Slack / Private Message Drop — page 79

don't know what else is feasible; (iii) to me, the pangolin story is crucial: the RBD looked 'anomalous' but then a little of sampling of an animal what we would never have expected found it was there in nature; (iv) yes, there are some new data points but it is also very clear that we really need better sample of nature to sort this out. Doubtless there will be more bat viruses out there that fill in key positions, but if random animals like pangolins are in the mix (and these were smuggled into China from elsewhere) only god or George Gao knows what else is out there. Without more sampling we are still speculating to a large extent. [2020-06-13 16:30:15] [Eddie Holmes] Your emails were very good Kristian. [2020-06-13 19:06:19] [Eddie Holmes] My wikipedia page has been hacked with some nasty edits claiming, for example, that I have received research grants from China. Untrue. The intent here is obvious. It also twists what we say in the proximal origins paper to thing like "_..pangolins...provide a much stronger and more parsimonious explanation"_ of how the virus originated through natural selection". I've tried to correct it a few times but it is instantly put back. [2020-06-14 01:20:15] [Andrew Rambaut] You can get the page locked by the wikipedia people. [2020-06-14 02:28:02] [Eddie Holmes] Thanks. I'll contact them. [2020-06-15 08:20:39] [Robert Garry] Based on what John BBC said to Kristian I think he's gong for something "balanced." Probably will ignite a whole new round of conspiracy chatter. Yes - Sir Jeremy might be able to pull something off with WHO, but then of course Trump so maybe more inflammatory than helpful - we could also await Nov [which can't come soon enough] but no guarantees there. [2020-06-15 08:24:46] [Andrew Rambaut] BBC are the worst at false equivalency in these things because they have 'balance' built into their charter. So (particularly the news desks) thinks that means you just need to get someone in who disagrees with any position and you are covered. [2020-06-15 08:26:31] [Andrew Rambaut] Just talked to David Quammen who is writing a piece for the New Yorker about pangolin conservation (with some CoV angles). He is also starting a book on SARS-CoV-2. Suggested he chats about spike proteins with you Bob. [2020-06-15 14:11:22] [Eddie Holmes] I've spoken with David as well. [2020-06-15 14:12:46] [Eddie Holmes] Just found out that CGTN (state propaganda TV) took the little video I made for the Australian Academy of Science and pretended they interviewed me for their TV clip. Not acceptable. [2020-06-16 07:17:21] [Robert Garry] Yes - CGTN has twisted several comments we've made. Awaiting BBC's exercise in false equivalency aka "fair and balanced."