What a misnomer! They named it “IOTA”, but iota was the worst word for the destruction it brought. In the news yesterday was the occurrence of a hurricane which someone who must have a warped sense of humor named “IOTA”, which is the exact opposite of what it brought. Well, perhaps it was appropriate for the times. Who knows what could happen in the coming days that could be worse than IOTA? All we can do now is to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst!.
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But the big news on TV, especially in the United States, is the exultation over the reports that a vaccine has apparently proved successful in preventing COVID infections. Of course some medical authorities are not yet commenting or endorsing it, but, at least it has given hope to a frightened mankind in these days of dread and anxiety, with the statistics on COVID fatalities rising worldwide. And if the United States seems to be worst-hit, it could be because of press freedom.
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Why? Note that China, where the Coronavirus was first identified and apparently found its way around the world, has not been very open about statistics involving cases and casualties of the virus. On the other hand, the United States media is so open and thorough in recording and reporting all it can about its victims and their locations. Who will believe that China has less? It could only be if it has already developed a cure, or, at least, an effective vaccine against it that it has not shared with the world.
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But there is some sense in suggestions that our medical people focus on producing a medicine for the COVID from local plants, like the tawa-tawa. I wonder if there are scientists now focusing on them? Not only will the ones who will be able to prove their efficacy become rich and famous, they could become heroes of this generation. These are desperate times, and desperate measures are needed to save and improve lives. So far, however, I have not personally known, or heard, of anyone who has conquered the COVID with the use of local plants. Anyone who has, should share the information with our people and probably save this generation from decimating.
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As if the horrors of COVID infections were not enough, some countries still have the time and energy to go on street protests like what is happening in Hong Kong lately. I guess this is because the natives are still resentful of the fact that, after years of being under the more benign governance of the British government, the latter turned them over to China that has a very different type of administration. We have a lot of Filipinos living or working in Hong Kong, and we hope they are able to keep themselves away from all the trouble going on there.
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Meanwhile, it is quite incredulous for other countries to know about the trouble going on after the elections in the United States. As of this writing, I don’t think that the loser, Donald Trump, has conceded yet. Of course it must be bitter for an incumbent to lose, even in areas supposed to be his bulwarks, but, so far, too, there doesn’t seem to be any proof of his claims of election-rigging. The latest we got from CNN is that his lawsuits claiming “rigging” have been dropped by the courts.
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But defeated politicians, or candidates, seldom accept the results easily. So long as there are lawyers willing and eager to represent them, they could file case after case, if only to mollify their voters and campaigners. So far, however, we have not heard – or may have missed – any report of protesting candidates getting their wish. Nobody wants to lose, of course, and this is even truer in the Philippines where post election killings have been known to occur.
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As I write this, the news on TV was declaring that hospitalization in the U.S. due to the COVID have been doubling in recent weeks, and Iowa was noted as having an “alarming rate” due to it. The reader must have noted, too, that Americans were quite late in imposing the mask-wearing rules. In the earlier days of the COVID, one could see on TV hat few people there were wearing masks, led by their President himself, who luckily, survived his bout with it. He was the best proof that this virus is no respecter of rank or financial status. It may hide your beauty, but it could also cover your defects! And save your life, too.*
