@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

nitpicking

@nitpicking@mstdn.party

So I've been a science teacher, museum guide, freelance writer, software dev, software product manager, network admin, and for a long time now a business trainer. And I run SFF conventions.
Member: #tootfinder.

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luckytran, to random
@luckytran@med-mastodon.com avatar

One of the most ridiculous “middle ground” policies is when hospitals require masks in exam areas, but not in waiting rooms, hallways, lobbies or elevators. Airborne viruses don’t care about the “middle ground.” Not requiring masks in all areas puts patients and staff at risk.

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@maggiejk @luckytran

They don't trust you to be wearing a real mask. What makes it truly stupid is that you can wear no mask at all, but not "just" an N95. What would they do if you show up with an elastomeric N95, which their mask wouldn't fit over? Would they force you to wear a surgical mask under a PAPR?

skykiss, (edited ) to random
@skykiss@sfba.social avatar

Update: Florida was one of four states with a lifetime ban, the others being Iowa, Kentucky and Virginia. On November 6, 2018, 65% of Florida voters approved Amendment 4, which automatically restores the voting rights of people convicted of a felony—except murder or sexual offenses—after the completion of their sentences.

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@Loucovey @skykiss Nope. Presidential elections are governed by the Constitution, and only the Constitution, which does not make convictions a disqualification. One candidate ran from prison and received over 1 million votes.

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

In case anyone thinks "alternative" medicine is harmless: this guy, a real doctor, killed his wife by insisting she use lethal doses of selenium, in addition to "herbal supplements", while inexplicably (to me) denying her actual diagnosis.

https://www.audacy.com/wcbs880/news/local/doctor-gets-prison-sentence-for-overdosing-his-sick-wife

@gorskon @RationalWiki

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

So many bad stories get posted, I thought I'd say: I visited a new dentist today. Everyone in the office--dentist, assistant, receptionist, and for that matter, me--was masked with a high-efficiency respirator.

#COVID #MaskUp

ZachWeinersmith, to random
@ZachWeinersmith@mastodon.social avatar

hmm

nitpicking, (edited )
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@ZachWeinersmith There are non-stupid alternatives to Reddit, notably Lemmy. I'm aware that you're promoting your webcomic by posting to popular services, but you're also influential and can to some extent influence which services are popular. This is what science nerds like us call "the observer effect".

pbump, to random
@pbump@journa.host avatar

A White guy from a Southern state decided to compare Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of Trump to justice in the Jim Crow South. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/04/bishop-trump-alabama-1950/

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@pbump Well, that's disgusting and stupid.

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

Is anyone else feeling nervous about the hospital-filling outbreak of pneumonia in China, explained by no so-far-detected pathogen?

https://www.audacy.com/wcbs880/news/world/who-asks-china-for-more-information-about-rise-in-illnesses-and-pneumonia-clusters (AP)

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

I wrote my Congressional Representative, requesting the impeachment of Clarence Thomas. I'm sure he'll ignore me, but this is only step one.

nitpicking, to Florida
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

There's a trade show that I have attended and spoken at. Naturally, I get solicitations to attend again. This year, they're increasingly desperate, as if they don't have enough signups.

I have to think it's because they are in Orlando, and others besides myself don't want to go to DeSantis-occupied Florida. I grew up there, and I cringe every time I see "Florida" in a headline now. Yuck.

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

Anyone know of a high quality "window" mask to allow lipreading? Last time I spoke at a convention, I used an FFP2 window mask that worked fine, but it doesn't seem to be made any more. I anticipate speaking at in Glasgow in August.
@masknerd ?

nitpicking, to Tolkien
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

Did everyone else already know this? JRR Tolkien's name "Saruman" is "Solomon" as pronounced by certain Asian cultures. Anyone think Tolkien's wizard king might have been inspired (in some ways) by the Biblical king whose legends make him the greatest of sorcerors?

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

3/3

Aura 9205+ (boat style): Not easy to don (again, for me), but the easiest of the three, The foam around the edges makes them by far the most comfortable to wear, and they don't press down on my nose nearly as much as the other two. I couldn't detect any actual restriction on breathing. For me, by far the best of the three 3M N95s I have worn.

JamesGleick, (edited ) to random
@JamesGleick@zirk.us avatar

Having solicited and received millions in bribes, Justice Thomas is willing to admit he should have “disclosed” some of them. https://newsie.social/@ProPublica/112576540140314979

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@JamesGleick Millions, yes. "Billions" in bribes is not supported by evidence.

nitpicking, to France
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

Russia actively funding Marine Le Pen and her rightist party to discourage French support for Ukraine:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/30/france-russia-interference-far-right/

(Sorry, I'm out of article unlocks this month.)

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

Even I am embarrassed for : he just boosted on his vanity social medium.
https://wapo.st/3GjgzS3 (free by virtue of my subscription).

In other news (and metanews), the Washington Post () has "paused" advertising on #X.

nitpicking, (edited ) to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

The third story I read from the Hugo Packet is a blunt parable about being a young person who can only get a call center job. Three out of three nominees that I've read so far are blunt parables. Is "Blunt Parable" the theme of the Astounding Award this year?

blondoid, to random
@blondoid@mastodon.social avatar

#Mets win! 3-2!! #LGM

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@blondoid As a non-sports fan of the Boomer generation, "LGM" to me means "Little Green Men". That made your message confusing.

nitpicking, to random
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

"Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) told Fox News on Thursday there should be inquiries about Trump’s case. “We need to be subpoenaing Judge Merchan and his daughter … Did George Soros ever talk to Alvin Bragg about using his power to go after Donald Trump?"

https://wapo.st/3KoMJh8 (no paywall)

Is Vance really that crazy, or is this some weird cynical ploy?

fluxed, to random
@fluxed@ieji.de avatar

"Trump’s attorney, David Warrington, sent ProPublica a cease-and-desist letter demanding this article not be published. The letter warned that if the outlet and its reporters 'continue their reckless campaign of defamation, President Trump will evaluate all legal remedies.'"

https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-criminal-cases-witnesses-financial-benefits

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@fluxed If I wasn't already supporting ProPublica financially, I'd join up now.

mastobit, to random
@mastobit@awscommunity.social avatar

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@mastobit I don't have access to the zombie birdsite. What scientific research backs up this "alarming number"? For that matter what is the actual number?

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@mastobit That turns out not to be a scientific paper.

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@mastobit "Heard of" is not "scientific paper". I am a science nerd. I want data and experts, not "I have heard".

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@mastobit I'm totally aware that COVID-19 causes cardiac, respiratory, and neurological problems. I'm curious about the specific scenario listed, younger people having heart trouble long after infection. I'm curious because it sounds like a common antivax trope, and if correct might be used to debunk the conspiracy theorists.

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@mastobit So Doctor Susan Oliver found the data. https://youtu.be/90da74nHeFg?si=7VmE5-s61g94wPpR&t=723

The rate of sudden cardiac death among young athletes has not increased, has probably decreased.

jdnicoll, to random
@jdnicoll@wandering.shop avatar

Huh. Coming in November:

Bright Segments: The Complete Short Fiction of James Sallis.

Published over the six decades of Sallis’s storied career, the complete collection contains 154 stories, 12 of which are exclusive to this volume.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/737507/bright-segments-the-complete-short-fiction-by-james-sallis/

nitpicking,
@nitpicking@mstdn.party avatar

@jdnicoll I've been reading SFF for over 50 years. I had never heard of James Sallis until just now.

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