Health and Sanity category archive
School Daze 0
Sportswriter extraordinaire Bob Molinaro reflects on the reopening in these viral times (emphasis in the original):
Barely afloat: Schools that initially invited students back to campus are quickly discovering what they should have known. When dealing with easily transmissible viruses, dorms are cruise ships without the water.
Aside:
I was in college a long time ago and certainly did my share of partying. Nevertheless, other than concerts, sports events, large lectures, and some demonstrations against America’s Great and Glorious War for a Lie in Vietnam, I don’t remember participating in the sorts of mob scenes being reported from some colleges.
Traumatized 0
Much lauded researcher William Hazeltine explores the “moral trama” the United States if facing due to its incompetent and ineffective–nay, counter-effective–response to the coronavirus. Here’s a bit from his piece at Psychology Today Blogs (emphasis added); I commend the entire piece to your attention.
Our moral trauma is witnessing death, contagion and economic destruction around us, knowing full well it is unnecessary. Our country has been deeply morally traumatized – by the President through his denials, incompetence, and finger-pointing, and by his administration, his Republican enablers in Congress and compliant state governors.
The Reopening 0
At the Hartford Courant, a Connecticut teacher shares her plans for returning to school in these viral times. Here’s a bit; follow the link for the complete article:
When I return home this afternoon, however, I will no longer be able to set foot inside our home. My husband’s medical conditions put him at greater risk for grave health repercussions or death from COVID-19, so I will be sleeping in a tent in our backyard and isolating myself from my husband and young son. We live in a modest home, not configured for quarantine.
(Syntax error fixed.)
Quacking Up 0
E. J. Montini notes that Donald Trump is doctor shopping again. A snippet:
(snip)
Trump also doesn’t seem pleased with Dr. Deborah Birx, another immunologist who has offended the president by telling the truth.
The president doesn’t want truth tellers who might save lives. He wants lackeys who will save his chances at reelection.
Follow the link for a list of lackeys.
Malpracticing Medicine without a License 0
Talya Miron-Shatz is fed up with politicians making medical decisions. A snippet:
Going Viral in These Viral Times 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Professor Colleen Sinclair explores why misinformation spreads so readily in times of stress. Here’s one of the five factors she identifies; follow the link for the others (emphasis in the original).
“American Exceptionalism” 0
At AL.com, Kyle Whitmire suggests that “American exceptionalism” has morphed into something he calls “American acceptin’-ism.” A snippet:
But what’s more remarkable is how many folks seem OK with these facts or are willing to pretend they aren’t real.
And before anyone starts with the “love it or leave it” nonsense again, keep in mind, most countries have travel bans in place and won’t let us in. We can’t escape the country any easier than we can escape the truth.
Trumpling the Disinformation Super Highway 0
Afterthought:
There is a very real difference between spin, which may offer different interpretations of the facts twist the facts, and lies, which ignore the facts.
“The Constitution Is Not a Suicide Pact” 0
Sam and his crew dissect the ludicrous arguments offered by Libertarians against common sense safety measures in these viral times. (Warning: Some language.)
Proceeding along the Path to Pariah 0
The AP reports on the rest of the world’s view of the failure of the United States to deal with these viral times. An excerpt (emphasis added):
But after a strict nationwide 10-week lockdown, vigilant tracing of new clusters and general acceptance of mask mandates and social distancing, Italy has become a model of virus containment.
“Don’t they care about their health?” a mask-clad Patrizia Antonini asked about people in the United States as she walked with friends along the banks of Lake Bracciano, north of Rome. “They need to take our precautions … They need a real lockdown.”
Much of the incredulity in Europe stems from the fact that America had the benefit of time, European experience and medical know-how to treat the virus that the continent itself didn’t have when the first COVID-19 patients started filling intensive care units. Yet, more than four months into a sustained outbreak, the U.S. is about to hit an astonishing milestone of 5 million confirmed infections, easily the highest in the world. Health officials believe the actual number is closer to 50 million, given testing limitations and the fact that as many as 40% of all cases are asymptomatic.
“We Italians always saw America as a model,” said Massimo Franco, columnist with daily Corriere della Sera. “But with this virus we’ve discovered a country that is very fragile, with bad infrastructure and a public health system that is nonexistent.”
