#covid-19 advice

[riderofthemist]

It's summer, it's hot and if you are a fellow respirator wearer it might be even worse. So :

Don't forget to drink my dear. That would be a shame to avoid Covid but get dehydrated.

Be careful with the heat. It doesn't mess around. Learn the signs between heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Take a break.

Don't forget to change your respirator if it gets too wet.

And don't feel guilty if you stayed at home instead of going out with your friends because you didn't want to wear a respirator with this heat especially when everyone else just don't care. And even without a respirator, it was too hot anyway. (maybe a bit too personal. ^^')

Because it's would be a pity to lose a wonderful person like you. Don't give up, you're doing great.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Dear Friends,

Do you want to fight mask bans? We want your help to protect the right to mask and defend public health.

The World Health Network (WHN) has a Legal and Advocacy Team that fights proposed mask bans and engages in advocacy on other key legal issues. There is dangerous legislation currently proposed in New Jersey and other areas in the U.S., and unfortunately we expect more to follow. We believe that the right to wear a mask is essential, especially for vulnerable communities, and we need your help to protect it.

We welcome people of all backgrounds and skill sets. You do not need to be in the legal field to join!

Join our WHN Legal and Advocacy Team meetings to strategize and take action.

Meeting Details: Day & Time: Tuesday Evenings at 6:15-7:00PM Eastern Time Location: WHN Slack Workspace, #Act-Legal-and-Advocacy-Team Channel

You do not need to attend every week in order to participate.

If you’re a legal professional, advocate, or simply passionate about protecting public health, we invite you to join the fight. Your voice is needed now more than ever.

[funkopersonal]

Is it weird to celebrate your bat mitzvah late? My twelfth birthday was at the peak of COVID, and so I was never able to celebrate it. My family is jewish on both ends, and i'm the first born child. We planned to travel to see our family in israel, and visit jerusalem, and I was going to learn the torah and do the whole ceremony there and when I came back to America I'd celebrate with friends and family. But obviously that didn't work out when the whole world shut down during the pandemic.

My brother, just recently, had his own bar mitzvah. And it was amazing to see how much he's grown. But seeing him celebrating with friends and having the ceremony in the synagogue opened up an emotional wound I didn't know was even there. I was thinking of celebrating my Bat mitzvah by embedding some tradition into my sweet sixteen, but for financial reasons, we couldn't do it. So now i'm at the point where I'm like... how could I even do this? isn't it awkward or weird?

Does anyone have some input on this? ...its kinda weird to ask the internet this, but its better than asking my non-jewish friends.

[artemis-pendragon]

My brother who I spent all weekend with tested positive for Covid yesterday but my nasal swab was negative so they kept me at work and this morning my nasal swab was still negative but I had the Intuition™ and tested a sample hacked up from my lungs and yep!!!! Positive!!! Just not enough virus in my upper respiratory tract for the home test to detect 😭 so anyway moral of the story is that my work better never hit me with the "it's actually not as contagious as people say and usually doesn't infect all members of a household!" bullshit ever again lmaooooo do not doubt my devotion to epidemiology girl I know this shit like the veins in the back of my hand. ANYWAY. I have Covid help

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi Steph, how are you? I hope it's the most comfortable season in your area right now? I had covid in the summer and unfortunately I'm still getting weaker and weaker, so I was wondering if you could recommend some exercises you enjoy? Like YouTube channels or just the names of the exercises would be greatly appreciated. Sending hugs.

Hey Nonny *HUGS*

Yes, we're finally entering the best part of autumn, where the weather is beautiful sweater weather during the day and the evenings are cool. It won't last long, sadly, because we get early wet winters so it will get really cold all the time and just... rain until December, ugh.

Ugh, I feel you about feeling weak after Covid. It took me awhile to get back to my "normal", which is going back to the gym daily and waking up at decent times and sleeping through the night. Took awhile for that.

Oh gosh, okay regarding the fitness thing, I'm trying hard to think back to a couple years ago; I had to get a nutritionist because I had a health scare (I fainted while sitting down and doing nothing) and he wanted me to get back into a routine. Let me tell you, it's SO hard, but his words of encouragement helped SO MUCH MORE than any of those """"fitness influencers"""" and personal trainers (ie. professional torturers lol) ever did because he NEVER expected more than I was comfortable with. He always said "YOU have to want to change, I'm just here to help you on that path".

Currently, I go to the gym pretty much every day for at least an hour and mostly weight lifting. It took nearly a year and a half to get back to that level of fitness for me. Pre-Covid I was doing even more to the point of obsession. Both my nutritionist and my therapist help me with coping mechanisms to ensure that that doesn't happen again. When I was first getting back into exercising, we focussed on the one exercise I LOVED doing: walking. He always said "10 minutes of walking a day is better than not doing it at all." It always started small, and walking was the thing that got me back to exercising. And, little by little 10 became 20 became 30 became an hour, and then going back to the gym was less daunting. My work has a gym which my brain deemed as "safe" in my post-covid anxiety, so I started going back via my work gym. Again, I have previous fitness experience so I started off on machines and then back into my old routines with free weights.

But yeah, definitely some walking or even just some stretching or yoga moves (my nutritionist actually tried to get me to start working out by stretching and meditating, but I don't really like doing either of those). My nutritionist, while he did want me to work towards a healthier lifestyle, never EVER pushed me to do more than I was ready for. So this is my advice to you, Lovely: what kind of exercise do you LIKE doing? Walking? Push ups? Squats? There are simple exercises that people use for physio, seniors, and limited mobility individuals. Getting up and sitting down, wall presses, light lunges, even stretches are great for working towards a more active lifestyle. Heck, even "doing weights" by lifting a full water bottle is an exercise! Mine was walking. Perhaps yours is leg lifts or shoulder rolls. Even just a little activity is GOOD!! This article here is a good place to start if you're limited mobility, and here's a good article for beginners.

Also, search on YouTube for "Workouts for Beginners"; there's quite a few workouts there, hopefully without too many ad-breaks to ruin the flow of the workouts. My favourite workouts, though are Les Mills Body Combat and Body Pump, which are both more advanced once you're into a rhythm. I used to do the classes at GoodLife before Covid, and now my CURRENT routine incorporates moves I learned in both of those (I'm still skittish about being in group settings so I kind of just do them on my own). I'm very proud of myself for how far I've come in a year and a half, when I genuinely thought I would never do it again. I could barely walk because of foot and joint pains, I was always dizzy and I was very lethargic all the time. Changing my diet helped a lot too; my nutritionist recommended a lot more protein to keep me fuller longer, and 3 meals a day with small snacks. Never have a deficit!! He doesn't believe in dieting, just "eating right". AND he doesn't make me weigh myself which helped me overcome my disordered eating triggers. He's a great nutritionist.

It can be done Nonny! Just start small, and stick to a schedule. For me I find it easier to do it during the week during my lunch break at work makes it feel like it's NOT eating into my free time, and on weekends and days off I go first thing in the morning to the gym because it's quieter. So, a routine helps for sure! I think you can do it too!!!!

Let me know if I can help you out with tips that have helped me that I haven't listed here. And, if anyone has something to help Nonny get back into a routine that has maybe helped y'all after Covid, please do offer your support! <3

ALSO as an aside, Nonny, it's recommended you start SMALL after Covid to allow your body to properly heal, so DON'T PUSH YOURSELF nor feel bad if you're slow. Every Body is different! <3

Good luck Nonny!!!

[coupleofdays]

A few years ago, I decided that I would make a real effort to become more social, instead of spending most of my free time sitting at home. I was going to find ways to socialize, byt finding local groups doing stuff I'm interested in, by visiting conventions, maybe try going to concerts or clubs. Maybe even *gasp* try dating. There's a part of me who often tries to push against these ideas, coming up with excuses to stay at home instead, but I was going to do my damndest to fight against it, argue against it, or simply ignore it, because I had a genuine longing to not just sit at home, alone.

Then the Covid pandemic started.

And now, that antisocial part of me has the perfect excuse, that I'm having a really hard time arguing against.

"Oh sure, you can join a group or go to a convention, but is it really worth the hassle? You wouldn't want to endanger anyone else, would you? You'll have to wear a mask constantly (and if you start to go out regularly, that's a whole lot of masks you gotta buy!), always make sure to wash your hands if you happen to touch it, always try to keep your distance, never letting your guard down for an instant. Oh, and try to make sure that all meetings you attend are outdoors too, because being indoors with other people increases the risk!"

"And even then, even if you do everything you can perfectly, if you take every possible precaution, you'll still have the nagging knowledge that it's not 100% safe, that you might be endangering everyone around you despite your best efforts (especially since most people around you doesn't seem to care about masking anyway, and your social anxiety makes it so you don't want to bring the mood down by arguing about it). Wouldn't it be easier to just stay home and play videogames all day, and then go to bed and fall asleep while worrying about dying alone?"

[tomorrowusa]

« [I]f you’re willing to support the election of a president who cannot conceive of any distinction between what he wants and what the law permits, you are placing the survival of the Republic at risk. »

— Jonathan Chait at New York Magazine (archived).

The burden is on us to go the extra mile in this election to preserve democracy. Part of that is to highlight Trump's most disastrous failure.

If you know anybody afflicted by Trumpnesia, the burden is on you to address that condition. It's necessary to speak up now and do so assertively.

Some people have forgotten how Trump's mishandling of the COVID-19 emergency tanked the economy. There was the Trump COVID recession, the HŪGE spike in unemployment, and the supply chain issues and need to heavily stimulate spending to prevent another Great Depression which drove inflation for a couple of years.

COVID-19 was an international crisis. But some countries handled it much better than others. Under Trump, the US had the worst per capita death rate of all the G-7 countries.

The Trump White House was actually giving out quack medical advice such as recommending that people take Hydroxychloroquine – an anti-malaria drug which also acts as an immunosuppressant. The last thing you need when fighting an infection is an immunosuppressant. Trump also recommended that Americans drink bleach.

Reminding people in the next week or two of how catastrophic the last year of the Trump administration was may be the best way to preserve American democracy.

Millions Have Amnesia About the Worst of Trump’s Presidency. Memory Experts Explain Why. How Trump is benefiting from the limits of our memory.

[stephenist]

My work got rid of the plastic screens they put in front of the tills and kiosk and I feel so exposed to their germs I wish I had the ability to wear a mask I hate it so much

I feel for you. It’s sad that employers don’t care more about their workers. I hope you can find some ways to be safe. Maybe someone on here will have some advice?

[jcmarchi]

Is this the new playbook for curing rare childhood diseases?

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/is-this-the-new-playbook-for-curing-rare-childhood-diseases/

Is this the new playbook for curing rare childhood diseases?

“There is no treatment available for your son. We can’t do anything to help him.”

When Fernando Goldsztein MBA ’03 heard those words, something inside him snapped.

“I refused to accept what the doctors were saying. I transformed my fear into my greatest strength and started fighting.”

Goldsztein’s 12-year-old son Frederico was diagnosed with relapsing medulloblastoma, a life-threatening pediatric brain tumor. Goldsztein’s life — and career plan — changed in an instant. He had to learn to become a different kind of leader altogether.

While Goldsztein never set out to become a founder, the MIT Sloan School of Management taught him the importance of networking, building friendships, and making career connections with peers and faculty from all walks of life. He began using those skills in a new way — boldly reaching out to the top medulloblastoma doctors and scientists at hospitals around the world to ask for help.

“I knew that I had to do something to save Frederico, but also the other estimated 15,000 children diagnosed with the disease around the world each year,” he says.

In 2021, Goldsztein launched The Medulloblastoma Initiative (MBI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure using a remarkable new model for funding rare disease research.

In just 18 months, the organization — which is still in startup mode — has raised $11 million in private funding and brought together 14 of the world’s most prestigious labs and hospitals from across North America, Europe, and Brazil.

Two promising trials will launch in the coming months, and three additional trials are in the pipeline and currently awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.

All of this in an industry that is notorious for bureaucratic red tape, and where the timeline from an initial lab discovery to a patient receiving a first treatment averages seven to 15 years.

While government research grants typically allocate just 4 cents on the dollar toward pediatric cancer research — pennies doled out across multiple labs pursuing uncoordinated efforts — MBI is laser-focused on pushing 100 percent of their funding toward a singular goal, without any overhead or administrative costs.

“There is no time to lose,” Goldsztein says. “We are making science move faster than it ever has before.”

The MBI blueprint for funding cures for rare diseases is replicable, and likely to disrupt the standard way health care research is funded and carried out by radically shortening the timeline.

From despair to strength

After his initial diagnosis at age 9, Frederico went through a nine-hour brain surgery and came to the United States to receive standard treatment. Goldsztein looked on helplessly as his son received radiation and then nine grueling rounds of chemotherapy.

First pioneered in the 1980s, this standard treatment protocol cures 70 percent of children. Still, it leaves most of them with lifelong side effects like cognitive problems, endocrine issues that stunt growth, and secondary tumors. Frederico was on the wrong side of that statistic. Just three years later, his tumor relapsed.

Goldsztein grimaces as he recalls the prognosis he and his wife heard from the doctors.

“It was unbelievable to me that there had been almost no discoveries in 40 years,” he says.

Ultimately, he found hope and partnership in Roger Packer, the director of the Brain Tumor Institute and the Gilbert Family Neurofibromatosis Institute of Children’s National Hospital. He is also the very doctor who created the standard treatment years before.

Packer explains that finding effective therapies for medulloblastoma was complex for 30 years because it is an umbrella term for 13 types of tumors. Frederico suffers from the most common one, Group 4.

Part of the reason the treatment has not changed is that, until recently, medicine has not advanced enough to detect differences between the different tumor types. Packer explains, “Now with molecular genetic testing and methylation, which is a way to essentially sort tumors, that has changed.”

The problem for Frederico was that very few researchers were working on Group 4, the sub-type of medulloblastoma that is the most common tumor, yet also the one that scientists know the least about.

Goldsztein challenged Packer: “If I can get you the funding, what can your lab do to advance medulloblastoma research quickly?”

An open-source consortium model

Packer advised that they work together to “try something different,” instead of just throwing money at research without any guideposts.

“We set up a consortium of leading institutions around the world doing medulloblastoma research, asked them to change their lab approach to focus on the Group 4 tumor, and assigned each lab a question to answer. We charged them with coming up with therapy — not in seven to 10 years, which is the normal transition from discovery to developing a drug and getting it to a patient, but within a two-year timeline,” he says.

Initially, seven labs signed on. Today, the Cure Group 4 Consortium is made up of 14 partners and reads like a who’s who of medulloblastoma heavy hitters: Children’s National Hospital, SickKids, Hopp Children’s Cancer Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital.

Labs can only join the consortium if they agree to follow some unusual rules. As Goldsztein explains, “To be accepted into this group and receive funding, there are no silos, and there is no duplicated work. Everyone has a piece of the puzzle, and we work together to move fast. That is the magic of our model.”

Inspired by MIT’s open-source methods, researchers must share data freely with one another to accelerate the group’s overall progress. This kind of partnership across labs and borders is unprecedented in a highly competitive sector.

Mariano Gargiulo MBA ’03 met Goldsztein on the first day of their MIT Sloan Fellows MBA program orientation and has been his dear friend ever since. An early-stage donor to MBI and a Houston-based executive in the energy sector, Gargiulo sat down with Goldsztein as he first conceptualized MBI’s operating model.

“Usually, startup business models plot out the next 10-15 years; Fernando’s timeline was only two years, and his benchmarks were in three-month increments.” It was audaciously optimistic, says Gargiulo, but so was the founder.

“When I saw it, I did not doubt that he would achieve his goals. I’m seeing Fernando hit those first targets now and it’s amazing to watch,” Gargiulo says.

Children’s National Hospital endorsed MBI in 2023 and invited Goldsztein to sit on its foundation’s board, adding credibility to the initiative and his ability to fundraise more ambitiously.

According to Packer, in the next few months, the first two MBI protocols will reach patients for the first time: an immunotherapy protocol, which “leverages the body’s immune response to target cancer cells more effectively and safely than traditional therapies,” and a medulloblastoma vaccine, which “adapts similar methodologies used in Covid-19 vaccine development. This approach aims to provide a versatile and mobile treatment that could be distributed globally.”

A matter of when

When Goldsztein is not with his own family in Brazil, fundraising, or managing MBI, he is on Zoom with a network of more than 70 other families with children with relapsed medulloblastoma. “I’m not a doctor and I don’t give out medical advice, but with these trials, we are giving each other hope,” he explains.

Hope and purpose are commodities that Goldsztein has in spades. “I don’t understand the idea of doing business and accumulating assets, but not helping others,” he says. He shared that message with an auditorium of his fellow alumni at his 2023 MIT Sloan Reunion.

Frederico, who defied all odds and lived with the threat of recurrence, recently graduated high school. He is interested in international relations and passionate about photography. “This is about finding a cure for Frederico and for all kids,” Goldsztein says.

When asked how the world would be impacted if MBI found a cure for medulloblastoma, Goldsztein shakes his head.

“We are going to find the cure. It’s not if, it’s a matter of when.”

His next goal is to scale MBI and have it serve as a resource for groups that want to replicate its playbook to solve other childhood diseases.

“I’m never going to stop,” he says.

[waytoooldforthisish]

Looking for perspective

I’ll drop this into a travel community as needed but wanted to set it here first. I’m in major need of some perspective on international travel. I’m looking for the good, and the bad if it exists. To start, I’m in the U.S. I used to travel internationally, no second thoughts. Since the pandemic, I’ve experienced some shifts in perspective, most likely more related to depression more than anything else. I no longer feel inspired or motivated to travel outside the country. I feel a bit fearful when I never used to. Leading up to 2020, my spouse and I had a trip planned to Japan. All details were in order, I was so incredibly excited; it was the first time in a long time I was looking forward to something, the excitement you felt as a kid waiting for Christmas. 2020 arrived, our trip was planned for April. The pandemic experience began and we waited as long as we could to see what would happen before cancelling our trip. It was so incredibly sad and we lost money; I think more impactful though was the disappointment in having to cancel and not getting to experience everything we looked forward to for months before. Since then, I’m so on the fence about traveling. I can’t really understand why it affected me so much and I don’t know how to move passed it. Here we are, 5 years later and I haven’t planned a big trip. Granted, we instead focused on other big life changes and much of our money has gone those directions instead, but still, it makes me sad that I have such reservations. Anyway, that’s all, I figured I’ll put this here and see if anyone has advice or other perspective on how to move forward.

[californiannostalgia]

Wear a mask. Get vaccinated. WHO literally declared long covid a 'mass disabling event'.

Average number of deaths per day are still very high. Average age of death has dropped globally. There's a 1 in 10 chance of disability from COVID infection. If you've gotten infected multiple times, you have a higher chance of becoming disabled.

GET VACCINATED. WEAR A MASK.

[lifestyle-hub]

How the Post-Pandemic Dating Scene Looks Now: Tips for Building Real Connections

Image Credit: Kad

The pandemic changed the way we connect (can't believe almost 5 years have passed already since Covid), leaving many of us feeling a bit out of touch when it comes to dating. For over a year, we were limited to screens and virtual happy hours, now, the world has opened up again, and the dating scene is evolving.

So how do we transition from swiping right to forming genuine connections?

1. Don’t Rush, Keep Your Anxiety in Check

It’s tempting to dive back into the dating pool headfirst, feeling like you need to make up for the months spent in isolation. But rushing through dates will only lead to missed connections. Instead, ease into it. Take time to figure out what you're really looking for in a partner, and don’t feel pressured to jump into something just because everyone else is.

2. Lead with Vulnerability

If there’s one thing we learned during the pandemic, it’s the importance of real, human connection. Small talk might have been fine before, but now, people crave more authentic conversations. Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability early on. Talk about how the pandemic affected you, what you’ve learned, and what you’re hoping to find moving forward. This deeper level of conversation can help you quickly weed out those who aren’t on the same page....... Get what I mean?

3. Balance Online and In-Person Dating

Dating apps are still the go-to, but face-to-face interactions hold more value than ever. Consider hybrid dating;  start with messaging or video calls, but don’t let those linger too long before meeting up in person. A coffee date or casual walk in the park can help you determine if there's chemistry beyond the screen. That being said, virtual dates still have their place. If you're long-distance or still cautious about in-person meetups, don’t dismiss them entirely.

4. Acknowledge the Social Awkwardness

I think we’ve all become a little socially awkward after the lockdowns. Maybe it’s been months since you’ve flirted, or perhaps your confidence has taken a hit. Acknowledge the awkwardness with humor, chances are, your date feels the same way. Leaning into the discomfort instead of avoiding it can make you more relatable and lighten the mood.

5. Redefine What Connection Means to You

The pandemic forced us to rethink our priorities, and dating is no exception. Maybe casual hookups don't hold the same appeal they once did, or you’re now more interested in finding someone who shares your values. Use this time to redefine what a meaningful connection looks like for you. When you go into dating with clarity, you’re more likely to find someone who fits your vision.

Real Connections Over Quantity

Post-pandemic dating isn’t about seeing how many people you can meet or how fast you can catch up (please, that's not what I mean) it’s about making the connections that matter. Take your time, stay open, and be intentional about who you let into your life.

After all, building real relationships has always been more important than filling up a calendar of dates....... Get what I mean?

Signing out, kad

Reference

The Family Institute: Discusses how the pandemic influenced dating

[jadeestebanestrada]

Happy Birthday to me

I woke up again this morning so a moment of reflection is in order.

I was born during the Me Decade, and was later influenced by the materialistic 80s and the constant fear of HIV/AIDS. In the 90s, I began my travels while exercising my performance abilities throughout the last days of the 20th century.

As I watched family and friends move on to other realms, I launched a musical career in the post-9/11 world and experienced the Obama administration, then later documented Donald Trump winning the presidency in 2016. Thanks to a team of phenomenal doctors and nurses, I survived Covid, and, two years later, was shot at five times, by a gunman wearing a hoodie and a GoPro. Amazingly, I’m still here. Six months later, I was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler. Again, I'm kind of shocked that I'm still here.

I have performed almost all over the world and have fallen in love many wonderful times. I kissed the Blarney Stone and rehearsed my monologues on top of the Eiffel Tower, looking out at the city and forming my own opinions about Paris and its people.

I’ve taught the craft of acting to future masters and I’ve been guided by the wisdom of my grandmother for the majority of my life. I'm also a proud uncle.

What I’d tell my younger self: Embrace your timeline, participate in the present, and love (or make an effort to understand) the people who walk alongside you now. They’re not always going to be there.

I wish all of you good health, ample time to make mistakes, and the kind of love that gives you the strength to power through hard times.

Thanks for the birthday notes, gifts, and good wishes.

As far as tomorrow goes, let’s see what happens. For now, I’m happy to be here.

[familythings]

Covid 19 Updates - Symptoms for 2024 version and Practical Tips

In recent weeks, many individuals have shared their experiences of encountering symptoms resembling those linked to earlier waves of COVID-19. Despite the changing global response and the reduced public focus and restrictions, it’s incredibly important to keep a sense of vigilance about our health and overall well-being. Grasping the Current Situation We are experiencing a resurgence of…

[horatiovonbecker]

Dang. Going by current track record, that means hard lockdown now is probably going to look Retrospectively A Bit Late.

[arogyaformulations]

Harnessing Innovation: The Role of Hand Sanitizers in Combatting Corona Virus

In the fight against the Corona virus, innovation plays a pivotal role in developing effective solutions. Hand sanitizers have emerged as a crucial tool in preventing the spread of the virus, offering convenient and accessible means of disinfection. This article explores the science behind hand sanitizers, highlighting their role in breaking the chain of transmission and protecting public health. Additionally, we delve into the manufacturing process of hand sanitizers, emphasizing the importance of quality and efficacy. By harnessing the power of innovation, we can bolster our defenses against the Corona virus and pave the way for a safer future.