Jeff Matthews

I've heard hospitals in Houston are full and that people who show up in small, emergency clinics can't get rooms quick enough and are dying. I guess that sort of works according to the plan you seem to prefer since the vast majority who are now getting sick and dying are, indeed, the unvaccinated.

This was the topic discussed in an assignment I worked on back in the late 1980's college days. Once an insurer can effectively identify a risk, should they be able to discriminate based on it? We have accepted discrimination based on age and some other factors. They are not allowed to require a person's genetic profile to predict future health risks. We're good with that. What's so "special" about refusing a vaccine?

Right. There's no doubt at all about that. Just imagine all those folks who foolishly live along fault lines in California. Once the big quake happens again (and it will), we should all remind those folks what a drag they are on the system. What makes one fool's vice any better than the other's? What compels us to judge people in this way, and is it really fair? One idiot refuses to get a shot, while the other downs his 10th shot of tequila and lights another cig.

Turn away fat people, drinkers, smokers, fast drivers, criminals, etc., too. We need those beds for the truly innocents. We've had this debate many times. It never happens. We excuse people for poor life choices. It's part of the social safety net.

I doubt the government will stand for that. Remember, emergency rooms are paid by government when insurance coverage is not available.

Lambda is news to me. Since you mentioned a 6% death rate, I looked it up. It's actually 1/10 of that - or 0.6% (actually a smidge less). The hardest hit country for it is Peru. Despite such a high death rate, the CDC says the Lambda variant is "of interest" and not "of concern." Factors affecting the high death rate in Peru include those associated with the country's poverty - including lack of hospitals and supplies, crowding and the inability of people to stay home without working (I assume no stimulus). "Chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus) has an R-naught between 9 and 12 (most estimates start at 10) making it likely to be significantly more contagious than COVID-19 and the variants we have currently detected." Source I am not a die-hard anti-vaxxer, but I am not one to get flu shots, either. If the chit really hits the fan around here, I might be convinced. It will take nature - and not argument - to convince me.

"Covid is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated." Isn't that a good thing? It used to be a pandemic for everyone. Now, you can get your shot and leave fools to their own demise. It's survival of the fittest. Natural population control. (sarcasm) The fact that the vaccine has already been so effective is every reason NOT to force people to take it.

In that case, you can get the shot and stop worrying. Why keep after everyone else? What's with the Big Brother thing? Live and let die.

If you want to consider being in greater debt as "safer," you can, but it's counter-intuitive. It's kind of like the famous lyrics, "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose." I've always pondered whether the best and richest life could be had by going into as much debt as possible. Why live your life in a box when you could have enjoyed a palace on someone else's nickel?

This is because people claim they know things they don't.

"What passes for logic these days. " You see what I mean, folks? This is not conducive to spreading knowledge or compassion. In any cases, "what passes for logic" must admit the logic is limited due to limited availability of data, including data concerning long-term effects. "What passes for logic" was unknown when they released the vaccines without sufficient appreciation of the risk of clots in the first place. It turns out "what passes for logic" is merely a backhanded attempt to discredit valid opinions held by people with rights (to be let alone). As has already happened, you might find "further examination" will reveal the truth.

Same with the J&J vaccine. Listen to how surprised and disappointed the medical community is to find this out after giving the vaccine to so many people. They didn't say, "We knew this before we started giving it. It's been studied for years." What else will they find out? When 2 or 3 people die from eating tainted ice cream or lettuce, they pull the products from the market immediately. Not so with the vaccines.

Hey, Maynard. Think about it from this perspective: I haven't followed it closely, but it's common knowledge there was an unexpected clotting issue with the AZ vaccine. Nobody disputes it; the proponents just shuck off the risk as being very low. In any event, this knowledge was acquired only after they injected many people. Because they have not conducted controlled trials as is done in the ordinary course of medicine approval, the people are the guinea pigs. What else will they learn as time goes on and more people are dosed 2nd, 3rd and 4th times, etc.? Will the data be more complete, painting a different picture? If you are okay with that and want to accept the risk, no problem. It's your body. All I ask you respect my choice about my body in similar fashion. I'm not trying to silence anyone who suggests it should be taken, nor do I pin nasty labels on them or cop a bad attitude against them. Name-calling and silencing people is no way to share knowledge or compassion.

CDC admits the vaccine kills some people (though they aren't for sure why and don't fully concede causation). Same with other serious side effects, such as clots and heart issues. The numbers reported are, of course, very small. But the same is true for the underlying illness. I have a hard time sitting there submitting to an injection when, right before they push the plunger, they say, "Now, this could possibly kill you or damage your heart." What am I supposed to do? "Duh... Ok..." There's a small chance Covid could kill me or mess me up good. I'm not going to stand in line to get purposefully infected. There's a small chance the vaccine could also kill me or mess me up good. Likewise, I'm not running to stand in line to see if it does. FDA has only approved these for emergency use. I don't even want any of the drugs they've approved for everyday use, let alone ones they limit to emergencies. There is no available data concerning long-term effects.

"The future is in ear buds."

Don't know if anyone mentioned these, but they are pretty impressive. https://hexclad.com

Yellowstone is due to blow. Mass extinction!

After taking a hiatus from work for about 4-5 years, I jumped back in. It did me good to get away from it for a while. Now, I take it less for granted.

Doing okay. Just been real busy and occasionally lurking (reading the Jokes thread). How about you? You been alright?

Be the chair, Danny.

I remember when we bought Snicker's bars for a dime, plus a penny tax. $0.11. We're all still alive and kicking despite the fact prices have risen over 1500%. I have a pretty strong feeling society will still be fine when those candy bars cost $3.00. Inflation is just a means to get people off their arses, producing and/or investing.

If the parent, and not the student, made the offensive post, would there be a case?

Speech causing disruption... Who'd a ever thunk?

Might be the best time. Inflation means you pay back the loan with cheaper dollars.

nope