News Of The Week Roundup: Week 52, 2021 (Finale!)

We made it through all 52 weeks of 2021. That's 52 Sunday news roundup posts. I'm proud of being able to keep up with this during the year. Going forward in 2022, we will focus on something new each Sunday. I am not quite sure what yet. Check back next Sunday to find out!

What a final week of the year it was. Deaths and COVID-19 and horrible wildfires in Colorado dominated the news.

As many as 1,000 homes were destroyed by freak wildfires because of 100 mph winds around Boulder, Colorado earlier this week. Three people are still missing. 

Several hundred homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, according to officials.https://t.co/bjVKnUWE9p

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 31, 2021

The pandemic continues, and what a shitshow it is! The CDC urged folks to not cruise at all right now (no kidding). Hell, I have a cruise to Greece booked for October. The way things are going I'm beginning to wonder if it will happen or not. This is the same trip I tried to take back in 2020. Obviously that didn't happen! I was on one of the very last cruises in February 2020 before the complete shutdown. People were just really starting to pay attention to the coronavirus then. Each night of the cruise, I would use my internet package to check in on the Diamond Princess debacle. Eric and I started being very cautious during our trip. We don't do buffets anyway, but we made sure to avoid any congregate dining options period. I always travel with Lysol wipes and I had actually packed masks before that was a "thing." I remember seeing masks on our flight home and thought "this is real now."

Speaking of the CDC... the powers-that-be created even more pandemic confusion by changing the isolation rules for folks who are positive but asymptomatic. Basically, it's back to work in a mask after day 5 if positive but no symptoms. Still stay home if you are symptomatic, please!

Shortened quarantines pose a risk that some people will go on to spread Covid-19 after their isolation period expires, the WHO said https://t.co/ZbBc7WNE7O

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 30, 2021

Breaking News: The CDC raised its Covid warning for cruise ships to the highest level and added a blunt warning: Don’t board one. https://t.co/ljWwUOuEGl

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 30, 2021

Harry Reid has died at 82. The pugnacious Democrat was a political force as Senate majority leader during two administrations. https://t.co/Af7n3iAxZi

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 29, 2021

Democratic political genius Harry Reid died a few days ago. He had pancreatic cancer, but also battled other illnesses in recent years. He didn't take crap from anyone and knew how to run a political machine. He grew up dirt poor and one interview I will never forget is when he talked about taking a gas station job to save up money to buy his mother some "new teeth." She was in hit in the face with a softball when young and her teeth fell out over time. There was never money to get them fixed until Reid stepped in.

And I leave you with this - help if you are so inclined.

Throughout Betty White's career she worked with a number of animal health, welfare, and conservation groups. Here are five you can support: https://t.co/z4o3HS5inv

— CNN (@CNN) January 2, 2022