FDA Approves A New Vaccine for COVID-19

On Thursday, August 22, the US FDA approved a new vaccine for COVID-19 for the variant KP.2 that will provide protection against the circulating virus type KP.3.1.1. Three manufacturers will make their vaccines available this coming week (Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax). The new vaccine is intended to provide protection for an average of 12 months, although protection among individuals varies greatly. Consult with your physician for your own need, and whether or not you need vaccination. The vaccines are for adult and pediatric populations.

Ford Fiesta Hatchback, 2017 model [VideoShow 8 17 2024 11 18 22 AM]

Earthquake

Earthquake hit Syria, Jordan, and part of Lebanon yesterday. It was 5.5 in magnitude and no significant damage was reported. The center of the quake was in the old city of Hamath. The quake was said to be superficial, with only 10 km in depth from the surface. People slept on the streets fearing the aftershocks.

I got covid again! (Days 5-8)

Day 5, August 7, 2024: The night of Day 4/5 was kind of rough. I only slept a few hours mainly due to congestion and cough.

Day 6, August 8, 2024:The symptoms began to subside, but the nasal congestion lingered. I slept during the day and night. I was glad I did so as I needed some rest.

Day 7, August 9, 2024: I began to feel better today. The sterile saline solution mist has been helping clearing up my nasal congestion. I began noticing that my sense of taste has almost 95% gone. I am not sure about my sense of smell, although I think it has been affected greatly as well. I did not realize that I had lost my sensation of tasting and smelling until today because earlier in this illness I did not have the appetite to eat. My sleep continued to be good.

Day 8, August 10, 2024: All my symptoms are, but gone today, except for tasting and smelling things. I went out for the first time since last Friday, August 2. I even took my dog for a ride in the car. My appetite came back today, but my sense of taste is still lacking and so does my smell sense. I plan to go back to work on Monday. The CDC current recommendations are to isolate for five days and return to normal life after five days if symptoms have decreased with no fever. Luckily, I've never had fever during this covid episode. When I was out today walking my dog, a boy was yelling to his friend across park telling him he had covid! I guess young people don't get it as bad as old folks like me.

Thankfully, none of my household (my wife, my three adult sons, and my two dogs) appear to have the virus, so far. In fact, my dog stayed with me the whole time downstairs, whereas the others came downstairs as needed and remained there for a short period. I used the half-bath and all of them refrained from using it. I tried whenever I could to cleanse my hands with alcoholic gel.  I also tried to limit my touch to surfaces with my bare hands as much as I could. I do not think there is a typical covid case as each one of us experiences it differently. The bottom line, remain vigilant and conscientious, and most of all considerate to others. If each of us isolate while sick, we will all win. The good old saying "an once of prevention is better than a pound of cure" applies nicely here, and if I may add "and being considerate to others by limiting contact with the outside is key to control this miserable disease." Lastly, I plan to get vaccination against this virus every six months from now on. I do not want to go through this misery again.

Interest in vaccinating children is on the decline

Fewer and fewer adults believe that it is "extremely important" for their kids to be vaccinated. In 2019, 58% of the adults surveyed indicated their strong believe in vaccinating their kids, and in 2021, this number increased to 64%. A recent survey regarding this matter showed that only 40% will do so now, a sharp decline from the past few years.

I got COVID, again! (First Blog...Days 0-4)

My first experience with a covid-19 infection was in February 2021, almost 8 months after receiving my booster shot for covid. My symptoms then were mild. My last vaccination was in November 2022.

The starting week of July 29, 2024 (Monday), a colleague of mine said that he had covid, but now he tested negative. He was back to work in 5 days, shaking people hand and all. Another colleague of mine I think caught that virus, but kept his daily routine chatting with people (including me) for hours (in less than a 6-foot distance). He never tested himself, nor was he planning to. I saw this colleague for three days (Monday-Wednesday), talking, chatting, laughing, for a total of some three hours. Needless to say, I too caught the virus and here is my story so far (days 0-4).

Day 0, Friday, August 2, I went to work as usual. In fact, I arrived to work as usual early by 6:30 a.m. By 1 p.m., I felt fatigued, so I decided to drive home (some 35 minutes away). That afternoon I was so tired and I went to bed early, not feeling well at all.

Day 1, Saturday, August 3, My wife told me to take the antigen-covid-test that we had at home, around 10 a.m. It was positive, and the sample line was much wider and denser red than the control line. It appeared within 30 seconds. I slept most of the day and felt "like a truck had hit me." In fact, a truck hit my car while driving in May of this year, and I felt fine, but that is another story to tell. I also began to take 1,000 mg of vitamin C along with vitamin D gummies and zinc. I also started spraying saline solution in my nostrils. That helped tremendously.

Day 2, Sunday, August 4, My muscle ache almost completely gone and replaced by runny nose. By the end of the day, the runny nose was accompanied with cough. I never smoked, but my cough sounded like I smoked 3 packs a day. So far no fever, no headache, and no sore throat. However, I could not sleep at all because of the cough.

Day 3, Monday, August 5, The Sunday's symptoms continued. I called my doctor at 9 a.m. in the morning and texted them to request Paxlovid. I also called my pharmacy and was promptly told, "this med is on backorder for months." Needless to say, I could not get the med. Paxlovid is only effective if taken within the first 5 days of infection, and definitely helps if you have bad symptoms. Mine were borderline bad. I discovered a bag of menthol lozenges that I bought a couple years ago. They helped to sooth my cough. Still, no headache, no fever, and no sore throat.

Day 4, Tuesday, August 6, I am writing this blog in the evening. The runny nose has almost all gone, the frequency of cough is also reduced, and no new symptoms have appeared. I feel much better today. I continue using the vitamins/minerals and the nasal saline mist. To be continued...

 

Oropouche Virus

This virus is transmitted by mosquitoes or midges. Most of the American Continent cases are centered in Brazil (90% of the total 8,000+). No vaccine exists at this time to combat this viral infection nor there is a specific treatment for it except those that control the symptoms. Flu-like symptoms, vomiting, and pain behind the eye sockets are the most encountered signs of this infection. 

Clade 1b

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a recent warning about mpox virus. This disease has been previously confined to the African country, The Democratic Republic of Congo (or Congo), however it recently spread beyond its border. In Congo, Clade 2b variant caused death in 62% of mpox cases that occurred in children. However, Clade 2b caused only 1% of death among all of those who were infected, including children. Clade 1b variant of the mpox virus is much more virulent. It is estimated that 4% of those who will catch the virus will die from this disease, according to WHO. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to issue a warning to US healthcare workers (physicians) to be vigilant of cases that they may encounter in their practice.  The mpox virus (Clade 2b) was originally thought to spread among homosexual men in Congo, however the new strain is contagious simply by contact among an infected person (or animal) and a healthy one. The virus is known formally as the "monkeypox virus." The silver lining of all of this (if there is one!), for the majority of people who are infected, the symptoms are mild (skin rash and flu-like symptoms), and a healthy immune system can overcome the infection quickly on its own. The best way to prevent the spread of the virus is by vaccination (JYNNEOS vaccine, a.k.a. Imvamune or Imvan, a live, but non-replicating viral particles, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic) given in two doses by injection, and provide protection up to five years. The vaccine provides almost total immunity (close to 100%) against mpox. For more information on this disease and the vaccine, please visit the CDC website.

Tension rises at the Lebanese-Israeli border following the attacks on Saturday that killed many children

 

Quick News: Israel Responds to the Attack on Saturday by Targeting Lebanese Towns

This could be the beginning of the larger military conflict in the Middle-East that everybody was worried  about. We pray that it is not.

 

Quick News: Attack on Migdal El-Shames

Migdal El-Shames, an occupied Syrian territory by Israel, experienced a missile attack of Iranian origin of 50 kg explosive power. As of now 14 victims are dead. Several stories are circulating in the media about the side who initiated the attack. Israel is blaming the Lebanese military fraction Hizballah. Hizballah is denying the responsibility of the attack. Some are saying that a missile originated from the Israeli "Iron Dome"  hit the area. Israel is even naming the Hizballah commander responsible for this attack.

Update: The initial number of victims was reported on Saturday, July 29, 2024 to be 14. The final number was later adjusted to 12.

Syrian Arab Republic Stamps: A363; Scott Catalogue # 363; August 7, 1986

 

Stamps of Syrian Arab Republic: A93; Scott Catalogue # 459-463; 1964

 

Democratic Party Will Elect A Person To Run For President in November 2024

The Democratic Party will elect a new person to run for president as President Biden announced his decision not to seek re-election today (July 21, 2024), in the afternoon, around 1:36 pm. Vise President Harris will likely be the person to be nominated for this year's election. The Republican Party has selected former President Trump to be their nominee. The election this year is set for November 5th, 2024.

Computer outage worldwide

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, computers operated on Microsoft platform received an update patch for their security initiated from CrowdStrike company.  This update was allegedly linked to the computer outage experienced worldwide by millions of computers, including those operated at airports, resulted in a partial air traffic disturbance. My computer was also affected (see image). To their credit, CrowdStrike issued immediately a remedy for this faulty patch, however, it took time to correct all the computer systems affected.

I'll do it tomorrow!

It is a very common phrase, "I'll do it tomorrow," but 'tomorrow' never comes. Sometimes, we plan to do it tomorrow because there isn't enough time to do it today. If I plan it for a later time and I pencil it on my schedule, then it is ok for me to 'do it tomorrow." As you know, unless I plan it, tomorrow will never come. I am an educator by profession and a dad. I have heard this phrase so many times in my life from my kids and my students so that if I had collected a penny each time I've heard it I'd be a millionaire by now. Procrastinators love this phrase. It is their status quo. It is used whenever a job is too boring, too lengthy, or perhaps too difficult to accomplish. I promised my wife to move my collection of books from the attic to the garage two years ago. I've done about 75% of this task. However, lately, I became a lover of the phrase "I'll do it tomorrow." I keep reminding myself that I have done the bulk of it, but, to be honest, I get lazy every time I think about it. About five years ago I began thinking about projects, any project that is big or small, as made up of tiny segments. When I start a project I remind myself that nothing in life is infinite, and  kudos to the Chinese for teaching us that a 1000-mile journey begins with a step.  I adopted this Chinese wisdom about five years ago. No project is big enough or difficult enough to accomplish if I do it in baby steps. I used to know a friend who passed away a few years ago, (may God bless her soul), who was a perfectionist. She would start a project but took her for ever to finish it, she had a perfectionist personality. Sometimes perfectionist people use "I'll do it tomorrow" too. But their  use of this notion is not based on being lazy but of being a perfectionist. Some of my top students in the past (I've been teaching for 41 years in college) would consider a grade of 95% a failure. They are perfectionists and high achievers. However these students do not postpone things to be done. That is why they are high achievers. I do not think they know of the phrase "I'll do it tomorrow." They study every day and when exams come they are prepared for them. High achievers do not use excuses to accomplish things, they just do them because they know success in life does not include "I'll do it tomorrow." Oh, by the way, I just remembered, I need to make an appointment with my dentist for a root canal procedure, oh well, I'll do it tomorrow.

Are Miracles Only Found in Holy Books?

As a starter, I am not a theologian, nor a minister or a priest. I am a common guy who occasionally reads the Bible for fun. Yes, I enjoy reading the Bible. I bought a few years ago the Orthodox Study Bible, and I have read it several times. It has fascinating stories, and some of them are unbelievable.  Many of the unbelievable stories are miracles. Dead people are risen, Christ walked on water (mind you, it was stormy at that time, with waves and all), three guys were placed in a fiery furnace and came out alive untouched, and the Israeli army winning against massive enemy armies in battles because the Lord was fighting on their behalf, and so on. It is not strange to read about miracles in holy books, but do miracles still happen in our time, to us? My answer to that is yes. Each one of us needs to look at his own life, past and present. You will find instances and events in your life that their occurrence was not possible by any human measures, they were miracles. Read the news about other people and you will find many unbelievable stories. People may call it luck, success, "nothing sticks to this man," attitude, Teflon skin, power, influence, money, rich, very rich, very very rich, and so on. Miracles still happen. You just need to keep watching life around you. In fact, they happen by the dozens daily. 

ترتيلة يا شربل صلي عنا - Saint Charbel

Abdel Halim Hafez - Ba'ad Eh | عبد الحليم حافظ - بعد إيه

Betlomouny Leih....Abdel Halim Hafez

Happy 4th of July, 2024

 

Vegas World Charm