George A. Sprecace M.D.,
J.D., F.A.C.P. and Allergy
Associates of New
London,
P.C.
www.asthma.drsprecace.com
RAPID
RESPONSE (Archives)...Daily Commentary on News of the Day
This is a new
section. It will
offer fresh,
quick reactions by myself to news and events of the day, day by day, in
this rapid-fire world of ours. Of course, as in military
campaigns,
a rapid response in one direction may occasionally have to be followed
by a "strategic withdrawal" in another direction. Charge that
to
"the fog of war", and to the necessary flexibility any mental or
military
campaign must maintain to be effective. But the mission will
always
be the same: common sense, based upon facts and "real politick",
supported
by a visceral sense of Justice and a commitment to be
pro-active.
That's all I promise.
GS
NOW HEAR THIS: What
our nation, under President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
is doing around the world - as the craven mainstream media and
Democrats snap at their heals. MAKES YOU PROUD!
Top Stories • Joe Biden Calls Killing Babies in Abortions “Essential Health Care That Cannot be Delayed” • Liberal Reporter to President Trump: Do You Deserve Re-Election After Killing 55,000 Americans? • Hillary Clinton Endorses Pro-Abortion Joe Biden, Who Supports Abortions Up to Birth • Catholic Bishop Slams Gov Gretchen Whitmer: Killing Babies in Abortions is Not “Life-Sustaining”
More Pro-Life News • Tara Reade Slams Joe Biden: “You Claim to Champion Women’s Rights,” But You Sexually Assaulted Me • Liberal Media Doesn’t Ask Women Who May be Joe Biden’s VP About Sexual Assault Allegations • Governor Ralph Northam Ordered Churches Closed But Let Abortion Clinics Kill Babies • Criminal Charges Dismissed Against Elderly Pro-Lifer for Praying Outside Abortion Clinic • Scroll Down for Several More Pro-Life News Stories
MONDAY,
April 27,
2020
LOST WORDS FROM OUR CHILDHOOD...
but not lost to us
OLD GEEZERS.
GS
Lost Words From Our Childhood Mergatroyd!
Do you remember that word? Would you believe the spell-checker
did not recognize the word Mergatroyd? Heavens to Mergatroyd! The
other day a not so elderly (I say 75) lady said something to her son
about driving a Jalopy; and he looked at
her quizzically and said, "What the heck is a Jalopy?" He had
never heard of the word jalopy! She knew she was old ... But not
that old. Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle. About
a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become
obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These
phrases included: Don't touch that dial,
Carbon copy, You sound like a broken record, and Hung out to dry. Back
in the olden days we had a lot of
moxie . We'd put on our best bib and tucker,
to straighten up and fly right. Heavens
to Betsy! Gee
whillikers!
Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy Moley! We
were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley ; and
even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being
a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a
pill. Not for all the tea in China! Back
in the olden days, life used to be
swell, but when's the last time
anything was swell? Swell has gone the way of
beehives, pageboys and the D.A.; of spats, knickers, fedoras, poodle
skirts, saddle shoes, and pedal pushers. Oh, my aching back! Kilroy was here, but he isn't anymore. We
wake up from what surely has been just a short nap, and before we can
say, "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!" Or, "This is a fine
kettle of fish!" We discover that the
words we grew up with, the words that seemed omnipresent, as oxygen,
have vanished with scarcely a notice from our tongues and our pens and
our keyboards. Poof,
go the words of our youth, the words we've left behind. We blink,
and they're gone. Where have all those great phrases gone? Long
gone: Pshaw, The milkman did it. Hey! It's your
nickel. Don't forget to pull the
chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well,
Fiddlesticks! Going like
sixty. I'll
see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels.
Wake up and smell the roses. It
turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than
Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing
stuff! (Carter's Little Liver Pills are gone too!) Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth... See ya later, alligator! Okidoki. You'll notice they left out "Monkey Business"!!! WE
ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FABULOUS 50'S ... NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY AGAIN .. WE WERE GIVEN ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS
GIFTS: LIVING IN THE PEACEFUL AND COMFORTABLE TIMES, CREATED FOR
US BY THE "GREATEST GENERATION!"
SUNDAY,
April 26,
2020
RR#1
"SO MUCH TO DO. SO LITTLE TIME".
Regarding this Pandemic and this Election Year, I choose to follow the example of Alexander the Great with the Gordian Knot: I'll cut it with my sword (aka my analyses) and proceed.
1)
First, let us dispense with Victimology and also with partisan cheap
shots like "he acted too slowly". We have had "victims" and victims
since the Bible - and that won't change. 2) "TESTING", the new Holy Grail. a)
Most COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic. Vast numbers of people have
been infected; and thus the actual death rate is well below 1%. That's
a lot less that with many other conditions to which we are vulnerable -
especially given the life-styles of half of us. b) A "negative"
test can be a false negative...or it can become "positive" with
re-infection, since antibodies may not be protective. This appears to
be the experience of some sailors from the now - famous aircraft
carrier who...after being sequestered in Guam for two weeks and then
testing "negative", came down with symptoms a few days later. 3) Re. Trump and Putin, and North Korea, and China...(a Special Case!): What's
wrong with "Hold your friends close; hold your enemies closer). Those
who oppose that approach are ignorant or stupid...or most likely
self-serving on a grand scale. 4) Joe Biden and the Democratic Party
are WORRIED, as well they should be, regarding his health and regarding
an invasion or abandonment from the insane Left. 5) Meanwhile, we
all should be Worried about the conduct of the November election, with
real issues like voter suppression, vote stealing, foreign meddling,
and particularly hacking of U.S. voting systems. See the warnings of
the expert Harri Hursti in the detailed article in WSJ April 25-26,
2020. "Mr. Hirsti thinks that the only way to ensure fair election results is to vote on hand-marked paper ballots." He's not kidding. 6)
More on TESTING. The general public, when they think about it, will not
want to be tested (without suggestive symptoms), only to face at least
two weeks of forced quarantine and broad contact testing. And to
what end? All of us who are asymptomatic, with or without infection,
will have to "social distance" and"mask" for many months to come, if we
are personally prudent and socially responsible. Meanwhile, the
advising service Academics will have plenty of Data, their mother's
milk, with which to produce more reliable Projections. e) Now:
Open the Nation for business before we produce a deep Depression,
social unrest or worse...and the possibility of foreign adventurism
with grave consequences. f) That brings up the question of Life and Death. Remember those concepts? See the book review on that topic entitled: "Hiding From Life To Stay Alive" (in WSJ April 25-26, 2020). "Death was once a familiar fact of life. Today we confront it so rarely that we have been left culturally unprepared." Well: Live individually responsibly, act socially and helpfully, and remember the motto of the Knights of Columbus: "TEMPUS FUGIT. MEMENTO MORI".
GS
RR#2
"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
The Lockdowns Were the Black Swan How and why we went from ‘flatten the curve’ to choosing between our economy and the virus.
By Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., The Wall Street Journal 4.24.2020
To
some the coronavirus is a supporting actor in a drama titled “The
Iniquities of Donald Trump.” Those of more balanced mind wonder whether
Mr. Trump’s failings can be distinguished from the predictable and
expected failings of the U.S. government. But it’s unlikely Mr.
Trump will seem important to historians telling the story. Columbia
University once found that only 20% of flu sufferers and 5% of cold
sufferers bothered to see a doctor. This is why the Wuhan virus was
destined to go world-wide even if China had been upfront or an American
president had been clairvoyant. Every bit of data since has confirmed
it. Infectious respiratory diseases are a fact of nature. Beijing was
finally driven to action by the same consideration that drove other
countries to action—when the number of infected people and the duration
of their cases overwhelmed a local hospital system. This is the
proximate crisis that called for a public response around the world.
Novel pandemic diseases are not a black swan. Our lockdown response was
a black swan. We started off sensibly. “This is not something
[American families] generally need to worry about,” said CDC’s Dr.
Nancy Messonnier in mid-January. “It’s a very, very low risk to the
United States,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci a week later. Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, urged residents to go about their business normally as recently as March 11. As
coldblooded as it seems, these were the right statements at the time.
Under “flatten the curve,” changes in public behavior aren’t needed
until they are needed. Roll that around in your mind a bit. The better
we do at equipping local hospitals, the less we need to bankrupt local
businesses and their workers to slow the virus as it runs its course
through society. That was the idea we started with. Not even the
U.K. Imperial College study that so alarmed the world’s policy makers
recommended indiscriminate lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders. If we
meant what we said, we’ve overshot in many places. Beds are empty. A
ventilator shortage did not materialize. We failed to set aside enough
capacity to treat other medical conditions like strokes and heart
attacks. This is costing lives. What happened? From Bill Gates to
your local editorialist, a new priority waddled to the fore. We decided
that, whatever contributes to killing Americans at a routine total rate
of 8,000 or so a day, it shouldn’t be the coronavirus. Accidents, yes—6% of deaths. Heart disease, yes—23%. Flu and pneumonia, yes—2%. These
deaths are allowed but not deaths from the coronavirus even at the cost
of economic ruin for millions. Of course, the media and public are free
to decide now they never wanted “flatten the curve”; they wanted to be
spared the virus altogether. But explain how this is to be done. And
explain why. The Economist magazine says we can’t restart the economy
without an “unprecedented” $180 billion testing regime. Unprecedented
is an interesting word because China, a country of 1.4 billion people
with eight cities larger than New York, either must have developed such
a system with nobody noticing or hasn’t found it necessary. With its
porous southern border, with its nine million overseas citizens who can
come home whenever they want, the U.S. isn’t New Zealand. Even so, I
wonder if New Zealand a year from now will think it was sensible to
seal itself off from the world to avoid a disease that may not be more
deadly for the average person than the flu and certainly will not be
extinguished elsewhere. U.S. politicians, sensitive to their
survival in office, are stuck trying to save their constituents
simultaneously from the virus and poverty, and get only cheap shots
from the media. Restarting the economy will lead to more coronavirus
deaths—and more motor-vehicle deaths, more workplace deaths, even flu
deaths. What Americans need now is not another celebrity ad
repeating the unsustainable “stay at home” mantra. They need detailed
advice from government about how transmission does and does not occur
(do masks help? are surface residues a significant threat? does
infection confer immunity?) so they can learn to live with a virus that
isn’t going away at least until a vaccine is developed. And, for
God’s sake, the media should stop confusing “infection fatality rate”
with “case fatality rate,” grotesquely misleading the public on the
true death rate. It’s hard to see why anybody would even report case
fatality rate, a number without meaning since most of those tested
either had celebrity access to testing or symptoms severe enough to
require hospitalization (i.e., the equivalent of counting drunks and
people who drive blue Austin-Healeys to estimate the risk of dying in a
car accident). Notice I have not mentioned Donald Trump since the
second paragraph, because he has yet to find a way to be particularly
relevant to this story—which I know will be shocking to readers who
think the failings of Mr. Trump dwarf all other narratives.
RR#3
"True, True, And Related". That's the multiple choice answer to most of Cal Thomas' articles. This
one is no different, essentially documenting the decline and fall of
"Journalism". Long after the infection called "Trump Derangement
Syndrome" has cleared, many but not all of the current patients who
still consider themselves "journalists" will rue these years and the
lasting effects on their Profession. "The 'Acela Media' Controls The Message" (in The Day, April 26, 2020).
GS
SATURDAY,
April 25,
2020
RR#1
REGARDING COVID-19 AND OPENING UP AMERICA: These comments are exactly on point.
"JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM; JUST THE FACTS"...FOR A CHANGE.
We
the People continue to be misled by the Experts who have little
humility regarding the limitations of their Projections in a world of
cold Facts. Initially, there were few Facts. Now there are ample
Facts on which to establish policies - by the Leaders in Command and
not by the advising Service personnel. Anyone who has been in Military
Service will recognize these terms and the critical distinction between
them.
A fine article appears in the ct viewpoints section of ctmirror.org. April 24, 2020, by Jim Miller. "Why Won't More Governors Reopen The States?" Presenting very relevant Facts , Mr. Miller also poses an important conclusion: "Now that we finally have the information to understand how COVID-19 spreads, it is time for our government to start trusting the people."
GS
RR#3
THE TITLE OF THIS RESEARCH EXPOSE' IS TOO TAME.
ITALY AND THE ITALIAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED THERE SINCE THIS YEAR BEGAN, HAVE BEEN RAPED... BY CHINA IN WILLING COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNIST AND SOCIALIST ITALIAN "LEADERS". How this came about is clearly described in this work, reproduced in toto below. Whether
or not Americans have an ounce of Italian blood in them, they are all
vulnerable to this destruction through the machinations of the
"Leftists" among us and who may be about to take over the Democratic
Party...and perhaps the nation itself. There are, however, two ways in which America will not succumb. The
first and safest way is a substantial win by President Trump in the
coming 2020 election, together with retention at least of the Senate. The
second way is based upon the history and character of America and of
Americans. Their motto is not "Make Love, Not War". Their fail-safe
position was well recognized by Admiral Yamamoto, who lived for a time
in this country and who brought back to his leaders a clear warning: "In America there is a gun behind every blade of grass".
GS
Montecalvo,
Lombardy, Italy . As I sit here in my involuntary isolation, it was
just reported that overnight 743 more people died and 5.249 new cases
have been reported. This brings the total cases of infection to 69,176
and the body count to 6,820. We take relief in knowing that 8,326
people have recovered so far. (Numbers as of 3/24, 8:30pm in Italy.)
Most
towns here in Italy, from the upper reaches of the Alps to the ancient
shores of Sicilia and Sardenia, while not deserted, are closer to being
ghost towns than the bustling centers of tourism, business and daily
life they were just a few weeks ago. Stores and shops have been
shuttered. Restaurants and coffee shops no longer serve customers.
Schools, universities, sporting arenas…even our museums and
theaters…all closed. Even the Vatican City has closed its gates and
armed patrols monitor the 20 foot tall walls that protect it! Streets
and roads are now empty for as far as the eye can see. Normally they
would be filled with crazed Italian drivers in tiny cars and scooters
(the ones that sound like demonic insects) darting here and there,
reaching the limits of centrifugal force on our roundabouts. In the
piazze of our towns and cities, there are now officially more pigeons
than people. Many of us know someone who has been infected and
recovered. Some of us know someone who did not recover…now they are
dead. But everyone knows someone who has been affected by this
microscopic monster in one way or another. Sixty million of us are
in lockdown…it is like a war zone here. We are being held prisoner in
our own homes by an unseen enemy that sneaked in unnoticed…by most of
us. As you will read in just a few more minutes, there were those who
knew something like this was coming…or at least they should have. So
who is to blame? With all this craziness swirling like a whirlpool at
our feet, I just had to find the blame answer. And so I have spent my
free time (of which I have a lot in these days) digging and
researching. I was literally shocked to discover how this has come to
be. I am not going to bore you with talk of Patient ‘0’ who spread
it to Patient ‘1’ and how mathematics efficiently explains the rapid
expansion of infection. No…I am going to tell you how (as I see it) the
virus came to Italy. It has everything to do with communists. Allow me to explain. Beginning
in about 2014, Matteo Renzi, the imbecile ex-mayor of Firenze
(Florence) acting as the leader of the Partito Democratico (synonymous
with the Italian Communist party), somehow managed to get himself
elected as Italy’s Prime Minister To give you a proper frame of
reference, Matteo Renzi was so far left, he would make Barack Obama
look like Barry Goldwater! At the same time that Renzi was leading
Italy into oblivion, strange things were happening in Italy’s economy.
Banks were failing…but not closing. Retirement ages were being
extended…for some reason the pension funds were dwindling or
disappearing. The national sales tax we call IVA (Value Added Tax) rose
from 18% to 20%, then to 21% and again to 22%. And in the midst of
all this financial chicanery, the Chinese began furiously buying up
Italian real estate and businesses in the North. Now the reason I
mention Renzi and the Chinese together is that strange things were also
going on between the governments of Italy and China. A blind eye was
being turned to the way the Chinese were buying businesses in the
financial, telecommunication, industrial and fashion sectors of Italy’s
economy, all of which take place in Milano. To be brief…China was
getting away with purchases and acquisitions in violation of Italian
law and EU Trade Agreements with the US and the UK…and no one in either
of those countries (not Obama in the US or Cameron in the UK) said a
thing in their country’s defense. As a matter of fact, much of it was
hidden from the public in all three countries. In 2014, China
infused the Italian economy with €5 billion through purchases of
companies costing less than €100 million each. By the time Renzi left
office (in disgrace) in 2016, Chinese acquisitions had exceeded €52
billion. When the dust settled, China owned more than 300
companies…representing 27% of the major Italian corporations. The
Bank of China now owns five major banks in Italy…all of which had been
secretly (and illegally) propped up by Renzi using pilfered pension
funds! Soon after, the China Milano Equity Exchange was opened and much
of Italy’s wealth was being funneled back to the Chinese mainland. Chinese
state entities own Italy’s major telecommunication corporation
(Telecom) as well as its major utilities (ENI and ENEL). Upon entry
into the telecommunication market, Huawei established a facility in
Segrate, a suburb of Milano. It launched its first research center
there and worked on the study of microwaves which has resulted in the
possibly-dangerous technology we call 5G. China also now owns
controlling interest in Fiat-Chrysler, Prysmian and Terna. You will be
surprised to know that when you put a set of Pirelli tires on your car,
the profits are going to China. Yep…the Chinese colossus of ChemChina,
a chemical industry titan, bought that company too! Last but not
least is Ferretti yachts…the most prestigious yacht builder in Europe.
Incredibly, it is no longer owned by the Ferretti family. But the
sector in which Chinese companies invested most was Italy’s profitable
fashion industry. The Pinco Pallino, Miss Sixty, Sergio Tacchini,
Roberta di Camerino and Mariella Burani brands have been acquired by
100%. Designer Salvatore Ferragamo sold 16% and Caruso sold 35%. The
most famous case is Krizia, purchased in 2014 by Shenzhen Marisfrolg
Fashion Company, one of the leaders of high-priced, ready-to-wear
fashions in Asia. Throughout all of these purchases and
acquisitions, Renzi’s government afforded the Chinese unrestricted and
unfettered access to Italy and its financial markets, many coming
through without customs inspections. Quite literally, tens of
thousands of Chinese came in through Milano (illegally) and went back
out carrying money, technology and corporate secrets. Thousands more
were allowed to enter and disappeared into shadows of Milano and other
manufacturing cities of Lombardy, only to surface in illegal sewing
shops, producing knock-off designer clothes and slapping ‘Made In
Italy’ labels on them. All with the tacit approval of the Renzi
government. It was not until there was a change in the governing
party in Italy that the sweatshops and the illegal entry and departure
of Chinese nationals was stopped. Matteo Salvini, representing the Lega
Nord party, closed Italy’s ports to immigrants and systematically began
disassembling the sweatshops and deporting those in Italy illegally. But
his rise to power was short-lived. Italy is a communist
country…socialism is in the national DNA. Ways were found to remove
Salvini, after which the communist party, under the direction of
Giuseppe Conte, reopened the ports. Immediately, thousands of unvetted,
undocumented refugees from the Middle East and East Africa began
pouring in again. Access was again provided to the Chinese, under
the old terms, and as a consequence thousands of Chinese, the majority
from Wuhan, began arriving in Milano. In December of last year, the
first inklings of a coronavirus were noticed in Lombardy…in the Chinese
neighborhoods. There is no doubt amongst senior medical officials that
the virus was brought here from China. By the end of January 2020
cases were being reported left and right. By mid-February the virus was
beginning to seriously overload the Lombardy hospitals and medical
clinics. They are now in a state of collapse. The Far-Left
politicians sold out and betrayed the Italian people with open border
policies and social justice programs. One of the reasons the health
care system collapsed so quickly is because the Renzi government (and
now continued under the Conte government) redirected funds meant to
sustain the medical system, to pay for the tens of thousands of
immigrants brought in to Italy against the will of the Italian people. If
you remember the horrible earthquake that decimated the villages around
Amatricia, in the mountains east of Rome in 2015, you would also
remember how the world responded by sending millions of dollars to help
those affected. But there is a law in Italy that prevents private
donations to charitable Italian organizations. All money and donations
received must be turned over to a government agency, who in turn is to
appropriate the funds as needed. But that agency is corrupt just as are
all the others. Most of the money never reached a single victim in
the mountains. The Renzi government redirected the vast majority of
those funds to pay for the growing immigrant and refugee costs. As
the economy worsened under the burden of illegal immigration,
compounded by gross government spending and incompetence, unemployment
rose quickly…especially among young people. The unemployment rate for
men and women under age 35 is close to 40%. So more money was
diverted from the health care system and used to pay what is known here
as guaranteed income. Whether you work or not you are paid here,
especially if you belong to the PD! The government simply raises taxes
on those who do work. Let me give you a quick example of the height
of insanity to which Italian taxation has risen. If you live in a
building that has a balcony or balconies…and any of those balconies
cast a shadow on the ground, you must pay a public shadow tax! I will
say no more! The point I am trying to make here is that not only did
the Chinese bring the virus to Italy (and the rest of the world) it was
far-Left politics and policies that facilitated it. This should
hopefully be a warning to Americans that while they work to rid
themselves of the China Virus, they should just as vehemently endeavor
to rid their government of any politician that circumvents the
Constitution and ignores the laws of the land…plain and simple. ________________________________________
Giacomino
Nicolazzo is one of Italy’s most beloved writers. Born and raised
in Central Pennsylvania, he lives in a small village in Lombardy where
he writes his books.
MORE ON "CLINICAL (OBSERVATIONAL) MEDICINE"... and the "experts".
Reproduced
here is an important article based on the observations and advice of
Dr. Richard Levitan regarding treatment of COVID-19 patients with
sub-clinical pneumonia. A simple and valuable finding is dismissed by
the American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association...an
opinion which I consider CHUTZPA too often reflected by the official
experts in some of their declarations. "Should You Use A Simple Pulse Oximeter To Detect COVOD-19 Symptoms" (www.ecowatch.com, April 22, 2020).
I’m
not posting this for debate. I don’t need any comments. Just please
consider this: the President is very often a jerk. He’s crude, he
bloviates, he gets his feelings hurt and he’s a hothead.
Let me
tell you what else he is: he's a guy who demands performance. He's a
guy who asks lots of questions that aren’t cloaked in fancy phrases.
They are “Why the hell...?” questions.
For decades the health
industry has thrown away billions of face masks after one use. Trump
asks, “Why the hell are we throwing them away? Why not sterilize them
and use them numerous times?” He’s the guy that gets hospital ships
readied in one week when it would have taken a bureaucrat weeks or
months to get it done. He’s the guy who gets temporary hospitals built
in three days. He’s the guy who gets industries to build ventilators
and face masks in a business that’s highly regulated by agencies that
move like sloths.
He’s the guy who asks why we aren’t using
drugs that might work on people who are dying. He’s the guy who shut
down travel from China when liberals and the media were screaming
"xenophobia" and "racist". Now they're asking why didn't he react
sooner? He’s the guy who ran on securing the border in the face of a
screaming press and media. When he shut down borders in the midst of
this pandemic, they were up in arms over such a draconian move. Then
the rest of the world followed suit, including the European Union
between member countries.
Has Trump made mistakes, yep. Everyone
I know would have. None of these experts would have done any better.
He's working harder than I’ve ever seen a President work. He isn’t
hiding in his office, he’s out front every day. Take, for instance,
all the shortages of PPE’s and ventilators. I’m unaware of anything
preventing governors from ordering all the PPE and ventilators they
need for emergency purposes over the last two years. And yet, somehow
it's Trump’s fault that they didn’t.
He’s balanced his approach
and listened to the experts when his detractors said he wouldn’t and
couldn’t. When he offers hope, he’s lying. When he’s straight forward,
he should be more hopeful. It’s a no-win for him, but he is not
deterred by the interminable BS coming from the press and liberals.
I’ll take this kind of leadership over a nice guy who can make eloquent speeches.
RR#4
HOW MANY TIMES TO WE HAVE TO HEAR THIS REGARDING MEDICINES THAT HAVE BEEN USED CAREFULLY, SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY FOR DECADES?
The New York Times: "All The News That Fits We'll Print - And We'll Opine On Every Page And In Every Article." There was a time when that was called "Yellow Journalism". But "Fake News" will also do.
AS SO MANY OF YOU LANGUISH AT HOME, here is some real information to read about the continuing COVID-19 saga. And, as all parents have said at least once: SOME DAY YOU'LL THANK ME.
1) What President Trump has had to deal with from the beginning: "Health Chief's Missteps Set Back Virus Response", by Ballhaus and Armour (in WSJ April 23, 2020, pA1. 2) "Maybe The Experts Were Right About COVID-19 The First Time",
by J. Sternberg (in WSJ April 24, 2020, Opinion, pA15). This article
addresses the initial choice of "Herd Immunity" vs. "Lockdown". The
author describes the inevitable failure of Lockdown. 3) "How We'll Live With Coronavirus", by Daniel Henninger (in WSJ April 23, 2020, Opinion, pA13). "Millions
of years of human behavior are going to overwhelm the state
lockdowns...These aren't Trumpian mobs. It is not the rise of
anti-science. It is humanity re-establishing social equilibrium. For
that, we don't need instruction." Democrats, take note.
KNOW THE ENEMY: COMPREHENSIVE NEWS ABOUT COVID-19.
What
concerns me, in a rapidly developing invasion such as this, is an
over-emphasis on time-consuming formal scientific studies in all cases
to the detriment of the patient dying in the bed. A vast amount of
medical knowledge still applicable has been derived from careful
clinical observation at the bedside, deduction and trial-and-error
treatment. This should continue to be the prerogative and the
responsibility of the attending physician in consultation with his
patient.
HERE'S SOME HOMEWORK FOR ALL OF YOU ADULTS AT HOME. These article titles speak to the direction of thought about COVID-19, even without looking them up. But they are also good journalism.
1)"They're Death Pits': Virus Claims At Least 7,000 Lives in U.S. Nursing Homes." (Yahoo.com) 2) "Keep Workers Healthy On The Job". (WSJ). 3) "New Data Suggest The Coronavirus Isn't As Deadly As We Thought". (WSJ). 4) "The Hidden Toll Of Untreated Illnesses". (WSJ). 5) "Haywire Immune Reactions Linked To Most Severe Cases". 6) "Lockdowns Won't Stop The Spread".(WSJ). 7) "A Coronavirus Reckoning For The Left". (WSJ). 8) "World Health Disinformation". (WSJ). 9) "Pandemic Exposes Stark Health Disparities Generations In The Making". (ctmirror.org). This
relates to the excess attack rate and deaths among the Black
population. One likely medical reason for this lies in the extra
melanin in the skin of black people...and to a lesser extent in
Italians and Spaniards, also more susceptible. Excess melanin blocks
Vitamin D absorption, a substance necessary for health of the Immune
system. Of course, there are also Many socio-economic issues, of some of which they are victims.
This
Pandemic is a national and personal Crisis which will be with us for
many months and perhaps for years. This is Not the time for doctrinaire
declarations for one direction or another. This is the time for
knowledge, reason, common sense and a commitment to achieving the
Greatest Good For The Greatest Number. That is called LEADERSHIP.
'LEST WE FORGET, OR NEVER KNEW... see: "Seven Fateful Coronavirus Decisions", by Robert C. O'Brien (in WSJ April 21, 2020, Opinion, pA17. For
more details regarding this trip, see my Rapid Response comments on the
subject that began in late February. I can say that I stand on my
reactions and reflexes since that time.
GS
RR#4
FYI: COVID-19 IN CHILDREN. This,
together with new findings about the high number of people found
positive for Coveravirus infection without ever having had any
symptoms, puts the actual mortality rate from this infection well below
1% and similar to that for influenza. It also decreases the eventual
time for achieving Herd Immunity and for providing a larger reservoir
of antibodies for Passive Immunizations.
HERE IS THE POPE'S CHRISTIAN MESSAGE, 2,000 YEARS OLD. How
it is implemented, whether by an imposed Socialism or Fascism...or by
an enlightened humanistic regard for one's brother, it still is the
right message addressed to our greater nature. It is what the Vicar of
Christ must do - and all he can do.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION...AND NEVER FORGET. Meanwhile, remember the Two victims of COV-19 infection: the
patients sick and dying in the beds, And the millions of patients dying
economically. They have become equally important...and Both need better
care. The patients in the beds need earlier and different medical
treatment, from the picture that is developing now: more than "sound
and fury". The patients dying economically equally need resuscitation, AND NOW, in the form of a back-to-work prescription. And
don't expect the Professional Medical People, the Advisors, to consider
some inevitable trade-offs. It is the Leaders, the Command structure in
Military language, who must make these decisions. That will be
difficult enough without the political "GOTCHA GAMES" that the
"Never-Trumpers" continue to play at every step of the way. Shameful...and Americans will remember that in November.
SHORT AND NOT-SO-SWEET, BUT INFORMATIVE. The following "Pearls" are based on recent articles, and on my considered opinions. As always: "Caveat Emptor".
1)
Dr. Fauci will continue Projecting well into the future with whatever
Facts he has or does not have, with little regard for the other
"patient": the seriously ill Economic patient...Macro and Micro. And
perhaps that is as it should be - from an Advisor and Not as a Decision-Maker. 2)
Dr. Oz has also raised the question of whether ventilators help or
harm. Good question, as I have noted elsewhere several times. 3) Ethicist Arthur Kaplan has addressed the question: "Who Gets A Ventilator? Rationing Aid In COVID-19 - An Ethicist's View", (in http://www.medscape.com, April 12, 2020). Right On! In a Pandemic or other Medical Crisis, Triage must be in the medical bag. 4) Blacks and other dark-skinned people
(eg Italy, Spain...) have a higher incidence of COVID-19
infection...and also of resulting death. And although the following is
true today of the general population for various reasons, They
have very low levels of Vitamine D! This particular deficiency weakens
the Immune System! GET THEE TO A DOCTOR FOR A TEST (25
HYDROXY VITAMINE D) AND THEN PROBABLY TO TREATMENT WITH VITAMINE D3! 5) "Presidential Power Is Limited But Vast", by Rivkin and Casey (in WSJ April 16, 2020, Opinion, pA15). This is as it should be in Constitutional America. 6) Look up "Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Therapy: the best treatment for COVID-19 severe infection. Look it up. 7)
President Trump is Right to push for early re-opening America for
business...to treat the acutely ill Macro and also Micro economic
patients. And there should also be consideration given to high vs low
density populations - including in different parts of Connecticut. But
he and each of us should have another serious concern besides our
economic health: THE HEALTH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND
RIGHT TO PRIVACY! Beware The Scope of "Testing and
Tracking". 8) Regarding Nursing Homes: What's going on here?
Is the High incidence of COVID-19 infections the canary in the mine
regarding infections in general? See the related article in
http://www.ctmirror.org, April 17, 2020.
For at least the
last several weeks, I have been sharing my observations on this
pandemic and on the professional and public approaches to it. This is
from the vantage point of a life attentively lived since 1933 - and as
a still practising physician since 1957, in Allergy / Immunology and
Chest Diseases - and also in the Army Medical Corps in a General
Hospital. I report this simply to note that I am not a neophyte making
these observations. So now, let's begin with a review of the Stages of this Pandemic.
Stage
1 consisted of Rumors, partial information, withheld and false
information - from at least early December through January. By
that time, at least President Trump had enough information and insight
to close the American borders to Chinese travelers and then to others.
Stage
2, February, was a gathering storm wherein the Professional Advisors -
as distinguished from the Leaders - provided the history of past
pandemics and the Projections based upon that history and some Facts.
It soon became clear that the Advisors tended to project far into the
future, still based on then - limited Facts...and that they restricted
themselves exclusively to the public's medical needs without regard to
that same public's economic needs. That was probably as it should be.
Stage
3. But there was another story to be told, equally important in the
long run, related to the survival of the same public / patient and of
the entire nation. As more Facts became available, the Projections
became more tenuous and less grave, without change in the approach of
the Professionals. That too was probably as it should be. But no one
should be surprised that those Leaders, charged with serious decision-
making should and would start taking charge. This is analogous to the
Military structure, with the Leaders / Commanders and then with the
Service personnel who Advise but who Do Not Lead.
Stage 4 is
therefore where we are now, where it is clearly inappropriate for
the Professionals to insist on the Medical needs of the patient in
their beds and who resist consideration for the patient on Main Street
trying to feed his or family. It is all the more inappropriate
when the treating Professionals have begun to have serious misgivings
regarding HOW TO TREAT THEIR PATIENTS: Is the pathophysiology of
this new virus infection one of direct invasion or rather one
triggering that blunt weapon of the Immune System called the
Inflammatory System. The treatment would be largely different. Does
the ventilator help or harm? Should the patient's position be supine or
prone? Is Oxygen deprivation the real issue? Has Hypercoagulation been
missed? Should Steroids be a basic part of treatment instead of being
maligned? So, the Professionals have enough to do without arguing with the policy-makers dealing with the other patient on Main Street. Here, an interesting report notes that "Dr. OZ Apologizes for Saying Schools Should Reopen Because 'Only 2 to 3 Percent More People Could Die",
(in http://www.yahoo.com/entertainment, April 17, 2020). Once this
Professional decided to comment on Policy, he should not have
apologized. He was rightly reflecting the Fact that - in a crisis
situation - the concept of Triage is basic to planning and to
implementation.
Therefore, what is needed now, in addition to the best
medical care for the greatest number, is a Sense of Proportion,
Reason, Common Sense by the LEADERS, and a healthy regard for Freedom
and Liberty on the part of each of us individual citizens.
GS
RR#3
DAVID STOCKMAN IS ONE OF OUR GREAT AMERICAN ECONOMISTS.
"THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH...AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH".
GS
COMMENTARY :
Written by Bill O'Reilly
China’s Bio weapon, and Pelosi..
My
wife Angie will tell you that I study history and world events fluently
every day. I have studied China for many years. To get answers I need
to questions, I call many I know in Washington on Capitol Hill (from my
tenure on two Presidential campaigns and Presidential talks) and I ask
them for straight up answers to better understand what affects us as a
nation.
Well, in 2016 America elected a new Sheriff: Donald J
Trump. For decades the Chinese walked all over America but the new
President said “not anymore”. Trump literally strangled China’s economy
to the point their economy was in its worst free fall ever. Trump
negotiated a new 50 billion trade agreement. He had Xi by the
proverbial balls. America’s economy was on fire and unstoppable.
President Xi Jingping knew he could not beat the USA militarily and he
knew any domesticated economic attack would fail as our economy was too
strong. He had to act. But how?
Enter the USA democrats led by
Pelosi and Schiff. Impeachment. A hoax. A distraction for our people
and President. Xi Jingping and his thugs see this. They aren’t stupid.
They have very intelligent intellectual thinkers in their government.
Now you must understand , the Chinese regime are truly Barbarians.
Notice I did not say ALL CHINESE. The Chinese people are a good people.
I enjoy my interactions with them.
The communist regime has
millions of its own citizens slaving in gulags simply for speaking
against the government or openly practicing Christianity. Knowing they
could not attack us openly they needed to be coy, like a deceptive fox.
In my opinion, I believe the regime released a biological weapon upon
the world that doesn’t kill everyone, but kills “enough,” especially
the elderly and in-firmed. Back in WW 2 Hitler thought the same way. He
got rid of what he considered the useless and rejects of society.
Trumps
task force uses models to figure things. Xi used and uses “models” too.
China's president figured that if he killed a few of his own (a few
hundred thousand to them would be a few out of 1.4 billion people) and
spread the virus to other nations (especially to the USA) they would
“level the economic playing field” and not have fired a shot.
Losses
of his own people were acceptable costs of a new war. When China’s own
doctors attempted to sound the warning, they were immediately silenced.
In fact one died and another has simply disappeared. Trump and the
other allied leaders indeed KNOW this is what happened. They have under
reported their own deaths. Trump knows he cannot outrightly seek
retribution. His news conference today showed me this when he balked
publicly about no outright retribution over Xi’s handling of this and
he immediately brought up the “trade deal”. However, Trump wasn’t being
weak, he too was now being coy. We know this was a biological weapon.
The food market story is bullshit.
Xi knows we know it. Trump
also today announced he sent two battle groups of destroyers and other
ships to sea several days ago to fight drugs and rogue actors like Iran
should they try anything.
I say he did this to show Xi he knows
what has transpired (we have the greatest intelligence assets) and that
they (the Chinese) should rethink further action. Politics is premier.
We cannot overtly attack China for what they have done as we would also
suffer greatly. We all know this.
But China has temporarily
achieved its goal. America was literally consumed by Trumps phony
impeachment brought by the ultra left democrats (supported by democrat
rank and file and one Republican Mitt Romney) and Xi Jingping saw an
opening. He took it. Xi did what Trump usually does...he walked onto
the world stage and threw a grenade into the “room” and left. It
exploded in the form of this worldwide pandemic. It brought the USA and
the rest of the world to its knees and leveled the economic playing
field.
Our economy is now near depression. Xi didn’t fire one
bullet. Trump needed to up his game of chess and putting our Naval
ships to sea was his next move. He said he is a “war” President. He is.
But
now on not one but two fronts. One front is the virus and the other
front is the Chinese. While the Saudi’s and Russians are screwing with
oil prices they aren’t overtly doing what this pandemic is doing. The
drug smuggling story for dispatching the Naval Force is bullshit and
the world knows it. I am of the opinion Trump can indeed bring us back
from this catastrophe albeit with a changed playing field.
But
Trump is a genius in chess and financial matters. He’s become a champ
at international politics too. I am sure Trump can once again lead the
economy to even stronger strength and greatness the it was . He can do
it quickly I’m sure of it. He has proved it. Xi Jingping needs to be
sent a message loud and clear. NEVER AGAIN. We need to bring all of our
critical manufacturing back from China beginning with our medicines
they were recently threatening to withhold. We can do it immediately.
Again, another reason for Trump putting to sea such a sizable Naval
Force. Sending a clear message.
We all must ride out the next
few weeks. Then we and the world pick up the pieces and move on. The
democrats who have given Xi this opening wrapped in a bow must pay a
heavy price in November as they (the democrats) truly have cost and
continue to cost America precious lives by the phony scandals. Nancy
Pelosi continues to help the Chinese by her daily shameless attacks
upon the President and meddling in stimulus packages as she did this
last weekend. Yesterday’s statements she made were truly appalling and
the lowest of low. I didn’t think she could go any lower. What a
disgrace she is to our nation.
But, Pelosi aside, make no
mistake, China must and will be taught a lesson the likes they have
never seen before and Trump is the man to pull the trigger.
We
the people must teach the democrats the same lesson at the polls. They
(the radical wing of the party) are the enemy of a free America. I am
certain of it. The entire democrat party of our forefathers is dead.
Remember people, Trump indeed tried to warn us all of the Conavirus in
his State of the Union Speech. He spoke of it. He said he was on top of
it.
After he spoke , Nancy Pelosi ripped up the speech calling
Trumps words “a manifesto of lies”. She disgraced the country and all
of our fellow honored citizens present in the House Chamber. Well she
now has American blood on her hands. She is very majorly responsible
for these needless deaths as well as the Chinese. Her and Adam Schiff.
The
left and democrats laughed as she tore up his speech. Well, as they
laughed the disease he just spoke of in that speech came to our shores.
Republicans and Democrats alike are now dying. Your family members and
mine. Our grandparents and middle aged citizens alike. Bodies are being
loaded in trucks with forklifts in Brooklyn outside of hospitals. No
one is safe. Our liberty is for the most part suspended. As we bury our
dead (without proper funerals) from this calamity let’s drive the nails
into the coffin of the Democrat party as well in November.
It’s
time people. Stand up for your rights and your country! Our Liberty and
survival is at stake! I am praying for God’s blessing on our nation.
But, God also gave us the ability to think for ourselves and it’s time
we placed blame for all this death where it belongs: on the doorsteps
of Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Xi Jingping directly.
Wake Up America.
WAKE UP!
RR#3
TALK ABOUT A "TWO-EDGED SWORD"...CUTTING BOTH WAYS.
The Inflammatory component of our Immune System is finally being
recognized as the central player in many diseases that it is.
It
acts in part by way of the "cytokine system" which is now a major
target of newer therapeutics being developed for many diseases.
And it is, I believe, a central player in the mechanism of damage done
by the Coronavirus. Is anyone listening?
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED,
and what this observer has been saying for a while now.
Here are two MUST READ articles:
1) "It's Still America, Virus or Not",
Editorial, WSJ April 13, 2020, pA16;
2) "We Need Politicians In A Pandemic",
by George Gilder (in WSJ April 13, 2020, pA17.
MORE ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC...AND MORE CONFUSION.
But let's try at least to offer a template with which to think of all
of this.
1) Human Nature, both personal and Medical...
2) The Medical Profession: those practising and those predicting /
projecting..
3) Honest Politician - Leaders: Collect and analyze data; Act, or Not;
Explain..
4) Dishonest Politicians: their only game is GOTCHA!
And then there is the information, the facts, the data.
For this, a construct of Donald Rumsfeld is useful:
The Known ---The Unknowns, including the Known Unknowns and the Unknown
Unknowns, the latter being the most dangerous.
For the following, there are many recent articles, which will not be
quoted here. You should be doing your own reading.
A) The Doctors' Dilemma:
1)
Faced with serious / grave situations, trying, testing, gambling with
treatment approaches. WHY NOT? That's why we call it the PRACTICE OF
MEDICINE. Do the following help or hurt? Ventilators; Supine position;
Hydroxychloriquine; the ICU itself; Steroids; etc.
2) Is testing
Everyone the way to go, with modified and targeted "social distancing",
with an eye toward developing "Herd Immunity"?
3) Should the gagging
of medical "Providers" by their lay superiors ("Suits") be tolerated by
the patient / public for fiscal reasons?
4) Similarly, should the
public be checking to see if this crisis is being "Gamed", also for
financial reasons (as counting all who die with a positive Covid - 19
test be counted as having died FROM that and not actually
from
heart failure or stroke...independently derived? ETC.
B) The Honest Politician - Leader's Dilemma:
1)
"Ex-Health Official: Coronavirus Outbreak Forcing Detroit Residents To
Make An 'Impossible Choice'? Not "impossible", it's their
choice
if the options are the small possibility of contracting the disease or
the actuality of personal and financial disaster for years to come. The
possibility of Death is even smaller; between 1-2% of those who get the
disease.
In a Free Country, that is and should be THEIR CHOICE.
Here, see the recent pointed commentary by Rand Paul.
2) "I'm going to have to
make a decision, and I only hope to God that it's the right decision...the
biggest decision of my life": President Donald Trump.
3)
a) Things Could Be Worse. See the historical article in The Day, April
12, 2020. b) Things Could Be Worse. Six new coronaviruses discovered in
Myanmar. c) "Things
Could Be Worse", a book review of the release by Dan
Crenshaw entitled: "Fortitude: American Resilience In The Era of
Outrage".
4) "Cuomo: Every
Coronavirus Projection Has Been 100% Wrong At This Point",
(in http://www.teaparty.org, April 12, 2020).
C) Dishonest Politicians...and here we add the Main-Stream Media:
1)
We have over three years of lies, half-truths, diatribes and very
likely illegal actions. The latest is the polemic disguised as hard
journalism and published in NYTimes (April 12, 2020):
"Despite
Timely Alerts, Trump Was Slow to Act" (page 1). Here is a fine example
of what you can expect when you try to discuss - from a pro-Trump point
of view - with a Leftist:
"Yeah but..." "Yeah but..." "Yeah but".
FUGGGEDDABBOUUTIT.
And
then we have the reasonable set of PROJECTIONS about the next several
months and about the election results (by Paul Choiniere, The Day
Editorial Page Editor, April 12, 2020).
"Close, but no cigar".
Each of the three scenarios will produce a Win for President Trump, the
"Economic Recovery" option including the takeover of the House and the
retention of the Senate.
I end today's "brief consideration" where everything begins and should
end: with God. Happy
Easter To All.
And check out today's publication by Zenit: the""Urbi et Orbi" Blessing
by His Holiness Pope Francis, in addition to his other remarks and
activities. "Faith, Hope and
Love...And The Greatest Of These is Love".
GS
SATURDAY,
April 11,
2020
RR#1
NOW HEAR THIS!
The lives of individuals and of nations are filled with"lemons".
The way to survive and to thrive is to make "lemonade".
America's
Divorce from an unhealthy and abusive relationship with China could be
the one real and worthwhile benefit from this terrible pandemic.
What we all are going through should
be a humbling experience for all of us:
individuals,
professionals, politicians, clergy - all of us. For despite our
education, training and experience through the ages, we know very
little about what is happening to us from this pandemic. "Should be..." is
the operative phrase.
But is it? Or are we, each of us blindfolded, describing the proverbial
Elephant based upon which part of that animal we feel?
And are we bravely declaring our "treatments" solely on that basis?
As
individuals, we try to rely on the "experts" and on our leaders. But at
some point, since we are free citizens and since Everything in life is
a "Risk-To-Benefit" analysis, we must make our own choices for
ourselves.
Here I refer to a choice between optimal physical health and necessary
economic health...between social distancing and work.
As professionals, we must decide how much to base our professional
actions on the available Facts,
or whether we rely on Projections for far-reaching decisions. Whether
it is the pronouncements of the Epidemiologists,
based too often on Projections before the availability of Facts,
extending far into the Future, or whether it is the treatment protocols
of Practicing Physicians
- based upon what they actually know and too little on what they do not
know (eg. the so far unknown pathophysiology of the Coronavirus - and
whether ventilators are actually helpful or harmful), or whether it is
the eternal struggle of Politicians
between being helpful vs. self-help, or whether it is the inclination
of Clergy
to be esoteric vs. down-to-earth useful, a Lot Of Humility is needed at
this time. We Need More Than We Are
Getting!
And
in the process, Trial and Error - and risking being Wrong - is not only
OK...it is Absolutely Necessary. That is the only way to achieve Truth,
even at the expense of Lives and Reputations and Careers, while
Individuals - you and I - make our own trials and errors, and live or
die by them.
That is the greatest Freedom and the most Responsible Action.
SO, LET'S GET OUT OF OUR FUNK AND ENGAGE THIS CHALLENGE.
GS
RR#3
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF PRACTICING
PHYSICIANS DOING WHAT THEY KNOW - AND NOT REALIZING WHAT
THEY DON'T KNOW.
In this case, however, they should know or at least suspect, as I
indicated weeks ago in this section.
The Inflammatory System, an integral part of our Immune System, is a
BLUNT INSTRUMENT, too often inclined to over-react to a serious threat
- and ending up killing the host before the threat does.
That is called "Sepsis" or "Septic Shock".
That
is what is what I believe - based on education, training and
experience, is happening here to the sicker patients with Coveravirus.
What to do? Treat Septic Shock...AND USE ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF
ADRENOCORTICOSTEROIDS!
Still
reluctant? A big mistake for you, the physician...and Lethal for your
patient. Call it "Trial and Error" if you will. But it is
based
on solid physiology and pathophysiology. And the stakes could not be
higher for your patient.
Interesting, but Strange. This article does not support its title.
Is something missing?
GS
RR#6
RR#7
How the Virus Tried to Steal
Easter
by Kristi Bothur
(with a nod to Dr. Seuss)
Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.
People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.
As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.
April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.
“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”
Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.
“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.
The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.
“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.
“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.
“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.
And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.
But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!
The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!
Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!
It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”
“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”
Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
And what happened then?
Well....the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?
The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.
So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.
May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
•
Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks.
The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
• I used to
spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it
like I'm cracking a safe.
• I need to
practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
• PSA:
every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas
will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
•
Home-schooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1
teacher fired for drinking on the job.
• I don't
think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from
Standard Time to the Twilight Zone
• This
morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought
her cat understood her. I came into my house, told my dog..... we
laughed a lot.
•
Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have
to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue
how this place is still in business.
•
My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I
pee it cleans the toilet.
• Day 5 of
Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.
• I'm so
excited --- it's time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?
•
Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand
sanitizer for good clean fun.
• Day 6 of
Homeschooling: My child just said: "I hope I don't have the same
teacher next year"... I'm offended.
• Better 6
feet apart than 6 feet under…
RR#3
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
GS
RR#4
MORE ON "MAIL-IN VOTING"...
If you want social unrest - or worse, whatever the outcome - just try
that.
Of course, the outcome is hoped to be predetermined by those pushing it.
The Coronavirus traveled all over the world from Wuhan, but
did not make it to Beijing or Shanghai ... can anyone explain that?
There are so many questions, after all, where it all started,
in China, the Chinese stock market did not collapse, but the American
and European markets did - and when those markets collapsed, the
Chinese bought big.
All roads lead back to China ...
1. They created a virus for which they already had an
antidote.
2. They purposely spread the virus for financial gain.
3. There is a clear demonstration of efficiency ... they
built hospitals in a few days. They had to be prepared with
the organized projects ... with the ordering of the equipment, the
hiring of labor, the water and sewage network, the prefabricated
building materials and the storage in an impressive volume, it all
happened very quickly.
4. They caused chaos in the world, beginning with Europe and
the rest of the western worlds.
5. Quickly decimating the economies of dozens of countries.
6. Stop production and manufacturing lines in factories and
primary production in dozens of countries.
7. Causing the stock markets to crash and then they bought
stocks, bonds and companies at bargain prices.
8. They then quickly gained control of the epidemic in their
country. After all, they were ready and he was never really
out of control.
9. In all this, they managed to lower the price of basic
products, including the price of oil.
10. Now they are going back to mass production while the rest
of the world is stopped.
Also note how quickly Chinese unions activated to "hoard"
purchases of bus cargo to regional shopping centers across Australia,
stripping our shelves of toilet paper and staple foods. It
happened before most of us knew what was happening, even before we knew
what the Coronavirus was.
PS: Read the 1999 book by Chinese Colonels Qiao Liang and
Wang Xiangsui, "Unrestricted War: China's Master Plan to Destroy
America," on Amazon. Everything is there.
It is worth reflecting ..
Just think about this ...
How come Russia and North Korea are almost totally free of
Covid-19? Because they are strong allies of China.
The lowest reported cases of Covid-19 are from these 2
countries. On the other hand, South Korea / United Kingdom /
Italy / Spain and Asia are seriously affected. And how is it
that Wuhan is suddenly free from the deadly virus?
China will say that its initial drastic measures they took
were very severe and that Wuhan was locked up to contain the spread to
other areas. I'm sure they are using the virus antidote that
was already available before they released it.
Why was Beijing not affected at all?
And another interesting fact ... Chinese President Xi Jinping
visited Wuhan at the peak of the outbreak ... why did he put on a
simple RM1 face mask to visit those affected areas? As
president, shouldn't you have been covered from head to toe in a
hazardous materials suit? Perhaps because the antidote had
already been injected, there was no need to worry?
There is no doubt that this is a biological
warfare. And the world will be so different when this crisis
calms down. Maybe this is just stage one ...
And China really takes over the world.
RR#2
RR#3
'LEST WE FORGET...ALL CHRISTIANS AND JEWS:
whether it is the First Coming or the Second Coming, HE IS COMING.
FACTS...AND
ONE IMPORTANT FACT:
"We Are The Economy".
And articles about a "second wave", and about already being in a
Recession, must be taken seriously!
THE FOLLOWING IS A COLLECTION OF ISSUES AND MY RELATED VIEWS REGARDING
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
As I have stressed throughout the last several weeks, we can learn from
Italy, Iran, China...; but America is a special case for many reasons
inherent in the nature of America and its people.
There are many publications, articles, video conferences, bloviations,
distortions, politics and lies relating to these issues. I will quote
none of these, with rare exception. Too much...and too little time.
Look it up.
1) Whether asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, "normal" people can spread
the virus.
2) Many "hair-on-fire" early pronouncements, initially based on
"projections" and produced by our best observers (notably Dr. Anthony
Fauci) included - and still include - high - end numbers, later
"waves", etc. They should have waited for now-existing Facts before
inundating the public...and risking panic. President Trump during that
time was trying to mitigate such a result.
Remember "The Boy Who Cried 'Wolf'"?
So far as the Public is concerned: "Just the Facts, Ma'am, just the
Facts".
3) Meanwhile, the hyenas in the media and in the Democratic Left
continue to snap at the President's heels. Keep it up. You will lose
Big in November.
4) America and China: "It's Complicated!" We must end Any
reliance on that Dangerous and Dissembling Enemy. But we must do it
carefully without causing ourselves severe injury. Such has become our
stupid and craven dependence.
5) A recent article in the Washington Post reflects the above-noted
cautionary tale about "Wolf": "As Virus Takes Hold, Resistance to
Stay-At-Home Orders Remains Widespread".
6) About the Navy aircraft carrier Captain just relieved of duty.
As I quickly learned during two years of active duty in the Army
Medical Corps (and six years of Reserves, 1960-1968), one motto in the
Military is: Blame the Messenger. The other is CYA: Cover your Ass.
7) Trump says "it doesn't seem fair" that 30 million Americans are
uninsured. He may expand Medicare and Medicaid. Expect to see the
Leftists fight him on that benefit to the public, of course for
imagined political points...and " the public be damned".
8) Here we go again:"Professors, Journalists Call Out Fox News'
Coronavirus Misinformation in Scathing Letter", recently in HuffPost
(of course). "STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES."
9) About "mixed messages" about the health of the people vs the health
of the economy. They are one and the same, as evidenced by the
unemployment rates and business fatalities. Call it Triage if you
will...but it is necessary in a military or similar Crisis.
10) About National or State or Local "Stay At Home" "Orders".
Never take Responsibility without the Authority to discharge it.
11) See the always rational and often cautionary articles by Lee Elci,
appearing in The Day.
12) Talk about "a cautionary tale". See the article posted in the WSJ
March 28-29, 2020, entitled: "States Weigh Expansion Of Vote-B-Mail".
That's an out-of-mind experience if I ever saw one.
And finally for now: "Laughter In The Time Of The Coronavirus", by
Estela Lopez (in ctmirror.org, April 2, 2020).
See also my collection of jokes and funny stories under the section "A
Bit Of Whimsy" on this website. If you are Italian or cosmopolitan, see
also the section entitled "Italian Sayings". A lot of Wisdom
of the Ages there.
ANTIBODY TESTING...FOLLOW THIS STORY.
As
I noted about two weeks ago in this section, the development of IgM and
then IgG antibodies occurs after most infections. Its utility is for
noting the possible loss of infectivity of resolved patients - and also
for possible use of those antibodies for "passive Immunization" of
current serious patients.
So, follow this story.
Jim Acosta and his ilk in the media and in the Democratic Party
are either HORSES' ASSES...or they are INSANE, the last stage of
TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.
AS A PERSON PROUD OF MY ITALIAN DESCENT,
I could hardly believe what I was reading here.
I can only hope that the present Italian government becomes a prompt
victim of its own Idiocy.
And in how many other European countries is this social Disease
spreading?
