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New Model For Early Star Formation Identified, By ESA’s Hard Work — And JWST Data…

~ condor ~ 1 Comment

Let us again tonight (after a generally civil Veep debate here), fire-up our imaginations with new learnings, from deep in frigid interstellar space.

It seems many of the stars from the early Universe’s epoch of star formation may have emerged from large super-heated clouds rather than exclusively from colder matter collapses, driven by gravity alone. Here’s the fulsome story from across the pond, at the European Space Agency:

…Looking deep into the early Universe with the NASA/ESA/CSA JWST, astronomers have found something unprecedented: a galaxy with an odd light signature, which they attribute to its gas outshining its stars.

[Viewing light from] approximately one billion years after the Big Bang, galaxy GS-NDG-9422 (9422) may be [showing us all] a missing-link phase of galactic evolution between the Universe’s first stars and familiar, well-established galaxies.

“My first thought in looking at the galaxy’s spectrum was, ‘that’s weird,’ which is exactly what the Webb telescope was designed to reveal: totally new phenomena in the early Universe that will help us understand how the cosmic story began,” said lead researcher Alex Cameron of the University of Oxford, UK.

Cameron reached out to colleague Harley Katz, a theorist, to discuss the strange data. Working together, their team found that computer models of cosmic gas clouds heated by very hot, massive stars — to an extent that the gas shone brighter than the stars — was nearly a perfect match to Webb’s observations.

“It looks like these stars must be much hotter and more massive than what we see in the local Universe, which makes sense because the early Universe was a very different environment,” said Harley, of Oxford, UK, and the University of Chicago, USA….

Indeed, we are still catching up on last week’s news — due to our time away… but it does thrill me, to see how much we are learning every day, from this next gen space ‘scope. And to be certain, it humbles me to think about how much we really don’t know — about our own cosmic neighborhoods. Onward.

नमस्ते

And — Here’s Something That ACTUALLY Matters: Tangerine Claims He’s Not Just A King — But A Demi-God.

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In DC federal court tonight, Tangerine claimed that the Supremes essentially made him… a GOD.

He claims he can ask for discovery evidence in a felony matter that no other indicted defendant ever could. Irrelevant discovery, from the government — simply to stall, delay and obscure the fact that he himself… committed felonies.

And Special Counsel Jack Smith is having NONE of it. Neither is USDC Judge Chutkan:

…The defendant urges a rudderless approach to discovery by seeking to do away with the materiality standard for discovery demands. Having previously argued — by misquoting the relevant law — that he was entitled to discovery with “some abstract logical relationship to the issues in the case,” ECF No. 167 at 5, the defendant [Trump] now abandons that erroneous test in favor of no materiality standard at all, ECF No. 235 at 21-22. To muddy the applicable standard, the defendant cites a single district court opinion, United States v. Sutton, No. 21-098-01, 2022 WL 2383974, at *9 (D.D.C. July 1, 2022), which does not reflect the overall state of the law in this District. See United States v. Libby, 429 F. Supp. 2d 1, 6 n.10 (D.D.C. 2006)….

[Donald Trump’s] the defendant’s opposition includes his standard and unsupported refrain that the Government’s position is motivated by improper political considerations. That allegation is false — just as it was false when the Court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the case on grounds of selective and vindictive prosecution. See ECF No. 198. The Special Counsel’s mandate is to uphold the law. It has no role or interest in partisan politics and has faithfully executed its prosecutorial duties in this case. The Government’s position, set forth on the schedule ordered by the Court, is rooted in a faithful application of binding D.C. Circuit caselaw namely, a careful analysis and balancing of the Hubbard factors….

So — we all agree: Tangerine has lost his mind — in thinking he is above all our laws.

Gee — I wonder why the Powerline boys (claiming to be champions of “law and order“!) are completely mum on these issues.

Onward.

Hinderaker Essentially Complains That We Have A Free Expression Clause…

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John Hinderaker tonight seeks to mock Kamala Harris — and he fails. And fails, miserably.

Hinderaker seems to think (under our First Amendment) that Americans should NOT have a choice, as to whether they stand when our anthem is played (or whether they take a knee).

John cannot understand (or even hear that) Kamala supports the right of people to dissent from our more troubling policies.

If they choose to do so, by not standing for the anthem, so be it.

That is what peaceful protest is all about. John just loves “gotcha” questions — rather than accepting the complexity of allowing Americans the freedoms they’ve won — with their own bloodshed.

We all get that John prefers a dictatorship, and curtailed liberties.

Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party… believe in our Constitution.

The question is: does John?! It would seem he doesn’t.

Out.

Merck Has Completed The Acquisition From Curon, Of CN201 — Showing Potential For Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

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This is truly a minor note.

Paper filler, really. There was never any doubt (Hart Scott, or otherwise) that the deal would not get done. But it is closed, and so that is moderately good news. Not at all unexpected — so it is definitively “priced in” to Merck’s NYSE print, as of early August 2024.

…[Merck] today announced the completion of the acquisition of CN201 from Curon Biopharmaceutical (Curon), a novel investigational clinical-stage bispecific antibody for the treatment of B-cell associated diseases.

“By actively depleting B-cells, CN201 offers applications spanning both B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. We look forward to building upon the foundational work started by the Curon team,” said Dr. Dean Y. Li, president, Merck Research Laboratories.

CN201 is currently being investigated in Phase 1 and Phase 1b/2 clinical trials for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), respectively. Preliminary data suggest CN201 has activity in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell hematologic malignancies and is well tolerated, potentially leading to significant and sustained reductions in B-cell populations….

Now you know. And… onward to another glorious fall day in the steel and glass canyons, tomorrow! Smile.

नमस्ते

Rwanda Update: Funerals Limited To 50 Attendees; At Least 27 Confirmed Cases Of Marburg’s — And Now, Nine Dead.

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As of the first day of October 2024, the outbreak in Rwanda (that nation’s first ever experience with Marburg’s) seems to be accelerating, so public health officials are taking aggressive new measures — absent an approved vaccine on hand.

Until further notice, all funerals will be limited to 50 close associates — and the public is being encouraged to use safe burial practices. Here’s the latest, from Bloomberg reporting:

…Rwanda has reported nine deaths from its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak and confirmed 18 patients are in isolation, according to its health ministry.

Most of the fatalities have been healthcare workers from an intensive care unit in the capital, Kigali. To curb its spread, Rwandan authorities have restricted funeral sizes no more than 50 people….

Now you know — all as my Buffs get a week off, this Saturday — to prep for K-State in two weeks (it will be the late game on ESPN, 9:15 pm Eastern, from Boulder’s Folsom Field). Smile.

नमस्ते

It Seems Scott Doesn’t Know Anyone That Owns More Than One Cellphone. Huh.

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Gee, Scott.

I guess — since it’s been about 15 years since you were in the workforce — you aren’t aware that most executives use at least two phones, and keep both of them nearby all day long. One is for family calls/texts and check-ins, the other is… to handle company business.

It is highly likely that the cell phone on the desk in the photo (aboard Air Force Two) is her family phone. It would not be plugged into the headset, if she’s on the phone in her lap… The one on which these calls are taking place, effectively her work phone. And I too keep a few sheets of blank paper handy — for note taking, on my desk. Many executives do.

It may also be on a “speaker phone” call. Using Bluetooth, or just over air speaker. [How stupid are these MAGAts?!]

Once again, we see the hard right desperately looking for something — anything! — to complain about.

Desperation, in fact, is all it is — from Scott Johnson.

Onward.

[U] Bill Otis Now Asks That “The Moon Not Be… Round.” Won’t Happen, Billy-Boy.

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Silly-Billy.

Otis is right, that Tangerine could possibly pull this out in the final month… “IF ONLY…”

But Bill’s “if only…” swallows all else. The Trumpinator can no more be gracious… than he can fit his giant Depends-clad a$$… into a set of 32 inch waist, stove-pipe, genuine vintage 501 Levis, with the button fly. His constitution… won’t allow it. Here’s Bill’s plea:

…For just over a month, Trump needs to act as if he were something resembling a gentleman. It shouldn’t be that hard, especially if he can bring himself to remember that — c’mon, Donald! — it’s just five skimpy weeks. By being a gentleman, I mean the obvious: Cut out the insults, be at least a little generous and gracious, show some modesty, put away the absurd exaggerations, be restrained and thoughtful rather than belligerent, talk about others’ concerns rather than yours. A little self-deprecating humor wouldn’t hurt either. It did wonders for Reagan, whom the press was trying to paint as an airhead wahoo….

No. Way. No. How.

And he will lose, Bill.

UPDATE: Your co-blogger, Paul Mirengoff just said the ask is… impossible, not an hour after Bill made it. Hilarious.

Count on that.

Harris is leading now, in all but one swing state. Moreover, she still has a little under a third of her campaign to run. Tangerine has been running since 2022, trying to stave off… jail, mostly. So his campaign is about 94% water under the bridge. There are miles of audio and video to remind voters what a uselessly vain and narcissistic little miscreant he is.

He’s proven hundreds of times, on tape — that he’s a man who understands almost nothing about the real world the rest of us adults live in.

And here, at the dotage / twilight era of his time on the planet, he’s shown not a scintilla of genuine curiosity — to learn about the people upon whom he must rely for votes.

Yep. Stick. A. Fork. In. Him.

He’s done.

While We Were Off Grid, WHO Updated The Mpox Situation Report — For Africa | Sept. 2024

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This morning, it was a daunting primarily Rwandan Marburg prognosis — this afternoon, it is an equally daunting Mpox outlook, for most of central Africa — from the more lethal, and more contagious Clade Ib variant.

Here’s a link to the full WHO report (which looks back to January 2022, as well as breaks down data, by province — inside the DRC, and elsewhere, into very informative “heatmaps” like the country-wide data at right) — but here are the most salient bits, for the moment:

…In 2024, and as of 22 September, 15 countries in Africa have reported 6603 confirmed Mpox cases, including 32 deaths (case fatality ratio [CFR] among confirmed cases of 0.5%). In the last week 402 new confirmed cases and no new deaths were reported. The three countries reporting the most cases in 2024 are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5621 confirmed cases, 25 deaths), Burundi (696 confirmed cases, no deaths), and Nigeria (78 confirmed cases, no deaths).

In addition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deaths among confirmed Mpox cases in 2024 have been reported in South Africa (three), Cameroon (two), Central African Republic (one) and Cote d’Ivoire (one).

Among the countries reporting mpox in 2024, all 15 countries have reported new confirmed cases within the past six weeks (as at right)….

The six weeks measure mentioned above means to suggest that the outbreak is ongoing, as no pair of six weeks periods in any affected nation… has returned no new cases. That is the gold standard for arresting an Mpox Clade Ib outbreak: traversing two six week periods — without a new case — from the last new case.

Now you know — onward, despite very trying epidemiological times in central Africa. Onward.

नमस्ते

Tangerine Said It — So Scott Supports It… D A M N.

~ condor ~ 2 Comments

This early afternoon finds Scott Johnson offering “cover fire” — for Tangerine’s loony rally rant (are there any other kinds, from him?!) over the weekend. In that rant, Trump argued that Kamala, based on no evidence, should be impeached and prosecuted. This, because she has been loyal to Mr. Biden’s administration on border matters.

[Funny, even Tangerine didn’t argue for impeachment, or prosecutions — when his boy, Mike Pence wouldn’t aid the J6 coup attempt. Odd, that.]

But back to the main narrative arc here: Scott thinks it a “crime” to (as a sitting Veep) follow the boss’s entirely lawful border policies.

H I L A R I O U S.

So Scott offers some specious hearsay as “evidence” — to back Tangerine’s nutty old great-uncle bungling sh!t, from the weekend.

Like all other attempts these doddering old coots have made, in the past three years… none of it will ever stick. And they know it.

But should it gain traction, we might ask why MAGAts aren’t chanting to “lock HIM up!“, given his 34 felony CONVICTIONS.

Damn — but my, my… are these idiots ever… precious.

Out.

A New Marburg Outbreak — In Rwanda, At Least Six Dead In The Capital, Kigali… With Symptoms That Mimic Ebola.

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Once again, as was true in August of 2022, in Ghana — there is a new outbreak of the ~90% lethal Marburg virus on the African continent to contend with.

This time it is in Rwanda, a war torn and fragmented nation — which will make relief efforts very difficult. Add to this, that there is no approved vaccine for Marburg’s, and we have a daunting road ahead.

The slight bit of good news here is that the Oxford Vaccine Group, Texas Biomed, and the Sabin Institute are all independently working toward an approval of various vaccine candidates, for Marburg — but that cannot come too soon, now. [Texas Biomed’s is still in primate models, but both Oxford and Sabin are in clinical trials, in Phase 2.] Here is all of it, so far, from the UK Telegraph’s reporting:

…At least 26 cases have been reported since the outbreak was first confirmed on Friday, the health minister has announced, marking the first-ever reported cases in Rwanda. While the source of the outbreak is not yet known, cases have been reported in six of the country’s 30 districts, suggesting it may be widespread.

The majority of cases so far recorded have been reported in health workers in and around the country’s capital Kigali.

The city has a population of 1.2 million people and a well-connected airport, raising concerns of further spread via international and domestic travel, experts have warned.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is deploying experts and outbreak response tools to Rwanda to help curb the virus. Shipments of emergency medical supplies are expected to land in Kigali in the coming days….

We sincerely hope that these vaccine candidates are moved to the front of the review line, at FDA and at all UK and EU authorities. Onward, resolutely. Ever, resolute.

नमस्ते