from Bluesky:
The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.
3 minutes:
Had to bring this up after seeing it. Polio literally brings back horrid memories from my youth. I am sure there are many out there that have the same reaction. The effects of polio can last a lifetime and be debilitating. My wife’s uncle committed suicide due to the effects of childhood polio when he was in his 50s.
As noted below, polio is not necessarily a childhood disease. FDR caught it at age 39. If not continually contained through vaccinations polio could easily spread quickly. What in the hell are these people thinking?
Reminder: people are vaccinated only as kids for polio in the US not because the protection is lifelong but because there’s a v. low incidence of polio DUE TO THE VACCINE. It’s unknown how many years the current vax protects people for. So yes, this will be a problem for everyone, not just newborns.
The New York Times @nytimes.com
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I think we will mix in some questions about Christmas carols and songs today.
A) Did I say that? department. What 2024 presidential candidate says fulfilling a promise on lowering grocery prices may not be possible Thursday?
B) Bashar al-Assad is now living in what international city?
C) The Good King Wenceslaus looked out on what feast day to see it was cold and snowy?
D) What former southeastern Iowa congress member died at age 82 last week?
E) 75 Nobel laureates signed a letter to the US senate calling on senators to reject what Trump cabinet nominee last week?
F) The Ohio senate Thursday passed a bill that could force hospitals to administer what two medications on patient request that gained notoriety during the covid pandemic?
G) In the French carol what is Jeanette Isabella requested to bring to the cradle?
H) What world leader testified in his own corruption trial three times last week?
I) The man accused of murdering United health care CEO Brian Thompson was arrested at a McDonald’s in what city?
J) “In the meadow we will build a snowman and pretend that he is” who? “He’ll say ‘are you married’ we’ll say ’no man’.”
K) In New Jersey Monday, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law guaranteeing the freedom to do what?
L) Not yet president Trump Monday promised to end birth right citizenship on day one. However, this is a right guaranteed by what constitutional amendment?
M) And the Time magazine Athlete of the Year is who?
N) This year’s Time Person of the Year must set a record for felony convictions by a person the year with how many?
O) “Strings of street lights even stop lights blink a bright red and green” as who rush home with their presents?
P) Who resigned as head of the Republican National Committee to focus on being appointed to the US senate from Florida?
Q) Uh-oh! What nominee to head up Medicare has stocks in companies that do business to the tune of $33 million per year?
R) “The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood,—“ which one wears the crown?
S) According to European scientists what is or was the hottest year on Earth on record?
T) Finally “I saw” what? “Come sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning” ?
Only in America can a convicted felon and rapist be named Man of the Year. – Captain Obvious
Tip of the hat to http://all-hat-no-cattle.blogspot.com
Answers:
A) Trump – oopsie another lie
B) Moscow, Russia
C) Stephen (Dec.26)
D) Jim Leach
E) RFK, jr. (if you don’t know why read the intro story)
F) Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine
G) a torch
H) Netanyahu
I) Altoona, Pa.
J) Parson Brown
K) read as way to stop book banning in his state
L) the 14th (Also in the 14th: insurrectionists can’t hold public office)
M) Iowa’s own Caitlin Clark
N) 34 – hopefully never to be broken
O) shoppers
P) Lara Trump
Q) Dr. Oz
R) the holly
S) 2024 even with a couple of weeks left 2024 is/was the hottest
T) three ships
In a bold move, Speaker Johnson appointed only men to lead committees in the House. – The Politburo of Teabilly Mockery
Tip of the hat to http://all-hat-no-cattle.blogspot.com
Blog For Iowa 
One of my close relatives had polio as a child, before the vaccine was available. Now she is suffering from post-polio syndrome, a complex health condition that can start to develop several decades after a person has had polio. It can cause many serious problems, including pain, weakness, and difficulty breathing.
I’d call that RFK vaccine request completely crazy, but that would be a serious insult to craziness.
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Thank you for including the carol “Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella” in this column. My mother’s family came from France, and I grew up with this carol and have always loved it.
In the carol, Jeannette and Isabella are two shepherdesses who have found the baby Jesus in the stable and have run to a nearby village to spread the good news. In Provence, the region of France where the carol originated, children still dress up as shepherds and milkmaids on Christmas Eve, and they carry torches and candles on their way to Midnight Mass.
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