A health and public policy blog
Covid-19 What’s going on in the World: 81,126,416 cases worldwide since the start of the epidemic, with 1,771,407 deaths. It is likely we will, despite starting vaccinations, see another increaRead More…
Brief History of mRNA Vaccines The first published human trial of an mRNA vaccines was of a rabies vaccine. CureVac a Dutch Company specializing in mRNA vaccines and scientists at the University Read More…
About a year ago our world was upended when it became clear the respiratory virus spreading through China was not going to be contained locally. China dragged its feet trying to figure out how to hanRead More…
The Boston Smallpox Epidemic For many centuries’ smallpox was the scourge of humanity. It decimated human populations and in the New World wreaked havoc among Native Americans with the influx oRead More…
After almost 10 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel. There are several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on the horizon, with two approaching FDA approval. As Read More…
So what drove the ascent of Donald J. Trump? I have teased out six main reasons why some 63 million Americans voted for him in 2016. Approximately 70 million did this time around. Despite every failiRead More…
My five year old son has a mortal fear of spiders and has elected me as the spider assassin-in-chief. I have however failed terribly in this assigned duty. Our conversation on this problem usually gRead More…
Have you ever wondered why there are so many Civil Rights Acts in the United States? There is the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (CRA) then there is CRA 1870 and 1871! Subsequent acts were passed in 1875, Read More…
As we get closer to November 3rd I keep looking at the steady approval of Trump’s handling of the economy. Over the course of his first year Trumps approval for his handling of the US economy has nevRead More…
Despite its faults, the United States remains by far the greatest and most powerful democracy the world has ever known! That I a mere Shithole has the opportunity to stand for county coroner on the RRead More…
Columbus was definitely a man of vision and courage. He sought to prove Galileo’s theory of a round earth by sailing west to get to the Far East. This venture led to his most memorable life achievemeRead More…
Since the Obama presidency US conservatives have become more concerned about the country’s demographic trends. Many of these individuals have a nolstagic attachment to a way of life which albeit aRead More…
Many of us consider the United States as a fairly advanced country with a stable legislative system. The truth however falls very far from that accepted belief. A legislature with a 244 year history Read More…
Dialysis patients are a group with several risk factors ( advanced age, non-white race, poverty, and diabetes) for contracting SARS-CoV-2 and developing sever COVID-19. Therefore, they form a good grRead More…
Last November the state of California and a coalition of 22 other states and cities including Washington DC challenged the Trump administration’s move to take away their ability to set stricter emiRead More…
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg!What a life! What a woman! What a lawyer and judge! What a legacy! In 1996, she wrote the majority opinion in “United States v. Virginia”. The all-male admissions pRead More…
My father died in 2014. Without a will! That was a remarkable thing for a well-educated man who always threatened us in childhood that for playing the fool, he was going to take us out of his will! TRead More…
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken the US through a wringer. Many believe without a vaccine the US would not achieve pandemic control. This is surprising for a nation with world renowned public health iRead More…
The “S” Word: Say it❗ Say it aloud to yourself, “SUICIDE”! Don’t whisper it. If you are embarrassed to say it, you won’t be able to speak about it. If you are embarrassed to say it, youRead More…
All human societies develop and advance through different experiences and upheavals. Over four centuries American society has evolved from chattel slavery to systemic racism. The underlying reason fRead More…
As a naturalized American I can stand for any elected public office position with the exception of the presidency. The highest public office in this country has been reserved for only natural born ciRead More…
In 1619 the foundations of racism in America was laid down in the purchase of 20 captured Africans from Angola. This foundation started out as a form of indentured servitude. This was similar to whatRead More…
One of my favorite Presidents once said “A president’s hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right” Lyndon Baines Johnson. Born in Ghana in the 1970s one may wonder how I know Read More…
This evening, like a lot of evenings, I sat down to write. Today, I could not. I was overcome with a deep sadness for my adopted home, the USA, and the way she is being devastated by COVID-19. TheRead More…
In 1619 a Dutch sheep landed in the Virginia colonies with 20 Africans captured from Angola. This was the first recorded shipment of slaves to any of the lands constituting present day USA. This howeRead More…