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Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant
Is there any data how getting healthier (or younger) affects you? Getting rid of weight, reducing blood pressure whether medically or through exercise? I realize CR may not be the best place for such questions, though.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantPhil, Right,
disease and vaccines have similar effects on the immune system – they both create antibodies that decrease with time and variants, and they also create B and T cells that do not attack virus immediately upon entering the body but provide some protection against severe disease. There might be differences – which one is waning faster and how much antibodies are created, but differences are smaller than similarities. Protection from B and T-cells are hard to measure, so less is understood about them.One difference is that disease may do invisible internal damage and thus a second disease may _sometimes_ be really bad. I know people who sneezed first time and ended up in ICU second time.
So, bottom line – if 6-8 months passed after your last immune stimulation by either of them, you should at least measure antibodies and possibly get a vaccine – and behave more responsibly.
Timing is not surprising. Overall, most similar viruses, both disease and vaccines, give protection on the order of a year. People have colds annually … I do have a feeling though how COVID differs from normal colds: neither my wife or me went to big schools or attended tishes. And kids were at home until school. When our oldest kids went to school one year, we evidently encountered “new to us” viruses – and the whole family was sick for several months, a much harder hit than an occasional cold.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantNoah was the first person, but he was not successful. He would talk to them about the bad stuff they were doing, try to explain why bad behavior is damaging: if you are robbing someone today, then tomorrow someone else will rob you, better to have justice and work hard. But he did not explain/show them an alternative of how to live a good life (ad kan Sforno, R Schwab). He would fit well into CR, lambasting people with opposing views.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant> Cavalierly dismisses what is claimed to be a miracle drug
I am not dismissing anything. I am just looking at less controversial ways to help our communities. Even the most miraculous drugs may stop a person from dying, but the virus already did damage to the body. Obviously, prevention is a key. So, we have certain measures that also became controversial for whatever practical and political reasoning. So, I am suggesting people do CO2 monitoring of their mosdos – easy to do, does not involve medical procedures. Could you help people in your community?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant> I challenge you to explain what they measured
I read the study, maybe not extremely carefully. Here is my imperfect recollection: the goal was to see group effects, not just individual people. They chose 100s of villages in different parts of the country, divided them in pairs of similar ones, then applied public measures in one set and kept the rest as controls. Most of measures were giving out masks of different types publicly, combined with public messages, and various incentives. Then, they measured number of people who turned up visibly sick, and send observers to measure mask compliance and level of SD. I summarized the results here previously.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantcoffee > קרקע אינו נגזלת
I was thinking the same question. Is it karka – White House, or is it movable – Obama’s “a phone and a pen”, and I presume also a red button. Also, I think we presume that non-Jews always steel karka so you let them cut the arovos and they seem to agree now (happy indigenous day!): Brits stole White House karka from Indians, Colonists from Brits, Brits burnt it by halakha of a rebellious city.
Ctlawyer, what happens on Jan 20 if an election continues being in legal dispute – supreme-court-ordered recount or revote, electors deadlocked, House deadlocked?
Also, is gezelah a high crime and can a President be impeached for that? probably not of movables
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant?ווי פילע אַנטי -ציאָניסטן
October 11, 2021 1:04 am at 1:04 am in reply to: Real data: mortality of vaccinated vs non vaxed #2014424Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantPhilosopher, in a year 90% of hospitalized will be vaxxed – because most people will be vaxxed and remaining will get sick one or more times. Over the whole period, 10 times proportionally more non-vaxed will pass away. What exactly are you trying to prove? that it is safer to get sick and die or be immune than to get a vaccine?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantwhen I check w/ Ivermectin, I did not see any large studies quantifying the effect, so it is hard to judge. Given the low cost, I am surprised why the proponents were not able to organize that.
I was wondering about nasal sprays myself. This would make sense, provided population can do it. Are there any reliable studies on that?
Masks – I quoted recently a large high-quality study from Bangladesh about effects of masks in real communities. It is very convincing.
SD – I am not calling for anyone (outside of my family) to do hasidut. But everyone could do some reasonable steps according to their abilities – limit travel, parties, stay home for a couple of days after visiting hotspots, do not leave kids with grandparents after schools, open windows in schools, etc. I see, unfortunately, a lot of people who would not lift a finger. There is no charitable explanation for that.
Ventilation, again, would you be interested in testing CO2 levels in mosdos around you? Unlike mouth and hand-washing, this does not require making population do something daily – you can find who has bad ventilation and administration will fix it. Simple, non-intrusive measure.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantRebE > The CHOOSID is clear. An election was done and to undo it proof must be given.
Or you can read it that Trump was in office already, so Harris had to show that she was elected without hashash of geneiva. [Rosh Hasnana started with saying that count King’s years from inauguration, elector meetings do not matter]
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantphilosopher, I had 2 lists – non-progs first and then progs – the one that you just listed. As I tried to sample proportionally, then yu can see that he has substantial, but probably less than 50% of non-prog ideas, especially in the areas of his expertise – policing. Now, you got to AOC site and tell us whether any of those non-prog ideas are there? I don’t know whether he qualifies as a “centrist” but definitely not as a 100% progressive.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantRebE > I also have many typos which I correct.
RebE’s posts are important, thus he bothers to correct them. Others, including mine, are not as important, so the grammer aint metter.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantMelbournian> i see it every day when i walk down the street
As I mentioned, you see those who are outside, but not those who are not. When I stay OOT (my town), I see lots of people who moved here from denser cities. I did not see them in the city.
I see people coming to a minyan, some careful, some not. Then, I called one guy who was not coming. He said that he is not coming because he had a contact with a sick person. I would not know that he is following rules unless I would have called.
So, again – do you see same number of people in the street as pre-pandemic? The mobility numbers I posted (maybe you did not yet see my 2nd post) point that Australians is WAY more restrictive than Israelis and Americans.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant> not against the Upsilon variant
worldwide cases go up again (3rd peak), but deaths are decreasing daily from May to the currently 2000 level and hopefully will continue down further. Hopefully, this is due to worldwide vaccine deployment – 45% of the world had at least 1 dose (USA is 10% above that, great job!) – and thus will continue decreasing. This lower level of severe disease reduces chance of developing new variants. Of course, if the variants are coming from a lab, then we would either continue jabbing or Pres Trump will nuke the lab in 2025. We can also try teshuva …
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantLooks like Avira is so much against the movies that his post got censored…
Any way, beyond the shmutz, Jews in general prefer listening and reading to visual information. There is an interesting difference – when you see an image/movie, it is very vivid and very convincing: all details are presented and it is very hard to disbelieve what you see. When you read, you have to imagine yourself what is happening. You can think logically whether the text makes sense, whether it is fully convincing.
It is not a coincidence that most brutal modern regimes, Nazis and Commies, came right after movies became mainstream – video propaganda is very convincing. A simple example: Nazi had a documentary showing how Polish hoodlums are breaking windows in Jewish stores (message: we came to make order). Of course, what is not shown is Nazis who just brought the Poles to the filming location and stand with weapons behind the camera. Similarly, Soviet movies about happy peasants right when millions were dying from hunger.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantAnyway, I am looking how those who are skeptical can positively contribute without causing controversies and opposition when they just call for medicines others like.
Here is my proposal – use CO2 monitors to measure ventilation level in your area schools, shuls, restaurants. CO2 400 is fresh air, CO2 800 is dirty, 1000+ means that the school is either not switching it off or filters are bad and thus all kids breath the same year and pass COVID to each other. Easy way to find most risky locations and help people without paying anything to the government. Just $100 for the hardware.
I was mentioning it here a year ago and did measurements in mosdos near me, but I was not 100% sure it is worth doing around. According to NYT, there is now a whole movement of parents around the country who give kids these monitors and then look at the numbers over time and can see CO2 levels a class or a dining room is – and tell administration to fix the problem. No government involved.
If any of you want to take this challenge we can further discuss details how to do this.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantFirst question – do you accept that there is a pandemic. If you don’t – then, it is indeed easy: you don’t think that there is a threat, there is no need for any intervention, etc. There is no need to ivermectin either. This is, of course, refuted by statistics and personal experience of many people.
Now, if there is a pandemic, there are many independent ways to deal with this – SD, masks, washing surfaces, washing hands, ventilation, (later) vaccines, vitamins, medicines. They were not just invented, these are standard public policies for pandemics. After some experience, some were judged less important (surfaces), the rest are multiple layers of defense. some are more expensive or inconvenient or risky, so I understand why someone will be against masks (convenience) or against SD (love of people), or washing hands (laziness), or vaccines (risk). You seem to say that they are all suspect because they are proposed by “corrupt government”, except the ones that are proposed by a group of “non-corrupt” scientists. This is strange, given that these are standard policies not developed specifically for COVID and accepted during initial emergency by multiple independent-thinking countries and bodies.
October 10, 2021 5:00 pm at 5:00 pm in reply to: Real data: mortality of vaccinated vs non vaxed #2014188Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantThere seems to be one unfortunate psychological effect: observant Jewish community seem to react to COVID and government and life in general similar to US Southern population. There is one difference though: the Southerners live in large in rural areas, while Jews in very urban ones. I see in remote suburban areas that large groups of people walk without masks but most are walking around other people. The only side effect of this is that many still are maskless when coming inside stores, pubs, etc. But still they are doing not so bad. At the same time, Jews copy them (as we see here views mindlessly copied from talk shows and obscure sites) in urban environment with worse results.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantResearch finally can make shalom between those who want to vax everyone and those who insist on their natural immunity rights. British research from ZOE Covid Study app show that
VACCINE + COVID == VACCINE + BOOSTER
that is, if someone had COVID and a vaccine does not need a booster.To recap, previous data was inconsistent whether COVID == VACCINE – some studies say one is better, some another. This makes sense due to high variability of effects of COVID – it could be mild or severe, short or long, etc. So, the results of the study may hinge on how you define “exposure” and average exposure at a particular time and location.
BUT, when you combine COVID with a Vaccine, vaccine provides consistent protection, so variability of COVID exposure is less affecting the result.
Bottom line – those who had COVID should get one or two vaccines when they are 6-12 months out.
Also, there are papers saying that more time between 2 vaccines are better.Disclaimer, of course: this is not a medical advice, just an input for talking to your doctor.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantOriginal trolls are from Bavel (we discussed this Maharal before):
Talmidei Chachamim of Bavel learned how to use pattern analysis to reconstruct missing information. Some students learned from that how to argue without commitment to truth and method that Amoraim had. Explains a lot of the CR.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant> I see plenty of “rational and educated” professors, scientists and doctors being anti-lockdowns, anti-masks, and anti-covidvaccines.
we just saw that almost all doctors actually took vaccine before mandate. For your good question – 50% of German doctors joined the Nazis, not 95%.
Also, when you claim your scientists are against everything – what is the chance that someone can find scientific argument against vaccines and against masks and against lockdowns and for one specific controversial medicine. This is for me impossible coincidence. It means they all are drinking from the same bucket.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantthis is Jacob Benzaquen, there are other Sephardi Benzaquens that seem to be running kosher kosher symbols – KoLA, and others. As we learned from Noah’s, not all the family is the same.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantGoogle has community mobility report by country and regions over time
here are current levels comparing with pre-pandemic
you can see how much lower AU indices are for retail, transit, and work comparing with USA and Israel.
Baruch Hashem people are still eating, though.retail grocery transit work
AU
Capital Ter -43% -5% -75% -53%
New South Wales -36% +4% -69% -41%
USA
FL -13% -2% -27% -22%
NJ -7% +9% -27% -28%
IL -6% +3% -22% -25%Israel
Central l -2% +18% -14% -17%
Jerusalem -7% +9% -7% -26%Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantcorrection: did NOT do exhaustive research
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantAs advised, I went to Adams site. I see a mixture of progressive and not progressive policies. In the area of his expertise – policing, he is especially specific and sometimes seem to express sensible ideas using language palatable to progressives (he suggests “gun control” where he clearly targets looking for guns used by shooters, not generic guns). here is a sample of not progressives and progressives policies:
not progressive
SAVE $1.5B AND AVOID LAYOFFS BY SIMPLY NOT HIRING ANYONE NEW FOR TWO YEARSwe will reduce agency spending at least 3-5% by applying an efficiency mandate that eliminates ineffective programs and unnecessary spending, while utilizing an inequality impact test so that programs vital to lower-in-come New Yorkers are protected.
By using real-time governing tools and tracking crime trends to become predictive, we can quickly shift NYPD resources from one community to another to reverse bad trends. For instance, we will regularly shift detectives and other officers from low-crime areas to crime hot-spots.
work with private companies who are willing to sponsor spots for NYPD supervisors at the leadership academies they send their own management staff to, helping train a new generation of brass to think critically, behave honorably and lead effectively.
Relocation Employment Assistance Program (REAP) has successfully drawn new businesses here from outside the state by providing a tax credit per employee per year if they locate in certain areas of the city.
TAX-FREE TUESDAYS”
ELIMINATE THE FEES FOR STARTING (OR RE-STARTING) A SMALL BUSINESS
progressiveWe can generate $1-2 billion annually by instituting a “Recovery Share”—a modest increase to the income taxes of city earners who make more than $5 million a year, sunsetting after two years.
reward businesses that hire local workers and benefit minority and female owners and workers—especially on City-financed projects.
recruiting from the very same neighborhoods that are suffering from crime, which are mostly Black and Brown
EMPOWER IMMIGRANTS WITH MUNICIPAL VOTING RIGHTS
INVEST IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
ADD HOUSING—FOR EVERYONE—IN WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODSAlways_Ask_QuestionsParticipantCurrently, Chinese do not actually occupy countries that are away from their immediate borders. They simply make them dependent on China economically, and then politically. So, if they can influence enough politicians, assisted by penetration of information networks, they can support first friendly, and later dependent, politicians to be in control of the country. Then, our trouble will come from the captured US state rather than Chinese directly.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantMelbournian, I did do exhaustive research.
Surveys of 400 randomly selected people are generally reliable if done by a professional outfit and are not abused for political reasons. Abuse is usually in the form of leading question or a question asked in context of other questions. This one looks legit at the first glance.
But if you are skeptical, you should present counter-arguments. Could you find a different survey?
could you present your visual observations in the context? for example, compare number of people in public transit or in the stores comparing with pre-pandemic.October 10, 2021 7:43 am at 7:43 am in reply to: Whats 2+2 (need help with shvach math homework) #2013889Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantjust find anything that can measure 3 levels. Of electricity, most probable. But you can use water if you prefer. There is nothing fundamental in using binaries, except that we learned how to build transistors with certain properties.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantA question from a kid – was it really a punishment? People in the flood generation died older (and bored?) than people lived normal lives after the flood.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantPunishment takes a year.. Some say it is a normal timeline for punishments – makos mitzraim, Yiov..
Note that COVID took a year – from March to March, when vaccines became widely available in developed countries, and after that the remaining punishment is mostly self-inflicted.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantNYers, should you first say Gomel for the D- primaries ending with a most palatable candidate?
Show some appreciationAlways_Ask_QuestionsParticipantby definition, there are no “active people” in a coffeeroom.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantwhether it is a continent or a country or a long-term prison, here is what the in-MATES are saying (as of Aug 31):
Actions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, like wearing masks in crowds and practicing social distancing, should be required even after we achieve the vaccination targets
agree 65%We should not be easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated
agree 58%So, it sounds like your litvishe rov was mis-informed and majority of population supports lockdowns. Sadly to make a minor mistake of Hillul Hashem. Hope this is not the Rov’s problem, but of people who tell stories about him.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantYou can often be mistaken by visuals: you go outside or to a shul and you see people not following restrictions. At the same time, you are not seeing people who did not come. Maybe this is why tallis has so many numerical connotations – do not follow your eyes, learn how to count statistics instead.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantujm, you should ask manufacturer of the product
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantRebE, so, interpreting Chasam Sofer, one does not need to own the house clean and have a management job, but one needs to plant – a profession and a mortgage should suffice.
Another note: we are blessed to live at the time of abundance. There is no need to keep up with the Joneses. If someone wants to live in a cheap place and not spend extravagantly, and the bride is happy with that, he might not need a mortgage.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantIt is also a catch 22: a lot of person’s success is due to his wife, so you don’t need to wait to be fully established to get married. Also, the wife will undoubtfully want to change how the person looks and what he does, so don’t get too settled and make her work hard (for you).
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantNochum, given that you don’t remember the Rav, you probably were not there when you heard the story. Also, if the Rav did not know what people do outside, this tells you something about he himself behave. How about you call that Rav and ask – whether it is mutar to be not careful, and also – whether it is mutar to be careful.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant> she is a special girl.
not knowing the girl, of course, but how would you ensure that in 20 years she is not going to post about her great skills in punishing her kids? R Pliskin writes a young lady who did not like how her mother was treating her father, and then was horrified that a month after the wedding, same words popped out of her mouth. A person needs to do serious work on his/her middos if they have bad influences in life. If they do, of course, they become indeed very special.
We discussed Rambam’s suggestion to temporarily switch a middah to an opposite side until you train yourself. R Twersky suggests joining AA-type groups – are there any Parent Anonymous groups out there? But, of course, the hardest part is for the person to commit to a change. R Twersky in exploring one case of a guy who had a great management job, a family, and was occasionally coming to be treated for drinking. He added up losing everything and everyone, but did not come back until he hit “rock bottom” – by eating from Salvation Army for which he used to collect funds in his office. He also suggests sometimes not to protect people on the way to “rock bottom” – the faster they hit it, the better. for example, not to pay debts for a gambler, or not protect an abusive person when police come.
Any other ideas/sources out there?
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantujm (in response to 5T and Rambam) > remain single indefinitely.
Classical example of moral hazard: person who gets insurance/vaccine/welfare becomes less careful.
If they remain single for a year, they might reconsider their life path.October 8, 2021 8:32 am at 8:32 am in reply to: Whats 2+2 (need help with shvach math homework) #2013609Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant> computer can either be on (1) or off (0) circuit
there is no 2 in binary
you can “easily” build computer with 3 states – off,+1,-1. Then, 2+2 is indeed 11October 8, 2021 12:28 am at 12:28 am in reply to: how long does it take for a post to get moderated #2013502Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI didn’t complain, Esteemed 29! Although a discussion between an anonymous poster and a numbered moderator how can both respond and censor is definitely Kafkaesque.
October 7, 2021 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm in reply to: how long does it take for a post to get moderated #2013494Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantAvira, yes, I was not serious, mods are doing a great job, but they do make their own judgment on what is offensive.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantRebE, Kayin calls him “brother” as a call for mercy reminding that they are brothers
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantI agree that we can move discussion to a different thread. I think I was not clear here – I quoted a hesped with several points, and, in response to Avira, tried to clarify what R Tendler’s and related views are based on. I don’t think I posted any of my opinions here, but will happy to discuss in a different thread. Overall, I think it is a respect to Talmid Chacham when people discuss his Torah. We say that the person is alive while his opinions are quoted.
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipanthuju, veterans I talked to differ on the value of going and staying in Afghanistan, but are united in their opinion on what happened recently.
Ctlawyer, I think your feelings are justified but they do not reflect the whole truth. Poles as a country did not collaborate, they were fighting against two cruel superpowers. They were a little deluded between the wars, Jews included. Jewish memoirs report that Jews expected that Polish cavalry will push the Germans back and were SHOCKED that the airplanes over Warsaw turned out to be German and not Polish… Read about Jews and Poles evacuated from USSR during WW2 via Iran: while Poles did favor the ethnic Poles, they organized help for Jews also.
I am not saying that Solidarity per se achieved something, but they were pushing against the Soviets more than anyone else. Soviet dissidents, including Jews, were bravely doing interviews with BBC and hunger strikes in prison , Poles were taking over cities. I know it is always
October 7, 2021 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm in reply to: Whats 2+2 (need help with shvach math homework) #2013478Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipant11, Hamevin yavin
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantAvira,
to help you reconcile Gemora w/ R Tendler, one line of reasoning is that women are obligated in learning mitzvos relevant to them. Chafetz Chaim applied that in endorsing BY concept of learning Tanach and Mussar. The claim is that modern educated women need Gemora learning to support their emunah at the intellectual level they are. So, they need to learn it and it is not a trade-off, but a simple requirement. Same way, a woman who prepares for Pesach needs to know halochos of Pesach, so a woman with a law degree needs to understand Yiddishkeit at the same level.There is a lot to criticize in this concept and think critically whom it can be applied to and how, but the claim seems to be well within the parameters of halakhic discourse. You may be particularly unappreciative to the concept because it applies less to women in your community, so you do not see the relevance.
some caveats thrown around that I did not check out, but if you want to look into this: [I am skipping references by authors you do not like]
Rav Aharon Soloveitchik, 1986 – prohibiting coerced study based on Torah Temima (Devarim 11:19) who quotes the Teshuvot Maayan Ganim [this puts in questions a lot of high schools who do that :)]
Tzitz Eliezer (9:3)
Rav Yehuda Henkin (Teshuvot Bnei Banim 3:12)
Rav Chaim David Halevi (Teshuvot Asei Lecha Rav 2:52)October 7, 2021 12:52 am at 12:52 am in reply to: Out of Town – Chassidish community options? #2013105Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantujm, I know, but it used to be smaller
Always_Ask_QuestionsParticipantAvira, this was a quote from R Tendler by the speaker. Not sure whether he said “he would allow”, maybe “he would agree” or “understand”. find the talk on yutorah for an exact quote. You may disagree and you did it somewhat respectfully indeed, other than presuming that R Tendler did not know or did not understand the Gemorah.
You have a point that I migt be wrong posting something that you might disagree with and have to respond. But I was thinking that withholding his opinions would also be harmful to readers, who would continue thinking that such opinion does not exist.
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