Masks Work

Posted on by Thor

Masks Work. Should you ever make that statement, or happen to do a painting of someone in a mask. You would be shocked at the number of selfish sheep that start baa-ing about their freedom. They are all quite arrogant, ignorant, and boring, only talking about themselves with no concern for others.

Here is a simple check list to remind you what is gong on, should you be one of the 10% who are paying attention…

  1. You can catch COVID multiple times. Sometimes just weeks apart.
  2. Re-infections are common and not rare.
  3. Breaktrough infections are common.
  4. COVID can cause brain damage.
  5. COVID can cause blood clots vascular damage and heart attacks.
  6. Children are the primary spreaders of the disease. Children will suffer long term consequences along with adults.
  7. Vaccines help prevent death but not infection.
  8. COVID can kill you months after you “recover”.
  9. Social distancing works, but the virus is airborne and can travel much further than 6 feet.
  10. Masks work.

Those who are re-infected more than double their chance of death and they triple their chance of hospitalization.  They are also three times more likely to develop lung problems and 60% more likely to develop neurological disorders. Those who are catching COVID over and over are destroying their immune systems along with their heard and minds.

COVID Elected Speaker of the House

Posted on by Thor

A mask less Congress elected COVID-19 the speaker of the house. Here is a list of the members of Congress that have been infected by COVID-19 as of January 2021…

1) Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.)

2) Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah)

3) Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.)

4) Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)

5) Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.)

6) Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.)

7) Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.)

8) Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)

9) Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)

10) Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.)

11) Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.)

12) Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)

13) Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)

14) Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.)

15) Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

16) Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.)

17) Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.)

18) Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.)

19) Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)

20) Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)

21) Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)

22) Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.)

23) Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.)

24) Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.)

25) Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.)

26) Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.)

27) Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

28) Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.)

29) Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.)

30) Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

31) Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.)

32) Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)

33) Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.)

34) Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)

35) Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.)

36) Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.)

37) Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)

38) Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.)

39) Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.)

40) Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.)

41) Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.)

42) Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.)

43) Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.)

44) Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.)

45) Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.)

46) Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.)

47) Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.)

48) Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.)

49) Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.)

50) Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.)

51) Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas)

52) Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.)

53) Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.)

54) Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas)

55) Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.)

56) Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.)

57) Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)

58) Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)

59) Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)

60) Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.)

61) Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.)

62) Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.)

63) Rep. Ron Wright (R-Texas)

64) Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.)

65) Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.)

152) and counting… More that one quarter of Congress has been infected.

Oh and some Rep. named Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had COVID when he attended his son’s mask less wedding. At the time of the event, state mandates required masks at weddings and banned receptions altogether. He could have been infectious, but asymptomatic, as he mingled with family members and others at the ceremony. He also could have contracted COVID at the wedding. The wedding was a super spreader event since 19 others were infected who attended the ceremony.

COVID won the speakers seat by a landslide.

COVID Found in 96% of Fights

Posted on by Thor

 

 

I bet you thought it was safe to fly maskless over the holidays. Well think again, new research has shown that COVID has been found on 96% of flights tested. Scientists analyzed wastewater samples from 29 flight from Kuala Lumpur and found tests came back positive on 28 flights. Testing on the 29th sample was not yet been completed, per the laboratory. Samples were taken from June through December 2022 from International arriving flights. COVID was detected in 288 samples.

The aircraft sewage surveillance process involves systematic sampling and testing for untreated wastewater and sewer contamination. RNA fragments of the COVID virus are found in the feces of infected individual regardless of health status (symptomatic, asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, recovered) and can be detected in sewage. This form of the virus is not infectious and can’t be transmitted via feces.

After this report, the CDC announced they intend to begin testing wastewater on incoming flights to check for new variants. They fear variants coming from China and yet they were oblivious as the Kraken emerged from New York State. Health officials in Australia and the United Kingdom announced similar plans.

1918 vs. Today

Posted on by Thor

Fire escapes are a fairly modern invention. By the 1890s fire escapes began appearing on NYC buildings. Why should buildings have fire escapes? Isn’t fire a hoax? How often do fires happen? Why should we protect people from being burnt alive?

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 was rather short lived, or so I thought. Actually every flu death since 1918 is a result of the Spanish flu. So how was the pandemic of 1918 different that the continuing pandemic of today? In the U.S. alone the 1918 influenza epidemic killed an estimated 675,000, around one in five people who contracted the virus. With well over a million deaths today we have far eclipsed the 1918 pandemic.

Buildings of today are built to be thermally insulated which requires air re circulation instead of open ventilation. Back in 1918 they kept windows open. Steam radiators which were positioned under windows were created so that windows could be kept open. At camp Funston in Kansas where the 1918 flu pandemic began, guards were kept on patrol in the evenings to be sure that the troops kept their barracks windows open, no matter how cold it was outside. Some guards got smart and poured cold water over the window hinges which froze the windows open. 100 years ago building were drafty. Bedding and clothing was put out in the sunshine to air out.

Today when it is hot people keep the windows closed to recirculate air conditioned air. When it is cold, they keep the windows closed to re circulate heated air. When you traveled in 1918 a trip to Europe would involve a long ship voyage over the ocean. Today flights take a few hours to help spread the virus from country to country. Back in 1919 an airborne virus like COVID could burn itself out since people were further apart and travel took time. It took WW I to allow the virus to spread around the world thanks to troop movements.

People were deniers and buried their heads in the sand back in 1918 as well as today. But they didn’t have the same opportunities to spread their stupidity on social media. Today the virus is misinformation and humanity is loosing.

 

 

 

 

 

Masks Work

Posted on by Thor

Masks work. COVID is airborne. COVID variant XBB.1.5 (Kraken) now accounts of 75% of cases in the north east. Kraken is the most transmissible variant of CODID to date. It does not care if you have been previously infected or if you have been vaccinated. If you breath air you will become infected unless you wear a quality and well fitted  N95 mask.

Masking during the pandemic means that you care about protecting other and protecting yourself. American society does not pivot fast enough for people to recognize the benefit of masking as case numbers exponentially rise. Wearing a mask protects you from inhaling airborne virus and it also protects others because you may be infected but not know it.

The science of masks is NOT complex, nor is it conflicting. Science shows very clearly that masking is effective in reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This has been shown in laboratory studies, natural experiments, modelling studies and randomized controlled trials. Masking is most worthwhile when COVID rates are high (which they will be in the coming weeks) and when vulnerable people are around.

Evidence for masking is strong, consistent and clear. A high-quality, well-fitting mask which meets a filtration standard (like an N95) works better than a home-made cloth mask with gaps round the sides, but even the latter is a lot better than nothing.

Mass Infection is not the Solution

Posted on by Thor

The politicians solution of mass infection or herd immunity is not the way to end the COVID pandemic. The Trump White House first embraced this far-reaching support for a dangerous and discredited herd immunity via mass infection strategy inside the White House. Unfortunately Joe Biden has also embraced this insanity since it is the easiest thing to do. He proclaimed the pandemic was over on National TV.

The fact is that the infected are getting re-infected with increasing worst outcomes. COVID does not boost the immune system it turns out it is destroying peoples immune systems. Though people might survive the first infection of COVID, they are more likely to become infected by other viruses. This is why people are suddenly catching horrible cases of the flu and RSV.

Non-COVID excess deaths are on the rise. No one knows the cause of the excess mortality in the midst of the pandemic. XBB.1.5 is spreading rapidly and the public has been lulled into abandoning all health protection measures like social distancing and wearing masks. The are done with caring and are easily persuaded to go about life as if the pandemic were over. In a football game this week a player is in critical condition after a cardiac arrest that left him lying of the field. The game went on as normal once his body was dragged off the field. He reamins in critical condition. This is how politicians treat their constituents. Dispose of the bodies and go about as if there was no pandemic. People will believe anything you say if you say it often enough. We learned that from 45.

Congress votes to cut 8 billions dollars that was slated for COVID. Political leaders continue to lie saying the pandemic is over, yet in Japan they just recorded the highest number of deaths in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Ignore the gaslighting of politicians if you hope to remain uninfected.

Mask up with quality well fitting N95 masks folks. the next couple of months are going to be rough. I don’t try and look for subtle reasons to mask, or no mask,I mask in all situations, indoors and outdoors  when around others. When I wear the mask often it becomes easier to forget I am wearing it.

2022 Pandemic

Posted on by Thor

2022 was a crazy roller coaster ride. Nine tenths of the work I did since march 2020 has been pandemic related. The pandemic is not over but there seems to be a news black out related to the subject. Complacency, ignorance and pandemic fatigue has set in as everyone wants life to return to “normal”. People are gathering in tight groups without wearing masks to allow the virus to spread.

I am waiting to see what happens in China with a huge population that was largely protected from previous infection and has a very low vaccination rate. Of course news is not very reliable coming out of that Communist county. They have stopped daily reporting on the number of cases and they are no longer testing for new variants. Whatever happens in China will soon spread to the United States since this country had done the worst job at handling the health crisis. Over 1 million Americans have died from COVID since the start of the pandemic and about 2,500 people continue to die every week.

2023 looks like it might offer much of the same. Strap in because it looks like it will be another rough ride. Could the pandemic wind down in 2023? Perhaps, but no one really knows for sure. Those who claim they know what lies ahead are lying. Wishful thinking helps misinformation flourish.

Times Square Selfie

Posted on by Thor

Rain and the Kraken (XBB.1.5)  COVID variant did not stop thousands of people from gathering in Times Square for the New Year’s Eve ball drop. The city of New York does not have COVID requirements for outdoor events. There were no restrictions and no public health safety precautions taken.

People are wishing that the pandemic were over and a wishing wall was set up in Times Square. People could write their wish for the year on a post it note and stick it on the wall. About 80,000 notes were collected and those notes rained down on the crowd at midnight. One fellow wished his girlfriend might be healthy in the new year. She was battling COVID-19 and pneumonia. More than 1 ton of confetti is typically dropped in Times Square to bring in the new year.

Do superspreader events still exist? Yes they do. The United States defunded and scaled back its testing and contact tracing programs in early 2022, and in doing so, the public was encouraged to ignore just how widespread COVID is. The simple fact is, that the media no longer reports about superspreading events. After over a million deaths, Americans want to blissfully ignore the ongoing carnage of over 2000 deaths a week. Right now China may be experiencing over 9000 deaths a day, but the government needs to spin that in a positive light.

In a matter of a week, right before the New Year’s celebrations,  the XBB.1.5 variant has become the dominant variant in New York. It now accounts for over 50% of reported COVID cases. With at home testing there are many more unreported cases. The number of people hospitalized for COVID has risen to over 45,000 which is the highest it has been since February of 2022. The pandemic is NOT over.

COVID is still a leading cause of death in the U.S., indicating that substantial transmission is still occurring. The simplest way to avoid infection is to avoid superspreader events.

 

 

 

Kraken XBB.1.5

Posted on by Thor

Happy New Year.

XBB.1.5 nicknamed Kraken, is the cause of an increase in Covid cases and hospitalizations in New York. This new variant is a recombinant or combined version of two Omicron variants and has an increased level of transmissibility and is highly immune evasive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) didn’t notice this variant until it  accounted for 40% of new infections in the United States. They were blindsided by the sudden surge. Cases have been doubling exponentially. From literally nowhere, XBB.1.5, aka the Kraken variant, has leapt to 40% of sequences on the US CDC’s weekly-updated variant tracker page. Last week, it wasn’t even listed as a variant.

Why are these figures so stunningly bad? For the simple reason that if you take a hyper-transmissable variant like XBB.1.5 and add a Delta variant like lethality to it, the country, or indeed the entire planet, could be facing an unprecedented and potentially irreversible disaster. The lethality of XBB.1.5 is unknown. It has a great affinity to ACE2, so likely it will be able to infect the lungs and the cardiovascular system with worse outcomes than previous Omicron variants.

XBB.1.5 has a “greatly enhanced” ability to bind to cells. It is a sub variant of Omicron but far more transmissible. “We’re projecting that it’s going to be the dominant variant in the Northeast region of the country and that it’s going to increase in all regions of the country,” said Dr. Barbara Mahon, director of the CDC’s proposed Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, in an interview with CBS News. More than 70% of infections in the regions spanning New Jersey through New England are now from XBB.1.5, the agency projected. Kraken is quickly spreading in Florida, Texas and Washington State.

Hospitalizations continue to tick upwards all across America. The Kraken is coming at a time when most of the public has abandoned masking and every other simple and basic mitigation measure. The Kraken is here to open the New Year. It is is resistant to many of the monoclonal antibody drugs that doctors had relied on earlier in the pandemic.  Omicron has caused more death than any other variant since the start of the pandemic simply because of the huge number of people infected.

The latest bivalent boosters appear to offer better “neutralizing activity” for Omicron variants, including XBB. So if you haven’t had your booster, it is advisable for the new year. The CDC has quietly begun recommending masking indoors but we all know that recommendation will go largely ignored and the lemmings will crowd together and infect one another. At home tests may prove less effective in detecting the new variant. One test, DxTerity’s saliva test for the virus, has proven itself useless.

Crealde casual

Posted on by Thor

This is another casual sketch to demonstrate that the figure does not need to fill the page when doing a sketch on location. I will usually one of these for each student to show how I might approach the scene they are sketching. I seldom push these to a finish. The main thing I stress is how to block in a scene quickly without getting caught up in minor details to start.

I am also pointing out how to set the stage. You can see a faint hint of the space under the tent and that mirrors the shape of the top of the table. The student is maskless So I make sure to sketch from a distance outdoors.