Dr. Brij Bhambi's stern warning on the pandemic: antivaxers are perpetuating the pandemic by playing Russian roulette with a killer virus, creating an "arsonist inferno" as the truly sick are crowded out of hospitals now full with the unvaccinated

 Bakersfield Observed is proud to present another opinion essay from Dr. Brij Bhambi, local cardiologist, head of Centric Health and one of the physician-owners of Bakersfield Heart Hospital.

"In humanity’s battle against Covid-19, the development of highly effective and safe vaccines, in a record time, has rightly been hailed as a miracle of science. The continued skepticism of some notwithstanding, there is no treatment that has this widely been studied in entire human history. Billions of dosages have been administered with a minuscule number of adverse effects.

 The alternative reality in the recesses of dark web has its own narrative, that by design, is built on misinformation and mischief.

 The vaccines were intended to be our ticket out of pandemic. Vaccines are effective shields that lend time limited immunity. These shields are not completely impervious or timeless against the virus.

But the vaccine generated immunity would have been effective and durable enough to give us time to beat the virus for good.

 The success was predicated on near universal adoption of vaccine, near simultaneously. The spectacular apathy of the leadership to coordinate a global response worked in favor of the virus. It took the “near simultaneous” out of equation.

 Logistics got even murkier near home.

 The initial disequilibrium between demand and supply was soon remedied and vaccine abundance hit the stubborn wall of vaccine resistance.

 Rest is history.

 The waning immunity among the earlier vaccinated and virus friendly behavior of vaccine resistant are contriving now to expand vulnerability all over again. Hospitals are bursting at seams and virus is killing in high numbers, again.

 The booster shots among the willing will temporarily shrink the susceptible population base.

 The overriding concern persists.

 This vicious cycle will continue to play ceaselessly as waning immunity meets vaccine resistant again.  And again!

 A rendezvous guaranteed by the antivaxxers.

 The pandemic will perpetuate, with luck only at an elevated endemic level.

 Mere optimism wont reduce this threat to flu level anytime soon.

 When mischief is given a mulligan, society will be compelled to pick up the tab.

 As the virus ravages and stench of death thickens, the unhinged celebrate their liberties, un-infringed.

The healthcare workers drag their beat up carcasses to the service of sick by choice, as truly sick are crowded out.

 Death mounts, life expectancy continues to fall. Unattended strokes and heart attacks die a preventable death.

 The nation rightfully convulsed with a collective shock when 13 marines were massacred in a botched exit from Afghanistan.

 A daily death of 1300+ draws a collective yawn. Dead amidst death is a lost “sense of proportion”.

 A zombie nation indifferent to its own.

The hollow vaccine mandates encourage some to find religion. Web based testimonials affirm exemptions and scoundrels find refuge.

There is no real medical exception to vaccine other than past history of vaccine induced Guillain Barre syndrome. Or in rare occurrences, a demonstrated allergy to vaccine components. But the diligent are not wary, they will hustle and invent any number of health based exceptions.

 Mandate is an exercise in mockery.

 "Healthcare workers are reaching a breaking point. They are mercilessly exposed to the virus through the actions of vaccine resistant. There is a palpable fear and building frustration.

Then there is guilt.

We fail Hippocratic oath when we lend silent acquiescence to the spread of infection. We make mockery of the oath when we allow the unvaccinated to kill the vulnerable.

This death and killing has to stop.

And yes, our lives matter too.

"We can’t be detached spectators to this arsonist inferno. We can’t volunteer to be a vassal for an invasive and relentlessly proliferative virus.

We can’t deliberately usher infection home.

We can’t be coerced in to a Russian roulette, attending to infection seekers by choice.

An interesting imposition and infringement on our health and liberties, to save the immortal and suicidal.

Is sanity forbidden?

Is commonsense comatose?

Line in the sand begs to be drawn.

This conversation is completely respectful to political and religious preferences. The virus, however, is totally agnostic.

Get vaccinated.

"Stop perpetuating the pandemic.

Kern County's Dr. Brij Bhambi of Centric Health takes on the vaccine deniers, warns of doubling down on a losing idea in which you maintain your concept of freedom, but die making the point

 Today Bakersfield Observed features an essay by Dr Brij Bhambi, one of the owners of Centric Health and Bakersfield Heart Hospital and one of the most prominent cardiologists in town. Listen to Bhambi use some harsh words to characterize where our nation is in its fight against the coronavirus.

By BRIJ BHAMBI

 "Covid-19 is the most over promoted hoax in generations, if not millennia. Just when Alpha gets beat, it goes Beta. Then Gamma, then Delta, and Im not kidding, now Delta plus. 

A Greek alphabet soup!

 The hoax has become self perpetuating. Common cold, way more lethal, at least maintains common civility and not dress up in a new iteration at every twist of lethality. No doubt, the virus was nefariously designed by a formidable adversary to subdue the competition in to submission. 

 Virus is a hoax but the strategy, gone viral behind the business motives, resonates. The US government failed to fall for naiveté and put science to work through operation Warp Speed. Rumor has it, vaccines so created amalgamated science, precision, logistics, safety and efficacy against the virus in a record time. 

 What a crowning glory for the humanity!

 Then we are talking about a virus thats a weaker cousin of common cold. 

 Science and its shenanigans! 

 Muddled messaging from CDC to Fauci confirmed the obvious to the all knowing. The Covid dead were over counted to control the masses through fear. And dead seldom come back to correct death certificates. 

A weak virus, invincible individual immunity, exaggerated death burden, a commitment to contain erosion to personal liberties, a purported scientific miracle that barely provided waning safety to 95% and panic promoting governmental overreach, confirmed the worst fears among the faithful. 

 Its the hill to die upon. 

 Honor held high. 

 Screams to heaven reinforcing the inviolable truth among believers, unvaccinated die a brave death.

Government is a word that inspires lack of trust. Antigovernment sentiment is well promoted by those who want to be the government aka congressmen, representatives, senators and other selfless humans like governors and God forbid president. 

 The governmental overreach is an ultimate sin. How dare you propose to penetrate my body with an unwelcome needle that's going to inject a gene control serum to reduce me to your puppet. I know people who have developed a tail. Definitely gone sterile. Their thoughts are satellite controlled and pay for Bill and Melinda divorce. And that divorce my friends is doozie when it comes to dollars.

Some have developed a third eye.

God forbid they may actually use it to see.

 It's a relief that medicare, medical, pension, military, social security, disability and welfare like institutions fall outside the premise of government.

Imagine government ruining that for us too.

 It's a good thing we are self funded.

 Hard work of our lives enshrined in a timeless promise.

 The institutions in this country were given one body blow after another by our government trashing governments over decades.

 Derelict and damaged, they crumbled under their own weight. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. CIA, FBI, Police, Judiciary, Education, CDC, FDA etc etc have all been laid bare by preceding governments.

 Those are our guts.

 Vultures feed our guts, as we watch mesmerized.

 We will find a way to our preordained exceptionalism.

 Thats our unquestioned right. Our God given prerogative will not be denied. The way will find us.

The dual between virus and vaccine maybe wreaking wreckage but it sure is transfixing.

The much hyped vaccines do fail. All the time. They may come between sickness, hospitalization and death.

 But they fail.

 Who wants to bet on the side of a failure.

 Everyone knows a cousin or uncle who got virus from the vaccine. Bravo to cousins and uncles who lived to tell.

 Besides why one would allow invasion of his/her body when FDA hasn’t even authorized the vaccine. FDA should have configured pandemic preparedness in its population response. Tools necessary for drug or device development lack the urgent responsiveness of an inferno. In its lethargic bureaucracy FDA is gutting the common faith. This ass sitting does equal CYA.

As an argument it has merit, for now.

 It will fall to wayside after its approval because of “political motives”.

 The “wait and see” crowd is not nearly on pins and needles. They have a day job. Vaccine needs to be trashed.

 We are a nation of laws.

 We should have a drunk drive car pool lane.

 Mix fun with safety.

 Same as unvaccinated healthcare. Patients appreciate infections from the caretakers with exalted commitment to personal freedoms. Patients die happy.

Its nitty gritty that drags us.

Past injustices like Tuskegee experiment figure prominently.

And with merit.

 Some prejudices have outlived merit.

 Accepting virus over vaccine is a self created prejudice. Double down on losing the current war as a revenge to losing the previous war has a ring to it.

 The cost concerns pertaining to vaccine and access to vaccine are issues not raised infrequently. The fact that its free and easily accessible can’t be shared. It can poison the environment.

We all know natural infection provides strong and enduring immunity. Big pharma has studies countering that. What do you expect! With our robust immune system that made virus cry mama, we are untouchables. And big pharma is always corrupt.

 Pity the weak and infirm.

 Cycle of life.

 I know in India cow urine insulates humans from all maladies. Its a go to treatment for Covid-19 among a segment of believers. And don’t belittle cow urine as snake oil. All of us have seen cow urine, snake oil anyone? We don’t lack cows in our part of the world. Some solutions don’t have access problems. Snake oil may draw more discriminating audience but the truth serum flows in abundance.

When its all said and done, a believer would have had a celebrated journey without the tyrannical clutches of coerced vaccination.

An “occasional slip” with tube down the throat and protracted lonely death can be easily outsourced to allegedly “tireless” healthcare workers. They signed on to heal the sick. If in the process they sicken and kill their own, its a bonus, a higher calling. The brave healthcare souls can march to fearless martyrdom.

Heal the sick and die trying it!

Yet celebrate the unvaccinated.

Unvaccinated emphasize personal freedom.

Some freedoms tread the dead.

And worth it!

Dr. Brij Bhambi: Society is at war with vaccine hesitancy even while the young are threatened by the deadly variant out of India ...

 Dr. Brij Bhambi is a Bakersfield cardiologist, officer in Centric Health and physician-owner of Bakersfield Heart Hospital. He has been a regular guest on The Richard Beene Show on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM/1180 AM. His thoughts appear regularly in Bakersfield Observed. In his words:

 Crowning Glory

 "It's been a tale of virus and vaccine. Mankind was blindsided by the release of a pathogen from the vicinities of a lab in Wuhan. A recent report by WHO to investigate the origins of Covid-19, spearheaded by past president of Liberia, used plenty of ink and English yet managed to say nothing. A transparent

failure to hide lies.

 "The virus is ravaging the globe with escalating numbers. Misery is compounded by the spread of virus in countries that are sparsely resourced to mount a meaningful defense. As bodies pile, the perpetrator consolidates power and influence to the detriment of USA.

 Here in USA, we were saved by the miracle of vaccine. A miracle a few anticipated but many worked for. Standing on the shoulders of giants, to paraphrase Issac Newton, science was able to create magic in record time led ably by Warp Speed team. 

 The Covid-19 virus is genetically more advanced than RNA viruses like Influenza. Its larger genome empowers it to proof read its progeny and minimize errors. This stability in the genome of the virus provided science a steadier target, hence better marksmanship.

 The continued replication of virus though is a precarious station. It tempts the faith. Already multiple variants with better skillset to infect and evade immunity have evolved. Fortunately, evolutionary skills of the virus so far have not exceeded the efficacy of existing vaccines. 

Immunity whether natural or vaccine based, compels virus to evolutionary pressures to reincarnate itself as a chameleon engineered to circumvent building immunity.

 Virus replication is a threat humanity need to contain and defeat. 

 Mitigation and vaccination are our proven repertoire.

 CDC has struggled to be consistent in its recommendations. Till recently it erred on the side of abundance of caution. Pressures must have been building. Comforted by emerging data from around the world affirming the efficacy of vaccine in preventing infections and reducing transmissibility, CDC decided to relax mask wearing guidelines across the board barring healthcare settings(and few others like prisons). 

If nothing else, CDC has a knack for jolting the weary. 

 Let's do an inventory.

 Roughly half of the population in USA has had one shot of the vaccine. A little over third have had both shots. A significant fraction of population has had infection. Some both. We can see the mountain top now. 

That reminds me of my first hike to Mt Whitney.

 As I tip toed in to early middle age, urges of fading youth pushed me to smell the roses. Hence Mt Whitney. 

 "The mountain reminded my every upward step that the country doc was unaccustomed to the physical toils. That was before verticality approached its rarefied better half called altitude. I was unacclimated to altitude too. Every forward step expended more energy with diminishing returns. Beyond effort it took persistence. Mountain top demands commitment and discipline. Quitting as they say is forever. 

So also is success. 

That reinforces the imperative that this close to the mountain top we need to recommit.

 "As I have reiterated ad nauseam,  vaccine hesitancy is the last mile we need to triumph through doctors offices. Its the steepest part of the hill, the part where you retool to summit the top.

 "The vaccinated now can intermingle per CDC. Vaccinated is a word to be taken at face value(with or without mask). 

 "We are a deeply polarized country.  President Reagan wisely suggested, trust but verify. The current data suggests more than two thirds of us have trust deficit with each other. Add to that a third or more of the population that questioned the virulence of virus and is adamantly opposed to vaccination. 

We can’t trust or verify!

 The “vaccine anxious” have been vaccinated. We need to recognize that least vaccinated are the kids 18 and under. Who among us will expose our kids to an inadvertent infection when a variant from India is relentlessly sickening the kids. 

 The pressures and anxiety on the part of CDC not withstanding, this recommendation is eminently premature. 

 We may never defeat vaccine hesitancy, we still should allow a few weeks to expeditiously vaccinate the kids whose parents restlessly await the vaccine salvation. 

Expanded immunity among the willing is our best shield against this pathogen. 

 "The resurgence of virus in the third world is largely predicated by abandonment of mitigation measures. New iterations of virus maybe more contagious but still yield to standard mitigation measures. We in USA and EU need to expand our vaccine production to help vaccinate the rest of the world. Our world depends on it.

"In founding this country, the forefathers renounced the crown. Humanity is grateful for their emancipatory vision. The crown is a scornful word but calling vaccine a crowning glory, that I can live with. If you haven’t had vaccine yet, get one. Royalty will have nothing on you. 

The glory was never in the crown.

Medical experts discuss the cause of "brain fog" from the coronavirus, the Panorama Vista Preserve is a jewel in our crown and Dr. Steve Ratty recovers from his own bout with the virus

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... GREEN SPACE: One of our community's hidden treasures is the Panorama Vista Preserve, a

wildlife area of more than 900 acres below the Panorama Bluffs that is undergoing a restoration. The Preserve is operated by the Kern River Corridor Endowment and Holding and provides a vast network of dirt trails for hikers, cyclist and horses. Thanks to a pair of grants volunteers have been busy planting native shrubs, grasses and cacti to return the area to its original state. Next time you are looking for a place to hike or run to enjoy nature, take in this is little piece of heaven.

 * ... COVID ILLNESS: One of the going mysteries of having contracted the coronavirus is the question of developing long-term residual effects that could compromise your heath. We hear a lot about "brain fog," how long it may last and the prognosis for recovery. Last week Dr. Brij Bhambi and Dr. Bill Baker discussed these issues on The Richard Beene Show, and some of what they said may surprise you. Dr. Baker for example said some cases of "brain fog" actually show the victim may have suffered a series of small strokes, which to me was a surprise. Young patients, some under the age of 10, have developed "brain fog" after suffering from Covid-19 and researchers are just beginning to understand how it works. Check out my discussion with Drs. Baker and Bhambi on KERNRADIO.COM.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "You know what has zero calories and zero carbs? A nap."

 * ... STEVE RATTY: Speaking of Covid-19 it was good to see that Dr. Steve Ratty, the local optometrist, has recovered from a long bout with the coronavirus. Ratty and his wife Mary came down with Covid-19 in March 2020 and while she recovered, he remained hospitalized with a severe case. Ratty told KGET he is still battling the effects of the virus. “I am in still in stage four kidney failure…the bottom of my feet are always numb," he said.

 * ... MEMORIES: Here are a couple of terrific shows from back in the day of the old Post Office in Bodfish, compliments of Kern County History Fans.

Dementia patients are at a much greater risk to die from the coronavirus, it's time for Girl Scout cookies, Bakersfield police target 24th Street for traffic enforcement and remembering the space shuttle Enterprise

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... DEMENTIA: There's some more bad news when it comes to the coronavirus: an exhaustive new

study shows that people with dementia are much more likely to be hospitalized, or even die, from Covid-19. The risk is so high, say researchers, that it defies some of the characteristics known as risk factors for people with dementia, including old age, obesity, diabetes and asthma. And worse: the same study shows that black people are three times as likely as whites to become infected with the virus.

 * ... MORE COVID: Meanwhile a growing number of Kern County residents are getting their second shot of the vaccine, reflecting some of the early groups (frontline medical workers, police and firemen and paramedics. The Biden administration has promised to increase the supply of doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna campaigns, and there is hope that the new one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will soon hit the U.S. market. And in a related story, it turns out the much maligned Russian vaccine, known as Sputnik V, is surprisingly effective, up to 92 percent effective in people 60 and over. Mexico has already ordered millions of doses of the Russian vaccine as have other South American nations.

 * ... VACCINES: And finally, the Centers for Disease Control had issued a report saying you no longer have to quarantine if you have both shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The CDC did say, however, to be cautious once you are 90 days out from being vaccinated.

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "Y’all ever be just about to start eating healthy and accidentally buy 5 boxes of Girl Scout cookies?"

 * ... SPEED TRAP: For the past two weeks Bakersfield police have been pulling over dozens of drivers for speeding along the newly widened 24th Street downtown. Police officers in both cars and on motorcycles are stationing themselves in the alleyways on the south side of 24th Street and pulling over speeders headed eastbound.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "The White House confirmed that illegal aliens convicted of rape or assault will not be deported. Meanwhile, you can still go to jail for holding a church service."

 * ... MEMORIES: This photo of the shuttle being ferried to Edwards Air Force Base is courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page. The cutline: "On This Date, Jan. 31, 1977: The first Space Shuttle orbiter, Enterprise, arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. As many in the Antelope Valley witnessed, it was conveyed at 3-mph from Rockwell International’s assembly facility in Palmdale aboard a 90-wheel transporter. The unpowered version of the shuttle was housed at Dryden Flight Research Center in preparation for a series of ground, captive- and free-flight tests prior to the space launch program."

New survey shows 58 percent of Californians approve of Gov. Newsom but 26 percent are thinking of leaving the state, Rep. Kevin McCarthy celebrates GOP gains in the House and some really bad form about town

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... GAVIN NEWSOM: Despite being wildly unpopular in some parts of the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom still enjoys a 58 percent approval rating from Californians when asked how he is handling the crisis. That is according to a new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California that showed Newsom's

approval rating holding steady. With that said, the non-profit investigatory organization CalMatters said the governor is approaching an inflection point, "and how he handles it will determine a lot about his political future." Next month Newsom will near the mid-way point in his first time and he is already facing an expected challenger for reelection in outgoing San Diego Mayor Kevin Falconer, a Republican. The PPC survey also revealed that: 

 * 26 percent of Californians are thinking of moving out of the state

* 26 percent worry about the high cost of housing here

* 45 percent don't think the American dream holds true anymore

* And 63 percent think their children will be worse off financially than their parents

 * ... OUCH! Rep. Kevin McCarthy had a little fun on social media this week when he posted a few pictures from Congress, specifically showing a group of Democrats who lost their House seats and another one showing the group of Republicans (there were none of them) who lost their House seats in the last election. Said McCarthy: "The first photo is of Leader Hoyer with all the Democrats who lost their re-election. The second is a group photo of me with all the House Republicans who lost this year."

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: Some morning humor from my friend Dick Taylor: "The next time your wife gets angry, drape a towel over her shoulders, (like a cape) and say, 'now you’re Super Angry!' 

Maybe she’ll laugh. Or maybe you’ll die."

 * ... FATHER CRAIG: The legal fight between the Diocese of Fresno and Monsignor Craig Harrison has entered a dangerous new phase. Harrison's legal team held a press conference this week in which they rejected calls by the Diocese for Harrison to drop his lawsuit against the church. Harrison sued the Diocese claiming it had defamed him, and the church responded by demanding that Harrison drop the suit or it would resort to disciplinary action. Kyle Humphrey, one of Harrison's attorneys, said he expected the Diocese to retaliate but added Harrison would not drop the suit. Humphrey conceded Harrison would likely never return to St. Francis of Assisi Church and accused the Diocese of mistreating the monsignor and denying him his right to due process in court. Among other things, the Diocese had demanded that Harrison stop engaging in any behavior that could confuse people into thinking he was an active priest with the Catholic Church.

 * ... BAD FORM: Here is a familiar sight: someone using our community as their private dumping ground. Jeff Flores spotted this and had this to say: "Some class act thinks that it’s acceptable to dump a queen mattress across from Williams Elementary on the median at Niles. Reporting this to City of Bakersfield roads department right now."

 * ... MORE BAD FORM: And then there was this scene at Truxtun and Oak this week, caught by retired energy executive Viet Truong.

 

* ... MEMORIES: This is a wonderful old picture of the Bank of Italy building that stood on H Street next to the Padre Hotel. My thanks to the Facebook page Kern County History Fans for sharing this.

More Americans are warming to the idea of taking the Covid vaccine, Bakersfield "patriots" take to the streets to protest the new California curfew and a prominent local doctor says schools should reopen

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... COVID VACCINE: It looks like more Americans are warning to the idea of taking the coronavirus vaccine once it becomes available. According to a new survey by Gallup some 58 percent of adults said

they would take the vaccine, up from 50 percent just a few months ago. Many Americans have been leery of the vaccine because they feared it was rushed and could cause more harm than good. Among Democrats, 69 percent said they would take the vaccine.

 * ... SCHOOLS AND COVID: Dr. Brij Bhambi of Centric Health is one medical professional who

thinks it's time to get our kids back in schools. When asked if schools should reopen, Bhambi replied with an enthusiastic "yes, yes, yes." Bhambi noted that young children are less likely to become sick and also less likely to infect others, and continuing to keep them our of the classroom raises a host of other problems. Schools that have taken proper precautions, Bhambi said, are well suited to handle the student population.

 * ... CURFEW: Both the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff's Office have signaled they have no intention of being the enforcement arm of Gov. Gavin Newsom's 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Sheriff Donny Youngblood made it clear his deputies would not be responding to calls to break up dinner parties that 20 people are attending, and Bakersfield police had the same response. Said a BPD press release: "We will not be responding to residences to check on the number of people in a home nor will we be conducting traffic stops or stopping community members moving about our city solely due to the hour of the day."

 * ... CURFEW PROTESTS: Meanwhile we should have expected this: but on the first night of the curfew dozens of self described "patriots" got together to flaunt the  curfew by driving through town, gathering at local parking lots, flying American flags and generally defying anyone to stop them. I am not sure what this accomplishes, but if it lifts your boat, go for it.

 * ... 50 YEARS OF BLISS: Congratulations to Gary and Deborah Leary who celebrated 50 years of marriage last week. The couple is known for their commitment to non-profits (St. Vincent du Paul homeless center among others) and are invariably at the heart of so many fund raisers and steak dinners around town. The local couple's love story is classic Bakersfield: they actually met at Pyrenne's Cafe, which at the time was owned by Deborah's family, and the rest, they say, is history.

 * ... GOOD FORM: Hats off to the folks over at Raising Cane's Chicken who catered lunch to the staff at the Golden Empire Gleaners last week. Gleaners director Glenn Ephron said the volunteers were treated to box lunches of the famous chicken fingers and French fries.

 * ... MEMORIES: Check out this picture of the downtown post office back in the 1940s and today. Thanks to the Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

Most people who die during the pandemic have serious underlying conditions, the District Attorney expresses no confidence in a local judge and "Back the Blue" protesters hit Highway 101 on the Central Coast

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... COVID DEATHS: We have good news and bad news when it comes to the coronavirus. First, it's probably good news that 94 percent of patents who died from the virus also had underlying health conditions. But the bad news? Well, according to local health experts, many of those underlying

conditions - diabetes, obesity, auto-immune conditions - are prevalent among adults in Kern County. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only 6 percent of deaths listed COVID-19 as the only cause of death, meaning the rest died from other health conditions.

  * ... CYNTHIA ZIMMER: In a rare move, our District Attorney's office has denounced a local Superior Court judge as biased and said it lacks confidence in the judge's ability to handle future criminal cases. District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer  said she will try to avoid having criminal cases heard by Judge Michael E. Dellostritto after he struck firearms enhancements when sentencing a man who shot and wounded another man in east Bakersfield. "If ever there was a case that warrants the imposition of a life sentence for unlawfully injecting firearms into crimes and increasing violence and suffering cause by doing so, this is it." I will discuss the case when I interview Zimmer Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. on KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM/1180.

 * ... STREET RACING: The crackdown on street racing in town - long overdue - is finally reaping some results. Over the weekend police arrested seven people and cited 80 others in a second consecutive weekend of street racing enforcement. Between 9 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday, Bakersfield police cracked down on street racing, leading to 33 vehicles being impounded and dozens of citations.

Anyone with information regarding street racing or reckless driving is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 327-7111. 

 * ... BACK THE BLUE: If you were on the Central Coast this weekend you may have spotted a pro-police rally staged on an overpass on Highway 101. Protesters gathered at the overpass and hung U.S. flags and "Back the Blue" signs while they were cheered on by passing cars honking their horns.

 * ... TEJON PASS: Check out these contrasting picture of the Tejon Pass over the years, and remember this the next time you drive to Los Angeles.

Research shows as many has half of adult Americans may eschew a vaccine for the coronavirus, new research shows children may be more at risk than we think and Traco Matthews lands a new gig at CAPK

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

* ... COVID VACCINE: Here's a quick quiz for you: what percentage of the U.S. population would be reluctant to take a vaccine for Covid-19? Well if you listen to the experts, it could be as high as half the population. That's right, Dr. Brij Bhambi of Centric Health is among those who believe there are a lot of "anti vaccine" people out there, cities surveys that report that 20-25 percent of the

population is fully anti-vaccine, and another 30 percent is not sure if they would take the vaccine. Those numbers, he said, would make attaining "herd immunity" difficult given so many people who opt out of the vaccinations. In addition, Bhambi said it is not yet known just how long a vaccinations may last. If it lasts for six months, then we would all need a booster shot to retain immunity.

 * ... KIDS AND COVID: The earlier wisdom was that children were largely out of danger with the Covid-19 virus, but now we are learning otherwise. Valley Children’s Hospital is now warning that 69 kids have been hospitalized and the infection rate for children is around 8 percent. CEO Todd Suntrapak said many people assume children don’t have as much to fear about COVID-19. “When we see a dialogue, a narrative that is focused on how small the risk is numerically to children, it is particularly objectionable and we feel a miscarriage,” he said.

 * ... TRACO MATTHEWS: Congratulations to Traco Matthews, who announced this weekend he was leaving his position as Human Resources managers for the Kern Superintendent of Schools and is headed too CAPK as its chief program officer. Said Matthews: "This new position will allow me to work in a role that fully aligns with my life purpose and to contribute to the growth and success of our community at a higher level... God’s plans are always best, and I know He’s called me to this next chapter. I’m excited for the opportunity and looking forward to continuing to serve and lead in this wonderful community."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Seriously would like to read a piece that described what it would look like if we put more priority on teachers returning to work safely than professional athletes."

* ... MYSTERY WOMAN: You just have to love this 1940s-era photo of a woman working the fields near Edison, according to the Kern County of Old Facebook page. Lois Henry wrote this: "Does she bear a resemblance to anyone's grandma or great grandma? This is near Edison in 1940 according to the info on Kern County of Old. Is that a derrick in the background? I love her feisty, 'Whaddaya lookin' at' attitude in this photo! She's a true beauty! If anyone has ideas of who she is, be sure and post on Kern County of Old!"

Leave it to the state of California to define what constitutes a "meal," is public education on the verge of a major overhaul in how it provides education, and Dylan Ryan makes the pages of an equestrian magazine

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... FISH 'N CHIPS: The next time you belly up to your local bar, you better be ready to order dinner if you expect to be served that cold brew. That's the word from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office which has issued guidelines saying that drinks can only be served if they are accompanied by a full

dinner. And what is a full dinner? Well, according to the state, here are some items that fall short of being considered dinner: pretzels, nuts, popcorn, chips, appetizers (cheese sticks, fried calamari, chicken wings, egg rolls and cups of soup) and side dishes such as French fries, onion rings and small salads. Here, in all its wisdom, is the state's take on what constitutes a full meal: "... although multiple courses are not required to constitute a meal, in order for the patron to be served a meal there should be a sufficient quantity that would constitute the main course in a multiple-course dinner." Can you say nanny state?

* ... FUTURE OF EDUCATION: Is this pandemic triggering a potential rethinking of the way we look at public education? That's what Russell Johnson thinks as school systems grapple with the best way to provide quality education to children in the midst of Covid-19. Johnson, a former Bakersfield city councilman and planning commissioner who now runs Common Sense Consulting, predicted school systems may eventually evolve to a true hybrid system where students can decide what they want: online distance learning or in class learning, or a combination of the two. The technology is here and this would also appease parents who are fearful of violence or bullying at school or simply feel a more home schooling environment is best for their children. (file photo of Russell Johnson)

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I’m not shy, I’m just really good at figuring out who’s worth talking to."

 * ... DYLAN RYAN: Congratulations to Bakersfield's own Dylan Ryan, an Occidental College senior who has been featured in Sidelines magazine, a publication devoted to horse enthusiasts and equestrian competition. The daughter of Action Sports owner Kerry Ryan, Dylan has ridden competitively since she was a child and now is a regular on the show circuit along with her thoroughbred, Bart. She is one of the few mixed race riders on the circuit, and credits her strong family and good genes (the Ryan family is full of fierce competitors in various sports) with her success. What was her motivation to keep riding? It was simple, she says. Dad Kerry Ryan told her she had to earn straight A's to compete, and that is exactly what she did.

 * ... SLO PROTEST: Did you hear about the Black Lives Matter protest in San Luis Obispo this week? The police allowed it after being assured by the organizer it would be peaceful, but that didn't turn out to be the case. The crowd marched straight to Highway 101 where they blocked traffic, and along the way smashed out the back window of a car that carried a toddler. The protest organizer was arrested. What would you do if you confronted a crowd like this?

 * ... MEMORIES: Just take a look at this picture of the Fox Theater under construction back in the day. Photo complements of the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

Does cannabis help protect you from contracting the coronavirus? And are just weeks away from running out of hospital beds? Plus Grimmway Farms hands out its scholarships

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... COVID AND RENT: Did you know that 31 percent of the people who either rent or own a

home missed their payment in May? That's the word from CSUB economics professor Richard Gearhart who said the longtime economic slowdown is starting to affect our ability to meet basic housing obligations. In June, Gearhart said that number stayed the same - right at 30 percent - and that many of those renters and homeowners are living in fear of being evicted.

 * ... CANNABIS AND COVID: In a world of turmoil and bad news, here is an interesting tidbit that should brighten your day. Cannabis - marijuana, pot, weed, ganga whatever you care to call it - may help prevent or treat the coronavirus infection. Thats according to researchers from the University of Lethbridge who said a study in April showed at least 13 cannabis plants were high in CBD that appeared to affect the ACE2 pathways that the bug uses to access the body. The results, printed in online journal Preprints, indicated hemp extracts high in CBD may help block proteins that provide a “gateway” for COVID-19 to enter host cells.While they stressed that more research was needed, the study gave hope that the cannabis, if proven to modulate the enzyme, “may prove a plausible strategy for decreasing disease susceptibility” as well as “become a useful and safe addition to the treatment of COVID-19 as an adjunct therapy.”

 * ... COVID SURGE: it was distressing to read in The Californian and Dignity's Mercy Southwest Hospital had to turn away Covid-19 patients this past weekend because of staffing shortages. Reporter John Cox said so many hospital employees (nurses, doctors and support staff) have been sickened by the virus that they are having trouble keeping the vital positions filled. According to Cox, at the current rate we should run out of hospital beds sometime in the next three weeks.

 * .... SICK BAY: And finally on the Cover-19 front, Michael Bowers is the latest of our citizens to be stricken with the coronavirus. A former aide to state Sen. Andy Vidak and Congressman David Valadao, Bowers is now vice president of marketing with Centric Health. While he recovers at home, keep him and the other Covid victims in your thoughts.

 * ... GRIMMWAY: Grimmway Farms has awarded another 64 college scholarships to students who have a parent or guardian employed by the Bakersfield-based company. The scholarships were given as part of the annual Rod and Bob Grimm Memorial Scholarship Program, Grimmway's founders.
This year's scholarship recipients will attend a range of top-ranked schools, including Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Colgate University, Fresno State, UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. The scholarships, which are renewable for four years, are based on academic achievement and provide financial support for students attending two- and four-year colleges and universities. Applicants who exceed a grade point average of 3.5 receive a MacBook Pro laptop in addition to renewable scholarship funds.

 * ... MEMORIES: Nothing like a trip down memory lane to get a view of old Bakersfield and Highway 99 back in the day.