The story nobody wants to come back is coming back anyway — Covid.
A few variants are spreading rapidly in various parts of the world, including the U.S. I’ve reluctantly included the headlines about that. And while it is strictly anecdotal and a very small sample size, many more people I know personally seem to be getting sick now from Covid than ever before.
Most of them describe the symptoms as minor but several report lingering fatigue over weeks as a result of the virus.
I guess it is not a surprise that the coronavirus would return to our lives since we’ve always known it would continue to mutate and outwit our counter measures like vaccines. Basically, it is transforming itself into the flu.
Governments and drug companies are racing to update vaccines to deal with the new surge, so some of us may escape once again.
My only real concern with more Covid at this point is not the illness itself but the effect it has on our social lives. Too many people, in my view, have become afraid of being with other people.
And that is hurting all of us.
Depression, anxiety, loneliness, addiction, secrecy and isolation have all become enhanced risks. I’m aware of offices where hardly anyone comes to work. And I’m aware of children who have not been going to school or participating in activities like sports.
Those are very bad consequences, far worse than having a brief, minor, or even not so minor illness.
Fear is a very dangerous emotion. Fear of other people is the most dangerous emotion for our social heath and therefore for the possibility of a healthy society.
Those are the main risks we face now, not illness, not death.
In the immortal words of Hayley Mills, “Let’s get together.”
LATEST LINKS:
What is the COVID BA.5 variant and why is it reinfecting so many people? (Reuters)
BA.5 variant’s spread sparks concerns about contagiousness, hospitalizations (The Hill)
WHO warns covid is ‘nowhere near over’ as variants fuel waves in U.S., Europe (WP)
Poll Shows Tight Race for Control of Congress as Class Divide Widens (NYT)
Biden's public approval rating rose three percentage points this weekto 39%, rebounding from a week earlier when it matched the lowest level of his presidency, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll found. (Reuters)
Gov. Newsom taps into liberal fury and sparks talk of presidential run (WP)
John Bolton says he ‘helped plan coups d’etat’ in other countries (Guardian)
Jan. 6 panel escalates showdown with Trump over influencing witnesses (WP)
Biden Arrives in Israel on High-Stakes Middle East Trip to Boost Ties (WSJ)
Inflation surges 9.1% in June, accelerating more than expected to new 40-year high (Fox)
New video shows police in Uvalde waiting in hallway while gunman fires (WP)
Less than a month after the Supreme Court ruled against restrictions on carrying firearms in public, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed at least three major gun control measures into law. (Los Angeles Times)
Republicans threaten Wall Street firms over policies on climate change (WP)
Wildfires scorch parts of Europe amid extreme heat wave (AP)
A U.S. destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing, which said its military had "driven away" the ship after it illegally entered territorial waters. (Reuters)
Twitter sues to force Musk to complete his $44B acquisition (AP)
Ukraine Strike on Russian Air-Defense Unit Shows Impact of New Weapons From West (WSJ)
Russia’s War Against Ukraine Has Turned Into Terrorism (Atlantic)
Mission Impossible? Officials Wrangle to Free Ukraine’s Grains (NYT)
Sri Lankan president flees to Maldives, protesters storm prime minister's office (Reuters)
Sri Lanka prime minister tells military to 'restore order' (BBC)
LGBTQ harassment, slurs abound on social media, report says (AP)
Is the World Really Falling Apart, or Does It Just Feel That Way? (NYT)
Baby stars, dancing galaxies: NASA shows new cosmic views (AP)
A Swarm of Swimming Robots to Search for Life Under the Ice on Europa (Universe Today)
Battle of Waterloo skeletons uncovered in Belgium (BBC)
Astronomers detect a radio “heartbeat” billions of light-years from Earth (MIT News)
Rowdy the runaway cat is caught after weeks on the lam at Boston's airport (NPR)
Dad Way Scarier When Controlling Temper (The Onion)
LYRICS:
“What You Give Away”
By Vince Gill
You read the business page, see how you did today
Life's just spent some by
You live up on the hill, you've got a view that kills
And never wonder why
After you've counted everything you've saved
Do you ever hit your knees and pray?
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
So what will you say?
No matter what you make
All that you can take
Is what you give away
What you give away
There's people on the street, ain't got enough to eat
And you just shake your head
The measure of a man is one who lends a hand
That's what my father said
After you've counted everything you've saved
Do you ever hit your knees and pray?
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
So what will you say?
No matter what you make
All that you can take
Is what you give away
It's what you give away
After you've counted everything you've saved
Do you ever hit your knees and pray?
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
So what will you say?
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