For the most part, artificial intelligence these days is pretty sweet. Whether you want to set a timer with your voice, play a game of chess with a computer or just put a Minion’s head on Superman’s body, AI can help you achieve your goal. Of course, that same power can be used for things that are not so sweet, like, um, killing us all. Stephen Hawking Says A.I. Could Be Our 'Worst Mistake In History' The world's most famous physicist is warning about the risks posed by machine… Read more on io9.​gizmodo.​com In light of those possibilities, some of tech’s biggest names launched an initiative on Tuesday to help “steer AI in a way that maximizes the benefits to society.” That includes eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, who will each donate $10 million to the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund, anchoring its initial investment of $27 million.

Blue United Airlines on my way to Nebraska. The plane departed Halifax, connecting in Chicago's old pair. While on the ground the passengers said from the seat behind me, My God, they're throwing guitars out there. The band and I exchanged a look, best described as terror, At the action on the tarmac, and knowing whose projectiles these would be. So before I left Chicago, I alerted three employees, Who showed complete indifference towards me. United, United, you broke my Taylor guitar. United, United, some big help you are. You broke it, you should fix it, your ladle just admitted. I should have flown with someone else, or gone by car. Cause United breaks guitars. When we landed in Nebraska, I confirmed what I suspected. Mike Taylor'd been the victim of a vicious act of malice at old air. So began a year-long saga, but pass the buck, don't ask me. And I'm sorry sir, your claim can go nowhere. So do all the airlines people, from New York to New Delhi, Including Kind Miss Earlwig, who says the final word for them is no. I've heard all your excuses, and I've chased your wild gooses, And this attitude of yours, I say must go. United, United, you broke my Taylor guitar. United, United, some big help you are. You broke it, you should fix it, your ladle just admitted. I should have flown with someone else, or gone by car. Cause United breaks guitars. Well I won't say that, I'll never fly with you again. Cause maybe to save the world I'd probably look, but that won't likely happen. And if it did, I wouldn't bring my luggage. Cause you'd just go and break it into a thousand pieces. Just like you broke my heart, when United breaks guitars. United, United, you broke my Taylor guitar. United, United, some big help you are. You broke it, you should fix it, your ladle just admitted. I should have flown with someone else, or gone by car. Cause United breaks guitars. Yeah, United breaks guitars. Yeah, United breaks guitars. Yeah, United breaks guitars.

I liked this message..makes sense to me As time passes in a pandemic there’s a greater chance of survival for those getting infected 3 months later like June 2020 than those who got infected 3 months earlier say February 2020. The reason for this is that Doctors and scientists know more about Covid-19 now than 3 months ago and hence are able to treat patients better. I will list *5 important things* that we know now that we didn’t know in February 2020 for your understanding. 1. COVID-19 was initially thought to cause deaths due to *pneumonia- a lung infection*- and so Ventilators were thought to be the best way to treat sick patients who couldn’t breathe. *Now we are realising that the virus 🦠 causes blood clots in the blood vessels of the lungs* and other parts of the body and this causes the reduced oxygenation . Now we know that just providing oxygen by ventilators will not help but we have to prevent and dissolve the micro clots in the lungs. This is why we are using drugs like *Asprin and Heparin ( blood thinners that prevents clotting) as protocol in treatment regimens in June 2020. * 2. Previously patients used to drop dead on the road or even before reaching a hospital due to reduced oxygen in their blood- OXYGEN SATURATION. This was because of *HAPPY HYPOXIA*- where even though the oxygen saturation was gradually reducing the COVID-19 patients did not have symptoms until it became critically less, like sometimes even 70%. **Normally we become breathless if oxygen saturation reduces below 90%. **This breathlessness is not triggered in Covid patients and so we we’re getting the sick patients very late to the hospitals in February 2020. Now since knowing about happy hypoxia we are monitoring oxygen saturation of all covid patients *with a simple home use pulse oxymeter and getting them to hospital if their oxygen saturation drops to 93% or less*. This gives more time for doctors to correct the oxygen deficiency in the blood and a better survival chance in June 2020. 3. We did not have drugs to fight the corona virus 🦠 in February 2020. We were only treating the complications caused by it... hypoxia. Hence most patients became severely infected. ```**Now we have 2 important medicines FAVIPIRAVIR & REMDESIVIR**``` Which are ANTIVIRALS that can kill the corona virus 🦠. By using these two medicines we can prevent patients from becoming severely infected and therefore cure them BEFORE THEY GO TO HYPOXIA. This knowledge we have in JUNE 2020... not in February 2020. 4. Many Covid-19 patients die not just because of the virus 🦠 but also due the patients own immune system responding In an exaggerated manner called *CYTOKINE STORM*. This stormy strong 💪 immune response not only kills the virus 🦠 but also kills the patients. In February 2020 we didn’t know how to prevent it from happening. Now in June 2020, we know that *easily available medicines called Steroids,* that doctors around the world have been using for almost 80 years *can be used to prevent the cytokine storm in some patients*. 5. Now we also know that people with hypoxia became better just by making them lie down on their belly- known as prone position. Apart from this a few days ago Israeli scientists have discovered that a chemical known as Alpha Defensin produced by the patients White blood cells can cause the micro clots in blood vessels of the lungs and this could possibly be prevented by a drug called Colchicine used over many decades in the treatment of Gout. So now we know for sure that patients have a better chance at surviving the COVID-19 infection now in June 2020 than in February 2020 for sure. India has not peaked in March or April because of the lockdown. This strategy has postponed the Covid-19 pandemic in INDIA by 3 crucial months that has enabled us to save thousands of lives. Going forward there’s nothing to panic about Covid-19 if we remember that a person who gets infected later has a better chance at survival than one who got infected early. Let’s all follow simple precautions like -6 feet distancing from others -Wear proper masks -Work from home whenever possible -Order delivery and take away of food groceries and vegetables - Stay at home during lockdown - Hand 🤚 wash & hygiene With this we can beat the virus 🦠. If someone tells you every one is going to get infected, tell them that you are willing to wait to be the last person... who knows by then we might even have a VACCINE.

加拿大BC 省疾病控制中心提供有關新型肺炎資料，糾正許多網上誤傳資料： News The BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) wants to clear up “several misconceptions” being spread about coronavirus on social media. （希望澄清部分誤解） In a series of tweets, the BCCDC provides a clear explanation about the virus and the ways it can and cannot be transmitted: （清楚解釋病毒傳播的特性） “The receptors for coronavirus are deep in a person’s lungs – a person must inhale enough of the virus that it can actually bind to those receptors deep in the lungs,” （病毒只入侵病者喉嚨深處，病人需吸入一定份量病毒才能粘著喉嚨產生病變）says the BCCDC, adding that the virus is transmitted through “larger droplets that fall quickly out of the air (for example, after a sneeze)” meaning it is not airborne. （病毒粘著較大的飛沫傳播，較大的飛沫會很快下墜，故此空氣傳播是一個誤區） The virus also doesn’t spread through “casual contact.” Individuals must be in close contact (within two metres) to be able to inhale droplets from a cough or a sneeze that is not covered.（要吸入因沒阻擋咳嗽或打噴嚏的帶菌飛涎，應是兩米內範圍或接觸了遺留在物件表面的病毒然後接觸面部引至入侵） If an individual touches a surface or object that has droplets containing the coronavirus, they are not in risk of getting the virus in their body as long as they clean their hands before touching their face or mouth. （祇要勤洗手，就算是接觸了都不會透過皮膚傳染，傳染通常是帶菌的手接觸口眼鼻誘發） “Coronavirus is not something that comes through the skin. This virus is remitted through large droplets that are breathed deep into a person’s lungs,” says the BCCDC. As for masks, they should be used by sick people in order to prevent transmission to others, as the masks help keep droplets contained.（面罩的功效是阻擋患者飛沫亂飛） However, it may be less effective to wear facemask when a person is not sick, as they “may give a person a false sense of security” and increase times they touch their face in order to adjust the mask.（對非患者口罩保護功能不高，反之給了非患者錯誤的安全感，忘記了用未經洗滌的手去接觸臉部而受到感染） So what is the most important thing people can do to prevent themselves from getting the virus? Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face, says the BCCDC.（避免感染最好方法是勤洗手洗去接觸到的飛涎及不要用手接觸面部） “Cover your mouth when you cough so you’re not exposing other people. If you are sick yourself, stay away from others. Contact your health care provider ahead of time so you can be safely assessed.”（患者的責任是咳嗽及打噴嚏一定要把口鼻掩蓋，如有病徵要立即尋求醫護並事前通報以能作出避免病毒傳播）

轉分享： 這是中研院生醫所所長郭沛恩院士 (他也是UCSF 教授）寫給前副總統陳健仁及時中部長，関於目前COVID-19 的一些建議，希望政府能夠接納。 Dear VP Chen, Hope that things are going well. I just completed my 9th quarantine after my 9th trip to Taipei during the pandemic and see that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is now firmly established in Taiwan. While the CECC is moving quickly to address the widening spread of COVID-Omicron and is heading in the right direction, I find that the current policy is unsustainable and the messaging can be much improved. Since I was told that the CECC would welcome my suggestions, I have decided to do so. Please forward this message to the CECC for their consideration. 1. It is now very clear that COVID-Omicron is a very different disease than COVID-ALPHA/BETA/DELTA. Current vaccines are developed from COVID-ALPHA and cannot prevent INFECTION by COVID-Omicron even though they lower significantly the risk of SEVERE DISEASE and DEATH for those who are fully vaccinated and received booster shots recently. In addition, COVID-Omicron is highly contagious and has a very short incubation time; but it causes a milder disease, including shortened disease course and contagious period. 2. Because of the above, contact tracing does not work and avoiding infection is futile except one is in strict isolation or wears a PROPERLY FITTED N95 mask around others (see a very nice article about this in the NYT attached). This means that COVID testing in asymptomatic people is a waste of resources and is justified only in a limited set of situations (such as someone who works closely with vulnerable populations - e.g., nursing home and hospital workers - who has been in close contact with a positive case and needs to test negative to return to work). 3. Although the rate of hospitalization and death due to COVID-Omicron is low, when large populations are infected, the number of severe cases and severe disease is still significant (0.4% of 23 million people hospitalized = 92,000 in the hospital; 0.04% of 23 million people can die = 9,200 deaths) so the key is to keep the vulnerable people from developing severe disease. Medications used for COVID-ALPHA/BETA/DELTA variants such as antibody treatments and Remdesivir, etc., do not work for COVID-Omicron but the oral antivirals from Pfizer and Merck work amazingly well for preventing death (>85% reduction) and hospitalization. Paxlovid has done better in clinical trials to prevent hospitalization but it has many drug-drug interactions so many elderly people cannot use it. Molnupiravir has the theoretical risk of mutagenesis in pregnant women but for the elderly who are past reproductive age, it is a very safe and effective drug to use. I encourage the CECC to contact their counterparts in Japan, Singapore, Israel and the UK to get their experience in using these two oral anti-virals in the recent COVID-Omicron surge. [Full Disclosure: Dr. Dean Li, President of Merck Research Laboratories, is my brother-in-law so I am not pushing the Merck pill for obvious conflict of interest reasons.] Based on the above, my suggestions on messaging are: 1. Tell the country that COVID-Omicron is an entirely different disease than the previous COVID variants so the whole country IS NOT IMMUNE to getting the infection. However, through the sacrifice and cooperation of everyone in Taiwan, the country succeeded in preventing disease and death during the previous waves of infection that caused a lot of problems around the world. This is shared success that the CECC and everyone in Taiwan should take credit, be proud of, and very relieved by. 2. Despite the fact that no one is protected from infection, but because COVID-Omicron is mild, public health policy needs to be adjusted to focus on treating the vulnerable rather than preventing infection of all. 3. Acknowledge that some segments of society have been severely affected by COVID policies so the recovery of these sectors is taken in consideration in updating the public health policy. 4. Acknowledge that some COVID policies were confusing to the public in the past so the new policies will be more consistent and logical. For example, the policy of requiring masking outdoors while people eating at restaurants indoors are not required to mask makes no sense. My suggestions for the new policy are geared towards lowering hospitalization and death rates while avoiding unnecessary disruptions in people's lives: 1. Push vaccination for vulnerable groups (the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions that make them more prone to severe disease). Send vaccination nurses to the nursing homes and neighborhoods with elderly people to get everyone fully vaccinated (including booster shots). Getting the 30% of those 65-75 and 44% of elderly >75 who have not been fully vaccinated and boosted should be a high priority 2. Use the "test positive and treat" strategy for those in vulnerable groups. As I mentioned before, Paxlovid for all but Molnupiravir for those who cannot take Paxlovid. Treat them before their symptoms get worse because it is cheaper to give them the medicine than risk their need for hospitalization. 3. No more putting those with mild disease in special facilities or hospitals so that there are plenty of capacity for those who need hospitalization. 4. Recommend (not mandate with threat of punishment) those who have close contact with COVID-Omicron patients to mask around others for 5 days (no need to do so with household members because they are already given it to them) if they are asymptomatic. 5. No testing of asymptomatic people unless their job requires it (nursing home, hospital, etc.). 6. No more closing schools, factories, or offices because of positive COVID-Omicron cases. 7. No more mandatory masking except for those described in #4 above. People here are so used to masking that many will still do so with the threat of punishment. 8. No more mandatory quarantine, even for those who test positive. Highly recommend those who test positive to wear a mask when around people and not eat with others but not make it a punishable offense. [Treat them like people who have a bad flu, not like criminals.] 9. No more testing or quarantine requirements for visitors from abroad. As the local infection rate is now higher than that many other countries, there is no reason to require new arrivals to do anything different when they are asymptomatic. It's confusing to many that I can go anywhere in the world without quarantine but have to do quarantine plus multiple tests when arriving in Taiwan (and a handful of Asian countries). The benefit of the policies listed above is that the resources of the country are directed toward saving lives rather than collecting lots of infection data. It will reclaim the international travel hub status of Taoyuan International Airport (and not let Singapore and Seoul dominate the air travel sector) and revive the tourism, convention, airline, hotel businesses. It will simplify everyone's life and reduce anxiety. It may be counter intuitive but if you look at the data from the US university campuses and European countries, it is better to get as many young people infected as quickly as possible to shorten the surge while building up herd immunity for COVID-Omicron without a lot of severe cases. The old policy for flattening the curve is to prevent overwhelming the hospitals but with oral antivirals and milder disease, there is no need to flatten the curve. It is better to get the whole surge completed in 2 months like in most countries that pursue a more open policy. I am convinced that when the messaging is clear and based on current understanding of the situation, the people will embrace it and praise the CECC's leadership. Best, Pui -- Pui-Yan Kwok, MD, PhD Director, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica

那些民進黨不敢跟你說的事 美國國會眾議員Chris Smith (R-NJ) 對綠營反對監督制衡的國會改革法案 Chairman Smith congratulates Taiwan's new president and vice president Washington, May 20, 2024 | Michael f Finan (202-225-3765) US Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ),Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the inauguration of Taiwan's new president and vice president: "Congratulations to William Lai and Bi-khim Hsiao on their inauguration as President and Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)-a vibrant democracy that stands in stark contrast to the tyranny of Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). President Lai's rise from the son of a coal miner to leadership of a nation of over 23 million people serves as a great example of grit, determination, and opportunity far from Xi Jinping's pampered upbringing and a rigged system set for the son of a party boss. Vice President Hsiao-who I know as Taiwan's former de facto ambassador to the United States-is a foreign relations expert whose understanding of America will be of great assistance to President Lai as he navigates the threat from across the Taiwan Strait. One of the first challenges President Lai may need to overcome is disruption from hardcore members of his own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the Legislative Yuan who oppose stronger checks and balances reforms that the DPP once favored and are the hallmark of a mature and thriving democracy. Additionally, Presider Koo should work to strer Taiwan's armed services ( China. The United States support as you embark on t 表達擔憂! 美國國會眾議員Chris Smith (R-NJ) 現任「美國國會及行政當局中國委員會」主席 在他辦公室發布的祝賀賴清德就任新聞稿中, 明確指出民進黨立法委員阻撓國會改革。 One of the first challenges President Lai may need to overcome is disruption from hardcore members of his own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the Legislative Yuan who oppose stronger checks and balances reforms that the DPP once favored and are the hallmark of a mature and thriving democracy. 中文翻譯 賴清德總統需要優先克服的其中一個挑戰 就是民進黨激進份子在立法院的破壞。 民進黨激進份子反對 增強監督制衡的國會改革法案。 民進黨自己也曾經支持過這些法案。 這些法案 是一個成熟且繁榮的民主的表徵。 國民黨發言人 楊智行

Doctors in China confirm. 這 是 100 ％ 準確 的 信息 ， This information is 100% accurate 對於 每個 人 都 非常 有效。 Very effective for everyone 為什麼 中國 大陸 過去 幾天 大大 減少 了 感染 人數 China has significantly reduced the number of infections in the past few days. 除了 戴 口罩 勤 洗手 外 ， Besides wearing masks and washing hands 他們 只是 簡單 地 每天 漱口 3 次 鹽水 They also gargle salt water 3 times a day 完成 後 ， 喝水 5 分鐘。 After that, drink warm water for 5 minutes 因為 該 病毒 只能 在 喉嚨 中 侵襲 ， Because the virus initially only attacks the throat 然後 再 侵襲 肺部 Then just attack the lungs 當 受到 鹽水 侵襲 時. When hit by salt water 該 病毒 會 死亡 或 胃中 胃中 下來 並 在 胃中 銷毀, The virus will die or descend and disintegrate in the stomach 這 是 預防 冠狀 病毒 流行 的 唯一 方法 ， This is one way to prevent Covid19 from being used by people. 市場 上 沒有 藥品 There is no medicine on the market 所以 不要 購買。 No need to buy 童 綜合 王叔 昂 醫師 醫師 ： The General Hospital stated 新 冠 肺炎 在 還 沒有 來到 肺部 之前, Before the crown pneumonia / virus reaches the lungs 它 會 在 喉嚨 部位 存活 4 天 The virus lives in the throat for 4 days 在 這個 時候 ， 人們 會 開始 咳嗽 及 喉痛。 At this time, the infected start to cough & sore throat. 如果 他 能 儘量 喝多 溫 開水 及 或, If you can drink as much warm water as possible or salt water 就能 消滅 病菌。 Can eliminate viruses 儘快 把 此 訊息 轉達 一下 ， Hurry and spread this message. 因爲 你 會 救 他人 一 命！ Because you will save someone's life 由 刘 赞 坤 翻译 于 2020 年 4 月 2 日 Translated by Liu Zan kun on April 2, 2020

游梓翔 • 2天 #我們不再認同自己是中華民國 #猜猜哪個參選人說的 在這次參選正副總統的三組六位候選 面這句話 查看更多 台灣學者曝: 蕭美琴會跟美媒說這話! Red Cross. “We no longer identify our selves as the Republic of China,” says legislator and Oberlin College gradu ate Hsiao Bi-khim, who heads the par ty's Department of International Affairs. “We are Taiwanese. We're tired The Weekly Standard, 2003/10/20p.20 有趣吧! 一個會對美國人說 「我們不再認同自己是中華民國」 還在美國媒體留下白紙黑字的人 要參選中華民國的副總統呢!

* Help share 🙏: --- √👍👍 * Doctors in China confirm. 這 是 100 ％ 準確 的 信息 ， This information is 100% accurate 對於 每個 人 都 非常 有效。 Very effective for everyone 為什麼 中國 大陸 過去 幾天 大大 減少 了 感染 人數 China has significantly reduced the number of infections in the past few days. 除了 戴 口罩 勤 洗手 外 ， Besides wearing masks and washing hands 他們 只是 簡單 地 每天 漱口 3 次 鹽水 They also gargle salt water 3 times a day 完成 後 ， 喝水 5 分鐘。 After that, drink warm water for 5 minutes nails 因為 該 病毒 只能 在 喉嚨 中 侵襲 ， Because the virus initially only attacks the throat 然後 再 侵襲 肺部 Then just attack the lungs 當 受到 鹽水 侵襲 時. When hit by salt water 該 病毒 會 死亡 或 胃中 胃中 下來 並 在 胃中 銷毀, The virus will die or descend and disintegrate in the stomach   這 是 預防 冠狀 病毒 流行 的 唯一 方法 ， This is one way to prevent Covid19 from being used by people.   市場 上 沒有 藥品 There is no medicine on the market   所以 不要 購買。 No need to buy   童 綜合 王叔 昂 醫師 醫師 ： The General Hospital stated   新 冠 肺炎 在 還 沒有 來到 肺部 之前, Before the crown pneumonia / virus reaches the lungs     它 會 在 喉嚨 部位 存活 4 天 The virus lives in the throat for 4 days   在 這個 時候 ， 人們 會 開始 咳嗽 及 喉痛。 At this time, the infected start to cough & sore throat.   如果 他 能 儘量 喝多 溫 開水 及 或, If you can drink as much warm water as possible nails or salt water   就能 消滅 病菌。 Can eliminate viruses   儘快 把 此 訊息 轉達 一下 ， Hurry and spread this message.   因爲 你 會 救 他人 一 命！ Because you will save someone's life 由 刘 赞 坤 翻译 于 2020 年 4 月 2 日 Translated by Liu Zan kun on April 2, 2020 Good afternoon, always healthy greetings #Sangatlawanviruscorona 🙏

《轉載自成大華府校友會》 不知道是否過於樂觀？ Notes from a call with Edward Ryan MD, Director of International Infectious Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital: 1 Close to 100% of the positive cases in MA are Omicron. Delta is almost completely gone from New England. 2 This surge will peak sometime between 1/10 and 1/21 and then begin a quick downhill journey of two to four weeks. 3 We will end up with a 20-50% positivity rate. 4 February will be clean up mode, March will begin to return to "normal" 5 Omicron lives in your nose and upper respiratory area which is what makes it so contagious. It isn't able to bond with your lungs like the other variants. 6 The increased hospitalizations should be taken with a grain of salt as most of them are secondary admissions (i.e. people coming in for surgery, broken bones, etc. who are tested for COVID) 7 We won't need a booster for omicron because they wouldn't be able to develop one before it's completely gone and we're all going to get it which will give us the immunity we need to get through it. 8 COVID will join the 4 other coronaviruses we deal with that cause the common cold, upper respiratory infections, RSV, etc. It will become a pediatric disease mainly affecting young children with no immunity. 9 40% of those infected will be asymptomatic 10 Rapid tests are 50-80% sensitive to those with symptoms, only 30-60% sensitive to those without symptoms 11 Contact tracing is worthless because we're all going to get it and there's no way we could keep up with it. 12 We are fighting the last war with COVID and should be pivoting back to normal life, but society isn't quite ready for it yet. 13 There is no need to stay home from work or to be a hermit unless you're immunocompromised or 85 or older, but he does recommend staying away from large gatherings for the next six weeks. 14 Spring/Summer will be really nice! Overall a great presentation. Lot of good news.