Ride, Screw Worms, the End of Vinay, and Surveillance

Holy cats it is hot.  Last evening we had thunderstorms out of the blue.  I was hoping it would make today a little less hot, but no.  It was a ride day, but we bailed.  We'll do spin bikes in the air conditioned downstairs while watching TV.

Here is rain.  The sun was out, while it was raining, the light was yellow, which is kind of cool.

 Later we had a sunset. 

Earlier in the day, the gate people came out.  The two sides of the gate were hitting each other when they closed, which is bad for the motor.  The gates are very heavy, 800 pounds.  Fortunately, they have a van with a crane on it.  The gate is now off the hinges and the crane is supporting its weight.

Then there was cutting on the bracket that holds the gate hinge.  Look at the yellow arc, that's molten metal and sparks from a cutting torch.

Earlier in the week there was riding.  The geese are coming ashore with their off spring.  I tried to take a picture of them earlier in the week, but they were churning the water so much they were invisible.

Here they are in the shade, so harder to see.

Screw worms are 400 miles south of the Texas border, and on their way to the US.  This is bad.
This the larval stage, they bore in to the animal or human and eat.  Then they turn into flies.  There is no treatment once you're infected.  They can be stopped by dropping hundreds of irradiated sterile males, who mate with the females.  The females only mate once, so the invasion can be stopped.  Unfortunately the US is running low on irradiated males.  One wonders what will happen with this.  Article is here.

In news of the good, which is increasingly rare, Vinay Prasad has been dismissed from his job at the FDA.  He's an arrogant, wrong headed thinker who was against Covid vaccines and masking.  He was on twitter for awhile and was known for blocking anyone who dared question something he said.  He got into the sights of Laura Loomer who wanted him gone.  Eh Voila!  Gone.  I guess she's in charge of personnel these days.  Article is here.

In news of the really terrible, there is this. 

The Trump administration announced it is launching a new program that will allow Americans to share personal health data and medical records across health systems and apps run by private tech companies, promising that will make it easier to access health records and monitor wellness.
More than 60 companies, including major tech companies like Google, Amazon and Apple as well as health care giants like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health, have agreed to share patient data in the system. The initiative will focus on diabetes and weight management, conversational artificial intelligence that helps patients, and digital tools such as QR codes and apps that register patients for check-ins or track medications. 
Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who will be in charge of maintaining the system, have said patients will need to opt in for the sharing of their medical records and data, which will be kept secure.

The administration has already handed over Medicaid and Medicare records to aid in ICE deportation efforts.  I personally think the opt-out option will be short lived.  I heard a snippet of Dr. Oz talking to 47 (who was falling asleep) about how great this would be, everyone could be monitored at the touch of a button.  Wonder how long until we get the neural implant and a microchip.  Article is here.

That's it, that's all I've got.  It's time to go ride the spin bike.  Yay!!!!!!!