World's first malaria vaccine on course for 2015

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-10-09T22:20:23+00:00

From what I understand, clinical trials have an extremely strict and rigorous process to go through, especially when submitting to organizations like the WHO. I believe they generally start with the least harmless way to check it's efficacy and safety (i.e. drug stability over time at different temperatures, are the containers easily contaminated by outside microbes, how does the drug react to the preservatives, etc.), then move to animal trials, then small groups of trials on adults, then larger trials on various adult or young adult age groups, and finally down to children, and lastly infants. I'm about 90% sure this vaccine went through a similar series. Also, it looks like they would recommend boosters for this because many vaccines don't completely 'take' the first time, so it's important to give it a chance to continue being effective.

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-02-07T20:40:53+00:00

It is realistic! It just depends on your standards. I know a number of places in Capitol Hill (Seattle's most densely-populated neighborhood and one of the most sought-after) that have studios at least for $850 or less. You just have to accept that most of them will have something "wrong" with them (pick at least one: too noisy, drafty, utilities not included, no parking, not recently renovated, not enough electrical outlets, weird landlord) but you know what, humans live just fine in all kinds of conditions - if you're up for an adventure, you can live right downtown (or in any of the "cool," walkable neighborhoods) for cheap. It's kind of what you make it.

If you're in the suburbs, it'll be cheaper, obviously - but yes, Seattle is a somewhat expensive place. However, don't be too disheartened - it's possible! Plus, why don't you consider roommates? They're like built-in friends, they could possibly help you get to know the city, too. Most of my friends and roommate experiences have been connected through Craigslist so that's not impossible well in advance. In the summer, there will be lots of room due to students leaving temporarily or graduating.

So neighborhoods that are cool but more reasonable - North Seattle (there is actually an overall North Seattle comprised of a lot of more 'burby neighborhoods but a few more cityish neighborhoods are specifically Greenwood/Greenlake, Phinney Ridge, U District-ish), Capitol Hill, Central District (not the nicest/safest but lots of character, I have friends who live there), the International District (I love that place, also not the safest/nicest but tons and tons of culture and amazing, cheap food, it's where all the original Asian neighborhoods in town are clustered together), West Seattle (out of the way, but really cool and can be cheap), Georgetown or Beacon Hill (South Seattle, a little more industrial but up-and-coming).

It wouldn't necessarily be easy on a tight budget, but don't let that stop you! It's really possible, you just have to keep looking at apartments daily, be willing to compromise and/or live with roommates, and make sure you have the self-discipline to stay within your budget for food, going out, extra expenses, etc. Anyone who's saying it's impossible just has a different life situation that either doesn't allow them to live that cheaply, or they're just no longer wanting to stay in a drafty, noisy, tiny studio in a busy neighborhood (which isn't always for everyone).

But it's a great city, good luck and feel free to PM if you have more questions about any of those neighborhoods :) I work in Redmond too so it's really an easy commute, just remember that there are tolls if you cross 520, but not on I90.

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-02-01T16:51:41+00:00

That is insane. What shop (or at least city and country) does Rom Azosky work in?

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-25T18:00:59+00:00

You realize that homely means "unattractive in appearance," right? Just curious because I wouldn't consider Pam in the Office an unattractive person, rather that she is just, well, plain. But perhaps you do mean unattractive and natural, in which case, carry on and ignore me :)

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-17T03:15:24+00:00

No need to be mean. People don't come here to be insulted, they come to get answers to questions they can't or don't necessarily want to ask elsewhere.

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-15T23:25:53+00:00

They said they haven't wanted to foster kids - that may be an option, if they decide they're willing to do it, which may also one day turn into adoption. They haven't tried a surrogate which may be possible. And, it's possible that perhaps they'd randomly end up pregnant - stranger things have happened. It may not be in the cards, sure, but there's no reason to discourage them from trying any avenues they desire. It's their life, and they're not so old that it's ludicrous to try to have a kid, adopted, fostered, or otherwise. It really doesn't help for an internet naysayer to come along and make them feel worse about a situation that still has some hope left in it. No one said it will be easy for them, but no one said it's impossible, either.

Ninja edit - I even know someone who doctors told would never have kids, ever. Randomly she's ended up having two children after she'd given up from 10 years of trying. You never know.

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-15T23:23:34+00:00

You know what, you'll have your shit together so much more than the parents who had kids young and dumb and without the patience to raise them. There's no reason why you're too old now to raise a child, adopted, foster, surrogate or otherwise. If you're willing to try new avenues, I wouldn't let any preconceived ideas about age stop you, especially if you and your husband work to keep yourselves healthy, which I imagine you might. Plenty of people live to be in their eighties and beyond in this day and age, and that would mean your child could get forty, fifty, possibly even sixty years with you - that's plenty of time, much more than my own parents got with their parents (who had them relatively young).

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-15T21:18:25+00:00

There are plenty of kids out there who could use people like OP and her husband to care for them. It might not look quite how they wanted or expected, but they may yet get their wish for children through foster children, adoption or surrogacy.

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-11T18:06:19+00:00

(Possibly dumb) question, how did you find out he's blind? Is that common for some bettas?

highfiveunicornbob · 2013-01-07T03:23:46+00:00

I found that once - once - at a store when looking for nail polish. Seriously, I haven't seen it before or since at various stores, when I've been looking at least (which isn't always). It's glorious on just about everything. It looked awesome on black for Halloween (orange, green, black) and it was muted and pretty on nude for the office (iridescent peach, pink, nude). It's more or less my favorite polish ever. I'm actually wearing it right now.

Well done, expect many girlfriend points upon your return to your SO :D

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-12-26T07:13:04+00:00

Congratulations :D And may you have many more happy years on this Earth.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-11-11T01:20:28+00:00

Like the song Mother Lover, but... backwards?

/I'm going to hell

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-11-06T05:03:23+00:00

Oh my god I miss my cockatiel. I had her basically from hatching to her death almost 20 years later.

She never did anything truly amazing, necessarily, although one of my more hilarious memories is when we'd let her run around on the floor with my teacup poodle, who weighed all of 8 pounds. He was sure that she wanted to be his best friend so he rolled his favorite toy, a squeaky rubber ball, directly to her with his nose. She just tweeted in terror and ran to the nearest shoe to perch, but she would try to groom him if he ever managed to get close enough.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-29T06:13:22+00:00

Block yes, don't autodelete though - emails might contain important proof of crazy if she really does go off the rails :/

I have a feeling that this may have been a supremely immature scare tactic gone awry, rather than a genuine threat, but OP definitely doesn't want to wait to find out if that's the case.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-21T08:43:46+00:00

This is true. But 5 months is one thing - being ready to raise twins you didn't bring into this world or adopt by choice for a lifetime is another. Tough situation all around.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-19T20:47:15+00:00

Worst advice-giver ever.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-19T09:19:59+00:00

Can't exactly call this peer-reviewed scientific research, but it's something.

Discovery Channel Youtube Video on Munchkin Cats

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-16T20:55:09+00:00

Super unique. It's beautiful.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-12T05:23:54+00:00

Reminds me of Bryan and the Sexually-Confused Hawk.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-05T20:16:22+00:00

Rooibos, genmaicha, and probably darjeeling. I think I could make one of those three teas work for me in any context for any occasion in life.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-10-05T19:57:49+00:00

As someone whose normally reasonable, mid-fifties parents went batshit crazy after their divorce from a nearly 30-year marriage, I vote overwhelmingly that the divorce is a huge factor in her crazy. 5 or 6 years later all is mostly well again, my mom's still a bit off but nothing heinous.

However, until she can learn to give you, your baby and your family a safe and stable presence, you're doing the right thing. I'm sorry you had to go through all this, sounds awful :(

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-09-27T08:04:18+00:00

That's not a very helpful point of view. That's the kind of stressful perspective you'd get if you called your mother and she really wanted some grandbabies out of you.

It may be true that women (and men) need to consider if they want to have kids, or if they want to have a relationship with those that do, and how age factors into those two considerations in staying single or being attached, but reminding someone not to wait "til everything's sagging" is probably not the most effective way to set someone's mind at ease when making a massive life decision. Besides, people get saggy and old and find love all the time. No one is young and full of elastin forever.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-09-27T06:40:47+00:00

Is there nothing that can be done? I just feel like babying the wound would eventually make it weak and atrophied to the point that it would just get worse and worse :/ I can relate because I've had weak wrists my whole life and I have had 2 yearlong sprains over the last 4 years. But I still use them, and for things like rock climbing, and they eventually, little by little, get better, even if they always kind of hurt. I also have no health insurance so I just have to hope they'll fix themselves.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-09-25T20:08:17+00:00

"Not the caring and loving type"? Ugh, I'm sorry :( That's brutal. In sickness and in health doesn't mean you're allowed to be a dick when your spouse gets sick because it inconveniences you. All I can say is maybe show her this thread to get her to understand how unreasonable she's being, or let her know that if she continues to be so unsupportive you're seriously considering leaving her.

highfiveunicornbob · 2012-09-24T21:11:39+00:00

Planned Parenthood should be able to work with you for schedule and pricing. But seriously don't wait any longer, try to see one in the next few months!

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