The wildfire won’t get us, its burning on the other side of the valley!

In its selfish isolationist wisdom, the United States has hoarded vaccines allowing the virus to burn through other societies around the world. What politicians don’t think to understand is that if the virus is allowed to burn anywhere in the world, it will burn everywhere in the world. All it takes is one plane flight with an infected passenger for the wildfire to ignite in another country.

January 24, 2020 the 45th president said, “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.”

January 30, 2020, “We think we have it very well under control. We have very little problem in this country at this moment — five — and those people are all recuperating successfully. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries, and we think it’s going to have a very good ending for us … that I can assure you,”

February 9, 2020,  “The flu, in our country, kills from 25,000 people to 69,000 people a year,” suggesting that it dwarfed the 15 cases of COVID-19 that had been reported in the U.S. at the time. He then predicted, the number would soon be near “zero.”

February 10, 2020, “By April or during the month of April, the heat, generally speaking, kills this kind of virus,”

February 27, 2020, “It’s going to disappear. One day it’s like a miracle, it will disappear,”

March 10, 2020, “Well, this was unexpected. This was something that came out of China, and it hit us and many other countries. You look at the numbers; I see the numbers with just by watching you folks. I see it — it’s over 100 different countries. And it hit the world. And we’re prepared, and we’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away,”

March 11, 2020, “To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.”

Containing the virus in China was the one chance to eradicate the world widespread of the virus. That chance was lost in the first months. By the time any travel restriction took effect the virus had already spread world wide. All it takes is one infected passenger to step off a plane and a new wildfire will ignite in another country.

This wildfire series is inspired by @1goodtern on Twitter. Since the media has gone silent on pandemic coverage, I have turned to Twitter to stay informed.

Wildfires won’t get us, we’ve splashed ourselves with water!

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain ingredients like preservatives, tissues (like aborted fetal cells), antibiotics, food proteins, medicines, latex, or metals.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccination IS a safer and more dependable way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19. Neither will stop a re-infection.

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT create or cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent new variants from emerging.

mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, work differently than other types of vaccines, but they still trigger an immune response inside your body. Immunity wanes over time.

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain microchips. Vaccines are developed to fight against disease and are not administered to track your movement.

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT change or interact with your DNA in any way.

Because none of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19, the vaccine CANNOT make you sick with COVID-19.

Immunity only lasts for the COVID variant of the day. Variants are mutating monthly and daily.

Thought America has hoarded a biblical excess of vaccines they are not going into many arms. COVID re-infections are common and they are not harmless.

This is the start of the wildfire series inspired by @1goodtern on Twitter. Since the media has gone silent on pandemic coverage, I have turned to Twitter to stay informed.

I slept with COVID

I slept with COVID-19. On the morning of January 25, 2023 I woke up and as I got dressed, I was surprised that Pam was sleeping in. She usually gets up before me. I got my day started by working on a painting. Later in the morning I got a call from Pam letting me know that she had tested positive for COVID-19. Before our call was over I already had my N-95 mask on. I don’t wear a mask to bed however, so I had to have been exposed.

My plan is to self isolate for 10 days. Unfortunately that means staying isolated from Pam as well. Since the bedroom was already exposed to the virus she would stay in that room. I would make each meal and leave hers in a bathroom where she would pick it up. She ordered some easy to make foods which I have been preparing for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The first evening after the positive test I had to decide where to sleep. There was a guest bedroom right across from where Pam was sleeping but I had read an article about a quarantine hotel where the person across the hall had managed to become exposed just from the opening and closing of doors as food was delivered. I decided instead to sleep on a couch which is down a long hallway.

Pam and I had just recently ordered N-95 masks and a HEPA air filter. I moved the HEPA filter to my studio while I painted and kept my N-95 on all day. The N-95 is amazingly breathable, I honestly often forget I have it on. When I went to bed I moved the HEPA filter next to the couch. The dogs curled up next to me.

The first night was horrible for Pam, she had a fever, body aches, soar throat, chills, hot sweats, fatigue, headache, congestion and a runny nose. She said it was the sickest she has ever been. I could hear her cough from down the hall. She has had every vaccine shot and the booster. Several times she considered the idea of having me bring her to the hospital but I only found this out later. At one point she sent me a zombie emoji.

She thinks she probably got infected at one of the Weddings or Bat Mitzvahs that she played hostess at. She was the only person among the several hundred at these events who was masked. She complained about her eye lids feeling like magma the first evening she had symptoms. This leads me to think she may have been infected through her eyes. Since the N–95 is just 95% effective, she may have also breathed in the virus at the event. We will never know for sure. Contact tracing is a thing of the past. Another of her co-workers was also infected.

After several days her symptoms trailed off. She made a rather quick recovery. All the while she kept working from home, doing spreadsheets, grants, and summer camp plans. Right now she is having a zoom meeting on the back porch. She probably got more work done while in isolation since there were no interruptions except for my occasional text to see if she was hungry or needed anything.

On the morning of January 30, 2023 I woke up with a horrible sour throat that made my ears ache. I hadn’t felt that painful of a soar throat since I had my tonsils out when I was 9 years old. Naturally my thought was that I had COVID. I had made one tactical mistake in trying to avoid the airborne virus. I couldn’t sleep with my N-95 mask on. I took it off an hoped the HEPA filter would be enough to remove any virus before I breathed it in. I kept the HEPA as close to my head as I could.

We have several COVID at home tests in the closet. Any time the government makes them available, I let Pam know, and she orders some. I took a test, and the ten minute wait was agonizing. I tested negative. Now I wonder if I pressed the swab up my nose far enough. I tickled my brain enough so that I had to sneeze repeatedly.

We are now on day 6 of our lockdown. Pam seems good as new and my soar throat only lasted the one morning. I have not developed any other symptoms. We have remained separated and communicate through a long thread of texts. We started watching movies by setting up a zoom meeting. I would sit in the living room and she would watch the TV from her bedroom on zoom. I had to put a dining room chair on the coffee table to raise the computer camera high enough for her to see the TV. The jury rigged system worked pretty good. We could talk to each other as the program played.

I will take another test at the end of the isolation period just to be sure, but the only symptom was a short lived soar throat. Amazingly I may have dodged the bullet again.

Return to Normal

The pandemic is not over. We need to stop buying into the denial that we are “back to normal.” The Aztec culture of human sacrifice used to be considered brutal and horrific. However it does not compare to the over 500 deaths a day as officials placate the public to help them feel that it is fine to go back to everyday life with no face masks, social distancing or any improved ventilation of indoor spaces. The elite keep themselves safe and convince the lower classes to return to normal, and infect one another. 

COVID kills ten times more people than the flu. COVID kills more people than car accidents, strokes, respiratory disease, diabetes, pneumonia and Alzheimer’s. Nine  months ago when the public was told that Covid-19 patients retain elevated risk of infection for at least nine months after being infected, now that risk assessment was extended to 18 months. Getting infected does not build up you immune system, it destroys it.

In 2022 there was a 30% increase in heart attacks among 25-44 year olds. Excess deaths have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic and many of these are likely due to prior COVID infections. This number will keep rising with repeat COVID infections. Each month, more than a million people have called out sick for the past three years. About 7% of Americans currently have long Covid, which can affect productivity and ability to work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

White House COVID Czar, Ashish Jha almost gleefully explained that vaccines, tests, and treatments for Covid are heading to the private sector, “My hope is that in 2023, you’re going to see the commercialization of almost all of these products.” Cha-ching! Big money to be made on palatine remedies that do not stop the spread of the virus. Soon drug store shelves will be jam packed. But pharmacists at CVS and Walgreens are dropping off like flies, so pharmacy hours are being cut back. Testing centers are a thing of the past as people test at home. All those at home tests go unrecorded so who knows how much virus is actually out there.

No Jabby Jabby

A conservative activist from Arlington, Texas, who peddled COVID-19 vaccine misinformation died of complications caused by the virus, just a few weeks after attending a “symposium” against the shots. Her death was caused by “COVID-related pneumonia.”

The anit-Vaxer announced on Facebook in November of 2021 that her employer granted her a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine. “No jabby-jabby for me! Praise GOD!” she wrote at the time. She was an outspoken critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and pandemic-related restrictions. In one of her final Facebook posts, she shared several links to speeches she attended at a “COVID Symposium” in Burleson, Texas devoted to dissuading people from getting the COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available. The event was organized by God Save Our Children, which bills itself as “a conservative group that is fighting against the use of experimental vaccines on our children.”

She developed an acute abdominal issue, was given pain medications and put on the ventilator. She died peacefully after gasping her last breath and is now resting in the arms of her savior Jesus Christ. Her misinformation guaranteed she isn’t going to the lord alone.

I Pity the Maskless Fool

“I Pity the Fool” said Mr T.Masks work. COVID is airborne. Research has shown that acknowledged the efficacy of mask-wearing to some degree at slowing the spread of COVID-19. A February 2021 article published by the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed data from 10 previous studies conclude mask wearing substantially reduces spread. A cloth mask reduces exhaled droplets by 50 to 70%. So cloth masks are best at source control but not at filtering the virus itself.

Universal mask adoption for people when in public is recommended by the authors of the “An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19,” first published in January by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. Researchers poured over at least 150 other studies, models and findings to draw their conclusion: “The available evidence suggests that near-universal adoption of non-medical masks when out in public, in combination with complementary public health measures, could successfully reduce virus reproduction levels to below 1, thereby reducing community spread if such measures are sustained.” Additionally, they concluded that mask wearing mandates could add $1 trillion to the U.S. GDP by preventing business closures.

A June 2020 University of Iowa study published in the Health Affairs medical journal estimated over 200,000 COVID-19 cases were prevented in May after masking was mandated in several states. For this experiment, researchers used data analysis and models to measure community spread before and after a mask mandate was enacted. Data found that within 1-5 days after a mandate was issued, daily case rates dropped nearly one percentage point. Within 21 or more days, they dropped two.

Face masks, worn correctly, that’s right chin straps don’t count, combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The tools are simple and effective, but Americans are. lets face the facts, ignorant fools.

 

Henry V at the Shakes

Henry V at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater runs through February 5, 2023. The young Henry V, the King of England is shown to be a fair but stern rules. A french diplomat brings him a gift from the King of France. When the gift is opened, tennis balls drop out and bounce on the court floor boards. This jest ignited the kings fury and he invades France.

In France the tired English army storms a gated city and though outnumbered, the king threatens his way through the gates to take the stronghold. The implication seems to be that solid oratory is stronger than the sword.

Everything lead up to a huge battle at Agincourt. On the evening before the battle Henry walks disguised among his troops to find out how the soldiers view the following battle. His inspiring rally cry to the troops on the morning of battle has every soldier uproariously ready for the fight. The French on the other hand were port-raid as arrogant princes on their fancy ponies. The incredible bloody battle came down to hand to hand combat after Henry forced the French into a funnel and pikes took out the charging knights on horseback. King Arthur’s Archers in the back turned the tide.

Some French managed to get behind the English lines and they killed the young boys who helped with the battle carts. This sparked absolute rage in King Henry and he killed every French prisoner. His ideal of what war should be were now brutal actions. In a strange turn the king then struggles to win the love of the French princess who was part of the peace treaty. All his battle hardened exterior must melt away if he is to win her hand.

 

 

 

Viral History and Human Behavior

People have always responded the same way to plagues and pandemics. When faced by the tragic forces of nature most people stand by and watch. With an earthquake or hurricane maybe 10% of the people do the right thing and help. Another proponent do the opposite they actively impede recovery. Most people however wait to be told what to do. They are the frog in the slowly boiling pot of water. Rather than panic or gear into recovery mode, they mellow out and pretend nothing is happening.

When the twin towers were hit, most people didn’t immediately run to the stairwells. They sat back down and waited to be told what to do. Many who waited died. Today we are still experiencing a 9/11 worth of death every week from COVID and most have mellowed out, pretending nothing is happening. Those who wear masks and social distance are treated with suspicion. They break the illusion promoted by top officials that the pandemic is over.

During the Black Death of the 1830s, the rich stole from the poor and vulnerable and scapegoated people of other socioeconomic classes, along with the sick and disabled. Families abandoned the dead. In general hatred of “others” took hold. Those with money believed themselves to be safe from infection. Leadership in general denied the reality of what was happening. In Europe. the Jews were blamed for purposefully infecting Christians. Doctors advised patients that “the best way to protect against disease, causing bad air, was to expose oneself to more bad air.” Rumors and misinformation flourished.

The 1889 Russian Flu was known for a post-acute stage that caused “nervous disorders” including depression that lasted years. In 1893, Edvard Munch, still suffering post-flu, painted The Scream.

Austrian artist Egon Schiele died October 31, 1918 from the Spanish Flu. His wife, Edith Schiele who was 6 months pregnant died two days earlier.

As bodies piles up in 1918 officials insisted there was no cause for alarm. Propaganda fueled by the WW I war effort had little regard for a statements truth or falsehood. Citizens were considered the mental equivalent of children. The president at the time, Woodrow Wilson never made a statement about the virus.Woodrow Wilson had a bad bout of the Spanish Flu and later suffered a stroke which parallelized his left side and caused brain fog. His inability to focus kept him from promoting his peace treaty at Versailles.

By ignoring the unfolding tragedy terror settled into the populace. As the director of public health in Chicago said, “It is our job to keep people from fear. Worry kills more than the disease.” A war drive parade was held in Chicago despite warnings and there was a huge surge of 8,000 deaths that followed. Mass graves had to be dug. San Francisco on the other hand promoted the use of masks and the weathered the influenza outbreak much better with 1,857 deaths.

COVID Causing Immunity of an 80 Year Old in Children

In an interview with Rheinische Post, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said, “It is worrying what we are seeing in people who have had multiple corona infections. Studies now show very clearly that those affected are often dealing with an immune deficiency that can no longer be cured. This can be a risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, from cardiovascular problems to dementia.”

This immunity damage isn’t only happening to adults. Children are being affected as well. Professor Christian Drosten said, “Children have naive immune cells. With each corona infection infection those cells cannot be reproduced indefinitely. Immunologists are getting findings that suggest that this aging of the immune system in children after a COVID infection is much more advanced that expected.”

Researchers are still learning how COVID hijacks our immune system.

To put it bluntly, one can now ask whether an unvaccinated child, after being infected, will perhaps have the immune system of an 80 year old at the age of 30. Infecting children would have been a huge mistake. That would be an extreme scenario, but one that needs to be considered.

Flu RSV and Strep A have been causing havoc among children in the last several months. It is possible that children are having worst cases of these infections because their immune system has “aged” due to COVID. So, no, it want’s a good idea to get your child infected before they could walk. They will have to live with your mistake for the rest of their lives. Politicians may eventually have to acknowledge that they were wrong to let COVID rip through society, but they will find a scapegoat so they can blame someone other than themselves.

Not the Virus you Are Looking For

Why is COVID-19 getting so good at immune evasion? The COVID virus uses  spike proteins to recognize and enter host cells. Recent COVID variants contain changes, or mutations, at a key site on the spike protein called the receptor-binding site (RBS).

Some of these mutations render antibodies that fought earlier virus strains less effective. This allows the variants to partially escape the immune response produced after vaccination or prior infection. It raises concerns that new variants could make existing vaccines less effective and draw out the pandemic.

Antibodies created by COVID-19 vaccines or natural infection by the original pandemic strain are often ineffective against the new variants of concern. COVID hijacks human cell machinery to blunt the immune response, allowing it to establish infection, replicate and cause disease.

The latest COVID variant in the United States is XBB.1.5 which seems to be the most immune evasive variant so far. It is the first recombinant COVID variant expected to become dominant in the United States. It is called “recombinant” because it was created when two  Omicron sub-variants merging inside the same human cell. By doing so, it gained, a mutation for immune evasion as well as an increased ability to bind to and infect human cells. The variant was first noticed in New York State in December 2022 and became dominant in by mid-January, so it’s too early to tell whether it causes more severe illness. The numbers of reported cases keep doubling every 7-10 days.

With so much at home testing it is hard to know just how wide spread it is. Meanwhile excess deaths keep rising as young and old alike die from heart failure and organ failure. COVID attacks the linings of blood vessels, causes blood clots, attacks the nerves, the brain and the heart. People seem confused by all these unexplained deaths. The answer, COVID, is staring everyone in the face.

So many politicians and medical experts however have been gaslighting the public into believing the pandemic is over. It isn’t. “Recovering” from an infection, does not mean the virus is done causing damage. COVID surges have been links to heart attacks in people of all ages but particularly ages 25-44.  Heart attacks rose by almost 30% with each wave of the pandemic. A heart attack is likely a COVID delayed effect. The German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, admitted that COVID causes incurable immune deficiency. “Letting it Rip” just isn’t working.