The Three-Two-One: November 2020
3 things to know, 2 things to follow, 1 thing to love
The Three-Two-One is a monthly feature exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. That’s you, right? It’s filled with things I believe are the best of the month and simply cannot be missed. Here’s November 2020’s list.
THREE things to know:
November brought with it some sobering Pandemic records, and we continue to prepare for what will be darker weeks ahead. I continue to urge each of you to limit unnecessary travel and trips, commit to alternative ways to gather with friends and family, wear a mask if you will be near other humans (inside or out), wash your hands, and stay home if you are feeling unwell. We have seen predictable patterns of illness and death after every major Holiday. Only our choices as community and our personal actions will break this chain of events.
As we bravely press forward, however, a new hope was delivered to us this month. We now have reports of three vaccines that are proving to safely protect against Sars-CoV-2. This means we are on the verge of having a critical tool to help us reach the community immunity we need to end this Pandemic. This process will be slow, we need to know more, and there will be setbacks. Because science. However, Humanity is indebted to the scientists and researchers whose talents have touched these live-saving projects. One reason to be thankful, indeed.
I’ll start sharing more about the COVID vaccines in the weeks to come. Stay tuned.
Masks help the wearer. All this mask stuff has been messy. No. Yes. Not that one. Maybe not here. Don’t do that. But definitely do this. But over the months since Sars-CoV-2 entered our world, the windshield is getting clearer.
Research has continued to show how mask wearing helps to limit infection spread from those infected to fellow humans. After months of mask wearing, we are now seeing patterns of protection in mask-wearers. Evidence suggests masks filter the air you breathe in, capturing viral particles before they can infect. And, masks work best if everyone in the community is wearing one. This piece in the Washington Post helps to explain.
“Masks are neither completely selfless nor selfish — they help everyone.”
- Ben Guarino in The Washington Post
Bottom line: Even with the vaccine in the distant horizon, masks are going to be part of our wardrobe for a while. To protect you. To protect me. To protect us.
Finally, direct from super-nerdy science town, don’t miss this New Yorker piece. In it, James Somers digs deep into how the novel coronavirus takes advantage of our immune system to infect and kill. The essay takes a minute to get through, but includes good information that is useful in understanding the disease, while being brutal in its honesty…
“Getting older sucks. Everything breaks down, even at the simplest of levels.”
-Benjamin tenOever
TWO things to follow:
I’ve been an Andy Slavitt fan for a long time. During the past nine months, his twitter education has been accurate, valuable, and science-driven. His pod, “In The Bubble,” leverages the wisdom and talents of leading scientists, researchers, and policy makers. It’s digestible, relatable, and practical. The recent episode, “Toolkit: How to stay safe this COVID winter” is a do-not-miss. And be sure to follow Andy on Twitter.
Another solid Pandemic pod is “This Week In Virology.” (Or “TWIV,” if you’re cool.) The audience is primarily front-line medical folk who need to know the latest in direct care updates and research on the horizon. This is high-level science, but super approachable in its presentation. These lengthy pods will make you feel empowered with the up-to-date knowledge you would need to care for patients or to advocate for family members who are ill. Don’t miss the recent episode with vaccine guru, Dr. Peter Hotez. And follow TWIV contributors on Twitter; Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker.
ONE thing I’m loving right now:
My home office.
Pandemic life has brought my attention to spaces. Space for the kids’ virtual school. Space to clean up after work. Space for dirty masks. It’s like our home life has slowly become compartmentalized into a puzzle of purposeful places, all within the larger unit that makes up our collective home.
Enter, my home office. Prior to March, the office was a great place to drop off mail or stop for a quick email check. Today, this room has been transformed into a space. I infested in a new rug. A comfy chair. Some candles. A Christmas tree. It’s an area dedicated to thinking, working, and writing. And with its beautifully functioning French doors, it’s a space to get away.
This newly revived area is providing some peace in the Pandemic; favoring solace and nurturing gratitude. A separate space, while being together.
I’ll finish this edition of the 3-2-1 with the top three Instagram posts of the month. Just click on the image to read the full caption. The most popular KC Kids Doc “Kwik Class” was on Tongue Tie.
Is there something new I should share, follow, or love? Just hit reply or leave your ideas in the comments.
Wishing you a meaningful, slow, and healthy beginning to the Holiday season. I’ll see you soon.
What is your take on open schools? Dr. White from joco pediatrics shared her thoughts about keeping them open for mental health. What do you think?