WTF-Beta

Oh joy. It looks like Martin’s replacement will be Jeanine Pirro.

My guess is the manufacturers will largely keep it intact knowing that there’s a good probability that it’ll be back in place in 4 years time. Also this standard is used in Canada too, so it keeps their North American lines consistent. And also, the label has a positive association with much of their clientele.

I could, though, imagine a few new bare-bones models not meeting the standard for the super price conscious. Assuming the cost of meeting the standard is material. These might be based on models sold already in parts of the developing world.

I’ve been following this closely, I sit on the public advisory board of the American Thoracic Society which has prestigious journals in pulmonary science too (CHEST is more for clinicians, ATS for researchers). So far we’ve not been targeted.

The good news is Ed Martin did all this maggaty lawfare shit before his senate confirmation hearings. He also appeared on Russian state television 150 times (srsly), gave an award to a J6 criminal who he knew had posed in photos as hitler and lied to the senate about it under oath. He also lied under oath to the senate about appearing on Alex Jones a few times.

He’ll have difficulty being confirmed. Senator Tillis (R-NC) came out against him the other day. Hopefully Collin’s actually votes him down rather than just ‘expressing concern’. Same Murkowsky.

Crapo’s (R Idaho) brother Jim is a prestigious pulmonologist (whom I’ve met) who is the lead PI on COPDGene, a very large multi-year, multi-center study that regularly publishes in the Blue Journal (ATS) and CHEST. That’s 4 right there. If they can muster the spine.

Rachel and I spent almost a year there in 2022. I could retire there though it wouldn’t be my first choice. I’m not sure what would be.

Wow. Yes he is missed that’s for sure.

I’ve met with him several times. He doesn’t just oversee vaccines but all ‘biologics’ which include blood products, vaccines, and gene and rna therapies. He was really bullish on the next generation of gene therapy treatments.

Even if vaccines weren’t part of his remit, this would be bad news for America.

The main fear for society though is how Kennedy is likely to replace him with some antivaxx crank. I would imagine anti-vaxx and anti-genetic modification attitudes correlate.

It’s going to be a cruel four years.

Though my personally favorite is ‘DUI Hire’.

These always cheer me up since standard tables are much more favorable than reality for a lung transplant patient.

@Piano-Dad said in Biomedical research takes a hit:

BTW, Columbia needs to grow a pair and fight back. Georgetown offers an example. These targeted budget cuts are illegal.

I think you'll see something if their current genuflection isn't viewed as sufficient. I can't say I blame them for capitulating thus far, even if they won a specific suit the administration could fuck with them in myriad ways, renegotiate their indirects, award far fewer grants, crawl up their ass over title VI stuff (which they're doing anyway).

https://x.com/howidyhamza/status/1902065122660773946?s=46

Remember ‘she has a plan for everything’?

Zoom out just a bit. What’s the practical difference between saying ‘she has a plan for everything’ and ‘there’s nothing she doesn’t want to control’?

I would argue they are simple Russell conjugates.

Her attempt, somewhat successful, to isolate her org from democratic accountability was a horrible idea and one she tried to port elsewhere.

She’s has authoritarian instincts.

It’s a joke. So far.

Something new to try.

https://x.com/interesting_ail/status/1901219929598423272?s=46

I disagree completely. I think any proposal to vastly increase the power of the executive branch has to be evaluated with an understanding that roughly half the time that branch will be led by someone who doesn't remotely share your policy goals. People on both sides tend to be oblivious to that. Right now the GOP is trying really hard to increase the power of the executive without thinking what President AOC might do with that power some day (or if not her, someone similar). Democrats with such proposals would do well to imagine what a President Vance or President Don Jr* might use it for.

*I threw up in my mouth a little just typing that

Remember when she wanted all companies over $1B to require certification from the department of commerce? With annual recertification to ensure they were looking after all stakeholder interest?

Imagine what Trump and Secretary Nutlick would be using that for right now.

That’s going to be the response at Columbia too. They were told if they sue they’ll cancel student aid dollars next. So they’re going to cooperate.

I talked to someone in leadership there today who is concerned that it’s going to get worse before it gets better because the students are going to misbehave even more. (My words not hers)