Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work on a bunch of very esoteric projects.
I’ve found microbes that degrade honest-to-goodness solid waste (HGSW), recalcitrant chemicals (aromatic hydrocarbons, among others), harvest gold from the ground, etc.. The trick is finding the right microbes that effect the change desired. (In a few cases, the trick was forcing a mutation in the strain the deliver the desired results.)
Continue reading Medici Chapel
I live in Alexandria, where the only choice for broadband is Xfinity (Comcast). And, sure as heck, we lose connection about four times a week. Total loss- phone, TV, internet. Which certainly puts a crimp in a firm that operates 6 X 24.
Continue reading Add a few cracks to this Sidewalk
105 years ago, Woodrow Wilson established today as Flag Day. Why this date?
When the American Revolution began (1775), we lacked a unifying flag. Regiments chose their own flags with which to fight against the British. And, then, almost a year after we became independent (or thought we were becoming independent), the Continental Congress (the second one)- while preparing the Articles of Confederation (statement of principles and agreement among the 13 colonies, serving as a constitution of sorts)- passed a resolution decreeing that the “flag of the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation”. In other words, the designation of a flag that would be uniform among the 13 constituent states. They wanted a unified colonial fighting force.
A recent symposium was held in the UK (28-29 April 2021) that examined various aspects of COVID-19 and our immunologic system. (Collaborative Covid Immunology/ UK Covid Immunology Consortium [UK- CIC] and the British Society for Immunology.). While the immune responses to COVID-19 are clear, we have little information about potential long-term effects. Which is why I will share the results of several very interesting papers presented at the symposium.
Continue reading Long Term COVID- what? why?
I know I’ve written about this before, but I just had a long-term client question me about these rules again. And, if he could forget- so could you.
Continue reading Only 569 days left for this benefit!
I should start out saying that I generally like ProPublica. It’s investigative journalism is generally above par- sometimes even top notch.
Continue reading ProPublica Sensationlism
You do realize that despite all the hoopla, only 2% of all new car sales are for electric vehicles. And, we also buy tons of used vehicles (not just new ones) each and every year.
Continue reading A better battery?
There is a restaurant (ok, three in a row) in Del Ray (a section of Alexandria) that offers fantastic food at great prices. They will stock out of the way beer for regular customers. And, their service is great.
Continue reading What it takes…
First impressions are not all that perfect. We all know that. But, when it comes to this person, it took me- and a whole bunch of others- too long to correct our bias.
So, we’ve gotten used to telemedicine. Sure, many of us wanted this to be available decades ago, but state regulators and the HHS (Health and Human Services) weren’t willing to let us participate. State regulators want all their health practitioners to be licensed in-state; too many telemedicine practitioners are from different states and lack the local credential. HHS had no clue how to compensate practitioners.
Continue reading Bye, bye, Telemedicine?