Semi-retired consultant and advisor on #CustomerExperience (#CX) and Voice of the Customer (#VoC). Former Gartner and Forrester analyst. Politically active to foster a world that has more #equity, respects #diversity, and embraces #progressive causes. Promoting #COVID19 awareness and caution because people, businesses, and the economy will suffer consequences for our failures to limit infections. Milwaukee, WI, US (He/Him)
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2026-08-17T19:37:56Z Event JSON
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Last Notes npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted an X message recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility. The statement affirms the existence and rights of trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers. In response, a number of people with crosses in their X handles and "Christian" in their profiles are asking him what the Quran says about homosexuality and mocking him for accepting and rejecting different aspects of his faith. 1/2 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY finds that your risk of Long COVID rises with each #COVID19 infection: 3x greater risk of Long COVID after more than three infections compared to one: "Compared with patients with a single COVID-19 infection, those with two, three, and more than three infections had a significantly elevated risk of developing Long COVID, with the odds ratio (OR) of 2.01, 2.19, and 3.04, respectively." https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1760355/full npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I just announced that I plan to retire or semi-retire in 6 weeks. I've worked for over 40 years non-stop, and I'm looking forward to bringing a little more balance to my life. I hope I can still make contributions, whether that be through volunteering or consulting, but I would like to leave the stress and demands of the work week behind. I'm excited and curious for what the next phase of my journey May bring. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Trump's SOTU speech is said to be at least two hours long, possibly three. Don't watch. He won't say anything you can't read about in five minutes tomorrow, and you know he cares A LOT about ratings. Do yourself a favor and watch something else. TCM is running the 1944 movie "Gaslight" tonight—it's where the term "gaslighting" comes from. I'm sure that's just a coincidence. https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/128/248/529/458/046/original/ee79c78672f3888d.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I welcome Trump voters changing, but I am getting really tired of hearing, "I didn't vote for this." https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/117/916/876/642/434/original/3cb1165c1171761c.jpg npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Today: “My doctor doesn't mask, so that must mean I don't have to mask.” 1960s: “My doctor smokes, so that must mean I can smoke.” 19th Century: “My doctor doesn't wash his hands between patients, so that must mean washing hands isn't necessary.” I respect doctors, but the history of medicine is full of examples when doctors were slow to accept science and change. COVID remains a risk worth protecting yourself from, regardless of what your doctor does. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article314482316.html npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray He cared for a woman. MAGA loves to claim they'll protect women from ridiculous "threats" like a transgender person using a restroom, but they undermine women, bully them, coddle rapists, and hurt women's rights. Pretti risked his life (whether or not he knew it) simply to help a woman and ensure she was okay. He was brave. While MAGA loves to crow about their courage, they run around behind masks and bully people from the safety of anonymous X accounts. 2/3 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "I’m having a hard time reconciling it all. I’m having a hard time understanding why the leaders who cried the loudest about government overreach during a pandemic are now endorsing government-sanctioned violence — against their own people. I’m having a hard time understanding why the voters and the political party propping up these leaders aren’t screaming 'tyranny' now." https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/heidi-stevens-federal-agents-tyranny/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Donald Trump, August 2025: "The United States will not let men steal trophies from women." Donald Trump, January 2026: https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/924/587/325/923/441/original/8ed1fd75a64eef03.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Wow, the northern lights over Greenland are incredible. 😆 https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/923/955/542/577/468/original/0f2090ad7e581827.jpg npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray And now, something that made me smile... https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/908/225/883/365/917/original/1857d358e5444d75.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Democrats need to find a backbone and get better leaders who recognize what's happening in the nation and what's needed from them. "Despite the fast-spreading outrage over the actions of DHS, many Senate Democrats aren’t eager to wage a fight over the department’s budget as part of this month’s funding fight." https://www.thebulwark.com/p/senate-democrats-appear-ready-to-duck-ice-dhs-government-funding-deadline npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Getting cancer treatments? Get vaccinated! STUDY: "In this cohort including multiple cancer types, #COVID19 mRNA vaccination within 100 days before ICI (Immune checkpoint inhibitors) initiation was independently associated with superior long-term overall survival." https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6024843 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "Just the flu." German STUDY of respiratory viral hospitalizations in 2024 finds that "Overall, infections with SARS-CoV-2 were still most frequent, and in adult patients mortality tended to be twice as high as in patients with influenza." #COVID19 https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8402845/v1 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray The lie of "safe" air on airplanes: STUDY finds that airborne transmission of #COVID19 dominated, accounting for a median of 92.2%, whereas contact (7.8%) and direct deposition (droplets, 0.0%) played minimal roles. Passengers seated within two rows of the index case had a 4.41-fold higher attack rate compared with those farther away, but 45% of observed infections occurred beyond this proximity. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132326000296 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray “Are you a communist?” “No, I am an anti-fascist” “For a long time?” “Since I have understood fascism.” – Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray A masked man shot and killed a woman. Called her a "fucking bitch" as she died. Then fled the scene. And the GOP thinks he's a hero and she's a terrorist. Every election. Every race. Every Democrat. #VoteBlue npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Weekly update of #COVID19 and #influenza conditions in the US: - COVID viral activity is HIGH for the 1st time in months - COVID risks are VERY different across nation--5x higher in the Midwest than in the West. - Flu viral activity is moderate but is barely below the high range. - With many hospitals overwhelmed with respiratory patients, it's a good weekend to be careful. https://medium.com/@augieray_66704/covid-and-flu-viral-activity-high-update-for-january-9-2026-ea7499f2fdf0 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray My post on LinkedIn about the newly updated Federal Reserve data on disabilities in the US. Since 2021, disabilities have risen considerably, and they keep rising in 2023, 2024, and 2025. I wonder what could cause this. #COVID19 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/augieray_covid19-covid19-activity-7415416870163603456-6z0m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAARAO4BAPx0-DzizrQdFWXScUx1J1Sa0xc https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/865/895/258/790/975/original/9b25264702c68a70.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray A wealthy white person who cheats the government is a smart businessperson. A poor black person who cheats the government is a freeloader. A conservative who refuses to follow Capitol Police orders is a patriot. A liberal who refuses to follow ICE orders is a terrorist. Billions for Americans swamped with student debt is unfair. Billions for farmers swamped with debt is fair. “Whoever controls the narrative, controls the people.” – Abhijit Naskar, neuroscientist npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Funny how quick "I need guns to resist a fascist government" turns into "She'd be alive if she'd followed cops' orders." npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Wow, the Financial Times is not playing around. "Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter." https://www.ft.com/content/ad94db4c-95a0-4c65-bd8d-3b43e1251091 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Two posts on LinkedIn that answer common #COVID19 questions using new research: Post 1: Why don't you know more people with Long COVID, if it's reportedly so common? Is COVID really "over" and now just a minor endemic acute illness? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/augieray_estimated-burden-of-covid-19-illnesses-medical-activity-7414700772954832897-ZAxL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAARAO4BAPx0-DzizrQdFWXScUx1J1Sa0xc Post 2: Should we care about the economic impact of Long COVID? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/augieray_economic-burden-of-long-covid-lost-labor-activity-7414709586508718080-G6TP?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAARAO4BAPx0-DzizrQdFWXScUx1J1Sa0xc npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Conservatives: It is outlandish that liberal performers would cancel Kennedy Center shows because of Trump. Also Conservatives: Trump-appointed executive director Richard Grenell reportedly set aside 50 tickets for a conservative group with “instructions to harass” the performer. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kennedy-center-union-investigation-yasmin-williams-heckling-1235438829/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray This weekend, I was supposed to get together with a friend. he told he'd be at a big event in Vegas all week before visiting. I almost canceled, but I didn't. He just canceled because he tested positive for COVID. Ducked a bullet this time. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray New STUDY tells us the burden of #COVID19 infections remains great and undercounted in the US: "In 2022-2023, there were an estimated 43.6 million COVID-19–associated illnesses, 10.0 million outpatient visits, 1.1 million hospitalizations, and 101 300 deaths. In 2023-2024, there were an estimated 33.0 million COVID-19–associated illnesses, 7.7 million outpatient visits, 879 100 hospitalizations, and 100 800 deaths." https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2843383 1/2 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray New US CDC's wastewater data on #COVID19 is available. As of 12/27: COVID viral activity is Moderate in the US, and High or Very high in 13 states. COVID levels are 2-4x higher in Midwest and Northeast as South and West, but the South is showing a solid rising trend. Oddly, flu data was not updated at the same time. Weekly COVID hospitalization rate for 0-4yos is 7x higher than 5-17yos, 3.5x higher than 18-49yos, and the same as 50-64yos. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/covid-net/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-national-data.html npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Another good reason to wear a mask while shopping: NYC Wegmans is storing biometric data on shoppers' eyes, voices and faces https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-wegmans-is-storing-biometric-data-on-shoppers-eyes-voices-and-faces npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Pediatric healthcare workers: "We can't wear masks because it's so, so, so important babies see our faces, even if it exposes them to dangerous viruses." STUDY: "Findings suggest that masked and unmasked static faces equally attract newborns' attention and that surgical masks do not disrupt their face configuration processing." Medical professionals need to start admitting they're just being selfish, not altruistic, by not masking around at-risk patients. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/infa.70064 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Wow. STUDY finds #COVID19 vaccine lowers mortality for COPD patients EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT INFECTED! "Compared with vaccinated/uninfected individuals... The annual mortality risk was also significantly higher among unvaccinated/uninfected individuals (aHR = 6.01, 95% CI = 2.15–16.81)... Vaccination-related factors may confer broader benefits on COPD outcomes beyond direct protection against COVID-19." https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12931-025-03470-9 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray It's only Jan 4, and already two studies have been published in 2026 on neurodevelopmental issues in children exposed to #COVID19 in utero. STUDY 1: “Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was associated with 29% greater odds of the child having a neurodevelopmental condition by age 3 years.” STUDY 2: "Children exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in utero display lower cognitive abilities than children who had not been exposed." https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2843606 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159125004805 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Maybe next year FIFA can award their peace prize to Hitler or Genghis Khan posthumously. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray If you are having surgery, avoid a #COVID19 infection. This is one of several studies I've seen suggesting perioperative risks if surgery occurs in the weeks following an infection. An infection can delay your surgery. STUDY: "Breast cancer surgery after SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with excess perioperative risk only when performed within the first two weeks. Delaying surgery to approximately six weeks minimises complications." https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/1/341 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray So, if the US thinks it's acceptable for a nation to invade another nation and arrest their president… Just sayin'. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray #COVID19 during pregnancy harms children. STUDY: "After adjusting for confounding variables—maternal age, race and ethnicity, insurance and hospital types, offspring sex, preterm birth status, and vaccination—exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was associated with 29% greater odds of the child having a neurodevelopmental condition by age 3 years." https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2843606 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Saw someone claim that illness today is mostly #COVID19, not #Flu. They are mistaken. I'm no COVID minimizer, but data tells us COVID is moderate and Influenza A is very high. Here is the BIOFIRE chart of the positive rate of COVID and Flu A over time. In winter 2023/24, we had a 2-4x higher positive rate for COVID than for the flu. In 2024/25, the positive rate was 2-3x higher for flu than for COVID. Now, flu positive rate is 6x higher. Why is this happening, and what's next? 1/2 https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/831/701/105/091/836/original/a5c457f49a9ef432.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray My weekly update: COVID and Flu Accelerating as 2026 Begins: Update for January 2, 2026 - No new wastewater data from the CDC due to the holiday - WastewaterSCAN has COVID, flu, and RSV concentrations at high and rising - Walgreens' Respiratory Index is solid red in most of the US, with 40 states at 10 out of 10 for Acute Respiratory Illness - Flu hospitalizations hit record levels already in NY and CO https://medium.com/@augieray_66704/covid-and-flu-accelerating-as-2026-begins-update-for-january-2-2026-e6695103179e npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray An informative #COVID19 post with many links: I've Read 3,000 Studies About COVID: Here's What You're Ignoring That Could (Still) Harm You or a Loved One https://medium.com/@augieray_66704/ive-read-3-000-studies-about-covid-here-s-what-you-re-ignoring-that-could-still-harm-you-or-a-accafe0f7c66 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Republicans are working to bring a Charlie Kirk statue to the US capitol. Meanwhile, they refuse to allow the installation of a congressionally mandated plaque honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the 1/6 attack. Kirk's murder was a senseless crime, but he wasn't an elected official. You know who was? Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in her home by a Trump supporter. https://www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk-us-capitol-statue-proposal-gets-major-boost-11252877 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray A former writer for South Park foresaw Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center and had the foresight to register the domain names trumpkennedycenter dot org and dot com back in August. JFK's niece thanked him for doing so. Of course, the Trump-controlled board now wants their domain name and threatened legal action. His response is brilliant. https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/814/876/016/436/285/original/42c649c041575ce6.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray “The reason poverty exists is not because we can’t feed the poor, it’s because we can’t satisfy the rich. That’s exactly what we’re seeing with Elon Musk becoming the first trillionaire. This is a spiritual sickness. What leads a person to accumulate more money than they could possibly spend in a hundred lifetimes when we have people starving in this one?” - James Talarico, Presbyterian seminarian and Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I get that in the scheme of things, this stuff is minor and stupid, but what in the hell is wrong with Republicans?!? GOP Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chris Garten of Indiana posted AI photos of himself beating Santa Claus on Christmas Day, and then attacked those who criticized him as “snowflakes.” How do these people get any votes, and how deluded must you be to think the GOP are the good guys? https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/786/235/293/606/797/original/a350121607d7bc41.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Moderate-to-severe COVID-19 symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of poor executive function performance (OR = 1.507). (COVID damages brains!) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07334648251409916 Long COVID was prospectively associated with unhealthy sleep outcomes 3 years after onset. Long COVID was also associated with a 1.53 times higher risk of moderate-to-severe sleep disturbance (95% CI: 1.23, 1.91). (COVID damages sleep!) https://academic.oup.com/sleep/advance-article/doi/10.1093/sleep/zsaf405/8382906?login=false 2/6 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray The next two weeks will probably be the peak of respiratory virus season, with #COVID19, flu, & other viruses surging. If you're traveling or seeing friends and family, do a little to protect yourself and them! Studies published the past week: STUDY: Non-hospitalized COVID-positive patients had a 47 to 56% higher risk of various thyroid diseases. Hospitalized patients risks were higher: 2 to 2.3x higher. (COVID damages thyroids!) https://academic.oup.com/jcem/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1210/clinem/dgaf688/8403187?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false 1/6 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch.'" Stop pretending ANYONE who voted for Trump has any morality or cares about protecting children or women. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/president-shares-love-young-nubile-131331220.html npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "COVID is just the flu." STUDY: #COVID19 shows 76% higher 30-day mortality odds than influenza. Crude mortality rate is 12.5-fold higher for patients with COVID-19. https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(25)00515-6/fulltext npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray A new Australian study using a Bayesian network model estimates the risk of at least one Long COVID symptom 6 months after #COVID19 for completely vaccinated (2+ doses) people: 1st infection: 32% 2nd infection: 48% 3rd infection: 55% After three infections, even those with four vaccinations have: 25% - 32% risk of cardiovascular symptoms 15% - 18% of pulmonary symptoms 3% - 5% of neurological symptoms https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25014252?via%3Dihub https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/752/198/025/528/083/original/72a7f5680498cc6d.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Bank of America thinks we need a debate about whether feminism failed women. Maybe BOA customers need to tell them how they feel about sponsoring CBS's conservative shift toward sexism. Before 1974, many women, married or single, needed a husband or father to co-sign for loans, credit cards, and sometimes even bank accounts. Apparently, BOA thinks we need to explore if that's a good or bad thing. Customers have a voice. Use it! https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/747/447/225/966/842/original/756f0df4a54a7b34.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Absolutely insane: Whooping cough surging because vaccinations are down. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/whooping-cough-vaccines-cases-us-pertussis-rcna248746 Measles surging because vaccinations are down. https://conexiant.com/infectious-disease/articles/measles-cases-surge-to-25-year-high/ And in kids, this year's COVID vaccination rate is a measly 7.1% for the 2025/26 #COVID19 vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/covidvaxview/weekly-dashboard/child-coverage-vaccination.html (1/2) npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I asked an AI tool to summarize Donald Trump's primetime address last night: "Lie, me, lie, lie, racism, me, me, lie, me, lie, lie, lie, me, me, me, me, racism, me, lie, me, lie." npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray More morality and bravery from a pro wrestler than from almost every member of GOP leadership. https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/731/825/682/554/085/original/2511165057a2f8be.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray #COVID19 gives some people Long COVID symptoms but leaves many others with subclinical damage that shortens lives and harms well-being. Repeated injury to our blood vessels, brains, immune systems, hearts & other organs accumulate damage, slowly raising risks of neuro, cognitive and mental health issues, cardiac events, and cancer. Because people can't see and feel their health slipping away, they act normal, but things aren't normal--the sneaky even-worse scenario is a slow-motion disaster. 2/2 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I think that between the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario is a sneaky even-worse scenario. If COVID had been a worst-case scenario and simply killed 5% of people who got reinfected, we'd all be in masks, avoiding crowds, and have incredibly safe air in airports, event spaces, and workplaces. But, neither is #COVID19 a best case--it isn't "just the flu or a cold." Instead, we're caught in that sneaky even-worst place. The even-worst-case scenario is exactly what we have: (1/2) npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Trump America first or Russia first? "Unilateral disarmament is now official policy. Because this National Security Strategy is not really a strategy document. It is a suicide note. If the ideas within it are really used to shape policy, then U.S. influence in the world will rapidly disappear, and America’s ability to defend itself and its allies will diminish. The consequences will be economic as well as political, and they will be felt by all Americans." https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/national-security-strategy-democracy/685270/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK35ibcb27LjcQKIf6tB8WqQM npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray There is no bottom. It's just unending narcissism and hatred. https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/724/460/406/962/548/original/2ffb67cd7883b49a.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray “Things can happen." -Trump on the shooting at a Brown University He can send ICE to round up teachers and farm workers, but he can't lift a finger to limit weapons. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Wish me luck. Just spent an hour in the most crowded room I've been in in quite some time for a celebration of life for a 42 year old. Wore my respirator, of course. But... - The man's mother thinks his bout of COVID in May—his “worst ever”—contributed. - Said her grandkids in attendance are “just getting over the flu.” - Stack of masks was offered; no one else wore one. - No windows open with temp at 3 °F (-16 °C). I REALLY don't understand why no one cares about their health or risks. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY of people four years post-infection with #COVID19 finds: 4x higher dementia 54% higher cognitive deficit 96% higher substance use disorder 16% higher mood disorder 39% higher anxiety disorder https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3206/full/v15/i12/109680.htm npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY finds that Aspirin may help prevent mild #COVID19 turning into severe COVID. "These findings unveil a previously unrecognized antiviral activity of ASA, providing a molecular rationale for its repurposing as a low-cost, readily available intervention to prevent the progression from mild to severe COVID-19." https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1706997/abstract npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray While the Trump administration rounds up nannies, day laborers, and other non-criminal immigrants, it freed and invited rapists, sex traffickers, and abusers to enter the U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/andrew-tate-barron-trump-romania.html?unlocked_article_code=1.708.sgST.AjVvrLtEoAfg&smid=nytcore-ios-share npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray My spreadsheet of studies warning of the longer-term health impacts of #COVID19 infections has reached 2,900 studies. New studies find COVID: - Damages your immunity for 20 months or longer - Raises risks of thrombotic outcomes by 75%. - Causes more severe and frequent neurological impairment in children - Raises pro-inflammatory cytokines know to drive tumor cell proliferation, contributing to metastatic progression. COVID is now rising in the US. Take care. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12VbMkvqUF9eSggJsdsFEjKs5x0ABxQJi5tvfzJIDd3U/edit?usp=sharing npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "It's just the flu." STUDY out of Moldova: "SARS-CoV-2 infection in young children causes more severe & frequent neurological impairment, with a marked immuno-inflammatory profile & characteristic EEG and neuroimaging changes, compared to ARVI (acute respiratory viral infections), which is milder and less specific in its neurological involvement." Neuroimaging revealed specific vascular and inflammatory lesions in 29% of the #COVID19 group versus 4% of the IRVA group. https://repository.usmf.md/handle/20.500.12710/32205?mode=full npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "Just the flu." STUDY: "New-onset FND (functional neurological disorder) appears more likely after COVID-19 than other RTIs (respiratory tract infections). Incidence was higher following COVID-19 compared to other RTIs, both in the first 2 years of the pandemic (Odds Ratio of 1.555) and subsequently (OR 1.394)." https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.70459 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY: The risk of thrombotic outcomes was 70% higher in the PASC (Long #COVID19) cohort compared to the non-PASC cohort. The average number of thrombotic events per patient was also higher in the PASC cohort (mean 1.33 vs. 0.60). "PASC was associated with a significantly increased long-term risk of thromboembolic events." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006497125058677 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "Just the flu." STUDY: "In the six months after contracting long COVID, veterans eventually diagnosed with long COVID had a 34% higher risk of ED visits compared to those who contracted #COVID19 but never developed long COVID. Between three and six months post-infection, the risk of ED visits was 21% higher in the long COVID group." https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/414995/20251204-171498-5zm6m2.pdf npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray “Omicron is milder.” STUDY: Omicron evolved to enrich “pathways associated with neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular stress responses highlighting a potential shift toward long-term host manipulation and the emergence of post-acute #COVID19 syndromes.” These changes are “associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS, raising concerns about its long-term neurological impact.” How many times do you want that? https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/12/203 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I won a McDonald's Happy Meals Peace Prize, which is a totally real prize and every bit as meaningful as a FIFA peace prize! (And here I thought Republicans hated participation trophies.) https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/678/821/677/553/938/original/e3719ed0176727f4.jpg npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray The BA.3.2 #COVID19 variant (nicknamed Cicada) has been getting increasing attention from virus hunters. It is growing slowly globally and has just been named a Variant Under Monitoring by WHO. The reason it's getting attention is that it is the first non-Omicron variant to get some traction in years. It developed in a chronically-infected person with 50 spike mutations, rather than from the small mutations that occur as a virus passes from one person to the next. 1/2 https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/epp/tracking-sars-cov-2/05122025_ba.3.2_ire.pdf?sfvrsn=a29c3612_4 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY: "Our findings redefine SARS-CoV-2 infection as a condition of long-lasting immune compromise… Even 20 months post-infection, CD8+ T cells remained 9.9% below baseline. In cardiovascular disease patients, T lymphocytes remained 72.9% below baseline for 20 months post-infection." #COVID19 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225005090 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray How is this possible after all those Russian bots on Twitter pretending to be New Yorkers said they'd sell their NYC homes and move to Florida?!? https://fortune.com/2025/12/04/mamdani-effect-new-york-city-real-estate-manhattan-luxury-millionaires-billionaires/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY: "In this cohort study including 22.7 million vaccinated individuals and 5.9 million unvaccinated individuals, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and no increased risk of all-cause mortality over a median follow-up of 45 months." This study covered data that included 22.7 million vaccinated individuals and 5.9 million unvaccinated individuals. Vaccines are safe. COVID is not. #COVID19 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2842305 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray It's difficult to lose weight, but it's one of the things you can do to protect yourself from post-#COVID19 brain and immunological damage. STUDY: "The results suggest that BMI (body mass index) contributes to GMV (gray matter volume) alterations in PCC patients, with both BMI and GMV demonstrating correlations with peripheral immunological markers." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354625001954 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray STUDY of #COVID19 vaccination on Long COVID risks in adolescents: "The risk of LC was 36% lower in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated participants. Vaccination reduces the risk of LC. Given the profound impact LC can have on the health and well-being of adolescents and the limited availability of treatments during this developmental stage, this supports vaccination as a strategy for preventing LC." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25012046 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray He dedicates some of his performances, such as one coming to Chicago on December 8, " for those living with chronic illness and/or long COVID, family members, caretakers, and healthcare providers." Free masks are available, and "are kindly recommended for all attendees." 2/2 If we took these precautions BEFORE artists struggle with Long COVID, fewer artists and music lovers would need to face that struggle in the first place. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I wish more music artists paid more attention to the risks of repeated #COVID19 infections. This artist, cellist Joshua Roman, suffered with Long COVID so disabling that "he was too weak to play his instrument or climb stairs." He is now "able to perform again, albeit with great effort." 1/2 https://chicagoreader.com/music/concert-preview/joshua-roman-arbory/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray We MUST discuss COVID risks without resorting to lies. Some in the COVID-cautious community are letting their legitimate concerns about Long COVID and chronic health impairment lead them to profoundly unhelpful posts that only make it more difficult to reach people. You wouldn't listen to someone who claimed there were infinitely more auto accidents, even if the data said otherwise. Why would anyone listen to a COVID "expert" who does the same with COVID? More info, less exaggeration, please. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray One of the COVID-cautious people on Twitter just posted that there is "There is INFINITELY more Covid now than there ever was during the time period people refer to as 'peak Covid,' but there is no testing or data left." We need to stop exaggerating if we want ANYONE TO LISTEN! "INFINITELY" is clearly hyperbole. We DO have testing--wastewater monitoring that is effective and accurate. In fact, wastewater testing tells us (in the US) we're near the lowest COVID levels in years. 1/2 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray An unusually honest assessment from the NY Times: "Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry." Anyone who can continue to overlook the bigotry, the pedophilia coverup, the sexual assault history, the lies, the war crimes, the sexism, the bullying, and the self-interest just because they think Trump may help their 401k is a terrible person. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/02/us/trump-ukraine-putin-news?unlocked_article_code=1.508.le-T.0BOmkrDT1UV9&smid=url-share npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray The White House used a Sabrina Carpenter song in a terrible video, and the artist gave an appropriately harsh reply. Not THAT'S a ratio! https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/652/505/545/157/733/original/e3e5c20bf8979ac5.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray We are not served by those who deny #COVID19 risks or chronic impact. But neither are we served by people who claim every airline accident, sports mistake, or celebrity illness is a sign of COVID's impact. The truth lies somewhere in between, but extemists do not help educate, convince, or engage people in a reasonable discussion about why COVID is still concerning. We need more information, data, and research, plus better analysis and consideration, not more exaggerration and speculation. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray - Latent viruses like the herpes can reactivate in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, causing Long COVID pathology. - Chronic inflammation is persisting in patients, damaging tissue and perhaps triggering the disease. Which of these do you want to happen following your next COVID infection. If the answer is none, what will you do prevent or reduce the risk of your next infection? 2/2 https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/quick-question-do-we-know-what-causes-long-covid/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray As we move into viral respiratory season with rising #COVID19 infections, here is a quick two-minute read on "What Have We Learned About the Cause of Long COVID?" tl;dr: No, not yet, but there are several overlapping hypostheses supported by science: - COVID persists in multiple organs and replicates in some people. - Infections can trigger antibodies and T cells, creating autoimmunity issues that can cause chronic conditions in some people. 1/2 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray While the WastewaterSCAN dashboard still shows no rise in #COVID19 in the US before Thanksgiving, there are some sewersheds with high viral activity: - Bangor, ME - Warren, MI - Montpelier, VT - Jackson, MI - Youngstown, OH - Akron, OH - Boise, ID - Coralville, IA - Portland, ME The Midwest was the region with the lowest summer peak in September, so it would be no surprise if it led the winter surge. https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker?charts=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%3D&selectedChartId=6da650 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Six congressional Democrats released a video advising members of the U.S. military to “refuse illegal orders.” Trump posted this was sedition punishable by death. This week, news reports have alleged that the U.S. military carried out a strike to kill two survivors of an initial missile strike on a boat in the Caribbean. Fun fact: Firing on shipwrecked survivors is *specifically* called out as an illegal order that service members must refuse. https://ogc.osd.mil/Portals/99/department_of_defense_law_of_war_manual.pdf https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/639/964/576/373/160/original/7515d777271c85ca.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray - A study of retinal microvasculature of recovered COVID-19 patients found significant changes compared to controls that “may lead to future complications or visual impairment.” - A study of those with Long COVID found “significant alveolar gas exchange impairment, with frequent diffusion deficits, fibrotic changes, and ground-glass opacities indicating persistent parenchymal and microvascular injury.” 5/6 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray - A study found that cardiovascular risks were significantly elevated in the weeks after a COVID diagnosis and “remained elevated to beyond 12 months for venous thromboembolism (1·39x risk), thrombocytopenia (1·42x risk), and myocarditis or pericarditis (1·42x risk).” - A study of children, 73% of whom had a history of mild COVID-19, found 47% had impaired lung function. 4/6 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray - Another study found “prolonged T cell dyshomeostasis” (damage to your immune system) due to “persistent activation and dyshomeostasis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells for 6–12 months after acute infection.” - A study found “Persistent pulmonary inflammation… following mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and associated with increased vascular inflammation… potentially contributing to elevated cardiovascular risk.” 3/6 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray - A study of people with post-COVID cognitive issues found “distinct brain structural alterations and ONGOING neurodegenerative processes.” - A study found that “SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a low-grade inflammatory process that, even months or years after infection, does not return to pre-COVID-19 levels, which may contribute to neurologic sequelae and accelerated aging.” 2/5 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray This morning I reviewed dozens of #COVID19 studies published in the last five days. Here's what you should know: - A multimodal MRI study found “altered signal intensity, abnormal tissue microstructure, and imbalanced neurochemicals” in the brains of people with BOTH long COVID AND COVID-19 recovered healthy controls, demonstrating “long-term neurological effects of COVID-19.” 1/5 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Trump is murdering innocent people in international waters and threatening to go to war against Venezuela over drugs while, at the same time, pardoning a man convicted of trafficking more than 400 tons of cocaine into the US. Everything is distraction and bluster, provided it lines Trump's pockets. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/28/nx-s1-5624478/trump-plans-to-pardon-juan-orlando-hernandez npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray That doesn't suggest vaccination isn't important. It still offers partial and fading protection against infection and hospitalization, and some studies find it lowers the risk of Long COVID. But, this study should tell us that vaccinations alone are not sufficient. npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Vaccines alone are not enough. Study of #COVID19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization in adults over 60 in 2024/25: “VE was 42% 14-59 days post-vaccination, 32% at 60-119 days, and 36% at 120-179 days, and no effect thereafter. “ Less than 50% effective in the first two months. No effect after 179 days. (I have seen studies suggesting vaccination may provide SOME protection against Long COVID.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41290396/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray COVID isn't the only threat this season. The flu could pose a serious threat, potentially leaving ERs swamped by Christmas. Norovirus and RSV are also rising (https://abc7ny.com/post/doctors-concerned-new-strain-flu-norovirus-holiday-season/18209101/). 2/2 Read about Long COVID on the CDC website (before this information disappears): https://www.cdc.gov/long-covid/about/index.html npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray "Gee, it sure woulda been easy to wear a mask." If you get COVID and ruin your holidays... If you get someone else sick and ruin theirs... If you are left with chronic fatigue or brain fog... If you damage your heart or brain... if you accelerate neurodegenerative disorders... if you reawaken cancer... If any of this occurs because you contract a #covid19 infection this holiday season, it will be too late to say "Gee, it sure woulda been easy to wear a mask." 1/2 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray I definitely think "Toilet Paper Republican" or TPublican, for short, is appropriate, don't you? Great idea, Trump! https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/616/579/339/493/521/original/777d29ffca2b0512.png npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray Trump welcomes and celebrates terrorists, dictators, and abusers, but he is labeling countries with state subsidies for abortion, transgender-friendly policies for children, hate speech laws, and affirmative action policies will as violators of human rights. https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/11/21/abortion-dei-now-considered-violations-of-human-rights-us-officials-say/ npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray The US government shutdown ended, and we got new wastewater data last week, but a lot of #COVID19 pages are not yet being updated: No new data on COVID positive rate: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/surveillance/index.html No new data on COVID hospitalization: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/covid-net/index.html No new data on COVID vaccination rate: https://www.cdc.gov/covidvaxview/weekly-dashboard/index.html I don't expect much from this administration's CDC, but basic data would be great to have, wouldn't it? npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray #COVID19 and flu's winter surge will begin in earnest this week in the US due to holiday travel and events. (We won't be able to confirm this for a couple of weeks due to reporting timelines.) Wear a mask when you can in crowds so that: - You stay healthy - Your loved ones stay healthy - You prevent a chain of infections that cause dozens of people to get ill (and someone to get chronically ill) during the winter surge. Every infection we prevent at the start of a surge counts for more! 1/4 npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray #COVID19's and flu's winter surge will begin in earnest this week in the US due to holiday travel and events. (We won't be able to confirm this for a couple of weeks due to reporting timelines.) Wear a mask when you can in crowds so that: - You stay healthy - Your loved ones stay healthy - You prevent a chain of infections that cause dozens of people to get ill (and someone to get chronically ill) during the winter surge. Every infection we prevent at the start of a surge counts for more! npub16ll3hlyn2w95qavde7v2e08d2x5pwjrrsv3g3sdy7869y6vkg8hsqtyrn8 Augie Ray My spreadsheet of studies on the chronic impact of #COVID19 infections has now passed 2,800 studies. Recent studies find COVID is associated with: - An increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality - A higher prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in adolescents - An increase in community-acquired pneumonia in young people - Persistent fatigue in children and young people up to 24 months after infection - Pulmonary perfusion impairment for up to 12 months https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12VbMkvqUF9eSggJsdsFEjKs5x0ABxQJi5tvfzJIDd3U/edit?usp=sharing