Archive for May, 2021

Some Simple Facts of Life Vaccine Edition

Posted: May 21, 2021 by datechguy in Uncategorized

The whole business of vaccines needs some non political clarifications.

Vaccines were one of the great advances in medicine. By this large populations were protected from diseases that ravaged mankind for millennia.

Since day one vaccines have come with side effects as all things do and for a small percentage of the population these side effects were serious (my now 71 year old brother spent time as a youth in an iron lung do to a reaction to one) and even death. But in an age of diseases that could decimate a population such a rick was considered worthwhile for a population as a whole.

Many of these risks have dropped not only because of vaccines but of improved sanitary conditions both for human living and in the production of food etc that decreases the likelihood of such diseases breaking out.

The Wuhan / Corona / Chinese virus is more related to a flu than diseases like Polio or Smallpox but for the right populations, (the old the obese and those with existing illnesses) is seemingly more deadly than the flu and for some (my wife included) may have side effects that cause trouble even after recovery.

The unexpected arrival of this disease (likely from a weapons lab) and it’s effects on the population required drastic action which is why the Trump Administration operated “Operation Warp Speed” to develop vaccines much faster than normal.

As part of the emergency some of the normal precautions and controls that might take place with a vaccine we relaxed in the emergency just as in the field hospital a doctor might act with sanitary standards that he would never tolerate in a hospital.

That these or any vaccines were developed in this record time is a real human accomplishment that both the Trump administration and the medical can pharmaceutical industry should rightly take pride in however because speed was of the essence it’s is likely that the number of side effects, the severity of said side effects and the number of people subject to them would be much higher.

Because of this increased risk (which will dissipate over time as research continues) and the fact that the primary risk is to those to whom the normal flu would put at risk I have no problem with those who decide to give the shot a miss nor do I have an issue with those who go for the jab. We’re all adults here, let’s act that way when people make their call.

Governor Charlie Baker is finally granting us serfs our freedom back

Posted: May 20, 2021 by Jon Fournier in Uncategorized
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When an elected official, such as a governor, strips the freedom and rights away from his constituents he is behaving like a dictator or emperor rather that a public servant.  That is exactly the way Governor Baker of Massachusetts has behaved since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic.   He is far from alone.  About half governors of this country behaved the same.

When you strip the rights and freedoms away from any population they are no longer citizens.  They are now serfs.

When a large majority of the population meekly accepts the trampling of their rights and freedoms they are no longer worthy of the title of citizens, they are behaving exactly as serfs would behave and deserve that derisive label. 

I am quite ashamed by the lack of resistance put forward by the inhabitants of Massachusetts to the liberty and economy crushing lockdowns and mask mandates.  There was way too much blind and meek acceptance.  Thare was far too little questioning and far too little resistance.

On this past Monday Governor Baker announced that he is finally going to lift his disastrous Coronavirus restrictions, effective on May 29th.  It is far too late for all of the businesses that have closed due to Baker’s restrictions and all of those who have lost their jobs.  None of the restrictions were necessary to fight the virus outbreak.  Check out this article I did on the subject a couple weeks ago.

As you can see from this announcement by Governor Baker the statewide mask mandate will be replaced by a mask advisory.  I will no longer have to be worried about being fined $300 every time I leave my house without wearing a mask, which was what I did every time.

Baker said Monday that the current face covering order is rescinded as of May 29.

In line with CDC guidance, mon-vaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing face masks and to continue distancing in most settings.

Fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a face covering or social distance indoors or outdoors except for in certain situations.

There is  some bad news buried in this announcement.

Face coverings will still be required for all individuals on public and private transportation, including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations) healthcare facilities and providers, congregate care settings and health and rehabilitative day services.

Face coverings will also remain required indoors for staff and students of K-12 schools and early education providers.

It is child abuse to require children to wear masks while they are in school, especially when they are not necessary at all.  It has been proved that children are in far less danger from Coronavirus than any other age group.

All of the restrictions imposed by Governor Baker will be lifted in two weeks.  None of these restrictions helped in the slightest.  The restrictions were put in place at the beginning of the pandemic. Check out the charts contained in this link which show how the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths exploded after the restrictions were imposed. 

Governor Noem Meets Screwtape 30

Posted: May 20, 2021 by datechguy in culture, politics

Breitbart reports that the NCAA has caved on Transgender laws:

The NCAA made loud proclamations in April that it could pull events from states with limits on transgender athletes. Still, now the college sports governing body has caved and will allow tournaments in states including Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas despite their laws restricting trans athletes.

The NCAA sided with transgender athletes only last month, saying they may cancel events in states that aren’t “free of discrimination” against transgender athletes.

The NCAA Board of Governors made its announcement as more than two dozen states proposed, debated, and advanced legislation aimed at requiring state schools to ensure that athletes compete only in the category of their birth gender.

But now, only a month later, the NCAA announces that despite its saber-rattling in April, it will allow events in states that have already passed laws limiting transgender athletes to birth gender categories, Yahoo! Sports reported.

The biggest loses here isn’t the left but Governor Noam of South Dakota who threw away her National political future with the GOP base paying the Danegeld without earning the friendship of the Danes when holding out a few months more would have been a win.

If she had only read this bit from Screwtape 30:

Here’s the key quote:

Screwtape: For men usually feel that a strain could have been endured no longer at the very moment when it is ending or when they think it is ending.

In this as in the problem of cowardice the thing to avoid is the total commitment. Whatever he says make his inner resolution be not to bear whatever comes to him but to bear it for a ‘reasonable period’ and make the ‘reasonable period’ be shorter then the trial is likely to last. It need not be much shorter. In attacks on patients chastity or fortitude the fun is to s to make the man yield when, had he but known it, relief was almost in sight.

Had she but known she would not have blinked. Still it’s good to know if she would have run or not before we fight back to back. Cue Hawkeye:

So Much for Employers Requiring Vaccines

Posted: May 19, 2021 by datechguy in Uncategorized

This is a game changer:

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has put employers on notice that should they attempt to require employees to receive injections of experimental COVID-19 gene-therapy vaccines a resulting adverse reaction will be considered “work-related” for which the employer may be held liable.

OSHA released its new guidance on April 20 under a “Frequently Asked Questions” section of its website having to do with COVID-19 safety compliance.

The question asks whether an employer who mandates employees receive these experimental COVID-19 shots is required to record any adverse events as a result of these injections. Such recording requirements of serious work-related injuries and illness may not only leave an employer vulnerable to worker’s compensation claims, but such incidents could also impact the employer’s safety record.

Of course the Biden Administration being the Biden Administration they might change the rules but if this hold then risk adverse employers will run from any “No vaccine no work” policy like the plague.

Unexpectedly of course

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