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Post by kds on Oct 19, 2021 13:05:53 GMT
One of my wife's and my Christmas traditions is an event called The Festival of Trees at the Maryland State Fairgrounds on Thanksgiving. The event features hundreds of different themed Christmas trees, as well as gingerbread houses, train gardens, vendors, and rides & games for the kiddies. It's a fun way to kick off the Christmas season.
But....I just received an email a few days ago that, for the second straight year, the event will be virtual.
This is where I get confused. Last year, I understood. But, this year? No. We've packed three Ravens home games, concerts and major events are back, indoor dining and drinking are back, kids are back in school, and all the while, the COVID numbers in Maryland are going in the right direction.
So......we can't have this charity event in late November?
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 18, 2021 13:51:42 GMT
I heard on the news yesterday that Minnesota is going to start letting anyone have vaccine boosters regardless of age or health condition because of the fact that we've had a really bad stretch with the virus here, with some of the worst rates in the country. My understanding is that the federal guidance hasn't yet gone that far, so Minnesota is slightly bucking guidance on this.
At first I was thinking I wasn't going to think much about it, since they suggest you wait at least six months after your original vaccination. Then I realized, wait, I AM six months since my original vaccination! Time flies, but it was something like May 10 when I got my second shot.
With the holidays coming up and not wanting to expose my parents (both well into their 70s) to any undue risk, I think I'm going to look into where and when I can get Jab #3. (Hopefully I'll have no reaction again, as was the case the first two times.)
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Post by kds on Nov 18, 2021 13:59:27 GMT
I don't know when Maryland eased restrictions on the booster shot, but I was able to schedule one at a local CVS without a fuss.
So, I got mine on Monday afternoon so I could have it before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Like last time, my reaction was mild, where I was pretty fatigued the day after, and I had a sore arm.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 29, 2021 15:34:01 GMT
I don't know about you all, but the emergence of the omicron variant was a little deflating--even though it doesn't surprise me in the least. (Obviously, if a virus isn't eradicated, it's going to mutate.)
It seems to me the pessimistic thought that this may not just be a one-time pandemic but rather a new, ongoing disease we're just going to have to learn to adjust to, seems more and more likely. I think we're going to end up seeing annual covid shots akin to flu shots, with scientists guessing every year as to which strain(s) they need to prepare for ... and not always being correct.
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Post by kds on Nov 29, 2021 16:24:00 GMT
I don't know about you all, but the emergence of the omicron variant was a little deflating--even though it doesn't surprise me in the least. (Obviously, if a virus isn't eradicated, it's going to mutate.)
It seems to me the pessimistic thought that this may not just be a one-time pandemic but rather a new, ongoing disease we're just going to have to learn to adjust to, seems more and more likely. I think we're going to end up seeing annual covid shots akin to flu shots, with scientists guessing every year as to which strain(s) they need to prepare for ... and not always being correct.
I've pretty much felt this way since the Delta variant was a thing. I can't shake the feeling that if the idea of vaccines hadn't became so political and divisive, this thing might be over. But, I think that ship has sailed.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 29, 2021 16:33:45 GMT
I don't know about you all, but the emergence of the omicron variant was a little deflating--even though it doesn't surprise me in the least. (Obviously, if a virus isn't eradicated, it's going to mutate.)
It seems to me the pessimistic thought that this may not just be a one-time pandemic but rather a new, ongoing disease we're just going to have to learn to adjust to, seems more and more likely. I think we're going to end up seeing annual covid shots akin to flu shots, with scientists guessing every year as to which strain(s) they need to prepare for ... and not always being correct.
I've pretty much felt this way since the Delta variant was a thing. I can't shake the feeling that if the idea of vaccines hadn't became so political and divisive, this thing might be over. But, I think that ship has sailed. I wonder whether that's true--and it very well could be. Or you could even go back further and say, if we had more serious, true lockdowns, whether it could have been contained even better prior to the vaccines' arrival (which took just about a year, right?).
However, I suppose we also ought to keep in mind that the U.S. has had a ton of political commentary and posturing about all this, and I know Western Europe has, too, to some extent. But has everywhere else? Because we're not the cause of the virus, or the sole driver of what happened or happens with it, either. So perhaps it would have changed the course somewhat in the U.S., but this all still would've kept going more or less regardless.
If it does stick around more or less forever, I wonder what will be different about life. How much will people do going forward to keep from getting sick, versus how much will they backslide into older habits and just take the risks?
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Post by kds on Nov 29, 2021 16:51:23 GMT
I've pretty much felt this way since the Delta variant was a thing. I can't shake the feeling that if the idea of vaccines hadn't became so political and divisive, this thing might be over. But, I think that ship has sailed. I wonder whether that's true--and it very well could be. Or you could even go back further and say, if we had more serious, true lockdowns, whether it could have been contained even better prior to the vaccines' arrival (which took just about a year, right?).
However, I suppose we also ought to keep in mind that the U.S. has had a ton of political commentary and posturing about all this, and I know Western Europe has, too, to some extent. But has everywhere else? Because we're not the cause of the virus, or the sole driver of what happened or happens with it, either. So perhaps it would have changed the course somewhat in the U.S., but this all still would've kept going more or less regardless.
If it does stick around more or less forever, I wonder what will be different about life. How much will people do going forward to keep from getting sick, versus how much will they backslide into older habits and just take the risks?
To be honest, since being vaccinated, I've been living my life as close to normal as possible. I never stopped going into the office. I've taken trips to the shore. I've attended football games. I even went to the movies this past weekend. The only thing that's changed is I wear a mask when required.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 14, 2021 18:07:20 GMT
Well I am officially boosted. After a few days of annoying, contradictory information on various web resources, I just decided to give it a shot to get a walk-in shot at a large grocery store. (The website says walk-ins welcome, but then if you choose to try to schedule, appointments are alternatively listed as either almost a month out, or "no covid resources within 25 miles.)
Sure enough, I get there at 11:25 and the woman asks what I'm there for. I tell her and she seems annoyed, "we don't have an open appointment until ... not until 11:30." I actually did a double-take. "Uh, so in less than five minutes?" Yep.
So that was that. I am glad to do this almost two weeks before Christmas so I will feel better about being around my elderly parent at our holiday get-together.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Dec 22, 2021 14:22:15 GMT
I've seen some lingering posts in the sports threads and it seems like a few people have things to say as the Omicron variant kicks into high gear. More sporting events are being canceled and the NHL is on pause until after Christmas. Looking at the NHL in particular, I've read they have a nearly 100% vaccination rate, so is it really necessary to shut everything down? I tend to lean towards no, but I understand the other side of the argument where kids under 5 can't get the vaccine yet and other kids can't help it if their parents don't want them to get it. On the other hand, we're never going to get to a 100% vaccination rate and at some point we have to treat it like the flu. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens once vaccines are approved for the under 5 group and more antiviral drugs come to market.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 22, 2021 14:30:33 GMT
I think with Omicron in particular, the evidence is that while it is FAR more contagious, it is FAR less dangerous, especially to vaccinated people, and then even more especially to younger and healthier people. So it doesn't make sense to treat it in the same way we treated the initial waves.
I don't think we should just say oh well, forget about it all, let's just ignore things and move on in a pre-pandemic way. But I do think we could be smarter and more nimble in our responses, changing them as the risks change. And the risks to younger, healthier, vaccinated people just aren't the same as they were before.
There is a good, long conversation between Sam Harris and Nicholas Christakis that I had playing yesterday while I was working. For me, after months of paying far less attention to the specific details and news of the virus, it was a great refresher and level-setter of what we know, what we don't, what we might want to do going forward, what to expect, etc. I highly recommend it.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Dec 22, 2021 14:46:02 GMT
I think with Omicron in particular, the evidence is that while it is FAR more contagious, it is FAR less dangerous, especially to vaccinated people, and then even more especially to younger and healthier people. So it doesn't make sense to treat it in the same way we treated the initial waves. I don't think we should just say oh well, forget about it all, let's just ignore things and move on in a pre-pandemic way. But I do think we could be smarter and more nimble in our responses, changing them as the risks change. And the risks to younger, healthier, vaccinated people just aren't the same as they were before. There is a good, long conversation between Sam Harris and Nicholas Christakis that I had playing yesterday while I was working. For me, after months of paying far less attention to the specific details and news of the virus, it was a great refresher and level-setter of what we know, what we don't, what we might want to do going forward, what to expect, etc. I highly recommend it. I'll have to check out that video (though admittedly probably not the whole thing at close to three hours). I didn't mean to say that we should just forget about it. Obviously we can react to it as needed, but I think we're overreacting right now. I guess it's better to overreact than underreact.
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Post by kds on Dec 22, 2021 14:52:08 GMT
We had a minor scare this week. Apparently, a member of his PreK class tested positive over the weekend. Once we got the news, we were looking to get a test on Monday night. No room at the inn. Urgent cares weren't taking walk ins. PM Pediatrics had a six hour wait.
So, we scheduled a test in a Minute Clinic at a local Target (where else would you rather be on December 21?). Negative. So, Christmas is on.
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Post by carllove on Dec 22, 2021 14:53:35 GMT
I think with Omicron in particular, the evidence is that while it is FAR more contagious, it is FAR less dangerous, especially to vaccinated people, and then even more especially to younger and healthier people. So it doesn't make sense to treat it in the same way we treated the initial waves.
I don't think we should just say oh well, forget about it all, let's just ignore things and move on in a pre-pandemic way. But I do think we could be smarter and more nimble in our responses, changing them as the risks change. And the risks to younger, healthier, vaccinated people just aren't the same as they were before.
There is a good, long conversation between Sam Harris and Nicholas Christakis that I had playing yesterday while I was working. For me, after months of paying far less attention to the specific details and news of the virus, it was a great refresher and level-setter of what we know, what we don't, what we might want to do going forward, what to expect, etc. I highly recommend it. Oh wow - three hours of podcast.... I started to listen, but then I saw all of the comments below. I wonder if there is a transcription somewhere? I do like the "smarter and more nimble in our responses" comment. When you are talking about government and large corporations, that is not always easily done. The NFL does seem to have been the most nimble of the sports world, and at least last year, had minimal disruption of it's season. Omicron seems to be a different beast than Delta, but the problem is that unless the tests are sent to the state, the variant of the individual that tests positive is unknown.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 22, 2021 15:03:55 GMT
On that (LONG!) podcast, I recommend treating it like background radio. I can't pretend I sat there listening attentively the whole time, either. I was just working, with it on. Sometimes it caught my attention in particular, other times I'm sure I missed plenty.
One thing I could not help but notice was how aggravated Harris was about certain dis- or misinformation being spread "by famous podcasters," etc. I think it is clear he meant people like some of those he has previously been grouped with, Joe Rogan and Bret Weinstein. I cut Rogan a lot of slack, because he's just a guy. A comedian, an MMA announcer, etc. He's not a scientist, and he has always been open to insane topics and perspectives: it's entertainment, not science. That's our job as listeners to discern. He SHOULD be able to host relative lunatics and let them say what they want to say, but who the hell cares what Joe Rogan thinks about vaccines, for example?
Weinstein is different. He's an evolutionary biologist with a Ph.D., and you expect more from someone in that situation. His perspective over the past couple years went from curious and skeptical to what I'd call conspiracy-theory crazy. (Endlessly talking about the risks of the vaccines, which seem minimal; and the benefits of dubious treatments like [famously] Ivermectin, which seems wildly inflated at best.) So I get where Harris would be upset about that.
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Post by B.E. on Dec 22, 2021 15:07:41 GMT
I’m surrounded. A client I interacted with last week tested positive. I got tested (negative) so I thought I was safe for Christmas, but then a coworker tested positive in the office. And while I haven’t been in the office, that means I’m back at the client location today and tomorrow. I also got the booster and was pretty darn sick for a day and half. Terrible timing!
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