I have seen the light. Hallelujah. I no longer disbelieve Dr. Fauci.

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 1:22pm

With thanks to an online friend who sent me this powerful, inspirational and educational video. So much goodness rolled up into a 7 minute video is astonishing. All the time I wasted in Medical School and my unwavering belief in facts have been washed away by watching this video.

Fie on any unbelievers, who doubt what the Great White Father in Washington has planned for us. I have heard this sermon. Now, I, too, believe that all is right when we listen and obey authority.

Be prepared to watch this video again as it is chock full of rationalitizing (practicing rationality bereft of reason). Some, like myself want to take notes. I did but I won't burden you with any of my worthless thoughts (if a walnut sized cerebrum can be capable of thought at all).

[video:https://www.youtube.com/embed/QcUAG6t5aN8]

Tags:

Fauci

SARS2

believe

Vote

Comments

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 1:25pm

Don't fight the might

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-UfTzEslfs]

Submitted by vtcc73 on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 1:51pm

You have my attention.

What do you disagree with and why?

Edit: Damn! My snark meter is on the fritz. Time to step away from the keyboard and go play dog with his ball.

—

"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now..."

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 3:30pm

No man, I see and obey.

@vtcc73 @vtcc73 I shall no longer disparage Obergruppenführer Wv. Gates. I shall drink from the same spring from which Fra Antonio d'Fauci drinks. I shall pray to the same Green Gods as do the elites (the paper ones that is).

Disbelief--no more. I am re-born. I prostrate my prostate and other parts to the divine wisdom with which we are privileged to receive. Thank you, Nancy. Thank you, Donald. Amen. Hallowed be thy names.

A changed Alligator I am. Watch the video again vtcc. Turn up the volume a bit. Sit closer to the screen. Watch and be re-educated. You have nothing to lose but your mind.

If, when you have re-watched this Sermon of Truth and Reason, you still doubt any of its precepts, please so inform me, in order to disabuse you of your wrongful thinking. I come in peace.

I kneel in reverence to those in ~~heaven~~ Washington, D.C.

Such rightful obeisance behooves us all.

(Please submit your questions, triple spaced, with three copies to the following address:
Alligator School of Theology,
South Florida, US of A
--and don't forget to include your self-addressed stamped envelope with requisite postage.)

Submitted by vtcc73 on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 5:25pm

I've been reading the increasing ignorance and selfishness

@Alligator Ed being spewed in our best expat daily. I'm at the point I have little patience left for those who can't bother to use their heads for anything but growing hair and as a hat rack. Although considering the age of many expats they fail at growing hair too.

I do give this clown points for being one of the most enthusiastic spewers of nonsense masquerading as high widom sure to ignite epiphany in the masses. It's not quite a masterpiece at making drivel sound reasonable but close. I give him points for hair, lots of. I'm pretty sure most of his blood supply is directed to hair follicles not brain cells. I made it through about 2/3 of it solely out of morbid curiosity. Just one more sterling reason to use YouTube to inform ourselves. What could possibly go wrong?

—

"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now..."

Submitted by Tipper on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 5:14pm

virus

ok, this isn't a good first comment by a long time lurker but really, should this dubious(kept it clean) stuff even be responded to? irony noted that yes I am responding myself.

Submitted by vtcc73 on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 5:28pm

In for a penny, in for a pound here. No other excuse.

@Tipper I bit on the worm without thinking. Now I get to pay the price. There's nothing like laughing at myself to reset my thinking.

—

"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now..."

Submitted by CB on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 5:53pm

It's OK. We all understand where Alligator Ed

@Tipper
is coming from. It's not his fault...
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu7A8LIzL1o]

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 5:19am

You do? I don't, please enlighten me,

@CB
where is he coming from - in plain German, please -. Just to avoid me getting everything wrong over and over and over again. All you English sounds like Chinese to me. WTF.

Is the guy there talking an alligator like Alligator Ed?

Ok you have put a fork in me. I am done. Well done, almost burned. Dry and no juice left in my tenderloins. Chew on it.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by CB on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 8:50am

I'm afraid this one will get lost in translation

@mimi
But, the alligator brain wins the game and the woman in the end. Just need to knock some sense into some people now and then.

Submitted by CB on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 7:14pm

I thought I'd check his sources

But first a bit of bullshit:

when new more accurate information emerges like when USC did research in LA County a few weeks ago and showed the amount of people infected with Covid-19 is 28 to 55 times more than we originally thought yep because most of these people don't have symptoms is suggests the infection is far less dangerous than we originally thought and in contrast to the original guesstimation of a death rate of 4.5% in Covid cases that LA County Health Department says the new research suggests the actual death rate in Covid cases is between point 1 and point 2 percent. That means the actual death rate in Covid-19 cases is 22 and a half to 45 times less deadly than we were originally told"

WOW! I'm shocked I tell you, SHOCKED!!!!! We have been lied to!! /s

I could find no sources that say the death rate of Covid-19 is 4.5 - not even in NYC. The widely accepted death rate has been 0.1% to 0.2% for months.

If you read the following, even the UCSF doesn't really know the true extent of the Covid-19 infection at this time mainly because there is no "gold standard" in test kits. A balance between specificity and sensitivity has to be struck which affects the number of false positives/negatives so the figures can be up to 5% in error. Another factor is how you choose the subjects for testing.

Testing the Tests: COVID-19 Antibody Assays Scrutinized for Accuracy by UCSF, UC Berkeley Researchers
Research
April 27, 2020

...
In head-to-head comparisons of a dozen tests, the researchers have already found that many of the tests performed reasonably well, especially two weeks or more after infection, when levels of antibodies in the blood begin to peak. But many of the test kits have false positive rates that may exceed the proportion of people who have been infected in some communities. That means that a large proportion of those testing positive on an antibody test may not actually have had COVID-19.
...
“One of the cornerstones of lab medicine is that a new test is compared to a definitive reference or gold standard,” Marson said. “We do not have a gold standard yet for COVID-19 serology testing, so we are amassing data on a standardized set of blood samples and really looking at how each of these tests performs in relationship to all the others.”
...
Each test was assessed for sensitivity – how likely it is to detect antibodies in the blood of coronavirus-positive patients – and for specificity – how good they are at distinguishing people who are infected from those who are not. A high specificity means a low false positive rate.

Of the 10 point-of-care tests, “there are multiple tests that have specificities greater than 95 percent. So there is some reason for guarded optimism,” Marson said. “Although it is important to point out that if these infections are rare in a population, a false positive rate of 5 percent could cloud the picture of the information coming in.”

“Several of our tests had specificities over 98 percent, which is critical for reopening society,” Hsu added.
...

I understand alligators have a fantastic immune system. Maybe we can grind them up and make an elixir to get out of this lock-down quicker? I've heard that it is even better than snake oil.

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 9:26pm

I personally enjoy cats and don't have to grind the furries

@CB @CB Yum. My medulla abendulla is workin' just fine, thanks. But I am glad that we are discussing accuracy in testing and the horribly flawed Stanford paper that made the assertion about the proportion infected to uninfected people in Santa Clara County. They extrapolated from a non-random sample, not a random sample. Lots of selection flaws but other than that it is a study to be published in the Journal of Irreproducible Results.

So, with one CB espousing the lack of a gold standard test, which may be correct, how then do we come to a consensus amongst the troglodytes, afraid of germs, germs, germs, concerning when it is safe to exit their fear caves? If the tests are unreliable as the black cat asserts, how then do we determine the following:
disease prevalence (how many current cases)
disease incidence (number of new cases)
state of post-infection immunity
case fatality rate
actually determining true cause of death

Without a semblance of this information what would be your guidelines, black feline, upon which to base emergence from your cave? Can't trust the numbers yet, you say. Gonna stay in your cave until when? Like the last WW2 Japanese soldier in the Philippines, surrendering 26 years after the war ended.

Please inform me whether herd immunity will develop when the herd (baaah, baaah) members are no longer disallowed ability to commingle. What is the magic number of recovered sheeple, percentage wise, in order to achieve herd immunity? Do we wait for Obergruppenführer von Gates to develop his certain to be pricy shiny new vaccine, already pre-loaded with the finest microcircuitry DARPA can create? Or, shall we wait for the eminent Dr. Tedros, who assured all listening in mid-January that we had nothing to fear from a naturally-occurring bat virus which couldn't possibly be transmitted amongst humans. Both you, CB, and myself have nothing to worry about, since alligators and cats are immune to SARS2? Oh, sorry, CB, sadly felines are susceptible to this plague too.

I am all for facts. I try to digest a small amount of facts daily to keep my walnut-sized cerebrum clicking. But so far, all I am seeing is a bunch of authority-driven drivel.

Please explain to our readers what scientific studies have validated the efficacy of "social distancing" in not merely "flattening the curve" (perhaps like a sports bra) but to prevent the dreaded "second wave".

The dreaded second wave Tsunami will crush us if we as a society haven't developed herd (baaah) immunity. We must wait for the vaccine. Yes. Let us take the accuracy or efficacy of influenza vaccines which have about 40 - 50% ability to prevent infection. So, should we seek multi-valent vaccines which cover more possible pathogens. But vaccines, especially polyvalent vaccines are notorious for the less than desirable unanticipated (?) consequences? You already know the answer to that. The more antigenicity in a vaccine, the greater the chance of autoimmune reactions such as anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hepatitis (non-alcoholic), ARDS, peripheral neuropathy, parainfectious encephalopathy, and so on.

When I posted this essay with the humorous video, some of which is quite factually incorrect, I would hope to have reaped some helpful, constructive comments. Seems that this enforced isolation has robbed many of their sense of humor, which does not reside in the medulla abendulla. (That is a Barney Fife joke, for those who don't remember Mayberry).

I see precious few people on this site with any constructive suggestions about the path forward. Indeed, my essay A way forward from the pandemic was greeted by some, not naming names with ad hominem attacks about my character and the dedication to which I applied my entire working life to perform. Please, any of you self-righteous individuals who posses the proven courage under fire to speak out against me. But I don't care what you think if you have not comparable experience. Will any of the critics of my professional life stand up and present your bona fides by which to judge.

Argue with facts, not slurs. Can't take a joke many of you. That's your problem, not mine.

But first a bit of bullshit: when new more accurate information emerges like when USC did research in LA County a few weeks ago and showed the amount of people infected with Covid-19 is 28 to 55 times more than we originally thought yep because most of these people don't have symptoms is suggests the infection is far less dangerous than we originally thought and in contrast to the original guesstimation of a death rate of 4.5% in Covid cases that LA County Health Department says the new research suggests the actual death rate in Covid cases is between point 1 and point 2 percent. That means the actual death rate in Covid-19 cases is 22 and a half to 45 times less deadly than we were originally told" WOW! I'm shocked I tell you, SHOCKED!!!!! We have been lied to!! /s I could find no sources that say the death rate of Covid-19 is 4.5 - not even in NYC. The widely accepted death rate has been 0.1% to 0.2% for months. If you read the following, even the UCSF doesn't really know the true extent of the Covid-19 infection at this time mainly because there is no "gold standard" in test kits. A balance between specificity and sensitivity has to be struck which affects the number of false positives/negatives so the figures can be up to 5% in error. Another factor is how you choose the subjects for testing. Testing the Tests: COVID-19 Antibody Assays Scrutinized for Accuracy by UCSF, UC Berkeley Researchers Research April 27, 2020 ... In head-to-head comparisons of a dozen tests, the researchers have already found that many of the tests performed reasonably well, especially two weeks or more after infection, when levels of antibodies in the blood begin to peak. But many of the test kits have false positive rates that may exceed the proportion of people who have been infected in some communities. That means that a large proportion of those testing positive on an antibody test may not actually have had COVID-19. ... “One of the cornerstones of lab medicine is that a new test is compared to a definitive reference or gold standard,” Marson said. “We do not have a gold standard yet for COVID-19 serology testing, so we are amassing data on a standardized set of blood samples and really looking at how each of these tests performs in relationship to all the others.” ... Each test was assessed for sensitivity – how likely it is to detect antibodies in the blood of coronavirus-positive patients – and for specificity – how good they are at distinguishing people who are infected from those who are not. A high specificity means a low false positive rate. Of the 10 point-of-care tests, “there are multiple tests that have specificities greater than 95 percent. So there is some reason for guarded optimism,” Marson said. “Although it is important to point out that if these infections are rare in a population, a false positive rate of 5 percent could cloud the picture of the information coming in.” “Several of our tests had specificities over 98 percent, which is critical for reopening society,” Hsu added. ... I understand alligators have a fantastic immune system. Maybe we can grind them up and make an elixir to get out of this lock-down quicker? I've heard that it is even better than snake oil.

Submitted by CB on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:11am

The problem in the States

@Alligator Ed
is the pandemic has been politicized out of recognition. The second problem is Trump has been trying to lead when he is absolutely clueless about science. He doesn't even realize how stupid he looks when he spouts his nonsense. He's a glorified carnival barker. But he's great with the ~~crowds~~ suckers.

The third problem is the 'health' system in the US is less concerned about health than it is about making a profit. The fourth problem is the universities are also less concerned with educating than making a profit. Everything that once made the US great has been taken over and is now controlled by the corporate bean counters. The entire situation is a mess. No coordination - leaderless and directionless.

Frankly, I really don't think there is a quick or clean way out of this mess at this time. The US should have started developing tests the same time as China and South Korea did - late January so they would have had an idea of what the hell was going on. The country who once had the greatest manufacturing base in the world now can't even make a fucking face mask. The only thing that can be done now is gradually lift quarantines (which were very leaky by Chinese standards) and let Malthus select who lives and who dies in the herd.

COVID-19 Forecasts
Updated May 6, 2020

National-level forecasts now include fourteen individual forecasts, and all indicate an increase in deaths in the coming weeks. Predicted rates of increase differ among the forecasts, depending on assumptions about the strength and coverage of social distancing behaviors.

State-level ensemble forecasts (only shown for states and territories with at least two forecasts) indicate that some states may have limited additional deaths in the coming weeks, while substantial increases may occur in others.

By the way, I was just tweaking your tail. There's fuck all we proles can do about it except bitch.

#4 #4 Yum. My medulla abendulla is workin' just fine, thanks. But I am glad that we are discussing accuracy in testing and the horribly flawed Stanford paper that made the assertion about the proportion infected to uninfected people in Santa Clara County. They extrapolated from a non-random sample, not a random sample. Lots of selection flaws but other than that it is a study to be published in the Journal of Irreproducible Results. So, with one CB espousing the lack of a gold standard test, which may be correct, how then do we come to a consensus amongst the troglodytes, afraid of germs, germs, germs, concerning when it is safe to exit their fear caves? If the tests are unreliable as the black cat asserts, how then do we determine the following: disease prevalence (how many current cases) disease incidence (number of new cases) state of post-infection immunity case fatality rate actually determining true cause of death Without a semblance of this information what would be your guidelines, black feline, upon which to base emergence from your cave? Can't trust the numbers yet, you say. Gonna stay in your cave until when? Like the last WW2 Japanese soldier in the Philippines, surrendering 26 years after the war ended. Please inform me whether herd immunity will develop when the herd (baaah, baaah) members are no longer disallowed ability to commingle. What is the magic number of recovered sheeple, percentage wise, in order to achieve herd immunity? Do we wait for Obergruppenführer von Gates to develop his certain to be pricy shiny new vaccine, already pre-loaded with the finest microcircuitry DARPA can create? Or, shall we wait for the eminent Dr. Tedros, who assured all listening in mid-January that we had nothing to fear from a naturally-occurring bat virus which couldn't possibly be transmitted amongst humans. Both you, CB, and myself have nothing to worry about, since alligators and cats are immune to SARS2? Oh, sorry, CB, sadly felines are susceptible to this plague too. I am all for facts. I try to digest a small amount of facts daily to keep my walnut-sized cerebrum clicking. But so far, all I am seeing is a bunch of authority-driven drivel. Please explain to our readers what scientific studies have validated the efficacy of "social distancing" in not merely "flattening the curve" (perhaps like a sports bra) but to prevent the dreaded "second wave". The dreaded second wave Tsunami will crush us if we as a society haven't developed herd (baaah) immunity. We must wait for the vaccine. Yes. Let us take the accuracy or efficacy of influenza vaccines which have about 40 - 50% ability to prevent infection. So, should we seek multi-valent vaccines which cover more possible pathogens. But vaccines, especially polyvalent vaccines are notorious for the less than desirable unanticipated (?) consequences? You already know the answer to that. The more antigenicity in a vaccine, the greater the chance of autoimmune reactions such as anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hepatitis (non-alcoholic), ARDS, peripheral neuropathy, parainfectious encephalopathy, and so on. When I posted this essay with the humorous video, some of which is quite factually incorrect, I would hope to have reaped some helpful, constructive comments. Seems that this enforced isolation has robbed many of their sense of humor, which does not reside in the medulla abendulla. (That is a Barney Fife joke, for those who don't remember Mayberry). I see precious few people on this site with any constructive suggestions about the path forward. Indeed, my essay A way forward from the pandemic was greeted by some, not naming names with ad hominem attacks about my character and the dedication to which I applied my entire working life to perform. Please, any of you self-righteous individuals who posses the proven courage under fire to speak out against me. But I don't care what you think if you have not comparable experience. Will any of the critics of my professional life stand up and present your bona fides by which to judge. Argue with facts, not slurs. Can't take a joke many of you. That's your problem, not mine.

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 11:24am

Tail tweaking is certainly appropriate, CB

@CB

Frankly, I really don't think there is a quick or clean way out of this mess at this time. The US should have started developing tests the same time as China and South Korea did - late January so they would have had an idea of what the hell was going on. The country who once had the greatest manufacturing base in the world now can't even make a fucking face mask. The only thing that can be done now is gradually lift quarantines (which were very leaky by Chinese standards) and let Malthus select who lives and who dies in the herd.

On this I completely agree with you. Now is not the time for blame. That evaluation comes later when more facts are known. Now is the time for the approach that your comment suggests and which I have long suggested.

Thank you for your input. P.S., watch your tail, it might get tweaked

Submitted by vtcc73 on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 1:43pm

Just remember the very old military saying

@CB "When you pull the tail of the tiger, you better have a plan to deal with the teeth." I suppose that might also apply to 'gators, even really old ones.

—

"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now..."

Submitted by CB on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 2:48pm

That's why I keep my eyes on the toothy end

@vtcc73
I don't intend to become floss...

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je_9QhJFSR0]

Submitted by Blue Republic on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 11:17am

Bite 'em in the ass

@Alligator Ed

and don't let go, Ed.

Hey, if people want to hide in the closet until Gavin Newsom or Bill Gates tell them it's OK to come in for their vaccine and microchip, then *fine*.

Try imposing that on the rest of us who are prepared to get out and get on with life (and death) though, and we are going to have a problem.

BTW - it was a beautiful day here in my corner of Japan - many people (most with masks) out and around - we never had anything approaching the severe lockdowns in many US states and Europe.
From today, a lot of restaurants that were closed, or takeout only have re-opened. Air is cleaner than usual, people actually look happier, healthier and more relaxed

Live in a city of 600,000 or so, prefecture of 3.6 million - on the main transportation routes between Tokyo/Nagoya/Osaka - the largest population centers - less than an hour by fast train to Yokohama (Diamond Princess). Little testing.

How are we doing w/SARS-2? My town? Seven confirmed cases, zero deaths. Prefecture (same population as Connecticut)? Under a hundred confirmed cases. ONE confirmed death. No new cases in the last two weeks.

To be clear, they are not just blanket re-opening everything. Yes, there is risk. But it's not at all clear that Japan doing relatively little is more risky than draconian shutdowns.

Dr. Ed is not the only doctor questioning "expert direction":

COVID doctors challenge CDC's rules on cause of death, concerned about inflated numbers

Dr. Buttar - not taking any crap, either:

#4 #4 Yum. My medulla abendulla is workin' just fine, thanks. But I am glad that we are discussing accuracy in testing and the horribly flawed Stanford paper that made the assertion about the proportion infected to uninfected people in Santa Clara County. They extrapolated from a non-random sample, not a random sample. Lots of selection flaws but other than that it is a study to be published in the Journal of Irreproducible Results. So, with one CB espousing the lack of a gold standard test, which may be correct, how then do we come to a consensus amongst the troglodytes, afraid of germs, germs, germs, concerning when it is safe to exit their fear caves? If the tests are unreliable as the black cat asserts, how then do we determine the following: disease prevalence (how many current cases) disease incidence (number of new cases) state of post-infection immunity case fatality rate actually determining true cause of death Without a semblance of this information what would be your guidelines, black feline, upon which to base emergence from your cave? Can't trust the numbers yet, you say. Gonna stay in your cave until when? Like the last WW2 Japanese soldier in the Philippines, surrendering 26 years after the war ended. Please inform me whether herd immunity will develop when the herd (baaah, baaah) members are no longer disallowed ability to commingle. What is the magic number of recovered sheeple, percentage wise, in order to achieve herd immunity? Do we wait for Obergruppenführer von Gates to develop his certain to be pricy shiny new vaccine, already pre-loaded with the finest microcircuitry DARPA can create? Or, shall we wait for the eminent Dr. Tedros, who assured all listening in mid-January that we had nothing to fear from a naturally-occurring bat virus which couldn't possibly be transmitted amongst humans. Both you, CB, and myself have nothing to worry about, since alligators and cats are immune to SARS2? Oh, sorry, CB, sadly felines are susceptible to this plague too. I am all for facts. I try to digest a small amount of facts daily to keep my walnut-sized cerebrum clicking. But so far, all I am seeing is a bunch of authority-driven drivel. Please explain to our readers what scientific studies have validated the efficacy of "social distancing" in not merely "flattening the curve" (perhaps like a sports bra) but to prevent the dreaded "second wave". The dreaded second wave Tsunami will crush us if we as a society haven't developed herd (baaah) immunity. We must wait for the vaccine. Yes. Let us take the accuracy or efficacy of influenza vaccines which have about 40 - 50% ability to prevent infection. So, should we seek multi-valent vaccines which cover more possible pathogens. But vaccines, especially polyvalent vaccines are notorious for the less than desirable unanticipated (?) consequences? You already know the answer to that. The more antigenicity in a vaccine, the greater the chance of autoimmune reactions such as anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hepatitis (non-alcoholic), ARDS, peripheral neuropathy, parainfectious encephalopathy, and so on. When I posted this essay with the humorous video, some of which is quite factually incorrect, I would hope to have reaped some helpful, constructive comments. Seems that this enforced isolation has robbed many of their sense of humor, which does not reside in the medulla abendulla. (That is a Barney Fife joke, for those who don't remember Mayberry). I see precious few people on this site with any constructive suggestions about the path forward. Indeed, my essay A way forward from the pandemic was greeted by some, not naming names with ad hominem attacks about my character and the dedication to which I applied my entire working life to perform. Please, any of you self-righteous individuals who posses the proven courage under fire to speak out against me. But I don't care what you think if you have not comparable experience. Will any of the critics of my professional life stand up and present your bona fides by which to judge. Argue with facts, not slurs. Can't take a joke many of you. That's your problem, not mine.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 5:30am

Oh lord, please let me know when the covid pandemic is over,

as none of your creation's human smarty pants will be able to prove that it is over. The science doesn't give us answers. Why even bother?

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 6:21am

Not leaving the fear cave

until the sports bar flattens the curves
and can be worn as a face mask

one sure way to realize social distancing is to
not wear a mask
freaking people will avoid you like the plague
I like my space

—

Zionism is a social disease

Submitted by ovals49 on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 9:26am

When the people selling food

@QMS
are not wearing masks, the risk has to be weighed against your hunger. Three out of four cashiers at our local BJ’s big box store were wearing their masks around their necks, because the pandemic “is just political”

Shop elsewhere.

—

“The story around the world gives a silent testimony:
— The Beresovka mammoth, frozen in mud, with buttercups in his mouth…..”

The Adam and Eve Story, Chan Thomas 1963

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 2:49pm

You got that right, bro!

@QMS You know the old signs that read "no shoes, no service". Now we got "no mask, get the hell outta here!"

Submitted by entrepreneur on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 12:15pm

I am so embarrassed and ashamed that I actually believed

my lying eyes and 60 years of sound reasoning, when I could have just watched the totally honest and altruistic TV networks all day, then memorized everything they say and repeat it to everyone I know as if it were fact.

Submitted by CS in AZ on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 2:32pm

I was raised to believe that science produces knowledge

Of course I also learned that science uses hypotheses that are sometimes wrong, tests them, and continually changes the hypotheses based on new data, leading to better and better knowledge over time, while also changing the ‘facts’ frequently and being spectacularly wrong at times.

Medical science in particular has a gruesome history of fails. It’s entirely reasonable to draw the conclusion that doctors are inherently hazardous to our health and well-being. Bleeding, leeches, and arsenic, anyone? How about a lobotomy? Ya, no. Doctors are notoriously wrong and often quite dangerous.

But that is a heretic view. I was taught that not believing in science, and instead simply trusting your gut and your own lying eyes, was backward and foolish. You’d end up believing things that are wrong, like the earth is flat (duh, look out the window!), that evolution is hooey, because humans are clearly not primates (duh, do you feel like a monkey?) and illness is caused by witches and curses (do your eyes see any other cause?).

And the biggie: climate change. WTF? I cannot see any change in the climate. Melting glaciers? I haven’t personally seen even one. Just a bunch of photos, which look fake to my careful eye.

Scientific data? Phoey! Scientists said in the 70’s that we were headed for an ice age. I looked out my window. My yard is healthy and happy. Flowers blooming, trees turning green, birds and lizards everywhere, and *plenty* of bees! Effing bees everywhere! So cry me a river about the so-called bee shortage. I can see with my own eyes, there are more than enough damn bees. And the weather seems fine. I sure as hell am not going to cower in any fuel-efficient slow-ass vehicle just to supposedly save the planet.

I’m not going to save water or energy either. My faucet runs just fine and the lights come on when I flip the switch. I can see with my own eyes, all those environmental alarmists and “scientists” are lying. They just want to control my freedom to burn copious amounts of oil without a care in the world. F*ck them!

Yes... I see the appeal of this mindset now. It is nice, to simply declare that one’s personal freedom to act in a ridiculous and reckless manner is just fine, and denying science due to it’s obvious flaws is really so much easier than trying to actually understand anything from a factual or rational basis.

Besides, who cares if climate change or famine or infectious diseases kill off most of humanity? There is no reason to inconvenience ourselves!! We all gotta die ya know. Wanting to stay alive, or to care about anyone else staying alive, is for cowards who are too afraid to embrace the inherent mortality of all life.

So yeah man... I’m convinced. No more thinking about health or safety or the common good... or any other cowardly things like that. Let’s just party ‘til the lights go out.

Thank you for opening my eyes to these truths AE.

/snark
(this comment is humorous; if you don’t think so, you lack a sense of humor.)

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 2:58pm

Thanks for the snark. And thanks for the shark (see below)

@CS in AZ

Besides, who cares if climate change or famine or infectious diseases kill off most of humanity? There is no reason to inconvenience ourselves!! We all gotta die ya know. Wanting to stay alive, or to care about anyone else staying alive, is for cowards who are too afraid to embrace the inherent mortality of all life.

Death is all too inconvenient, when we're having fun. We are having fun, aren't we?

Let's drink, smoke or otherwise celebrate Plan 2030.

"After me, the deluge" said Louis XIV. See if I give a damn. I live in a swamp but where will you Zoners be, huh?

Of course I also learned that science uses hypotheses that are sometimes wrong, tests them, and continually changes the hypotheses based on new data, leading to better and better knowledge over time, while also changing the ‘facts’ frequently and being spectacularly wrong at times. Medical science in particular has a gruesome history of fails. It’s entirely reasonable to draw the conclusion that doctors are inherently hazardous to our health and well-being. Bleeding, leeches, and arsenic, anyone? How about a lobotomy? Ya, no. Doctors are notoriously wrong and often quite dangerous. But that is a heretic view. I was taught that not believing in science, and instead simply trusting your gut and your own lying eyes, was backward and foolish. You’d end up believing things that are wrong, like the earth is flat (duh, look out the window!), that evolution is hooey, because humans are clearly not primates (duh, do you feel like a monkey?) and illness is caused by witches and curses (do your eyes see any other cause?). And the biggie: climate change. WTF? I cannot see any change in the climate. Melting glaciers? I haven’t personally seen even one. Just a bunch of photos, which look fake to my careful eye. Scientific data? Phoey! Scientists said in the 70’s that we were headed for an ice age. I looked out my window. My yard is healthy and happy. Flowers blooming, trees turning green, birds and lizards everywhere, and *plenty* of bees! Effing bees everywhere! So cry me a river about the so-called bee shortage. I can see with my own eyes, there are more than enough damn bees. And the weather seems fine. I sure as hell am not going to cower in any fuel-efficient slow-ass vehicle just to supposedly save the planet. I’m not going to save water or energy either. My faucet runs just fine and the lights come on when I flip the switch. I can see with my own eyes, all those environmental alarmists and “scientists” are lying. They just want to control my freedom to burn copious amounts of oil without a care in the world. F*ck them! Yes... I see the appeal of this mindset now. It is nice, to simply declare that one’s personal freedom to act in a ridiculous and reckless manner is just fine, and denying science due to it’s obvious flaws is really so much easier than trying to actually understand anything from a factual or rational basis. Besides, who cares if climate change or famine or infectious diseases kill off most of humanity? There is no reason to inconvenience ourselves!! We all gotta die ya know. Wanting to stay alive, or to care about anyone else staying alive, is for cowards who are too afraid to embrace the inherent mortality of all life. So yeah man... I’m convinced. No more thinking about health or safety or the common good... or any other cowardly things like that. Let’s just party ‘til the lights go out. Thank you for opening my eyes to these truths AE. /snark (this comment is humorous; if you don’t think so, you lack a sense of humor.)

Submitted by entrepreneur on Sun, 05/10/2020 - 6:14pm

I check this chart when I'm unsure how afraid I'm supposed to be

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Sun, 05/10/2020 - 7:36pm

Thanks, e. I'll post this in my office once I get back

@entrepreneur Believe it not, this (me) "indispensable" health care worker (because I still practice) has been stuck in his own caution cage. Unlike the fully fit, those with co-morbidities beware. Nobody wants the RONA altho the Giant Rat of Chappaqua will claim that she has the longest recorded case of SARS2 to date when court ordered department deposed by Judicial Watch. Thus because of frail (moral) constitution, she, dowager that she be, per excluded from deposition so long as SARS2 is found anywhere in the world (including the Wuhan Institute of Bat Virology.)

Submitted by entrepreneur on Sun, 05/10/2020 - 8:26pm

Absolutely. Some in my circle have cause to be prudent.

Criticizing the media and others for inflating the numbers and panic mongering is not to say there is no threat. Although my susceptible acquaintances are taking pretty much the same precautions they take every flu season.

@Alligator Ed