After several days in the hospital, the cat is back in the CatBox. Apparently my chemo wiped out my immune system, and I caught a bug that brought raving Republicosis. The first two days,they quarantined me and tested me for Trump* virus twice. I am not guilty! Then they loaded me with antibiotics. WWWendy brought me home last night. I’ll be crawling back in the saddle, barring future complications. I plan to get WWWendy and JD in touch with each other, so I don’t leave you beloved people hanging again. Hugs!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:14 (average 5:05). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Your admnistrators/editors cannot guarantee an update every day, for reasons which are obvious in the situation. But we will do what we can and will all pitch in.
Here is some weekend stuff:
First, here’s a reminder to all of us not to dismiss everyone in red states – not even in the red state that Kris Kobach calls home.
Also, I put Auntie Maxine’s mailing address in Friday’s open thread, under Pat’s TJI on her (Maxine’s) sister. But Elizabeth Warren has also lost a sibling – her oldest, funny and charimg, brother. Here is her addess:
Senator Elizabeth Warren 309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Finally, with everything else, I managed to miss THREE new Randy Rainbows
The oldest is from March 22:
Then there was one one on April 6:
And the neeset (and in my opinion the best, though I won’t be dogmatic about that) came out just yesterday:
That is all I have, except my strong feeling that WWWendy WW deserves extra pay (which should also include hazard pay) .
We will be here – well, we will ALL be here for each other. No one needed this, least of all TomCat. And don’t forget to
Hi there,
WWW here on Tom’s behalf. Wanted to let you all know that Tom was admitted to the hospital last night for dehydration and a possible infection in his intestines. Of course, it took them 7 hours to make that decision – so we were both in a fine mood when it finally came. They tested him for trump virus and the results have not come back yet. Because of this, he is in isolation and is unable to receive visitors or any belongings from home. As you can imagine, that put him in an even more cranky mood. They are giving him yet another trump virus test today because they feel he is at high risk for the virus. He is anxious to get home back to his cat box. Unfortunately, I think this is the beginning of some yucky side effects to the chemo. We will both appreciate your kind thoughts and prayers for a quick return home. If need be, I will post another update but am hoping he will return home tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Wendy
Experts in autocracies have pointed out that it is, unfortunately, easy to slip into normalizing the tyrant, hence it is important to hang on to outrage. These incidents which seem to call for the efforts of the Greek Furies (Erinyes) to come and deal with them will, I hope, help with that. As a reminder, though no one really knows how many there were supposed to be, the three names we have are Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. These roughly translate as “unceasing,” “grudging,” and “vengeful destruction.”
Yippee! We are back up!
I thought about posting this Wednesday when we got back on line, but I was feeling a little dizzy myself. (Whatever it was, it wasn’t COVID-19. I checked that out six ways from Sunday. I suspect it was something I ate Tuesday.) In any case, I’m glad I chose not to. I hope this way it will be easier to stay out of all the other great minds’ ditches. It’s in the category of “News You Can Use.” And I’ve added a couple of videos which Nameless found (and I am assuming he won’t mind me posting them here since he hasn’t done so here yet.) ==================================================================
Making masks at home – what you need to know about how to reduce the transmission of coronavirus
Homemade masks will not filter the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but may prevent transmission of droplets and spray between individuals. Nikola Stojadinovic/Getty Images
The recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to use cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19 has generated numerous how-to articles and videos. As academics who focus on personal protective equipment (PPE) research and development, we are concerned about the lack of information about two critical features of home mask design: fit and fabric selection.
The reality of particle size
Virus particles are tiny, ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 micron. A size 40 micron particle is visible with the naked eye – anything smaller, you need specialized equipment to see it.
SARS-CoV-2 virus in comparison to other known particles (not to scale).Susan Sokolowski, CC BY
Protective masks like the N95 are designed to prevent virus particles from flowing in and out of the mask. Due to current shortages, N95 masks should be reserved for COVID-19 health care workers only.
Better than nothing
Homemade masks cannot block or filter the SARS-CoV-2 virus, because it can easily flow through every common material people have at home. However, a homemade mask is still better than none at all. If made correctly, a homemade mask can reduce the transmission of the virus from the wearer to others by impeding large droplets and spray produced by a cough or sneeze. It can also reduce the transmission of the virus from others to the wearer.
Fit
Masks should completely cover the nose and mouth. When measuring for a mask pattern, make sure it extends from the top of the nose – as close as possible to the eyes without obstructing sight – to under the chin. Masks should cover the face side-to-side, well past the opening of the mouth.
When developing prototypes, check around all edges of the mask for gaps. If you see any, close them up by pinching the fabric together, and stitch or tape or staple edges together to create a pleat or dart. A thin metal wire or paper clip placed along the top edge of the mask can stabilize and shape it along the bridge of the nose and cheekbone for a closer fit.
Masks should stay securely in position and fit comfortably with ties or elastic ear loops. If the mask is too tight or loose, the wearer may continuously adjust the mask forgetting the admonition – “Don’t touch your face!”
People have varying access to different fabrics at home. Masks should incorporate fabrics that:
Reduce virus transmission to and from the nose and mouth
Wrap around the face and are comfortable next to the skin
Are easy to wash and sanitize.
Fabric is comprised of four variables that must be considered for mask making: fiber, yarn, structure and finish. Change a variable – and mask performance changes.
Variables that make up a fabric.Susan L. Sokolowski and Karen L. LaBat, CC BY
Fibers are the smallest component of a fabric. They cannot be identified by sight or touch. Look for a fiber content label on the products or fabrics you might use for your mask. Alternately, a “burn test” can be used as a crude method to determine if a fabric is a natural fiber, human-made fiber, or a blend of natural and man made fibers. If you choose this method be careful.
There are three important fiber characteristics to consider for mask making. The first is micron size – the diameter of a fiber. The SARS-CoV-2 virus particle is 0.1 to 0.3 micron, so small-sized fibers allow for more compact fabric structures to reduce transmission. The second is how the fiber feels next to skin – this will indicate how comfortable a mask may feel next to your face. The third is moisture regain – how well the fiber absorbs moisture. A higher number means more absorbency; low regain gives a sense of how well the fiber might repel moisture.
Generic fiber characteristics and mask considerations.Susan L. Sokolowski and Karen L. LaBat, CC BY
Fibers are twisted together to form yarns. Yarns vary in size affecting fabric thickness and breathability. “Yarn count” is the number of yarns in a 1-inch square of woven fabric. A high yarn count fabric indicates a dense fabric with droplet blocking potential. Yarns with different properties can be blended to combine characteristics.
Yarns are then structured into the physical fabric.
Types of fabric.Susan L. Sokolowski and Karen L. LaBat, CC BYStructures and mask considerations.Susan L. Sokolowski and Karen L. LaBat, CC BY
Performance finishes, like water repellency and antimicrobials, are not visible but could be helpful. Detect water repellency or moisture wicking by using an eye dropper to place a drop of water on a fabric to see how it moves across the fabric. Aesthetic finishes like graphics and batik are not so useful.
Put it all together
There are many fabric variables to reckon with for a homemade mask. Consider building a three-layer system.
Three-layer mask system considerations.Susan L. Sokolowski and Karen L. LaBat, CC BY
This three-layer system includes a space between the inner and outer layers for a removable middle layer. A replaceable “filter” is inserted in that space. If one fabric layer is too thin, add additional layers for protection.
Homemade masks will not filter the SARS-CoV-2, however, masks may prevent droplets and spray from transmitting between individuals. When wearing a mask, remember to continue social distancing, wash hands frequently and wipe down surfaces and packages.
/>================================================================ Knowing how masks are made helps in choosing and using them, even if you aren’t making them yourself. Notice how everything you’ve seen here, and just about everywhere else, is about making or getting them, and putting and keeping them on. But taking PPE off matters too. These are the videos which Nameless found:
AMT, we are a community here. As TC said, “The notion that Trump may … kill one of us makes me want to puke!” and if there is anything he doesn’t need, it’s more puking. So please, chide all of us to take care of ourselves, and encourage us to share any information which can help with that.
(Hmmm – Let me see if I remember how to do this …)
To commence, I’d like to start off on the right foot with a beautiful photo courtesy of Webshots …
KIDDING
In the interim I’ve been able to restock my larder with topics. But I want to begin with a timely one, courtesy of Dr. Donald Trump. And to lay the groundwork, here are his actual words from yesterday’s proxy rally Coronavirus briefing, directly from the White House Transcript:
THE PRESIDENT: So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light — and I think you said that that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you’re going to test that too. It sounds interesting.
And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you’re going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds — it sounds interesting to me.
There you have it – Dr. Trump is now switching from Hydroxychloroquine to powerful ultraviolet light and/or injection of disinfectants. So we can all imagine how Hydroxychloroquine is feeling right about now …
There is some concern about bringing the UV “light inside the body” as Trump suggests. Here is one of its more disturbing side effects:
But I want to focus more on his suggestion of directly injecting a disinfectant into the body. I was confused about where this idea came from – until someone provided a snapshot of Trump’s old pharmacy:
The good news is that there are options beside IV administration.
For us pediatricians, that is great news. We all know how scary needles are to most children – so the good news is that Clorox now comes in a chewable tablet.
And for those adults who also don’t like needles, but are not fond of taking kids’ medicine – you can use an inhaler. But to date, only Lysol has developed this delivery mode:
So it appears there are lots of modalities available for administration of disinfectants.
Well, obviously all this goes to prove that we have an EFFING IDIOT in the Oval Office.
As a physician, I truly hope that these “Thought Bubbles” for Dr. Birx, based on her reaction at yesterday’s briefing, are accurate
Criminal Fuhrer Trump* and the Republican Reich never cease to amaze me. Every time I think they have exceeded bounds of human credulity, they take another asymptotic step toward infinity.
After a presentation Thursday that touched on the disinfectants that can kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces and in the air, President Trump pondered whether those chemicals could be used to fight the virus inside the human body.
“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” Trump said during Thursday’s coronavirus press briefing. “And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
The question, which Trump offered unprompted, immediately spurred doctors, lawmakers and the makers of Lysol to respond with incredulity and warnings against injecting or otherwise ingesting disinfectants, which are highly toxic.
“My concern is that people will die. People will think this is a good idea,” Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, told The Washington Post. “This is not willy-nilly, off-the-cuff, maybe-this-will-work advice. This is dangerous.”… [emphasis added]
Actually, I trust that virtually no Democrats or sane Independents are stupid enough to go along with such a lame idea. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* and the MAGA Maniacs of the Republican Reich should try it themselves!
It’s a crappy day, here in the CatBox… literally. I woke up at 1:00 AM with severe Republicosis and almost didn’t make it. I did nor get back to bed until 2:45. I was back on the throne at 5:45. I suspect the next trip will be soon. Wish me luck, or better yet, does anyone have a spare cork? TGIF!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:38 (average 4:04). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Trump* Virus Update:
Short Takes:
From Willamette Week: Forty-two percent of Oregon’s small business payrolls were covered by the federal Paycheck Protection Program last week.
The $350 billion program was designed by Congress to give companies with up to 500 employees the equivalent of two-and-half months of payroll in forgivable loans.
Oregon’s yield from the program—42 percent of eligible payrolls covered—was the third-lowest figure in the country, according to calculations by Ernie Tedeschi, an analyst at the New York investment banking firm Evercore ISI. Those findings were first published by Bloomberg News.
Tedeschi’s numbers show an imbalance: The top three states—Nebraska, North Dakota and Kansas—got an average of 79.4 percent of their small business payrolls covered. All are red states. The bottom three, Oregon, New York and California, which got an average of 40 percent, vote blue.
The picture in the article of a Portland business says it best.
RESIST!!
From YouTube (Late Show Channel): Meet The Former Dog Breeder In Charge Of Coronavirus Response At HHS
Wouldn’t we all be better off, if criminal Fuhrer Trump* had appointed the dawg instead of the Republican asshole? RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast from the past): George Harrison-My Sweet Lord (Studio Version) Original
Amen Sam! On Hannity’s show, a Faux Noise medical “expert” suggested reopening schools first, because kids have a lower death rate from Trump* virus. They consider killing 2 – 3% of America’s children is a reasonable trade-off for starting the reopening process.
Criminal Fuhrer Trump* stole 3,000 masks and gowns from our health care workers for himself and his White House staff. He should wear a maxi-pad mask… right behind his epiglottis!
