Pleasure and Pain
May 11, 2020
Image via Sotirios Papathanasiou (Used with permission by creator)
“Pleasure is never as pleasant as we expected it to be and pain is always more painful. The pain in the world always outweighs the pleasure. If you don’t believe it, compare the respective feelings of two animals, one of which is eating the other.”
“It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.”
Crazies Peddle Pseudoscience By Leveraging Platforms
Dr. Judy Mikovits has a B.S. in biology and a Ph.D. in molecular biology. From 1992 to 2001 she worked at the National Cancer Institute; in 2006 she became research director at the Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease. In 2009 she co-wrote a research paper published in the respected journal Science that linked the mysterious condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome to a retrovirus that came from mice. But follow-up studies failed to replicate the findings, discrediting the theory. Science later retracted the paper. In 2011 Mikovits was fired from her job, arrested for theft, and sued by her former employer.
Mikovits remains convinced that her theory was correct, and that the top scientific minds in the US conspired to ruin her career. She’s doubled down on debunked theories linking retroviruses originating in mice to medical conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and autism. In 2014 Mikovits published her first book, “Plague,” with an anti-vaccine advocate; her new book “Plague of Corruption” is a best seller on Amazon. Mikovits’ views that vaccines damage people’s immune systems are fodder for anti-vaxxers.
Now, thanks to the new book and a 26-minute video clip posted to YouTube a week ago, the 62-year old discredited scientist has become the unparalleled champion for anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists. The video is a deep dive into conspiracy theories about COVID-19, public health and the pharmaceutical industry. It showcases Mikovits’ bizarre, unsubstantiated claims that the pandemic is a secret plot by global elites like Bill Gates and Dr. Anthony Fauci to profit and grab political power. Mikovits contends the virus was intentionally spread to increase vaccination rates, and that wearing face masks is harmful. Before being removed from YouTube and Facebook, the video received millions of views.
- Pseudoscience and COVID-19 — we’ve had enough already (Nature)
- Health Experts Don’t Understand How Information Moves (Atlantic, $)
- The Politics of Information (Five Books)
- Meanwhile the impact of COVID-19 on real scientists: ‘Finally, a virus got me.’ Scientist who fought Ebola and HIV reflects on facing death from COVID-19 (Science Mag)
- The emerging long-term complications of Covid-19, explained (Vox)
- You’ll Probably Never Know If You Had the Coronavirus in January (Atlantic, $)
- Coronavirus antibody testing, explained (The Verge)
Image via Getty Images
The Party Don’t Start Until COVID-19 Stops Walking In
- South Korea took very early, very aggressive measures to halt the spread of Covid-19, and those actions were largely successful. The Seoul government spent weeks contemplating a new playbook for managing life with coronavirus, issuing definitive guidelines late last month. But now at least 54 new cases have been traced to a 29-year-old man who, in a single night last weekend, visited five clubs and bars in a popular Seoul neighborhood.
- On Wednesday the man tested positive for the virus, the same day the South Korean government rolled out relaxed social-distancing measures. The new cases, which followed days of no reported local infections, show just how difficult returning to normalcy might be.
- On Saturday Seoul’s mayor Park Won-soon issued an administrative order banning large crowds at clubs, bars and other entertainment venues; it will last at least a month. Violators are subject to severe punishment that includes fines. “Carelessness can lead to an explosion in infections,” Park said. “The effort made by the citizens and medical staff could turn to dust in a moment.”
- In a national address Sunday President Moon Jae-in pointed to the new cluster of cases and warned a second wave of infections could arise anytime and anywhere. “It will be a long time before the Covid-19 outbreak has ended completely,” Moon said. “It’s not over until it’s over.” (WSJ)
- What’s Behind South Korea’s COVID-19 Exceptionalism? Seven weeks ago, South Korea and the U.S. had the same number of virus deaths. Today, South Korea has fewer than 300, and the U.S. has more than 70,000.(The Atlantic, $)
Additional World News
- Indian and Chinese soldiers injured in cross-border fistfight, says Delhi (Guardian)
- We Chat, They Watch: How International Users Unwittingly Build up WeChat’s Chinese Censorship Apparatus (Citizen Lab)
- From a Miami condo to the Venezuelan coast, how a plan to ‘capture’ Maduro went rogue (WaPo, $)
- We’re headed for a faceless future as masks become the norm. That’s a big security concern (CNN)
- Bolsonaro attends floating barbecue as Brazil’s Covid-19 toll tops 10,000 (Guardian)
COVID-19
- Scientists concerned that coronavirus is adapting to humans (Guardian)
- Doctors keep discovering new ways the coronavirus attacks the body (WaPo)
- Coronavirus May Be Found in Semen, Researchers Report (NYT)
- Taiwan’s Weapon Against Coronavirus: An Epidemiologist as Vice President (NYT)
- Hidden Toll: Mexico Ignores Wave of Coronavirus Deaths in Capital (NYT)
- Europe’s Battle-Hardened Nations Show Resilience in Virus Fight (NYT)
- The People Flying During The Pandemic And How Airlines Are Trying To Protect Them (NPR)
- Docs show top WH officials buried CDC report (AP News)
- From superpower to superfolly: The World Is Taking Pity on Us (NYT, $) & McDonald’s Workers in Denmark Pity Us (NYT, $)
COVID-19 and Money
- Unemployment Numbers ‘Will Get Worse Before They Get Better’ Mnuchin Says (NPR): “The Trump Administration is considering additional stimulus measures, including a payroll tax cut, according to Mnuchin, who also said on Sunday, “We’re not gonna do things just to bail out states that were poorly managed.” But he said the White House would wait a “few weeks” before considering another relief bill.”
- American companies spent years in an economic boom. Then the coronavirus hit (CNBC)
- Coronavirus: What shape will the recession be? (BBC)
- I made millions out of the last debt crisis. Now the wealthy stand to win again (Guardian)
- ‘F*ck Elon Musk’: Democrat rebukes magnate over coronavirus restrictions row (Guardian)
- As Job Losses Mount, Lawmakers Face a Make-or-Break Moment (NYT, $)
- The Disastrous Employment Numbers Show Almost Every Job Is at Risk (NYT, $)
- Up to 43m Americans could lose health insurance amid pandemic, report says (Guardian)
- Opinion | For-Profit Healthcare Doomed Our Coronavirus Response (NYT)
- The Coronavirus Is Widening the Class Divide in Education (NYT)
- Will the pandemic be “A pox on both your houses” for China and the USA: The Pandemic Bodes Ill for Both American and Chinese Power (Foreign Affairs)
- Both countries have significant debts: The national debt is out of control (WaPo, $)
- China under pressure to write off loans as countries struggle to repay debt during coronavirus crisis (CNBC)
Will The White House Avoid the Pox On Their House?
- Two members of the White House staff — President Trump’s personal valet and Vice President Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller — have tested positive for Covid-19. Three top officials leading the coronavirus response are self-isolating for two weeks after being exposed to the virus. But many who had come into contact with Miller and the valet continue reporting to work.
- “It’s scary to go to work,” said a top economic adviser to the president on Sunday. The adviser said he sometimes wore a mask at the White House, but conceded “I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing.”
- Although the administration has ramped up procedures to combat the outbreak — including swift testing and contract tracing — some senior officials believe the disease is already spreading rapidly through the warren of cramped offices that make up the three floors of the West Wing. And Trump continues to urge Americans to return to their workplaces, despite warnings from public health officials that the virus is still ravaging communities across the country. (NYT)
- Additional reference: Theodore Roosevelt dubs it the White House, Oct. 12, 1901 (Politico): “At various times in U.S. history, the White House had been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.””
- Additional humor: Sure, The Velociraptors Are Still on the Loose, but That’s No Reason Not to Reopen Jurassic Park (McSweeney’s)
Additional USA News
- There’s One Big Reason the U.S. Economy Can’t Reopen (Atlantic, $)
- Trump made Florida his official residence. He may have also made a legal mess. (WaPo, $)
- Fight over virus’s death toll opens grim new front in election battle (NYT, $)
- George Conway: No one in this country is above the law. The Supreme Court is about to teach that lesson. (WaPo, $)
- Trump charges Obama with ‘biggest political crime in American history’ (Guardian)
- The Secrets Flynn Was Desperate to Conceal (Atlantic, $)
- The Murdoch media’s China coronavirus conspiracy has one aim: get Trump re-elected (Guardian)
Startup Tips
- What I Love—and Hate—Most About Being an Entrepreneur (WSJ, $). Daily Pnut’s Tim considers himself an entrepreneur and below are some tips he has on succeeding as an entrepreneur (and also how he’s trying to operate):
- Be curious and enjoy learning (seek context)
- Be prepared to work very hard (be great at follow-ups)
- Don’t be afraid to be different (or take an unconventional approach): “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” ― Steve Jobs
- See the forest and the trees: Strategy matters but execution matters just as much.
- Balance thought with action: “When action grows unprofitable, gather information; when information grows unprofitable, sleep.” ― Ursula K. LeGuin
- Surround yourself with good people who are good at things you are not (build a team and be a team player)
- Be resourceful and be lean
- You’ll need a lot of luck: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur
- Learn how to receive and provide feedback
- Communicate effectively (become a better writer and speaker)
- Be professional and courteous (build allies and partners) but know when to address and resolve/confront a matter: “Working to keep negative information out during a difficult conversation is like trying to swim without getting wet.” ― Douglas Stone
- You will succeed if your partners do: “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.”― Jeff Bezos
- You will fail many times but learn and grow through your failures
- It is a marathon but you’ll need to sprint occasionally: “Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.”― Biz Stone
- Don’t forget about your health
- Be ethical and have values
- Be humble: “That willingness to consider new information goes hand in hand with a willingness to admit your old way of thinking was flawed.”
- Enjoy the process and have fun: “Sometimes life’s going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did.”― Steve Jobs
- Most entrepreneurs also make their new companies their ikigai: Japan’s formula for life satisfaction (BBC). Additional quote: “It’s hard to do a really good job on anything you don’t think about in the shower.” ― Paul Graham