#COVID 19 Test Las Vegas

[orangecountylabsus]

Orange County Lab has been providing high-quality PCR Test for Travel in Las Vegas testing services at lower rates. We provide detailed results that include all the requirements for departure.COVID-19 viral Rt-PCR and antigen testing are available in Orange County to keep you safe. Whether you want an Antigen test for your workplace or an RT-PCR test for traveling, we will provide you with the best services that will meet all the travel requirements.

[dailyworldecho]

[peachjagiya]

Just wondering if your super sleuthing skills can clear up if it was indeed possible for JK to be at this club with Tae. Comments have some saying it was impossible because he had covid. Do we know when it was filmed? Was JK covid free and in the same zone when it was filmed?

https://x.com/AzraelTks/status/1831919134583746683?t=0_0S9147E_wiCDbTclHRBQ&s=19

Ok I think this will be harder because I only logged 2023 comings and goings 😭

This is the video in question;

What information do we have?

🕺It's a club in Las Vegas.

🛫 Jungkook flew to US for some "preparations" 27th March. Wonder if this was to do with quarantining.

🛫 Rest of BTS flew for PTD in Las Vegas and Grammy Awards on 28th March 2022 without JHope. (JHope posted himself leaving for LV on 2nd April 2022 and himself arriving in the daytime.)

😷 Bighit announced JK had been cleared to leave quarantine on 2nd April 2022 and was okayed to perform at Grammys.

🐻 Tae posted that club video on the morning of 2nd April 2022 but the video seems to be from the night before. He was not in attendance with Yoongi, RM and Jimin at Silk Sonic on the 1st (as per Bruno Mars insta) and people online were laughing that he had gone to the jazz club instead of Silk Sonic.

😷 On 2nd April, Bighit announces JK can go out after a negative covid test and JK instagrams that he "can go out!" and "photosynthesize"! Aww.

🎶 Hobi then arrived on 2nd and attended Silk Sonic that night with Tae and JK.

💜 They all attended Grammys on 3rd April.

🫴 So... As J-Hope arrived on the 2nd, Jin was recovering from finger surgery, RM, YG and JM were at Silk Sonic and Jungkook was in a hotel formally quarantining until 2nd, Tae seems to have been at the club by himself on the 1st.

📸 But someone is filming him. Someone says his name. The patrons of the club are older and maybe less likely to know who they are. Could be Jin as the only person available or allowed out but it doesn't sound like him. Could be staff.

🫴 In conclusion? Formally? Officially? On the record? The date and COVID announcements suggest it's not Jungkook with him. He was in the same city but not formally COVID free.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Second gentleman Emhoff tests positive for COVID - Published July 7, 2024

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4758716-doug-emhoff-covid-positive/mlite/

I hate covering celebrity news, but this seems a bit important given that Biden just reiterated his claim that he "beat the pandemic."

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive for COVD-19, the vice president’s office announced Sunday.

His office said Emhoff had experienced mild symptoms before being tested Saturday, and is now asymptomatic. He is fully vaccinated, the office said.

Vice President Harris was also tested for COVD-19 and tested negative, her office said.

Emhoff will continue to work from home, isolated from others.

Emhoff previously tested positive for COVID in March of 2022, and Harris tested positive for the virus a month later.

Harris is scheduled to campaign for President Biden in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Find more news, science, and resources on our covid archive:

[justinspoliticalcorner]

President Biden tests positive for COVID

Sean Noone at NewsNation:

LAS VEGAS (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden canceled a campaign appearance Wednesday after being diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the CEO of UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights and advocacy group Biden was slated to address. “The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise,” according to White House Dr. Kevin O’Connor. “He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus. Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals.” The White House said Biden will return to Delaware to self-isolate and “continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.”

President Biden tested positive for COVID, and will head back to his Delaware home to isolate.

He was set to speak at the UnidosUS gathering today before his speaking engagement got cancelled.

In an interview with BET’s Ed Gordon, Biden hinted that he could bow out if a medical condition emerges.

[beardedmrbean]

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has warned that some Democrats who want President Joe Biden to quit the presidential race also want Vice President Kamala Harris off the party's ticket.

"If you think there is a consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to leave, that they will support Vice President Harris, you would be mistaken," Ocasio-Cortez said during an Instagram Live on Friday morning.

"I'm in these rooms, I see what they say in conversations. A lot of them are not just interested in removing the president, they are interested in removing the whole ticket," she said.

Newsweek reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office and the Biden campaign via email for comment.

The New York congresswoman's comments come as Biden is facing mounting pressure to withdraw from the race after his debate performance last month magnified concerns about his age and ability to beat Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, in November.

More than two dozen congressional Democrats have urged the president to step aside.

Biden, who is self-isolating with COVID, has repeatedly insisted he will remain in the race, but some reports suggest he could soon announce he is dropping out.

Harris has been viewed as the most likely candidate to replace Biden as the party's presidential nominee should Biden step aside. Ocasio-Cortez, who has backed Biden remaining on the ticket, said it is not a guarantee that Democrats will rally behind Harris.

"I'm here to tell you a huge amount of the donor class and a huge amount of these elites, and a huge amount of these folks in these rooms that I see that are pushing for President Biden not to be the nominee, also are not interested in seeing the vice president being the nominee," she said.

"Will they win out on that? I don't know. But I am here to tell you, do not take that for granted."

The Biden campaign has continued to deny that the president will drop his bid for reelection.

"The president is his party's nominee, having won 14 million votes during the Democratic primary," a campaign spokesperson told The Washington Post on Thursday. "He's running for reelection, and that will not change until he wins reelection."

In an interview that aired Wednesday, Biden said he would consider ending his reelection campaign if a doctor said he had "some medical condition" that would be considered a "problem." Later on Wednesday, he canceled a campaign appearance in Las Vegas after testing positive for COVID-19. ____________________

*edit* I scheduled this on Saturday when it was new, now the question is will she take these words back or stick with the get rid of kammy crowds.

[covid-conscious-and-silly]

i wanted to post something else, but here we are 🙃

Image Description: Press Release with heading: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 17, 2024

Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The White House will provide regular updates on the President's status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.

Note from the President's Doctor:

The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general mailaise. He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus. Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing will be pending. His symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97%. The President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth.

also did a brief skim through a cnn article and found this picture of him getting into a car not wearing a mask AFTER TESTING POSITIVE. and the narrative the media is trying to spin by continuing to state what the CDC has "advised" is truly awful.

Image Description: Joe Biden wearing sunglasses getting into a car. Caption reads: "Biden gives a 'thumbs up' as he prepares to board Air Force One after testing positive for Covid-19, July 17."

[mariacallous]

The father of televised presidential debates was Newton Minow, most famous for saying television was a “vast wasteland” as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President John F. Kennedy. But years before that, as an advisor to Illinois governor and presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, Newt made the case for debates, and Stevenson, championing the idea, helped make it happen for the first time with the Nixon-Kennedy debates in 1960.

That was followed by a 16-year hiatus, until, with Minow’s active participation, we got debates back with Ford and Carter in 1976. To institutionalize them, the leaders of both parties subsequently agreed to create a bipartisan structure to make them a regular showcase for elections. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was born in 1987 under Minow’s tutelage. It ran the general election debates from 1988 on, building on a format that had three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate, usually on university campuses, with a series of events and programs involving students, faculty, large audiences of foreign dignitaries, and observers, all trying to make debates a fundamental feature of elections. The Commission was the catalyst for debate commissions in many countries, including emerging democracies.

Debates International, representing 40 democracies and nascent democracies, said this in a statement about the Commission1:

The CPD does not simply organize debates. The Commission establishes standards for integrity and professionalism that inspire debate organizers across the globe. The CPD’s commitment to transparent and participatory democracy reaches beyond U.S. borders. It offers a model to follow for both emerging and strong democracies.

The CPD debates are a testimony to the power of democracy. They provide a neutral and accessible platform and guarantee that the electoral process is representative of the will of the American people. This platform has been key to building more robust democracies around the world, inspiring leaders and citizens to value and defend electoral transparency.

At different times in the past, I have participated in CPD programs at presidential debates—at University of Massachusetts Boston in 2000, University of Miami in 2004, Hofstra University in 2012 and University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2016. My wife, son, and I also attended the first presidential debate in Cleveland in 2020. The CPD has also been supportive and helpful in the summer debate camp our Matthew Harris Ornstein Foundation has sponsored for public school kids in the DC area—including letting the students in our first camp, in 2015, use the actual podiums Barack Obama and Mitt Romney used in 2012.

The Cleveland experience was, to be sure, a traumatic one. The Commission and the Cleveland Clinic had put in place stringent COVID-19 protocols. Attendees were tested that morning with results that afternoon, with the full monty, not instant, tests. The audience was small, with seats having separation and with excellent ventilation. Masks were required. We sat in the audience not far from where the Trump entourage came in, sat down, and removed their masks. A Cleveland Clinic doctor went over to them—Trump family and staff—and asked them to follow the protocols and were met with a figurative middle finger of defiance. Trump’s congressional guests, including Jim Jordan and Marsha Blackburn, walked around maskless, delighting in flouting the rules. And we learned later, to our horror, that Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 before the debate, a despicable and reckless violation of rules and standards.

Many criticized the Commission for allowing this fiasco. But sitting there, in the venue, I realized that Trump and his guests had put the Commission in a no-win situation. They first had accepted the assurances of the Trump campaign that he and the others had tested and tested negative—they had, in fact, not arrived early enough for the Clinic to do the clinical test. And if the Cleveland Clinic representative had tried to eject the Trump group from the debate set right before it was ready to start, it would have created a scene that would have been seized upon by Trump and destroyed the entire debate process.

Of course, we had the debate itself, where Trump screamed, shouted, interrupted, lied, kept talking long after his allotted speaking time was up, and bullied moderator Chris Wallace. But as I viewed the debate after, not in the live moment when I was nauseated by the spectacle, two things stood out. First was that viewers—voters—had seen Biden being calm and collected and with a grasp of the issues as Trump ranted and dissembled. Second was a seminal moment: when Chris Wallace asked Trump about white supremacist groups and specifically the Proud Boys, he defended them and gave them the message “Stand back and stand by.” When January 6 occurred, and the Proud Boys were at the center of the violent insurrection, Trump’s debate statement tied him even more directly to the effort to overturn the election.

Like many others, I have my own critique of the debate structure. I would like to see questioners who are experts, not just prominent journalists, who, no matter how capable, do not have the depth to follow up on shallow assertions by candidates with second and third probes, or to contradict every misstatement or distortion. And it is clear that moderators must have the ability to cut off the microphones of candidates who violate the rules by talking over their opponents or talking well beyond their allotted times.

Perhaps the two debates that Trump and Biden have agreed to do outside the Commission’s aegis will come off well, with ground rules that at least allow the mike cutoff (assuming Trump will show up without the ability to bully without consequence the moderator and his opponent.) But by moving away from the stellar bipartisan group that has managed debates for the past nine presidential elections, we will lose the guarantee that debates will continue to be a regular, institutionalized feature of our elections. Candidates will have an easier time avoiding debating when there is no structure in place in advance. We will lose the link that other countries have relied on to legitimize debates, and the value to college campuses, students, and many others for having the debates and the programs that accompany them.

Whatever their flaws, debates do give us some window into the candidate’s perspectives, and they are especially valuable for voters who generally pay little or no attention to politics. And even for those of us who follow politics for a living, debates are often illuminating. We should work with the Commission to reform its processes to make the debates better. But I am certain that if the CPD disappears, we will regret it down the road.

[dystini]

Indycar Driver Lore

Indycar Driver Lore Masterlist

Marco Michael Andretti

Birthdate: March 13, 1987 Hometown: Nazareth, Pennsylvania Residence: Nazareth, Pennsylvania/Miami, Florida Height/Weight: 5’8”/147 lbs

Rookie Year: 2006

Team: Andretti

Follow him on: Instagram Twitter

Career Stats

2006: Andretti Green Racing - 7th Overall 2007: Andretti Green Racing - 11th Overall 2008: Andretti Green Racing - 7th Overall 2009: Andretti Green Racing - 8th Overall 2010: Andretti Autosport - 8th Overall 2011: Andretti Autosport - 8th Overall (last race, Las Vegas, was abandoned after Dan Wheldon's death) 2012: Andretti Autosport - 16th Overall 2013: Andretti Autosport - 5th Overall 2014: Andretti Autosport - 9th Overall 2015: Andretti Autosport - 9th Overall 2016: Andretti Autosport - 16th Overall 2017: Andretti Autosport - 12th Overall 2018: Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian - 9th Overall 2019: Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco Andretti & Curb Agajanian - 16th Overall 2020: Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco Andretti & Curb Agajanian - 20th Overall 2021: Andretti Herta-Haupert Autosport w/ Marco Andretti & Curb-Agajanian (Indy 500) - 19th 2022: Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco Andretti and Curb-Agajanian (Indy 500) - 22nd 2023: Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco Andretti and Curb-Agajanian (Indy 500) - 27th

IMSA 2021 Andretti Autosport LMP3 class

SRX 2021 4th Overall 2022 1st Overall 2023 2nd Overall

NASCAR Xfinity Series 2022 Big Machine Racing Team (1 race) Truck Series 2023 Spire Motorsports (3 races) 2024 Roper Racing (1 race) ARCA Menards Series 2024 Cook Racing Technologies (2 races)

The French room is the most prized room at Marco’s house which overlooks the pool and has its own glass-walled shower. -Third-generation driver; grandfather, Mario, won 52 races (including the 1969 Indianapolis 500) and four NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships; father, Michael, won 42 races and one championship. 2022 was his 17th season competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. -Has competed in SRX, American Le Mans Series, the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA Formula E Championship. -2006 Indianapolis 500 and NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year -Two-time race winner, six-time pole sitter -Purchased his childhood home in Nazareth, Pa. From his father for $2 Million. -Operates a real estate business. -Planned to compete in the 2020 New York City Marathon before COVID-19 Pandemic canceled the event. -Loves to run. Runs for miles daily. At one point, he was running so much that it became a concern to his friends and it’s rumored that they staged an intervention. -As per family tradition, Marco's first born son will have a first name that starts with M, with Marco as a middle name. -left handed

Iconic/memorable moments The INDYCAR Off-Season with Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly Andretti Autosport Driver Q&A 2013 IZOD Firestone 550 Texas - Marco Andretti - Hand Gesture & The F Bomb IZOD Race to the Party Commercial Marco Andretti Hires Body Double Marco Andretti Hires Body Double - Bloopers Marco Andretti shares his recipe for a Turkey Truffle Burger Andretti IndyCar Drivers Test Their Pit Stop Skills | #AllAndretti | Indy 500 INDYCAR Chronicles: Marco Andretti Marco Andretti wins Camping World SRX Series race at Slinger Speedway | FRAM The Andretti Curse: 2006 Indy 500 Last Laps of the 2006 Indy 500 INDYCAR TEST DRIVE Episode 12: Marco Andretti Marco Andretti's AWESOME car control with slick tires in the rain We All Have A Story: Marco Andretti Trackside 6: Marco Andretti Honda Driver Profiles: Marco Andretti 11 in 11 with Marco Andretti Marco Andretti - Magnaflow (2008) Marco Andretti at Indy This or That with Marco Andretti by Texas Motor Speedway This Is May | Marco Andretti 15 year old Marco The Driven 1.0 | Marco Andretti Marco and Michael Andretti Alexander Rossi on Marco Andretti's Car Name Marco Andretti Is Ready For An Indy 500 Mic Drop | Drivers Eating Donuts U2S: Marco Andretti Interview One hour highlight reel of his career A tour of Marco's house

IndyCar Racer Marco Andretti’s Pennsylvania Palace (article is paywall locked but video is watchable) Gillette Changing Blades Marco Andretti 2008

Most people probably think of Marco as a spoiled rich boy, heir to a family considered to be racing royalty, and in many ways they are not wrong. Fame and fortune have been his from an early age with opportunities available to him that most of us can only dream of. Always somewhat shy and introverted, he was bullied in school for not being like his famous father and grandfather, the first time he felt the pressure of his family name. It wouldn’t be the last.

He began as most drivers do, racing go-karts at a local track at the age of 8. Three years later, his father pulled him out of racing, feeling the that stress and pressure was too much for him. A year later he was back racing at a different track. And winning. And he continued to win as he rose through the junior racing categories. At just barely 19 years old, he began his rookie season in Indycar. His career has been filled with near misses and what could have beens, most of them largely out of Marco’s control. Whispers of unfulfilled potential have plagued him for years.

As if this wasn’t enough angst for one man, tragedy and accidents have stuck some of those closest to him. Dan Weldon’s death devastated him. Dan had been a friend and like a big brother to Marco, looking out for him. A few years later, another terrible crash would force Marco’s honorary uncle Dario Franchitti to retire. And then he nearly lost one of his best friends, James Hinchcliffe. Marco was there when James woke in the hospital and still has the piece of paper James used to ask questions.

Off track, Marco is generous with his friends. His home is almost always open to them. He gave Conor Daly $3k for testing, no strings attached, enabling Conor to land his first Indycar ride. (James Hinchcliffe also contributed.) Conor has referred to something called ‘Wine Wednesdays” at Marco’s house. Caymus is Marco’s favorite brand.

In 2010, Marco purchased his childhood home from his father, first built in 1986. He also bought much of the furniture and décor back from his mother, all things she had received after divorcing Marco’s father in 1996, restoring it to the way it had been when he was a child.

In 2021, Marco transitioned to running only the Indy 500, the race win that had eluded him and his father their entire careers, deciding to focus all his efforts on that one race. This also freed up time for him to pursue other forms of racing. He won the 2022 SRX championship and has run a few NASCAR races.

The Andretti curse – explaining this would take a post all by itself so I will offer these sites to explain. The 'Andretti Curse' Andretti curse

Fanfic Lore

Good friends with James Hinchcliffe, Alexander Rossi and Conor Daly. The four could be considered a 'band of brothers’ and he is often paired with one (or several) of the others of the band.

Also paired with Graham Rahal, as they grew up together in the paddock, both of their fathers racing at the same time. Relationship is antagonistic at times from Graham's side.

To be honest, it might be easier to list who Marco has NOT been paired with. He is sometimes referred to as the ‘paddock bike’. (Because everyone has taken him for a ride.)

Historically paired with Dan Wheldon (sometimes as more of a big brother/little brother relationship), Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, Bryan Herta, sometimes in groups.

Often considered a ‘woobie’ or a character that writers love to abuse.

[orangecountylabsus]

Several places provide RT-PCR services / COVID Test For Travel Orange County, but Orange County Labs is known for its quality results and accuracy. Results are made available online through our secure portal. Once you arrive at our laboratory, we will conduct a test in your vehicle by one of our trained and certified physicians. Our lab will send you the PCR-RT/Covid-19 Test results the next business day or sooner.

[milton-bell-basketball]

Bouncing Beyond Borders: A Basketball Player's Trip to Argentina

Since I was young I always wanted to be a professional basketball player. Throughout my life, there have been many stumbling blocks along the way, but I have never let that stop me. My name is Xavier Fletcher, and this is a story about how I broke into the world of professional basketball overseas.

From my humble beginnings in Clintonville, WI to my Undefeated Championship in Semi-pro, I have connected with so many wonderful people along the way. However, none of that compares to the journey I have been on since my Rookie season in Armenia in 2022 into 2023. Every moment since I returned home has been a fight to get back on the court and score my next contract in an amazing city.

Preparing The Way

As soon as I got back on American soil, I didn’t waste any time finding a new gym to get some serious training in. My family and I relocated to a town located between my lifting trainer, Yosef Johnson with Ultimate Athlete Concepts, and my basketball trainer, Tyler Ingels with TCF Training. From there it was months (and months) of rigorous training and recovery.

After months of lifting to gain muscle back after Armenia (as there were no opportunities outside of practice to stay fit), I finally tested my skills against professional competition in the summer of 2023 at the HoopKinect events in Chicago and Las Vegas winning Scrapiest Player at the Vegas event. From there I was off to Australia where I played the preseason tour with the Big V league.

During this time, I never let up on my training which included the following:

● Lifting: An intense, full-body max lift to failure with rotating lifts every 4-6 weeks. We also incorporate plyometrics, conditioning, and recovery into the weekly routine.

● Basketball: Regular 1 on 1 shooting and dribbling drills, daily shooting drills, and regular professional open gyms to stay on top of my game.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: The Takeoff

As soon as Milton told me about the opportunity to come to Argentina, I couldn’t wait to finally make the trip as I was unable to during COVID-19 when the first opportunity was presented. I left Detroit late in the evening and arrived in Miami the next morning where I was supposed to meet up with my fellow teammate. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was the only one on my flight from the Milton Bell Family.

From the moment I landed in Buenos Aires, it has been an educational journey, to say the least. From deciphering the money exchange barriers to catching the bus, my introduction to the country had a bit of a rocky start. Thankfully, Milton was there to make sure everything went smoothly from there.

After a LONG three days of travel on two planes and an 8-hour bus ride, I finally made it to Junín, Argentina. Let me tell you, it was a sight for sore eyes. The people were so kind and helpful and the bed was so welcoming.

Establishing A Network: The First Team

With a full night of rest, there was no slowing down in Junín. Bright and early in the morning, training began with Club Ciclista Juninense. It was all dribbling drills, fundamental shooting, 1 v 1 training, and half-court training. We retired to the hotel for lunch and an afternoon siesta and then it was straight back to the gym. In all honesty, it was a routine I could learn to get used to for years to come.

On day 3, things really started to come together. We attended morning practice as usual, but with the Club’s game that night, we got our first look at what it means to be a team in Argentina. It was an experience I won’t forget for the rest of my life. The connections I made during these games were with some of the most genuine, amazing people in the world.

As the week came to a close, it became clear that the team and I had great chemistry, but without a spot on their team for my position it is a partnership that will have to wait for next season. That is a journey that I can’t wait to begin.

Moving Forward: A Bittersweet Goodbye

The last night in Junín was both exciting and disappointing. I received high praise from the president, the coaches, and players alike. I felt as if I had really made connections with the team and their fans. Reluctantly, I packed my bags to prepare for the long bus trip down south to Mar Del Plata, the town where Milton spent his career. I was sad to leave the team in Junín behind, but the road ahead promised new opportunities.

Refresh and Rejuvenate: A Beach Break

The next few days were filled with rest and relaxation and, you guessed it, more training. I found a gym on day one and immediately got to work. It felt good to be in the gym, putting up reps and maintaining a routine. The connection to nature was a welcome bonus as I finished each day soaking in the Vitamine D on the Beach.

On The Road Again: The Next Steps

The break is now over and the next steps in the journey are about to begin. As I wait to board the bus to Buenos Aires to meet up with the rest of the Milton Bell Family, I am still maintaining focus on the game and the grind. On the court or off the court, a basketball player's job is never done. We are always training, always recuperating, and always representing. Tomorrow, we begin our journey to Mendoza to play for a spot in the 3rd division starting in February. I’m ready to keep moving and keep playing. Let’s just hope they are ready for me.

[iowamedia]

Democratic calls for a new nominee ramp up as Biden camp pledges to stay the course

President Joe Biden speaks at the 115th NAACP National Convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on July 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was Biden’s last event before he left the campaign trail due to testing positive for COVID-19. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — Ten more congressional Democrats called on President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid Friday, the most in…

[newstfionline]

Friday, July 19, 2024

Widespread technology outage disrupts flights, banks, media outlets and companies around the world (AP) A widespread Microsoft outage was disrupting flights, banks, media outlets and companies around the world on Friday. Escalating disruptions continued hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services. The website DownDectector, which tracks user-reported internet outages, recorded growing outages in services at Visa, ADT security and Amazon, and airlines including American Airlines and Delta. News outlets in Australia reported that airlines, telecommunications providers and banks, and media broadcasters were disrupted as they lost access to computer systems. Some New Zealand banks said they were also offline. In the U.S., the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded. Airlines, railways and television stations in the United Kingdom were being disrupted by the computer issues. The budget airline Ryanair, train operators TransPennine Express and Govia Thameslink Railway, as well as broadcaster Sky News are among those affected. Shoppers were unable to pay at some supermarkets and stores due to payment system outages.

Biden tests positive for Covid (NYT) President Biden tested positive for Covid on Wednesday, forcing him to cancel a campaign event in Las Vegas and likely sidelining him for days following the conclusion of former President Donald J. Trump’s nominating convention on Thursday. The illness, which the president’s doctor said had produced only mild symptoms so far, was diagnosed even as the Democratic revolt over his candidacy got louder, with more of Mr. Biden’s allies and supporters calling on him to drop out of the race, citing concerns about his ability to defeat Mr. Trump. Having Covid is all but certain to complicate the president’s ability to answer his critics, many of whom have said they want him to show that he still has the vigor and energy to prosecute the case against Mr. Trump in campaign rallies, interviews and other events.

Heat and city streets (NYT) We usually talk about summertime heat in terms of how hot the air is, but there’s another metric that matters: the temperatures of roads, sidewalks, buildings, parking lots and other outdoor surfaces. Hot surfaces can make the places people live and work more dangerous, and can increase the risk of contact burns. Around noon on July 10, huge parts of Phoenix were 120 degrees Fahrenheit, about 49 Celsius, or hotter to the touch. Had you been unlucky or unwise enough to actually touch it with bare skin, it could have caused injury within minutes. On the city’s desert fringes, in territory governed by Native American nations, the land was even hotter, 150 degrees or more. So far this summer, the Arizona Burn Center, which serves Phoenix and the broader Southwest, has admitted 65 people for severe heat-related burns, according to Dr. Kevin Foster, the center’s director. Six of these people died from their injuries. Last summer, the center recorded 14 such deaths. Yet even that figure is small compared with the 645 heat-related deaths that were identified last year in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. That was the highest number on record for the county.

The uncertainty that plagues life in crisis-ridden Venezuela (AP) Victoria Estevez finally met someone who saw past her shyness, and after a few months, they were calling it a relationship. And then came heartbreak. “Remember I had told you that I have a brother in the Dominican Republic? Well, I am going to leave the country, too,” Estevez, 20, recalled reading in an early March WhatsApp message from her new boyfriend. He was the second guy in a row to blindside her with imminent plans to emigrate. Nothing, not even love, has been spared the uncertainty that plagues everyday life in crisis-ridden Venezuela, which has seen several million people leave in the last decade or so. As a presidential election looms later this month along with questions about Venezuela’s future, many more are considering emigrating, wreaking havoc on the country’s economy, its politics and its dating scene. Young people are debating online and among themselves whether it’s worth it to start a relationship—or whether to end one. Others are wondering when it is too soon or too late to ask the crucial question: Will you leave the country?

Flying Ants Emerge Across the U.K. (NYT) “Flying ant day” in Britain is all about sex. Picture it: millions of tiny little winged ants soaring into the sky in a ritualistic orgy under the hot sun. For about six weeks at the height of summer in Britain, typically between mid-July through the early days of September, winged ants emerge from their colonies and ascend to the air to find a mate. They are everywhere. And, despite the name, it’s not just one day, but many days. “There’s often a day where it seems when you look on social media and across the newspapers, that ants have flown and it becomes this ‘flying ant day,’” said Adam Hart, a professor of science communication at the University of Gloucestershire, more than 100 miles northwest of London. “We have lots of such days,” he noted. “But generally, you end up with one that it seems to attract a lot of attention.” The mating action has gained notoriety partly because the insects become nuisances to anyone outdoors at the wrong time. In 2017, they invaded Wimbledon, flying onto the court, bags and players.

France’s Approach to the Olympics: Food, With a Side of Games (NYT) A wing of the Eiffel Tower has been cleared out to make way for a brand-new restaurant called Gustave 24. A fully built commercial kitchen is set to be airlifted into the Palais de Tokyo, a contemporary art museum on the Right Bank. Open-air brasseries will soon be erected on two bridges across the Seine. Oh, and there’s also some kind of athletic event about to take place. As it prepares to host the Olympics, France—a nation already sitting on an elaborate culinary infrastructure—is creating a from-scratch collection of pop-up restaurants and dining experiences on a scale far beyond the offerings at any past Games. Some 80 temporary restaurants are being set up in Paris and other locales around the country where competitions will be staged. They will serve an average of 30,000 diners a day, each offering a different menu and format. And they’ll offer visitors a chance to experience the Olympics as dinner theater. At Versailles, they can feast on lobster ravioli in the gardens while watching equestrian events. In the Eiffel Tower, they’ll be able to enjoy moules frites and live music while observing beach volleyball down below. And when competitions aren’t taking place, these restaurants will host speeches from past Olympic winners, and virtual-reality experiences that simulate participating in a swimming race or standing on a podium to receive a medal.

Russia’s vast stocks of Soviet-era weapons are running out (Economist) For a long time, it seemed that a war of attrition between Ukraine and a Russia with five times its population could only end one way. But the much-vaunted Russian offensive against Kharkiv in the north that started in May is fizzling out. The key issue is not manpower. Russia seems able to go on finding another 25,000 or so soldiers each month to maintain numbers at the front of about 470,000, although it is paying more for them. Production of missiles to strike Ukrainian infrastructure is also surging. But for all the talk about Russia having become a war economy, with some 8 per cent of its GDP devoted to military spending, it is able to replace its staggering losses of tanks, armoured infantry vehicles and artillery only by drawing out of storage and refurbishing stocks built up in the Soviet era. At current rates of attrition, Russian tank and infantry vehicle refurbishment from storage will have reached a “critical point of exhaustion” by the second half of next year.

Ukraine’s Devastated Energy Grid Battles a New Foe: A Sizzling Heat Wave (NYT) For months, Ukraine’s electricity grid has faced repeated Russian missile and drone attacks that have knocked out power plants and gutted substations. Now, it is contending with another, more unexpected threat: a sizzling heat wave. Most of the country is experiencing unusually hot summer weather, with temperatures reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees Celsius. It has strained an already hobbled grid, as residents turn on air-conditioners and food businesses use more electricity to cool products. Ukrenergo, the country’s national electricity operator, said Monday that current consumption largely exceeds Ukraine’s generating capacity. To prevent a collapse of the grid, the authorities have imposed widespread rolling blackouts across the country. In Kyiv, the capital, most buildings are now without power for at least 10 hours a day, including during long periods in the daytime. The roar of generators installed by cafes and restaurants has become a soundtrack of the Ukrainian capital since the heat wave began last week.

China suspends nuclear talks with the U.S. over Taiwan arms sales (Washington Post) China on Wednesday said it has suspended arms control and nuclear nonproliferation talks with Washington, blaming the diplomatic stall on ongoing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The freeze comes just eight months after the two countries held their first formal dialogue on the matter in almost five years. The Chinese announcement comes as U.S. policy on Taiwan hangs in the balance ahead of the November election. Former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump on Tuesday called into question Washington’s long-standing policy of arming Taiwan, the democratic, autonomous island that China claims as its territory. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Trump accused the “immensely wealthy” Taiwan of swindling America out of its role in computer chips manufacturing, and suggested that it ought to “pay us for defense.” Taiwan has “done nothing” for America, Trump said.

Pentagon ends troubled Gaza pier mission, shifts focus to Israeli port (Washington Post) The Pentagon on Wednesday declared an end to its sea-based humanitarian mission off Gaza, an effort that enabled delivery of millions of pounds of food to the war-ravaged territory even as the floating pier built by U.S. troops faced near-constant setbacks and ultimately fell short of expectations. The operation will shift to the Israeli port in Ashdod, north of Gaza, where U.S. personnel will continue to facilitate the movement of aid arriving on ships dispatched from Cyprus. It remains to be seen whether the new operation at Ashdod will be more effective than the floating pier, which was sidelined repeatedly, or quell concerns among U.S. officials and aid groups who have urged Israel to loosen its chokehold on what may enter Gaza by land.

War in Gaza takes a mental health toll (AP) Nabila Hamada gave birth to twin boys in Gaza early in the war, in a hospital reeking of decaying bodies and full of displaced people. When Israeli forces threatened the hospital, she and her husband fled with only one of the babies, as medical staff said the other was too weak to leave. Soon after, Israeli forces raided the hospital, Gaza’s largest, and she never saw the boy again. The trauma of losing one twin left the 40-year-old Hamada so scared of losing the other that she became frozen and ill-equipped to deal with the daily burden of survival. She is among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggling with mental health after nine months of war. The trauma has been relentless. They have endured the killing of family and friends in Israeli bombardments. They have been wounded or disfigured. They have huddled in homes or tents as fighting raged and fled again and again, with no safe place to recover. Anxiety, fear, depression, sleep deprivation, anger and aggression are prevalent, experts and practitioners told The Associated Press. Children are most vulnerable, especially because many parents can barely hold themselves together. “There are about 1.2 million children who are in need of mental health and psychosocial support. This basically means nearly all Gaza’s children,” said Ulrike Julia Wendt, emergency child protection coordinator with the International Rescue Committee.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Coronavirus in California keeps rising: Wastewater levels worse than last summer - Published July 22, 2024

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Coronavirus levels in California’s wastewater now exceed last summer’s peak, an indication of the rapid spread of the super-contagious new FLiRT strains.

California has “very high” coronavirus levels in its wastewater — one of 21 states in that category, up from seven the prior week, according to estimates published Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That means about 155 million people — nearly half of America’s population — live in areas with “very high” coronavirus levels in sewage. Besides California, the other states with “very high” levels are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., is also in that category.

Coronavirus levels in wastewater are also surging in Los Angeles County — and the rate of increase has been accelerating. The county also has seen notable jumps this month in newly confirmed infections, coronavirus-positive hospitalizations and the share of emergency room visits attributable to COVID-19.

Nationally, overall viral levels in wastewater are considered “high” for the second straight week, the CDC said. The estimates are subject to change as more data come in.

Most Americans probably know a family member, friend, co-worker or acquaintance who has come down with COVID-19 recently, perhaps being infected while traveling or at a social gathering.

“If you call — I don’t know — 20 or 30 friends, you’re very, very likely to find a bunch of them actually have COVID, or have had COVID recently, or are starting to be symptomatic,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a COVID expert and chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri.

One notable recent case was President Biden, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday while traveling in Las Vegas. Biden returned to Delaware to recover. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tested positive a few weeks ago, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said Tuesday that she was celebrating her birthday while recovering from COVID.

“Our fight against COVID is not over!” Lee said on social media.

Across the nation, COVID-19’s shadow has become more pronounced lately, with the usual seasonal uptick in travel and socialization spawning a fresh spate of infections. Many cases are relatively mild, but nevertheless disruptive — forcing trips or plans to be canceled.

Some recently infected people have described painful COVID symptoms, such as a throat that feels like it’s studded with razor blades. Overall, however, there are no indications the FLiRT subvariants are associated with increased illness severity that would trigger a substantial increase in hospitalizations.

The CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 41 states, including California. There are no states where the coronavirus is declining or likely declining.

The COVID resurgence comes as the sprawling FLiRT family is increasing its dominance nationally. For the two-week period that ended Saturday, the CDC estimates that about 80% of the nation’s coronavirus specimens are of the FLiRT subvariants, up from about 65% for the same period a month earlier.

Across California, the rate at which COVID tests are returning positive results is also on the rise. For the week that ended July 15, 12.8% of tests came back positive. That’s up from 5.9% a month earlier and close to last summer’s peak of 13.1%, which was recorded at the end of August and early September.

For the 10-day period that ended July 6, the most recent for which data are available, coronavirus levels in Los Angeles County wastewater were at 36% of last winter’s peak, up from 27% for the 10-day period that ended June 29.

Newly confirmed COVID cases are rising faster, too. For the week that ended July 14, there were an average of 359 new cases a day in L.A. County, up from 307 the prior week. A month earlier, there were 154 cases a day.

Official COVID-19 case tallies are certainly an undercount, as those figures include only tests done at medical facilities, not those taken at home, and also don’t account for the fact that fewer people are testing when they feel sick. But the overall trends are still helpful to determine the trajectory of the summer wave.

COVID hospitalizations are also ticking up, though they remain below last summer’s peak. For the week that ended July 13, there were an average of 287 COVID-positive people per day in L.A. County hospitals, up from 139 for the comparable period a month earlier. Last summer’s peak was the week that ended Sept. 9, when an average of 620 COVID-positive patients were in the region’s hospitals per day.

For the week that ended July 14, L.A. County reported that 2.8% of all emergency room visits were COVID-related — up from 1.8% for the comparable period a month earlier, but below last summer’s peak of 5.1%.