Every year we celebrate this holiday, but this year is especially
relevant. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and
ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. Florence
Nightingale was a celebrated English, social reformer,
statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. The theme this
year is Compassion|Expertise|Trust.
Jun 5, 2020
SpaceX Starlink Broadband
The new satellite service from Elon Musk is
almost here. Musk said that private beta testing for the service
will begin in about three months, with public beta testing
beginning in about six months.
In early 2019, SpaceX received approval to launch 12,000 satellites into space to build a low earth orbit network of satellites, enabling the company to sell home internet. After another successful launch of 60 satellites, there are now 422 Starlink satellites in orbit.
This week, SpaceX’s director of satellite policy, David Goldman, said in a document filed with the FCC that limited service will be offered by the end of this year, with rapid expansion to “near global coverage of the populated world in 2021.”
In early 2019, SpaceX received approval to launch 12,000 satellites into space to build a low earth orbit network of satellites, enabling the company to sell home internet. After another successful launch of 60 satellites, there are now 422 Starlink satellites in orbit.
This week, SpaceX’s director of satellite policy, David Goldman, said in a document filed with the FCC that limited service will be offered by the end of this year, with rapid expansion to “near global coverage of the populated world in 2021.”
Five COVID-19 Facts
The overwhelming majority of people do not have any
significant risk of dying from COVID-19.
The recent Stanford University antibody study now estimates that the fatality rate, if infected is likely 0.1 to 0.2 percent, a risk far lower than previous World Health Organization estimates that were 20 to 30 times higher.
Protecting older, at-risk people eliminates hospital overcrowding.
We can learn about hospital utilization from data from New York City, the hotbed of COVID-19 with more than 34,600 hospitalizations to date. For people ages 65 to 74, only 1.7 percent were hospitalized. Of 4,103 confirmed COVID-19 patients with symptoms bad enough to seek medical care, Dr. Leora Horwitz of NYU Medical Center concluded "age is far and away the strongest risk factor for hospitalization." Even early WHO reports noted that 80 percent of all cases were mild, and more recent studies show a far more widespread rate of infection and lower rate of serious illness. Half of all people testing positive for infection have no symptoms.
Vital population immunity is prevented by total isolation policies, prolonging the problem.
We know from decades of medical science that infection itself allows people to generate an immune response — antibodies — so that the infection is controlled throughout the population by “herd immunity.” That is the main purpose of widespread immunization in other viral diseases, to assist with population immunity. In this virus, we know that medical care is not even necessary for the vast majority of people who are infected. It is so mild that half of infected people are asymptomatic. In fact, infected people without severe illness are the immediately available vehicle for establishing widespread immunity. By transmitting the virus to others in the low-risk group who then generate antibodies, they block the network of pathways toward the most vulnerable people, ultimately ending the threat.
People are dying because other medical care is not getting done due to hypothetical projections.
Critical health care for millions of Americans is being ignored and people are dying to accommodate “potential” COVID-19 patients and for fear of spreading the disease. Most states and many hospitals abruptly stopped “nonessential” procedures and surgery. That prevented diagnoses of life-threatening diseases, like cancer screening, biopsies of tumors now undiscovered and potentially deadly brain aneurysms. Treatments, including emergency care, for the most serious illnesses were also missed. Cancer patients deferred chemotherapy. An estimated 80 percent of brain surgery cases were skipped. Acute stroke and heart attack patients missed their only chances for treatment, some dying and many now facing permanent disability.
We have a clearly defined population at risk who can be protected with targeted measures.
The overwhelming evidence around the world consistently shows that a clearly defined group, older people and others with underlying conditions, is more likely to have a serious illness requiring hospitalization and more likely to die from COVID-19. It is a commonsense, achievable goal to target isolation policy to that group, including strictly monitoring those who interact with them. Nursing home residents, the highest risk, should be the most straightforward to systematically protect from infected people, given that they already live in confined places with highly restricted entry.
The recent Stanford University antibody study now estimates that the fatality rate, if infected is likely 0.1 to 0.2 percent, a risk far lower than previous World Health Organization estimates that were 20 to 30 times higher.
Protecting older, at-risk people eliminates hospital overcrowding.
We can learn about hospital utilization from data from New York City, the hotbed of COVID-19 with more than 34,600 hospitalizations to date. For people ages 65 to 74, only 1.7 percent were hospitalized. Of 4,103 confirmed COVID-19 patients with symptoms bad enough to seek medical care, Dr. Leora Horwitz of NYU Medical Center concluded "age is far and away the strongest risk factor for hospitalization." Even early WHO reports noted that 80 percent of all cases were mild, and more recent studies show a far more widespread rate of infection and lower rate of serious illness. Half of all people testing positive for infection have no symptoms.
Vital population immunity is prevented by total isolation policies, prolonging the problem.
We know from decades of medical science that infection itself allows people to generate an immune response — antibodies — so that the infection is controlled throughout the population by “herd immunity.” That is the main purpose of widespread immunization in other viral diseases, to assist with population immunity. In this virus, we know that medical care is not even necessary for the vast majority of people who are infected. It is so mild that half of infected people are asymptomatic. In fact, infected people without severe illness are the immediately available vehicle for establishing widespread immunity. By transmitting the virus to others in the low-risk group who then generate antibodies, they block the network of pathways toward the most vulnerable people, ultimately ending the threat.
People are dying because other medical care is not getting done due to hypothetical projections.
Critical health care for millions of Americans is being ignored and people are dying to accommodate “potential” COVID-19 patients and for fear of spreading the disease. Most states and many hospitals abruptly stopped “nonessential” procedures and surgery. That prevented diagnoses of life-threatening diseases, like cancer screening, biopsies of tumors now undiscovered and potentially deadly brain aneurysms. Treatments, including emergency care, for the most serious illnesses were also missed. Cancer patients deferred chemotherapy. An estimated 80 percent of brain surgery cases were skipped. Acute stroke and heart attack patients missed their only chances for treatment, some dying and many now facing permanent disability.
We have a clearly defined population at risk who can be protected with targeted measures.
The overwhelming evidence around the world consistently shows that a clearly defined group, older people and others with underlying conditions, is more likely to have a serious illness requiring hospitalization and more likely to die from COVID-19. It is a commonsense, achievable goal to target isolation policy to that group, including strictly monitoring those who interact with them. Nursing home residents, the highest risk, should be the most straightforward to systematically protect from infected people, given that they already live in confined places with highly restricted entry.
More Bacon Facts
Bacon dates back to 1500 BCE. The Chinese were the first to
cook salted pork bellies more than 3000 years ago. This makes
bacon one of the world’s oldest processed meats.
Romans called bacon petaso. Bacon eventually migrated westward. The Romans made petaso by boiling salted pig shoulder with figs, and then seasoning the mixture with pepper sauce. Wine was a frequent accompaniment.
The word bacon refers to the "back" of a pig. The word bacon comes from the Germanic root “-bak,” and refers to the back of the pig that supplied the meat. Bakko became the French bacco, which the English then adopted around the 12th century, naming the dish bacoun. Back then, the term referred to any pork product, but by the 14th century bacoun referred specifically to the cured meat.
LINK
Romans called bacon petaso. Bacon eventually migrated westward. The Romans made petaso by boiling salted pig shoulder with figs, and then seasoning the mixture with pepper sauce. Wine was a frequent accompaniment.
The word bacon refers to the "back" of a pig. The word bacon comes from the Germanic root “-bak,” and refers to the back of the pig that supplied the meat. Bakko became the French bacco, which the English then adopted around the 12th century, naming the dish bacoun. Back then, the term referred to any pork product, but by the 14th century bacoun referred specifically to the cured meat.
LINK
Paul Revere Myth Debunked
Paul Revere’s shouting “The British are
coming!” in the streets would have been the modern day
equivalent of running down Times Square in New York and
shouting, “The Americans are coming!”
At that point, the colonies were still technically British, and not everybody was ready for a revolution. More likely, Paul Revere, and he was just one of dozens assigned to put the word out in Boston, whispered his alarm, and instead of warning of the British, he likely said, “The regulars are coming out.” We have Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s patriotic poem to thank for anybody even knowing Paul Revere’s name.
At that point, the colonies were still technically British, and not everybody was ready for a revolution. More likely, Paul Revere, and he was just one of dozens assigned to put the word out in Boston, whispered his alarm, and instead of warning of the British, he likely said, “The regulars are coming out.” We have Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s patriotic poem to thank for anybody even knowing Paul Revere’s name.
Wordology Idiom, Metaphor, and Simile
Idiom: An idiom is an expression
that conveys something different from its literal meaning, and
cannot be guessed from the meanings of its individual words.
"Between a rock and a hard place" is an idiom that means “in a
difficult or bad position with no good way of getting out of
it.” What makes an idiom different from a figure of speech is
that its non-literal meaning is already familiar to speakers of
the language.
Metaphor: A metaphor is a word or phrase typically used to describe one thing, but unexpectedly used to describe something different. Metaphors make language interesting and help create imagery. "He was drowning in paperwork" is a metaphor that makes a connection between having to deal with a lot of paperwork and drowning in water.
Simile: A simile is an expression that uses the words like or as to describe something by comparing it with something else. A simile is like a metaphor except that a simile uses the words like or as to signal that a comparison is being made. “She is as fierce as a tiger” is a simile, but “She is a tiger when she is angry” is a metaphor.
Metaphor: A metaphor is a word or phrase typically used to describe one thing, but unexpectedly used to describe something different. Metaphors make language interesting and help create imagery. "He was drowning in paperwork" is a metaphor that makes a connection between having to deal with a lot of paperwork and drowning in water.
Simile: A simile is an expression that uses the words like or as to describe something by comparing it with something else. A simile is like a metaphor except that a simile uses the words like or as to signal that a comparison is being made. “She is as fierce as a tiger” is a simile, but “She is a tiger when she is angry” is a metaphor.
Flu Fact
There
are estimated 1 billion cases worldwide; 9.3 million to 45
million cases in the US per year. During 2019/20, in the US, the
flu has already caused an estimated 26 million illnesses this
season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Alexa Remembers
To set a reminder, use a command like, “Alexa, remember that
my wallet is on the kitchen counter.” Later, you can ask,
“Alexa, where did I put my wallet?” and Alexa will remind you of
whatever location you previously provided.
Keep forgetting your spouse’s birthday or anniversary? Can’t remember where you put your keys or your phone? Forgot the name of your new neighbor? Give the job to Alexa. Just tell Alexa what you want her to remember and when you are in a bind, she will remind you.
There are other ways you can take advantage of Alexa's built-in memory. Say, "Alexa, remember that Maggie’s shoe size is 7." Say, "Alexa, remember that we are leaving for vacation on August 3." Then, ask Alexa for Maggie’s shoe size, or when your vacation is, and she will respond with what you told her.
Making this feature even handier, its use is not tethered to your Echo. Just use your iPhone or Android device to ask Alexa to recall something when you are out and about. If you are shopping for shoes for Maggie and you forgot her size, just use the Alexa app on your phone to ask for a reminder.
Try this handy reminder say “Alexa, remind me to take out the trash at 6PM,” and she will notify you at the proper time.
Keep forgetting your spouse’s birthday or anniversary? Can’t remember where you put your keys or your phone? Forgot the name of your new neighbor? Give the job to Alexa. Just tell Alexa what you want her to remember and when you are in a bind, she will remind you.
There are other ways you can take advantage of Alexa's built-in memory. Say, "Alexa, remember that Maggie’s shoe size is 7." Say, "Alexa, remember that we are leaving for vacation on August 3." Then, ask Alexa for Maggie’s shoe size, or when your vacation is, and she will respond with what you told her.
Making this feature even handier, its use is not tethered to your Echo. Just use your iPhone or Android device to ask Alexa to recall something when you are out and about. If you are shopping for shoes for Maggie and you forgot her size, just use the Alexa app on your phone to ask for a reminder.
Try this handy reminder say “Alexa, remind me to take out the trash at 6PM,” and she will notify you at the proper time.
Happy Friday
A smile is to your face
as happiness is to your soul.
It is time to smile and be happy, especially on a Happy Friday!
It is time to smile and be happy, especially on a Happy Friday!
Walpurgisnacht
Germany is a country that
does not traditionally celebrate Halloween. Instead, it has
Walpurgisnacht, the Witches’ Night, which takes place every year
on April 30.
One of the largest Walpurgisnacht celebrations in Germany takes place at the Hexentanzplatz, the Witches’ Dance Floor, a mountain plateau looming over the sleepy town of Thale. Locals light an enormous bonfire and run wild dressed as witches, demons, and all forms of nightmarish ghouls. Statues of witches and demons from regional folklore line a square where local vendors sell all sorts of Harz specialties from sausages to schnapps.
One of the largest Walpurgisnacht celebrations in Germany takes place at the Hexentanzplatz, the Witches’ Dance Floor, a mountain plateau looming over the sleepy town of Thale. Locals light an enormous bonfire and run wild dressed as witches, demons, and all forms of nightmarish ghouls. Statues of witches and demons from regional folklore line a square where local vendors sell all sorts of Harz specialties from sausages to schnapps.
Mark Twain Quote
"The only difference
between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist
leaves the skin."
How to Pronounce It
Nutella
new-tell-uh
IKEA
ee-kay-uh
Hyundai
hun-day
Porsche
por-shuh
Bayer
buy-er
Hoegaarden
who-garden
Cetaphil
seat-uh-fill
Del Monte
del-mon-ti
Huawei
wah-way
Adidas
Ah-dee-dahs
Chevrolet
shev-ro-lay
Hermès
air-mez
Van Heusen
van hoy-sen
Givenchy
zhee-vahn-shee
Versace
ver-sa-cheh
new-tell-uh
IKEA
ee-kay-uh
Hyundai
hun-day
Porsche
por-shuh
Bayer
buy-er
Hoegaarden
who-garden
Cetaphil
seat-uh-fill
Del Monte
del-mon-ti
Huawei
wah-way
Adidas
Ah-dee-dahs
Chevrolet
shev-ro-lay
Hermès
air-mez
Van Heusen
van hoy-sen
Givenchy
zhee-vahn-shee
Versace
ver-sa-cheh
Elixir of Life
These days of Covid are
finding many people seeking the "magic cure". Throughout
history, people have sought the elixir of immortality and many of
them died in the process of consuming that which killed them,
instead. "Cures" have been found as far back as from 202 BC to 8
AD.
Just as we have no magic cure now, we did not have
one in the past. As our "quest for the "nectar of the Gods" goes
on, we are doomed to a more pragmatic cure. Those hoping for a
90 day solution to the current problem are as misguided as our
ancestors, but the beauty of human nature is that we keep
trying. Thankfully people like Jonas Salk and others come along
often enough to keep our faith. It will happen again, but we
must do our part - and keep the faith.
Covid and Closed in
If you are feeling a
bit closed in, think about this. Human beings may dominate the
planet with our sprawling cities, but we are just one species
among some 8.7 million species that live together on planet
Earth.
One 2011 study published in the journal PLoS Biology
estimated that "the various forms of life on the planet included
7.8 million species of animals, 298,000 species of plants,
611,000 species of mushrooms, mold and other fungi, 36,400
species of protozoa, and 27,500 species of algae or chromists."
It is also worth noting that the researchers did not venture to
put an estimate on the number of bacteria.
The world population of people is 7.8 billion. As of
now, 2.5 million people have been affected by Covid with 706,000
recovered, and 1.7 million active cases.
In perspective I think it is time for the media
to get over themselves and report on the vast many good things
going on in our planet rather than just focusing in on the
half-vast Covid.
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