wobbling's recent activity
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Comment on Florida surgeon general rejects FDA guidance, urges people under 65 not to get Covid booster in ~health
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~health
wobbling Link ParentIt might be helpful for the conversation to include the relevant conclusion section directly from the published paper under discussion: From a bio pov, the "laboratory-based scenario," they refer...It might be helpful for the conversation to include the relevant conclusion section directly from the published paper under discussion:
Although the evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 is not a purposefully manipulated virus, it is currently impossible to prove or disprove the other theories of its origin described here. However, since we observed all notable SARS-CoV-2 features, including the optimized RBD and polybasic cleavage site, in related coronaviruses in nature, we do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible.
From a bio pov, the "laboratory-based scenario," they refer to here is manipulation, as they cite the features being found in related coronaviruses in nature as evidence to support that conclusion.
Notably they don't draw a heavy conclusion about where it comes from, but just exclude "purposely manipulated virus," as an possibility. The purposely manipulated virus is the conspiracy theory, and nothing in the article provides evidence that it's anything beyond that.
My point is that the the article blurs the difference between accidental escape and manipulated virus to make the topic more sensational. The difference is very significant.
btw: I totally agree that the NIH providing any editorial pressure is just a bad thing and shouldn't have happened, although shit was crazy early in the pandemic and a lot of fairly bad decisions were made.
The pangolin question is really interesting..and still a hot topic of debate. here's a recent article that narrows down a close pangolin mutation. Whether pangolins from that far away were brought to the market I have no idea, but it's good to see that researchers are still trying to get to the truth.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~health
wobbling LinkThough it's interesting to see the process I really dislike this article. It looks like the article makes hay (and has an inflammatory headline) by conflating two things. The article says : This...Though it's interesting to see the process I really dislike this article. It looks like the article makes hay (and has an inflammatory headline) by conflating two things.
The article says :
(the authors privately said that) “The main issue is that accidental escape is in fact highly likely–it’s not some fringe theory.”
But the paper they were drafting argued the opposite and would be used to label the possibility of a lab leak as a fringe conspiracy, confidently asserting, “Our analyses clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus.”
This seems to conflate the idea of lab leak, potentially supported by the distance of the closest related SARS-virus, with the idea of it being a constructed or manipulated virus.
It is entirely possible that the virus could have been found in the wild and brought to the lab for study and "escaped," without any manipulation, and the article doesn't cite anywhere the idea that the authors ever seriously thought manipulation was a reasonable possibility.
This is an important distinction because it a) removes support for the headline, and b) doesn't support the "Covid was a bioweapon," conspiracy theory that this committee is digging into.
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Comment on Psychologists at the University of Cambridge developed a Misinformation Susceptibility Tests. What's your MIST score? in ~science
wobbling Link ParentI agree the "fake news," option isn't great. There's actually a difference between misinformation and fake news (stories) to me at least. I'd consider sensationalized headlines to be often...I agree the "fake news," option isn't great. There's actually a difference between misinformation and fake news (stories) to me at least. I'd consider sensationalized headlines to be often misinformation even if the news isn't fundamentally "fake."
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Comment on Psychologists at the University of Cambridge developed a Misinformation Susceptibility Tests. What's your MIST score? in ~science
wobbling Link ParentMy assessment of that one was that there isn't any leading conclusion in the headline and there's not an obvious group/influence that would drive someone to make up something like that, so if...My assessment of that one was that there isn't any leading conclusion in the headline and there's not an obvious group/influence that would drive someone to make up something like that, so if reported it's likely true.
A better question I guess would have been is this misinformation or not — to that question the Hyatt headline doesn't suggest anything or drive active misinformation so the answer might be clearer. -
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~lgbt
wobbling Link ParentI don't think the article is precisely right either. My understanding is that the ruling is even more narrow — the "expressive service," itself would have to conflict with a sincerely held belief,...I don't think the article is precisely right either.
My understanding is that the ruling is even more narrow — the "expressive service," itself would have to conflict with a sincerely held belief, not any action by businesses who provide expressive services.
I think the ruling is very dangerous anyway, and the current SC majority writes some profoundly unclear and logically inconsistent rulings, but hope that further appeals will allow the Court to clarify exactly how narrow the ruling is intended to be. -
Comment on US June CPI comes in at 0.2% MoM and 3% YoY, below the 3.1% forecast in ~finance
wobbling Link ParentSorry that I don't know my markdown for Tildes very well yet, but there was a thread recently asking this question How are Y'all Dealing with InflationSorry that I don't know my markdown for Tildes very well yet, but there was a thread recently asking this question How are Y'all Dealing with Inflation
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Comment on What are some of your favorite cheap, easy and healthy recipes? in ~food
wobbling Link ParentEnglish speakers are fanciful people — I believe we call them, "overnight oats" — seriously. I love them. If you add dried fruit the time lets them really soften and plump up, which is a bonus.English speakers are fanciful people — I believe we call them, "overnight oats" — seriously.
I love them. If you add dried fruit the time lets them really soften and plump up, which is a bonus.
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Comment on Idaho drops panel investigating pregnancy-related deaths as US maternal mortality surges in ~life.women
wobbling Link ParentThanks for the thoughtful response. I am American, so definitely up on the Roe background. I hadn't thought of the defensive head-in-the-sand of not wanting information about repercussions of that...Thanks for the thoughtful response.
I am American, so definitely up on the Roe background. I hadn't thought of the defensive head-in-the-sand of not wanting information about repercussions of that decision to be easily found, but that does make sense.
I had hoped that these policies that seem clearly harmful are by people who are, at worst, ignorant of the direct harms of their decisions — the idea that dissolving this panel is functionally to hide deaths due to the abortion ban just really depressing. -
Comment on Sound enthusiasts - share your system in ~hobbies
wobbling LinkI have a Rega P3 turntable with an older cartridge I bought on eBay years ago, the Pro-ject pre amp, a bottle head passive pre-amp from kit, Arcam power amp, and Sonus Faber Venere speakers. I...I have a Rega P3 turntable with an older cartridge I bought on eBay years ago, the Pro-ject pre amp, a bottle head passive pre-amp from kit, Arcam power amp, and Sonus Faber Venere speakers.
I love the setup. Honestly ~50% of the time I end up listening to music through an Apple gen1 HomePod, but for sitting around listening to music in the evening it's great.
There are a few things I'd like to improve.
- Right now it's really set up just to play vinyl. I'd love to hook up a good-ish streaming input.
- The Venere's are bookshelf speakers so bass-heavy music can roll off a bit so maybe something full range or a sun would be nice.
- Where it's set up the seating isn't perfectly on axis. I may be the only one who notices, but it does get on me a bit.
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Comment on Idaho drops panel investigating pregnancy-related deaths as US maternal mortality surges in ~life.women
wobbling LinkIt's an interesting question (in the abstract) to tease apart the pieces of the current conservative movement behind this. In practice this just seems like a really bad decision that will cost...It's an interesting question (in the abstract) to tease apart the pieces of the current conservative movement behind this. In practice this just seems like a really bad decision that will cost women's lives.
There's no real financial argument. The committee was covered by a federal grant and was even identified as revenue neutral.
All I can think of as reasons are racism/classism — the disproportionate affect on minority and/or poor populations, or the Reagan-esque "starve the beast," form of governance.
Is there another rationale for this kind of decision? It's depressing to believe that either of the above reasons would be popular, but I honestly can't think of another. -
Comment on Diablo IV - Season 1 Announcement - Season of the Malignant in ~games
wobbling Link ParentThanks both. Conveniently I play a Druid in dnd, so that’ll be my season 1 go to. Twisting blades is a pretty fun rogue spec with some room to be creative in secondary skills if you’re looking for...Thanks both. Conveniently I play a Druid in dnd, so that’ll be my season 1 go to. Twisting blades is a pretty fun rogue spec with some room to be creative in secondary skills if you’re looking for a change yourselves.
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Comment on Diablo IV - Season 1 Announcement - Season of the Malignant in ~games
wobbling LinkLooking forward to this. I’ve worked a rogue through campaign, and am excited to use this impetus to start a different class. Any input on a good first alt?Looking forward to this. I’ve worked a rogue through campaign, and am excited to use this impetus to start a different class. Any input on a good first alt?
There's definitely a difference in the UK, but there is active debate politically and in public health in the UK.
Last week in the Guardian there was an article specifically about political and public health feedback.
It includes political opposition
Public health experts also chimed in
It does seem to be more about cost and risk of disease than the Florida article where the anti-vaccine argument is simply lying about the science and epidemiology, but there's still debate about booster coverage and public health tradeoffs in the UK.