Out of the Blue

I recently mentioned the sound and fury of the mating season on the pond we overlook. This has only gotten more interesting since then. One of the swans made an appearance for the first time in a while, so I'm assuming the other was incubating an egg somewhere (there's a nearby marsh where we suspect they nest). But we'd never before seen a swan behave like it did during this brief return. It flew a couple of times, which was unusual in itself. But even odder was it giving chase to one of the geese. The dominant swans usually get left alone as they mind their own business. In this case it not only took flight to chase a goose across the pond, but this pursuit continued on shore. As far as we can tell the swans are completely loathe to leave the water, so the goose must've really pissed it off. That was a mild conflict compared with the other thing I experienced. Investigating some frantic screaming (for lack of a better term) I saw two ducks mating. That's the nice way to put it, as this seemed way more like rape than anything. And yeah, doing some Googling makes me realize I have harbored some very naive misconceptions about consensual sex in the wild. The oddest part is there was a third duck in the mix, another drake who made lame duck attempts to interrupt the action to no effect. A ménage à trois most fowl.

Obituary: Jens Hauch, former ArenaNet and 343 Industries technical artist, has passed away.

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43 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
Newer [  1  2  3  ] Older
43.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 9, 2020, 09:04
43.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 9, 2020, 09:04
Apr 9, 2020, 09:04
 
RedEye9 wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 19:15:
Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:59:
Wow, does Martin Shkreli have big balls... Shkreli’s plea from prison: Free me and I’ll cure COVID-19
He's on par w/this other fuckstick;
Our current "president" has a ‘Financial Interest’ in the manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine.
No one could have seen that one coming. /SARCASM


dRumpf’s financial interest in Sanofi is at most $3,747 and could be as low as $898.85, based on the most recent information of its investments available, meaning it is not necessarily an accurate reflection of what its investments currently look like.
tldr
Our current "president" has a ‘Financial Interest’ in the manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
42.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 8, 2020, 09:07
42.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 8, 2020, 09:07
Apr 8, 2020, 09:07
 
Drath71 wrote on Apr 8, 2020, 08:35:
RedEye9 wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 19:15:
Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:59:
Wow, does Martin Shkreli have big balls... Shkreli’s plea from prison: Free me and I’ll cure COVID-19
He's on par w/this other fuckstick;
Our current "president" has a ‘Financial Interest’ in the manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine.
No one could have seen that one coming. /SARCASM


Wait...being worth a lot of money, Trump's money is invested all over. It's called diversification. Investment companies choose where the money goes, heck it's what people normally do.

And it's already been shown his interest in this company is less than 1k. That's NOTHING. If you had any credibility, you would at least go to snopes, or one of the other many places that shows this.
But TDS victims keep putting this out there, even thought 1) they know it's inaccurate and misleading, or 2) they absolutely do NOT want to research this.

On one hand, I agree with you. There's no way this is an active investment.

On the other hand, you're dead wrong about his corporation. He may not own it, but his family does. Every other president totally divested themselves. They sold it. Trump passed it on to his family. You don't think that's a conflict of interest?
41.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 8, 2020, 08:35
41.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 8, 2020, 08:35
Apr 8, 2020, 08:35
 
RedEye9 wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 19:15:
Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:59:
Wow, does Martin Shkreli have big balls... Shkreli’s plea from prison: Free me and I’ll cure COVID-19
He's on par w/this other fuckstick;
Our current "president" has a ‘Financial Interest’ in the manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine.
No one could have seen that one coming. /SARCASM


Wait...being worth a lot of money, Trump's money is invested all over. It's called diversification. Investment companies choose where the money goes, heck it's what people normally do.

And it's already been shown his interest in this company is less than 1k. That's NOTHING. If you had any credibility, you would at least go to snopes, or one of the other many places that shows this.
But TDS victims keep putting this out there, even thought 1) they know it's inaccurate and misleading, or 2) they absolutely do NOT want to research this.
40.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 8, 2020, 02:30
Jivaro
 
40.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 8, 2020, 02:30
Apr 8, 2020, 02:30
 Jivaro
 
I have decided to blame the weeds in my backyard for the virus. They did this to keep my gardener from coming to pull them. Their punishment will be constant torture by weed eater. Gasoline powered no less. Once every week until the gardener comes back. Then he will pull them and end their misery. May the Spaghetti Monster have mercy on their souls.
Avatar 55841
39.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 8, 2020, 02:18
39.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 8, 2020, 02:18
Apr 8, 2020, 02:18
 
Kxmode wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 20:54:
Evidence mounts COVID-19 came from a lab in Wuhan.

Grain of salt there. Sky News is a Rupert Murdoch joint. Like the British Fox News.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
38.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 8, 2020, 01:37
38.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 8, 2020, 01:37
Apr 8, 2020, 01:37
 
WarPig wrote on Apr 8, 2020, 00:27:
Cutter wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:25:
So until this thing is actually over we won't know how bad it really was on the whole.


In that case why do you insist on constantly downplaying this with comparisons to the flu? Just stop already.

I know most people comparing CV19 to the flu are doing it to downplay CV19, which I agree is a dangerous mistake, but I kind of think of the comparison differently - not so much to downplay CV19, but as a reminder of how bad the flu can be. Having a bad flu is brutal.

Certainly, but there are huge differences which make comparisons problematic. They're both illnesses caused by viruses, but the differences end there.

1) "The flu" is caused by dozens of different viruses. COVID19 is a single virus.
2) We have a vaccine for the flu. The vaccine protects somewhat even if the vaccine virus strain is guessed wrong. There is no vaccine for COVID19.
3) Our healthcare system is designed to handle the load from the annual flu epidemic. It is not designed or stocked to handle the COVID19 pandemic.
4) COVID19 is 10x more virulent than the flu.
5) COVID19 is 10x more lethal than the flu.
6) We have immunity to many strains of the flu, various strains having been around for decades. There is no immunity to COVID19.

Seriously, they should not be mentioned in the same lecture, never mind the same breath.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
37.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 8, 2020, 00:27
WarPig
 
37.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 8, 2020, 00:27
Apr 8, 2020, 00:27
 WarPig
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:25:
So until this thing is actually over we won't know how bad it really was on the whole.


In that case why do you insist on constantly downplaying this with comparisons to the flu? Just stop already.

I know most people comparing CV19 to the flu are doing it to downplay CV19, which I agree is a dangerous mistake, but I kind of think of the comparison differently - not so much to downplay CV19, but as a reminder of how bad the flu can be. Having a bad flu is brutal.
Avatar 1750
36.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 23:34
Jivaro
 
36.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 23:34
Apr 7, 2020, 23:34
 Jivaro
 
jdreyer wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 19:38:
Stanford scientists design a toilet with facial recognition for your butthole.

Stunned

Early favorite for the Razzies.

Having participated in a couple of product/clinical trials back in college for some extra money....I find myself double over in laughter imagining what this was like in testing.
Avatar 55841
35.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 22:05
35.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 22:05
Apr 7, 2020, 22:05
 
RedEye9 wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 19:15:
Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:59:
Wow, does Martin Shkreli have big balls... Shkreli’s plea from prison: Free me and I’ll cure COVID-19
He's on par w/this other fuckstick;
Our current "president" has a ‘Financial Interest’ in the manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine.
No one could have seen that one coming. /SARCASM

CDC removes unusual guidance to doctors about drug favored by you guess who.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
34.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 21:07
Kxmode
 
34.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 21:07
Apr 7, 2020, 21:07
 Kxmode
 
deleted

This comment was edited on Apr 8, 2020, 02:44.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
33.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 20:54
Kxmode
 
33.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 20:54
Apr 7, 2020, 20:54
 Kxmode
 
deleted

This comment was edited on Apr 8, 2020, 02:43.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
32.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 19:58
Kxmode
 
32.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 19:58
Apr 7, 2020, 19:58
 Kxmode
 
deleted

This comment was edited on Apr 8, 2020, 02:43.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
31.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 19:38
31.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 19:38
Apr 7, 2020, 19:38
 
Stanford scientists design a toilet with facial recognition for your butthole.

Stunned

Early favorite for the Razzies.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
30.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 19:34
30.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 19:34
Apr 7, 2020, 19:34
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:25:
Spain: Flu epidemic wave of the 2019-2020 season has officially begun

"According to Amparo Larrauri with the Carlos III Health Institute, “It is estimated that in the last two seasons of influenza, epidemics have produced between 500,000 and 700,000 cases of mild disease treated in primary care; between 35,000 and 52,000 hospitalizations with influenza, and between 2,500 and 3,000 admissions in ICU with laboratory-confirmed influenza.

” Using population models, it has been estimated that in the last two seasons, the flu may have been responsible for up to 15,000 deaths attributable to this disease.

It is estimated that seasonal epidemics cause 3 to 5 million serious cases worldwide, and between 300,000 and 650,000 deaths related to the disease, most of which occur in people over 65 with special risk ."

Ok, so mortality is up 1% but there are far less sick people overall. That's attributable to many different factors. People generally don't remark on flu whereas this is a novel virus and a novel situation so obviously it's drawing attention that we never see in every regular flu season.

The last major pandemic - much worse than C19 - was the Hong Kong flu of 1968 - 1 million people dead with a 0.5% mortality rate. And the Asian Flu of 1958-1959 - which killed 2 million over two years with a similar mortality rate. You can bet that's all people were talking about during those as well.

So until this thing is actually over we won't know how bad it really was on the whole.
USA Stats:
2018-2019 Flu infections: 34M
2018-2019 Flu deaths: 35,000

COVID-19 effects in USA with no mitigating interventions taken (Stay at home, social distancing, etc.)
Total COVID-19 infections: 265M
Total COVID-19 deaths: 4M
Source.

Here's a summary.
80% of Americans would get the disease. 0.9% of them would die. Between 4 and 8 percent of all Americans over the age of 70 would die. 2.2 million Americans would die from the virus itself. It gets worse. People with severe COVID-19 need to be put on ventilators. 50% of those on ventilators still die, but the other 50% live. But in an unmitigated epidemic, the need for ventilators would be 30 times the number available in the US. Nearly 100% of these patients die.

So the actual death toll from the virus would be closer to 4 million Americans -- in a span of 3 months. 8-15% of all Americans over 70 would die. How many is 4 million people? It's more Americans than have died all at once from anything, ever. It's the population of Los Angeles. It's 4 times the number of Americans who died in the Civil War...on both sides combined. It's two-thirds as many people as died in the Holocaust. Americans make up 4.4% of the world's population. If we extrapolate these numbers to the rest of the world (warning: MOE is high here), this gives us 90 million deaths globally from COVID-19, in 3-6 months. 15 Holocausts. 1.5 times as many people as died in all of World War II.
Yup, same as the flu.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
29.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 19:18
29.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 19:18
Apr 7, 2020, 19:18
 
Blue wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:28:
Cutter wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:25:
So until this thing is actually over we won't know how bad it really was on the whole.

In that case why do you insist on constantly downplaying this with comparisons to the flu? Just stop already.

"We're approaching a sharp curve in the road. We shouldn't slow down though. Let's stay at this speed and see what happens."

We get the same attitude for global warming.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
28.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 19:15
28.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 19:15
Apr 7, 2020, 19:15
 
Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:59:
Wow, does Martin Shkreli have big balls... Shkreli’s plea from prison: Free me and I’ll cure COVID-19
He's on par w/this other fuckstick;
Our current "president" has a ‘Financial Interest’ in the manufacturer of Hydroxychloroquine.
No one could have seen that one coming. /SARCASM

"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
27.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 18:59
27.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 18:59
Apr 7, 2020, 18:59
 
Wow, does Martin Shkreli have big balls... Shkreli’s plea from prison: Free me and I’ll cure COVID-19
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
26.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 18:34
Jivaro
 
26.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 18:34
Apr 7, 2020, 18:34
 Jivaro
 
If a person is looking at a Covid-19 map like on google or bing or at the John Hopkins site, I mean looking at it daily, you can tell. Math is hard but pictures work. Over 700 people died in NY last night. One city, one night.

This isn't a matter of not understanding things.
This is a matter of not wanting to.

By the way, my fellow student who thought it was a media bullshit thing?

His mom is in hospital with Covid, is elderly, and going by his last update she will die. If I was half the asshole I claim to be I would ask him if Covid is still bullshit. Scary shit, and a hard lesson to learn. His mom followed his advice to go about life as normal because he was a "health professional now". We are fucking medical assistants with fancy certificates. His willful ignorance has probably killed his mom and he has to live with that.

probably why I seem to be all worked up about this. Gonna go have a smoke. (I know, not really a smart thing right now..lol) Take care and stay home if you can peeps.
Avatar 55841
25.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 18:28
25.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 18:28
Apr 7, 2020, 18:28
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 7, 2020, 18:25:
So until this thing is actually over we won't know how bad it really was on the whole.

In that case why do you insist on constantly downplaying this with comparisons to the flu? Just stop already.
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
Avatar 2
24.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Apr 7, 2020, 18:25
24.
Re: Out of the Blue Apr 7, 2020, 18:25
Apr 7, 2020, 18:25
 
Spain: Flu epidemic wave of the 2019-2020 season has officially begun

"According to Amparo Larrauri with the Carlos III Health Institute, “It is estimated that in the last two seasons of influenza, epidemics have produced between 500,000 and 700,000 cases of mild disease treated in primary care; between 35,000 and 52,000 hospitalizations with influenza, and between 2,500 and 3,000 admissions in ICU with laboratory-confirmed influenza.

” Using population models, it has been estimated that in the last two seasons, the flu may have been responsible for up to 15,000 deaths attributable to this disease.

It is estimated that seasonal epidemics cause 3 to 5 million serious cases worldwide, and between 300,000 and 650,000 deaths related to the disease, most of which occur in people over 65 with special risk ."

Ok, so mortality is up 1% but there are far less sick people overall. That's attributable to many different factors. People generally don't remark on flu whereas this is a novel virus and a novel situation so obviously it's drawing attention that we never see in every regular flu season.

The last major pandemic - much worse than C19 - was the Hong Kong flu of 1968 - 1 million people dead with a 0.5% mortality rate. And the Asian Flu of 1958-1959 - which killed 2 million over two years with a similar mortality rate. You can bet that's all people were talking about during those as well.

So until this thing is actually over we won't know how bad it really was on the whole.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
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