Feb 21

Martians

I don’t think it has anything to do with money. The psychological issue is deeper than that: many people — perhaps even a bare majority — just hate anything unfamiliar or that’s not helping them directly (in their minds). Most people have laser vision on absolute horseshit and can’t think five minutes ahead. The pandemic has demonstrated that incredibly well.

Feb 21

Nexpert

It is stunning to me that a top researcher at an Ivy League school literally cannot think properly about his subject area at all, and furthermore has no compunction admitting this publicly.

But that has been the case for the entire pandemic, hasn’t it? Rarely do I find common cause with Cowen, but in this he’s totally right. Our experts have been almost worthless during this crisis and I wish I could figure out why.

Some of the feats that Zeynep Tufekci and I have achieved are the equivalent of entering the Australian Open and winning it, which should just not be remotely possible. It just should not be a thing that can or does happen. I think part of if it is that academia, in many areas, has been optimized for appearing right rather than being right. And this is exactly the wrong way to handle a pandemic. But other factors I am still considering.

Feb 21

Harming All

Yeah, it was quite the “expert” and press performance, wasn’t it? Almost makes one want to become a full-on conspiracy theorist.

Feb 21

Breakout

Breaking moronic and harmful rules is a civic duty.

Feb 20

Vax Facts

The messaging by our terrible, compromised media has been appallingly bad, and the anti-vax nutters have not helped either. The reality is that all the vaccines available in the US are remarkably effective and safe. Everyone should get one as soon as possible. If not, there should be no public life for you.

Feb 20

Cut Fect

Remember that “expert” a few months ago who said this was impossible, that no vaccine did this? Ha.

There will be no spring/summer Covid resurgence, variants or not.

Feb 20

No Wave

Yeah, all these doom-saying predictions about the variants are going to prove to be wrong for this (and other) reasons. There won’t be another enormous Covid wave.