W Leggett

W Leggett

Bob Lewis

Happy December 1st. What a year this has been.

BB Kings, Waylon Place, Johnny Cash, on and on. The trip was worth going to see some of our music history. 

Connie Schuerman (Von Dielingen)

YEP !!   You gotta love, Nashville  - But you gotta be country!!  🤠  Printer's Alley is a must see ! 

Bob - Glad to see you and Linda went to BB King''s in Memphis ... fun bar  !! 

Bill - absolutely love your cartoons -Great laughs! 

W Leggett

W Leggett

33 Dead As Flu And RSV Infections Spike In CA

CALIFORNIA — California has recorded its 22nd influenza death of the season and 11th RSV death as cases of both respiratory illnesses continue to climb across the Golden State.

Respiratory syncytial virus infections — better known as RSV — is unusually active for this time of year. Infections across the state are up as officials in the Bay Area have raised alarms about a sharp increase of RSV in one county.

RSV wastewater concentrations have doubled in the last week in Gilroy, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale and in the last month in San Jose, according to data from the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health. Public health officials say that's a sign of a respiratory-virus season that's ramping up statewide.

"This increase in wastewater is consistent with increasing RSV activity in California. RSV wastewater concentrations have been increasing throughout the state," a California Department of Public Health spokesperson told Patch.

To date this season, there have been 11 deaths associated with RSV, with four identified last week. There have been 22 flu deaths so far, with two last week, according to CDPH data.

Across the nation, RSV infections have spiked recently even, causing emergency rooms in some states to fill up

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said Friday the RSV season is expected to peakin the next week.

It comes as flu activity continues to be considered "low" in the vast majority of California, while parts of Central California are seeing more moderate levels of infection.

The statewide positivity rate for both illnesses continues to increase: Last week the flu positivity rate was 7.4 percent, while RSV came back positive in 12.2 percent of tests administered, according to state data.

The first RSV vaccines approved for use in the U.S. landed in pharmacies earlier this year. The shots are recommended for seniors and pregnant people, who are among the most vulnerable to the virus. There is a more limited supply available for infants and toddlers, according to state health officials.

The CDC recommends annual flu vaccines for everyone over the age of 6. It's best to get them in September or October, but if you haven't gotten a shot yet, you should still get one, the CDC said.

The makeup of the flu vaccine varies annually, which means some years' vaccines are more effective against the year's strains than others.

"There is evidence that this year’s flu vaccine will be a strong match for circulating strains," the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement.

W Leggett

Has anybody thought about the last day of this year will be 123123 ?

Connie Schuerman (Von Dielingen)

Bill that's pretty cool !!    

Dick Storey

Most but not all--finally.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced on Tuesday that he's ending his blockade of hundreds of military promotions, following heavy criticism from many of his colleagues in the Senate and clearing the way for hundreds to be approved.

Tuberville’s blockade of military promotions was over a dispute about a Pentagon abortion policy. The Alabama Republican said Tuesday he’s “not going to hold the promotions of these people any longer.”

Almost 400 military nominations have been in limbo due to Tuberville’s blanket hold on confirmations and promotions for senior military officers. It’s a stance that has left key national security positions unfilled and military families with an uncertain path forward.

• By KEVIN FREKING - Associated Press

Dec 5, 2023 Updated 2 hrs ago 

Cheryl Corazzi (Essex)

Bill, I hadn't thought about that at all. But it is really cool. 

W Leggett

Nova Guynes

  Dick – That is great that the military personnel are getting their promotions.  Now maybe they can work on securing our borders.

Dick Storey

Hi Nova,

How much damage did this jester cause service members, families, spouse employment, kids in school, etc? And his self-serving hold on some upper-level promotions is still in play.   

What if they put Tuberville in charge? He obviously could fix the border situation. Maybe by threatening to hold his breath. He'd get even more of the press play he seems to love.

I wonder if the reason he was elected is b/c he was a college football coach. 

Nova Guynes

Dick – Sad to say they are many jesters in Congress, both Democrat and Republican.I do think the military personnel should have their raises and promotions.

The cost of unsecure borders is in the billions of dollars plus the danger it is putting our Country in, both now and years to come, is unbelievable.  I think almost anyone could have handled the borders better than what we have now.  According to Goggle we have spent over $150 billion dollars in 2023 alone. 

In a 49-page report released Monday, the House Committee on Homeland Security found that nearly half a trillion dollars is being lost in the healthcare, law enforcement, education, housing, and other sectors due to an influx of illegal immigration in the past two years. 

Dick Storey

We simply cannot forget.

From the Library of Congress website, today.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, killing more than 2,300 Americans. The U.S.S. Arizona was completely destroyed and the U.S.S. Oklahoma capsized. A total of twelve ships sank or were beached in the attack and nine additional vessels were damaged. More than 160 aircraft were destroyed and more than 150 others damaged.

A hurried dispatch from the ranking United States naval officer in Pearl Harbor, Admiral Husband Edward Kimmel, Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet, to all major navy commands and fleet units provided the first official word of the attack at the ill-prepared Pearl Harbor base. It said simply: AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL. ..................

W Leggett

W Leggett

W Leggett

Cheryl Corazzi (Essex)

😂😂😂

W Leggett

Here we go. It must be election season!

CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen issued a new alert for the COVID “Pirola” variant and recommended for those who are feeling symptoms to mask up.

“Respiratory viruses commonly cause illnesses such as flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others. Learn about how to reduce your risk of getting sick from these viruses, and if they are spreading in your community,” the CDC stated.

The CDC issued an updated COVID alert on Friday.

Nova Guynes

  A Wyoming Highway Patrol officer stops a Harley for traveling faster than the posted speed limit, so he asks the biker his name.

"Fred," he replies.

"Fred what?" the officer asks.

"Just Fred," the man responds.

The officer is in a good mood and thinks he might just give the biker a break, and write him out a warning instead of a ticket.

The officer then presses him for the last name.

The man tells him that he used to have a last name but lost it.

The officer thinks that he has a nut case on his hands but plays along with it. "Tell me, Fred, how did you lose your last name?"

The biker replies, "It's a long story, so stay with me. I was born Fred Johnson, from Rock Springs, Wyoming. I studied hard and got good grades. When I got older, I realized that I wanted to be a doctor.

I went through college, medical school, internship, residency, and finally got my degree, so I was Fred Johnson, MD.

"After a while I got bored being a doctor, so I decided to go back to school. Dentistry was my dream! Got all the way through School, got my degree, so then I was Fred Johnson, MD, DDS.

"Got bored doing dentistry, so I started fooling around with my assistant and she gave me a VD, so now I was Fred Johnson, MD, DDS, with VD.

"Well, the ADA found out about the VD, so they took away my DDS. Then I was Fred Johnson, MD, with VD.

Then the AMA found out about the ADA taking away my DDS because of the VD, so they took away my MD leaving me as Fred Johnson with VD.

Then the VD took away my 'Johnson,” so now, I'm Just Fred."

Cheryl Corazzi (Essex)

Oh Nova! That is priceless. Rightfully so, he is just Fred!

Sue Crone (Clampitt)

This one started my Monday morning with a laugh!  Thanks Nova. 

Nelson Evans

I have to agree with the ladies, Nova, that was a good one. Thanks for helping us start our week off with a laugh.

W Leggett