There is an interesting article in the Science Times section of today’s New York Times about Dr. Heidi Larson, an anthropologist and the founder of the Vaccine Confidence Project in London. Her life’s work involves understanding why people resist vaccination. I was interested because skepticism about vaccination could present a big obstacle to ending the coronavirus pandemic, and also because a good friend of mine — an intelligent, educated, thoughtful mother of three — is one of those who is skeptical about the safety of vaccines. . . .
Category: Covid-19
An Unusually Meaningful Vice-Presidential Debate
So . . . President Trump has Covid-19 and God only knows what his prognosis is. The White House certainly isn’t saying. And Joseph Biden is the oldest American every to run for a first term as President, and is campaigning amidst a deadly pandemic. I’m not the first person to note that this combination makes Wednesday’s vice-presidential debate of much greater interest that it would ordinarily be. We can’t help thinking as we watch, one of these people could become President of the United States really soon.
The Covid-19 Test Heard Round the World
I would have thought I’d experience a healthy shot of schadenfreude after learning that Donald Trump had contracted the coronavirus, but I find that all I can muster is an eye roll. There’s no question that he brought this on himself, but I’m disinclined to gloat, not because I have any sympathy for Trump but because the country just doesn’t need another disruption that further compounds our uncertainty about the future. . . .
Zoom Cocktails
Jennifer and I hosted a little get-together on Zoom last night with two other couples whom we like and who know each other. It was fun, and convinced me that this is something we should do more of. . . .
Celebrating a Milestone Birthday on Zoom
My mother is celebrating her 90th birthday next Wednesday. In ordinary times we would have had a big family dinner out or even a party, but of course these are not ordinary times. . . .
Safety vs. Expediency
Today’s post is a transcription of a hand-written letter that I mailed to my gastroenterologist this morning.
Dear Dr. B_____,
I had an appointment with you this morning in advance of scheduling an endoscopy. When I arrived at your office the receptionist collected my insurance cards and ID and asked me to take a seat in the waiting room. Since there were several other patients already there I told her I would prefer to wait outside. She replied, “Well, we don’t call people so I don’t know what to tell you.” . . .
Losing Weight During the Pandemic
I’ve long wanted to lose a few pounds, but my Achilles’ heel has always been social evenings out. I did fine with restricting what I ate except when it came to going to someone’s house for dinner or out to a restaurant. Those occasions were inevitably diet-busters. When the governor announced a shutdown to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, I realized that it presented an opportunity. . . .
Getting Comfortable In the Doldrums
I can’t remember every having less face-to-face contact with other human beings than I have over the last six months, nor can I remember a time when every day was so much like every other. You’d think that I would welcome any opportunity to interrupt the monotony, to do something or see someone new. And yet there seems to be a kind of inertia at play. . . .
Getting Less Careful Over Time
I read somewhere that human beings have a psychological tendency to increasingly discount risk over time. If you do something dangerous and nothing bad happens, then you’re a little less concerned, and perhaps a little less careful, the next time. Encounter that risk often enough without suffering consequences and eventually you’re, figuratively speaking, running with scissors. . . .
Funny Coronavirus Quotes
Thanks to my friend Judy who sent me these.
“Another Saturday night at home and I just realized, even the trash goes out more than I do.”
“Is it too early to put up the Christmas tree yet? I’ve run out of things to do.” . . .