On the Guardian today – Covid-19 vaccine is cheaper, easier to make and patent-free Caveat – little about efficacy: “Corbevax’s clinical trial data has yet to be released due to resource constraints, but Texas Children’s hospital said the vaccine was over 90% effective against the original Covid-19 strain and over 80% effective against the Delta … [Read more…]
In the NYT, an interview with Ms. Menker: The Ethiopian entrepreneur Sara Menker founded Gro Intelligence, which uses artificial intelligence to forecast global agricultural trends and battle food insecurity. When toilet paper shortages happened during Covid and everybody was running to stock up, I was like, “I don’t know why you’re stocking up. I have … [Read more…]
From the New York Times obituaries; Justo Gallego, Who Built a Cathedral, Brick by Brick, Dies at 96 A former monk, he spent decades constructing a grand edifice as an act of faith and devotion, and did so almost single-handedly.
In the 11/25/2021 Guardian “Long Read” is Jill Lepore on post covid society, a summary of the modern social fabric, with her usual historical detail. “Other scholars see more continuity, an unbroken tradition of liberal and social democracy on the left, from early 20th-century progressivism down to the 21st-century version. But no one disputes that … [Read more…]
On Ars Technica, there is an article Dubious $56,000 Alzheimer’s drug spurs largest Medicare price hike ever. I wrote this comment after reading the article and a lot of the comments which followed it: Auguste_Fivaz Ars Centurion et Subscriptor Nov 15, 2021 9:05 PM I’m on medicare part B with a gap policy. I also … [Read more…]
A NYT guest essay with some interesting and sobering facts on the current state of global battery technology. By Steve LeVine – Mr. LeVine is editor of The Electric, a publication focused on batteries and electric vehicles. His most recent book is “The Powerhouse: America, China and the Great Battery War.”
Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Author: Rebecca Lindsey August 14, 2020 The summary:
In SCIENCE NEWS, an informative article on trans-gender health issues contains many things new to me about the current therapies, and the impact of legislation on trans people. One of the takeaways for me was how legislation, even proposed bills which never make to the floor of a state assembly, impact this community, increasing anxiety … [Read more…]
In the Atlantic, James Fallows reports on the Ancient Rome and Modern American analogies. Now, chapter four: crossing the Rubicon. Schnurer argues that this is more than just a familiar phrase. And he says that a U.S. Rubicon moment is in view—which would be triggered by a possible indictment of Donald Trump. At the end … [Read more…]
Ghent authorities threaten to impound noisy vehicles, as residents protest about engines and exhausts