20 minutes ago, xzmattzx said:

I'm guessing from your avatar that you envision death around every corner.

Good guess!

37 minutes ago, Joe Shades 73 said:

I wish I thought like you do and I hope I am 100% wrong about this and a year from now you can say to me I told you so.

Assuming you are still around by then 

6 minutes ago, Shepard Wong said:

Assuming you are still around by then 

1 hour ago, mikemack8 said:

Just spent over an hour on the phone with the PA Dept of Health about quarantining due to close contact.  Do yourself a favor - avoid them at all costs if you or someone you know tests positive.  What an absolute shitshow - these people even after a year of doing this still have no clue what the hell they're doing.  While I was on the phone, I received TWO other calls from them asking me to call them back.    If it wasn't for my employer requiring a letter from them in order to return to work, I wouldn't have even bothered.  

Thanks for being part of the problem.

30 minutes ago, Toastrel said:

Thanks for being part of the problem.

Our completely inept governor and his administration is the problem.  Now back to your room - isn't it time for your jello and metamucil shake?

23 minutes ago, mikemack8 said:

Our completely inept governor and his administration is the problem.  Now back to your room - isn't it time for your jello and metamucil shake?

People who "wouldn't even have bothered to contact trace" are the heart of the problem.

 

So sorry answering a phone call about the pandemic makes you squirt in your panties

6 minutes ago, Toastrel said:

People who "wouldn't even have bothered to contact trace" are the heart of the problem.

 

So sorry answering a phone call about the pandemic makes you squirt in your panties

I had to call them - that was part of my point.  My daughter tested positive on TUESDAY and we had heard nothing and most likely wouldn't have.  I needed clarification and a letter on when I could go back to work, so I called them.  A year into this thing and our leaders still can't get it right.  

2 minutes ago, mikemack8 said:

I had to call them - that was part of my point.  My daughter tested positive on TUESDAY and we had heard nothing and most likely wouldn't have.  I needed clarification and a letter on when I could go back to work, so I called them.  A year into this thing and our leaders still can't get it right.  

I wonder if the federal government's plan being whine about crowd size instead of dealing with the pandemic had anything to do with it?

2 hours ago, mikemack8 said:

Just spent over an hour on the phone with the PA Dept of Health about quarantining due to close contact.  Do yourself a favor - avoid them at all costs if you or someone you know tests positive.  What an absolute shitshow - these people even after a year of doing this still have no clue what the hell they're doing.  While I was on the phone, I received TWO other calls from them asking me to call them back.    If it wasn't for my employer requiring a letter from them in order to return to work, I wouldn't have even bothered.  

weird. doesn't your employer have a policy concerning covid, exposures, etc.?   

 

2 minutes ago, Toastrel said:

I wonder if the federal government's plan being whine about crowd size instead of dealing with the pandemic had anything to do with it?

Wolf's administration runs the state of PA, not the federal government.  But you already knew that.

4 minutes ago, mr_hunt said:

weird. doesn't your employer have a policy concerning covid, exposures, etc.?   

 

My company has multiple locations in different states, and everyone state has a different policy, so my boss just goes by each state's health department recommendations.  

Just now, mikemack8 said:

My company has multiple locations in different states, and everyone state has a different policy, so my boss just goes by each state's health department recommendations.  

that's turrible. those railroad hobos really need to get their sheet together and come up with a uniform policy. 

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, mikemack8 said:

Wolf's administration runs the state of PA, not the federal government.  But you already knew that.

lmfao, toaster went from "it's your fault, it's your fault, it's your fault" to "it's the federal government's fault" in the blink of an eye.  

Skipped right over the dem-run state. 

41 minutes ago, mikemack8 said:

I had to call them - that was part of my point.  My daughter tested positive on TUESDAY and we had heard nothing and most likely wouldn't have.  I needed clarification and a letter on when I could go back to work, so I called them.  A year into this thing and our leaders still can't get it right.  

Sounds like you need a better job.

20 minutes ago, barho said:

Sounds like you need a better job.

That's a truly incredibly stupid argument.  Congratulations.  

So I've missed a week or two.  Update from Sweden.

2nd wave - This one is over.  We ended up more less at the same levels as the 1st wave.  More detailed analysis shows deaths lower than the 1st wave base on  trying to normalize the reporting criteria but it is close none the less.  Levels are still comparable or close by than many places in Europe many of which share cultural similarities and demographic similarities.  Positive COVID numbers are simply not comparable as we didn't test during the 1st wave.

3rd wave - There is some fear that we will develop a 3rd wave.  We've had some fluctuating numbers on positive test cases.  Much of that is due to the winter sports season which has been going on for one month.  Regions in Sweden take turns have a winter sports break for schools of one week.  Stockholm was last week.  Given that trip to the Alps and also Thailand are all non starters the Swedish resorts have been overflowing.  Restrictions have still been in place, e.g. restaurants can't serve alcohol past 8pm and stores have to maintain visitation limits, etc. but none the less the concentration of people who are mixing in non normal patterns has driven the rate of spread.

 

Social behavior - I'm still traveling in to work 4 days a week.  I go in midday but I often come home in the 5-6 corridor to get my dog's daycare before closing at 6pm.  That puts me in the rush hour subway system.  During those hours I'd say about 65% are wearing masks but far far from everyone (yes, I wear one during those hours).  They cars are only half full but there are people on them.  Of course I don't touch anything.  Overall, discipline is still holding.  We did have one anti-demonstration with a few hundred people and a handful or arrests but all in all it seemed under control.

 

Vaccine - This is the real issue.  Sweden is WAY behind.  I am not sure why.  Could be just basic incompetence.  Could be simply lack of purchasing power.  The bottom line is there are a few places like Isreal and the US which are simply far ahead of other nations.  At this point I'll be happy to be vaccinated by the fall.

Huge relief: Hawaii modified their travel guidelines to allow fully vaccinated people to forego quarantining as long as they are within a 3-month window since their last vaccination, which we will be. I feel special, like we're getting VIP access, haha. I still can't believe we're going, it felt like a pipe dream just a year ago.

1 hour ago, DrPhilly said:

So I've missed a week or two.  Update from Sweden.

2nd wave - This one is over.  We ended up more less at the same levels as the 1st wave.  More detailed analysis shows deaths lower than the 1st wave base on  trying to normalize the reporting criteria but it is close none the less.  Levels are still comparable or close by than many places in Europe many of which share cultural similarities and demographic similarities.  Positive COVID numbers are simply not comparable as we didn't test during the 1st wave.

3rd wave - There is some fear that we will develop a 3rd wave.  We've had some fluctuating numbers on positive test cases.  Much of that is due to the winter sports season which has been going on for one month.  Regions in Sweden take turns have a winter sports break for schools of one week.  Stockholm was last week.  Given that trip to the Alps and also Thailand are all non starters the Swedish resorts have been overflowing.  Restrictions have still been in place, e.g. restaurants can't serve alcohol past 8pm and stores have to maintain visitation limits, etc. but none the less the concentration of people who are mixing in non normal patterns has driven the rate of spread.

 

Social behavior - I'm still traveling in to work 4 days a week.  I go in midday but I often come home in the 5-6 corridor to get my dog's daycare before closing at 6pm.  That puts me in the rush hour subway system.  During those hours I'd say about 65% are wearing masks but far far from everyone (yes, I wear one during those hours).  They cars are only half full but there are people on them.  Of course I don't touch anything.  Overall, discipline is still holding.  We did have one anti-demonstration with a few hundred people and a handful or arrests but all in all it seemed under control.

 

Vaccine - This is the real issue.  Sweden is WAY behind.  I am not sure why.  Could be just basic incompetence.  Could be simply lack of purchasing power.  The bottom line is there are a few places like Isreal and the US which are simple far ahead of other nations.  At this point I'll be happy to be vaccinated by the fall.

Pretty shocked countries like Germany are botching the rollout like they are.  Sounds like all of Europe is going slow except G.B and maybe Denmark.

14 minutes ago, dawkins4prez said:

Pretty shocked countries like Germany are botching the rollout like they are.  Sounds like all of Europe is going slow except G.B and maybe Denmark.

Same. It really seems like something Germany of all places would nail. 

1 hour ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Huge relief: Hawaii modified their travel guidelines to allow fully vaccinated people to forego quarantining as long as they are within a 3-month window since their last vaccination, which we will be. I feel special, like we're getting VIP access, haha. I still can't believe we're going, it felt like a pipe dream just a year ago.

Enjoy dude. Which island? I love Maui. 

2 hours ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Huge relief: Hawaii modified their travel guidelines to allow fully vaccinated people to forego quarantining as long as they are within a 3-month window since their last vaccination, which we will be. I feel special, like we're getting VIP access, haha. I still can't believe we're going, it felt like a pipe dream just a year ago.

Which island?  I’ve been twice now, but only have been to the Big Island.  (I’ve been to the Honolulu airport twice, but I don’t count that as going to Oahu)

2 hours ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Huge relief: Hawaii modified their travel guidelines to allow fully vaccinated people to forego quarantining as long as they are within a 3-month window since their last vaccination, which we will be. I feel special, like we're getting VIP access, haha. I still can't believe we're going, it felt like a pipe dream just a year ago.

Nice enjoy!  Where are you going? Been to Maui and Kauai. Maui was incredible and definitely way more to do, but the coolest thing I've done on the islands was the Kalalau trail hike along the Na Pali coast of Kauai. Incredibly beautiful.

2 hours ago, vikas83 said:

Enjoy dude. Which island? I love Maui. 

  

2 hours ago, Dave Moss said:

Which island?  I’ve been twice now, but only have been to the Big Island.  (I’ve been to the Honolulu airport twice, but I don’t count that as going to Oahu)

 

It's our first time going, and I didn't want to run ourselves ragged trying to see everything (which I have a tendency to do when we're in a faraway place for the first time), so I took it down from originally 3 islands including Maui to just two: Oahu and Kauai. Oahu was a requirement since I consider it an sacred obligation to visit Pearl Harbor, although it also seems to have a good social scene and a pretty vibrant business community, so I figure I can get my nerd fix while we indulge a bit while renting a condo in Honolulu. After that, Kauai seemed to be the most "tropical" part of the archipelago, so I wanted us to get that islander experience. I'm big into nature and hiking, and Kauai seems to have the most natural beauty. I also got the sense that it's got a more laid-back atmosphere, so it'll allow us to get the relaxation we need.

I really do want to get to Maui, but we've only got 12 days, so I figured that it'd be better to just really take in two islands rather than running around so much. I figure we'll have to return for another trip where we hit the eastern islands. My girlfriend always leaves the planning to me, which I don't mind and even kind of prefer, but I'm ambitious and had us constantly on the move the last couple of times we traveled. I used to fly solo a lot and kind of just accepted that I was going to be pretty rugged and wear myself out, but she's more naturally inclined to chilling. She's a trooper, though, and doesn't complain, but I really kicked her ass trekking all over the rockies and spending long days/late nights between Denver and Boulder for the past two summers. With that in mind, I'm consciously approaching this trip with a different mentality, but not only to please her. She deserves a chance to lay back and decompress, but I also think the location demands a different vibe. Retreating to the mountains calls for exploration and physical exertion, but vacationing in paradise should be more carefree, luxurious, allow you to unwind and appreciate the therapeutic benefits of ocean life. Geography should influence the character of vacation, so I try to make our itinerary reflect the social and cultural aspects of our destination.

Here's an idea: let's fight a real pandemic instead of a scamdemic.

Who wants to enter into an EMB weight-loss challenge?

CoVid is real. Just like MERS, its legit and it kills. But age and obesity are the number one and number two co-morbidities.

Don't get a vaccine and assume you're safe from dying early. Go to the F'ing gym and drop 20 pounds you lards. Replace one or two red meat meals a week, eliminate pop and fast food and exercise two or three days a week.

A gym membership will be much more impactful than this "vaccine" (quotes = I don't NOT believe in it, its just by definition its not technically a vaccination). If you're over 50, shoot up. Otherwise, lose some F'ing weight.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/overweight-and-obesity