humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of politicians, legislators, activists, women in politics and the everyday voter.
Masking Freedom?
*Names in the interviews have been changed to protect their privacy.* It's been two years since the covid-19 pandemic overtook the world, and in America the debate over wearing masks still reigns strong. With the rise of new variants, from delta to omicron to others which may yet manifest, masks and vaccines are still a contentious point of conversation.
By Shannon Haffely4 years ago in The Swamp
Living in a Bizarro World
We live in a time where I keep expecting to walk into a room and be greeted by, “Smile, you’re on candid camera!.” The world makes no sense to me and I am 55 years old. I have see a lot of shit in my life. I am not naive nor a bitter man. I see things how they are and judge them based on undeniable truths. Not opinions or means to gain any yardage in my attempt to score.
By Freddy Zalta4 years ago in The Swamp
Should kids need parental consent to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Here's what the research says.
Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorizations for a COVID-19 vaccine for children this year, polls have shown that a portion of parents are hesitant about vaccinating their children, even though studies have shown that the vaccines are safe and effective.
By Viona Aminda4 years ago in The Swamp
The Nightmare of a Supervirus
I was endlessly fascinated by viruses when I was growing up. I remember reading Richard Preston's classic chilling account of American virologist's battling ebola in Zaire in The Hot Zone. I first read that book on a packed airplane, and it dawned on me at one point that I was sharing air and germs with about 400 other human petri dishes at that very moment.
By Alexander Ziperovich4 years ago in The Swamp
How do this year's skyrocketing Covid infections compare to this time last year, with cases up 210 percent?
For the second year in a row Boris Johnson has a mammoth decision to make about Christmas as Covid cases spiral. Twelve months ago the Kent variant, later known as Alpha, was fuelling a surge in infections and the panicked PM was forced to tell families to cancel celebrations after weeks of insisting everything would be fine.
By Grecu Daniel Cristian4 years ago in The Swamp
COVID-19 instances are increasing in Los Angeles County, indicating the start of a winter spike.
Barbara Ferrer said Thursday in an online briefing that the surge was obvious by Dec. 1, when the county's seven-day average daily number of new cases surpassed 1,000, up 19 percent from the previous week. She also reported an increase in hospitalizations as a result of the COVID outbreak, with the daily number of COVID patients approaching 600.
By sajana sahan4 years ago in The Swamp
Sir Ivan Proves Heroism Runs in his Genetics
Sir Ivan Proves Heroism Runs in His Genetics If you never read the book ‘Unstoppable’, you should now. ‘Unstoppable’ is a biography of Siggi Wilzig, Sir Ivan’s father, and talks about his journey from being a Holocaust survivor to a man making millions on Wall Street. Who is Sir Ivan? Well for one thing, he created his name for writing his music but it also makes sense he’s a Sir because he lives in a castle in the Hamptons. What he is really known for is his hospitality to his friends and for recreating John Legend’s song, ‘Imagine’ to honor his father Siggi and what his father went through in the Holocaust. He also has spoken at at least one synagogue to speak about his father, his legacy and the Holocaust.
By Amanda Babyatsky4 years ago in The Swamp
How terrifying is omicron? Scientists are frantically trying to figure out what's going on.
Pei-Yong Shi, a microbiologist, has investigated all of the varieties, including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, "delta-plus," lambda, and mu. So he was prepared for omicron, the variety that elicited universal dread in a way that none of the others had.
By Prasad Madusanka Herath4 years ago in The Swamp
Ugh, Humans
See what I did there? Between the Crumbleys basically pulling a Willy Wonka on their kid ("stop. don't. come back" in the most bored and insincere way possible) and then running away themselves, the usual suspects among the anti-vaxxers & antimaskers, the folks who believe that fetal existence trumps (yes, I said 'trumps' even though I hate it) actual living breathing humans out and about in the world, the fake-concern what-about-the-children types running for school boards and lying (or bullying) their way there, and people who think that 108F is reasonable for Seattle, especially on Blow Things Up Day, I'm about ready to throw hands.
By Jenn Kirkland4 years ago in The Swamp
Omicron cases have been discovered in six additional states in the United States, although Delta remains the most serious coronavirus danger in the United States.
Reuters, WASHINGTON, Dec 3 - On Friday, six additional states in the United States confirmed COVID-19 illnesses, but scientists say the Delta strain will pose a larger threat once winter sets in and Americans congregate for the holidays.
By Prasad Madusanka Herath4 years ago in The Swamp
SARS-CoV-II: A New Hope
Author's preface: Full disclosure. The lead author of the vaccine efficacy paper described below is my current wife and she is a co-author on the manufacturing paper. I did not contribute in any way to either work except perhaps for occasionally acting as a sounding board for my wife's many brilliant ideas. I have said this before and I will say it again here. Not many people get a chance to even meet their heroes. I am so very lucky to have been able to marry mine. Way to go baby. Finally, I am quite proud of the Star Wars reference I managed to work into the title of this article. Very clever. lol!
By Everyday Junglist4 years ago in The Swamp
