29 July 2024

AP reports that Guardant's recently FDA-approved colon cancer blood test, which detects cell-free circulating tumor DNA, has an 83% accuracy.  But this was in patients who were already known to have colon cancer, so 83% accuracy isn't really that good. What is the accuracy in the general screening population? Probably less, I'd say, but that's what really matters. Here's the original study.

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Close to 60% of workers are not taking all their alloted vacation.  Why? The article suggests that vacations really don't have as much refreshing and relaxing effect as what should happen when you take a break. I can understand that.
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A gambling arms race.  Oregon doesn't want tribal casinos, because they'll take away lottery revenue. Tribes say – too bad! I was surprised to read that the idea of building a casino at the old Portland Raceway is still alive.  Would definitely change the scene in North Portland if it were built, and not necessarily for the better.

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Unforeseen consequences again.  Oregon passed a law that states that "any major infrastructure project over $5 million, or any renovation which exceeds 50% of the current building’s value, to devote 1.5% of its entire budget to 'Green Energy Technology'".  But the only thing you can really do is install expensive solar panels.  And "two-thirds of school projects are outfitted with solar panels that will not break even on their investment for the next 50 years. The industry-accepted break-even limit is 25 years, assuming they last that long before requiring replacement."  So what do you do?  Postpone necessary repairs and maintenance.  Because that's all you can afford.

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More Oregon government waste. Summer is nearly over, and now the Oregon Department of Human Services is on a race and media campaign to hand-out the free food money to people for whom they have no idea exist (in the way that they think they do), as part of their Summer EBT program. What a waste.

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Looks like Apple's iOS 18.1 is not going to include their AI Intelligence after all. Kudos on them for waiting until it is ready, and not falling for the hype.

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