I would like to explain one thing, which is why the apparent death rate for cases of covid19 looks like it is declining. In part this is because I get sent links to things written by opinion writers who do not understand what they are talking about and I’d like to have a clear explanation … Continue reading Covid-19 Update: Why It Looks Like Death Rates are Going Down But Aren’t
What are the political situations that have resulted in decreasing case numbers of covid-19? I plotted daily case rate curves by the party of the governor (2 categories) and the vote for Trump (2 levels). My hypothesis was that governors that are Democratic will do more, but those that are in Republican leaning states will … Continue reading Covid-19 Update, June 23, 2020
I have seen criticism from conservatives that there is a double standard being applied to protests against racial injustice and the Trump rally tomorrow. The virus does not care how people get into contact with each other and actions have consequences. As a matter of risk assessment I would see the differences being outdoors vs. … Continue reading Covid-19 Update, June 19, 2020
I have been convinced from the start of the pandemic that Trumpism is a risk factor for spreading the virus. Today the Washington Post picked up this position and ran with it. Continue reading Covid-19 Update, June 18, 2020
It has been obvious for quite a while that death rates from covid-19 vary from rural to urban states, in somewhat the same manner as the transmission rates (overall) have varied — low in rural states, high in urban states. As the case rates for all states continue to converge (rural states on the upswing, … Continue reading Covid-19 Update, June 17, 2020
Arizona. The new daily cases per million from Arizona today make everywhere else look like things are better (they aren’t). The focus of new cases stretches across the south, with the addition of Oregon, which has been creeping up in recent days. The new daily cases by population density show both the differential response to … Continue reading Covid-19 Update, June 16, 2020
I’ve been writing daily updates for social media on the Covid-19 pandemic for the past 100 days or so. Since I have made them public, I figured I would share them here as well. We are 100 days into this thing and people are apparently bored. The states with the highest population densities have had … Continue reading Covid-19 update
Chicago has been replacing its high-pressure sodium lamps with 3000K LEDs. They are finding many objections to the level of glare and brightness, but the Chicago Tribune editorial board came out with a ringing endorsement of full-spectrum white light, and celebrating the loss of yellow and orange hue of high-pressure sodium. This is my response. … Continue reading Chicago, the Night Should Not Look Like the Day
Things have to be a bit dire to take hope from a roadkilled squirrel, but today, that’s where I found it, north of Sunset, between the 405 and the 101. Continue reading The Californians: Western Gray Squirrel edition
We cover the natural history of Toxoplasma gondii (it is a parasite that only reproduces in the gut of members of the cat family), then lay out the impacts on humans, domestic animals, and wild animals. The take-home message here is that the effects of toxoplasmosis are worse than you imagine and certainly worse than you would think if you listened to people who have a vested interest in downplaying its impacts. Continue reading New paper: taking toxoplasmosis seriously
