Respect...

 

US Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday backed the mask mandates still in effect on airplanes and public transit as a "matter of respect," in the wake of recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that suggest that fully vaccinated travelers can forgo face coverings in many public spaces.

During an appearance on ABC's "This Week," host Martha Raddatz pressed Buttigieg about the continued need for mask regulations on public transit, despite many fully vaccinated Americans dining out and returning to their fitness routines at gyms without face coverings.

"Well, some of the differences have to do with the physical space, some of them have to do with it being a workplace where in some of these transit and travel situations, people don't have a choice," he said. "It's a matter of safety, but it's also a matter of respect."

Raddatz also asked Buttigieg about the increase in violent disturbances and verbal assaults on airplanes, which have prompted some airlines to temporarily halt their alcoholic beverage offerings.

We listen to the Science.... That agree with me. Just a thought.

Mother, Child...

 

Researchers in Spain uncovered data that suggests a potential link between prenatal exposure to the common pain-relieving drug acetaminophen and increased risk for higher instances of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to the results of a study published Friday.

The study, published European Journal of Epidemiology, based its findings on an analysis of 73,881 mother-child pairs in Europe. 

Children who were prenatally exposed to paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, were found to be 19% more likely to have developed Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and 21% more likely to have developed AD.

Considering all evidences on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopment, we agree with previous recommendations indicating that while acetaminophen should not be suppressed in pregnant women or children, it should be used only when necessary," the researchers added.

Sainthood...

 

The Democratic demands for Andrew Cuomo to resign have become a stampede, which is all the more reason for New York’s Governor to resist. Even unpopular politicians deserve due process, especially when former idolaters turn as quickly as progressives have on Mr. Cuomo.

We have no brief for the Governor, whose record on Covid-19 has been one of the country’s worst. His excessive and arbitrary lockdowns have done enormous harm to thousands of businesses and millions of people. His administration’s guidance that nursing homes had to accept Covid patients from hospitals led to many needless deaths. Then his administration lied about it.

Yet everyone has known all this for months, even as the press nominated Mr. Cuomo for Covid sainthood. The Washington Post retired the adorer’s cup: “Can Andrew Cuomo become FDR?” He won an Emmy for his media briefings, of all things, and a lucrative book contract for self-serving musings on the pandemic and leadership.

The new media consensus is that Mr. Cuomo is a bully who runs a “toxic” workplace and harasses women. 

A bully? You don’t say. Mr. Cuomo has been Governor for 10 years. He has bullied reporters in plain sight from the beginning, and threatened politicians who dared to criticize him, yet in the local press only the New York Post has taken him on.

Just a thought.

العدل

 

Not all the people, Not all the time. Just a thought.

All...

 

 6 this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17‘ In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.…

Walking...

 Many couples may feel trapped in a their relationship. But think about it, you may not be as trapped as you think. Several factors must be considered before walking away.

Economics. a person feels economically dependent on the partner for fear s/he couldn’t land a job that pays a living wage. Fact is, pre-pandemic, the unemployment rate was the lowest in 50 years and now as COVID restrictions are lifting, unemployment is rapidly declining. 

Hurting the kids. If you and your partner often fight or merely are cold to each other, it may be better for the kids for you to be apart. Not only will your kids not suffer the stress and see the poor role-modeling of an unhappy couple, each of you singly may do a better job of parenting.

Embarrassment. It may be more embarrassing to have family and friends see you choosing to stay stuck in a bad relationship than for you to separate. They may be impressed if, rather than being apologetic, you explain that you both want to seek a better life.

Ugly divorce. Yes, divorce can by ugly, protracted, and expensive. But that sometimes can be avoided by each of you promising to be statesmanlike and instead of lawyering up, engaging a highly skilled mediator that both of you agree to use.

Any way, don't rush to walk away. The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence.    Just a thought.

All Right...

 

DASH...

 

The DASH diet, short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, recommends fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products, while restricting salt, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Among trial participants on the DASH diet, biomarkers linked to cardiac damage and inflammation fell by 18% and 13%, respectively. Participants combining the DASH diet with reduced-sodium behavior had the most pronounced reductions in both cardiac injury and stress — 20% and 23%, respectively — although inflammation was not significantly impacted.

Blood pressure is one of the best predictors of cardiovascular health, and cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of people in the U.S. Previous research also suggested that a lack of sleep may offer one possible explanation for why sleep problems have been shown to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and even death from cardiovascular disease.

Breakthrough...

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report on Tuesday, detailing just how many breakthrough infections have happened in the U.S. in people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The report found that 10,262 COVID-19 breakthrough infections were reported to the CDC from 46 states and territories between Jan. 1 through April 30, 2021. 

There were some trends:

• 6,446 (63 percent) were female

• The median age was 58 years old

• 2,725 (27 percent) of cases were asymptomatic

• 995 (10 percent) of patients were hospitalized

• 160 (2 percent) of patients died.

Of the patients who were hospitalized, 289 (29 percent) did not have symptoms or were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19. 

The median age of patients who died was 82, and 28 (18 percent) of those who died did not have symptoms or died from a cause that wasn’t related to COVID-19. 

Findings...

 

Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least a year, probably much longer.

Two  new studies suggest that most people who have recovered from Covid-19 and who were later immunized will not need boosters. 

Vaccinated people who were never infected most likely will need the shots, however, as will a minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response.

Both reports looked at people who had been exposed to the coronavirus about a year earlier. Cells that retain a memory of the virus persist in the bone marrow and may churn out antibodies whenever needed, according to one of the studies, published Monday in the journal Nature.

The other study, found that these so-called memory B cells continue to mature and strengthen for at least 12 months after the initial infection.

“The papers are consistent with the growing body of literatures.

We need a new look at the natural immunity for the young. Just a thought.

Ironic

 

During her first public appearance as presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, the senator from California compared the novel coronavirus, which has infected over 5.1 million and is linked to 165,000 deaths in the United States, to the Ebola outbreak in 2014. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, only "eleven people were treated for Ebola in the United States during the 2014-2016 epidemic."

"It didn't have to be this way. Six years ago, in fact, we had a different health crisis. It was called Ebola. And we all remember that pandemic. But you know what happened then? Barack Obama and Joe Biden did their job. Only two people in the United States died. Two. That is what is called leadership," Harris said.

From Jan. 20 to April 28, Biden's first 14 weeks in office, the CDC reported 156,096 new COVID-19 deaths. John Hopkins reported 160,540, because it uses a slightly different methodology.  And that is after the availability of the Corona Virus Vaccines.

Ironic Huh. Just a thought.

Adjust...

 

Heart to Heart...

 

They're known for having the 'healthiest hearts ever studied', but now an Amazonian tribe may also hold the key to slowing down ageing.

The Tsimane indigenous people of the Bolivian Amazon experience less brain atrophy as they age than their American and European peers, researchers have found.

It suggests that sedentary lifestyles and diets rich in fats and sugars could be making people in industrialised nations more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.

By contrast, the 16,000-strong tribe are extremely active, traditionally hunting and foraging for their own food, and consume a high-fibre diet of vegetables, fish and lean meat.

Herd Immunity...

 

The Belt...

 

On May 1, the CDC transitioned from monitoring all breakthrough COVID-19 cases to monitoring only those where patients were hospitalized or died, a move that is wise. It’s important to shift from looking at cases to only looking at serious disease, as the vaccination of high-risk individuals has decoupled cases from hospitalizations and deaths what flattening the curve was initially about.

Many of those who were hospitalized and died from a breakthrough infection were elderly or immunocompromised, and that confirms the notion that people who fall into those categories “should take the belt-and-suspenders approach” because their immune systems don’t respond as well to the vaccine. 

The recommendation: “Get vaccinated, wear a mask, avoid large groups and continue to be careful.”

Dr. John Sellick, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo, tells Yahoo Life that the average person shouldn’t worry about breakthrough infections. 

“For those of us who are of average health, are fully vaccinated and don’t have severe underlying medical problems, breakthrough infections are unlikely to be a huge problem,” he says.

 “But highly immunosuppressed people have to be careful, just in case.”

Lymph Nodes...

 

While the mass COVID-19 vaccination effort over the past four months is bringing closer the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, it is not without a cost.   

 But the cost here will be in terms of added patient anxiety and financial due to potential of additional, needed tests.   

There have been several alarms in peer-review literature and radiology societies that the COVID-19 vaccines cause temporary inflammation and swelling of lymph nodes in some patients. 

While the experts say this is normal, it can be a major cause for concern if physicians, radiologists and patients are not aware of this vaccine presentation and assume it is a sign of infection or cancer, leading to additional diagnostic testing or followup exams. 

The most common inflammatory type is lymphadenitis, producing swollen or enlarged lymph nodes. However, it is causing alarm on mammograms of recently vaccinated women and can lead to additional tests and imaging if found in patients who undergo CT scans for any reason. 

The development of lymphadenopathy after being vaccinated for COVID-19 is a sign of the body's immune system gearing up in response to the vaccine and will go away, the experts say, It has been seen with other vaccines, but the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines appear to affect a much larger number of people. 

In the clinical trials for the the Moderna vaccine, axillary swelling or tenderness was reported in 11.6% of patients (5% with placebo) after dose 1, and 16% (4.3% with placebo) after Dose 2. 

This greatly concerns radiologist who look at mammograms and review exams looking for cancer, or monitoring cancer treatment in patients. 

Lift...

 

Teens...

 

U.S. health officials are investigating a potential rare side effect from COVID-19 vaccines - an inflammation of the heart muscle called myocarditis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's advisory  has received more than a dozen reports of this condition appearing four days after vaccination.

It seems to happen  more often in Teens and Young Adults - and for some reason in more men than women. [Please note that the Covid-19 Virus had no impact on these young people]

Symptoms of myocarditis include fatigue and shortness of breath and it often goes away without any complications, but still the CDC is investigating and alerting doctors to be on the lookout for this.

The CDC says the cases they're tracking involve the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines Approved for Emergency Use Only.

J& J Covid Vaccine was approved for Emergency Use Only, paused then resumed with a Warning to women ages 50 years old or younger.  Astra Zeneca is not approved in the States but has the same issues of J & J.

So when you send your young to be vaccinated, please check with your doctor if Benefits outweigh the RISK.  Just a thought.

Restrictions...

 

New Jersey will no longer require restaurants, retail stores, gyms, churches, and other businesses to keep 6 feet of social distance between patrons or groups starting Friday  the same day the state will stop mandating that people wear masks at indoor public places in most circumstances, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday as he outlined a set of sweeping moves to life.

Dance floors at bars and restaurants in the state can also reopen Friday, while patrons will no longer be required to stay in seats while ordering and eating or drinking.
And large outdoor venues, such as MetLife Stadium and minor league baseball parks, will be allowed to have full crowds starting the same day.
All those moves will come just in time for Memorial Day weekend, traditionally considered the unofficial beginning of summer.
New Jersey will then end all indoor gathering limits on June 4.

Shooting...

 

The statistics are grim: 1,480 shootings in New York City, almost double the 748 logged during the same period last year.   

 The city is expected to finish 2020 with a 14-year high in that category of violence, according to Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Meanwhile, murders are up 40%, from 312 in 2019 to 436 so far, NYPD records show.

There are names, devasteated families and different ethnicity behind each in this statistics.

Victims range from a 1-year-old boy shot at a barbecue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a 29-year-old father gunned down as he walked hand-in-hand with his young daughter while crossing a street in Claremont and a 60-year-old woman struck by a stray bullet in Brownsville.

Police commissioner, police unions and lawmakers blame the increase in shootings on bail reform enacted by the state Legislature. 

So, who is shooting who? Not asking for color as the Media always try to make it.

Why is the most restricted gun sales in the country in New York, failed miserably compared to other States where buying gone is legal and easy.

What do you think when you see two people attack a Jewish man for no reason but because he is a Jew? If the attackers thought he has a gun, how would they behave?  Just a thought.

Herd...

 

New York City Subway System

More Americans are vaccinated against Covid, but that's not the only reason coronavirus cases in the U.S. keep falling, Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday.

The former Food and Drug Administration commissioner said additional factors contributing to declining infection levels include warming weather and the fact that a portion of the unvaccinated population has already been infected with Covid.

The percentage of Americans who have some immunity against coronavirus is higher than the vaccination rates, Gottlieb said, estimating that at least one-third of the population has been infected. 

"So, if you assume that the percent of prior infection among the unvaccinated population is more than that third, and it probably is, and you assume that we've given at least one dose to around half the population right now, we're approaching pretty high levels of immunity," said Gottlieb, who led the FDA from 2017 to 2019. He now serves on the board of vaccine maker Pfizer.

Relief...

 

The CDC statement:

• If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
• Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
• If you haven’t been vaccinated yet,  depending on your age and your doctor's advise, find a vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

These recommendations can help you make decisions about daily activities after you are fully vaccinated. They are not intended for healthcare settings.

Final thought:

Thee Media, and the politicians played a big role in talking instructions and advise for something they we didn't know much about then and now. Let us listen to the CDC.

Wheelie...

 

With more people using bike lanes and with cycling injuries on the rise, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday he’s open to the idea of license plates for bikes.

 Frequently, one man riding down the middle of the road the wrong way on a one-way street, totally ignoring the bike lane. Another man was in the bike lane, but going in the wrong direction, skirting a police car and a taxi.  And then there is the “red lights don’t mean anything to me” crowd. Lots of them.

Thursday was just another day in “Cycle City,” as cars, trucks and those who prefer to get around on two wheels struggle to share the streetscape.

The bike lane is not used for regular bike, its all motorized for delivery.

The street adjacent to the parks are closed, but not too many enjoying it

The Bus Lanes in Manhattan is used to park traffic cars, commercial cars etc while the bus lane is not helping the buses to move faster.

The solutions provided by this Mayor is just not helping any one and on the other hand rezoning and high rise buildings are destroying the quality of life of the New Yorkers for the benefits of those who donate money to the politicians' campaigns.   Just a thought.

The Young...

    

Number of deaths From Covid-19 since the start in Feb.2020.
Total deaths from COVID-19     557,486
0-17 years                      277
18-29 years                    2,097
30-39 years                   6,089
40-49 years                  16,507
50-64 years                  85,450
65-74 years                  123,309
75-84 years                 154,212
85 years and older     169,545

Although it is clear that infection severity increases substantially with age, there remain key unanswered questions with regard to the consistency of mortality patterns across countries. 

Underlying heterogeneities in the age structure of the population or in the prevalence of comorbidities can contribute to differences in the levels of observed COVID-19-associated fatalities.

In addition, when looking at the total number of COVID-19-associated deaths, the level of transmission among the general population can be difficult to disentangle from large outbreaks in vulnerable populations such as those living in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. 

From these stats provided, it is obvious that the Covid Vaccine is essential to some more than others.

Comments:

1- From the provided stat, Ages 39 and below are less vulnerable with this Covid Viruse than those who are older.

2- Certain Comorbidities may expose various ages to the disease more than others. Accordingly, your doctor, and not the politicians, ought to evaluate your benefits and your risk.

3- All Covid Vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J are approved "Under Emergency Use Only." This is different than other vaccines and should be treated as such.

4- So much we don't know about the disease and the vaccines.

Just a thought.

Time Travel...

 

President Biden said "We are taxing the rich." But what is happening to the gasoline prices that increased dramatically? 

Or approving the Congestion Pricing in Manhattan?

 Just a thought.