It's certainly true, as far as the partisan nature of things.  I'm not old by any stretch of the imagination, but I can remember when people could work together to get something accomplished.  Now, the weirdest thing is that you can be in conversation with someone and it could be a very jovial and lighthearted thing, but the second politics are mentioned if you are in disagreement there's an issue.  I just don't get it.  Even within a particular sect or party (at least here in the USA) people want 100% compliance, so it's not just Democrat v Republican, it can also be Far Left vs more moderate.

The thing that bothers me the most about politics, particularly Christians and politics, is that the only thing that really seems to matter is whether someone is on "your side" or not. It doesn't matter what they do. It could be completely and totally abhorrent. It could be morally bankrupt and potentially illegal. It could be blatant hypocrisy. As long as they're on "your side", it's all good.

This image illustrates what I'm talking about beautifully. Please forgive the language.

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So I am solidly in the camp of the less politics I have to listen to the better.  It really makes me sick that I can't even watch a sporting event now without being spoon fed something political, no matter what side of the political sphere it's from.

A positive I am drawing from this is I am spending less time watching adults playing a kids game and being vastly overpaid for it, and more time with more productive and constructive hobbies.  I am back into my music, spending more time with my family, etc.

So while I am opposed to the hyper political nature of the world, it is actually turning out for the better.

Quote from: Pete on August 24, 2020, 09:21:47 amHere's another study about the misperceptions of risk in COVID-19. Some interesting data points from the article;

1. On average, Americans believe that people aged 55 and older account for just over half of total COVID-19 deaths; the actual figure is 92%.

2. Americans believe that people aged 44 and younger account for about 30% of total deaths; the actual figure is 2.7%.

3. Americans overestimate the risk of death from COVID-19 for people aged 24 and younger
by a factor of 50; and they think the risk for people aged 65 and older is half of what it actually is (40% vs 80%).


If you're a facts and figures kind of person and geek out on data like I do, I highly suggest reading the whole thing. While there is absolutely a risk associated with COVID-19, I believe this study demonstrates that Americans have a gross and disproportionate level of concern vs. reality.

This is not to say I don't think they should be working on treatments and/or vaccines.  Just to say that data doesn't support the level of hysteria and concern we've been told is necessary.

https://www.franklintempleton.com/investor/article?contentPath=html/ftthinks/en-us-retail/cio-views/on-my-mind-they-blinded-us-from-science.html

I agree with a lot of things that the article talks about.
And it furthers my POV.

The chances of dying from this virus is fairly low for most people.
I'm one of those in the 50+ range with "comorbidities".
Supplanter (wife) has her physical ailments too but is much younger than me.

I'm not concerned that I will die... neither is she. That never has been our real concern all along.

Our main concern is the sepsis reaction that causes all the damage from getting this virus.

There's a huge group of people who have "recovered" but now have kidney, liver, heart, or lung damage from the sepsis reaction to this virus...they may not have needed to even go to the hospital...but they still feel dragging around for months...

That's our biggest fear. Fairly certain that I'm tougher than a bug...don't mind being sick either.

I do mind never getting my wind back...or having heart issues when I never had them before. Kidneys are hard to come by too...mine are already on their last leggs from all the caffeine.

That's the real reason for pause.

There's a bunch of hubaloo over a three weeks long fishing charter boat from Seattle that left with one or more guys sick...there was only three guys that came back who weren't sick because they had it before.

Everyone else had a case of it and one guy had to be hospitalized...there was 120+ people on board the charter vessel.

High high contagion rate.
One guy in the hospital who I'm sure will live out of over 120 cases.
Of course I expect to live if I get this thing...might not, but hey...can't threaten me with a good time. But being more of an invalid than I already am? Arthritis sucks, having even more issues breathing than allergies? Kidney issues?
No thanks!

Here's another study about the misperceptions of risk in COVID-19. Some interesting data points from the article;

1. On average, Americans believe that people aged 55 and older account for just over half of total COVID-19 deaths; the actual figure is 92%.

2. Americans believe that people aged 44 and younger account for about 30% of total deaths; the actual figure is 2.7%.

3. Americans overestimate the risk of death from COVID-19 for people aged 24 and younger
by a factor of 50; and they think the risk for people aged 65 and older is half of what it actually is (40% vs 80%).


If you're a facts and figures kind of person and geek out on data like I do, I highly suggest reading the whole thing. While there is absolutely a risk associated with COVID-19, I believe this study demonstrates that Americans have a gross and disproportionate level of concern vs. reality.

This is not to say I don't think they should be working on treatments and/or vaccines.  Just to say that data doesn't support the level of hysteria and concern we've been told is necessary.

https://www.franklintempleton.com/investor/article?contentPath=html/ftthinks/en-us-retail/cio-views/on-my-mind-they-blinded-us-from-science.html

Either way the drug company is in clinical trials.

The third quarter ends in September...
Then comes stage 2 trials which is when the proper size dosing comes along and begins to treat people...they are looking for different things at all stages of the trials.

Stage 3 is some group's lucky day.

It's when a region gets widespread use. It could be a state, a small nation, or something else where thousands of people are exposed to the new drug.

Quote from: Pete on August 18, 2020, 06:29:21 pmHere's an image I just posted on Facebook today. This is a dot map showing the impact of COVID-19 on the United States in the context of the entire population. Each square represents 10,000 people. Green squares represent people who tested negative. Blue squares represent people who tested positive but have since recovered. Yellow squares represent active infections. Red squares represent people who have died.

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Unfortunately I live in the grey section right next to the yellow and red squares.
The green is in my neighborhood too. Same as the Blue.

Construction workers are a hot group...they have had whole jobs with 97% positive tests. Of course they send everyone home and get new temps to replace them.
We are disposable.

So most temps go to another agency and go right back out to work to infect another jobsite.

Where I think that I could get over the virus I'm not sure if my wonderful wife would...she is not replaceable. One of a kind and very unique. She probably would survive but be one of those who got damaged kidneys, heart, lungs, or liver.

Soooo....
I'm going to be waiting for the drugs that fight this thing.

Here's an image I just posted on Facebook today. This is a dot map showing the impact of COVID-19 on the United States in the context of the entire population. Each square represents 10,000 people. Green squares represent people who tested negative. Blue squares represent people who tested positive but have since recovered. Yellow squares represent active infections. Red squares represent people who have died.

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Clinical trials...

No one is going to take this antiviral unless they know...

Then there's at least two screenings by those giving out the medicine and a double screening by the drug company.

These double screening are for trying to ensure the patient can tolerate the medicine...if anything these days they skew the numbers towards approval...but not by two separate entities.

Then there's the blizzard of paperwork and monitoring.

Then there's the whole double blind thing... nobody really knows who is or is not getting the meds.