Debilitating after-effects
For many of us days pass without mentioning how Covid-19 has killed more than 1.1 million people in the United States. That’s more than the 675,000 lives lost in the 2018 flu pandemic, more lives than were lost in the American Civil War.
But there are also millions who live with debilitating after-effects of Covid every day. (Globally, hundreds of millions.)
As we approach TFP’s new administration, and his pledge that he will let RFK Jr. “go wild on health”, including the NIH, we may need to turn to non-governmental organizations for advances in scientific and health research. Zeynep Tufekci, a columnist in the NYT whose analysis I generally trust identified one org, the Patient-Led Research Collaborative, built by a group of those living with Long Covid:
I’ll admit that I was skeptical that such a small group could have much of an impact. Given the complexity of the science, wouldn’t the N.I.H. be better suited to this role than the patients, some of whom are very ill?
I was wrong. [NYT gift link]
Good news where we can get it
Two weeks after Election Day we finally have a winner in the Congressional race in California’s 45th District.
Democrat Derek Tran has defeated incumbent Republican Michelle Steel.
The Republican margin in the House of Representatives continues to shrink, making Mike Johnson’s job of keeping 218 votes in line that much harder.
I will attempt to include good news here when I can. I will earnestly try not to use this space to celebrate the immiseration of January 6 insurrectionists.
(I might not always succeed.)
One @#$%ing thing
I picked up more pies than we need from one of my favorite home-grown Oakland businesses, and then we drove to the airport and picked up the boy 🧡
Safe, reliable plane travel is a miracle.
All the @#$%ing things
Night 21: Downsized my clothes closet
Night 20: Increased my monthly contribution to the ACLU
Night 19: Deleted a blog from two decades ago
Night 18: Researched nonprofit board opportunities
Night 17: Contributed to Trans Lifeline
Night 16: Spent time together with loved ones
Night 15: Bought from a not-for-profit online store
Night 14: Refined an icon and wordmark
Night 13: Contributed to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
Night 12: Contributed to The Guardian
Night 11: Read, reflected, and rested
Night 10: Sent money to support vaccinations in Nigeria
Night 9: Sent money to a friend in need
Night 8: Gave gifts and spoke words of appreciation aloud
Night 7: Contributed to a California-focused nonprofit newsroom
Night 6: Made homemade donuts for my team
Night 5: Opted into a paid Buttondown tier
Night 4: Reviewed my local election results
Night 3: Deactivated my X account
Night 2: Contributed to my local nonprofit newsroom
Night 1: Started by starting
Words, sorts, thinks, and actions by Chris Ereneta, from Oakland, California. Thanks for reading! Thoughtful feedback and questions are welcomed at that.often@gmail.com