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CaliforniaPeggy
CaliforniaPeggy's Journal
CaliforniaPeggy's Journal
March 27, 2020
The Mount Sinai Health System this week plans to initiate a procedure known as plasmapheresis, where the antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 will be transferred into critically ill patients with the disease, with the expectation that the antibodies will neutralize it.
The process of using antibody-rich plasma from COVID-19 patients to help others was used successfully in China, according to a state-owned organization, which reported that some patients improved within 24 hours, with reduced inflammation and viral loads, and better oxygen levels in the blood.
Mount Sinai is collaborating with the New York Blood Center and the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center laboratory in Albany, with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and expects to begin implementing the treatment later this week.
“We are hoping to identify patients who can provide the antibodies,” says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. “We are at the front lines in fighting this pandemic and making discoveries that will help our patients.”
Plasmapheresis transfers for critically ill patients from recovered patients.
https://inside.mountsinai.org/blog/mount-sinai-to-begin-the-transfer-of-covid-19-antibodies-into-critically-ill-patients/?fbclid=IwAR3K24ihhZpYA-2ZFmTbgs0A7ZRfQ0u5JZ0SXz5O8hPs6bQ5gjkR3k3Yklw#.XnzxikC6Mos.facebookThe Mount Sinai Health System this week plans to initiate a procedure known as plasmapheresis, where the antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 will be transferred into critically ill patients with the disease, with the expectation that the antibodies will neutralize it.
The process of using antibody-rich plasma from COVID-19 patients to help others was used successfully in China, according to a state-owned organization, which reported that some patients improved within 24 hours, with reduced inflammation and viral loads, and better oxygen levels in the blood.
Mount Sinai is collaborating with the New York Blood Center and the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center laboratory in Albany, with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and expects to begin implementing the treatment later this week.
“We are hoping to identify patients who can provide the antibodies,” says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. “We are at the front lines in fighting this pandemic and making discoveries that will help our patients.”
March 26, 2020
How Many Dead For The Dow?
Posted by a friend of mine on Facebook and thought you all might enjoy it...
March 24, 2020
For Trump to say the public health cure is worse than the COVID-19 pandemic, he presents a calculus of acceptable dead versus economic damage. This is opposed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “If it saves one life, I’m happy.” Here is the acceptable death continuum.
So how many people dying is worth a faster economic recovery ?
Trump horrified progressives weighing the economy against people. But Cuomo’s statement of solidarity, while poetic and caring, is an absurd hypothetical. Considering public health intervention’s social cost is not, in itself, irrational. Progressives must walk through the impulse and implication of Trump’s “cure” to persuade an American majority to support difficult public heath measures.
"Trump uses imagery of letting grandma pass without suffering to sell a different policy.”
Our economy does not face death
When is a cure thought worse than a disease? A difficult chemotherapy with little hope to prolong life. An end-of-life resuscitation with vents and feeding tubes with no chance to recover. Trump supporters likely carry these experiences in mind while listening to him, hence the power of his statement. He uses imagery of letting grandma pass without suffering to sell a different policy.
But our economy faces no such death challenge. There is no asteroid impact, no crop-destroying blight, no Yellowstone super-volcano shattering our world catastrophically. We will have access to the same natural resources, food production and labor as we did before COVID-19. Once people can work, the economy will recover over time.
Trump’s concern is the timing of a recovery, rather than its inevitability.
Dying for the Dow
What is Trump’s measure of a strong economy? His lodestar has always been the stock market. He will point to jobs, but always comes home to the Dow. The markets, disturbed by Trump’s March 11 incompetence which expressed starting at March 12 crash, need reassuring. Trump believes simply declaring victory will end the downward spiral. Put the Dow Index on one side of the policy balance scale.
Assume Trump could end social distancing. Specifics can be argued, but this would increase COVID-19 spread and raise deaths this year. Put this death count on the other side of the scale.
My progressive response to Trump’s cure: No sacrifices to a Wall Street Golden Calf. No death for the Dow.
So Trump believes a Dow Index recovering on his timetable is worth a fixed number of additional deaths. He may present it as disbelief in expert opinion or a gut optimism, but this is what he is saying. Evidence is clear that social distancing reduces COVID-19 impact. But Trump’s distrust of all things foreign plus his abiding concern over the stock market recovery drives him to accept more death.
Who benefits ending the cure? Trump benefits. Shareholders benefit. Billionaires benefit. Who does not? The elderly. Recovering cancer patients with compromised immunity. Soon-to-be-sickened returning workers. The Federal Government should help workers shelter in place, keeping food on the table, the lights on, bills paid. Our real economy will recover in time. But Trump would allow fellow Americans to get sick and die for an illusion of the pandemic’s end to boost the stock market now and speed his return to the golf course.
How Many Dead for the Dow? By Eric Hensal, who was a close friend of WCGreen. Copied w/permission.
Acceptable death continuumFor Trump to say the public health cure is worse than the COVID-19 pandemic, he presents a calculus of acceptable dead versus economic damage. This is opposed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “If it saves one life, I’m happy.” Here is the acceptable death continuum.
So how many people dying is worth a faster economic recovery ?
Trump horrified progressives weighing the economy against people. But Cuomo’s statement of solidarity, while poetic and caring, is an absurd hypothetical. Considering public health intervention’s social cost is not, in itself, irrational. Progressives must walk through the impulse and implication of Trump’s “cure” to persuade an American majority to support difficult public heath measures.
"Trump uses imagery of letting grandma pass without suffering to sell a different policy.”
Our economy does not face death
When is a cure thought worse than a disease? A difficult chemotherapy with little hope to prolong life. An end-of-life resuscitation with vents and feeding tubes with no chance to recover. Trump supporters likely carry these experiences in mind while listening to him, hence the power of his statement. He uses imagery of letting grandma pass without suffering to sell a different policy.
But our economy faces no such death challenge. There is no asteroid impact, no crop-destroying blight, no Yellowstone super-volcano shattering our world catastrophically. We will have access to the same natural resources, food production and labor as we did before COVID-19. Once people can work, the economy will recover over time.
Trump’s concern is the timing of a recovery, rather than its inevitability.
Dying for the Dow
What is Trump’s measure of a strong economy? His lodestar has always been the stock market. He will point to jobs, but always comes home to the Dow. The markets, disturbed by Trump’s March 11 incompetence which expressed starting at March 12 crash, need reassuring. Trump believes simply declaring victory will end the downward spiral. Put the Dow Index on one side of the policy balance scale.
Assume Trump could end social distancing. Specifics can be argued, but this would increase COVID-19 spread and raise deaths this year. Put this death count on the other side of the scale.
My progressive response to Trump’s cure: No sacrifices to a Wall Street Golden Calf. No death for the Dow.
So Trump believes a Dow Index recovering on his timetable is worth a fixed number of additional deaths. He may present it as disbelief in expert opinion or a gut optimism, but this is what he is saying. Evidence is clear that social distancing reduces COVID-19 impact. But Trump’s distrust of all things foreign plus his abiding concern over the stock market recovery drives him to accept more death.
Who benefits ending the cure? Trump benefits. Shareholders benefit. Billionaires benefit. Who does not? The elderly. Recovering cancer patients with compromised immunity. Soon-to-be-sickened returning workers. The Federal Government should help workers shelter in place, keeping food on the table, the lights on, bills paid. Our real economy will recover in time. But Trump would allow fellow Americans to get sick and die for an illusion of the pandemic’s end to boost the stock market now and speed his return to the golf course.
March 19, 2020
I did mess up the exposure, but they're still interesting, I think! Hope you enjoy.
A Flowering Tree
I did mess up the exposure, but they're still interesting, I think! Hope you enjoy.
March 1, 2020
Pete Buttigieg Speaks to Voters in Raleigh, North Carolina after polls close.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?469883-1/pete-buttigieg-congratulates-joe-biden-primary-win&fbclid=IwAR01szBHIkTBbYEQy-vTbERrSgX9Hyj3kUVngOdXbLuJb8VLpsgRhdTKySI
March 1, 2020
They are predicting a Biden victory.
The New York Times has a graph up for SC primary results:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/29/us/elections/results-south-carolina-live-forecast.htmlThey are predicting a Biden victory.
February 29, 2020
This week a friend asked me if I could name 15 things that Pete Buttigieg did as Mayor to make the lives of people in South Bend better. This is a fantastic question, because news bites and debates don’t give them time for such questions, and a lot of people are too busy to do the research themselves.
If you are voting in the primaries this upcoming week, and are considering Pete for your vote, please move him to your #1 slot. He is the candidate I believe can unite Americans to win the election in November. He has the smarts, the experience, and the ability to bring people together. Just a sampling of what he brought to South Bend in his 8 years:
1. Began paid Parental Leave for City Employees. 6 weeks for the birth or adoption of a child, with the concept that if we show that it can be done and paid for in our city, it can be done for other municipalities and companies.
2. Increased minimum wage for city employees from $7.25 to $10.10.
3. Began and implemented President Obama’s program “My Brother’s Keeper” in South Bend, designed to pair young at risk men of color with civic leaders to address their challenges and goals, and to serve as positive roll models, decrease gang participation and fill in gaps these young people have in their lives. In South Bend, the partner organization is Beacon Health System (my employer).
4. Began South Bend Youth Task Force designed to let the youth of the community let their voices be part of local government. They are paired with a local leader and work on advocacy in their schools and communities in identifying and working the root causes of conflict at the youth level (think gang violence). As a teen, I was part of something similar in my home community called the Dutchess County Youth Council (in NY) - great experience.
5. Invested in “Shot Spotter” for downtown South Bend, this allows faster response of law enforcement when gunshot sounds are detected, better ability for law enforcement to locate origin of shots, get to the scene faster to help victims, find witnesses and possibly perpetrators.
6. Invested in body cameras for police to both protect the police and offer greater transparency to the community.( It’s too bad the officer this summer didn’t turn his on, as it probably would have vindicated him. However, he didn’t, violated the police policy and that was on him. If you don’t follow policies as a nurse, you can also be found at fault, even if intentions are good. If you don’t chart it it’s not done, etc…I think the local police will use the cameras when directed from now on.)
7. Also to increase transparency between the city and the community and instituted the police “open data hub” database so residents can see crime statistics, case reports, compliments and complaints, etc…
8. Tore down the 1000 homes in 1000 days and was ahead of schedule. Less blight, less places for the bad guys to hide and deal their drugs. Then in the second phase partnered with Notre Dame Law School to offer free legal assistance to residents in those neighborhoods to help them to purchase empty lots next to theirs.
9. For those homes not torn down, created and invested in the Home Repair Program to help low-income residents repair and keep their homes. The program was proposed by a local community leader in direct meetings with Mayor Pete. He was asked for $300K to fund the program, and was able to get the city to commit $650K.
10. Secured funding for the West Side Small Business Resource Center, a grassroots center providing resources for minority entrepreneurs.
11. Smart Streets - South Bend’s downtown was basically a place to drive through to get to somewhere else. Smart Streets was designed to make the city businesses more accessible, and increase foot and bicycle traffic. This is credited with increasing investment and development in downtown with new apartments, new Marriott hotel, new restaurants, etc.. Estimates are $90Million invested after Smart Streets.
12. Smart Sewers - partnered with Notre Dame to develop a new smart sewer system. The city was fined just prior to Mayor Pete’s first term, by the EPA, for violations in wastewater overflow. The Smart Sewer program has reduced overflow by 75%, and is an infrastructure investment to reduce the risk of flooding and of wastewater hitting the river.
13. Invested in the Charles Black Center on the west side. Was asked for $3.5M, but pushed through $4.5M. Part of this was the CLICK Center, aimed at providing the neighborhood with a computer hub and wifi since many low-income homeowners don’t have this for themselves. This is especially important for young people who may have homework assignments etc.. that utilize computers and the internet, allow people to use the internet to search for jobs, etc..
14. West Side Main Streets Plan to revitalize Western Ave and Lincolnway Ave and nearby neighborhood streets, cleaning up the streets, making it pedestrian friendly, bus shelters, new business facades,etc. to make the area pedestrian friendly, safer and increasing traffic to businesses in that area. Great video on Pete’s website from a small business owner in that area, and how this project has increased his business.
15. Parks investment in the city, both on the west and east sides. Safe, clean, and fun city parks promote healthy lifestyles, community involvement and a safer place to live. The new Howard Park Ice Rink was just in the SB Tribune last week as the local businesses in the area are booming with customers going to dinner or shopping before or after their visit to the park. Barnaby’s has a 2 hour wait on weekends!
16. Ignition Park is taking off, revitalizing the area of once abandoned Studebaker Buildings, bringing tech firms and jobs to the area.
17. Had the City apply for federal grant money to assist local homeowners in lead abatement in their homes. The Housing Authority applied and failed to receive such a grant and so the City took over and applied and received the grant the following year. Many of the older homes in South Bend have lead paint and local children are exposed. Income qualified Homeowners can apply for assistance in getting the lead out of their homes.
18. South Bend 3-1-1 was started to help citizens more easily reach out to the government with questions and concerns. This allows citizens quick info and assistance with things like trash pickup, report a pothole, leaf pickup, city job applications, utility bills, etc..
19. Revitalization of the old Studebaker building, bringing in investments and businesses to a building that had been a vacant eyesore for more than 40 years. It’s now a “datahub” and even the South Bend Tribune offices have moved there.
20. Now, to be fair in government and economics, the economy as a whole has been increasing, beginning with President Obama and continuing now (although at a slightly lower rate of growth to be noted). So you are bound to see some good economic numbers. However, I believe the hard work and vision of Mayor Pete has helped to use that growing economy to make a turnaround in South Bend. In prior good economies, the city never saw a rate of growth or improvement like this since Studebaker closed in 1963. There have been over 14,000 new jobs created in South Bend under Mayor Pete with unemployment dropping from over 11% when he took office to 3.9% when he left, median income has increased by almost 30%, and poverty rates have declined. Millions of private dollars have been invested in the city creating new businesses, jobs and apartments. For the first time since 1963 people moved INTO the city rather than OUT. Programs like smart streets, park improvement, small business support and similar programs make South Bend a desirable place to invest and live, and I don’t think this city would have seen these programs and improvements under a different mayor.
21. He has shown up. That’s right, I never ever saw one of our prior mayors in person. Mayor Pete held “Meet the Mayor” events around town where you could go and complain, compliment or share ideas. He showed up and spoke to the South Bend Women’s March (my first ever political rally) in 2017, one of the few mayors in the US to do so, he showed up at the South Bend March for Our Lives after Parkland (first political rally my kids ever attended.) He shows up at baseball games, parades and local events. My husband and I climbed the rock wall right after Pete and Chasten at the Urban Adventure Games, a race run every summer, not started by Pete, but begun during Pete’s term of office, where two team adventurers race off on bikes, (thanks for the bike lanes Mayor Pete!) to local parks and businesses and locations. The race is designed to get you to know your city and highlight places and activities you might not be aware of. He runs the Sunburst Half Marathon, cheers for the Irish, and is an active and visible member of the community!
This is a lengthy description of the good things accomplished by Pete Buttigieg while he was mayor.
This is my personal post from my wall today. You are welcome to copy and paste, you can state it is from a nurse who works in South Bend.This week a friend asked me if I could name 15 things that Pete Buttigieg did as Mayor to make the lives of people in South Bend better. This is a fantastic question, because news bites and debates don’t give them time for such questions, and a lot of people are too busy to do the research themselves.
If you are voting in the primaries this upcoming week, and are considering Pete for your vote, please move him to your #1 slot. He is the candidate I believe can unite Americans to win the election in November. He has the smarts, the experience, and the ability to bring people together. Just a sampling of what he brought to South Bend in his 8 years:
1. Began paid Parental Leave for City Employees. 6 weeks for the birth or adoption of a child, with the concept that if we show that it can be done and paid for in our city, it can be done for other municipalities and companies.
2. Increased minimum wage for city employees from $7.25 to $10.10.
3. Began and implemented President Obama’s program “My Brother’s Keeper” in South Bend, designed to pair young at risk men of color with civic leaders to address their challenges and goals, and to serve as positive roll models, decrease gang participation and fill in gaps these young people have in their lives. In South Bend, the partner organization is Beacon Health System (my employer).
4. Began South Bend Youth Task Force designed to let the youth of the community let their voices be part of local government. They are paired with a local leader and work on advocacy in their schools and communities in identifying and working the root causes of conflict at the youth level (think gang violence). As a teen, I was part of something similar in my home community called the Dutchess County Youth Council (in NY) - great experience.
5. Invested in “Shot Spotter” for downtown South Bend, this allows faster response of law enforcement when gunshot sounds are detected, better ability for law enforcement to locate origin of shots, get to the scene faster to help victims, find witnesses and possibly perpetrators.
6. Invested in body cameras for police to both protect the police and offer greater transparency to the community.( It’s too bad the officer this summer didn’t turn his on, as it probably would have vindicated him. However, he didn’t, violated the police policy and that was on him. If you don’t follow policies as a nurse, you can also be found at fault, even if intentions are good. If you don’t chart it it’s not done, etc…I think the local police will use the cameras when directed from now on.)
7. Also to increase transparency between the city and the community and instituted the police “open data hub” database so residents can see crime statistics, case reports, compliments and complaints, etc…
8. Tore down the 1000 homes in 1000 days and was ahead of schedule. Less blight, less places for the bad guys to hide and deal their drugs. Then in the second phase partnered with Notre Dame Law School to offer free legal assistance to residents in those neighborhoods to help them to purchase empty lots next to theirs.
9. For those homes not torn down, created and invested in the Home Repair Program to help low-income residents repair and keep their homes. The program was proposed by a local community leader in direct meetings with Mayor Pete. He was asked for $300K to fund the program, and was able to get the city to commit $650K.
10. Secured funding for the West Side Small Business Resource Center, a grassroots center providing resources for minority entrepreneurs.
11. Smart Streets - South Bend’s downtown was basically a place to drive through to get to somewhere else. Smart Streets was designed to make the city businesses more accessible, and increase foot and bicycle traffic. This is credited with increasing investment and development in downtown with new apartments, new Marriott hotel, new restaurants, etc.. Estimates are $90Million invested after Smart Streets.
12. Smart Sewers - partnered with Notre Dame to develop a new smart sewer system. The city was fined just prior to Mayor Pete’s first term, by the EPA, for violations in wastewater overflow. The Smart Sewer program has reduced overflow by 75%, and is an infrastructure investment to reduce the risk of flooding and of wastewater hitting the river.
13. Invested in the Charles Black Center on the west side. Was asked for $3.5M, but pushed through $4.5M. Part of this was the CLICK Center, aimed at providing the neighborhood with a computer hub and wifi since many low-income homeowners don’t have this for themselves. This is especially important for young people who may have homework assignments etc.. that utilize computers and the internet, allow people to use the internet to search for jobs, etc..
14. West Side Main Streets Plan to revitalize Western Ave and Lincolnway Ave and nearby neighborhood streets, cleaning up the streets, making it pedestrian friendly, bus shelters, new business facades,etc. to make the area pedestrian friendly, safer and increasing traffic to businesses in that area. Great video on Pete’s website from a small business owner in that area, and how this project has increased his business.
15. Parks investment in the city, both on the west and east sides. Safe, clean, and fun city parks promote healthy lifestyles, community involvement and a safer place to live. The new Howard Park Ice Rink was just in the SB Tribune last week as the local businesses in the area are booming with customers going to dinner or shopping before or after their visit to the park. Barnaby’s has a 2 hour wait on weekends!
16. Ignition Park is taking off, revitalizing the area of once abandoned Studebaker Buildings, bringing tech firms and jobs to the area.
17. Had the City apply for federal grant money to assist local homeowners in lead abatement in their homes. The Housing Authority applied and failed to receive such a grant and so the City took over and applied and received the grant the following year. Many of the older homes in South Bend have lead paint and local children are exposed. Income qualified Homeowners can apply for assistance in getting the lead out of their homes.
18. South Bend 3-1-1 was started to help citizens more easily reach out to the government with questions and concerns. This allows citizens quick info and assistance with things like trash pickup, report a pothole, leaf pickup, city job applications, utility bills, etc..
19. Revitalization of the old Studebaker building, bringing in investments and businesses to a building that had been a vacant eyesore for more than 40 years. It’s now a “datahub” and even the South Bend Tribune offices have moved there.
20. Now, to be fair in government and economics, the economy as a whole has been increasing, beginning with President Obama and continuing now (although at a slightly lower rate of growth to be noted). So you are bound to see some good economic numbers. However, I believe the hard work and vision of Mayor Pete has helped to use that growing economy to make a turnaround in South Bend. In prior good economies, the city never saw a rate of growth or improvement like this since Studebaker closed in 1963. There have been over 14,000 new jobs created in South Bend under Mayor Pete with unemployment dropping from over 11% when he took office to 3.9% when he left, median income has increased by almost 30%, and poverty rates have declined. Millions of private dollars have been invested in the city creating new businesses, jobs and apartments. For the first time since 1963 people moved INTO the city rather than OUT. Programs like smart streets, park improvement, small business support and similar programs make South Bend a desirable place to invest and live, and I don’t think this city would have seen these programs and improvements under a different mayor.
21. He has shown up. That’s right, I never ever saw one of our prior mayors in person. Mayor Pete held “Meet the Mayor” events around town where you could go and complain, compliment or share ideas. He showed up and spoke to the South Bend Women’s March (my first ever political rally) in 2017, one of the few mayors in the US to do so, he showed up at the South Bend March for Our Lives after Parkland (first political rally my kids ever attended.) He shows up at baseball games, parades and local events. My husband and I climbed the rock wall right after Pete and Chasten at the Urban Adventure Games, a race run every summer, not started by Pete, but begun during Pete’s term of office, where two team adventurers race off on bikes, (thanks for the bike lanes Mayor Pete!) to local parks and businesses and locations. The race is designed to get you to know your city and highlight places and activities you might not be aware of. He runs the Sunburst Half Marathon, cheers for the Irish, and is an active and visible member of the community!
Profile Information
Name: PeggyGender: Female
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA
Home country: USA
Current location: At home
Member since: Thu Feb 3, 2005, 02:41 PM
Number of posts: 149,560
