Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Updated COVID booster tied to strong Omicron immune response | CIDRAP

The new bivalent (two-strain) Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster triggered stronger neutralizing antibody responses against the highly transmissible Omicron variant at 28 days than the previously authorized booster, with no safety concerns, according to the interim results of a phase 2/3 open-label, nonrandomized study published late last week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

“These findings indicate that bivalent vaccines may be a new tool in the response to emerging variants,” the researchers wrote.

Source: Updated COVID booster tied to strong Omicron immune response | CIDRAP

Biden’s ‘pandemic is over’ comments muddle COVID messaging | CIDRAP

Osterholm also said Biden’s comment has “wounded” the government’s messaging about the importance of getting the updated COVID booster, which he said is the best tool for decreasing serious illnesses and deaths from COVID. Health officials have a challenge convincing a skeptical public.

A high death toll as the new normal?

Celine Gounder, MD, ScM, on Twitter today said considering the pandemic as over would mean accepting that the new normal is 3,000 deaths per week from COVID. “That our new normal is that we’re numb to these deaths. Mr President, can’t you imagine better? Can’t America do better. And if so, where’s your leadership?”

She said she agrees with recent comments from World Health Organization) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, who said that the world has never been in a better position to end the pandemic—but it’s not yet over. She added, however, that the end of the pandemic depends on whether the United States and other nations use the tools they have to drive down the virus even further.

Source: Biden’s ‘pandemic is over’ comments muddle COVID messaging | CIDRAP

saigon 20h30

Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

A poem in Vietnamese by  Nguyễn Lãm Thắng
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm 


Dalat Station, Vietnam

saigon 20h30
 the rain easing the kiss easing our eyes ever easing hands barely the stone park bench heated barely the Saigon-Nha trang ticket burst out in tears cut short the boulevard the chaos the haemoglobin on a stampede pressing the phone for time the car horns anxious rushed the boarding imprisoned eyes through the glass pane the clumsy messages in one’s hands May 2021 --- mưa vừa tạnh nụ hôn vừa tạnh ánh mắt chúng ta chưa tạnh vòng tay chưa tạnh ghế đá công viên chưa kịp ấm chỗ ngồi chiếc vé sài gòn nha trang bật khóc khoan cắt đại lộ khoảnh khắc rối có thể làm hồng cầu dập dã nhấn phím di động xem giờ cảm giác còi xe giục giã lên xe ô cửa kính cầm tù ánh…

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My fellow citizens

Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

A poem in Vietnamese by Thái Hạo
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Art: Đinh Trường Chinh


Dân nước tôi Đừng để ý bầu bán đại hội. bữa tiệc của quỷ Đừng hóng chuyện lên xuống vào ra Đừng để ý đốt lò củi lửa Đừng vỗ tay vì cáo chết chồn lên Đừng hát ca trong vũng đọng ao tù Hãy xô nó vào miệng huyệt quá khứ Lũ người quỷ ám Không thể thành người Dân nước tôi Hãy gọi nhau làm người Dạy nhau làm người Nỗi sợ và lòng căm hờn không phải gia tài để sống Khinh khi và chế nhạo Không phải linh hồn ta Cô đơn và gào thét không phải báu vật Để mang theo vào giấc ngủ Đứng cạnh nhau. đòi lại phẩm giá Đòi lại tôn nghiêm Làm người Mỗi sinh mệnh là kết quả của một tình yêu Ta đến…

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Terrible Review in Honor of Al Bester: The Stars My Destination

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

JMS has been trying to get a Babylon 5 related hashtag trending today, for the reboot, which reminded me of a book I read, and disliked, which was mentioned somewhere as the reason for the  name of the villain in the series whom we all love to hate.  DustDust

Secretes -Babylon 5 as Devil’s Advocate (PsyCorp villian ‘Al Bester takes opposite tack from end of Bester’s book)?
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   I read it, but really had to force myself to finish it, since it was just not my style or cup of tea.  Not sure where the rumor comes from that this is where Bester of the PsyCorps gets his name.

Shira

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Click here to read, if you like:

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