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Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

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No one could have predicted…

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Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

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If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

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… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

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This is all too absurd to be reality, right?

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Something seems odd about that, but i have been drinking.

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A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

I can’t take this shit today. I just can’t.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

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National Guard

by Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix|  January 21, 202112:26 pm| 40 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Last night a New York Army National Guard medical Black Hawk helicopter on a training run crashed in a field a couple of miles from my house. All three crewmembers died. My wife is pretty sure she heard it go over the house shortly before the crash.

This got me thinking about what we’ve been asking of our state’s National Guard in the past year. In addition to helping to secure the Capitol (New York sent over 1,000 soldiers), they’ve been helping with COVID relief by manning health checks at airports, staffing drive-up testing sites, assembling test kits and helping with warehousing and logistics.

I don’t have a larger point, just that they’ve been doing a lot, at great personal risk, and I think it’s been taken for granted.

Open thread.

National GuardPost + Comments (40)

Square One (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker|  January 21, 202110:49 am| 128 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity

This isn’t surprising, but still, damn:

As they were settling into the White House on Wednesday, Biden administration officials were reportedly stunned to discover that President Joe Biden’s predecessor didn’t have a plan with regards to distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.

A source told CNN on Thursday morning that the new administration will “have to build everything from scratch” thanks to former President Donald Trump’s reported lack of strategy with the vaccine rollout.

“There is nothing for us to rework,” they said.

Biden will have to start from “square one,” said another source, who called Trump’s nonexistent distribution plan “just further affirmation of complete incompetence.”

I doubt the Biden peeps are truly surprised. It’s been obvious for months now that vaccine distribution keeps getting pushed down to the next level with no overarching coordination. It’s happening in Trumpy-ass states like Florida too, with DeSantis shoving responsibility down to the county level with no resources or oversight.

We’ll need hearings on this massive failure at some point, and accountability for the incompetence that will cause so many needless deaths and unnecessary suffering, but first, time to clean up the mess. Open thread!

Square One (Open Thread)Post + Comments (128)

Proud to Be A Democrat Open Thread: Sisters Are Doing It (Inauguration Day Edition)

by Anne Laurie|  January 21, 20219:02 am| 100 Comments

This post is in: A Woman's Place Is In The House, Biden-Harris 2020, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

I’m ready to build back better. #Inauguration2021 #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/WYv5npbpnM

— Deb Haaland (@DebHaalandNM) January 20, 2021

show full post on front page

Kamala Harris sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, becoming the 49th Vice President of the United Stateshttps://t.co/hQBfBFbUvQ pic.twitter.com/HKiDtKNp8k

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 20, 2021

On this historic day, I’m wearing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s pearls, given to me by her goddaughter, who said that her godmother “would not want it any other way.”

Because of Shirley Chisholm, I am.

Because of Shirley Chisholm, Vice President Harris is. pic.twitter.com/rgQKw2Y8Qb

— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 20, 2021

“This is the day when our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust, and does what America always does, goes forward as a nation”

Senator Amy Klobuchar opens Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ inauguration ceremonyhttps://t.co/rkHtZRRNH2 pic.twitter.com/HynQ7BplXa

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 20, 2021

Wasn't @TheAmandaGorman’s poem just stunning? She's promised to run for president in 2036 and I for one can't wait. pic.twitter.com/rahEClc6k2

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 20, 2021

On a day for the history books, @TheAmandaGorman delivered a poem that more than met the moment. Young people like her are proof that "there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it; if only we're brave enough to be it." pic.twitter.com/mbywtvjtEH

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 20, 2021

It delights me to think that what feels historical and amazing to us today—a woman sworn in to the vice presidency—will seem normal, obvious, "of course" to Kamala's grand-nieces as they grow up. And they will be right. pic.twitter.com/1gQOvmNipB

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 20, 2021

A highlight of an already very good day. https://t.co/9Zrb3r0Upr

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 21, 2021

Congratulations to Georgia’s U.S. Senators, @ossoff and @ReverendWarnock, who were sworn in moments ago. I am proud to call you my Senators and my friends. #gapol #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/Rq748ZgRMm

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) January 20, 2021

Well, that was great.

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 20, 2021

The Senate has confirmed Avril Haines as intelligence director, approving the first member of President Joe Biden's Cabinet. Haines told lawmakers she sees her role as delivering accurate intelligence even if it is uncomfortable or inconvenient.https://t.co/5h1Va1mUFz

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2021

Proud to Be A Democrat Open Thread: Sisters Are Doing It (Inauguration Day Edition)Post + Comments (100)

Staffing matters

by David Anderson|  January 21, 20217:00 am| 24 Comments

This post is in: Anderson On Health Insurance

To put a finer point on this: we’re going from an administration that championed work requirements in Medicaid to an administration that has hired Ben Sommers—who’s led the best research in recent years on these work requirements—to be Deputy Assistant Secretary at ASPE.

— Adrianna McIntyre (@onceuponA) January 20, 2021

 

Dr. Ben Sommers is both wicked smart and going into the Administration to work on the Department of Health and Human Services internal research and data team.

Nine of his ten most cited papers are Affordable Care Act and/or Medicaid papers.  His research on Medicaid work requirements and the implicit administrative burden in Arkansas was critical evidence that partially led to the federal courts to be extremely suspicious of Medicaid work requirements.

Staffing matters.

Dr. Sommers is just one example.

There are a number of people going into HHS (which is where I have a professional interest in knowing who is whom) that have an active interest in making insurance accessible, affordable and usable for as many people as possible.

The staff transition at the deputy undersecretary and deputy assistant levels is going to be a whiplash in what plans can even be discussed much less implemented.

Staffing mattersPost + Comments (24)

Thursday Morning Open Thread: What A Difference A Day Makes

by Anne Laurie|  January 21, 20216:00 am| 184 Comments

This post is in: Biden-Harris 2020, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Readership Capture

"Democracy has prevailed"

In his inaugural address as the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden said it was a "day of history and hope"https://t.co/qE9s2zYjqO pic.twitter.com/rQHyIMLInC

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 20, 2021

As Lady Gaga sang the national anthem, the sky opened up and sunlight reflected off of the Capitol, illuminating the flag.

— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) January 20, 2021

The Bidens share a moment right before they entered the White House after the #InaugurationDay ceremony https://t.co/iIbwhzEsVk pic.twitter.com/ertv4K78XE

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

It's an honor to be your Vice President. pic.twitter.com/iM3BxJzz6E

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 20, 2021

Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police officer who was hailed as a hero for facing down members of the mob that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, is serving as an escort to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as she is sworn into the U.S.’s second-highest office. https://t.co/yuPtZTtEZj

— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 20, 2021

??: In a sign of the covid times — a fist bump between Joe Biden and his former boss, Barack Obama #InaugurationDay https://t.co/1j6ZJcRBZT pic.twitter.com/WSq9ya4s3x

— Bloomberg (@business) January 20, 2021

Harris swears in Sens. Warnock, Ossoff and Padilla as Democrats take control of the Senate, cementing party’s power in Washington https://t.co/mpVnhSOJOb

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 20, 2021

Thanks to American voters, we are back in the #ParisAgreement. America is once again poised to lead the world on climate action, working with our allies to build a better future for us all. Time to get back to work!

— Al Gore (@algore) January 20, 2021

Now the real work begins, folks. Follow along at @POTUS as we build back better. pic.twitter.com/fHViqSqwp2

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 20, 2021

Spotted at the White House: Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff, sporting a unity mask. It’s the message of the day. pic.twitter.com/n1r3DPCGW5

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) January 20, 2021

and I mean like hundreds of people all bringing their a-game all the time, for joe. these things don’t just happen. it’s window dressing but it indicates the stuff that matters will get the same treatment.

— kilgore trout, brad r’s brother (@KT_So_It_Goes) January 21, 2021

The inauguration security barriers will start coming down on Wednesday night, and take 36 hours to be completely removed. https://t.co/OoqFXbjLa9 pic.twitter.com/4NgLJJS9PM

— DCist (@DCist) January 21, 2021

Asian stocks jumped to record highs as investors bet the new U.S. administration under President Joe Biden could mean bigger stimulus spending https://t.co/mHHVL9IQBf pic.twitter.com/HeYh9FMqSH

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Thursday Morning Open Thread: What A Difference A Day MakesPost + Comments (184)

On The Road – Steve from Mendocino – Rorschach

by WaterGirl|  January 21, 20215:00 am| 6 Comments

This post is in: On The Road, Photo Blogging

Steve from Mendocino

On The Road - Steve from Mendocino - Rorschach 7

On The Road – Steve from Mendocino – RorschachPost + Comments (6)

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Wednesday/Thursday, Jan. 20-21

by Anne Laurie|  January 21, 20214:55 am| 23 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Foreign Affairs

Our daily update is published. States reported 1.8M tests, 186k cases, 122,700 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and a record 4,409 deaths. pic.twitter.com/5WYUdLQoFw

— The COVID Tracking Project (@COVID19Tracking) January 21, 2021

show full post on front page

NEW: Amazon has extended an offer to President Joe Biden to assist with the national distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, a move that could expedite the federal effort to combat the pandemic.

More from @DylanByers. ??https://t.co/FNNNwuXTd7

— NBC News Business (@NBCNewsBusiness) January 20, 2021

WOW—Biden WH is much more aggressive with #COVID19 safety and testing—and so much more organized says CBS News @PaulaReidCBS.

Adults are clearly back in the WH. pic.twitter.com/T73LodKe3n

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 20, 2021

Tomorrow morning, early on the East Coast, the U.S. will rejoin the World Health Organization.

Representing the U.S. will be Dr. Anthony Fauci.

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡🇺🇸 (@ASlavitt) January 21, 2021

Surgeon General resigns at Biden’s request. The ouster is regarded as a break with the Trump administration’s #coronavirus response, which Biden has called a failure https://t.co/Ri6lQCbFWF pic.twitter.com/8clN4HVMQS

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 21, 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci says President Joe Biden will order the United States to support projects to deploy COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics to people in need around the world. https://t.co/gkXDmHJ3CU

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2021

======

China is turbocharging efforts to discredit Western vaccines & to spread #coronavirus conspiracy theories https://t.co/m3KN4QPGy1

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

India's vaccine diplomacy in south Asia pushes back against China https://t.co/MB9dIwycP8 pic.twitter.com/gSP6KOlyXg

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Sri Lanka reopens to foreign tourists after a nearly 10-month pandemic closure that cut deeply into the Indian Ocean island nation’s lucrative travel industry. https://t.co/K6h71cR9ZB

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2021

Europe’s growing mask request: Ditch the cloth ones for medical-grade coverings https://t.co/5iMdWaVdYL

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

On Britain's COVID-19 frontline, medics and patients fight for life https://t.co/rI6dBkmkwC pic.twitter.com/Vs6pHLSyZQ

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Infections in Germany have been on the decline for 10 days in a row.https://t.co/shM2bapbLS

— DW News (@dwnews) January 21, 2021

UK emergency services trying to protect AstraZeneca vaccine factory from flooding – LBC https://t.co/qUdmKglMAG pic.twitter.com/LkTfiGoMVv

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Coronavirus latest:
– Spain reports highest ever number of daily infections
– Covid patients now occupy 19.95% of hospital beds and 35.02% of ICUs – rates higher than the first wave
– In the last seven days, 1,759 deaths have been recorded https://t.co/SCQEQXGOHP

— El País English Edition (@elpaisinenglish) January 21, 2021

Sweden extends pandemic curbs amid tentative signs of slowing outbreak https://t.co/FXXHcUedJi pic.twitter.com/DQYRqaL3f3

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Covid: Israel vaccine fears 'out of context and inaccurate' https://t.co/RdDdLlRPFt

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 21, 2021

Kenya reports two cases of new coronavirus variant first seen in South Africa https://t.co/RILQL2k2VH pic.twitter.com/OcgWz6qZvY

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Australia posts zero virus cases, state chief calls for 'Pacific bubble' https://t.co/pP7gWsk5KD pic.twitter.com/FctZEjTWJe

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Ecuador says first batch of 18 million contracted doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive https://t.co/5CVc0cH3h6 pic.twitter.com/VXu15UJxwB

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 21, 2021

Peru’s doctors stage hunger strike to protest the lack of equipment https://t.co/woptmzz2Zj

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

======

'We know this is real:" The special needs of COVID 'long haulers,' is giving rise to new clinics. New York City's Mount Sinai has a clinic with over 1,600 patients https://t.co/SEt1bamjSj via @medical_xpress

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

Scientists are reporting troubling signs that some recent mutations of the coronavirus may modestly curb the effectiveness of two current vaccines. But they stress that the shots still protect.https://t.co/lxA2I6chPU

— AP Health & Science (@APHealthScience) January 20, 2021

More potential COVID-19 vaccines to fight the pandemic still are being tested, and some researchers are driving mobile labs into neighborhoods to recruit diverse volunteers. https://t.co/6FoWvJckke

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2021

How does SARSCoV2 destroy your sense of smell? New research suggests the #coronavirus's many neurological symptoms can be explained by the body's widespread inflammatory response & associated blood vessel damage https://t.co/PTQ3nV6j59 via @medical_xpress

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

New trial finds arthritis drug tocilizumab no better than standard care for severe COVID-19 https://t.co/udVYiWfVe3 via @medical_xpress

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

======

Thousands of appointments for vaccination are being canceled as the U.S. vaccine supply dwindles https://t.co/Az8pqP9gmK

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 21, 2021

A new California variant may be driving the virus surge in the state. In late December California scientists began searching for a fast-spreading new variant that had just been identified in the UK. What they found: Calif had a mutant of its own—CAL.20C https://t.co/khDgO7XAly

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

Much of Texas remains overrun by the virus, threatening U.S. progress https://t.co/OV5I5PQy2z

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 20, 2021

Biden is ‘inheriting a disaster’ as coronavirus infections continue to grip the nation amid a chaotic vaccine rollout https://t.co/CsxpNGBtkQ pic.twitter.com/TUTo7GDJMX

— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) January 21, 2021

… Biden is taking power as the national numbers are at, or very close to, the peak of their winter surge. The only reason the numbers are likely to decline in coming weeks is that the virus has been so efficient in spreading that it is starting to run out of new victims. The virus that for most of last year operated with a wide-open landscape of “susceptibles” now finds itself in a different biological situation, having infected so many people that it often collides with human immunity…

Experts warn against fatalism and continue to urge people to focus on what they can do to crush the pandemic. That includes getting vaccinated. The experts agree that one of Biden’s challenges, and that of the scientific community more broadly, is to persuade skeptics that the vaccines are not only safe for individuals but critical to the common good…

“This pandemic has plunged us to the bottom of a very deep well,” Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, wrote on Twitter on Monday. “After recovering from the shock of a long, abrupt fall into cold, fetid water, we looked up and saw only darkness. But we did find a ladder leading upward.”

COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Wednesday/Thursday, Jan. 20-21Post + Comments (23)

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