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Covid in China
People are really lashing out against the latest lockdowns in China. This despite the government recently making restrictions a little less extreme. It seems three years is just too long to keep people cooped up, even in an authoritarian dictatorship.
And you might think a government like that would force their citizens to get vaccinated so that an orderly transition out of Zero Covid could take place. Unfortunately, only 40% of the elderly have gotten three Covid shots and China still has far fewer intensive care beds per person than developed countries. Plus fewer than 0.1% of residents have ever had Covid, so a large wave of Omicron will almost certainly lead to many deaths.
The Communist party has kept this lockdown going a lot longer than many outsiders expected to be possible, but the end may be a lot closer than it was a couple weeks ago.
Interesting fact: China is currently projected to spend about $240 billion on Covid testing this year (1.5% of GDP), never mind manpower enforcing lockdowns, etc. Dystopianly, Covid mitigation is a pretty important part of the Chinese economy at the moment.
The Disease fka Monkeypox
The WHO has finally caved to indignant Mandrills everywhere and made an official name change recommendation from Monkeypox to MPox, which is, admittedly, a pretty cool name.
Of course, British parliament members are known as MPs, so we will sit back and wait for them to demand a re-rebrand.
Jackpot
A reproductive cell bank has released a small analysis indicating an increase in sperm quality when donors use the available virtual reality headsets during the donation process.
There is no clear theory why that might be, but Mark Zuckerberg may have finally found a use case for his $36 billion Metaverse.
Panacea Peddler
A longtime reader has reported an Instagram spammer is hawking micro-doses of psychedelics alleging the following benefits:
“helps fight cancer, focus, good for your heart & bones, helps anemia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, PMS, inflammation, immunity, weight loss, physical energy, stamina, emotional balance, problem solving skills, focus, emotional openness, spiritual awareness, creativity, trauma, neuro movement problems and many more”
The last part may be the hardest to believe - many more than every possible ailment?
We long for those simpler times back when drug dealers just sold stuff to get people high.
Liver Let Live
A large study investigated data from 2005 to 2021 and concluded there was a 21% increase in organ donors and a 26% increase in transplant surgeries when motorcycle rallies are held nearby. Not that anyone needs to be told a motorcycle is a dangerous mode of transportation, but putting numbers like this on it should be unsettling to all.
And yes, the study controlled for the fact that motorcycle rallies are held in motorcycle country. The increase was shown relative to the numbers in the region both four weeks prior and four weeks following the rally.
So if you need a kidney, guess you could do worse than moving to Sturgis.
Pace Maker
A cardiologist runs a half marathon, and on the way encounters not one, but two people having cardiac arrest and proceeds to save both their lives in the process. It’s a Twitter thread of bad and good luck.
Chin (Slightly) Up
Christmas is coming and, as ever, consumer medical devices are all the rage at Sharper Image. This year treat your loved one to a massager that may or may not reduce their double chin while sparing them the trouble of actually working for that outcome.
And look, Sharper Image helpfully only shows us the skinny "After" model, who seems to be falling asleep in her chin sling. Soooo relaxing.
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