#Celebrities Who Have Tested Positive With Coronavirus

[covid-safer-hotties]

Coronavirus in California keeps rising: Wastewater levels worse than last summer - Published July 22, 2024

Click the link to read the full article unpaywalled! A taste below...

Coronavirus levels in California’s wastewater now exceed last summer’s peak, an indication of the rapid spread of the super-contagious new FLiRT strains.

California has “very high” coronavirus levels in its wastewater — one of 21 states in that category, up from seven the prior week, according to estimates published Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That means about 155 million people — nearly half of America’s population — live in areas with “very high” coronavirus levels in sewage. Besides California, the other states with “very high” levels are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., is also in that category.

Coronavirus levels in wastewater are also surging in Los Angeles County — and the rate of increase has been accelerating. The county also has seen notable jumps this month in newly confirmed infections, coronavirus-positive hospitalizations and the share of emergency room visits attributable to COVID-19.

Nationally, overall viral levels in wastewater are considered “high” for the second straight week, the CDC said. The estimates are subject to change as more data come in.

Most Americans probably know a family member, friend, co-worker or acquaintance who has come down with COVID-19 recently, perhaps being infected while traveling or at a social gathering.

“If you call — I don’t know — 20 or 30 friends, you’re very, very likely to find a bunch of them actually have COVID, or have had COVID recently, or are starting to be symptomatic,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a COVID expert and chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri.

One notable recent case was President Biden, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday while traveling in Las Vegas. Biden returned to Delaware to recover. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tested positive a few weeks ago, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said Tuesday that she was celebrating her birthday while recovering from COVID.

“Our fight against COVID is not over!” Lee said on social media.

Across the nation, COVID-19’s shadow has become more pronounced lately, with the usual seasonal uptick in travel and socialization spawning a fresh spate of infections. Many cases are relatively mild, but nevertheless disruptive — forcing trips or plans to be canceled.

Some recently infected people have described painful COVID symptoms, such as a throat that feels like it’s studded with razor blades. Overall, however, there are no indications the FLiRT subvariants are associated with increased illness severity that would trigger a substantial increase in hospitalizations.

The CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 41 states, including California. There are no states where the coronavirus is declining or likely declining.

The COVID resurgence comes as the sprawling FLiRT family is increasing its dominance nationally. For the two-week period that ended Saturday, the CDC estimates that about 80% of the nation’s coronavirus specimens are of the FLiRT subvariants, up from about 65% for the same period a month earlier.

Across California, the rate at which COVID tests are returning positive results is also on the rise. For the week that ended July 15, 12.8% of tests came back positive. That’s up from 5.9% a month earlier and close to last summer’s peak of 13.1%, which was recorded at the end of August and early September.

For the 10-day period that ended July 6, the most recent for which data are available, coronavirus levels in Los Angeles County wastewater were at 36% of last winter’s peak, up from 27% for the 10-day period that ended June 29.

Newly confirmed COVID cases are rising faster, too. For the week that ended July 14, there were an average of 359 new cases a day in L.A. County, up from 307 the prior week. A month earlier, there were 154 cases a day.

Official COVID-19 case tallies are certainly an undercount, as those figures include only tests done at medical facilities, not those taken at home, and also don’t account for the fact that fewer people are testing when they feel sick. But the overall trends are still helpful to determine the trajectory of the summer wave.

COVID hospitalizations are also ticking up, though they remain below last summer’s peak. For the week that ended July 13, there were an average of 287 COVID-positive people per day in L.A. County hospitals, up from 139 for the comparable period a month earlier. Last summer’s peak was the week that ended Sept. 9, when an average of 620 COVID-positive patients were in the region’s hospitals per day.

For the week that ended July 14, L.A. County reported that 2.8% of all emergency room visits were COVID-related — up from 1.8% for the comparable period a month earlier, but below last summer’s peak of 5.1%.

[nbmsports]

Champions League: Tyler Adams helps fire RB Leipzig into semifinals

American youngster Tyler Adams scored a late winner to fire RB Leipzig past Atletico Madrid and into the Champions League semifinals on Thursday. The 21-year-old’s deflected shot in the 88th minute was enough to reestablish the German club’s lead after João Felix’s penalty had canceled out Dani Olmo’s opener. RB Leipzig, in its current form, was founded just 11 years ago after Red Bull’s billionaire founder took over German fifth division side SSV Markranstadt and the team has been climbing the footballing ladder ever since. It now has the chance to add another chapter to its incredible story when it faces PSG in the semifinals on Tuesday – after the French champion staged a stunning late comeback to defeat Atalanta 2-1 on Wednesday. “Great emotions for the club and our team. As a manager you have to look forward,” RB Leipzig’s 33-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann told BT Sport after the match. “We have to prepare for the next game. There’s not a lot of time to celebrate but maybe we will have a beer in the hotel then we focus on PSG. “The club (RB Leipzig) develops very fast since. We reached the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League three times. We’re still in the Champions League. The progress is faster than usual.” READ: Borussia Dortmund digs its heels to stop Manchester United signing Sancho

Atletico Madrid may have been slight favorites going into the game against its German opponent, but the Spanish outfit failed to impress. It may have played without forward Angel Correa and defender Sime Vrsaljkowho, who both tested positive for the coronavirus, but had enough experience on the pitch to put in a better performance. The second-half introduction of Felix had appeared to give Atletico fresh impetus, but the 20-year-old’s converted penalty stood for nothing in the end. With the match seemingly destined for extra-time, Adams’ speculative late shot took a wicked deflection off Stefan Savic to end the tie in 90 minutes – sending RB Leipzig into its first Champions League semifinal. Adams, who has 10 appearances for the US national team, moved to Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January 2019. He becomes the first American to score in the Champions League quarterfinal with what was his first goal for the club. “Now it’s about recovering in the right way, getting ourselves right mentally and working on the game plan,” Adams told BT Sport after the game. “We’re confident in ourselves, you saw that today.” Source link Read the full article

[nathankunnn]

PT 6 Journal

The theme of the advertisement is "celebrating the human spirit's resilience and strength to overcome the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic." Coca-Cola refreshes the message and makes it relevant to the current situation by using two of its previous popular advertisements. The intended audience is the general public in markets where the coronavirus outbreak is slowing down and society is nearing a return to a "new normal" is the intended audience. People who have been affected by the pandemic and are seeking hope and motivation to move forward are the intended audience for the advertisement. Coca-Cola products are not directly promoted in the ad. Nonetheless, the promotion conveys a positive message of flexibility and trust, which can certainly influence the profound prosperity of the leading interest group. You suspect as much. If not, talk about how the advertisement managed to keep people's attention. The promotion doesn't utilize manipulative methods to impact the aaudience'semotions or convictions. Instead, it conveys a positive message of perseverance and hopes through storytelling. Using two well-known advertisements for Coca-Cola from the past also elicits a sense of familiarity and nostalgia in the audience, which may assist in capturing their attention.

The commercial "Apple: "Creativity goes on" is a response to the challenges posed to creative professionals by the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion features how Apple's items and administrations can help creatives to keep seeking after their interests and ventures, notwithstanding the restrictions of the pandemic. This advertisement is aimed at creative professionals and enthusiasts who use Apple's products and services for both work and pleasure. Likewise, the promotion focuses on a more extensive crowd who can connect with the difficulties of remaining imaginative during the pandemic. Creative professionals and enthusiasts may benefit from the products and services promoted in this advertisement, such as the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and various software applications. New technologies and tools are available in these products that can assist users in remaining creative and productive while working remotely. There doesn't give off an impression of any apparent media control in this promotion. Instead, the promotion depends on a sincere and genuine tone to convey that imagination can flourish in testing times. Real-world examples of creatives using Apple's products and services to pursue their passions are featured in the advertisement, which may resonate with viewers confronting similar difficulties. Additionally, the ad's elegant and uncomplicated visuals aid in capturing viewers' attention without resorting to manipulative strategies.

References: Coca-Cola. (2021, April 19). Coca-Cola Refreshes Popular Ads to Celebrate the Human Spirit’s Ability to Triumph Over Adversity. Retrieved from https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/coca-cola-refreshes-popular-ads-to-celebrate-the-human-spirits-ability-to-triumph-over-adversity

Apple. (2020, April 17). Apple: Creativity goes on. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgcPXDjDZkE

[viralrift]

Celebrities Who Have Tested Positive With Coronavirus

We are in dark times right now and many are left wondering what to do. Amidst the panic and hysteria of this outbreak, Hollywood is feeling the effects as well. A number of celebrities and public figures have now tested positive. 

Image: Heidi Klum/perezhilton.com

Most recently, German-American model, television personality Heidi Klum has become ill. It is unknown if she has the virus or…

[rtoffanin]

BY JOHNNY DIAZ AND DERRICK BRYSON TAYLOR via NYT Health

[msmoonfire]

How to prep for MABON ‘20 -COVID19 edition

Hey my fellow witches! This year we have to rearrange our Mabon fest according to all the covid19 restrictions. 

I’m going to share some tips and ideas to inspire you guys to prep for this holiday & celebrate in total safety. ♥️ 

First let me tell ya what Google says for us in the Northern hemisphere:

Mabon 2020 will begin on Monday, September 21  and ends on Tuesday, September 29.

Keep in mind that the most important days are Sep 21-23. Witches in the Southern hemisphere will celebrate around March 19-22 & bookmark this post to prep at their best;)) 

SO, let’s start this journey with the right foot IN ADVANCE.  All the late witches out there yeah you heard me: IN ADVANCE. Make yourself ready BEFOREHAND. We’re going thru this together.

1. Thinking of a party? MAKE SURE WHOEVER IS CELEBRATING WITH YOU (except for close people you’ve always shared the same roof with) TESTS NEGATIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS. Force them to get tested, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE ON VACATION. No tests, no invitations. Be firm on this point.  > anti-covid tip: always sanitize your hands and go get tested yourself first!

***I highly recommend to spend most of this sacred time all by yourself to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. We will party together once a good vaccine or an effective cure is out and globally accessible... Let’s wait😉

2. If you have a garden, and had planted some herbs/fruit/veggies before, go pick the results of the 2nd harvest and use them to cook delicious foods during Mabon! (Lammas is the 1st harvest, yep) > anti-covid tip: gardening is an outdoor hobby that allows you to keep social distancing & breathe fresh air 

3. An Equinox is "equal”: re-establish balance in general. I’m talking about your overall ph, diet, work, feelings, home, social life... Don’t stress over useless activities, limit vices & excess, avoid fights, don’t hustle, don’t splurge, don’t push yourself in the gym, don’t let your home/room look like a junkyard, take good care of yourself, only be there for people who love you... Take this time of the year as a moment to re-gain harmony and equilibrium in all comfort. > anti-covid tip: reducing stress levels can improve your immune system

4. Apples are in season, so be creative with em! Use apples for multiple purposes, even for decorating your altar if you will. Snack on them, offer them, cook them, collect their seeds, whatever comes to your mind... > anti-covid tip: rinse your apples thoroughly, never share your apple while eating one + a healthy diet feat. apples can boost your immune system

5. Work with the element of EARTH. Here comes the spellwork my lovelies... Connect with your crystals, use herbs in your rituals, offer food, sit on the ground if you can, be out in nature, curate your garden, learn to cook, position your altar (or anything else) to the South (*Southern hemi: to the North), enhance your natural beauty, seek beauty in the simple things etc... > anti-covid tip: spending time away from the crowds does actually reduce the chances of getting infected

6. Stay hydrated, drink your water & treat yourself. Drink vegetable milk or tea to pamper yourself a little more than usual whenever you have a break (or a cozy spa night at home). I’m very into herbal teas and lemon/apple water atm, not the spicy ones tho (save them for Samhain & winter!). If you’re fully allowed to drink alcohol, sip a glass of Rosé (loads of good Pinot Noir rosé are out this season, but any rosé will do), Portuguese Tinto, or maybe Pinot Gris. As for beer, just stick to the one that you prefer or try lighter ones! *remember balance is key, drink responsibly or not at all* > anti-covid tip: never share your glass while drinking your beverages, make sure glasses & bottles are sanitized and clean

7. Get comfy within your body: love your figure, feel yourself, train your 5 senses, stretch a lot/practice yoga, look at yourself in the mirror, take selfies or photos of beautiful details, touch/massage yourself, take care of your hair, groom, apply body lotion and enjoy your earthly beauty. Mabon wants you to look bomb hun! > anti-covid tip: getting familiar with your own body can help you recognize any weird symptoms easily, as well as the smallest changes in your system... Be friendly to your body and it will thank you in so many ways later on!

8. Use a big jar to save money. A little sum everyday. Open the jar only after the sabbat of Samhain. Trust me, this month is crucial for saving money. Autumn is coming and we must prepare for all those transitional, unplanned expenses that we will have to face during the colder months. Remember to look at the jar everyday and speak some words of gratitude. Working with money, food and tangible stuff of any sort are also activities that are related to the element of Earth.  > anti-covid tip: always wash your hands after handling money

9. ALWAYS PRIORITIZE YOUR SAFETY WITHOUT FEELING STUPID OR PARANOID. This way you’ll end up saving someone else’s life, believe it or not. Leave the d16Kheads say whatever they want to say & be strong. Clean your disposable/reusable mask with disinfectant, make sure you never forget it and please stay safe... but try to minimize the waste. Avoid crowded places as much as possible, prefer open venues with plenty of room for maintaining social distancing, avoid peak hours in shops/malls/supermarket/whatever, carry hand sanitizer with you, keep your distance especially from people who might show evident covid symptoms and remember to be kind to people! Oh and SMILE a lot: your mouth is hidden but your sweet eyes are OUT! 😉

Hope this post was helpful for all of you lovelies,

xox msmoonfire

[jerseydeanne]

🤮

Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced Lilibet to Queen, nicknamed Lilibet as a child, at Windsor yesterday

It came after they attended private Royal Family lunch at Buckingham Palace following Trooping the Colour

Harry and Meghan are expected to remain mostly low-profile over the four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend 

They will attend today's Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's - their first joint royal engagement in two years

* Follow MailOnline's liveblog covering the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations today by clicking here * 

The Queen has met her great-granddaughter Lilibet for the first time after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had lunch with the monarch and senior royals behind closed doors as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their little girl to the Queen - nicknamed Lilibet as a child - yesterday at Windsor after attending a private Royal Family lunch at Buckingham Palace following Trooping the Colour.

Harry and Meghan are expected to remain mostly low-profile over the four-day Jubilee weekend, with no sign of the Netflix cameras that followed them around at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in April. But they will attend today's Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral - their first joint royal engagement in two years.

Prince Charles will officially represent the Queen at the service in London today after she was forced to pull out last night, and there will also be no appearance from Prince Andrew after he tested positive for coronavirus. The Queen will be watching the service on television from Windsor Castle, and it will be broadcast on BBC One.

The Sussexes, who are staying at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor while visiting from California, were not allowed on the Buckingham Palace balcony yesterday and instead watched proceedings from Horse Guards Parade.

But today's service will be Harry and Meghan's first appearance with The Firm since the frosty Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020 shortly before they officially stepped down as senior royals.

The 96-year-old Queen will miss today's service at St Paul's following a last-minute decision announced by the Palace at 7.30pm last night after she experienced 'discomfort' during the Trooping The Colour events.

She is understood to have suffered episodic mobility issues yesterday - and, in a statement, the Palace revealed the Queen 'greatly enjoyed' her birthday parade and flypast but 'did experience some discomfort'.

It said: 'Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow's National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, Her Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that she will not attend.'

It is understood the decision ahead of the service, which begins at 11.30am today, was considered regrettable but sensible due to the length of the journey and time involved and the physical demands the service would require.

Senior members of the monarchy at St Paul's this morning will also include the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Sussexes, who will be joined by the extended royal family.

News of the Queen's meeting with Lilibet yesterday – which comes ahead of her first birthday tomorrow – was revealed on BBC Breakfast this morning by royal commentator Omid Scobie, who is friendly with the Sussexes.

Harry: Meg why did you do that? Put the window up!

He said: 'I think people are expecting some sort of big birthday extravagant event, that we're going to see photographs from. From what I'm told, we shouldn't expect anything.

JD: disgusting little plastic fantastic boy

'Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she's been looking forward to it.

'They've been held back by a pandemic. Of course the times that Harry has been here it's just been by himself for quite sombre occasions. And so this really was the first time.

'Of course we know the Queen went back to Windsor Castle yesterday, the couple went back to Windsor as well where they're staying at Frogmore Cottage. So that would have been the first moment or the first chance for her to meet her namesake.'

Yesterday, Harry and Meghan made a concerted effort not to be seen by prying eyes as they watched Trooping the Colour yesterday, arriving incognito at Horse Guards Parade and studiously keeping away from most  - although not all - of the waiting photographers.

The couple arrived in the UK on Wednesday afternoon, flying in by private jet from Los Angeles to Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, where they were picked up by royal bodyguards and taken to Frogmore Cottage.

Yesterday a Range Rover with a modest escort swept them in to Central London and onto Whitehall, where they took up position in the Major General's Office overlooking the parade ground ready for the other royals to arrive.

Among the first to greet them were Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edo, as well as the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips.

Meghan was seen kissing his elder daughter, Savannah, 11, as his younger daughter, Isla, 10, held Zara and Mike Tindall's younger daughter Lena, almost four.

As Princess Beatrice's husband, Edo Mapelli-Mozzi, looked on, Meghan, 40, appeared to be sharing a secret with the youngsters, who were joined by the Tindalls' eldest daughter Mia, eight.

Meghan, wearing a large wide-brimmed navy and white hat, put her finger mysteriously to her lips as the girls mimicked her, laughing.

Her husband, Harry, 37, who looked tanned in a lounge suit rather than military uniform, was also seen later entering into the spirit of things, apparently urging Lena to 'shush'.

The couple were later seen chatting to the Queen's cousin, the Duke of Kent, 86, before he left the family gathering to join the monarch at Buckingham Palace, where they took the returning military salute together.

Last month Buckingham Palace revealed that the Queen had personally decided to only invite working members of the Royal Family and some of their children onto the Buckingham Palace balcony with her.

This neatly sidestepped the tricky issue about what to do with Harry, Meghan and Andrew who have all quit royal duties.

But while Andrew wasn't invited to join the family following his shaming over his links to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, she did extend an olive branch to the Sussexes to join other family members at Horse Guards to watch the parade from the windows of the Duke of Wellington's old office.

Those on the Buckingham Palace balcony also included the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge and her three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - after they had arrived by carriage along with the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their two children, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Princess Alexandra, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were also present as well as the children of Princess Margaret, Lord Snowden and Lady Sarah Chatto, and their families.

As for Harry and Meghan, Mr Scobie told BBC Breakfast today that he 'spoke to people close to the couple' who said that the couple 'wanted to be as low profile as possible during this trip'.

He continued: 'It is almost hard to believe, but I think that yesterday at Trooping the Colour was a great example. We didn't really catch sight of them on TV cameras. There were a few grainy photos of them in existence online but that is about as far as it goes.

'And for them being here is all about honouring and really celebrating the life and legacy of the Queen. Someone that they have continued a very warm and close relationship with. 

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'Of course we know that is not the same with the other family members and today will be very interesting to see them alongside some of them.

'I was with the couple on their last day in the UK, on Meghan's last engagement, and of course we remember they also went on to that Westminster Abbey Commonwealth service. 

'Very awkward moments between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. It was almost sort of at the peak of the tensions between them and the institutions of the monarchy.

'A lot of that has softened since then. It doesn't meant that the relationships have necessarily gotten back on track to how they once were. I think all eyes will be on them today just to see how they all are with the other members of the family.

'But of course everyone is here to celebrate the faith, the reign and the lifetime of service of the Queen. 

'And I think for them, despite the fact that they broke away from the firm, they always said that they had carried out their work. Holding, upholding the same principles and values as Her Majesty.'

However, royal expert Angela Levin told Talk TV: 'I felt when I saw them 'what are you doing here, you are irrelevant, why are you here? I was very angry when they wound the window down of their car.

She added: 'My instinct was that 'what are you doing here'. I don't think you can trash someone and then turn up with smiles.'

There has also been speculation that the couple may try to get Lilibet christened while they are in the UK in the private chapel at Windsor Castle, where Archie was also christened in 2019. 

Earlier this week it was reported that Harry and Meghan had promised to keep a low profile to avoid overshadowing the Jubilee.

he Sussexes are ensuring that their appearances are 'strictly limited', arriving with their two children Archie, three, and Lilibet, who will turn one on Saturday, but 'without any of their senior staff', according to ITV.

They are, reportedly, leaving the 'most trusted members of their team' in the United States and plan to 'keep it simple'.

Relationships have been so poor between the couple and Buckingham Palace that royal aides have been kept in the dark about the majority of their itinerary.

There has also been genuine irritation that Harry spoke about meeting with his grandmother back in April to an American broadcaster just days later, saying: 'I'm just making sure that she's protected and got the right people around her', which was seen as critical of her loving family and devoted staff. '

Well-placed sources have stressed they should definitely not be expected 'at every event' over the extended Bank Holiday weekend. However they are expected at today's service at St Paul's.

It will be the couple's longest stay in Britain since they acrimoniously quit as working royals and moved first to Canada and then the US more than two years ago.

One royal insider said they believed the couple had taken their 'low-key' cue from the Queen, who has made clear that she doesn't even want the Jubilee celebrations to be about herself but a means to bring the nation together after a difficult few years.

'Her Majesty has made clear that this shouldn't even be about herself, let alone family dramas. Even the Sussexes respect that,' they said.

Another source said palace aides had been acutely aware of 'the optics' - how things would look from the outside - and ensured that the couple were only attending events where there would be minimal interactions with other senior royals in public.

Asked if the duke and duchess would appear at any other events over the weekend, particularly with their children, they said: 'I really wouldn't expect them at everything.'

They added: 'It's a typically elegant solution as you would expect. The Queen wants her family there and they are still part of it. But in a carefully controlled fashion.'

Roya Nikkah, royal editor at The Sunday Times, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We only saw a tiny glimpse of Harry and Meghan yesterday watching it privately from the Major General's office.

'Today, very different picture. They will be right at the heart of the royal family, sitting there with the senior royals. This is the moment in a day where the Queen wanted all her family with her.

It will be a similar procession to what we saw in the Commonwealth Day service. I think they will come in with other members of the royal family, other senior royals. But we always knew that the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, and the Cambridges were going to be right at the front of the procession.'

Speaking about the Queen deciding against attending today's service, Ms Nikkah added: 'We are in transition. The Queen is doing as much as she possibly can. I thought it was wonderful to see her twice yesterday, three times even, but this is the new reality.

'She was so determined yesterday, to acknowledging she wasn't going to be able to make it on Horse Guards Parade, to come out twice onto the balcony. She saw that people really wanted to see her.

'I think last night, to not delegate a royal understudy at Windsor Castle and to go on and do that herself, even though you could see she was slightly struggling. I thought what a trooper but the Queen enjoyed yesterday, she was very keen on Buckingham Palace letting everyone know how much she enjoyed it and she will be watching at home today.'

Meanwhile key workers, charity volunteers and members of the armed forces have been invited to the Queen's service of thanksgiving at St Paul's today in recognition of their contribution to public life.

More than 400 people, who have been making a difference either nationally or locally, are among the guests and many have been working tirelessly during the pandemic.

They will join members of the royal family at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the monarch's 70-year reign, although the Queen herself will not attend after experiencing 'some discomfort' during Thursday's events following previous mobility issues.

The Bishop of London said today that she is 'excited' ahead of the thanksgiving service. Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, who will be leading the blessing at St Paul's, told BBC Breakfast: 'I'm excited, I think.' 

She added that she was nervous about the ceremonial regalia she needs to wear. 'It's a coat called the George V coat. 'It's quite an old coat, which is a cape and it sits on me, but of course it was designed for men because I'm the first woman who happens to be the Bishop of London,' she said. 'So, it doesn't sit quite as well on me, so I'm slightly nervous.'

She said that Her Majesty's Christian faith has 'always shaped her' and she feels privileged to play a part in the service and 'give thanks' to The Queen for her service to the country.

And the Dean of St Paul's said today's thanksgiving service represents the nation 'picking up the baton' from The Queen as a thank you for her years of service.

The Very Revd Dr David Ison told BBC Breakfast: 'I think, for me, what this service is about, is saying not only thank you, but also we are picking up the baton of what The Queen has done. We ourselves are committing to how we can make the world a better place.'

He said of the service: 'I always get nervous. You can't help it because you want it to go well and therefore you're nervous to make sure it does goes well and worried about what might go wrong.'

He also spoke about an incident during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee when his cape ripped.

'I put on my cape and I was bounding down the stairs of the vestry and I caught the cape on the door latch and ripped it and this is in the afternoon, before the service.

'So, they had an emergency embroiderer who came in early in the morning to stitch it back up again.'

Later, Dr David will say in The Bidding: 'We come together in this Cathedral Church today to offer to God our thanks and praise for the reign of Her Majesty the Queen and especially for her 70 years of faithful and dedicated service.

'As we gather from communities across her realm and the Commonwealth of Nations, we rejoice in the diverse and varied lives of all those whom she serves, and in the beauty and abundance of the world in which we live.

'Inspired by words and music, we pray that God will continue to bless and guide Her Majesty, and that we may all receive grace to honour life and to live in harmony with one another; and we continue to pray for those whose lives are marred by conflict, suffering and tragedy.

'And mindful of the call of God to look to the needs of others, we commit ourselves afresh to caring for our world and all for whom it is home, striving always to seek out and nurture that which is good in people and in all creation.'

Those invited in recognition of their service have all been recipients of honours in the New Year or Birthday Honours lists and their number also includes public servants and representatives from social enterprises and voluntary groups.

Boris Johnson, who will give a New Testament reading, and members of his Cabinet are among the guests along with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, first ministers of the devolved governments and former prime ministers.

The diplomatic world will be represented by high commissioners and ambassadors from across the world and also attending are governors general and clergy from world faiths.

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell will give the sermon after the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tested positive for Covid-19. The Dean of the Chapel Royal, Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, will give the Collect and the Blessing, and the Dean of St Paul's will conduct the service.

Young people representing countries where the Queen is head of state will lead the 'Act of Commitment' celebrating the life and reign of the monarch, led by the Reverend Robert Kozak.

During the day, one of the country's largest bells, the Great Paul, will be rung before and after the service, the first time it will have been heard at a royal occasion.

The event will feature a new anthem by Judith Weir, Master of the Queen's Music, that sets to music words from the third Chapter of the Book of Proverbs.

Bible readings, hymns and prayers to express thankfulness for the Queen's reign, faith and service will also be heard by the congregation as the nation marks the monarch's 70 years on the throne.

Before the service begins, the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band), will play as the congregation arrives and the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry will perform to mark royal arrivals, while the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force will accompany later in the service.

The choirs of St Paul's Cathedral and Her Majesty's Chapel Royal will join together to sing the Vivats, I Was Glad by Sir Hubert Parry, performed at every coronation and now for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Today, the Princess Royal will see penguins at Edinburgh Zoo as members of the royal family visit the nations of the UK to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

She will be joined by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, on her visit to the Scottish capital on Friday.

Anne will join children for an animal handling session in the Rainforest Room at the zoo, before visiting the penguin enclosure. She will then visit HMS Albion and inspect a Guard of Honour before boarding the ship.

On the flight deck of the amphibious assault vessel the princess will meet members of the ship's company and representatives from charities across Scotland supported by the Queen and Anne as patrons, before cutting a commemorative cake.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

William and Kate will travel to Cardiff on Saturday to meet some of Wales's best-known performers before a Platinum Jubilee celebration concert.

They will meet the crew behind the event at Cardiff Castle, learning about the lighting, sound and visual effects for the show before helping with the final preparations.

The couple will also watch rehearsals and meet Aled Jones and Shan Cothi, both hosting the show which will feature Mike Peters from The Alarm, singer Bonnie Tyler, West End star John Owen Jones, drumming weatherman Owain Wyn Evans and the Pendyrus Male Voice Choir.

The performances will finish at 7pm and the crowds can then watch the Platinum Party at the Palace on giant screens in the castle grounds.

Over the extended Jubilee bank holiday weekend the Earl and Countess of Wessex will carry out two engagements in Northern Ireland.

Sophie and Edward will meet children taking part in multicultural street performances, join in with art and craft sessions, and speak to people sharing their personal memories of meeting the Queen.

Last night, the Queen symbolically led the lighting of the principal Platinum Jubilee beacon in a spectacular end to the first day of historic national commemorations celebrating her 70-year-reign.

The monarch's late-night appearance at Windsor Castle rounded off the start to joyful festivities which saw the Queen take to the Buckingham Palace balcony surrounded by her family.

Hours after it was announced the head of state would miss the service at St Paul's Cathedral, she rallied as planned to take part in a special dual beacon-lighting ceremony with the Duke of Cambridge.

William watched his grandmother on a large screen in front of Buckingham Palace, while the Queen triggered the lighting of the principal beacon - a 69ft tall Tree of Trees sculpture outside her London residence - from Windsor.

The Queen touched the Commonwealth of Nations Globe to start the lighting of the main beacon 22 miles away.

Lights chased along the Quadrangle towards Windsor's famous Round Tower, before travelling up the 21-metre Tree of Trees, made up of 350 saplings, illuminating the sculpture which towered above the palace, watched by William.

As she walked from Windsor Castle's Sovereign's Entrance into the Quadrangle the Queen saw more than 100 people who live within the walls of the royal home and were invited to the event.

Peter McGowran, chief yeoman warder from the Tower of London, carefully placed the Commonwealth of Nations Globe on a stand that glowed purple.

The object - a globe of the world within a crown - has been kept at the tower for safety and other yeoman warders were in attendance.

After touching the symbol of the world, which sat on a cushion, the purple stand turned white and a river of purple lights spread across the Quadrangle and turned white in succession.

Pageant master Bruno Peake, who organised the beacons marking the Queen's diamond and platinum jubilees, said more than 3,500 beacons would be lit around the globe, something the Queen commented on.

After speaking to the monarch he added: 'She said, 'More beacons, every time you do it you have more beacons' - which is great.

Click on it to read more.

IMO: A deal has been struck between these two traitors and the crown.

[weheartchrisevans]

BOSTON — So you're Tim Scott, the Republican senator from South Carolina who opposes Roe v. Wade and wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and you get a call from Chris Evans, a Hollywood star and lifelong Democrat who has been blasting President Trump for years. He wants to meet. And film it. And share it on his online platform. Can anybody say "Borat?" “I was very skeptical,” admits Scott. “You can think of the worst-case scenario.”But then Scott heard from other senators. They vouched for Evans, most famous for playing Captain America in a series of films that have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. The actor also got on the phone with Scott’s staff to make a personal appeal.

It worked. Sometime in 2018, Scott met on camera with Evans in the nation’s capital, and their discussion, which ranged from prison reform to student loans, is one of more than 200 interviews with elected officials published on “A Starting Point,” an online platform the actor helped launch in July. Not long after, Evans appeared on Scott’s Instagram Live. They have plans to do more together.

“While he is a liberal, he was looking to have a real dialogue on important issues,” says Scott. “For me, it’s about wanting to have a conversation with an audience that may not be accustomed to hearing from conservatives and Republicans.”

Evans, actor-director Mark Kassen and entrepreneur Joe Kiani launched “A Starting Point” as a response to what they see as a deeply polarized political climate. They wanted to offer a place for information about issues without a partisan spin. To do that, they knew they needed both parties to participate.

Evans, 39, sat on the patio outside his Boston-area home on a recent afternoon talking about the platform. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans and spent some of the interview chasing around his brown rescue dog. Nearly 100 million people didn’t vote in the 2016 general election, Evans says. That’s more than 40 percent of those who were eligible.He believes the root of this disinterest is the nastiness on both sides of the aisle. Many potential voters simply turn off the news, never mind talking about actual policy.“A Starting Point” is meant to offer a digital home for people to hear from elected officials without having the conversation framed by Tucker Carlson or Rachel Maddow.

“The idea is . . . ‘Listen, you’re in office. I can’t deny the impact you have,’ ” says Evans. “ ‘You can vote on things that affect my life.’ Let this be a landscape of competing ideas, and I’ll sit down with you and I’ll talk with you.”

Or, as Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has appeared on the site, puts it, “Sometimes, boring is okay. You’re being presented two sides. Everything doesn’t have to be sensational. Sometimes, it can just be good facts.” Evans wasn’t always active in politics. At Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, he focused on theater, not student government. And he moved away from home his senior year, working at a casting agency in New York as he pushed for acting gigs. His uncle, Michael E. Capuano, served as a congressman in Massachusetts for 20 years, but other than volunteering on some of his campaign, Evans wasn’t particularly political.

In recent years, he’s read political philosopher Hannah Arendt and feminist Rebecca Solnit’s “The Mother of All Questions” — ex-girlfriend Jenny Slate gave him the latter — and been increasingly upset by Trump’s policies and behavior. He’s come to believe that he can state his own views without creating a conflict with “A Starting Point.” When he and Scott spoke on Instagram, the president wasn’t mentioned. In contrast, recently Evans and other members of the Avengers cast took part in a virtual fundraiser with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala D. Harris.

“I don’t want to all of a sudden become a blank slate,” says Evans. “But my biggest issue right now is just getting people to vote. If I start saying, ‘vote Biden; f Trump,’ my base will like that. But they were already voting for Biden.”

(In September, Evans accidentally posted an image of presumably his penis online and, after deleting it, tweeted: “Now the I have your attention . . . Vote Nov. 3rd!!!”)

Evans began to contemplate the idea that became “A Starting Point” in 2017. He heard something reported on the news — he can’t remember exactly what — and decided to search out information on the Internet. Instead of finding concrete answers, Evans fell down the rabbit hole of opinions and conflicting claims. He began talking about this with Kassen, a friend since he directed Evans in 2011’s “Puncture.” What if they got the information directly from elected officials and presented it without a spin? Kassen, in turn, introduced Evans to Kiani, who had made his fortune through a medical technology company he founded and, of the three, was the most politically involved.

Kiani has donated to dozens of Democratic candidates across the country and earlier this year contributed $750,000 to Unite the Country, a super PAC meant to support Joe Biden. But he appreciated the idea of focusing on something larger than a single race or party initiative. He, Kassen and Evans would fund “A Starting Point,” which has about 18 people on staff.

“There’s no longer ABC, NBC and CBS,” Kiani says. “There’s Fox News and MSNBC. What that means is that we are no longer being censored. We’re self-censoring ourselves. And people go to their own echo chamber and they don’t get any wiser. If you allow both parties to speak, for the same amount of time, without goading them to go on into hyperbole, when people look at both sides’ point of view of both topics, we think most of the time they’ll come to a reasonable conclusion.”

“What people do too often is they get in their silos and they only watch and listen and read what they agree with,” says John Kasich, the former Ohio governor and onetime Republican presidential candidate. “If you go to Chris’s website, you can’t bury yourself in your silo. You get to see the other point of view.” As much as some like to blame Trump for all the conflicts in Washington, Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) says he’s watched the tone shifting for decades. He appreciated sitting down with Evans and making regular submissions to “Daily Points,” a place on the platform for commentary no longer than two minutes. During the Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Coons recorded a comment on Judge Amy Coney Barrett and the Affordable Care Act.“ ‘A Starting Point’ needs to be a sustained resource,” Coons says. “Chris often talks about it being ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ for adults.”

It’s not by chance that Evans has personally conducted all of the 200-plus interviews on “A Starting Point” during trips to D.C. Celebrities often try to mobilize the public, whether it’s Eva Longoria, Tracee Ellis Ross and Julia Louis-Dreyfus hosting the Democratic National Convention or Jon Voight recording video clips to praise Trump. But in this case, Evans is using his status in a different way, to entice even the most hesitant Republican to sit down for an even-toned chat. And he’s willing to pose with anyone, even if it means explaining himself on “The Daily Show” after Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas posted a selfie with Evans. (Two attempts to interview Trump brought no response.) Murkowski remembers when Evans came to Capitol Hill for the first time in 2018. She admits she didn’t actually know who he was — she hadn’t yet seen any Marvel movies. She was in the minority.“We meet interesting and important people but, man, when Captain America was in the Senate, it was all the buzz,” she says. “And people were like, ‘Did you get your picture taken?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I sat down and did the interview.’ ‘You did an interview? How did you get an interview with him?’ ”What impressed Murkowski wasn’t his star power. It was the way Evans conducted the interview.“It was relaxing,” she says. “You didn’t feel like you were in front of a reporter who was just waiting for you to say something you would get caught on later. It was a dialogue . . . and we need more dialogue and less gotcha.”

“Starting Points” offers two-minute answers by elected officials in eight topic areas, including education, the environment and the economy. This is where the interviews Evans conducted can be found. “Daily Points” has featured a steady flow of Republicans and Democrats. A third area, “Counterpoints,” hosts short debates between officials on particular subjects. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, debated mail-in voting with Dusty Johnson, the Republican congressman from South Dakota.

“Most Americans can’t name more than five members of the United States House,” says Johnson. “ ‘A Starting Point’ allows thoughtful members to talk to a broader audience than we would normally have.”

The platform’s social media team pushes out potentially newsworthy clips, whether it’s Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) discussing his meeting with Barrett just before he tested positive for the coronavirus, or Angus King, the independent senator from Maine, criticizing Trump for his comments on a potential peaceful transfer of power after November’s election. Kassen notes that the King clip was viewed more than 175,000 times on “A Starting Point’s” Twitter account, compared with the 10,000 who caught in on CNN’s social media platform.

“Because it’s short-form media, we’re engineered to be social,” says Kassen. “As a result, when something catches hold, it’s passed around our audience pretty well.”

The key is to use modern tools to push out content that’s tonally different from what you might find on modern cable news. Or on social media. Which is what Evans hopes leads to more engagement. He’s particularly proud that more than 10,000 people have registered to vote through “A Starting Point” since it went online.

“If the downstream impact or the byproduct of this site is some sort of unity between the parties, great,” says Evans. “But if nobody’s still voting, it doesn’t work. We need people involved.”

[robertreich]

A Tale of Two Pandemics

No description of the coronavirus is more misleading than calling it “the great equalizer.”

The horrific truth is that Native Americans, Latinos, and African-Americans are dying at much higher rates than white people - and we don’t know the half of it because the CDC hasn’t released any racial data about the virus; we don’t know if they’re even collecting it.

But the picture emerging from cities, states, and reservations is that of an atrocity.

In Milwaukee County, black people make up just 26% of the county’s population but account for almost half the county’s cases, and a staggering 81% of its deaths. 

Louisiana, Illinois, and Michigan are no different: black people make up less of the overall population, but account for vastly more of both cases and deaths.

In San Francisco, Latinos account for just 15% of the population but make up 31% of the city’s confirmed cases, and account for over 80% of the city’s hospitalized coronavirus patients. And in the country’s epicenter of New York City, the virus is twice as deadly for Latinos as for white people.

Native Americans are also dying in wildly disproportionate numbers. The Navajo Nation, with about 175,000 residents, has more cases of COVID-19 than nine entire states. And more deaths than 13 states.

You’ve heard how governors are fighting over aid? Well, tribal leaders are getting even less. 

So why are these communities suffering the worst of this pandemic? 

For one, black people and Latinos are more likely to work in “essential” positions that require them to put their health at risk – a study by the New York City comptroller found that 75% of the city’s frontline workers are people of color. 

On top of that, black people and Native Americans experience higher levels of preexisting conditions like asthma and diabetes that make contracting the virus more deadly. 

Of course they don’t just happen to have these illnesses – this is the system: it’s decades of segregated housing, pollution, lack of access to medical care, and poverty in action.

But the virus isn’t just discriminating by race. It’s also disproportionately affecting the working class and poor of every kind. 

In New York City, the five ZIP codes with the highest rates of positive tests for the coronavirus have an average per capita income of *under* $30,000 – while residents in the five zip codes with the lowest rates have an average income of over $100,000.

And that’s just where there’s testing. Remember how early on we heard about celebrities testing positive? If not happiness, at least money can buy a diagnosis. New York just rounded its death toll up by a few thousand people who were never even tested. 

Studies show that lower-income people are more likely to have chronic health conditions that make the virus more deadly. 

They’re less likely to receive sufficient medical care or might lack access altogether.

And they’re more likely to work in frontline “essential” jobs that put their health at risk.

A study found that only 3% of lower income workers are working from home during the pandemic, compared to almost half of upper middle income workers.

Any rush to “open the economy” is really about forcing working class and poor people back into harm’s way while the rich and affluent can safely work from home.  

For as many workers risking their lives for meager paychecks, still more are now unemployed and on the brink of financial obliteration.

Less than half of Americans can afford a $1,000 emergency, and nearly 75% live paycheck to paycheck. Piecemeal unemployment benefits and one-time payments aren’t going to buoy Americans through the next great depression. 

We are all weathering the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat. 

Systematic inequality in America has produced two very different pandemics: 

In one, billionaires are sheltering in place on their yachts in the Caribbean, and wealthy families are safely quarantining in multimillion-dollar mansions.

In the other boats sit people risking their lives for their jobs and people without incomes going hungry, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color, and all of whom deserve better. 

This is a tale of two pandemics. There is nothing “equal” about it.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

No New Year's Eve parties in Brazil due to Omicron

[Image description: patient getting a nose swap covid test.]

Brazilian authorities are evaluating a series of restrictions for the upcoming year ending celebrations in a move to curb the spread of the new coronavirus Omicron variant, it was reported Thursday.

Two cases of Omicron have been detected in Brasilia and the city of São Paulo has already announced the suspension of the New Year festivities, something other districts are also about to follow suit, according to local media.

Brasilia Governor Ibaneis Rocha has confirmed there had been two cases of Omicron spotted in his jurisdiction. One of them was a man from South Africa who had made a stopover at São Paulo. His PCR test last Monday had come out positive for COVID-19 and he has since been under isolation. Health authorities also confirmed Thursday his case was one of Omicron.

In the current scenario, the City of São Paulo has decided to cancel the massive New Year's celebrations on Avenida Paulista, an event that usually garners over 1 million people. São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes said Thursday the measure was necessary assess the new situation and to monitor the health care system's capabilities.

There will also be no Reveillon (New Year's Eve) celebrations in Brasilia, Salvador,, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Porto Alegre, among other major cities. Reveillon is Brazil's second most iconic celebration after carnival.

Continue reading.

[shelovescontrol91]

Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday hosted a virtual gathering of celebrities and influencers for a discussion on how best to reach the public with information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

The guest list included Camila Cabello, Kim Kardashian, Joe Jonas, model Karlie Kloss (who is married to Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner), Lily Collins, Queer Eye fashion expert Tan France, and others. Kris Jenner, though not on the invite list, also made an appearance, according to a White House official.

Harris was joined by Dr. Marcella Nunez Smith, senior advisor to the administration's COVID-19 response team, for the event.

"I wanted to come together with you this afternoon to talk about where we are in terms of how we are dealing with the pandemic and I'm going to have some asks of you at the end," Harris, 56, said to kick off the event.

Kim Kardashian was the first to ask a question of the vice president, according to the White House, and was curious if you still need a vaccine if you have COVID antibodies. (People who have had COVID should still get vaccinated, but if they tested positive in the last 90 days, they should talk to their doctor about timing.)

Actress Lily Collins asked Harris about how best to facilitate and spread info about getting the vaccine.

Tan France asked Harris how she talked to the young people in her life about being vaccinated — not as the vice president, but as a stepmom and family member. France said he hoped to use that advice to speak to the young people in his own life.

Though the virtual event was closed to the press and general public, the White House told PEOPLE that those in attendance were able to "candidly discuss" how they could "build vaccine confidence, specifically for 18 to 29 year-old Americans."

That particular age group currently has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

The Biden administration is focused on increasing access through walk-in appointments at pharmacies and "on boosting confidence, and that's by spreading the word that the vaccine is safe," Harris said at the event. "There's still work that we need to do and I'm asking for your help to do it."

According to the official, Harris hoped to use the event on Wednesday to ask celebrities with broad and diverse audiences, particularly among young Americans, to amplify the message that every American should be vaccinated.

The vice president has in recent months been championing the COVID-19 public education campaign from the White House.

Harris got her first dose of the Moderna vaccine at Washington, D.C.'s United Medical Center in December, receiving her shot on live television weeks before taking office.

"That was easy," Harris said after receiving her shot. "Thank you. I barely felt it."

In remarks given to the press gathered at the medical center, Harris said she wanted to encourage everyone to get vaccinated.

"It is relatively painless, it happens really quickly, it is safe," Harris said.

She continued: "Literally, this is about saving lives. It's about saving lives. I trust the scientists. And it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine. So I urge everyone: When it is your turn, get vaccinated. It's about saving your life, the life of your family members, and the life of your community."

She and her husband, Doug Emhoff, received their second doses of the vaccine in January, with the vice president again using the opportunity to urge others to get their shots.

Earlier this week, the administration announced that ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft will offer free rides to vaccination sites until July 4 as part of a new White House partnership, As part of Biden's goal to vaccinate 70% of U.S. adults with at least one shot by Independence Day.

According to a USA Today tracker, roughly 46% of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated against coronavirus.

[starrylolo]

Jesus Christ. I'm glad that John is talking about this, because no one else who has a position of social or political power is, and the fact that someone who has this much social power is makes me happy. Obviously, no other white/non-African celebrities talk about it. 🙄

"This is no way for a Disney celebrity to be talking" who else is going to fucking talk about it then? Because obviously no one else is. And how else can he talk about it? Politely?? When people are being treated like animals, so inhumanely? Like slavery but for science? For centuries? Jfc. And your "you don't deserve star wars" ass... this isn't about media, movies, franchises and Star Wars. This is about lives, people being treated like animals. Don't behave like a child.

"There are white people in Africa you know": Honey, that ain't the fucking point. This place has been targeted due to racism for decades. Africa and black people (separate and apart) have been used, tested on and exploited by Western scientists and doctors for centuries, for 'medical advancement'. It's not exactly a secret. Also he never mentioned white/black, he mentioned Africa, a less wealthy continent which contains humans. That is the point. These people are not lab rats. - also, "unaffected population" my fucking ass, they are not unaffected. The only reason data shows fewer cases of the virus is because fewer people are being tested because of lack of wealth. They have many, many cases and people are dying, thus should not be taken lightly. I hear about the status in a particular African country frequently, and let me tell you, Africa is not in the slightest unaffected.- lastly "to avoid virus mutations"?? Whether or not that is correct (and it isn't), African people are still not Western society's lab rats to be tested on. They are human beings, and, due to less wealth, it's not like the have resources for medicine if it doesn't work anyway.

"If the vaccine works, then will they not be considered heroes...?" First of all, ???. If this 'they' refers to the French scientists, they should not be heroes for testing undefined things on people in a less wealthy continent who cannot afford anything better. Their motivation is not to "help infected Africans before their own people." Their motivation is to test the vaccine on African people so that if it doesn't succeed, at least it's it their own people. But sure, if it works, they probably would be considered heroes because you know, if a white person tests something risky on people of color or 'Africans' but it succeeds, obviously they're heroes and praised. But what do African people get for participating in this lab experiment? Well, if it succeeds, they don't get anything. Because lab rats don't get praised. - Secondly "If the vaccine doesn't work then what happens? There is no harm done if it doesn't work." The rage I feel while reading this. The lack of logic. That's not how logic--or vaccines--work. If there's 'no harm', then let's 'test' the vaccine on the uninfected white people? Why go all the way to Africa? There's a reason why not every healthy person is volunteering to be a vaccine test subject, and why in Western society, people are being praised for volunteering. Because there are risks. Secondly, if it doesn't work and (somehow) no physical or medical harm is done to African people, that just sets an example that Africa is Western society's testing lab, which could lead to future harm.

Africa isn't a testing lab. African people are not lab rats. By believing or accepting the belief that African people should be used to test vaccines for the Coronavirus, you are not only letting them become lab rats to an uncertain experiment without access to proper medical resources, but you are also accepting that Africa can and will be used as a testing lab for future uncertainties.

[whitehotharlots]

“Literal violence” and the death of the heterodox

I teach college students. This means I assign young people things to read. If the students don’t do the reading--if they consider it too boring or uninteresting or difficult--they don’t do well in the class. I update my reading lists every semester, because what was interesting to students a few years or even months ago might not click with the students of today. Sometimes students love what they’re assigned. Sometimes they hate it. And it’s very hard to tell if a piece is or isn’t going to work until I’ve assigned it and gotten feedback. 

As I’ve gotten older it has become more difficult to relate to young people. This is a completely normal part of life--nothing to be ashamed of or panic about, and I think almost everyone agrees that it’s more dignified to age gracefully than to try too hard to seem hip or with it. And so, over the past few years, as I’ve found it nearly impossible to find good, engaging writing with a broad appeal, I figured it was just because I, naturally, don’t relate to young people as much as I used to.

But lately--certainly since Trump’s ascendance, but perhaps going back as far as the early twenty-teens--mainstream writing has become incredibly predictable. Name any event and I can tell you almost word-for-word how it will be discussed in Jezebel vs. Teen Vogue vs. The Root vs The Intercept. And, increasingly, there’s been very little analytical divergence even between different publications. Everyone to the left of Fox News seems to agree upon just about everything, and all analysis has been boiled down to the repetition of one of a half-dozen or so aphorisms about privilege or validity. There is, in short, a proper and improper way to describe and understand anything that happens, and a writer is simply not going to get published if they have an improper understanding of the world. 

This, I think, is the result of our normalizing hyperbolic overstatements of harm and the danger posed by anything short of absolute fealty to orthodox liberalism. If it’s “literal violence” to express mild criticism and incredulity, people aren’t going to do so. Editors don’t want to risk accusations of “platforming fascists,” and so there’s been very little pushback against fascism being recently re-defined as “anything that displeases upper middle class Democrats.” 

Not long ago, it was commonplace on the left to celebrate the internet’s ability to allow writers to bypass the gatekeeping functions of old media. With mainstream liberalism needing a scapegoat to explain away the failures of the post-2008 Democratic party, however, the tone has shifted. 

Case in point, Clio Chang’s rather chilling piece from the Columbia Journalism Review that seeks to problematize an open platform called Substack.. Substack allows writers to publish almost whatever they want, outside of editorial control, and then charge a subscription to readers. As more and more websites and print media are being hollowed out and sacrificed to the gods of speculative capital, a large number of big-name writers have embraced this new platform. It has also allowed writers to report on stories that are objectively true but inconvenient to the Democratic establishment, such as Matt Taibbi’s admirable work debunking Russiagate bullshit. 

Chang begins with a lengthy description of Substack’s creation. She stresses that no one—not even the site’s founders and most successful writers—consider it an ideal replacement for the well-funded journalism of old. Chang focuses on one particular Substack newsletter called “Coronavirus News For Black Folks” which appears to be moderately successful (the piece cites 2000+ subscribers, and its founder is earning enough to have hired an assistant editor). Even after describing how the platform has given large grants and stipends to other newsletter run by women and people of color, the fact that this one particular newsletter isn’t as successful as others is held up as proof of the platform’s malignancy.

​“Coronavirus News For Black Folks” may be somewhat successful, but Chang implies that it rightfully should be even more successful, and that something evil must be afoot. Simple arithmetic tells us that a specialized newsletter—one pitched specifically to a minority audience and only covering one particular issue—is going to have a smaller readership than a more general interest piece. Rather than accept this simple explanation, Chang instead embraces the liberal tendency to blame a lack of desired outcomes upon the presence of evil forces.

While Chang provides a thorough overview of the current, fucked state of media and journalism, at no point does she grapple with the role that mainstream liberalism has played in abetting the industry’s collapse. This is surprising, as a quick google search suggests she generally has solid, left-wing politics. This omission reveals a problematic gap in left analysis, and bodes poorly for any hope of leftism accomplishing any material goals while the movement remains aligned with more mainstream identity politics. Even as she cogently explains the destruction of media and the hellish future that lay before writers, Chang still embraces the mystical fatalism that liberals have been leaning on since 2010 or so, when it became clear that Obama wasn’t going to make good on any promises of hope or change. She blames our nation’s horrors not elite leadership, but on the presence of people and ideas she doesn’t like. In this case, Substack is problematic because many of its writers are white and male, and some are even conservative:

When [Andrew] Sullivan joined Substack, over the summer, he put the company’s positioning to the test: infamous for publishing excerpts from The Bell Curve, a book that promotes bigoted race “science,” Sullivan would now produce the Weekly Dish, a political newsletter. (Substack’s content guidelines draw a line at hate speech.) Sullivan’s Substack quickly rose to become the fifth-most-read among paid subscriptions—he claimed that his income had risen from less than $200,000 at New York magazine to $500,000. When I asked the founders if they thought his presence might discourage other writers from joining, they gave me a pat reply. “We’re not a media company,” Best said. “If somebody joins the company and expects us to have an editorial position and be rigorously enforcing some ideological line, this is probably not the company they wanted to join in the first place.”

I’m no fan of Andrew Sullivan, but the man has spent decades building and maintaining his audience. Of course he’s going to have a larger readership than someone who is just starting out. This isn’t a sign of anything nefarious. It’s basic commonsense. But there’s no other conclusions that can be reached: things are bad because people haven’t done enough to root out badness. Things are bad because evil exists. The only way we can attempt reform is to make the evil people go away. Anyone who says anything I don’t like is evil and their words are evil and they shouldn’t be published.

Chang doesn’t make any direct suggestions for remediating Substack, but her implications are clear: equity requires censorship and ideological conformity. Providing any platform for people who are disliked by the liberal mainstream, be they too far left or too indelicate with their conservative cruelty, equates to harming vulnerable people—even when those vulnerable people freely admit to making money off the same platform. There is no room for dissent. There is no possibility of reform. The boundaries of acceptable discourse must grow narrower and narrower. Only when we free our world from the presence of the bad ones will change magically arrive.

NOTE: I wrote a follow-up to this piece that I think does a better job of articulating the points I was trying to make.

[tabloidtoc]

OK, December 21

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Queen Elizabeth cancels Christmas

Page 1: Big Pic -- David Beckham in an ad for Haig Club 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 4: Bella and Olivia Jade Giannulli -- life on their own -- find out what Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli’s daughters have been up to while their famous parents sweat it out in prison -- Bella has been so stressed out and felt she deserved a trip with her buds so she went to a luxury resort in Santa Barbara over Thanksgiving weekend 

Page 6: It’s been a little over a year since Felicity Huffman was released from prison after serving her time for role in the college admissions scandal but she is finally starting to get her life and career back on track -- initially she was nervous about working again given the controversy and everything that went down and she seriously wondered if there would be anything out there for her material-wise but she shouldn’t have worried as she landed a part in an upcoming pilot in which she’ll play a recently widowed owner of a Triple-A baseball team and she’s really excited about the show 

Page 7: Kristin Cavallari is fed up with Carrie Underwood’s meddling in her divorce from Jay Cutler -- after Kristin called time on her seven-year marriage Carrie and her husband Mike Fisher who used to be Nashville couple-friends to both Kristin and Jay have taken Jay’s side and since then there’s been some snide stuff said that’s made it clear how Carrie really fills about Kristin -- while Jay spent Thanksgiving with Carrie and Mike, Kristin filmed a wine-fueled Instagram Live and Carrie finds this type of thirsty behavior on social media incredibly lame and she’s saying it’s obvious Kristin cares more about upping her profile than making any type of family peace 

* After nearly 60 years in showbiz Cher has a different aspirations -- since traveling to Pakistan to help a mistreated elephant from a local zoo be relocated to an animal sanctuary she’s saying this is her new mission to help endangered species in third world countries and campaign for other good eco causes -- Cher spends much of her time cooped up and bored in her Malibu mansion and her trip made her realize there’s a world out there that needs her help 

* Mark Harmon of NCIS is all work and no play these days and nearly two decades in the same TV gig as Leroy Gibbs has only made things worse as the responsibilities of the show seem to wear heavier on Mark by the year and even on a break you can’t get him to crack a smile or tell a joke; he’d rather go lie down in his trailer -- off set Mark and his wife of 33 years Pam Dawber get along because they’re such homebodies and Mark can usually be found working on his cars in the garage or relaxing in the yard and he cherishes his quiet time but people have stopped inviting him out because he’s known as Mr. Boring 

Page 8: Dolly Parton is spreading Christmas cheer far and wide with a new TV special and album and Netflix movie but at her home in Tennessee the holiday spirit is decidedly lacking because Dolly is forgoing her favorite 40-year-running traditions which are filling her house with trees and driving her nieces and nephews and their kids around her farm in golf carts dressed as Santa and handing out presents because of her concern for her husband Carl Dean who has Alzheimer’s disease and he’s in a high-risk group for coronavirus so she’s restricted the property to just them and two staff members -- it breaks Dolly’s heart to have to cancel her big annual celebration and she’s still decorated her home to the nines but it’s a lonely feeling knowing the family won’t be there to see it 

* Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton are proving themselves to be perfectly postmodern parents by raising their kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with firm rules for TV and electronic use -- Kate who recently revealed she’s fielded her share of temper tantrums actively attempts to stave off meltdowns with a strict rewards chart and the kids have to earn screen time -- Kate prefers to keep them busy with activities like board games and hikes and baking which the children enjoy anyway

* After spending the last several years living a relatively low-key life in his native England Russell Brand is desperate to have a bigger presence in Hollywood but his wife Laura insists he stay put -- Russell’s craving SoCal living and the copious acting jobs and event invites that came with it but Laura prefers their British life outside the spotlight with their young daughters -- while some work has come to him in England like the upcoming Death on the Nile if he had his way he’d make a more aggressive career push in L.A. 

Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- stars stand out in festive green dresses -- Carly Pearce, Angela Bassett, Zendaya 

Page 11: Jodie Comer, Adriana Lima 

Page 12: Who Wore It Better? Melissa Gorga vs. Jennifer Lahmers, Abigail Spencer vs. Hailey Bieber in Max Mara, Olivia Culpo vs. Aurora Culpo 

Page 14: News in Photos -- Brooke Burke with Christmas ornaments that will be auctioned by non-profit Operation Smile 

Page 16: Audrina Patridge brought along her daughter Kirra’s favorite toys for a picnic in Beverly Hills, Padma Lakshmi visits The Vitamin Shoppe in NYC, Brandy at the BET Soul Train Awards 

Page 17: Kelly Rutherford felt the love from her dogs in L.A., Shawn Mendes out for a walk in Miami 

Page 21: Robin Wright and husband Clement Giraudet held hands while riding their bikes in L.A., long-time friends Gabrielle Union and Snoop Dogg unpacked ingredients delivered by Shipt 

Page 22: Josh Duhamel on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Karlie Kloss on her new Adidas collection 

Page 24: Vanessa Hudgens snuggled up to her beloved pup Darla while at the park in L.A., Jay-Z taking a walk around the island in Hawaii 

Page 25: Kimora Lee Simmons and her children handed out food to residents of a housing complex, Prince Jackson safely helped a community church distribute food to those in need 

Page 26: Inside My Home -- Ariel Winter’s stylish setup 

Page 28: Like most Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood have had a challenging 2020 but their 15-year marriage was put to the test this past summer when the country superstars’ daughter Allie tested positive for Covid-19 -- they were worried sick and had to go into quarantine themselves and not being able to hold Allie’s hand was terrible for both of them but fortunately Allie’s case was mild and Garth and Trisha’s tests came back negative 

Page 30: Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott who have amicably coparented their daughter Stormi since their split last year and recently spent Thanksgiving together as a family are drawing up plans to have another baby together in 2021 because both of them want to give Stormi a sibling ASAP and neither can imagine going through this process with anyone else -- the exes are figuring out a contract to specify their family plans that will protect Kylie’s money and outline coparenting terms more formally and give them each an agreeable share of custody if things don’t stay as rosy down the line

* They’ve costarred in five films and have proclaimed they’re each other’s work wives and are finally single at the same time so pals of Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis are urging the longtime friends to give it a go romantically especially now that Jason has split from Olivia Wilde -- Jennifer always says Jason makes her laugh the way no one else can -- while Jason’s primarily focusing on coparenting his kids he’s long harbored warm and fuzzy feelings toward Jen and he would love to ask her out but the only thing holding him back is the potential to ruin their solid friendship

* Love Bites -- Johnny Galecki and Alaina Meyer split, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky dating, Jonathan Bennett and Jaymes Vaughan engaged 

Page 31: Matthew Perry’s loved ones are worried the Friends star has made a rash call by suddenly getting engaged to literary manager Molly Hurwitz -- the on-off two-year romance between Matthew and Molly has been dysfunctional from the get-go and Matthew’s way more into this than Molly who seems to love him more like a brother

* A rough year for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle including inter-family strife and a move across the pond and a devastating miscarriage has only strengthened their bond -- after Meghan revealed she and Harry had miscarried in July the two were quite overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion and the response not only validated their decision to go public a thousand times over but it also helped them grow even closer -- they’re determined to put this behind them and try for another baby at the earliest opportunity but more than anything else it’s really underlined how they belong together as soulmates 

Page 32: Cover Story -- Queen Elizabeth’s holiday shake-up -- inside the monarch’s heartbreaking decision to call off the family’s annual Christmas celebration -- the queen will celebrate the holidays at Windsor Castle in Berkshire for the first time in more than three decades -- while the queen is upset not to have the company of the younger royals this year she has to think about her and Prince Philip’s health 

Page 36: Katie Holmes’ season of joy -- how Katie is spending the holidays with her new love Emilio Vitolo Jr. 

Page 38: Mistaken Identity -- with these celeb look-alikes it’s deja vu all over again -- Carrie Underwood and Reese Witherspoon, Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood 

Page 39: Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon, Amy Adams and Isla Fisher, Lucy Hale and Selena Gomez 

Page 40: Interview -- Tommy Lee’s new beat -- the veteran rock star opens up about his latest solo album and his new fan base 

Page 42: Gal Power -- how Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot gets into superhero shape 

Page 43: Fight Club -- these buttkicking superheroines pushed themselves to new limits -- Brie Larson, Scarlett Johansson, Danai Gurira 

Page 46: Style -- Zendaya for Lancome’s new mascara 

Page 48: Sleek activewear from celeb-loved label Gigi C Bikinis makes it easy to look like a star when you work out 

Page 49: 5 minutes with Adrienne Bailon 

Page 54: Entertainment 

Page 58: Buzz -- Disney Holiday Singalong featuring Ryan Seacrest, Katy Perry, Pink and daughter Willow, Ciara and her kids Future and Sienna 

Page 60: Sound Bites -- Nelly on feeling disappointed with placing third on Dancing With the Stars, Kaley Cuoco on husband Karl Cook’s social media presence, Megan Fox on first meeting boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly 

Page 61: Paul McCartney on why he doesn’t like taking pictures with fans, Cardi B joking about how her 2-year-old crashed her selfie video 

Page 62: Horoscope -- Sagittarius Vanessa Hudgens turned 32 on December 14 

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Dan Levy 

[dxmedstudent]

Celebrities in the time of coronavirus...

I’ve been looking at the response to celebrities with interest. It’s a financial crisis for most pople, as well as a biological one. So most people are feeling pretty angry about celebrities imploring them to donate - with no signs that most celebrities are putting their own money where their mouth is. The old system, under which celebrities could consider it a job well done if they used their ‘influence’ to get others to donate. With a lot of people financially much worse off than before, people just aren’t willing to put up with that arrangement any more. Credit goes to James McAvoy, who has donated hundreds of thousands towards PPE for the NHS and used his platform. I think that’s what people are hoping for, more than anything - a sign that the rich and powerful are putting that power and money towards doing something actually useful. It’s actually deafening how silent a lot of the rich and powerful have been. Where are all those billions now that the entire world is in a crisis? There are so many ways that people could help, if they chose to. I don’t think most celebs truly realise just how different this experience is for everyone, and how much it increases class divisions that were already present. Self isolating in a mansion, with all the luxuries your millions afford you? And enough money to protect your friends and family? A lifetime away from those who have been made redundant, who fear their employer or their own business may go under. Those who are self-employed. Those who are afraid how they’ll feed their family or pay their rent.  Now that so many people are struggling, I feel guilty that I’m in a position where I know I’ll have a job, because it feels like I have it much easier than so many. It’s hard not to feel incredibly underwhelmed by celebrities’ efforts. A lacklustre song? Bravely going ‘makeup free? (dude, I hit my front line shifts makeup free on the regular, that’s not hard and it’s not brave). It’s sweet that they are trying to do something - I’m seeing fitness celebs doing online PE lessons for kids, and readalong things, and I’m sure some of the efforts may actually be helpful. But I can see why lots of people feel really frustrated. Self isolating is a lot easier in a mansion than in a tiny apartment where you’re basically stuck in a tiny room for a week. Social distancing? Easier with the luxury of space, and if you’re in the same household as your loved ones. Most celebs have the space and wherewithal to be with their families or partners, and they can afford not to work for a while, so I can’t take their “this is hard for us all” seriously,  when I’m stuck facing likely my biggest ever challenge alone without my loved ones. I’m going to be facing a literal warzone when I get back to work after self-isolating from probable COVID-19 that my system can’t afford to test its healthcare workers for. Those of us who work on the frontline in any respect have bigger fish to fry. And I include those who are on the financial front line - whose work is precarious, who are afraid for their loved ones, and whose lives are a lot more precarious - what advice can someone in a mansion give us? I’ve seen thoughts from people that we’re starting to realise that a lot of celeb ‘self help’ stuff is pretty meaningless to your average person, and I guess this pandemic makes it clearer. If celebs want to help, they’ll need to think about what most people are actually facing rather than assume we’re just living in a smaller mansion.  The problem is, we are all hurting. And any quarantine content that reminds us what we’re missing is going to cause a pretty visceral reaction. For many people, that’s basic financial security, being with their loved ones, and the assurance they will get adequate medical care. Right now, many people need help, not thoughts and prayers. We need PPE and medical equipment. We need financial support and protection for those most vulnerable.

[madamcarina]

Finding it Within Myself

It was a normal Monday and I woke up sneezing heavily. I have seasonal allergies so I did not think much of it but, I could not stop sneezing and coughing. My parents would check up on me and bring me snacks but we didn’t think anything was serious. However I still stood in my room and wore a mask while wandering the halls. I didn't know it at that moment but I had Covid-19 and I was the first in my family to get it. Although unsure of my symptoms and how sick I was, I waited another day without getting tested. I kept on reassuring myself it was just a cold or allergies but after confronting my supervisor on my symptoms she encouraged me to get a test done. 

The next few days my symptoms go worse and that's when I knew something was wrong.The night before I could not sleep and found myself freezing in generally normal temperatures. The symptoms would change abruptly from me shivering under my blanket to a slight fever in the next hour. I encouraged my family to stay away for good and made them bring my food and water to the door.They were still unsure if I had Covid-19 but still continued to tend to me. The symptoms were very random and would come and go within hours making it very hard to track.

One of my friends had Covid months prior so I texted her frequently asking questions and sharing some of the symptoms I had. She assured me that I was fine as long as I could taste and smell and that gave me hope. On the fifth day almost all of my symptoms were gone. My test results have not come in and I ventured out of my room. My family was happy to see me walking around but we were all unsure why I was sick. That day I decided to clean my room and call the doctor's office to see if my results were ready. The receptionist told me my results were not in yet and that was odd since it had been so many days in between. I took that as a sign that I was ok and continued with my daily routine. 

An hour after my initial call I received a call from the doctors again. I answered and the doctor spoke “Hey Carina I just wanted to let you know you have tested positive for Covid-19”. Her voice was very modest and bare. It felt as if she had said this a thousand times before but just inserted my name within the blank. My body froze and I could only carry a nervous smile. What had I done to my family and myself I thought to myself. I began recalling all the times I went outside for groceries, a jog, a drive. I started analyzing when I would have caught it and who gave it to me. 

I had felt disappointed in myself for catching the virus even after all the precautions and sacrifices my family and I made. That night my family decided to celebrate my health and my journey to getting better rather than mope. They made pina coladas and ordered my favorite burrito from Chipotle. Although I had lost all taste and smell that night I felt so grateful to have my family near me. Even though I could not sit with them I could hear the music and their laughter from my bedroom. 

The next few days were the mildest symptoms wise but also the hardest emotionally. I had learned that half my family had the coronavirus and we all had to lock ourselves away separately. My dad and younger brother had exiled themselves in the living room while my mother, older brother, and I spent everyday in our separate rooms. It was tough to not see my parents or hear their voices. All I could do at night was worry about my mothers recovery and the risk my father was taking by caring for all of us.For a family who is constantly around each other it was very lonely and scary to not know what was going on with each other. I found myself doing anything to distract myself during quarantine. I would Facetime my boyfriend for hours and then spend the rest of my day in front of a screen. I found it hard to just idel with my thoughts and extremely scary to just be with myself. As an extrovert I pride myself in being  around people constantly and just having friends by my side. Yet during quarantine I felt hollow and empty without having anyone near me. Having Covid-19 was scary because of how harmful the symptoms were. But also having to quarantine was a mental and emotional battle I had to overcome. 

Me a month later after testing Negative for Covid-19