Slate Star Codex: Face Masks: Much More Than You Wanted To Know

Link to source.

Recommended by Tyler Cowen, a fascinating technical analysis of masks, surgical and N95 (respirators) as anti-infection devices. My main takeaway, UNscientific to be sure, is that any mask is better than none in terms of preventing the spread of infection to persons not wearing a mask, even if no mask is certain to prevent infection for the person wearing it. Simply put, if you wear a mask you will protect others from you, even if the mask doesn’t protect you from others.

Been there done that…

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/navy/489287-3-sailors-aboard-theodore-roosevelt-test-positive-for-coronavirus

My last sea command was The Big Stick from 2003-2005. During our deployment in 2005 about one third of the crew ended up with a stomach virus that made its way through the ship rather quickly. No one needed to be evacuated, but let’s just say the lines to the heads were long and uncomfortable. And there was an emergency order of toilet paper required.

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Unz: A Debt Jubilee Is the Only Way to Avoid a Depression

https://www.unz.com/mhudson/a-debt-jubilee-is-the-only-way-to-avoid-a-depression/

The writer, Michael Hudson, is an academic economist with strong Marxist leanings. While I don’t agree with his politics, his work on the history of money and debt seems pretty solid to me. His perspective on the Covid-19 response is therefore worth examining.

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Democrats hold nation hostage

Democrats block Senate stimulus

For the second time, Senate Democrats have blocked a Senate Phase III stimulus bill they had negotiated in a reasonably bipartisan manner. Why, because Nancy Pelosi wants to pass a House version as a substitute. The House version contains dozens of things that have nothing to do with the virus response, from same day voter registration to greenhouse gas limits for air travel, to requirements for racial diversity of corporate boards. All things they could never pass on their own but Pelosi thinks she can get because she has the country over a barrel. If she can force enough small businesses to fail and cause enough hardship, she expects to get her way on these fringe issues.