LTE RGGI

What did you think it was about?

Be ready out there.

Regeneron ineffective on Omicron

The Omicron mutation is causing a lot of breakthrough infections in both vaccinated and previously recovered patients, and while the variant is not especially lethal for young people, it is still dangerous to the elderly and immunocompromised.

The only worthwhile antibody treatment in the US, the Regeneron cocktail, doesn’t work against Omicron. AstraZeneca’s cocktail does appear to work, but it is scarce and not approved in the US.

That makes prompt deployment of the anti-viral Paxlovid vital if we are to avoid a catastrophic outbreak next month. Paxlovid is a protease inhibitor and is not affected by the mutations to the spike protein.

Already, COVID has killed 1 out of every 100 Americans over 65, and if the FDA keeps dragging its feet, the Social Security shortfall problem will be solved by spring.

The actual meteorology of the Kentucky outbreak

Well, actually, they didn’t even wait for the funerals before Biden and the AP were using the tornado outbreak to push their climate virtue signaling agenda.

Never mind that violent tornados have been declining in the last 40 years.

But no weather event that results in tragedy can go unexploited. Bunch of damned ghouls.

Russia has stated their position on Ukraine quite clearly. They want a binding agreement that Ukraine will not be part of NATO and not be a base for offensive weapons on their border, much as we did with Finland. If we don’t guarantee that, Russia will feel obligated to occupy the nation to preserve it as a buffer.

How is that different from our position on offensive weapons in Cuba, over which we nearly went to war 60 years ago?

This is not a partisan issue, repeated US Presidents have engaged in the same brinkmanship for a long time, but it is beginning to look like Russia is the reasonable player in this contest.

Newsweek Omicron no deaths

It is way too early to know for sure, but what if Omicron is highly transmissible but non-lethal?

Smallpox was prevented with a vaccine made from Cow Pox, which doesn’t produce serious disease in people. If Omicron doesn’t kill, spreads widely, and leaves you immune to the other variants as well, this is over.

But I’d rather the FDA gets its act together and gets Plaxovid to market immediately.

WSJ: Vaccines are only the beginning

mRNA technology is here to stay, and may be successful in treating diseases and conditions which have so far proven intractable.

Maybe even aging.

Use of force law summary

We have discussed self-defense a lot here, but not the use of force in defense of property. 

In most jurisdictions, he use of RESAONABLE force is justified in defending property, but deadly force is not. Continue reading “Defense of property” →

LTE Don’t take your guns to town

Mr. Candler’s letter starts with the usual hoplophobic, pseudo-psychiatric claptrap assigning supposed motivations to those who bear arms in the public square. Seriously, when is the last time you read of a VCDL, NRA, or for that matter, Militia, member shooting anyone other than in legal self defense? There are millions of us, with tens of millions of AR and AK type arms, and trillions of rounds of ammunition. If we were a problem, you would know by now.

But what is really troubling is the last paragraph, in which he advises that “real men” cower in their homes and leave protecting their homes, businesses, and communities to the police. Continue reading “Who owns the public square?” →

NPR: Failed communal Massachusetts colony

Socialism isn’t evil because it fails, it fails because it is evil.

And even if you start with the most devout and well-intentioned people, it will make them corrupt, envious and lazy.

It’s a lesson we have to learn sooner or later.