Let me begin with President Donald Trump, for he is on the  cover of the current  Time  magazine . His biggest problem today?   Says he won't be extorted by Democrats to end the government shutdown, which tomorrow will tie the record of 35 days his administration set in 2018-2019. His record will also be tested tomorrow when several states vote. His unpopularity in these races has kept him away, but his funding assistance will be helpful to Republicans.  He does have a tele-rally for those governors races tonight at 7PM EDT.  Interesting that, while he has endorsed Ciattarelli, he has not quite officially said so for Earle-Sears. The most watched is for Mayor of New York City. Pits 34-year-old state Democratic lawmaker Zohran Mamdani against former state governor 67-year-old now independent Andrew Cuomo and 71-year old Republican Curtis Sliwa. At last check, Mamdani held a  +14.7 point lead  over nearest rival Cuomo. Two are for governor. In...

  The   New York Times   summarized where we are in controlling global warming: Before 2015, the world was expected to warm by about four degrees Celsius by 2100. Today, the world is on track for three degrees Celsius. And if the world’s leaders meet their current commitments, the planet would warm by   around two degrees Celsius . That is not enough to declare victory. The standard goal world leaders have embraced to avoid the worst consequences of climate change is to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. Unfortunately, that does look increasingly unreachable, experts said . Gas prices and Republican resistance   have diminished   Biden’s climate agenda. The war in Ukraine has   consumed attention   previously focused on climate issues. As the World Turns  ( watch the evolution of the opening, and shifting commercials--did you know that Lux Soap was taken off the shelves in the 1990's, but you can buy it again today ) is an Americ...

   We have suffered  five COVID-19 waves .  Will there be a 6th? Initially, cases were dominated by large cities, which are mostly Democratic.  Thus, the first wave experience a lot fewer Republican deaths.  Later waves gravitated towards fewer Democratic deaths. A higher percentage of Biden-voters get vaccinated.   Over 91% of Democrats have had at least one shot, and only 60% of Republicans . The primary reason is  vaccination , as per million population, 250 deaths occurred in Trump counties, compared to 78 in Biden counties. About that possible 6th wave?  Most likely, when the Omicron Stealth B2 subvariant creates a mild bump in April.  Then, WHO can pretty much declare the end of this pandemic.  But I've now said this at least three times. Incidentally, just about 25% of Americans have been infected with COVID-19.  World?  Only 6%.   Of course, this is where asymptomaticity and under reporting come into...