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Any idea that herd immunity is the way out is dispelled by a simple look at these pictures from the NYT showing what the level of infections are today and what they would have to be for "herd immunity." No Asian nation has even mentioned the word. Most Asian nations have the most experience with virus of all sorts. The only government that supported the idea without saying so openly is Sweden as indicated in a report in FR24 on the amplification of coronavirus in Sweden compared to neighboring Denmark, Norway, Finland. Imagine with a threshhold of 60% of people having antibodies provided by experts for herd immunity, the current New York level of about 20% would have to triple, and Sweden's 7% would have to grow seven fold. It is hard to imagine New York going through something of these proportions. Looking at what works now that other countries handling it have set examples of what works provides a better way- low tech contract tracing the German way, and one used in Asian countries, and the cluster isolation through testing and contact tracing adopted in many Asian countries as well as Germany. Strengthening public health systems, and working one's way out of the crisis where there are no easy answers offers real and realistic hope. ...

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Highlights from Euro 2021 round of 16 soccer from DW.com. 

Germany barely made it with a late goal from Leon Goretzka to make it 2-2 after Hungary led 2-1 till the final minutes of the game. Hungary gave France and Portugal a tough time in their matches. Italy showed excellent defensive skills and was one of the most improved teams says DW.com. Jorginho of Italy competes with Cristiano Ronaldo for most valuable player in Euro 2021. Ronaldo scored the most goals in Euro 2021.

The best goal scored was from Patrik Schick of Czech Republic with his goal from over the halfway line against Scotland using excellent technique.

The best performance for "hanging in there and self-belief" goes to Robin Gosens of Germany who scored one goal and two assists in the all important 4-2 win against Portugal.

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Problems that are emerging as the AfD takes up role of Opposition in legislatures at the state level in Hesse, Thuringia and Bavaria. Finding proactive solutions to immigration, cost of living concerns and investing in infrastructure, in education, healthcare, childcare  that would improve the lives of people would go a long way to strengthening democracy at the local and state level in all parts of Germany with the help of the federal government.

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During the war in Ukraine and refugee crisis the CDU and SPD have an identity crisis says this report in NYT, now that the AfD is surging and shows 22% support close to CDU, and above the SPD. Chancellor Scholz and also CDU have not made a convincing case about their policies and for the future of Germany says this report.

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The snap elections called by Macron after National Rally party of Marine Le Pen wins 32 percent of the vote to Macron En Marche at 15% in the EU elections. Marine Le Pen has put Jordan Bardella, 28 years, of St Dennis suburb in Paris as the candidate for prime minister if NR wins the National Assembly election. Macron earlier made Gabriel Attal, 35 years, the En Marche candidate. This is the youngest in a major country for prime minister. This report in WSJ shows how Macron by reducing diesel subsidies for farmers has alienated rural voters at a time when farmers are protesting difficult conditions. Macron also faced union opposition over pension age changes, and before his reelection protests from Yellow Vest protesters on cost of living issues. Macron has survived each challenge, the last in reelection by getting support of voters on the left and right choosing stability over changes that National Rally might bring. The snap election was also intended to take Le Pen and NR by surprise. This has created new uncertainty with elections on June 30, 2024, soon after Biden and Macron met in Normandy for D- Day anniversary, and the upcoming G7 meeting in Italy June 13-15. ...

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"Woke" was overrated to begin with. Older people agreed to go along not out of conviction but because some younger people took to it. As "nice" people people went along with whatever the prevailing wind was blowing one way or the other. It never had any roots going through complacency, conformity for a while, then apathy, followed by loss of attention or interest. Lost as the winds change directions.

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Voter turnout of 83.5% in federal elections in Germany in Feb 2025 is the highest since reunification in 1990.  The Free Democrats and the Wagenknecht BSW  fail to meet the threshold of 5% for representation in parliament. The CDU manage 28.5% of the vote less than the forecast 30%, and the AfD is at 20.7%. Scholz Social Democrats drop 9% points from 25% in 2021 to 16.5% and the Greens are at 11.7% of the vote. The Left Parties get 8.7%. German broadcaster ARD cites exit polls showing 82% of voters were dissatisfied with the government coalition, 72% of voters dissatisfied with chancellor Scholz, yet the Greens  voters gave it 45% approval.  In terms of seats in the 630 seat Bundestag  Christian Democrats  208 seats Social Democrats.      121  The Greens                  85  Left Party                       64 AfD                               151        The likely outcome is resignation of chancellor Scholz and new leader for Social Democrats. A CDU SPD coalition Merz as chancellor, with Greens/ Left parties and AfD in the Opposition with equal number of seats.                                                                                                        ...

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A passenger hears aloud noise near the overhead bin, then sees ahole not far from his head in the fuselage of the plane. This is Southwest flight 2294, June 13, 2009, on a 30 minute 737 Boeing airplane flight from Nashville to Baltimore. outhwest inspected all of its 181 737 planes and found no problems. The National Transportation Safey Board, the FAA, and Boeing are investigating what caused it to happen. In March, the FAA ordered Southwest to pay a$7.5 million fine for aseries of safety violations in which its jets were flying with undetected fatigue cracks. The investigation also uncovered efforts by managers to cover up reports of maintenance problems at Southwest. Two inspectors filed whistleblower complaints aginst the FAA claiming that they were threatened by the superiors after warning that Southwest was flying planes too long between inspections.

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Dr. Wolfe, a drug safety critic and head of the health group of Public Citizen, a Ralph Nader founded consumer advocacy organization, has been appointed to a four year term on the FDA's Drug Safety and Risk Management Committee. Dr Wolfe's has a history as a consumer advocate for health safety and a critic of the corporate influence in FDA decisions. He would like to see fewer copycats of popular drugs and limits on direct to consumer advertising. Here Dr Wolfe's personal style as an activist is explored. He admits he tends to have firm opinions.

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Macron says about the ban of under 15's by social  media platforms-  the emotions of children and teenagers should not be "for sale or manipulated by American platforms and Chinese algorithms." The bad effects  on all adolescents of social media, especially on girls is seen in mental health issues for teenagers and the lack of focus for education in schools. It is a big price to pay for all countries to ruin the prospects in life of a new generation of children who are growing up in ways that no previous generation of children in the history of humanity was exposed to. This is no time for dangerous experiments with our children. It is an interesting comment on today that it is lobbyists (and donations) for platforms that are the problem. And that these lobbyists are from what is called Far Right, Right,  Left, Far Left, it makes no difference they all get paid for work, which shows that such labels have little meaning today- looking for common sense and what is right for (children's) health and education is the best approach not falling in line with Far Right, Right,  Far Left, Left, or Moderate or some such label or a Culture War label that is essentially meaningless when it comes to common sense. Good common sense, that much is sufficient. Many other important issues we face require the same approach. ...

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How Ukraine refugees in Paris and other places struggle with the war so far and yet so near in their mindsets with family members and relatives at home.

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The new president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, says in his inaugural speech that he wants a national pact to free Brazil of corruption, crime and economic mismanagement. And also of ideology.

After being elected Bolsonaro picked Brazil's famous anti-corruption judge, Segio Moro, as his minister of justice. Moro was involved in the investigation called the Car Wash that looked into the state owned oil company of Brazil.

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Obama Affordable Care Act dropped by 10% of subscribers in 2025 and 17% likely to drop out in 2026. The AFA becomes unaffordable to millions after the expiration of federal subsidies.

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How arranging hybrid work on a 3-2 or 2-3 office and remote days arrangement involves looking at different aspects of its effect on people. Women's needs are different from men's, different individuals have different emotional reactions, getting work organized, setting up new offices so that they have appeal as workspaces, are all aspects of hybrid work that have to be addressed.

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French prime minister Attal says Macron's party will stand down in seats that can be won by France Unbowed or LFI the socialist parties alliance. This is an effort to prevent National Rally to get a majority in parliament.