Coronavirus & Monkeypox Tidbits #216 10/23/22
Announcements:
First, there is now a Resources Page here for the most commonly asked questions I'm getting.
Happy to continue to answer your questions/concerns as best I can, so don't be shy about that.
New post:
Breaking The Mold: A Creative Musical Teaches About Antimicrobial Resistance
News
Covid:
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky tests positive for COVID-19, experiencing "mild symptoms"
— BNO News (@BNOFeed) October 22, 2022
Update on cases/variants:
Of about 2.9 million new cases reported to the WHO last week, the five countries that reported the most were Germany, France, China, Italy, and the United States. (Cases also spiking in Singapore)
Omicron viruses that descend from the BA.5 lineage are still dominant, making up 78.9% of sequences, followed by BA.4 (6.7%) and BA.2 (3.9%) lineages.
The WHO said its monitoring of emerging subvariants suggests that XBB—a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 with 14 more mutations in the BA.2 spike protein—has the most immune escape properties of any SARS-CoV-2 variant. So far, XBB has been reported by 26 countries. Though the subvariant seems to have a higher growth rate, there's no evidence of any change in disease severity.
~ ~ ~
Study: 7% of children hospitalized with COVID-19 had neurologic problems
Today in Pediatrics, a study of more than 15,000 US children hospitalized with COVID-19 finds that 7.0% had neurologic complications such as seizures or encephalopathy.
A team led by Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt researchers assessed length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, 30-day readmission, death, and medical costs of 15,137 COVID-19 patients aged 2 months to 18 years released from 52 children's hospitals from March 2020 to March 2022. A total of 37.1% of the patients had a pre-existing complex chronic condition, and 9.8% had one or more neurologic complex chronic conditions.
Seven percent of the children had COVID-related neurologic complications, the most common of which were febrile (fever-related) seizures (3.9%), nonfebrile seizures (2.3%), and encephalopathy (2.2%), a broad term meaning damage or disease to the brain.
Patients with neurologic complications had more ICU admissions (29.8 vs 21.8 days) and longer ICU stays (3.2 vs 2.5 days) and were more likely than those without neurologic complications to die in the hospital (1.8% vs 0.6%). They also had more 30-day readmissions, longer hospital stays, and higher hospital costs.
"Our findings emphasize the importance of COVID-19 immunization in children, especially in high-risk populations, such as those with neurologic comorbidity."
Oct 20 Pediatrics study
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/covid-19-scan-oct-20-2022
~ ~ ~
Inflammation and dysfunction of the lining of blood vessels—the endothelium—is the basis for many of the cardiovascular complications of Covid. A new, solid review here https://t.co/1GiS8XXzT7 pic.twitter.com/CSBS7xjXCR
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
The XBB variant wave in Singapore will soon be their 2nd worst for the pandemic. The reinfection rate prior to the wave was 5% and now up to 17%, which tells us about the immune escape properties of this variant (akin to BQ.1.1, very high level of immune evasion) pic.twitter.com/IMoMuymp75
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 18, 2022
Doctors discovered that some stillbirths resulted from COVID directly infiltrating the placenta, a condition called SARS-CoV-2 placentitis.
— ProPublica (@propublica) October 15, 2022
Cases were found even in people whose COVID symptoms were mild or nonexistent.https://t.co/nAJprOKMwL
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/The_dead_letter/status/1581824831539986433?s=20&t=TXixG_7wVYtQF2YPZSWTBw
~ ~ ~
2)....if they were allowed to do so. Here is an excellent overview article about the case: https://t.co/98HTViq6yv
— Florian Krammer (@florian_krammer) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/myrabatchelder/status/1582529480186556417?s=20&t=TXixG_7wVYtQF2YPZSWTBw
~ ~ ~
Updated Swiss Cheese graphic, version 5.2.6.1 (aka Cheesicus).
— ɪᴀɴ ᴍ. ᴍᴀᴄᴋᴀʏ, ᴘʜᴅ 🦠🤧🧬📑🥼🤹🦟🧀 (@MackayIM) October 16, 2022
Modified for a different time.
I'm happy to hear suggestions but may not incorporate every one.
The history is here...https://t.co/gJ2NlrFVgW pic.twitter.com/Ry92zJqvch
Ebola:
Uganda's Ebola cases rise amid concern over undetected spread
Uganda's health ministry today reported four more lab-confirmed Sudan Ebola cases, a day after the World Health Organization's (WHO's) top official raised concerns about undetected transmission chains and the risk to the country's capital.
On Twitter, the health ministry said there are now 64 lab-confirmed cases. Also, it reported 25 deaths among confirmed patients.
...the WHO had said the virus may have been circulating as long as 3 weeks before the first suspected cases were reported.
the most recent eight cases--initial reports indicate they were not among known contacts,
two people with confirmed infections from Mubende district sought care in Kampala, increasing the transmission risks in the city. Kampala, the country's capital, has a population of 1.7 million.
Other:
Vietnam reports 1st human case of influenza A(H5) since 2014
http://outbreaknewstoday.com/
~ ~ ~
Haiti: Confirmed cholera cases
now at 111 confirmed cases (not including the 12 confirmed cases at the Prison Civile de Port-au-Prince outbreak) through October 17.
The total suspected cases have risen to 996 (Total suspected cases-725 and 271 from the prison outbreak) and deaths are now 37 (23 and 14 respectively).
http://outbreaknewstoday.com/haiti-confirmed-cholera-cases-top-100/
~ ~ ~
Influenza:
#FluUpdateFriday 🧵@CDCFlu released data for week ending 10/15.
— S. Wesley Long (@drswlong) October 21, 2022
Flu is continuing to spread, especially in the south-central / southeast US.
High & Moderate ILI activity states increased to 9 & 8 respectively.
If you haven't - get your #flushot!#flu #vaccineswork pic.twitter.com/jwPlXVOOEX
Diagnostics:
Prolonged COVID test positivity in symptomatic, Omicron BA.2 infections
Among a group of vaccinated college athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent rapid antigen testing 7 days later, 27% were still positive—a proportion that climbed to 35% in symptomatic athletes and 40% in those infected with the Omicron BA.2 subvariant.
The findings, published yesterday in JAMA Network Open, suggest that rapid antigen testing may help prevent still-positive people from leaving isolation while still infectious, the Stanford University authors said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommend 5 days of isolation followed by 5 days of wearing a well-fitting mask after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
"These findings could call into question the current guidelines allowing for exit of isolation after 5 days without requiring additional testing to prevent further spread, particularly in the setting of newer variants, such as BA.4 and BA.5," the researchers wrote.
Oct 18 JAMA Netw Open study
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/news-scan-oct-19-2022
~ ~ ~
Saliva Covid test
Drugs and Vaccines:
"There are now 95 nasal vaccines under development around the world.... 6 have reached the final Phase 3 in clinical trials." None of those late trials are in the US. India and China already have approved nasal/inhaled vaccineshttps://t.co/mVwaXZ9vne @carmenpaun @adamcancryn pic.twitter.com/ix6zZYqun7
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 15, 2022
~ ~ ~
The bad news is that the XBB subvariant of Omicron is likely the most immune-evasive. The good news is that the new “bivalent” vaccine boosters from Pfizer and Moderna seem to work just fine against it. https://t.co/RZQXALhwGD
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 16, 2022
~ ~ ~
ACIP adds COVID vaccine to pediatric immunization schedule
The vaccine advisory group for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today approved changes to the child and adolescent immunization schedule, which adds COVID-19 vaccine to the recommended immunizations. The recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) passed on a unanimous 15-to-0 vote.
The vote came a day after ACIP approved adding COVID vaccines to the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides free vaccines to children who don't have health insurance or who can't afford them.
Ahead of the vaccine schedule vote today, some media outlets falsely claimed that the ACIP's vote would mandate the COVID vaccine for school children, according to the Washington Post. However, states decide what vaccines are required for school attendance.
Oct 20 ACIP webcast
Oct 19 Washington Post story
NCSL background information
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/covid-19-scan-oct-20-2022
~ ~ ~
WHO: COVID-19 vaccination rates have dropped 50% in Africa
The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses given in Africa has dropped by more than 50% over the last three months, the World Health Organization said Thursday, even though less than a quarter of all Africans have been vaccinated.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-covid-vaccination-africa.html?
~ ~ ~
Study debunks use of antidepressant Fluvoxamine as COVID treatment
A study testing drugs that are used for other conditions for their potential in treating COVID-19 has found that the antidepressant fluvoxamine (brand name Luvox) offered no benefit, at least at an initial smaller dose.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-debunks-antidepressant-luvox-covid-treatment.html?
~ ~ ~
Potential therapy derived from a banana protein works against SARS-CoV-2 https://t.co/VB0fxzT7No via @medical_xpress
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) October 22, 2022
~ ~ ~
Ebola vaccines:
Serum Institute to produce Ebola vaccine for use in Uganda outbreak
Oct 17 (Reuters) - The Serum Institute of India plans to manufacture 20,000 to 30,000 doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine by the end of November for use in trials against an outbreak in Uganda, its developers and a company source said.
The response to Uganda's outbreak has been blunted by the absence of a proven vaccine against the Sudan strain of the virus.
There have been 54 confirmed cases and 19 deaths since last month and the first case in the capital, Kampala, was recorded last week. But health authorities believe the actual numbers could be higher.
Vaccines against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola have proven highly effective during recent outbreaks in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Oxford University, which developed a COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca (AZN.L), has an Ebola vaccine that has been shown to induce an immune response to both the Sudan and Zaire strains in Phase 1 trials.
Its developers said they were working with the Serum Institute to manufacture doses that could be deployed in Uganda as part of a clinical trial once the authorities there gave regulatory approval.
"We are hoping to have a large number of doses, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 or more by mid-to-end of November," Teresa Lambe, the chief scientific investigator on Oxford's Ebola vaccine, told Reuters.
A source at the Serum Institute, the world's biggest vaccine maker and part of a conglomerate run by Indian billionaire Cyrus Poonawalla, confirmed this information. The source said the Ebola vaccine doses would be supplied free of cost.
~ ~ ~
Cholera:
Unprecedented outbreaks prompt shift to 1-dose cholera vaccine strategy
An unprecedented rise in cholera outbreaks straining the global cholera vaccine supply has prompted the International Coordinating Group (ICG), which manages emergency cholera vaccine supplies, to temporarily suspend the standard two-dose regimen, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today. To stretch vaccine supplies, outbreak response campaigns for now will use a single dose.
Since January, 29 countries have reported outbreaks, including Haiti, Malawi, and Syria, which are experiencing large outbreaks. For comparison, the WHO said that over the previous 5 years fewer than 20 countries on average reported outbreaks. The WHO said cholera outbreaks are becoming more numerous, widespread, and severe due to floods, droughts, population movements, and other fators that limit access to clean water.
The WHO said the one-dose strategy is known to be effective, though evidence is limited on the duration of protection. Also, protection with one dose appears to be much lower in children. Officials added that the benefit of supplying one dose still outweighs no doses and will allow more people to be protected in the near term...
Producers are already making vaccine at maximum capacity, leaving no short-term solutions to increase production.
Oct 19 WHO press release
Oct 19 MSF press release
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/10/news-scan-oct-19-2022
~ ~ ~
One of two firms making cholera vaccines has stopped production amid awful cholera outbreaks in Haiti, Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, Malawi & Ethiopia.
— Amy Maxmen, PhD (@amymaxmen) October 18, 2022
Sanofi had transferred the tech to Indian firm Shanchol & says its not making enough profit to continue. ☹️ https://t.co/EcRaSXqtXS
Devices:
I love this video from RIKEN in Japan.
— Kit Yates (@Kit_Yates_Maths) October 18, 2022
It models the flow of exhaled air in various different settings under different conditions.
As well as the flow patterns being very beautiful, it also highlights the importance of good quality masks (FFP2/FFP3)
pic.twitter.com/kP4CJfwmqW
~ ~ ~
From our paper https://t.co/y5EYuyaHW4, "Recent studies have shown that dust and bioaerosols generated by dogs are beneficial to infant and child health [48–52]."
— Linsey Marr (@linseymarr) October 21, 2022
Epidemiology/Infection control:
"As of Wednesday, weekly U.S. COVID cases sat at nearly 261,000, an average of 37, 285 a day..."
— Edge (@czarbucks) October 21, 2022
"With testing at all-time lows, it’s widely accepted that case numbers reported to the agency, and thus reported by it, pale in comparison to the actual number of cases in the U.S." https://t.co/XIgof8c6Zq
~ ~ ~
Milder COVID cases, lower viral loads in vaccinated frontline workers, study finds https://t.co/CxoCpmsUzM via @medical_xpress
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) October 22, 2022
~ ~ ~
Students also caused a markedly higher number of secondary cases of 1.03 vs 0.34 for non-students on average. As found in many other studies, a mere 20% of positive cases caused 75%-80% of infections. 2/
— Dr. Jeff Gilchrist, PhD (@jeffgilchrist) October 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
New lab assessment of these variants
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 21, 2022
BQ.1.1 has the most immune evasion and fusogenicityhttps://t.co/5FQn5FxOZ1 pic.twitter.com/PmZPkQHB4n
Long Covid:
So for those keeping track: official statistics show 3.4% of the UK, 4.6% of Canada, and 7.5% of the US populations currently have #LongCovid.
— Hannah Davis (@ahandvanish) October 17, 2022
~ ~ ~
New @BrookingsInst blog highlights that 23% of Latinos in Colorado have #LongCovid. Of Latinos w/ #LongCovid, 22% report that they have lost their job from #LongCovid, 33% have lost wages, & 36% have depleted savings to pay for health care costs https://t.co/hcuQhSOpCr
— Lisa McCorkell (@LisaAMcCorkell) October 19, 2022
Tips, general reading for public:
Ventilate.
Mask.
Vax.
Did you know that with an insurance card you’re entitled to four free boxes of two COVID tests per month from CVS or Walgreens? pic.twitter.com/qRgNFLrfEd
— caitlin o’hara (@caitlin_oh) October 16, 2022
Politics:
Covid:
Fun fact - Dr. Walensky has not tweeted the word “mask” since July (she has retweeted the CDC weekly community levels with its “consider masking” guidance, but that’s it). pic.twitter.com/BfFvEKYcOH
— Jon Levy (@jonlevyBU) October 22, 2022
~ ~ ~
This is the same man who says N95's are bad for you because you get acne. So when @WHO finally acknowledged #COVIDisAirborne on 12/23/21 with an asterisk next to it--saying IPC did not approve--why did no one launch a major investigation into this crime against humanity? (2/2)
— Kimberly Prather, Ph.D. (@kprather88) October 22, 2022
(referring to John Conly)
~ ~ ~
I know I post this every few weeks, but it's really striking that Cuba's apparent near-total elimination of COVID—daily cases in the single digits, & only one death since May 12—is basically never mentioned in capitalist media's endless churn of "we just have to live with COVID" pic.twitter.com/nLiunzlbUd
— socialism or barbarism (@JoyAndDefiance) October 15, 2022
~ ~ ~
😷Melania Trump is a new COVID business owner.
— Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (@SWinstonWolkoff) October 16, 2022
On January 25, 2021, Melania incorporated a new LLC. in Missouri called:
A COVID 19 TASK FORCE, LLC. pic.twitter.com/QJ8MfVXZoD
~ ~ ~
Here's an article on the report that just broke. https://t.co/WnEZ93iFQS
— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) October 17, 2022
~ ~ ~
It would be scary to end up in the ICU in the US these days, given how careless its fellows in not bringing airborne infections (like covid) to critically ill patients. https://t.co/otSwmlV5WT
— Prof. Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) October 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
Unfathomable. Why did it take @WHO 2 years to say #COVIDisAirborne? https://t.co/rva9pTwXaS feature @Nature by @dyanilewis pic.twitter.com/q87QEqLPwH
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) April 6, 2022
Biden:
Biden just pulled off a big diplomatic victory — and almost no one noticed -- Lebanon- Israel agreement https://t.co/Qz5LdxeJQ3
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) October 18, 2022
GOP
Huge problem:
Michigan county hires ‘Stop the Steal’ ringleader to recruit poll workers https://t.co/v8rN0Gan5u via @politico
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) October 22, 2022
~ ~ ~
Herschel Walker didn’t show up to his debate with Warnock tonight
— Lindy Li (@lindyli) October 16, 2022
Greg Abbott didn’t show up to his 2nd debate with Beto
Marco Rubio didn’t show up to his debate
JD Vance ran outta there after Ryan trounced him
Ladies and gents, I present to you the Clown Jewels of the GOP 🤡
~ ~ ~
Elise Stefanik is touting $12.9 million to support rural hospitals in her district. The source of that funding? Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid aid package — which she voted against last year. https://t.co/IgBLASkP00
— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) October 14, 2022
~ ~ ~
And so it begins Georgia… showed up for day 1 of early voting only to find this. The website gives the same address & I’ve been on hold with the County Board of Elections for 40 minutes so far. How many voters will just give up???? 😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/klotndLWt6
— JerseyGirlinGA 🌊🟦☮️🏳️🌈 🇺🇦🌻 (@vanessajones) October 17, 2022
~ ~ ~
Arizona prosecutors want 66-year-old grandmother to go to prison for collecting 4 ballots in 2020 https://t.co/MZOWbWLk5g via @CBSNews
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) October 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
Well this seems bad https://t.co/7lGNCCouqk
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) October 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
Pipe bombs were planted on January 5, 2021 outside the RNC & DNC, and discovered as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 19, 2022
In an embarrassment for the government, they still don’t have a suspect.
The first responding officer is standing trial for obstruction of J6 investigation. https://t.co/KkCLvqX3jv
~ ~ ~
BREAKING: Newsmax pulls the plug on Lara Logan after her appearance last night.
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 20, 2022
"Newsmax condemns in the strongest terms the reprehensible statements made by Lara Logan and her views do not reflect our network. We have no plans to interview her again."https://t.co/S4M3S1AQw1
TFG:
Trump Organization charged the Secret Service a whopping $1,185/night while they were protecting him and his devil spawn
— Lindy Li (@lindyli) October 17, 2022
This is FIVE times the govt rate
He scammed $1.4 million from the Service
But yes tell me more about how Biden sometimes goes on bike rides in Delaware🖕🏻
~ ~ ~
His order to release Trump-Eastman emails to the J6 committee under the crime fraud exception to attorney client privilege.
— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) October 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
"Some of the classified documents recovered by the FBI from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home and private club included highly sensitive intelligence regarding Iran and China, according to people familiar with the matter."https://t.co/FRMSf1ZXnk
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 21, 2022
Greed/National Security:
Powerful exposé from @washingtonpost : Since 2015, scores of retired generals, admirals and other military veterans have taken lucrative jobs working for foreign governments known for political repression and human-rights abuses. https://t.co/QJEdggdQO7
— Lawrence Roberts (@robertslawrence) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
Bigger corporate profits account for *over half* of the higher prices people are paying. pic.twitter.com/RZr5O0X4oJ
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
Workers paid the $7.25 federal minimum wage earn 23% less than what they earned 13 years ago, after adjusting for inflation, and 36% less than in 1968.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) October 18, 2022
But we’re a far richer nation than we were in 1968.
Per capita GDP then: $24,000
Per capita GDP now: Almost $60,000
Hello?
~ ~ ~
Pfizer projects that it will make $32 billion from its COVID vaccine in 2022 and $22 billion from Paxlovid. Their plan to charge $110/dose for the vaccine can best be described as fleecing the public. https://t.co/NjJEbKSoC1
— Jonathan Reiner (@JReinerMD) October 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
Pfizer says insurers will cover the cost, but that just adds insult to injury. It's just a reminder that big pharma gets to price their drugs arbitrarily because insurers can pass on the costs to everybody in the form of higher healthcare premiums.
— Michael Lin, MD PhD 🧬 (@michaelzlin) October 21, 2022
Student loans:
holy shit lol pic.twitter.com/mK5xFOWva0
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) October 21, 2022
Abortion/reproduction:
Powerful ad:
MAGA Republicans want women arrested for having an abortion. This is what that looks like. #LockHerUp pic.twitter.com/YUD0swW8DE
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
I hope people are taking advantage of this amazing offer from Rutgers University Press: free book downloads related to abortion/reproductive history. I just downloaded a bunch of books and it was super easy:
— Kirsten Leng (@KirstenLeng) October 21, 2022
https://t.co/1Kjd4gDvWf
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/DJRN0255/status/1581367352389615618?s=20&t=TXixG_7wVYtQF2YPZSWTBw
~ ~ ~
We wouldn’t let a kid adopt a kid.
— Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 (@NickKnudsenUS) October 20, 2022
So why would we force a kid to give birth to one?
MUST WATCH AD. Please spread it. pic.twitter.com/k7gU4QvEPm
Climate change:
The #Mississippi River at record low levels in many areas. Here near #Tiptonville, TN people are walking and vehicles have been driving on dry river bed that would be totally under water in normal conditions. #MOwx #TNwx #ARwx #MSwx pic.twitter.com/u4UKW7jXf4
— Charles Peek (@CharlesPeekWX) October 19, 2022
Good news!
👍 Under the new policy, Munich Re will no longer insure or invest in new oil and gas fields, new oil midstream projects and new oil power plants from April 2023. This applies to Munich Re’s primary, facultative and direct reinsurance.
— PeterBosshard (@PeterBosshard) October 6, 2022
Economy:
Why are grocery prices so high? Monopoly power.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) October 15, 2022
If Kroger succeeds in merging with Albertsons,
it will control:
Safeway
Ralphs
Smith’s
Harris Teeter
Dillons
Fred Meyer
Vons
Jewel-Osco
Shaw’s
Floriada/DeSantis:
In his first term, DeSantis has accepted roughly $3.3 million in campaign donations from about 250 people he selected for leadership roles on commissions, boards and task forces.https://t.co/KtyWvQgBOp
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) October 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
“A crackdown on voter fraud” – this framing is atrociously misleading. It postulates that “voter fraud” is an actually existing problem (it is not) and implies that DeSantis actually intends to remedy this problem (he does not). It’s exactly how DeSantis wants this framed. pic.twitter.com/coQnVAyEAe
— Thomas Zimmer (@tzimmer_history) October 20, 2022
LGBTQ:
It went from "we're just concerned about women's sports" to "we want to ban all drag shows" in less than a year. Depending on the wording of the legislation, it could effectively criminalize being trans and/or gender non-conforming in public. https://t.co/tR65zplhGU pic.twitter.com/HRqsE6Lx7M
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
Universities, public schools, hospitals, medical clinics, etc. could all be defunded if they host any event discussing LGBTQ people and children could be present. The way they define "sexually oriented material" simply includes anything about LGBTQ people.
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) October 18, 2022
This is the American version of Russia's gay propaganda law passed in 2013. This is their end game. To censor and ban LGBTQ from all public life and force them back into the closet.
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) October 18, 2022
Medicare/Medicaid
If Social Security and Medicare are ‘sunsetted’ in 5 years, as is the Republican plan, what happens to the disabled?
— Jeras Ikehorn (@JerasIkehorn) October 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
A study out earlier this year suggested that Medicaid expansions led to reduced police arrests, particularly drug-related arrests. Per the authors, "greater insurance coverage creates new avenues for individuals to seek care, receive treatment, and avoid criminalization."
— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) October 21, 2022
Oz/Fetterman:
https://twitter.com/DataDrivenMD/status/1581791268295745536?s=20&t=TXixG_7wVYtQF2YPZSWTBw
Racism:
BREAKING: The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency has launched an investigation into the State of Mississippi for possible civil rights violations over the Jackson water crisis, the agency told the NAACP in a letter today.https://t.co/QUVzBdjJvK
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) October 20, 2022
Texas:
By imposing new requirements for mail voting, Texas stopped thousands of voters from casting their ballots in the primaries. https://t.co/0OjnlntVCp
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) October 21, 2022
UK:
Lord have MRSA. pic.twitter.com/RQHvToPUra
— Shematologist, MD (@acweyand) October 15, 2022
~ ~ ~
Every doctor, every biologist, everyone with any grasp of antibiotic resistance and its development, just clutching their heads and screaming OH MY GOD NO... pic.twitter.com/JAEDXtb5r7
— David Andress (@ProfDaveAndress) October 15, 2022
~ ~ ~
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) October 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
Wow - great news that the airline hired to deport refugees to #Rwanda has pulled out of the scheme. Just as this Govt crumbles, its grotesque and inhumane deportation policy is crumbling with it pic.twitter.com/cw6wEdX1Ji
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) October 21, 2022
Iran:
Iranian athlete who competed without Islamic headscarf goes missing 🚨
— UNILAD (@UNILAD) October 18, 2022
More below 👇https://t.co/BGekS1A4GU
Russia:
It is unfortunate that @YouTube is censoring @JuliaDavisNews. Her service allows people who don't know Russian to follow and examine Russian propaganda. Suppressing her monitoring makes life easier for fascists and an ongoing genocide harder to report. https://t.co/k3zJCGKllD
— Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) October 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
This is completely normal behavior for a guy who is soon to own this platform and who already owns critical communications satellite infrastructure pic.twitter.com/Z99ASOzGLI
— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) October 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
After Elon Musk’s latest spewing of Kremlin propaganda and his cheery exchange w war criminal Medvedev, how safe will anti-corruption experts, analysts, activists, and Ukrainians be on this platform after his acquisition of Twitter? How long before our data is handed to Russia?
— Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 (@OlgaNYC1211) October 21, 2022
Feel good du jour:
“The owner of this shop allows stray dogs in after dark so they can spend the nights safely.. ❤🙏
— Happy Dog (@thehappydog_) October 6, 2022
He put blankets to cover the cold tiles so that everyone had a comfortable bed.. such initiatives must be shared!" 🤍 pic.twitter.com/Ho8QlyGQjS
~ ~ ~
A strange but beautiful pair pic.twitter.com/SXnOaPQBFm
— B&S (@____B_S____) October 17, 2022
~ ~ ~
The Fall of Man. Incredible photo, especially considering it was taken with one of this disposable, cardboard Kodak cameras.
— John Parris (@johncparris) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
A potoroo and her baby snacking on strawberries at Cleland Wildlife Park in Australia. pic.twitter.com/nwkzZjfmST
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) October 19, 2022
Comic relief:
it's storytime with dalton the dragon
— theworldofdog (@theworldofdog) October 18, 2022
(jukin media) pic.twitter.com/zdsh4Mgw8b
~ ~ ~
just wait, it gets even better pic.twitter.com/Ocg9ksQKRR
— ᴘᴀᴠʟᴏᴠ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀɢɪ (@PAVGOD) October 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
Skills... pic.twitter.com/GLeD9oehTn
— Figen... (@TheFigen_) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
Birds are fed by their parents in their infancy. When the time comes to feed themselves, there can be some confusion when the food does not go into their mouth by itself. pic.twitter.com/8kDa1hhRgb
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) October 18, 2022
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/TheFigen_/status/1583129644772884482?s=20&t=TXixG_7wVYtQF2YPZSWTBw
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1583554342187327488?s=20&t=TXixG_7wVYtQF2YPZSWTBw
Perspective/Poem
“Nobody sees a flower - really - it’s so small it takes time - we haven’t time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
— BOOKSHELVES (@readingnooks) October 20, 2022
~ Georgia O’Keeffe
(thanks to @holdengraber) pic.twitter.com/BipH3ZkutC
Bits of beauty:
