in a New England Patriots jet, April 1, 2020. Getty/Jim Davis/The Boston Globe Jonathan D. Fitzgerald, Regis College Resilience, communication skills, openness and impulse control top the list of six … [Read more...] about Leaders’ empathy matters in the midst of a pandemic
Third Russian health care professional plunges from hospital window in mysterious circumstances
As Russia's coronavirus cases have risen 10K for the second day, there also seems to be another growing problem: health care professionals in Russia plunging from hospital windows under mysterious circumstances. Moscow Times: “A paramedic who complained about being forced to work despite contracting coronavirus is in critical condition after he fell from a hospital window … [Read more...] about Third Russian health care professional plunges from hospital window in mysterious circumstances
Trump and Lincoln Memorial
Fauci the Giant Killer
He didn’t clamor up a beanstalk to find the Giant. In fact, the Giant invited him into his circle, hoping to use his medical credibility to bolster his own standing. The Giant had screwed up in a gigantic way as only a giant could in dealing with a major medical adversary that had slipped into his kingdom. The Giant, who by the way was named Donald, constantly advertised his … [Read more...] about Fauci the Giant Killer
Forget the New Normal, Live Free in the Present Normal
That we are in a time of profound, extreme and for many, overwhelming transformation and adjustment, is unmistakable. Arianna Huffington, observed, “Transformative change rarely happens without a catalyst and a crisis,” in an article entitled, “We are Never Going Back.” No, we are, and never do, go back, despite our yearning for the “good old days,” that we erroneously believed … [Read more...] about Forget the New Normal, Live Free in the Present Normal
SUCCESS STORY (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Peter Bergen, CNN’s national security analyst wrote, “What is most galling as the nation faces its worse crisis since World War II is how the Trump family keeps demanding recognition for their brilliant work and also our thanks for the catastrophic mess they have helped land us all in.” That’s probably just a little more galling than the fact Donald Trump appoints family … [Read more...] about SUCCESS STORY (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Trump criticizes George W. Bush over call for unity amid coronavirus
George W. Bush’s evocative three-minute coronavirus video went out of its way to avoid controversy.The former president didn’t mention President Donald Trump or any political leaders during his “Call for Unity” message. Instead, Bush praised the American spirit and vowed that the nation would beat the pandemic.Trump’s reaction? Bush should have backed the president during his … [Read more...] about Trump criticizes George W. Bush over call for unity amid coronavirus
Will Bunch: On the 50th anniversary, America’s still not fully recovered from the wounds of Kent State
On May 4, 1970 — 50 years ago this Monday — a tree trunk may have been the only thing that prevented Alan Canfora from becoming the fifth fatality in a violent episode that both rattled America and reshaped its history, the shooting barrage by Ohio National Guardsmen into a crowd of student protesters at Kent State University.Canfora was a 20-year-old undergrad at the Ohio … [Read more...] about Will Bunch: On the 50th anniversary, America’s still not fully recovered from the wounds of Kent State
Heard Any Good Negative Predictions Lately?
No, of course you haven’t heard any good negative predictions lately. That’s because there aren’t any good negative predictions. There are only negative negative predictions. That’s because there’s essentially nothing good about a negative prediction! Negative predictions can only be negative. Pessimists, dissenters, prophets of doom. Who needs them? The defeatists of … [Read more...] about Heard Any Good Negative Predictions Lately?