Advice Goddess Free Swim
It's Monday night, and I'm wiped out. You pick the topics.
P.S. One link per comment or my spam filter will eat your post.
Advice Goddess Free Swim
It's Monday night, and I'm wiped out. You pick the topics.
P.S. One link per comment or my spam filter will eat your post.
Target has done well financially over the last year. Reading deeper into it the reason is quite humorous. While many stores struggled with meeting covid restrictions and had to close repeatedly Target with their typically low floor traffic easily met most restriction goals and rarely had to close or restructure anything.
When the government closes all your opposition even a failure can make money.
Ben at March 2, 2021 5:23 AM
CBS confirmed it this morning - we are having, not a baby boom, but a baby bust.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/birth-rate-declining-baby-bust-covid-pandemic/
However, regarding the babies that ARE being born this year, no one seems to be commenting, just yet, on what percentage of those babies are firstborns.
(As one wag predicted last spring, there's a good chance that MOST of those babies will be firstborns. Not to mention that many people have predicted that the lockdowns and quarantines would cause the divorce rate to spike. No word on that just yet.)
Lenona at March 2, 2021 5:32 AM
A wonderful, single-panel cartoon.
Crid at March 2, 2021 6:07 AM
A few good one-liners in this TED.
Crid at March 2, 2021 8:24 AM
Everything's perfectly fine as long as your balls don't touch his:
https://twitter.com/GarbyJooman3/status/1366679141848911872
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 8:55 AM
Shaun King's nemesis:
https://twitter.com/GraduatedBen/status/1366409026486075398
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 10:08 AM
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-neighbors-create-website-to-help-hundreds-get-vaccinated-against-covid-19
One of my friends is involved in this -- she's been getting vaccine appointments for all her neighbors. My husband is in group 1B (along with a LOT of Texans), and we got him an appointment (2-hour drive away) after a week of having two laptops with multiple windows open, refreshing like crazy every couple hours (based on notifications from the chat bot we found on Reddit). We are tech-savvy and it was still a challenge. We have reached out to three of our older neighbors, and I was so happy that one of them got an appointment from young people at their church doing essentially the same thing.
I was in the Moderna trial, so I've done been vaccinated and grateful to not have to deal with ANY of this personally. Depending on how much supply rolls out, it could be a shit-show when states open these up to the general population.
sofar at March 2, 2021 10:15 AM
FBI Director Says Jan. 6 Riot Served as ‘Inspiration’ for More Extremism
Christopher Wray defended the bureau’s pre-attack intelligence work in testimony on Capitol Hill, saying domestic terrorism is “metastasizing” with more diffuse motivations.
~WSJ 3/2/21
Sooo. Riots across the nation for over a year, meh. One ostensibly rightwing riot in DC that was condemned by pretty much everyone, OMG wE aRe AlL gOiNg To DiE!!!!
Of course this is the FBI which sent people to jail for crimes they knew they didn't commit. And after getting caught falsifying evidence and perjuring itself in court the courts more or less said 'That's OK.'
Who would listen to any of these people? Talk about a crisis of confidence.
Ben at March 2, 2021 10:16 AM
And here is the CIA:
Former CIA Director John Brennan says that he is "increasingly embarrassed to be a white male these days."
https://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/1366499194073194500
He should be embarrassed for being John Brennan. Either way, would you trust the CIA when people like this run it?
Ben at March 2, 2021 10:27 AM
Sofar, it is hard to say what will happen when covid vaccines are available to the general public. I personally have no interest in it. But I am aware of people horribly freaked out and desperate for it. Also people are being told even if you get vaccinated you still have to follow all the restrictions as if you weren't. So that is a major disincentive.
Ben at March 2, 2021 10:32 AM
This cutesy TikTok clip was almost a LiveLeak video:
https://twitter.com/donutcrimez/status/1366506329314099206
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 10:43 AM
When you find out your Masc4Masc Grindr date is a bottom:
https://twitter.com/donutcrimez/status/1366792637014024195
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 10:51 AM
They're worser than Feminists looking for peens in the images:
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1366782808278982660
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 11:13 AM
But I am aware of people horribly freaked out and desperate for it. Also people are being told even if you get vaccinated you still have to follow all the restrictions as if you weren't. So that is a major disincentive.
For us, it's more having "all the options." Might proof of vaccination be required for certain activities (flying, international travel)? I hope not, it would be disastrously stupid and expensive, but it's possible. So we'll be ready for that. Also, making ourselves less likely to become vectors as we attend gatherings and return to cubicle city at work is a big selling point.
Personally, I'm fine continuing to wear a mask. I don't miss putting on makeup anyway.
I had a really bad reaction to the Moderna vaccine (a day of vomiting, among other things) during the trial, and I think that could end up being disincentivizing to a lot of people.
sofar at March 2, 2021 12:05 PM
They're worser than
____________________________
You do know "worser" is not a real word in modern times, right?
You wouldn't say "betterer," after all.
Lenona at March 2, 2021 1:19 PM
> He should be embarrassed for
> being John Brennan.
True!
> that is a major disincentive.
It's effective vaccine against (silently) communicable infectious disease which has killed millions… Yet you need to be flattered by "incentives"?
> I don't miss putting on
> makeup anyway.
Same here!
But soon, there will be a price to pay.
Crid at March 2, 2021 1:28 PM
I wasn't accusing you of being hysterical Sofar. Just saying I know of many who are. My parents got vaccinated. In their case it is a reasonable risk vs. reward calculation. But once you come down to my age and corelated health risks the risk from the vaccine hasn't dropped but the rewards are pretty much nil. So it makes little sense for me to get vaccinated. Which frees up supplies for those who truly need them.
The hysterical people are the ones who will cause problems when the vaccine is available for general consumption causing a shit-show to happen. Now, how many hystericals vs. how many apathetics are out there? Damned if I can tell. So it is hard for me to tell what will happen.
Lenona, I hope you know that peens isn't a real word either.
Ben at March 2, 2021 1:35 PM
Well, I had ASSUMED it wasn't being used in the sense I was familiar with (not that the slang version was difficult to guess).
True meaning: the plural of "the end of a hammer head opposite the face, typically wedge-shaped, curved, or spherical."
Lenona at March 2, 2021 1:43 PM
I wasn't accusing you of being hysterical Sofar. Just saying I know of many who are.
Not at all -- didn't read your post that way at all (even if my reply made it seem like I did -- oops).
Stands to reason supply will get better over time and that those who wait a few more months could walk into a CVS and get it done and avoid all the ridiculousness going on right now.
sofar at March 2, 2021 2:31 PM
Yep Sofar.
And next year you can get the next version. And the year after that the version after that. After all we are over a year into two weeks to slow the spread. Hooray for normal viral mutation.
On the bright side it looks like Abbott is getting ready to rescind the mask mandates and other stuff here in Texas. I'll still have to see just how the schools react. I've got one missing school for three weeks due to 'close contact ...' blah blah blah stupidity.
Ben at March 2, 2021 3:01 PM
@Lenona,
English is not my native language so I make do with what I can assimilate =P
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 3:42 PM
Oh no.
https://twitter.com/NewOnNetflixUK/status/1366662091361386497
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 3:48 PM
> not my native language
I COULD TOTALLY TELL!!!
Crid at March 2, 2021 4:10 PM
Know what's cool about being a swan? This short video.
Crid at March 2, 2021 4:40 PM
Hell, you can have it for $9.75… But no butt stuff.
Crid at March 2, 2021 5:09 PM
(It's not what you're thinking.)
Crid at March 2, 2021 5:10 PM
Don't ever browse the Amazon website for a product with the keyword "scsossw."
Sixclaws at March 2, 2021 5:29 PM
OK, that is weird. Why on earth did they use dogs?!!!!
NicoleK at March 3, 2021 12:55 AM
Maybe it's because with dogs it looks cute and funny, but if a human is holding that "toy" then it's porn.
Sixclaws at March 3, 2021 5:38 AM
On the bright side it looks like Abbott is getting ready to rescind the mask mandates and other stuff here in Texas. I'll still have to see just how the schools react. I've got one missing school for three weeks due to 'close contact ...' blah blah blah stupidity.
I'm not thrilled about the mask mandate being rescinded. I'm not going to make A Thing about it in public, will just continue to wear a mask and hope everyone proceeds in a reasonable manner (as many Texans generally do) and silently judge those without masks (silent judging being a thing I do every time I'm in public anyway, for many reasons). Mostly I'm just hoping this doesn't put us on other states's shitlists for travel -- after a year of road tripping, I'm ready to fly regularly again (now that I'm vaccinated).
The opening back to 100% capacity seems like a largely "symbolic" thing, since we're allowed to be at 75% anyway, and bars, restaurants, venues, etc. are generally 25% full, if that these days (because everyone's still iffy about the virus). At least that's been my experience in Austin.
I don't have a kid in school, but curious to see how this all shakes out in schools.
We're all in a real-time science experiment whether we want to be or not.
sofar at March 3, 2021 7:34 AM
> whether we want to be or not.
And yet Ben seems to think that if you're manly enough to feel resentment at "restrictions," you can simply choose not to participate.
Crid at March 3, 2021 8:52 AM
In a pandemic.
One which can silently infect without symptoms, only to re-infect others nearby, perhaps carrying them to death.
But incentives, right?
Crid at March 3, 2021 9:15 AM
Crid, I agree. I am especially against TX lifting the mask mandate because it puts everyone's protection in the hands of individual businesses/stores whose employees don't really have the power (or time) to enforce their store's rules.
Masks are the least-bad, least-hard part of ALL of this. I don't know why they are the sticking point/symbol of independence/political bargaining chip for so many.
sofar at March 3, 2021 9:48 AM
Sofar, there are specific limits Abbott put in place where masking and other restrictions could be reimplemented if needed. But many of the restrictions currently in place don't make any sense. They are purely there to say something was done and don't in any functional way address real issues. I have one kid out of school for a two week quarantine with only the explanation 'someone somewhere tested positive'. At the same time his brother is permitted to continue to attend school. This isn't how disease spread work. It is a joke.
As for putting a crosshair on Texas residents, it does do that. At it also puts crosshairs on residents of many other states. Namely New York, California, Michigan, and others who's governments have failed to protect their people while also failing to protect their rights. If you want things to return to normal then this is the only path for that.
Be wary reading anything Crid writes. He has demonstrated he is medically illiterate. The poor man can't even read the links he posts beyond the twitter headline. When I talked about hysterical people causing a shitshow and getting people killed Crid is one of them. He has clearly expressed he is willing to see you harmed in order to protect his feelings. Listening to people like him is dangerous.
Ben at March 3, 2021 10:23 AM
But many of the restrictions currently in place don't make any sense. They are purely there to say something was done and don't in any functional way address real issues.
Yes, many of the COVID restrictions have been without merit, a messaging debacle, and inconsistent. Particularly when it comes to schools.
But I'd still count public mask mandates as one of the common-sense solutions that is being removed prematurely. Obviously I'm not going to fight anyone in Target over it -- I'll just continue to wear mine. I just don't get why removing the mask mandate is a priority while vaccination is still in its infancy and new strains are in the mix. My view is: Why the rush? Masks don't prevent most people from doing anything or going anywhere. They are a common-sense measure in a virus that travels through the air. And it's relatively easy and cheap to enforce, unlike other common-sense measures like hand-washing and testing.
Be wary reading anything Crid writes.
I've been around this site since the pre-Obama era on and off. I'm wary of everything everyone on here writes.
sofar at March 3, 2021 12:04 PM
"But I'd still count public mask mandates as one of the common-sense solutions that is being removed prematurely." ~Sofar
I can see that and respect your viewpoint.
As for 'Why the rush?', look at what you wrote: "Mostly I'm just hoping this doesn't put us on other states's shitlists for travel"
Your response is more or less stating even you view mask usage as less of a medical issue and more of a political one. The politician was political. No surprise there.
Personally I don't care much one way or the other on the masking mandate. You are right it is one of the least onerous restrictions. But when I rarely go out in public and look around I see a lot of noses poking out these days. Or people with Crid level of education who have vented masks which completely destroy any medical use the masks provide. And where do I see the worst levels of mask compliance? Government employees. You say the mandate is easy to enforce. But it isn't. You have to enforce it on millions of people. Far more onerous regulations are much easier to enforce because you only have to enforce them on business owners, a much smaller group.
Once you add in the Biden administration opening the southern boarder to illegal immigration I kinda give up. None of them will be vaccinated. And by that I mean for far more diseases than just covid.
As is often the reality, if you want to be safe you have to protect yourself. If you are at risk then you should try to get yourself vaccinated. Trying to force other people to keep you safe is a worthless effort.
Ben at March 3, 2021 2:55 PM
If I hadn’t had Covid, (and also been vaccinated) I would certainly wear the mask every time I used a public restroom, followed by hand sanitizer after touching the door, but out in the open air, or wandering around Sams Club? Nah. Doesn’t seem to be much correlation between mask use, and Covid numbers, Half the people exposed to it are going to get it, and of those, about half aren’t even going to know that they have it.
The tests are crap, the antibody tests are crap. The Vaccines seem to be pretty good, and the politics stink.
If you’re worried, wear your mask. But me wearing mine, when I am vaccinated and have already had it , isn’t going to do a damn thing to protect you. Don’t expect me do it just to make you feel more safe, That is what *your mask* used properly , is for.
My cousin, the world’s biggest germaphobe who has a panic attack every time a medical waste truck drives by, caught Covid. If she got it, you don’t have a chance not to be exposed, except for the vaccine.
Isab at March 3, 2021 3:00 PM
Your response is more or less stating even you view mask usage as less of a medical issue and more of a political one.
I view it as a medical issue, but people are making it political. I support mask mandates for medical reasons and also am annoyed that our governor's decisions might make it harder for me to travel out of state, even though I mask AND am vaccinated.
And, yeah, I'm going to continue to mask in public indoors even though I've had both doses of Moderna (from participating in the phase III trial). While the vaccines certainly will prevent serious illness and hospitalization against the new strains and old, I don't mind wearing the mask and I'd rather not get any strain of COVID from one of the many who haven't been vaccinated yet. In addition to my medical reasons for wearing a mask, the cashier at Starbucks doesn't know I'm vaccinated, so I'd also rather not look like an asshole for neglecting to take a simple precaution that helps protect them, too.
It'll take a long time (if ever) to get any meaningful data on how much mass masking reduces spread indoors or whether it protects the wearer or the people around them "more." It's not a burden on me to wear a mask, so mask up I shall.
sofar at March 3, 2021 4:38 PM
> I'd also rather not look like
> an asshole for neglecting to
> take a simple precaution that
> helps protect them, too.
✔
Crid at March 3, 2021 5:09 PM
> I'd also rather not look like
> an asshole for neglecting to
> take a simple precaution that
> helps protect them, too.
✔
Crid at March 3, 2021 5:09 PM
Nothing wrong with this as long as it is entirely voluntary.
Hell of a lot wrong with it, when it is mandatory. Because when it is, you need a whole boatload of objective evidence that it is at least moderately effective. I haven’t seen that. I have also seen a lot of politicians pretending that a mask is necessary for the cameras, only to get caught without one, or violating stay at home orders when the cameras aren’t rolling.
If you want me to believe that this is a crisis, start acting like it.
Isab at March 3, 2021 6:18 PM
There's more to life than expressing resentment at The Man.
Crid at March 3, 2021 8:53 PM
"It'll take a long time (if ever) to get any meaningful data on how much mass masking reduces spread indoors or whether it protects the wearer or the people around them "more."" ~Sofar
We already have that data Sofar. A lot of research has gone into the study of masks and their effectiveness in reducing disease spread both in general and specific to covid. If you haven't kept up on the issue I would recommend looking for some of the meta data studies as actual experiments have shown such widely different results. Outcomes range from no effect to complete eradication and just about every number between. Much of the variation is likely due to the majority disease in the environment being studied. But there are clearly other variables that have yet to be identified that are very significant contributors.
I will say stay away from 'simulation' papers. They are examples of mental masturbation and their results are worthless. I don't care what your computer says. What matters is what the real world says. Do the experiment and get real data.
Sadly it seems about 3/4 of publication volume is such waste paper. Gathering real data and running real experiments is expensive and can be morally problematic. Still it is necessary.
Ben at March 4, 2021 5:53 AM
There's more to life than expressing resentment at The Man.
Crid at March 3, 2021 8:53 PM
It isn’t *the man* I resent, it is the entire panic porn industry and their unconstitutional power grab.
Isab at March 4, 2021 9:41 AM
Viral death is a worthy adversary.
Crid at March 4, 2021 5:19 PM
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