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Reposted by Harvey Smith

Diane Duane

@diane.dianeduane.com

There is NO FUCKING EXCUSE for this to be happening.

I had a baby die in my arms of pertussis some fifty years ago. It was a HORRIBLE death. But my fellow nurses said to me, "It's almost stamped out now, they're all getting the shots, we won't be seeing this again."

HOW THE FUCK ARE WE HERE. 😡

Jesspooka Kant 🎃 @jessdkant.bsky.social · 2d

A third infant has died in Kentucky, KYDPH adds:

“These are Kentucky’s first pertussis deaths since 2018. None of the infants nor their mothers received the recommended pertussis vaccinations during pregnancy or early infancy.”

s3.amazonaws.com/nursing-netw...

Kentucky Public Health
KENTUCKY HEALTH ALERT
Increase in Pertussis in Kentucky
Recommendations for Identification and Prevention
November 21, 2025
Kentucky health officials are alerting providers that cases of pertussis ("whooping cough") have increased steadily across the Commonwealth in recent weeks. To date, 566 cases of pertussis have been reported in Kentucky in 2025, the highest number of cases in the Commonwealth since 2012. This follows a trend that was first announced in July 2024 when pertussis cases began increasing in Kentucky to levels not seen in over a decade. Health officials anticipate that pertussis will continue to increase during the winter months based on historic trends. Many U.S. states and other countries are also experiencing elevated levels of pertussis.
Many of the recent cases have occurred in young infants, and health officials also recently confirmed the third pertussis-related death in a Kentucky infant within the last year. This follows two other infant deaths that were announced in June. These are Kentucky's first pertussis deaths since 2018. None of the infants nor their mothers received the recommended pertussis vaccinations during pregnancy or early infancy. Health officials urge all Kentuckians to remain up to date on recommended pertussis immunizations and emphasize the importance of maternal immunization during pregnancy, and for all infants beginning promptly at two months of age. Health officials also encourage providers to consider pertussis as a diagnosis in addition to circulating seasonal respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
A significant number of cases have also occurred in school-aged children, many of whom were up to date on pertussis vaccination. Immunity from vaccination or natural infection wanes over time so infections can occur in people who are fully vaccinated. However, the vaccine is known to reduce disease severity, and hospitalization among vaccinated individuals is rare.
The Kentucky Dep…

Kentucky Public Health
regularly in Kentucky, however an increase beyond the expected background rate has been reported in recent weeks. Though pertussis vaccination (DTaP or Tdap) is available and widely implemented, B. pertussis continues to spread in the U.S. due to lack of vaccination or timely boosters, the lack of lifelong immunity from vaccination or natural infection and the long duration of infectiousness in untreated cases.
Symptoms of pertussis usually begin with a runny or congested nose, a low-grade fever, and mild coughing; apnea/stopping breathing can also occur in infants. After one to two weeks, the cough can progress to rapid, violent (paroxysmal) coughing fits that can cause the "whooping" sound, vomiting or labored breathing. Young children are the most severely affected; most teens and adults will have mild symptoms. People with preexisting health conditions that may be worsened by whooping cough are at high risk for developing a severe infection.
Testing for Pertussis:
The preferred methods for pertussis testing include nasal pharyngeal (NP) swab or nasal wash via PCR testing or culture. PCR has optimal sensitivity during the first three weeks of cough, is widely available at commercial laboratories and has a fast turnaround time. Culture is considered the gold standard due to excellent specificity but may take longer to complete. Serology for antibodies to B. pertussis is available at many commercial laboratories, however, serologic assays are not generally recommended for primary diagnosis of pertussis due to variability and unknown clinical accuracy. The most promising serologic assays are those that measure IgG antibodies against pertussis toxin only and are collected two to eight weeks following cough onset.
Prevention of Pertussis:
Prevention of pertussis is primarily achieved through routine vaccination with DTaP (ages two months to six years) and Tdap (ages seven years and older), followed by appropriate booster doses. Vaccination of pr…

Bordetella parapertussis
B. parapertussis is a bacterium that is similar to B. pertussis and can cause pertussis-like illness but does not produce pertussis toxin. Symptoms of parapertussis are typically milder and infection may be asymptomatic.
There is no vaccine for B. parapertussis and post-exposure prophylaxis is not recommended, however treatment recommendations for symptomatic patients are the same as those for B. pertussis. B. parapertussis is not reportable in Kentucky.
Thank you for your attention to this alert and guidance. The KDPH pertussis website includes supplemental resources, including a pertussis quicksheet with additional information that providers may find useful. If you have questions regarding reporting, testing, or prevention of pertussis or other infectious diseases, please contact the Kentucky Immunization Branch at (502) 564-4478 or after hours by calling the KDPH Epidemiology on-call line at 888-9-REPORT (888-973-7678).
Our Mission: To improve the health and safety of people in Kentucky through Prevention, Promotion, and Protection

November 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Ambrosia Sky 🪐

@softrains.bsky.social

Our latest devlog is now available! ✨

For this month's devlog, we join @joelburgess.bsky.social as he puts on his level design hat once more and breaks down the intentions & work behind one of our levels: The Bhat Communications Tower.

Read it here: tiny.cc/ambrosiasky-...

November 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Llewellyn

@llewellynrose.bsky.social

sometimes i feel like i need to just send a blast text to all my friends like "do i have plans with you, i dont remember"

November 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM

Harvey Smith

@harvey1966.bsky.social

i love EVs and being able to charge at home (made even better with rooftop solar panels). better for my life in almost all ways. love my Kia. EVs have fewer problems in general, tho trips are dicey. a win overall.

BUT...the thing about car washes sometimes wiping out your 12v battery is REAL.

November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Dan Sheehan

@dansheehan.bsky.social

Just a heads up, if you’re getting regularly smiled at by babies and greeted warmly by dogs you are carrying a fragment of the sacred light within you and must guard it closely

November 12, 2024 at 8:50 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Brent Toderian

@brenttoderian.bsky.social

Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.

There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.

Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople

Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis

City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.

www.forbes.com

November 20, 2025 at 6:21 AM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Ben Prunty - Generation Exile is Out Now!

@benprunty.bsky.social

Thanks I hate it

🌸☀️idspispopd🌙🥀 @bhaalspawn.bsky.social · 8d

Half Life (1998) is now as old as the first ever arcade game, Computer Space (1971) was when Half Life was released.

November 19, 2025 at 9:57 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Brendon

@brendonbouzard.bsky.social

This is a really remarkable video essay on contemporary film and the theories of Laura Marks. It's making me think about movies in a new way.

Why Movies Just Don't Feel "Real" Anymore

YouTube video by Like Stories of Old

www.youtube.com

November 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM

Harvey Smith

@harvey1966.bsky.social

things that make me want to roll dice

Oregon 🕎🎲 @oregonthedm.bsky.social · 15d

Long ago on the hell site I made long list of historically interesting things to use in dnd ttrpgs and I'll start dragging them over here starting with

2000 years-old sapphire ring presumably belonged to Roman emperor Caligula, depicting his fourth wife Caesonia.

Blue stone surrounding a gold metal core

November 16, 2025 at 8:56 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

christina 死神

@chhopsky.tv

Ambrosia Sky is now VERY POSITIVE on Steam!

If you like:
- imsims
- space yuri
- accidentally setting an entire asteroid colony on fire while trying to cleanse a ferocious alien fungal infestation

Then Ambrosia Sky might be for you!

store.steampowered.com/app/3580160/...

Save 15% on Ambrosia Sky: Act One on Steam

You left. Now they’re dead. Ambrosia Sky: Act One is an immersive sim about exploring an asteroid colony devastated by an unknown contamination. Survive and harvest strains of hostile alien fungi, exp...

store.steampowered.com

November 16, 2025 at 5:11 AM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou

@kanaratron.bsky.social

One of my favourite movies genres is 'absolutely pissing it down.'

A still frame from The Seven Samurai. It's raining heavily.

A still frame from The Matrix. It's raining heavily.

A still frame from The Susperia. It's raining heavily.

A still frame from Blade Runner. It's raining heavily.

November 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Thom

@thwphipps.bsky.social

My last word on the matter

a tweet from 2020:

(james bond being beaten up by a goon)
GOON: bond you will maintain continuity
BOND: Never
GOON: the year is 2020 and you're roughly forty five, you were born around 1975
BOND: *spits out blood* i was a sea captain in world war two and i've been to space
GOON: you son of a bitch

November 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM

Harvey Smith

@harvey1966.bsky.social

I think #Dishonored 2 was released on this day, 9 years ago. Much love to Raf and my teammates in Lyon.

November 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM

Harvey Smith

@harvey1966.bsky.social

purchased.

Ambrosia Sky 🪐 @softrains.bsky.social · Oct 16

Here's how you can support Ambrosia Sky:

📃 Wishlist the game on Steam & EGS!
🎮 Play the demo and leave us your feedback!
💛 Join our community Discord!
💌 Follow us on our socials!
📚 Read our devlogs and updates!

You can find links to all of these here: linktr.ee/softrains

November 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM

Harvey Smith

@harvey1966.bsky.social

this bit from jack white about the mystery and beauty of some things connecting with people

variety.com/2025/music/n...?

Jack White Passes Along Meg White’s Regards as White Stripes Are Inducted Into Rock Hall, Shares Touching Parable About Duo’s Origins

There was no White Stripes reunion for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but Meg White was on Jack White's mind in his speech. Olivia Rodrigo performed.

variety.com

November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM

Harvey Smith

@harvey1966.bsky.social

KIERON.

Kieron Gillen @kierongillen.bsky.social · 18d

Disturbing to hear the scientist has rejected all criticism of genetically engineering ducks to have twice as thick layers of under-feathers. They doubled down.

November 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

victoria zeller (buy ONE OF THE BOYS)

@dirtbagqueer.rocks

me: maybe i should do the dishes

the sith holocron i keep on my desk, suddenly glowing red: 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓. 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐈𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄. 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝟐𝟓

me: hmm…. more NASCAR 25, perhaps

November 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

jamelle

@jamellebouie.net

“woke” is when you acknowledge that black people have contributed to the united states

Gordon Darroch @gordondarroch.bsky.social · 19d

Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.

NRC @nrc.nl · 20d

Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’

November 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

J. Thomas

@nullspeak.bsky.social

I'm going to do this again today at ~noon pacific, if you're a game dev nerd and want to join us... or just make fun of my voice acting, I guess? valid

J. Thomas @nullspeak.bsky.social · 25d

I streamed a tiny bit of my actual work process on our Discord (discord.com/invite/TyzEj...), this week - at least the part that anyone can hear.

I think ... I liked it. Uh oh

a bald man wearing glasses and a tie is sitting at a desk with his arms crossed .

ALT: a bald man wearing glasses and a tie is sitting at a desk with his arms crossed .

media.tenor.com

November 7, 2025 at 3:59 PM

Reposted by Harvey Smith

Mark Lemley

@marklemley.bsky.social

Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative

electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...