Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
I have two dogs, Gus and Annie, who are frequent inspirations for my columns. These two dogs could not be more different.
Gus is a 12-pound little Maltese prince who believes the world revolves around him. In his way of thinking, all treats belong to him. And in return, he is very affectionate to his loyal and not-so-loyal subjects. He gives cuddles and lots and lots of love. He knows how to manipulate people with cute expressions, a soft paw, and large, doe-brown eyes.
Gus had a shaky start and was a difficult dog when I first got him, but within six months, he became the dog he always wanted to be. Gus was rescued from a chaotic home that had lots of kids running around. He learned that the only way to get what he wanted was with cuteness, a get-them-before-they-get-you approach, and hiding to avoid injuries.
Annie is a product of her upbringing as well. Annie was raised in a puppy mill to be a puppy mill mom. She never learned cause and effect because it didn’t matter what she did, horrific neglect was coming her way. Her life also included abuse since she was too timid to mate. So, Annie learned that the world is a scary place.
Before Gus, Annie never had dog friends. They shied away from her because she couldn’t speak “dog.” She’s too terrified and too passive to be a normal dog. Her signature move has been to run away.
But Gus really likes her, and she really likes Gus. They are an unlikely pair that are also uniquely matched. Gus is a dog “dork.” He doesn’t know how to play, and Annie doesn’t either. He likes to boss dogs around, and Annie doesn’t mind being bossed around. Gus shows his softer side when he helps Annie get affection. Gus taught her how to play with toys in his narcissistic version of play. It goes something like this: she gets a toy out from the toy bin, he steals it, she gets out another toy, he steals it too… for some reason they both like this game. Gus taught Annie that petting is fun, and snuggling is even better. Now she loves to be petted by people she knows and she loves snuggling at night-time.
Gus and Annie are now quite old. Gus is 16 and Annie is 17, both have exceeded their expected lifespans. Gus has a heart condition from which he was supposed to leave this earth over a year ago. But he’s never listened before so why should he start now?
This year Annie began losing weight, a lot of weight. All total, 20% of her body weight. For most older dogs this tends to indicate cancer or serious organ failure. Some days she shivered violently. One night I thought I lost her. Her blood tests revealed there were some liver function issues, but they were relatively minor for her age and the vet concluded that she probably had cancer.
But maybe not.
Gus and Annie are also different in how they eat. Gus gulps down his meal in seconds. Annie on the other hand, is convinced that every morsel is potentially poisonous. She sniffs, she walks backwards, she sniffs again, she touches the food with her tongue, and then she finally decides to eat slowly and hesitantly.
Gus has been trained to sit next to her and wait until she finishes and then they both get a dental treat. Each morning, I feed the dogs and then go to my morning routine.
But Gus is a very smart dog. He learned that when he hears the sound of the shower, it’s unlikely that I will pop out and catch him. So, he learned to wait until he heard the shower and then gulped down Annie’s meal. Being passive, she just sat and waited for him to finish. As soon as he heard my footsteps, he quickly returned to his sit position and Annie licked the bowl as if she had finished her meal. So, Annie was not getting her breakfast. While she was still getting her dinner because I watched; she was not getting almost half of her necessary food intake.
Her incredible weight loss was because Gus was stealing her food.
That reminds me of the old saying: “When you hear hoof beats, look for horses and not zebras.”
Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The bizarre trial of Donald Trump, commonly referred to as “the hush money” case, will be written about 100 years from now. We call it the “hush money case,” but if Trump is found guilty, it will not be for paying to prevent the publication of the story about Trump having sex with a porn star. It will be for falsifying business records.
To prevent the story of his encounter with Stormy Daniels from coming out and sinking his 2016 bid for the presidency. Trump had his attorney, Michel Cohen, pay “hush money” to The National Enquirer and recorded it as legal fees to keep the payments secret. That falsification of records is a felony under New York law.
Last week, I discussed the case with several friends who had diverse opinions about the case. One friend questioned whether it is remotely possible for Trump to get a fair trial in New York City. Another said she prayed that Trump did not get off on a technicality. She was disappointed that the case was about “bookkeeping” and was disturbed those two lawyers, whom she sees as the type of persons who might “let Trump off,” were accepted as jurors. My female friend also opined that a conviction should not require a unanimous verdict as she worries about a stealth juror.
Diplomat that I am, I did more listening than opining. But part of my reticence to debate the trial is that I also wonder if a fair trial in NYC is possible. I am also trying to figure out why Donald Trump glowers at the judge, refuses to stand up when the jury enters the courtroom and has violated the “gag order” (I wish it were described differently) seven times. Why, I wonder, is Trump begging to be convicted?
Trump has insulted everyone remotely connected with his portfolio of legal cases. I am waiting for him to blast the janitors in the courthouse or the New York City police who anxiously patrol the area. Trump himself says the case is a sham brought about by Democrats and other America-haters to keep him out of the White House. Trump thinks that he did nothing wrong. Who was hurt by his disguising the “hush money” payments through Michael Cohen?
Trump may yet be found in contempt of court. If that happens, will Judge Juan Merchan lock him up? I find that hard to imagine. Trump apparently agrees. He is not acting like jail for contempt is a possibility.
Trump’s social media posts are nauseating. I refuse to join his social media platform to see them all, but those I have seen are a potent emetic. But the posts are also working. If you can believe Trump, he recently raised $50 million in a single fundraiser. Business titans, the type of people I like to think have some sophistication, are comfortable with Trump’s opus.
Is Trump begging the court to convict him to enhance the urgency for his supporters to vote for him? Given that, the only way Trump will escape accountability for his federal crimes will be to pardon himself. That requires winning election in November, or does it? Kari Lake, now a Republican Senate candidate in Arizona, suggests that violence may be necessary to get Trump back in the White House. She urged supporters to “strap on a Glock.”
Trump’s base also assumes that a win in November (or reclaiming the presidency through some other means) will make a conviction in New York or Georgia go away. Once in the office, he will ignore any order to surrender himself and use the Secret Service to shield him from marshals.
Simply put, Trump’s supporters do not believe he did anything wrong and are okay with any judicial determination of guilt being swept away. Trump and his supporters do not take the judicial system seriously. That is why Trump is comfortable begging for conviction by disrespecting the court and even falling asleep in the courtroom.
As Trump would put it, “Sad!”
Does Trump expect to be convicted? Maybe, but he may not think it matters. He will appeal the decision if convicted, delaying accountability until after election day. After that, Trump believes, he will be president.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and, all too infrequently, other subjects.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
When Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the Berkeley School of Law and a strong advocate of free speech, invited sixty graduating students to his home, one of them rewarded his and his wife’s kindness with appalling behavior. Using her own microphone in Chemerinsky’s backyard to plead the plight of Palestinians, she and ten other students showed utter disregard for the dean’s hospitality.
I repeat: the dinner, along with two others for the graduating students, was at the dean’s home in his backyard.
Beware of immature guests with antagonistic agendas.
As I wrote this column, I became angrier and angrier. The protesting students cared little about others. Only their cause mattered. They used their perception of free speech as a cudgel.
Chemerinsky had some warning about the pathetic protesters. They employed antisemitism in creating a widely circulated poster that portrayed the dean, a Jew, holding a bloody fork and knife, with blood around his lips, and this despicable language:
“‘No dinner with Zionist Chem while Gaza starves.’”
Jews have long withstood antisemitic accusations of “blood libel.” The trope characterizes Jews as killing Christians to harvest their blood for religious rituals. This ugly libel has spread its poison for thousands of years.
Typical of his being a learned constitutional law scholar, Chemerinsky sublimated his deep hurt and characterized the horrific posters as legally permissible under the First Amendment.
Think about that. A person subjected to antisemitism justified its protection under the American privilege of free speech. Even if it stings your soul and frays your sense of decorum.
I commend the dean for his reaction to the pernicious poster. And his wife’s and his vigorous defense of the sanctity of his home. The protesting students exhibited an arrogant disregard for their hosts. They selfishly ruined a joyous occasion.
In a heartfelt statement to the Berkeley community, Chemerinsky wrote, “I have spent my career staunchly defending freedom of speech. I have spent my years as a dean trying to create a warm, inclusive community. I am deeply saddened by these events and take solace that it is just a small number of our students who would behave in such an inappropriate manner.”
As repulsed as I am by the appalling behavior of a small cadre of law school students, I felt pleased by the bold action taken last Wednesday by Columbia University’s president, Menat Shafik, to ask the New York Police Department (NYPD) to clear and remove a tent city set up by roughly 100 students protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. They were arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct.
While critics will disparage the punitive actions taken by Columbia’s president as violating free speech, I believe that the 100-plus protesters were interfering with academic freedom deserved by thousands of their fellow students. Like their disruptive counterparts at Berkeley, they exhibited no regard for the Columbia community.
In the 1960s, during the public outrage over the Vietnam War, Columbia University was a hotbed of unrest and protests. Students occupied the administrative building. Anarchy afflicted campuses throughout the country.
Maybe it is my age. Maybe it is my sense of fairness. Maybe it is my belief in accountability for illegal or unethical transgressions.
That said, university presidents such as Columbia’s leader should listen to their students. Though they often are the tip of the spear in identifying critical social issues, they cannot feel free to disrupt a university catering to all students, not just a few.
Free speech is an inviolate American right. A fervent defender of free expression, Dean Chemerinsky and his wife endured the unconscionable violation of their private property. Their kindness as hosts meant nothing to a small group of pro-Palestinian law school students. Their inconsiderate conduct was shameful.
Finally, I applaud the bold but difficult decision by Columbia’s President Shafik to enlist the NYPD to arrest students for trespassing and disorderly conduct. She rightfully protected precious academic space. I bemoan that the protests continued over the past weekend and then erupted at Yale. Disheartening. Dr. Shafik did not request the NYPD due, I suspect, to criticism for stifling free speech. Would this adolescent exhibition of passion for the Palestinians have occurred during finals?
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Just over a year ago, I decided to begin work on a sequel to my debut novel, “This Salted Soil.” In that book, I introduced readers to a young Irish journalist named Declan Shaw. Shaw was based in Tunisia (where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer more than fifty years ago!), and assigned to cover the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942, America’s bloody entry into the European theater in World War II. For more than seven months, American and British forces engaged their German and Italian adversaries in the epic battle for Tunisia. Their victory in that conflict paved the way for the invasion of Sicily and, through the painful lessons learned in the deserts and mountains of Tunisia, eventually for the Allied landings in Normandy on D-Day.
But I didn’t want Declan Shaw’s story to end in Tunisia. I wanted to explore the next chapter in his journalistic life, and so I began to write a sequel novel, one in which I sent Shaw first to Hungary to cover the siege of Budapest, and then to Palestine to cover events unfolding there. Thus was born “The Tales of Bismuth,” my personal investigation into the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Little did I know…
In the book, Shaw arrives in Palestine in the summer of 1945, during the waning days of the British Mandate. Upon his arrival, he encounters his old Tunisian friend Bismuth, aTunisian Jew who has recently immigrated to Palestine. With Bismuth’s help, Shaw begins to wind his way through the origins of this ancient and heart-breaking conflict. He explores Jerusalem and Palestine, travels to Petra and Amman, and in the process, he falls in love with a place and a person. His life will never be the same.
The novel ends in 1948 with the creation of the new state of Israel and the outbreak of the war Israelis call their War of Independence, and what Palestinians have come to call their “Nakba,” their catastrophe. The question lingers: how can two peoples who claim the same land ever peacefully coexist?
Last fall, within days of finishing my manuscript, Hamas fighters invaded Israel killing scores of innocent civilians and taking more than 300 people hostage. In response, Israel launched a massive invasion of Gaza, an act which has almost destroyed the infrastructure of that territory and resulted in more than 30,000 civilian deaths. And the battle rages on…
Not only does that battle rage on, but it inches the region closer and closer to a wider, deadlier conflict. The recent exchange between Israel and Iran only serves to underscore the potential for a new conflict that threatens to engulf the region and beyond. Armageddon—the “end of days”—is a biblical concept, but today it seems as real and as present as ever.
At one point in my novel, Declan Shaw, in one of his dispatches, writes that should we fail to understand what (was) happening in Palestine in the months leading up to May, 1948, we would do so at our own peril. Back when Declan “wrote” that dispatch, little did he know how prescient his words would become.
“The Tales of Bismuth” is both timely and readable history. It is twice-dedicated: first, to all the innocent victims of this ancient and excruciating conflict, and second, to the next generation of peacemakers, whoever and wherever you are.
“The Tales of Bismuth” is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions on Amazon.
I’ll be right back.
Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives in Chestertown. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine.
His debut novel, “This Salted Soil,” and a delightful children’s book, “The Ballad of Poochie McVay,” are available on Amazon. His new novel, “The Tales of Bismuth,” has just been released.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Earlier this month, I joined countless Marylanders in filing my federal and state income tax returns.
As I did so, the timeless observations of Benjamin Franklin came to mind – “In this world nothing is certain except death and taxes.”
After the Maryland General Assembly adjourned, I suggest Ben was only partly right.
I suggest that in Maryland, almost certain are new state taxes, state tax increases, new state fees, and state fee increases. The only uncertainties about them are when and how much.
Before the 2024 Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the year, this matter was discussed at length, but never fully settled. Some relatively modest tax and fee increases were approved, but none as large as or as far reaching as expected.
None will be approved throughout the balance of this year. The earliest formal discussions on any tax increases can happen is after the General Assembly reconvenes in January 2025.
Battle lines are already being drawn.
Proponents and opponents of tax increases are busy organizing and promoting their positions. Not surprisingly, there are stark and irreconcilable differences between them.
The Maryland Public Policy Institute recently released a statement headlined “Tax Increases Are Never Inevitable.”
The statement includes the following messages — “Maryland’s political leaders would have us believe the state is in a fiscal mess through no fault of their own and that the only solution is massive tax hikes that they’ve put on hold – for now. However, this narrative misrepresents the problem and ignores a real and preferable solution. When pressed, responsible lawmakers admit that the primary cause of the budget chaos at both state and county levels is the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (a.k.a. Kirwan) education plan. The Spending Affordability Committee projected that budget shortfalls will increase substantially over the next five years “due to the need for general funds to support costs related to the Blueprint.”
The recommended treatments are to “minimize the enactment of new mandates,” increase “efficiency,” and “consider revenue options.” Sadly, legislators seem focused only on that last tactic – i.e., tax hikes. But the Blueprint is not Holy Writ etched in stone. And tax hikes on hard-working Marylanders are not inevitable. Instead of pretending to have no way out, lawmakers could choose to alter the Blueprint’s mandates or eliminate it altogether.”
Supporters of Kirwan, especially the Democratic supermajorities in the General Assembly and the state teachers’ union, have a much different view.
They support increasing state revenues to a level to ensure Kirwan is fully implemented as it was written when the current version was approved by the General Assembly.
They believe they have public support for that. They may be right.
A recent article in the Baltimore Sun had the following headline – “Majority of Statewide Voters Support Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.”
The article included the following.
“An overwhelming majority of Marylanders support the state’s ambitious Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan, according to a new poll done for The Baltimore Sun, the University of Baltimore, and FOX45. Nearly three-quarters of the 1,300 likely general election voters polled across Maryland said they supported the Blueprint. When the poll asked about potential changes to the plan to lessen its financial pressures on local [education] budgets, 55% said they supported making some reduction, such as cutting all-day prekindergarten programs (24%), or teacher pay raises (11%). However, 29% said they would not cut anything.’”
The professional pollster who conducted the survey opined the results indicate “profound, widespread” support among voters for the landmark education plan, tempered by “a willingness to set adjustments.
He further observed, “It’s very hard to argue against public education. The intent [of the Blueprint] tracks with the priorities of Maryland voters.”
I suggest the results of this survey, like the results of all surveys, only reflect public sentiment at a point in time. How durable those poll results are has yet to be seen.
The pollster did acknowledge one huge unresolved issue that cannot be ignored going forward. He said, “Local school boards will have to balance how to fund their school districts with meeting their Blueprint financial burden, which could force [school board] members to cut local initiatives. Will it force school boards to cut other things? That’s where the electoral equation changes,”
That is a key observation that leads to more certainty in discussions and debates on taxes and fees in Maryland.
Between now and January 2025, supporters and opponents of Kirwan will be aggressively engaged in efforts to inform, galvanize, and mobilize voters to support their respective positions, ranging from maintaining Kirwan as presently written, adopting modifications to Kirwan and the necessity for and scope of revenue sources needed to fully fund implantation of whatever the final form Kirwan turns out to be.
Depending on the outcomes, those efforts may continue well beyond next year.
David Reel is a public affairs and public relations consultant who lives in Easton.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
There was a time when a single channel offered a blockbuster movie or series. Think broadcast TV and, for example, one of my favorites, Lonesome Dove. Or, maybe, The Sopranos. The shows were promoted extensively, if not excessively, and became what we called “appointment TV.”
I have just now caught up with “A Small Light,” which premiered on what some call streaming TV in May of last year. A Small Light should, as honors accumulate, make it on the list of top series. Here is how the production company, National Geographic, describes it: “The inspiring real-life story of Miep Geis, who played a critical role in hiding Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam.”
Okay, I know; this sounds like watching a pre-ordained dark story when you want to kick back after a long day. But let me assure you this masterpiece is not about the end (Anne Frank’s death), but to paraphrase Bol Powley, who plays Miep Geis, this story is about humanity; at times funny, frightening, disappointing, and always commanding.
Powley has been much honored, but so have her peers and the persons responsible for crafting a truly great film. Okay, series.
The story takes us back 90 years, yet in a sense, it is quite modern. We prefer to think that we, in our time, are more enlightened. But the film series challenges us, ordinary as we are, to look at ourselves through the lens of ordinary people who do extraordinary things.
So, sorry for the late notice. A Small Light is being shown on Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Author’s Note: I had a lot of fun writing this poem, playing with the idea of time as not just an abstract backdrop to our changing lives, but an actual teacher in whose classroom we learn and grow, and from whose care we eventually depart. As I wrote, she really came to life for me: a little flakey, a lot of fun, weirdly sentimental (she truly misses those trilobites!) and possessing a highly eccentric sense of humor (boy does she find Shakespeare’s sonnets hilarious, but why? only she knows).
Time The Teacher
was often late for class, would arrive
with her keys, her plums, her unwritten
poems, makeup spilling from
her hobo bag of exasperations;
rarely took attendance except
with sometimes sudden and alarming
urgency (a panicked mother
shouting runaway names
in the grocery parking lot);
always seemed to call on you
when you weren’t paying attention;
snorted at every request for extra credit.
Wore her graying hair up in a girlish
ponytail, and her bifocals on a chain
around her neck. Graded our papers
in disappearing ink; often digressed;
thought little of the Bible, or Americans,
(except for Dickinson); seemed to enjoy
scandalizing us with casual details from
old exploits: Byron, Picasso, Kahlo,
and others too numerous to mention, though
mention them she did (gasps when
she winked yes for Bieber); dropped
the c-word like she was dropping
all pretense. Said wisdom wasn’t
worth much more than sheer pluck;
kept a pickle jar of sand on her desk
and asked us to guess how many
grains it held; always knew
when it was your birthday and
brought cupcakes. Sobbed dis-
concertingly during presentations
on dinosaurs and trilobites, and the
Cambrian explosion. But laughed
through our recitals of Shakespeare’s
sonnets: “oh my god, stop it, you’re
killing me!” she’d groan at That Time
of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold,
pounding her fist on the desk, holding
her sides, the clock on the wall not
budging an inch till she was done.
♦
Julian Koslow is a former professor of Renaissance literature at Virginia Tech but left academia to take care of a child with special needs. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Sugar House Review, The Columbia Review, SRPR, Cumberland River Review, New Ohio Review, and Atlanta Review. He lives with his wife and two sons in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
The Delmarva Review, a literary journal, reaches audiences regionally, nationally, and beyond, to give writers a desirable home in print (with an electronic edition) to present their most compelling new prose and poetry. This is a time when many commercial publications have closed their doors or are reducing literary content. For each annual edition, editors have culled through thousands of submissions to select the best of new poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. There is never a publishing or reading fee to the writers. The review is available from online booksellers and regional specialty bookstores. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, support comes from tax-deductible contributions and a grant from Talbot Arts with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council. Website: www.DelmarvaReview.org
# # #
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The Invisible Kingdom is a book that chronicles Meghan O’Rourke’s struggle with an undiagnosed auto-immune disease. She describes the decade-long journey to get treatment for an autoimmune disorder that defied classification, and, therefore, treatment. She finally tried a radical solution that is not recommended by the medical establishment, but it worked for her.
The one bright spot from the book was her belief that Long COVID would spark more research in autoimmune diseases. Because unlike most autoimmune disorders, Long COVID affects men and women equally. Traditionally, women are the primary sufferers of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis (MS).
It looks like her prediction was correct, because each month I see a new article on Long Covid and new findings about autoimmune diseases.
In 2022, a landmark study in Science concluded that a previous EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) infection is the primary source of MS. Someone who has contracted EBV has a 32 TIMES more likely chance of eventually suffering MS than someone who never contracted the disease. That is an overwhelming statistic. (Note: there are issues with this analysis, because a lot of it relies on correlational research which has a restriction in range and is not causal.) Despite these cautions, scientists believe that they are on the right track and are trying to identify how EBV causes MS in some, but not most of the people who are infected with EBV.
Scientists believe that the EBV inserts itself into Messenger RNA (mRNA). (We remember mRNA as the new technology for creating the COVID vaccine.) This is the first case where they have discovered that a hidden virus actually inserts its DNA into a normal cell’s RNA.
EPV infects an estimated 90%-95% of people by the time they reach adulthood. Most are infected as children. EBV also causes mononucleosis. Up until recently EBV was viewed as a relatively innocuous virus that remained in our body as many viruses do.
But recently EBV has been associated with some lymphomas and nasopharyngeal cancers, Type I diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and some types of arthritis.
Anecdotally, I have heard from three mothers of children with Type 1 diabetes who described their children getting very sick from a virus before being diagnosed with the disease. Now scientists are suggesting that the virus might be EBV.
MS is caused by the immune system attacking the protective myelin sheath. What scientists don’t know is under which conditions EBV could cause MS. One hypothesis is that the immune system mistakes the virus’s protein for a myelin protein and then attacks myelin. The second theory is that there is an ongoing, lifelong immunological response to EBV that continuously over time causes damage in the central nervous system myelin sheath. If the latter hypothesis is true, an antiviral treatment could help. Scientists know that the virus lies in the B cells, so some therapies are removing B cells. Although that puts the patient at significant risk for getting sick.
One of the approaches to help future generations is the development of an EBV vaccine. Several clinical trials are underway, but it will take time to determine whether a vaccine is effective at preventing MS and other associated diseases. In the United States, an estimated 50% of children are infected before 5 years of age. Recent studies suggest that early infection may be a predictor of MS.
In the past, scientists have had to rely on correlational data. But today, they are able to understand transcription, which is where the virus could be inserting itself. (Transcription is the process where the RNA copies half of the DNA strand.)
It is easy to get excited, I remember other treatments, such as interferon being a possible cure for cancer, only to discover that it had limited applications. But it is hopeful to imagine that some of these autoimmune diseases would become a thing of the past, thanks to science and our ability to understand the immunology of the human cell. With Crispr, a technology that allows scientists to insert corrected genetic structures in the proper sequence, and the rapid pace of immunology, these are exciting times.
Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Donald Trump made history Monday in New York as the first American ex-president ever to face trial for a felony. Trump himself said he “was honored” to be in court Monday, which was curious given that he characterized the trial as a witch hunt, blamed it on Joe Biden, and cried, “Election Interference!”
As I watched the proceedings on MSNBC, I was disgusted. The Morning Joe personalities seemed happy to see Trump in court. They ridiculed his ridiculous statement made before entering the courtroom. They speculated what embarrassing evidence would surface during the trial and seemed happy about the possibility of Trump receiving a jail sentence.
I wondered, even though I want Trump to lose in November, why would I be happy to see him in jail? If Trump is convicted, his sentence would be too much or too little. Both sides will claim political favoritism. Trump himself will claim “victory” if the jury fails to reach a verdict or if Trump’s sentence is suspended. Trump will also use his prosecution to raise funds for his presidential race and to pay for the other trials he may face this year or later.
Regardless of your view of Trump, it is sad for an ex-president to face jail time. This is not to say that Trump should not have been indicted. If you commit the crime, you should do the time. But the spectacle of a grim-faced Trump facing a trial for paying hush money to kill a story of his affair with a porn star is sordid. The sad fact that the country elected a man who had affairs with Stormy Daniels and the Playboy Playmate McDougal suggests that something is wrong with the Constitution and with how our democracy has evolved.
The Trump prosecutions are shaking our faith in our judicial system and, to a significant extent, democracy.
Trump has promised to testify at the trial. Given his penchant for lying, his lawyers are likely to prevent that. If he did testify, however, I would expect him to use the opportunity to blast the judge, prosecutor, the Justice Department, and Joe Biden again. Trump would see it as an opportunity to get free airtime to broadcast a message to his base. I find that depressing.
Although I am a lawyer and ought to know better, I think that Trump ought to be gagged if he engages in conduct demeaning to the court. (Of course, Trump might be hoping he is “gagged” so he can claim a mistrial.)
I tend to dismiss everything Trump says. For example, Trump’s suggestion that Iran would never have sent 300 drones and missiles to Israel if he were president is nonsense. But Trump may have a point about election interference. Trump will likely spend 15, 20, or more days in court in the coming weeks instead of campaigning. That shouldn’t happen, but that doesn’t mean he should not be tried despite being an active presidential candidate. Trump should have quit the race once he was indicted. That’s what a decent human being would do.
Trump will not be quitting his quest to return to power. He has to finish the race and win the presidency to avoid jail. If you can believe the legal pundits on MSNBC, CNN, and a few other channels, Trump is guilty and most likely will be tagged with at least one conviction by November 5, 2024.
If all were right with America, a criminal indictment would have ended Trump’s 2024 presidential quest. It didn’t. Trump’s supporters think Trump should pardon himself on January 20, 2025, and initiate retribution against those who indicted and prosecuted him. What are these people thinking?
The start of the Trump trial eclipsed news coverage of Iran’s attack on Israel. Amazingly, Israel, the U.S., and others shot down 99 percent of the missiles launched by Iran. Had that not happened, the day’s news would be “World War III has started.” Unfortunately, the first Iran attack may not be the last. As Israel contemplates a retaliatory measure, Iran is most likely exploring how to deal a more devasting blow to Israel. As this happens, President Biden is walking the tightrope between support for Israel and trying to avoid a world war. At the same time, too many of us are watching the Trump trial.
Yes, history was made this week as the Trump trial began. This is a sad time for America. Trump must be held accountable but holding him accountable complicates the sacred process of electing a president. Prosecuting Trump might help him get elected. Those two things are one reason that the hush money trial is historic. It is also a reminder that much of history is tragic.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics and, too infrequently, other subjects.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
