The unimportant news thread

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66028401

A cleaner destroyed decades of "groundbreaking" work by shutting off a lab freezer containing key samples over an "annoying" alarm sound, US lawyers have claimed.

A sign explained how to mute the beep, but a breaker was reportedly switched off after a reading error.

Samples stored at -80C (-112F) were left "unsalvageable", causing $1m in damages, lawyers said.

The lab's school is suing the cleaner's employer for improper training.

Yes, I read that earlier.  A very sad story; from what I read, the person involved had thought that they were helping too.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

My girlfriend works in precisely such a lab, with multiple -80 freezers. The precautions taken around the equipment are at an extremely high state of vigilance (e.g. any power outage or water leak at any building results in a text alert to all the scientists; the university has its own independent backup power plant). She was surprised at the $1M valuation of the lost materials, but maybe they are running some experiment with really unusual stuff.

Sounds like the place that she is working at has its game on.  A question (after thinking a bit about the matter):  If they had had similar alarms in place, if the fact that they had turned off the breaker, would they still have received any sort of alarm?  As in, it wasn't a power outage nor a leak, but a physical act on someone's part to shut off the breaker.

PD

[T. D.]

My girlfriend works in precisely such a lab, with multiple -80 freezers. The precautions taken around the equipment are at an extremely high state of vigilance (e.g. any power outage or water leak at any building results in a text alert to all the scientists; the university has its own independent backup power plant). She was surprised at the $1M valuation of the lost materials, but maybe they are running some experiment with really unusual stuff.

Kind of weird this is going to a lawsuit. There must be an ongoing storyline not revealed in the article.

One would have to look into the details of the University's various insurance policies and coverage limits (I presume they're insured to some degree). The "cleaning company" itself is not likely to have the money to pay damages, unless it's part of a larger corporation.

Perhaps an insurance company somewhere in the chain has refused to pay. Or the University did not have applicable insurance (in which case, good luck trying to collect).

[Karl Henning]

I'd love to see a reference or references please.    I do know that with warmer winters, one will be experiencing more tick issues (sadly).  And, yes, I've been expecting that the numbers will be going up. 

PD

Here ya go, PD.
2023 Might Be the Worst Tick Season Ever. Here's Why | Time

[BWV 1080]

5 cases of malaria in the US
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-alert-malaria-acquired-locally-texas-florida-rcna91192

Vivax used to be endemic for most of the country with the more deadly falciparum entrenched in the South (the importation of Malaria by Europeans was a primary factor in creating a demand for African slaves, which had an acquired resistance to falciparum.

Scary stuff- malaria was eradicated in the US in the 40s with massive use of DDT.  These cases are all vivax, but wonder if the political will would be there if strong actions were needed

[Brian]

Sounds like the place that she is working at has its game on.  A question (after thinking a bit about the matter):  If they had had similar alarms in place, if the fact that they had turned off the breaker, would they still have received any sort of alarm?  As in, it wasn't a power outage nor a leak, but a physical act on someone's part to shut off the breaker.

PD

Probably not! Many of the machines send automated email alerts but I imagine simply flipping an appliance off (or cutting off its breaker) would not trigger anything.

[T. D.]

This year might be the worst tick season ever.

Agreed based on anecdotal evidence.
After the exceptionally warm (in this area) winter of 2015-2016, the tick population exploded, and it's never really fallen much since then.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Researchers were surprised to learn the vessel dated to between the 12th and 10th centuries B.C.E, which they say makes it the oldest entirely hand-sewn boat in the Mediterranean.

Thanks, Karl...I need to check this out.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Here ya go, PD.
2023 Might Be the Worst Tick Season Ever. Here's Why | Time

Thanks!  I'll check it out.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Probably not! Many of the machines send automated email alerts but I imagine simply flipping an appliance off (or cutting off its breaker) would not trigger anything.

That's what I was thinking...sadly.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

5 cases of malaria in the US
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-alert-malaria-acquired-locally-texas-florida-rcna91192

Vivax used to be endemic for most of the country with the more deadly falciparum entrenched in the South (the importation of Malaria by Europeans was a primary factor in creating a demand for African slaves, which had an acquired resistance to falciparum.

Scary stuff- malaria was eradicated in the US in the 40s with massive use of DDT.  These cases are all vivax, but wonder if the political will would be there if strong actions were needed

Interesting news...can you please give me/us more info about this?

PD

[Spotted Horses]

Sounds like the place that she is working at has its game on.  A question (after thinking a bit about the matter):  If they had had similar alarms in place, if the fact that they had turned off the breaker, would they still have received any sort of alarm?  As in, it wasn't a power outage nor a leak, but a physical act on someone's part to shut off the breaker.

PD

Yes, whoever installed the alarm system didn't cover all contingencies. The freezer presumably had a built in alarm system that would send alerts if the temperature went out of range. That might have become disabled if the unit looses power. Sounds like there was a separate alert system for when power is lost, which may not cover a breaker being manually turned off.

BTW, the unit in question was probably similar to one of these:

https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/lab-equipment/cold-storage/ult-freezers/models.html

[Karl Henning]

"Wheel of Fortune," a separate brain-child of "Jeopardy!"-creator Merv Griffin, is the world's longest-running syndicated—that is, licensed to various networks—game show. At one time, it held the top-rated syndicated television spot for 26 years straight. Originally a Los Angeles weather forecaster (watch history), the 76-year-old Sajak began hosting the show in 1981 alongside famous puzzle-revealer Vanna White, going on to win three Emmy awards and 19 nominations. Sajak is expected to continue as a consultant for the show.

I trust it is not suggestive of any criticism of Mr Sajak, that I had no idea one could win an Emmy for hosting a game show.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I trust it is not suggestive of any criticism of Mr Sajak, that I had no idea one could win an Emmy for hosting a game show.

I suspect that there are (or have been--maybe some additions/deletions over the years) a number of different categories for which one could win an Emmy.

Must admit, I do like Jeopardy.

PD

[Karl Henning]

Must admit, I do like Jeopardy.

I always have, too. I enjoy playing via Alexa, even when she "cheats."

[Karl Henning]

In the Everglades, he said, "sharks are no joke."

A shark pulls a man off his boat in Florida.

[JBS]

In the Everglades, he said, "sharks are no joke."

A shark pulls a man off his boat in Florida.

Nota bene: this took place in Florida Bay, the portion of the Gulf of Mexico that lies between the main peninsula and the Keys.
So it didn't take place in the Everglades--at most, where the swamp meets the sea.

[Karl Henning]

Nota bene: this took place in Florida Bay, the portion of the Gulf of Mexico that lies between the main peninsula and the Keys.
So it didn't take place in the Everglades--at most, where the swamp meets the sea.

Thanks for the corrigendum.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Here ya go, PD.
2023 Might Be the Worst Tick Season Ever. Here's Why | Time

I knew that it was getting worse, but still. 

I hate using bug spray (think Deet or other things), but I've seen what getting Lyme disease can do to people that I've known and care about--plus, I believe that they can carry other diseases?  Or perhaps I'm thinking of something else here?

PD

[Karl Henning]

I knew that it was getting worse, but still. 

I hate using bug spray (think Deet or other things), but I've seen what getting Lyme disease can do to people that I've known and care about--plus, I believe that they can carry other diseases?  Or perhaps I'm thinking of something else here?

PD

no, you're right: ticks carry Lyme.