Erik88

Can't help but feel like we're being messed with.

I got the J&J vaccine and I hope to see some data on mixing the two. In hindsight, I wish I had gotten one of the other 2 as they seem to be more effective. I wouldn't be opposed to getting a booster soon but the last I read they don't recommend mixing them. Thoughts on this?

@E4 No More First of all, I'm very glad you are ok. I guess this explains the symptoms you were having? I'm glad you are still with us. Also, you are spot on about Phil. I was just thinking about him earlier and the fact that he was hospitalized since July. He had a slow, agonizing death. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

That's horrible. I'm so sorry to hear this.

Well said. I've lost track of how many headlines I've read like this. I know Phil realized he screwed up. I hope others do too. Sechler spent 66 days attached to a breathing machine while in a coma. The 43-year-old had no pre-existing conditions and thought he’d rebound quickly if ever he caught COVID-19. https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/coronavirus/i-did-not-believe-any-of-it-man-warns-from-icu-to-protect-yourself-get-the-vaccine/

Agreed. I didn't realize he quoted you. That's what I get for skimming.

I guess I'll point out again that there were Conservatives relishing the death of both RBG and John McCain. Both "teams" are nasty these days.

It made sense to me. Someone else said they hoped that Trump's words word encourage his followers to get the shot but he was apparently booed for suggesting it.

I spoke to my friend earlier that's a ICU nurse in Vancouver, WA. He tries to stay fairly positive about work but finally confessed today that his ER is in the worst shape it's ever been. The nurses are exhausted. The other night 7 nurses called out. They are desperately short staffed and trying to take care of too many patients per nurse. Despite how bad it is, he said the same thing that they believe the worst is yet to come.

I can't recall the last time I've heard of that much rain failling unless a hurricane was involved. Was this part of some storm or just a freak thing? The pictures look devastating.

What we're currently doing isn't really working either.

More people have been hospitalized in just half this month than any full month since the start of the pandemic. That said, they did say they are experiencing staffing shortages. There are recruiting firms that specialize in travel nursing positions. I'd like to know how much these local hospitals are using those companies and what they are willing to pay. There are always travel nurses willing to go wherever pays the most.

They gave a sobering statistic today. "There have been 1,023 new hospitalizations in Tennessee in the first 15 days of August, more than any other full month of the pandemic. The next worst month for COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state was November, when new hospitalizations surpassed 900." https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee-more-covid-19-hospitalizations-in-august-than-any-other-month-of-pandemic/

I'm having some work done this year by a local tree company. There are some jobs that should be left to professionals. Do you have any other tree work you need done? Might be a great time to get it all done at once while the crew is there.

I was pleasantly surprised to read that James Earl Jones is still alive at 90. He was a great actor.

Natute is weird. I once saw a video of a horse just casually reach down and pick up and eat a baby chicken that was walking around below it. Chewed it up like grass.

This doesn't surprise me. We could talk at length about poor health decisions. My point was that diabetes isn't contagious. Someone else made the point that we could decline service to anyone that's overweight etc. While that may be making things worse, the hospitalizations for covid is primarily happening with people who choose not to get the vaccine. But to your point, many of those same people have other underlying health conditions which is all the more ironic to me why they would fear a vaccine.

Very fair point. People like your daughter should still get care. Again, all this is hypothetical because as Chuck said it will never happen. I just thought it was an interesting idea. You have people like Phil Valentine that went on air and told people he wasn't going to get the shot, and now they are struggling to keep him alive.

None of those conditions are highly contagious or currently filling up the hospitals. Still a drain on resources at times but not at the level we are seeing with Covid patients.

Not sure I follow. Maybe you are focusing on the financial burden of treating said people? I was more so focusing on the resource side. I just got off the phone with my friend that's a nurse in WA and he said the ER he works at is in the worst shape it's ever been. Staff morale is at an all time low and they are just flat out exhausted with treating covid patients.

Surprised I didn't see that on Reddit. That's probably where my friend got the idea.

A friend of mine had an interesting suggestion. Let folks choose whether or not they want the vaccine. Don't force them. But if someone chooses not to get the vaccine then they lose their right to get medical treatment should they need it. Or at minimum, be put at the bottom of the list for a ventilator. Right now there are only 5 ICU beds available in the Knoxville area. I realize this idea would never happen but seemed reasonable to me.

This thread has made me realize how boring my collection is. I guess I'd have to pick my Glock 19 as boring as it is. It's one of the first handguns I purchased and has kept my wife and I safe for over 10 years now. I've carried it in at least 18 states too. Fun fact, I actually purchased this Glock while walking around a gun show with @Garufa and @Oh Shoot. I believe it was at the Expo Center in early 2010.

I just don't understand how so many can say this is happening naturally and that we don't have at least some hand in it. I'm not denying that Earth has experienced climate changes throughout history but we've gone from 3.7B to 7.8B people in just the past 50 years. There is no way that hasn't had a negative impact. I guess we'll find out one way or another.

I don't leave a shell chambered in mine for the exact reason you mention.