RSV VACCINES FOR KIDS HAVE A CHECKERED HISTORY: FDA Advisors Say More Data Needed for RSV Vaccines in Young Kids: A “very complicated situation” after mRNA vaccine trial was halted, expert says. “FDA advisors said that more data are needed to fully understand if there are broader safety concerns related to use of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines in young children after an mRNA vaccine trial was halted earlier this year. Moderna, which had been developing an mRNA vaccine candidate for RSV in infants and toddlers, notified the FDA in July that it had paused a phase I trial due to an imbalance of severe/hospitalized RSV cases in RSV-naive infants ages 5 to 7 months who had received the vaccine versus placebo, raising concern for possible vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD), according to FDA briefing documents.”

An earlier effort at RSV vaccine had a similar problem.

THE NEW SPACE RACE: NASA updates ‘Moon to Mars’ roadmap for exploring Red Planet.

THE VEGAN MAFIA IS EVERYWHERE: Proposed USDA guidelines support beans, lentils for protein versus meat.

FROM DAVID FRIEDMAN, another AI-generated SF story.

PUSHBACK: Ohio law schools end race-based programs after think tank probe.

HIGHER EDUCATION IS A MONEY LAUNDRY FOR LEFTISTS: University of Iowa paid MSNBC host Joy Reid $55k to speak on campus.

DAVE FRIEDMAN WROTE A SCIENCE FICTION STORY USING AI: Here’s the prompt: “Write a 10,000 word1 short story about an asteroid miner marooned on an asteroid. Narrate in first person. The miner has a wry, ironic, and detached demeanor, but he really pines for his family back home. He has a number of robots to keep him company, including one which helps him with sexual needs, but as he becomes more aware of how inextricably marooned he is, he starts to think about descending through Dante’s circles of hell. The overall message is one of increasing existential despair, akin to Sartre’s No Exit. Now, this is a science fiction story, but I want it to be a well-written, *literary* science fiction story–think something akin to Alastair Reynolds’ style.” Story at the link.

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER ON X:

This gotta be the greatest community note I ever seen. https://t.co/CxSAQq6hgc

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 13, 2024

SUCCESS:

That is the goal. This platform only seems to”right-wing” to the left. https://t.co/5Gk0lYn1gl

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2024

As the most politically balanced site on the Internet, X seems “right wing” to the left.

OFF AND RUNNING: Trump forms MAGA ‘Dream Team’ for 100-day sprint.

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN MLB, THE NFL, OR THE NBA THESE DAYS:

Star-driven league. When Magic and Bird are your leading faces, you’re gonna thrive. When Jordan takes over, you’re gonna really shoot for the moon.

Hand the league to some childish commie like LeBron for 20 years, and this is what you get. https://t.co/tXG4JDp05W

— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 13, 2024

MAKE THEM PAY: Amy Wax Threatens To Sue Penn for Race Discrimination, Breach of Contract: The embattled law professor says she will take legal action if Penn doesn’t lift the sanctions against her.

HEH:

My favorite part of this story is when a liberal bartender was forced to admit that Republicans are cooler people than Democrats. pic.twitter.com/fnlcTyQ6xB

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 13, 2024

2022 FLASHBACK:

OPEN THREAD: Ring in the weekend.

A MOON-SHATTERING KABOOM: Meteor strikes on the moon! Astronomer captures possible Geminid lunar impacts.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT MENTALLY WELL: Incoming West Virginia state representative charged with threatening to kill GOP lawmakers.

THEY TRIED. ProPublica Almost Succeeded in Smearing Pete Hegseth.

Still waiting to hear if anyone at West Point has been fired.

THE DANGERS OF BINGE DRINKING: ‘Holiday Heart’ Is a Serious Medical Issue Triggered by Festive Booze.

THE FIRST OF TWO SPACEX LAUNCHES TONIGHT WENT WELL:

Falcon 9 completes our 100th droneship landing of the year! pic.twitter.com/O5J25bw1ca

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 13, 2024

The next is scheduled for about half an hour from now.

SPACE: Astronauts Launch Bold Experiments and Gear Up for Critical Spacewalk.

MAKE THEM PAY: UCLA student sues California doctors, says she was ‘fast-tracked’ into transgender surgery.

A BIT OVER MY BUDGET: The 2025 Aston Martin Valhalla is Shaping Up To Be Exactly What Driving Dreams Are Made Of.

THAT’S OKAY, BIDEN WILL PARDON HIM NEXT: Illegal Chinese National Arrested In California Shipping Weapons And Devices To North Korea.

SPACE: Undeterred by Friday the 13th, SpaceX plans pair of launches.