damont

(Originally posted to my GoFundMe, and backdated to the date of that original post. This is basically copied verbatim (modulo formatting), including the fundraising stuff at the end; I *was* posting to GoFundMe after all. Feel free to ignore those bits if you want. Link to the fundraiser will be provided in the comments and upon request.)

Today in "SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 related PSA meets the traditional begging post" there's a link to a funny video... but first we mostly check in with intrepid pharmaceutical chemist Derek Lowe and his blog for Science Translational Medicine. Here's what he's been posting about recently.

More Chinese Traditional Medicine, Unfortunately

Monoclonal Antibodies and Vaccines: Q and A

Criticism of the Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine

First Results from Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine

Another Set of Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates

There May Be a Unique Coronavirus Immune Response

Good News on the Human Immune Response to the Coronavirus

And after all that, here's a bit of topical humor video.

Antonia Bonello on Instagram: “I was shopping for essentials in my local supermarket and it really reminded me of something... Sound on!"

Now it's time for the typical begging stuff. Those of you who've read any of these non-photo posts in the past several weeks can predict what comes next: before and in addition to the usual plea for help for ourselves, I'm going to ask those of you who are able to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES that are still open. Help keep your local economy a little bit more afloat, as and if you can. And remember that once the worst of this has passed, locally owned businesses will be struggling to get back on their feet, so please be ready to patronize them as much as you can when it's time for them to reopen.

And now, because after so long we STILL can't afford shame, here's my shameless and desperate plea for help. Please PLEASE spread the word as much as you feel able; share this fundraiser on lots of social media, by email, even by writing the link on pieces of paper and passing them around. Encourage folks you know to donate and to spread the word themselves. I've long since estimated that I'll need about 1,000 different contributors to make the goal, so getting the word out is important. And IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, please donate! We know that some of you have done so in the past two months (for which A GREAT BIG THANK YOU) and lots of you just can't. But even a spare fin or sawbuck, if that's all you can afford, is appreciated. Every little bit helps. (Remember, NO FEELING GUILTY if you don't have the means to contribute, or enough spoons to spread the word as far as you'd like.) And as I also keep saying: unlikely as it may be in these times of pandemic-fueled recession, if you have any job leads for either of us, PLEASE contact us! Relocation is TOTALLY an option.

Again, if anyone here actually is in a position to help out, right now would be a truly awesome time to do so. If you can't, you can't; I understand that better than most... thanks in advance for whatever you are able to do. If you live in a place where restrictions are being relaxed (getting more common now), please practice the UTMOST caution as you do what you must, and as I said in my last post, keep tabs on the infection rate for your vicinity, not just your state/province/country. If you're still under a stay-home order or have any sort of risk factor, please CONTINUE staying at home and only going out as needed. STAY SAFE. Wash your hands, keep hydrated, boost your immune system by whatever means works for you. Practice social distancing as much you realistically can. Keep in touch with your friends and loved ones from a safe distance. Tell them you care and that you're thinking of them. And as always, thank you for your continued support.