The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

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Wayne Gary

David,

I agree with Kurt, Two Guys is good. 

Another is Prego's Pasta, 4930 Greenville between Lovers Ln and University. 

David Cordell

A couple of COVID thoughts.

First, I am tired of the phrase "follow the science". As far as I can tell, the decisions have nothing to do with science, and everything to do with statistics. I further question whether the statistics are correct, e.g. whether a deceased individual died OF COVID or WITH COVID.

Second, the CDC is essentially making all the decisions. Note that CDC stands for Center for Disease Control. Dr. Fauci's position is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. That's all fine, except they are focused on one narrow area of well-being - physical diseases. 

They are concerned with COVID, but they aren't concerned with other measures of well-being, or lack thereof, caused by masking and lock-downs. Examples: increased drug abuse, increased physical abuse, declining educational advancement, reduced ability of young children to develop language skills, declining work ethic, increased reliance on government assistance, reduction in economic growth, increased inflation from governmental spending, lower standards of living, etc.

David Cordell

Here is a recent editorial from The Wall Street Journal.

States of Covid Performance

A new study compares outcomes on economy, education and health.

The Editorial Board

April 10, 2022 6:22 pm ET

More than two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s time to draw some conclusions about government policy and results. The most comprehensive comparative study we’ve seen to date was published last week as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and it deserves wide attention.

The authors are University of Chicago economist Casey Mulligan and Stephen Moore and Phil Kerpen of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. They compare Covid outcomes in the 50 states and District of Columbia based on three variables: the economy, education and mortality. It’s a revealing study that belies much of the conventional medical and media wisdom during the pandemic, especially in its first year when severe lockdowns were described as the best, and the only moral, policy.

The nearby table shows the state ranking based on a combined score of the three variables. Utah ranks first by a considerable margin over Nebraska and Vermont. The Beehive State scored well across all three categories: fourth on the economy, fifth in education (as measured by lost days in school), and eighth in Covid mortality adjusted for a state population’s age and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes (leading co-morbidities for Covid deaths). The authors used a regression analysis for the economy that adjusted for state industry composition.

The top 10 in the rankings are smaller states with the notable exception of Florida, which ranks sixth. Recall how the Sunshine State’s decision to open itself relatively soon after the first lockdowns was derided as cruel and destructive. Gov. Ron DeSantis was called “Governor DeathSentence.”

The study ranks Florida 28th in mortality, in the middle off the pack and about the same as California, which ranks 27th despite its far more stringent lockdowns and school closures. But Florida ranks third for the least education loss and 13th in economic performance. California ranks 47th overall because its shutdowns crushed the economy (40th) and in-person school (50th).

In other words, Florida did about average on mortality as other states, but it did far better in protecting its citizens from severe economic harm and its children from lost schooling. “The correlation between health and economy scores is essentially zero,” say the authors, “which suggests that states that withdrew the most from economic activity did not significantly improve health by doing so.”

The NBER working paper presents the data straight without policy conclusions, but here’s one of ours: The severe lockdown states suffered much more on overall social well-being in return for relatively little comparative benefit on health.

The most extreme example of this tradeoff is Hawaii, an isolated island state with an economy heavily dependent on tourism. The state came closest of any to imposing a version of China’s zero-Covid policy as it shut down travel to the islands. The result was a stellar performance on mortality—first by a big margin. But it finished last in economic performance and 46th in education.

The bottom 10 are dominated by states and D.C. that had the most stringent lockdowns and were among the last to reopen schools. Their economies are for the most part still behind most others in recovering from the pandemic.

New York, whose former Governor Andrew Cuomo was celebrated as a Covid hero, ranks 49th. Albany’s severe and overlong economic shutdown (48th) had no payoff in mortality (47th). New Jersey ranks last with a miserable performance across the board. Gov. Phil Murphy didn’t save lives, but he did savage the economy and punish students as he followed the teachers union demands on school closures to rank 41st on education.

Another lesson we’d draw that the authors don’t in their paper: Thank the U.S. Constitution for our federalist system of government. States were largely able to implement their own policies. The outcomes would have been much worse had Washington imposed a single national policy as dictated by the federal bureaucracy.

Let’s hope we absorb the lessons of these state outcomes for how to respond to the next pandemic—and there will be a next one.

Steve Keene

Lance,

No difficulty hearing God.  He is hardwired into my soul.  If He cannot reach me immediately, I just have to read His Letter to us and He speaks to me there.

  I told the Castillian bunch that I went to eat lunch with Hull.  I had the fish tacos and Hull ordered the fat cat fish.

Happy Birthday Jim Richmond.

Kurt Fischer

David:

Being a local guy, I've been guided by certain metrics during the Covid epidemic.  I use the statistics published by Plano ISD as being indicative of our current situation.  Within PISD, we peaked at around 3.25% of the students having Covid (omicron) at the same time.  Today we have 0.03% of the students with Covid (thirteen kids across the entire district).  Since the beginning of the school year 16.3% of the kids have come down with Covid.  Teachers faired a bit worse and 30.5% have had Covid during the same time period. (currently 0.02% of the teachers have Covid).

What does this tell me?

First, we are living in an environment in which masks are optional and seem to be worn by only those with personal concerns.  In this environment, our Covid spread is pretty low right now.  What we are doing seems to be working.

Second, although Covid Omicron was very contagious, only 16% of the kids caught it, while 30% of the teachers.  In spite of the refrain that Covid is not like flu, it sure seems to come and go like flu.  I'm not privy to statistics about how many of these inviduals died from Covid, but the number has to be very low.  In short, it seems like we now have enough experience to understand how Covid impacts the population and it is less like the bubonic plague and more like the flu.  I admit I'm confounded by the published mortality rate in the US.  Perhaps the initial Covid was more deadly than today.

Third, we should not be implementing the same measures today that we implemented earlier in the epidemic.  

Fourth, there still exist individuals who believe we should do whatever we can to live in a zero risk environment from Covid.  I've certainly heard enough interviews from epidemiologists in the last few days expressing concern about mask mandate.  I have a hard time comparing the environment in Plano and our current disease levels to their ardent pleas and understanding why they are so concerned.  It must be based on "what could be" rather than "what is".  There truly is great risk, but we are not seeing it at this time.

Bottom line, I'm really pleased to be living in a part of the country with low Covid rates and loosened rules about how we need to act and dress.

Lowell Tuttle

Lance, what about that first Covid year's murder rate?

Wayne Gary

Remember the Alamo, Remember  Goliad

On April 21, 1836 Texas defeated a larger Mexican force at San Jacinto.  Their rallying cry was "Remember the Alamo, Remember  Goliad"

Aggies around the world will be gathering together to call the names of the 1500 Aggies that have passed away in the past year.  We will eat a little drink a little (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) reminisce about about time at A&M the call the names of our fallen and an Aggie will answer "HERE" for them.

We have a long tradition of the Muster.  During WW II 2 Aggies submerged on a Sub held a Muster.  Just before the fall of Carridor, Phillipines a Muster was held in the tunnels.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

I still believe that the whole Covid fiasco was mainly about governmental control of the people, and the most important fact that those control freaks learned indeed, was that they could scare the bejesus out of us, then tell us that they would enforce ridiculous and unproven restrictions on us, and we would all aquiesce, following along like sheep being led to the slaughter.

The facts, seems to me, were that older folks should have taken care to be less social, and those who had underlying health problems, should have stayed home, having their necessary items delivered to their residences.  Everyone else should have followed their normal routine, and if they had contracted the "flu-like illness," they should have contacted their doctors for guidance and medications, which DID in fact include some of the medicines that were already readily available on our pharmacy shelves, as has been verified recently by doctors who admit to these meds having been there all along.  These particular meds could have been used in combination formulations that the doctors knew of, as long as they were administered early-on in the illness's presentation.

Hope you had a lovely Easter Sunday, Mr. Lance, and that you enjoy your continuing study and teaching effort to all those you encounter, along your daily walk in life.  You are an inspiration to me to keep plugging along in my study as well, and an inspiration to pray silently in my communications to Him on High, as I witness His aura each hour of my day.

I see the little wren parents busily shuttling back and forth to our little bird house hanging from our porch ceiling, knowing they are feeding their little brood, as they have been programmed to do with love, by "you know who," as is part of His marvelous and miraculous plan at work before our very eyes.  Such minute detail to every little piece of the whole, is mind boggling, I think!

David Cordell

Just an FYI.

I heard from Bob Davidson about his bicycle accident. I dodn't know the extent of his injurie, but he suffered a punctured and collapsed lung. I'm no physician, but that doesn't sound good. He says that it is healing well. We'll wait to see if he chooses to share more information.

I added Bob to the prayer list.

David Cordell

I watched President Biden's address this morning. I actually liked it and agreed with it. I think it is a few weeks late, though. I'm not sure how many Ukranian soldiers are not able to use the increased flow of weapons and ammunition because they are dead. I don't know if it is too little, and I hope it isn't too late

Wayne Gary

Remember the Alamo, Remember  Goliad

On April 21, 1836 Texas defeated a larger Mexican force at San Jacinto.  Their rallying cry was "Remember the Alamo, Remember  Goliad

Wayne Gary

David. Bob.

I hope Bob is doing better.  I now wonder if he will be putting training wheels on his bike.

Bob, get Well soon.

David Cordell

Correction:

I didn't like the part of Biden's speech where he said that Russia would never be allowed to dominate "all of Ukraine". That begs the question: what part will Ukraine have to give up?

Wayne Gary

David, Bob

Maybe you could replace the horse with a bike.  Hope you get a laugh.

I’d say this is truly a thorough JSA / JHA! 

Wayne Gary

Bob,

Here is the bicycle you might want to use in the future.

Jim Bedwell

Jerry May,

Yes, Kingfish" Ingram is AMAZING. I've seen him several times - Portland more or less "adopted" him the last several years. He has mild Asperger's syndrome, I believe - perhaps his different brain wiring also enables his guitar prowess?

David Wier

David C:

Speaking of Gary Puckett - I read an article recently about songs that could never get airplay these days, and to my surprise, his song, "Young Girl" was not on the list. That song would be absolutely scandalous today. It reminds me of the lie all pedophiles say these days - "she came on to me...."

David Wier

David C: (concerning Covid)

Whether you follow the science or statistics - or die of or with - I follow whether or not someone has or may have it. 

For instance, my wife has an immune defficiency. When you go out, you never know if someone in the line before or after you has Covid. A person with covid can pass it on to anyone and no one would never know, until maybe too late. It may not affect them, but it could kill Lisa. And no one really knows one way or another.

Everyone is all up in arms about wearing masks because of their own physical comfort. I get it - they're not the best situation. However, in our case, at least, it's not about "you", it's about everyone with which you come in contact. 

David Cordell

David W., I totally get it about people who are at risk because of immunological deficiencies. My son is HIV positive and his (former) partner lived in our home for over a year with full flown AIDS. When the partner finally left to go to the hospital, he weighed 107, down from about 160.

I think everyone who is at risk needs to be especially careful, but where do you draw the line for the people who are not at much risk, i.e., how long should they continue to wear masks? If I do not have COVID, have been vaccinated and double-boosted,  and am not concerned about the risk, should I still be required to wear a mask? My casual observation is that Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to answer in the affirmative.

Lance asked David C.: "what do you propose you do or we Americans do better for the earth?"

David responds: Is there a particular reason why you directed that question to me? Let's see, on my walk this morning I picked up and disposed two pieces of trash and a COVID mask. I drive a hybrid car. I bought extra insulation for my house. I bought high efficiency air conditioners. I bought an expensive variable speed pump for my swimming pool. I try to combine errands to reduce trips. What would you suggest that I do?

David Cordell

Elon Musk at work! Click link for story.

SpaceX shut down a Russian electromagnetic warfare attack in Ukraine last month — and the Pentagon is taking notes

Lowell Tuttle

Love some Mr. Show...

David Wier

David C:

In my opinion, until the CDC/government/whoever  - tells us we're no longer at risk for covid, yes I would answer in the affirmative - as long as you're in tight places (planes/trains/taxi/uber/movies/grocery lines, etc.).

In other words, until it's less than an epidemic, much less a pandemic - yes. I really don't see why political parties should answer yes or no because of their particular party. 

You actually made my point for me:

"I think everyone who is at risk needs to be especially careful...."

That's exactly what I was talking about. We are especially careful - it's those who are NOT at risk that I'm asking to be more careful, caring about the others and not themselves.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

David Weir,

When your wife is out among the madding crowds, does she wear a special mask of some sort, that is high quality and reccommended by her doctor?

I assume she does, which is the best solution for her.

As for others continuing to wear those flimsy masks that many doctors have said are just face decoration, and are used as virtue-signaling to those who see it, it probably isn't going to continue for much longer.  Other folks want to return to what we had before the pandemic, and they feel that if your wife has special needs caused by immune deficiency problems, she should be the one who avoids contact with people.  I realize that that sounds harsh and uncaring, but that is the reality she will have, as I'm sure you know.  One would wonder what your wife did before the pandemic came into existence?  Did she avoid people who she saw coughing and sneezing?  I guess that is what I would do, if I had her problem, but I think I would mainly just stay at home, unless I had a special mask.

Is there anything that could be done to boost your wife's immune system?

My older cousin recently had platelets intravenously dripped into his system, as he sat in a comfy chair for several hours, to boost his levels, since his immuno system was depleated a great deal due to chemotherapy.  After several chemo treatments and some radiation treatments, he was able to beat the cancer in his body, but now he has to get periodic treatments of platelets being administered.  During this pandemic, his doctor advised him to stay at home, as he was told he was highly vulnerable to almost all germs out in the public.  If he goes out at all, he wears an N95 mask and a plastic face shield, but even then, he trys to stay distanced from all others as much as he can.

The platelets are helping to boost him, but it sounds like it is going to be a long time before he gets back to a good level, if ever.

I hope your wife finds some answers to help her.

Does she like pets?  My kitties keep me laughing and give me comfort all the time.

David Wier

Janalu:

For the most part, she doesn't go out at all except to the doctor. We considered going out for our anniversary, but ended up getting it to go. It was too crowded anyway and she would not have wanted to go inside.

When people are coughing and sneezing, if they're near, it's already too late. Even before covid, when that happened, She ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and sepsis. Since 2013, I lost count at 30.

And yes, we have a little dog Shannon, my daughter gave her. Shannon found her in Lubbock, got all the shots and brought him home for a week to check his personality, then brought him up here, for Lisa. She said that if she gave us the dog, I would have no say in whether it stays or not :). That was 7 years ago and Lisa still says it's the best present Shannon ever got her.

David Cordell

David W.,

I'm very sorry about your wife's health struggles.  I know it mus t be very hard on you, as well. You are in my prayers.

About my comment relating to Democrats versus Republicans with regard to mask wearing ----

In my casual and not-so-casual observation, Republicans/conservatives are inclined toward decentralization of government and toward minimal control by government. They are suspicious of government and those in power. They question the dictates of government, especially if they deem the dictates to be restrictive of God-given and/or Constitutional rights. 

A mandates for masking is an example. The right to own firearms is another.

• Republican DeSantis - Guns, yes; Masks, no.
• Democrat Sanders -  Guns, no; Masks, yes.

Republicans would ask, "When will this mask mandate end? If Florida (without masks) is doing as well as California (with masks) with regard to COVID, and if Florida is doing better than California in all other measures, then what is the benefit of masks?"

Republicans would say that it is up to us to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. If that means masking, double masking, or staying home, then it is our decision. I should add that if one is a carrier of COVID, it is his/her responsibility to take actions to protect others.

I've been double vaxxed and double boosted. I don't think I am in danger, and I don't think I am endangering anyone. Would it make someone else feel more secure if I wear a mask? Maybe. Would that be the considerate thing to do? Maybe. Is it reasonable to expect me to do something that is to my disadvantage but that has no real benefit to anyone else?