Velcro Virus Mutations

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Mutations of the COVID-19 virus are becoming more sticky. They appear to help the virus transmit more readily and evade the immune system. There are three known mutations of the killer coronavirus named for where they were discovered: the United Kingdom (B117 and E484K), the Brazilian (P1) and the South African.

The Palm Beach Post reported, The first wave of vaccines now being administered blocks the protein of the spiky virus from attaching to a human cell. Some of the mutations are already ahead of the vaccine, evolving a slightly altered spike much like Velcro.

In lab experiments, these mutations have withstood therapeutic antibodies that worked previously against the original strain of COVID-19.

The CDC said there were 92 cases of the U.K. mutant in Florida, as of January 30, 2021, outpacing 26 other states. This is the same variant that caused a huge spike of cases in California. The U.K mutant is more transmissible than the original COVID-19 virus and might be more deadly. The U.K mutant allows Covid-19 to escape antibody protection. This mutant shares some of the genetic signature of variants linked to South Africa and Brazil. A mutant already known to be more transmissible also risks becoming somewhat resistant to the immune protection offered by vaccines, or more likely to cause reinfection among people who were previously infected, experts say. Antibodies appear less able to bind to spike proteins arising from the mutation. The B.1.1.7 strain first spotted in the UK has now been found in at least 70 countries worldwide, including about 470 known cases in the US, according to the CDC.

The South African variant has been found in Maryland. This version appears to lower the efficacy of a current vaccine, according to studies. The South African strain has developed three mutations in its spikes, one that is the same as the U.K. variant, one that has a stronger impact on vaccinated individuals and another that remains a mystery.

It is believed that the Brazilian (P1) mutant eludes the human immune response triggered by infection from the original COVID-19 virus. P.1 adds to concerns because it is causing ravaging a country where there should be a high level of immunity, since three quarters of the residents of Manaus, Brazil had been previously infected by COVID-19. With the second wave of COVID, hospitals have run out of oxygen.

Dr. Larry Bush, an epidemiologist and immediate past president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society said the variants have changed the landscape for the future, calling them “more sticky.” A more sticky virus means more infections and therefor more deaths. Thus far, vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer seem to work against the new mutants. He said pharmaceutical companies can tweak the vaccine to address the COVID mutations. He sees a future where the vaccine will be effective on up to four most prevalent strains in any given year — just like a flu shot.

Michael Farzan, a professor in Scripps Department of Immunology and Microbiology said, “If any part of the world has uncontrolled mutations, everyone is under threat.” “We’re not protected until the entire world is protected. The South African variant is a warning shot.”

Experts say that aggressive testing, adhering to Covid-19 guidelines , like social distancing, wearing masks and hand washing, and rapidly rolling out vaccines are more important than ever in light of these spreading mutants.

No Vaccine to Gitmo

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Waterboarding is a form of torture that was started with the Spanish Inquisition and was then practiced at Guantanamo Bay. The interrogation victim is placed on a board at an incline and water is poured onto their face covered in a wet towel. Water enters the nose cavity and mouth restricting both airways and causing a gag reflex.

The water pour could last up to 20 seconds, then be paused, then another 20 seconds, paused, then 40 seconds. The subject is slowly drowning. Typically, the subject spasms, expels water and snot, sometimes vomit, thrashes and flops on the gurney as if having a seizure.

The incline keeps water from entering the lungs which avoids drowning. Every breath becomes a horrific gurgling struggle. This is very much the same struggle that is achieved by COVID-19 infecting the lungs. People drown in their own lung fluids. Waterboarding was forbidden in 2006.

Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said in a tweet January 30, 2021 that the Defense Department would be “pausing” the plan to give vaccinations to those held at Guantanamo while it reviews measures to protect troops who work there.

The base has 1,500 U.S. troops who work at the prison, and 40 prisoners, among them the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attack. Some public health experts and criminal justice advocates have argued that incarcerated people should be high on the priority list to receive the vaccine, as many are detained in tight quarters and are in close contact with prison staff, creating ripe conditions for a widespread Covid-19 breakout. The Pentagon in March 2020 prohibited commanders from publicly reporting new coronavirus cases among their personnel.

The U.S. opened the detention center in January 2002 to hold detainees suspected of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban. Those who remain include five men facing a trial by military commission for their alleged roles planning and aiding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The pandemic delayed military commission proceedings at Guantánamo, including the joint death-penalty trial for the men accused of plotting the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, which had initially been scheduled to begin January 11, 2021.

 

 

Pre-Pandemic: Craft Beer Fest

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I had a magnificent student in my Elite Animation Urban Sketching Class. She had noticed on the drive to Elite that a festival was setting up in Windermere, Florida so we decided to head over to sketch.

We set up outside the town hall an watched as a band set up their sound equipment on the main stage. They were lugging speakers a drum set and various guitars the entire time we sketched. I was getting my student to focus on capturing at least one active gesture in the final sketch. I chose to include one guy bending over holding a speaker.

Often people repeat the same pose again and again so I had her looking for this as well. As we settled in and added watercolor to the sketches, the band began to do a sound check and we got to enjoy a short concert as they listened to the sound levels.

Tents were being set up all along the main street as well. As we finished up and gt ready to return to the classroom, people had started lining up to order arm bands which would allow them to taste as many samples as they wanted. I am more intrigued by the moments before an actual event.  There is an energy in the panic and hurry of getting ready for a possible crowd.

COVID-19 Detection Dogs

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Dogs smell in technicolor. They have 300 million sensors in their nose whereas human only have 6 million. In the past, dogs have been employed to sniff out drugs and explosives and even some medical conditions such as cancer. Now they have been trained to sniff out COVID-19.

COVID detection dogs have been employed y the Miami Heat to find out if fans have COVID-19 before they are seated for a game. People waiting to enter the stadium must stand on dots six feet apart and a dog walks along the line and if COVID is detected they will sit down. The breakdown process in the body that occurs with infections or cancers leads to the release of odor molecules called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs then enter the air where the scent can be picked up by a properly trained dog.

An international airport in Helsinki also employs COVID detection dogs. Passengers are asked to wipe their neck and forehead with a napkin and that napkin is put in a canister. In another room, the canisters are lined up and the dog sniffs each cup in turn, If the scent of COVID is found the dog will tap the ground with it’s paw and get a treat. On concern is the possibility that a dog might itself become infected sniffing so many samples. So far the have been found to rarely get infected. During preliminary tests at the University of Helsinki, dogs were able to detect the coronavirus in a sample with almost 100 percent certainty. THey even believe dogs are more accurate that available COVID test kits. The university found that dogs can also identify a Covid-19 case days before a person began showing symptoms. One of the Helsinki airport dogs, Kössi, has years of experience searching for signs of disease in medical samples, according to YLE in July. The eight-year-old greyhound mix learned to identify samples from Covid-19 patients in just seven minutes, according to the airport’s statement.

Dr. Death Opens Up Bed Space

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An Italian doctor is accused of killing COVID-19 patients with lethal doses of anesthetic to free up bed space at the height of the pandemic. His name is Carlo Mosca, 47, and he was the head of accident and emergency at Montichiari Hospital near Brescia, Lombardy. The hospital was overwhelmed by the massive coronavirus outbreak in Italy in March 2020.

Anesthetics were available so that coronavirus patients could be intubated, but if a patient given the drug wasn’t intubated they would sophisticate to death. The doctor left the patients to die naturally they could be in the hospital bed of weeks to a month. The injection could free up a bed immediately for the constants stream of patients needing hem.

An anonymous complaint against Mosca from late April included a WhatsApp text which read: “I am not in favor of killing patients just because he wants to free up beds” and a reply from a colleague that said: “I agree with you, he’s crazy,” according to The Times.

The doctor is accused of killing at least two patients, Natale Bassi, 61, who died on March 20, 2020 and 80-year-old Angelo Paletti who died two days later. Mosca has also been accused of faking health records with court documents saying it was done to “make the patient appear terminal and therefore not arouse suspicion,” the Daily Mail reported. The doctor is currently under house arrest at his home in Mantua and a further three deaths are also being investigated, the Mirror noted.

Cat Birthday Superspreader

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According to The Sun and Newsweek, who cited local reports, a birthday party thrown for a pet cat in Chile led to a COVID-19 outbreak that infected over a dozen people. The super spreader birthday party for the feline took place in the town of Santo Domingo, and all ten guests tested positive for COVID-19 afterwards. The attendees also infected five additional family members and friends.

“When I heard it was a cat’s birthday party, I thought it was a joke — that they were probably trying to hide something,” said Francisco Álvarez, the regional health secretary for Valparaíso, according to the Daily Mail.

“We have corroborated it with at least six of the 15 [infected] people who told us the same thing,” he added. Álvarez stated that he was surprised to know people are continuing to have social gatherings despite warnings and restrictions from authorities. The CDC labeled Chili as a dangerous travel destination. Of course a far more dangerous travel destination is the United States of America.

On Twitter Álvarez said, “An essential part of democracy is that no one is exempt form complying with the law, and that no one cam behave as if they are above it.” This is a lesson that our former POTUS has yet to learn.

Pallbearers of Democracy

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The House Impeachment managers, led by Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), delivered the article of impeachment to the Senate on January 25, 2021. Senators were sworn in on January 26, 2021 for the second impeachment of Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” The house managers waited outside the Senate chamber in the exact same spot rioters confronted Capitol police on January 6, 2021.

Senator Patrick Leahy, the president pro tempore who will be presiding over the trial, administered the oath to senators. Senators then signed the oath book declaring their intent to serve as impartial jurors. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who said the impeachment was “Dead on arrival,” challenged the constitutionality of an impeachment trial against a former president. Just five Republicans, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey, joined all Democrats in opposing the measure, an indication that Democrats will not attract the 17 Republicans that would be needed to convict Mr. Trump at trial. Most Republican Senators will not truly be impartial, they will not convict Trump because they fear him and his lunatic “base.” As Trump said in the past, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” Who knew he could kill 400,000 Americans and incite a riot on the Capitol building and not face consequences. He probably loves the idea of the trial since it will keep his name in the headlined for one more month before he fades into obscurity.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Paul’s interpretation of the Constitution was “flat-out wrong,” and noted that the Senate had previously held an impeachment trial for an official who was no longer in office in 1876. On January 27, 2021, Schumer insisted that the Senate would push forward with an impeachment trial of the former President despite not having the GOP votes needed.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Senator Susan Collins have pitched their colleagues on supporting a censure resolution against Mr. Trump. Censure is a formal disapproval that can be adopted by one, or both chambers of Congress. Unlike impeachment, censure is not a power provided by the Constitution. Censure, is “stronger than a simple rebuke, but not as strong as expulsion.” For an authoritarian like Trump it is just a slap on the wrist.

House Delivers Articles of Impeachment to Senate

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On Monday, January 25, 2021 House impeachment managers walked across the Capitol and delivered to the Senate the charge against Donald J. Trump, the first president in history to be impeached twice. The charge is incitement of insurrection. They were led into the Senate chamber by the lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin of (D-MD), who read the article of impeachment. Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D-VT), the president pro tempore of the Senate, is expected to preside over the impeachment trial. The Constitution says the chief justice presides when the person facing trial is the current president of the United States, but senators preside in other cases, one source said.

The trial is slated to begin the week of February 8, 2021. The expectation is, that it will take up much of February and wrap up by month’s end, if not sooner. Before the start of the trial the Senate hopes to confirm President Joe Biden‘s Cabinet and potentially handle the President’s Covid-19 relief package. Trump’s legal team and the House managers will have two weeks to exchange pre-trial briefs before arguments begin. Senators will be sworn in as jurors on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. 17 Republican Senators would have to vote to convict the former president in the Senate that now evenly split 50/50. 10 house republicans voted to impeach the president but getting 17 Senators to weigh the evidence in an impartial way seems a long shot.  Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), the only Republican who voted to convict Trump in the first impeachment trial, said, “I believe that what is being alleged and what we saw, which is incitement to insurrection, is an impeachable offense. If not, what is?”

Joe Biden has proposed a 1.9 trillion dollar COVID Relief Plan. Sixteen bipartisan senators discussed the aid plan with Biden administration officials on Sunday, January 24, 2021 and while the lawmakers agreed on the need for vaccine distribution money, many questioned the overall price tag. It could take weeks for Congress to finish talks around a coronavirus relief deal and for Democrats to decide whether they should forge ahead with an aid bill without GOP support. The bill includes calls for funds to streamline vaccinations, $1,400 direct payments, a $400 weekly unemployment supplement, and state and local government support.

Florida Vaccine Tourism

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Vaccine tourism involves people visiting other states across the country in search of COVID-19 vaccines. “Frustrated by crashing appointment websites, shortages of COVID-19 shots and a patchwork of confusing eligibility rules, people with time and money are heading out of town in pursuit of a potentially lifesaving inoculation.”
Tourists have been visiting Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut, according to Bloomberg.

Vaccine is in short supply across the country. People who have set up appointments are finding their appointments canceled due to the vaccine supply running out. Stated simply there was no plan for this historically huge emergency distribution plan. The Joe Biden administration is hoping they can get the situation under control, but the previous administration kept them in the dark.

My sister in south west Florida worked hard to get her first vaccine shot. It involved dozens of calls and setbacks. when she was waiting for the shot in a line of cars she noticed the car in front of her had a New Jersey license plate. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he doesn’t want out-of-state residents coming to Florida to get their COVID-19 vaccines, which are in limited supply, and is pushing a new restriction on the vaccine distribution. There have been multiple media reports about wealthy residents of other states or other countries flying to Florida to get COVID-19 vaccines. These included real estate developers, attorneys, Hollywood insiders and the mother of an Argentine television personality. There are now only two social classes in America, the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated.

A Florida Department of Health database indicates that 39,214 people who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida were from out of state, representing 3.5% of the 1,122,405 people receiving a vaccine. Individuals with an out-of-state identification now will be required to provide proof of residency or semi-permanent residency to get a vaccination through the Department of Health in Brevard County. Examples include a utility bill, property tax receipt or lease agreement for Florida property.

Pre-Pandemic: Christmas Cantata

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In October of 2019, Pam got a couple of free tickets to a show at the Amway Arena called Christmas Cantata. The all Chinese cast presented Christmas Carols in October. The entire floor and first level of the stadium were packed. A large orchestra in the pit supported the case on stage.

In 2014, Gracias Choir won the Grand Prize at the Riva del Garda International Choral Competition in Italy and First Prize at the Montreux Choral Festival in Switzerland. In 2015, Gracias Choir was recognized as the world’s best choir, winning 1st place at the world’s most prestigious International Choir Competition Marktoberdorf in Germany.

Gracias Choir’s Christmas Cantata is filled with cherished music and unforgettable stage sets.

The evening featured the Nativity story told as an epic opera, brand new Act 2 of a heartwarming musical based on “The Gift of the Magi”, and a glorious rendition of Handel’s Oratorio “Messiah”.  Also, there was be a dance performance and memorable gift.  Each act of the  Christmas Cantata expresses the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of hope, love, and forgiveness of God in our hearts.

After the music two guys got on stage and started proselytizing hard. Their story involved miracle cures from a disease from the Amazon. It was sort of like watching an Abbot and Costello vaudeville act that involved miracles. My sketch was done and we decided to slip out. On the way out, free books were being offered and they were being pushed hard. We managed to escape empty handed.

Due to the pandemic performances in 2020 have been broadcast on TV. a schedule is on their website.