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cxzhang.bsky.social
@cxzhang.bsky.social
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Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
mclem.org
Just astonishing good news. We are on the way to end Multiple Sclerosis.

University research delivers. Always has. Now a cabal in the White House is shattering it.
profbrunt.bsky.social Dr. Keith R. Brunt @profbrunt.bsky.social · 4d
Epstein-Barr Virus #EBV was linked to #MultipleSclerosis - now a plausible cause has been found, misidentification by longterm memory T-cells that pick on the wrong protein, ANO2, instead of the EBV-antigen. Massive inflection towards the elimination of MS!!!
🧪🧠Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Anoctamin-2-specific T cells link Epstein-Barr virus to multiple sclerosis
Researchers identified anoctamin-2 (ANO2) as a frequent autoimmune target in multiple sclerosis, with T cell responses against ANO2 occurring in over half of patients. These ANO2-specific T cells shar...
www.cell.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
irisvanrooij.bsky.social
We present a typology of traps to avoid:

1. Believing that AI systems are minds

2. Believing that AI systems are theories

3. Believing that cognitive science can be automated.

Learn to recognise and avoid these traps. Failure to avoid leads to numerous problems.

3/🧵
Table 1: Typology of traps, what goes wrong if not avoided, and how the traps can be avoided. Note that all traps in a sense constitute category errors (Ryle & Tanney, 2009) and the success-to-truth inference (Guest & Martin, 2023) is an important driver in most, if not all, of the traps.
January 6, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
jacquelyngill.bsky.social
ChatGPT’s signature writing style is everywhere now, and I hate it. It reminds me of when we tried mixing all the beverages at the soda fountain in middle school. We didn’t actually create the perfect drink, we just made a cloying monstrosity that lost everything good about its constituent parts.
November 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
statsepi.bsky.social
It's mind-numbing how anyone could view city journal as operating in good faith. But many do.
kgandersen.bsky.social Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · Nov 14
A new approach to pandemic preparedness:

1️⃣ Stop preparing for pandemics
2️⃣ Rewrite history of the last major pandemic
3️⃣ Go to the gym

Simple - 🤷‍♂️.

www.city-journal.org/article/nih-...
NIH Directors: The World Needs a New Pandemic Playbook
The old one failed to cope with Covid and may even have caused it.
www.city-journal.org
November 15, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
rincewind.run
over time I believe this will end up being one of the most unpopular things the administration ever does

a death sentence for many hobbies and all the average consumer sees is that you’re taking away all their bargains

one of the few policies that has a direct negative effect on almost everyone
September 7, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
dingdingpeng.the100.ci
There's something deeply intellectually satisfying about taking something that is highly technical and breaking it down to the point that even non-technical people can follow along and derive some own intellectual satisfaction from it.
August 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
luckytran.com
RFK Jr is lying when he says everyone wants the COVID vaccine can still get it because of “shared clinical decision making.” He is threatening doctors legally if they prescribe the COVID vaccine off label.
archive.ph
August 27, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
alyssaharad.bsky.social
This is a hell of a letter. “The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines…will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer….Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated…”
donmoyn.bsky.social Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 28
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
August 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
mdaware.org
“when high-quality evidence clearly supports one course of action, as with COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, failing to make a strong recommendation under the guise of neutrality represents a dereliction of professional duty.”
August 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
smith.senate.gov
I dare you to go to Annunciation School and tell our grieving community, in effect, guns don’t kill kids, antidepressants do.

Just shut up. Stop peddling bullshit. You should be fired.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 28
RFK Jr on the mass shooting in Minnesota: "We're launching studies on the potential contribution of some of the SSRI drugs and some of the other psychiatric drugs that might be contributing to violence."
August 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
jdlong.cerebralmastication.com
But her emails…
shaneharris.bsky.social Shane Harris @shaneharris.bsky.social · Mar 24
In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this: Senior Trump officials discussed planning for the U.S. attack on Yemen in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.
www.theatlantic.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
pronounced-ing.bsky.social
People genuinely don't know. Spread the word. Tell your friends, neighbors, colleagues, people on the street. Put up flyers and stickers (a roundup here): bsky.app/profile/pron...
thefarce.org 🗽LOLGOP🗽 @thefarce.org · Mar 24
“No money for kidney cancer,” Vieth said. “No money for pancreatic cancer. No money for lung cancer. It leaves so much completely unfunded. Yeah, wow. It’s pretty devastating.”

Wonder what percentage of America knows Elon is stealing cancer research for his tax cut?
Cancer research, long protected, feels ‘devastating’ effects under Trump
Cancer research has had bipartisan support. But Trump administration budget cuts and delays threaten to reverse progress of recent years, experts say.
www.statnews.com
March 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
jessicacalarco.com
Apparently my 10-year-old is better at recognizing misinformation than a lot of US adults. She was thumbing through the coffee table books at our Airbnb and told me, "I don't think we can trust this one." I asked her why, and she said, "It says apple cider vinegar works as a skin cancer remedy."
The cover of the book FIRE CIDER: 101 ZESTY RECIPES FOR HEALTH-BOOSTING REMEDIES MADE WITH APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. A page titled "Apple cider vinegar and eggplant skin cancer remedy."
March 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
planetdr.bsky.social
NASA started terminating grants :(
March 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
epiellie.bsky.social
Five public health facts RFK Jr doesn't want you to know:

1. Vaccines work and are safe.
2. Solid fats aren't health foods.
3. Random dead animals you find lying around are not safe to touch (or eat).
4. Methylene blue is a dye, not a miracle cure.
5. Measles is bad for you.
March 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
maosbot.bsky.social
The only lessons most people seem to have learned from covid are that masks are a sign of mental illness, staying home is a tragedy, and that vaccines are worse than being infected
March 23, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
acollierastro.bsky.social
This video does such a good job saying what I have been trying to say about commercial AI.

An AI can write a 10th grade lit essay, but the point of an essay assignment is not to produce an essay. The essay teaches critical thinking, research skills, etc. The effort is the point.
Algorithms are breaking how we think
YouTube video by Technology Connections
www.youtube.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
jessicacalarco.com
But my guess is that he'll fire them even if they document their performance. Because whatever they've done, he'll say it's not "hardcore" enough.
February 23, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
carlbergstrom.com
Any talk you hear from the current administration about making the US more competitive in science and technology is utter bullshit. What they are doing is sabotaging our country for years if not decades to come.
February 22, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
jessicacalarco.com
His emphasis on the freedom to "joke" is telling. Because hearing sexism couched in humor leads boys men to adopt more sexist views and makes both men and women less likely to speak up and challenge others' sexist acts.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Feb 20
JD Vance: "Our culture sends a message to young men that you should suppress every masculine urge ... my message to young men is don't allow this broken culture to send you a message that you're a bad person bc you're a man, bc you like to tell a joke, bc you like to have a beer with your friends."
February 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
bwjones.bsky.social
It’s @katherinejwu.com with the receipts.

The NIH memo undercutting the NIH came directly from Trump officials.

www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The NIH Memo That Undercut Universities Came Directly From Trump Officials
NIH officials said they were given no advance warning and less than an hour to post the memo publicly.
www.theatlantic.com
February 20, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
hankgreen.bsky.social
Measles high infection rate is the reason we have not yet been able to eradicate it. That rate means you need a very high vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks. It is possible, but not with current levels of institutional distrust.
johngreensbluesky.bsky.social John Green @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social · Feb 17
The average person with the flu gives it to around 1.4 people. The average person with measles gives it to between 12 and 18 people.
who.int WHO @who.int · Feb 17
Measles cases continue to surge globally, putting millions of children at risk.

More than 10 million people globally were infected with measles in 2023, a 20% increase from the previous year.

bit.ly/48SAtkf
February 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
karenho.bsky.social
it feels goofy to remind people to drink water and not slouch during the ongoing Hostile Government Takeover but everything is worse with dehydration and back pain
February 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by cxzhang.bsky.social
schiff.senate.gov
Wherein Elon says the quiet, corrupt part out loud:

He intends to steal the private IRS data of his political enemies.

How soon before he does the same to his economic competitors?

Or you?
February 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM