In the Atlantic, Dr. Monica Gandhi writes about The New COVID Drugs Although molnupiravir—which is named after the Norse god Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir—was being tested for the treatment of the Ebola virus, researchers had not settled upon a purpose for the drug before SARS-CoV-2 arrived on the scene. Early studies of molnupiravir showed that its … [Read more…]
In the 11/25/2021 Guardian “Long Read” is Jill Lepore on post covid society, a summary of the modern social fabric, with her usual historical detail. “Other scholars see more continuity, an unbroken tradition of liberal and social democracy on the left, from early 20th-century progressivism down to the 21st-century version. But no one disputes that … [Read more…]
San Francisco Call, 21 November 1918 TWO CITIES Chester Rowell, Editor of the Fresno Republican, Praises Handling of Flu Problem Here; Shows Folly of Los Angeles Attitude The following editorial by Chester Rowell, editor of the Fresno Republican, appeared in the on November 18 edition of the Call, under the heading “Two Cities.” There is … [Read more…]
In the 1918 flu epidemic, one symptom of surviving the flu was severe depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and actions, often termed ‘delirium’ in the papers of the day. Until it proves to be a futile battle, I want to start to track newspaper articles on the abuse endured by workers from the public. I’m … [Read more…]
In the Guardian today (10/08/21) is an article Could the global Covid death toll be millions higher than thought? A data scientist and economics student joined forces in search of the real pandemic death toll – and the results are startling. Excess mortality, defined as the increase in deaths from all causes over the level … [Read more…]
In the Atlantic, James Fallows reports on the Ancient Rome and Modern American analogies. Now, chapter four: crossing the Rubicon. Schnurer argues that this is more than just a familiar phrase. And he says that a U.S. Rubicon moment is in view—which would be triggered by a possible indictment of Donald Trump. At the end … [Read more…]
Crashing computers, three-week delays tracking infections, lab results delivered by snail mail: State officials detail a vast failure to identify hotspots quickly enough to prevent outbreaks. In POLITICO is a look at how the information management for Health Departments country wide failed under pressure from COVID-19.
In the Guardian, Yep, it’s bleak, says expert who tested 1970s end-of-the-world prediction, A controversial MIT study from 1972 forecast the collapse of civilization – and Gaya Herrington is here to deliver the bad news
Everyone should read this From the Atlantic: The 3 Simple Rules That Underscore the Danger of Delta Vaccines are still beating the variants, but the unvaccinated world is being pummeled. By Ed Yong
A nice obituary, by Alexis Petridis on the Guardian for Jon Hassell, a musician who blew me away in 1980 with sounds I couldn’t categorize. I still can’t. as Eno put it, “one overriding principle in Jon’s work [was] that of respect – he looks at the world with all its momentary and evanescent moods … [Read more…]