The Coronavirus Lockdown Has Not Made
the Air Cleaner
Posted By: Ron_lfp, 5/17/2020 11:24:11 AM
Just about every day, someone claims that the air is cleaner. That, we are told, is a small benefit of the coronavirus-induced economic lockdowns. By reducing traffic on our roads, we are polluting the air less, providing a visible example of the supposed benefits of imposing more environmental regulation. (snip) The air-quality data tell a different story. According to the EPA’s air-quality monitors, levels of particulate matter — known as PM 2.5 — are not lower now and have, in fact, been higher recently than the median level of the last five years. (snip) The key factor, however, is that in most places, human-caused pollution is small relative to natural sources.
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Just about every day, someone claims that the air is cleaner. That, we are told, is a small benefit of the coronavirus-induced economic lockdowns. By reducing traffic on our roads, we are polluting the air less, providing a visible example of the supposed benefits of imposing more environmental regulation.
(snip) The air-quality data tell a different story. According to the EPA’s air-quality monitors, levels of particulate matter — known as PM 2.5 — are not lower now and have, in fact, been higher recently than the median level of the last five years. (snip) The key factor, however, is that in most places, human-caused pollution is small relative to natural sources.
On April 29, Governor Inslee released a series of dials called the “COVID-19 Risk assessment dashboard,” reflecting the data he claims to be using to make decisions about reopening the state economy. He told the reporters that he was doing this “so we can be completely transparent with Washingtonians about how we are making these decisions,” which he promised he is doing “based on data and science.”
Analysis of that dashboard and the dials, however, shows this is simply not true and there are several problems. The dial settings do not match the underlying data trends. The dials are extremely imprecise, and some of the metrics the governor uses are meaningless.
A judge on a Washington state court has a chance May 21 to quash a dangerous, outlandish lawsuit against Fox News that would eviscerate First Amendment media freedoms.(snip)
The suit is brought by a 3-year-old group of leftist provocateurs called WASHLITE, (snip) They are suing Fox News for alleged violations of the state’s Consumer Protection Act, which outlaws deceptive practices in the course of commerce. WASHLITE says Fox should be punished because some of its on-air personnel, (snip) spent weeks downplaying “the danger of the international proliferation of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.” The result, says the group, was that its members’ health and livelihoods were put at risk,
An unofficial state revenue forecast is projecting a $7 billion deficit for the next 4 years. (snip) As of today, however, state employees are scheduled to receive a 3% pay raise on July 1. A 3% pay raise also took effect last July. With the state facing a massive budget deficit, the Governor should immediately reopen the state employee contracts to cancel the new 3% pay raise before it takes effect. (snip) On May 13 he signed a directive to freeze state hiring, personal service contracts and equipment purchases.
Education is continuing, more or less, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic – more for families with resources, less for those without.
And for an alarmingly high number of students in Spokane and the rest of the nation, genuine learning isn’t happening at all. Despite the efforts of Spokane Public Schools and other districts, many families have simply given up.
The reasons include a lack of internet connections and online expertise as well as poverty, pandemic-related unemployment and homelessness. (snip) Several teachers said last week they suspect as few as 10% of their students are fully engaged in distance learning.
Walla Walla County leaders are responding on Thursday after health officials walked back their claims that people in the county were holding "coronavirus parties" in an attempt to contract the disease.
County health officials had previously said they knew of multiple instances of people hosting these parties, thinking they would be infected with the disease then develop immunity.
The story got widespread attention and was picked up by local media outlets (snip) After the story ran on KREM on Wednesday, a Walla Walla County Health Department spokesperson reached out to "recall" their comments and explained that the parties weren't intended to infect people.
As we grow desperate over the lagging coronavirus economy, rather than respond with compassion, Governor Jay Inslee deflects with a sleazy strategy of shaming people into submission. This is not the move of a competent leader.
(snip) Republican lawmakers (snip) contend the stay-at-home order is too restrictive and that we can safely and responsibly reopen parts of the economy faster.
Rather than tell us why he thinks public health data makes a stronger case to keep the economy shut down, Inslee attacks his critics as heartless. (snip) Instead of providing data, Inslee merely says “data” and “science” hoping we’ll confuse the words for actual data and science.
Jennifer Kreidler-Moss has no shortage of concerns to occupy her.
When schools hosting Peninsula Community Health Services sites shut down, her organization lost touch points to schoolchildren, including some struggling with mental health or at risk of suicide.
“I’m beside myself with worry,” said Kreidler-Moss, the nonprofit’s CEO.
And since COVID-19 began, 17% of the staff has been laid off or furloughed and March revenues fell $884,000 short of expectations. (snip) But now, as rates of new COVID-19 cases and deaths trend lower, some experts and health administrators say the measures that helped avoid the pandemic’s deluge are barreling health systems toward a second crisis: a flood of red ink.
In the latest in an escalating series of legal challenges by Republicans, four Washington state legislators sued Gov. Jay Inslee in federal court on Tuesday, seeking to strike down his stay-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
A 28-page complaint, filed by the lawmakers and others in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, contends “the emergency has been contained” and that continuing restrictions for workers, businesses and residents are not legally justified.
ELTOPIA, Franklin County – For farmer Mike Pink, spring is supposed to be a time of hope, when he can survey a green field of young potato plants and anticipate the bounty to be pulled from the sandy soils of the Columbia Basin.
This year, this is a season when dreams die. Due to an epic potato glut that imploded his market, he has decided to do what was once unthinkable — destroy part of his crop rather than sink more dollars into cultivation.
That grim task unfolded Friday as a diesel tractor began discing under 240 acres of Ranger Russets, (snip) 14 million pounds of tubers.
Amazon’s decision to let engineers and other office staff keep working from home through at least Oct. 2 was another blow for struggling merchants in downtown Seattle and Bellevue, which have been virtual ghost towns since the coronavirus crisis emptied the cubicle farms in March.
The decision, which the Seattle-based online retailer shared with employees Thursday, also could signal a broader trend toward extending work-from-home practices. Other white-collar employers are realizing that returning to the workplaces is likely to require extensive precautions — and pose heightened health risks — even after business gets the all-clear from Gov. Jay Inslee. (snip) On Friday, Inslee extended the stay-at-home order through May 31
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos warned the company’s stockholders that Amazon may incur a second-quarter operating loss as it spends at least $4 billion from April through June on its coronavirus pandemic response, including some $300 million to develop its own testing capabilities. (snip) Olsavsky said the majority of the $4 billion in second-quarter spending is related to wage increases — the company has boosted hourly wage floors by $2 through mid-May and increased overtime pay — and productivity losses. The company is also continuing to spend more on personal protective equipment and enhanced facility cleaning
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The flattering profiles of Stacey Abrams are coming so fast now that it’s hard to keep up. Two days ago the Washington Post Magazine published a piece titled “The Power of Stacey Abrams.” The best way to summarize the piece is probably by showing you this photo that was published with it:(Snip for photo) It looks like she’s trying out for a Harry Potter stage show. All that’s missing is a magic wand. But it really does match the glowing tone of the piece:
When she is finally introduced the women shout and leap to their feet. Young women stand on chairs, camera phones flash. Abrams,
Former President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized President Donald Trump in all but name as he gave a televised commencement address for high school seniors. Obama's message to graduating high school students came at the end of an hourlong television special. Obama panned 'so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs' who do 'what feels good, what's convenient, what's easy.' 'That's how little kids think,' he added, 'which is why things are so screwed up.' The 44th President did not mention Trump by name, but there was no mistaking who he meant.
Earlier on Saturday, Obama gave another commencement address
U.S. Attorney John Durham’s probe into the origins of the Russia collusion investigation is not expected to lead to a criminal investigation of either former President Barack Obama or former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Attorney General William P. Barr said Monday. “As for President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement based on what I know, I don’t expect Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man,” Mr. Barr said. “Our concern of potential criminality is focused on others,” he continued. Mr. Barr also offered vague details into the investigation’s progress saying he has a “general
Ilhan Omar’s Daughter Calls US
Soldiers B______ And Appears To Call
For Communist Revolution 37 replies
Soldiers B______ And Appears To Call
For Communist Revolution 37 replies
Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, believes in making “hella edits” to the US Constitution, abolishing capitalism and that US soldiers are b____es, per her Tik Tok accounts.
Hirsi, age 17, was born during Omar’s now dissolved marriage to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi. In addition to serving as the co-founder and co-executive director of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, she also runs two Tik Tok accounts where she posts about her socialist political beliefs.
Tik Tok is a Chinese-owned social media platform that allows users to post short videos, often in response to other videos
Hillary Clinton is condemning armed protests calling for the end to stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic, calling the demonstrations "domestic terrorism."
"Armed men storming a legislature to disrupt its democratic proceedings is domestic terrorism. It cannot be tolerated," Clinton tweeted Friday.
The federal government has already sent a one-time check of up to $1,200 to millions of American families, but according to Mark Cuban, the stimulus is not enough to offset the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic.
The billionaire entrepreneur proposed the government issue $1,000 checks to every American household every two weeks for the next two months, with the caveat that the money must be spent within 10 days of receipt or it expires. It would cost about $500 billion, Cuban estimated. (Snip) "It's time to face the fact that PPP didn't work. Great plan, difficult execution. No one's fault. The only thing that will save businesses is consumer demand.
Republicans are preparing a multi-million dollar, multi-state effort to recruit volunteers to monitor voting places for fraud, a move that could bolster President Donald Trump's claims Democrats will cheat in the November election. President Trump repeatedly has complained elections are rigged: that Bernie Sanders lost the Democratic primary to Joe Biden because of it, that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 through cheating, and even last week's California special election, that Republicans won, was rigged.
After Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael battered Florida in successive years, in 2017 and 2018, the federal government sent $7 billion to aid the recoveries. We are all Americans, and people of Florida were innocent victims who needed our help. No one argued it. But that patriotic reflex is missing now, in New Jersey’s hour of need. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is resisting what he calls a “blue state bailout.” And GOP Sen. Rick Scott, who was governor of Florida during both hurricanes, hit the same note on the Senate floor Wednesday.
Gavin Newsom: First responders 'first
ones laid off' unless California
gets federal COVID-19 funds 32 replies
ones laid off' unless California
gets federal COVID-19 funds 32 replies
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says first responders will be the “first ones laid” off unless federal bucks arrive in the Golden State in the near future. The Democrat appeared to be playing a political game of chicken with Republicans in Congress over the weekend during a discussion about the coronavirus pandemic with CNN’s Jake Tapper. Mr. Newsom specifically had a message for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans when asked about a $3 trillion relief bill being “dead on arrival.”(Snip) Mr. Newsom insisted that he was not looking for “charity” or “handouts,” but instead wanted funds commensurate for “Depression-era unemployment
AUSTIN, Texas -- Ron Wilkins endured 37 days on a ventilator, a failed kidney, medical paralysis and a mountain of medical bills. As he slowly recovers from a near-death bout of COVID-19, the disease brought on by the coronavirus, at an acute-care hospital near San Antonio, Wilkins and his loved ones now face a new worry: States pushing to reopen stores and local economies. (Snip) The debate over how fast states should reignite their economies flared last week when Dr. Rick Bright, a government immunologist, told a Congressional committee that the window is closing fast to prevent the “darkest winter
Forget About Seeing
Any Justice For Obamagate 30 replies
Any Justice For Obamagate 30 replies
Allow me to disabuse you of your naïve delusion that we still live in a country with a justice system and break it to you that no one is going to jail for what was done to Flynn, or for the unmasking business, or for the Russia hoax or, for that matter, for any of the corrupt Dem/foreigner collaborations exemplified by the payoffs received by stripperphile and Bolivian folk medicine enthusiast Hoover Biden.
No one.
Well, maybe Mike Flynn himself will. Since his judge is now making up the law as he goes along – in law school they taught us that the judicial branch didn’t prosecute,
An article in Nowhere Magazine several years ago explored the ways ancient cultures dispatched the elderly, a practice known as senicide. Author Justin Nobel recounted several gruesome rites that made the Inuit habit of putting Granny on an Arctic ice floe seem humane.
At one point, Nobel mentioned that his own grandparents had moved “to a fancy nursing home in the suburbs of New York City.”
That made me shudder.
If they are honest, historians judging the American experience during the coronavirus pandemic will excoriate our barbaric failure to protect the elderly.
Comments:
Todd is a local hero; enviro director for Washington Policy Institute