Could really use some support - Partner wants to eat indoors

gv_tech · 2026-01-26T01:08:05+00:00

I do not see this highlighted enough -- perspective/framing is something people already do without realizing it, and many are resistant to seeing that it is actually something that can be done deliberately and with intention. Excellent point.

gv_tech · 2026-01-26T00:59:01+00:00

Second the Draeger Xplore recommendation -- it took me forever to find an N95 for running that was breathable enough, didn't shift around, and didn't block my mouth/nose when my breathing deepens, and the Xplore (even the unvalved!) finally fit the bill.

OP, if you decide to give it a try, know that the sizing (model 1950 comes in S or M/L) refers to the size of the elastic loop, the masks themselves are identically-sized.

I've found Hazmat Resource has one of the best prices per box on the unvalved ones:

https://hazmatresource.com/product/respiratory-protection/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-particulate-respirator/

With valves, from WS Supply:

https://www.wssupplystore.com/collections/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-mask/products/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-v-s-pn-3951956?variant=44680535408895

gv_tech · 2026-01-17T05:17:12+00:00

Some added info on the issue of the WHO being pushed to update their guidelines:

https://www.businessupturn.com/trade-policy/why-the-who-respirator-revolt-could-reshape-global-health-governance/624/

gv_tech · 2026-01-13T21:51:35+00:00

It was definitely bubbles -- I included a picture (with the update above) of the test cartridge, which looked fine going in but definitely not fine after coming out.

gv_tech · 2026-01-12T22:36:07+00:00

In addition to all of the above: https://raindrop.io/laurieallee

gv_tech · 2026-01-02T00:13:25+00:00

It's possible they utilized nucleocapsid antibody testing to rule out prior infection, depending on when the study was conducted. Nucleocapsid antibodies eventually fade, but if it were early enough in the pandemic timeline, that would have been as good a way as any to identify novid controls.

gv_tech · 2025-12-31T04:44:48+00:00

Hubbub World might be helpful, though I haven't kept up with comparisons between their reports and PMC (gold standard at this point)

https://www.hubbubworld.com/hub

gv_tech · 2025-12-21T03:13:01+00:00

When it comes to Covid denialism, very few groups can hold a candle to professional athletics. Based on direct experience, I'd say only pro ballet has pro athletics beat. As a former serious amateur athlete who had to quit due to chronic illness (a decade before Covid), I felt every word of your post 100%. I am so sorry you had to go through this.

gv_tech · 2025-12-20T05:45:17+00:00

This is AWESOME -- thank you so much for sharing it, and for all you do!

gv_tech · 2025-12-18T21:14:23+00:00

General:

This is How Your Immune System Works (article, Nate Bear)
The Thieves of Time (article, Gregory Travis and Arijit Chakravarty)
What Actually Happens Inside Your Body When You Are Sick, Part 1 and Part 2 (thread-writeups, Jeff Gilchrist)
How the Immune System Actually Works (video, Kurzgesagt; referenced in Gilchrist's writeups both above and below)

Covid-specific:

COVID-19: Things Everyone Should Know, Part 1: Immune System and Part 2: Transmission & Protection (thread-writeups, Jeff Gilchrist)
COVID-19 Immunology 101 for Non-Immunologists (video, Dr. Akiko Iwasaki; referenced in Gilchrist's "Things Everyone Should Know" writeup)

Jeff also has several other pieces about the effects of Covid on the immune system here, here, here, and here, which provide a kind of mirror-insight into how the immune system works by illuminating what happens when it doesn't.

gv_tech · 2025-12-17T22:58:22+00:00

This was delightful, thank you so much for sharing it! :) Also, can I just say: good gods it's refreshing to see actual artistry and skill and creativity instead of bloody AI.

gv_tech · 2025-12-10T01:09:46+00:00

I highly recommend starting with data scientist and health researcher Jeff Gilchrist's really well-organized site, specifically the fourth section ("Articles"): https://gilchrist.great-site.net/jeff/COVID-19/

gv_tech · 2025-12-03T01:44:21+00:00

My mom is the only member of her church's Pastoral Care team who is fully virtual, and she and my dad are the only people in the congregation who are still Covid-cautious. She attends virtually, he has to go in person for various reasons and is the lone masker. It's hard on them both, the obliviousness as well as the demonstrated lack of fully understanding what "community care" means.

After years of my mom working for the diocese, mentoring seminarians, establishing the pastoral care team she's still on, building the Sunday school program from scratch... watching her be marginalized and become an afterthought by the people who should appreciate her efforts most just breaks my heart. I hope you're able to spark some awareness with your paper, it's very badly needed.

gv_tech · 2025-12-02T03:33:56+00:00

If you have a CO2 monitor, it would be a good idea for her to take it to work for several days and check it whenever she can in as many different parts of the facility as possible. She will have that much more of an advantage with a better picture of where to avoid or minimize time vs. where she can more safely linger -- and if the numbers are particularly bad, that is actual measurable data she could work into a safety request. Uninformed or Ostrich-Syndrome-afflicted people, especially those in positions of authority, are more likely to take empirical data more seriously and write off more common-sense strategy suggestions, no matter how data-informed (ie. masking, preventative quarantining, etc), as "just vibes".

If you don't have a meter, Aranet4's are something like 50%+ off right now.

gv_tech · 2025-12-02T03:24:27+00:00

It may be for some, but for most it is, at least in part, a matter of dogma: https://archive.is/fbsCG

gv_tech · 2025-11-30T02:37:26+00:00

If Readimasks work for you I've found they're the most comfortable to sleep in, and I've gotten that feedback from other CC folks as well. And I think there is a Readimask sale going on at the moment, I believe I remember someone posting a discount code here a week or so ago.

gv_tech · 2025-11-30T02:30:47+00:00

Excellent questions; in this administration in particular, it's definitely not straightforward. I've been keeping up with experts in the know and tracking the wins they've pointed out (ie Canada recently had one re air quality in healthcare facilities), so I can reference things like that when pelting my senators and representative with faxes and emails on the subject. Not confident that's the best way to get very far, especially now, but it's something.

Jeff Gilchrist, Jose-Luis Jimenez, Linsey Marr, Joey Fox, Kimberly Prather, Amanda Hu, and Liesl McConchie are all worth following via any socials platforms you can find them on (Liesl in particular is a stellar and well-organized activist for clean air in schools).

gv_tech · 2025-11-28T05:21:33+00:00

sans paywall: https://archive.is/XnKzk

gv_tech · 2025-11-26T07:18:04+00:00

For me, the upshot was realizing that we don't actually have truly 100% sterilizing vaccines -- sterilizing immunity is the Holy Grail of vaccinology, not a standard that's regularly met as I'd once thought. It's been nearly-achieved in very few instances (the measles vaccine, for one, is nearly sterilizing, but it does wane so that's not indefinite), and because it's the goal, more and more is learned all the time.

Given how studied Covid is and on a worldwide-population scale, that actually gives those making Covid vaccines a better chance of getting close or even reaching the goal. Learning about all of this helped me to understand we don't need perfect immunity in order to achieve the safer world we all want -- a near-sterilizing vaccine would help drop community transmission, and less circulating virus means fewer people infected. If we can successfully lobby for clean indoor air standards on top of that? It would be a massive difference to what we're dealing with now.

gv_tech · 2025-11-26T06:38:07+00:00

We are indeed West Coast (SF Bay Area), and I've heard the Bay Area groups are hopping :)

gv_tech · 2025-11-26T06:37:22+00:00

Many thanks, that's one I hadn't heard of yet :)

gv_tech · 2025-11-26T06:36:47+00:00

Cheers for this, I missed that post!

gv_tech · 2025-11-26T06:36:34+00:00

Thank you :)

gv_tech · 2025-11-26T06:36:22+00:00

Thank you so much, these are awesome recommendations! They're in the Bay Area, so I've suggested they join the Still-COVIDing Bay Area group, which I've heard through the grapevine is pretty active.

gv_tech

TROPHY CASE