I have not seen One Night in Miami. Here are two reported views.
First Person: If you saw My Dinner With Andre, and think it was insufferable, then shun One Night in Miami like the plague.
Second Person: I liked One Night in Miami, and I also liked My Dinner With Andre.
My Take: I did see (at least up to the point where I walked out) My Dinner With Andre. I will not be watching One Night in Miami.
If you haven't bought Clorox wipes or Lysol spray in a while, you might be in for a shock. They seem to be readily available at reasonable prices at legitimate outlets such as The Amazon and The Walmart. Not surprisingly, they make scan appearance on The eBay.
Smartphones: When they no longer get operating system upgrades--iPhones after 5 years, Androids after 2-3 years.
Computers: Again, after they no longer get software updates--after 9-15 years.
Internet Routers: At least every 5 years.
Television Sets: It's probably time right now.
From the NYT: Link to the Article Entitled At-Home Covid Testing The text is as follows:
In case you missed it: You can now get tested for the coronavirus in the comfort of your own home.
This is great news, especially for people who don’t have access to a testing site. Currently, these portable tests come in two flavors. The first is test-by-mail kits, which allow patients to swab their noses at home and mail them to a laboratory for a result in a day or two. The other types are called at-home tests, which give an answer on the spot.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized dozens of test-by-mail kits, and three at-home tests.
These tests are not nearly as accurate as those taken in a clinic, but experts say coronavirus tests that can be done at home play an important role as the country continues to reopen. “They get actionable information in people’s hands quickly,” said Jennifer Bacci, an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.
Of course, no coronavirus diagnostic test is 100 percent accurate. Even the gold-standard nasopharyngeal swab, given at many clinics, can return a negative result even though you might be carrying the coronavirus. And these tests only inform you about a single point in time. But even if home tests may be less accurate, they can quickly alert people if they test positive.
Certainly the market for home test kits will likely grow, said Gigi Gronvall, a public health expert at Johns Hopkins University. But with more options, consumers will need to learn what test is best for them.
Here are some key questions to consider when deciding on an at-home testing kit.
Test-by-mail kits require users to purchase a kit, take a sample at home and ship the swab back to a lab. These kits take more processing time and use a method called polymerase chain reaction, or P.C.R., to detect the coronavirus.
P.C.R. works by identifying and magnifying specific gene sequences. “It can take a very small signal and amplify it,” to detect smaller amounts of the virus, said Dr. Gronvall. These tests are highly sensitive, picking up positive cases nearly all the time (accuracy varies by lab, and false negatives can be as high as 20 percent). “A negative P.C.R. isn’t perfect, but it gives a high degree of assurance,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.
Fully at-home tests, such as those made by Ellume and Abbott, require users to swab their noses and drop the swabs in a liquid. The tests provide an answer in as little as 15 minutes for the Abbott test and 20 minutes for Ellume.
These tests look for antigens — parts of microbes that cause an immune response. Unlike P.C.R., antigen tests do not amplify signals, which makes them faster but less accurate. These rapid antigen tests, Dr. Gronvall said, are good for measuring how contagious you are. “If you test positive on that, you really need to isolate,” she said, and get a clinical swab done to confirm the results.
False negatives, however, are much more common with antigen tests, meaning infected people might think they are virus free, especially if they are not having symptoms.
“The sensitivity of these tests tend to be pretty bad,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford University School of Medicine. If users have symptoms, the BinaxNOW antigen test has a 64 percent chance of correctly spotting the virus (and about half that in those without symptoms). Accuracy for some antigen tests in asymptomatic individuals can be less than 50 percent — worse than flipping a coin, she said.
Remember, any test’s ability to detect coronavirus depends on how much virus is in the location of your body where you are taking a sample. Tests taken early, say, hours after a potential virus exposure, have a higher chance of resulting in a false negative.
If you’re asymptomatic, you may have a smaller amount of virus in your body. In this case, experts said that your best bet for an accurate test is to use a test-by-mail kit because P.C.R. will be able to amplify lower levels of virus.
If you have symptoms, either a P.C.R.-based test or an antigen test will likely be able to confirm you have it. When choosing an antigen test, Dr. Jha said to look for whichever option at your disposal has the highest sensitivity, which refers to a test’s ability to detect the virus. Look for a sensitivity rating from 95 to 99 percent, he said.
Turnaround time is also important. Antigen tests are less accurate but offer an answer much faster without having to mail a sample. Results of either test should always be confirmed by a clinical test, said Dr. Maldonado.
Costs, too, may play a factor. Test-by-mail kits can cost $100 or more and may not be reimbursed by insurance companies. “Many patients have encountered unanticipated bills or red tape when seeking reimbursement for mail-in coronavirus testing, even though insurance companies are obligated to do so,” said Dr. Marisa Cruz, head of clinical affairs at Everlywell, a company that makes at-home health tests, including one for the coronavirus.
Antigen tests, on the other hand, are a fraction of the cost, currently ranging from $25 to $50.
Make sure the home test or collection kit you’re looking to buy has an emergency use authorization from the F.D.A. (it will be printed on the box) and that the company works with certified lab partners. Also look for tests that offer a telemedicine consult, advised Dr. Cruz, so you can discuss your diagnosis and next steps.
Following the test kit instructions is key to getting a reliable result. “A specimen that is not collected correctly may lead to false negative test results,” said Dr. Cruz. Imperfect swabbing technique, or swabbing only one nostril, may increase the risk of less accurate results. And samples for test-by-mail kits should be shipped the same day they are collected; the less time in transit, the better. Samples sent on weekends or holidays may be delayed, though some use FedEx and overnight shipping.
If you test positive on either a mail-in P.C.R. or an at-home antigen test, you are likely to be infected and presumed contagious, said Dr. Bacci, so isolate from others and continue to monitor your symptoms. Repeat testing can help track the disease course, if, say, someone goes from being asymptomatic to displaying symptoms.
Negative results are more likely to be wrong than positive ones. “A negative result does not necessarily mean you do not have Covid-19, which is the same interpretation for either an at-home test, a mail-in test or one offered in a doctor’s office,” said Dr. Cruz. Continue to wear masks, socially distance and practice good hygiene, especially if you have symptoms or known contacts with others with Covid-19.
Dr. Gronvall is concerned that some people are using at-home tests after they’ve been vaccinated to make sure that the vaccine has worked. But neither the P.C.R. nor antigen-based tests will be able to discern whether the vaccines have built up immunity in your body.
That’s because the vaccines encode for snippets of the virus and not the entire sequence. The P.C.R. and antigen tests search for a different portion of the virus from what’s included in the vaccines.
“These tests are not going to tell people if the vaccine is effective,” she said.
Beyond saliva and nasal swabs, some scientists are looking to develop devices that look like breathalyzers to detect chemicals in an individual’s breath that correspond to coronavirus infection. “We’re looking for the body’s response to infection and disease,” said Pelagia-Iren Gouma, a materials engineer at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Gouma and her colleagues are testing a small breathalyzer they have developed that can be used for up to one year and would cost perhaps a few dollars per device. Users would get an answer in 15 seconds, and the test appears to be accurate 96 percent of the time and can be reused, Dr. Gouma said. The device was submitted to the F.D.A. and has been awaiting emergency use authorization since September.
Experts hope that as the market for at-home testing expands, the options will grow and become cheaper. The cheaper the tests are, the more likely the government will subsidize them and consumers will buy them for routine testing. And the more testing, the better. As the world slowly reopens, home-based tests will help people navigate their decisions.
When it comes to rating athletes, say golfers, if one were to ask who the greatest golfer of all time was there is a legitimate debate between Nicklaus and Tiger because one has to factor both their records (Nicklaus's was better) and their skills (Tiger was better). But if one were to ask who the greatest player was, there is no debate ... Nicklaus did not come close to doing what Tiger could and did do on the golf course. Similarly, when it comes to presidents, it is easy to say who the best (Lincoln) and worst (Trump) was. But, if one were to ask who the most impactful was in terms of effectuating change in the country or who will be remembered the most for good or bad, the debate becomes more lively and the answer less certain. So, just as the below post about polls makes the point that how a question is posed determines the answer, so too in many other areas.
The criteria for vaccination priority as applied by different states are dramatically different. For example, if you have asthma or hypertension, even though they are characterized by the CDC only as "might be" underlying conditions, you can be vaccinated right now in New York City no matter your age. But if you live elsewhere, having asthma or hypertension will not move you up in priority, and even if you're 65, you might be looking to wait until April. At first blush, this might seem insane. But, if you put on your Monk detective hat, you should be able to see that what NYC is doing makes perfect sense, and represents an enlightened view.
The results of a poll often depend on how the question is asked, and polls that seemingly ask the same question, can produce dramatically different results when the questions asked are viewed with some scrutiny. Here from the WSJ is a good example of this:
From the Arizona Republic:
Our loyal reader with the neighbor/remodel issue has reached out to us again because the owner has really made our loyal reader angry in his latest dealings. While he has appreciated the advice we have give to date, he has pointed out that, if one were to populate their front lawn with flamingoes and sparklers and dinosaurs and gnomes and such, not only does that cost retail money (which some people prefer not to spend) and involve labor (which many people shun at all costs), but the offending moron neighbor trying to sell his awful remodel likely will have them removed in dead of night. But here’s what might work at zero cost and zero labor: As soon as the house is listed, an email might be sent to the realtor and perhaps to the owner as well that says, “I just want to advise both of you that I will be putting 500+ plastic pink flamingoes and a 1,000 sparklers and many gnomes and several blow up dinosaurs (as illustrated in the attached) among other things such as slides and various children amusement things in my front yard--either before you sell the house or very soon thereafter, and so you now are on notice that will be happening. I have no advice as to whether or not this needs to be or should be disclosed to any buyer or potential buyer. If you want me to put up a sign and flyer notice alerting any buyer to what is coming, I will be glad to do so at my cost.” Put this under the saying from Evita: “Don’t F with me Argentina!”
We have been asked what the difference is between emergency use authorization (EUA) for a drug or treatment and FDA approval. Rather than answer that question, we have asked the FDA to answer it, and here is what they said: "The EUA process is different than an FDA approval or clearance. Under an EUA, in an emergency, the FDA makes a product available to the public based on the best available evidence, without waiting for all the evidence that would be needed for FDA approval or clearance. When evaluating an EUA, we carefully balance the potential risks and benefits of the products based on the data currently available. EUAs are effective until the emergency declaration ends. EUAs can also be revised or revoked by the FDA at any time as we continue to evaluate the available data and patient needs during the public health emergency."
1. The Tesla has both a trunk and a frunk. Although the process might be different, they both can be popped from inside the car.
2. It appears a FOB does not come standard and costs an extra $150. Given that the card has been known to be glitchy and both it and the phone have to be taken out of your pocket (I think), it's a bit maddening that a FOB is not included (as it was even on a 2008 Camry and a 2015 Prius), but just get over it. As they say, if you cannot afford the FOB, pass on the Tesla and get a scooter.
3. The other accessories available (like some kind of tire/wheels that add $5,500) are for the most part ridiculous.
3. The order page will appear not to work if you are trying to get to the options with your mouse. Don't bother with Chat because, while they are nice, they don't get that all you need to do is use your down arrow. It's clearly a website glitch, and appropriate feedback has been given, and is assertedly appreciated as it will be passed along to the appropriate department.
4. There aren't a lot of options but color is one of them. Every color but white has a premium of at least $1,000 (red is $2,000 which is astounding because who wants red anyhow).
5. While it might not have always been so, Auto-Pilot (which is a bit of misnomer but includes all the key safety features and more) is now standard, i.e., it is bundled into the basic price. FSD or Full Self Driving is equally if not more so a misnomer and is a $10,000 add-on which is not worth a sou. One of the problems in the used Tesla market is it dominated by cars that have FSD which makes even several year-old Tesla 3s more expensive than new ones.
6. You can buy your Tesla with bitcoin.
7. Production of Tesla 3s just got interrupted because of supply chain disruptions, which underscores the lesson of don't tell them you might be interested: Link to Explanatory Article
Many vaccination sites make vaccines available for people who volunteer to work at the site but who otherwise would not be eligible to get the vaccine. There is no ethical issue there. Here's the question: After the volunteer gets fully vaccinated (with the second does of Moderna or Pfizer or the first J&J dose), is it ethical for the volunteer to then quit volunteering? By quitting, it allows someone else who would not otherwise get vaccinated to get vaccinated which might be seen as unfair or might be seen as helping to reduce the spread.
If you like Google Pixel phones, you're going to love the Pixel 5. Not only does it allow for wireless charging, it allows for reverse wireless charging where you can lay another wireless device on it while its charging and that other device will charge as well. How cool is that? Link to Pixel 5 Review
There are now wireless charger adapters for under $20 for virtually any phone and for most tablets. Just go to the Amazon and put in "wireless charging adapter for [make/model]" without the quotes and filling in the actual make and model and you'll see the plethora available and vids on how easy they are (you just plug it into the charging port) and how they work.
Courtesy of Consumer Reports:
For better options, read about the best air purifiers from our tests. And for more information on air purifiers, see our air purifier buying guide.
For better options, read about the best flooring from our tests. And for more information on flooring, see our flooring buying guide.
For better options, read about the best sheets in our tests. And for more information on sheets, see our sheet buying guide.
For better options, read about the best space heaters from our tests. And for more information on space heaters, see our space heater buying guide.
For better options, read about the best steam mops from our tests. And for more information on steam mops, see our steam mop buying guide.
CR’s take: The Olympic WaterGuard for Wood stain earns the lowest Overall Score in CR’s stain tests, a mere 5 out of 100. One of its biggest flaws: It earns a Poor rating for its appearance after one year in our accelerated weathering test for decks, meaning this stain didn’t take to the wood at all.
Text of Letter to the Arizona Republic (although in submitted form it was broken up into more but shorter sentences and the word "moron" was replaced by the word "people"): "Lest anyone think that history marches on to more enlightened or progressive levels, is there any doubt that if mandatory seat belt bills were being proposed today that they would no chance of passing? Yes, there was debate at the time, and strong resistance, but in retrospect, it is astounding that mandatory masking, which protects not just the wearer but everyone else as well, is a non-starter, but mandatory seat belting, which protects the individual but no one else, remains uncontroversial and likely is adhered to even by the morons who, likely never read the constitution, claim that wearing a mask violates some constitutional right."
When the IRS looks to determine eligibility for a Covid-19 relief cash payment to individuals, it looks to the most recent tax return it has on file. So, if you made less money in 2020 than in 2019, you might want to hurry up and file your 2020 return if that reduction switched you from not-qualified for the payment to qualified. Conversely, if you made more money in 2020 than in 2019, such that you would be disqualified from the payment, you might want to delay the filing of your 2020. It's all explained in the linked article. That said, the upper income levels for these payments are obscene. To say the Democrats are being Trumpian in pushing them would be an understatement.
There have been various reports of attachments not showing up in received emails, even when they were there when the sender sent the email and appear in the sender's sent file. We don't know enough yet to figure out whether it's a sender problem, a receiver problem, an ISP problem, a server problem, or an internet problem. We are pursuing the matter like a dog after a bone.
But for the pandemic and his incompetence in handling it, Trump likely would have been re-elected. Here's the question: Was the pandemic worth it?
David Sedaris shares some thoughts on a recent experience at the Apple Store, when a trip to fix his broken laptop led to a reflection on the divide between younger and older people and our loyal readers, and where he fits in.
Weeks after we railed against vaccine line jumping, Philip Galanes (the Social Qs guy at the NYT) chimed in on the topic. While he came down on the correct side in condemning it, he was woefully short on exhibiting the appropriate level of outrage. Specifically, he failed to take account that jumping the vaccine line is morally indistinguishable from buying one's child entry to college, except in the latter case the social cost is that a deserving kid does not get into that college where in the former case a deserving human might die. He also failed to take account that vaccine line jumping tears at the social fabric by reinforcing the resentment, stirred up by Trump, that the system is rigged in the favor of the elites. As a result, he fails to see that shunning the vaccine line jumpers might be an appropriate course and that, at the very least, the vaccine line jumpers should not be heard when it comes to assessment of value judgments in general and what is right and wrong with this country in particular.. Here, then, is Phil's take:
ANONYMOUS
For as long as I’ve understood rules — about sharing toys as a kid, paying taxes to the I.R.S. or qualifying for Covid vaccines — I have known people who take pleasure (and advantage) in violating the spirit of rules while technically complying with them. Meet your brother!
His payroll trick may have made his wife eligible for a vaccine by the letter of the guidelines, even if she never went near a patient. They gamed the system for a few months’ head start on vaccination for her. And you’re right: They did it at the expense of others at greater risk.
Are you honestly surprised by their behavior, though, after nearly a year of watching neighbors advertise their indifference to the welfare of others — by refusing to wear masks, for instance? Sure, you may tell your brother you don’t respect his selfish actions. But to what end? He’s a health care worker! He knew the vaccine grab was wrong and did it anyway. Now you know him and your sister-in-law better.
The NYT recommends the iOttie car phone mount. There are various models that mount on the dashboard, an air vent, or in the CD player. All are available from the Amazon. Our favorite continues to be the Torras which is Qi compatible.
Since the pandemic began, I have grown virtually all my vegetables, finding that doing so made for tastier vegetables, money savings, and less time spent at the store. Much of this gardening has been done outside in planters I built in my garage workshop, but some substantial amount also has been done inside hydroponically. I didn't realize there was an argument against indoor hydroponic gardening, but apparently there is. Hence, this article from the WSJ:
A recent post on revenge lawn decoration drew a near record number of post hits, and loyal readers poured in with an overwhelming number of suggestions for how to complement the flamingoes, dinosaurs, and gnomes by populating the yard with home-made signage on blank white boards (in addition to some already made ones such as a BLM sign, Peace & Love signs, giant hearts). Here are just some of them:
a. SORRY FOR THE EXCEEDINGLY LOUD BARKING DOGS
b. WE LOVE TO PARTY
c. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR KIDS’ ATONAL ALT ROCK BAND REHEARSALS
d. IF YOU FIND ONE OF OUR PHOTO-EQUIPPED DRONES HAS DROPPED IN YOUR YARD, PLEASE RETURN IT
e. PLEASE DON’T FEED ANY OF OUR 25 FERAL OUTDOOR CATS
f. WE TRY NOT TO AIM OUR WEEKLY FIREWORKS IN YOUR DIRECTION AND WE USUALLY FINISH BEFORE MIDNIGHT
From the WSJ at Link to the Article and a Related Appropriate Link that help to set the mood:
A single shot of the vaccine is 85% effective in preventing symptomatic disease 15 to 28 days after being administered, according to a peer-reviewed study conducted by the Israeli government-owned Sheba Medical Center and published in the Lancet medical journal. Pfizer and BioNTech recommend that a second dose is administered 21 days after the first.
The finding is a vindication of the approach taken by the U.K. government to delay a second dose by up to 12 weeks so it could use limited supplies to deliver a single dose to more people, and could encourage others to follow suit. Almost one-third of the U.K.’s adult population has now received at least one vaccine shot. Other authorities in parts of Canada and Europe have prioritized an initial shot, hoping they will have enough doses for a booster when needed.
Preliminary data also suggest that the other widely used vaccine in the U.K. developed by AstraZeneca PLC and the University of Oxford could have a substantial effect after a first dose.
The Israeli findings came from the first real-world data about the effect of the vaccine gathered outside of clinical trials in one of the leading nations in immunization against the coronavirus. Israel has given the first shot to 4.2 million people—more than two-thirds of eligible citizens over 16 years old—and a second shot to 2.8 million, according to its health ministry. The country has around 9.3 million citizens.
The study, which involved about 9,000 people, also found a 75% reduction in both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections after the first shot. The study was published as a correspondence, meaning it represents the views of the authors and not the Lancet.
“This is the first study assessing effectiveness of a single vaccine dose in real-life conditions and shows early effectiveness, even before the second dose was administered,” said Eyal Leshem, director of Sheba’s Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases and one of the authors of the study.
Separately, the vaccine, which has been authorized in the U.S., the U.K., the EU and elsewhere, can be stored and transported at between minus 25 and minus 15 degrees Celsius, or minus 13 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit—similar to a consumer freezer—Pfizer and BioNTech said. Currently, the vaccine’s labels say it must be stored at between minus 80 and minus 60 degrees Celsius, requiring sophisticated equipment.
The companies said they were seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to change the vaccine’s storage rules, a move that would make it much easier to handle and potentially accessible to poorer countries with no access to ultracold distribution and storage equipment.
Ugur Sahin, the co-founder of BioNTech, said the temperature data would enable the vaccine to be handled by ordinary pharmacies.
Pfizer’s original clinical study showed 52.4% effectiveness after one shot, but didn’t differentiate between before and after two weeks. That focused on a two-dose regime and found 95% efficacy a week after the second shot. The Sheba study shows just one dose could reach close to that level of efficacy.
During the period when the data was gathered, a coronavirus variant that was first detected in the U.K. and is considered more contagious than the original pathogen made up over 81% of confirmed infections. The data amount to strong evidence that the vaccine is highly effective against a mutation that has forced European governments to prolong their lockdowns.
Britain is the only Western country mandating a delay of three months between first and second dose instead of the initially recommended three weeks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance to say that doses can be administered 42 days apart, though the agency still advises individuals to stick to the initial schedule.
The policy has enabled the U.K. to accelerate its vaccination program, but also stirred controversy in the scientific community. The need to set aside half of doses delivered for second injections is one reason why vaccination in the European Union has proceeded much more slowly.
Dr. Sahin told The Wall Street Journal in December that next-generation Covid-19 shots would probably consist of one dose.
“This groundbreaking research supports the British government’s decision to begin inoculating its citizens with a single dose of the vaccine,” said Arnon Afek, Sheba’s deputy director general.
The results might differ from others because the subjects were largely younger and healthier, said Gili Regev-Yochay, another of the authors. She also said the study couldn’t confirm how long protection from one shot would last, as most of the subjects received a second shot.
No clue who this guy is or whether what he's saying is but his credentials appear to be impressive and, if he's correct, it sure is good news. From the WSJ (if it doesn't expand from the email, go to the blog site). In all events, this might help set the mood: Appropriate Link
Similar to a time-share, but so very different, and the houses are spectacular, the locations are wonderful, and the prices aren't bad especially considering all you get (6 weeks a year spread out, fully furnished and maintained).
If your anti-malware program keeps picking up the same PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs such as Adware.Hijack), the culprit might be that they are stored on your browser's server. This article explains how to remediate the problem (note that it says to click on "reset sync" but the page it directs you to actually will say "Clear Data" which is what you should click on): Link to Malwarebytes Support Page
If price has been the only reason you're not driving a Tesla, you're wait has paid off: The Model 3 standard range plus dropped by $1,000, to $36,990, and the Model Y standard range by $2,000, to $39,990. On the other hand, if you want something above the bottom tier Teslas, the prices of Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y upgraded performance vehicles rose, to $55,990 and $60,990 respectively.
If you are a free Last Pass customer, you got a notice that Last Pass no longer will be free if you want to use it both on your computers and your smartphones and tablets. The email announcement has a link to get the discounted upgrade price. If you click on that and it doesn't open the enrollment page correctly, find the email on your phone or tablet and do the upgrade from there. Note that the discount does not appear to be available on the Last Pass website itself.
A loyal reader came to us for advice as to what to do about an issue he's having with the owner of his neighboring house who is in the process of remodeling it with the intent to flip it. In the process, the neighboring owner has been a total jerk, and all reasonable efforts made by the loyal reader have been for naught. Because we're a blog and not in the neighbor-dispute business, we restrained from giving any advice to the loyal reader. Specifically, we did not advise the loyal reader about a snarling growling dog app to play through his portable mini-speaker at extremely high volume when the schmuck puts the house on the market and potential buyers appear to see the house, nor did we did not advise the loyal reader to take appropriate lawn decoration revenge or share with him some of our favorite lawn decorations that might do well in that vein.
Some people looking to fly commercial in a post-vaccine world will find that doing so might be a tad more complicated than they remember. The airlines have reduced their fleets so planes are not flying empty, and your choice of seats and fares even for flights fairly far off in the future might be more limited than you would guess. While blocking the middle seat is of dubious value health-wise, it's a nice thing to know that it will be open, but it appears Delta is the only airline still doing so. There are all kinds of options at substantially different price points for refundable vs. non-refundable vs. changeable with a fee vs. changeable without a fee. There are also more different classes of travel within the same aircraft. The good news is that some first-class prices seemed lower than they used to be. All that said, it's no wonder so many of us are continuing to choose private jet flights over commercial flights.
This link takes you to an article from the NYT entitled "How to Buy a Real N95 Mask Online": Link to Article
On AC 360 (Anderson Cooper 360) on February 17, the first news show I've watched since the impeachment (and likely my last for some time), Anderson had Dr. Fauci on. Anderson made a statement to the effect that vaccinated people should still quarantine themselves from others if exposed to Covid-19 because they still could contract it and spread it. Fauci responded that he needed to make a "minor correction." Here was the correction: "If you've been vaccinated, you still can contract Covid-19 and, while asymptomatic, you can infect others, just like someone who has not been vaccinated. If you haven't been vaccinated, and you're exposed to Covid-19, you would have to quarantine yourself. But, if you've been vaccinated and you're exposed to Covid-19, you do not need to quarantine yourself. You just need to wear a mask." I'm only a lay person and not a medical expert like Fauci or a crack interviewer like Anderson who thanked Fauci for the correction, but I'm guessing we're going to be hearing a further correction, or at least an explanation, from Fauci tomorrow to explain why, if both vaccinated people and unvaccinated people exposed to Covid-19 can spread the disease, only those unvaccinated need to quarantine upon exposure and those vaccinated need not.
Text of Letter to Arizona Republic: "Having gone through the vaccination process twice at Phoenix Muni Stadium, I can say that the system that has been set up is of the utmost efficiency and the people working there could not be more professional, courteous, and helpful. Highest kudos on these fronts. But, despite the clear signs, directives, and warnings that wearing a mask is required, there are people showing up to be vaccinated or driving others to be vaccinated who refuse to wear a mask. The staff apparently has been told to allow them through and not to exclude them from the facility. While these morons might believe they are exercising some constitutional right or freedom they believe they have to spread whatever disease they wish to spread and to endanger whomever they wish to endanger, they should not be permitted to do so where sane people are taking precautions to protect themselves and others, and where a dedicated staff is tirelessly working for the good of everyone."
When dealing with cellphone and cable reps, even supervisors, especially when you are changing something especially to get a better rate, it is best to assume any assurance they give you is mistaken or a lie or both. For example, if you have a given post-paid cellphone plan for 3 lines, but are considering changing to pre-paid because of the substantial cost-savings, and they tell you that, if you don't like post-paid for any reason you can shift back to your current post-paid plan, that might turn out to be false if, say, your post-paid plan of 3 years had a deep discount that is no longer available. You might be able with a detailed and exquisitely worded letter to get them to reverse themselves and give you the grace period you had been promised, but you might not be able to. In short, here's the lesson: Try to get whatever "deal" you think you are being offered put in writing (e.g., with an email) before you take it. If that's not possible, just understand you are taking a risk that the representation you are relying on might not be worth the weight of the electrons with which it was transmitted across the spectrum.
Did you think Jared Kushner might have brought back what he could have learned while in Israel, from the WSJ:
XO Private Jets has various membership plans depending on how many hours you fly per year, which are quite attractive cost-wise, but most striking, they have a basic plan with no membership fee at all. How this works and the details on the various plans are set out in the link below. But particularly for the infrequent flier who would just as soon avoid commercial travel, XO deserves a serious look. In short, it's Uber/Lyft for jets, and just like car sharing, XO is app-based.
Here is the latest from the NYT: Link to Article re Covid-Link Syndrome in Children
Many people use the term "butt call" to refer to a call made on a cellphone by mistake. Given a choice between a phrase invoking a body part and some other way to express the same point without so doing, the latter is preferable. So, please, let's all use the term "pocket call" instead.
This Philips Norelco trimmer for beards and just to cut one's own hair is fantastic and perhaps unbeatable at any price, but certainly for under $20. While it's a plug-in, once charged, it seems to last forever. Indeed, I forget to take the charging cord for my last 89-day NatGeo private jet expedition and it turned out there was no need for anxiety much less panic. Other added features are that it never needs oiling and is easy to clean. Norelco might be playing with us given all the attachments, many of which seem indistinguishable from each other, but it's nice when thinning one's locks and tresses to start with the larger and proceed to the smaller to avoid the spot balding effect that can result from other trimmers with fewer attachment options.
There are varying estimates as to when, after the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or the one dose of the J&J vaccine, that optimum protection is reached, some as short as 6 days. There does not appear to be a definitive view in terms of any studies on these vaccines. But, most knowledgeable medical authorities will say that it takes 2 weeks for vaccines of this type (whatever that means) for protection to kick-in fully.
The HotSymbol website gives you access with one click to copy and paste almost every symbol and emoji ever devised.
Trump's acquittal is maddening, sad, distressing, and depressing beyond words. It is difficult to know whether it’s more terrible for the country that Trump got off or that impeachment as a constitutional safeguard has been buried. It is little solace that Trump will go down as the worst president in history given that it is difficult yet to measure the harm he has done and the evil he has unleashed and countenanced both in terms of inciting a deplorable mob to attack the country from without and cowing a Republican party to corrode the country from within.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has been banned from social media for his anti-vax stand. It turns out, he is a total nut job. What's really astounding though is that he is married to Cheryl Hines, yes .. that Cheryl Hines from Curb Your Enthusiasm.
If you haven't seen Patty Murray's interview on the New Hour about her living through the attack on the Capitol and her view of the Senate and America, you've missed something. Here it is: Link to PM Interview
