@sparky Yes hospitalization and deaths are the important issue and whether the ICU’s are being overrun. Not the number of cases. Cause for alarm? Only if you are an alarmist. Damn I am tired of this shit and our response to a virus. We know who is susceptible and they need to take care of themselves instead of the healthy being locked down. It has been a reverse guilt trip on the healthy to have to quarantine because of the fears of those at risk and the other nervous nellies who have bought in to it.

Our kids are not in school in CA despite the fact that 3 kids have died out of 74000 reported cases. And this number is probably only scratching the surface. Do the math and let that sink in. And those children probably had an illness like cancer and were immunocompromised. And if masks are so effective the teachers should be wearing them and acting like the grown ups in the room. And if they have health issues they can teach remotely so kids can socialize and be normal.

Our approach to this virus is myopic and fear driven. Other illnesses are not being txed like cancer, heart disease, stroke, depression, child abuse and spousal abuse (at least here in the states). Down the road I think we will see the collateral damage to people’s health.

Business are failing because our damn governor is looking at cases despite the fact that none of our hospitals are over run. In my area they really never were. Anyway rant over.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Cases-by-Age-Group.aspx

Not close unless there’s an affirmative action agenda for redheads.

@frank I think there are several reasons. First, the goal posts keep getting moved. We were initially locked down to prevent overwhelming the health care system then it became about case numbers. Then further on it was if you get the vaccine then you’re golden now it means shit.

Second, half of the country don’t trust the left. They like control at all costs where the right wants less government intrusion.

Third, about half don’t trust the media and their incessant chicken little chatter and obvious bias towards the left. And the numbers are being revised down, not saying Covid is not significant, by about 20 percent.

Fourth, we like to be able to make choices about our health and don’t believe our lives should be restricted because the poor choices of others. The people who are dying are elderly for the most part and have health conditions. Everyone knows the stats by now. We have a lot of unhealthy fat people over here. Let’s focus on these people and don’t restrict the healthy. This is not to shame them but fact. The ones that have it bad and are able to return home usually lost 30 to 50 pounds in the process and usually are still overweight, from my experience.

Fifth, We don’t believe we have to walk around as if we are infected when we are not symptomatic. When will this concept end with the inevitable mutation of the virus in perpetuity.

Sixth, their are consequences for our present policies related to the neglect of other health issues (recent article about spike in ovarian/uterine CA, teen suicides etc etc), economic issues etc. Never once has the left considered the collateral damage.

Seventh, the lefts insistence that kids get vaccinated even though this virus is a nothing burger to them. Where is the science behind that? Why risk a vaccine which does have some negative side effects and has resulted in deaths.

Eighth, why are the left pushing vaccination if you already have had the virus when studies are showing that natural immunity is probably better. Now that’s a shocker. Our immune system actually can function.

Anyway that is part of my thinking and thinking of those with my point of view. I could go on but I think my take home message would be work on your health because this is the best protection against this virus.

@SammyC Although I am not a Crusader supporter I surely don’t want the Jags to win because it will be a good result for rugby. I want the Crusaders to win and perhaps smash them doing it :-).

Well Rugby is about to start up so I’m showing my face. In New Zealand I imagine that you don’t come across room many people who have had Covid. I got the first vaccine over two weeks ago and will have the second vaccine in March. The primary reason why I personally got it because I thought it might be good to have on the resume if I planned on leaving the country on a dive trip or something but alas it’s not a get out of jail free card. There’s always something new and scary out there on the horizon. So last Saturday I came down with a pretty good fever which lasted for about a day and a half. Since I was seeing patients the next day I decided to get tested and I was positive. So I’m out for 10 days. My ex-wife and her husband probably had it a couple weeks earlier although they did not get tested. So I most likely got it from the kids. How do you keep away from your kids? So after the fever broke my symptoms were pretty similar to the flu. Actually if Covid did not exist I would put this down to my usual sinus infection that I get around this time of the year. Pretty much the same symptoms. Now whether the vaccination mitigated the symptoms is unknown. There’s always a possibility that having the vaccine might have resulted in a positive test too. So a couple of things 1). I never feared this virus because I don’t fit into the categories of those at risk. I am not saying that to brag but just that I know the stats and I would not call myself someone with weak constitution. 2). If you have health issues this virus can do a number on you especially diabetics and every other co-morbidity related to obesity. I see this in the post covid patients I am working with. 3). I still believe that lockdowns and a myopic focus on Covid is destructive. My kids are still not in school and miss the social contact, people are losing their jobs, suicides up, people not seeking help when they have had a CVA or MI due to fear of covid at the ER, and the list goes on. 4). The fear is palpable in people and unfortunately these people, including public health officials, are reinforcing the environment that we have to live in. 5). Have to let the virus take its course and people held responsible for their own health. Can’t see how we got to a point where asymptomatic healthy people have to walk around as if they are contagious. We have never done this in our lives before. The vaccine was supposed to be the solution but the bar keeps being moved.

I am looking forward to the ABs playing anyone including the Boks or England. We have to find out where we stand and sooner better than later.

There appears to be too much attrition these days at 2nd five and center. SBW and Crotty are prime examples. I do prefer to have defined positions so if ALB is the choice right now then I hope they stick with him and Reiko. More X factor in Reiko than Goodhue. Give them a chance to gel. Same with Sotutu. Throw him in the fire. I don’t like Ardie at 8 and I agree Cane is not the player he used to be. Injured and I don’t see him being their in 4 years so caretaker captain? Ardie will probably fill the void when Cane is injured and 7 is really his position. He did not have a very good north south.

I want to see the ABs play because I like rugby, it’s a new year and hopefully a new approach to our game (I am not convinced with Foster) and foremost I am tired of a virus dictating how we live.

Jordie, Clarke, Reiko, ALB, one of the cantabs, BB, Smith, Sotutu, Cane, Akira, Whitlock, PT, moody, Taylor and Laulala (Moanga, Perenara and Goodhue, Ofa, Coles, Big T, Vaai, Papalii)

What’s the point of this thread?

That first half performance was the smartest I have seen out of the Blues. Played to their strengths in the forwards, had the Blues going backwards and with no possession then cleaned up when the opportunity arrived. Ioane boys were immense and that was a pretty complete game from Akira. He did everything in his core duties and more. A few will be happy too that there was no lip from him either. Great away win.

@MiketheSnow said in Coronavirus - UK:

@pakman said in Coronavirus - UK:

@MiketheSnow Isn't it more in the nature of self 'abuse'?!

Caerphilly gone to Local Lockdown based on a ridiculously small increase in cases and no deaths.

Turns out half are from three lads who went to Ibiza (legally), caught it out there without knowing, returned home and went about their lives because there was no quarantine and no test on return to the UK.

Then the Welsh Government have the audacity to blame them and other young people for spreading it while still keeping the schools open.

Inconsistent

Yes it is crazy to base decisions on cases. I know the flu is different from covid but what happened if we did the testing we are doing now during the flu season? Would we lock everything down because positive tests would be through the roof. The only metric should be deaths and whether hospitals are overwhelmed. Nothing else.

Most young people are not affected by this virus and certainly children aren’t. Does anyone ever analyze the stats? I work with nurses in home health and they are scared of this virus even though they are young and healthy. It is scary when health care professionals buy into the panic. Saw a covid patient today. Had to gown up and all that crap although he is asymptomatic. It was my last visit. Shook his hand because I am tired of the fear and because squeezing flesh is human and bonding and washed my hands afterwards. He said he hadn’t shook anyone’s hand in a while and appreciated it. Life must go on but unfortunately the politicians making decisions for us are timid creatures and their go to is safety and how they are perceived in the moment. You wouldn’t want to fight along side them in a war.

Recent studies suggest that schools are not a source of the infection. Children are not the super spreaders that was alleged earlier in the piece.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-sweden-schools/swedens-health-agency-says-open-schools-did-not-spur-pandemic-spread-among-children-idUSKCN24G2IS

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-school-germany-no-outbreaks/#app

Well behaved Akira and excellent work rate. Would not be out of place in Black with more support around him.

@kiwipie said in Tipping 2021:

When there are only 4 matches, it is possible to move up fast - as long as you can tip them correctly.

https://www.thesilverfern.com/tipping

Victor was the best of the weekend with 4/4 (the only player to do it) and moves up to 4th overall. Also moving up fast is Paj with 51 and the only one to pick both top and lowest scorer. He is now up to 5th after being 23rd 2 weeks ago. Winger and Hydro11 both plunged down from 4th place to out of the top 10. OomPB the lowest scorer this weekend with just 8 points, TR, FarNthHayden & Broughie with 11.

Higgins still leads Plastered Peni by 6 with Stargazer another 6 points back.

In the 1st leg of the Cup, Hydro11 turned up late and goes into the 2nd leg with a 34-16 deficit.

The round robin is over in the teams competition and the semi-finals will be

Wellington v Counties-Waikato
Hawke's Bay v Wairarapa Bush

The Bush inflicted Wellington's 1st defeat of the season. In the battle for the wooden spoon, Harbour-Auckland beat Northland 10-4 with both teams having just 2 tippers left.

@tim no bueno. thoughts for his family.

@billy-tell it’s facts mate. Review the stats and you would understand. Your isolated in NZ. Covid equals death to you guys. It’s not teh case.

@billy-tell this is part of the false narrative. If you don’t get the vaccine you are selfish and it is all about me. Sorry but your health is your responsibility not others. You are not fat or out of shape because of someone else. It is your doing. You can take precautions if at risk but again this onus has shifted to other people. It fact I believe your side holding hostage healthy people is being selfish and imposing your fears on others. In fact it is so selfish you haven’t even considered the other consequences for your Covid myopia. Do I have to point this out? Plus it is even more selfish because you are in a box and the only solution for your freedom is for everyone to get vaccinated. You probably don’t give a toss about others health. It is you getting out of jail so to speak. Natural immunity is not even a consideration although better. You care about 90 % vaccination rate and even then will your government allow you to get back to normal even when vaccinated people develop Covid? It happens you know. The one size fits all narrative is not scientific. Mandates are divisive. There’s no nuance. If the government spent more time focusing on those at risk then letting the chips fall as they may that would have been the better solution then the responsibility is on them. Sounds like they should be developing temporary Covid centers in the event of an outbreak and procuring the latest meds. Wonder if that is happening? Of course when has government been at the fore front of excellence. Just a view from the other side of the street there bro.

@crazy-horse he is a MD and he works at CNN. You know the network that for years falsely asserted Trump was in be bed with Russia when anyone with half a brain knew he was American as apple pie. He is a Md and TV commentator right? So I would expect a better response unless he knew he did not have a leg to stand on.

@crazy-horse simple questions Gupta hummed and hah about. If he was assured of himself he would have been more assertive. He knew Rogan had him by his beta male balls.

@l_n_p said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

Terrible. Covid does not cause “weeks of severe pain”. At least stick to the facts.

"If you get vaccinated you might face a day or so of discomfort. If you don’t, there is a risk of death."

Sigh. If you are healthy you might feel under the weather for a couple of days without vaccination. Risk of death is a little ripe or more hyperbole. If you are older, obese, diabetic or immunocompromised you are at risk but they have better treatment now and knowledge of the virus. Otherwise everyone else take a long deep breath. Jeez you kiwis are showing no balls. I thought we were a tougher crowd. I am 57 year old male, 58 tomorrow, could lose 30lbs to get down to a good weight, one day of fever then a couple of days feeing a little weak and sleeping like a log but able to get out and walk a couple of miles. I realized you only hear about the deaths but most people survive. Not minimizing it but this this is not going away. Thank the Chinese (government for you wokesters out there). Work on you health. Get away from carbs. Exercise outside (dumbest thing to confine people to there homes as covid is not floating around in the air and if so in what concentrations). I truly feel sorry for you guys. You are boxed in with the wrong people in control.

@donsteppa that part around 3:03 reminds me of Peter Gabriel’s sledgehammer video.

@mrdenmore I think most of the fern expect more nous from Rennie than Foster.

@jc Not really but I enjoy some soundtracks like The Mission and other Ennio Morricone stuff.