leh-nerd skin-erd

Maybe. It’s your conspiracy, that’s the beauty of the system!

That sorta does. Ah, now I see. Yes, if one’s position is that tens of thousands of people in the hospital biz are working in conjunction with tens of thousands of people in the public sector biz and tens of thousands of people in the media biz, that everyone in the know is really in the know, that would constitute a person who believes in a conspiracy. On the other hand, I would characterize someone who believed that’s the only way data could be manipulated as painfully naive.

There was no intent on my part to put words in your mouth—what I typed represents my thoughts on the way you looked at the data. If I were to expand on that, I’d suggest you might be a tad naive, but that’s just my view of things, not a declaration that I’m correct. One issue I do take with what you shared is the use of the term “conspiracy”. It’s become one of the most overused words in the internet, often as a way of denigrating the thoughts of others who disagree with a given perspective. The history of our country is littered with government/individuals manipulating data, spreading false information or outright lying to the public. That’s not conspiracy, that’s a fact I’d bet most Americans agree on when having a cup of coffee at the local bagel shop when removed from some of the unpleasantries of the modern political era. Anyway, you have more faith than I do.

Your belief in the innate good of the politicians and their statisticians is admirable.

When Trump was elected, the opposition party suddenly developed a major case of Russianitis. It was as if all of a sudden, the Russians were everywhere, though ultimately they basically ended up being nowhere. We also had discussions of Trump being an illegitimate president, talk that his presidency was the result of a coup, and a call to arms by dem leaders to get in people’s faces to spread the truth as Dems see it. We also had serious, legitimate democrat candidates for the presidency speak passionately about concerns of election security just a few short months before the election. Why suddenly are you so concerned?

Of course, we really don’t know that they are not in a state like NY, do we? It’s impossible to trust any of the data when politics are involved.

Great read. Powerful. Lots of splashy words. Now do the Biden/Pelosi Dems, the illegitimate election of Donald Trump, and the 4 year Russia investigation.

On the other hand-worst case scenario—-if you wear a mask and sit in the last row of seats, your chances of living longer increase! Just wear the damn mask!

Irv, when you recognize that some people are just the way they are, for whatever reason they are what they are, it makes life more enjoyable. It is, however, slightly ironic that whatever protests take place occur in Japan, a country with the stated goal of enslaving the world in its own brand of sadistic and barbaric subjugation just 80 short years or so ago. Doubly ironic? The line in the sand against that oppressive regime came by way of sacrifice of men and women under the flag she turned away from. Life is complicated.

This is the real reason Biden won’t attempt to make it mandatory. There is no way in hell he would face the wrath of his base—especially the millions of vaccine hesitant Black and Latino voters.

I believe the law regarding seat belt usage vary from state to state, and a quick google search indicated NH does not require seat belt use for adults ina vehicle. So, I’d say there are definitely people who feel that seat belt laws infringe upon their freedom, and they resist governmental intervention regardless of how well intentioned the law is But, are you advocating the seat belt model with respect to mandatory vaccination? State specific? That’s an interesting take. It seems in cases where there are laws, the govt infringes only on those folks in the highest risk category—those on vehicles. That is to say, there are no seatbelt rules for the living room couch, bathroom or office chair. Seatbelts are not required on motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts and the like. If you don’t drive a car or ride as a passenger, you’re free to do as you please. So, in this case, the government identifies the highest risk category for COVID and requires that those folks be vaccinated, assuming of course no underlying medical condition that would make the vaccine dangerous to the individual. That might work. Like Biden and his respect for the rule of law in the Ukraine.

You’re another fascinating case. You have very strong feelings on vaccinations, what people should do with respect to vaccinations, and are a strong supporter of Team Biden. Yet here, with the FDA and compulsory vaccinations, you get skittish and jittery. This isn’t a business issue beyond the obvious impact lockdowns had/have on the bottom line. This is a government issue. Why not support Biden ramrodding the mandatory vax through any means possible? He’s the president for Gods sake. Surely he has some juice with the FDA. Appoint a vax czar. Al Sharpton comes to mind. The future of the world is at stake and you want millions of different approaches and all the litigation and fallout that will surely follow.

Simone Biles is an incredible athlete and has accomplished amazing feats in gymnastics. By the very nature of the sport, to get to the level she's gotten to, she has to be incredibly tough, determined, focused, strong and athletic. I recall someone wrote that she finished a competition with broken toes. Absolutely incredible. That said...it would seem to me that warning signs were missed along the way. As she approached the games, there was the talk about her GOAT inspired gear, and she discussed the very public and private pressure she felt going into these games. To perform at that high a level, it seems at times these people are on the razor edge between exceptional performance and the unreasonable expectations they place upon themselves. I don't care much one way or the other about the games. I used to love the allure of amateur athletes in the spirit of competition, but it just seems to me it's pretty much down to what country has the better professionals at any given moment in time (at least for the most popular events). However, she's been amazing, the timing of her withdrawal is a shame, and I hope she's alright in the long run. Seems like a nice young lady.

Sure, facts matter. During the height of the COVID epidemic and lockdowns (for the compliant only, of course), as Trump lead the federal response to COVID, held daily press conferences alongside captains of the pharmaceutical industry and other business leaders, it seems perfectly logical that your leadership group --Biden, Harris, Cuomo, Schumer et al---thought that Trump was creating the vaccine using his Oldmanfan™ Junior Chemistry Set in the basement of the White House. Here is the only fact that matters--they spoke against the vaccine, for purely partisan political gain, often to the most vulnerable population in their voting bloc--and they were tremendously successful at promoting vaccine hesitancy. Now of course, you are frustrated people don't believe in the gospel you're spreading. The problem you have is people can spot bullsh&t and inconsistency, and even when the messaging is on point, confidence in what you're selling is lost. The amount of partisan water you carry for these sh8tstains is incredible, especially in light of your somewhat radicalized view of how the vaccination process should play out. You're a prime example of why an individual should not trust anyone blindly, regardless of accomplishments real or imagined.

Plastic masks. This is the answer.

You gotta wonder what his interaction with the ladies looked like to Tibsy back in the day. “GUYS, she threw a drink in my face!! FIRST BASE B*TCHES!” (Disclaimer: I don’t advocate on behalf of any baseball analogies where women are concerned, it’s highly misogynistic and patriarchal.)

Oh I’m in on this one. HB to the B!!!

Often, this is less about big business (often the target of liberal ire and disdain for screwing the little guy, of course) “keeping people safe” and much, much more about navigating the perilous journey of the legislative environment. The state and federal govt is all over the page, the science a clusterf#ck, and the easiest out is “require it”. No one—no one—is looking to corporate America as the beacon of health and well-being. Bludgeoned into submission? Certainly.

I initially replied to this post you wrote a short time before this one: 12 hours ago, ALF said: Get vaccinated , my health insurance premiums are high now without more unnecessary covid hospitalizations to make it increase. I don’t doubt you when you say you’re worried about unvaccinated people (Democrats, Republicans, White, Black, Latin, Native American etc) spreading the virus—-you’ve been clear on that, though perhaps a bit selective at times. I simply pointed out that your concern over the cost of your health insurance shouldn’t be a factor here—we all should pitch in for the greater good. Your share may be higher because you’re well off.

You seemed hyper fixated on your insurance costs. Together Everyone Achieves More!

Too much worrying about the you, not enough worrying about the us.

He can’t hear ya Alfie, but I’m sure in his own way DJT appreciates the sentiment shared by lefties everywhere.

The political theater aside—and it’s a big problem whenever these hearings take place——but I have virtually no sympathy for any idjit who stormed/streamed/or casually walked into the Capitol. My greater concern is how it happened to begin with. Seriously, a bunch of adults show up and gain access that easily? It’s like a movie, though in the movies you laugh because they load up with 200,000 rounds of ammunition, armored vehicles disguised as ice cream trucks and terrorists dressed as cops. How does that happen? We won’t find those answers here, but something is very wrong.

I care Jim, I care.

“Seasons in the Sun” by Billy Jack’s brother, Terry. That family had it all.