Imagine this: developing an oral rinse test to detect COVID-19 earlier, creating a behavior therapy program for parents so that they do not pass on the stress they are feeling to their children during the pandemic, and gauging the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women and trying to determine the impacts on their new babies.
These are just a few of the 24 projects recently awarded rapid response grants from the University of Miami’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research. The grants, which range from $5,000 to $40,000, require faculty members and students to develop and execute research that will somehow broaden our understanding of COVID-19 and begin to mitigate its impacts within the next four months.
“Our idea was to take advantage of researchers’ creativity and commitment in tackling some of the most pressing problems around the COVID-19 epidemic,” said John Bixby, vice provost for research and professor of molecular and cellular pharmacology and neurological surgery. “We challenged them to examine the effects of the pandemic on multiple aspects of people’s lives—not just the physical ones, but the social aspects, the economic ones, and the environmental.”
With just 10 days to submit proposals, faculty members across the university flooded the office with applications and more than 70 ideas were submitted. Each award was reviewed by three individuals, and the awardees were selected based on novelty, potential impact on the effort to combat COVID-19, and whether the study could be completed in short turnaround time.
“The faculty response was inspiring,” said Erin Kobetz, co-vice provost for research. “There was a level of innovation across multiple disciplines that demonstrates an institutional commitment to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to the outcomes of those applications that were funded and imagine that they will lead to positive, measurable impact now and in the future.”
After the four months are over, teams will be asked to report their progress, Bixby said. Below is a list of all the projects awarded grants:
- Double-Blind, Randomized Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Pulsed, Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) in Subjects with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Requiring Supplemental Oxygen
This team will evaluate the potential benefits of nitric oxide in treating COVID-19 utilizing the iNOpulse technology, which may potentially allow future patients to be treated outside of the hospital.
Principal investigator: Roger Alvarez, assistant professor of clinical medicine,
- Generating a COVID/SARS VSV Based Vaccine
This team will develop a novel vaccine to protect against the current coronavirus pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Its strategy involves replacing the envelope glycoprotein (G) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with the spike of COVID-19. The resulting virus will form the basis of a vaccine to generate neutralizing antibody to the SARS-CoV-2 spike that could prevent disease if exposed to the real virus.
Principal investigator: Glen Barber, professor and chair of cell biology
- Fast-Tracking COVID-19 Treatment: Exploiting the Androgen Receptor/TMPRSS2 Axis
This study will exploit the enzyme TMPRSS2 as a potential link between androgen receptors and COVID-19 by providing preliminary data on whether certain drugs—called androgen receptor antagonists—that are effective and safe for treating prostate cancer, might also be effective in treating COVID-19.
Principal investigator: Kerry Burnstein, professor of molecular and cellular pharmacology
- CORONA: An Engaged Participatory Art Project to Assess the Impact of COVID-19 in Miami.
Artist Xavier Cortada will develop a socially engaged art platform online to mitigate stress related to COVID-19 infection and/or social distancing. He is also working to develop participatory art projects and an online message mural to capture stories from individuals across South Florida as they are affected by the pandemic. https://cortadaprojects.org/projects/corona/
Principal investigator: Xavier Cortada, professor of practice, art and art history
- Risk and Resiliency in the Early Childhood Community in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Public health emergencies pose huge challenges to the behavioral health system, and consequences on the psychosocial well-being of people in at-risk communities largely go overlooked. This project will first identify community psychosocial needs and then create and disseminate a multilingual COVID-19 online toolkit and resource hub to mitigate negative mental health outcomes throughout the pandemic.
Principal investigator: Bridget Davidson, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics
- Interactive Online Cultural Experience and Technologically Innovative Social Engagement for Older and Vulnerable Populations to Mitigate Stress Caused by Social Distancing During the Covid-19 Pandemic
This team will develop a prototype for a socially engaging online experience targeting vulnerable and older adults where future University live cultural offerings could benefit from a secondary virtual platform.
Principal investigator: Joy Doan, head of Marta and Austin Weeks Music Library
- Brief Cognitive-Behavior Therapy to Support Parent Coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Since parental stress during disasters or quarantine may be associated with child traumatic stress and/or subsequent incidents of abuse or neglect, this study will examine how parent-directed telehealth interventions using motivational, opposite action, and mindfulness strategies can be deployed during crisis situations to mitigate risk for parents exhibiting mental health concerns during our current COVID-19 pandemic.
Principal investigator: Jill Ehrenreich-May, professor of psychology
- Point-of-Care Oral Rinse Test for COVID-19
This project will enable the development of an oral rinse test that detects COVID-19 earlier and saves lives by directing resources and quarantine efforts to patients who need them most. Researchers will perform testing with the current prototype on a confirmed COVID-19 patient to determine the best antigen and concentration.
Principal investigator: Elizabeth Franzmann, associate professor of otolaryngology
- The use of a novel seroconversion assay to test high risk medical professionals for a history of SARS-CoV-2 exposure
This team will take blood samples from asymptomatic health care personnel working in any patient care capacity in three high-risk medical specialties—otolaryngology, anesthesiology, and ophthalmology—and examine them for the presence of immunity. The results could help South Florida hospitals consider strategies for resource and personnel deployment.
Principal investigator: Michael Hoffer, professor of otolaryngology and neurological surgery
- Effects of COVID-19’s Social Restrictions on Loneliness and Psychosocial Symptomatology
This team will gather data and insight on loneliness and other behaviors in the wake of CDC recommendations for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results will demonstrate the effects of this public health crisis on loneliness, as well as other psychosocial symptoms. The team will also assist public health professionals in preparation for post-pandemic interventions and future global health emergencies.
Principal investigator: Viviana Horigian, associate professor of public health sciences
- Globalizing an Assay(test) for Inhibitors of the Main SARS-CoV-2 Protease
More than 20 models of the viral protease (which if targeted, might stop the virus) have been openly shared on Twitter, prompting labs around the world to begin a collective search for protease inhibitors. This project will provide a cheap, accessible screening test for characterizing potential protease inhibitors and use the available crystal structures to develop effective protease inhibitors through computational techniques.
Principal investigator: Daniel Isom, assistant professor, molecular and cellular pharmacology
- Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Tissue of Transplant Patients and Organ Donors
Researchers will investigate the ability to detect the COVID-19 virus in donor allograft tissue and frozen tissue. They will also attempt to determine whether the COVID-19 virus in the donor tissue is associated with transmission to the recipient and influences short- or long-term survival, as well as the health of the recipient.
Principal investigators: Hugo Kaneku Nagahama, assistant professor, surgery and Phillip Ruiz, professor of surgery and pathology and director of Transplantation Laboratories and immunopathology
- The Role of Community-Based Organizations in the Mitigation of COVID-19 Related Health and Educational Disparities
Partnering with Breakthrough Miami, a community-based academic enrichment organization for low-income students, this study will contact families involved with this organization to understand the educational and health-related challenges as a result of COVID-19. Researchers will also investigate the role of community-based organizations in the mitigation of stress related to the concerns of infection and social distancing.
Principal Investigator: Laura Kohn Wood, dean and professor in the School of Education and Human Development.
- COVID-19 in Otolaryngology: Early Identification and Healthcare Worker Protection
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors play a key role in the treatment of COVID-19, but they are at high risk of exposure. This team will identify ENT issues in COVID-19 patients at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital and evaluate new approaches to case identification and health care worker protection.
Principal investigator: Xue Liu, professor and Marian and Walter Hotchkiss Endowed Chair in otolaryngology
- Investigating the Protective Effects of Mindfulness Training in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mindfulness training has emerged as an effective program to enhance cognitive functioning, improve psychological and physical health, and to reduce loneliness in young to mid-aged adults. But little is known about its effects in elderly adults. This proposal aims to offer mindfulness training via online delivery to elderly adults and to assess the training’s potential to protect against cognitive decline and degradation in psychological and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Principal investigator: Ekaterina Ninova (Denkova), research assistant professor, psychology
- Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System Inhibitors Impact on COVID-19 Infection
Individuals who have hypertension, diabetes, or underlying cardiovascular disease have higher rates of mortality from COVID-19 than the average person. Patients with these diseases have a high likelihood of being prescribed ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in order to treat their underlying ailments. This project will examine whether there is a link between drugs that are given to patients with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease and the outcomes of COVID-19 patients.
Principal investigator: Savita Pahwa, professor, microbiology and immunology
- Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on Maternal-Fetal Outcomes
This project aims to determine the rate of COVID-19 positivity among pregnant women and their newborns delivering at a tertiary care center in Miami with the highest rates of coronavirus in Florida. They also want to identify cases of maternal transmission of COVID-19, which is critical to establish treatment guidelines, while also answering questions about disease progression, perinatal transmission, and effects on the newborn.
Principal investigator: JoNell Potter, professor of clinical, obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive services
- Increasing HealthCare workforce safety by 3D-printing novel N95 masks
This team will test, evaluate, and create new reusable mask designs for use in the health care setting to limit exposure and protect medical personnel and first responders who treat coronavirus patients. The aim is to provide masks to workers within the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital first. Finalized mask designs can be shared with other medical facilities.
Principal investigator: Carl Schulman, executive dean for research and professor
- Deep Learning Approaches for Analysis of Chest Radiographic Images of COVID-19 Cases for clinical management of the disease
This project hopes to develop a deep learning program that could classify X-ray or CT scan imaging characteristics in COVID-19 patients that could help radiologists categorize them into those patients who require hospitalization, those who will need Intensive Care Unit admission, and those at risk for death. In addition, such a deep learning network could be used to predict the patient’s response to current experimental drugs.
Principal investigator: Radka Stoyanova, research professor in radiation oncology
- Cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients
This project aims to understand the relationship between cardiac injury and COVID-19 severity. The team will conduct an extensive evaluation of 50 patients with a new COVID-19 infection who require hospital admission and will test myocardial injury and inflammatory biomarkers, use cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and offer a social determinants of health survey. Blood will be saved for future biomarker discovery and genomic evaluation.
Principal investigator: Leonardo Tamariz, professor of medicine
- Defining the Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the Brain Endothelium
While respiratory distress dominates acute symptoms of COVID-19, ruptures in the brain’s capillary cells accompanied by bleeding within the brain have fatal consequences in patients with COVID-19. Moreover, impacts of COVID-19 on the brain depend largely on the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to leak in through brain capillaries, the cells of which express the SARS-CoV-2 receptor (ACE2). This study is based on the hypothesis that interaction of the virus with ACE2 disrupts the normal barrier function of brain capillary cells, and induces inflammatory responses derived from these cells.
Principal Investigator: Michal Toborek, vice-chair for research and professor, biochemistry and molecular biology
- Developing a COVID-19 Early Detection, Tracking and Reporting System
Given the surfeit of social media data accompanying the recent outbreak of COVID-19, this group will take a computational and big data-driven approach to uncovering information about viral transmission, social sentiment and response, decision-making, and public health policy recommendations. The group proposes to develop algorithm(s), as well as an online early alert system, to provide early warnings for disease surveillance tied to geographical data.
Principal investigator: Nicholas Tsinoremas, director of the Institute for Data Science and Computing
- The Causes and Consequences of COVID-19 Misinformation
This team will investigate Florida citizens’ opinions on COVID-19, including their thoughts about the causes and consequences of the pandemic, their preferred sources of information, and subsequent behavior changes. They will also assess public perceptions of government responses to COVID-19 to determine how Floridians change their perceptions and behaviors over time in response to changing policies, messaging, and conditions—particularly if they or someone they know becomes ill. This will be one of very few studies to track a statewide population’s opinions, lifestyle factors, and health behaviors during an ongoing pandemic—with clear implications for policymakers, health communicators, and disaster specialists.
Principal investigator: Joseph Uscinski, associate professor of political science
- COVID-19 Risk Behaviors and Transmission among Young Adults
Because young adults appear to experience fewer cases of the COVID-19 virus, this population may engage in behaviors that contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Yet, little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent mental and physical health and their substance-use behaviors. This project hopes to collect epidemiologic data on the patterns of mental and physical health, substance use (frequency and dose), and potential disease transmission behaviors among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I think when football starts up we will put together a little donation drive to give back a couple bucks each for having Canespace as a part of our day, I think everyone would agree to that.
Amen brother I am all in....we are very blessed to have Mr and Mrs 86 tolerate us......best blog best college team ever best family....we are great...but we must always remember God is great every day....he is my cure my faith...and he brought us all together!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | April 22, 2020 at 11:08 PM
herb: dankeschön! fingers crossed that you/we get your wish (i like your earthy writing style, by the way)
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 02:39 AM
solar: GA will be shutting back down in 3, 2, 1, ...
"President Donald Trump said Wednesday he 'strongly disagrees' with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to allow businesses to reopen at the end of the week, a day after he praised him at the White House briefing".
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 03:02 AM
I am kinda a older man now at 61...heard my son tell my daughters fiance after my take on football tonight....see where I get it? why I have to win? why I compete?....right there my Dad..as a player and coach..he HATES to lose........nice feeling...shared this BLIP with them...cause its what WE our Family is ALL ABOUT..WE DO NOT LOSE...well we have had a hard 15 years or so...BUT we WIN! As Canes...as Americans...we WIN!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG_f1GzmwHo
This is US...our Family....WE WIN against all odds...including a VIRUS!!!
I LOVE THIS....ALWAYS!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | April 23, 2020 at 04:23 AM
Data is indicating that millions more Americans have been exposed to this thing than previously thought, without consequence.
https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/494034-the-data-are-in-stop-the-panic-and-end-the-total-isolation
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 04:24 AM
That man put it all on the line...he refused to accept failure...we follow..we as Canes...we do not FAIL!
EVER!
Bless you all love you all!
VAC
Posted by: VA Cane | April 23, 2020 at 04:29 AM
And then after you read the article you get the we are here to sell papers to the alternate realty sector we don't believe this crap either.
BY DR. SCOTT W. ATLAS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR53,785
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 07:32 AM
Big Al
my neighbor is 72 he was born and raised in Georgia a die hard good ole boy
I asked him what he thought about Governor Kemps decision to open the state while 90 percent of the Pastors are not opening their church's this week,
He asked me if I knew what the term buyers remorse meant,where the buyer is too embarrassed to admit he has been duped?
I told him yeah I have seen a whole lot of that lately.
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 07:40 AM
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 07:32 AM
Solar my friend, the data rolling in is becoming irrefutable. I know for a fact Baptist Hospital here in Miami is going to announce a random 1000 person test of adults with no symptoms is going to come back with a 6% positive rate.
Extrapolate that over nearly 3 million people here in Dade County, as well asthe studies done by Stanford and USC nd it's becoming very apparent that the mortality rate on this thing is going to be the same or slightly higher than the regular flu.
Obviously that rate is varying a ton based on age and underlying health factors. Basically if you are old, immune compromised or God forbid both, this virus is particularly nasty. Those people need to stay isolated as much as possible for now. But, if a person is young and healthy, it's time to make calculated but necessary changes to open up our society again..
Honest question, if there was a news camera or reporter documenting how horribly people with the regular flue die, don't you think the hysteria would be equally as high as it is now? The big difference is none of us ever see that scenario.
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 09:10 AM
P.S.This is the resume of the doctor who wrote the opinion piece for The Hill. I'd value his opinion over Dr Gupta or any of the talking heads on TV today, regardless of what network they work for. Writing him off so flippantly isn't like you:
Scott W. Atlas, MD, is the David and Joan Traitel Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and a member of Hoover Institution’s Working Group on Health Care Policy. He investigates the impact of government and the private sector on access, quality, pricing, and innovation in health care, and he is a frequent policy adviser to government leaders in those areas. Dr. Atlas’s most recent books include "Restoring Quality Health Care: A Six Point Plan for Comprehensive Reform at Lower Cost" (Hoover Institution Press, 2016) and "In Excellent Health: Setting the Record Straight on America’s Health Care System" (Hoover Institution Press, 2011). Dr. Atlas has been interviewed by or has published in a variety of media, including BBC Radio, the PBS NewsHour, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, CNN, USA Today, Fox News, London’s Financial Times, Brazil’s Correio Braziliense, Italy’s Corriere della Sera, and Argentina’s Diario La Nacion. Dr. Atlas also advises entrepreneurs and companies in the life sciences, medical technology, and health information technology sectors.
Dr. Atlas is also the editor of the leading textbook in the field, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, being published in its fifth edition and previously translated from English into Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese. He has been an editor, an associate editor, and a member of the editorial and scientific boards of many journals as well as national and international scientific societies during the past three decades and has written more than 120 scientific publications in leading journals. As professor and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center from 1998 until 2012 and during his prior academic positions, Dr. Atlas trained more than one hundred neuroradiology fellows, many of whom are now leaders in the field throughout the world.
Dr. Atlas received a BS degree in biology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and an MD degree from the University of Chicago School of Medicine
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 09:14 AM
"President Donald Trump said Wednesday he 'strongly disagrees' with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to allow businesses to reopen at the end of the week, a day after he praised him at the White House briefing".
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 03:02 AM
He gave the Governor an "out" which the Governor should probably take and delay one more week until May 1. Governor can say "I wanted to open but on the advice of the Federal government and national health experts I have decided to delay one more week to error on the side of caution."
But at the same time one Governor and/or State Legislature has to be first to re-open so at some point this is going to happen and be the test case for all the other States on what they got right or wrong. Whatever Governor or State decides to open FIRST is going to draw criticism but it has to be done.
But this is just eventually going to happen over and over again in all 50 states so we need to find out what steps to take, when, why and how. Someone has to go first, that's just the way it works. Everything has risk as does this.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 09:47 AM
But this is just eventually going to happen over and over again in all 50 states so we need to find out what steps to take, when, why and how. Someone has to go first, that's just the way it works. Everything has risk as does this.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 09:47 AM
There it is right there.
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 10:00 AM
I am working on two blogs right now. One on the good old days and one on how to RE-OPEN college football games at stadiums with fans. Good old days first then the hard questions will be asked and the easy answers will come next.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 10:19 AM
Soupster Looking forward to your next 2 Blogs! as an aside I think we will have a Regular 12 Game Season this Fall Starting on either October 1st, 8th, or 15th. I think the Conference Title Games start on anywhere from January 2nd,9th, 16th. Bowl Games Start 2 Weeks after Conference Title Games, and Playoffs and other Huge Bowl Games start 2 weeks after Bowl Season Start and National Title Game 9 Days After Semifinals so sometime in February probably around Valentines Weekend.
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | April 23, 2020 at 12:31 PM
TSully...I am less focused on dates than I am the season being played, the # and types of games to be played and most importantly THE PROCESS that we need to put in place to get back to the NEW normal.
INHO it is totally doable with the proper planning (plenty of time for that) and under the right set of prudent steps and modified conditions. I will unveil my master plan on the Sunday or Monday.
In the mean time I would suggest that someone (read SolarCane) write song lyrics based on the Jim Croce song "American Pie" (The Day The Music Died) and flip it to "The Day The Sports World Died" and copyright it FIRST and then post it here.
Or maybe this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs
BIG MONEY.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 01:23 PM
For a quick LOL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Zg2S2-heY
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 01:25 PM
Sounds Like A Plan Soupster!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | April 23, 2020 at 01:45 PM
Good back and forth on here today.
It's funny how over the years you can
almost type someone elses reply to what you put up.
Life experiences, geographical roots, family lessons, personal like or dislike for a political or religious group and if a person graduated from FSU or Florida all play a part in how we digest facts and non facts.
Peace
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 02:32 PM
Big Facts Solar!
Posted by: Terrance M Sullivan | April 23, 2020 at 02:40 PM
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 01:25 PM
Funny as neck and all true too
Thanks
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 02:44 PM
^^ heck phone has a mind of its own
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 02:46 PM
Funny as heck and all true too
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 02:44 PM
So true and his delivery and timing are friggin perfect. Knows when to rip and when to pause.
#ComedyIsAnArt
Posted by: 58 Straight | April 23, 2020 at 03:05 PM
Wad GT up sully
How is life?
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 03:20 PM
My phone has developed its own vocabulary sorry for all the crazy added words
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 03:25 PM
But at the same time one Governor and/or State Legislature has to be first to re-open so at some point this is going to happen and be the test case for all the other States on what they got right or wrong. Whatever Governor or State decides to open FIRST is going to draw criticism but it has to be done.
But this is just eventually going to happen over and over again in all 50 states so we need to find out what steps to take, when, why and how. Someone has to go first, that's just the way it works. Everything has risk as does this.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 09:47 AM
- ummm, you are aware "test cases" are happening in a number of places outside the usa from which one can learn from?
- this will get you criticism: opening up everything while the number of
cases in your state is still rising (see GA)
- most of this stuff isn't rocket science
- wait for number of cases to begin going down
- make sure medical services are not having difficulty and that they have enough to respond, should the number of cases go up again
- do not begin with opening up things like schools or football games or tattoo parlors . . . begin with small businesses and move on to larger businesses if that works
- wear masks to stores; keep distance; avoid unnecessary trips; at places like banks, put up plastic glass; avoid large gatherings; etc.
- if there's a renewed outbreak somewhere, that area has to be shut back down and sophisticated detective work needs to begin immediately
- and good luck with the more difficult things to regulate:
. . . like visiting with/saying goodbye to, covid patients who are dying
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 03:41 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Zg2S2-heY
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 01:25 PM
that wasn't so short, but i enjoyed the whole thing; haha!
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 03:42 PM
I remember when wearing a mask and gloves going into a Lauderhill 7/11 was a free ambulance ride courtesy of the BSO
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 04:14 PM
Big Al,
the haha at the end of you comment was gold
I know you know I know
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 04:17 PM
that wasn't so short, but i enjoyed the whole thing; haha!
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 03:42 PM
thats
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 04:28 PM
thank you solar!
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 05:36 PM
- VA, you mentioning the 61 yrs. old . . . one of a number of us in the 60's or + range . . . and i mention this cause of that autumn-of-life feeling stirring in me this spring
- i finished my toilet-lit this morning (a book that took me the better part of a couple months to get thru, while warming up that cold seat in the bathroom)
. . . this book is written by a city-gal, who gave it all up to go be a ranch-hand in wyoming (years, not weeks); writing about the good & the bad and the survival part of 30° below winters
. . . after discussing various autumnal "happenings" there, like the look of a corn field, whose corn has been harvested, she says, on the next to last page:
"Autumn teaches us that fruition is also death; that ripeness is a form of decay".
a while later she follows with a wonderful line: "Leaves are verbs that conjugate the seasons".
i'm feeling this autumnish time of life; beauty, melancholy, sometimes deep sadness, winds of change, . . .
how's the autumn treating you all?
guess i'm not lookin' for answers 'cause i'm heading to bed, hoping a 2nd helping of sand in the eyes will help me fall asleep this time, (too antsy my first attempt; too much "wokeness", which took away my usual "pleasure in the horizontal") . . . but from which you get some late nite old'ish man thought-wanderings
now go back to the build-up to the nfl draft
. . . i'm hoping the fins do good things and i'll be pleasantly surprised when i wake
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 06:12 PM
A couple animator friends and I put some Covid19 clips together to support the information cause
Here is the little clip I just finished hope you watch it like it and share it thanks family
https://youtu.be/Zub5zeBS8FA
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 07:09 PM
1. ummm, you are aware "test cases" are happening in a number of places outside the usa from which one can learn from?
2. this will get you criticism: opening up everything while the number of
cases in your state is still rising (see GA)
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 03:41 PM
1. Yes, I am aware of that and we need one INSIDE the USA to compare and contrast when, why, how and where it is done. I could say a LOT more but I am going to show significant restraint in not doing so. I am sure you can respect that.
2. Which I agree with you 100% and indicated in my previous commnent when I said that Trump gave Kemp an easy "out" and he should take it and redirect the reason why to the Federal level to avoid the criticism and blame that is sure to come if he opens it up AND if he doesn't.
Either way now he is walking a tightrope and needs to be very careful and take the safe exit door provided to him.
If not it will either work out and he can say "I told U so" and look bold and smart or it will fail miserably and he will look reckless and dumb. One result gets him re-elected and the other one does not get him re-elected.
That is the consequence of decisions of this magnitude and future elections. In the end they all work themselves out through natural causes.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 07:41 PM
i'm feeling this autumnish time of life; beauty, melancholy, sometimes deep sadness, winds of change, . . .how's the autumn treating you all?
Posted by: alpine | April 23, 2020 at 06:12 PM
Now that IS deep. #RESPECT for sharing.
I have only recently started to feel this way maybe in the last year or two or so and way before the current COVID-19 situation.
If you are referring to that time later in life where your perspective changes, your daily expectations diminish slightly, your productivity wanes and your goals become less important and you wonder if your best days are behind and not in front of you, then yes maybe I am there too?
Maybe I said too much...another good song BTW.
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 07:49 PM
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 07:49 PM
good reflection
You and big Al sounded like the all the worlds a stage monologue by that Bill S. guy.
Posted by: solarcane | April 23, 2020 at 08:09 PM
stay safe guys please don`t let some government guy that wants to get reelected convince you everything is beautiful and getting better by the minute.
LOL solar....I NEVER listen to govt guys...either side...all lies!!
Al nice take from you....I think we all go there as we age...at 61 I have done most of what I wanted to do...my HS and college football career seems so long ago.....It was my passion and still is...I guess thats why one coachs going on 42 years...it drives me. Appraising land homes condos rentals repos townhouses commercial places apartments....I love my work...I can do it until I die...never be told I am too old....I enjoy seeing my finished reports....it makes you realize you have a special talent something you really can call yourself an expert in.....Record collecting is my other passion....many many vinyls singles EPS box sets color vinyl 10"...collect it all....I am picky not much on new stuff...but some I keep an open ear and mind...Sometimes I wonder like you and Soup are saying....its true we decay and morph....but I have not let go yet....coaching football, records appraising...my wife kids and grandaughter are my focus.....and we never know when its our number called....so I make myself live all out for right now...and keep enjoying it!!!
Great food for thought my friend!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | April 23, 2020 at 09:29 PM
Anyone have thoughts on dingleberries?
Posted by: pb | April 22, 2020 at 09:48 AM
"I'm Your Dingleberry"...iconic line by Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday In Tombstone (actually it was huckleberry by what the heck)
Posted by: CGNC | April 23, 2020 at 09:32 PM
Alpine, the fins drafted bad hip Tua. 5th overall. Sigh
Posted by: CGNC | April 23, 2020 at 09:34 PM
check the news some health officials are now predicting a stronger second wave in the fall,I wonder if we will see football in awhile?
Posted by: solarcane | April 21, 2020 at 06:12 PM
Solar I don't know. Kind of like the meteorologists predicting the hurricane seasons down here. No one knows
Posted by: CGNC | April 23, 2020 at 09:39 PM
Heres one Alpi....
"There comes a time when you realize that you are closer to the end than to the beginning; you wonder whether it was all worthwhile; whether your being there at any time made any difference at all"
Colonel Nicholson, Bridge on The River Kwai
One of my professors had it on his office door...I really liked him as a teacher....it is paraphrased but it makes so much more sense at 61 than 18.....
He had another below it as well....
"Don't worry, ain't nothing gonna turn out right anyway!"
Hank Williams Sr.
I guess I float between the two fairly regularly....LOL
Stay safe all best to each of you!
VAC
Posted by: VA Cane | April 23, 2020 at 09:41 PM
LOL CGNCPa....I'll take the huckleberry!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | April 23, 2020 at 09:42 PM
VA glad you enjoyed that :)
Posted by: CGNC | April 23, 2020 at 09:47 PM
NYC with a staggering 20% infection rate.
That whole city was rotten with this plague.
Makes the crazy death total more explainable.
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 09:48 PM
Posted by: CGNC | April 23, 2020 at 09:32 PM
That made me lol. Great movie!
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 09:49 PM
pb
NYC with a staggering 20% infection rate.
That whole city was rotten with this plague.
Makes the crazy death total more explainable.
Posted by: pb | April 23, 2020 at 09:48 PM
A few initial thoughts:
1) New York residents are on top of each other, so to speak. Subways and mass transit serve to emphasize the spread of a infectious disease
2) If the true infection rate is 20%, it means the actual death rate is far, far lower
Posted by: TonyCane | April 23, 2020 at 10:03 PM
NEW BLOG IS UP!
Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2020 at 10:49 PM