OT: The OT Thread: Breaking: it snows in WNY in February (Warning in post 368)

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Anyone know anything about Niagara cutters?
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Just based on the look of the jacket, it looks like either a union jacket, or for like a softball team jacket. Or both.
Makes sense! They had a lot of sports stuff but also some jackets related to companies and possibly unions. It was way too big for me and not in great shape.
 
Just received an email from the University that owns the hospital I work at. They're going to lose a ton of money in funding. Terrible for all the research we do here. My wife was a scientist here and worked off of federal grants. She studied ARDS. Strictly that. I can't imagine the impacts this is going to have on science and medicine going forward.


Main takeaways:

"...and 12 of our peer research institutions in asking a federal court to block the sudden implementation of the NIH’s plan to place a 15% cap on what are known as Facilities and Administrative (“F&A”) costs affecting our research endeavor."

"The United States, through federal agencies like the NIH, NSF, Department of Defense, and others, has relied on universities to advance knowledge in the public interest that can be translated to new treatments and cures, new technologies and scientific breakthroughs, and to develop an educated workforce."

"The idea of “F&A costs” (also known as “indirect costs”) was established to help cover the expenses of such modern, research-focused workplaces. Those costs include the construction and maintenance of laboratories and other facilities, personnel, scientific research equipment, the record-keeping needed to ensure that we are compliant with federal regulations, including human subject safety and other mandated areas, insurance costs, and operational expenses for computing resources, telecommunications, libraries, and other shared resources."

This one gave me a chuckle
"The US model is also designed to ensure that all funded costs associated with our research endeavor are clearly stipulated, held within agreed-to limits by the federal agency that awards the grants, and are audited regularly. In fact, last fall, a team from the NIH was on campus conducting such a review and notified us last week of a well-reasoned, modest reduction to our average reimbursement rate, just one day before the national announcement slashing rates for all institutions."

This isn't good for anyone. We need smart asses like my wife trying to find ways to combat disease like ARDS.
 
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In some local to me news - the squeaky wheels got the f***er who is using his dogs in a dog fighting ring finally -

 
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Anyone know anything about Niagara cutters?
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As @Val James deux noted, they made cutting tools. I’m from North Tonawanda they were at Erie Ave (NY 425) and Walck Road opposite the former (and now superfund cleaned up and brownfield leveled) Durez plant, very near where the railroad tracks crossed. Closed ~1996. (Or sold / relocated out of WNY)
 
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Very sorry to hear that, @Dubi Doo . I think we're going to be hearing this story a lot in the coming months. And it's all very cold and calculated.
It's one of those things people don't realize how important it is until they need it. As I said, my wife was a scientist. My wife studied genetics (PHD), and at first focused on cancer research. She can give you a rundown on grant proposals, and the amount of prestige the NIH has. She also has an answer for damn near any medical question you have, but she's always careful with her words if she's not 100% sure of the answer...like a true scientist. Now she's a nurse and watches the Pitt calling out remedies before the doctors even say it, and she bats damn near 1.000 in that regard.

I'll never forget one of my older cousins (pushing 70 now) who may damn well be the most rugged, hard-working man I've met talking to my wife about cancer. An old school man of the world. Rarely smiles unless he's had a few brews. I may have received one or two smiles from him my entire life, and he rarely ever talks. Emotions just aren't his forte.

Well, he had a bout with cancer, and when he realized my wife (at the time) was researching cancer, he opened up in a way I've never seen before (and he was sober!). The amount of admiration on his face while she talked to him about the research she's doing...I was a bit envious, haha. A rugged, blue collard farmer from the rural area of upstate NY was looking at my nerdy wife like she just turned water to wine. It was a special moment. One that only made my admiration for her grow even more. A moment I won't forget because it was so...human? Hard to explain.

Those are the people I think about the most. Those in my family coming to an age where health decline is common. Those who have benefitted greatly from the advances of science and medicine, and now it looks so bleak. So. f***ing. Bleak.

Just walking around the unit today and seeing patients still having a fighting chance due to the recent advancements like ECMO, and realizing they would not even have a chance to fight if not for the funding science and medicine has received over the years. When you're on a unit and witness the impacts death has on EVERYONE who loved or cared about that person, it becomes a big deal.

I'm venting. I'm sorry, but I'm so disheartened by that email. Let's hope the funding starts again.
 
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I'm venting. I'm sorry, but I'm so disheartened by that email.

I totally get it and understand. No need to apologize. I'm so sorry you guys are experiencing this.

It's a terrible decision being made for callous and intentional purposes. The death is actually the plan. People are easier to control when the life expectancy is lower because then it's easier to convince people life doesn't matter.
 
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got caught in a complete white out yesterday and wrapped my truck around a telephone pole with my 1 year old in tow. Air bag got me good. trying to deal with all the insurance etc with a concussion is a real interesting issue to have.. FML
Hope the concussion clears soon. And I take it that your 1-year old is okay?

Growing up in WNY I remember how easy (too damned!) it was to have that happen.

Good luck to you.
 
Hope the concussion clears soon. And I take it that your 1-year old is okay?

Growing up in WNY I remember how easy (too damned!) it was to have that happen.

Good luck to you.
Yeah thank God. The only reason I was out and about was because driving is the only way I can get her to sleep. She was fine. I have like a 4 hour gap where I don't remember anything which probably isn't good but such is life.
 
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