Essays on creations, life lessons, and many original stories; also visit integr8dfix.blogspot for even more!
Friday, July 31, 2020
Prof. Mike Jordan's Everything INcluding the Kitchen Sink Pt.2 A Little Rock Hip Hop mix
Thursday, July 30, 2020
A light in this world
Max Wasa: People have
become addicted to the actions of anger and aggression,
Thought-provoking. When I read that a couple of days ago,
I also replied to Max:
I guess here in Georgia there is such trouble brewing and ignorance abounding
that a little reactionary undertone in posting basic facts is a bit empowering,
because the masses are shouting it down and dragging out the pandemic dilemma.
I am much more aligned with west coast thought: welcoming to new people and
ideas ( despite a corrupting exploitative element). No one there ever spoke of
Georgia with a metaphorical spit like Georgians speak of California.
I also met a young woman soon on her first visit to La Jolla and her boyfriend, so I want to be clear it's not entirely monolithic. That sense of drama and melodrama serves well in a story, but I mustn't obscure the sweet spirits even in some of the disagreeable thoughts that cloud auras I meet. We truly do wrestle not with the flesh, but principalities, if I may borrow a Christian verse that serves.
I feel a bit better any time I write or speak a bit, so it's essential to continue recognizing a kinship in the universe I attract. The rest is there to cut a visionary relief, to sense the stone from which they all carve meaning in their struggles and delights.
On the real: my dear friend over in Alabama's watching over her hospitialized Mom, same as my buddy in Texas, with his Dad, both COVID cases. I think the entire business has pushed many drained people to resort to out-of-bounds methods for what is, really, attempting to recover energy and what Southerners call 'my sanctification' (i.e. I'm about to Lose my Religion!).
Differing facts accompany the blame leveled: 'your leaders put us in this predicament, your media complex is muffling this cure, and that #1 hit, "This is a hoax to make us obedi--" blah blah. For anyone devoted to building empathy, and maybe lacking in more in-person resources of socialization, it's certainly a tempest.
The kids going back to school, and possible spread- ahh, you know, I needn't assess, here. Even triggering people with reasonable arguments brings folks like us to an edge, and a temptation to blow our cool, desperate to shake up circumstances that affect us, and those we love, but beyond our control. We look for ways to preserve and build character. I sense that intention, here: existing in you, my reader, a basic reverence for life and actual, unpretentious decency.
It's not at all wrong to seek some way to promote both empathy and reason. Trust your convictions and bathe in your serenity, and know the best in trouble times, with hope for better days
I remember reading the moving account of how, by her own words, Mother Theresa had come to doubt God's existence, yet, never ever lost a recognition for some fundamental force emitting from Creation to show the face of Love in the desperate circumstances she heroically encountered.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
The hydroxychloroquine controversy: a glance at the scientific community debate
First, a look at a Newsweek opinion, published today, authored by a Dr. Reisch, an epidemeologist from Yale's School of Public Health. "https://www.newsweek.com/key-defeating-covid-19-already-exists-we-need-start-using-it-opinion-1519535?fbclid=IwAR0_wOEHeE2N_n7cdZqj0GEeqeEx2PszCb3I3KCZBlLUC1GWsIIjJRA0Tk8"
His are the most impressive bona fides I have seen in connection with the drug, and he cites several studies, both in his paper and a follow-up letter.
There is also the dexamethasone steroid, contributing to the lower mortality rate experienced now, compared to Italy and the U.K., for example. Its efficacy was discovered in June.
I realize this is discussed now in the context of the Dr. Stella Immanuel controversy this morning and the Frontline Doctors summit. But I'm willing to think separately of Dr. Risch's AJE paper, from that. It's just alarming there's such a number of outlets who have carried medical journal stories- such as the New England Journal of Medicine- against the drug.
I'm aware my local environment is very political. I think that's true all over America at present. There's a vocal presence in favor of conservatism of a sort which embraces Donald Trump, endorsed by both leading Republican candidates for representative. (The 14th is likely to go to Marjory Greene.)
Me, I'm just sad sometimes the swimming pool's not open! I was so looking forward to that this summer. Not to mention what new friends or better friendships I might make. At least i have a job I love and preoccupations that busy me towards my dreams- I sympathize with the enormous stress for people worried for the fundamental situation. Especially teachers and people with children.
The secondary long term effects of Covid19 are much more nebulous and troublesome. Those, I would like to see additionally reviewed as well. I wouldn't make time to read papers beyond my expertise everyday, but it is invaluable to try the best sources. The issue of rampant ignorance and stubbornly risky behavior is the deeper issue, because that could pass along the virus in a manner which would allow it a longer foothold before detection and treatment.
The early administration of the drug - either one I mentioned- is a critical part of the study results. I do know a hospitalization would be very undesirable for numerous reasons. Precautions meanwhile are not bullshit. I like my clear conscience and feel free to pursue my life. Better days are coming, too. But I am glad news like this is coming out in a verifiable outlet, from peer-reviewed sources outside of political agendas. And thanks Jodye Treadaway for sharing !
Before we go any further:Real scientists don’t hold flashy press conferences- they publish their work (which is carefully studied by other scientists first) in medical journals. Two good resources for good science are www.pubmed.com and scholar.google.com while the information there is “sciencey” the abstract, introduction and conclusion sections of papers are often easy enough to understand the general idea.
Thanks, Holly Kennedy Amerman! (She posted from the New England Journal of Medicine.)
It is a little confusing territory, but science is a process. The Zelenko study Risch cites was discredited by several sources, in May, but it's included in Dr. Risch's follow-up letter (not to be confused with a peer-reviewed study, but also published by AJE . I remembered, and checked, to find three studies promoted in sciencemag.org, a non-profit, and by reputation, highly factual source, which discounted hydroxychloriquine.
So I think I'll be looking for an opinion from my engineer friends, too.
This particular Risch opinion is backed by publication in the AJE, so it's a pretty heavy weight contender, albeit with two moving parts (his paper, and his follow-up letter). Interestingly, this same issue of Newsweek features an article on a conspiracy theory touted by the President, who says the drug's been discredited to hobble him politically, so editorial has found a way to kind of balance their presentation on the pro and con views.
I think, especially in light of the real world consequential decisions upon us, but also very generally, many if not most people are more satisified with encapsulated presentations that strongly affirm a position, particularly if they've developed a bias. I've been trying to ascertain what is the least biased, most nuanced viewpoint on the pandemic, but it's not my full-time job.
It was frankly a pretty exhausting hobby! So I had to take Occam's Razor and tailor activities accordingly, just like anybody.