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SheltieLover
SheltieLover's Journal
SheltieLover's Journal
April 19, 2020
Good stuff esp now!
Yale popular Science of Well Being Course FREE
https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-beingGood stuff esp now!
April 19, 2020
Really good stuff anytime, but esp now!
Yale FREE Science of well being course!
https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-beingReally good stuff anytime, but esp now!
April 19, 2020
Good stuff for mental health anytime, but esp now!
Yale popular Science of well being course FREE!
https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-beingGood stuff for mental health anytime, but esp now!
April 19, 2020
The Trump administration awarded an N95 mask procurement contract worth eight times the usual price to a bankrupt company with no employees which has never even manufactured the respirator masks, according to a new report.
The company, Panthera, claims to provide tactical training and "mission support" for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. However, it has no experience with manufacturing or medical equipment, The Washington Post reported this week. Panthera's parent company filed for bankruptcy in the fall, and it has not employed anyone since May 2018.
According to the contract terms, FEMA will pay Panthera $55 million for 10 million N95 respirator masks, or $5.50 a mask. 3M, one of the nation's largest manufacturers, charges the government between $0.63 and $1.50 per N95 mask, depending on the model. Prestige Ameritech, the largest U.S. mask manufacturer, charged FEMA about $0.80 cents per mask in an order of 12?million.
FEMA clarified that Panthera is a distributor — not a manufacturer. A Panthera executive told The Post he had made the arrangements through his military contacts and claimed he would deliver on the contract before May 1 "for certain" and "with a very high-quality product."
More at link.
To put $5.50 per mask into perspective, I have purchased these in the past for work on various home projects for around $25 per 50 3-M N-95s.
Someone needs to lock this shitbag up!
Salon: Trump admin awards N95 contract far above normal price to bankrupt company with no employees:
https://www.salon.com/2020/04/18/trump-admin-awards-n95-contract-far-above-normal-price-to-bankrupt-company-with-no-employees-report/The Trump administration awarded an N95 mask procurement contract worth eight times the usual price to a bankrupt company with no employees which has never even manufactured the respirator masks, according to a new report.
The company, Panthera, claims to provide tactical training and "mission support" for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. However, it has no experience with manufacturing or medical equipment, The Washington Post reported this week. Panthera's parent company filed for bankruptcy in the fall, and it has not employed anyone since May 2018.
According to the contract terms, FEMA will pay Panthera $55 million for 10 million N95 respirator masks, or $5.50 a mask. 3M, one of the nation's largest manufacturers, charges the government between $0.63 and $1.50 per N95 mask, depending on the model. Prestige Ameritech, the largest U.S. mask manufacturer, charged FEMA about $0.80 cents per mask in an order of 12?million.
FEMA clarified that Panthera is a distributor — not a manufacturer. A Panthera executive told The Post he had made the arrangements through his military contacts and claimed he would deliver on the contract before May 1 "for certain" and "with a very high-quality product."
More at link.
To put $5.50 per mask into perspective, I have purchased these in the past for work on various home projects for around $25 per 50 3-M N-95s.
Someone needs to lock this shitbag up!
April 19, 2020
Having trouble copying text, but this sums it up tidily:
"In a word, he called her desire to get back to normal “simplististic."
Another simple-minded greedy repuke. No surprise, really. 🤮
S. Dakota GOP governor busted by Harvard doctor for 'simplistic' plan to send workers back to jobs a
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/04/s-dakota-gop-governor-busted-by-harvard-doctor-for-simplistic-plan-to-send-workers-back-to-jobs-as-covid-19-ravages-state/Having trouble copying text, but this sums it up tidily:
"In a word, he called her desire to get back to normal “simplististic."
Another simple-minded greedy repuke. No surprise, really. 🤮
April 18, 2020
Local leaders face ‘challenge’ of how and when to reopen economy
By Bill Dries, Abigail Warren
Updated: April 17, 2020 9:22 PM CT | Published: April 17, 2020 6:14 PM CT
The reopening of the Links at Whitehaven golf course Saturday, April 18, by the city is a way for local government leaders to dip their collective toes in the political waters where social distancing and reopening the economy meet.
And the waters already come with a current.
Since the first social distancing measures and closing of “nonessential” businesses were announced one month ago Friday, the seven mayors of towns and cities in Shelby County and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris have been hearing from different business groups and factions, starting with private golf course operators.
It’s a jockeying for position that has been present to some degree since the March declaration of a global COVID pandemic by the World Health Organization.
😳
Local leaders face 'challenge' of how and when to reopen economy
https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/13097/whitehaven-golf-is-early-test-of-how-to-reopenLocal leaders face ‘challenge’ of how and when to reopen economy
By Bill Dries, Abigail Warren
Updated: April 17, 2020 9:22 PM CT | Published: April 17, 2020 6:14 PM CT
The reopening of the Links at Whitehaven golf course Saturday, April 18, by the city is a way for local government leaders to dip their collective toes in the political waters where social distancing and reopening the economy meet.
And the waters already come with a current.
Since the first social distancing measures and closing of “nonessential” businesses were announced one month ago Friday, the seven mayors of towns and cities in Shelby County and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris have been hearing from different business groups and factions, starting with private golf course operators.
It’s a jockeying for position that has been present to some degree since the March declaration of a global COVID pandemic by the World Health Organization.
😳
April 18, 2020
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding hair salons, nail salons and barber shops reopen.
A local Tennessee lawmaker is working with people in the profession to pitch a new plan to the governor.
More at thread.
This is 1 of the first businesses the braintrust has decided to reopen.😳
Seriously, who in their right mind would to get a haircut now? Cases are still on the rise, with RO 1.25 in this area!
I do feel really badly for the workers who have no income, especially since the stimulus package seems to have helped mostly big corporations & the wealthiest among us, but I'll take a pass on having someone who deals face-to-face with the public all day breathing directly over my head while cutting my hair, mask or no mask.
Cripes, a brief trip to the grocery store is terrifying and, obviously, potentially deadly!
Tennessee lawmaker works with cosmetology workforce to reopen profession
https://wreg.com/news/tennessee-lawmaker-works-with-cosmetology-workforce-to-reopen-profession/MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding hair salons, nail salons and barber shops reopen.
A local Tennessee lawmaker is working with people in the profession to pitch a new plan to the governor.
More at thread.
This is 1 of the first businesses the braintrust has decided to reopen.😳
Seriously, who in their right mind would to get a haircut now? Cases are still on the rise, with RO 1.25 in this area!
I do feel really badly for the workers who have no income, especially since the stimulus package seems to have helped mostly big corporations & the wealthiest among us, but I'll take a pass on having someone who deals face-to-face with the public all day breathing directly over my head while cutting my hair, mask or no mask.
Cripes, a brief trip to the grocery store is terrifying and, obviously, potentially deadly!
April 18, 2020
February was a frustrating month for my laboratory. We wanted to make tests to detect the virus that causes Covid-19. My virology colleagues had great ideas and solid testing platforms. The Food and Drug Administration told us to stop.
Why? Because of a quirk in FDA regulations. Diagnostic tests are currently regulated in one of two ways, and there’s no clear rule to determine which one applies to coronavirus tests. This uncertainty is a big part of why test shortages have caused a national crisis.
The VALID Act, introduced in Congress in early March, aims to address the confusion about who regulates diagnostic testing, but it would make the situation worse. If the VALID Act passes, we would see shortages in diagnostic tests for even more diseases than Covid-19, including cancers.
Much more at link.
We'll see more shortages of diagnostic tests if the FDA has its way
https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/15/diagnostic-tests-shortages-fda-decision/February was a frustrating month for my laboratory. We wanted to make tests to detect the virus that causes Covid-19. My virology colleagues had great ideas and solid testing platforms. The Food and Drug Administration told us to stop.
Why? Because of a quirk in FDA regulations. Diagnostic tests are currently regulated in one of two ways, and there’s no clear rule to determine which one applies to coronavirus tests. This uncertainty is a big part of why test shortages have caused a national crisis.
The VALID Act, introduced in Congress in early March, aims to address the confusion about who regulates diagnostic testing, but it would make the situation worse. If the VALID Act passes, we would see shortages in diagnostic tests for even more diseases than Covid-19, including cancers.
Much more at link.
April 18, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is studying whether the novel coronavirus can be spread by mosquitoes, although the theory was ruled out last month by the World Health Organization and independent experts say such transmission is virtually impossible.
The research effort is cited in an internal briefing memo on the coronavirus response dated last week and reviewed by ProPublica. The memo does not say how much money the study will cost, and the USDA did not respond to questions.
Joseph Conlon, a former U.S. Navy entomologist and technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, said the possibility of mosquito transmission of the coronavirus is “nil.”
Conlon has encountered claims online and in his email inbox that the government is covering up mosquito transmission of the coronavirus. He called that idea a “conspiracy theory."
More at link.
The CDC and WHO Have Already Said Mosquitoes Don't Spread Coronavirus. Now USDA Will Study It, Too.
https://www.propublica.org/article/the-cdc-and-who-have-already-said-mosquitoes-dont-spread-coronavirus-now-usda-will-study-it-tooThe U.S. Department of Agriculture is studying whether the novel coronavirus can be spread by mosquitoes, although the theory was ruled out last month by the World Health Organization and independent experts say such transmission is virtually impossible.
The research effort is cited in an internal briefing memo on the coronavirus response dated last week and reviewed by ProPublica. The memo does not say how much money the study will cost, and the USDA did not respond to questions.
Joseph Conlon, a former U.S. Navy entomologist and technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, said the possibility of mosquito transmission of the coronavirus is “nil.”
Conlon has encountered claims online and in his email inbox that the government is covering up mosquito transmission of the coronavirus. He called that idea a “conspiracy theory."
More at link.
April 18, 2020
Even as the federal worker-safety agency has been inundated with complaints, it has rolled back safety standards and virtually eliminated non-health care workplaces from government protection.
As news emerged that the novel coronavirus was infecting hundreds of workers in meatpacking plants, Gregoria Rivas began worrying that her chicken processing facility in North Carolina wasn’t doing enough to protect workers like her from the virus.
There was no social distancing, she said. Everywhere she went at the Case Farms plant, there were dozens of workers crowded into a small space. In the locker room, where everyone put on their uniforms. On the cutting line, where she spent eight hours slicing chicken breasts. In the cafeteria during lunch. Even at break time, when workers lined up to use the bathroom.
“I tried to bring my own face mask that I had bought at the pharmacy, but they wouldn’t let me wear it,” said Rivas, 31. “When they wouldn’t let me wear my own mask, I went to the nurse’s station at the plant, and they said there were no masks available.” (Mike Popowycz, vice chairman of Case Farms, said it’s taking the pandemic “very seriously” and has taken several measures to protect workers.)
More at link.
Note: Shortened "Workplace" in title to fit OSHA in to provide context.
Millions of Essential Workers Are Being Left Out of COVID-19 Work Safety Protections, Thanks to OSHA
https://www.propublica.org/article/millions-of-essential-workers-are-being-left-out-of-covid-19-workplace-safety-protections-thanks-to-oshaEven as the federal worker-safety agency has been inundated with complaints, it has rolled back safety standards and virtually eliminated non-health care workplaces from government protection.
As news emerged that the novel coronavirus was infecting hundreds of workers in meatpacking plants, Gregoria Rivas began worrying that her chicken processing facility in North Carolina wasn’t doing enough to protect workers like her from the virus.
There was no social distancing, she said. Everywhere she went at the Case Farms plant, there were dozens of workers crowded into a small space. In the locker room, where everyone put on their uniforms. On the cutting line, where she spent eight hours slicing chicken breasts. In the cafeteria during lunch. Even at break time, when workers lined up to use the bathroom.
“I tried to bring my own face mask that I had bought at the pharmacy, but they wouldn’t let me wear it,” said Rivas, 31. “When they wouldn’t let me wear my own mask, I went to the nurse’s station at the plant, and they said there were no masks available.” (Mike Popowycz, vice chairman of Case Farms, said it’s taking the pandemic “very seriously” and has taken several measures to protect workers.)
More at link.
Note: Shortened "Workplace" in title to fit OSHA in to provide context.
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