Shacknews LoL

I recently posted about our CMV candidate entering Phase 3: http://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=40930099

Today the first participant in our RSV Phase 2/3 trial was dosed. We hope to dose 34,000 participants across multiple countries: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005257/en/Moderna-Announces-First-Participant-Dosed-in-Phase-23-Study-of-its-mRNA-Respiratory-Syncytial-Virus-RSV-Vaccine

There have been attempts at making an RSV vaccine dating back to more than 60 years. There was actually an investigational vaccine back in 1966 that was halted because it caused some kids to get sicker (and a few of them even died) thanks to a phenomenon known as “vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease.” Because of that incident, progress on RSV vaccination essentially stalled for a long time. But we’ve tested our candidate extensively in animals and are ready to take it to the next step - fingers crossed!

I was part of the small team that helped identify and finalize the mRNA sequence for this vaccine candidate in late 2019, so this is especially sentimental for me.

So Mike O’Cyberdemon and I bought ourselves an abode and last week we finally moved in.

The place we got is a top floor 1 bedroom. Kitchen was recently redone and the rest we redid. Pulled up laminate in the foyer, redid with red oak and refinished all the floors. Took 60 years of paint off all the doors and radiators. Skim coated the walls and ceiling and repainted. Pulled out the old closet and put in a new one. Updated electrical, put in new lights, and gutted the bathroom.

I love that I now have a closet dedicated to bike stuff and a full wall to hang my bikes. And it’s insanely quiet.

Before of the bathroom: https://dahanese.smugmug.com/Elizabeth-and-Mike-buy-a-place-t/i-TCwVHBZ

After: https://dahanese.smugmug.com/Elizabeth-and-Mike-buy-a-place-t/i-XmBqPTN

Whole album: https://dahanese.smugmug.com/Elizabeth-and-Mike-buy-a-place-t

I will post finished pics sometime in the distance future when the place is fully set up and doesn’t look like a bomb went off.

OMFG. Two high school graduation ceremonies down. One quasi-traditional but somewhat half-assed, and one non-traditional social distanced thing.

So. Fucking. Tired.

Guys. I was meeting kids in person for the first time as I directed them to the stage at graduation. That is so fucked.

I will never forget one student's eyes lighting up when she recognized me and asked for a hug. And she was the younger sister of a girl I taught years ago who still keeps in touch. I wrote her a recommendation letter for grad school a few weeks ago even.

And then there was the kid who was already in an emotional state who asked for a hug and thanked me for getting him through, and I didn't even know who he was. I didn't know who he was. I didn't even know who he was.

They gave us masks with our high school logo and class of 2021 on them in our school colors. I'm going to nail that thing over my classroom door so I never forget how much we missed this year.

Fuck this fucking year.

It's over now. Doesn't feel like it though. Maybe it'll feel real in a week.

[deleted]

My company's CEO just sent out an email to all employees. Employees who upload a photo of their COVID card, demonstrating they've received at least one vaccine, are entered into a raffle with the following prize pool:

* $10k + 1-week Carribbean beach vacation (+1 guest)
* 3 x Barbados resort trip (+1 guess)
* Tesla Model S (not sure if it's "only" the base model)

Biden warns political appointees:
If you're ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise I will fire you on the spot. On. The. Spot.
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1352037674505412610?s=21

Dude has the right stuff.

I just got a $2,040 raise, retroactive to sixteen days ago.
I still feel underpaid but slightly less so now.

I wrote the following on the 6th. It resulted in me cutting ties with an aunt and an uncle (different branches of the family). There were several other people who unfriended me without commenting.

I'd been winnowing out the Trumpers for a while, but at this point, I'm done.

---

Please, if you support any of the actions taken by the insurrectionists in the Capitol today, do me a favor and unfriend me. If you still support Donald Trump, delete my phone number. If you think the election is stolen, cut ties.

Just get the fuck out of my life.

I do not have the patience or the strength to try to help you see reason any longer.

For five long years I’ve reached out to person after person defending the indefensible. It has never made a difference, not once. I cannot penetrate the bubble of misinformation in which you live. It is pointless.

You are a lost cause.

I’m through with you. I’m done.

I hope your pathetic, slavish devotion to your bigotry and selfish beliefs, and to those so-called leaders that embody them, was worth it.

Job Update!

re: https://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=40012348#item_40012348

I ended up picking ...Job Number 2!!!

Ultimately, the electronics/gaming company passed me up after the 2nd round interviews. There were some uncertainties about that job and although I did slightly want it more, I'm happy either way. Especially after almost nine friggin' months of not working >:(

Thank you to everyone for your advice and support!

Now who is the resident linux/openstack expert here?

http://chattypics.com/files/shackbrowseUpload_vqm90udc9l.jpg

finally became a citizen last year, voting for the first time. I think we have a decent chance to turn AZ blue this year

feels so good to contribute towards getting that orange shitstain out of the white house