The 2023 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective #mRNA #vaccines against COVID-19.
Despite all the known issues with these (& other) prizes, this one makes me particularly happy: it is extremely well deserved and (another) clear example of what basic science can do for humanity.
Butler, who is based in Washington and maintains close ties with Los Angeles, had a stint as director for public policy and campaigns at Airbnb and spent nearly two decades as a powerful and well-respected labor leader with the Service Employees International Union. As president of SEIU California, she worked closely with then-Gov. Jerry Brown on policies like hiking the minimum wage to $15 per hour and raising taxes for wealthy Californians. She also served on the University of California Board of Regents, to which she was appointed by Brown in 2018 before stepping down in 2021.
Butler is the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate.
Politico [Newsom picks Laphonza Butler as Feinstein replacement](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/01/newsom-senate-pick-butler-00119360)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, elevating the head of a fundraising juggernaut that works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights, according to a person familiar with the decision.
Newsom is moving swiftly to name the next senator, two days after Feinstein’s death and just as a perilously split Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown. Senate Democrats are in need of every vote in the closely divided chamber.
Hi, expert here. I have worked for 2 years as a COVID-19 research scientists.
Yes masks can help reduce infection when worn properly, though this does take training and you should be far more mindful, as improper use may create a false sense of safety... So use a mask if you are at particular risk, but be sure to learn proper safety.
That said also dont let posts like this paint a picture that COVID is "back" like it was before I is around, and it is here to stay, so it always will be. But the current infection rates in the USA is on the order of magnitude of a small fraction of what it was pre-lockdown (about 1/10th) and the death rate is even much smaller than that. So yes be mindful, practice good practices, but as an expert I assure you, no need for panic or over-the-top alarm either... be responsible, and live your life.
@freemo
The longer we keep a two party system the further we will keep this red v blue mentality. I wonder if I will ever see an independent sworn in before I die of climate change.
Which party do you think is to blame if there is a government shut-down?
#poll
#USpolitics
#GovernmentShutdown
Please share.
I wonder if Gov. #Newsom would consider appointing Maxine Waters to fill vacant seat of the late Sen. #Feinstein? I know lots of CA Dems are pusing for Barbara Lee, but she is a declared candidate for the office in the 2024 election, and I agree with Newsom's initial instinct to not give one of the declared candidates a huge leg up by making them the incumbent. #USPOL
Nick Bloom of Stanford, probably the world authority on data-driven studies of the impact of remote work, delivers what is so far the definitive assessment of whether or not it’s a good idea.
Short answer: it can do wonders. Both hybrid and remote work, work.
But they require the right management and tools.
Managers who don’t know how to manage remote workers can ruin the experience for everyone.
Hey #Dodgers fans. It is [Bracket Season](https://linktr.ee/makmartin19) again. Please make a [donation to Peace Over Violence](https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PATTIPOV/MakennaMartin1) as you fill out your #bracketszn23 bracket.
If Pres. #Biden follows Sen #Feinstein in not surviving until the 2024 election, who will you vote for instead?
I made a mind blowing discovery at my new job today. I know that our company assigns serial numbers in numeric order starting at 1 for all serialized parts. Some parts, bought from vendors, get a two letter prefix. I found a part TK1348; therefore somewhere in this company is a part labeled #TK421. It is now my hope to see this part in our lab and say unto it, "TK421, why aren't you at your post?"
How do you watch local television?
I'm working on a blog post for next week and would love your input.
Please Boost so I can get a good sample!!
#television #streaming #cable #satellite #antenna #ota #cordcutters
I'd like to make my prediction of the unintended consequences of #SB423:
Cities infected by SB423 will all follow a similar pattern:
* There will be a hot zone in the city about 10 blocks square or so where mandatory approval will be the most lucrative and every developer will focus on that zone. I don't know where this will be in any given city, but I bet #ScottWiener 's staff does.
* A [blockbusting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbusting) like effect will happen in the hot zone. As the first set of redevelopment happens existing land owners will see the writing on the wall and sell out to the developers. Up to 90% of the area will become multistory rental housing in 24 months.
* Initially this housing supply will bring lots of housing to the area, and the developers, having done their math correctly, will make significant profits in the first 5 years. However the area will over-saturate and any property not developed in the landrush will become devalued.
* City services in the area will be overwhelmed. The city government will be forced to spend a substantial amount to avoid catastrophic collapse of basic service in the area. There will be one ore two high profile failures, and a lot of smaller struggles.
* 5 - 7 years later, the developers will have cashed out and the regional and national property management firms will take over the buildings. A new hot spot will develop some ways away which will put downward pressure on rent. The buildings - built to code but not built to last - will start to see the first set of capital repairs set in just as the rental market softens.
* 10-15 years after the boom, the slumlords start buying out the more reputable property management companies in the 20% of buildings with the worst maintenance issues. While most places are still okay, the existence of notoriously shaudy buildings in the area effects the whole community and buildings start to get abandoned or neglected. The area experiences a classic urban blight as all the buildings in the area age out at the same time.
* In 25 years cities will be pock marked with SB423 neighborhoods and historians will begin comparing them to the [Towers in the Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towers_in_the_park#Criticism_and_current_state) of the 1960s and 1970s.
MY weekend #EV #RoadTrip:
Atascadero, CA - Auburn CA (round trip)
Charged my #Tesla M3 to 95% the night before.
Drove 163 miles to [Santa Nella][1] and arrived with 30% charge. I used the restroom and walked to Starbucks where I picked up the mobile app order that was waiting for me when I arrived. by the time I got back to the car it was at 80% and I left. 18 minutes
Got to Sacramento with 38% charge. Visited friends went to lunch did 20 or so miles around town. There was a wait at both local super charger locations so I drove to [Loomis][2]. Arrived with 16% left in the battery. Spent 25 minutes at Raleys buying car snacks for the ride home. Left with 80% charge.
Spent the night with friends near Auburn (76%). Could have plugged into their 110AC but they pay a lot for electricity after dark and I didn't need to charge. Went to my medical appointment the next morning then drove all the way back to Santa Nella, 147 miles 28% charge.
Got a burger to go at In-n-Out and just barely got back in time to catch the car at 80%; 25 minutes.
Drove 163 miles home with the A/C on and going a few mph over the 70 speed limit. Got home with 25% charge. If I needed to I could make it to work and back tomorrow with the remaining charge, but I will charge over night.
642 miles. Total cost of supercharging $44 at $0.46/kWh
Yes, it is very easy to take an electric car on a road trip.
We have this misconception that #Democracy is executing the will of the majority... But thats not true.
Any democracy that gives 51% of people what they want, even when that is abusive to the wishes of the 49% will not survive, that leads to revolution... democracy has never been about majority rule.
What democracy is about is rule by the people, ALL the people. Any successful system will reach agreements that nearly everyone will be happy enough with so as not to pick up a gun and shoot the other side for oppressing them. Its about compromising enough that everyone can settle rather than agree.
This is exactly why the electorial college and other elements of government exist rather than a simple 51% rule... because we want to make sure any idea has atleast some level of support from most represented groups... so in the end the ones who may not like the vote can at least live with it.
#Technology, #baseball (Dodgers), #politics, #religion (#Christian)