@mindstalk.bsky.social
Interests: liberal, atheist, urbanism, public transit, Tolkien, Silmarillion, walking, anime, yuri, Bujold, Liaden, fanfic, KF94s, N95s.
My top Twitter thread (scroll past 18/end, it keeps going): https://mindstalk.net/15minComp.html
My top Twitter thread (scroll past 18/end, it keeps going): https://mindstalk.net/15minComp.html
Reposted
THIS
i was a gluten-free, vegan marathoner who did yoga several times a week, meditated daily, and made a fresh veggie juice every single goddamn day when i became disabled with long covid, which has since become ME/CFS
diet and exercise don’t stop pandemic harm
i was a gluten-free, vegan marathoner who did yoga several times a week, meditated daily, and made a fresh veggie juice every single goddamn day when i became disabled with long covid, which has since become ME/CFS
diet and exercise don’t stop pandemic harm
It doesn’t matter how much you exercise or how many veggies you eat when it comes to a pandemic.
These things will not stop it, and the shitbirds that Trump has installed in leading public health positions should be fired for even suggesting it would.
These things will not stop it, and the shitbirds that Trump has installed in leading public health positions should be fired for even suggesting it would.
RFK Jr.’s Miasma Theory of Health Is Spreading
The NIH is picking up Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s argument that a healthy immune system can keep even pandemic germs at bay.
www.theatlantic.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
THIS
i was a gluten-free, vegan marathoner who did yoga several times a week, meditated daily, and made a fresh veggie juice every single goddamn day when i became disabled with long covid, which has since become ME/CFS
diet and exercise don’t stop pandemic harm
i was a gluten-free, vegan marathoner who did yoga several times a week, meditated daily, and made a fresh veggie juice every single goddamn day when i became disabled with long covid, which has since become ME/CFS
diet and exercise don’t stop pandemic harm
Reposted
"The experimental mRNA vaccine prevented 60% to 67% of flu infections, while the conventional vaccine prevented 44% to 54% of infections."
This article explicates several important issues. One is that newer vax tech has shorter production times than old, egg-based tech, which can lead to a
1/3
This article explicates several important issues. One is that newer vax tech has shorter production times than old, egg-based tech, which can lead to a
1/3
Experimental mRNA flu vaccine is more effective than conventional flu shot, but causes more side effects
In a phase 3 trial, participants who received the shot were 29% less likely to be diagnosed with flu than those who received a conventional flu shot.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
In a phase 3 trial, participants who received the shot were 29% less likely to be diagnosed with flu than those who received a conventional flu shot.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
November 20, 2025 at 3:48 AM
"The experimental mRNA vaccine prevented 60% to 67% of flu infections, while the conventional vaccine prevented 44% to 54% of infections."
This article explicates several important issues. One is that newer vax tech has shorter production times than old, egg-based tech, which can lead to a
1/3
This article explicates several important issues. One is that newer vax tech has shorter production times than old, egg-based tech, which can lead to a
1/3
What's weird: mRNA vac technology got applied to SARS2 in weeks, and rolled out within a year, but we _still_ don't have RNA flu vaccs, which could respond to new strains quickly. And the anti-science Republicans have cut off funding.
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
MSN
www.msn.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
What's weird: mRNA vac technology got applied to SARS2 in weeks, and rolled out within a year, but we _still_ don't have RNA flu vaccs, which could respond to new strains quickly. And the anti-science Republicans have cut off funding.
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
The weirdest people are the ones who seem to think masks work, or say "that's smart" when they see one, yet don't use them...
and everyone was masking, none of us got sick the entire time until after we dropped the mask requirements, and then we all got sick twice almost immediately."
And I'm thinking... why go back to that? You don't have to...
And I'm thinking... why go back to that? You don't have to...
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The weirdest people are the ones who seem to think masks work, or say "that's smart" when they see one, yet don't use them...
Reposted
Maybe, JUST MAYBE the CDC would benefit from looking at peer-reviewed studies such as this one… While this particular study only includes data for last year’s vaccines, researchers contend that the findings are still relevant to the current season. The virus that circulated last year, just like the
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Maybe, JUST MAYBE the CDC would benefit from looking at peer-reviewed studies such as this one… While this particular study only includes data for last year’s vaccines, researchers contend that the findings are still relevant to the current season. The virus that circulated last year, just like the
Reposted
Well now, would you look at that?
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Well now, would you look at that?
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
Reposted
November 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted
Will really is just posting through it. I'm afraid his takes are getting less and less connected to reality.
It is not, in fact, a "myth" that single family zoning predominates in US cities.
It is not, in fact, a "myth" that single family zoning predominates in US cities.
Guys, I promise there are lots of place in America where it's perfectly legal to build dwellings that aren't single-family homes. This is a weird urbanist myth. Lots of non-SFH housing gets built! That's good, we should build more, but it hasn't exactly ended demand for detached suburban units.
Will do you have any data to support this argument? You keep saying “people want to live in X” when X is the only type of home that’s *legal to build*
Of course most people will opt in to the type of home that is the only option!
Of course most people will opt in to the type of home that is the only option!
November 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Will really is just posting through it. I'm afraid his takes are getting less and less connected to reality.
It is not, in fact, a "myth" that single family zoning predominates in US cities.
It is not, in fact, a "myth" that single family zoning predominates in US cities.
"Fewer than one-third of Ontario hospital workers got a flu vaccine last year,"
wtf is with HCWs
I wonder how many of them really _do_ wash their hands anymore
wtf is with HCWs
I wonder how many of them really _do_ wash their hands anymore
Contributed to this article by @egpayne.bsky.social about the challenges with improving vaccination rates of health care workers against influenza this year. ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Hospitals scrambling to convince more staff to get flu shots
Declining uptake of flu vaccines among health workers comes at a time when officials are anticipating a severe influenza season.
ottawacitizen.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
"Fewer than one-third of Ontario hospital workers got a flu vaccine last year,"
wtf is with HCWs
I wonder how many of them really _do_ wash their hands anymore
wtf is with HCWs
I wonder how many of them really _do_ wash their hands anymore
Reposted
between americans talking about how we can't actually build dense housing or high speed rail in california because earthquakes or shouldn't do masking because this is a democracy, it's clear a lot of americans are too arrogant to think they could have anything to learn from japan, SK or taiwan
September 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
between americans talking about how we can't actually build dense housing or high speed rail in california because earthquakes or shouldn't do masking because this is a democracy, it's clear a lot of americans are too arrogant to think they could have anything to learn from japan, SK or taiwan
Reposted
Now if we could provide those lunches in cafeterias supplied with clean air, just think what we could achieve!
November 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Now if we could provide those lunches in cafeterias supplied with clean air, just think what we could achieve!
Reposted
Lots of political posturing this morning about whether Canada should have taxpayer subsidized school lunch programs. So let's summarize the peer-reviewed evidence:
Thread [1/8]
Thread [1/8]
November 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Lots of political posturing this morning about whether Canada should have taxpayer subsidized school lunch programs. So let's summarize the peer-reviewed evidence:
Thread [1/8]
Thread [1/8]
Reposted
Really clear messaging from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. At this point, it's not going to convince a ton of people to start masking, but it may encourage folks who already mask to keep it up - & it may remind others that masking is an expert-recommended NPI, not a weird obsession.
November 19, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Really clear messaging from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. At this point, it's not going to convince a ton of people to start masking, but it may encourage folks who already mask to keep it up - & it may remind others that masking is an expert-recommended NPI, not a weird obsession.
Reposted
9/ One tool could help: vaccines. After researchers in France discovered bird flu was traveling on dust and aerosols, they turned to vaccinating the country’s ducks. The results: A near-total reduction in cases. But USDA hasn't authorized their use in poultry here in the U.S.
November 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
9/ One tool could help: vaccines. After researchers in France discovered bird flu was traveling on dust and aerosols, they turned to vaccinating the country’s ducks. The results: A near-total reduction in cases. But USDA hasn't authorized their use in poultry here in the U.S.
blame anti-vaxxers for egg shortage
wind carries bird flu between farms, USDA refuses to consider airborne spread or to vaccinate chickens
wind carries bird flu between farms, USDA refuses to consider airborne spread or to vaccinate chickens
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
blame anti-vaxxers for egg shortage
wind carries bird flu between farms, USDA refuses to consider airborne spread or to vaccinate chickens
wind carries bird flu between farms, USDA refuses to consider airborne spread or to vaccinate chickens
That's an exciting red line.
1/ Hey, epidemiologist here 👋
I've been seeing a lot of concern as we enter flu season, so I want to do a quick breakdown of what's going on with #H3N2, the flu strain everyone's been talking about, how it’s mutating, and the best ways you can protect yourself. 🧵
I've been seeing a lot of concern as we enter flu season, so I want to do a quick breakdown of what's going on with #H3N2, the flu strain everyone's been talking about, how it’s mutating, and the best ways you can protect yourself. 🧵
November 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
That's an exciting red line.
Reposted
Better name for “medical” masks is splash guards. That’s what they are meant for not for protection against infectious aerosols.
If you know anyone involved with infection control at @uhn.ca, ask them why the policy isn't to use N95s. Do they understand how sketchy the claim is that medical masks are good enough? Is this all "just following orders"? Do they still believe they have nothing to learn from non-MDs?
Just...why?
Just...why?
Here goes UHN in Toronto (👉including the cancer hospital👈), repeating the same mistakes as always, because doing the right thing is less important for hospital admin than covering up having constantly done the wrong thing since COVID hit.
MEDICAL MASKS ARE NOT AEROSOL PPE, YOU NEED AN N95!
🤬🤡
MEDICAL MASKS ARE NOT AEROSOL PPE, YOU NEED AN N95!
🤬🤡
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Better name for “medical” masks is splash guards. That’s what they are meant for not for protection against infectious aerosols.
covid "listed as the primary cause of death on roughly 31,400 death certificates last year. By comparison, flu killed about 6,500 people and pneumonia, a common complication of the flu, killed an additional 41,600"
Conflicting COVID Shot Advice Likely to Push Vaccine Uptake Even Lower, Experts Warn kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Conflicting Advice on Covid Shots Likely To Ding Already Low Vaccine Rates, Experts Warn - KFF Health News
About 1 in 4 American adults got a covid vaccine shot during the 2024-25 virus season, a fraction health care experts warn could be smaller this year as millions wrestle with conflicting advice from t...
kffhealthnews.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
covid "listed as the primary cause of death on roughly 31,400 death certificates last year. By comparison, flu killed about 6,500 people and pneumonia, a common complication of the flu, killed an additional 41,600"
Covid vaccines _really_ don't reliably keep you from getting covid. Nov 10th article.
But here's a brand new source: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
"they found vaccines to be most protective four weeks after vaccination, providing 44.7 per cent effectiveness against infection"
"declining to 35 per cent effectiveness against infection at 10 weeks, down to 16.7 per cent by 20 weeks"
"they found vaccines to be most protective four weeks after vaccination, providing 44.7 per cent effectiveness against infection"
"declining to 35 per cent effectiveness against infection at 10 weeks, down to 16.7 per cent by 20 weeks"
UW study takes a closer look at vaccine effectiveness against newer COVID strains | CBC News
It can take a long time to create a new vaccine and at the same time, there have been many evolutions and new strains of the COVID-19 virus. University of Waterloo researchers wanted to understand whe...
www.cbc.ca
November 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Covid vaccines _really_ don't reliably keep you from getting covid. Nov 10th article.
A little sub-thread by me on covid eradication.
Covid is way harder. The 3 viruses we've deliberately eradicated or come close to are smallpox, rinderpest, and (close) polio, all of which have lasting immunity after infection or vaccination. Covid lacks that.
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A little sub-thread by me on covid eradication.
Reposted
This is not an actual D&D item, but damn it does a great job of conveying the behaviors of the AI Bros.
Should add a Wisdom check to add a bonus to the check for believing the quill. Higher the WIS stat, the higher the likelihood the user throws the quill into a nearby anti-magic field. 🤣
Should add a Wisdom check to add a bonus to the check for believing the quill. Higher the WIS stat, the higher the likelihood the user throws the quill into a nearby anti-magic field. 🤣
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This is not an actual D&D item, but damn it does a great job of conveying the behaviors of the AI Bros.
Should add a Wisdom check to add a bonus to the check for believing the quill. Higher the WIS stat, the higher the likelihood the user throws the quill into a nearby anti-magic field. 🤣
Should add a Wisdom check to add a bonus to the check for believing the quill. Higher the WIS stat, the higher the likelihood the user throws the quill into a nearby anti-magic field. 🤣
Irony in "post-scarcity" Starfleet when the lower decks ensigns are sleeping in non private bunks in the hallway.
November 17, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Irony in "post-scarcity" Starfleet when the lower decks ensigns are sleeping in non private bunks in the hallway.
Reposted
And to the extent that they are 'safer' in some incidents, it's only for the occupants of the vehicle, at the expense of those outside of them. ssti.us/2024/09/16/t....
The scramble for larger vehicles is putting more Americans’ lives in danger
As vehicles grow ever larger in the United States, their "safety" benefits for drivers diminish while the danger for pedestrians and other drivers rises. From SUVs to oversized pickup trucks, the shif...
ssti.us
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
And to the extent that they are 'safer' in some incidents, it's only for the occupants of the vehicle, at the expense of those outside of them. ssti.us/2024/09/16/t....