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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Legacy of RuPauls “Drag Race”</strong> - The drag star brought the form mainstream, and made an empire out of queer expression. Now he fears “the absolute worst.” - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/11/rupaul-doesnt-see-how-thats-any-of-your-business">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Israeli Settlers Attacking Their Palestinian Neighbors</strong> - With the worlds focus on Gaza, settlers have used wartime chaos as cover for violence and dispossession. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/04/israel-west-bank-settlers-attacks-palestinians">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>What a Major Solar Storm Could Do to Our Planet</strong> - Disturbances on the sun may have the potential to devastate our power grid and communication systems. When the next big storm arrives, will we be prepared for it? - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/04/what-a-major-solar-storm-could-do-to-our-planet">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Professor Claimed to Be Native American. Did She Know She Wasnt?</strong> - Elizabeth Hoover, who has taught at Brown and Berkeley, insists that she made an honest mistake. Her critics say she has been lying for more than a decade. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/04/a-professor-claimed-to-be-native-american-did-she-know-she-wasnt">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inside North Koreas Forced-Labor Program in China</strong> - Workers sent from the country to Chinese factories describe enduring beatings and sexual abuse, having their wages taken by the state, and being told that if they try to escape they will be “killed without a trace.” - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/04/inside-north-koreas-forced-labor-program-in-china">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>How to master the art of small talk</strong> -
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<img alt="An illustration of two pairs of hands gesturing as in conversation while holding cocktails." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kdTU4-vtM1P4oZ5Y7xzBwnqqSxA=/0x0:4358x3269/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73177463/GettyImages_132075518.0.jpg"/>
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Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
A guide to having actually interesting conversations with strangers.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EioebA">
Andy Lowe was not naturally blessed with the gift of gab. But even he, a self-described shy, introverted person, understands its functions. Lowe works at a technology public relations firm where chitchat with clients and journalists is just another part of the job. As a previous user of dating apps (Lowe is happily partnered now), he realized banter reigned supreme. He also plays bass in bands in Seattle; meeting other collaborators involves some amount of introductory small talk.
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So he decided to get better. To improve his small talk, Lowe says he paid closer attention to his conversation partners to discover “what makes them tick, what drives them,” he explains. Hell ask what books people are reading or <a href="https://www.vox.com/movies">movies</a> or <a href="https://www.vox.com/tv">television</a> they enjoy. “Then just making sure that when you go into those situations,” Lowe says, “you are more interested in the person that youre talking to than talking about yourself.”
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<a href="https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23191522/small-talk-friendship-how-to">Small talk gets a bad rap</a> for being too surface-level, too rote, a throwaway filler conversation. But casual chat can be the on-ramp to deeper connection. After all, most of us wouldnt introduce ourselves to a stranger with a question about their biggest fears. Small talk is an opportunity to build trust and to learn about others, and to become a more curious person, says <a href="https://www.georgienightingall.co.uk/">Georgie Nightingall</a>, a conversation specialist and human connectivity researcher. “Being genuinely curious, that always helps,” she says. “You can actually realize that you do want to know more rather than having that sense of like, Im just asking for the sake of asking.”
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Even if you find your small talk game lacking, with some practice you can improve. To ensure youre leading with curiosity, experts and small talk enthusiasts offer their best advice to strike up a conversation with strangers and familiar faces alike, without relying on stereotypical openers.
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<h3 id="VKPzt2">
View small talk as an opportunity, not an annoyance
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Many people bemoan small talk because they “get stuck” in it, Nightingall says, without moving on to deeper conversation. “One of the key elements of small talk,” she says, “is having the mindset that actually this is not where were going to end up.” Consider all the relationships that began as banter or the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/smarter-living/why-you-need-a-network-of-low-stakes-casual-friendships.html">job opportunities that came from acquaintances</a>. There is potential for small talk to bloom into something bigger.
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However, you should avoid viewing chitchat as solely transactional. <a href="https://www.vox.com/even-better/23670005/small-acts-kindness-matter-liking-gap">Research shows</a> people enjoy and appreciate talking with strangers or acquaintances, and these brief interactions contribute to well-being. While these conversations have the potential to be awkward, <a href="https://gilliansandstrom.com/">Gillian Sandstrom</a>, a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex, has <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103122000750?via%3Dihub">found in research</a> that most introductory small talk with strangers does in fact go well. As people engage in these chats with greater frequency, the more confident they are in their abilities to talk to strangers, according to the study. “Thats enough to allow you to be in the moment more instead of in panic mode,” Sandstrom says.
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What to talk about instead of your job
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Popular scripts dominate small talk: comments about traffic and the weather, the questions “So, what do you do?” and “How are you?” Often, people give unengaging or throwaway answers that dont give the other person much to respond to. Instead, lead with inquiries related to your interests, says <a href="https://www.smileyposwolsky.com/">Adam Smiley Poswolsky,</a> a workplace belonging expert and author of <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/adam-smiley-poswolsky/friendship-in-the-age-of-loneliness/9780762472260/?lens=running-press"><em>Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimists Guide to Connection</em></a>. Consider asking a barista at your neighborhood cafe about their favorite beverage or if a friend of a friend at a party has also watched the newest season of <em>Love Is Blind</em>. If you want to feel a little more prepared, Poswolsky suggests having a list of five or so questions at the ready that are topical and feel authentic to you — just be sure to refresh your list every few weeks. Maybe your talking points include asking if someone has an upcoming vacation or if they tried any new restaurants recently.
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Or instead of questioning your conversation partner, try a statement or observation. Something as simple as “This line is taking forever,” or “[Mutual friends name] makes the best cheese boards,” or “You have the cutest dog I have ever seen” can be an effective entrée to small talk. <a href="https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcpy.1387">Research has found</a> that making an observation about a product or item another person has chosen to display — like a band T-shirt or a colorful hat — is a better conversation starter than discussing the weather. Initiating a chat with someone wearing a shirt from your alma mater is easier than attempting to find common ground with nothing to go on. “Those conversations tend to go better,” says the studys lead author, <a href="https://www.albany.edu/business/faculty/hillary-wiener">Hillary Wiener</a>, an assistant professor of marketing at the University at Albany, “because its on something that both people involved might actually care about.” The products that were most successful at launching a conversation “suggested a point of commonality between the asker and the person wearing, using a product,” she says. For example, try approaching someone in a Taylor Swift shirt if you too love Taylor Swift or sharing a hiking story with someone who is drinking out of a water bottle from Yosemite National Park.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="s5gJJr">
However, dont feel like you must write off meteorological small talk. Discussing the weather is ample conversation fodder for my colleague <a href="https://www.vox.com/authors/miles-bryan">Miles Bryan</a>, a senior producer and reporter (and the self-appointed Philly Bureau Chief) for <a href="https://www.vox.com/pages/today-explained"><em>Today, Explained</em></a>. “Its such a shared experience between everybody Im talking to,” he says. “Its a way to connect with somebody else without a lot of pressure on the conversation.” Luxuriating in small talk is thoughtful, Bryan says: “Small talk is empathetic.”
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To be better at small talk, actually listen
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Making the most of small talk — and elevating the conversation to large talk — involves active listening. If someone mentions the city they grew up in, you can use that detail for follow-up questions. What did they like the most about that city? What did they dislike? Why did they move? You can even offer a personal anecdote, Nightingall says, maybe mentioning a trip you may have taken there. “Whenever someone shares anything with you, theyre sharing a tiny dot in a web of hugeness,” Nightingall says. “Our job is to find out what makes this person different, interesting. What makes their life unique?”
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The more curious you are about another persons experiences or perspectives, the more likely the other party will be interested in continuing the conversation, Poswolsky says. The other person, in turn, will readily offer more information, furthering the discussion.
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Just dont make it weird
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZtUC80">
With any interaction, there is a risk of coming on too strong or rubbing your conversation partner the wrong way. For small talk with strangers, especially, a well-meaning question may not be taken as intended or they may suspect you of trying to flirt with them. Small talk is warm and introductory, with no ulterior motives. It can surely blossom into a more flirtatious exchange but you should lead with curiosity and friendliness. “You cant realistically be sitting next to someone on the plane and say, Hi, whats your favorite superpower,’” Wiener says. “That doesnt work on a human interaction level.” Starting with an observation about how packed the flight is or asking whether the person is traveling for work might be more of a context-appropriate introduction.
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Wiener also suggests avoiding making small talk about someones physical appearance or religious wear. Never make assumptions about or comment on someones background, income level, sexuality, political stance, or other personal identifier.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hyfSz8">
Try not to sound accusatory either, Sandstrom says. One of her go-to opening lines is “What are you doing?” “I saw someone who was leaning over a bush and lifting up a leaf,” she says “and Im like, Whats going on here? They taught me some stuff about bugs.” But do your best to keep the mood playful — youre asking out of curiosity, not suspicion.
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Every once in a while, someone might bristle at your attempts at small talk or appear confused as to why youre talking to them, and thats okay. Sandstrom finds explicitly stating “Im just being friendly” helps ease some of the awkwardness.
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What to do if you get stuck
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aB1O1Y">
Every conversation, including small talk, inevitably encounters roadblocks. Whether you find yourself giving one-word answers or the discussion veers toward potentially contentious territory, there are ways of deftly navigating. For chats that are veering on boring, feel free to direct the conversation to another topic or ask a random question. (Conversations arent linear anyway, Nightingall notes.)
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If you find the discussion isnt going anywhere after a few exchanges, dont force it, Poswolsky says. Either politely excuse yourself (“Ive got to run to the bathroom” is a great exit) if youre at a social gathering or simply drop the chitchat if youre mingling with a stranger on public transit. For talks that become prejudiced or offensive, Sandstrom suggests saying “This conversation is making me uncomfortable.” Just remember, both people need buy-in for small talk to be productive.
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“If zero people are excited, its over,” Poswolsky says. “If one person is excited, you can see where youre heading. What youre looking for, and this is rare, is when two people are [having] a back-and-forth. Theres active listening happening on both parties. There are decent questions happening.”
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Small talk is what you make it. It can be a delightful way to spend a few minutes with a stranger while in line at the grocery store, it can be your superpower at a party, or it can lead to your next career move. Or, if youre like Bryan, it can simply be uplifting banter about precipitation.
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“If it looks like rain, and youve got more to say about it, and youre interested in what your partner has to say, just stay with it,” he says. “The big stuff will come. But you dont need to rush it. Its okay to stay small.”
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<li><strong>The CDC has finally loosened Covid isolation guidelines. Heres why thats a good thing.</strong> -
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<img alt="An illustration of a sitting person wearing a mask and looking at virus particles through a window." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KAAsK5yoTQ6pomvCZFL3nMN4lUk=/0x0:5000x3750/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73140460/GettyImages_1284429703.0.jpg"/>
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Maria Stavreva/Getty Images
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Isolation policies havent stopped Covids worst outcomes. Other, better policies might.
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Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html">changed</a> its <a href="https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-covid19">Covid-19</a> guidance in a big way: People infected with the virus, or with other respiratory viruses, no longer need to isolate for five days before going back to work or school, the agency said.
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Instead, the agency advises that<strong> </strong>people can leave home if theyve been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) and have improving symptoms.
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The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html">new guidance</a> does encourage people to take extra steps to prevent spreading their infections to others once theyve resumed their usual activities, like <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/immunizations.html">getting immunized</a> against preventable infections (which include Covid-19, flu, and RSV), <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/hygiene.html">washing hands frequently, coughing and sneezing into elbows</a>, and using <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html">air-filtering and ventilation strategies</a> — all of which are considered core strategies under the new recommendations. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html">masking</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/physical-distancing.html">keeping a distance from others</a>, and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/testing.html">testing</a> are in a lower-urgency “additional recommendations” category.
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“Its a reasonable move,” said <a href="https://www.southnassau.org/sn/find-a-doctor/glatt-aaron-e-md-macp-fidsa-fshea-chair-department-26">Aaron Glatt</a>, an <a href="https://www.vox.com/infectious-disease">infectious disease</a> doctor and hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital on Long Island. “When youre doing <a href="https://www.vox.com/public-health">public health</a>, you have to look at what is going to be listened to, and what is doable.”
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Guidelines that adhere to the highest standards of infection control might please purists in public health who dont have to make <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy">policies</a> for the real world. However, guidelines that seem to acknowledge that workers often dont have paid sick leave and emergency <a href="https://www.vox.com/child-care">child care</a>, and that social interactions are important to folks, are more likely not only to be followed but to engender trust in public health authorities.
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This change likely wont increase exposure risk for the people most vulnerable to severe Covid-19
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Its important to note that the new recommendations are aimed toward the broader community and the people who live, work, and go to school in it — not toward hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities whose residents are both less socially mobile and more vulnerable to the viruss worst effects.
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That means the people who are at higher risk of getting severely ill or dying if they get infected — people who are older and sicker at baseline — are subject to different, more conservative guidelines. Which makes sense, said Glatt: “Its not the same approach in a 4-year-old kid as it is in a nursing home. It shouldnt be.”
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Covid-19 hospitalization rates among adults 65 and over are at least <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covidnetdashboard/de/powerbi/dashboard.html">four times</a> what they are in other age groups, and rates are particularly high among adults <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/resp-net/dashboard.html">75 and over</a>, according to the CDC. In a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7240a3.htm">study</a> published in October, the agency reported that those 65 and older constituted nearly 90 percent of Covid-19 deaths in hospitals.
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The older adults getting hospitalized and dying with Covid-19 now are not the otherwise well people with active work and social lives who were getting severely ill earlier in the pandemic, said <a href="https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/doctor/shira-doron">Shira Doron</a>, an infectious disease doctor and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medicine in Boston. Theyre people with severe underlying illness and compromised immune systems — and for many, its not even clear Covid-19 is whats causing their decline. “Im really struck by how totally different the Covid inpatient population — even the Covid death population that Im seeing — is from 2020, or even 2021,” she said.
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Its hard to tell exactly how many of the worst-affected adults are infected in facilities like hospitals and nursing homes — in other words, how many of them would be relatively unaffected by a revised set of guidelines. Its also hard to tell how many older adults, aware of their higher risk, take more measures to protect themselves in public, like wearing masks and gathering outdoors.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="U94m05">
However, its worth noting the experiences of states that have already loosened recommendations. Since <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/covid19/pages/index.aspx">Oregon</a> loosened its guidelines in May 2023, the state has not seen unusual increases in transmission or severity; <a href="https://covid19.ca.gov/isolation/#guidelines">California</a> made similar changes in January 2024. In revising their recommendations, state officials hoped to reduce the burdens on workers without sick leave and reduce disruptions on schools and workplaces, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/02/13/covid-isolation-guidelines-cdc-change/">reporting</a> in the Washington Post.
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Doron said the reason loosened isolation guidelines havent led to mayhem in Oregon — nor in <a href="https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/covid-19-guidance-discharge-and-ending-isolation">Europe</a>, where the recommendations began to loosen two years ago — is because isolation never did much to reduce transmission to begin with. “This has nothing to do with the science of contagiousness and the duration of contagiousness. It has to do with [the fact that] it wasnt working anyway,” she said.
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Leaning away from what doesnt work to reduce the viruss impact — and toward what <em>does</em> work — is a smarter way forward, she said.
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Revising testing guidelines would free up resources for interventions that actually work
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Isolation guidelines havent been effective in mitigating Covid-19 harms because so many people simply do what they want, regardless of whether theyre sick — and they may avoid reporting symptoms to avoid being forced to comply with an isolation policy.
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Imagine a workplace or school policy adheres to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html">current CDC guidelines</a>, which recommend that people who test positive for Covid-19 infection stay home for at least five days. That policy creates a “perverse incentive” for some people who have symptoms to avoid getting tested, Doron said, because they dont want to miss school, work, or a social event. Because so many people dont have paid sick time, acknowledging even mild symptoms can lead to real financial losses when it means missing a week of work.
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At the same time, because these guidelines build testing into their protocols, they lead lots of other people — and the federal government — to spend money on at-home tests, which are often <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10701347/">inaccurate early in infection</a>. Thats a waste of resources that could save more lives if they were instead spent on providing tests to people likeliest to benefit from <a href="https://www.vox.com/even-better/2024/1/8/24026652/cold-flu-influenza-covid-rsv-season-respiratory-virus-cough-sneeze">Paxlovid</a> and getting them treated, said Doron.
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“You should only be testing when it will change something, and that should be because you need Paxlovid or an antiviral,” Doron said. (Clarity and greater focus on who qualifies for Paxlovid would also be helpful, she said — current CDC recommendations are too broad.)
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The updated guidelines clarify that <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/testing.html">testing</a> is most useful for making choices about prevention or treatment — “even better than what I was expecting,” said Doron.
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In the long term, CDC guidelines should normalize being considerate
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While the CDCs guidelines are<strong> </strong>recommendations, not requirements, employers and state and local health departments often use them to guide their own policies.
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In February, before the guidelines had been published,<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.siga.com/about-siga/#:~:text=Jay-,Varma,-Executive%20Vice%20President">Jay Varma</a>, an epidemiologist and biotechnology executive with extensive experience in state and federal public health practice, said one area where a new set of guidelines could make a big difference is in elevating and normalizing masking. He hoped the new recommendations would<strong> </strong>lean heavily into putting forth masking in public as a matter of routine for people who leave home as soon as they feel well.
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“CDC should be thinking of this as a decades-long effort to promote cultural acceptance that being in public with a mask is similar to washing your hands, wearing a condom, or smoking outdoors: Its a form of politeness and consideration for others,” Varma wrote in an email to Vox.
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After all, in the long term, its a lot easier to change social norms around masking than it is to get people used to giving up their social lives for days or weeks at a time.
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After the guidelines were released on Friday, Varma wrote on <a href="https://www.threads.net/@drjayvarma/post/C3-1Ymdu5TL">Threads</a> that public health officials shouldve advised individuals “that you dont only use ventilation, hygiene, masks when youre home sick but when also you in public for at least 5 days after symptoms resolving.” He also wrote that organizations should improve ventilation and make N95 masks and antigen tests more broadly available to staff and visitors.
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It would also be helpful for public health officials to encourage people to factor in <em>who </em>gets exposed if they leave isolation soon after a Covid diagnosis, said Glatt. The revised guidelines do note that its especially important to use prevention strategies when youll be around people who have <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/risk-factors/index.html">risk factors for severe illness</a> — for example, if they take high-dose immunosuppressive medications, are either older adults or young children, or are pregnant.
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<em><strong>Update, March 1, 5:40 pm ET: </strong></em><em>This story, originally published on February 14, has been updated to note the CDCs revised guidelines on respiratory virus prevention.</em>
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<li><strong>Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword</strong> -
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<img alt="New Vox Crossword puzzles come out Monday through Saturday" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ECHILeiK4TAzAxKFrZTXYrKg8R0=/634x0:4367x2800/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67656692/crossword_yellow__1_.0.jpg"/>
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New Vox Crossword puzzles come out Monday through Saturday | Amanda Northrop
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For the curious in all of us. Can you solve it?
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Welcome to the Vox crossword. Puzzles come out Monday through Saturday. Make sure to bookmark this page (or <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/667910/how-to-add-a-website-to-your-iphone-or-ipad-home-screen/">add to your phones home screen</a>) to find new ones each day. You can also get a weekly email reminder by <a href="http://vox.com/crossword-newsletter">signing up for our crossword newsletter</a>.
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Puzzles are constructed by <a href="https://www.vox.com/e/21273241">these great people</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.vox.com/authors/elizabeth-crane">Elizabeth Crane</a>. If you want to get in touch, email us at <a href="mailto:crosswords@vox.com">crosswords@vox.com</a>.
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And if you solve our crosswords often, consider <a href="https://www.vox.com/pages/support-now?itm_campaign=congratsscreen&amp;itm_medium=site&amp;itm_source=crossword">chipping in</a> to help keep them free for everybody.
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<strong>Looking for even more crosswords?</strong> Our <a href="https://www.vox.com/crossword-puzzles/23916105/crossword-puzzle-book-print">first-ever crosswords books</a> are now available for purchase wherever you buy books. The first,<em> </em>the<em> </em><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?xcust=___vx__p_23680146__t_w__r_vox.com__d_D&amp;id=1025X1701643&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https://bookshop.org/contributor_profiles/1106"><em>Vox Mega Book of Mini Crosswords</em></a>, features 150 of our bite-sized weekday puzzles. The second, the<em> </em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHWJWYPD?ots=1&amp;slotNum=1&amp;imprToken=d4c59f0a-e804-f752-ae0&amp;ascsubtag=___vx__p_23680146__t_w__r_voxmedia.stories.usechorus.com__d_D&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=voxdotcom-20&amp;linkId=3f169e0f18a1e40dafb14f69c9f41362&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl"><em>Vox Pop Culture Crosswords</em></a> book, highlights pop culture references in our big Saturday puzzles ranging from Mario Kart to <em>iCarly</em>.
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<a class="p-button" href="https://www.vox.com/pages/crossword-puzzles-free-archive">More crossword puzzles</a>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ranji Trophy semifinal | Avesh Khans four-wicket haul help Madhya Pradesh bowls out Vidarbha</strong> - Madhya Pradesh reached 47 for one in their first innings at close, and trail by 123 runs.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ranji Trophy semifinal | Deshpande, Thakur shine as Mumbai takes opening day honours</strong> - Tamil Nadu struck twice with the ball but Mumbai shaved off a significant chunk of first-innings deficit, reaching 45/2 at stumps</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Eric Dier makes loan move to Bayern Munich permanent</strong> - The 30-year-old England midfielder joined Bayern on loan in January in a deal to the end of the season after spending a decade with Tottenham Hotspur</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Saudi Arabia launches bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup</strong> - The Middle East nation is almost certain to win hosting rights due to lack of bidding competitors</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Gautam Gambhir asks BJP to relieve him of political duties</strong> - The cricketer-turned-MP has said that he wants to focus on upcoming cricket commitments</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Annual synchronised terrestrial bird census begins in Nagapattinam Forest Division</strong> - A group of schoolchildren, Forest Department staff, and members of the Bombay Natural History Society begin the two-day exercise at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Kerala govt working towards increasing farmers income by 50%, says Pinarayi Vijayan</strong> - Production and productivity in Keralas agriculture sector will be increased as part of govt efforts to bring State to level of developed middle-income countries in next 25 years, says CM</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Now double engine government in Bihar, asserts PM Modi</strong> - CM Nitish Kumar assured that the JD(U) would continue its alliance with the BJP</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Corruption noose tightens on former CM KCR over Kaleshwaram project, says TPCC leader</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Writing Bharatmata with saplings: Guinness world record set in Chandrapur</strong> - Certificate handed over to state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar during a ceremony held near the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Top Ukrainian general eyes leadership shake-up</strong> - Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi insisted the situation on Ukraines eastern front “remains difficult, but controlled”.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Crowds chant anti-Putin slogans at Navalny funeral</strong> - “Russia without Putin” mourners chanted, as they defied fear of arrest to bid farewell to Alexei Navalny.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>How we tracked down the Ukrainian poison seller</strong> - Leonid Zakutenko sold poison to vulnerable people who wanted to die - we confronted him at a post office in Kyiv.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC</strong> - Ukrainian Leonid Zakutenko sells a type of chemical online thought to be linked to at least 130 UK deaths.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Pogba: The backstory, the wasted talent &amp; why it could be the end</strong> - Paul Pogbas career could be over after his four-year ban for doping with the feeling the 30-year-old Juventus player never fulfilled his potential.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>2024 Porsche 911 S/T review: Threading the needle</strong> - The S/T celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 911 and is limited to just 1963 examples. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=2007258">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Researchers create AI worms that can spread from one system to another</strong> - Worms could potentially steal data and deploy malware. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=2007366">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>CDC ditches 5-day COVID isolation, argues COVID is becoming flu-like</strong> - The agency released a unified “practical” guidance for respiratory viruses. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=2007434">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Report: Boeing may reacquire Spirit at higher price despite hating optics</strong> - Spirit was initially spun out from Boeing Commercial Airplanes in 2005. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=2007384">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>US prescription market hamstrung for 9 days (so far) by ransomware attack</strong> - Patients having trouble getting lifesaving meds have the AlphV crime group to thank. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=2007373">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A man goes to the doctor: “Doctor, Im embarrassed, but I have a bright red penis and it itches . . .”</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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“Yes, then get yourself free!” The patient drops his trousers, the doctor takes a look at the magnificent piece and says: “Yes, really, its really inflamed. That looks very nasty. Are you married?” -
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“Yes!” How often do you have sex?"
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“Yes, if I think about it - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Saturday and Sunday!” Thats commendable! Do you have a girlfriend?" -
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“Sure!” “And how often do you have sexual intercourse?”
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“Also - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday!” “Hard to believe - and do you have sex any other time?”
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“Yes, I go to the brothel!” “And how often?”
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“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday!” “No wonder, your penis must be inflamed!”
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“Thank God, doctor, and I thought it was from masturbating all the time…”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/KongLongDong77"> /u/KongLongDong77 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b4jjcu/a_man_goes_to_the_doctor_doctor_im_embarrassed/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b4jjcu/a_man_goes_to_the_doctor_doctor_im_embarrassed/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Dave was getting a haircut prior to a trip to Rome.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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He mentioned the trip to the barber, who responded,
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“Why would anyone want to go there? Its crowded and dirty and full of Italians. Youre crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?”
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“Were taking United,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!”
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“United!” exclaimed the barber. “Thats a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly and theyre always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?”
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“Well be at the downtown International Marriott.”
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“That dump! Thats the worst hotel in Rome. The rooms are small, the service is surly and theyre overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?”
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“Were going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope.”
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“Thats rich,” laughed the barber. “You and a million other people trying to see him. Hell look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. Youre going to need it!”
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A month later, Dave again came in for his regular haircut. The barber asked him about his trip to Rome.
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“It was wonderful,” explained Dave. “Not only were we on time in one of Uniteds brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a beautiful young stewardess who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel! Well, it was great! Theyd just finished a $25 million remodeling job and now its the finest hotel in the city. They were overbooked too, so they apologized and gave us the presidential suite at no extra charge!”
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“Well,” muttered the barber. “I know you didnt get to see the Pope.”
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“Actually, we were quite lucky, for as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if Id be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked in. As I knelt down he spoke to me.”
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“What did he say?”
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“He said, Whered you get this shitty haircut?”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/MudakMudakov"> /u/MudakMudakov </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b44ofw/dave_was_getting_a_haircut_prior_to_a_trip_to_rome/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b44ofw/dave_was_getting_a_haircut_prior_to_a_trip_to_rome/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Advice of the day: if someone calls you fat, just ignore them.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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Youre bigger than that.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/hearsdemons"> /u/hearsdemons </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b47oqq/advice_of_the_day_if_someone_calls_you_fat_just/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b47oqq/advice_of_the_day_if_someone_calls_you_fat_just/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Whats the fastest way to kill a circus troupe?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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Go for the juggler.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/KatanaCutlets"> /u/KatanaCutlets </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b4de69/whats_the_fastest_way_to_kill_a_circus_troupe/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b4de69/whats_the_fastest_way_to_kill_a_circus_troupe/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>I went to a Japanese restaurant the other day and i didnt like their opinion on mushrooms</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
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It was a shittake
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/shojords81"> /u/shojords81 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b4jrrr/i_went_to_a_japanese_restaurant_the_other_day_and/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/1b4jrrr/i_went_to_a_japanese_restaurant_the_other_day_and/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
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