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Mini stories:
- Pig translate update: the patient has left the hospital for home! This is so exciting… The fact that he was doing well enough to be discharged after two weeks is incredible… We can only hope this will lead to lifelong health for him, and a breakthrough in the field of medicine.
- Ozempic and similar meds are showing signs of slowing Parkinson’s disease! This is a very exciting breakthrough… Even though it’s far from a cure or even slowing progression very much, it could give researchers clues as to what might help in a bigger way. It’s hope. Stay tuned.
- Speaking of medicine, we are seeing an unlikely alliance forming between President Biden and Bernie Sanders. The two have been at odds a LOT over the past few years, but they have joined forces to advocate for lower drug costs… Something they have both wanted for Americans for many years. Biden even credited Bernie for laying out a plan that his administration is now using as their own blueprint. We will keep you guys posted on their progress.
- Earthquake in Manhattan
So, this is something pretty new… An earthquake felt by humans in MANHATTAN. You see, according to experts, many earthquakes happen throughout the year in this area, only they are too small to be felt or noticed. But this earthquake, was a different story.
The epicenter of this quake was over in New Jersey, about 40 miles away, but the quake was such a big one, people definitely felt it in NYC. The earthquake hit at 10:23am and was a 4.8 magnitude.
Fortunately, there was no major damage… It just scared people more than anything else. It did cause airports to shut down temporarily. Luckily, NYC actually added earthquake safety provisions to its building code back in 1995, according to The New York Times. But there is no doubt that these earthquakes are increasing in strength. But so far, New York is standing up to that strength, thank goodness.
+However, over in Taiwan people remain trapped in the rubble. Rescuers are working to save an estimated 600 people who are stranded, according to The Guardian. Heavy working equipment has been brought in, especially in rural areas where people had been hiking. And with the rescue efforts, the death toll has risen a bit from 9 people to 13, according to CNN. This whole event was so tragic and I am praying for anyone still trapped in the rubble… That has to be so terrifying. Godspeed to the rescuers.
+Solar eclipse
So in case you somehow HADN’T heard yet… there is a solar eclipse happening TODAY… If you don’t live in OKC you’ll have to look up the times and percentages for your own area (a simple google search can tell you), but OKC will see a 93% partial eclipse at 1:45pm, according to FOX Weather. Basically what will happen is, the moon will move across the sun, blocking most of its flight for a few minutes. The biggest thing is THOUGH, do NOT look at the sun, unless you have “eclipse glasses” that will protect your eyes properly. These can can be picked up at local libraries for free. It CAN be scary for certain people and pets, because all of a sudden, the sky will go dark. This is a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event, and I am excited OKC will get to see an almost complete eclipse today!
- Content Warning: this story involves war and famine
- Israel Gaza updates
+Israel agreed to open another aid corridor… It’s an area called The Ere Crossing and this obviously comes after Biden laid down the gauntlet: allow further aid to reach helpless civilians, or lose your biggest ally. And Biden didn’t say this just about this specific crossing… He reportedly issued more of a blanket, open ended statement saying that American support, as long as he is President, will depend on how Israel treats civilians generally. In terms of casualties AND the humanitarian crisis.
+CIA director has left for Cairo for peace talks
William J. Burns, the Director of the CIA, has left for Cairo to further advocate for peace between Israel and Hamas, along with the release of the remaining hostages. Any negotiating will go through Egypt and Qatar, as the Israelis and Americans do not directly deal with Hamas. Reportedly though, it can take up to two days to even get proposed plans to the Hamas leadership… Supposedly they are taking these proposals to Yahya Sinwar… the believed mastermind beyond the gruesome October 7th attacks. He is still believed to be hiding in the tunnels below Gaza.
+A leafy green is becoming a lifeline in (BBQ, Korean soup, bagels)
There is a spinach-like plant that grows in Gaza called khobeza. It loves the rain, so it was traditional to eat this plant following a rain. Now, as The New York Times put it, QUOTE “this leafy green has become a lifeline.” END QUOTE. As we have covered extensively, Gaza is experiencing famine and an extreme humanitarian crisis right now… a preventable situation where children are starving to death. But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention, and Gazans are forced to get creative trying to simply feed their families. Families are foraging on the side of the road to find khobeza and have said it is supporting them more than the rest of the world at this dark time. They are eating it in whatever way they can – sautéing, mixing into soups, or even eating it plain and raw in times of utter desperation.
Historically, there are a number of common foods around the world born out of desperation – American BBQ is said to have been born out of the meat scraps slave hands were once given to work with, Budae jjiagae is a now-popular Korean soup that used spam as a base and a means of survival during war, and, ironically maybe, bagels, too, were born out of persecution when Jews were banned from baking bead… They boiled it instead.
I think khobeza will have a special meaning Gaza, forevermore, after this devastating chapter. I am glad they have it, but they need more aid, as quickly as possible – they cannot survivor on Khobeza alone.
And that, is the News Du Jour!
Today, I wanted to leave you guys with the quote:
“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.”