One again we are living in dark times, and the urge to despair is strong. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why, although this photo may give you a clue if you need one.
We’re all about to go through some hard times for a while, and we don’t know how hard or how long the while will be. But here’s the thing—we are all in it together. We always are, but right now we are all experiencing a situation that is going to affect everyone if it isn’t already. No one is going to be shielded from this because of the privilege of being the “right” color, gender, nationality or sexual orientation—the virus doesn’t care of you’re a straight white male born in the USA.
This fact gives us a unique opportunity to come together and support each other from a different perspective than we usually have. We are each and every one of us going through much the same thing, and while we are affected by the current crisis in different ways, we are all affected by it. Maybe you don’t have a family member who’s showing symptoms, as I do, but you may be facing loss of a job or cutbacks in hours, or problems getting food because the stores keep running out, or devastating losses in your 401K, or some other direct effect from the pandemic. You may be filled with worry about how you will be affected as the crisis keeps getting worse and both our political parties keep stumbling as they attempt to formulate a response.
And, because we are liberals and progressives (with a couple of hardcore leftists in the mix) we care deeply about others, so some of us are no doubt scared and worried about what is happening to people less privileged than we are.
So I’m going to ask all of you to try something with me today. If you’re feeling scared and worried, or if you feel like things are going to just keep getting worse with no end in sight, use the comments section to say so—you don’t have to feel obligated to say something positive if you’re not feeling it. I’m counting on the community to reply to those comments compassionately with reassurance and support to those who need it. That can be emotional support and information about resources to help with a particular problem. I’m looking for anything that will help a struggling person deal with their struggles. Even if you’re just adding some extra good news or posting pet pictures, you’ll be helping someone else cope—I know I’m not the only one who feels better after seeing hpg’s happy cat posts.
I hope y’all see what I’m trying to get at here. This is one of those days when the words are having a hard time coming out.
I did bring you some good news today, because even in times like these the good news doesn’t stop. There’s always ways in which things are getting better, and hope that they will continue to do so.
I hope today that we’ll be able to find support if we need it and also feel the sense of empowerment that comes from being able to help someone else who’s having difficulties. We make ourselves stronger by making others stronger. Let’s work together, and together we’ll get though this.
marine commandant bans confederate symbols from marine installations
It seems like a no-brainer, but the US Marines are finally officially banning the display of the symbols of a group that took up arms against the United States.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger has ordered all Confederate-related paraphernalia to be removed from Marine Corps installations, his spokesman confirmed on Wednesday (February 26th).
A document showing the commandant’s decision appeared online on Wednesday, though it did not say when all of the Confederate-related paraphernalia needed to be removed by.
gay texas teacher receives $100K settlement in discrimination case, school district to make changes
Texas, like several other states, has no law protecting gay people from job discrimination. But there is still a little thing called the US Constitution, as the Mansfield, TX, school district was reminded late last month.
Arlington art teacher Stacy Bailey was placed on administrative leave in August 2017 after showing her students a picture of her soon-to-be wife. On Monday, Mansfield ISD awarded Bailey $100,000 after a federal judge ruled her suspension was unconstitutional.
As part of the settlement, the school district agreed to provide mandatory training to human resources and counseling staff on LGBTQ issues in schools, and to require the Mansfield ISD board of trustees to vote on whether to add protections for sexual orientation into its policies, according to a representative for Bailey.
At a Tuesday press conference in Fort Worth, Bailey thanked Mansfield ISD President Karen Marcucci for showing leadership in going beyond a traditional monetary settlement to pursue training and policy changes.
trump’s re-election chances still not looking good
Just a regular reminder that indications are that Trump is in trouble when November rolls around. His approval rating remains stuck in the low 40’s, and the most recent polls are showing either Sanders or Biden with a distinct advantage over Hair Twitler. And you can be sure that his recent incompetent and incoherent response to the pandemic crisis is not helping. and the perception of a strong economy, one of the few things he had going for him, is falling apart as people watch the slow train wreck that is the stock market right now.
Democrats also remain comfortably ahead in the generic race for Congress.
And before we get to the good news related to Covid-19 (yes, really!) here’s another reminder of how we’ll get through this.
Coronavrius relief bill passes senate, is signed by trump
Despite delaying tactics by Rand Paul, who was apparently trying to be the Louis Gohmert of the Senate, the coronavirus bill passed by the House passed the Senate on a 90-8 vote and was signed yesterday by Trump. While the bill falls far short of what is needed, its provisioons for free Corvid-19 testing and increased funding for food assistance programs are welcome.
The House bill that the Senate considered provides enhanced unemployment insurance, ensures that businesses that have fewer than 500 employees offer two weeks of paid sick leave to their workers, and includes increased funding for food assistance programs and guarantees free testing for the coronavirus.
ice says it is stopping most immigration enforcement actions
Apparently the prospect of arresting people at hospitals and doctors’ offices was too much even for the Trump Gestapo. Ice announced that they will halt arrests of immigrants except for actual criminals, and will seek alternatives to detention.
U.S. immigration authorities will temporarily halt enforcement across the United States, except for efforts to deport foreign nationals who have committed crimes or who pose a threat to public safety. The change in enforcement status comes amid the coronavirus outbreak and aims to limit the spread of the virus and to encourage those who need treatment to seek medical help.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said late Wednesday that its Enforcement and Removal Operations division will “delay enforcement actions” and use “alternatives to detention” amid the outbreak, according to a notification the agency sent to Congress.
“During the COVID-19 crisis, ICE will not carry out enforcement operations at or near health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, accredited health clinics, and emergent or urgent care facilities, except in the most extraordinary of circumstances,” the notification said. “Individuals should not avoid seeking medical care because they fear civil immigration enforcement.”
CLINICAL trials of coronavirus vaccine begin
The first human tests of a prospective vaccine against Corvid-19 have begun. It’s just the first step in a process that will take about a year, but it’s good to see progress being made.
A group of volunteers in the United States have become the first to receive doses of a potential vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. Jennifer Haller, Neal Browning, and Rebecca Sirull received the first doses on Monday at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle.
The volunteers – who are all healthy and young and therefore at lower risk of serious complications – will be given two injections 28 days apart to test the vaccine’s safety.
UK scientists are among others around the world working on a vaccine aimed at preventing outbreaks similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers from the University of Plymouth have made progress in developing vaccines designed to prevent infections jumping from animals to humans.
A vaccine to stop COVID-19 is not expected to be available for another 12 to 18 months, with a recent Imperial College London report warning that drastic tactics to suppress the disease may need to remain in place until one is found.
stores set aside special hours for vulnerable elderly customers
People over 60 have a higher risk of dying from Corvid-19 if they get it, but they still need food and supplies. A number of stores across the country are setting aside time for older people to shop a little more safely. For a regularly updated list of these stores and their policies, go to this link.
Some retailers are setting aside time for their most vulnerable customers to shop.
Acknowledging that older adults and persons with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to COVID-19, a growing number of stores are dedicating time or opening earlier for senior shoppers and other at-risk groups.
Because of panic shopping, which has left store shelves empty, at-risk groups including seniors have had difficulty getting supplies.
That will do it for me today—now it’s your turn. Let’s all get through this together in reasonably good health and hopefully stronger for the experience. And remember to avoid shaking hands with people—there is, after all, a shortage of toilet paper.
Yuki says: Take it from a cat—make time to relax
Rambo says if you need more good news—go out and make some of your own
Let’s close the Roundup today with the obvious choice of music. Play us out, boys.