All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Child COVID hospital cases up in low-vaccination states | CIDRAP

Among persons aged 17 or younger, COVID-19–related emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions in the states with the lowest vaccination coverage were 3.4 and 3.7 times that in the states with the highest vaccination coverage during the most recent 2-week period (Aug 14 to 27). “Since July 2021, after Delta had become the predominant circulating variant, the rate of new COVID-19 cases and COVID-19–related ED visits increased for persons aged 0–4, 5–11, and 12–17 years,” the CDC wrote. The highly transmissible Delta (B1617.2) variant has caused a summer surge of activity across the United States. The country reported 153,143 new COVID-19 cases and 1,588 deaths yesterday, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker, and the 7-day average of new daily cases is 163,339, according to the Washington Post tracker.

Source: Child COVID hospital cases up in low-vaccination states | CIDRAP

The Fridge the Vaccines Have Been Waiting For

the SureChill fridge, a solar-powered device that in some models can last for up to two weeks without electricity, even in sweltering external temperatures up to 43C. During the day solar power is used to freeze a stock of water inside the refrigerator, which then maintains the cool, steady interior temperature overnight. Today, SureChill is one of the world’s largest producers of these fridges, known as “solar direct drives” (SDD). The concept has been adopted widely — there are around 20 models using similar technology that are on the World Health Organization’s list of devices approved for use in the vaccine cold chain. They are now being deployed in over 50 countries. Tansley’s research all those years ago helped spawn a new generation of solar fridges that is revolutionizing the fight against Covid-19 and other treatable diseases around the world. The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at approximately minus-100 degrees Fahrenheit — a huge challenge for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and beyond, where heat and humidity are abundant but, particularly in remote regions, electricity often isn’t. UNICEF and GAVI, the vaccine alliance, have as a result been pushing to

Source: The Fridge the Vaccines Have Been Waiting For

Largest study of its kind finds face masks reduce COVID-19 | Berkeley News

Wearing face masks, particularly surgical masks, is truly effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in community settings, finds a new study led by researchers from Yale University, Stanford Medical School, the University of California, Berkeley, and the nonprofit Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). The study, which was carried out among more than 340,000 adults living in 600 rural communities in Bangladesh, is the first randomized trial to examine the effectiveness of face masks at reducing COVID-19 in a real-world setting, where mask use may be imperfect and inconsistent. The results show that increased mask-wearing –– the result of a community-level mask distribution and in-person promotion campaign –– led to a significant reduction in the percentage of people with COVID-19, based on symptom reporting and SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.

Source: Largest study of its kind finds face masks reduce COVID-19 | Berkeley News

US Air Force Chief Software Officer Quits – Slashdot

“Please,” he implored, “stop putting a Major or Lt Col (despite their devotion, exceptional attitude, and culture) in charge of ICAM, Zero Trust or Cloud for 1 to 4 million users when they have no previous experience in that field — we are setting up critical infrastructure to fail.” The former chief software officer continued: “We would not put a pilot in the cockpit without extensive flight training; why would we expect someone with no IT experience to be close to successful? They do not know what to execute on or what to prioritize which leads to endless risk reduction efforts and diluted focus. IT is a highly skilled and trained job; staff it as such.”

Source: US Air Force Chief Software Officer Quits – Slashdot

Is a revival of Tatar selfhood possible despite Russia’s identity politics? · Global Voices

Paradoxically, the turmoil around the language policy has led to a revival of Tatar culture in Russia. The younger generation has found a new direction for self-identity, leading to new developments and cultural activity in Tatarstan and beyond. Along with the national holiday Sabantuy, which is celebrated in cities all over Russia and aims to present their culture, Tatars have rediscovered and even modernized other once-forgotten traditions and customs. For example, elements of traditional embroidery have become part of modern stylish clothes, and several brands are now adding traditional patterns to sweaters or casual dresses. The Tubeteika hat has become an elegant accessory in the modern woman’s wardrobe. Tatar bazaars and markets are also reborn in initiatives such as Pechen Bazary (Peçän bazarı), the hay market in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. Sweatshirt with Tatar patterns presented by designer Tatarcha Casual at one of the Tatar festivals. Archival image by Elmira Lyapina, used with permission. Speaking Tatar, wearing traditional clothes, playing Tatar music, organizing different festivals is now seen as a sign of prestige. Tatar songs are featured more often on fede

Source: Is a revival of Tatar selfhood possible despite Russia’s identity politics? · Global Voices

When Frederick Bailey became Frederick Douglass

I met up with two Baileys directly related to Douglass when I lived in Washington, DC

Context, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest Offers Project Do Better

If today is a lesson in history, let it honor our Enslaved ancestors…

 

So, now my novel is back in planning mode.

 

And, it turns out that I can work him into my novel, as he is still in Baltimore at the same time that my protagonist is there.

Yassas,   γεια σας!    Salût !  Nos vemos!  Görüşürüz!     ! שָׁלוֹם

Action Items in support of literacy and hope that you can take right now:

1.) Search for two different resources in your local public library on the life of any escaped slave.

2.) Share them with us in the comments, here, please.

3.) Share your thoughts on how you like each of the resources you found,  perhaps as an update on your GoodReads reading,

4.) Write a blog post or tweet that uses those thoughts.  Once published, donate one or…

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Khao San Road

ore de drum

2017

O călătorie în Indochina, sau măcar într-un sector al ei, presupune o escală pe Khao San Road.

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Un mister șamanic învăluie această stradă legendară din Bangkok considerată, la sfârșitul secolului 19, ca punct de convergență al călătorilor de cursă lungă veniți de la Kabul, Hong Kong, Singapore.

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Își dădeau întâlnire aici, pe această stradă care funcționa ca un off-shore, pentru schimb sau vânzare de mărfuri și informații.

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Reputația ei a fost construită de comerțul cu opium, spioni, falsificatori de pașapoarte, racolatori.

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Anonimatul e absolut, confidențialitatea e totală.

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Pe ambele laturi ale străzii se înșiruie cafenele, hoteluri și pensiuni, saloane de masaj, magazine de suveniruri, bordeluri, agenții de turism, restaurante în care se manâncă insecte și scorpioni.

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Totul este mult mai ieftin decât în alte zone din Bangkok. Nu-ți ia prea mult timp să te plimbi dus-întors de la un capăt la altul, pentru că strada are doar cinci sute…

View original post 86 more words