Shout out to students at South Carolina State University for getting a political candidate disinvited to serve as commencement speaker.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Hantavirus!
#Hantavirus #AndesStrain
The world does NOT need another reason for people to be scared. RantWoman learned RantMom's memorial that she and her pastor became global poster stars for airborne #COVID transmission by people, like RantMom at the time, who are asymptomatic. So RantWoman is just a little twitchy about people who have been on a boat together for weeks already and a disease that apparently has a long incubation time.
(RantWoman's mind went here. Adventures of RantWoman: Nope. Not COVID, but... Readers are welcome to scroll past)
Are we to be scared? What incubation period do people on the ship have to worry about? How much contact tracing is possible? Does the Andres strain just kill people to quickly to take off as a #pandemic???
STAY TUNED
RantWoman has seen several twitter posts and the videos posted here. Information about how many people are sick is bouncing around. Gene sequencing takes time. RantWoman has other dramas that need her attention as much as the hantavirus.
Apparently virus sequencing has identified the Andes strain of Hantavirus.
Andes strain is much harder to transmit but can kill more quickly, too quickly for broad transmission.
Spain says hantavirus-stricken ship can dock in Canary Islands | DW News
International collaboration is vital
How hantavirus locked down this cruise ship — indefinitely | About That
What to know about the hantavirus outbreak outbreak on cruise ship
Rochester expert answers Hantavirus questions: Adam Interviews
Full of LOTS of medical stuff. Interesting science. Of unclear use as far as deciding how scared to be.
Bottom line:
Be concerned. Don't panic.
But WAIT: Both the US and Argentina (per an Argentinian journalist on Twitter /x ) have withdrawn from the World Health Organization so...free riding anyone?
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The dangerous ones go off on Data Centers
#50States50Stories #DataCenters
A BUNCH of questions to ask when data centers are coming to your town.
DO NOT leave news writing to algorithms! Do actually journalism!
Delightful Iceland videos that deserve more attention.
Iceland
RantWoman is charmed by all three of the videos linked here. Enjoy! Like and Subscribe
Readers who just want to gaze at somestunning scenery: enjoy, whether or not a trip to Iceland is on the horizon.
wonderful narration
Hidden gems
500+ steps to the top of a waterfall sounds daunting, worthwhile but daunting.
Really FUN description of Reykjavik
"One of the most peaceful places on earth."
The only NATO country that does not have an army.
So much geothermal heat that people can cook meals by burying it in the ground.
Rules include "families must spend time together."
Old tradition of letting babies sleep outside even during the winter.
A knife is never given as a gift because it is believed it can harm relationships.
70% of exports are fish.
Iceland has no mosquitos!
Iceland is not a member of the European Union
The number of books published per person is the highest in Europe
1/3 of the population has guns but the police don't.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Hantavirus on the Hondius
Clearly RantWoman just needed a break from the regular horrific news timeline, something to watch while doing her nightly cardio.
Lots of comments about ship details and international law
FULL BRIEFING: WHO Confirms Possible Human Spread of Hantavirus on Cruise Ship Near Cape Verde |AC14
Good coverage of details of important scientific work.
Monday, May 4, 2026
The Met Gala 2026 and more
#MetGala #MetGala2026
Actually attending the Met Gala is so far out of the realm of RantWoman's imagination that RantWoman is happy just to WAY overdo YouTube videos.
RantWoman is allowing herself to wonder why, due to timeing, this year's theme is not "May The Fourth be With You."
Anyway, a sampling of what YouTube served up. Don't watch them all of them at once.
tons of cool vocabulary
A whole 2:42 hours
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