51 thoughts on “Mask Or Ventilator? Your Choice”

  2. wapo op ed :

    Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, represents Massachusetts in the Senate. Deb Haaland, a Democrat, represents New Mexico’s 1st District in the House.

    For generations, the federal government has failed to honor its promises to Native American people. Now, covid-19 is ravaging Native communities, killing young people and elders alike, and devastating tribal economies. We are fighting in Congress to ensure that sovereign Native nations have the resources needed to protect the health and well-being of their citizens during this pandemic. The novel coronavirus’s terrible impact in Indian Country underscores that the federal government must live up to its unique legal and moral obligations to Native nations and act as a partner to help build security and resiliency for the future.
    The coronavirus has taken a tragic toll on Indian Country. The Navajo Nation had infection rates higher than any state as of last week. In New Mexico, Native Americans make up just 11 percent of the population, but account for more than half of the covid-19 cases. Native nations’ economies have been devastated. And American Indians and Alaska Natives also disproportionately suffer from health conditions that make them especially susceptible to complications from covid-19, in part because of environmental injustices that have left their communities grappling with the health impacts of poisoned water and air.
    By disregarding the clear health crisis in tribal communities, the federal government continues a tragic pattern of broken promises to Native nations. During negotiations over the Cares Act, the major coronavirus relief package passed by Congress in March, the White House fought against< any direct aid to the 574 federally recognized sovereign Native nations. Even when Senate Democrats and the Congressional Native American Caucus successfully ensured the legislation included this critical economic aid, the Treasury Department dragged its feet for weeks. More than a month after the Cares Act was enacted, Native nations still hadn’t received a penny of the $8 billion the law provided to them. Only after we and our colleagues pressed the Treasury Department did it release some of the funds to tribal governments.

    [continues]

  5. wapo

    Christian Cooper was birdwatching deep in the woods of Manhattan’s Central Park when he noticed a rogue cocker spaniel digging up the shrubbery around him.
    Many of the birds he spots stop by for the dense plants, so he approached the dog’s owner early on Monday with a request: Could she leash up the canine, as the park rules required?
    Amy Cooper said she would be calling the police instead.
    “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life,” the white woman told him, pulling out her cellphone and dialing 911.
    Less than 24 hours later after a video of their exchange went online, she has lost her dog, her anonymity, and her job — the latest incident in a long, too-familiar pattern of white people calling the police on black people for any number of everyday activities: Barbecuing. Playing golf. Swimming at a pool.
    […]
    “Please call the cops,” he said on video. “Please tell them whatever you’d like.”
    She did, assuming an increasingly loud voice over the phone that to some on social media made her sound as if she was being physically attacked. In the meantime, she wrapped a blue leash around Henry, seemingly choking the yelping dog before clipping it on.

  6. Christian Cooper: “It’s a little bit of a frenzy, and I am uncomfortable with that. If our goal is to change the underlying factors, I am not sure that this young woman having her life completely torn apart serves that goal.”

  7. We appear to be heading into even wilder reporting with the scare mongers getting paid a lot more than those with a clear view.  “If it bleeds, it leads” is the truism we have to deal with.  Twitter refuses to clear the garbage out, so that means an unfettered idiot can toss out more and more garbage that anyone else would be in court for.  Although not suggested, I have to wonder what would happen if Biden tweeted that Trump’s son killed his assistant and hid her body in a swamp.  That did not happen and Morning Joe did not kill anyone, but what the hell if it is on twitter it must to be true.

  9. the hill re above video:

    The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump conservative super PAC run in part by George Conway, released a new ad on Tuesday hitting President Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic as the U.S. approaches 100,000 deaths from the virus.
    The 24-second ad depicts rows of red, white and blue body bags arranged to display the American flag.
    The audio includes Trump’s remarks during press briefing in late February, when he claimed the country had been doing a “great job” stemming the spread of the virus.
    “When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done,” Trump said. 
    The ad then displays the message: “100,000 dead Americans. One wrong president.”

    [continues]

  10. New Rasmussen Poll (usually Trump’s best numbers): Trump approval falls four points to 42-57, his worst since January 2018. 

    His strongly approve is at 30%, also lowest level since January 2018. Strongly disapprove at 47%. 

  11. I’ll take a mask please.
     
    I am not on Twitter.  Been invited by several people to get on it.  
    I am not on Twitter… it is too bitter.

  12. speaking of polls, the hill:

    Former Vice President Joe Biden has opened up an 11 point lead over President Trump in the race for the White House, according to a new national survey.
    The latest Firehouse Strategies-0ptimus poll finds Biden with 54 percent support from respondents and Trump with 43 percent. That’s a 3 point gain for Biden over the same poll in March when he led 51 to 43. 
    A Quinnipiac University survey released last week also found Biden ahead by 11 points but most recent national surveys show a closer race. Biden leads Trump by 5.5 points in the RealClearPolitics average.
    The Firehouse-Optimus poll also found that a sampling of the nation’s governors has a 72 percent approval rating for their handling of the coronavirus, well ahead of Trump at 48 percent and Congress at 47 percent.
    […]
    The Firehouse-0ptimus survey of 1,557 likely voters was conducted between May 16-23 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6 percentage points.

  13. latest morning consult poll:

    A new Morning Consult/Politico poll gauging the potential impact of Biden’s choice of a running mate found that among nine women reportedly in the mix, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) would have the biggest net positive impact on his candidacy against President Donald Trump in November. 
    According to the May 22-26 survey, 26 percent of registered voters said placing her on the ticket would make them more likely to vote for Biden, while 23 percent said it would make them less likely to back him. Her positive impact on Biden increased among voters under the age of 45, who view Warren in a more favorable light than they do Biden, as well as black and Hispanic voters.
    […]
    The poll found other high-profile potential picks such as California Sen. Kamala Harris, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Georgia’s Stacey Abrams would have a similarly marginal impact on the overall electorate. However, Harris, who would make 22 percent of the electorate more likely to vote for Biden, roughly matches Warren’s power with key groups such as voters under the age of 45 and voters in America’s suburbs.
    Meanwhile, Klobuchar, who would push 19 percent of voters toward the former vice president, outpaces them both among the oldest voters, a group that has trended away from the president since his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. Abrams, who would make 16 percent of voters more likely to back Biden, matches Harris’ strength with black voters, who helped fuel Biden’s victories in the primary.
    [continues]

  14. bed bugs be damned, about that betting pool on the GOPers convention:

    from foxnews:

    President Trump on Monday denied any suggestion that he might want to hold this summer’s Republican National Convention at his resort in Doral, Fla., following his threat to move the convention from North Carolina if that state’s governor can’t guarantee the party will be allowed “full attendance” at the event.
    “I have zero interest in moving the Republican National Convention to Doral in Miami, as falsely reported by the Fake News @nytimes in order to stir up trouble,” Trump tweeted Monday. “Ballroom is not nearly big enough & would like to stay in N.C., whose gov. doesn’t even know if he can let people in?”
    The president appears to be referring to an article in the New York Times on the plans for holding a convention amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the article, Trump has suggested holding a scaled-down convention “in a hotel ballroom in Florida, given all of the health concerns and the fact that Florida is further along in reopening portions of the state.”
    [continues]

  15. Hey everybody,
    Greetings from Manhattan (again) where people are sort of wearing masks. Or wearing masks half on their face. Because apparently, it’s the thought that counts? The effort of one loop over your ear, the support that a mask gives when worn under your chin which apparently is at risk of falling off. The sweet return of your six dollar latte to your lips after such a long refrain.
    As far as the Amy Cooper/Christian Cooper incident goes: It’s been big here the last few days. I appreciate that Christian Cooper is uncomfortable with the very public intensity concerning the immediate fallout for Amy Cooper’s career and life –I personally was rooting for there to be some kind of charge brought against her as she was willfully lying on the phone to 911. In the hopes that if there are legal ramifications rather than death threats — It might discourage the kind of entitlement that would willingly put another person in what can be a remarkably dangerous situation. The death threats are anger, helplessness and disgust. They are understandable but then they create more “victims”. 
    It is phenomenal that information can travel as quickly and gather as much speed as it does. I loathe when everyone whips out their phone to record things, often in lieu of helping (obviously not in this situation) but it holds people accountable. Amy Cooper used her privilege as a means of power. Ultimately sending her death threats is going to give her another power. 

  16. Wow.  A thread dedicated to the ongoing proxy war at my office…and across America.  Are there angry and willfully ignorant anti-maskers in other countries?
    What is the Lincoln Project’s end game?  Get rid of tRump, even if it means a Dem prez, or, do they have something else planned if they get enough Repug support?   
    A white woman committing a misdemeanor (not keeping her dog leashed) threatening a black man with the police for asking her to do what she should’ve been doing.  Shame on her.  A big no on the death threats, but any legal or economic repercussions, well, bearing false witness has a price.
     
    patD- Thanks for Joe Cool

  17. Hi Vanilla, glad you’re well. Have to laugh at all the people in TV interviews wearing their masks under the nose. Oh well, at least they’re trying.

  18. Poobah, Harvard Medical School will have to do a study of virus transmission for people with masks worn over the mouth but not over the nose. I think the results from the one ear loop hanging mask and under the chin mask are self evident – 6- 18 feet depending on conditions and how loudly the person talks.
     
    VB. good to see you back in the neighborhood.  Drop by more often.  Virtual lattes here are complimentary.

  19. Evidence that not every Republican is as stupid as SFB. (From Wapo)

    “Wearing a face covering is not about politics — it’s about helping other people,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said Tuesday in a plea over Twitter, echoing comments by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) last week. “This is one time when we truly are all in this together.”
    Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) posted a photographon Instagram of himself in a mask Tuesday night. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who faces a tough reelection fight, has added “#wearyourmask” to his Twitter handle,after photographing himselfearlier the month wearing a mask in an airport as part of an appeal for the public to “remain vigilant.” Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.), a member of the Republican leadership who is running for reelection this year,shared a photo of himself in a mask Monday, asking others to adopt the practice.
    [And here’s what they couldn’t bring themselves to say:]

    When asked Tuesday by CNN if wearing a mask projected strength or weakness, Biden offered a third option, saying it projected leadership. He called Trump “an absolute fool” for his mockery of protective measures.

    “Presidents are supposed to lead, not engage in folly and be falsely masculine,” Biden said. “It reminds me of the guys I grew up with playing ball. They would walk around with a ball, but they didn’t like to hit very much.”
    [Continues]

    Schism in the party of stupid.
     

  21. As Trump takes credit for this launch remember who initiated and signed the deal between NASA and SpaceX that made it happen: President Barack Obama in 2014.

  22. TechCrunch on the new look:

    The spacesuits were designed by SpaceX in collaboration with NASA and the astronauts going up today, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. They’re intended to bring modern materials and technology to a comfortable form factor that integrates seamlessly with the Crew Dragon capsule.
    These aren’t, it is important to note, a replacement for the familiar EVA suits that have been in use for decades, though those are also being redesigned in-house. The ones Behnken and Hurley will wear are pressure suits, akin to what fighter-jet pilots wear. These custom-fitted garments are meant to provide protection against the dangers of launch, including brief periods of vacuum or high heat, but not outer space.
    […]
    The SpaceX suits are flame and impact-resistant and have communications and climate control built right in. The helmet has the radio and mics, naturally, and air and electricity flow through a single umbilical cable that connects to the wearer’s seat in the spacecraft.
    “One of the things that was important in the development of this suit was to make it easy to use, something that the crew just has to literally plug in when they sit down, and then the suit kind of takes care of itself from there,” said SpaceX’s Chris Tripp in the NASA video highlighting the suits. “It’s really part of the vehicle, so we think of it as a kind of suit-seat system.”
    The SpaceX suits are flame and impact-resistant and have communications and climate control built right in. The helmet has the radio and mics, naturally, and air and electricity flow through a single umbilical cable that connects to the wearer’s seat in the spacecraft.
    “One of the things that was important in the development of this suit was to make it easy to use, something that the crew just has to literally plug in when they sit down, and then the suit kind of takes care of itself from there,” said SpaceX’s Chris Tripp in the NASA video highlighting the suits. “It’s really part of the vehicle, so we think of it as a kind of suit-seat system.”
    Considering the advances that have been made over the last decade in electronics and software, astronauts and mission control should expect improved and simplified communications — the kind of noise reduction and voice detection we expect in our video calls nowadays is also very useful in aerospace.
    Another interesting change is in the gloves, which must be durable yet flexible, and at the same time conductive — because the astronauts operate the Dragon capsule via touchscreen. It would be no good if they had to take off a glove to make a selection.

  25. new spacesuit might come in real handy next time one unexpectedly encounters a magaT protest full of maskless knuckle draggers 

  27. VanillaBirdies…   howdy….  good to see you around!
     
    There’s a healthy population of trumpers and trumpettes in my little town.  They have taken to not wearing masks to show how butch they are (yup… even the females).  IMO… they have very teeny weeny thingamajigs…  (yup… even the females).

  28. I don’t get all this hoo hah about “historic” private partnership for today’s launch. NASA has been doing that ever since McDonnell Aircraft built the Mercury and Gemini spacecrafts.

  29. Picking at nits – the Virgin Galactic flight was suborbital. 
    At the end of the day, American astronauts are going into space on an American made reusable space craft. And that’s very cool.
    Regrettably, we’ll have to wait a couple of days because weather just scrubbed today’s launch.

  31. Greetings from somewhere in Anne Arundel County Maryland.  Decades ago I heard the name on some D.C. television channel and immediately fell in love with the name.  Now it turns out that contemporary to the life of the actual Anne were my ancestors in Maryland colony.

    That aside.  i spent the last five days in the depths of  deliberate ignorance, a land where people take the crap of faux news and make it better.  I spent a lot of time explaining that the “flu” does kill fifty-six thousand people in a year, and no that is a year and that is with vaccine, and the COVID-19 has killed over one hundred thousand people in three months, with some basic attempts to avoid it.  That is more people than the flu killed in a year, one hundred thousand is almost twice fifty-six thousand. 

    I met a restaurant owner and he was over the top about screw the virus, let us open our eatery .  Don’t listen to scientists all they do is give facts and reasons to be closed (he actually went there).  Listen to those who care, they (orange thing) know it is important to open now.  I did not go to the issue of them becoming infected and their clients becoming infected and anything about risk.  It was not going to matter.  All that matters is to open and serve food.
     
    A few new faces were at the marina.  They are not locals and rapidly understood to not discuss science, reason or stay away from me without a mask.  As the resident big blonde with a strange voice and cute dog, I am not shy about my flaming Liberal Progressive attitude.  Sometimes I let people talk long enough to have them chocking on stupid, so they know don’t bother.  Rather better to enjoy camaraderie and another beer.
     
    Overall, it was good to get to my boat and live on her several days.  A few laps around the marina and I realized how much working at home for months, preceded with recovering at home for a couple of months, has left me fat and out of shape.  Wow! I am sore and tired and achy.  I look forward to a few more visits this summer.

  32. Trump shows up, launch cancelled, Democrats fault!
    getting so sick of this asswipe and the repulsive who won’t do anything about him but salute. 

  33. That the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 does not go away is what should have been blasted from the start.  Just as other diseases return all the time, so will this.  Corornaviruses include the common cold. 

  35. Craig… I guess growing up in Florida  has made you jaded about space travel.  If this big deal excites some young people to get involved with space exploration… be it as an astronaut or an engineer… IMO, it will have been worth it.
     
    BlueB…. glad you’re on your boat.

  36. I hear they’re going to splash down in the ocean when they return like the olden daze.  Wonder why?

  38. I don’t understand why the dictator and his mini-me haven’t gotten it yet considering all the people they’ve been around and other poor slobs are deathly ill but have no idea how they go it.

  39. Tiptoe – I’ve been reading about SpaceX and watching programs on Discovery and Science Channel for the last few days. Evidently splash down was the safest recovery system of everything they researched.
    The GO Searcher recovery craft is equipped with a med center, fully trained and equipped medical personnel,  and a helipad in case of serious health emergency. It’s got a lifting frame and state of the art communications equipment.
    The astronauts don’t actually exit the capsule while it’s in the water. Speedboats secure the craft and the GO Searcher moves in to lift it out of the water. Then a doctor enters the capsule, evaluates the status of the crew, and determines the best way for them to exit.
    It’s apparently all about the safety and well being of the crew. NASA requires all of this recovery to be done in under 60 minutes, and all tests have come in well under that threshold.

  40. Thanks all! Hope everyone’s hanging in alright. 
    The last few weeks in New York have gotten contentious. Warm weather hit and it feels as though a lot of people decided that they were emotionally done self isolating and with the virus — And therefore it too was done.
    Just read the Washington Post article on the inevitable persistence of COVID. I’m still stunned by the moves to reopen (I held my head through Fauci testifying to senators) and that the incoming information is treated as being concrete. It wasn’t until…40 or so years after the Spanish flu epidemic that the connection to encephalitis lethargica was strongly correlated and treatments were attempted. We still have no idea what the long terms affects are going to be both from the illness and whatever treatment transpires.

  41. Hope tRump can’t make it for the next launch attempt.   He just wants to stand there and get the glory that belongs to others.  
    BB – I’ve had he same conversation about the flu and the flu vaccine and the timespan of flu season v what’s happened with Covid.   How did they human race make it this far with so many thinking that way?   
    Dr. Fauci was on PBS News Hour.  Anyone who thinks the virus won’t come back is fooling themselves.  Did it go somewhere?   I wasn’t made aware of its departure.  
    Had a sad talk with someone who had to use retirement money to save their business. They just couldn’t get enough help.  If it’s not enough, if they still can’t make it, the business will be gone and the retirement funds, too.    C’mon, Congress!  Folks are suffering.  

  42. Blue – I know, it’s disturbing. Forget that second waves exist. 
    So many small businesses are going to be shuttered after this — And in all likelihood, a number of museums too.

  43. VB- I really wanted to go to NY this fall, but I’m not flying and I can’t imagine going to the theater.  I’ll buy ya a coffee in 2022.

  46. Blue — We can buy each other a coffee but I’m bringing you some artwork.
    Brutal news keeps rolling.

  47. VB, LP vacated NYC on 3/20. His office closed the office to in person contact and he, not having his real estate license yet had nothing really to do. It’s beginning to look doubtful that he’ll return. He loves the city, as do Mrs. P and I, but he’s not sure he wants to go back. It wasn’t the same when we were there early March, and the virus was just getting started then. We’ll still visit, but not for a while. Population density just doesn’t allow for social distancing, and at my age I can’t risk the exposure that’s inevitable there. Hope you stay safe and healthy. 

  48. BiD, the other 3 are what my CrimPro prof called P1s – usually called accessories before the fact. Yeah, they’re fucked if the fat racist who killed him is fucked. 

  50. Pogo — It isn’t a bad idea considering. I’ve got such emotional and physical ties to this place — And this apartment, that I think it’s unlikely I’d ever leave. But a number of my friends have headed home at least for the time being and a few more are considering moving after this. It’s completely understandable. Relieved you guys are safe and ok.
    New York will eventually bounce back — or forward into whatever its next period is. 

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