Bad News Thread

[watfly]

Hahaha! I saw this and thought of two people. Any ideas who?

Authority has always been located in hierarchical structures of expertise, guarded by accreditation and long apprenticeship, whose members develop a “reflexive loathing of the amateur trespasser”.

This

The phrase “follow the science” has a false ring to it. That is because science doesn’t lead anywhere. It can illuminate various courses of action, by quantifying the risks and specifying the tradeoffs. But it can’t make the necessary choices for us. By pretending otherwise, decision-makers can avoid taking responsibility for the choices they make on our behalf.
WE
Increasingly, science is pressed into duty as authority. It is invoked to legitimise the transfer of sovereignty from democratic to technocratic bodies, and as a device for insulating such moves from the realm of political contest.

Over the past year, a fearful public has acquiesced to an extraordinary extension of expert jurisdiction over every domain of life. A pattern of “government by emergency” has become prominent, in which resistance to such incursions are characterised as “anti-science”.

Those words struck me as well. Science isn't an absolute. Science doesn't come with any inherent authority or credibility, despite what zealots and academics would have you believe. We shouldn't follow the science. We should consider the science, as well as other factors.

Science is clearly at a crossroads given the events of the last year. Science has been damaged like never before, due to the so-called experts. I will say it for the umpteenth time, science can tell you what happened, but it can't predict the future. I'm not saying to ignore science, but take it with a huge grain of salt, and always question it. Be particularly skeptical when the science message is put into the hands of one individual like Fauci. He became the prophet of a new religion. Don't dare to question the prophet.

 

[Grace T.]

Looks like myocarditis is beginning to be acknowledged to be a rare but potential side effect of the mRNA vaccines particularly fir young and adolescent males. Dr John Campbell did a video summarizing the concern. It may end up the mRNA vaccines get recommended for younger women and the adenovirus vaccines for younger men.

 

[dad4]

Looks like India has finally turned the corner but the anecdotal evidence is that the Indian variant is more severe than others having struck down groups previously not affected as much including pregnant women and people in their 40s and 50s

taiwan has lost its shield. Previously unaffected due to failure to control its border its now at 400 cases and may be looking at a South Korea scenario of 400 cases per day

whatever is going on in Asia seems to have broken through whatever prior immunity they had with Japan Thailand and Vietnam affected (Singapore still spared)

Europe with the exception of the nordics that have been unaffected so far (Norway Finland) and a handful of others on the down slope

all South America a mess including sadly Chile which did so well with vaccines but relied on the China vaccines but it seems to have at least helped with deaths

South Africa is beginning to rise again which puts an end to the herd immunity theory. South Africa variant may be a toothless tiger in comparison to the India one

why do you say Asia had some kind of immunity? Not much evidence for it. You seem to like the theory mostly because it supports your “it’s all impossible” narrative.

It is a simpler explanation to say that Asia has behavior. A set of behavior that reduces R by 75% is enough to handle a disease with R0=3, but not enough to handle a disease with R0=5. So wild type covid can’t grow there because it ends up with Rt below 1. The India variant is more highly transmissible, which results in Rt being above 1.

In bad news for us, a variant which can grow in a 75% behavior reduction can also grow in a 75% immune population.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

I can speak for myself, thanks.

If I say that I believe the pandemic has dragged on forever because some selfish people insist on not having rules, it means that I believe the pandemic has dragged on forever because some selfish people insist on not having rules.

No translation necessary.

"some selfish people" = most of the world. Be careful. This sounds like a mile marker on the road to misanthropy that one of your consistent supporters has already followed to its natural end.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

Those words struck me as well. Science isn't an absolute. Science doesn't come with any inherent authority or credibility, despite what zealots and academics would have you believe. We shouldn't follow the science. We should consider the science, as well as other factors.

Science is clearly at a crossroads given the events of the last year. Science has been damaged like never before, due to the so-called experts. I will say it for the umpteenth time, science can tell you what happened, but it can't predict the future. I'm not saying to ignore science, but take it with a huge grain of salt, and always question it. Be particularly skeptical when the science message is put into the hands of one individual like Fauci. He became the prophet of a new religion. Don't dare to question the prophet.

It almost always comes down to power and ego. How can "this" <whatever is in front of us> be used to increase the power and prestige of my associated group with the obvious side-effect of reducing the power and isolating another group. The divide drives extremism in both "sides". It's a human condition. The only real "solution" is engagement with a commitment to understanding and willingness to allow for other perspectives - even those we find distasteful or worse.

 

[crush]

It almost always comes down to power and ego. How can "this" <whatever is in front of us> be used to increase the power and prestige of my associated group with the obvious side-effect of reducing the power and isolating another group. The divide drives extremism in both "sides". It's a human condition. The only real "solution" is engagement with a commitment to understanding and willingness to allow for other perspectives - even those we find distasteful or worse.

Nothing can stop what is here bro. It's about the kids, not the pandemic or this or that. Kids rule!!!

EYE DROP MEDIA - THE STORM

eyedropmedia.com

 

[crush]

 

[Bruddah IZ]

Yeah. We want you to have the mask on so you don't get frostbite in the gulag.

You sure you don't want to cut to the chase and start calling people Nazi when they disagree with you? Leninism is kind of obscure.

PCR is obscure at best. Please continue.

 

[Bruddah IZ]

We have a 65% vax rate and minimal progress. With a 65% vax rate and a 30% infection rate, daily new infections ought to be near zero. Instead, cases are slowly inching down. Something is going wrong.

That something is impatient fools who relax their behavior so quickly they undo 2/3 of the benefit we get from the vaccine. Then the anti-vax fools copy them and the virus spreads.

Look at you. You go to a HS basketball game which looks like a dress rehearsal for the Placer super spreader event from last summer. Did you learn nothing?

Your behavior is based on the use of the PCR test that does not detect the presence of a virus. The PCR only picks up genetic sequences of corona virus. Doesn't tell us when those genetic sequences showed up in your nasal passage. Not that your credibility can be restored at his point.

 

[crush]

PCR is obscure at best. Please continue.

The guy who invented the test said his test is not for what's it's being used for today. BTW, he died 2019, right before the Rona. This is insane times we live in. One of my best pals and smartest cats I know, won;t talk to me because he knows he made a huge mistake.

 

[Bruddah IZ]

You know, I believe virtue signaling is often used for people being "disingenuous". I'm not going to put that on @dad4. I think he honestly believes his viewpoint. I respect that.

Virtue signaling folks usually live in glass houses.

 

[Bruddah IZ]

The guy who invented the test said his test is not for what's it's being used for today. BTW, he died 2019, right before the Rona. This is insane times we live in. One of my best pals and smartest cats I know, won;t talk to me because he knows he made a huge mistake.

Wonder what the narrative would have been if Mullis was still alive. Is your friend a Lobster?

 

[crush]

Wonder what the narrative would have been if Mullis was still alive. Is your friend a Lobster?

No bro. This guy is brainwashed unlike anyone I know. I say this with complete sadness too. I swear he's not the same guy I've known for 33 years. He's my mentor so to speak. Super cool bro too. He was born Jewish. His dad lied to him about being power of attorney of his estate, which was valued at around $2,220,000.00. His dad married his evil step mom when he was just 13. His mom left his dad because he was mean and abusive and she met someone who loved her. She moved to Oregon and opened up a Bed & Breakfast. His old man taught him that money is only a tool. Well, the old man died and guess what Bruddah?

 

[Grace T.]

why do you say Asia had some kind of immunity? Not much evidence for it. You seem to like the theory mostly because it supports your “it’s all impossible” narrative.

It is a simpler explanation to say that Asia has behavior. A set of behavior that reduces R by 75% is enough to handle a disease with R0=3, but not enough to handle a disease with R0=5. So wild type covid can’t grow there because it ends up with Rt below 1. The India variant is more highly transmissible, which results in Rt being above 1.

In bad news for us, a variant which can grow in a 75% behavior reduction can also grow in a 75% immune population.

For the behavior theory to hold up it would need to apply across Asia but somehow exclude the Phillipines and Indonesia. What that behavior is would be very head scratching because it’s not masks....India having very different usage than Japan. The other thing we know from seroprevalence studies in India is 30-50% depending on region were infected in the first wave but did not fall as seriously ill as that rate would suggest in the west. Then there’s also Africa which until now had also been spared (Southern Africa excluded)

 

[Desert Hound]

Those words struck me as well. Science isn't an absolute. Science doesn't come with any inherent authority or credibility, despite what zealots and academics would have you believe. We shouldn't follow the science. We should consider the science, as well as other factors.

Science is clearly at a crossroads given the events of the last year. Science has been damaged like never before, due to the so-called experts. I will say it for the umpteenth time, science can tell you what happened, but it can't predict the future. I'm not saying to ignore science, but take it with a huge grain of salt, and always question it. Be particularly skeptical when the science message is put into the hands of one individual like Fauci. He became the prophet of a new religion. Don't dare to question the prophet.

One has to be skeptical of science due to the fact that so much of it is funded by government. Government usually has a particular point of view and research funding is based on that point of view.

Then take the fact that science is always evolving as researches find/discover/learn new things.

 

[Desert Hound]

I kind of like the politeness mask expectation. So I wear mine, because it costs me nothing and might help.

At this stage for you, it means nothing.

You are vaccinated. So it is not going to help.

Since most people have been vaccinated, when I see someone wearing one now I just shake my head and think...you are vaccinated, take off the silly mask and live your life.

 

[dad4]

For the behavior theory to hold up it would need to apply across Asia but somehow exclude the Phillipines and Indonesia. What that behavior is would be very head scratching because it’s not masks....India having very different usage than Japan. The other thing we know from seroprevalence studies in India is 30-50% depending on region were infected in the first wave but did not fall as seriously ill as that rate would suggest in the west. Then there’s also Africa which until now had also been spared (Southern Africa excluded)

Perhaps the Philippines, India, and Indonesia have a behavioral culture and economic status that is subtly different from the culture and economy in China, Korea, and Japan.

I know those six countries are almost indistinguishable, but maybe, just maybe, there is some teeny little distinction that you’ve overlooked.

Like, say, number of people per household and median income per capita. Something obscure you might not notice when visiting.

 

[crush]

 

[dad4]

"some selfish people" = most of the world. Be careful. This sounds like a mile marker on the road to misanthropy that one of your consistent supporters has already followed to its natural end.

It’s quite difficult to feel affection for someone who values their morning latte more than their neighbor.

Misanthropy is a natural consequence of that realization. Not a happy consequence, admittedly.

 

[dad4]

At this stage for you, it means nothing.

You are vaccinated. So it is not going to help.

Since most people have been vaccinated, when I see someone wearing one now I just shake my head and think...you are vaccinated, take off the silly mask and live your life.

You and I do not agree about the definition of zero. I think of 0.05 and 0.00 as different numbers. You do not.

 

[Grace T.]

Perhaps the Philippines, India, and Indonesia have a behavioral culture and economic status that is subtly different from the culture and economy in China, Korea, and Japan.

I know those six countries are almost indistinguishable, but maybe, just maybe, there is some teeny little distinction that you’ve overlooked.

Like, say, number of people per household and median income per capita. Something obscure you might not notice when visiting.

It’s not economics. Vietnam Laos and Cambodia are not on par with Japan or even China. They are nearer to parity with the Philippines. So why did they behave like Japan instead of the phillipines? It’s not masks...the usage there is also very different and in the Philippines was very rigorous. Government policy? Cambodia welcomed in cruise ships to debark and its leadership was as much deniers at first as Brazil. I suppose it could be cultural but I am suspicious of cultural arguments which strip down to the lowest common to try and rationalize. I find the prior coronavirus exposure theory more compelling: it explains why all of Asia and Africa and much of the Mid East (excepting notably isolated Israel) was spared in the first wave, why the second wave could take off in India despite the high seroprevalence and why there have been reports of reinfection in people who did not have serious cases the first time around. Another alternative is genetics but again it would have to hold true from Malaysia to Japan.