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Why the Success of the Pfizer Vaccine Trial Is Personal for Me

For the past three months, I have been a volunteer participant in the Pfizer vaccine trial study trying to find a cure for COVID-19….

It’s important to note that this a double-blind study, which means one half of the study gets the vaccine and the other gets the placebo, so I won’t know which I got–the actual vaccine or the placebo—until the study gets unblinded. 

Also the news that the vaccine is coming doesn’t mean the pandemic is behind us. While this trial is a very exciting tangible step, this is not the end of the pandemic. We still have months to go, and even when the vaccine is widely available, probably sometime between spring and summer of 2021, there will still be hurdles, including capacity and delivery. (The Pfizer vaccine, like the Moderna one, requires two shots, approximately 21 days apart.

Then there’s the question of vaccine hesitancy. Four years of Trumpism has been very bad for scientists and for American’s belief in science. You’ll remember that in 2007, a pre-presidency Donald Trump postulated that vaccines might be responsible for the uptick in autism (they’re not), an irresponsible statement he has never retracted. And only about half of Americans say they would take the COVID-19 vaccine, perhaps fearing it will be rushed to market before its safety has been proven. The good news about this coronavirus vaccine is that the efficacy is so high that it will take less time to get to herd immunity. And a new Biden administration, one that actually believes in science, may be able to convince more people that this vaccine will be safe.

This week, when my podcast colleague Rick Wilson and I interviewed Dr. Eric Topal, a noted medical researcher and author, he called the new vaccine a “super human vaccine,” the kind that, like the measles vaccine in the 1960s, could eradicate an illness with its efficacy.

Pfizer and Moderna aren’t the only players in this game, of course. There are still a lot of vaccine trials going on around the world and volunteers are needed. (My husband recently enrolled in a different vaccine trial.) 

At the White House briefing on Friday, at which Trump tried to claim credit for the Pfizer vaccine and also refused to answer questions about when he would concede the election to Joe Biden, Moncef Slaoui, the person in charge of Operation Warp Speed, reiterated there is still much work to do. “I would like to take this opportunity to invite as many Americans as possible who would like to volunteer to participate in these clinical trials,” Slaoui said, “as that’s the only way we are able to achieve a demonstration of the safety and the efficacy of these vaccines.”

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We have an opportunity to do good here. I am not a particularly brave person, but in a country with uncontrolled virus spread I’d much rather take my chances with the vaccine than with the virus. As I write this column, tens of thousands of Americans are getting infected with coronavirus.

You have a chance to save others and change the course of history. Will you do it? I did.

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Air Jordan 3 “Paris” Reportedly Trades Elephant Print for Damask

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Jordan Brand may be preparing to drop a special Air Jordan 3 dedicated to one of the world’s most recognizable cities. Landing in June 2027, the Air Jordan 3 “Paris” comes with a unique design that ditches the usual elephant print. Instead, the rumored edition is said to feature damask detailing, special Paris-inspired branding, and a limited drop focused on the French capital.

The first word comes from @zSneakerHeadz, but Jordan Brand has not confirmed the sneaker yet. A mockup is currently circulating, so the final look may differ. That said, the described design is an interesting direction for the Air Jordan 3, especially for fans used to seeing elephant print as one of the silhouettes hallmark visual elements.

The shoe is said to feature a white tumbled leather upper with a navy rubber outsole. The most noticeable change is replacing the traditional elephant print with a damask print. The pattern is reportedly on the toe and heel, with another section next to the Jumpman logo on the tongue. The treatment gives the sneaker a different visual character without straying from the Air Jordan 3’s recognizable structure.

More branding is expected to tie the release closely to its namesake city. The mudguard is said to have the wording “Jordan Paris Family 91, 92, 93, 94,” while the heel is said to have “NIKE PRS.” The details give the shoe a more specific identity than a simple colorway, with the reported inscriptions presenting it as a tribute to Paris and its role in the Jordan Brand story.

The sneaker is expected to be released in men’s sizing and will carry the style code JJ3727-100. It retails for $230 and will be available in select Jordan Brand stores in Paris. If the release details are accurate, the limited distribution may make the pair tough for sneaker fans outside the city to get their hands on. But the brand has not confirmed the information that has been reported, and the image shown is a mockup and not an official product reveal.

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The Air Jordan 3 “Paris” is also expected to join a growing list of regional releases such as the Air Jordan 3 “Middle East.” These projects give Jordan Brand the chance to attack the same silhouette through various regional themes, not just the usual retro colorways. The damask pattern with city-specific branding would, in this case, make the Paris edition clearly distinct.

This classic Air Jordan 3 shape combined with a strange pattern is bound to appeal to collectors. The expected Paris-only distribution adds another layer of exclusivity, although the final release details have yet to be confirmed. If the June 2027 launch comes to fruition as described, the Air Jordan 3 “Paris” could be one of the more unique regional editions on Jordan Brand’s calendar.

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Nike LeBron 24 “Christmas” – Holiday Collection Gets Grinchy Green Look

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Nike Basketball’s holiday collection is starting to take shape, and LeBron James’ latest signature shoe is bringing a particularly loud look to the seasonal crop. First-look images of the Nike LeBron 24 “Christmas” have surfaced, showcasing a black and electric green colorway with metallic silver accents. The rumored Grinch-inspired direction of the upcoming release is shaping up to be one of the more unique additions to Nike’s Christmas footwear collection.

The shoe will be dropped on December 4 for $200. Its most striking feature is the electric green colorway, which gives the design a strong visual identity. Black is used on the upper for contrast, and metallic silver is seen on the Swoosh near the heel. Another contrasting touch comes from a red logo on the tongue, offering a subtle nod to holiday colors within the overall aesthetic. The shoe continues the theme with a green rubber outsole below.

Aside from the looks, the LeBron 24 “Christmas” also features performance elements associated with the broader LeBron 24 line. The outsole has a Zoom Turbo unit that is said to keep the shoe light and quick. That bit gives the holiday edition purpose beyond just its seasonal styling, keeping it tied to the basketball performance direction of the signature series.

The Grinch concept is part of a larger “naughty list” theme that also includes the Sabrina 4 and Book 2. Rather than treating the LeBron 24 as a standalone holiday release, Nike seems to be building a connected seasonal collection around the idea. The electric green colorway fits that direction, making the shoe pop while giving the broader theme a recognizable visual thread.

The first glimpse of the sneaker came via a 360-degree video Nike shared. The audience got a first look at the color blocking and design details as the shoe was presented from various angles. A handful of basketball creators also got a sneak peek at the pair earlier on a trip to Nike headquarters, helping build the early hype around the release.

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The style code is IO8205-300 and the shoe is expected to drop in men’s sizing through Nike and select retailers. The December 4 date and $200 price point give us a sense of what to expect, but the information provided doesn’t list every retailer that will sell the sneaker.

The Nike LeBron 24 ‘Christmas’ is holiday-themed and performance-inspired for LeBron’s signature line, featuring a bright green colorway with silver details, red tongue branding, and an outsole with Zoom Turbo cushioning. Its Grinch-inspired theme also fits clearly into Nike Basketball’s broader seasonal plans. If you’re a fan of the brand’s Christmas releases, this pair is already making a strong first impression.

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