KY_EnviroGuy
KY_EnviroGuy's JournalTwo reports from Asia here....
Kim Jong Un getting treatment after cardiovascular procedure: Report21 Apr 2020 10:16AM
Link: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/kim-jong-un-treatment-cardiovascular-procedure-12661066
(snip)
North Korea marked the anniversary of the birthday of its founding father and Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, as a national holiday on Apr 15, but Kim was not seen in attendance.
Daily NK, a speciality website run mostly by North Korean defectors, cited unidentified sources inside the isolated state saying Kim is recovering at a villa in the Mount Kumgang resort county of Hyangsan on the east coast after getting the procedure on Apr 12 at a hospital there.
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Kim's health has deteriorated in recent months due to heavy smoking, obesity and overwork, the Daily NK report said. "My understanding is that he had been struggling (with cardiovascular problems) since last August but it worsened after repeated visits to Mount Paektu," a source was quoted as saying, referring to the country's sacred mountain.
and.....
[Breaking] Seoul official plays down report on NK leader Kims failing health
Speculation mounts about Kim's health, but no confirmation yet about rumors
By Choi Si-young
Published : Apr 21, 2020 - 11:10
Link: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200421000392
(Snips)
An earlier report carried by a S. Korean online media outlet specializing in North Korea news said that Kim had undergone heart surgery and was in recovery.
Kim was not present at the celebration of the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung on April 15, fueling speculation about his health. It was the first time he had been absent from the event since he came to power in 2012.
In response to the CNN report, a Seoul official familiar with the North Korean matter told Yonhap News Agency that nothing particular pointed to Kims failing health, saying he had made several public appearances until recently.
I wonder if the 'ole boy may have suffered a stroke. Information on this guy is about as secretive as Trump's weight, tax returns and true golf scores......
Note that the Daily NK site appears to be down at this time: https://www.dailynk.com/english/
KY...........
I noticed a weird series of events in my state's CV infection data today.
On the DU Kentucky board, DUer Elleng posted that there was a recent disturbing increase in CV infections reported by our governor today for the whole state.
I went to this data site to see if I could localize the source: https://infection2020.com/#
(to the left, click on "KY" to get a county drop-down, then click on the "curve" symbol to see the county's case curve)
But by looking at the individual graph of reported infections for several counties, I'm seeing sudden upticks in cases, all beginning on or near the 16th or 17th and all having a quick jump in rate on that day and continuing until today. For example, I see it in Jefferson, Kenton, Daviess, Warren, and Boone counties and numerous others.
This makes me wonder if this could be the result of Easter church services and family gatherings on the 10th (Good Friday) and 12th (Easter Sunday).
It just seems odd that the same sudden increase in infection rate occurred in several diverse areas of the state with almost identical curves starting on the 16th or 17th.
Any other ideas for a possible cause?
KY...............
4/21/20 edit: added this screen shot of the graph for one county to demonstrate this change in slope of the curve. Almost identical change noted in several counties although I have no way to determine where these new cases come from (a normal change, a change in state or federal testing locations or change in test reporting methods, etc.).
Also note that I do not observe this change in very many counties in adjacent states as I would have expected if it were Easter related.
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Coronavirus tests: what they are and how they can help
Coronavirus tests: what they are and how they can helpApr 20, 2020
Quote:
There's a lot of talk about coronavirus testing at the moment, but some people are getting confused about what they actually are. How is the antibody test different to the PCR antigen test? What do they do? And why are they important? Josh Toussaint-Strauss speaks with Professor David Smith to answer some of these covid-19 questions.
For me, this cleared up some confusion about COVID-19 testing types and methods.
KY..............
River of the Year for 2020: The Delaware River
River of the Year for 2020: The Delaware RiverAmerican Rivers announces 2020 River of the Year alongside Most Endangered Rivers of 2020 release.
Amy Souers Kober | April 14, 2020
Link: https://www.americanrivers.org/2020/04/river-of-the-year-for-2020-the-delaware-river/
Excerpts:
American Rivers gave the Delaware this honor to recognize its momentous progress for water quality, river restoration and community revitalization.
The Delaware River is a national success story, said Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers. The River of the Year honor recognizes the hard work of many local advocates who understand that a healthy Delaware River is vital to the health of millions of people.
This is a river that touches the lives of so many. Fifteen million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River. If you live in New York City, Philadelphia, Trenton or Wilmington youre drinking the Delaware. The river is also home to one of the largest freshwater ports in the world, and the river contributes billions of dollars to the economy every year from water supply, recreation, tourism and other benefits.
The river has come a long way. Seventy-five years ago, it was choked with pollution and sewage. Parts of the river were dead zones, unable to support fish or other aquatic life. According to the Delaware River Basin Commission, The rivers water was so foul that it would turn the paint of ships brown as they traveled through or were docked for any period of time. People were sickened simply by the smell of the river.
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Also see: Governors of PA, NJ, and DE Pledge to Restore Delaware River Watershed
Link: https://www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania/lehigh-valley/blog/2019/05/governors-pa-nj-and-de-pledge-restore-delaware-river
Congratulations to the many volunteer and professional environmentalists working hard to clean up this river.
(cross-posted to GD)
KY...........
Florida: endangered sea turtles thriving thanks to Covid-19 restrictions
Florida: endangered sea turtles thriving thanks to Covid-19 restrictionsResearchers are seeing an increase in nests as restrictions keep humans and harmful waste off beaches
Richard Luscombe in Miami @richlusc
Sun 19 Apr 2020 22.52 BST
Article link: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/19/florida-leatherback-turtles-coronavirus-beaches
(snips)
With the summer nesting season barely two weeks old, staff from the Loggerhead MarineLife Center in Juno Beach have already found and marked 76 nests of the worlds largest species of sea turtle on the nine and half mile stretch they monitor, a significant increase from the same stage last year.
The elevated numbers are raising hopes of a bumper nesting season for leatherbacks, and also vulnerable loggerhead turtles that begin to arrive to lay eggs before the end of May.
+++
Our world has changed, but these turtles have been doing this for millions of years and its just reassuring and gives us hope that the world is still going on.
If Florida Rethug man has his way, this joyous time for the turtles will be short-lived.........
Harry and Meghan tell UK tabloids they will no longer deal with them
Source: The Guardian UK
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have told the editors of British tabloid newspapers that they will never again deal with their outlets, in an unprecedented direct attack on a large part of the media that leaves little chance of repairing the relationship.
On Sunday night Prince Harry and Meghan sent a letter to the editors of the Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror and Express saying that from now on they would not respond to any inquiries from journalists working for the outlets. Instead there will be a policy of zero engagement, except when necessary through the couples lawyers.
In a strongly worded attack, the duke and duchess said they refused to offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion and accused the outlets of running stories that are distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason.
The move is designed to signal to the wider public not to trust any of the reporting about the couple carried by British tabloids.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/20/harry-and-meghan-uk-tabloids-duke-duchess-sussex-sun-daily-mail
Bravo! About time some notable people put a firm foot down. This couple just wants a normal life.
Article says they've relocated to California after their stay in Canada
Furloughs go into effect for thousands of Disney World workers
Furloughs go into effect for thousands of Disney World workersMore than half of Walt Disney World employees will be furloughed Sunday
Updated: April 19, 2020 - 6:01 AM
Article here: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/more-than-half-walt-disney-world-employees-will-be-furloughed-sunday/JPRXZ2M56VFH5MHJ5IFZDOHP7I/
Rolling updates here: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/live-updates-furloughs-go-into-effect-thousands-disney-world-workers/LQD3SOVFIFDXJFHGYYT24UBZYM/
(snips)
Union officials told Channel 9 that the furloughs affect 43,000 workers, but Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis said the furloughs affect closer to 70,000 of the resorts employees. He said the state is working with Disney to get employees information added to the states unemployment system.
+++
From article page:
Estefania Villadiego said she knew from her last day at work that she wouldnt be back at the end of March as Disney originally said. Villadiego said she believes it will be at least the end of the year before things are back to normal. And it may be far beyond that before Disney is packed with people again. Two weeks ago, a Wells Fargo analysis estimated the predicted recovery process for Disney World crowd attendance could take up to two years.
With so many out of work, Villadiego finds it hard to imagine there will be many jobs available. Without jobs, Villadiego worries she and thousands of other families will struggle with the meager benefits provided by Floridas challenged unemployment system that has struggled to get claims filed.
I dont think you can survive with $275 a week. You know how much the rents are in Orlando? Villadiego said. Even for those who are getting help, its not clear how quickly they will be able to see money in their bank accounts. Since March 15, the state has only paid out 5% of claims filed.
At least that should reduce the massive crowds flooding into Florida for summer vacation season. It will be bad enough with many just going to the beach.
KY...............
See attached graphic.....
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Not sure why that time is so long with masks compared to regular paper other than perhaps they use a plasticized fiber for making masks.
The data is definitely from credible sources, see references at bottom. However, without access to the Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine documents, we don't know the conditions used for their tests (viral load, temperature, humidity, etc.).
Note that several of Lancet Microbe's papers are open access during this pandemic.
See: https://www.thelancet.com/microbe
KY...........
How Coronavirus is Upending Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Traditions
How Coronavirus is Upending Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Traditions | NYT NewsApr 17, 2020
The New York Times
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews are estimated to have died in Brooklyn. Heres how the pandemic is changing their longstanding rituals.
Wild animals relax in South Africa golf club during lockdown
Coronavirus: wild animals relax in South Africa golf club during lockdownApr 17, 2020
Guardian News
Lions and wild dogs have been filmed relaxing in the the greens of Skukuza golf club in Kruger National Park in South Africa as visitors stay away during the coronavirus outbreak. Jean Rossouw, captain of the golf club, located within the park, captured videos and images of lions and hyenas on the green in the early morning.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: TN, KY
Home country: USA
Current location: KY
Member since: Thu Jul 6, 2017, 07:43 PM
Number of posts: 14,489