Might seem like a small thing but I’m moved every time Lulu NYT speaks Spanish on Weekend Edition. And more just now when she said “Gracias, Salma” & Salma Hayek replied “Gracias, Lulu,” after she’d just said people in Hollywood said her accent reminded them of their maids.

Been thinking this a lot lately.

How apt that as I watch an interview with Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD (Michaeleen Doucleff) on her new book “Hunt, Gather, Parent,” my 6-yr-old asks to help do the dishes. Thanks to parenting tips I learned from the author (a dear friend), I’ve been raising a less bossy, more helpful child.

"The best shot transplant recipients and other immunocompromised people have to be protected from getting COVID is for everyone to get vaccinated" Important words from Maria Godoy in our conversation about vaccines npr.org/2021/05/05/993…

Parents: Do you have a kid who's gained more weight than your doctor might say is healthy in the pandemic? I'm working on a story and interested in talking with a family that's dealing with this. Email me at [email protected] if you're interested in talking. We can discuss privacy.

Correcting a statistic I gave at the press conference today, 19 July. About 60% of hospitalisations from covid are not from double vaccinated people, rather 60% of hospitalisations from covid are currently from unvaccinated people.

For months, I've made point that – as a fully vaxxed person – I still don't want to get Covid. Big reasons: 1) we aren't sure that breakthru Delta cases can't be transmitted; & 2) I'm not certain that a mild Delta breakthrough case can't lead to Long Covid. Yesterday... (1/2)

...per CDC: viral loads in Delta breakthrus=those in non-vaxxed pts. That means concern #1 is real. Today, NEJM Israeli study: 19% breakthru infctns led to symptoms 6 wks later; supports concern #2. nejm.org/doi/full/10.10… Upshot: vaxxed should mask indoors until ⬆vax, ⬇cases.

An excellent preprint showing how portable air filtration units in classrooms can reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Localized and Whole-Room Effects of Portable Air Filtration Units on Aerosol Particle Deposition and Concentration in a Classroom Environment medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

THIS was fun ... I can relate to spiders a lot more now that I know they too, get arachnophobia.

I’m still reeling from this news. petra mayer and I bonded years ago over our shared love of Doctor Who, cats, so much nerd joy. She was everything Glen Weldon says and more. I always walked away from our chats happier to be alive. I miss you, my friend.

I had such a fun time talking turkey food science with the awesome Nik Sharma and @kenjilopezalt for @NShortwave ! It's delicious news you can use 🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

CALLING ALL RADIO, PODCAST & SCIENCE EDITORS! #NPRShortWave is hiring an editor—and you should apply! This team is quirky, fun, passionate and full of people you'll wake up feeling lucky to work with. Job posting is here: bit.ly/3kKPvAY

I'm wrapping up my last episode guest-hosting @NShortwave for the time being. I've signed off every episode "Adios for now" because with the departure of the great Lulu NYT, I miss hearing Spanish on NPR.

NPR has been doing important work since the very beginning of the epidemic to keep the public informed. Thanks especially to Maria Godoy @npr npr.org/sections/healt…

A concern with mask-to-reduce isolation is that people are not using high quality masks (N95/KN95/ASTM3 etc.) Another issue is the messaging. e.g. a lot of people will be wondering whether they need to mask if they are not infected/symptomatic.

Certified Crafting Queen Dulcé Sloan has some pointers on what you can do with your now-useless cloth masks

If it feels like your kid has been sick for months — here's some scientific comfort : NPR Fun to see the ⁦University of Utah Health⁩ BIG-LoVE study featured ⁦and to remind parents that their families are normal😪⁦Thanks Maria Godoy⁩. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P… npr.org/2023/01/25/115…

This is a stressful week for staff at NPR. Many of us will receive layoff notices tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday. Listeners are asking how to help. I tell them: Donate to your local NPR member station. Give to WAMU 88.5 in the D.C. area: donate.wamu.org/page/48365/don…

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