Raven News and CleanAir Map

Raven News: Print news and social media aggregator with AI features & integrations

CleanAir Map: Global map of indoor places with good quality ventilation

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

1/ MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT/🧵: We’re immensely proud (and humbled) to announce that @TheRavenApp has been awarded support from @VitalikButerin‘s Balvi Fund! This is an exciting time for us. But where do we go from here? Thanks to @BetaKit for covering us:
https://t.co/xBW4jkyjQ1

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

I used the podcast and video summary feature of @theRavenApp to summarize @theallinpod's special guest this week, Donald Trump. Details on how to do it yourself below:

"The audio is a podcast interview with former President Donald Trump. The podcast hosts engage with Trump on a wide variety of topics ranging from the current political and economic climate to his policies during his presidency and his perspective on foreign relations.

The conversation begins with Trump highlighting his achievements in cutting taxes and regulations, attributing those policies to the strong economy during his administration. He then criticizes the Biden administration's handling of the economy, arguing that their excessive spending and energy policies have fueled inflation.

The conversation shifts to the state of American cities, with Trump lamenting the rise in crime, attributing it to liberal policies in Democrat-run cities. He advocates for stronger law enforcement and criticizes movements to defund the police.

The hosts then raise concerns about the difficulty of doing business under the current administration, citing struggles faced by crypto businesses, tech companies, and real estate developers. Trump reiterates his focus
on reducing taxes and regulations as the key solutions.

A significant portion of the interview is dedicated to foreign policy. Trump argues that the war in Ukraine wouldn't have happened under his presidency and criticizes the Biden administration's handling of the situation, particularly their rhetoric concerning NATO expansion. He claims that his approach to tariffs provided leverage in international relations and advocates for a "reciprocal trade" policy where the US mirrors tariffs imposed by other countries. He expresses concern over the decline of the US dollar as the global reserve currency, pointing to the increasing adoption of alternative currencies by countries like China and Saudi Arabia.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump expresses disappointment over the recent Hamas attacks and blames the Biden administration for failing to capitalize on the progress made with the Abraham Accords. He claims that Iran was weakened under his administration and that he could have made a "fair deal" with them, preventing the current escalation of violence.

Regarding abortion, Trump emphasizes that he successfully returned the issue to the states by appointing three conservative justices to the Supreme Court. He clarifies that he would not support a national abortion ban and reiterates his support for the three exceptions: rape, incest, and the life of the mother.

The hosts express concern about the US's relationship with China, asking whether a war is inevitable. Trump believes war is unlikely, emphasizing his past good relationship with President Xi. However, he criticizes Biden's handling of China, calling him a “Manchurian candidate” due to his family's alleged financial ties to the country. He expresses confidence that the US can live peacefully and compete effectively with China under the right leadership.

Trump then discusses his efforts to address what he calls the "deep state", citing his firing of FBI officials like James Comey and Andrew McCabe. He expresses his intention to further reduce government bureaucracy and wasteful spending, particularly in areas like education and environmental protection, by returning power to the states.

The hosts raise the issue of immigration, particularly the border situation. Trump defends his construction of the border wall and criticizes Biden's decision to halt construction and leave gaps in the wall, claiming it has led to an "invasion" of the country. He advocates for a return to his "remain in Mexico" policy and criticizes "catch and release" practices. He also expresses support for increasing H1B visas for highly skilled workers, promising to streamline the process and even grant green cards to graduates of American colleges and universities.

The interview ends with Trump expressing his belief that Biden wouldn't engage in a similar long-form conversation. The hosts then share their takeaways, praising Trump for his detailed responses, his focus on economic growth, and his willingness to engage in a wide range of topics. They also note his surprisingly moderate tone and respectful approach towards figures like Fauci and Larry Summers, despite past disagreements. They express hope that Biden will accept their invitation for a similar interview."

To summarize other podcasts using Raven, first get the Apple podcast link to the episode from the Apple podcasts website, or the Podcasts app in iOS:

Then go to https://t.co/ds3ZY3OgBm, make an account, go to the home screen, and press on the 'S' button on the bottom right, and past the link here:

Wait a minute or two for Whisper and Google Gemini Flash to transcribe and generate the summary, and voila, it's done!
You can find all of the summaries you've made on your user profile.

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

I'm really proud of Raven's ability to listen to a podcast, transcribe it, assess for political bias, and then produce a fairly decent AI summary.

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

Canada and India are in open conflict after the killing of a Sikh activist in British Columbia. What if you could quickly see what people in both countries are saying? The main opinion and political blogs and podcasts? Get a sense of the driving motivations on both sides?
You can do that today with the public launch of our web app, Raven News (@theRavenApp) at https://t.co/fuDrGou79X

Here are the links to the two feeds from both countries:
https://t.co/DITJS5oZjC
https://t.co/KBlPgkJpjl

Raven News is a news-reading app that combines news sites, blogs, podcasts and social media and AI features to keep you super well-informed in these turbulent times.

What’s different about this app compared to others, like Google News?
Firstly, we’re not blocked in Canada! Secondly, we’ve built AI into every part of the app to make it easier for you to find new sources of information. Thirdly, we offer an unparalleled level of global comprehensiveness, including news and content spanning nearly every conceivable subject in multiple countries, languages and cultures.

Raven has many unique core features.
🟣 We are transcribing and summarizing important podcasts and Youtube channels that offer deep insights.
🟣 We’re using ChatGPT to assess an article for left/right bias.
🟣 We’ve even created AI ‘people’ who have backstories and ideas of their own you can interact with in the comments section. They even get to decide which articles they’ll comment on.
🟣We are translating headlines from newspapers around the world, making whole cultures and languages more accessible to you
🟣We also allow users to curate and share collections of blogs, podcasts, news sites and social media accounts for other users.

With traditional journalism facing immense challenges, we hope Raven will be a tool to help you find and support great sources, and navigate a world where misinformation is running rampant. With our app, you can easily browse across RSS feeds, social media (including BlueSky and Mastodon), Substack, Youtube and Podcasts. We are testing out an AI moderator to try to sift through credible sources, but that is very much a (sometimes hilarious, mostly not) work in progress!

We first built the Raven community around the CleanAir Map (https://t.co/kizoUrlfms), which has thousands of users and indoor ventilation readings. We’re going to continue working on this important tool for the Covid conscious community, since clean indoor air is the best way to stay healthy these days. The code is being open-sourced, and we’ll keep using Raven as a platform for interesting map-based ideas in the future.

Please let me know if you any feedback, and looking forward to making news and information more accessible for you all!

https://t.co/fuDrGou79X

[Jerome Adams @JeromeAdamsMD]

📢 Our largest missed #pandemic opportunity is absolutely ventilation. 😔

It's disheartening to see how this crucial aspect has been overlooked throughout the pandemic. Ventilation is a solution that is both politically and medically noncontroversial, requiring no significant effort on the part of individuals, and yet it has the potential to significantly lower harm not just from Covid, but also from allergies, asthma, flu, and pollutants. 🌬️

It's puzzling to me why the administration and politicians haven’t placed more emphasis on this simple yet effective measure. By improving ventilation systems in public spaces, schools, and workplaces, we could have mitigated the spread of the virus and saved countless lives. 😷

Moreover, the benefits of enhanced ventilation extend far beyond the current pandemic. By prioritizing this aspect, we could have created healthier environments for everyone, reducing the burden of respiratory illnesses and improving overall well-being. 🌿

It's disheartening to think about the missed opportunities and the potential impact we could have had if ventilation had been given the attention it deserves. As we move forward, let's not forget the lessons learned and advocate for better ventilation systems in all aspects of our lives. Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for all. 💪🏽

Agree? Share your thoughts below. Let's discuss and raise awareness about the importance of ventilation in combating not just Covid, but also other respiratory challenges we face. 🗣️ #VentilationMatters #MissedOpportunity

[Ziyad Al-Aly, MD @zalaly]

My interview with @statnews about covid reinfection and long covid

#LongCovid #reinfection

Thanks @cooney_liz !

https://t.co/javQGsQIBC

[Paul Graham @paulg]

Ugh, I wish the answer to this was no.

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

Simple tips for as a new wave (possibly) picks up steam in the US and Europe, as well as the possibility of a new variant outside of the Omicron family that may challenge our collective immunity (BA.2.86).

Main points:

1) Be ready to identify (with rapid tests), and then treat the infection with antivirals. This will lower the likelihood of hospitalization and long-term symptoms, especially for higher risk folks (elderly, comorbid, very young children, women). If you live in a place with a paternalistic medical establishment that restricts access to these tools, make noise, contact your local media and advocate hard. It's how we won access to them in Ontario.

2) Be proactive about the quality of the ventilation in your workplace or school. The science is solid, public health agencies (finally) endorse it, and the main HVAC engineering society (ASHRAE) now mandates this. I can foresee legal and financial penalties for building owners that refuse to do the right thing and protect their patrons. Anecdotally, we managed to avoid infection all year partly because of a well ventilated school for our kiddo (on top of vaccines, masks during waves etc).
You can use the Raven Clean Air Map to help mark buildings with cleaner indoor air: https://t.co/kizoUrlfms
XTwitter: @theRavenApp

3) Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces. This includes airplanes, crowded buses or subway cars, and high risk areas like health care settings. I went to buy a new TV at a nearly empty Best Buy with great ventilation (a CO2 of 500-600), I didn't wear a mask on that occasion. In hospital and clinic, definitely. On a recent plane trip, full 3M Aura N95 the whole time. Restaurants; take-out and patios for me for the foreseeable future. Social gatherings - try to do them outdoors, or indoors with a few people we trust to be honest about symptoms.

The peer pressure not to mask is a real thing. It is especially difficult when social norms are being used to push something when the scientific facts are fairly unanimous that this thing is fairly bad for you.

For me, I help many patients, and many friends manage the long term effects of infection, and need no reminder just how much luck plays a role in how well we all fare with this thing. Also growing up often being the only visible minority with a funny name in a given setting makes me sort of immune to what people think lol.

4) Boosters - they are due to be released in the US in mid-September, targeting the XBB.1.5 variant, which hopefully will provide protecting to similar variants that are circulating. Not sure if it will work with the BA.2.86 variant that appears concerning, but if you follow steps 1-3 that hopefully will be less of a concern.

5) WFH where possible. I know this is getting a bad rap from some managers, but hybrid work where employees visit a well ventilated office a few times a week is probably the ideal long-term solution to minimize sickness and absenteeism from illness. There are powerful interests that want to prop up a flagging commercial real estate market that are trying to portray WFH as unsafe and unproductive. If you have it already and your employers are trying to claw it back, stick to your guns and keep it going as long as possible.

I'm fairly certain that with just a few simple preventative steps, you can live a fairly normal, healthy life. You sidestep the question of whether repeated infections are dangerous by avoiding them altogether, or at least, keeping your overall infection count as low as possible.

Best of luck to you all out there!

[MorgeMönsch @MorgeMoensch]

4) Fragt bei Restaurants und Geschäften nach, wie sie es mit der #Lufthygiene halten. Es soll ihnen klar werden, dass dafür ein Bedürfnis herrscht. Nutzt CO2-Sensoren und macht die Werte öffentlich (zB. über die @theRavenApp). Fordert höhere Frischluftzufuhr und Filter.

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

@marwilliamson For information about air quality levels in different public venues, make sure to check out https://t.co/AtOFFOI0JP ! Users have been contributing air quality readings from all around the world. Sign up and start using the map!

[T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @TRyanGregory]

There are excellent non-profits making COVID tools and information accessible. For example:

@DonateMask

@CAVI_CO2

@CRBoxFoundation

@CleanAirCrewOrg

@CleanAirStars

@Co2Trackers

@theRavenApp

What have I missed?

Does your local library have a CO2 monitor lending program?

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

@WinterPollan @KashPrime It's a global map! Volunteers have logged data from many different parts of the world

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

We also have a feed that draws from Covid-focused subreddits, RSS feeds, Mastodon, Bluesky, Podcasts, Youtube and other sources. There's a lot of bugs, but there's a lot of good quality discussion outside of this hellsite. Feel free to suggest any other sources we can add here!

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

What can you do to protect yourself from the reported uptick in Covid cases/hospitalizations? Do you want to avoid spreading illness to your home? Protect vulnerable family members? Avoid the Russian Roulette aspect of Long Covid?

The best thing you can do is to spend more time outdoors (lunches, meetings, etc), but if that is not possible, in indoor spaces with a good flow of outdoor or filtered air. Wearing a good quality mask helps as well.

I work in a crowded hospital ER and have seen probably thousands of Covid patients in close quarters, but good ventilation, filtration and a good mask have protect me to this very day.

The @theRavenApp Clean Air Map is a crowd-sourced tool where users log the indoor locations with the best quality indoor ventilation. They do this by using CO2 monitors to give a rough indication of how much fresh air is coming in to a given space. Higher CO2 readings means more people are breathing out CO2 that is not being cleared by the ventilation system in that space.

Have a look: https://t.co/0xzrfCSp9A

Buy a CO2 monitor (about $60 on Amazon for a decent one like Vitalight) and add to the map when you have a chance.

I have heard shocking stories from users horrified by how poorly ventilated their workplaces and homes are. On the bright side, it looks like a lot of corporate buildings have quietly upgraded indoor ventilation in the last year without much fanfare. Each improved space lowers your risk for every respiratory pathogen and ensures a healthier time for everyone.

Best of luck to you all.

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

The importance of improving indoor air quality cannot be downplayed/dismissed if we want to curtail the incidence of #LongCovid

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

From a new preprint of a 2-year, prospective follow-up cohort of unvaccinated individuals with Covid in Spain
"Recovery is extremely rare [from #LongCovid] during the first 2 years [full = 7.6%], posing a major challenge to healthcare systems."
https://t.co/wVq4uenaMN

[Kashif Pirzada, MD @KashPrime]

A warning from Japan:

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

If you need a CO2 monitor to check your workplace or school, you can probably borrow one at your local library, thanks to the work of @CAVI_CO2 https://t.co/5wpZVenlxP

[TracingVRL by A.J. Fish @TracingCovid]

https://t.co/cnOX0INDu4 "...there’s even a new clean air app, Raven, which had over 3,000 followers when last we checked. The day we looked, a lot of people were posting about the air quality at York University." @theRavenApp #COVID

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

Wildfire smoke getting you down?
Check out our CleanAir Map, which helps you find well-ventilated indoor spaces to spend your summer day safely.
We use crowd-sourced CO2 readings from thousands of users to give us a rough idea of a location's ventilation.
https://t.co/YmvXxXoIuH

[Raven News and CleanAir Map @theRavenApp]

We rate thousands of locations in hundreds of cities, even locations you wouldn't expect!

[vitalik.eth @VitalikButerin]

Last year @CryptoRelief_ led by @sandeepnailwal allocated $100m to Covid research projects I wanted to fund

Sandeep and I discussed and jointly concluded these and other projects are high-impact and need follow through grants. Hence we decided to put $100m more to these projects