The reality is that from the time the potentially pandemic virus is identified, it takes between four and six months to have the first doses of vaccine coming out of the factory and being available for immunizing people.
Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny • WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, on the process of getting a vaccine out to the public. It’s not the quickest process in the world, but they’re already ahead of the game in one respect – they have the virus identified, which is a major step in production. In other news, the H1N1 outbreak (we still hate that name BTW – it’s not that we don’t think there should be another name, but it’s very clinical) seems to be flagging to some degree in Mexico City, which is positive. • source
Boost Mobile, in response to the cruddy economy, created a $50 no-contract unlimited plan that’s proved to be very, very popular for broke people. source
It’s so popular, in fact, that many users of the service are complaining about slow text messaging. The influx of new users are to blame. source
OK, this isn’t punk-rock, dudes. Kevin Lyman, the co-founder of the Vans Warped Tour, is working on a similarly-formatted show based around country music acts. The tour will likely hit the stages in Summer 2010. We realize that the Warped Tour is filled with a lot of commercial punk along with the real kind, but is it about to jump the shark? Hrm. source
Sacha Baron Cohen is working hard. Between Ron Paul and this amazingly funny trailer, dude has been trying his best to make his newest movie just as funny as “Borat.” Now comes word that “Bruno” has successfully clawed in “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul, who apparently has no idea she was fooled by the over-the-top gay Austrian journalist. Sweet! source
The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It’s not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it’s deliberate practice.
New York Times columnist David Brooks • On the spark that leads to genius – great amounts of work. He points, specifically, to Mozart and Tiger Woods, two who became leaders in their field because they put the work in to become leaders. • source