Favorites July 9 2021
Ed Yong@edyong209
When birds first appeared, they couldn't taste sugar. Some ancient Australian birds evolved that ability by repurposing a sensor for umami into one for sweetness. And they gave rise to the entire songbird dynasty--half the world's species.
New from me:
theatlantic.com
The Story of Songbirds Is a Story of Sugar
6:05 PM · Jul 8, 2021
771 Reposts · 2.32K Likes
Wait, so birds that sing are the only ones who taste sugar? Wild
Aaron Astor@AstorAaron
Finally a study on natural immunity and Delta. Looks like the immunity effect for prior infection is the same as fully vaccinated - both are roughly 4X (or 3-5X) less potent than against Alpha. Breakthrough rate should roughly match reinfection rate.
nature.com/articles/s4158…
2:06 PM · Jul 9, 2021
50 Reposts · 120 Likes
I don't know about you, but I'm going to want a booster before we get too far into the winter
Dan Federman@TheFederman
Welp. If you’re reading this, you know people who think this way. Talk to them!
Next door in Silicon Valley @nextdoorsv
1/ Gems from the UCSD survey 🧵
"California will be better if its population falls significantly"
-40% Whites
-46% 45-64 y.o (GenX)
-41% 65+ y.o.
-48% Conservatives
-46% Republicans
-41% Independents
-39% SoCal that's not Los Angeles
-Slightly more women
https://t.co/jahlTJLhlw https://t.co/gXjQE6Ohb9
3:05 PM · Jul 9, 2021
3 Likes
Ideally engage positively on this kind of thing, but it's not like I'm good at it.
Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
Don’t call it welfare
(via @JoshuaTMcCabe)
3:25 PM · Jul 9, 2021
81 Reposts · 755 Likes
So, yea, rebranding.
Niels Lesniewski@nielslesniewski
Just so we're clear on all this: Schumer and McConnell could bring up a one sentence bill saying that the Capitol Police gets such sums as may be necessary for salaries and expenses through September 30, and see if anyone objects.
bit.ly
Capitol Police could run out of funds over August recess - Roll Call
4:01 PM · Jul 9, 2021
22 Reposts · 62 Likes
I'm not saying that the capitol police did an amazing job in January, but I don't think running out of money will make things better.
James Stoteraux@JStoteraux
There were 55 students in my incoming class at Columbia’s MFA Film program. Only 4 of us ever managed to make a career out of it. And of those 4, one guy dropped out the first semester. Funny enough he’s the most successful one having co-directed Avengers Endgame. Hi Anthony!
The Wall Street Journal @WSJ
Columbia and other wealthy universities steer master's students to federal loans that can exceed $250,000. After graduation, many learn the debt is well beyond their means. https://t.co/VO2VrQVK7g
2:38 AM · Jul 9, 2021
1.55K Reposts · 8.23K Likes
Yea, it seems pretty clear that the most expensive schools are not worth the money. I mean, go for it if you get grants for it.
Noah Smith 🐇@Noahpinion
The War on Poverty was a success, actually.
noahpinion.substack.com
The War on Poverty was a success
7:28 AM · Jul 9, 2021
47 Reposts · 246 Likes
This reminds me of how SF spends a massive amount of money per homeless person, but some of that results in housing people, resulting in fewer homeless people.
