Covid-19 News
Too Much Information
April 2, 2020


If you're keeping count, reported Covid-19 cases worldwide topped one million people (1,011,490) today, according to John Hopkins University, having doubled in one week. Covid-19 deaths worldwide have passed 50,000. Spain had 950 deaths in 24 hours, with a total of 10,000 Covid-19 deaths.

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday said Los Angeles residents should cover their faces when they are out in public as part of an effort to combat Covid-19. Today the White House is pre-announcing an announcement to have Americans wear cloth masks or face coverings in public to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

California governor Gavin Newsom asked, “What are you waiting for?” to the twenty state governors who haven't yet issued stay-at-home orders for the Covid-19 pandemic.

Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of command today, after he urged the Navy to address the Covid-19 outbreak on his ship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. Social distancing is not possible on the 1092' aircraft carrier or any ship, and the ship had 93 cases of Covid-19.

Over 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in March with two-thirds of them just last week.

The Strategic National Stockpile has sent out the last shipments in its inventory, depleting the bulk of its protective gear. They sent 300,000 of the wrong masks to Illinois, sending simple surgical masks instead of N95 protective masks.

Instructions for making your own masks are found at the New York Times (pdf). A group of scientists and engineers have set up a website offering the best options for reusing N95 masks. The best way to sanitize surfaces at home is available through the Washington Post.

And tomorrow at 5pm, many Twin Cities radio stations will play Purple Rain by Prince in honor of the 50th anniversary of First Avenue, the old bus station that was turned into the music club in 1970. Listen across the dial at 5pm to 89.3 the Current, KQRS 92.5, 93X, Go 96.3, Cities 97, KDWB 101.3, Love 105, KOOL-108, and talk stations KFAN and MyTalk.

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Music Association: Prince - Purple Rain








April 1, 2020

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Music Association: John Williams - Imperial March









Covid-19 State-by-State
Cases and Stay-Home Map
March 30, 2020


The New York Times has a map of which state governors have issued Stay-At-Home orders, and a map where the Covid-19 cases are. Here are those two maps stacked together.


Combination of two New York Times maps showing Covid-19 cases (red dots) & states with Stay-At-Home orders (orange).


The map shows the states with Stay-At-Home orders in orange. These are states that are trying to save lives and flatten the curve, to delay the Covid-19 pandemic long enough for a vaccine to be created, tested, manufactured, and distributed. The striped states have Stay-At-Home orders only in some places. The states in white (Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, North & South Dakota) are trying to figure out the difference between ignorance and indifference.*

As of today, the United States has 140,904 Covid-19 cases (more reported cases than any other country) and 2,405 deaths. Worldwide there are 697,244 Covid-19 cases and 33,257 deaths.

The starting pistol has just been fired.

This will get far worse before it's done.

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Music Associations: Chicago - Only The Beginning & The Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun
* Joke Association: What's the difference between ignorance and indifference?
Don't know and don't care.









Covid-19 is a Nutshell
General Virus Information
March 29, 2020


Courtesy of Ken Goddard: Director, National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory.

• a virus is not a living organism, but only a molecule of protein (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipids (fats), that upon being absorbed by ocular, nasal, and mouth mucosa cells changes the genetic code of the cells and converts them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

• Since the virus is not a living organism but rather a molecule of protein, it doesn’t die but rather disintegrates on its own. The length of time it takes to disintegrate depends on temperature, humidity and the type of material where it sits.

• The virus is very fragile, the only thing that protects it is a thin external layer of fat. That’s why any soap or detergent is the best remedy because suds break down grease/fats (that’s why you have to suds up for 20 seconds or more in order to make a lot of suds). Once the layer of fat is dissolved, the molecule of protein falls apart and disintegrates on its own.

• Heat melts grease, that is why it is best to use water that is at least 25 degrees centigrade (you can do your math here or just use pretty warm water) to wash your hands, clothes, etc. Besides, hot water makes more suds and that is good.

• Alcohol or any mixture of alcohol at more than 65% will dissolve any grease/fats, especially the outer fat layer of the virus.

• Any mixture of 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolve the protein, which kills it from the inside.

• Oxidized water (peroxide) can be used besides soap, alcohol, and bleach because peroxide dissolves the protein of the virus, but you have to use it alone and it damages the skin.

• No Bactericide Works. You can't kill anything that is not alive with antibiotics. Since the virus is not a living organism, you can’t kill it, except to disintegrate its structure with everything mentioned above.

• Never shake clothes you have worn (or not worn) nor sheets or anything made of cloth. As long as it is stuck to a porous surface, it is inert and will disintegrate in 3 hours (cloth and porous surfaces), 4 hours (copper which is naturally antiseptic and wood because it pulls away all of the humidity and it stays stuck and disintegrates), 24 hours (cardboard), 42 hours (metal) and 72 hours (plastic). Don’t dust or use a duster as the molecules of the virus will float in the air for up to 3 hours and can lodge in the nose.

• The molecules of a virus are very stable in outdoor cold and air conditioning in houses and cars. It needs humidity to be stable and also darkness. Environments that are dehumidified, dry, and with a lot of light will disintegrate it more rapidly.

• The more confined space the virus is in, the more concentrated it becomes. Open air and natural ventilation are the best.

• Ultraviolet Light on any object where it can land will disintegrate the protein of the virus. For example, it is perfect to disinfect and be able to reuse a mask. Be careful, as it also disintegrates the protein in the skin (collagen) and can cause big wrinkles and skin cancer.

• No virus can go through healthy skin.

• Vinegar does not work because it doesn’t dissolve the protective layer of grease.

• Vodka doesn't work. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol and you need at least 65%.

• Listerine does work! It is 65% alcohol.

• It is imperative to wash your hands before and after touching mucous areas, food, knobs, light switches, remote controls, cell phones, watches, computers, desks, TVs etc. And when after using the toilet.

• You need to use lotion on your dry hands, because the molecules can hide in tiny cracks. The thicker the cream, the better. Also keep your fingernails short, so the virus can’t hide in there either.

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Music Association: Hilary Duff - Come Clean









Covid-19 Help Wanted
America Needs Leadership
March 28, 2020


The United States needs ventilators.

Maybe you don't know the first thing about making ventilators but don't let that stop you.

Ventilator instructions are available and free to use. The choices are either the Canadian style ventilator or the Floridian style ventilator.

Pick one and start building ventilators.

If you don't have the wherewithal to build ventilators from the instructions, the United States also needs leadership.

The U.S. leads the world in reported Covid-19 cases with over 112,000 and just passed a bill that doesn't provide paid sick leave for 54% of the U.S. workforce, people who work for employers with over 500 employees.

So those employees may be able to stay home during the Covid-19 pandemic, or they may not have paid sick leave and might have to take their chances. If these people had guaranteed paid sick leave, it would help slow the exponential growth of Covid-19. It would help to flatten the curve.

Here is the growth of Covid-19 cases in Minnesota:


Try to stay home.

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Music Association: Steve Winwood - While You See A Chance Take It











Today In Covid-19 News
USA Gets The Bronze!
March 23, 2020


The United States pulled ahead of all other countries except China and Italy, to place third in reported* Covid-19 cases.

Canada, Norway, Germany, and several other countries have pressured the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Tokyo Olympics due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Music Association: Jewel - Foolish Games
* Russia and India may not be reporting all Covid-19 cases.










Picture It
Covid's Top 19 Images
March 19, 2020

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Music Association: Paul Hardcastle - 19












The Score
Covid:      19
USA:      100 
March 17, 2020


The novel coronavirus Covid-19 killed its 100th person today in the United States and found its way to its 50th state. West Virginia had the distiction of being the most pandemically distant state of the United States. Let that be a lesson to you the next time you are trying to get away from infectious disease. West Virginia is the place to get away from it all.

Minnesota has 60 cases today. Minnesota's first case was March 6th. There were 14 cases on Friday the 13th. The next day had 21. Then it was 35. Yesterday it was 54 cases.

The United States has over 4,226 cases.



The New York Times had this United States map of Covid-19 cases today. Doesn't it look kind of sickly and infectious? The country is covered with bubbling red spots. Having red spots on top of red spots really looks sore and hints at underlying mucus. This is a gross map worthy of an infectious disease book. Makes you wonder what the world looks like.

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Music Association: Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven  “the stores are all closed”




 








Music To Soothe A Coronavirus Isolation 
Quarantunes 
March 15, 2020


The lovely and talented Rita Wilson, in Covid-19 quarantine with her husband Mr. Tom Hanks (THanks), has a playlist of songs on Spotify called “Quarantunes.”


It's a sick list. One of my recent music associated songs was The Fray with “How To Save Your Life” and maybe Rita could add that song to Quarantunes II (the sequel). Another appropriate song would be Dire Straits with “Industrial Disease.”

When the character Tom Hanks was playing in the movie Castaway was alone on an island with a volleyball named Wilson, that wasn't Wilson the sports equipment company, that was a stand-in of Rita.

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Music Association: The Beatles - Lovely Rita









Flatten The Curve
Close Everything - Stay Home* 
March 12, 2020


The United States Capitol is closed to visitors because of the Covid-19 virus. The NBA and NHL have ended their seasons. New York's Metropolitan Museum, Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the New York Philharmonic, and Broadway theaters are closed. Live Nation tours are canceled. Disneyland and Disney World are closed.

Due to Covid-19, a State of Emergency has been declared by the following states: California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington.

The University of Minnesota has has suspended in-person instruction across all system campuses. Also closing in-person instruction are:  Arizona State, Boston College, Columbia University, Harvard University, Maryland, M.I.T., Ohio State, Ohio University, Penn State, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Yale, and many others. All NCAA tournaments are canceled. Atlanta schools have turned to online learning. Many Colorado schools and Philadelphia schools will be closed for the near future.

Ireland has closed its schools and colleges. Italy is in a lock down. Italy and Iran canceled sporting events. Professional soccer games will be played in Spain and Portugal without spectators. Today, the Olympic torch will be lit without spectators in Olympia, Greece. Ireland and Boston Saint Patrick's Day parades are canceled.

President Trump has restricted travel to the U.S. from Europe, with the exception of the United Kingdom.

ABC’s “The View” is being taped without a studio audience. “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on CBS and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on NBC will be taped without studio audiences starting Monday. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have Covid-19.

Handshakes and hugs are canceled.


By the numbers, the United States currently (3-12-2020) has 1,215 cases of Covid-19 and 36 deaths. If you divide 36 by 1215, you get ~2.96%. Covid-19 has 125,288 cases worldwide and 4,614 deaths or ~3.68%. Plus or minus.

The fatality rate of the flu is .1% .

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, Covid-19 has a conservative fatality rate of either 2% or 1.4%, which assumes more cases of Covid-19 than are reported.

On average, each person infected with Covid-19 infects 2.2 other people. That sounds like doubling at the outset but quickly moves exponentially.

The time is now for individuals and organizations to restrict social activity, when possible, to flatten the curve of Covid-19 cases. Flattening the curve can avoid overwhelming health services, keep the impact on the economy to within manageable levels, and effectively buy more time to develop and manufacture effective vaccines, treatments, and anti-viral drug therapies.

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Music Association: Semisonic - Closing Time
* If possible.










I'm No Doctor, But...
Covid-19 Isn't The Flu! 
March 10, 2020


Influenza has a long history and multiple vaccines. Covid-19 is new, has no vaccine, and nobody has built up immunities.

Covid-19 isn't the flu.

The flu has a death rate of .01%. The Covid-19 death rate is at least 10 times greater at 1%.

Months from now more will be known about Covid-19, like how to kill it. Vaccines may take a year or longer to invent and produce.

The best thing to do is to survive and help slow the spread of Covid-19. Here's how:

• stay at home if possible
• stay home if you are sick and seek medical attention (call ahead)
• wash your hands for 20 seconds (with soap or a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer)
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  
• greet people with a nod, a wave, or a bow (not shaking hands)
• cover your coughs and sneezes
• maintain social distancing (6 feet)
• avoid crowds
• avoid unnecessary travel
• and don't panic

I'm no doctor, but unlike the President, I listen to the experts.

For the best, latest information on Covid-19, visit the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

For the latest number of Covid-19 cases:

• WHO world map of cases
• WHO situation reports
• CDC cases in the United States

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Music Associations: Fray - How To Save A Life & Gloria Gaynor - Survive












The Disaster That Had To Happen
Chronic Contagion 
March 9, 2020

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Music Association: The Knack - My Corona









History Schmistory
Trump Times 
February 29, 2020


Time isn't a line. It can't be. Too often time is one step forward, two steps back.

Or time circles back. How many things come back to where they've been?

Timeline. Ha.

I just updated my United States History Timeline pdf and jpgs. And then because Donald Trump is special, I created a Trump Timeline (2015-2020).

Now you know what's already happened and will happen again, the same but different.

Time just doesn't move in a line, or I would be in the passing lane.

Maybe it should be a time-lane.

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Music Association: Eagles - Life In The Fast Lane









Covid-19




Trump Timeline (PDF)



Voter Suppression


Music Videos

Landmine Hopscotch


Superman


Impact Investing



Holiday Gifs of Cats and Kittens Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5  




Southdale Hennepin Library,  Edina Library  


Wonder Woman


Food Fraud