IheartIheartTesla

Yes, I understand that knowledge/know-how transfer is probably more important than removing legal constraints on practicing this art. Its also true I think that Moderna waived patent protection rights for its vaccine, so some of that already exists. It would mostly be a symbolic gesture. But I also think that coming up with a new vaccine portfolio that works on variants may become easier when IP is waived. At any rate, I was thinking more about how Gates views have 'evolved' since his time at Microsoft.

Granted I dont know how the mind of Bill Gates works (although there may actually be a Netflix documentary about just that), but I am puzzled by his insistence on vaccine IP protection. Based on the PC wars of the 80s, I am pretty sure none of the big players, Microsoft included, cared overly much about copyrights, IP etc. and routinely 'borrowed' from each other.

The US was administering 3.3 million vaccinations per day just last month? Recall that Biden reached his goal of 100m doses in 57 days rather than 100 days, which could only be accomplished after a slow rollout if the number per day easily exceeded 1 million, which it did for quite a while in the last few months.

The real reason is they are worried such a measure will be insanely popular and may even be enough to overcome partisanship and almost cement Biden's 2nd term.

Its been 2 weeks (right to the minute) since my 2nd Moderna, so I presume this marks the threshold when I am 'fully vaccinated' by whatever somewhat arbitrary cutoff they established.

The problem now in the US is that rates of vaccination of individuals 18-49 is much less than those aged 50-64 (about 10% compared to 27%). And the former age cohort is in general more likely to transmit the disease to more than 1 person, according to some publications (its because they are 'working age', and therefore more likely to be out and about working) No one knows the reasons why, whether it is difficulty in scheduling due to having to work, or whether a false sense of trust in their immune systems, or what.

If Graham chooses climate change as his area to be bipartisan on, all the better. Everyone is vastly underestimating methane leaks (and even the GWP of methane is .....probably underestimating its impact), so I would take him bringing back that regulation any day.

Sometimes I read stuff that make go "huh"? Today it was the news (maybe not so news) that Lindsay Graham believes climate change is real and man-made. In fact, he has had this opinion for quite a while. Not only that, he is in favor of carbon pricing, He is also talking to John Kerry a fair bit. One can only dream, but some bipartisan legislature on a climate bill would be awesome. One can dream of course.....

The Guardian had an article about the upcoming 'hot vax summer', so at least some folks are ready to get back to a life resembling normalcy. People are also putting their vaccine status up on dating apps and such. Just need a song about it and we should be all set.

In my experience, many of the persuadable stragglers are ones troubled by the perception that the mRNA vaccines were fast tracked to approval within 8 months, and they are concerned about the side effects not being fully investigated. I dont know how to address best, but at present we have nearly 135 million points of experimental data, and while long term effects are not fleshed out, I also see no reason why this vaccine would have any. I would tout the safety aspects a little bit more of the Pfizer and Moderna. Corporations can also offer discounts for being fully vaccinated (like Krispy Kreme).

Oh, there is no grand point there, but the comment was related to globalism and how to get globalized taxation, workers rights etc. I was explicitly thinking of NATO as a pan-continental organization that the US is a part of and how there wasnt an economic counterpoint to that. There needs to be some driver apart from geographic proximity and some nebulous concept of cultural similarity for nations to band together to unite towards some common goal that addresses workers rights and tax burdens. As to your post I need some time to understand it ... heh.

There needs to be some sort of framework to underpin any such effort, the European Union is perhaps one. Everything else is based on some loose patchwork of mutual treaties etc focusing more on national security than anything else.

Speaking of California (should this go in the international affairs thread?) Gavin Newsom will now face a recall election, with the efforts against him having reached the requisite 1.5M signatures. The last recall, if I recall correctly, gave us Arnie (who acted in Total Recall) in place of Gray Davis

Biden also just spoke with Modi and some emergency supplies may be headed to India (including oxygen etc. which is critically required there)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/08/california-indian-farmers-protest-sikh-punjab-yuba-city Towards mid-century, things were better and then the pattern followed of bringing relatives from home, and acquiring more land. I read this article when it came out, your post triggered my memory.