#you might be able to get a vaccine but that doesn’t guarantee you won’t be reinfected

[freddyfreeman]

What really bothers me about covid and our society’s response to it - is that evidence shows that repeat infection leads to lymphopenia, aka AIDS. There’s also the risk of developing myalgic encephalitis (ME/CFS) or ‘long covid’ (for which there is no cure). The lymphopenia thing isn’t ever discussed outside of medical/chronic illness circles, perhaps because society would collectively shit themselves if they realized what that meant.

[thelastspeecher]

I had a very aggravating conversation with a family friend today, so here’s your regular reminder to get a fucking flu shot.

“Influenza is a mild illness!”

So, 1889 didn’t happen?  Or 1918?  Or 1957?  Or 1968?  Or 2009?  1918 is especially notable as being a pandemic that predominately affected younger people, aka the people supposedly less vulnerable to influenza.  Even during a regular, not super dangerous flu season, 250,000-500,000 people die every year.  Do you want to be one of them? (source)

“But I’m not in a group at risk of getting seriously hurt by influenza!”

That just reduces your chance of a serious side effect or death.�� It doesn’t guarantee you’ll be fine if you catch it.  Perfectly healthy, young people get seriously harmed and killed dead by influenza and its associated complications every year.  “45% to 77% of pneumonia- and influenza-associated hospitalizations occur in those younger than 65 years.” (source)

“Seriously, even if I catch influenza, I won’t get very sick.”

Maybe you won’t.  But anyone you visit while ill could get very sick.  Even just walking around, you’re very capable of spreading influenza.  You definitely know, or maybe even live with, people who belong to groups especially vulnerable to influenza.  They might not be able to get flu shots themselves.  If you get a shot, you protect yourself from getting sick and passing the flu onto someone who won’t be able to fight it off as well or might not even be able to get a shot.  It’s called herd immunity.  The more people that vaccinate, the more they protect those who are vulnerable, even if the people getting vaccinated are not especially vulnerable themselves. (source)

“The shot might not even be for the dominant strain this year!”

See, here’s the thing.  There are different strains of the influenza virus, but at the end of the day, they’re all still influenza.  Getting immunity to one strain might not provide full immunity to others, but it still helps. (source)

“I know people who got the shot and still got sick!”

Yeah.  That happened to me last year.  I got my shot and still got the flu.  But even though I was wiped out, it only lasted for a few days.  Because I got my shot.  If you get sick despite getting the shot, your illness is less severe, because your immune system has a rough idea of what it should be doing. (source)

“It’s an inconvenience.”

That’s the root cause of most people refusing to get their flu shot.  It’s inconvenient to go down to Walgreen’s and sit down for a shot that takes two seconds and doesn’t even hurt like the tetanus shot.  You know what’s more inconvenient?  Getting the flu when there’s already a global pandemic going on.  Do you really want to go to the hospital and risk being exposed to COVID-19 when you’re immunocompromised from being sick with the flu?

Not to mention, it’s drastically more inconvenient for the medical system if a flu pandemic happens this year.  They’re already struggling, they can’t handle much more strain.  Medical professionals are terrified of a “twindemic”, aka having a flu pandemic on top of the current one.  Even a mild pandemic would be devastating, with the current workload. (source)

For more information, check out the CDC’s page on the flu shot.  But essentially, unless it’s “I had a serious allergic reaction the last time I got a flu shot” or “I’m immunocompromised”, there’s no good reason to not get a flu shot, especially this year.

Get.

A.

Flu.

Shot.

[rjalker]

and just....as a PSA....

You cannot undomesticate a cat.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a “fifth generation feral”. It’s still not a wild animal. It’s still a domesticated cat. It’s still got all the traits bred into it over literally thousands of years through domestication.

It’s why feral animals are called feral, not wild. They cannot go back to being wild. You can’t undo domestication.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a cat born from a cat born from a cat born from a cat who got outside. It’s still a domesticated cat. It can still be socialized and live a full and happy life indoors, if shown enough compassion for anyone to try.

It doesn’t matter how old a feral cat is. There is no age limit for socializing feral cats. The only thing that changes is the amount of time that it’s going to take to earn its trust. 

Keep your cats indoors.

Don’t feed feral cats. Unless the food is in a trap, and once caught, you’re going to bring them either inside or to a shelter, you have absolutely no business feeding feral cats. They are an invasive species, and all you’re doing by feeding them but not rehoming them is giving them more strength with which to breed and hunt.

It doesn’t matter where you are on this planet, domesticated cats are an invasive species. 

And if you live somewhere where Scottish Wildcats are native, you absolutely must keep your cats indoors, because the Scottish wildcats are on the verge of extinction due to loss of habitat AND INTERBREEDING WITH DOMESTIC CATS.

If you are able and willing, adopt a feral cat, get it to the vet, get it fixed, get it its vaccines, and enjoy your free pet.

want some tips for socializing a shy feral?

Take off your shoes, especially if you wear heavy boots. Stomping around like a giant is NOT going to inspire confidence or trust in the cat. You are already big and threatening, you don’t need to add ‘loud’ to the mix.

-

ties into the above, but don’t go charging up or down the stairs like a herd of elephants. Walk softly, and if you have guests, make sure they do as well. Again. You’re trying to gain this traumatized animal’s trust. That’s going to be harder if it’s terrified of the loud noises you make every time you move.

-

Start training the cat immediately, with whatever you want it to respond to. Want it to come to you when you offer a cat of wet food or treats? Pick a specific phrase, and a specific tone of voice when you are offering it. “Who wants wet food?” or “Who wants treats?” always said the same way will eventually guarantee that the cat comes running to you, if you’re consistent. 

--Do you vacuum alot? Everyone knows cats are terrified of vacuums. But here’s the thing--They don’t have to be. 

Or at least, they don’t have to be as terrified out of their minds. Like with the treats, if you train your cat to know when you are turning the vacuum on, they will be able to brace themselves for the sound, and know what to expect, instead of suddenly having a deafening, angry sound burst out of nowhere for seemingly no reason. 

Tell you cat, “I’m turning the vacuum on!” in the same tone of voice a few times before you turn it on, and tell them, “No more vacuuming!” when you’re sure you’re done. If you do this consistantly, they’ll know what to expect, and while they might still go to hide when you say you’re turning it on, it won’t be a terrified dash to the closet, and they’ll come back out much faster if they know they can trust you when you say it’s safe.

Some cats, assuming you’re consistent and don’t ever purposefully antagonize them with the vacuum (which. No. don’t fucking do that to your pets. I don’t care if you think it’s funny.), might just be totally chill with it once they know it’s going to happen. Some of ours just look mildly annoyed, but they aren’t freaking out, and they know it’s okay for them to stay where they were lying when we started.

Don’t force the cat to let you pet it if it clearly doesn’t want you to.

If you want to train your cat to be okay with being picked up, you HAVE to have some sort of plan in mind for positive reinforcement, and you have to take it slow. Make sure you are holding your cat properly, in a way that it knows it’s being supported, so it’s not afraid it’s going to fall. Don’t drop or throw your cat.

ECT.

Feel free to add on more tips.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #451

“taste the waste of their god’s grace & spit your hate upon your young”

Who are you subscribed to on YouTube? A shitload of people. Do you like to go to the farmer's market? Yeah, sure. What will (or was) the color of your wedding dress be? Probably black. What's your favorite melon? I don't really like melons, actually. What was the name of the last pet of yours that died? Teddy. :( When was the last time you wished the day would just get over with? Literally every day. Seriously. It's funny, I dread fighting to sleep at night, but I also just want it to be time to sleep so time will pass. My life is just so fucking boring that I just... wait for something exciting to happen. Name one person you've never had a fight with: Tez. What are you currently listening to? "Sex Metal Barbie" by In This Moment. What would you rather have: cat or dog? I prefer cats. Who is your least favorite person in real life? Probably my sister's husband. Do you ever watch anybody's live stream of... anything, really? I'll sometimes watch live let's plays. Does your house have security cameras? No. If you go grey as you age, would you dye your hair or let it be? I'll be dyeing it. What was the last establishment you stopped going to due to bad service? What happened? I'm not sure. What soundtrack do you listen to the most? Silent Hill 2's, definitely. Was there a family secret you weren’t told about until you were an adult? I don't know if it's really a secret, but I didn't know until this year that my dad did some really dangerous drugs before us kids were born. Do you have an opinion most people you meet seem to disagree with you? Yes. What’s something you like to have many options to choose from? Food, ha ha. Feels great to have a full kitchen after a grocery trip. What’s the strangest decorative object you own? Nothing "strange" to me. What’s a thing you couldn’t imagine doing with your life right now? One biggie is having a baby. I just... could not imagine. My life would plummet. What’s been your proudest moment? Graduating in the top percentile in my high school graduating class. What’s the filthiest non-pornographic movie you’ve seen? Omfg, Sausage Party. That movie was so gross. Do you know anyone who doesn't seem to be fond of animals? Thankfully, no. I don't even think I could befriend someone who doesn't like animals. Are you planning any outings or trips anytime soon? Whereabouts? No. Do you know anyone who has a phobia of a certain animal? Yeah, like me with whale sharks. Is there a particular brand of technology/electronics that you prefer? Not really, no. Is there a singer whose voice gives you goosebumps/chills? Amy Lee's. And is there a singer whose voice you simply can't stand? Yeah, such as Bob Dylan. Are there any authors that are particularly dominant on your bookshelf? Tui T. Sutherland, but only because I read their series Wings of Fire. Have you seen any photographs or videos that made you smile today? I'm sure on Facebook at some point. Which item in your fridge are you most looking forward to consuming? Does the freezer count? If so, this Healthy Choice grilled chicken pesto bowl I have in there. I am like addicted to them. Has anyone you know got into a new relationship lately? I don't know. If you menstruate, do you experience much PMS prior to it? It varies month-to-month. Have you ever had a tattoo covered up or added to? I had my Markiplier tattoo essentially redone by a better artist. I also plan on getting my "ohana" tat covered, as well as my "how rare and beautiful it is to even exist" one (I adore the quote, but it's not an original design, which I don't like having anymore), and I want to move and redesign my "perfectly flawed" one because I want a bigger tattoo in its location. Can you remember the last time you had a sudden change of mind? Yeah; I'm pretty sure I like-like my friend Girt now, something I was never entirely sure about. When was the last time you did something on a whim? *shrug* Were you raised by both of your parents? If not, then who raised you? Well, I guess both, but Dad didn't do a lot of the teaching part about life and stuff. Have you ever began a relationship with someone you knew for less than a week? No. Has one of your friends ever tried to ‘hook you up?’ Yes. Colleen tried that with me and Girt and only succeeded in making us very uncomfortable. She said something I wanted to slap her for that I won't repeat. What is your card game of choice? Magic: The Gathering. What is your favourite books series? I think my favorite series of all time was the Shiloh trilogy. I adored both the books and movies. Do you prefer landmarks or street names when being given directions? You'd better give me landmarks, ha ha. Do you read the prologues in the beginnings of books? Of course. What was your favourite gym class moment? There're such things as GOOD gym memories in school? Do you think that ocean boardwalks are fun? Yes. Do you dread when people ask you to sign their yearbooks? No, I always thought it was very flattering that they even wanted mine. Do you have a favourite Scooby-Doo movie? The Phantom Virus one. I had the video game as a kid, too. Could never beat the damn thing. Do you think it’s cute when toddlers try to run away and fall down? No? I don't like seeing children - or anyone - fall. Do you enjoy listening to your grandparents tell stories of their past? So, this really only happened once, and it was coincidentally the day I learned of her pancreatic cancer, but before Mom told me. I had an assignment to interview someone of an older generation about how various sources of media affected their lives, like the development of TV and such, and she really got into it. It was very interesting to learn about. Do you have a crush on someone? I guess I do idfk. If so... what does his/her name begin with? "D." What attracts you to them? More than anything, the fact he's been there for me without fail. Both single and when I was with Jason and he was interested in me, he's just... been there and has made an effort since high school to be in my life in one way or another. Do they know that you like them? Not anymore, no. We dated for a few months, but I broke up with him because he felt more like my brother, so I would assume he doesn't think I do. Maybe he still is family to me. I really don't know what I feel. If they don't know, why didn't you tell them? I might at some point, idk. We just haven't talked in a while. Name two people that you miss: Jason and Megan. Have you ever seen Titanic? When I was in the hospital, yes. Everyone was crying, lmao. Have you ever swam with dolphins? No, but I would. When was the last time you had a stomachache? Now. Mother Nature finally visited me after three whole fucking months and is v angry. What's going to bed early for you? Like 7:00. Do you want to have a big family in the future? Of pets! Human kids ain't for me. What was the last thing you did that gave you a rush? Hell if I know. Favorite Nicholas Cage movie? Ghost Rider. Have you had your Covid vaccine yet? Which one, if you have? Yes. I got Moderna. If you've had your vaccine, did you experience any side effects? I did on my second dosage. I was OUT of it the day afterwards, but then I was fine. What's the next item of clothing that you intend to buy for yourself? I need new bras badly. What Facebook groups have you found the most helpful? It's called "Not Just A Pet Rock (Python regius)" and is a group for advanced ball python husbandry. It is very informative, but I will say there is a SHITLOAD of very rude elitists. Do you like your butt? Why or why not? NO because it's a PANCAKE and I want CAKE. Have you ever personally been a victim of homophobia? I personally think so. When Sara visited and we were trying to go to my older sister's so she especially could meet her, Ash entirely ignored Mom's messages. I know her homophobic husband well enough to nearly be able to guarantee he didn't want us coming over because the kids "don't need to see that." Ash kinda does what Nick says, so... you know. Do you think you’d be happier if you had a pet? I know I'm happier with pets. Who was the last person you went on a date with? Sara. Were you ever hospitalized as a little kid? No. What’s your favorite way to curl your hair? It's too short to do that. At what age did you start swearing? However old I was in 7th grade. What is something you physically can’t do? Clean up vomit lkdsjal;sdkjfa;lkwd. I can't clean up my pet's or even my own. I literally can't. My mom has to. What do like better, apples or oranges? Apples. I don't like oranges. Around the holidays, do you hope for snow? Yes!!! What are your top two favorite bands? Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica. How many people do you 100% trust? Like two. Maybe. Do you care what others think about you? Way too much. Has anyone ever called you a bitch? My grandmother has. Did you watch Teletubbies when you were younger? Omg yes, I was obsessed. Do you have any licenses other than your driver's license? I don't even have that. Could you live the rest of your life without eating meat? No. Not because I don't want to, because I do, but I would have an extreme protein deficit if I did that. Besides meat, I don't like enough protein-rich foods. Have you ever had a rolling backpack? Yes. Did you make any money today? I haven't made any money in a very, very long time. I'm only ever paid when someone hires me to take pictures for them. What was the highest place you've ever jumped from? I don't know. Definitely not very high. Have you ever gone swimming in a river? Yes. What was the last souvenir someone got you? I have zero clue. Do you have a favorite remix of a song? Hm. Perhaps this techno-y remix of "Psychosocial" by Slipknot. I don't know for sure, though. What do you think is the most saddest sounding instrument? Either the violin or piano. Do you really pay attention to the ratings on movies? Nope. Do you have a favorite species of wild cat (tiger/lion/cougar/etc.)? Probably clouded leopards aesthetics, but I think lions overall. If you had $500,000, what would you do with it? Pay off school debt as well as help Mom with various financial issues, buy new glasses, buy Mom and I a new house and car, get Venus a great tank with all the optimal supplies, get LOADS of tattoos, donate to various charities, adopt a few specific pets, travel to Yellowstone, get laser hair removal on my legs and teeth whitening... There are a lot of possibilities. Did the last person you touched lips with have a kid? Just scaly ones. :') "First loves are never really over." Is this true for you? Yeeeep... Did you like Michael Jackson before he died? I didn't really have an opinion on him. I know/like a couple songs, sure. What are some things that would make you break up with someone? If they became abusive, started doing drugs, acted arrogantly, didn't understand my mental conditions and were unwilling to be emotionally supportive, stuff like that. What was the worst breakup you've ever had? Ha, the one with Jason. For. Fucking. Sure.

[stayeducated]

Covid and preaching.

I really don’t know how we got here. And as I write these I realize how poor my writing skills are. Anyways we’re here to take shots not be wussy. 

How did faith in Jesus Christ get correlated with not getting vaccinated? Whichever demon in Satan’s army who constructed this is probably got promotions and mad raises. 

Never in the bible has not going to doctors been associated with faith. Monks were the first scientists. Yet now pastors and evangelists have equated not getting vaccinated with strong faith. I read my bible and associate these people with Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the bible. Belief is associated with healing, but there is no guarantee of healing with belief. Paul had a thorn in his side and was not able to have it removed to stay humble. Humility is knowing God may protect us from the virus or he may not and may afflict us. Humility is getting vaccinated so you can not be a menace to your neighbor and being able to have basic human capability to speak the word’s of God to another people.

Let’s look in the bible because it seems we’ve forgotten about it.

Tempting God Matthew 4 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Y’all preachers want to throw yourself off the temple and say hey! Look at me I’m faithful in Christ therefore these viruses won’t be able to touch me. How about you stop trying to show off get off your pedestal and preach the following of Christ. I remember once I was sitting in the upenn summer school reading the bible and I had a choice of two benches. One was swarmed by mosquitos and the other not so much. I chose to remain in the bench swarmed by mosquitos reasoning that God would protect me because I was reading his bible. Then I got bit and realized I was an idiot. 

A Snake bite thrown off 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Paul was protected because of his faith. Yet what was he doing? He was willingly putting himself in prison and in shackles so he could go to Rome to preach the gospel. Show me your evangelization and people brought to Christ by your actions. Then I can shut up. Until then I’ll show my vaccine card and my efforts to build my fellowship and bring the lost to Christ. 

The Mark of the beast 

A lot of preachers also equate the vaccine with the mark of the beast. Here’s the funny thing is they might even be right. It will be progenitor of the mark that if you’re not vaccinated you’ll be a menace to those around you so you better not go out into society unless your vaccinated. However this mark of the beast happens after we’re raptured. Read your bibles. The whole point of the mark is for those who are after rapture can know about it beforehand and for us to know the terribleness of the end times in giving us urgency for the present day. 

What the vaccine does represent is returning back to normal where we can have peace and order to practice religion freely and not bring people to death’s door. 

It all comes down this

How can we spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and cause more people to be followers of him? Not by being idiots not getting vaccinated and looking like delusional cultists. But instead by having faith in Christ and going out into the world wisely. Not with the terrible smell of someone who has is uneducated, misinformed, and disease carrying. But rather tactful, understanding, faithful to follow Jesus and doing whatever we can tooth and nail to be a shining testimony to the world. 

Satan doesn’t want this and rather we preach and fight about the vaccine. 

But what if I respectfully or disrespectfully disagree?

Show me your faith and go out there and spread the gospel with your unvaccinated ass. Bring people to Christ at the risk of your own life. You don’t want to get vaccinated? Fine. Be a follower of Christ. But don’t go around spreading misinformation. Teach people the words of the bible not your youtube conspiracy theories. And when things start going badly and the lack of a vaccine hurts your testimony then come back to God humble yourself and accept the things that will help your testimony. 

With love in Christ and forgiveness. But I write these things so that when we are above we beloved are not ashamed. 

[briarpritch]

false equivalence 

—december 27, 1979

There was only one thing that had kept Briar from showing up on Rhys’ doorstep the instant that she heard the news, and that was knowing that he would only get annoyed and be more likely to sign himself up for the trials out of spite. She and her brother were different in so many ways, but stubborn pride was one thing they shared, and she wasn’t stupid enough to bring it up in a way that would guarantee he dismissed her concerns.

So she waited. 

Waiting had never been a skill that came easily to Briar, even if it was in the middle of preparing for the end of term and getting ready for Christmas and her joy at her best friend returning to the country for a couple of weeks. Somehow she waited until the lull between Christmas and New Year’s, the time when Rhys was most likely to be at his calmest and ready to listen to reason mode.

Still, she had to admit as the pair of them walked down the path leading from the center of the village closest to their house, there might be better ways to bring it up than to just drop it in the middle of a conversation.

Rhys stopped in the middle of the lane, turning to look at her in bewilderment. “Have I what?”

Briar shrugged, trying to look casual. “You haven’t mentioned it, but I thought I’d ask.”

“No, I haven’t considered signing up for the Squib vaccine.” Although his expression was still primarily confused, the disgust in his voice was obvious enough for Briar to feel a sudden rush of relief flow through her. Of course he was too smart to fall for that. Of course.

“Oh. Well, good.”

“Well, good? That’s it?” He crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her. “Why would you even bring it up? You hate Selwyn’s.”

“I don’t — I just think they’re elitist and too focused on being experimental instead of consistent. But I don’t hate them, exactly.” Rhys continued to stare at her, waiting patiently in a way that she had never been able to manage despite his being the younger of the two of them. “I just know it’s not what they’re saying it is. They’re framing it as some kind of- of- of wonderful gift that they’re giving Squibs, but I know it’s not.”

“They must think they have something or they wouldn’t go to the press with it,” Rhys said reasonably.

“Unless they’re going to the press to… I don’t know, stir up more attention. Not because they think it will go anywhere. Did you see what they said in the statement? About how you’d been denied your birthright? It’s disgusting, and it doesn’t make any sense! Why would they be the ones putting time and effort into curing Squibs? It’s not because they care about them.  They can’t just make magic appear out of thin air, and even if—”

“Briar, stop.” Briar paused mid pace, suddenly realizing she was pacing in the first place. She turned back around to see her brother looking at her with an odd expression on his face. It disappeared before could decipher if it was annoyance to sadness or amusement or some combination of them all. Not knowing didn’t stop her from the next words out of her mouth.

“Promise me you won’t take it.”

Rhys rolled his eyes. “Briar.”

“It’s not safe! I know it’s not. Promise me.”

He let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m happy with my life, you know. I don’t need magic. Even if I, I dunno, spontaneously developed magic, I wouldn’t want to start going to Hogwarts. I want to spend my life helping people, not locked in someone else’s lab. I’m not going to take it. I promise.” He rolled his eyes again for good measure, because little brothers would always be little brothers. “Even if you weren’t being a brat about it.”

Briar narrowed her eyes at him, equal parts relief and annoyance coursing through her veins. “I’m being serious, you know.”

“I think that makes it worse. But yeah, I know.” She opened her mouth to ask why, but he was already turning to continue on the path. He only took two steps before turning back to her suddenly. “Do you remember the moment we realized it?”

Briar didn’t need to ask what it was. It was magic, the moment when they both realized that, despite a lifetime of their parents that they loved her just as much as Rhys and being adopted and nonmagical made her different but didn’t make her less, she wasn’t the one without magic after all. Even if it was another year or more before their parents put the pieces together, they had known. She nodded, because of course she did. “What about it?”

Rhys took a few moments to answer, looking at his feet as he kicked lightly at the pile of snow next to the path. Just as she had begun to get antsy, he looked up, a resigned expression on his face. “It’s not your job to take care of me, you know? It’s not like there was only enough magic for one of us and you took it and have to make it up to me forever.”

“I’m not-- I don’t think that.” At Rhys’ disbelieving expression, she found herself admitting, “I mean, I used to, maybe. But I know that’s not how it works.” She could remember that feeling, in that initial moment when she realized that she was the one floating out of the tree on her own while Rhys stared at her in shock from the ground. The glee that she had done something she didn’t think she could, rapidly followed by the horrified thought that maybe she had stolen it from him by wishing so hard that she could be the one to wave a wand and brew a potion.

“Okay. But just… I’m happy. Fulfilled, or whatever. It’s not your job to make sure I am.”

Briar thought of arguing, but it felt beside the point somehow, so she just nodded. Rhys stared at her for another moment before sighing dramatically and slinging his arm around her shoulder, putting all of his weight on her, as Law of Little Brothers stated they always ended up taller than you and used it against you. “Come on. Let’s go home before you accidentally admit out loud that you know more potions theory than you let on.” 

Briar dug her elbow into his ribs and grumbled, “Love you, asshole.”

“Love you too, brat.” 

[go-redgirl]

FNC’s Carlson: What Was It About Joe Biden’s Shaky Monotone That Inspired CNN’s Talking Heads?

Friday, FNC’s Tucker Carlson reacted to President Joe Biden’s address to the nation a night earlier, which according to Carlson left much to be desired.

After comparing Biden’s address to former Soviet Union dictator Leonid Brezhnev, the Fox News host questioned the fawning approval from CNN hosts and talking heads.

Transcript as follows:

CARLSON: Tons going on, as always. So, there are a lot of stories we could have opened with tonight and we talked about it. But in the end, we couldn’t get our minds off of Joe Biden’s COVID speech.

Did you see that last night? The one where he seems so sad about the lockdowns that have crushed businesses and kept kids out of school, an entire generation, he said, had driven so many to suicide, yet never once mentioned or even hinted that he and his party were the very forces behind those lockdowns.

I’m really sorry about your black eye, he says, as he punches you in the face.

It was bizarre. The whole speech was like that. It had a hallucinogenic quality like it wasn’t quite real.

But then Joe Biden himself isn’t quite real. Maybe that’s the reason he talks that way. Biden has been living in utter seclusion for more than a year. He hasn’t spoken to anyone but his own lackeys.

He hasn’t driven a car or sat on the grass and looked up at the sky or been anywhere or done anything except in the most controlled possible environment. What an incredibly weird life that is.

Joe Biden must imagine that everyone in America is as terrified of corona as he is and is living in the same kind of bunker. Joe Biden is totally cut off.

Alex Berenson described last night speech as late Soviet. The more we thought about it, the more perfect that seemed.

Here’s a clip of Russia’s own Joe Biden, the late Leonid Brezhnev. Like Biden, Brezhnev was very clearly fading in his later years after a series of health problems. Also, like Biden despite his frailty and confusion, Brezhnev never lost his enthusiasm for pointless wars.

He is the one who ordered the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In late December of that year, Brezhnev addressed the Soviet youth in a televised speech. As you watch this, see if you can spot the similarities to what you saw last night, and keep in mind when this was shot, Brezhnev was a full five years younger than Joe Biden is today.

[VIDEO CLIP PLAYS]

CARLSON: Now, they are trying to tell him how the teleprompter works. He harrumphs a bit and looks vacant, he doesn’t quite get it.

Brezhnev didn’t actually lead Russia by this point, and you can see why. He remained the country’s figurehead, but it was the ideologues behind the scenes who ran the show.

Brezhnev had his own Susan Rice and Barack Obama to make the real decisions. The similarities, as we said, are pretty amazing.

Over at CNN, however, they didn’t see it, or maybe they did see it and they didn’t care. CNN always did love Brezhnev.

In any case, the usual chorus of toadies strained for a high note last night. Watch them tell you how wonderful the speech was, as if you didn’t have a TV and didn’t see it for yourself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: How refreshing. How human. How compassionate. How American.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Biden tried to lift our spirits with a medicinal message about recovering our sense of collective cause. Certainly, it was healing.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: He didn’t say, you need me. He said, I need you. I need you. I mean, my God that is — isn’t that it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People always talk about the feeling of the relief hey have hearing Biden, but what he’s doing now soars above that.

LEMON: What the President is saying his help is on the way. We’re all in this together. I need your help. We’re all Americans. Whoo. Hallelujah.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Hallelujah, says Don Lemon. Can I get an amen? Clear the aisles. It’s time for an altar call. Brother Biden is preaching the word. Preach, Brother Biden, preach. Speak. What are these people talking about?

What was it about Joe Biden’s shaky monotone last night that inspired them exactly? Most people found it depressing. Maybe we’re being too literal here.

It probably doesn’t matter what Joe Biden actually said. He could have called for the bombing of Toronto and CNN’s panel of trained seals would still enthusiastically applaud it. It’s their job to enthusiastically applaud what Joe Biden says.

Our job is to try and figure out what Biden’s speech meant for the country. So let’s look at it for a minute.

The lockdowns have been tough, Biden conceded at the outset, God knows how we got them, but we did. Those restrictions will be lifted as soon as we can lift them, and we will return to some version of the country now only dimly remember, we’d really love to do that. We mean it, we’d love it.

But in order to go forward and take the boot off your neck, we’re going to need every American to listen very carefully and to obey our orders. Do what we tell you to do.

Now, that won’t be easy. But if you do it, there is a payoff for good behavior. If you’re obedient, there’s a chance not a guarantee, of course, but a distinct possibility, God-willing, that you may be able to see some of the people you love around July 4th, that could actually happen, ladies and gentlemen. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: If we do our part, if we do this together, by July the Fourth, there’s a good chance you, your families and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.

That doesn’t mean large events with lots of people together, but it does mean small groups will be able to get together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Did you hear that America, there is a good chance, again, not a sure thing. But what is a sure thing these days? But a good chance that you might be allowed to have a modest cookout four months from now. That is as long as you obey regulations weather permitting, and assuming that current Federal projections unfold according to plan. That’s your prize.

This offer by the way does not apply to full-time employees, the radio station or their families.

But with luck, this could be your reward after a year and a half of lockdowns, a Fourth of July cookout in your very own backyard assuming you have one.

Don’t ever tell us that Joe Biden isn’t a compassionate generous man. Here he is offering you with some medically necessary caveats outlined by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the right to cook your own hotdogs. With the provision, obviously, that you do it in a small masked group seated far apart at a prescribed distance from one another.

Don’t get crazy and hug or celebrate or talk too loud or anything like that. Moderation is the key here. But still a socially distanced barbecue. What other wonders does President Biden have in store for us?

Well, you’re going to have to get vaccinated to find out. Sorry, that’s the other requirement. I should have mentioned it. Everybody needs the shot. Period. That’s what Biden said. And that’s a lot of shots.

The good news: now that we’re on what Joe Biden describes as a, quote, “war footing” with this virus, vaccinating people against it is a counterterrorism operation.

What we did to ISIS, we’re going to do to COVID. Biden didn’t mention drones, but we will need soldiers and that’s why Joe Biden is building a Vaccination Corps that will include active-duty members of the military, an army of vaccinators. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Two months ago, the country — this country didn’t have nearly enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all or ever near all of the American public. But soon we will.

Now because of all the work we’ve done, we’ll have enough vaccine supply for all adults in America by the end of May. That’s months ahead of schedule. And we’re mobilizing thousands of vaccinators to put the vaccine in one’s arm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Thousands of vaccinators to vaccinate everyone. That sounds amazing, but it does raise at least one vexing question: what if you don’t want to get vaccinated? Not everyone does. Some people have religious objections, other have concerns about this specific medicines. Others simply don’t want it.

Do you need a reason to turn down the vaccine? And what happens if you do turn it down? Will we be allowed to fly on airplanes? Or go to work? Or enter the front doors of Madison Square Garden?

Joe Biden didn’t specify, but it’s pretty hard to believe he would support any kind of vaccine coercion as he has told you so often over so many years, if it’s your body, it’s your choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I support a woman’s right to choose under that constitutional guarantee provision. And quite frankly, I always will.

Folks, you know, and I am going to fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own personal decisions when it gets to your healthcare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Quite frankly, you’ve got the absolute right to make your own personal decisions about your own personal healthcare. Period. That’s in the Constitution. Joe Biden would never violate that, right. He’s been defending that right since before you were born.

It’s your body. It’s your choice. Period.

Of course, as with everything, there are caveats. If you don’t take the shot that Joe Biden wants you to take, if you persist in making your own personal healthcare, then Joe Biden is going to have to shut the country down again, no socially distanced barbecues for you, buddy. You’re going to have to eat your hotdogs alone inside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: If we don’t stay vigilant, and the conditions change, and we may have to reinstate restrictions to get back on track.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: To which CNN might say, “Hallelujah,” but we’re not CNN. Instead, we’re left wondering, could there be any civil liberties implications to any of this? We don’t know the answer.

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT:

Clips Media Politics CNN Fox News Channel Joe  Biden Tucker Carlson Tucker Carlson

[hope-for-olicity]

I Don’t Feel Like My Rights Are In Danger

I live in Toronto, Ontario and I feel like there is a growing sense that because the government is telling us to stay home and social distance if we must go out that some how are rights are being trampled on - no.

The government is following the advice of Doctors and Scientists - yes, I’m capitalizing those words. For two reason - one, people seem to refuse to use capital letters lately even when they should and two, these are people who know what they are talking about. They said to stay home to flatten the curve and we did - BUT that doesn’t mean it will stay flattened.

Our Premier has decided to open a few more things starting tomorrow - gardening centres, some construction etc. I really don’t get how garden centres are essential but whatever, I’m not going. I think it’s too soon. In fact, I’m sure he’s going to continue down this road of reopening the economy and will stay in my house until I’m vaccinated.

Yep, you read that right. I’m not going anywhere I absolutely don’t need to go unless I’m vaccinated - and yes, I know there is a wait on that but it’s just not worth the risk.

At the beginning of all this our parks were open to the public as normal but it soon became obvious that stupid people wouldn’t social distance so they were shut down for public safety. If people acted appropriately this would not have happened - the government isn’t out to get you as some think. This weekend is the start of Cherry Blossom season in one of parks, it’s now guarded by police. And I can guarantee you if it wasn’t - there would be crowds. So I say keep it shut down - public safety is more important then you seeing Cherry Blossoms - plus, if you REALLY need to see them - there is a webcam.

I also see people saying the government is never going to give our rights back...REALLY? They want to reopen the economy. Why on earth do you think you will not be able to go outside again?

For those people already claiming that they will not get vaccinated, that the vaccine shouldn’t be mandatory, to those choosing not to get the vaccine I say okay then leave - don’t go to the workplaces, grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, churches etc as others. I don’t think you should be allowed to be part of society without the vaccine UNLESS you have specific health reason which prevents it. I’m seriously done with anti-vaxxers. Vaccines work - we literally have YEARS of healthy test subjects to prove it. Get over yourselves and start trusting people who actually know what they are talking about. Karen you do not know more than the scientists.

Finally, just to reiterate the Canadian government is telling people stay home as much as possible, social distance when you are out and if you think you can’t socially distance wear a mask. What you do while you are home is your business as long as you are not hurting yourself or others. 

These lists of things you should be doing while you are home - do them if you want, chuck them if you want. You do you. Personally, I’m only going places where I can social distance, my friend made me a mask and it left me a state for days - won’t be doing that again unless there is no other choice. I’m working a very stressful job from home so I’m cutting out all other stresses that I can. I’m keeping the TV off after work (watching Fringe on my computer),  listening to comforting songs, less screen time after work due to headaches - back to paper books and I’ve begun knitting again. 

You take care of you at home, let the public safety rules take care of society and stop complaining about your rights being taken away...this is temporary. It might be a long time but it’s not permanent. There are too many smart people in this world working on a vaccine for there not to be light at the end of the tunnel. 

Sorry I ranted but I am annoyed. Instead of being angry at those trying to protect my health and the health of others I THANK THEM.

[dancing-crystals]

The current Jeopardy! champion reminds me of Parker a little. And now I am thinking of the con that gets Parker on the show.

A scummy producer created a fake scandal to get a popular educational kids’ show canceled and replaced with a trashy talk show starring a doctor who claims vaccines cause autism and abortions cause cancer, stuff like that. Maybe the kids’ show people don’t even ask the Leverage team for help--it’s on the news and they decide to take matters into their own hands.

The original plan is to approach the producer with their own show, with Sophie as a “psychologist to the stars” who promises to get the rich and famous to reveal their darkest secrets live on air, but while they are going over the plan, Parker comments that they’ll be at the same studio where famous quiz show is filmed. Turns out she’s a big fan. Eliot, bitter that he’s being cast as Sophie’s monosyllabic body guard-slash-gofer instead of getting a chance to be on a cooking show, points out that getting someone on a game show would be easier than getting a new show green lit.

Parker loves the idea, Hardison fully supports her, and all of Nate’s attempts to regain control are ignored. Hardison is already hacking into the show’s computers. Nate points out that this plan doesn’t get them access to the producer or doctor, but Sophie thinks that they may be able to pitch a show starring the beautiful and intelligent new champion. She’s already mentally picking out her outfit when Eliot helpfully suggests she and Nate can be Parker’s unscrupulous parents, looking to cash in on her success. Sophie’s indignant “How old do you think I am?” is drowned out by Parker’s excited “Mom! Dad!”

There’s a long debate about how much help the team can give Parker. She refuses to memorize the questions, Hardison thinks it might be fun to see how well the team can do with just their own knowledge, Nate insists they need to guarantee Parker stays on the show as long as necessary, Sophie is talking about the importance of close games and last minute saves to keep the audience engaged, and Eliot is starting to realize he’s going to get dragged into this after all and won’t have time to tour California’s finest restaurants and vineyards.

Hardison’s plan wins. He gets “Sarah” as a contestant on an upcoming show and the team whispers the questions and betting strategies in her ear (Parker thinks knowing the questions in advance is cheating, but having the whole team play is fine because they are a team).

Nate gets the producer alone, suggests it’s time that the game show gets a new face, someone young, someone that could really draw in the viewers. Meanwhile Sophie cozies up to the doctor while Eliot and Hardison break into offices and Parker gets the gossip from the crew and staff.

In the end, the producer and doctor are caught on air plotting to force the beloved host to retire by planting opioids on him. The similarity to the earlier scandal with the kids’ show reopens the police investigation and clears everyone’s name. The producer and doctor are ruined, the kids’ show is back on air, Parker is a 5-day champion, and the team celebrates at a wonderful restaurant.

[nohobomi-blog]

New Ideas Into South Africa Visa Never Before Revealed

https://tr.ivisa.com/south-africa-visa

In case you have any questions concerning the visa procedure, get in touch with your program manager or call 1-866-927-2234. Before you can start the application process that you'll need to familiarise yourself with the different sorts of visas so that you pick the perfect one and make sure you have a global passport that's valid for at least 1 month following your intended stay in the uk.  Once it's obvious you do qualify for a South African visa, you can proceed with the application all on your own or with the assistance of a professional business.

In reality, if you're traveling more than once a year to South Africa, it's possible to submit an application for many entries of up to 3 decades.  If you go to South Africa work or study purposes and wish to extend your stay, you'll have to do so two months before your expected departure from South Africa.  You may check here in order to track the development of your South Africa visa application.

You should also put in an application for a visa if you would like to move to South Africa and stay there permanently.  If you want to be in South Africa for at least 90 days you have to be issued with a study visa in your house country before travelling to South Africa.  South Africa isn't a VWP country.

Hotel prices also fluctuate somewhat, based on a multitude of factors including where you're staying and what time of year you're travelling. If you're visiting London at a time once the rand is experiencing a difficult time, expect to pay a reasonable bit.  So, nope, you cannot apply earlier than 4 weeks ahead of your flight.

There's no guarantee a visa will be issued.  Incomplete visa application forms won't be accepted.  Visa processing fee is a significant requirement when you're asking for a visa.

Requirements for a short-term residence visa aren't the very same with visitor's visa.   Hand written passports won't be accepted.  If you need a tourist visa, there is going to be an established list of requirements that you want to have the ability to fulfil for your visa to be granted.

If you don't carry the right documentation you won't be permitted to enter the nation.  If you've entered the nation and aren't sure if you are eligible for a visa extension, please speak to us and we'll review your circumstance.  There is a higher emphasis placed upon the leaning institution to make sure you obey the conditions of your study visa.

If you are in possession of a South African passport and you would like to go to the United Kingdom to observe friends or family, watch sport or simply for a holiday, you'll need to make an application for a visa.   The Top five Universities are There are numerous different universities and institutes that are renowned.  Visas offer immigration officers with the essential info to make certain that applicants are admitted for the appropriate purpose and period into the Republic of South Africa.

A Startling Fact about South Africa Visa Uncovered More information are available on the Home Affairs Department site. Australian citizens aged 18 to 30 can apply to get a Youth Mobility Scheme visa which permits them to pursue a working holiday in the united kingdom for two decades.  Speak to us to make certain that your application is correct and approved as swiftly as possible.

| Study visa holders working for at least the allowed hours contravene the conditions of their study visa, could be declared undesirable and deported.  Study visa renewal applications have to be made at least 60 days before the visa expiry date.  As a prospective global student, you must make an application for student visa when you get the conditional acceptance letter from the educational institution in which you mean to study.

The South African Immigration Act has many short-stay visas readily available, based on how long and for what purpose you're visiting the nation.  In an effort to boost tourism to the nation, it is finalising a number of visa waiver agreements with other countries, allowing travellers to enter the country without a visa.  It is well known for having the biggest budgeted allotment for education in the world.

Based on your country of origin, you might want to acquire a residence permit, a short-term visa, or a work permit to go to South Africa.   Medical facilities are typical and in good shape in urban places and close to game parks.  Usually, the kind of visa required by means of a diplomat or other government official is dependent on their purpose of travel to the USA.

Want to Know More About South Africa Visa? Typically, it's wise to get vaccinated and get a valid Yellow Fever certificate 10 or more days ahead of your travel if you are going to or passing through a country where YFV occurs.  Explore game results you might have missed!  So, nope, you cannot apply earlier than 4 weeks ahead of your flight.

You need to possess a passport that's current and in order before you take your visit to South Africa.  So if you're booking through Chalo Africa, we'd be delighted to assist.  If your visit would exceed 90 days and you would like to go to South Africa to work, you will want to submit an application for a work permit rather than a visitors visa.

The South African isn't accountable for any adjustments to policies or prices.  If you want to be in South Africa for at least 90 days you have to be issued with a study visa in your house country before travelling to South Africa.  Great Adventures it is probably the only country in the world with the most adventures which are growing each year.

Visa applicants in the uk and Northern Ireland will not have any need to pay a visit to the High Commission to complete a shape and get it processed.  Australian citizens aged 18 to 30 can apply to get a Youth Mobility Scheme visa which permits them to pursue a working holiday in the united kingdom for two decades.  Speak to us to make certain that your application is correct and approved as swiftly as possible.

South Africa Visa: the Ultimate Convenience! In case you have any questions concerning the visa procedure, get in touch with your program manager or call 1-866-927-2234. Visas offer immigration officers with the essential info to ensure applicants are admitted for the right purpose and period into the RSA. The passport must have six month validity unless the person is from a nation that has reciprocal agreement to never need a whole six months.

If you do go through immigration you'll have to supply the appropriate documentation.  Besides your passport, you may need a travel or employment visa and proof of immunization.  Visa processing fee is a significant requirement when you're asking for a visa.

There are many categories of visas.  You might qualify for a Spousal Visa.  Based on what your original visa stipulates, you might have to submit an application for a new visa if you intend to modify your course of study or institution.

| Visa applicants in the uk and Northern Ireland will not have any need to pay a visit to the High Commission to complete a shape and get it processed.  The price of a Visa Medical is dependent upon the country you're travelling to.  You are going to be able to keep track of your visa application on the TLScontact site.

Prior to applying for a South Africa visa in Ghana, it's pertinent you know the price of visa first.  Note that you want to be 50 decades and older to submit an application for the retirement visa.  The study visa can be issued for lengthy intervals, which means that the holder doesn't need to renew the visa as regularly as with another visa categories.

There are many categories of visas.  You might qualify for a Spousal Visa.   Based on what your original visa stipulates, you might have to submit an application for a new visa if you intend to modify your course of study or institution.

The South African Immigration Act has many short-stay visas readily available, based on how long and for what purpose you're visiting the nation.  In an effort to boost tourism to the nation, it is finalising a number of visa waiver agreements with other countries, allowing travellers to enter the country without a visa.  It is one of the countries which people will love to travel to.

If you are in possession of a South African passport and you would like to go to the United Kingdom to observe friends or family, watch sport or simply for a holiday, you'll need to make an application for a visa.  The Top five Universities are There are numerous different universities and institutes that are renowned.  Visas offer immigration officers with the essential info to make certain that applicants are admitted for the appropriate purpose and period into the Republic of South Africa.

Getting the Best South Africa Visa Hotel prices also fluctuate somewhat, based on a multitude of factors including where you're staying and what time of year you're travelling. If you're visiting London at a time once the rand is experiencing a difficult time, expect to pay a reasonable bit.  So, nope, you cannot apply earlier than 4 weeks ahead of your flight.

There isn't any limit on numerous times every study visa can be renewed.  Therefore, it's smart to begin your study visa application when possible!  As a prospective global student, you must make an application for student visa when you get the conditional acceptance letter from the educational institution in which you mean to study.

What You Should Do to Find Out About South Africa Visa Before You're Left Behind If you're planning to go to India, we are going to be honest and tell you right now that we're jealous.  A brief overview of the Convention adoption method is offered below.  As soon as you have completed your application procedure, you will be supplied an all-inclusive collection of documents necessary to support your application.

The ideal area to have the wine culture of South Africa is known as the Boland.  If you go to South Africa work or study purposes and wish to extend your stay, you'll have to do so two months before your expected departure from South Africa.  You may check here in order to track the development of your South Africa visa application.

The South African isn't accountable for any adjustments to policies or prices.   Then you're going to need a South Africa visa to go into the nation and do so.  South Africa isn't a VWP country.

[yopucuwe-blog]

Top Advice on Djibouti Evisa

https://de.ivisa.com/djibouti-e-visa

Before traveling to the destination country, you would want to visit the embassy and submit an application for a visa.  It's possible to make an application for an eVisa any time prior to your travel date.  You don't need to receive a visa if you aren't likely to leave the global transit area.

The Nuiances of Djibouti Evisa Based on your nationality and the length of your stay in Tanzania, you might or might not need a Tanzanian visa.  All nationalities are qualified for the eVisa and the application only requires a couple of minutes.  The validity period of eVisa is contingent on the country you're a citizen of.

Please note an e-Visa is granted just for tourism and trade purposes.  So it's in your interest to make sure that you go into the country with the appropriate sort of visa if you're in Myanmar on official company work.  Additionally, there are eVisa India evidence requirements which are needed to acquire the authorization to go to India.

Luxury is most likely the very best word to spell out the United Arab Emirates but the simple fact that UAE has something for everyone may not be denied.  The internet eVisa for Oman is processed within one day.   Lake Assal is among the most alien places on earth.

The Number One Question You Must Ask for Djibouti Evisa You won't be permitted to enter Djibouti if you don't get a visa.   Turkish Embassy hasn't been established in Ghana yet.  Beside, you may also apply to acquire a normal visa at Kenya Embassy in Djibouti.

Visa fee has to be paid in USD.  Your e-Visa is going to be emailed to you.

The History of Djibouti Evisa Refuted All foreigners wishing to visit or are living in Tanzania will now have the ability to access a Tanzania eVisa application via the net, providing they adhere to the Tanzania visa requirements.  The Kenya eVisa is very simple to submit an application for, it's hassle-free in contrast to the more customary means of requesting a visa, and the very best aspect of it all, you may apply from any place in the world providing you have internet access.  An e-Visa for Egypt can be gotten through an internet application without the need to stay embassy.

The Djibouti Evisa Cover Up There aren't any currency exchanges.  The greater part of travelers require a visa for Ethiopia to be in a position to enter.  Turkey is among the most visited countries on earth.

Tourism in India is essential for the nation's economy and the implementation of the eVisa makes it much easier for foreign visitors to go to India.  Travelers from countries aside from those listed below might have to submit an application for a visa for Kenya as a way to visit.  The Indian tourist visa is intended for those people eager to stop by India for the interest of tourism or other recreational pursuits.

The Ultimate Approach to Djibouti Evisa On-line visa methods help to establish a traveler's eligibility.  The process for a tourist visa is just like that of different countries with it being necessary for you to demonstrate your hotel bookings or invitation from your pals or relatives.  Business Visa If you're going to the UAE for conduction of a company or for representing your company, you will require a business visa.

The New Fuss About Djibouti Evisa Every phase of the visa application procedure is secured by high-end security systems.  The process is fairly straightforward.  There's no need to attend an embassy or consulate to finish a visa application beforehand.

In some instances the processing of the internet visa may take longer.  What the approval letter resembles.  To finish the application it's required to pay a fee by means of a credit or debit card.

| If you're planning a visit to South East Asia, be certain you add Cambodia to your itinerary.  Djibouti's climate is extremely hot, humid and arid, particularly in the summertime.  There are various sorts of visas to Armenia, based on the function of the trip along with the length of stay in Armenia.

What About Djibouti Evisa? If your country doesn't have a Kazakhstan embassy or consulate it's possible to acquire a visa on arrival.  Furthermore, the passport needs to be valid.  Based on your nationality, there might be some differences on the length of time your visa is fantastic for and if you require a visa prior to arrival or at arrival.

Visa fee has to be paid in USD.  You have to get another e-Visa.

For all countries aside from above, a valid eVisa is necessary.  A few of the countries also supply E-Visa to Pakistani citizen.  The validity period of eVisa is contingent on the country you're a citizen of.

Please note an e-Visa is granted just for tourism and trade purposes.  So it's in your interest to make sure that you go into the country with the appropriate sort of visa if you're in Myanmar on official company work. The India eVisa requirements are crucial to acquire the required authorization to enter India.

In some instances they will call the telephone amount of the Myanmar company that's your guarantor and ask to consult with the MD of the provider simply to verify your invitation letter is authentic. Scanned Bio-Page ought to be in PDF format.  You should get in touch with the respective Embassy or Consulate General to find information regarding your application.

Before traveling to the destination country, you would want to visit the embassy and submit an application for a visa.  You should demonstrate proof of return ticket along with hotel reservation in Djibouti.  The visas aren't a problem while the affordable and direct flights are available with a tiny bit of research, these destinations are just must-travel.

Using Djibouti Evisa The eVisa Laos can be gotten by completing an easy and straightforward on-line application form.  As soon as an Indian visa was processed and approved it is going to be sent right to the email address given on the application.  The single-entry visa for Japan is going to be available through an on-line application.

Have your calculator ready and be sure that you ask in advance precisely what the conversion rate is, should they quote you anything less than 175 go to some other broker.   You can decide to make payment by both of both payment methods out there in our site.  To finish the application it's required to pay a fee by means of a credit or debit card.

The Ultimate Approach to Djibouti Evisa Malaysian Visa Services is committed to safeguarding your privacy.  The process for a tourist visa is just like that of different countries with it being necessary for you to demonstrate your hotel bookings or invitation from your pals or relatives.  A business visa enables a foreigner to stay for as many as 70 days in Myanmar and to participate in a restricted set of commercial pursuits that is set out in the business visa application.

The True Meaning of Djibouti Evisa The Yellow Fever Vaccine is needed to enter Djibouti.  There are lots of nations in Africa which are visa-free access for UK citizens.  The eVisa for Kenya may be used for tourism, organization, and health care purposes.

Bicycling is a superb means to avoid the little capital.  The Japan Tourist eVisa would allow it to be simpler for travelers to pay a visit to Japan.  The Indian tourist visa is intended for those people eager to stop by India for the interest of tourism or other recreational pursuits.

| Luxury is most likely the very best word to spell out the United Arab Emirates but the simple fact that UAE has something for everyone may not be denied.  The internet eVisa for Oman is processed within one day.   Lake Assal is among the most alien places on earth.

Djibouti Evisa: No Longer a Mystery Before traveling to the destination country, you would want to visit the embassy and submit an application for a visa.  You should demonstrate proof of return ticket along with hotel reservation in Djibouti.  The visas aren't a problem while the affordable and direct flights are available with a tiny bit of research, these destinations are just must-travel.

The True Meaning of Djibouti Evisa There aren't any currency exchanges.  The greater part of travelers require a visa for Ethiopia to be in a position to enter.  If you intend to enter the nation via any other entry time, you must obtain your visa beforehand via the Embassy of Djibouti which is located in Washington, DC.

Tourism in India is essential for the nation's economy and the implementation of the eVisa makes it much easier for foreign visitors to go to India.  The Japan Tourist eVisa would allow it to be simpler for travelers to pay a visit to Japan.  The Indian tourist visa is intended for those people eager to stop by India for the interest of tourism or other recreational pursuits.

A letter from the host business or individual is necessary for a tourist visa. If you're still not able to pay, then get in touch with your bank or eVisa support desk for more assistance.  You have to wait for 3 business days to be aware of the result.

In some instances they will call the telephone amount of the Myanmar company that's your guarantor and ask to consult with the MD of the provider simply to verify your invitation letter is authentic. You should also think about checking with your transport provider or travel company to be certain your passport and other travel documents fulfill their requirements.  The eTA Philippines does not guarantee automated entry into the nation.

If your country doesn't have a Kazakhstan embassy or consulate it's possible to acquire a visa on arrival.  You ought to get a visa before travelling.  Based on your nationality, there might be some differences on the length of time your visa is fantastic for and if you require a visa prior to arrival or at arrival.

You must make an application for a new eVisa.  Your e-Visa is going to be emailed to you.

What You Need to Do About Djibouti Evisa Before You Miss Your Chance Based on your nationality and the length of your stay in Tanzania, you might or might not need a Tanzanian visa.  All nationalities are qualified for the eVisa and the application only requires a couple of minutes.  US citizens should have a visa to go to Djibouti, and most visas are valid for a single year permitting several entries into the nation.

In order to get the Egypt e-Visa to go to the nation, the applicant is needed to pay a tourist visa fee.  The applicant's passport has to be from an eligible nation.  The India eVisa requirements are crucial to acquire the required authorization to enter India.

All visa applicants are anticipated to adhere to the Kenyan eVisa requirements in order to get an approved visa swiftly.  Please be aware, that only the quick stay visa is going to be processed by our system. The single-entry visa for Japan is going to be available through an on-line application.

In some instances the processing of the internet visa may take longer.  You can decide to make payment by both of both payment methods out there in our site.  To finish the application it's required to pay a fee by means of a credit or debit card.

[liberalbumpkin]

The most wild thing I see on the news/social media right now is people being mad and headlines that read “scientists are now saying that natural immunity is better.” They go on to say that everyone should apologize for sticking vaccine and mask mandates down their throats etc. The thing is that scientists know as a general rule natural immunity is always better than the constructed immunity a vaccine or treatment can give you. What we also know is that being sick isn’t always good and can sometimes lead to death. Because the way that we get natural immunity (by being sick) hugely increases our risk of death and or serious side effect, constructed immunity is better for you. Think of it as homemade cookies are best, but store bought is fine. With store bought cookies you can ensure all the ingredients are good and there won’t be any allergy issues or reactions from kids at school if you bring them for an event. With homemade, you can’t guarantee any cross contamination reactions that might occur because of improperly cleaned surfaces. This is applicable for SARS CoV 2 but also still for ‘older’ diseases/infections most people forget about ie measles. The purpose is for your body to be able to fight a reaction so you don’t get sick. I think part of the reasons that people are so against vaccine mandates are for 2 reasons. #1. The government is in charge of public health and #2 there’s too much demonizing misinformation. 

#1. Public health and the government have been intertwined for much longer than people realize. As our country has gotten older and eventually gained independence this government oversight of public health has moved from municipal to provincial to federal level. Officially all the provincial governments are in charge of their own public health regulations, but they must fall within federal standards for funding to continue. because of this government stating facts and then public health following, most citizens don’t know enough about their own public health board and don’t understand how and why it works. The government is announcing public health’s standards/regulations communicates that they are in charge of the system and that they hold the power (which they hold alot). What would be nice to see would be for Health Canada to communicate their regulations (not guidelines) and then for the government to defer to them when making decisions in such a way that this process is visible and understandable. The only difference between the vaccine for SARS CoV -2 and a vaccine for say hep B or the measles is that the latter are given to school aged children or must be given before students are allowed to attend school in my province.

#2 there is so much information everywhere and the development of social media has made it more accessible. Part of the issue is that not all adults have enough biology/medical knowledge to understand what/why things are wrong and right. Another part of the issue is the accessibility of information. Sure everything is on the internet, but its not available in language the everyday person can comprehend and its very easy to misunderstand without a background in the subject. Those who take from sources don’t cite their ideas and news outlets print misleading titles which often skew the interpretation of the findings. 

Lastly, Science changes constantly. It changes as we learn new things and as we grow in the knowledge we currently have. It often appears as contradictory, but we must progress with it. We only know so much right now and all we can do is use that information and adapt. Just because science has changed or that our interpretation on a subject is different now because we know more, doesn’t always mean that our past knowledge was wrong as long as it was based in hard scientific fact.

[idyoma]

What to Know About Travel in Europe After Brexit

Travel in Europe After Brexit

As of January 2020, the UK began the lengthy process of leaving the EU. As the majority of Brits voted to leave the EU in the ongoing Brexit debate, there will be some definite changes to travel in Europe after Brexit. At 11PM on December 31st 2020, Brexit was officially put in place and Britain is no longer an EU member, so what does this mean for your future travel plans?

We know for certain that travel guidelines have changed since January 2021, so here are some of the key points to remember when booking your next big Europe trip. Before you leave for your chosen EU destination, don’t forget to brush up on your language skills with Idyoma.

Travel in Europe After Brexit

• EHIC 200

• Mobile Roaming 200

• Passport 200

• Driving License and Insurance 200

• Visas 200

• Vaccinations 200

• Easiest Destinations for Brits 200

Why You Need EHIC to Travel in Europe After Brexit

An EHIC is a European Health Insurance Card. Previously this card offered all EU citizens entitlement to the relevant state healthcare services of the country you were visiting. This would give you access the local healthcare system at a reduced cost or for free. For example, if you broke an arm in Germany, you could present your EHIC card at the hospital to show that you were able to use the healthcare services as an EU resident. However, this no longer applies if you’re a UK resident.

Previous EHIC cards are valid until their shown expiry dates, but you cannot apply for a new EHIC card under the new UK government Brexit legislation. Instead, a replacement scheme was rolled out in January 2021 called the Global Health Insurance Card or GHIC. The GHIC is similar to the old EHIC, as it gives the holder free or reduced cost use of state healthcare In reciprocal countries like Australia and New Zealand. Unlike its name suggests, the GHIC doesn’t currently cover EEA states such as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Iceland. Also, if you have an existing or long-term illness you should probably seek out independent health and travel insurance to ensure you’re covered.

You can apply for the new GHIC card for free on the NHS website.

Mobile Roaming

One thing yuo might have considered when thinking about travel in Europe after Brexit is your mobile! Mobile roaming can be a tricky one to figure out when entering a new country. Previously, free mobile roaming was guaranteed in the European and Schengen areas, but this ended on December 31st 2020. While mobile roaming isn’t guaranteed, many phone operators aren’t actually planning to introduce fees for roaming. You need to check with your individual phone operator to find out if there are any particular charges you could incur if you use roaming data while on holiday in an EU country.

Thankfully, there is a new law that adds a little bit of protection for you. While you browse the internet in another country, you won’t rack up enormous roaming data charges. If there are charges for mobile roaming in your destination country, then you will receive a notification when charges reach £45. No further charges for using internet can be incurred unless you clearly opt-in to continue using roaming internet data at a cost. If you check with your provider well before leaving the UK, though, you’ll be made fully aware of any possible fees for mobile roaming.

To Travel in Europe After Brexit You’ll Need a Passport

As a lover of travel, you probably know that until 2021, UK citizens with a valid passport were able to travel freely within Europe. From January 2021 UK citizens must renew their passports earlier than they may have previously expected, to ensure it’s still valid. Your passport must have at least six months left before its expiry date, on the day that you travel. If your passport is even a week or a day short of six months remaining validity, you may not be allowed to travel to EU countries or EEA states.

As before, travel rules for travel to Ireland apply. Travel in Europe after Brexit is undoubtedly going to be a litle trickier. But you must also still be aware of the COVID guidelines and quarantine rules of your destination country, so you’re prepared to enter safely and know that your passport won’t expire while you’re away.

If you want to check whether or not you need to renew your UK passport before your travel date, the British government have provided a useful online tool. You can also apply for a new passport from the government website. Remember that it can take up to a few months for passport applications to be fully processed and for you to receive your valid passport, so it’s a good idea to sort out your passport well in advance of booking any trips to EU destinations.

Driving License and Insurance

Feel like braving the winding Italian countryside roads on your next travel adventure? Previously as a UK citizen, you will have enjoyed a lot of freedom with your EU driver’s license but driving in the EU as a UK citizen has changed just a little.

There were some concerns that Brits would be required to apply for an international driving permit in order to drive throughout the European Union countries. The final Brexit deal terms instead dictated that all UK driving licenses, providing they’re valid and the driver also has insurance, are still valid for use in the EU. This means you can still rent cars on your holidays to the EU and drive with your usual license. The complication comes when you want to bring in your own vehicle to drive. In this case you’ll also need to apply for a Green Card which proves you have a car insurance policy in place, as well as a GB sticker to be displayed on your vehicle. Funnily enough, these rules also apply if you are driving from Northern Ireland to the Republic, where a Green Card is required.

Visas

When it comes to travel in Europe after Brexit, there is speculation that you will need to apply in advance to visit the EU from 2022, as a British citizen. The new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme) you’ll be required to pay 7 Euro for a three-year pass (not unlike a visa). Before you can leave for your destination, you will also need to specify which country you will arrive in and the exact address of where you’ll be staying for the first night in that destination country.

That may sound a bit complicated, but for now as a tourist, you don’t need to apply for a visa for short trips to EU and EAA countries. You’ll be allowed to stay in that country for up to 90 days within any one 180-day period. If you want to stay longer than those 90 days in an EU country, you’ll need to get a visa or a travel permit specific to your circumstances.

Bear in mind that travel to Ireland is still the same as it has been regarding visas. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Croatia have different rules, however, so time spent in those countries does not count towards your 90-day total visiting allowance.

Because of the confusing changes and specificity of rules depending on your destination, the EU created a ‘short term stay visa calculator’ so you can figure out how many more days you are allowed to stay in a European country. In short – check the visa rules around your specific destination country and stay aware of how long you’re allowed to remain there on your trip.

Vaccinations and Border Restrictions During Travel in Europe After Brexit

As of writing this article, there is still some debate on whether ‘vaccine passports’ will be required from British travellers to cross into European borders. What’s certain for now is that the UK is not exempt from border restrictions that may prevent travel into the EU borders. The UK is currently under third-party travel restrictions when it comes to the EU, and many Brits trying to holiday in the EU have reportedly been turned away as their trips were not deemed essential in the current global climate.

Japan, South Korea, and Australia are enjoying special allowance to enter EU borders due to their unique negotiations and lower COVID rates. EU officials have commented that there are no current plans to introduce the UK into this special border allowance. The global pandemic situation is likely to change, though, as will UK travel guidelines within the EU, so it’s best to check with your destination country before booking and taking your trip.

Easiest Destinations for Brits to Travel in Europe After Brexit

With Brexit completed and Britain entering new negotiations regarding travel within the EU, it’s looking like EU travel will still be just as possible and equally enjoyable. But which European states are going to be the easiest destinations for Brits to Travel in Europe in Europe After Brexit, even with new restrictions? Currently the countries below are some of the best EU destinations to British citizens. By offering easy and high quality healthcare accessibility, easy immigration policies, and having a high percentage of English-speakers, these are the top countries to visit after Brexit as a UK citizen:

• Spain and France

• Mainland Portugal

• Germany

• The Netherlands

[ninawritesastory]

What do you think a south park episode on autism would be like?

Well, we already kind of got one with Ass Burgers. Although that one was more of a commentary on the absolute morons who think vaccines cause autism, which in my opinion is probably the more pressing subject. But that’s mostly because herd immunity is vital to the survival of several people I care about and the general abuse of important medicines like penicillin and antibiotics is leading to the evolution of super bugs/viruses that could potentially render a good chunk of modern medicine inert and send us back into the pre-penicillin era which means the mortality rate is going to skyrocket not just in the first word but also in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

I’ve never considered going to med school, but I read like crazy and it’s very alarming to me that people who also have never been to med school but apparently do not read are convinced that certain choices, such as whether or not to vaccinate, are somehow completely individual choices with no consequences on anyone but the individual making them. In short, anti-vaxxers are most likely the manifestation of the Horseman of Pestilence and the fact that their entire argument is based on one thoroughly discredited, incredibly skewed study (that doesn’t even qualify as a study) performed by someone whose medical license was immediately revoked upon peer review, yet still gains followers is horrifying to me.

But I’m getting waaaaay off topic. You’re asking about an autism specific episode. There are two ways of going about this that don’t rely on the ‘vaccines cause autism’ bullshit.

Option 1: They create a new character with autism. It would probably be most effective if Matt and Trey were to create a character with a more…obvious case of autism. Maybe obvious isn’t the right word, but neither is severe and there’s not really a good synonym in either case to accurately convey what I’m trying to get across. Think about Thomas in La Petite Tourette’s: it was very obvious that he deviates from the ‘norm’ mentally, but he was still presented as a relatively normal kid trying to lead as normal a life as possible. The same would need to be true of a character created specifically to address autism. Symptoms would need to be present that can’t be easily explained away as something else.

True, people who know enough about autism, who have worked with autistic kids or adults, or who are autistic would likely be able to pick autistic characters out with some degree of ease—this is why autistic headcanons are prevalent. However, for people who have no real or lasting experience with autistic persons, it’s a lot harder for them to recognize the signs. So any episode focusing on this would have to make it obvious, both in how the character acts and in the wording used. It couldn’t be implied; any tics would have to be noticeable or specifically mentioned in dialogue, the differences in thought processes might need to be discussed (possibly between said character’s parents and PC Principal/Mr. Mackey), and so on.

Now, I was never diagnosed with autism. I suspect that I have Asperger’s, but I’ve never been officially diagnosed. However, I’m also female. It’s pretty rare for girls to be diagnosed with autism in childhood unless it’s an incredibly severe case. A lot of the signs tend to fall in line with how society expects girls to act, which means parents who aren’t informed will likely never suspect their daughters of being autistic in any capacity. It’s steadily changing, but it’s still far more common for boys to be diagnosed early than it is for girls. Most autistic girls usually end up self-diagnosed or seeking an official diagnosis in their twenties, after reading about it and finding the signs/symptoms list pretty spot on to their personalities/perceptions. Therefore, I can’t really speak to the experiences of a diagnosed autistic kid.

Option 2: Matt and Trey can have one of the existing characters canonically diagnosed. This would be the trickier route to take, since this would likely be a piece of character development that was never considered prior to the conception of such an episode. My own preference would be Craig, since he already hits a few of the signs/symptoms of autism and it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to canonically give him that diagnosis. But considering how much screentime he’s gotten in the past two seasons as a foil to the Heiman relationship (alongside Tweek), I’m not sure if they’d go that route.

And I can guarantee you that they’d throw in either a Randy or Cartman subplot. Because why wouldn’t they. If they go with Cartman for a subplot, I could probably see him interfering with Tweek and Craig’s relationship. He’d likely exhibit the misconception that autistic people are incapable of love and would probably try to convince Tweek that the relationship was doomed, framing it as concern for Tweek. Kyle would argue, do a bunch of research, and would probably have a personal crisis about whether or not he’s autistic. Meanwhile Tweek is focusing on trying to understand what the diagnosis means for Craig and how he can help. Tweek beating the shit out of Cartman would be a welcome addition.

A Randy subplot…I can’t really think of one, but that’s probably because I absolutely loathe Randy as a character and would be happy if we could a season without seeing him more than once or twice. (Give Kenny his screentime!)

But either way, Matt and Trey would likely do their research. They’ve tackled similar touchy subjects and gotten praise from those communities for the sensitivity they employed. I’m not sure if they’d ever do an autism based episode though; unless Autism Speaks or a celebrity does or says something particularly heinous (but literally everything Autism Speaks says and believes is absolutely heinous, so…), South Park probably won’t touch on it.

They’re probably more focused on Trump and having to carry out the unfinished plotline they boxed themselves into than they are on anything else. And that’s the sort of season they’ve already set themselves up for.

I’m not sure what sort of plotline it would follow, but knowing Matt and Trey, it would be well-handled and present autism not as an illness or a disease, but as something some people are just living with. Just a regular piece of who they are that makes them thick and act a bit differently from the perceived ‘norm’.

[differentnutpeace]

The Future Of The Pandemic In The U.S.: Experts Look Ahead

A year after the pandemic shut down the country, a growing number of infectious disease experts, epidemiologists, public health officials and others have started to entertain a notion that has long seemed out of reach: The worst of the pandemic may be over for the United States. หวย บอล เกมส์ สล็อต คาสิโนออนไลน์

No one thinks that's guaranteed by any means. There are many ways the pandemic could resurge. But many say it's becoming increasingly possible that the end may finally be in sight.

Even experts who have raised the alarm about the severity of the COVID-19 crisis nonstop for more than a year are optimistic.

"The worst may in fact be behind us," says Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown School of Public Health, one of more than 20 people interviewed by NPR for this story. "To be able to say: 'I think, [I'm] cautiously optimistic that the worst may be behind us?' Boy, that does feel really good."

Now, to be clear, more than 50,000 people are still getting infected daily with the coronavirus and hundreds are dying. So there's a great deal of sickness and suffering still in store for the country before the pandemic ends.

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OPINION: 5 Ways To Make The Vaccine Rollout More Equitable

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How Is The COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Going In Your State?

And the newfound optimism comes with three big caveats: The worst may be over if too many people don't let down their guard too fast, if the more dangerous variants don't make cases surge before enough people get vaccinated, and if the vaccination campaign doesn't stumble badly.

But if none of those problems occurs, life could slowly but steadily return to something much more normal.

The optimism is based on the rapid ramp-up of the vaccination campaign combined with the fact that a significant proportion of the country already has some immunity from being exposed to the virus, and the warmer weather that is linked to slower viral spread.

"If all goes well, if we stick by the public health measures, if we effectively vaccinate, I think we are looking at a brighter future over the next several months. That's entirely conceivable and probably likely," says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Now, not everyone is quite ready to say the worst might be over. Several experts worry about the more contagious variants combining with too many communities lifting mask mandates and other restrictions and too many people letting down their guard, especially over spring break and Easter.

"I'm worried," says Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. "If you wanted to put all the viral ingredients in one big mixing bowl to cause them to transmit in ways that would be very damaging to us, do what we're doing right now."

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How To Sign Up For A COVID-19 Vaccine In Your State

In fact, new hot spots may already be emerging, especially in Michigan and other parts of the Midwest, and in the Northeast, including New York City and New Jersey. Not only has infections started increasing in dozens of state, but hospitalizations may have also started creeping up again in at least a dozen states, according to new data from Pinar Karaca-Mandic and her team at the University of Minnesota COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project.

But while most experts agree that there's still a sword of Damocles hanging over the nation's hopes, most think that the country could avoid another big surge such as the one that occurred over the winter.

"There are nightmare scenarios that we can paint out. And I can't say that those are such remote possibilities that we can dismiss them," says Jeffrey Shaman, an infectious disease researcher at Columbia University. "But I do think that this was probably the worst, and it will continue to go down."

Here's a road map to what we can expect for the future of the pandemic in the United States.

Late spring and summer: a cautious return to social life

Experts NPR spoke to predict that this spring, as more people are vaccinated, more people may be able to return safely to stores, restaurants and work, more children could return to in-person learning, and small groups of fully vaccinated people can get together for dinner parties indoors without masks.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines that say vaccinated people can already start to get together that way.

And if case counts continue to decline and vaccination rates increase, many public health authorities think the summer could be even better.

"Life will get better for sure," says Ali Mokdad at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. "We will see more grandparents visiting and hugging their grandchildren. More restaurants will open. We will see sport events. Weddings. Church and religious events. We will have summer camp for kids. People will travel more."

In fact, Mokdad says, he has plans to fly to see his mother.

Still, Mokdad stresses that activities such as summer camps could only probably safely operate with precautions, such as random testing, mask-wearing and open windows to provide fresh air.

And Americans still need to be careful: Hot spots could flare up due to the variants, people getting careless and triggering superspreader events, and among pockets of people who haven't gotten vaccinated.

"Specific communities may see a resurgence because of the variants — there may be hot spots," says Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "But I don't think there will be another wave like we saw in the winter."

Fall: Schools reopen, and life starts feeling almost normal

By the fall, while young children still won't be vaccinated because scientists have just started testing the vaccines on them, their teachers hopefully will be. So in places where infections are low, schools should be pretty safe, experts told NPR.

Students will probably still wear masks and may still need to keep their distance from one another. But hopefully no more slogging through school on laptops at the kitchen table for most kids.

Experts predict in-person schools will be able to open widely around the country by fall. Some places already have, such as Medora Elementary School in Louisville, Ky.

Jon Cherry/Getty Images

"I am counting on it, and I'm thrilled," says Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who has a 7-year-old son. "Seven-year-olds aren't supposed to spend their entire days on a computer."

Researchers such as Fauci hope that more aspects of our day-to-day lives could edge back closer to pre-pandemic times.

"It is conceivable, and probably likely, by the time we get to the fall — late fall, early winter, by the end of this year — that we have a gradual but very noticeable and important return to some form of normality," Fauci says.

Winter: Brace for another possible surge — and booster shots

Some experts worry the virus could follow a seasonal pattern like the flu and surge again in the late fall or early winter. And that threat may be even greater because of the variants, especially the strains originally spotted in South Africa and Brazil that appear to be better at evading natural immunity and the vaccines.

The vaccine works against the U.K. variant, says Mokdad of the University of Washington, so with more vaccination, other variants may become dominant. "And by winter we assume these two will become the dominant one unless we have more that show up. And they will cause more infections and more mortality."

But even if there is no new winter surge, the virus won't be gone. It just hopefully won't be causing anything like the suffering that's already occurred.

It could, however, still be causing significant problems in parts of the world that haven't gotten vaccinated, which could spawn new, even more dangerous variants that could travel to the United States.

As a result, the country will probably need new versions of the vaccines for the variants and booster shots. And many experts say it's crucial that the U.S. help the rest of the world vaccinate as quickly as possible, too.

"If we don't get rid of this thing everywhere, it's going to just come back and get us again," says Robert Murphy, executive director of Northwestern University's Institute for Global Health. "The virus will continue to mutate. This is really a worldwide problem."

The pandemic's aftereffects

But even if the country is on the road out of this, the impact has been tremendous, and the aftereffects are likely to be long-lasting, many experts say.

"This pandemic is right up there as a world-changing event. It has already had a profound impact on society, on basic questions like the nature of our social interactions. It's already shaped and reshaped this particular generation," says Keith Wailoo, a historian at Princeton University. "And the ripple effects are likely to play out for years, perhaps even decades to come."

The pandemic revealed some deep problems, such as how society treats older people, poor people and people of color.

"Pandemics create what some people have called a kind of stress test for all of the weaknesses and vulnerabilities and fault lines of societies, and I think that's been especially true of COVID-19," says Allan Brandt, a historian at Harvard University.

It could change so many parts of our lives. Our homes. Our work. Travel. How we touch each other. Will the elbow bump replace the handshake for good?

Online schooling and social distancing have taken a toll on kids and adults during the pandemic. The aftereffects of such widespread social challenges may be felt for years, experts say.

Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

"There's a whole realm of everyday interpersonal practices that are going to be, you know, very, very hard to revisit and redevelop easily, like handshaking and kissing and hugging," Wailoo says. "Or even walking closely together with friends and laughing together. All of these things today carry the stigma of disease transmission."

The Black Death led to the Renaissance. The 1918-19 flu pandemic gave way to the roaring '20s. We've just begun the new '20s. It's impossible to know what world will emerge as the virus recedes. But it seems pretty clear we'll be hearing the echoes of this pandemic for a long time.

"The disruptions to our economy, to our sense of safety in the world are of an order that our established ways of thinking are likely to undergo some pretty significant changes," says Nancy Tomes, a historian at Stony Brook University.

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[gordonwilliamsweb]

Pfizer’s Newest Vaccine Plant Has Persistent Mold Issues, History of Recalls

Pfizer’s management knew last year there was “a mold issue” at the Kansas facility now slated to produce the drugmaker’s urgently needed covid-19 vaccine, according to a Food and Drug Administration inspection report.

This story also ran on The Daily Beast. It can be republished for free.

The McPherson, Kansas, facility, which FDA inspectors wrote is the nation’s largest manufacturer of sterile injectable controlled substances, has a long, troubled history. Nearly a decade’s worth of FDA inspection reports, recalls and reprimands reviewed by KHN show the facility as a repeat offender. FDA investigators have repeatedly noted in reports that the plant has failed to control quality and contamination or fully investigate after production failures.

The 1970s-era manufacturing site has had persistent mold concerns over the years and been the focus of at least four intense FDA inspections since Pfizer took over its operations in late 2015, when it acquired Hospira. At the end of the January 2020 inspection, FDA investigators appeared to be growing frustrated.

Pfizer’s plant managers told investigators they knew they had either bacteria or mold throughout the facility at various times of the year. In a Jan. 17, 2020, establishment inspection report obtained by KHN, one of three FDA experts who visited wrote that Pfizer said it addressed problems and added “more cleaning activities in response to mold” after a 2018 inspection and “yet, there are still unexplained discrepancies.”

After the January 2020 inspection report, Pfizer immediately developed and put in place a corrective action plan, company spokesperson Eamonn Nolan told KHN. Neither Pfizer nor the FDA responded to requests to provide a copy of the plan.

Nolan, in an email last week, said “significant investments have been made” in resources, equipment and the facility. He stated all improvements related to covid manufacturing would be completed before vaccine production begins. He declined to provide details on when production of the vaccine would begin, but said the site is currently operating in a state of good manufacturing, which means it has met a regulatory standard enforced by the FDA.

“We are confident in the McPherson site’s ability to manufacture high-quality COVID-19 vaccine,” he wrote.

Large clinical trials have found Pfizer’s vaccine to be safe and 95% effective against covid.  

News that the plant will be a fill-and-finish site for the Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine means more watchful eyes focused on the facility. “That alone should be helpful,” said Barbara Unger, a former pharmaceutical industry executive who now does manufacturing audits for companies.

It is unclear whether FDA investigators have returned to check on production practices in McPherson or plan to visit before vaccine production begins. The FDA did not respond to specific questions. FDA spokesperson Abigail Capobianco wrote in an email that the public “can be assured that the agency used all available tools and information to assess compliance.”

Pfizer’s emergency use authorization letter for its mRNA vaccine includes safeguards, such as quarterly reports to the FDA and a quality analysis from the company for each manufactured drug lot at least 48 hours before it is distributed.

The plant’s manufacturing issues can be traced in FDA reports dated from 2011 to last year. Several former FDA staffers and industry experts said the ongoing challenges in McPherson highlight how agency officials must balance aggressively going after a company’s manufacturing practices with the need to keep the supply of medications flowing to patients.

“I do not envy the FDA choices,” Unger said, describing a balancing act. “Which has the more significant public health risk?”

The site produces a wide array of sterile, generic medications used in hospitals, and its troubles have played a role in some big health system shortages, specifically for injectable opioid analgesics, according to a 2018 FDA statement.

The FDA rejected Pfizer’s biosimilar version of Amgen’s anemia drug Epogen because of concerns about the fill/finish plant in 2017. The same year, John Young, who was a group president at Pfizer, told investors the company had submitted a “corrective and preventative action plan” for the facility.

That is the same language used after the January 2020 inspection, which said there were contamination concerns for the site but not in the medicines. And it was Young, now Pfizer’s chief business officer, who last month told Congress that Pfizer had added production lines at the McPherson site to help meet covid-19 vaccine demands.

The facility’s record of recalls and field alerts include vials of medication that contained glass and cardboard particles and, as one customer complained, a “small insect or speck of dust.”

A 2017 FDA warning letter — which is a strong rebuke for the agency — said the contaminants such as cardboard and glass found in vials posed a “severe risk of harm to patients” and indicated that the facility’s process for manufacturing sterile injectable products was “out of control.”

FDA records show that multiple batches of vancomycin hydrochloride, a drug injected into hospital patients who have an infection that penicillin won’t treat, were recalled in 2016 and 2017.

John Avellanet, an FDA compliance expert and principal at Cerulean Associates, reviewed the 2020 inspection reports. He said he fears the fixes have been little but “window dressing.”

“They may have solved it in one instance, like the cardboard particles. But for some reason, they were never able to solve the contamination,” Avellanet said. “Whatever they are doing for quality control testing doesn’t appear to be working, because if it was working they wouldn’t continue to have these contamination problems.”

Pfizer shut down McPherson’s manufacturing in December 2017 even though the FDA had visited two months earlier and improved the facility’s inspection rating. McPherson’s management suspended production and rejected batches of finished products after finding mold on equipment in a filling area, according to an FDA inspection report. The facility returned to production weeks later.

When the FDA came back to inspect in late summer 2018, it found that procedures to prevent microbiological contamination of drugs were lacking. It also noted a lack of employee training, employees not following procedures, obstructed surfaces and in-house testing that did not guarantee drugs met standards.

In 2019, when CEO Albert Bourla took the helm at Pfizer, he told analysts it would be another hard year for U.S. hospitals to get their hands on sterile injectables because of ongoing work at the McPherson plant.

Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on the FDA’s ability to inspect plants, according to a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The agency halted non-urgent foreign and domestic inspections in March 2020 out of concerns for staff safety and has since resumed select visits to domestic plants.

John Fuson, a partner at the law firm Crowell & Moring and former associate chief counsel at the FDA, said the agency has sent surveys to manufacturers to help it prioritize inspections. While not speaking directly about the Pfizer plant, Fuson said the FDA lacks the resources to do all the inspections “we might like it to do.”

It is unclear what oversight Pfizer’s McPherson facility has had in the past year. In 2020, the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences signed a multiyear agreement with Pfizer to produce its covid treatment remdesivir in the Kansas plant. Gilead spokesperson Arran Attridge wrote in an email that Gilead “evaluates our manufacturing partners’ facilities” to make sure they follow regulations.

FDA inspectors visited the McPherson plant annually before the pandemic, according to public FDA records. The plant was given ratings of VAI, or voluntary action indicated, or OAI, official action indicated, depending on the inspection. John Godshalk, a former FDA investigator who worked on vaccines, said a VAI is one of the most common inspection ratings given. That means the FDA is “trusting the company to fix” the observations made during the inspections, he said.

The FDA assigned Pfizer’s McPherson facility a VAI rating in January 2020 — and company executives were so pleased they reported in their third-quarter financial filing that the agency had “upgraded” the plant.

Before January 2020, the McPherson plant appears to have been operating with the more severe OAI rating since its 2018 inspection, according to FDA reports. Former FDA investigator Godshalk said an OAI puts the company on notice. It’s “what you don’t want as a company,” he said.

Pfizer employs about 1,500 people at the McPherson plant, plus contractors. Kasi Morales, executive director of McPherson Industrial Development Co., said the facility is the largest employer in the industrial town about an hour north of Wichita, Kansas, and not far from Interstate 70, a major east-west thoroughfare across the country.

The 2020 inspection report that led to McPherson’s “upgraded” rating listed repeat observations that involved quality control procedures not being fully followed and “contamination” with mold and bacteria on surfaces because of humidity and cleaning practices.

No contamination was found in the medications themselves during the inspection, but investigators described seeing operators “leaning over and talking over sterilized items being unwrapped.”

Notably, the 2020 inspection report states early on that Pfizer had made “significant management changes” since the previous inspection in 2018. That latest inspection spanned three weeks from December 2019 to January 2020 and inspectors wrote “management was cooperative and no refusals were encountered.”

Christopher Smith, vice president of quality operations for Pfizer’s U.S. and European Union sterile injectables, was at the McPherson facility periodically during the visit. In the end, he “expressed discontent” with several of the 2020 observations made by investigators and “repeatedly sought clarifications.”

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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