Bruno Sardine

None taken. Enjoy your weekend!

How bonkers is it that we have a clear path to ending this thing (get enough folks vaccinated), and we’re already approaching a stall because the CDC/FDA, under President Biden, suspended use of the J & J vaccine, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of vaccine appointments and undermining public trust in vaccines? It is sad that due to the actions of one side of the political aisle we just took a giant step back in the fight against Covid. I hope that sounds as absurd as your post. And you’re a great poster, no offense.

If you go back and look at discussion and debate in the late 19th century, when state constitutions across the country were altered to give municipal governments the power to level property taxes for the purpose of funding public schools, it isn’t that difficult to make the argument that many public school systems have run afoul of their original mandate. In any event, we can at least agree, surely, that public schools were established with the understanding that instruction would be in-person rather than conducted via the exchange of written materials through the postal system or, with advances in technology, conducted virtually. Could a court be found that would buy the argument, this school system has violated the mandate that entitles it to take my taxes by refusing to provide in-person instruction, in the face of numerous scientific studies advocating for in-person instruction, even given the very serious risks posed by covid? PS - what a pleasant place this is without a certain poo-flinger. People actually talking to each other without engaging in personal insults.

I always wear a mask, everywhere I go in public. I do not question the efficacy of masks, in the context in which that discussion is usually held. Rather, my question is about evolution. Because of its replication rate (more chances for beneficial mutations), the virus evolves fairly quickly, or seems so to me. When we wear masks, we inhibit the ability of the virus to replicate itself. Or in the language of the usual discussion, mask-wearing helps diminish our exposure to the virus, which is why we wear them. But isn’t this so-called UK variant in fact the inevitable result of widespread mask wearing, given the theory of evolution? Was it not predictable? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/6/canada-facing-very-serious-third-wave-of-pandemic-trudeau I will continue to wear a mask. And encourage others to do the same. I don’t know what the point of this post is. It’s just something I’ve been wondering about.

26 hours after second Moderna shot. Arm hurts a lot more than first time, but that is the only side effect. No headache, fever, chills, nada.

Got second Moderna two hours ago. First shot symptoms were very faint headache, slight fatigue. Hoping for another mild reaction.

Since we’re not an isolated island but are connected to the rest of the world, one would assume cases are rising here for the same reason(s) they’re rising elsewhere, including Europe. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-imposes-strict-lockdown-over-easter/a-56948895

Here we are in the middle of this terrible pandemic, hoping for smart people (the scientist-types who develop vaccines) to save our asses. I am guessing these smart people did not attend crappy inner city public schools, the overseers of which, like all the rest of us, are depending on these very same geniuses to save their butts. But ironically, they themselves are not interested in producing exceptional intellects. Their focus is NOT on achieving academic excellence in the classroom. Instead, their focus is on serving the lowest common denominator in an effort to reduce the “achievement gap.” A worthy policy objective to be sure, but not at the expense of lowering standards and expectations. Just one example: in many inner city school systems, teachers, even at the high school level, are told activities shouldn’t last for more than ten or fifteen minutes, lest the concentration of the students lapse. You think private school teachers are handicapped by such absurd dictates? The people who run our inner city schools are the problem.

More than 24 hours since first Moderna dose. No side effects other than an extremely mild headache yesterday evening. Feel fine today.

7 hours after first Moderna dose. Feeling something, but not too unpleasant (yet?). Like a low-grade edible buzz with a hangover thrown in. Mild fatigue but no headache or fever.

If there's no such thing as momentum, why feed the hot hand?

I’m intrigued by people who are rightfully horrified by a terrible, tragic, and inexcusable event who decide the truth should become secondary in their justified and mostly cogent expression of outrage. You want things to get better, right? I do too. I think, in times of crisis, it is especially important to be truthful. Your suspicion of my motives for daring to point out that a demonstrably false statement was made is palpable. Yes, I must be on the bad guys’ side. Or my mind is addled. But I think your mind is addled. The truth certainly matters. When you distort the truth to emphasize a point, you undermine your cause. I bothered to point it out because the person is a moderator. Seemed relevant.

Your post clearly implied that rioting and looting directed against government buildings did not occur during the George Floyd protests. Own it.

What an extraordinary assertion. https://www.startribune.com/authorities-seek-help-identifying-arson-suspects-during-george-floyd-protests/571142882/ A charter school and a police precinct were torched during the George Floyd protests. Your statement that “the looting and rioting that happened far away from any government buildings” is false. Unless it’s your position that government buildings outside Washington, DC don’t qualify as real government buildings. Aren't you a moderator? I know we're supposed to keep the conversation on point, but is it okay to point out when a moderator spreads disinformation?

That’s a bit of a partisan take. Conspiracy theories? You mean like the one espoused by virtually every media outlet in the United States following Trump’s election that he secretly colluded with Russia and was in all probability a Russian asset acting in concert with Russian intelligence and that all this would be formally uncovered and revealed in the Mueller investigation? You don’t have to be a Trumper to be a gullible dumb-ass.

Thanks for your post, and for the link you subsequently provided. If this is true, then why aren't doctors prescribing this drug? I'm having trouble with the concept that there's a demonstrably safe and readily available drug which cures COVID but doctors all across the country are ignoring this information and allowing thousands of patients a day to unnecessarily die of COVID. If what you say is true, then the situation speaks extremely poorly of medical professionals. Since you are in the medical profession, aren't you perplexed as to why doctors aren't prescribing this "miracle drug?" (Like most of you, I know people who've gotten COVID and none of them received this drug, nor was this drug ever brought up by the people who were/are treating them.)

There. That wasn't so hard, was it? Songs aren't written by proxy. Therefore the song wasn't inspired by Lee.

Yeah but here's the thing. You've criticized other posters for playing fast and loose with the truth. Yet you wrote the following: “The song's title/theme was inspired by Robert E Lee.” I’ve pointed out how this is a demonstrably misleading statement. The sentence, “We certainly aren't deriding the notion that The Eyes are judging us…” is some space-time shifting sophistry. The remark in question – your remark - had to do with the mindset of the students who wrote the song, not how we interpret the song today. You've yet to acknowledge the fact you made a misleading statement. My bad for feeding you, just pointing out to others that you obfuscate the truth as much as anybody here.

At least own what you wrote. You said Lee inspired the theme yet the song wasn’t directed at or written as a commentary on Lee. The song was directed at the president and served as a backhanded stab at his policies/demeanor (“do not think you can escape them” speaks unflatteringly of the president’s perceived heavy-handedness and authoritarian tendencies). The way you phrased it conveys a false impression.

This is a lie by omission. The president is the one who borrowed and adapted the phrase from Lee. The songs mock the President and, by extension, the phrase from Lee.

This isn’t to argue we should cheat more. But to quote another poster on another thread, “There are other teams that have way more problematic racial issues/histories than Texas.” And, to quote this same erudite poster, “Those teams have ‘SJW’ players as well and are not facing these issues.” So what explains it? Premise: what insiders say is true and Texas plays things relatively straight as far as recruiting goes, compared to some other schools. I play for Texas. I came here primarily for the purpose of taking my talents to the next level. I am not receiving good coaching. I am not progressing as a player and will not realize my dreams of playing in the NFL. I am not unique, but at least my peers at, say, A&M and UGA received tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to sign on the dotted line. As a result, their families are taken care of for the foreseeable future. Could this play into what we’re seeing? (Recognizing that not everyone comes to Texas for the benefits of a UT education.)

I'm not saying they're just looking for something to bitch about. I will quote Naija, because he/she put it best: "... let's be frank, there are other teams that have way more problematic racial issues/histories than Texas and hell, have coaches who it is clear as daylight where their political sympathies lie and had been on shaky ground this summer. Those teams have "SJW" players as well and are not facing these issues."

You speak as if we operate in a vacuum. It is standard procedure for college football players to go over to the fans after the game - especially at road games - and express solidarity. Fans support the players, players support the fans. It's not a Texas thing or even a football thing.

This is exactly right. I'm not talking about today's game, I'm talking about the broader picture going forward. Those of you saying it's no big deal, it's a huge freakin' deal. It's a breach between the players and the fan base. If there's another school in the country where the players sulk off the field without acknowledging the people who paid to see them play and who cheered for them, then tell me that school. I think what's happening here is unique.

Um... I was agreeing with you. I was saying that's how the players see it. The song was created to mock a UT president around the turn of the last century with a reputation for heavy handedness toward the student body. It's not racist.