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1.
I was highly amused at what counts as “following the science” as I watched the inauguration this week. Apparently, if you are a famous singer you don’t need a mask, but your military escort does. If you are the president or a family member, of the chief justice of the supreme court you also apparently don’t spread the virus so just take that mask off. Of course, we are told the mask protects others, not the wearer. But at 78, shouldn’t Biden be wearing one all the time and surrounded by only masked people? And how much virus gets spread outdoors, in cold temperatures, with a mild breeze? Do we have experiments to show that?
“We wanted to better understand the risk of getting or transmitting SARS-CoV-2 when people congregate outdoors,” NooshinRazani, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Nature and Health at the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, told Healio. “We sought to inform policies that reconcile the many health benefits of being outdoors with the very important need to reduce COVID transmission.”
Five studies in their analysis determined that less than 10% of reported global SARS-CoV-2 infections have occurred outdoors and that the odds of indoor transmission were 18.7 times higher in comparison to outdoor transmission (95% CI, 6-57.9).
2.
My favorite Facebook Meme this week said,
I think that Biden should have the type of inauguration like kids had for graduation. He can ride on the tailgate of his aunt’s car and someone can throw his certificate of presidency at him. Then when he’s sad and complains that he’s worked his entire life for this, we can shrug and say, “We’re doing the best we can, Joe. Get over it.”
Melisa Robey- via Facebook.
3.
Speaking of unscientific COVID policies, our governor has extended the curfew for bars and restaurants until the end of February. He says it is “Saving lives.” I have yet to see a study that proves that. Are bar patrons more apt to catch the virus and if they do, get a fatal case of it? How many bar patrons are over 80?
It’s continued nonsense. Welcome to the dark winter that President Biden promised.
For real analysis of the Ohio COVID data, watch this:
4.
The first casualty of the new administration is women’s sports!
“Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports,” reads the new order, released on the first day of his presidency.
The order is a strong signal that the Justice Department is going to enforce it via Title IX — and schools that don’t comply risk losing funding.
So there you go. Your female athlete can train her little heart out, but if she’s going to be competing against a biological male, she’s not going to win.
5.
I came across this wonderful quote from Carl Sagan, of all people:
What counts is not what sounds plausible, not what we’d like to believe, not what one or two witnesses claim, but only what is supported by hard evidence, rigorously and skeptically examined.
Carl Sagan
This is why I will remain skeptical of the election results. I will accept the outcome because I have to, but I don’t have to believe that it was a clean and fair election unless someone can prove that it was with rigorous proof.
6.
Well, we’re finally into the second semester. If you are looking to change things up semester, or if you just want a head start on next year, Apologia is having a sale that ends January 22! This includes their ever popular science books!
7.
Rosie may have a harder time getting a college scholarship thanks to the Biden administration, but at least she can bank some college credit with the help of Instacert!
InstantCert’s study guides are actually a collection of resources for each exam, but the main piece (and all you will likely need), is the interactive study flashcards.
The flashcards are designed to take the guesswork out of preparing for one of these exams, whether it be a CLEP, DSST, or UExcel exam. You are not expected to know anything about the subject. Just by going through our flashcards and attempting to answer the questions, you will gradually learn enough of the subject to be able to go in and achieve a passing score.
As a high school freshman, Rosie earned college credit in English Literature with the help of Instantcert.
I share many of the opinions/thoughts/concerns you write about here. It’s brave to express them publicly in this cancel culture we live in, so thanks for saying what so many of us are thinking!