Visiting Las Vegas

Yes we saw the Brilliant Show: not sure of the standing arrangements after covid but we got a senior discount, great show.

You are still worried about the corona scam?

I truly hope/wish you are right that coronavirus/pandemic is a scam.  But I dont' believe it is a scam.  I'll assume you aren't taking the vaccine nor doing any of the other recommended precautions.  I believe it is my duty to ask you to at least wear a mask, sanitize hands often, and stay away from crowds.   I practically lived on the doorstep of our pharmacy until they got the vaccine in. 

I remain shocked and dismayed that some health care personnel, yourself included or so you say, choose not to take the vaccine.  Insulting to the rest of us who are taking it to protect ourselves and protect you.  Shame on you.

Maybe it IS a scam.  Maybe there IS no such thing as covid-19 despite the case and death statistics all over the world.  Far as I know it is confirmable by testing, right?  Many millions of experts (and families of those who died of it) cannot deny it exists.  So why not get vaccinated anyway even if you have doubts it is real?  I've never had shingles but I've seen the misery experienced by patients who got it, so like with corona I didn't walk I ran to get the shingles vaccine (both of them).  I've never had a confirmed case of influenza but I wouldn't miss the yearly flu shot for any reason.  I don't plan to have a car wreck but I buy auto insurance anyway 'cause I'm not the only driver on the road.  You do things to prevent what could happen when they are established as known risks and there is something available to mitigate the risks.

Renowned and erudite Doctor Patey assures us that it's all a scam, and that the six hundred thousand-plus people who have died, uh, aren't really dead, or something. My two friends who died of Covid last year will be overjoyed to learn that they actually survived. It was all a big hoax.

That seems utterly delusional, to say that the pandemic is all some gigantic conspiracy, but there are apparently millions of Americans who believe exactly that.

At least, almost all the deaths now are unvaccinated people, which lends a karmic element to it. The trouble is, in the process of dying like morons, they also infect and kill other people.

Our tour guide pointed out the "spikes" implanted to divert glare from the sun hitting the dam face.  Those spikes also increase the 'gruesome factor' during recovery of "jumpers", of which there are (or were at the time) a disturbing number every year.  Yikes!

Candy

I wonder how many apprehended card counters "jumped" over the years. Spike and Vito were always willing to go the extra mile for their bosses.

As far as Covid vaccinations, making incorrect decisions in a time of crisis is one of Nature's ways of draining the shallow end of the gene pool.

The more I read about anti-vaxers the madder I get.  Other than a very small number of folks with true (and rare) contraindications to vaccines, confirmed and documented by their MDs, every human is obligated to take the Covid-19 vaccination, IMO.  Not even my humble opionion, my very strong opinion.

Our paper today has a story of 3 persons (all female) who rejected the vaccine, different reasons: "Wait and see", "Hasn't been fully approved yet", "I'm never sick, don't need it", all three are now in the ICU with Covid.  Of course they or their loved ones are urging people to take the vaccine.  Might be too late for them.   

Our hospitals and ICUs are filling up again.

Sadly, I can top that. A couple of days ago, the New York Times ran a story about Covid resurgence in the state with the lowest vaccination rate: Arkansas. At a regional hospital (the only one with an ICU in several counties), they interviewed three recovering patients, all of whom had not been vaccinated and had almost died. Two of them said that people shouldn't get the vaccine. I mean, Jesus!--what more encouragement would you need?

They also interviewed a doctor. She was working multiple sixteen-hour shifts, and was clearly exhausted and angry. Arkansas has a horrible healthcare system, except in its cities. There was literally no one to assist her. She said that she had been relieved when the vaccines became available and thought that at last, she wouldn't have to care for critically ill patients crowding the ICU. Now, it's starting all over again.

If I was a healthcare professional who had struggled through the covid crisis, and my hospital started filling up once again with idiot hillbilly no-vaxxer nimrods, I might just say "let 'em die, the assholes." Of course, that would contradict medical ethics, so it won't happen, but it must be tempting. Why bust your ass to save someone who's in trouble because of their own foolishness and stupidity?

I think we should maybe not force, but strongly incentivize vaccinations. Like you can't do x, y, or z unless you're vaccinated. Of course, evil scumbags like the governors of Florida and Texas have issued royal decrees that no one can do that. Assholes!

Thank God, thank God, thank God that I live in a Democratic state!

I don't want mandated vaccines, but I fully support every establishment's right to mandate only vaccinated visitors............goverment and private businesses.