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Txzen

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Everything posted by Txzen

  1. I totally get the appeal of driving PCH from one end to the other. As someone who has done it in part or whole a few times in the last 10 years between LA and parts just north of SF, it can be a taxing, frustrating drive choked with traffic. You get behind some slow trucks or vehicles, and it really can spoil the experience. The immediate area north of Jenner (contains some of the more hair-raising bits which are not at all fun if anyone in your car has any vertigo or fear of heights. Still, as much as I try to downplay the experience, I get it. I personally think that central coast area is amazing - Santa Barbara is what every really wants when the think of golden CA beaches and wine country (Buelton, Los Olivos), and the PCH area around Cambria is really nice. If you start from SoCal, I'd not bother with PCH and just figure out how to get to Cambria the most efficient way possible and start your journey there. I've not driven it north of Mendocino, but am told that arguably the section from mid-Oregon to Eureka is very scenic (perhaps the nicest stretch of it all), and I wonder if you might get the best experience by focusing the driving bit to a smaller section with some overnight stays in small beach towns?
  2. The question around why this guy is using SA or some other forum for his hookups, when he could probably do well on his own, likely hinges on the age of his preference. They don't ask him questions, they don't want to scold him, they don't look for answers...
  3. Yeah, influenza is a great example : link The whole review is a pretty good read. I've also seen a paper where the intranasal flu vaccine was more effective at inducing sterilizing immunity than the intramuscular version, but can't seem to find it at the moment. But as mentioned, the continued requirement for masks has much more to do with the fact that places like states are only single-digit vaccination status, as well as to prevent the Karens from non-compliance by claiming to be vaccinated.
  4. Was thinking more like this : You can't cook a piston engine! Well, you can't eat it raw. . .
  5. I think the issue is that there's no selective pressure to push for a higher prevalence of this potentially new mutated strain, which is why perhaps it hasn't increased in frequency since first identified. If it continues to increase following wide-spread vaccination, that's probably quite telling. For example, it wasn't initially clear what the impact of the other mutant strain which was also first identified this summer, but the fact that it was increasing in prevalence suggested at the time that this was happening for a reason, and in fact we know now there's some advantageous biology at play here with regard to much higher transmittability. That's the most frustrating thing for me with the vaccines - we have to knock this thing down, because the longer it gets passed around, the greater the chance we see something like a mutant spike protein which confers resistance to the vaccines at hand. I don't think we know that yet with this bugger, though.
  6. Not her first rodeo. Is it wrong that I like to hear her scream when handcuffed?
  7. Yep - trying to get my mom in (she's 1B) for Delco through APH. After doing the online reg, it says congrats, go sign up for a slot. The only day that shows availability online is Jan 15, with 30 min slots from 9-6. Clicking any of them returns the message 'this slot is full'. But I kept clicking them and one finally confirmed the registration. Keep at it. . .
  8. Based on what is known now, that appears to be true. That's not necessarily a good thing. A good rundown was in the Atlantic from Adam Kucharski (UK infectious disease expert), quoted here : link. He compares what would happen with the death rate for a 50% increase in lethality versus a 50% increase in transmissibility (but no impact in lethality).
  9. Scored one from a Walmart drop last week. Was scheduled to arrive January 8. Showed up at noon today. Christmas miracle indeed.
  10. It's excellent, though it helps to watch Kane immediately before to remind yourself. Had to stop in the middle to read some Wikis on the 1934 California gubernatorial race. Gorgeous to look at, well written and acted. Really enjoyed it.
  11. What can I say - I’m a bastion of (sometimes) useless information.
  12. No, and the recognition of 'self' nucleic acids is definitely a pathway for the onset of autoimmune disease. Basically, if a cell dies quietly, you're less likely to have issues. But apoptosis in the context of other inflammatory signals can definitely break self-tolerance.
  13. The recognition of nucleic acids is a pretty old and evolutionarily conserved arm of the immune system, regulated by receptors called 'Toll Like Receptors' (named because the German scientist who discovered them in the lab called them 'toll', meaning 'cool'.). Their whole role is to recognize 'coatings' that are used by bacteria, or nucleic acids (single, or double-stranded RNA) used by viruses or bacteria. While the nanoparticle coating could potentially diminish 'free' RNA from floating around, I'm not sure that's the mechanism here as TLR receptors cycle into the intracellular space, basically to monitor for the presence of infection. This pathway gets abnormal in people with autoimmune disease, for instance, where the body starts making an immune response to normal cellular RNA and DNA (like in lupus). Basically, there immune system evolved to deal with the threat of nucleic acids floating around that don't belong there. I think what's being seen with those with severe allergic hypersensitivity will see it with either RNA vaccine, or at least thats my guess. Again, these are people who have such hypersensitivity they have to travel around with EpiPens, so it's not just people like me that sneeze in contact with anything flowering or furry.
  14. Naked mRNA is a hell of an immune stimulant.
  15. Few minutes? 30 seconds more like it. assholes.
  16. Can totally understand the fears of a 'new' vaccine - though my fears are more around the logistics and handling of it as it's so new (though apparently Moderna has some shit figured out, so bravo). The important thing to remember is that mRNA vaccines are by their very nature transient - this doesn't integrate into your genome, rather it hangs around in your cells and spits out protein. For me the only other fear is that being vaccinated does not make you COVID 'sterile' - this is particularly the case when you have a respiratory disease and vaccinate intramuscularly, rather than intranasal. There's good evidence from the flu and other similar diseases that while you may be vaccinated, you could still harbor and carry it. I think this is a far lower spreading risk than the unvaccinated asymptomatic carrier, but it's a thing. Not sure what that means going forward with COVID protocol in nursing homes, for instance. Great review of mRNA vaccines here : mRNA vaccines — a new era in vaccinology (Nature)
  17. On the national news, there was an interview with someone (didn't catch if she was an actual representative from CVS or just some random yahoo - perhaps the latter) who stated that they'd have to resort to dry ice for the Pfizer vaccine, which I think is not going to work. Sounds like Moderna has it figured out, though it would be great to learn more.
  18. I've done a little of all of those at different stops in industry. More years than I'd like to admit to at this point. For Moderna, I'm really curious about the 'special sauce' with regard to their formation which they claim allows them to store at 4C for up to 7 days. Something to do with their nanoparticle formulation, though that explanation doesn't quite do it for me (sounds like some other alternations to the mRNA itself?). I think storage and distribution for the Pfizer one is a logistical nightmare. I'd be concerned that you'd need to re-train all the staff handling it as their normal SOP is so different. Why Does Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Need To Be Kept Colder Than Antarctica? Moderna Announces Longer Shelf Life for its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate at Refrigerated Temperatures
  19. Cancer drug development. Immunology background.
  20. Participants with pre-existing autoimmune diseases were excluded from the Pfizer study, at least. Probably the Moderna one as well.
  21. I mean, I'm seeking a supermodel to be my mistress, so. . .
  22. A few weeks ago I was looking at air B&B rentals in southern Oregon to escape the smoke in the Bay Area. Jobs and school are remote, and we're all on our devices anyway. Just awful to see it - looks like Paradise/Santa Rosa all over again. And still at least a month or two before we really start taking about rain in these parts.
  23. Totally. Life on Mars today.
  24. Mid day in the Bay Area was like a hour before dusk - except not pretty. Thick marine layer and heavy smoke above it has given us a brown-orange DARK sky all day. There really aren't words to describe the feeling. link
  25. Having just spent the long weekend along the Russian River up north (and the ocean beaches it reaches to), an additional issue right now is with the number of parks and beaches closed for COVID, the areas that are open get utterly swamped. PCH1 looked like the 405 on Sunday. That area is one my favorites, and kayaking in that kelp field off the shore of the Aquarium in Monterrey is amazing. Just be prepared as to say the current situation is dynamic is an understatement.
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