Just Part of the Wealth of the Richest Americans Could Change the World

This is a great visualization of the wealth inequality that exist in the United States.  It's an inequality that our politicians (of both parties) have worked to create.  But, it doesn't have to be that way.  The wealthy use a tiny portion of their wealth to insure that our political system supports their accumulation of more wealth.  They are comfortable with our current political polarization because as long as people who are just getting by financially are fighting each other over border walls, gay marriage and the 2nd Amendment, they won't be looking at how the ultra-wealthy are getting richer by the day, hour and minute.

If you keep scrolling to the right on the graphic below, you will reach the point where you discover that the 400 wealthiest Americans are collectively worth  $2.96 trillion dollars.  And, you get an idea of what could be done with 85% of that money.  First of all, even after 85% of that wealth was used for the following projects, the 400 would still be billionaires.

1.  Every American would be tested for coronavirus.
2.  Every American household would receive a one time, tax free, $10,000 payment.
3.  Every American household with less that $80,000/year income would receive a 4 year tax holiday.
4.  Globally malaria would be eradicated.
5   Globally every person would be provided access to clean water and basic sanitation services.

In other words, if the wealth of the 400 richest Americans were put to the service of the rest of us, we could change the world.

You’re right. A PhD friend of mine shared this very interesting visualization of wealth. https://t.co/0MboybypFN

— Michelle Hausler (@MichelleHausler) May 3, 2020

One Hell of a Race

Yes, we could watch highly paid professionals play video games and pretend  they are actual sports events.  Or....we could watch this.  Anyone know the Las Vegas odds on the blue marble to win?

I will never write a story this compelling. https://t.co/67jMnZ9ZXS

— adamdavidson (@adamdavidson) May 2, 2020

America's Death Wish

Nice day, let's go watch the Blue Angles salute to Covid workers.  Then when we end up in the ICU we can tell them we were at the Mall to cheer them on.  On the bright side, it looks like more people gathered for the Blue Angles than attended Trump's inaugural.

Not a lot of social distancing happening on the National Mall right now ahead of the Blue Angels flyover.

Not sure this is exactly the best way to honor COVID workers but... pic.twitter.com/tanVB5c82d

— Justin McCarthy🌹🌅 (@jaymac1893) May 2, 2020

Covid-19 Testing Going to the Dogs

At the University of Pennsylvania, eight Labrador retrievers are begining a program to determine if dogs can be trained to smell the Covid-19 virus in infected humans.   Dogs' sense of smell is orders of magnitude greater than humans -  10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive based on current research.  

Humans have trained our canine friends' finely tuned noses to sniff out other deadly diseases, including malaria, diabetes, some cancers and Parkinson’s disease, reported Ian Tucker for the Guardian in 2018. Other research has shown that viruses give off a particular smell, Cynthia Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at UPenn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, tells the Post.

If the dogs’ 300 million scent receptors can be trained to smell the novel coronavirus they could eventually be used in public places such as airports, businesses or hospitals to quickly and easily screen large numbers of people. Because this diagnosis by dog would depend on the smell given off by people infected with COVID-19 it should have no problem picking out asymptomatic carriers.

Put Your Damn Pants On

Is this a sign of the end of civilization?

A new YouGov survey finds nearly half of Americans (47%) aren't always wearing pants while working from home. Only about half (53%) say they are always wearing pants while working from home. https://t.co/mCjTfNpKuQ pic.twitter.com/KSjmQ08AC0

— YouGovUS (@YouGovUS) May 1, 2020

Not Enough Test Even For Senators

Without a massive increase in Covid-19 testing, reopening any part of the country is going to lead to more deaths.  So, instead of working to get more tests in place, Trump brags about how much testing the US has done and make wild unfounded assertions that huge increases in testing are around the corner.  

Here's the reality and it's right up the street from the White House.  

The Capitol's attending physician told senior Republican staff in a conference call Thursday that he doesn't have the equipment to do either rapid or widespread testing of the 100 senators who return to work Monday, per two sources familiar with the call.

Congressional doctor, Brian Monahan, told the staff he didn't have access to the 15-minute tests the White House has been using. And he said he didn't have enough supply to test asymptomatic senators — he would only be testing people who are ill or show symptoms of the coronavirus.

That's the same reality that millions of Americans face every day despite Trump's bluster. 

"With A Little Help From the Feds...."

Cuomo and Trump sing a duet.