Niranjan

[Soups Ranjan @soupsranjan]

I am a proud US citizen and founder of a successful startup that employs 94 employees in the US and 180+ employees globally. I was in Dubai on a business trip meeting with financial institutions to help them fight financial fraud in the region, but now I am stranded.

I expected the @usgov to do something to get US citizens out but I haven't seen any meaningful action.

After 4 days of adrenalin and constant fear, I feel demoralised and abandoned by our government. It’s difficult watching other countries – UK, Israel, Spain, Italy and India – repatriate their citizens or ensure that commercial flights continue operating to bring them home.

I became a naturalized US citizen because I believe in the American dream, and the idea that in a crisis, America never leaves its citizens behind. I see that American dream being shattered not just for me, but for tens of thousands of other Americans left stranded.

I have 3 requests of our government:

1. Can the @usgov ensure the commercial airlines don't cancel US bound flights? I've booked a dozen flights to leave Dubai and ALL of them got canceled, even as flights to other countries continue operating.

2. If that is not possible, can the USG organize planes, commercial or military, to evacuate Americans out of Dubai and the surrounding region?

I saw a very hopeful note from the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs which states, “the US State Dept is in touch with 3,000 Americans and that we should call 1-202-501-4444 for assistance with departure options.”

But that is unfortunately not accurate. I am enrolled in Step and have only received generic messages. Further, on calling that number, the message you get is:

"Please don't rely on the USG for assisted departure or evacuation at this point. There are currently no evacuation flights at this time."

3. With funding cuts to the US consulates and with attacks on US embassies in the region, there’s no one that Americans can reach out to in the broader GCC region.

Can we set up an emergency hotline within the US that actually works, and that has someone who is taking down more details?

@SecRubio just stated that there are 1500 Americans who have contacted asking for assistance to evacuate. How did they do that because I am completely at a loss on who to call? I called up 1-202-501-4444 and all I got is a generic message.

Myself and other Americans need help getting back home.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar It costs at or under half as much in Lisboa. One more reason.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@sinned Here in Berkeley too.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar In the past, one would be tagged via email, now its Slack. I wonder if we are unfairly shooting the messenger?

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar It's a daily word game
https://t.co/VOzyPupUx7

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@arunash Now I do

[barkha dutt @BDUTT]

India’s cricket team took the knee. Here’s why it was meaningless and hypocritical. I have this for @washingtonpost https://t.co/CzrjZTX0Ki

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

Today's the day that Canada exceeded the US for fully vaccinated. Congratulations 🇨🇦
And 15% points ahead in 1st dose.
Your belief in the evidence and support of the science is abundantly clear 👋👋

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

Never thought I'd run into a term that has been the staple of signal processing books in a work of fiction - the Fourier transform.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar I find Slack to be great for collaboration, and thoughtful discussions - no character limit on messages. Interruptive at times, yes, but one can turn off notifications. Productivity relates to how it is used, imo, and not the tool in itself.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

The lucid explanations of the work that have won Noble prizes this week in @QuantaMagazine is a much needed antidote for the blunt force trauma that has been the news over the past few days.
https://t.co/kg2SUWBBUa

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar @brave Also supports BAT which is a better way to pay for select content (e.g. an article in NYT or Medium) as an alternative to subscriptions. Not widely adopted yet; someday, I hope, if there are enough users of the browser.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

Been using the @brave browser for over a month now, and loving it - clean interface, tracker and ad blocking, feels faster than Chrome.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar @brave I haven't switched completely from Chrome yet, due to the hassle of having to log in all over again. The draw is likely the ads/trackers blocker on Brave that makes page loads seem faster, and browsing a little more secure. Didn't think I 'd use it past a week, but still am.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

@vinthanedar Nice! Haven't read it yet. Look forward to your take on it.

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

When was the last time we had to place more faith in pharma than the @US_FDA?
https://t.co/Oypr8b3vB0

[Gavin Newsom @GavinNewsom]

Today, CA reached a somber milestone: 157 deaths. Our highest
reported in a single day.

We cannot afford to ignore #COVID19, or simply hope it goes away. We have to take action. TOGETHER.

Wear a mask. Physically distance. Wash your hands.

Your actions can literally save lives.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

Correction on 1. ' 3x more infectious than the flu' and not '3x more infections'.

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

3 data points from a @wabenews interview with the CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield regarding #COVID19

1. ~3x more infections than the flu:
"This virus does have the ability to transmit far easier than flu. It's probably now about three times as infectious as flu."

[Niranjan @troglodyte]

3. The rest with symptoms begin to transmit up to 48 hours prior to showing symptoms:
"it appears that we're shedding significant virus in our oropharyngeal compartment, probably up to 48 hours before we show symptoms"

https://t.co/vj17R6MqGP