Notices by Augie Ray (augieray@mastodon.social), page 2

I mean, seriously? Vote to stop this, regardless of your feelings about Biden's handling of #COVID19. #VoteBlue

There are times I wonder why in the hell people are the way they are--ignoring information, gravitating to silly answers, and embracing lies. Then I remember that 1 in 5 US adults are illiterate, and 54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level.

Meanwhile, the GOP wants to destroy the Department of Education and Trump said he loves the poorly educate. It all starts to make sense. #VoteBlue

https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/post/literacy-statistics-2024-2025-where-we-are-now#:~:text=21%25%C2%A0of,5th%2Dgrade%20level).

I feel as if this image is a metaphor for something...

@pmdj @tawtovo I remind myself what the 95 means in N95. It definitely is very effective, but it's not perfect. 90 minutes in a small van with someone spewing virus into the air is going to remain a risk, even with a good respirator (and I wear 3M Auras.)

I've done a lot of traveling masked and been safe. But we have to remember n95s are 95% efficient. Enough time in small places with sick people, and there will still be risk.

And on LinkedIn, as I warn that #COVID19 reinfections are a business and economic issue, it changes how people think of me. Some have mocked me; more have unfollowed or no longer see my content due to algorithms.

The news isn't all bad. I've been approved to write a research prediction about COVID. I'll tell leaders the impact of COVID reinfections is inescapable, so retaining talent, limiting disruptions and benefit/accommodation costs depend on improving air quality in the workplace. (3/4)

When live events returned, I learned we wouldn't have air filtration and monitoring, so I opted not to attend. I appreciate that my employer allowed me to decline, despite it being a job expectation. But, it's hurt my reputation and visibility.

And, as offices returned to normal, so did our company. My role has always been remote, but we have physical team meetings that I attend virtually. It sucks to be the face on a screen when everyone else is there together, but so be it. (2/4)

I have harmed my career due to my #COVID19 caution, and while I have some frustration, there are no regrets.

In February 2020, I warned people the virus would be a big deal. Peers thought I'd gone crazy. Despite vocally advocating we prepare for our upcoming conference as a virtual or physical event, a boss got angry at me, saying I was discouraging people from preparing for it. (It was canceled and delayed five months.) (1/4)

The final years of my career will be impacted by COVID. I just turned 62, and I'm fine if I've lost some options if it means I've helped some avoid dangers.

In fact, I hope my final career chapter might have something to do with COVID. I'd like to put my skills to work continuing to help people know and avoid needless risk. But even if I continue sharing as I do today, that's enough. People need info they're not getting elsewhere, so I'm proud to be a small part of the #COVID19-aware community.

“I can't possibly eat as much as I want to vomit.”

- Jewish German painter Max Liebermann's reaction to seeing Nazi celebrations in Berlin, January 30, 1933. He died in his sleep two years later, and his death was not covered in the media, which had already been brought into line. (I can't be certain whether Jeff Bezos owned the newspapers at the time.)

#VoteBlue

(I trust people will recognize that last part as a dark joke.)

How bad were the racist remarks on stage at the New York Trump rally? The New York Times was actually forced to call them “racist remarks” and not some euphemism like it usually does (like “racially-tinged comments.”)

The NY Times has been as guilty as any news outlet of sanewashing Donald Trump's dangerous gibberish, but it is showing the Washington Post what having a spine looks like. When Donald Trump says he's going to do awful things to Americans, believe him. #VoteBlue

We humans have had a good run, haven't we?

It takes a long time to kill something strong--Sears still has nine stores left, even though it's been dying for 50 years (since before e-commerce!)

As for we humans, #COVID19 continues to mutate, bird flu is gaining traction, global warming is accelerating, billionaires are threatening democracy to increase their wealth, nationalism is rising, and Russia expanded its bioweapon labs. I wonder how long we have--it could be centuries, but maybe not.

The Tatooine Post has decided not to endorse either Obi-Wan Kenobi or Darth Vader out of fear Vader may hurt its business if he's elected.

#WashingtonPost: Democracy dies with cowardice.

#VoteBlue

What a weird world when Rolling Stone magazine has more bravery and commitment to doing what's right for the nation than The Washington Post. Democracy dies from cowardice.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/kamala-harris-president-rolling-stone-endorsement-1235096166/

Well, this really hits hard, doesn't it?

#VoteBlue

"Young healthy people have nothing to fear from #COVID19"

STUDY: In this population of healthy young adult US Marines with mostly either asymptomatic or mild acute COVID-19, one fourth reported physical, cognitive, or psychiatric long-term sequelae of infection. The Marines affected with PASC showed evidence of long-term decrease in functional performance suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection may negatively affect health for a significant proportion of young adults.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(24)00236-9/fulltext

The World Health Organization just posted this yesterday. It's still suggesting wearing a mask to protect your health (and most are still ignoring that sound advice.)

#COVID19

Ron DeSantis and Florida tried to threaten TV stations playing ads in support of reproductive rights. A court weighed in and was very helpful and clear in its ruling: "To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid." 😂

#voteblue

https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/18/florida-abortion-ad

We should be wearing masks more often.

STUDY: "In 10-minute speaking, N95 respirators significantly decreased SARS-CoV-2 emissions compared with no-mask wearing. However, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the air even when wearing N95 and surgical masks in patients with high viral loads. Therefore, universal masking of infected and uninfected persons is important for preventing #COVID19 transmission via the air."

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/impacts-of-indoor-masks-wearing-on-air-contamination-during-10minute-speaking-in-patients-with-sarscov2-omicron-variant-infection/8743300A092E43D0FD6956AD2C38B770

I do not understand how any sane human being can vote for Donald Trump. His lies have consequences, and I don't think you need to be a liberal, or progressive to care about that!

FEMA has had to relocate some of its hurricane recovery efforts because of reports armed militia is hunting FEMA employees in the area. The GOP has filled the world with so much misinformation and hate that people may be hunting the government workers who are there to help. (1/2)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/federal-officials-nc-temporarily-relocated-amid-report-armed-militia-email-shows/