[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

'What an Alzheimer's Controversy Reveals About the Pressures of Academia

A prominent research paper is under review for possible fraud. Why is it so hard to correct the record?

[...] many other scientists said that "they tried but were unable to replicate the findings," and never published those results.'

WTF?


'The Lesné affair shows how these problems are accepted as the somber status quo, even when doubts persist. [...] academia invites the worst possible outcomes: the dominance of false findings, spiraling research waste, and the alienation of the most diligent scientists. A culture of transparency, where honest errors are readily corrected and fraud impeded, would provide a lasting remedy, but it cannot take hold unless the perverse incentives of scientific success are reimagined. As it stands, there is nothing to be gained by questioning the work of others, but plenty of risk. Skepticism rarely leads to accountability, and whisper networks will not stem the tide of suspect research.'

What an Alzheimer's Controversy Reveals About Academia


'America Should Have Been Able to Handle Monkeypox

Has COVID taught us nothing?

[...] "If there was one virus that would lend itself to containment," [...] this should have been it.

Two months later, global counts have crested [...] nearly a fourth of which are in the United States, which now ranks first among countries keeping track. [...] New York State and San Francisco have declared states of emergency, as has the World Health Organization, on a global scale. [...]

[...] lackluster response to monkeypox is making clear that the country's capacity to deal with infectious disease may be even worse than it was at the start of 2020. [...]

Shots, too, have been troublingly scarce. [...] Since spring, manufacturers of this shot have been turning the crank on assembly lines to bolster supply. But American officials hemmed and hawed for weeks before flying in much-needed doses from abroad, and then only in spurts.

The issue at hand certainly isn't about vaccine demand. "Evey gay man I know is very ready for this vaccine and is willing to stand in line to get it," [...] Even though more vaccine doses are headed out, however, as cases balloon, the country still might not have enough. And with testing still strained, it won't necessarily send doses to the right places. [...] The country dawdled so long at the start line that even the relatively slow-moving monkeypox took its chance to race ahead—leaving the gap more and more difficult to close.

[...] Kissing, cuddling, and other situations that put bodies in close proximity for prolonged periods can also transmit the virus. So can contact with clothing or bed linens, because monkeypox can persist on unsanitized surfaces for days.

[...] Already, the virus has begun to hop across genders and age groups, leveraging other, nonsexual forms of close contact. Infections in young children, who likely contracted the infection in their households, and among people incarcerated in prisons, where contagion is particularly difficult to quash, are starting to appear.'

America Should Have Been Able to Handle Monkeypox

[Tiste Simeon]

One of the twins is in full on sleep regression. Like she seems to just not want to sleep lying down. We can get her to sleep and a few minutes after we put her down she wakes up. We feed her, she goes to sleep then wakes up. Put the dummy in, she goes quiet, wakes up a short time later.

Nothing seems to work including just leaving her to cry. We're both exhausted.

[Aptorian]

Have you tried putting a little whiskey in her milk?

[Tiste Simeon]

Aptorian, on 30 July 2022 - 04:12 AM, said:

Have you tried putting a little whiskey in her milk?

Well of course but I only have good whisky in the house and I'm not going to waste it on a child that will be, at best, indifferent to the subtleties of flavour in a quality single malt...

Having said all the previous, she has had a much better night last night but she needs holding for a while before she'll settle. Which is a step backwards but if it gets us sleep we'll do it haha

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 30 July 2022 - 08:08 AM

[Tsundoku]

Tiste Simeon, on 30 July 2022 - 05:07 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 30 July 2022 - 04:12 AM, said:

Have you tried putting a little whiskey in her milk?

Well of course but I only have good whisky in the house and I'm not going to waste it on a child that will be, at best, indifferent to the subtleties of flavour in a quality single malt...

Having said all the previous, she has had a much better night last night but she needs holding for a while before she'll settle. Which is a step backwards but if it gets us sleep we'll do it haha

Just dip her pacifier in it. It's been done before in my family. True story.

May also explain a few things.

[Cause]

Another first world problem.

Finally got my ps5. It’s glorious. However my psn account is South African and in the year 2023 psn still doesn’t allow region switching. So I have to create a new USA account, and lose all my old games? Ridiculous

[Malankazooie]

So this messing with my groove is good for a twofer.

So I'm out and about running errands, and it's moving to later in the afternoon. About 2:30ish and I'm feeling a bit peckish, as I haven't had anything to eat all day. So I decide to hit the drive-thru lane at the golden arches, that hamburger clown home of junk (aka McDonalds). So I pull in, and fuck a duck sideways and spin it, the drive-thru lane is backed up, like a BTS concert just got out and it's the only place to get anything to eat. Cars for days. But I say fuck it and pull up. The messing with groove part is I saw sooooo may cars with out of state license plates (Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, California). Seriously? you gotta be shittin' me. If you are on holiday (we call them vacations here), why the hell would you go to a McDonalds? Like, we have supercomputers in our pockets, wouldn't you search for local options to dine at? Experience the local flare? and cuisine? Fucking McDonalds for your dining experience while on vacation?!? Bloody hell. Now here's the second one - so I order the standard Quarter-Pounder with cheese (Royale w/ cheese ha! fuck you Europe!) fries and corn syrup soda drink. I get to the window, and the girl (probably age range 17 to 21) is so obviously a 'cutter' that there is no doubt about it. She had vertical cuts (from a razor blade no doubt) all up and down the inside of her arm. Like from the wrist all the way up to the elbow. I felt bad for her, but there was some optimism because she was working and provided service with a pleasant demeanor and smile. But damn, seeing that messed with my groove. Don't want to tell a franchise how to run their business, but I might not have her in a customer facing position until those cleared up or be discreet about communicating to her and drop hints about wearing long sleeves until they heal. The oppressive heat would be an issue for that scenario though. I'm not sure would I would do if I was manager... just sucks to see something like that.

[Gwynn ap Nudd]

It's been staying hot much later into the evening the last few days and I haven't been able to cool my place off enough to sleep well. The cumulative effects of three nights in a row with 4-5 hours of decent sleep has left me an irritable zombie today. Also, feeling the effects of that lack of sleep so much, without having gone on a huge binge, is making me feel old dagnabbit.

[Lady Bliss]

Tiste Simeon, on 30 July 2022 - 05:07 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 30 July 2022 - 04:12 AM, said:

Have you tried putting a little whiskey in her milk?

Well of course but I only have good whisky in the house and I'm not going to waste it on a child that will be, at best, indifferent to the subtleties of flavour in a quality single malt...

Having said all the previous, she has had a much better night last night but she needs holding for a while before she'll settle. Which is a step backwards but if it gets us sleep we'll do it haha

I come from the old school of letting them cry it out. It is the toughest, most painful thing to do… but it works.

[Maark Abbott]

I'm really getting to a stage where I actively resent my job. The issue with finding anything else? A lot of places aren't doing WFH now, and I can't realistically afford travel anymore because my sector pays like ass garbage. I feel completely stuck in a rut.

[Tsundoku]

Maark Abbott, on 03 August 2022 - 07:44 AM, said:

I'm really getting to a stage where I actively resent my job. The issue with finding anything else? A lot of places aren't doing WFH now, and I can't realistically afford travel anymore because my sector pays like ass garbage. I feel completely stuck in a rut.

I've been in that place for about 6 or so years now. I'm stuck because there are no alternatives and this is the best I can get and I'm probably stuck with it until retirement.

[worry]

Good thing you're already old as hell.

[Tsundoku]

Yes, now I don't have as long to wait for the sweet release of death.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 03 August 2022 - 11:51 AM

[Gorefest]

Age is just a number.


Unless it is the Iron or Bronze Age. Then it is a metal. I guess. I struggle with the Stone Age. It just doesn't compute under these categorisations. I'd rather just not think about it at all.

[Aptorian]

I'm going to have to fire a new employee in a few days.

The professional part of me knows it's for the best, both for the team and the employee. They haven't proved that they can carry the responsibility for their assignment during their trial period. They'd likely get overwhelmed and either start cutting corners or get sick.

But it fucking sucks having to be the one doing this to another person.

Another 3 months and they might fulfill their potential. I just can't take the chance and I don't have the ressources to cover their ass, only to find out it didn't work and no longer having an easy/legal way to fire them.

[amphibian]

A friend, who I recommended to a place I am on the board of to work as a non profit task specialist, got himself into a mess with another person by being the kind of dumbass that should have known better at multiple stages during the time he worked there.

It blew up, he's had a complaint filed against him, he's filed a complaint, and now it's affected his unemployment benefits. He's now mad at them/me and texting me when I've told him and the board that I need to recuse myself and have recused myself from the discussion of these things.

What a damn pile of crap he's making here.

[Maark Abbott]

Tsundoku, on 03 August 2022 - 08:20 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 03 August 2022 - 07:44 AM, said:

I'm really getting to a stage where I actively resent my job. The issue with finding anything else? A lot of places aren't doing WFH now, and I can't realistically afford travel anymore because my sector pays like ass garbage. I feel completely stuck in a rut.

I've been in that place for about 6 or so years now. I'm stuck because there are no alternatives and this is the best I can get and I'm probably stuck with it until retirement.

I mean I do have a side gig (outside of writing) now that if it went right COULD blow up into a career but, uh, yeah I'm not gonna talk about that, ahahaha.

We'll see if things improve I guess. There are some positives coming which I'll drop elsewhere.

[Cyphon]

Mob boss?

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

'the most helpful vaccine would prevent us from catching and spreading the virus in the first place.

A nasal vaccine, or one that could create mucosal immunity, could be the ticket to accomplishing this. [...]

Such a vaccine is at least a few years away'

- 'former White House senior adviser on the coronavirus response'

The Three COVID Developments I'm Still Holding Out Hope For

WTF? There are 'four [nasal vaccines that] have reached Phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trials [...] Of these, Codagenix has announced positive results [...] of a strong cellular immune and mucosal antibody response versus Omicron BA.2 and that this vaccine will be incorporated in the World Health Organization multicenter clinical trial network.'

Operation Nasal Vaccine—Lightning speed to counter COVID-19 | Science Immunology

Why the hell is that guy claiming it is 'at least years away'? I was hoping for an intranasal vaccine within the next year... ugh.

'In a first, Russia registers nasal version of Sputnik V Covid vaccine

[...] "The nasal vaccine for the civil circulation will be available in three to four months," [...]

It will be efficient against the new Omicron coronavirus strain'

In a first, Russia registers nasal version of Sputnik V Covid vaccine

There's a decent chance that actually works. (Russia's claims about the injected version of Sputnik's efficacy held up in independent trials.)

'Willed Helplessness Is the American Condition

[...] federal officials and public-health leaders continue to stress the “mild” cases [...] rather than reckoning with ongoing waves and the grim early data about long COVID’s prevalence.

[...] long COVID can be progressive, and many people don’t even realize they have it—but are likely to get sicker as time goes on. This progressive aspect of the disease is often missed in the media: Even folks with “mild” long COVID can end up unable to leave their house or bed as time goes on[...]

[...] long COVID poses a serious risk to young people whose future, limited by impairment, may now look radically different. [...]

People want to look away from the problem[...] To wrap your mind around the reality of long COVID and its randomness is terrifying. In this sense, to “think” about long COVID is not unlike trying to think about the climate crisis. Claims of empathy are taxing; the general population has never done a good job of looking at the pain of others, let alone been moved to make changes once it does.

[...] we ought to acknowledge the scope of long COVID and grapple with the social consequences of a mass-disabling or mass-deterioration event'

Willed Helplessness Is the American Pandemic Condition

[Gorefest]

Cyphon, on 04 August 2022 - 09:10 AM, said:

Mob boss?

My gut instinct was male strippergram. But this makes more sense.

Might be joining a band, of course.