Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 5:21:38 AM

1

Serbia? Reminds me of this bit from a book I had when I was young:

"Waitress, can I have a Cuba sugar for my java?"

"Sweden it yourself. I'm only here to Serbia"

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 5:26:51 AM

2

Don’t mess with Texas:

https://fee.org/articles/texas-hits-record-low-covid-cases-3-weeks-after-lifting-all-pandemic-restrictions/

lucius septimius 3/30/2021 5:28:20 AM

3

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 5:37:51 AM

4

In #3 lucius septimius said: In a courageous new episode of Sesame Street, the puppets teach kids about social justice by introducing a new character, Todd-- a white male puppet who is blamed for everything wrong in the world.

Do they show he's a puppet of da Jooooos?/

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 5:58:13 AM

5

Reply to lucius septimius in 3:

Don’t give them any ideas.

vxbush 3/30/2021 6:21:32 AM

6

In #2 Occasional Reader said: Don’t mess with Texas: https://fee.org/articles/texas-hits-record-low-covid-cases-3-weeks-after-lifting-all-pandemic-restrictions/

Facts are damnably hard to ignore, despite people's great attempts to do just that. 

Morning, campers. 

vxbush 3/30/2021 6:26:02 AM

7

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 6:31:29 AM

8

In #6 vxbush said: Facts are damnably hard to ignore, despite people's great attempts to do just that. 

Facts are a tool of white supremacism!

(I'm sure there are a lot of whackademics saying that)

buzzsawmonkey 3/30/2021 6:32:06 AM

9

Reply to vxbush in 7:

The Gestapo and the KGB would have been absolutely delighted to have such a tool at their disposal.  

One thinks back to those films like  "The Great Escape" in which the prisoners planning an escape would forge papers by carving the necessary rubber stamps from shoe heels, and the like.  How on earth would one do something equivalent today, when swipe cards and chip cards and cell phones are increasingly used to open doors and prove identification?

buzzsawmonkey 3/30/2021 6:32:59 AM

10

Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 8:

Aren't they already doing that by saying that correct answers in math class are "white supremacist constructs?"

buzzsawmonkey 3/30/2021 6:35:06 AM

11

vxbush 3/30/2021 6:45:58 AM

12

In #9 buzzsawmonkey said: One thinks back to those films like  "The Great Escape" in which the prisoners planning an escape would forge papers by carving the necessary rubber stamps from shoe heels, and the like.  How on earth would one do something equivalent today, when swipe cards and chip cards and cell phones are increasingly used to open doors and prove identification?

The love affair with Bitcoin and the supposedly-unbreakable encryption of it means it will soon be applied to identity so no one can fake electronic ID. (Until someone does, of course, or at least well enough to fool most systems.)

vxbush 3/30/2021 6:59:34 AM

13

In #11 buzzsawmonkey said: BTW, it occurred to me while reading the Haggadah this year that the "1619 Project" and the current calls for "reparations" which it has jumpstarted are very much based on the Biblical allusions to 400 years of slavery in Egypt and the departing Israelites "despoiling the Egyptians and departing with great wealth."

I can see that, but given these folks ignorance of most things conservative, I would be honestly surprised if that was their justification for reparations. 

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 7:11:18 AM

14

In #10 buzzsawmonkey said: Aren't they already doing that by saying that correct answers in math class are "white supremacist constructs?"

That was my point.

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 8:10:22 AM

15

Reply to vxbush in 7:

so if they really want to implement this “Covid passport“ idea, I do have some questions. For one thing, but I was given after getting my first vaccine was this simple paper card, with nothing more than the kind of vaccine I received, where Ingot it.  and the date written on it, all filled in by hand; no stamp, no signature, and I filled in my own personal identification information. This thing would be incredibly easy to counterfeit. So what’s the plan here?

JCM 3/30/2021 8:16:03 AM

16

Reply to Occasional Reader in 15:

Plan....

Get people used to it to the idea.

They are working on rolling out a phone covid passport at the Federal level.

You will need your papers to go to work, shopping, even be out and about.

lucius septimius 3/30/2021 8:18:31 AM

17

Reply to Occasional Reader in 15:

I was reading yesterday that the "plan" is create an entirely new bureaucracy specifically to manage the "passports."  Which is to be expected -- government needs to expand, providing low-ranking officials with the opportunity to create their own satrapies and thus rise to the level of kings.  Or as an old Swedish mechanic I knew put it, become "king turd on shit island."

JCM 3/30/2021 8:26:11 AM

18

Reply to lucius septimius in 17:

The Han Dynasty and the Court Eunuchs.

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 8:31:55 AM

19

In #15 Occasional Reader said: but what I was given after getting my first vaccine

Voice to text blues

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 8:34:36 AM

20

In #16 JCM said: Plan.... Get people used to it to the idea. They are working on rolling out a phone covid passport at the Federal level. You will need your papers to go to work, shopping, even be out and about.

Sure, I get that, but even taking their plan/goals at face value, how am I supposed to prove I've been vaccinated, given that the only documentation I have is an easily-falsifiable piece of paper?

Oh, and I assume that even after we are all forced to carry around our Covid passports, which will probably also include our Social Credit Scores... it'll be still be "racist" to require ID in order to vote.  

lucius septimius 3/30/2021 8:43:29 AM

21

In #18 JCM said: The Han Dynasty and the Court Eunuchs.

Many ancient bureaucracies ran on a Eunuchs' system.

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 8:47:44 AM

22

In #20 Occasional Reader said: Oh, and I assume that even after we are all forced to carry around our Covid passports, which will probably also include our Social Credit Scores... it'll be still be "racist" to require ID in order to vote.  

You will find your Covid passport stuck in the bureaucracy if they find out you are Republican or conservative. Or an Israel supporter.

THEN they'll require ID to vote because only Democrats will have IDs

JCM 3/30/2021 8:55:22 AM

23

In #20 Occasional Reader said: Sure, I get that, but even taking their plan/goals at face value, how am I supposed to prove I've been vaccinated, given that the only documentation I have is an easily-falsifiable piece of paper?

The validity is not relevant, like the ballots. They don't care, yet, if it is valid or not. That comes later. The point is carry your totem, you membership card so you can do the basic things, shopping, etc... You totem indicates your willingness to obey the woke tribe religious practices.

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 8:59:03 AM

24

Reply to JCM in 23:

And if they really do try to take things that far, I think/hope some lampposts might be getting a bit of a structural stress-test.  

lucius septimius 3/30/2021 9:35:47 AM

25

In #22 Kosh's Shadow said: You will find your Covid passport stuck in the bureaucracy if they find out you are Republican or conservative. Or an Israel supporter. THEN they'll require ID to vote because only Democrats will have IDs

More likely, they will bemoan the fact that blacks "can't" get their passports, which will then justify all kinds of "anti-racist" policies.

vxbush 3/30/2021 9:38:21 AM

26

In #24 Occasional Reader said: And if they really do try to take things that far, I think/hope some lampposts might be getting a bit of a structural stress-test.  

The fact that we haven't seen anyone swinging from a lamppost yet makes me think not even COVID papers will cause such a reaction. 

JCM 3/30/2021 9:44:49 AM

27

Reply to lucius septimius in 25:

For the 2024 election (D)s will approve voter ID.

Blacks, minorities, trans, etc... will get their ID in October.

Whites will get their ID in December.

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 9:59:47 AM

28

I note my COVID vaccine was at a site in a run-down mill town; their website is in English and Spanish, and the town does look run down. Many of the stores have signs in Spanish.

But I don't think I saw any poor Hispanics there, just whites like me. Of course, it was in the middle of the day, and I could take the time out of work and make it up later, but I'd expect to have seen older people, and others who could take the time,

Also, the location is NOT in the state's vaxfinder website. 

doppelganglander 3/30/2021 11:24:15 AM

29

Reply to lucius septimius in 25:

If they actually cared about blacks and Hispanics getting vaccinated, they'd be running information campaigns targeted to them. Blacks in particular have historical reasons to be suspicious, and I can't blame them. They need to be educated about why it's safe and effective. Community outreach through churches, for example. They won't. Democrats, as usual, need blacks as a victim group to cover for rampant election fraud. 

JCM 3/30/2021 11:42:03 AM

30

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 11:43:26 AM

31

Reply to doppelganglander in 29:

And, as a Herald op-ed said, they'd be using neighborhood health centers that they are already familiar with for vaccinations, not hard to reach mass sites,

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 11:46:31 AM

32

In #30 JCM said: Got a spare $17k ... a month?

For a view of homeless encampments and having to navigate over homeless junkies? What a bargain!

JCM 3/30/2021 11:48:52 AM

33

Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 31:

When we took my FIL Amazon used one of the HQ buildings in downtown Seattle, the space and logistics was all provided by Amazon, a number of healthcare providers used the event to do vaccinations. From traffic control into the parking garage to the assistance for people all by Amazon. All very efficient. I'm sure Amazon will write the expense off on taxes.

My wife was impressed with the efficiency. Other than the wait for 15 minutes to see if FIL had a reaction, there was no waiting.

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 11:52:57 AM

34

In #30 JCM said: Rent the iconic Smith Tower penthouse

In Seattle.  So it's got a panoramic view of the looting, arson, and drug addicts shooting up in the street... pass. 

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 11:54:18 AM

35

In #33 JCM said: Other than the wait for 15 minutes to see if FIL had a reaction, there was no waiting.

In fairness, that was my experience as well ag Georgetown University Hospital.   

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 11:55:57 AM

36

In #35 Occasional Reader said: ag

Me speak fluent caveman

JCM 3/30/2021 11:57:21 AM

37

Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 32:

One block from the Smith Tower.

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 12:06:44 PM

38

Reply to JCM in 37:

I cannot fathom why anyone would currently seek to spend big bucks to live in downtown Seattle, Portland, or for that matter, DC at this moment in history.

I can understand why they did it ten years ago; even two years ago.  But not now. 

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 12:06:56 PM

39

Reply to Occasional Reader in 35:

There was minimal waiting for me. I got there early, checkin was fast (one person ahead of me but four stations), so I was at my seat for the shot before my appointment time. Got it 7 minutes early, in fact, because I could leave 8 minutes after the appointment time.

And all the personnel giving the shots were US Army.

But Massachusetts is controlling what sites get the vaccine and how many. For a short time, colleges could get it, then they stopped distribution to them except for the 2nd shots.

Here, it is keep checking the websites unless someone lets you know there are vaccination slots available, which is what happened for my wife and me. 

JCM 3/30/2021 12:20:59 PM

40

Reply to JCM in 37:

Oh, this homeless camp is in the City Hall Park next to the Courthouse. Jurors, Attorneys, Security officers and Judges have all been attacked in front of the Courthouse.

doppelganglander 3/30/2021 12:54:29 PM

41

Reply to JCM in 33:

Sounds very efficient. I had a similar experience at a site run by a hospital in an empty storefront at a nearby shopping center. I think more, smaller sites in local communities are better than huge centralized sites. But lefties love mass operations of any kind. My daughter works at the Javits Center in NYC, which is huge, though she says it runs pretty smoothly. 

I think you could make the same joke about mass vaccination sites as people did about the Suez Canal - get Chick-fil-A in there and it'll run like a Swiss watch.

doppelganglander 3/30/2021 12:55:47 PM

42

Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 31:

Yep. Again, it goes to trust and convenience. 

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 12:59:40 PM

43

In #41 doppelganglander said: My daughter works at the Javits Center in NYC, which is huge,

Last time I was there was for my NY State Bar Exam.  I was in something like Seat No 4,285... 

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 1:01:36 PM

44

In #39 Kosh's Shadow said: but four stations

Given the religious fervor surrounding Covid measures, perhaps we should create a sort of "Stations of the Vaxx"...

/and something here about Joe Biden falling three times 

Occasional Reader 3/30/2021 1:03:46 PM

45

In #29 doppelganglander said: Blacks in particular have historical reasons to be suspicious, and I can't blame them.

AFAIK the have a historical reason; one.  To be frank, I'm a little weary of "OMG TUSKEGEE!" being trotted out every time some sort of public health matter becomes newsworthy.  

JCM 3/30/2021 1:07:49 PM

46

Reply to doppelganglander in 41:

Before the shut down, Amazon did new hire orientation at the site every Monday.

500+ people getting laptops, logon credentials, badges and introduction to the company in a few hours.

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 1:26:09 PM

47

In #41 doppelganglander said: I had a similar experience at a site run by a hospital in an empty storefront at a nearby shopping center.

Similar to where I went, but it was more a community health center running it. The sign that the store was for rent was larger than the ones indicating it was a vaccination site,

buzzsawmonkey 3/30/2021 3:12:34 PM

48

In #46 JCM said: 500+ people getting laptops, logon credentials

According to the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," Logon poetry is terrible...

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 3:16:44 PM

49

In #48 buzzsawmonkey said: According to the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," Logon poetry is terrible...

Ode to a Randomly Generated Password

JCM 3/30/2021 3:16:57 PM

50

Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 48:

They did not hand out towels.....

Kosh's Shadow 3/30/2021 3:19:39 PM

51

In #50 JCM said: They did not hand out towels.....

Then how can you tell how far you traveled in hyperspace?

doppelganglander 3/30/2021 4:22:06 PM

52

Reply to Occasional Reader in 45:

In some communities, there seems to be a suspicion of doctors and medicine in general dating back decades. There was some truth in it when hospitals in the South were segregated and many white doctors refused to treat black patients; black hospitals were often poorly equipped and gave substandard care. Stories get passed down and the wariness lingers, especially among older and less educated people. It's irrational, but there it is.

There's a wonderful book called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot that gives some insight on the subject. Henrietta had an unusual type of, IIRC, cervical cancer. Doctors at Johns Hopkins cultivated cells from her tumor that are used in cancer research to this day. Neither she nor her family understood what was going on - the doctors never sought permission and the family was never compensated. It's a fascinating story.