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Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant
@theprophet,
on the physics of that: virus travels in the air attached to larger particles. Thus, it is stopped, at least in part, by masks and HVAC filters.as to muzzles: Jews pioneered that. See machloket between Lot and Avraham – about _muzzles_ that are protecting _others_ from indirect damage
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantbiased insiders reported the following right before election:
– Biden advocated vetoing anti-Israeli resolution, others, such as Susan Rice, advocated for voting FOR. Obama split the difference and at the last moment instructed to abstain.
– Israeli leaders appreciated Biden’s attitude towards Israel security needs and were able to talk to him. Others on the team did not remember Israeli history and already had Palestinian issue in mind, and were impossible to deal with.This is, of course, self-serving justifications, but probably based on some truth
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant>> huge shift to the GOP for other candidates
I don’t think there was much of a shift. If you saw exit polls showing otherwise, let me know.
Both sides brought people who did not vote last time.Maybe the switch, or abstained, voters are those that are the difference between other GOP candidates and Trump, and they made a big difference. Some argue that Trump’s policies and achievements without his personality would have more votes, but it is not clear whether many voters would show up without his personality. Mitt had a pleasant personality but it did not get him enough votes.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant>> who are all these millions of people who voted Biden
Both candidates attracted record number of voters. As was Trump wish, he achieved multiple records: people who voted for him, people who voted against him;
biggest market jump when elected; biggest market jump when market thinks he was defeated ….it is possible that part of the voting increase is due to Covid – mail voting, people working at home and reading news all the time. Still, it seems enthusiasm on both sides was very high.
going forward, there is a difference though:
Trump energized several clusters of voters using specific ideas – list of Justice, building a wall, Israeli embassy, low regulations, etc.Dems energized their voters by making them hate Trump and keeping themselves out of the news. That is why Biden would not answer any questions about his policies, as any answer he did give alienated someone even as he tried not to [no fracking, but only on federal lands].
So, Dems will have hard time going forward trying to make everyone happy.That is why the main call is to “unite” without specific policy references.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI think I already mentioned – scary demonstrations decease virus spread in a city, as most people (the ones you do NOT see on TV) stay home or avoid crowded places.
What is concerning – that Mr. Biden started forgetting and messing up his mask starting from his first speech after election. Then, he had extended families hugging on stage at such close contact that masks are not of help. Even if they are all pre-tested, this was even riskier than Trump’s WH meetings.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant>> dearth of frum, solid boys who are serious about earning an income and supporting a family. By solid, I mean someone who makes daily time to learn and davens with a minyan.
So, you seem to describe an educational crisis rather than a shiduch crisis. Do you see a pattern, where these “solid boys” exist or not exist – specific communities, schools?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantWe also have sources for being better in tzedokah – being at home, and giving food rather than money.
There is no contradiction – women are more tuned aware of spending, so they are thinking over these allocation decisions with more precision. I think this is true in our days also.On a related note, Eruvin – a home owner is presumed to be out for the night if he is staying with his daughter [but not with his son, as an argument with the daughter-in-law may cause him to come back home to sleep]
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant>> Maybe all girls should be encouraged to go to Shana Bet
There were comments here,when Covid started, that this could be a good excuse to skip seminaries. For those who do not need seminary for their future jobs, why can’t the girls skip Shana Alef and get professional education? You can do online or local college BS in 3 years. What is the the effect on shiduchim?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI protest the violation of math in this topic: boys looking to marry younger girls does not cause the (alleged) imbalance – at the end 1 boy marries 1 girl. It is actually to the girl’s advantage: when she wants to get married, she has – for a short time – a large selection of candidates of different ages. This is old as world.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@GH: Until then, yidden in galus live in accordance to the rules adopted by the majority
I agree. There is always tension between (1) our desire to live our independent life as a community, and (2) our desire to participate in public life and help humanity
Modern Western world made it even more pronounced as it is easy to do both, so we have more choices than in the past. In US especially, part of the country philosophy is limited government. Thus, if we support limited government – and giving freedom to our community – we are killing 2 birds with one stone (hopefully, not a mother-daughter)
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@Rabbaim >> dont just recite words, full hearted conversation with Hashem.
theoretical point: you can not daven for what already happened. Classical – if you hear cries fromthe town, you can not daven that your house did not burn. Modern: you cannot daven for having more vote after an election…
I guess you can daven that no fake votes are counted
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI was not on previous threads, so let me try. Apologize if I am repeating previous threads
I don’t think dating by age matters: at the end, hopefully, one boy finds one girl…
maybe there are less boys applying for shidduch, while more of them looking in other places? males everywhere are less risk-averse than females.
that is – very traditional boys interested in less traditional girls; less traditional boys interested in not-so-observant girls; not-so observant boys interested in non-observant girls, etc, etc
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@syag,@Yserbius123
this sounds like an academic discussion. masks help on average, whether 50 or 90%, still makes sense to wear. Do you estimate how risky your trip is before buckling a seatbelt?November 4, 2020 6:57 pm at 6:57 pm in reply to: Finding out who won the presidential election 2020 #1916891Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantlots of strange things happened this year already. how about a 270-268 election, then 1 elector switching his vote (based on new Hunter revelations or bribede by Russians) and election goes to Congress. Congress compromises on Biden as a VP (again). Maybe a rotation, Israeli style.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantredleg> why would quarantining the garbage lower the threat
virus disintegrates outside of the body. how fast depends on temperature, humidity, etc
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantSyag> Because it’s not 95%. I wish it was but it’s not.
an important number is not for one person, but the public health effect
surgical mask protection may be 50% for both sides, but this may decrease transmission rate R_t
from, say, 1.1 to 0.9. That is a difference between increasing and decreasing pandemic. As Rambam says, you should think that the world is 50-50 and it is up to you…Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantEffi >>Lets move on and end this argument and hopefully Hashem will end this mageifah
this is a good point. A couple of concerns:
1) we should be concerned about our fellow Jews who are putting themselves and others around them in danger. Maybe shouting will not help, but we need some way to explain things.Buy an ad in Yated?2) How can we expect Hashem to end a magefah if we are not learning lessons from it?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@RebE >> I don’t trust them as Iran violated its treaty. If they have a beneficial opportunity to violate the treaty, they will.
not argueing, but note that Iran violations was also a reason for Arab countries to make peace with Israel
November 1, 2020 9:55 pm at 9:55 pm in reply to: Halachic Ramifications of Killing Whilst in the Military #1915860Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantujm,
if you need to violate shabbat to sve a lief, do you say “is shabbat a mitzva”?Hashem’s seal is emes (Yavamos)… Exploring your idea, when planning your actions (esp long term, like selecting a job) to not put oneself in a position where you have to split hairs between emes and truth all the time.
Same thing may apply to heated posts before elections
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH, so we agree. I am saying that payments lapse, we will actually see who can not find a job, and who can. I am not saying this has to be done l’hathila, but at least the lobbyists will have less power.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantSrivka,
thanks for a long post. I now understand motivation better. I heard similar arguments in small doses before. You made me think how one would feel if you get multiple coordinated messages, to summarize: mask are not helpful; they are causing cancers and most COVIDs and messing up with kid brains. And Fauci.First, I’d like to note that this list is great at raising concerns, rather than proving anything. So, we should , in good faith, treat it as such. Concerns need to be investigated.
Let’s look at most serious – masks are dangerous.
I’ve looked at several papers, I see references to safety standards and no references to any limitations or evidence of harm.
PTFE _is_ dangerous -if you happen to heat it to 300C.
OSHA referred above says that mask wearing is limited when you are surrounded by industrial chemicals. there are no limitations in medical or household enviroment.
Article below lists TENs of different materials and levels of comfort – you should be able to choose one that fits your preferences, any would be better than nothing.Face Masks in the New COVID-19 Normal: Materials, Testing, and Perspectives, Aug 2020
Ming Hui Chua et al
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR),Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantSrivka
on efficiency –
multiple approaches are published – comparing countries; comparing US states; comparing people on the same ship and same hospital; simulators; comparisons with other viruses – all show that masks decrease virus propagation. In my view, comparing countries and states are suspect – it may be that virus propagation causes more masking. Everything else looks solid.To answer specific claims:
– virus is small, but it usually travels attached to other particles. Those particles are stopped by filters.
– people are not “extremely careful” in Eretz Israel
– there were studies before COVID, see, or example, he review I posed beforeAlways_Ask_QuestionsParticipant>> has a better chance of winning than Hillary did
This is not a useful kal vahomer.
November 1, 2020 8:51 pm at 8:51 pm in reply to: Halachic Ramifications of Killing Whilst in the Military #1915796Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantujm, @Murder is
the question shifted slightly from a generic army to enlisting in American or Israeli armies.
If we go to old poskim (such as Machane Israel by Chafetz Chaim), we would probably hear more about Austro-Hungarian and Russian armies.@lying (is that even against halacha?).
I guess I am not ollowing the joke. Just incase, here is 1st footnotte from halachipedia “prohibition to lie”
Parshas Shemos 23:7, see Rambam Hilchos De’os 5:7, Shulchan Aruch C.M. 262:21, Mishna Brurah O.C. 25:14, Mesilas Yesharim 11. Refer to Rambam Sefer Hamitzvot Lo Sasei 281 who includes the issur of lying in the issur of saying Hashem’s name in vain regarding bais din. Lying is disgusted in the eyes of all, and there is nothing more disgusting than lying. Hashem is truth, and beracha only goes on someone who wants to go in the ways of Hashem. Therefore, the Torah tells us to further ourselves from lying. Pela Yoetz Sheker page 558, Sefas Tamim 6:page 24 write that no other aveirah does the Torah use the words “to further” except for lying therefore one must be careful with this even when it would only appear to be a lie. The issur is not only not to say a lie but to further oneself from a lie (Niv Sefasayim page 10).Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH: targeted Covid relief is needed
While there are lots of people suffering, it may be as important to establish what is not needed. So, this short break in government generosity may help to clarify where the need is actual. First stimulus was quickly and brilliantly executed but clearly went to lost of places where it was not needed.
I was initially reading reports that $600+ payments are not distorting the market. Now I am reading that school buses can’t find drivers, they all quit either to Amazon or to unemployment.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@Lostspark: I just spent $2,300 on a sheitel
Not taking the sides in this hair-raising machloket, just a practical suggestion if you consider being machmir in this avoda zara a priority: borrow an esrog for several years (savings, say, $150, $50 for a kid per year, use your own numbers going forward), sell your black hat, spend vacation with grandparents (post-covid), teach one kid at home instead of private school. You might even have money left for a couple of nice tichels!
November 1, 2020 5:31 pm at 5:31 pm in reply to: Halachic Ramifications of Killing Whilst in the Military #1915746Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantDovidBT you have to abandon a lot of halachah,
So does becoming a doctor or a policeman (Shabbat). Also, a lawyer and an accountant and a businessman (midvar sheker). Also a Rabbi (mahloket) and Kollel (asking for tzedokah when does not have to).
November 1, 2020 5:31 pm at 5:31 pm in reply to: character vs policy Which is more important? #1915745Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI wonder whether any of you guys are voting for a party that they voted most of the times before?
If yes, most likely you are not really debating a topic, but simply bringing a foreign culture of politicking here. This is obvious bitul Torah, as anyone can simply load corresponding website and find out about Trump’s taxes and Biden’s cash from the horses’ mouths.Why don’t we try – together – establish some high-level non-partisan Torah principles on voting.
I’ll bring one example I read about that shows how non-trivial things are (my imperfect recollection from reading): some time in the 60s, a group of college students considered starting a campaign for Soviet Jewry. They approach R Feinstein, Lubavitcher R, R Teistz. All 3 were against open anti-Soviet activities, in part due to preferences for quiet activities and in part fearing what Soviets could do to these youngsters. R Soloveichik said that he will first consult Israeli government. He came back and said that he is not going to pasken, but he advises against. Students did study the campaign, and a couple of years later, one of them asked R Soloveichik why he is not repeating his negative position to them. Rav responded that he changed his position, explaining:
I asked the politicians that I consulted: what is best policy for Soviet Jews. They responded – to keep quiet. I later realized that they lied to me. They told me what is best for Israelis (as they tried to negotiate with Soviets), but not what is best for Soviet Jews.Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH @incredibly more difficult for lesser-know candidates
We had a bunch of non-traditional politicians in the finals lately – Trump, Obama, Romney. Even Bush 2 and Hillary did not have substantial experience in government, just the ichus.
One recent lesson that I think R- learned from McCain and Romney experience that they can not win by being nice in the informational environment dominated by liberals in media and online. Romney could not even defend his stand for considering Russia as a threat, against Obama’s “80s are calling back”.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI think we need to teach children that we learn from teachers, not politicians. We do not worship those politicians, be them Trump, Obama, FDR, Trotsky. We also need to teach kids to critically evaluate sources and acknowledge truth instead of parroting any party line.
Until the recent mishugas, my kids did not know my political positions well. I made a couple of them listen to the last policy debate (Obama-Romney). We did it on the radio to avoid visuals. Obama lost their vote when he proposed hiring 100,000 math teachers!
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantPS on the report. I don’t know to what degree it might be biased, but I previously did calculations and measurements on one of the topics they mention: using CO2 and particle measurements to recommend more ventilation, and our conclusions are similar in nature.
SRivka, what is your source for mask being ineffective and dangerous?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantMy numbers are from the report below. The topic itself is not if my interest, but they provide a very readable review of studies and conclusions that you can look up. It is a good mix of prior research on SARS, flu, etc and recent on COVID. A list of references is on p. 128
Assessment of Risks of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission During Air Travel and Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions to Reduce Risk. Phase One Report: Gate-to-Gate Travel Onboard Aircraft
Prepared by Faculty and Scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthAlways_Ask_QuestionsParticipantFalse negatives seem to be caused by timing – PCR best detection is 1 to 4 weeks after exposure
seems less likely during all-important first week – when a person may be infectious several days before onset of symptomsOctober 28, 2020 10:25 pm at 10:25 pm in reply to: Mentioning a person “dies of Covid” in headline #1914674Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@gadol,
Indeed, it is an unfortunate, or a pre-planned, case that COVID coincided with an election (this may be a good argument NOT to run elections for the whole 4 years…).Both sides seemingly succumbed to the virus: Trump projects optimism, Biden threatens dark winter unless he is elected. They are not the only one firmly defending principles that coincide with their interests: gym owners who say exercise is important, bar owners who say relaxing is important, principals who say in-person learning is essential.
So, look more at actions and achievements. One group I am disappointed with are pro-business never-Trumpers, like Romney and Bloomberg who actually ave expertise. I did not see them doing a lot. May have missed.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH @ Our nominating and campaign finance systems really make it difficult for the brightest and most talented leadership
take a long view and compare US government with others, starting mid 1770s… revolution with limited casualties during, and more importantl,y after; just one ltl civil war; peaceful transitions of government (so far); no military coups; just several presidents shot; no Nazis or Communists as serious parties. I think it compares favorably with many other major powers in the world (so, don’t compare with Canada or Switzerland).
Specifically, the 2-party system forces people to form large coalitions. Dismiss success at your own risk.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI am not modern enough to follow “daas Torah” (if I am wrong, please give me a reference to the Gemora tha discusses daas Torah, I would appreciate it), but here is a couple of examples what we would ask Gadol for – a longer view.
1) Haredi politicians asked Menahem Begin to increase government funding for schools. Begin said – this is enough not enough, I’ll give you as much as other schools. Rav Shach told them to refuse and go to previous levels. Otherwise, schools will now rely on government and next government will change the rules
2) WW2, 1940, Vilno, question to R Grozdinski: should we use Sugihara’s visas for old Rabbis (Soviets will arrest them first) or young ones (whose children will be taken away to communist schools). His answer: old ones, they will be able to help remaining ones when they come to US, and also they wil be more of use to American Jews
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantIf you are in a closely-knit community, even imperfect tests will show the overall situation.
The challenge is time – to wait for a test time after a possible exposure, wait for results, report …
Multiple people will be infected by that timeSmaller schools should maybe look at frequent batch testing for multiple people together and make people report symptoms before tests, increasing safety measures when there is a suspicion
October 26, 2020 4:40 pm at 4:40 pm in reply to: Mentioning a person “dies of Covid” in headline #1913854Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH, Syag, I agree that the connectivity improved greatly everywhere. I am wondering whether school-centered system woks well everywhere (I am sure it works well in many places):
1) some schools might be hesitant to share all details. maybe will share what they have to… I am not sure what I’ll report if my livelihood depend on it …
2) virus may enter community from other angles before getting to schools
3) information needs to get to other people, not just those at a particular schoolAlways_Ask_QuestionsParticipantIf you have audacity to compare a President to Haman, surely it will be someone who would either get cash from Persians, or send cash to Persians, and who hated a Jewish leader (mishevet) Binyamin for no particular reason except tha B did not bow to his will …
as to Trump, I would compare him to Yiftach – not respected, prideful, but is able to accomplish what more polished leaders could not. On a less serious side – both Yiftach and Trump:
reject land for peace; are disparaged by relatives; have outlaws around him; fight internal enemies; make and insist on random promises; boast about his houses; love their Jewish daughterOctober 25, 2020 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm in reply to: Is hydroxychloroquine really proven ineffective?? #1913214Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant@geteducated, trials are designed to achieve a conclusion whether they are safe and have a reasonable chance to be effective – and do it very quickly. Waiting until knowing all answers will take several years. Please give NIH, CDC, Persident’s op Warp Speed recognition for changing the protocols.
30% is not “nothing”, and while people will be vaccinated, we will find out more. I am even wondering whether Chinese & Russians are doing the right things vaccinating 3rd world at some, probably not high, risk (admittedly, not for themselves)
October 24, 2020 9:56 pm at 9:56 pm in reply to: Is hydroxychloroquine really proven ineffective?? #1913041Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH @There is no “miracle drug” for Covid 19 yet
There are reports of increasing improvements in quality of care – better positioning on the patients, better steroid use, etc. Each of the items may not be a miracle cure, but multiple 10% improvements add up. This is a known trend on all industries – there are rare inventions combined with multi-year small improvements that add up to significant progress.
2nd reported reason for better outcomes – people get to the hospital earlier due to awareness and with less initial viral load due to social distancing/masking.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantBeyond politics and clever zingers on both sides (Biden – it is not about my family, it is about yours, Trump – why didn’t you do when you were a VP), there was one moment that I felt was really bad: when Biden disparaged vaccine producing efforts saying “there will not be a vaccine for most population before summer”. this is cleverly coached and prepared “most population” – that is even if vaccination will start this week and really discounting work by some many people – and organized and funded seemingly well, including reported doses that are already paid for and manufactured. There are enough things that you can arguably blame Trump for, but this is a cheap shot that will probably have extra thousands of elderly people with depression. And this was a prepared answer, not a momentary lapse of judgment.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant“Congress is broken, let’s use judges instead” argument sounds like admitting that Democracy is not working for you. It can be extended to “let’s use a dictator instead”.
Progressives have their explanations – world needs progress, can’t wait for people to catch up. Understandable, but also dangerous. Conservatives have a dilemma, then, either play defense and try to protect the rules and integrity of the system – and suffering incremental defeats as attacks are relentless – or play the same political games… The longer it goes, the less democratic the system becomes.
October 23, 2020 1:26 am at 1:26 am in reply to: Mentioning a person “dies of Covid” in headline #1912835Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH, that is why I think Jewish communities need their own warning systems. Are there any commuincation lines open? do school principals inform at least each other of new cases?
are front-line doctors allowed to warn the community when they see new cases?I observe that when there is specific information about a local community, significant number of people become more careful, and they even feel smart – see, we can wear a mask when it “really”
matters. But this works only with a good warning system. If we wait for several people to go take test, get an answer in several days, then news take several days to propagate – this is too late.It got to be daily text messages – suspected symptoms by school and class; positive and negative test, etc. Many universities, which are similar in structure as a community – inside connection, limited outside, parties, mixture of young with old – publish test information several times a week: total, negatives, positives. And quick turn-around tests of most exposed people. This has to be done where communities are trying to stay open.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI am not sure why some on both sides are trying to use courts. Courts are there to resolve disputes. We have Congress to write laws. If society agrees on something, it will become a law or even an amendment. If there is an meregency, we have Presidents, Governors, Mayors …
If you push important decisions on judges, you take away pressure from elected representatives, who are now free to play games with OPM (other people’s money) instead of resolving serious problems.
October 23, 2020 12:48 am at 12:48 am in reply to: Charedim Voting for Biden: Please Respond #1912825Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantyou can as well say that Jews are historically Tories, at least the first modern politician was. It looks like lots of Yakkies were Republican supporters during Lincoln times. Then, of course, Eastern European Jews came and supported socialists (Eugene Debs 38%) and also Democrats. I wonder what percentage of Orthodox Jews arriving iup to 1920s were left or not wing, as lots of socialists were aggressively anti-religious. Maybe this political differences between religious and secular Jews started already then? At this point, there are 2 Jewish groups that are pro R- : Orthodox and Russians. This seems to correspond to other US clusters – more religious are more R- and those who came from Cuba, Venezuala. So, it is either fears of prosecution by liberals or actual experience.
October 22, 2020 11:12 pm at 11:12 pm in reply to: Mentioning a person “dies of Covid” in headline #1912814Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGH >> . Masks and social distancing are the ONLY real options
I am thinking at this point that we are neglecting another public health tool – tracing and early warning.
COVID propagation is “clustered” – it is one day here, another day there. Not just my words, three is research on that. That explains people who say – it is not in our community any more, and then a month later – it is.If this is true in general, it happens even more in Jewish community: there are multiple connections within and weak connections to outside. This may explain (ltzad zhut) why so many Jews behave as if there is no virus – because there is none. Right now. And then it comes next day and propagates very quickly.
So, in addition to pressing people to be more careful, we probably need our own tracing and warning system, same way we have Hatzolah. We can’t wait until government tracers figure out who is a husid and who is a misnagid. WSJ recently had an article about Syrians between Brooklyn, Deal, etc who have a whatsup group between doctors who serve different locations of the same connected community. Anyone has such tracing/warning system in your community?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant(1), just start your own social media. FB and GOOG started by 3 young Jews. Come up with a startup idea and go pitch them, maybe they’ll listen to your arguments and correct their views.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantonly Republicans on the 3rd, Democrats on the 4th
(literally, when the late mail comes)
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantujm >> Better to give up a percent of economic growth
I respect your position. If it is 2% growth (and who can predict that?) v total immorality, I am with you. I am thinking more of turning economics into stagnation, aggressive “you did not build that” attitude that destroys the “westward expansion” spirit that, I hope, still exists in this country.
That is, economics is also morals. Torah v Derech Eretz
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