Posts Made By: James Brown

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

   
Now that does show what a Class Act you are.  Congratulations.

You should use that, maybe when you're dealing with somebody who's trying to get a patent on an item.  Then you can High Five him and hand him a Hamm's Beer!  

And here we were, all thinking that you were the stylish, sunglasses wearing, example of high etiquette that you like to promote yourself as being. 

Very sorry if my toxic masculinity offended your snowflake sensibilities.  

Originally Posted by James Lacey

It's always amusing to see Rich get offended by the behavior he exhibits all the time. However, I get your point. We've had our fun at Rich's expense once again and, in the process, tainted ourselves. As Jim pointed out, this is the conundrum when interacting with Rich. You hate to see his extreme and clearly false viewpoints go unchallenged, but in the end, you feel worse for having tried.

Aye - it is time for us to move on.  But before we do, I have to share the clip below.  This has made me smile, every time I've logged on to Astromart this past week or so.

Originally Posted by william chiu

More importantly, why are we still buying cheap ghina astronomical equipment that indirectly supports these "military operations" ?

https://english.cctv.com/2022/04/12/ARTIaju4ABEdwp1dnYHLoCaZ220412.shtml?spm=C69523.P89601117162.EEy8zkAGlNk4.80

https://english.cctv.com/2022/03/31/ARTIbRpUowYTHPYnnni6unYA220331.shtml?spm=C69523.P89601117162.EEy8zkAGlNk4.428

https://english.cctv.com/2022/04/08/ARTIUIlDVX1fMfdKjrHEUhth220408.shtml?spm=C69523.P89601117162.EEy8zkAGlNk4.182

My telescope was made by Ukrainian opticians who immigrated to the US many years ago!

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

Hi Rod, I didn't see your post in the other thread so started this new one. Not that any of the right leaning guys here will comment.

Well, Jim, in this instance it is boring to simply agree with you!  

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

The point is that Hannity served up a big fat old softball of a question and (for God only knows what reason) he swung three times and missed.

The question William, Rich, and anyone else here is:  Why?

Hi Jim:

Why did Trump whiff on the question, or why won't he call out Putin?  I did not see the interview in question, but my guess is that he won't criticize Putin because Trump is a narcissistic buffoon.  I don't think he is (or ever was) under Putin's control as many left wing conspiracy theorists still believe.  I do think that Trump is so self-centered that he won't criticize Putin because he fears that would be interpreted as some sort of roundabout support of Biden. 

In other words, Trump would rather do anything than be seen as possibly supporting Biden or his efforts.  It is self-centered and horrific beyond belief in my opinion.

Jim

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

I know you see this everyday but Zelensky is warning the world Putin's pissed about how the war is going since his flagship sunk and his army is getting its assed kicked so now he might use NUKES: 
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/politics/tapper-zelensky-interview-cnntv/index.html
I know that won't get Jim's pulse rate up one beat since he perfectly prepared for the fallout but since there's a reasonable chance of it actually happening, I just thought I'd let him know anyway...

Dude, there are certain things I don't think it is appropriate to joke about.  

Also, I've bitched at Richard for calling me out in thread titles.  I don't think much of the practice.  J 

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

They'll vote against it until they found they could make money off of it...
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/22/politics/wind-energy-oklahoma-republican-states-climate/index.html

I'm puzzled Rod.  Typically you mock red states and their governors.  I read the article, and I am pleased that the central plains states, being blessed with wind resources, are capitalizing on it.  I am also pleased that they are not making these strategic energy moves until it is profitable.  That is one of the beauties of capitalism.   I'd think you might feel the same way.  Are you opposed to wind energy now?  Or are you just opposed to profitability being a motivating factor?  

Jim

Originally Posted by David Cotterell

What if an airline, a private company, mandates masks for all passengers and crew.  Will this ruling overturn the wishes of a private company?   Private concerns have been able to mandate what they like at the risk of losing customers - up until now, at least.......like, "no shirt, no shoes, no service"  or "no outside food in the movie theatre" rules...

In other news....

I'll be interested to see how mask-wearing is going by the general public over the next two weeks as I drive to VA to pick up my new 20-incher at New Moon Telescopes (woo-woo!) and then to Texas for first light.  Back home by May 8.

Just as a basis of comparison I did a fair amount of pre-trip errands today, in the local shopping mall, the public library and a couple of other stores.  Every person I saw today indoors, staff and customers alike, was wearing a mask.  Zero exceptions....

I wonder what i will see at lunch in Cracker BArrel (Catfish for lunch - yum!) in Kentucky or at a Truck stop on I-30 in Texas.... I'll be masked indoors throughout my trip, keep my distance, plenty of hand sanitizer etc. of course.....

Dave

Hi David:

The major commercial airlines (private companies all)  dropped masks immediately upon this ruling.  Last week I flew through Denver and Indianapolis and voluntary mask wearing was at about 10% based upon my eyeball estimate.  Personally, I am happy to ditch the mask.  If everyone wore a proper mask properly, it would probably make a difference.  But seriously, the implementation of mask mandates was horribly flawed.  I must wear one when walking to my table, but not when I eat?  

I have seen graphs comparing the course of the pandemic in states that had strict and long-lasting mask mandates with those that had no mandates or short-lived ones.  There was not much difference.  A key point of distinction is the effectiveness of masks early in the pandemic, versus the effectiveness of common masking techniques against much more transmissible late arriving variants like Omicron.  As you know, Omicron ripped through the states fairly equally, whether they were strong mask states or no mask states.  Everyone knows lots of people (my wife for example) who were vaccinated, boosted, masked, and caught Omicron anyway.  fortunately it is not that significant a disease for most.  

Personally, I am no longer especially concerned with Covid as a day-to-day worry now that it is in an endemic stage.   One more disease to be vaccinated against and hope to avoid.   I think you will see this as you drive through VA to TX.  Some folks in the US are still wearing masks.  The vast majority are not.  Way less than 10%.  In my experience here in CO, UT, and IN over the past couple of weeks, it is pretty much life as normal, totally a pre-pandemic lifestyle.  CO is a blue state and IN is a red state, but I did not see any differences in masking or other precautions.   

Some folks still choose to wear masks of course, and these people should be respected.  I see that more mask wearers are now choosing what appear to be properly fitted N-95s and the like.  I'd guess they are compromised in some way, particularly fastidious, or simply otherwise more concerned about this disease than the majority.  That is their prerogative of course.  

I am curious what you and others living in Canada or other US states think, but here in my neck of the woods, the pandemic is in the rear view mirror.

Congratulations on the new telescope!

Jim

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Your chances of getting covid are 20X less if you wear an N95 mask. I disagree with you that the pandemic is over at this time because I think we need to see what the fall looks like first to know if we're simply in a lull before a major spike. Given what China is doing, they certainly don't think the pandemic is over and in the rear view mirror...

Hi Rod:  

Are you still masking?  If yes, are you wearing an N95?  I don't dispute that an N95 provides extremely effective protection.  I am curious however, what protection you think a haphazardly worn surgical mask or a cloth bandana provides against an airborne respiratory virus as transmissive as Omicron has proved to be?  I think the answer is little or none.

Masking is not without cost too.  Headaches, learning issues, decreased productivity, long term psychological effects.  These are all real things.  Lockdowns like China is now enforcing have enormous economy-wrecking consequences of course.  The benefits of a mask mandate must be weighed in the scale of practical (versus theoretical) effectiveness and social/health costs.  Same as the seatbelt mandates discussed above, but seatbelts have no known costs that I can think of, and they are more likely to be effective than most of the non N95 masks I saw worn by real people last year.

China is an interesting case.  They have gone in for a total lockdown.  Eventually, when the people revolt or start to starve, the government will have to let them go.  Then they will all get Covid.  It is inevitable.  Maybe by then China will have a better vaccine.

Consider New Zealand below.  They locked their country up tight, but nature finds the cracks.  I am/was fine with masks, distancing and especially vaccines to "flatten the curve".  But the goal is always to flatten the curve and protect the health care system.  Those in NZ or CN who think they can achieve near zero infection rates with masks and lockdowns are insane.   The virus always wins in the end.  Fortunately, evolution is on our side as we build up limited immunities and the variants typically evolve to be less lethal.  No doubt Covid will spike in the fall.  Sucks to be human I guess, but seasonal spikes are the hallmark of highly contagious endemic respiratory disease.  A relative few will be very sick or die.  For almost all of the rest of us, life must go on.     Jim

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

Gee, funny how I and so many others said that exact thing almost 2 years ago, and you mocked us all and you were happy to show photos of yourself wearing your flimsly little mask in your automobile after Dave showed photos of himself with his self created mask made out of blue paper towels and you applauded him.

Interesting how we on the right were correct all along while you guys patted each other on the back for following all those gov't rules like good little soldiers.

And btw, your follow up point there about the problems with mask wearing?  Well, I and others here have been saying that for about 1 1/2 years now.

Guess you didn't have your listening ears on back then eh?

Oh well, I'm glad to see you finally opened your eyes, even if you are a day late and a dollar short.  

You misunderstand Rich:  I have no regrets regarding the mask mandates, especially pre-vaccine in the Alpha and Delta phases of the pandemic.  The mandates and distancing clearly helped keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed.  As you know I have a son working in the ER and the difference on the front lines between 2021 and 2022 are remarkable.  What would an unemployed internet troll know about that though?

News Flash:  Things have changed.  Now, the more transmissive but less lethal Omicron variants are dominant.  A huge percentage of the people have either been infected at least once or vaccinated a couple of times or both.  So in light of changed circumstances, I support dropping the mask mandates now.

Are you suggesting that the mask mandates were never reasonable?  If so, we continue to disagree.  To repeat:  I support dropping the mandates now in view of the changed circumstances.  Jim