Tag: masks

Join Jim and Greg as they serve up three crazy martinis! First, they note New York City Mayor Eric Adams demanding that people remove their masks before entering stores. It’s an effort to identify shoplifters and looters, which is good, but it wasn’t long ago that that you couldn’t do much of anything in the Big Apple unless you were masked up. They also shake their heads as China makes another overt threat towards Taiwan, mentioning a blacklist of Taiwanese figures to kill during the coming invasion. Finally, there’s less than thrilled that the Republican who lost the Pennsylvania governor’s race last year is thinking about running for U.S. Senate next year.

Join Jim and Greg as they give credit to the New York Times for admitting that mask mandates accomplished nothing, either for individuals or larger communities. It did lead to lot of angry confrontations, and apparently our government officials have learned nothing. They also discuss the growing media attention to the toxic train accident in Ohio and how government response to a crisis is often proportional to the amount of media coverage a story gets. Finally, they hammer the Defense Department and the Air Force for releasing the confidential military files of Republican lawmakers and candidates to opposition research firms working with Democrats.

Masking in Japan in 2023

 

I went to Japan over the holidays, where I felt at times like I’d been thrust back into the bowels of 2020, a place I feel no one should ever want to go, but I admit that I should not have been as surprised as I was.

Japan has tighter requirements for entry for foreigners than many other countries in Asia.  The government maintained a restrictive Visa requirement into October 2022.  This is gone now, but for entry in 2023, one must still show either proof of “full vaccination,” which includes at least one booster (three shots), or a PCR test within 72 hours of one’s arrival in the country.

Rob Long is in for Jim. Join Rob & Greg as they cheer the major commitment the GOP is putting into winning over Latino voters as the Dems panic. They also sigh as the Justice Department appeals a judge’s ruling ending mask mandates for planes and other transportation, but Rob explains the long game the DOJ is playing here. And they react to a Boston University professor who suggests the rampant property destruction in the riots of 2020 need to be understood in the context that property is inherently racist because black people were once considered property.

 

Join Jim and Greg as they congratulate the Virginia legislature and Gov. Glenn Youngkin for passing common sense, bipartisan bills that outlaw formal or informal quotas on arrests and tickets by Virginia police. They also continue to be surprised at the messaging failures of the Biden White House, often with the President himself out of the loop, with transportation masking as the latest example. And despite no obvious constituency or hope of beating Donald Trump or Governor Ron DeSantis, Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger floated his name as a potential candidate in the 2024 presidential race.

Join Jim and Greg in breathing an unobstructed sigh of relief as U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle finds the federal mask mandate for public transportation unconstitutional. They also cover the fallout from Washington Post tech reporter Taylor Lorenz trying to expose the operator of the Libs of TikTok Twitter page, despite publicly condemning online harassment aimed towards herself just weeks ago. And Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke changes his mind again on the Remain in Mexico policy, now saying it needs to end.

Fake News Live

 

Before the pandemic, I’d perform on cruise ships every few weeks. It’s a great gig: well-paying, responsive audiences and an opportunity to visit places as diverse as Ushuaia and Singapore. While I’m certain that restrictions such as lockdowns impacted others more than me, they certainly changed my life significantly. Much of it was for the good: I began spending more time with my wife and children than ever. I learned to cook – and to love it. I spent months intensely rehabilitating an injury to my foot and then seamlessly transitioning to another rehab after surgery on my knee, culminating in the completion of my second marathon. (Pro-tip: getting physically stronger is the closest thing to a cure-all for aches and pains.) I’m now again fully fit and looking forward to our family’s skiing trip.

All the while, though, I was writing, writing, writing. It’s kind of strange to write jokes with no imminent opportunity to perform them, even if it’s so much as an open mic. I did perform several so-called “Zoom shows” during the pandemic but it’s just not the same. There was something depressing about looking out at the audience while I’m performing and everyone is starring at their devices.

No charge for that joke.

Join Jim and Greg as they applaud the GOP’s ingenious new strategy to register angry voters at the gas pump ahead of the upcoming midterms. They rebuke Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger for his preachy and illogical call for Israel to do more for Ukraine. And despite nobody inviting him, Dr. Anthony Fauci returns to warn that mandates and other measures may need to return if COVID numbers begin to climb again.

 

Tricks Up Their Sleeves

 

My family spent this past Christmas at a resort in the red part of a blue state. There was much fuss about masking and vaccination status at check-in, and many signs mandating masks indoors for the vaccinated and masks everywhere for the un-. But in actual practice, nobody cared. Some folks were masked, some were not, and I witnessed no conflicts between the two.

It seemed like a joyful sign that yes, we can all get along, and everything was going to be all right. Then one afternoon, we attended a magic show in the main auditorium, and things got grinchy.

Join Jim and Greg as they salute Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decisive victory over forced masking in schools. They also highlight former Obama advisor Steve Rattner admitting that too much COVID stimulus is a big reason for the current inflation crisis. And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau groups a Jewish member of the Canadian Parliament with Nazis while Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar slams reporters for tracking down donors to the Freedom Convoy.

Join Jim and Greg as they assess the newest poll on the Florida governor’s race that shows Ron DeSantis with a solid lead. They also cheer as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser drops the vaccine and mask mandates amid economic pressure and low COVID numbers. And Biden Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm refuses to answer questions about her stock holdings because, “The planet is warming faster than ever”.

Join Jim and Greg as they praise Virginia state senators for voting to strike down school mask mandates in a lopsided vote. They also feign astonishment as high profile Democrats change their tune after failing to pass their radical agenda and the midterm elections get closer. And they analyze Chris Cuomo’s ridiculous demand to keep quiet about information he allegedly has about CNN’s dealings with his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Join Jim and Greg as they applaud their countrymen for their refusal to watch the Beijing Winter Olympics, handing NBC terrible ratings. They laugh at the sudden change in “The Science” as Democratic governors realize mask mandates in schools are unpopular. And President Biden’s tough talk on workplace bullying proves ineffective as it took a two month investigation to fire science advisor Eric Lander.

Join Jim and Greg as they relish the prospects of Republican wins on masks in Virginia and New York. They criticize the empty promises of collaboration from the European Union as Russia knocks on Ukraine’s door. And they review the shocking numbers of illegals apprehended at the southern border and what it means for the upcoming midterms.

Join Jim and Greg as they welcome new Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and applaud him following up on his campaign promises on his very first day. They also credit the FBI for a successful resolution to the hostage crisis at a Texas synagogue on Saturday but then fume as the bureau, the media, and the president claim the motive for the incident is a mystery. And they hammer the Salt Lake Tribune for suggesting the national guard should be called in to make sure the unvaccinated never leave their homes.

 

Long-Term Effects of Chronic Fear

 

Increasingly, I’ve been alarmed at the number of people in my own circle who wear their symbols of fear: the mask. They are all smart women, rational under most life circumstances, but refuse to let go of wearing their masks. It is like a comfort blanket, even an amulet, that will protect them from the evil forces of COVID. No matter how much information they receive on the minimal protection that masks provide, they persist. My biggest concern is that these people are living in a hyper condition of fear, and they don’t even recognize it. It’s also interesting that they will sacrifice wearing their masks in certain circumstances. I wanted to explore whether prolonging the donning of masks, which could be practiced for the foreseeable future, might have a permanent negative effect on their well-being. The news does not suggest a bright future.

I’d like to talk about the reasons of some of these folks for wearing their masks and where they wear them: any place of business, whether required or not; shopping early in the day at grocery stores to avoid crowds; doctors’ offices, where masks are standard requirements, even here in Florida; churches for some, including the avoiding of contact with other people; and any other public business where other people might congregate. The alienation they must experience appears to be secondary to protecting themselves. Missed smiles and muffled speaking can be forgiven for the greater good.

All of them are willing to admit that they are afraid, so they must act “responsibly.” Even though they have all been jabbed three times, and if they catch the latest variant, omicron, they will likely have a mild case. Even though they have heard that it will be similar to the flu and that it will be endemic, they wear the mask. Even though some of them know the government “experts” have been discredited, they persist.

San Francisco Cracks Down On Maskless Shoplifting

 

In an effort to follow through on her promised transition from defunding to refunding the police, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that the city would take a zero-tolerance approach to maskless shoplifting, promising stiffer sentences for those who fail to properly mask up when relieving stores of hundreds of dollars in merchandise the proceeds from which are then fenced and laundered before you’re back from lunch.

“Additionally,” added the mayor, “proper masking makes it more difficult for us to identify you, if you know what I mean,” winking a press cameras.

The mayor also warned prospective maskless shoplifters that social distancing guidelines must also be adhered to, warning that failure to “keep distance” may result in a limit on the number of shoplifters permitted to gather at one place.

Hubwonk host Joe Selvaggi talks with Harvard Medical School professor, Dr. Jonathan Darrow, about the observations of his recent paper, Evidence for Community Cloth Face Masking to Limit the Spread of SARS-CoV-2: A Critical Review, in which he examines the range, quality, and scientific observations of mask wearing efficacy studies.

Guest:

Civil Disobedience: Count Me In

 

Let me be clear: I am not, in general, an advocate of civil disobedience. I don’t believe that people should resort to lawlessness casually.

Throughout the social upheaval that defined 2020, I resisted the temptation to join other protesters. I didn’t block traffic. I didn’t set fire to cars or buildings. I didn’t break windows. I didn’t steal shoes or televisions. I didn’t deface public or private property. I didn’t throw rocks at police. I didn’t terrorize any neighborhoods. I didn’t hit anyone with a skateboard. In fact, I neither injured nor killed anyone.

CDC: Healthy Lifestyle No Substitute For Booster Shot

 

CDC director Rochelle Wallensky announced today that when it comes to reducing the threat from COVID-19, exercise, a well-rounded diet rich in nutrients and a generally healthy lifestyle are no substitutes for receiving a vaccine booster every seven months.

“So by all means avoid direct sunlight, runny eggs and more than one alcoholic beverage per day” said the CDC director, “but the main thing is to get that BioNTech in your arm like it’s going out of style.”

Wallensky backed up her claim by citing the nation’s chief immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci who, in turn, cited the same CDC press release issued by Wallensky. Wallensky further elaborated that “The science has spoken – directly to Dr. Fauci” as the latter stood behind her waving his doctorate.