Pope Leo XIV Will Continue To Speak -- And Speak Candidly -- On Matters Of Morality. Just As He Has, In Earlier Saying "No Human Is... Illegal."

Yesterday, JD Vance warned the pontiff -- not to opine on "matters of US politics" -- saying that Leo should stick to questions of. . . morality. For his part, no punching bag, for wanna be bullies, he -- the Pope has responded directly, by saying this war of choice is not primarily a political question, at all -- but it does evince a profound lack of. . . morality.

JD Vance should have seen that forceful, and clearly correct, retort forming even before the Veep offered his idiotic remarks, thus trying vainly to defend Tangerine 2.0 -- now in a quagmire entirely of his own making (after pretending to be the second coming of Jesus well after midnight on Sunday, into Monday -- then preposterously claiming he was dressed as a "doctor" in the meme he personally posted). Riiiiight.

Here's the latest out of Detroit News, in any event:

. . .Pope Leo warned of the risk of democracies sliding into "majoritarian tyranny" on Tuesday, in a letter issued by the Vatican two days after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff on social media.

The first U.S. pope, writing to participants of a Vatican meeting about the use of power in democratic societies, said democracies remained healthy only when they were rooted in moral values.

"Lacking this foundation, (democracy) risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites," said Leo in the letter.. . .

Pope Leo XIV [said on] Monday that he planned to keep criticizing the war, despite Trump's comments.

In Tuesday's letter, the pope said the Catholic Church taught that power could not be seen as an end in itself "but as a means ordered toward the common good". . . .

Spot on. Well said, Pope Leo XIV. . . onward, resolutely. And Vance, if not Trump -- well knows that Leo speaks to -- and for -- perhaps 75 million US Catholics.

नमस्ते

Starting April 20, US Importers Will Be Able To File -- For REFUNDS -- On Tariffs They Were Lawlessly Forced To Pay, By Trump... A Good Start.

Sure. It is a good start -- as the SCOTUS has now clearly ruled Trump's tariffs were unlawful. That was obvious from the day he "Sharpied" them in -- without an act of Congress.

But the idea that the agencies will simply punt on the more deeply involved cases. . . leaving it for future administrations (likely Democratic office holders) to once again "clean up" Trump's dirty diapers. . . is immensely frustrating. Still -- here's the start, at it -- from Bloomberg:

. . .Importers seeking tariff refunds will be able to begin filing their requests on April 20, US Customs and Border Protection said Friday. . . . Phase 1 is limited to certain unliquidated entries and certain entries within 80 days of liquidation. . . [Ed. Note: That is, only the most recent payments (and undisputed ones) will be accepted for processing.]

In the first phase, the CBP’s Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries tool, called CAPE, will process paperwork for certain straightforward and recent import entries — leaving more complex refund scenarios for later. . . .

It strikes me (again!) that the only just answer here is. . . one way, or another, for Donald Trump to spend some time inside a jail cell, post 2028.

This was reckless, intentional pattern lawlessness.

The defining hallmark -- of his entire 50-plus years in public life.

Think of the tens of thousands of businesses injured by the tariffs -- and think of the 240 million or so US consumers who've paid more than a year of higher prices -- due to his blatant violations of law. And that's all before the 34 felonies. Damn.

नमस्ते

The 2026 Lassa Fever Outbreak In Nigeria Continues To Rumble Onward -- Accelerating, Now.

As we mentioned in early March, the Nigerian Lassa fever (viral) outbreak has been accelerating in 2026, through Q1.

That trend is continuing here, in Q2 -- with over 660 ill, and 167 deaths recorded, already. Do go read all of the excellent Outbreak News Today story -- but here's a bit of it:

. . .[T]he Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports 663 confirmed Lassa fever cases with a quarter of them resulting in death (167). The 167 deaths is a 35 percent increase in deaths as compared to the same period in 2025. . . .

In total for 2026, 22 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 Local Government Areas. Eighty-five (85%) of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from 5 states (Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue). . . .

Lassa Fever is an acute viral illness and a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). The causative agent is a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus in the family arenaviridae, the Lassa virus. This zoonotic disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality, transmitted by the multi-mammate rat (Mastomys natalensis), one of the most common rats in equatorial Africa. . . .

Now you know. And anyone who thinks Trump's dismantling of USAID mostly saved America a bunch of money. . . will soon see that many of these viral outbreaks reach our shores as well, with international air travel now the rule, not the exception.

How much will that cost America, in additional acute health care dollars, disabilities and. . . young people's lives? Only time will tell. Damnation. Out -- the man has gone completely senile.

नमस्ते

TRIVIA: At ~3 AM This Morning, Trump Himself Posted The Below. But I've Now "Fixed It" -- For Him.

The man has positively lost all his marbles. [He posted it about an hour or two after his rant vilifying Pope Leo the Fourteenth. Damn.]

So. . . even though someone in the West Wing ultimately thought better of it, and deleted it for him by mid-morning DC time, the internet -- as ever -- kept copies -- copious. . . copies.

At right, I've simply made it more accurate. More "truthy".

He would raise this guy from the dead, if he could -- you know he would.

He'd just love to get his pedo gang back in the saddle!

O N W A R D.

And, out.

[This is his orginal, unedited -- for a completely-unhinged record.]

नमस्ते

The ICE/DHS Team Is Yet Again Wildly Out Of Compliance, With Prior, Crystal Clear Federal Court Orders -- In Chicago: 18-cv-3757

The able USDC Judge Cummings has ruled against ICE/DHS (again) in Chicago this morning. [I have not attached the full PDF of Judge Cummings' order, as it contains sensitive specific ID info on the people still being hounded, and persecuted, lawlessly by ICE/DHS in Chicago. The snippets (redacted) below will have to suffice.]

This is how lawlessness is brought to justice -- one order at a time. Slow -- but very effective at grinding miscreants to dust:

. . .On April 6, 2026, plaintiffs filed a motion to enforce consent decree and request for expedited briefing, (Dckt. #344), seeking to have class members A.R.A. (A-yyy) and M.V.M. (A-xxx), released from detention without bond and without conditions based upon the parties’ agreement that they were arrested in violation of the Consent Decree. In their response, defendants state that R.A. has been released from detention without bond and without conditions and they do not dispute that their arrest of V.M. violated the Decree. (Dckt. #346 at 1). . . .

Defendants further assert that they have filed a motion to reconsider before the immigration court to have that court find that V.M. should be denied release for the additional reason that his release would pose a danger to the community. In their reply, plaintiffs assert that these reasons are insufficient to bar the release of V.M. under the Decree, (Dckt. #347), and the Court agrees.

As plaintiffs pointed out in their reply, this Court has already held that it has the authority to determine who is subject to mandatory detention under the Immigration and Nationality Act within the meaning of Section VI.E.3.e. of the Decree and it rejected the proposition that class members like V.M. are subject to mandatory detention under Section 1225(b)(2)(A). (Dckt. #260 at 11-12, 20). Moreover, the Seventh Circuit declined to stay these rulings based on its finding that plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits as to these issues. Castanon Nava v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 161 F.4th 1048, 1061–62 (7th Cir. 2025). . . .

The record does not reflect that V.M. has been convicted of any criminal offense. Instead, defendants point to evidence showing that he has multiple arrests for traffic-related offenses between 2012 and 2017 for which no disposition is listed in the National Crime Information database. . . .

Furthermore, defendants’ motion to reconsider before the immigration court lacks merit on its face. As defendants acknowledge, a motion to reconsider must “specify[] the errors of fact or law in the prior Board decision” and that “[t]he very nature of a motion to reconsider is that the original decision was defective in some regard.” (Dckt. #346-2 at 3 (cleaned up)). In their motion, defendants do not assert that the immigration judge’s order contains any errors of fact or law or that it is defective in any sense. Instead, defendants beseech the immigration judge to “reconsider” in order to provide an additional ground in support of a decision that defendants sought and agree with. This is not the purpose of a motion to reconsider.

For these reasons, plaintiffs’ motion to enforce, (Dckt. #344), is granted. Defendants are ordered to promptly release V.M. from ICE detention without bond and without conditions, and to file a certification of compliance with this Order on or before 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2026. . . .

Onward -- shaking my head, silently. . . who are these. . . monsters?

नमस्ते

A Potential Unknown Virus In The Wild, In East Africa? Maybe -- But More Testing Needed In Burundi, Mpanda District, First...

To be sure, there is a high probability that this is no truly new virus. But ebola, marburg, mpox, lassa and several other likely suspects have been ruled out by RNA tests.

And 35 have been afflicted in the Mpanda District -- primarily among a group of close family contacts -- without travel histories. Five of the people have already died of what looked like hemorrhagic causes (before the more sensitive tests were being done). Here's the latest -- from the AvianFlu blog -- sourcing data out of the WHO, in Burundi:

. . .Pathfinder posted two reports on a `mystery' illness affecting several households in Burundi, in east Africa. Since late March, at least 5 deaths, and roughly 3 dozen illnesses have been reported, `. . . primarily among members of the same household and close contacts. . . .'

So far, tests have ruled out many of the `usual suspects'; Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus, yellow fever, Rift Valley fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Further testing is underway.

[And] while this could be something new, there are still a number of diagnoses that must be ruled out including infectious diseases like Severe Malaria, Leptospirosis, Enteric Fever, etc., environmental contaminants (heavy metals or pesticides), or food or alcohol poisoning. . . .

As ever, the old and wise rule is -- if one hears hoofbeats in Central Park, New York -- think first not of zebras or gazelles, but of. . . horses. Smile -- go, and be excellent to one another -- a warm Spring week ahead here..

नमस्ते

So... Where (All Else) To Go? Must Be In Nice, France For Sept. 14, 2026... But Will Be Free In Europe From Sept. 1 to 30...

It turns out. . . that the world championship, for my youngest son's event is on Sept. 14. He needs from Sept. 1 to race day to acclimate, from the eight hours of time difference between Oregon, and the South of France.

It will also give him plenty of practice reps on the bike-able mountains, and in the water, locally. As well as the street runs. So, the entirely happy problem I face (having already seen most of Europe, with my then-kids about two decades ago). . . is where to go -- and/or where to return to.

We have a bank of hotel rooms for the few days right at race-time, next to the start/finish lines, on the water. . . and we are sourcing at least two -- and maybe three -- separate five bedroom houses. . . for the first- and last- parts of the month of September.

I will return to Matisse's chapel (the one he built for the nuns, in Vence -- after they nursed him back to health) -- and will consider the Greek Isles and Santorini -- even if it means more plane rides. Other than that, the month is wide open. Paris is always a favorite -- but where. . . else? My most traveled (eldest) daughter loves Croatia at that time of year (but again that is a probable plane- rather than train- ride, away). And I do love. . . the trains.

At above right was this Sunday afternoon's library haul -- from our excellent Northwestern-affiliated library. . . to start the ruminations. We do also know we will need polio vaccines, and additional EU travel visas, as a result of new local policies (largely aimed to combat Trumpian idiocy). Feel free to privately email any suggestions -- or use the comment boxes. After three days, the postings there will be private -- and only seen be me, before an approval routine releases them.

Onward, grinning. Ever grinning / or, perhaps. . . grimacing [as I really need this exercise, as an escape from all that the dotard is putting all of us through]. Out.

नमस्ते

Back To The M&A Rumor Mill: Many Will Recall That Merck Owned These Women's Health Businesses -- After The Bust Up Of Schering Plough... Now To Be Sold, Again?

The saga of what is now Organon. . . travels through Schering-Plough, and then on to US Merck -- and even through various rumors about Sanofi, more recently. As presently constituted, it is a women's health set of franchises -- primarily the implantable version of birth control.

Now come rumors that the massive Indian generics maker, Sun Pharma is quietly circling it. But at this point, these are strictly only. . . rumors.

We do know that as a public '34 Act reporting company (spun out of Merck), Organon will soon have to disclose (at the SEC) -- if it reaches an agreement on price and structure. This is at a size -- a rumored $12 billion, more or less -- that is plainly material. Here's the rumor piece, from Yahoo Biz:

. . .Organon surged by 38.8 percent week-on-week, as investors gobbled up shares following reports that it is set to be acquired by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries for $12 billion.

According to a report by India-based The Economic Times, Sun Pharmaceutical submitted an offer to fully acquire Organon & Co., in an all-cash transaction. The two firms have yet to confirm or deny the reports. . . .

The Dutch HQ-ed version of this biz was always very well run, but faced lots of deeply pocketed competitors. . . and eventually ended up getting sold and resold, by a series of private equity and Wall Street bankers. So it goes.

Onward, to a warm and broken-clouds Sunday, here. Smile.

नमस्ते

The Fourteenth Leo Speaks Forcefully -- And Morally -- To Donald Trump, Again At St. Peter's Basilica, This Day. He's On Fire!

We find ourselves nodding, vigorously, as we read now his fourth address, in two weeks -- aimed directly at Tangerine and Hegseth, who've both framed the war against Iran as being a divine right -- and a Godly action. It is no. such. thing.

And the Chicago-native American Pope, in Italy -- the leader of over 1.42 billion religious souls, worldwide, and over 75 million, in the US alone. . . is no longer mincing his words, thus:

. . .In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the "delusion of omnipotence" that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica. . . [as the] United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan. . . .

History's first U.S.-born pope didn't mention the United States or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. But Leo's tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms. . . .

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!" Leo said. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!". . . .

In the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy said. . . .

Praying for peace, Leo said, was a way to "break the demonic cycle of evil" to build instead the Kingdom of God where there are no swords, drones or "unjust profit. . . ."

Now you know: Leo XIV is right.

We are neither omnipotent, nor clearly in the right, any longer.

We need to end this -- accept Iran's offer of. . . peace. Now.

नमस्ते

So The US "Education" Sec'y... Uses FAKE / AI Colorized Images, To Promote The Idea That Teaching "History" Matters?!? Sheesh!

Look, there is so much else desperately wrong, with this mal-administration's federal government at the moment -- I considered just skipping this one. But it needs to be forcefully called out.

A former professional wrestling executive, Linda McMahon, overnight posted on [UN-]Truth Social -- purportedly lauding Ida B. Wells, and her role in truth-telling, to power. She writes that "teaching history. . . matters."

I agree. It was probably an "unwise" choice, then -- to let AI invent a colorized school-kid fake portrait of Ida, rather than paying a small royalty to get the real historical black and white image of the real historical woman. And she is in charge of our kids' education?!

And. . . In. A. Supposed. History. Lesson. No. Less?!

This was a dynamic, proud (and later in life, a powerful) Black woman.

Damn these. . . miscreants. Damn them.

No truth-tellers among them.

Not a one.

Out.

नमस्ते

Life... Finds A Way: "A Virus Finds... A Weakened Host." So It Goes -- Karachi Edition; Mpox Outbreak 2026

It is clear that primarily, it is the children that are dying globally, and Mpox is clearly a contributing factor -- though perhaps not the primary factor -- in the majority of these cases.

Still -- the dreaded Mpox outbreak rumbles on -- after 14 cases in 2024 and 16, in 2025. Here's the latest:

. . .According to Sindh Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, a total of 14 mpox cases have been confirmed across the province this year -- 12 in Khairpur and two in Karachi

[F]ive of the nine affected children in Khairpur had died, clarifying that mpox was not the direct cause of death but that the children were already weak and malnourished.

Experts warned that one of the confirmed mpox cases this year pointed to local transmission. . . .

As we look at the talks in Pakistan -- keep in mind that that nation is suffering various humanitarian calamities of its own. Onward.

नमस्ते

Artemis II/Orion Crew: Final Engine Burn Complete; Splashdown Due @ 8:07 PM Eastern, Off The Coast Of San Diego / The Pacific...

To be sure, we will look in on the live NASA-TV feed, at around 7 PM Central. I expect a perfect splashdown.

All parts of the team report a perfect burn, and a perfect trajectory -- for a safe (if toasty) arrival now. Nuthin' left to do but sit back and enjoy the free-fall ride. Here's that; do check the NASA live feed, if you are curious, this evening:

. . .At 2:53 p.m. EDT, the Orion spacecraft ignited its thrusters for 8 seconds, producing a change in velocity of 4.2 feet-per-second and pushing Artemis II toward Earth. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen reviewed procedures and monitored the spacecraft’s configuration and navigation data.

The crew continues to wrap up cabin configuration for re-entry and move into their entry checklist.

Splashdown is targeted for 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) off the coast of San Diego, where NASA’s recovery team will be standing by to welcome the Artemis II crew home. . . .

Here's to a soft, warm salt-watery San Diego area touchdown, tonight! Onward.

नमस्ते

Mr. Abrego Garcia Is Garnering Some Very Fine Pro-Bono Legal Help, In Maryland, Tonight...

As we've long pointed out -- the sole purpose of Noem's -- and now Mullin's / Homan's attempts to send Mr. Abrego Garcia to the Sudan, or Liberia. . . is to inflict a cruel punishment upon him, for having the temerity to suggest he has a right to be free from... kidnapping. That reads directly on our Eighth Amendment, regardless of what the Congress originally wrote -- it is circumscribed by. . . the Constitution's guardrails.

Tonight several of the most learned immigration law professors in the nation have penned a "friend of the court" brief -- to help USDC Judge Xinis parse the contours of these constitutional questions.

Do go read all of this fine brief by the law professors -- but here's a bit:

. . .Removals to active war zones, for example, can expose individuals to conditions of violence and danger that constitute a “deliberate indifference” to a substantial risk of serious harm, Farmer, 511 U.S. at 828, or that are “excessive in relation to” any legitimate regulatory purpose, Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 538. Likewise, removals to foreign prisons place individuals in indefinite incarceration in facilities notorious for harsh conditions. And for individuals who have already been granted protections -- like asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture -- removal to a third country renders them functionally stateless -- unable to return to their countries of origin.

Removal under those circumstances also raises the risk that the receiving country could effectuate the return itself, sending those individuals back to their home countries where they could face death or torture. See Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-277, § 2242(a), 112 Stat. 2681-761, 2681-822, codified as 8 U.S.C. § 1231 (stating that it shall be U.S. policy “not to expel, extradite, or otherwise effect the involuntary return of any person to a country in which there are substantial grounds for believing the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture.”); see also 28 C.F.R. § 200.1 (providing that “[a] removal order. . . shall not be executed in circumstances that would violate Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,” which prohibits refoulement). . . .

Onward now -- to a perfectly-parachuted. . . splashdown!

नमस्ते

नमस्ते

Non-Profit IAVI Has Begun A US Clinical Trial, For A Potential Marburg Vaccine -- rVSV∆G-MARV-GP: Good News!

At the moment, there are no active outbreaks of this distant cousin to Ebola, known inside (or outside) Africa. But when it takes root in a host body, it leads to an often-lethal severe febrile illness -- sometimes with profuse hemorrhaging. It is a potent killer, to be certain. And we sorely need a vaccine.

So about 110 healthy US volunteers are taking the candidate, in a multi location proof of safety trial. That's good progress. Here's the latest, from IAVI:

. . .IAVI, a global nonprofit biomedical research organization, announced today that the first participants have been vaccinated with a Marburg virus (MARV) vaccine candidate in a Phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S.

Known as IAVI C104 (NCT07425821), this first-in-human study is designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of IAVI’s investigational rVSV∆G-MARV-GP vaccine candidate. In nonclinical studies, the vaccine candidate has generated consistently strong efficacy results. A single intramuscular vaccination with rVSV∆G-MARV-GP in nonclinical studies protected 100% against lethal challenge with Marburg virus. . . .

IAVI C104 takes place at several U.S. locations. The study is placebo-controlled, randomized, and observer-blind in design. The study vaccine will be administered intramuscularly at four dosage levels. Approximately 112 healthy adults will be enrolled and followed for six months after vaccination to monitor participant safety and to evaluate their immune responses to the vaccine candidate, which will be assessed using assays developed by IAVI scientists. . . .

Again -- real, sensible, humane life-science will prevail -- it may take a tic or two, but it will. . . prevail. Onward.

नमस्ते

Tonight, GAVI Offers New Learnings [From Well-Vetted Real World Data] -- On The Daunting Public Health Obstacles Presented By Clade 1b of the Mpox Vrius...

It seems that -- moreso than in some other recent viral outbreaks, inside Africa -- Mpox Clade 1b had exhibited a propensity to affect young adults via sexual contact early on in an outbreak, and then, over time (as the viral loads mature and spread out), "migrate" to primarily affect younger children -- in simple household contact scenarios. [Just one of my many backgrounders, here.]

It seems that there may well be multiple lines of transmission, even withing one geography, and a single time-frame, as to Mpox Clade 1b.

Researchers will now need to be. . . doubly alert, as to Mpox Clade 1b. Here is all that, from Gavi.org -- The Vaccine Alliance:

. . .Whereas early in an outbreak most infections are concentrated among young adults aged 15 to 24, the model suggests that over time a growing share of cases may occur in children, particularly the youngest age groups, potentially leading to higher mortality later in the epidemic.

“Our results suggest that distinct dynamics of clade Ib mpox transmission may be driven by the coexistence of two transmission routes,” the researchers said.

“The dominant route of transmission may shift over time from sexual to nonsexual contacts, which leads to larger epidemics. The age groups contributing most to overall infections and mortality also change over time, suggesting that target groups for intervention should be adjusted accordingly. . . .”

“If increasing incidence rates among young children are observed, this may imply that sexually active groups may no longer be the optimal target groups for intervention.

“In contrast, those groups may remain relevant for outbreak responses in countries or regions that are still in their initial phase or have not yet experienced mpox outbreaks,” they said. . . .

This is how science -- real human health science ultimately wins out, over superstitions, and sad-old-shibboleths: real evidence, from actual wide-spread data -- please do take note here, RFK, Jr. (you loon!), in particular.

And do ring vaccinate contacts -- and contacts of contacts. Out.

नमस्ते

Gilead Makes A THIRD Large M&A Move, In Three Elapsed Months: Total Committed Outlays Now Over $11.2 Billion

Mr. O'Day is getting quite. . . acquisitive, it seems. He is widening the moat around his franchises, too.

He agreed to pay $7.8 billion for Arcellx, and $1.67 billion for Ouro, in successive moves -- and now up to $5 billion for Tubulis, if all milestones are hit. That's some serious coin. But the company can easilty afford it, with the twice a year HIV jabs now on market, and commanding very high prices. Here's Fierce Biotech, on it all (I am a day or two tardy, here -- as events in Iran were distracting me):

. . .Gilead has struck a deal to buy Germany-based Tubulis for $3.15 billion upfront and up to $1.85 billion in milestones, securing an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate that is racing toward pivotal trials.

Tubulis partnered with Gilead in 2024, granting the company access to its platforms and agreeing to collaborate on an ADC program. Gilead paid $20 million and committed $415 million in milestones for that collaboration, which came about 18 months after Bristol Myers Squibb paid $22.7 million to team up with Tubulis. Flying high in the hot ADC field, Tubulis raised a €344 million ($401 million) series C round last year. . . .

And with Tangerine 2.0 again barking bellicose, I will re-run this graphic at left. Damn.

नमस्ते

In Merck v. Merck, The Lanham Act Case In NJ -- A Passel Of Redacted Documents Were Filed Overnight -- To Exclude Some Evidence...

And still, regular readers will recall that the parties are engaged in scheduling -- for a mediation -- but if that effort fails to produce a settlement, these motions and counter motions will dictate the contours of what is ultimately admitted at trial, should that time come.

To be certain, this is plainly multi-billion dollar litigation (being waged by some of the best pharma legal minds on the planet). And I'll lay out only one of about twenty newly filed documents, here -- as an example. [If you are truly curious, you may buy them and download them for yourselves, at 16-cv-266 in the USDC in NJ.] Here's a bit of that one I did download (but know that they run several hundred pages -- before redactions):

. . .Plaintiffs’ [US Merck's] argument that Mr. Parry’s concession that it is “impossible to quantify” the effects of corporate branding only related to “specific investments” in corporate branding, Opp. at 7, ignores Mr. Parry’s clear testimony that it is “impossible to make a one-to-one correlation between corporate brand influence and the number of prescriptions.” Ex. 1, Parry Tr. 78:12-15.

And Plaintiffs’ contention that Defendant’s statement that “Mr. Parry did not provide any specificity or data,” Opp. at 8, is misleading because it leaves out key language in the sentence, which was that Mr. Parry “fails to provide any specificity or data regarding such [prescribing] ‘trends,’” Def. Br. at 4 (emphasis added), which, as discussed above, he does not. . . .

Now you know -- onward, next to Day Two -- of the non-cease-fire. . . cease fire. Yikes.

नमस्ते

As Ever, Mpox Is Showing That Darwin Was Spot-on -- Life Naturally Mutates, To Continue To Survive -- And Propigate. So Too, Viral Vectors.

Though the political leadership of DRC has declared their Mpox outbreak at an end. . . it seems the politicians are referring only to the more benign clade II, unmutated. Clade IIb lineage A2.2, which shows markers of both I and II, is no doubt still circulating -- as a mutated form -- in DRC, and now Sierra Leone -- according to the Journal of Nature authors, here.

We will keep out eye on this, but without strong vaccination protocols, this will likely hop across country borders -- and eventually, across continents. As we've seen in at least the NYC area, last month, in one case. Here's the journal abstract, and a bit more:

. . .In 2022, monkeypox virus (MPXV) clade IIb emerged resulting in a global epidemic driven by human-to-human transmission, mostly through sexual contact mainly among the population of men who have sex with men. To date, published data on the circulation of MPXV clade IIb in the central African region are absent. Here we describe a case of laboratory-confirmed mpox clade IIb lineage A2.2 in Pointe-Noire, the second largest city of the Republic of the Congo. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis placed the MPXV in clade IIb, lineage A.2.2 currently emerging in West Africa, in particular Sierra Leone. An additional 16 cases of clade Ia, 32 cases of clade Ib and one additional introduction of clade IIb were identified by passive surveillance in the Republic of the Congo in 2025.

The detection of clade IIb mpox marks the third distinct MPXV clade and lineage co-circulating in the human population, together with clade Ia and Ib. This underscores the need for improved surveillance and diagnostic strategies to identify the respective clade and lineage circulating in the human population. Strengthening of regional capacity for case detection, contact-tracing, public health measures and affordable vaccines are urgently needed to reduce the global risk for both clade I and clade II MPXV. . . .

In August 2024, because of the rapidly rising number of mpox cases caused by clade Ia and Ib in the DRC and neighboring countries, Africa CDC listed mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Subsequently, the World Health Organization declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for the second time since 2022.

Currently West Africa, and in particular Sierra Leone, is facing a major mpox clade IIb outbreak of a new clade IIb lineage A.2.2.1 virus derived from Nigerian A.2.2 viruses. Similar to what has been observed for clade Ib, transmission by heterosexual contact appears to be one of the drivers of this epidemic. . . .

Do be very careful out there. Onward.

नमस्ते

Wed. Update: Pope Leo XIV Speaks Truth, To [Feckless, Lawless] Power -- Anew.

Do go read all of it.

Candidly, I no longer adhere to the covenants of this faith [especially the unjust ones] even though I was raised up in it -- but the leader of this church. . . is plainly in the right, here:

. . .In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, the American pope urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and work for peace.

“Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable,” Leo said as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

He was referring to Trump’s threat that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Leo recalled his Easter appeal for peace and to reject war, “especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate, and which is not resolving anything. . . .”

Onward, resolutely -- to do more about fixing our lil' blue dot, now.

नमस्ते

Yep. This Is... Pretty Cool -- Even If Not Ground-Breakingly-Novel Space-Science...

On and off, I've complained that there isn't a ton of truly worthy space/lunar science on this crewed mission. That, I believe, is still the truth.

But I am still young-at-heart enough to know a great photo-op, when I see one.

Reportedly, these were taken with the iPhones the crew has onboard. That makes me. . . smile. Here's a bit, from NASA -- as they head home, to tomorrow's splashdown:

. . .[Yesterday] began at 1:56 p.m. EDT as NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, set the record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by any human, surpassing Apollo 13’s distance of 248,655 miles.

During a planned 40-minute loss of signal as Orion passed behind the Moon, the spacecraft and its crew made their closest approach at 7:00 p.m., flying at about 4,067 miles above the surface. Two minutes later, the crew reached the mission’s maximum distance from Earth at 252,756 miles, setting a new record for human spaceflight.

As they flew over the Moon’s far side, the crew photographed and described terrain features including impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges formed as the Moon slowly evolved over time. They also noted differences in color, brightness and texture, which provide clues that help scientists understand the composition and history of the lunar surface. The crew witnessed an “Earthset” — the moment Earth dropped below the lunar horizon — as Orion traveled behind the Moon and an “Earthrise” as the spacecraft emerged from the opposite edge of the Moon. . . .

Onward, resolutely -- this doesn't solve any of the (largely self-inflicted) atrocities underway here on our lil' blue dot, but we should take a moment to smile about. . . the fragility -- and rare beauty -- of things we see everyday -- but too often let go unnoticed. Out.



नमस्ते