Tag: face masks

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The Power Of Bad Poll Numbers: Trump Tweets Face Mask Photo

Donald Trump (via Twitter)
In what is surely a response to Donald Trump’s poor poll numbers in advance of November’s presidential election, the Donald appears to have done a U-turn and tweeted his support for the use of face masks to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance,” tweeted Trump. “There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!” This also follows, of course, the COVID-19 deaths of over 140,000 Americans. CDC director Robert Redfield has said the coronavirus outbreak could be “under control” within 4-8 weeks if everyone in the U.S. wore masks.

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Filed Under ‘Life Comes At You Fast’

I really don’t need to comment. I’ll just let this all speak for itself. On April 28, a Facebook user named Richard Rose in Ohio posted the above message. On July 1, he was officially quarantined having tested positive for the coronavirus. The next day, he shared this: Shortly before his death from COVID-19 on July 4, this was posted on his Facebook: I’ll add to this the tale of a 30-year-old Texas man via The Daily Mail:

A Texas man has died after attending a “Covid party” because he thought coronavirus is a hoax, authorities said.

The man was 30 years old at the time of his death, according to Methodist Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jane Appleby.

Appleby told news organizations that the patient, who has not been named, had attended a so-called Covid party prior to contracting coronavirus.

“This is a party held by somebody diagnosed by the Covid virus and the thought is to see if the virus is real and to see if anyone gets infected,” Appleby told News 4 San Antonio.

The man who attended the party then became critically ill.

While in the hospital, Appleby said that just before he died, he looked at his nurse and said, “I think I made a mistake, I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.”

Appleby also told KSAT that, “He didn’t really believe. He thought the disease was a hoax. He thought he was young and he was invincible and wouldn’t get affected by the disease.”

I get no joy from sharing this. But, it’s an obvious cautionary tale to those who continue to refuse to wear a mask or even believe the COVID-19 crisis exists. (h/t Boy Culture)

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News Round-Up: July 3, 2020

Yanni Burton (courtesy photo)
Some news items you might have missed: • Newsweek: Producers for The Ellen DeGeneres Show have denied rumors that the long-running talk show is coming to an end following the continued backlash against the host. The Sun alleges the show is set to be axed due to ratings falling 14 percent to a new season 17 low rating of 1.2. • Out Music: Yanni Burton (top photo) turns the spotlight on his own struggles of letting go and moving on from past relationships in his new single and music video, “A Part of Me.” “I have a history of getting lost in memories and emotions,” says Yanni. “To the point where I become consumed with panic, anxiety and I can’t function properly or move on with my life.” Produced by Yanni with his close friend Tiger Darrow, the song contains a dreamy, trippy soundscape and is darker and more emotionally intense than his previous singles. However, it still contains the pop/dance feel the artist has become known for. Check it out below.

• Vanity Fair: The Trump campaign is considering canceling the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida after the city mandated that people wear masks indoors to slow the explosion of COVID-19 cases. • KIT212: Hit up Kenneth’s latest round-up of the what’s what in local LGBTQ publications like South Florida’s Hot Spots (below). • Pink News: Utah County Commissioner Nathan Ivie, 40, who came out as the state’s first openly gay elected Republican last year, just lost his bid for reelection. He says his loss is “absolutely” because he came out. He won his previous election by 81 percent. • Gay Star News: RuPaul has completely wiped his Instagram account of all posts and deleted his Twitter account entirely – but fans don’t know why. Nevertheless, fans have come up with all sorts of theories as to why the accounts have disappeared.

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News Round-Up: July 2, 2020

Some news items you might have missed: • Instagram: If you don’t already, click over and follow @BigKidProblems (above) on the Gram of Insta….I like the way they think 🙂 • Christian Post: A professional photographer has filed a lawsuit against a new Virginia law that he says would force him to violate his sincerely held Christian beliefs by requiring him to provide his services to same-sex weddings. • NBC News: The Trump administration is moving to repeal transgender protections in homeless shelters. If the proposal is implemented, transgender women could be placed in sex-segregated shelters for men. • NY Times: U.S. payrolls grew by 4.8 million in June, according to the Labor Department. It was the second month of gains after a loss of more than 20 million in April when the pandemic put a large swath of economic activity on ice. The unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent, down from a peak of 14.7 percent in April but still higher than in any previous period since World War II.

(image via NY Times)
• American Journal of Managed Care: A new study of nearly 78,000 HIV+ people diagnosed with coronavirus indicates that antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications may reduce a person’s risk of getting coronavirus and/or reduce the severity of the disease should they contract it. • Hollywood Reporter: Hugh Downs, the congenial broadcaster whose thousands of hours on network television included two decades on the ABC’s  20/20 and 9 years as the host of NBC’s Today Show, has died. He was 99. Downs also hosted the game show Concentration for nearly a decade as well as five years as announcer and side-kick to Jack Paar on The Tonight Show. • Reuters: Democrat Joe Biden edged out Republican Donald Trump in fundraising for a second straight month in June, according to reports from the rival U.S. presidential campaigns. Biden and allied Democratic groups raked in over $141 million during the month, while Donald Trump and closely tied groups hauled $131 million. • Karen Chronicles: A Costco customer refused to wear a face mask while returning an item. So she staged a sit-in. For perspective, the second video shows you how a Black man was treated when he refused to wear a face mask. Please note the difference in how the two were treated.

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Why Does The US Have Far More Deaths From COVID-19 Than EU?

L-R Donald Trump, VP Mike Pence (image: public domain/Flickr)
Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have argued in recent weeks the increase in confirmed U.S. cases of COVID-19 is primarily the result of more testing for the virus being conducted. However, that’s not true, as The New York Times explains. The U.S., which once trailed the European Union in per capita overall deaths, has now racked up many more. From the New York Times:

Most other high-income countries are dealing with modest numbers of new cases — often an inevitable consequence of reopening — and the countries are responding aggressively. Many are following the advice of public health experts, ordering social distancing, mask-wearing and partial lockdowns and doing their best to track people who came in contact with new patients.

The United States is not. President Trump and many governors continue to flout scientific advice and send mixed messages about the seriousness of the virus.

As the U.S. soars past the EU in coronavirus-related deaths, it’s worth noting that the population of the EU (446 million) eclipses the U.S. (328 million) by nearly 120 million. In the graphic below, check out how many more deaths due to COVID-19 the U.S. has suffered versus the EU. Also, Japan – which has a population of 128 million – has far fewer deaths. But wearing a face mask in the Asian country is a common practice, year in, year out.

(graphic via New York Times)

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Parody: Randy Rainbow Wants Donald Trump To “Cover Your Freakin’ Face!”

Political satirist Randy Rainbow has some good advice for Donald Trump in his clever parody of “Put On A Happy Face” from the classic Broadway musical, Bye Bye Birdie. In his health-conscious iteration of the tune – “Cover Your Freakin’ Face!” – Rainbow addresses Trump’s avoidance of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic even though the federal government’s experts say it’s an important safety measure in tamping down the spread of the virus.

Please don’t politicize it, Don’t be a putz like Pence Don’t sit and scrutinize it, It’s only common sense Don’t spread droplets all over the place Cover your freakin’ face

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‘Karen’ Asked To Wear Face Mask Screams “Democratic Pigs!” Exiting Store

(screen captures)
UPDATE: A Twitter user has posted a detailed account by a friend who says they witnessed this sad episode. According to them, the ‘Karen’ in question wore a mask with no problem while waiting in line outside the store for 30 minutes. Apparently, once inside the store, she removed her mask and began “getting up in people’s face, getting as close as possible,” all while putting not one item in her basket. Check out the tweets following the video clips below for more details.

In this installment of the ‘Karen’ Chronicles, a woman shopping at a newly-opened Trader Joe’s in North Hollywood, California, on Friday evening became irate when asked to wear a face mask. In a video shared on Twitter, the woman seems incredulous that a mask is required to shop in the store. After slamming her shopping basket to the floor, she screamed “Democratic pigs!” as she headed to the door. Passing the man recording the incident, she made a point to say she has “a breathing problem” and her doctor would not “let” her wear a face mask. Please note – that ‘breathing problem’ doesn’t seem to inhibit her from yelling at the top of her lungs. As one person on Twitter noted, if she has a respiratory condition she would be at a higher risk of coronavirus infection. You think her ‘doctor’ would either tell her to wear a mask or stay at home. On June 18, California officials announced face coverings will be required in public areas, workplaces, public transportation, and in common walkways and elevators of offices and businesses. Dining, drinking, or participating in outdoor athletic activity that can be done with a distance between people of 6 feet are exempt from the requirement. The order also exempts medical conditions. The Los Angeles CBS News affiliate reports hospitalization rates for COVID-19 in the Golden State have been steadily increasing. Currently, 4,240 people with coronavirus occupy hospital beds, which is a 32 percent increase from two weeks ago. Intensive care units are seeing 1,306 people with the virus, up 19 percent over the last two weeks.

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Wilton Manors: Customer Spits In Bartender’s Face After Being Asked To Wear Face Mask

L-R Gary Bouvier, bartender Shane Cullinan
WSVN News reports that Gary Bouvier, owner of the local restaurant Wilton Wings, spit into the face of a bartender at The PUB, located in Wilton Manors, Florida, after being asked to wear a face mask due to the ongoing coronavirus health threat. Bouvier is reportedly under investigation by Wilton Manors Police Department and faces felony assault charges related to the attack. It’s worth noting The PUB has a sign posted on the front door requiring customers to wear a face mask. The Independent reported today the number of coronavirus cases in Florida has hit a new daily record. Via Shane Cullinan’s Facebook:

Friday night I had a guy actually come behind the bar looking for a restroom. I told him it was on the other side and he needed to put his mask on while walking around. He said, “ You don’t know who I am, and fuck off.”

I followed him to near the bathroom and told him the masks were to protect others and he needed to wear one while walking about. Again, he said, “You don’t know who I am and to fuck your mom.”

He continued to say “you don’t know who I am” and shouted profanity. I walked away although he said I assaulted him in the bathroom. We have video and I never went in the bathroom.

Probably about 7 minutes later he comes in from outside, actually has a mask on, pulls it down and spits in my face. He says, “Fuck off and you messed with the wrong person” I was completely in shock and so was his wife. This man spit in my face and put my life at risk and other patrons who were around the area. Spit stays in the air for a while. We called the Wilton police right away but he ran out to his Lamborghini to get away.

Bouvier issued a statement on the Wilton Manors Gayborhood Facebook page expressing his “sincere regret” for the incident. He wrote, in part, “I consumed too much alcohol and engaged in out-of-character behavior for which I profoundly regret.” Saying he “deeply” apologizes to Mr. Cullinan, he adds he is “making efforts” to convey his sorrow and hopes that “one moment of poor judgment does not define” who he is. Some folks on the Gayborhood FB page have alluded to “everyone” having a “moment of weakness” and the apology should be enough. I have to ask – who reading this has ever SPIT in the face of a bartender or announced: “You don’t know who I am!”