Fall Vaccine Rollout Hits a Snag - Updated

There has been a wrinkle in the Covid booster roll out.  No doubt we all recall that the lunatic head of HHS fired all the members of ACIP, which is the vaccine advisory board.  There is a new vaccine advisory board comprised of anti-vaxxers.  They will not meet until mid-September.  Until then if you live in the 16 states whose pharmacies can only deliver vaccines approved by ACIP, you will need a doctor's order.  I copied the following from this article.  It's a more comprehensive article, but does reveal what's happening with the vaccines. 

... CVS is not yet offering Covid-19 vaccinations in some states, even if someone meets the eligibility criteria. The pharmacy chain said that it follows state-level pharmacy regulations and that in some states, pharmacists are forbidden from giving vaccines that are not recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. That group of independent vaccine advisers is scheduled to meet September 18-19.

CVS said Friday that it’s not offering Covid-19 vaccinations in 16 states and Washington, DC, due to the current regulatory environment: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

In all but three of those states — Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico — CVS pharmacies can administer a Covid-19 vaccination, depending on the patient’s age, with an authorized prescriber’s prescription, Thibault said. (Those three states are not vaxxing anybody, comment mine.)

Walgreens also said in an email that most of its pharmacies are preparing to offer the Covid-19 vaccine where regulations allow.

“Walgreens is prepared to offer the vaccine in states where we are able to do so. In accordance with FDA approval and state requirements, we will offer the vaccine to all adults ages 65 years and older, as well as to individuals under 65, who are at higher risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19, as determined by the CDC,” a spokesperson said in an email Friday. 

So, this is another road block thrown up by the people who are supposed to care about public health. 

8/31/2025 Update:  New Mexico has issued a public health order that removes federal restrictions to COVID-19 vaccine access so that pharmacies in New Mexico can vaccinate people of all ages and risk profiles. 

 

Riding and News From the Swamp

How are we doing?  I'm feeling extremely despondent over the inevitable fall of our democracy, which we can lay at the feet of the Supreme Court and Project 2025.  We need a hobby to take our minds off of this, but I can't think of anything. 

Anyway, Monday we had a very successful ride.  We both felt good on the hills.  When we were on the road back to the house, Jim made a right onto a road with plenty of room to spare, this pickup truck took offense and roared up on us, changed lanes and got in front of us.  I guess he owned the libs.

Today's ride was extremely sub-optimal.  Based on the weather forecast, we left a little later than we did Monday.  Lordy it was hot.  Even through a thick cloud cover, the sun was strong and boring holes in my head.  I bailed on the long steep hill towards the Morin trailhead, too hot.  We will make a note not to believe the forecast.

This was last night, it was an interesting sky.  The vertical elements are old contrails, or chem trails according to RFKJr.

A couple of days ago, Phoenix had a pretty impressive haboob.  Glad to have missed it.  The second photo was taken at Sky Harbor International Airport.

The orange dictator in waiting has been active this week.

There was the three hour, 15 minute Cabinet meeting, wherein he babbled a bunch, and the cabinet members humiliated themselves groveling and kowtowing to his wonderfulness.  During this meeting he was heard to say that since he is the President he can do anything he wants.  This would include firing Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve.  He is is demanding the public arrest of George Soros and his son Alex, accusing them of RICO violations and financing violent unrest across the country. He branded the Soros family as “psychopathic” and vowed he will never let them tear America apart.  He fired the Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and is taking over Union Station.  He believes that the federal government can run it better.  Perhaps if they'd been funding it all this time, it might be in better order.  RFK Jr and 47 have announced that they will be banning mRNA vaccines in a couple of months.  Hopefully, we'll get the fall booster, and then hopefully a court will rule that they can't do this.

47 has signed an executive order creating the “National Rapid Response Task Force,” a specialized National Guard unit designed to deploy to any American city within an hour to suppress riots or Democrat unrest. I guess republicans never protest what's being done to this country.  Anyway, apparently this is what he has in mind for the blue cities.

Then this happened.  This was done by the teenager whose userid is Big Balls.  Very mature, eh?  The data is on a SSA cloud server, but it doesn't have the level of security it had prior to being moved.  This kid should go to jail.  I can not comprehend changing the SSN of everybody in this country.

According to The New York Times, the Social Security Administration's chief date officer Charles Borges has revealed that Doge uploaded a massive database that contains every single Social Security number issued by the government — including full names, home addresses, birthdays, and other personal details — to a vulnerable digital location. This sensitive information can now be easily accessed and weaponized by hackers to steal the identities of unsuspecting Americans. In his complaint, Borges said that the upload "potentially violated multiple federal statutes" and might ultimately result in a "catastrophic impact" on Social Security as a whole. “Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital health care and food benefits, and the government may be responsible for reissuing every American a new Social Security number at great cost," Borges wrote. 

This was posted on twitter five hours ago.  I don't know if it applies to those over 65 who were approved for the vax or what.  RFK Jr announced new limits on who can get COVID vaccines, even as the Stratus variant surges. Patients must now see a doctor before getting vaccinated, instead of booking directly at a pharmacy “The emergency use authorizations for COVID vaccines…are now rescinded,” Kennedy said.

According to this article, 65 and up people do not need the prescription.  So middle aged people will need to plan ahead to get a prescription for a covid booster.  This is not good.  In the news of what is good, the FDA has extended Novavax’s shelf life from 3 months to 6 months as part of today’s supplemental BLA approval.

CDC Director Susan Monarez has been ousted after RFK Jr. demanded she change her policy on the COVID vaccine. Top officials from the Vaccine Unit, Zoonotic Division, and the Chief Medical Officer are resigning, per reports. 

There has been another mass shooting in Minnesota.  Two dead, multiple wounded.  They were in church, praying, so it does not appear that thoughts and prayers are doing much to prevent this.  

Chief Justice Roberts says the rule of law is eroding like we've rarely seen. Maybe he should've thought of that before ruling the president is above the law. You don't get to burn the house down and act shocked it's on fire.

Ok, that's enough.  I'm ending with an account that mocks the orange one, much like Sarah Cooper used to do.

This is amusing, these kids have great facial expressions.  Click on it!

 

Shoulder, Ride, and That Man

The shoulder pain is better, but not gone.  It still hurts in the back of my neck on the right side.  Oddly enough, riding the bicycle makes it better.  Standing with my arm unsupported, makes it worse.  I don't remember anyone telling me that old age would be one thing after another.  

Thursday we rode up to the Morin trailhead, then up the hill to the McClellan trail head and then back to the car.  There was no air movement.  I love this photo of the silo reflected in the lake.

We went back again today.  It was warm, especially next to the bluff that reflects heat.  We were back to Morin trailhead.  Going to the lake has two really steep sections that I'm thinking I don't want to do yet.  

The amount of basalt boulders never ceases to be impressive.  There is also a lot of fire damage.  Some regrowth is starting, but the trees are going to be gone for awhile.
 

A tree and a rock.

One wonders why that hill side was clear cut.  It's not replanted, it's just sitting there with naked soil.

Jim has a new Otterbox phone case.  Both of ours were black.  Jim gets a lot of spam calls, so when we're expecting a call, the phone must be picked up and the phone number looked at prior to answering.  Finding his phone vs mine in the car was a pain.  Now his is purple, and easily identified.  My phone is really old, and Otterbox and Spigen no longer make cases for it.  Someday I will be forced to get a new one, I am not looking forward to that.  However, there will be a better camera.

47 was sitting in the Oval Office yesterday, wearing a red hat.  One does not wear a hat in the Oval, I don't care who you are.  He was also covering the back of his right hand, which was covered in concealer.  It was a very bad match for his skin tones.  The twitterverse thinks it's to cover bruising from monthly infusions, possibly an IV diuretic.  Additionally, his right eyelid was drooping.  The cankles are still extra large, which could indicate congestive heart failure.  What ever it is, it's not good.

However, despite his failing health he is doing this.  I've read military, and I've read National Guard.  Not sure who is going, just that it is bad.

Meanwhile the National Guard wandering about Washington D.C. are armed.  What could go wrong?

Yesterday he was also heard to say the following, as reported by the Washington Post.

President Donald Trump is signaling that he would step back for now from efforts to reach a Ukraine peace deal, expressing frustration over rising casualties and the failure of the two sides to come closer to a peace agreement.

“I’m not happy about anything about that war. Nothing. Not happy at all,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.  (He was also not happy about Russia bombing a US factory in Ukraine.)

He added that he would make an important decision about the future of the conflict in “two weeks,” a phrase that he often uses not to specify a precise time frame, but to indicate that he wants to put off a decision for a while. After that time, he said, “We’ll know which way I’m going, because I’m going to go one way or the other.”

The emphasis is mine.  He sounds deranged, again.

In news of Ukraine, they have a new cruise missile, the Flamingo.  It was named that because the first one out of the factory was pink due to a manufacturing error.  They have kept the pink nose.

There are many other 47 related things I could complain about, but I think I'll stop now.

 

OK, here's one more thing about which I shall complain.  47 issued a stop work on a wind farm in Rhode Island and Connecticut.  This project was to power many homes, and currently 45 turbines are standing.  Hopefully they'll get this reversed in court.  Article here. 

Shoulder and the War in Ukraine

We had a decent sunset the other night.  It wasn't Arizona quality, but it wasn't terrible.  I am currently side lined in my comfy recliner with a heating pad.  For reasons known only to itself, my right shoulder has decided to knot up, and put pain up my neck and into my scalp.  I am not a happy camper.  Today should have been an outdoor ride day, but it's not.  I will probably try using the spin bike later this afternoon and see how that works.  I really don't want to make this worse by climbing and pulling back on the handle bars.
 

Did you see that the FDA is warning people not to eat Walmart Great Value shrimp?  Seems it might be radioactive.  That seems bad.

So, yesterday the European heads of state accompanied Zenlenskyy to the White House.  They were sort of a praetorian guard to protect him from bullying on the part of our dictator.  During the meeting 47 left the room to call Putin, for instructions I suppose.  This is from Aaron Rupar.  Think about what Von der Leyen said, and how he responded.  He has zero interest in the lives of the missing kids.  Click on the link attached to Aaron's name if you want to hear the video.

The man sitting to her left is the President of Finland, who is a golfing buddy of 47.  At some point during the meeting, 47 was unable to find him at the table or identify him.  He really is decompensating.

I'm not clear on what happens next. 47 is still all over the place about US level of support (if any) or security agreements.  Currently Ukraine has stopped oil from moving west into Europe by bombing the pipeline.

They also destroyed a train of tank cars with drones.  Oil is becoming a problem for Russia.  Pity.

Heather Cox Richardson has a very interesting essay up, from the 17th.  She discussed a possible reason for why the Alaska meeting was abandoned at the third hour so abruptly. 

Key unanswered questions from Friday’s summit were why it ended so abruptly, with the cancellation of a planned luncheon and more discussions, and why Trump immediately told Fox News Channel personality Sean Hannity, “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about [further sanctions on Russia] now. I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”

The abrupt cancellation could mean that U.S. officials sent Putin packing without lunch because he would not agree to a ceasefire. But it seems worth keeping on the table that Trump has recently exhibited both an inability to focus on any topic, and a need to live in a carefully constructed world that ignores reality and assures him he is the best and the brightest. A high-stakes meeting with principals about a very real situation might have been too much for him to manage for a full day.

The highlighting is mine.  

Here is an insect on a hydrangea.

 Welp, I think my shoulder would like me to stop typing now, so I will obey.

Clouds and the Alaska Summit

Recently, the weather has been snotty.  It tried to rain all day yesterday and failed, finally started late last night.  Today it's cloudy.

Well, as we expected, the Alaska summit was a complete and total betrayal of Ukraine, and by extension, Europe.

Instead of defending Ukraine, Trump rolled out a red carpet for Putin—literally. Trump saluted him, applauded him, hugged him, smiled for the cameras, and then whisked him off in the presidential limo for alone time. Trump looked exactly like a loyal lapdog welcoming his master. 

There is a theory that the purpose of the meet in Alaska was for Putin to get in the car with 47, which has never happened in the history of time, so that he could pass him a letter, reminding him that Putin has something really bad on 47.  As it is, the back seat will have to be searched for listening devices left by the former FSB officer.

The meeting lasted three hours.  After Putin and 47 came out, they briefly addressed the press, took zero questions, and then they left.  Lunch was cancelled.

Peter Alexander reporting live: "What struck me was the looks on the faces of a lot of the American, delegation here. Caroline Leavitt, Steve Witkoff, who came into the room, then left quickly. Leavitt appeared to be a bit stressed out, anxious. Their eyes were wide, almost ashen at times."

Later, Trump told European leaders peace could come quickly if Zelenskyy ceded all of Donbas to Russia, including areas not under Russian control. 

Two weeks ago, Trump was raging about Russia “slaughtering civilians” in Ukraine and expressing—for perhaps the first time—disgust with Putin and Russia. He vowed “very harsh sanctions.” He even threatened to send nuclear subs near Russia and pretended to be a tough NATO ally.  The word sanctions was not uttered one time during the three hour meeting. 

Trump is now again siding with Russia and putting all the pressure on Ukraine. New sanctions are off the table and the USA now again demands that Ukraine gives concessions while Russia has given none. A big win for Russia. 

Even if he wanted to, Zelenskyy can not cede territory, their constitution forbids it.  Unlike the US, they are still following their founding documents.

So, that was as bad as we expected.

Images from the meet are interesting.  On the left, we have post Alaska summit.  On the right, we have post Helsinki.  The similarities are striking.

 These are before and after the meeting in Alaska.

It has long been known that Putin has body doubles.  I have no opinion on the following theory, but there are questions as to whether that was actually Putin.

Look at the ears, they're not the same.

This is an expression I have not seen before.

Have we ever seen Putin do this, talking to press?

Anyway, ultimately it doesn't matter if it was Putin, or a body double, the threat was delivered to 47 in the car, and he has now gone back on every sanction or weapon he promised.

A Test of the Spare Laptop

 I am doing a test to see if I can log on to the wretched spare laptop.  Mine is going in to the pc doctor tomorrow because the surface temperature on the bottom is 109F.

Here is a praying mantis on the door frame of the front door. 

 OK, looks like I'm signed in to google, blogger looks a little funny, but I can live with it.  

Riding and 47 Invades Washington DC

Despite the ferocious heat, there has been riding.  Actually the last time before today, it was fairly pleasant.  Except for the part of the trail that goes along a basalt bluff; it radiates a lot of heat back.  Riding past it felt like being under the french fry lights at McDonald's.  We rode back to the Morin trail head, and went a little farther than last time.  There is more basalt and more damage from the Aubrey White fire.

The trail over looks the Bowl and Pitcher area of Riverside Park.  To this day we can not figure out what the bowl or the pitcher is.

Last night there was a sunset that was not too bad.

Today we were up and out early to ride.  Currently Microsoft is posting heat advisory and fire danger warnings in my tray at the bottom of the screen.  The milfoil continues its path toward world domination. This is the only use case I can think of for a drone.  I would love to over fly this and get photos from the air.  However, it's a steep learning curve, and one would hate to put it in the lake.

Going back to the car we saw a deer leg in the road.  No back story on this.

The administration continues on its path to death and destruction.  JFK Jr has said that instead of working on strain specific vaccines (after cancelling $500M of funding), he wants to create a vaccine that will treat any and all viruses.  Clearly he has no idea of what he's talking about.  Today he said, in public, where people could hear him, that chem trails cause cancer.  I think the worm ate more of his brain than anyone knew.

47 had a press conference today with Hegseth and Bondi flanking him.  He said his giving this address about sending troops to quell crime in Washington, DC was embarrassing, since he is "going to Russia on Friday."  Actually, he's going to Alaska.  He rattled on about the terrible crime statistics for DC.  MSNBC grew a partial spine and put up this graphic.  Note all of the arrows pointing down.  He's sending FBI agents and National Guard.  The FBI has zero training in crowd control, dispersal, or anything like that.  

Under the DC Home Rule act, 47is allowed to federalize DC police during an emergency (which doesn’t exist right now), but only for 48 hours. This can possibly be extended to 30 days with notice to Congress, but it’s also subject to judicial review.  Remember, Congress is not in session.  He's sending troops and FBI after declaring a "crime emergency."  DC lawyers do not think they have standing to challenge this.  I think they do.

So, 47 is going to Alaska to talk to Putin.  He's proposing land swaps and a cease fire.  This is the most cosmic stupid thing he has said yet.  Witkoff has been meeting with Putin, and as it turns out, has no idea what Putin proposed.  So, once again, 47 will walk in, unprepared, and Putin will steam roll him.  Currently the US is not sending money, weapons or intel to Ukraine.  Russia is bombing them relentlessly.  The EU continues to clutch their pearls and provide nothing.  Ukraine could have won this if the West had armed them.  Things are not looking good for them.

Yesterday the Secretary of Defense put up a tweet featuring two evangelical wing-nut Christo-fascist pastors saying that women should not be allowed to vote, and should submit to their husbands.  Please.

So, that's what I'm outraged about today, I'm sure I could find more, but this post is already long enough.

Turkeys

Well, I feel I should post something, so y'all don't think I'm dead.  Currently there is a blogger who has not approved comments or posted since late July, and we are very concerned about his status.  He does have family and friends, so I'm sure someone is in touch with him.  

Anyway, Jim abandoned me for the weekend, went to visit friends on Bainbridge Island.  He left Friday, which was the second day of the Blue Angels practice sessions.  They close the I90 bridge, which Jim had to travel across, so he was up and out early to beat the bridge closures.  Here is a post about that.  We have not been back there in years.  Jim went down the street in his old neighborhood, which is on medium bank waterfront.  Several old homes that had 100 foot wide lots have been demolished and cut up into 50 foot lots with tall, skinny houses.  I kind of hate that.  Anyway, Bainbridge is now over run with people, there is exactly one gas station left, and they are price gouging.  Many of the stores in what used to be a functioning down town have been converted to foo-foo home decorating, tee shirt shops, shops full of worthless crap from China and the like.  You really can not go home anymore.  

The best thing he visited while there was the Grand Forest.  It's old growth, big trees, lots of moss.  One wonders why it hasn't been clear cut.  Saturday and Sunday both had a marine push all day, so it was cloudy and gloomy.

News of the administration continues to be grisly.  47 fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for publishing correct job numbers; those numbers showed a significant drop in job growth, which 47 does not want American citizens to know. That would also be the entity that determines increases to SSA payments.  RFKJr has slashed $500M in funding for mRNA research.  Some of that was for cancer treatments.  47 has said he'll be sending armed US soldiers to LA for the Olympics, to "keep the peace."  The Olympic Committee really needs to hold them in Canada.  Ghislaine Maxwell has told 47's lawyer that she never saw 47 do anything untoward.  Liar.  That scandal is going to get buried, they need to talk to the women who were there as children.  Texas has been stymied in their efforts to redistrict, all the Democrats have fled to Chicago.  It's much like what Ken Paxton (Texas AG) did to avoid a subpoena awhile back.  Or strongly resembles Speaker Johnson sending Congress home so they couldn't vote on releasing the Epstein files.  So, they're all craven liars in thrall to the orange one.

Today there were turkeys across the street.  It was really overcast, so the pictures are a little dark.

 

Other than this, I have nothing much to say.