Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Celerity
Celerity's Journal
Celerity's Journal
April 16, 2021
Per MSNBC Zoom interview, 'good guy with a gun' tried to stop FedEx shooter, was shot and killed
Just another real life, tragic debunking of that ludicrous RW talking point.
April 16, 2021
This makes me smile...
I bet he didn't say a word to them
https://twitter.com/afrobeerchick/status/1382530205512777729
Afro.Beer.Chick
@afrobeerchick
Drinking my way thru life one awesome beer at a time. #IAmCraftBeer
This Chick Talks Beer Podcast
@abctalksbeer
The Neat Pour Podcast
@theneatpour
Chicago, IL
https://afrobeerchick.com/
The racist soldier said the young black man was in the wrong neighborhood. So a group of my people
showed up at his house.This makes me smile...
I bet he didn't say a word to them
https://twitter.com/afrobeerchick/status/1382530205512777729
Afro.Beer.Chick
@afrobeerchick
Drinking my way thru life one awesome beer at a time. #IAmCraftBeer
This Chick Talks Beer Podcast
@abctalksbeer
The Neat Pour Podcast
@theneatpour
Chicago, IL
https://afrobeerchick.com/
April 16, 2021
https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1705999.html
The British coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 remains the most prevalent one in Luxembourg, making up 74.1% of cases. The latest weekly review, which was published by the National Health Laboratory on Wednesday, further indicates that the South African variant B.1.351 represents 19.4% of cases, more or less the same value as during the previous week. However, the report also revealed that six cases of the Brazilian variant occurred within seven days.
Up until now, isolated cases of the mutation occurred sporadically, like in the week from 8 to 14 March. While France already took steps to limit the potential exposure to the P1 variant on Tuesday evening, Luxembourgish health officials continue to monitor the evolution. At this moment, they do not yet consider banning travel to or from Brasil. The Ministry of Health has indicated that there is little evidence the variant is only brought to Europe from South America.
According to Natalia Pasternak, microbiologist and director of the Questoes de Ciencia Institute, fears over the new Covid-19 mutation are "justified, since it is highly contagious and managed to quickly spread across a country as enormous as Brasil."
The P1 mutation first emerged near the Brazilian city Manaus in December last year, but was only recognised as a Covid-19 variant in January, when travellers brought it to Japan. Like the South African variant, P1 is thus considered to cause more infections within a short period of time, and a greater number of antibodies is needed to resist it.
snip
Six cases of Brazilian variant recorded in Luxembourg
Not much is known about the South American variation P1 apart from the fact that it is more contagious. France has already suspended all flights to and from Brazil for a duration of two weeks, and now six cases have been reported in the Grand Duchy.https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1705999.html
The British coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 remains the most prevalent one in Luxembourg, making up 74.1% of cases. The latest weekly review, which was published by the National Health Laboratory on Wednesday, further indicates that the South African variant B.1.351 represents 19.4% of cases, more or less the same value as during the previous week. However, the report also revealed that six cases of the Brazilian variant occurred within seven days.
Up until now, isolated cases of the mutation occurred sporadically, like in the week from 8 to 14 March. While France already took steps to limit the potential exposure to the P1 variant on Tuesday evening, Luxembourgish health officials continue to monitor the evolution. At this moment, they do not yet consider banning travel to or from Brasil. The Ministry of Health has indicated that there is little evidence the variant is only brought to Europe from South America.
According to Natalia Pasternak, microbiologist and director of the Questoes de Ciencia Institute, fears over the new Covid-19 mutation are "justified, since it is highly contagious and managed to quickly spread across a country as enormous as Brasil."
The P1 mutation first emerged near the Brazilian city Manaus in December last year, but was only recognised as a Covid-19 variant in January, when travellers brought it to Japan. Like the South African variant, P1 is thus considered to cause more infections within a short period of time, and a greater number of antibodies is needed to resist it.
snip
April 16, 2021
https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/p/a-lonely-bewildering-radicalizing
I get a lot of mail. Some of it is very kind and thoughtful. A card from a stranger. A drawing in charcoal. Handmade masks at the beginning of a pandemic. But some of it, much of it, is strange and ominous.
Massive self-published books. Envelopes full of printer paper glistening with bright highlighter strokes, webs of lines and circles in ballpoint pen. Cut out pictures from magazines and newspapers alongside explanations of how hidden organizations control the halls of government.
Some of it has been so unnerving that Ive had to contact authorities and, in one case, actually considered whether someone who had mailed me might have been the so-called MAGA Bomber who sent pipe bombs to the critics and rivals of President Donald Trump. As a public figure, Ive been linked to Deep State operations, thrust into the fever-dream swamp of QAnon narratives, and had people show up at my house believing Id played a role in some large, clandestine, complicated conspiracy.
My life is a lot more boring than all of that, but this is a side-effect of a political system and society where the actual machinations of power are often hidden, where reality is intentionally manipulated, and the populace is both neglected, in terms of their wellbeing and needs, and consistently lied to.
snip
A Lonely, Bewildering, Radicalizing Culture
Conspiracy theories are the result of alienating, confounding cultures that hide the machinations of power from their people and have tragic, murderous resultshttps://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/p/a-lonely-bewildering-radicalizing
I get a lot of mail. Some of it is very kind and thoughtful. A card from a stranger. A drawing in charcoal. Handmade masks at the beginning of a pandemic. But some of it, much of it, is strange and ominous.
Massive self-published books. Envelopes full of printer paper glistening with bright highlighter strokes, webs of lines and circles in ballpoint pen. Cut out pictures from magazines and newspapers alongside explanations of how hidden organizations control the halls of government.
Some of it has been so unnerving that Ive had to contact authorities and, in one case, actually considered whether someone who had mailed me might have been the so-called MAGA Bomber who sent pipe bombs to the critics and rivals of President Donald Trump. As a public figure, Ive been linked to Deep State operations, thrust into the fever-dream swamp of QAnon narratives, and had people show up at my house believing Id played a role in some large, clandestine, complicated conspiracy.
My life is a lot more boring than all of that, but this is a side-effect of a political system and society where the actual machinations of power are often hidden, where reality is intentionally manipulated, and the populace is both neglected, in terms of their wellbeing and needs, and consistently lied to.
snip
April 15, 2021
https://thebanter.substack.com/p/the-incredible-dumbness-of-the-vaccination
by Bob Cesca
WASHINGTON, DC -- For the past 10 days, Ive been obsessed with getting my COVID-19 vaccination. Naturally, Im not alone. So far, according to the CDC, 23 percent of all Americans have managed to be fully vaccinated nationwide, and 3.7 million people have been vaccinated in my state alone. Thats a pretty amazing feat given how ridiculous the process has been for many of us in populated areas. Several weeks ago, I pre-registered for a vaccination through my state governments COVID-19 website. By pre-registering, Id enter a virtual waiting room and when my turn came up for a shot at a mass vaccination site nearby, Id get a text message, but only after my Phase 3 status as a healthy 49-year-old became eligible.
The big day for Maryland and Phase 3, April 5, arrived -- but only for vaccines at the various mass vaccination sites. Not the pharmacies. As of this writing, I still havent received the text message, but Im sure itll be on the way. Eventually. At the very least, Im on the waiting list, so its just a matter of time. But after a year of being isolated in place, Im itching to get out, and the only way to do that is to get jabbed as soon as possible. More urgently, as time goes on, the odds of eventually being infected rises. So, theres that, too. Fortunately, as of April 12, this past Monday, all vaccination sites, including the pharmacies, became available to Phase 3 people in Maryland. My mistake was figuring that with all the dozens of sites across the state -- I mean, there are three Giant pharmacies within walking distance of my apartment -- itd be quick and easy to get an appointment.
I figured wrongly. Those of you who grew up prior to the existence of the internet remember the old days of calling Ticketmaster whenever your favorite band came to town for a show. You probably also remember calling radio stations to be caller number 10 to win a prize. It was a frantic process of dialing, getting a busy signal, hanging up, and dialing again until you got through. The invention of the redial button made it faster, but it was still an intense roll of the dice, and sometimes, youd never get through before the concert was completely sold out. Thats the best way I can describe trying to schedule a vaccine appointment. Instead of redialing, its reloading your browser. Over and over again. For me, the process begins with vaccinefinder.org where, based on your zip code, the site tells you which pharmacies have one of the three big vaccines in stock.
Clicking on the name of the pharmacy location on the list takes you to the official website of the store, where you have to look for the vaccination appointment link. Once there, you enter your zip code again and, ideally, you get a message telling you if there are any available appointments. The pharmacy chain Walgreens was probably the best in terms of not making you jump through hoops to find available appointments. One entry of your zip code and you instantly get a response without leaving the page. But thats the exception. The worst of the batch was the Safeway website. After entering my zip code and the distance Im willing to travel, the Safeway site spits back a list of locations. (There are so many Safeways in my area, Id swear there was a Safeway located inside another Safeway.) Most of the locations on the list didnt have any appointments available, but occasionally Id get a Limited Availability message next to two or three.
snip
It gets worse and worse at the link
The Incredible Dumbness Of The Vaccination Appointment Process
My mistake was figuring that with all the dozens of sites across the state itd be quick and easy to get an appointment. I figured wrongly.https://thebanter.substack.com/p/the-incredible-dumbness-of-the-vaccination
by Bob Cesca
WASHINGTON, DC -- For the past 10 days, Ive been obsessed with getting my COVID-19 vaccination. Naturally, Im not alone. So far, according to the CDC, 23 percent of all Americans have managed to be fully vaccinated nationwide, and 3.7 million people have been vaccinated in my state alone. Thats a pretty amazing feat given how ridiculous the process has been for many of us in populated areas. Several weeks ago, I pre-registered for a vaccination through my state governments COVID-19 website. By pre-registering, Id enter a virtual waiting room and when my turn came up for a shot at a mass vaccination site nearby, Id get a text message, but only after my Phase 3 status as a healthy 49-year-old became eligible.
The big day for Maryland and Phase 3, April 5, arrived -- but only for vaccines at the various mass vaccination sites. Not the pharmacies. As of this writing, I still havent received the text message, but Im sure itll be on the way. Eventually. At the very least, Im on the waiting list, so its just a matter of time. But after a year of being isolated in place, Im itching to get out, and the only way to do that is to get jabbed as soon as possible. More urgently, as time goes on, the odds of eventually being infected rises. So, theres that, too. Fortunately, as of April 12, this past Monday, all vaccination sites, including the pharmacies, became available to Phase 3 people in Maryland. My mistake was figuring that with all the dozens of sites across the state -- I mean, there are three Giant pharmacies within walking distance of my apartment -- itd be quick and easy to get an appointment.
I figured wrongly. Those of you who grew up prior to the existence of the internet remember the old days of calling Ticketmaster whenever your favorite band came to town for a show. You probably also remember calling radio stations to be caller number 10 to win a prize. It was a frantic process of dialing, getting a busy signal, hanging up, and dialing again until you got through. The invention of the redial button made it faster, but it was still an intense roll of the dice, and sometimes, youd never get through before the concert was completely sold out. Thats the best way I can describe trying to schedule a vaccine appointment. Instead of redialing, its reloading your browser. Over and over again. For me, the process begins with vaccinefinder.org where, based on your zip code, the site tells you which pharmacies have one of the three big vaccines in stock.
Clicking on the name of the pharmacy location on the list takes you to the official website of the store, where you have to look for the vaccination appointment link. Once there, you enter your zip code again and, ideally, you get a message telling you if there are any available appointments. The pharmacy chain Walgreens was probably the best in terms of not making you jump through hoops to find available appointments. One entry of your zip code and you instantly get a response without leaving the page. But thats the exception. The worst of the batch was the Safeway website. After entering my zip code and the distance Im willing to travel, the Safeway site spits back a list of locations. (There are so many Safeways in my area, Id swear there was a Safeway located inside another Safeway.) Most of the locations on the list didnt have any appointments available, but occasionally Id get a Limited Availability message next to two or three.
snip
It gets worse and worse at the link
April 15, 2021
https://www.dezeen.com/2021/04/10/pastel-interiors-home-lookbook/
For this lookbook, we've rounded up ten home interiors decorated in pastel tints that show how ice-cream colours can give spaces a fresh, calming look. The selection from our archive, which includes bathrooms to bedrooms and kitchens, shows how pastels made by adding white to pure colours to make them more luminous and less saturated can create a spring-like feeling.
Never really out of fashion, pastels have strong psychological associations with new life with their pale, cheery tints representing a midway stage between the darkness of winter and the full-blown colour of summer. This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature rooftop gardens, bright kitchens, interiors with statement plants, terrazzo kitchens, and stylish home offices.
Ten interiors with pastel colours that freshen up the home for spring
more info and a lot more pics for each look at the linkhttps://www.dezeen.com/2021/04/10/pastel-interiors-home-lookbook/
For this lookbook, we've rounded up ten home interiors decorated in pastel tints that show how ice-cream colours can give spaces a fresh, calming look. The selection from our archive, which includes bathrooms to bedrooms and kitchens, shows how pastels made by adding white to pure colours to make them more luminous and less saturated can create a spring-like feeling.
Never really out of fashion, pastels have strong psychological associations with new life with their pale, cheery tints representing a midway stage between the darkness of winter and the full-blown colour of summer. This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature rooftop gardens, bright kitchens, interiors with statement plants, terrazzo kitchens, and stylish home offices.
April 15, 2021
India's Covid caseload has risen sharply in the past few weeks.
The country's been reporting more than 150,000 cases a day. In January and February daily cases fell below 20,000.
So, how did India get from relative calm to its new crisis?
Workplaces, markets and malls have reopened, and transport is operating at full capacity. Big weddings, festivals and election rallies are also being held.
The result: a situation that one doctor described as a "Covid tsunami".
The BBC's Vikas Pandey and Anshul Verma report.
Additional inputs by BBC Marathi, graphics by Nikita Deshpande.
Additional footage from Reuters and Getty.
BBC: India Covid-19 second wave: 'A coronavirus tsunami we had never seen before' (Video)
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-india-56747867India's Covid caseload has risen sharply in the past few weeks.
The country's been reporting more than 150,000 cases a day. In January and February daily cases fell below 20,000.
So, how did India get from relative calm to its new crisis?
Workplaces, markets and malls have reopened, and transport is operating at full capacity. Big weddings, festivals and election rallies are also being held.
The result: a situation that one doctor described as a "Covid tsunami".
The BBC's Vikas Pandey and Anshul Verma report.
Additional inputs by BBC Marathi, graphics by Nikita Deshpande.
Additional footage from Reuters and Getty.
April 14, 2021
aww, little Richard Haass, the neocon warmonger has the sadz on Morning Joe about Biden/Afghanistan
He and his MIC mates are losing one their forever war piggy banks.
He can go fuck himself with a F-35
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: London
Home country: US/UK/Sweden
Current location: Stockholm, Sweden
Member since: Sun Jul 1, 2018, 07:25 PM
Number of posts: 43,545