Appreciating a haven for those who’ve left the Democrats

There’s a movement afoot to “walkaway” from the Democrat party.  Some of the millions who have done it have personal reasons—they were rejected by friends and family for asking sensible questions about the goals of the party. This was an interesting, well written posting on Facebook.

“You know, one thing I really grew to appreciate over the last election season was reading the #walkaway stories. They were from everywhere. They were the classic tapestry that is America. They were from all walks of life, races, creeds, faith experiences and sexual orientations. The common thread is that they wanted to stand together in the goal of betterment for all.

75 million people chose to stand together. You will never convince me that anywhere near that number hung together as a coalition for Biden/Harris Basement Campaign and if they did, they were not paying attention to the back door deals that were being made along the way. I love you all [members of the Walkaway movement].  I pray blessings on each of you.

But just know that this election was about so much more than Trump. It was about deposing Washington Swamp Politics. They tried everything in their power to get rid of Trump because he did not play by their rules. I wish he had tweeted less. Gosh, I wish someone had taken away his phone.  But he got a lot of important things done. If you don’t agree, no need to educate me. I actually read a lot. The truth is, Hillary was “supposed” to win and Trump got in their way. They fought and challenged and subverted and lied and impeached to no avail for 4 years.

Then they made sure they cheated well enough to claim a victory for a man whose rallies could not draw flies. Although the courts have turned away cases, they have not disputed the cheating. They have only refused to make a ruling. The courts are not going to do that. So between now and January 20, 2021, I hope President Trump will continue to press forward and fight the good fight. He has cut taxes, secured our borders, strengthen trade agreement , implemented tariffs, strengthened funding for HBCU’s, spearheaded a COVID mobilization that has us months if not years beyond what the naysayers told us. He brokered many peace deals and has been nominated for 3 Nobel Peace Prizes.

The left will be pressing Joe to undo everything. And yeah, that makes me sad. I’ve always identified as Republican, but I have realized after this cycle that R’s and D’s are not that different. You just pick the lesser of the evils and pray they don’t sell you out as soon as their office is assigned to them. And the media are Oh ever so willing to feed you the Company line. Their 6 to 7 figure salaries are secure so long as they read the appropriate talking points. They call people like myself names, say we’re stupid and uninformed, all the while, covering up the fact that the only Russia collusion was Democrat purchased, the only Ukrainian scandal which led to the impeachment mess was about Hunter and the media covered that up.

And this is what makes me sad. When you read the Walkaway stories, they were people who saw the power of unity as Americans voting for the love of One Country United. They were able to set aside their difference for love of Country. They didn’t like the idea of violent summers and freedoms compromised. Nothing scary. Just a lot of people working together to make things better for us all. So although I always saw myself as a Walkwith, I guess I am a Walkaway, too. My heart breaks for what we are losing and what should have been. God help us. I really pray please God, help us. This was a moment in time when we had a chance to improve the lives of so many and it was stolen. It breaks my heart. It really does. (Stanla Finley)

Tik Tok is not benign—report from Heritage

100,000,000 U.S. users, and all their personal information is going to China, via Tik Tok, to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

“[Klon Kitchen, director of Heritage's Center for Technology Policy] reported on 60 minutes, “Americans are happily dumping all kinds of information into the service, most of them blithely unaware that all that data winds up in China and can be used and abused for all kinds of purposes.”

The ignorance of the users, doesn’t diminish the threat.

Heritage will continue to push for policy that secures American personal data against the Chinese Communist Party and other malicious foreign actors. Click here to learn more about Heritage’s cybersecurity policy recommendations.

Heritage Tech Expert Exposes TikTok’s China Ties on ‘60 Minutes’ | The Heritage Foundation

A Message from Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians, Inc. (our doctors)

What to expect from the COVID-19 vaccine

The end of 2020 also brings a glimmer of hope that we will soon be out from underneath the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists around the world have prioritized creating a vaccine and the good news is that it is ready for distribution. But with this announcement comes many questions: Is the vaccine safe? Who gets it first? What do I need to know about this vaccine?

The physicians at COPC have received the following information from the Ohio Department of Health that we would like to share with you.

Who will be vaccinated first?
The goal is to get everyone who wants to be vaccinated, vaccinated. Initially, there will be a limited number of vaccines available and these will be distributed to front line workers, residents & staff at nursing facilities, residents & staff of Ohio's veterans homes, and EMS responders.

At this time we do not know specifically when vaccines will be available to be administered in our practices for our patients. We are currently working at the direction of the Ohio Department of Health and the federal government and will post more information on our website and via patient emails as it becomes available over the next few months.

Is the vaccine safe?
The FDA, as well as independent medical experts, has ensured that every detail of these vaccines has been thoroughly and rigorously evaluated. Additionally, the vaccine has been shown to decrease the severity of illness in people who catch this virus.

What else do I need to know?
Side effects are minimal. The most common side effects include fatigue, headache, soreness or redness at the injection site, and muscle or joint pain, and should not prevent you from getting a vaccine that can prevent you from catching or spreading this deadly virus.

Continuing to wear masks and social distance will reduce your chance of being exposed to or spreading the virus. Proper prevention measures coupled with the vaccine will provide the best protection from COVID-19.

We have two clear goals: To save lives and slow the spread of the virus. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date COVID-19 information and will continue to do so in the new year.

A message from the Great Depression years

 Every morning I read the daily readings for Catholics from Magnificat, a small magazine which usually includes, several hymns, one or two passages from the Psalms (one responsive), an Old Testament history reading, the Gospel and usually an Epistle, a story about a saint, and perhaps a reading from the writings of a saint, not necessarily the same person, because some saints were not literate or are known only through the writings of others. Sample copy: Magnificat Request a sample copy There is some comfort (actually a lot) knowing that Catholics all over the world are using the same passages, and that they are also being read and commented on during daily mass.  When I attend mass at St. Andrew I will hear from the pulpit the same passages I read with my morning coffee (actually, my hot chocolate since I don't drink much coffee anymore). If I tune into one of the EWTN radio selections for that day, I may hear another meditation on one of those passages. It is marvelous to see how all these fit together when read that way. (Hear it, see it, say it, do it is the best way for us to learn, particularly elders and small children)

However, as I've mentioned before, this summer I picked up a "like new" book from a Little Library on the Psalms, Meditations in the Book of Psalms, by Erling C. Olsen, (3rd. ed 1952) c. 1967, 4th printing.  New these are about $20, but Little Library is take one, leave one, or take and read and put it back. It's the "best deal" I got all summer. The author's preface and the cover explain the evolution of this 1,050 page book.  It began on February 18, 1934 as radio broadcasts of the Psalms, originally with only the most well known, and then he went back and added in the rest, ending finally on November 27, 1938. Then he edited his scripts and did more research to make sure all the scripture passages and quotes from scholars, listeners and friends were correct. This must have been a Herculean effort--240 radio messages, 68 hours of broadcasting, 1000+ hours of research.  The first edition of "Meditations" was published in 1939 in 2 volumes, 2nd in 1941, 3rd in 1952 (in one volume), the copyright was renewed in 1952, and the 4th printing of that was 1967. And all that explanation, particularly the dates of the broadcasts, is to bring us to Psalm 127, the reading from "Magnificat" for December 17, 2020. In most broadcasts, Olsen comments on something contemporary, but doesn't mention dates, although dates may have been in earlier editions. I'm sometimes caught up short when I am reminded there is nothing new under the sun, and that God has rescued our nation before from the bad decisions of his people. That said, I've read elsewhere that Olsen may have been a dispensationalist, and thought the ending was nigh.

One thing on our minds (at least of patriotic, conservative Americans) is the packing of the Supreme Court, if the Republicans in Georgia don't win the run-off this coming January. This attempt has only happened one other time, if my knowledge of U.S. history is correct.  President Roosevelt tried it during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In order to get all he wanted in the "New Deal," FDR needed to get rid of, or lessen the influence of certain members of the Supreme Court.  They were old and in my opinion, wiser than FDR, considering the things they struck down that he wanted.  The average American retires around mid-60s, but even today SCOTUS members may serve well beyond that (Ruth Bader Ginsberg was 87, and had been in ill health for some time). Roosevelt wanted to appoint up to 6 additional justices for every justice older than 70.5 years who had served 10 years or more which would lessen the influence of those on the court (to decide cases according to FDR's demands). FDR's response to the world wide economic crisis was to lessen capitalism and strengthen socialism. (Sounds like 2020, doesn't it?)  He wasn't successful, but more members of the court did eventually swing his direction.

Which brings us  to Olsen's comments about Psalm 127. He comments that the first verse applies in every sphere "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" and "except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." was particularly about the U.S. Now here I'm assuming this broadcast was in 1937 when FDR was up to all sorts of mischief.

"Take the problem now up for discussion in our own land: the matter of the Supreme Court.  Some of us have been urged to petition our representatives.  No one can take exception to that.  Our representatives should know what we desire if they are to represent us properly.  There is only one way through which they can accurately determine our wishes, and that is from our own expression.  However, while a petition is desirable, prayer is infinitely more powerful.  I repeat what I said on another occasion; I believe that our difficulties would soon be past if the godly people of this country would earnestly pray. . ."

We are certainly on a precipice right now--socialism is bearing down on us and many Americans are asleep to the danger, or worse, suggesting open rebellion and violence to stop it.  Olsen, back in 1937, had already seen a lot, and he suggested prayer (as well as letting your representatives know your desire).

This Is How FDR Tried to Pack the Supreme Court - HISTORY

Mr. Olsen was not a pastor, he was Executive vice president of The Fitch Investors Service, in New York and in addition to the Sunday morning broadcast, he also hosted a mid-week program where he interviewed knowledgeable guests. In a brief look through the internet, I see that some of these programs are also available. 

There's evidence that masks don't work, overview on the disease

There is increasing evidence that the SARS-2 coronavirus is transmitted, at least in indoor settings, not only by droplets but also by smaller aerosols. However, due to their large pore size and poor fit, cloth masks cannot filter out aerosols (see video analysis below): over 90% of aerosols penetrate or bypass the mask and fill a medium-sized room within minutes.

After mandatory mask orders, the cases go up. Are Face Masks Effective? The Evidence. – Swiss Policy Research (swprs.org)

Overview

Lethality: According to the latest immunological studies, the overall infection fatality rate (IFR) of covid-19 in the general population is about 0.1% to 0.5% in most countries, which is comparable to the medium influenza pandemics of 1957 and 1968.

Treatment: For people at high risk or high exposure, early or prophylactic treatment is essential to prevent progression of the disease and avoid hospitalization.

Age profile: The median age of covid deaths is over 80 years in most countries and only about 5% of the deceased had no serious preconditions. In contrast to pandemic influenza, the age and risk profile of covid mortality is thus comparable to normal mortality and increases it proportionally.

Nursing homes: In many Western countries, up to two thirds of all covid deaths have occurred in nursing homes, which require targeted and humane protection. In some cases it is not clear whether the residents really died of covid or of weeks of stress and isolation.

Excess mortality: Up to 30% of all additional deaths may have been caused not by covid, but by the effects of lockdowns, panic and fear. For example, the treatment of heart attacks and strokes decreased by up to 40% because many patients no longer dared to go to hospital.

Antibodies: By summer 2020, global hotspots such as New York City and Bergamo had reached antibody levels of approximately 25%. Capital cities such as Madrid, London and Stockholm were around 15%. Large parts of Europe and the US, however, were still below 5%.

Symptoms: Up to 40% of all infected persons show no symptoms, about 80% show at most mild symptoms, and about 95% show at most moderate symptoms and do not require hospitalization. Mild cases may be due to protective T-cells from earlier common cold coronavirus infections.

Long covid: About 10% of symptomatic people report post-acute or long covid, i.e. symptoms that last for several weeks or months. This also affects younger and previously healthy people with a strong immune response. The post-viral syndrome is known from severe influenza, too.

Transmission: According to current knowledge, the main routes of transmission of the virus are indoor aerosols and droplets produced when speaking or coughing, while outdoor aerosols as well as most object surfaces appear to play a minor role.

Masks: There is still little to no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of cloth face masks in the general population, and the introduction of mandatory masks couldn’t contain or slow the epidemic in most countries. If used improperly, masks may increase the risk of infection.

Children and schools: In contrast to influenza, the risk of disease and transmission in children is very low in the case of covid. There was and is therefore no medical reason for the closure of elementary schools or other measures specifically aimed at children.

Contact tracing: A WHO study of 2019 on measures against influenza pandemics concluded that from a medical perspective, contact tracing is “not recommended in any circumstances”. Contact tracing apps on cell phones have also failed in most countries.

PCR tests: The virus test kits used internationally may in some cases produce false positive and false negative results or react to non-infectious virus fragments from a previous infection. In this regard, the so-called cycle threshold or ct value is an important parameter.

Medical mismanagement: In the US and some other countries, fatal medical mismanagement of some covid patients occurred due to questionable financial incentives and inappropriate protocols. In most countries, covid in-hospital mortality has since decreased significantly.

Lockdowns: The WHO warned that lockdowns have caused a “terrible global catastrophe”. According to the UN, lockdowns may put the livelihood of 1.6 billion people at acute risk and may push an additional 150 million children into poverty. Unemployment, bankruptcies and psychological problems have reached record levels worldwide.

Sweden: In Sweden, total mortality without lockdown has so far been in the range of a strong influenza season. 70% of Swedish deaths occurred in nursing homes that were not protected quickly enough. The median age of the Swedish covid deaths is 84 years.

Media: The reporting of many media has been unprofessional, has maximized fear and panic in the population and has led to a massive overestimation of the lethality and mortality of covid. Some media even used manipulative pictures and videos to dramatize the situation.

Vaccines: Several medical experts warned that express coronavirus vaccines may be risky. Indeed, the vaccine against the so-called swine flu of 2009, for example, led to cases of severe neurological damage and lawsuits in the millions. In the testing of new coronavirus vaccines, too, serious complications and failures have already been reported.

Virus origin: The origin of the new corona virus remains unclear, but the best evidence currently points to a covid-like pneumonia incident in a Chinese mine in 2012, whose virus samples were collected, stored and researched by the Virology Institute in Wuhan (WIV).

Surveillance: NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden warned that the covid pandemic may be used to permanently expand global surveillance. In several parts of the world, the population is being monitored by drones and facing serious police overreach during lockdowns.

Facts about Covid-19 – Swiss Policy Research (swprs.org)

When you see this symbol, you know your blog is being stalked by Big Tech and they've decided your information is not worth sharing:  

The media awakens from a deep sleep

Is it wonderful or awful to see our media and culture icons awakening from their zombie zone of ignoring the assault on the Trump campaign?

NYT has discovered the Hunter Biden illegal pay-offs and the Joe Biden sexual assault charge.

AMA has announced that HCQ was OK after all and there is speculation that its use may account for lower numbers in other countries where Trump hate didn't define medical policy.

More is coming out about Facebook and Big Tech money influencing the campaign, not just the shutting down of conservative commentary.

And now we see a prominent Democrat who lead the impeachment brawl and ran for president in the primaries was involved in a honey pot scandal with a Chinese spy Fang Fang--until 2015! The Obama years. Where was our protected by the first amendment free press? Are there only leaks in the Trump administration, never Obama?

A prominent Houston researcher notes that even some of his front line medical workers, particularly blacks, have been misled about the safety of the covid vaccines and fear getting the vaccine. Gee, I wonder which Trump haters caused that? Newsom? Cuomo?

More evidence that the virus isn't killing us, but the lockdowns are. We're losing more life years in the 25-44 age group from non-covid causes than from the disease. (A life year works like this--I may have have 8 life years lost if I died of Covid, but a 25 year old that commits suicide or ignores a medical problem like cancer or heart is losing 60 life years.

John Brennan said no spying under oath, later found untrue, admitted he didn't see evidence for the charges against Trump, but made the rounds of the TV shows telling the gullibles of CNN and MSNBC that he believed Trump a tool of the Russians.

Obama CIA Head Brennan Lies Again About 'No Spying On Trump' (thefederalist.com)

How should we behave? guidelines

An excellent copy and paste: I didn't write this!

Congratulations President Elect Biden!

With that said, I’m going to need some help from my Ultra-Liberal and Never Trumper friends.

1. Can I borrow the #NotMyPresident hashtag or is that reserved for Trump?

2. Do I have to accept the election results or can I whine like a spoiled brat and cry for four years claiming election interference?

3. Am I entitled to see Biden’s tax returns to learn how his income jumped dramatically in one year?

4. Am I allowed to trash anything that Biden says or does without repercussion because I’m just expressing myself?

5. Is there a sign-up somewhere for riots or do organizers call me, or how does that work, since I didn’t get my way?

6. Are businesses targeted because they supported Biden, or do I just pick a business that has something I want to take home and just take it?

7. Were the thousands of businesses that boarded up for fear of riots for conservatives or liberals? If they were for conservatives, did I miss the riots already???

8. Where are the safe spaces? Is there a map or something? I may need to go cry for a little while.

9. Does all the free stuff your party has promised just come, or do I have to quit my job first?

10. What is the address you guys have been sending all that extra tax money to since you think people aren’t paying enough in taxes? I’m sure you have been voluntarily sending in more than required....

11. When my 401K crashes, will the President make up for that in give-a-ways or am I just screwed?

12. Since Socialism is what you just voted in, if my neighbor has something I want do I just take it or do I have to let him know I’m taking it?

13. When gas gets unaffordable, is there a EBT card for that?

14. I have seen the gatherings of conservatives protesting the election results, but something is wrong, nothing is getting destroyed. Did you guys go to a class for destroying property, businesses and livelihoods or could you provide some pointers on how to do it right please?

15. The conservative gatherings were dubbed super spreader events yet the protests, and now election gatherings by liberals are not. Did you guys secretly come out with the vaccine?

16. Funny how CDC has come up with a vaccine soon after you were pronounced the president elect. Can you and all your family and colleagues take it first to ensure it works.

 
17. So now you are President elect is every death now on you, or is Trump responsible just at your convenience?

I’m sorry for all the questions, this is all new to me. I want to make sure I get it right!!! 

18. Whenever ANYTHING goes wrong in the country in the next 4 years, and I always blame President Biden, don't criticize me or call me a partisan exremist. (That is what I'm REQUIRED to do, right?)

I am not used to acting like an ultra-liberal extremist or a Never-Trumper, so please be patient and thank you for understanding!

Fake, dishonest new media may suffer financial losses

 Zucker at CNN could lose his job.  He used to command his minions to make Trump look as bad as possible. Wall Street Journal opines:

CNN and MSNBC thrived during the Trump years, reaching new heights in ratings and revenue while devoting countless prime-time hours to criticizing a White House antagonist their viewers just could not quit.

Now faced with a Trump-less future, top executives at the rival cable news networks have summoned star anchors and producers to private meetings in recent weeks, seeking answers to a pressing question: What’s next?

People at both networks know that viewers who abhorred President Trump may no longer need their nightly therapy sessions with Rachel Maddow or Don Lemon. And President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. seems unlikely to generate the 24/7 grist of drama and scandal that resurrected cable news, taking it from a dying medium to a focal point of modern politics...

Project Veritas’s James O’Keefe crashed a private CNN teleconference. CNN says he may have broken the law. - The Washington Post

Democrats wrong about the Trump economic miracle

According to the Federal Reserve’s 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances, the largest growth in household net worth from 2016 to 2019 occurred in households in the lowest 20% of income, 34.3%. And, in 2019, for the first time ever, the percentage of black households earning above $75,000, 29.4%, exceeded the percentage earning below $25,000, 28.7%.

Now doesn't that just defy everything Democrats have said from the beginning about the last four years? From Nancy Pelosi down to my cousin Ron, Democrats have been denying this. 56% of Americans say they are better off now than when he took office, the highest since Gallup started asking the question over 30 years ago.

Read the Star Parker article. Star Parker: President Trump: Promises Made, Promises Kept — The Patriot Post

Test at home for Covid19

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization(link is external) (EUA) today for an innovative COVID-19 viral antigen test developed with support from the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative. Ellume USA LLC, Valencia, California, designed the test for use at home without a prescription. This is the first EUA awarded for an at-home COVID test that can be purchased over the counter.  Ellume developed the test with a $30 million contract and technical support from the RADx Tech program, managed by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), part of NIH.” NIH-funded COVID-19 home test is first to receive over-the-counter authorization from FDA | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

If this works as other innovations do, the price should come down with competition.

RADx was part of the Warp Speed program of President Trump although not mentioned in the above article. Evidence is here: Operation Warp Speed: Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics | 2020 Congressional Testimony from CDC

Remdesivir, the President and his enemies

“Researchers began a randomized, controlled trial of the antiviral in February 2020 to test whether remdesivir could be used to treat SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. By April, early results indicated that remdesivir accelerated recovery for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. It became the first drug to receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Researchers have now completed the trial, known as the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-1). The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The final report appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine on October 8, 2020.”

The results?  Treatment with Remdesivir reduced hospitalization by about 1/3, lessened the seriousness of the disease, and reduced mortality.  However, most interesting about this article is what it left out.  President Trump was treated with it and went on TV praising the drug. He should be the poster child for its effectiveness.  However, the article which appears in NIH Research Matters, doesn’t mention his incredibly fast recover and return to his old energetic self as he outcampaign Biden about 10 to 1.  Rudy also took Remdesivir during his recent, brief treatment.

Final report confirms remdesivir benefits for COVID-19 | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Dave Rubin questionsJoe Biden's health

 Biden's Cough-Filled Speech & Leaked 'Defund the Police' Criticism | DIRECT MESSAGE | Rubin Report - YouTube

Imagine a cheater and liar like Biden lecturing us on healing and serving all the people.

The oil industry—it’s not just for driving around

Virtually ALL disposable medical equipment, including IV bags, IV tubing, IV cannulas, syringes, medical gloves, oxygen masks and tubing, ventilator tubing, suction cannulas and catheters, suction tubing, surgical drains, catheter bags, ostomy bags, the list goes on and on are created from oil and by-products.

HT Anna Loska Meenan

The effects of the lockdown on health, by 3 California doctors

I met Robin and Karen on our trip to Scotland in 2017 and we’ve stayed in touch via e-mail and Facebook.  He’s a conservative, and an immigrant via Germany, Holland, and Canada.  He lived in a Nazi camp as a young child. Although not originally a Trump supporter, he definitely knows he’s not a Nazi or racist, because he has lived that.  Sometimes on e-mail I see things with no attribution and that distresses me (retired librarian).  This piece hasn’t been published on-line because it’s a “private” letter that has been made public by the authors. Three doctors in practice in California. Robin sent me (Norma) the following:

-----------------------------------------

Full disclosure;  co-author Dr Hopkins is a urologist.  I am his patient and he is an exceptional physician.  This letter bears serious consideration. 

This letter was published last night (Dec. 14) by 3 well known ER doctors from John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, CA.

 

Dr Farnitano and Contra Costa County supervisors, 

We are writing to you with deep concern regarding more lockdown measures for our county. We feel the science is clear that more lockdowns lead to much more non covid morbidity and mortality as supported by the CDC.

We are confused as to why this is happening as we are often overcapacity in our hospitals and ICUs every winter and we have never done this previously. We also run our ICUs normally at a high rate of occupancy as this is most cost effective. 

Here are the issues in a nutshell: 

1. Excessive PCR testing is leading to numerous false positive results.  The specificity of PCR testing is really unknown but I have seen many authorities claim it is no higher than the low 90% range because of the attempt to be 100% sensitive using cycle threshold standards of 40. (sensitivity is inversely related to specificity)

2. For the sake of illustration, I will assume a 97-98% specificity which is likely far too high. Back in March when the county could only perform 300-400 tests per day, a 98% specificity would only lead to 6-8 false positive tests. Now we have reached up to 8000 tests per day. With a 98% specificity, that would lead to 160 false positive cases a day in our county. With a population of 1.1 million that would put us at 14.5 positive cases per 100,000 population and we would find ourselves in the worst possible tier based solely on false positive tests!!! This is absolutely a fact of epidemiology/science.

3. Again we have normal ICU and hospital winter surges that happen every winter and we never had any county lockdowns.  Our county figures on your website show essentially a stable ICU occupancy from July 1st to today. In addition on your website, we only have a minimal surge in hospitalized patients as compared to last year.

4. When you test like this for everyone that comes into your hospital, 'hospital covid patient" numbers will rise simply because you are capturing more asymptomatic disease in patients who otherwise are visiting the hospital for other reasons.

5. Public policy is being based on these erroneous numbers and assumptions.

6. Public policy with shutdowns (various closures) leads to excessive non covid related deaths. Please see attached CDC article which shows clearly that these excessive deaths are most pronounced in the 25-44 year old age range with numerous weeks during this year that 40-50% excessive deaths are seen in this age group. When you measure in terms of life-years lost as compared to life-years lost with actual covid deaths, it is not even close. We are harming more people in our community who do not have nor are at risk of having significant covid disease with senseless closures of businesses and schools. This is data supported.

7. The CDC and pediatric societies across America have voiced their support of opening all schools. School age children are not significant vectors of the disease. 

With this information above, can you answer the following questions: 

1. how do you account for these high numbers of false positives with the county tiering system? Do you throw these numbers out so that only true positives are counted?

2. Why did you not intervene with any type of community closure in the past winters when our hospitals were at overcapacity? What is different now?

3. What data do you have that supports closures of businesses like gyms and outdoor dining while keeping other businesses open like walmart? What data do you have that supports that we stay indoors as opposed to outdoors? (all the science that we have reviewed supports a predominantly 99% indoor vehicle of transmission).

4. Why have you gone against the medical experts in not recommending the opening of our schools?

5. What about our county's ICU figures caused you to trigger a closure? As you can see on Contra Costa County website, ICU occupancy has been stable between 75 and 80% since July 1st despite changing covid admissions. Please be specific here. When we run normally at 75% occupancy, why is 85% so terrible? We handle these surges every winter. It is expected. 

We look forward to your reply. 

Sincerely, 

Pete Mazolewski, MD, FACS, USAR

Brian Hopkins, MD,

Mike deBoisblanc, MD, FACS, USAR

 

History will judge Trump -- Conrad Black

 "Richard Nixon was one of the most talented, successful presidents in history but remains in the dungeon of sanctimonious hypocrisy in which the media imprisoned him.

Barack Obama glows still in his suave, stylish personification of America’s rejection of racism and embrace of the fundamental equality of all men; he was the conjuration of Jefferson the slaveholder’s egalitarian vision.

Yet, Obama was in fact (and will be seen by history to have been) a mediocre, below-average president. All he produced was Obamacare (which was unsuccessful), the "green" tyranny (which was nonsense) and the Iranian nuclear agreement (which was a disaster)."

Trump's Political Future Depends on Whether He Can Change | Newsmax.com

AMA, HCQ and Donald Trump

 Nothing to see here.  Just that many could have been saved it if weren't for the medical and academic and media folk bad mouthing President Trump because he recommended the use of HCQ, Hydroxychloroquine.

If HCQ+Zinc+Zitromax had been approved for outpatient use as soon as symptoms of COVID-19 occurred we could have saved about 90000 lives by now! – Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. (lenbilen.com)  "How many lives would have been saved if the HCQ treatment had been approved, say in April, one month after president Trump advocated it?  There are many nations that implement HCQ treatment as soon as symptoms occur, and they have a much lower death rate."

American Medical Association Rescinds Hydroxychloroquine Prevention Order -- How Many People Died Because These Soulless Hacks Wanted to Hurt Trump? (thegatewaypundit.com)  

Hydroxychloroquine Has about 90 Percent Chance of Helping COVID-19 Patients - AAPS | Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (aapsonline.org)

Cocoa and the brain--new research

 I noticed in the University of Illinois LAS Newsletter that someone has done research on the effects of cocoa on the brain.  Sweet news for the brain | College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois Been there, done that.  Not me personally, but I wrote about flavanols and the brain years ago.  Or at least, I summarized the research.  I didn't do it personally.  This has a slightly different pitch.

Collecting My Thoughts: Coffee vs. Chocolate for caffeine

Collecting My Thoughts: Dark Chocolate is good for us

Collecting My Thoughts: Habitual chocolate users perform better

Collecting My Thoughts: But make it dark chocolate

Collecting My Thoughts: Cacao vs. cocoa

And as I searched my 16 years of blogs by the tag "chocolate," I think I found more recipes than I did brain research

Collecting My Thoughts  Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Tart with Caramelized Bananas

Collecting My Thoughts: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake for one

Collecting My Thoughts Mrs. Bush's Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Collecting My Thoughts: Chocolate mashed potato cookies

Collecting My Thoughts: Dark chocolate cherry trail mix

Collecting My Thoughts: Peanut Butter Fudge Cake

Mental health and church attendance

A new survey suggests Americans who attend religious services weekly are the only demographic group appearing to show improved mental health in 2020, despite the stresses of the coronavirus pandemic and other events. 

 In 2019, about 42% of those who reported attending religious services weekly told Gallup that their mental health was excellent. In 2020, 46% said the same, an increase of 4 percentage points. Only 35% of those who attend services nearly weekly or monthly reported excellent mental health, down 12 percentage points from last year. Among those who attend seldom or never, 29% reported excellent mental health, down 13 percentage points.

National Catholic Register  Only Frequent Church Attendees Avoided Downward Mental Health Trend in 2020| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com)

Trump vs. Biden

The following was posted by a friend: I didn't write it, but I certainly agree with it.

Not open for debate. I have listened to everyone else’s hatred and rhetoric for months, so now I am having my day.

If you don’t like it, you know where the delete button is.

Let me be clear, I am not a Biden fan.

I think he is corrupt, a liar, and probably suffering from dementia.

He has done nothing to improve anything in his 47-year political career.

But what has Trump done in the past 4 years?

The "arrogant" in the White House brokered two Middle East Peace Accords, something that 71 years of political intervention and endless war failed to produce.

The "buffoon" in the White House is the first president that has not engaged us in a foreign war since Eisenhower.

The "racist" in the White House has had the greatest impact on the economy, bringing jobs, and lowering unemployment to the Black and Latino population of ANY other president. Ever.

This "racist" in the White House also helped with prison reform which benefits Blacks where as Biden pushed a bill which resulted in more incarceration of mostly Blacks.

The "racist" in the White House also helped raise the wages of minorities more so than any other group.

The "liar" in the White House has exposed the deep, widespread, and long-standing corruption in the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, and the Republican and Democratic parties.

The "buffoon" in the White House turned NATO around and had them start paying their dues.

The "fool" in the White House neutralized the North Koreans and stopped them sending missiles toward Japan, and threatening the West Coast of the US.

The "xenophobe" in the White House turned our relationship with the Chinese around, brought hundreds of business back to the US, and revived the economy. Hello?????

The "clown" in the White House has accomplished the appointing of three Supreme Court Justices who believe in the rights of the unborn, and close to 300 Federal Judges.

This same "clown" lowered your taxes, increased the standard deduction on your IRS return from $12,500 to $24,400 for married couples.

This same "clown" also caused the stock market to rise to record levels, positively impacting the retirement accounts of tens of millions of citizens.

The "clown" in the White House fast-tracked the development of a COVID Vaccine which will be available soon.

And yet we still don't have a vaccine for SARS, Bird Flu, Ebola, or a host of diseases that arose during previous administrations.

The "clown" in the White House rebuilt our military which the Obama administration crippled and fired 214 key generals and admirals in his first year of office.

I got it, you don't like him.

Many of you utterly hate and despise him.

How special of you.

He is serving you and ALL the American people.

What are you doing besides calling him names and laughing about him catching the China virus.

Some of you were even hoping that COVID would be the cause of his demise.

Please educate me again as to what Biden has accomplished for America in his 47 years in office, besides making the whole Biden family richer!

By the way, where is Hunter?

I’ll take the ‘clown’ any day versus a fork tongued, smooth talking hypocritical corrupt liar.

I want a strong leader who isn’t afraid to kick some ass when needed.

I don’t need a father figure.

I don’t need a liar.

That's what Hollywood, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS and the New York Times are for.

Call me a chump, a racist, or part of the basket of deplorables.

I do not care!

God bless Donald Trump - the most unappreciated President in U.S. history.

Feel free to copy & pass this on.

The big day is here

Today, December 14,  the electors of each state cast their vote in the Electoral College, that much hated, peculiar entity that elects the President. An amazing invention so that 47 states aren't ignored and that even the little guy gets representation. It's also the day the vaccine that our President fought, badgered, and bullied for to get it out in record time to defeat the virus is being administered. The Democrats will always ignore this, because they could have never done it and they know they weaponized it at our expense to defeat the man who had exposed them (both parties). No matter how the vote goes with the Electoral College, we know Trump has been the winner in both the election and the vaccine. I will be in line when it comes to the elderly in Ohio, and I'll whisper, "Thank you, President Trump. You have triumphed."