My Coronavirus Diary #103

 

There are now 11,717,827 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the USA. There have been 252,555 deaths from the virus here as well.  On Monday, US COVID-19 cases hit 11 million cases. There were 185,000 new cases just yesterday.




VIRUS NEWS:
Joe Biden has spent these early days as President-elect pleading with Americans to pay attention to the relentless surge of COVID-19 — with deaths averaging more than 1,000 a day in the past week — as Trump continues to ignore the deepening crisis.

Dr. Fauci said that Trump hasn’t attended a coronavirus task force meeting in ‘several months.’

Mike Pence was ripped for ‘refusing to answer a single question’ at first coronavirus briefing in months.

The Trump plan for mass death is unfolding before our eyes, as the president continues to focus on the election and does nothing about the crazy-high and growing higher number of virus cases. 

Trump’s ‘parting gift’ might be what causes him to give up: The worst U.S. winter in 100 years.

Journalists rip Trump’s 12th empty official White House schedule in the past 16 days as COVID-19 infections soar: “Who’s staying in the basement now?”

He's ‘completely checked out!’ A CNN panel pummeled Trump for doing ‘aggressively nothing’ to stop COVID after his election loss.

MSNBC anchor Chuck Todd tore into President Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon for failing to take any action to curb the relentless spread of COVID-19, which is infecting nearly 200,000 Americans per day and has killed more than 250,000 since the outbreak began in March.

A top Trump health official said that he loses sleep over where we are in the pandemic right now. “This is crunch time. This is not crying wolf.”

Chicago's mayor blasted the ‘mind-blowing ignorance’ of Trump and Pence that led to the massive COVID-19 resurgence.

Biden's advisers plan to meet vaccine firms as Trump stalls the handoff.

Biden's team is weighing in on whether or not to retain Deborah Birx. The coronavirus coordinator, respected in public health circles, has been closely associated with Trump.

Joe Biden says ‘more people may die’ if Trump keeps obstructing the transition.

Dr. Fauci says that the pandemic response would be "better" if Biden's transition could begin.

Biden faces a tough choice of whether to back virus lockdowns or leave things open.

A physician has predicted an 'unprecedented surge' in US COVID-19 cases after Thanksgiving.

Dr. Fauci says that he would prefer to be working with Biden’s COVID team.

Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer responded to Trump's top virus guy, Dr. Scott Atlas (who is a radiologist--NOT an epidemiologist): I won't 'be bullied into not following reputable scientists.'

Dr. Sanjay Gupta says that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a humanitarian disaster in the United States.

Approximately 20% of recovering  COVID-19 patients develop mental illnesses within 90 days, a large US study reports.  There's been an increased first-time diagnosis of anxiety, depression and insomnia by two-fold. Researchers also found significantly higher risks of dementia.

The U.S. COVID-19 outbreak is worse than it’s ever been. Why aren’t we acting like it?

The U.S. Surgeon General blames 'pandemic fatigue' for the recent COVID-19 surge.

Dr. Fauci pleaded for trust in the vaccines during the first White House Task Force briefing in months.

Pfizer has accumulated enough safety data on its COVID-19 vaccine and is preparing to file for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, company CEO Albert Bourla said.

Trump falsely claimed credit for Pfizer's vaccine, even though the company did not take US government funding for it.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responded to Trump’s false claim that he won’t be rolling out a COVID vaccination quickly by calling Trump a liar and he reminded everyone that the president’s being investigated for tax fraud.

Moderna's coronavirus vaccine is 94.5% effective, according to company data.

Trump is taking credit for vaccines, but the Operation Warp Speed head says that he’s never really been involved.

Trump says he’s responsible for the coronavirus vaccines but not the 250,000 dead Americans.

The World Health Organization has said that trust in vaccines is vital to halting this pandemic. (I think people will feel a lot better taking one once the snake oil salesman, Trump, is out of office.)

20 million Americans could receive there COVID-19 vaccine in December. Americans can expect that about 25 to 30 million people could be vaccinated each month afterward, said Moncef Slaoui, co-lead of Operation Warp Speed.

Believe it or not, Dolly Parton is partially responsible for a COVID vaccine. She donated $1 million to Vanderbilt for research that helped develop the Moderna vaccine.

States say they need more money to distribute COVID-19 vaccine.

States are rushing to buy ultra-cold freezers to store the Pfizer COVID vaccine. The buying frenzy belies a lack of infrastructure to support a super cold vaccine campaign as specialty freezer manufacturers warn of a months-long wait.

Trump has been fuming that Biden will get the praise he craves for a COVID vaccine.

A COVID-19 vaccine could change how we travel for good.

COVID-19 vaccinations may be required for athletes and fans to attend the Tokyo Olympics.

The World Health Organization advises against remdesivir for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

A California-based company, Lucira Health's new at-home coronavirus test kit works in just 11 minutes.

Sweden’s pro-herd immunity government official Anders Tegnk was dead wrong -- with deadly consequences. He predicted Sweden’s spring wave would prevent a second COVID-19 fall/winter wave. He was ‘Scott Atlas-wrong’. “Herd immunity” arrogance costs lives.

Fox News' Tucker Carlson says that the COVID spike proves that lockdowns didn’t work.

The Secret Service is reportedly disgusted by Trump after more than 130 agents get COVID from MAGA rallies.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who is 87 years old, tweeted that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, after saying earlier he would self isolate after a possible exposure.

COVID-infected GOP Senator Chuck Grassley attended a leadership meeting with Mitch McConnell — one day prior to testing positive for the virus.

Nevada's governor has tested positive for COVID-19 and has canceled his public events.

An Alaskan Republican congressman, who mocked the coronavirus, is now infected.

At least 28 members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 amid the national surge.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

After repeatedly vowing he’d never get COVID-19, right-wing pastor E.W. Jackson reveals he contracted the virus.

Another right-wing evangelical pastor, John Hagee, has been hospitalized for COVID. He infamously said ‘Jesus is my vaccine.’ (Oops! He must have gotten the placebo...)

According to the Associated Press, there is a cluster of some 65 people inside the World HealthOrganization headquarters in Geneva with COVID-19. Last week, a staff member said he was going into self-quarantine due to his exposure to an infected individual. Now, the news agency says, an outbreak has spread throughout the building.

More than 900 Mayo Clinic staff in the Midwest have contracted COVID-19 in past 2 weeks.

Small towns are the new face of COVID-19 pandemic as US passes 250,000 deaths.
"We will have a tremendous stimulus package immediately after the election," Trump said four days before Election Day. So where is it?

Congress headed home for Thanksgiving without a pandemic relief deal. But staff talks have begun about adding relief to a must-pass spending bill.

Thousands of cars formed huge lines to collect food from a food bank as the pandemic-created economic downturn continues in Texas.

12 million Americans will lose their jobless benefits the day after Christmas unless Congress acts.

Yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is pulling the plug on funding for emergency Federal Reserve programs intended to help businesses as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in the United States.
Anti-maskers: A group of people whining so much over something so little.

Newly-elected Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, known for espousing conspiratorial and bigoted views and being pro-QANON, is pushing back against House rules about masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teens crashed an anti-mask mandate protest in Canada. 'We were here to send the right message,' 11th grade student, Elizah Orell, said.

Why every state should adopt a mask mandate, in 4 charts. (The second one pretty much sums it up.) The latest research suggests mask mandates help control the spread of COVID-19.

After growing COVID 19 numbers in the state, North Dakota's governor changed his stance and issued a mask mandate.

A woman was led away in handcuffs after going on a maskless rant inside of Costco.

A Lyft passenger had a racist meltdown after getting booted for refusing to wear a mask.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz called Senator Sherrod Brown a “complete ass” for wearing a mask.

Photos have been circulating of Mike Pence, the head of the coronavirus task force, being the only maskless person in the room during a vaccine hearing.

Masks may yield a ‘Goldilocks dose of coronavirus’ when around COVID.

A Wisconsin supreme court justice refused to recuse herself in an anti-mask case, despite receiving $20,000 from the GOP plaintiff.
New York City have closed again as COVID-19 cases surge.

1,000,000 kids have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Pediatricians are concerned. Most kids don’t get seriously sick with COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe from the illness.

Ohio announced 4,568 more K-12 student and staff coronavirus cases statewide.
Hospitals are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 and Trump has left it to the states to solve.

Hospitals across the US lack beds or equipment to treat COVID-19 patients.

The most precious resource the U.S. health-care system has in the struggle against COVID-19 isn’t some miracle drug. It’s the expertise of its health-care workers—and they are exhausted.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare workers are battling a disorder they've never faced before.

A Wisconsin doctor says that health care workers are 'tapped out' amid coronavirus fall surge.

A nurse in El Paso, Texas shared an unbelievably horrifying story of what she has been experiencing.

A South Dakota ER nurse said her COVID-19 patients often “don’t want to believe that COVID is real.” “Their last dying words are, ‘This can’t be happening. It’s not real.’ And when they should be... Facetiming their families, they’re filled with anger and hatred.”

'This is just the beginning,' said a 28-year-old emergency room doctor, sick with COVID-19 as he pleaded with the public. "It does not just affect the old and frail; it affects all of us and we are all at risk for getting sick. Please wear your mask."

Hospital staffs ‘are dreading’ what’s coming as coronavirus pandemic in U.S. enters uncharted territory.
COVID-19 is reaching the last coronavirus-free nations on Earth.

Black, Hispanic and Native American people infected with Covid-19 are about four times more likely to be hospitalized than others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There has been another major coronavirus outbreak among the crew of a US Navy warship.

When noted epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, a one-time South Dakotan, sees that his former state is home to one of the worst COVID-19 surges in the world, it's personal.

Former Republican Representative from South Carolina, Trey Gowdy, on Monday urged Fox News viewers to “ignore” the COVID-19 rules put in place by local and state leaders and to hold holiday gatherings.

A Utah family shared their tragic story as the state buckles under the surge of coronavirus cases.

Prison inmates are having to help move bodies as they pile up at El Paso Medical Examiner’s office.

A newlywed couple have been identified after their wedding turned into a COVID-19 superspreader event. (And all I got them was a toaster...)

A pregnant woman battling coronavirus in Canada had to go on a ventilator in an induced coma. Doctors then delivered her baby via emergency c-section. The baby is healthy. Mom is still on the ventilator and doesn't know the baby has been born.

A Madera, CA COVID-19 survivor finally saw her newborn baby after one month.

Ahead of the holiday travel season, states on the West Coast are urging a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering from out of state.

Trump’s COVID advisor, radiologist Scott Atlas, urges Americans to visit the elderly for Thanksgiving because it may be their ‘final’ one. Atlas is said to be on the "outs" with other task force advisers,

Don't rely on a negative test result to see your family for Thanksgiving. If you think a negative test result means you don't have coronavirus, you could be wrong. 

Thanksgiving in Canada was on October 11th this year. The chart below shows the rise in coronavirus cases in Canada after their Thanksgiving holiday.
He has ‘blood on his hands’: Mary Trump says her uncle must be ‘held to account.’ The president’s niece said he is “directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.”

Tyson Foods managers allegedly bet money on how many workers would contract COVID-19.

'Masks are the new condoms': How swingers are adapting in New Orleans amid the coronavirus.

An intubated COVID-19 patient played the violin in the ICU to thank health care workers.

A Texas boy lost both of his parents to COVID-19. His family is asking the community to help celebrate his 5th birthday.

An Alabama sorority got an official blessing for a 600-person farm party just in time for the holidays.

A tale of two productions: Here is a first-hand account of what it is like working on a film set during COVID.

The mysteries of COVID smell loss have finally yielded some answers.

Got your passport? Here is a list of the dwindling number of countries that are still welcoming US citizens as the pandemic continues to rage.

Delta Air Lines says it will keep blocking middle seats through March 2021. The move comes as other airlines are ending similar policies and gearing up for a potential onslaught of air travelers during the busy holiday rush.

United Airlines began free transatlantic coronavirus testing pilot program.

The CDC recommends that Americans should not travel for Thanksgiving and has posted updated guidelines for safely celebrating the holiday.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Walmart understands a Thanksgiving dinner may be hard to achieve this year. So, the company has teamed up with Ibotta, a technology company, to save customers money and give away free Thanksgiving dinners.

The coronavirus pandemic won't stop NORAD from tracking Santa this year.

In the U.K., Santa's  helpers are training for virtual chats with kids all over the world this pandemic-stricken Christmas:



GLOBAL:

There have been 56,901,880 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 1,360,408 deaths from the virus globally.

Europe must unite to beat coronavirus. The European Union needs a common strategy on testing and tracing, quarantining and other areas of public health. Europe also has a type of tier system.

Amid the rampant virus surge across Europe, Paris hospitals are finally beginning to see signs of hope. 

Italy wasted the sacrifices of the first wave, experts say.

After a devastating second wave, Australia's Victoria recently recorded two weeks of zero new COVID cases. However, the country has scrapped plans to allow foreign students back in.

Three new cases of COVID-19 have been found in New Zealand and another case is suspected.

Slovakia to ease COVID restrictions as it hails mass testing success. (Why can't we do this?)

Austria plans to initiate mass testing like in Slovakia at the end of the lockdown. Last Monday was the last day of school with normal attendance. There were 5,665 new coronavirus cases on Sunday.

Turkey is facing a surge as its COVID-19 death rate returns to April levels.

Delhi set a new COVID-19 deaths record amid India's third wave of the virus. Delhi reported 104 deaths and 7,053 infections – a daily record – as the capital city suffers from the worst phase in the pandemic.

Mexico City closes down bars and puts limits on eateries as virus cases continue to rise there.

South Korea's daily COVID cases are above 200. The country has started implementing fines for those not wearing face masks.



STATES:
Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a '3-week pause' to stop the spread of the virus that includes ending in-person dining, closing movie theatres and more.

The coronavirus is ‘out of control’ in Alabama, warns a health official.

Health experts say Iowa's governor's new Covid-19 order is 'weak.'

New Mexico ordered a two-week lockdown amid COVID-19 surges.

Utah’s governor won’t limit Thanksgiving gatherings as the state reported 18 coronavirus deaths and 3,968 new cases yesterday.

Governor Inslee of Washington announced several statewide restrictions to help curb the spread of coronavirus. These restrictions go went effect last Monday and go until Dec. 14.

Oregon had its highest-ever number of new cases at 1,225 with 20 deaths yesterday.


CALIFORNIA:
Governor Gavin Newsom is considering a curfew as California COVID-19 cases spike and 40 counties move to more restrictive tiers.

Governor Newsom ordered a curfew for most California counties starting Saturday. The curfew lasts 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Los Angeles had a record 5,031 new cases of the virus just yesterday. It had already been trending at 4,000 plus for a while.

California Medical Association officials were among the guests seated next to Governor Gavin Newsom at a top California political operative’s opulent birthday dinner at the French Laundry restaurant this month. Troublesome details continue to emerge.



LOCAL:
Fresno, Kings, and Merced counties have been pushed back to the purple tier as COVID-19 cases rise.

Valley hospitals are seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients as cases surge locally.

Change your Thanksgiving plans now, Valley officials urge families. 'The last thing you want is to have a Thanksgiving holiday turn into a coronavirus cluster.'

Tulare County is offering COVID-19 testing incentives for employees to help slow spread.

Kings County and Fresno County supervisors won’t enforce stricter COVID guidelines  now that we've turned back to the purple tier.

Fresno Unified has an update on when students will return to in-person learning.

There are more than 500 cases of COVID-19 among inmates at the Corcoran prison - that's about 11% of the prison population.

Fresno's places of worship plan online services for the holiday season. Two Fresno churches plan to hold indoor services this weekend despite the county moving to the 'purple tier.' Now that Fresno County is back in the 'purple tier', only outdoor religious gatherings are permitted, according to state guidelines.

Merced County issued a list of facilities that have COVID-19 outbreaks. Officials released the list on Wednesday, which included five schools and several senior centers.

Restaurants prepared for cold winter with new coronavirus restrictions.

Local entertainment centers are severely feeling the impact of COVID-19.

The pandemic has changed Black Friday shopping locally.

A planned holiday drive-in theater at River Park has been postponed due to COVID-19.


POST-ELECTION:
Joe Biden is approaching 80 million votes in an historic victory. Donald Trump has also notched a high-water mark of the most votes for a losing candidate.

Biden maintained his lead over Trump after Georgia's recount ended.

CNN's international correspondents explain what a Joe Biden presidency means for US relations around the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron calls Biden's victory a chance to ‘make our planet great again.’

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has dumped Trump and has warmly welcomed President-elect Joe Biden.

Election loser Trump should quit and ‘not be embarrassing’, the Czech president says.

Trump has been a kind of awakening.’ The European Union’s top diplomat says that Europe’s relationship with U.S. is forever changed.

Student debt cancellation is already in focus amid President-elect Biden's transition.

Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania has now eclipsed President Trump's winning margin from 2016. If mail ballots had been counted first -- not last -- the trajectory of the entire election would've looked different.

Biden's popular vote lead is the highest margin in 20 years.

Trump has been taking his election loss like a defiant dictator.

Joe Biden's DIY transition has proceeded without Trump assistance.

Trump is now laughably accusing Stacey Abrams and Georgia’s GOP governor of conspiring against him. (Give it a rest, Tubby.)

Trump’s election fraud claims are blowing up ‘in spectacular fashion’ as judges humiliate his witnesses.

Judges appear increasingly frustrated with Trump's legal claims about the 2020 election.

A Georgian GOP election official was ‘stunned’ after Lindsey Graham tried to pressure him to throw out thousands of ballots.

The Georgia elections chief fired back at Trump over claims about the recount process.

Republicans have asked the high court to block all absentee ballots that arrived in Pennsylvania after Election Day. The Supreme Court on Monday took no action on the case.

The Trump official blocking Biden's transition is apparently looking for her next job, according to a new report . Good luck, honey.

The largest Nevada county has certified its presidential election results for Biden.

Trump’s alternate reality is crumbling as Marco Rubio calls Joe Biden the President-elect.

Trump National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien promised Joe Biden that he would provide a smooth and professional transition.

Here is a timeline of what happens between now and Inauguration Day 2021.
Senator Martha McSally finally conceded to Democrat Mark Kelly in Arizona. She also has said “Buh-bye” to the Senate.

Character and honesty count, but not to the new QAnon-loving House Representative from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Georgia Democrats have accused Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler of violating Senate ethics rules by soliciting campaign contributions on federal ground.

Georgian Republican Senator David Perdue has declined to debate Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff ahead of the January 5 runoff election. In an earlier debate, Ossoff crucified Perdue who had no response to the things Ossoff asked him about. 

Lindsey Graham admitted to trying to meddle with Nevada's and Arizona's vote counts in addition to Georgia's.

Calls mount for Lindsey Graham to resign over alleged interference in Georgia's recount.

Lindsey Graham is in serious trouble after a second witness corroborates the claim he pressured Georgia's secretary of state.

Lindsey Graham acknowledged that he's not seeking an investigation into states that Trump won. He said "they are not in question" so it isn't an issue for him.

The mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, said that Donald Trump would ‘eat his own children’ if he found it prudent. She hopes Georgia voters will be “disgusted” by the president’s post-election behavior when it comes to the runoffs.

The Department Of Justice's probe of Attorney General Bill Barr’s client was halted a week after his AG nomination.

Democratic leaders, under pressure from moderates and progressives, are considering ways to block Republican “gotcha” votes.

Josh Hawley, the Republican Senator from Missouri who has railed against "coastal elites" doesn't actually live in Missouri anymore. He uses his sister's address in the Ozarks, but he lives in Virginia.

The lawyer who helped win the Bush v. Gore election battle in 2000 says he believes the election is 'over' and Biden has won.

John Bolton said, "I’ve been through five presidential transitions...and every day that he delays under the pretense that he's simply asking for his legal remedies ultimately is to the country's disadvantage."

Mitt Romney mocked Trump’s voter fraud claims: ‘Normally you find evidence’ first.

Europe's Trump-like Populists loved Trump, but they are now dropping him hard.
Yes, the election was rigged — but by the Republicans.

The Trump campaign has been suffering an ‘explosion of infighting’ and ‘chaos’ while Rudy Giuliani took over the legal team

Trump told the Washington Examiner (the right-wing rag that no one reads...unlike the Washington Post) that he will overturn the results of the election in ‘probably two weeks.’

Trump is trying to steal the election by ‘casting enough doubt on vote-counting in big, democratic cities.’

Trump fired cybersecurity official Chris Krebs who debunked the GOP lies about election fraud.

Trump asked aides if he could pursue a wild plan to replace the Electoral College with loyalists who would ignore the vote.

Delusional White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said last Friday that Trump ‘clearly’ won a week after Trump lost the election.

Kaleigh McEnany (who really needs to shut up already and start getting her resume together) said that President Trump will attend the inauguration for his imaginary second term.

CNN’s Brianna Keilar exposed the Trump propaganda trick that just doesn’t stack up.

Republicans face setbacks in the courts as Trump's law firm steps down

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Trump’s only election lawsuit win.

Lawyers for the Trump campaign have dropped a lawsuit seeking a review of all ballots cast in Arizona on Election Day after realizing the result in the state couldn't be overcome.

In one day, nine cases meant to attack President-elect Joe Biden's win in key states were denied or dropped, adding up to a brutal series of losses for President Trump, who's already lost and refuses to let go.

The Trump campaign abandoned part of its legal challenge to the Pennsylvania election results. The allegation that 682,479 mail-in and absentee ballots were illegally processed without its representatives watching has been dropped.

CNN's Jake Tapper trampled Trump’s ‘embarrassing’ legal efforts and called his team the ‘gang that couldn’t sue straight.’

A federal judge has rejected a request from the Trump campaign to postpone a hearing on its Pennsylvania election case after three lawyers from the campaign withdrew from the case.

Trump's 2020 chances are '100 percent dead' after four swing state lawsuits are dropped.

Lawsuits that tried to disrupt Biden's wins in four states have been withdrawn.

The Trump campaign has abandoned an attempt to sue a tiny Wisconsin TV station over an anti-Trump ad.

Michigan Republicans bragged about blocking the certification of election results in Detroit.

‘The truth won,’ said Michigan Secretary of State as she praised the state's election certification for Joe Biden as Trump ranted on Twitter.

Republicans in a key Michigan county tried to rescind election certification under pressure from the GOP.

Trump has invited the two members of the Michigan State GOP to the White House for a meeting regarding their state’s election security in the attempts to sway the vote in his favor.

An Arizona judge threw out the Republican party's attempt to delay certification of the vote in Maricopa County.

Rudy Giuliani, representing President Trump's campaign, delivered a sweeping broadside against mail-in voting in a federal courtroom as part of the campaign's long-shot case to block Pennsylvania from certifying votes.

Rudy Giuliani was ripped in court for living in a ‘fantasy world.’

Rudy Giuliani appeared to commit perjury while trying to represent Trump in Pennsylvania. In his petition to represent Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, Rudy Giuliani swore that he was in good standing in all courts, but he isn’t. He has been suspended from the DC Bar for non payment of dues.

Rudy Giuliani alleged a vast, international conspiracy to steal the election from Trump. The theories are comically contrived, but the consequences could be serious. The whole press conference was a three-ring circus, complete with running hair dye, a re-enactment of a scene from MY COUSIN VINNY,  crazy accusations and looney conspiracy theories. 

Trump paid $3 million for a recount of votes in two Wisconsin counties, Milwaukee and Dane, overnight Tuesday and planned to submit the required paperwork to trigger the recount on Wednesday, the campaign said in a statement. (That's coming out of his pocket, right? And not the tax payers'?)

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court rejects Trump’s ballot tampering claims.

A state judge in Pennsylvania has rejected an attempt by the Trump campaign to throw out more than 2,000 absentee ballots for technical reasons, adding to several losses the campaign has faced in the last week.

The Trump campaign dismissed its own Michigan lawsuit in the latest courtroom flop.

Here is a first-person account of a Detroit poll challenger and how the GOP came to create havoc.

Why Donald Trump's legal strategy is dangerous even if it's likely to fail.

The Trump campaign has ended the "voter fraud" hotline it established last week, so people could report alleged instances of fraud after it was flooded with prank calls.

THE DAILY SHOW's Trevor Noah has brilliantly pointed out that Trump is making a miracle out of his election loss. “He took one election loss and turned it into a thousand more losses.”
Ivanka Trump is said to be gearing up to move back to New York City, where she hopes to ‘reclaim her socialite status.’

Jared and Ivanka Trump will face a ‘rude awakening’ when they return to New York City. Their social lives are expected to take a nose dive.

The New York Times suggests Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner move to North Korea or Saudi Arabia instead of back to New York City.

‘Boy did we screw up!’ A Right-wing megadonor admits that he made the GOP toxic — and wrecked the country.

Donald Trump's and Kellyanne Conway’s ‘landslide’ boasts from 2016 have come back to haunt them.

Trump is going out the way he came in: A loser, a liar and a cheat.

Trump stayed in his bedroom and pouted instead of greeting newly elected House Republicans.

Almost nothing President Trump is saying about the election is true. Here's a preliminary breakdown of just some of the false claims he made between last Friday and the following Monday morning.

Trump’s national security adviser warned his staff that if they are around Trump to ‘not even mention Biden’s name.’
Trump has reportedly been asking about pardons for himself, his family, and more.

Trump is facing ‘subpoenas and seizures’ following the end of his presidency, an ex-Manhattan prosecutor says.

President Trump will return to just being plain, old Donald Trump in January. And in case you forgot, there are at least a half dozen ongoing cases involving him — and placing him in various levels of legal jeopardy — still pending.

Former FBI Director Andrew McCabe has revealed that President Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia is far more clandestine than what has been disclosed to the public, and that the information, which McCabe said is “classified at the absolute highest level,” has been kept secret to protect American intelligence sources.

The Trump family is facing a cash crunch as lenders say they are wary of dealing with the ousted president.

Forbes has a detailed article on how Donald Trump shifted kids-cancer charity money into his business.

Scottish Members of Parliament has once more called for investigations into Trump’s businesses. “This is not someone who inspires confidence in sound finances and sound business.”
Trump is plotting a ‘four year campaign of vengeance’ after leaving the Oval Office. ("Oooo, aren't we afraid," cried no one...and then yawned.)

President Trump will enact a series of hardline policies during his final 10 weeks to cement his legacy on China, senior administration officials with direct knowledge of his plans have said.

President Trump's order of a further withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq is the latest foreign policy move on a growing list in his final weeks in office that are meant to limit President-elect Joe Biden's options before he takes office.

Last week, President Donald Trump asked senior aides what possibilities he had for an offensive strike on Iran's primary nuclear site, The New York Times reported Monday.

Trump has a ‘narcissistic injury’ from losing the election. Mental health experts are warning about what is coming next.

A top ethics expert compared Trump's appointee blocking Biden's transition to a drunk driver who ‘crushes’ kids.

‘Bad boy for life,’ Trump might leave the White House without shaking Biden’s hand. (But just think of all of the money on hand sanitizer Biden will save if this happens!)
Tucker Carlson apologized for claiming a 96-year-old Georgian voter was a dead man.

Fox’s Lou Dobbs had a full-on election meltdown and demanded to know why Republicans don’t “just say we’re not going to accept the results of this election.”

Joe Biden won the election — but Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel  told Fox News that there was a ‘massive Trump wave.’

Fox News' Jeanine Pirro's had a tantrum over Biden's win: 'Don't you dare ask us to just accept it and move on!'

A Fox News reporter ripped Rudy Giuliani’s lie-filled press conference: ‘So much of what he said simply wasn’t true.’

CNN's Jake Tapper said that Rudy Giuliani’s ‘hot mess of a press conference’ was a ‘plot to disenfranchise millions.’

MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace bashed Fox News for creating an alternate reality that endangers Americans.

MSNBC's Joy Reid urges Donald Trump to resign and pout on his own time.

Rudy Giuliani seethed in anger on Fox News after Trump admitted Biden won: 'You don't get the right to call it.'

Trump rage-tweeted at Fox News after a host embarrassed the president’s spokesperson into an on-air meltdown.
Eric Trump (Not the brightest tool in the Trump shed) can’t accept that rally attendance and votes are different.

Echoing President Trump, a Pennsylvanian voter insisted the election was "rigged" but, when asked what she found to be most unfair about the election, she paused before saying, "I don't know." She then expressed disbelief that President-elect Biden could have won.

CNN’s Jim Acosta said, “On January 20th, Trump goes back to being a crackpot on the internet.”

Trump has been said to be eyeing a 2024 for president again. Trump’s return in 2024 will ‘break the back of the Republican Party,’ an ex-GOP lawmaker has warned.

Republicans must put all Americans and reality ahead of fealty to Trump.

Chuck Todd said that 'every single Republican senator' refused to appear on MEET THE PRESS on Sunday.
Trump said he might ‘stop by’ at Saturday's MAGA rally in Washington DC in a tweet that was immediately flagged by Twitter.

Thousands of President Trump's supporters of all stripes, including right-wing and far-right groups, rallied in Washington, DC, on Saturday to protest the election results.

‘I’m sorry, that’s not true’: CNN reporter cut off a pro-Trump protester as she was spouting election conspiracy theories.

A Million MAGA marcher said that cops should have stood on George Floyd’s neck ‘longer.’

Million MAGA March? Not so much... But that didn't stop the White House from sharing a totally faked photo of it.

Fox News reported that Trump supporters were hit with fireworks at a restaurant after the MAGA march. A suspect was arrested. It was one of more than 20 arrests made in connection with the violence that ensued hours after Saturday's "MAGA Million March."

Ivanka Trump threw a fit and falsely claimed that the media doesn’t cover violence against Conservatives.

Steve Bannon said that last weekend’s MAGA demonstrations show that Republicans “control the streets.” Jeepers! Now they are starting turf wars? 

Trump seems to honestly believe that protests can overturn elections.
President Trump acknowledged Biden's election win (sort of), but says he will not concede.

Trump conceded to Biden, then delusionally retracted his concession.

Giuliani says that Trump’s ‘concession’ was ‘sarcastic;’ and then he spouted provable false conspiracies.

"#25thAmendment" (which is the Amendment to the Constitution that involves removing a president if he is mentally or physically incapable of performing his duties) is trending on Twitter as Trump keeps insisting he won the election. 

Super Conservative Ann Coulter on Donald Trump: “I’m glad he lost.

John Bolton said that GOP voters know Trump lost because they 'are not as stupid as the Democrats think.'

Rudy Giuliani melted down on Fox and admitted he has no election fraud evidence. It's just a hunch that there was fraud.

John Bolton urged Republicans to publicly reject Trump’s ‘baseless’ voter fraud claims.
QAnon delusion has ‘shapeshifted’ into brand new political conspiracy theories after Biden’s win.

This phenomena explains what’s wrong with Trump’s supporters’ brains.

Even when Trump leaves the White House, his lie machine will be a powerful force to deal with.

Utah lawmakers have been accused of seeking to legalize drivers running over street protesters.

Steven Bannon has called for American ‘patriots’ to fight and die for Donald Trump. 

Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg refuses to terminate Steve Bannon’s Facebook account despite Bannon making death threats.

A former Trump insider has predicted that Trump will ask his supporters to take up arms and defend him at all costs when he’s defeated.

White supremacists are behind the majority of US domestic terror attacks in 2020, a new report says. Congratulations, MAGA.

Far-right militia groups have threatened violence if the election is not overturned and have warned government agencies to stay out of the way.

New filings in the case involving the failed kidnapping plot of Governor Gretchen Whitmer claim there was a Plan B the militiamen had drawn up, that involved a takeover of the Michigan capitol building by 200 combatants who would stage a week-long series of televised executions of public officials.
 

Hate-motivated crimes surged 21 percent during Trump’s presidency.
Trump is refusing to concede defeat to Joe Biden because he doesn’t want to look like a loser and mess with his brand.

It's ‘starting to get embarrassing’ say some of Trump's loyalists when they admit his attempted coup is floundering.

A Republican mayor in Michigan slammed Trump's 'temper tantrums' — and accused him of 'deliberately lying to Americans.’

Republicans are apparently now talking about usurping the election and putting Trump back in office.

Evangelicals’ stronghold on American politics may finally be over — thanks to Trump.

A right-wing pastor says that ballots and dead people are ‘crying out’ over voter fraud.

Televangelist Pat Robertson screamed 'Venezuela stole the election from Trump!'

Pro-Trump fans have organized a march in Georgia to protest the election results. Below is the ad for the march. Notice that the state of Georgia is represented in blue (i.e. Democrat) and that, in the smaller print, Georgia is misspelled as "Georiga."
A Twitter user uprising demands that Trump finally get kicked off the platform.

A Watergate lawyer says that Joe Biden should pardon Trump — and that Democrats should be happy about it. (Uh...NO!!!!)

'Substantial evidence' has been cited as a Mueller prosecutor explains why Biden could be forced to prosecute Trump.

Democrat Representative Bill Pascrell says that the Trump regime “must be charged for their crimes.”

The only way to ‘heal’ America is to investigate and prosecute Donald Trump.

Republicans start to relent: 'It looks like it will be President Biden.' 

In 2016, Trump's legal adviser, Jenna Ellis, called him an 'idiot' and said his supporters didn't care about 'facts or logic'.

Ex-Secret Service agents pondered how to drag Trump from the White House if he refuses to leave.

Michelle Obama said that Trump’s racist lies about her husband put her family in danger.

Ivanka Trump went on social media to congratulate her father on Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and got absolutely destroyed. Of course, they would try to take credit for this.

Ivanka's ex-best friend spilled the beans on her unflagging awfulness. She even allegedly blamed her farts on classmates. That makes sense as she seems to throw everyone under the bus. 

When Ivanka Trump tries to rebrand, don’t forget she sold us out.

Trump canceled his annual plan to spend Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago, as aides describe a 'bunker mentality' at the White House.

A source revealed Donald Trump’s alleged go-to 'pick up line'. Social media couldn’t hold back its gag reflex.

Lara Trump is looking to run for US Senate in North Carolina in 2022.

Trump ‘has told aides he’ll announce 2024 candidacy as soon as Biden certified winner.’



CREATIVITY:
It's the Joe Biden and Donald Trump duet no one asked for, the clever HIT THE ROAD, TRUMP:

This is a musical review of some of the odder aspects (on the Republican side) of the recent election:

Here is another musical remix of some of the crazier aspects of the recent election:

Puddles Pity Party, the singing clown, is back with a new video, COME CRY WITH ME...which sounds a bit like a sad James Bond title song at the chorus and features footage of a crying Kevin Costner (!?!).

Something new from Randy Rainbow? Yes, please:

The 80s band Yello ("OH, YEAH!") is back with another unusual, instrumental piece, ZEPHYR CALLING PART 1:

And. more Yello with something called WAY DOWN:

And still one more Yello piece (which is my fave o' the bunch), MEET MY ANGEL (featuring someone named Fifi Rong):

This is a bit much, but here is BORAT DANCE PARTY WITH FANS. I skipped around...

'WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE’ is a parody that sums up the Trump presidency in 3 minutes: 

Still in a spooky Halloween mood? There is an 82-minute fan film anthology supercut ‘NEVER HIKE ALONE: THE GHOST CUT’ based on the FRIDAY THE 13TH movie series that has recently posted online.

Someone has created a Karen action figure. (It's maskless, of course.)

And...because the president is refusing to concede, here are more new political ads:







MAIL:
I didn't have much mail this week, but that's okay. I did have a nice little note from Kathy in San Francisco, though.
"I think there's roughly 50 days left with him," she said of Trump. "I can't wait to get him out of there and get President Biden in! Yeah!

"I'm still in jammies. I'm doing a very nice, very quiet 'Me Day' and loving it! Travis (her husband) is at work. I want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great evening! Travis says Hi!"


I've been working on Christmas cards. I was about to start some to my former co-workers at The Fresno Bee...when I suddenly remembered I didn't know where to send them. The last time I talked to anyone there, they had just moved to a new location. With the pandemic, everyone was working from home. So, I sent a note one former co-worker, Josh. This is his reply:

"We have no building anymore," he said. "We're working from home until July, at least."

That was a shocker. I asked him for a bit of clarification, since I knew they had moved to a new building a while back.

"We had been in the building for one week when the pandemic hit," he said. "They paid the lease through September and then cut their losses. So now, we're working from home indefinitely."

I asked how they did things, conducted interviews, etc. He said:

"Phone and email mostly. Zoom stuff for press conferences and the like, though I have had to go out to cover the election and the wildfires and some other things."

Wow! How things have changed since I was there...



ME:

In the earliest hours of Friday morning, before I went to bed, I emailed Craig, the guy who is coordinating the treatment for my C.I.D.P. with my insurance, the home health nurse, etc. It had been nearly two weeks since we had spoken, and I was wondering if there was any word on when it would start. 

On Friday morning when I got up, this reply was waiting for me:

"I am terribly sorry," he said. "I must not have hit send on my email to you a couple days ago but I did want to let you know that we are still working on the authorization with your health plan. We have been told a determination will be made by Monday (11/16), but our Intake Assistants call to check on the status everyday so as soon we hear anything new, I will let you know!

"I know you want to get started as soon as possible, so as soon as the authorization is approved, I will get everything moving behind the scenes as well."

It was disheartening, but at least I knew things were moving forward and eventually it would happen.

Late that afternoon, I got a call from Temecula. California. It was Craig. He was calling to tell me that he had good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that my insurance approved my initial treatment. The not-so-good news was that I have to see the doctor right after the first set of five IVIG infusions so he can see how I am doing, let my insurance company know, so they can authorize the next treatment a month later. At $30,000 a dose times five doses for the treatment--I'm glad they approved it--even if we have to jump through hoops each time.

Craig said the nursing coordinator would call. She did, not too much later. She said I should be receiving the IVIG on Tuesday and that my treatment would start Wednesday! Hooray! She told me that each treatment--not just the first--is five doses of the IVIG. Zowie! That is crazy expensive! She said that after the third treatment (which should be in January) I should be able to tell if it is working or not. 

Oh man---thank goodness this is finally happening. I am not ready for a wheelchair just yet, but I am getting wobblier by the day. That night, as I was getting ready for a shower, I stumbled into the bathroom wall and knocked the towel bar off. UGH! 

The reason I was getting cleaned up is because my former co-worker Alicia and her boyfriend, Colin, had made plans to meet for dinner. I hadn't seen Alicia (or anyone else for the most part, really), since my unexpected departure in late March. I was so thrilled that she had thought of me and that we did this.

We went to an open air place called Starving Artist's Bistro. 
It was the most marvelous time. It had been so long since I had seen Alicia, that I wasn't sure we'd have much to talk about. But we fell into gabbing like no time had passed at all. It was such a delight to see them. It was one of the best nights of recent memory. I really had such a wonderful time.
My mom had come to town on Thursday. We had just sort of had a lazy Friday, but on Saturday she wanted to get busy with the reason she had come to town. One of her rentals in Clovis is vacant, and she wanted to see what repairs the place needed. After stopping at the house, we headed out for a lunch date. But on the way, we stopped in the tiny burg of Minkler to visit the Minkler Cash Store. Although I had gone with my friend Erich a few weeks before, it had been closed. On Saturday, it was open and we were going to get to go in.
At the entrance, there was a basket of fresh persimmons, 3 for $1. Most were the baking kind of persimmon, but there were a few of the eating kind--which I snagged.
Just as we were gathering the persimmons, the proprietress stuck her head out the door and offered us a bag to put the fruit in.

We ventured inside and...  I don't know what I was expecting, but I had long heard that the Minkler Cash Store was well worth checking out. And it was interesting, alright.
It is hard to describe... On the one hand, it is an old-fashioned store with a lot of old-fashioned fixtures and a cool old-fashioned vibe.
On the other hand, it was very cluttered. The old mingled with the new. It was part new retail, part used thrift store. 
And there was just so much stuff, stuck in every conceivable location, every nook and cranny, it was difficult to take it all in.
In addition to persimmons, Mom found an old Big Cherry candy she used to enjoy as a girl and I scored some postcards (that I'll have to delay sending until after I finish my Christmas cards).
There were several locals sitting at an old bar area just hanging out. I wasn't sure if the space had, at one time, been an actual bar or a lunch counter. Mom thought it had probably been a bar. We didn't see where they'd have possibly had a cooking area, so she is probably right.
It was an interesting place. However, it was clearly a right-wing loyal (there was a book by Devin Nunes prominently on display) and the proprietress was maskless and there were religious says and symbols all about. Would I go back? Perhaps...but it wouldn't be high on my list.

Following the Minkler Cash Store, we continued on a short distance to the School House Restaurant & Tavern. Although Erich and I had eaten there a few weeks before (and neither of us had ever been prior to that), shockingly my mom had never been either---so this trip was for her.
Mom wanted to eat on the patio due to the increased coronavirus threat. However, she did want to check out the main dining room, which had served as the old Frankwood School's auditorium/cafeteria back in the day.
She was particularly impressed with the little stage and the old-fashioned, original (?) curtains.
Keeping the school theme going outside was a little harder, although there was this cool old locker on display.
The patio was okay--although the day was a tad cool. I had the bland Steak Cobb Salad. Mom had the Cheesesteak Sandwich, which she raved about. It came with garlic fries. We both had a Summer Camp cocktail--but it was weak and lacking much alcohol. 
The School House has a reputation for being a fancy dining establishment. However, the drinks were weak. My salad was merely edible. When we had been before, Erich had not been thrilled with his meatloaf and my duck stroganoff had been okay...but it had also been a very small portion and rather on the salty side. The shining grace seems to have been that sandwich Mom had had. She was talking about if for a good while after we left.
Still, I am glad Mom got to experience it. I was glad I had a second go-round as well. The place has been there for decades. It is crazy that we have only just now experienced it.
On Monday, Mom helped me take my recycling in ($48.58 -- not bad!). Afterwards, we had lunch at Panera. Following lunch, we hit Costco. And...it's starting again. As the virus numbers reach dizzying heights and other parts of the country have started shutting down, the panic buying has begun. Geez!
As soon as we got into the store, I was exhausted already...but did my shopping anyway. I went by to get some water (Gotta have coffee! Hello?) and I was shocked (but not that shocked) to see that the water was almost gone. I got a batch, but the water disappeared from the pallet as I stood there watching. Jeepers!
There were areas with sold out items. But, there was plenty of important stuff (like the persimmons I love to eat...and VODKA!) that hadn't been snatched up yet. I later learned about my county being bumped back to the "purple tier" and the mad dash for supplies all made sense (as illogical as it is).
On Tuesday, all of the supplies and the vials of IVIG arrived for my five-day treatment. I have to keep the IVIG in the refrigerator until a few hours before it is time to use it. IVIG is made from between 1,000 to 15,000 blood donors and is super expensive. But it really is just about the only treatment available for my C.I.D.P. problem.
I'm not sure, but I believe Gammaplex is the same brand we used at the hospital when I was working there. You may also notice that it is "human" IVIG. I thought about going with "hamster" or "wombat", but decided to go all out for the good stuff.
My home health nurse Karen had quite a mess to sort through the first morning.
She skillfully got an IV in me (I suck at IV placement.), although it was only a 24 gauge (which is small). 
Soon the l-o-n-g infusion process began. The initial rate is fairly slow and then, each half hour or so it gets bump up a little. There are a lot of safety precautions necessary for IVIG as people can have bad reactions to it.
Every 15 minutes or so, the nurse would come out with this cool blood pressure cuff that fit around mt wrist to take check my blood pressure. If things were good for a while, she would bump up the rate.  My goal rate was 150 mils per hour. I only got up to 120 mph. When we tried to go up to 150, my blood pressure would shoot up to the 170s. 
After my first treatment, to celebrate, Mom and I went out to dinner at Red Robin and ate in the glamorous makeshift dining area in the parking lot. I had TWO margaritas and, yes, I indulged in French fries.
The next morning, I wrapped my IV in a bag to keep it dry for a shower. The IV had begun to hurt by the end of the day the day before, but had flushed okay. After my shower, I discovered that the water had gotten in somehow. Drat. But the dressing for the IV still held.
Alas, the IV no longer worked and I required a new on (this time a larger 22 gauge). 
Two days down and three more to go for this first round of treatments. And then, o' boy! I get to do this all again for five more days in December...and then in January (and February, and March, and...) Because the Republicans are currently trying to overturn the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") (It's literally before the Supreme Court right now.), I don't know what would happen if I moved and tried to get new insurance (as my C.I.D.P. would be a pre-existing condition to the new insurer). I have been approved for a year's worth of treatments here with my current COBRA insurance. COBRA won't cover "out of network" expenses if I move to Washington. So, for at least another year, I think I'll still be living here and my move will have to be postponed (which gives me more time to pack and get rid o' crap). We will see what happens...

Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!

Happy Thanksgiving!

CHEERS!



Continue to the next part HERE



Comments

Hi Shawn, so glad you are finally getting your treatments. I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that they work. Wishing you and a peaceful and healthy Thanksgiving!
Monster A Go-Go said…
Hi Christa,

Thanks for visiting. I just finished the first 5 days of treatments. (I'm just up from a post-treatment nap...but still have a headache) I hope your Thanksgiving is swell as well. Cheers!