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  1. This. I've had Covid and I'm in the over 50 crowd. On a scale of 1-10 on how bad it was? About a 3. For 2-3 days my lower back was killing me and going up the stairs from the basement was exhausting. I had a big of a cough. For about 2-3 days. Otherwise...meh. I have natural anti-bodies now. Even the CDC says I should wait 3 months before getting the vaccine. I probably don't need it at all now that I've had it. They are going to push for the vaccine for people like me because "to be on the safe side/money/big pharma (take your pick.)
    6 points
  2. I completely understand where you are coming from. I know that as I often post the counter position to the pro-vaccine narrative that I must be considered quite the anti-vaxxer, and yet I don't consider myself as such (In fact, aside from never taking flu shots and having concerns about covid vaccines being too early to tell and one-sided in reporting, I'm fully vaccinated aside from tetanus boosters after a bad reaction leaving my arm in a state of paralysis for a week following my last booster 20+ years ago). My position has always been that of pushing for informed consent where we have better information to work with and don't have to be worried about medical tyranny forcing any procedure on any individual or group, it needs to be a voluntary decision made based on the best available evidence (including the risks that don't get their due attention). This current vaccine push does appear to be opening others eyes to how the information is presented works in favor of one authorized outcome which is sadly not new in the world of vaccines. The messaging is always "safe and effective" downplaying vaccine reactions, injuries and deaths while up-playing disease risks and complications. Consider that throughout this pandemic anyone with Covid at the time of death could have been documented as a covid death, even if they didn't die of covid. This unnecessarily inflates the numbers making it appear more dangerous than it is. On the flip side, vaccine reactions are only passively monitored through VAERS where they should be followed up on with better data analysis than it is capable of providing (as though they don't really want to know about problems) and then simply considered unverified and probably only a temporal association. When disease rates come down after vaccination campaigns correlation is causation, but when adverse events go up with the campaign correlation is not causation. It certainly continues to breed mistrust when now that vaccines are out that diagnostic criteria are changing and how covid deaths are reported and recorded are changing, so that by changing definitions we can make the disease less problematic. It ultimately means that we can't compare apples to apples and have junk data. You may find this a worthwhile watch:
    4 points
  3. I remember a song from my early childhood in the '60s called "Ode to Billy Joe". One lyric went: There was a virus going 'round; Papa caught it, and he died last spring And now Mama doesn't seem to want to do much of anything People have been dying of flus and other viruses since mankind began. This is not only not new, it's not a startling horror. It's a part of life, and has been since time immemorial. So when the news media and the political establishment use a virus as an excuse to engender widespread panic and consolidate their power, I recognize the evil taking place. It's no wild-eyed conspiracy theory to see what's going on right before our very eyes. We are facing a shift in social paradigms and a permanent change in liberties due to a temporary issue. But woe to anyone who dares bring that up! You are shamed into silence with the most vicious of accusations—"People will DIE because of that!" Strangely enough, people die anyway, all the time. People die horrifically in automobile accidents, yet you don't see calls to get rid of motor vehicles. People die all the time in alcohol-related incidents, yet many today scoff at efforts 100 years ago to do away with such evils by getting rid of the drug that caused it. Death is very literally a part of life. But it's now okay to socially ostracize people and even refuse to employ them or allow them legally to mingle in society without putting on their paper-filter gas masks. And if you point out that the masks are of poor efficiency, you will simply be shouted down by the Ignorami screaming their favorite insult: "Science Denier®!!!" Of course, all nuance is lost. It's impossible to question the veracity of claims without being assumed (and labeled) an anti-vaxxer. This is true, even if you have explicitly said the opposite. It's impossible to point out the concerning loss of personal liberties without being portrayed as a misanthropic troglodyte. Sometimes I really, deeply loath our society and the stupidity of the masses (including, or especially, the masses that consider themselves educated). Just another of a long list of unChristlike traits I'm working to better myself on.
    3 points
  4. Both valid points. Even though it’s been a year and half since the outbreak of COVID-19, no one fully understands this virus or knows what the long-term effects are going to be from getting the virus or the vaccinations. As for those who criticize people who have chosen not to receive the vaccination yet, there are valid points in not doing so. If anyone should be criticized, it should be agencies like the CDC who bred mistrust in the first place for its contradictions and those in the medical community that stopped behaving like medical professionals when presenting skewed and biased data to the public to fit a narrative. Just give us the data and let us draw our own conclusions rather than have us listen to the obvious spins. The misinformation and one-sided reporting can’t help but create skeptics. The blame really needs to be directed at those who poorly managed the information the public needed to know during this crisis. What makes me seriously consider getting the vaccine now are the statistics. Is the data perfect? No. Can it be trusted? I think to a degree. While we don’t know how much the numbers may be skewed, I trust the general trend of the numbers, and that trend is clearly showing us that the benefits of receiving the vaccine far outweigh any risks associated with receiving the vaccine. But you have to ask yourself, have you already had coronavirus and recovered and possibly have natural antibodies already built up in your system? The vaccine might not be necessary for you in that case. Still too much we don’t know. Have you already had the virus and how old are you? These are important questions to ask ourselves when considering if the vaccination is necessary. I’ve had coronavirus and recovered, and I’m 35 years old which puts me in a low risk category from dying from COVID-19. Should I get the vaccination? I’m not sure at this point considering the statistics. But what I do know is the media, the CDC, and everyone else should more focused on the necessity of the vaccination for people who have naturally created antibodies against COVID-19. This is hardly talked about or investigated at all, something else that breeds mistrust since looking into it doesn’t fit the media’s pro-vaccine narrative.
    3 points
  5. This is a good point as to why mistrust is bred with COVID-19 vaccinations. Only a Sith Lord speaks in absolutes. Since when in the history of the US did the CDC and others In the medical community vehemently speak in absolutes rather than the traditional approach of methodically evaluating pros and cons? It’s such an aggressive push to get people to shut up and take the vaccine and save their questions for later.
    3 points
  6. I’m all for medical marijuana for proper uses… but he literally said This is exactly like lustful people getting married for a pried period so they can have sex
    2 points
  7. So, I've been a hobbyist prepper and zombie flick aficionado for two decades now. I started talking and reading about pandemics and killer flu and biological warfare back in the late '80's. Absolutely zero things I've heard in the last 18 months about COVID have surprised me. None of it is new. Conflicting, changing, and contradictory messages from "them in charge" isn't new. Public health mandates being anything from helpful to tyrannical is not new. People being all over the map on opinions, everyone yelling at the top of their lungs, even getting violent, not new. Political and cultural radicalization and an increase in crime/violence/uprisings/killings - not new. You know what else isn't new? Here - let this sink in for a minute. The going notion by historians who have followed the history of global pandemics: You'll never get much more than 70% of any large free population vaccinated. No matter how much you try. I am hugely grateful for an effective vaccine. I'm thrilled that me and my family are now ~288x less likely to have severe negative impacts of COVID. I'm a fan of efforts to educate people and encourage vaccination. Arguing in the public square, and having different sources battle it out. Walmart giving out $100 gift cards to anyone who gets vaccinated. State lotteries. Employers offering incentives to people who get vaccinated. I'm an enthusiastic participant in the first one. We have an effective vaccine - shout it from the rooftops! But yeah, history and human nature dictate that attempts to force folks to get the shot simply won't work. Communist China at it's most gun-pointingly totalitarian can improve on 70%, and Israel with their "everything that isn't us is an enemy" mindset can do it. Do you think New York banning black people from restaurants will do anything? Yeah, if you haven't already had COVID, get your shot. But if you need someone to show up to protest unconstitutional mandates, gimme a call.
    2 points
  8. This is all that has happened ^^^ Changed definitions. Changed PCR levels. Changed covid registering requirements. We are simply fed the data they want us to have, to do the thing they want us to do = shut up and comply
    2 points
  9. Another talk on the horizon with the topic: "Making the Sabbath a delight at both church and at home". I've personally had sabbaths of every flavor. Does anyone have a secret or something they do or don't do on Sundays to make them a 'delight'? Has anyone figured out how to change their Sunday from childhood torture to adulthood delight OR vice versa? Any ideas & suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!
    1 point
  10. Backroads

    When we behave as Zion

    A share from a Facebook group. Struck a chore with me. Those precious times of one heart.
    1 point
  11. My dad is a legislator in NV. He sometimes seeks counsel from the Church on issues. When NV was looking to legalize MJ, he likes to sum up the guidance he got as "Don't smoke it"
    1 point
  12. But....they don’t take issue with it. In fact, them saying they oppose it for “non medical” reasons heavily implies that they don’t have an issue with medicinal use. Personally? I’m not sure what I’d do, and I don’t worry about it. When they issue that teaching, than I’ll think about it.
    1 point
  13. Does it even really matter then if the Church takes issue with it or not? If the Church said 'don't do it', would you stop using it anyways?
    1 point
  14. What do your studies suggest is the answer?
    1 point
  15. This is one I have to admit I still struggle with. I have a internal fight between the way I was raised (tradition) and what I think is best. I do like President Nelson's question on how to make the Sabbath a delight -- principle based. Maybe truly take it as a day of rest -- 24 hours of sleep minus 2 hours of church. 😉
    1 point
  16. For more context, my curiosity to see what marijuana was like was spurred on by me wanting to escape my reality at the time due to depression. My primary motive in trying weed was to deal with my mental state, although the main reason the doctor greenlighted me for the marijuana medical card was to deal with my occasional back pain (state law at the time didn't allow medical marijuana cards to be issued to treat mental issues, but now can be used by anyone over a certain age with a recent law that passed). If by demonic experience you simply mean committing a sin, I would say yes, as would any violation to the Word of Wisdom. But the Lord considers motive and all factors in our lives leading up to everything we do, and He will judge me accordingly. Does weed generally make people hallucinate? No. That's very uncommon, and I realize that, but I had the experience I did maybe due to the extra hash that stoner girl added. Do harder drugs like acid make people hallucinate? Yes. My uncle told me he saw demons while using acid for the first time.
    1 point
  17. I've not bothered to read most of the thread, but happened to see this in my notifications. You're right that putting it in terms of life expectancy is kind of silly. It is a little alarming, but only in the sense that if only old people are dying, life expectancy shouldn't drop that much. To get a big drop in life expectancy, you'd need a significant number of young people to die. But life expectancy doesn't mean much compared between two adjacent years. It's a metric that has more meaning as a long term trend. A more meaningful way to look at it is-- and I'll do so without looking up the reference-- but the CDC's preliminary report on 2020 mortality estimated a 15% increase in total mortality in 2020 compared to 2019. That's a pretty big jump. Especially considering that most causes of death saw lower numbers. For instance, automobile deaths were something like half of what they usually are (at least through July; I stopped paying attention after that). For a different way to look at it, the current estimate for COVID deaths is 618,000. Certainly there's some wiggle in that number depending on differences of "died of" vs "died with", but let's go ahead and assume that, generally speaking, most of those deaths are related to complications from COVID and round it down to 600,000. The estimated US population is about 331.5 million. numerator, meet denominator and you get 0.18% of the population has died of complications from COVID. In other words, a little bit shy of 2 out of every 1,000 people. Okay, I looked this one up, because I was curious. Leading causes of death in the U.S. (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm) COVID would take 3rd place on that list in 2020. It was pretty bad.
    1 point
  18. Just_A_Guy

    Banned Members

    Good to see you back, @MarginOfError. I hope you stick around; I always feel smarter after reading your posts (even when I don’t agree with your extremist radical pinko-commie ways! )
    1 point
  19. MarginOfError

    Banned Members

    Speaking of Banned Members...I'm back! Probably only briefly though. I'm mostly only here because I'm in desperate need of escapism at the moment. I could probably say more on this than anyone cares to, but I'll go brief. I'll also be lazy and not bother putting together sources or references. (See previous comment about escapism) Simply put, under my advisement--after having read a news article and spoken to all our nursing mothers-- I convinced my previous bishop to establish a practice of the young women passing the sacrament in our ward. It was limited in scope to exactly one of them sitting in the foyer, taking the tray from whoever came out, and then walking it into the mother's lounge (we had 7 children born in the span of about four months, the mother's lounge was constantly occupied). The only complaint I ever encountered was that "women can't administer the sacrament." So I pulled out D&C 20: something and showed them where it said that neither Deacons nor Teachers were authorized to administer the sacrament. Therefore, preparing and passing the sacrament must not be "administering the sacrament." The section of the handbook which Colirio cites mentions priesthood holders passing, but that isn't a doctrinal limitation and could be changed relatively easily. That was really the only obstacle, which we dismissed with the fact that the women being served had a clear preference for a young women coming into the room over a young man. As described by someone else, the issue with the missionaries holding Sacrament on a Wednesday really isn't that the sisters helped to pass, it's that the missionaries authorized themselves to do it. They just don't have the authority to do that.
    1 point
  20. My friend posted this video on his Facebook feed, and Facebook -- of course -- had it labeled as misleading context. I clicked on it to see what misleading information I would receive this time and it could only say that articles specify masks work. I was pretty sure I kept hearing the science was settled on "masks" and yet you have plenty of scientific articles -- about masks -- which are ignored. Its amazing when you begin to study for yourself what you actually see out there, and how easily to see who is misleading.
    1 point
  21. Like normal, here I come out of left field asking questions and making statements that would normally be welcome in the free market of ideas, but lately are grounds for woke treason. IMHO mandates and increasing threats of isolation don't work. The logical course of action to take in regards to people's concerns with mRNA vaccines is to offer them other choices. The NOVAVAX vaccine, which data shows is superior to all our currently available mRNA experimental vaccines ( https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/06/novavax-now-best-covid-19-vaccine/619276/ ) is based on familiar protein sub-unit technology, and Bharat Biotech International Limited's COVAXIN vaccine is based on traditional inactivated whole virus technology. Both have been administered to millions in other countries and would find a welcome audience in the United States. All available data indicates that they are safe and effective against COVID and its associated variants. If the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would focus on approving these for emergency use it would do far more than the current threats of force and isolation against the unvaccinated. Good science on new health technologies and treatments never speaks in the black and white terms that are currently being thrown around the medical industry.
    1 point
  22. 1- Yep, we're still learning how long the antibodies last, either natural or from the vaccine. I was in the Moderna phase III trial, got my 1st shot a year ago last week. I have periodic blood tests, next one early September. Make sure you watch the news the next day - they'll tell ya' how my antibodies are doing! My buddy caught the virus last year too, and it was a sad day when he finally caved to work/fiance/family pressure to get vaccinated anyway. I don't know if it was a waste of time or not, but he's doing fine. 2- I'm ok with any of the 3 US brands out there. Moderna or Pfizer are the two new science-fiction-y lab-grown mRNA string vaccines. They don't actually have any COVID virus in the shot. These require two shots. The Johnson & Johnson one is old school traditional "weakened or dead virus" vaccine, only one shot needed. I hear the Chinese-made vaccine being used in China may not be as effective on the variants, as the US 3 seem to be. That's about all I know of the different kinds.
    1 point
  23. @NeuroTypical I'm not anti-vaccination, but the media, politics and misinformation turned me off from the COVID-19 vaccine. I couldn't trust any information after being dumbfounded by the many contradictions that were pumped out by supposed authoritative sources like the CDC as everyone has scrambled for over a year claiming to have the answers to something they didn't fully understand. Never have I seen a health issue politicized the way COVID-19 has been. And then, speedier than any other vaccine to be approved, they fast-tracked the approval process for the COVID-19 vaccinations with the FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, I've been astonished that for the first time ever, world economies nearly came to a complete halt over what many described as a virus not much more serious than the flu but more contagious. With that said, the media finally started speaking my language recently by using meaningful statistics in their headlines over the typical politized squabble. And to your point, the statistics win the case to be vaccinated. The benefits of taking the vaccine clearly outweigh the negative side effects. I am not vaccinated at this point in time, but after reviewing the statistics and seeing the FDA is close to giving its full endorsement for the vaccines, I think I might proceed in receiving the vaccine. Two questions for you: 1.) I had the 'rona back in January 2020 before anyone knew what it is was. One gray area around COVID-19 is how long do the naturally produced antibodies last in someone who has recovered from it? I know the Delta variant is out there and I might not have immunity against that, but I wouldn't want to inject that vaccination cocktail into my system if I still have natural immunity. 2.) Which vaccine do you recommend?
    1 point
  24. Could willfully experimenting with drugs when you knows it’s wrong be a demonic experience in and of itself?
    1 point
  25. askandanswer

    Banned Members

    I remember reading some church history material from about the 1920's or 30's that indicated that it was at that time the responsibility of the Young Women to prepare the sacrament table. The same material did not include any references to the Young Women being involved in the blessing or passing of the sacrament. Unfortunately, I have no idea what or where those sources are.
    1 point
  26. Not surprised one bit at this point if the video disappears from Youtube. Here is a link to the video as well as the information from the studies the doctor is referring to: https://hancockcountypatriots.blogspot.com/2021/08/dr-dan-stocks-presentation-to-mt-vernon.html
    1 point
  27. I was just listening to a doctor who mentioned that there are people who are still showing immunity with the Spanish Flu. If that is correct, as I don't have access to the reports they mentioned -- natural immunity seems to last longer. EDIT: Actually this is possibly two sources that highlight this: 1) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/flu-survivors-still-immune-after-90-years 2) https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2008/08/researchers-find-long-lived-immunity-1918-pandemic-virus
    1 point
  28. laronius

    Tried even as Abraham?

    This is a really interesting thought. The foreshadowing of the atonement of Christ is pretty clear but when speaking of the trial of Abraham we rarely put ourselves in the place of Isaac. He obviously had great trust in his father as his father was an old man by this time and Isaac could have probably resisted his father but he didn't. This is a testament to the character of both father and son and like you say an indicator of the kind or trust and true submission that God eventually requires of us. Reminds me of the talk by Elder Holland where he talks about the suffering that must have been experienced by both the Father and the Son when God had to for a time forsake his Son in his greatest hour of suffering. Like you @Traveler if that is truly a requirement of exaltation than I have a ways to go yet.
    1 point
  29. Holy crap, that is excellent news! With around 60% of the state's 8.8million vaccinated, that makes the 'rona death rate of vaccinated NJians to be around 0.0009%. Compared to NJ's unvaccinated 'rona death rate of 0.27%, what more undeniable, clear, transparently glorious and wonderful proof of the vaccine's effectiveness could there possibly be? (I mean, the article doesn't make that clear, but people get it, right?) Wanna reduce your chances of dying of 'rona by two-hundred and eighty times? Get the vaccine. Wanna increase your chances of dying of 'rona by 280X? Don't get the vaccine. Thanks Carb, for posting this wonderful news! I'm seeing similar good reports everywhere. Dang I'm glad we've got effective vaccines against this thing. Now, only the most stubbornly blinder-wearing folks out there are able to cling to a false belief that the vaccine isn't effective. I mean, folks can still say things like "it's not for me" or "I have the right to decide for myself" or "I'm concerned about possible long-term effects", or "0.27%? I'll take my chances, thank you", or some such. There remain several valid principled arguments against the vaccine. But with the entire world's populations showing results similar to New Jersey, nobody can hope to say the vaccine isn't wildly effective against the virus, and hope to maintain a shred of credibility. Denying the vaccine's effectiveness, in the face of several months of relevant data, is now tantamount to denying the earth is a sphere. I always figured these guys knew what they were doing. Especially the superstar combination of medical doctor, former medical researcher, and prophet of the Lord. \
    1 point
  30. I've tried many times. 😉
    0 points
  31. MarginOfError

    Banned Members

    I've always fancied myself more of a purple-commie
    0 points
  32. The spirit told me I’m right… so if you disagree with me then you are disagreeing with the spirit… so I win
    0 points
  33. "You can do that?" - all the teenagers
    0 points
  34. Just_A_Guy

    Banned Members

    You could have, sure. But now you don’t have to! Just one more service I provide . . .
    0 points
  35. Backroads

    Banned Members

    The chalice from the palace (church) failed to hold the brew that was true?
    0 points
  36. Colirio

    Banned Members

    Sounds like the start of another tradition: General Authority visits a ward. *Looks at congregation.* *Looks at chalice.* *Looks back at congregation.* Whispers to bishop “It’s the rule going forward that the highest ranking authority in attendance takes the sacrament first…”
    0 points
  37. Sadly @NeedleinA - this will probably be removed from YouTube. Most likely the studies he is using will probably disappear also.
    0 points