What Are You In For?

Lisa showed this to me. I asked her to send it to me so I could post it on my blog.

Yeah, it's pretty pathetic when you can get arrested for going to church -- staying in your car listening to services over the radio.  But you can go shopping in crowded stores to buy "essentials".

And if you want to murder your innocent unborn child -- don't fret, abortions are "essential".  But if you need elective surgery to improve your quality of life, you're out of luck, elective surgeries are not essential.

Makes perfect sense -- to deranged liberals.

That's my two cents.

Nonsense

I know I sound like a broken record about this whole Wuhan coronavirus garbage.  The more data that's coming out -- the more it is evident that this tyrannical lockdown was and is unnecessary.

And the damage being done is far worse -- much much worse -- than any possible good that this ridiculous social distancing, stay at home, wear a mask nonsense is doing.  Let me give you a few examples.

I read an article a few days ago written by a cardiologist in New York.  Sorry I don't have the reference.  I'll paraphrase what I remember.  Basically, this cardiologist said he was worried because visits to the ER have dropped dramatically since this media induced panic started.  And it's not only in New York.  Many hospitals across the country are struggling for lack of patients.  Hospitals are businesses and patients are their clients.  One physician assistant said she was laid off because they are not doing any elective procedures -- or surgeries -- therefore her services are no longer needed right now.

People with heart attacks, angina, appendicitis, or any number of ailments for which you would normally go to the ER -- are choosing to stay home and tough it out.  The article stated it was because they are scared of catching the virus at the hospital.  But I think it has more to do with not being able to have family around to support you.  This is precisely why we didn't take my mom to the ER last week when normally we would have.  Because she would have been alone.  No one is allowed to visit hospital patients.  And we figured, if she's going to die, it's better to die at home with family around than in a hospital all alone.

So many people are not getting the medical care they need because it is not "essential".  And who decides what is essential and not?  A tyrant!  My mom had a procedure scheduled for March 24 for which she had already taken a course of expensive antibiotics in preparation for the procedure.  It was canceled two days before the scheduled appointment.  They told her to finish the antibiotics and she'll have to start a new (expensive) course of antibiotics when they reschedule the procedure.  I personally don't think this is an elective procedure.  It is a very important procedure needed to improve her quality of life.  And even save her life.  Now she has to go once a week to the cancer center to receive treatment until she can receive the procedure she needs.  Which is ridiculous because now she's being exposed every week to dreaded illnesses that are floating around cancer stricken immunocompromised patients.  Makes no sense at all.  Yet this is going on everywhere in the country!  Even I had a referral from a specialist for a procedure to be done in the hospital.  That was pushed back until June tentatively and may be pushed back again.

This is absolute insanity.  So many people are suffering from lack of medical care of because of some stupid politically induced panic.

Stanford University did a study of people in Santa Clara County, California (where the 49ers play).  They actually tested antibodies to the Wuhan virus (COVID-19).  They are reporting slightly under 1000 cases.  But according to Stanford University research, the prevalence rate for those carrying the antibodies to the Wuhan Coronavirus are 50 to 85 times higher than is being reported.  48,000 to 81,000 people-- Instead of under 1000.

Therefore the mortality rate is much lower than the reported 1% - 4%.  The mortality rate is now estimated to be 0.1% (which is on par with seasonal flu) down to 0.02%.  Of course you won't see mainstream media reporting this because the higher the mortality rate and more deaths that occur, the better for them and their sick, deranged power trip.

Our country and world have shut down.  Economies are plummeting.  Individuals and families are in economic ruin from being forced to stay home and not work.  People can't get necessary regular medical treatments.  People aren't seeking medical treatment because of fear -- either media induced or fear of being/dying alone.  As if that wasn't bad enough, our lives or been turned upside down by not being able to go to church, not being able to go shopping for "nonessentials", not being able to go to school, not being able to get closer than 6 feet to anybody.  Having to wear a mask everywhere you go.  And heaven forbid if you don't follow all of the communistic tyrannical "rules" that have just been imposed upon us -- then you are shunned and given the evil eye at the very least. Yelled at, cursed at, called selfish, fined, and even jailed at the worst. A poor elderly man was ripped off (physically removed from) a city bus by two cops for not wearing a mask! Everybody has turned into judgmental coronavirus police who are quick to point out what other people are doing wrong.

Well, guess what?  If you don't like it, stay home!  Self quarantine.  Aren't you being the selfish one for going out in public?  Yet you are judging others for doing the same thing. Well, guess what judgmental hypocrite, if you stay home and self quarantine, then you don't have to worry about being exposed to the deadly coronavirus, by all the "bad people" not following the rules.  Why don't you look at the beam in your own eye before ye go pointing out the mote in everyone else's eyes?   You live your life the way you see fit.  And let everyone else live their life the way they choose. And quit being judgmental hypocrites.

You would think we are living in Communist China or the Soviet Union.  This is how bad it's gotten.

The entire world has turned to communism/dictatorship.  I read that in the UK the police are checking shopping bags as you leave the grocery store.  If they deem what you bought as nonessential, snacks?,  they will issue you a hefty fine.

How stupid is that?  If you are already in the store -- you are exposed to microbes anyway -- what does it matter which items you purchase?  It's purely a power trip.  Communism at its best.

This lockdown, stay at home, malarkey does not reduce the spread of the virus when you allow people to go grocery shopping and go shopping at Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, Etc.  Seriously, what's the point of quarantine when you don't actually quarantine anybody?  It's ridiculous. 

People can't even get a haircut for good thunder.  A hairdresser in Florida, I believe, had her license revoked for doing someone's hair.  Yet the mayor of Chicago can get her hair done because she has to look good because she is in the public eye.  Well guess what, all of you politician hypocrites?  You are no better than your constituents.  They want to look nice too.  As a matter of fact, you politicians are nothing but hypocritical swamp scum. And you still don't look good even after your illicit hairdressing appointment.

People can't get necessary medical treatment and dental care because it is "nonessential".  Yet women can still get abortions because apparently murdering innocent babies is essential.  They claim that women's health is so important, yet a needed gynecological procedure is postponed for months?  But if it was an abortion that was requested, they will get you right in.  That's a bunch of nonsense.  What kind of sick and depraved world do we live in?

I'm happy to see that many Americans are not taking it anymore and are protesting.  We are used to our freedoms, and cherish them.  Many people have fought for (including my dad) and died protecting our freedoms.  They are precious to us.  We live in the promised land.  The greatest country in the world. It is very sad to me how quickly everyone has given up their freedoms (by being bamboozled by the media).  Thankfully, Americans are starting to wake up and realize they've been hoodwinked. And now are beginning to demand their freedoms back.

By invitation from our Prophet, many of us fasted and prayed for life to return to normal.  It will happen.  The Lord will hear and listen to and bless His people.  This much I know.

I just hope it happens sooner rather than later.  Because many people are suffering tremendously because of this nonsense.

That's my two cents.

Dolly and Kenny

I just watched an interview where Dolly and Kenny interview each other.  There is a quote from each of them that I want to share with you.

They are both profound in their own way.

"A good friend will kill for you.  A true friend will help you hide the body."  -- Dolly Parton 

Dolly is always the quickwitted jokester. After Dolly said that, Kenny said "I'll help you hide the body."  It was funny.  Basically saying that he is Dolly's true friend.

Despite the macabre nature to the quote, there is a clever nugget of truth being taught.  True friends will stand by you and help you out in whatever you need, no matter what sacrifice it takes on their part.  This doesn't mean that they agree with or condone certain choices or behaviors but that they have unconditional love for you.

I think I should clarify that true friends will help you out in whatever you need as long as it is morally sound and not detrimental or harmful to you or others.  There is a moral line that has to be drawn but that's what makes the quote funny.

Thanks Dolly.

"We're all three people.  We're who we think we are.  We're who the audience thinks we are. And we're who we really are.  The closer those three people are together, the longer your career will last."  -- Kenny Rogers

Kenny's right, people don't like fake plastic people.  Dolly and Kenny both had long careers, so I guess they are both genuine, real people.  We know they have "Real Love".  :-)

I think that quote can apply to everybody not just entertainers.  Just replace the word audience with others.  And replace the longer your career will last with the more real or genuine you are.

People who put on a different face and change who they are depending on who they are around or with are plastic and most people will eventually see through the façade.  If you're not good enough to be you no matter who you're with or around, then maybe you should work on changing who you really are.

Thanks Kenny.

RIP Kenny Rogers.  August 21, 1938 - March 20, 2020

That's my two cents.

Even the Unbelieving Will Recognize the Church

As promised, here is a quote from General Conference a couple weeks ago.  This quote stood out to me when I heard it.  Because of Dad, I have grown to love President Eyring as one of my favorite apostles.

I have bolded my favorite part of the quote.  This is talking about the last days in which we live prior to the Lord's Second Coming.

"Many of the specifics of what we will do and when we will do it in the unfolding Restoration are not yet revealed. Yet the First Presidency even in those early days knew some of the breadth and depth of the work the Lord has set before us. Here are a few examples of what we do know will take place: 

"Through His Saints, the Lord will offer the gift of His gospel “to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.” Technology and miracles will continue to play a part—as will individual “fishers of men” who minister with power and increasing faith. 

"We as a people will become more united amid increasing conflict. We will be gathered in the spiritual strength of groups and families filled with gospel light. 

"Even an unbelieving world will recognize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and realize the power of God upon it. Faithful and brave disciples will fearlessly, humbly, and openly take upon them the name of Christ in their everyday lives." -- President Henry B. Eyring, "Prayers of Faith", April 2020 General Conference 

My take on that quotation is that as we draw closer to The Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the world is becoming more unbelieving and evil.  Yet, despite their unbelief, they will still recognize the Power of God in the Lord's church -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  And those of us who strive to be obedient disciples will be recognized as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ-- even by the unbelieving -- because of our faith.  And by fearlessly living the Gospel despite the finger-pointing and persecutions of the world.

That's my two cents.

Flattening the Curves

I'm sure you've all heard about flattening the curve -- probably ad nauseam.  I've even seen commercials about it and I don't even watch the news.  I don't know what the mainstream media is telling you about it but do you realize that it's not about saving lives?  It's merely to spread out the Infections and therefore hospitalizations over a longer period of time.

It's all about not overwhelming hospitals.  So we have severely disrupted 327 million people's lives in this country alone and ruined the economy all to prevent hospital overcrowding?

And the irony is that it wasn't even necessary!  There would not have been any hospital overcrowding anyway.

Here is what Rush Limbaugh had to say about it:

"In flattening the curve as a policy, i.e., social distancing, locking down, stay at home, avoiding have the virus, the same number of people are gonna get sick and the same percentage of those people are going to die except — and here’s the real point behind it — social distancing, flattening the curve was designed for one thing: to prevent overruns at hospitals, to prevent massive numbers of infections that required very sick people to go to the hospital and put pressure on hospitals, ICU’s, emergency rooms that the hospitals couldn’t handle. That’s why we have been doing what we’ve been doing, to avoid stress, to avoid overcrowding, to avoiding chaos at the hospitals." 

"Well, let’s look at the flu. Let’s look at hospitalizations. Are you ready for some shocking numbers? Do you want to hear some shocking numbers? During last year’s flu season, according to the CDC, 490,000 people were hospitalized due to seasonal flu. The year before that, 810,000 people were hospitalized due to the flu. The maximum number of projected hospitalizations with COVID-19 as of two days ago is 62,000. If we could handle 810,000 hospitalizations due to flu, if we could handle 490, 500,000 hospitalizations, then we certainly can handle 62,000 hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

"So there are the numbers in context. American hospitals have not been overwhelmed by the number of flu sufferers. Now, New York, you can find a pocket here or there. But in New York all the override hospitals, the Javits Center, Central Park build-out, the Navy ships, none of ’em were necessary. They were there to handle both COVID-19 and regular cases.

"Folks, the reason for flattening the curve never materialized — to handle an overrun of hospitals. Everything is arguable. We could reopen much sooner than a lot of people think.

"The same number of people are gonna get sick and die.

"It’s just that theoretically the hospitals will not be overwhelmed." -- Rush Limbaugh.com, "Examining Why We Tried to Flatten the Curve", April 15, 2020

Our country never needed to be shut down.  Lock down, social distancing, stay at home orders -- shutting down businesses, churches, schools, restaurants, etc. -- none of it was necessary!

Now, the Liberal Democrat media will tell you that it was because of the tyrannical lock down that kept the virus at bay.  But flattening the curve doesn't reduce the numbers, it just spreads them out over a longer period of time.  So instead of the pandemic lasting a few weeks to a few months, flattening the curve will make it last a few months to a year plus.

For some reason I thought that all of this extreme tyrannical lock down, social distancing, stay at home orders would actually bring the numbers down of those who become infected with the virus and those who die from it.  But that's not what it does.  Which, thinking about it, that makes sense.  The virus will continue to spread to people who are not immune until a certain number of people become immune -- herd immunity -- which stops the progression of the spread of the virus.  It will just take longer for the virus to run its course.

So when the Liberal Democrat mainstream media tells you that the numbers are much less than they expected because of the extreme lockdown measures -- they are lying.  First of all, their models -- which at first projected 2.2 million deaths in the United States -- those models already took into account social distancing, stay at home lock down.

When they noticed the numbers weren't ever going to come close to 2.2 million they lowered it to 240,000.  10% of the original estimate.  Then it was lowered to 60,000 projected US deaths.  Now I hear they are going to lower the projection again.

And actually the numbers are grossly inflated.  The CDC even said that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 -- even if they die from comorbidities such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc. are still counted as a COVID-19 death.  And New York just added 4000 deaths to their tally of COVID-19 deaths because they might have tested positive.  But were never tested.

No matter what happens, the Democrats i.e. mainstream media will spin the truth and claim that the pandemic was much worse than it really was and that it was because of extreme tyrannical lockdowns that prevented even more illness and deaths.

The truth is that the same number of people are going to get sick and die regardless of what tyrannical measures are taken.  Flattening the curve just spreads out the pandemic over a longer period of time.

Remember the wise words of Waylon Jennings in The Dukes of Hazzard theme song:

Staightenin' the curves
Flattenin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em
But the law never will

Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more
Than the law will allow

Every time I hear, "flattening the curve" I think of this song.  Seems to apply to these days of pandemic panic.  The current tyranny we are facing is much worse than Boss Hogg or Roscoe P. Coltrane ever imposed on the Duke boys.

That's my two cents.

Immunology Lesson

I read an interesting article a couple of days ago.  The gist of it was that we may be making this virus worse by drastically overprotecting people.  Having studied epidemiology and immunology in medical school and undergraduate biology -- this makes total sense.

I'm going to quote a big portion of the article but I will also link the article if you want to read the entire thing.  It's very interesting.

I do remember studying immunology in medical school -- by the way it's one of the most difficult courses I took.  Very detailed.  But one thing I do remember that stood out to me was that by not exposing yourself to germs, you develop allergies.  Now of course there's a fine line between getting sick all the time and living a normal germ free hygienic life.  But for example, children who are not exposed to pets during childhood often end up allergic.  Same thing with certain foods.  Obviously, the more you are exposed to, the more antibodies you produce and carry with you.  And the more protected you are against myriad diseases.

If I remember correctly the hypothesis or theory is that your immune system begins to recognize what is normal and what is pathogenic, the more antigens it is exposed to.  And the more antibodies it produces against pathogens. When the immune system doesn't have anything to fight it starts getting confused and attacking normal cells.  That's one theory about autoimmune diseases.  Which is still not well understood.

Remember the story about the milk maids?  Well you probably don't, since you didn't study immunology, :-).  Back during the smallpox epidemic it was discovered that milk maids who were exposed to cowpox did not get smallpox.  Even though they were different viruses, they were related enough that the antibodies produced against cowpox worked against smallpox as well.  Cowpox is a much milder disease than smallpox.  Therefore, the milkmaids got cowpox, recovered, and were immune to smallpox.  This is how the smallpox vaccine came about.

Believe it or not, we are exposed to pathogens all the time.  Or at least to microbes.  Some are nonpathogenic.  Leave a petri dish exposed to air for a few minutes and then incubate it. You'll find all kinds of things growing on it.  Molds, bacteria, fungus, yeast.  I'm sure you would also find viruses if you could see them.  They are only visible under an electron microscope.  Plus they don't survive long outside of a host.  But my point is, we coexist with microbes.  They are floating in the air.  We breathe them, eat them -- our immune system takes care of most microbes and pathogens without our knowledge of being exposed.

Herd immunity is an interesting concept.  You may have heard about this with all of the coronavirus talk going on.  I don't know.  But I will explain it as I learned it in medical school. People who are immune to a disease actually protect others from the disease.  This works because people carrying antibodies to a disease do not spread it to others.  Thereby protecting the herd.  If I remember correctly, at least 30% of the herd must be immune for this to work.  Of course, the higher percentage of immunity in the herd, the more protective herd immunity is.  This is why vaccinations are so important.  They not only protect you but other people also. But, just being exposed to disease and producing antibodies -- whether you ever become symptomatic or not -- produces immunity.  Also protecting the herd.

Now, after your mini immunology lesson here are the excerpts from the article I mentioned (link at end of article):

"More importantly, the deep knowledge of viruses garnered from studying both the original H1N1 flu and polio strongly implies that, if we continue to over-react and over-protect people from COVID 19, we risk turning it into a much more lethal virus.
...
"Our current everyone-stay-home approach is anything but enlightened by immunological theory.  Quite the opposite: As billions of people worldwide are currently in their homes, in close confinement, in situations of extreme fear and psychological distress, being told by their governments to go to the grocery store as rarely as possible, we are creating an environment which is more and more conducive for facilitating a virus with enhanced virulence in the future.  How are we doing this? 

1)   Lowering everyone’s resistance to viruses by scaring, stressing, and discouraging them from normal activities including buying food and drink.  

2)   Keeping everyone at home in effect creates just the immunosuppressive scenario that fosters flu during the winter time -- cold, close quarters and stress.

3)   Discouraging direct human contact including hugging and kissing, and directly loving one another suppresses immunity.  With social distancing, our species never would have made it this far.  

4)   Preventing young people from being exposed to COVID 19 short circuits “herd immunity.”  

"In stark contrast to the quixotic fantasies driving our stay-at-home American approach, which sees all new viruses as equally terrifying, British health authorities are taking the more sober approach, one which is solidly based on contemporary virological, immunological and evolutionary biological theory: letting children go to school, to acquire COVID 19 and become naturally immune is absolutely the best way to assure that this new virus learns to peacefully coexist with we human beings.  Viruses have always been with us, and are part of our very genomes. 

"I have met few modern immunologists who believe, as Dr. Fauci does, that washing one’s hands 50 times a day is the best way to stay healthy.  At the Ghost lab at the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology in the 2000s, we often discussed how over-cleanliness and over-protection from viruses and bacteria was a very poor public health approach: too much hand washing actually prevents normal development of the immune system, and leads to autoimmune and other immune-regulatory disturbances later in life.  That “hygiene hypothesis” is well known and well accepted by most immunologists." -- Viruses 101: How Overprotecting People from COVID 19 Could Make it More Lethal, By Brandon P. Reines, April 14, 2020 (Brandon P. Reines’s academic appointments include adjunct assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Visiting Fellow, Department of Applied Mathematics, Australia National University)

 Now, we should still wash our hands.  That's the best way to prevent the spread of pathogenic disease.  But, don't be OCD about it.  Social distancing among healthy people is stupid.  First of all it doesn't stop the spread of disease.  It may slow it -- which is another topic(tomorrow perhaps).  But letting nature take its course, thereby building up herd immunity in the healthy population, actually prevents more disease and death than this ridiculous social distancing, lock down, stay at home garbage. The way to create monster viruses (by mutation) is to do exactly what we are doing.  Putting a bunch of immunosuppressed people (caused by stress) together in close quarters.  Brilliant!

The human race has survived for millennia without tyrannical governments forcing the entire world population into quarantine.  When is everyone going to realize that this is causing much more harm to everyone than any good it may be doing?  Honestly, I don't see one advantage to this craziness.  It's insane. 

Give us back our freedoms and let us live our lives as we choose.

That's my two cents.

Heroes

Joe Kenda and I are both bugged by the same thing.  And it has been in the news a lot more lately since this pandemic panic started.  Joe and I both think that the word hero is vastly overused.

I suppose, technically, a hero can merely mean someone you admire.  But to me, a hero is someone who stands out above everyone else because of their bravery, selflessness, conviction, integrity, and service to humanity.

Heroes can be personal such as your mom or dad.  Or heroes can be universal such as martyrs like William Tyndale, Joseph Smith, or Abinadi.

Heroes are not ordinary people doing their jobs.  Yet so many ordinary people are labeled as heroes for doing their everyday job.  It's crazy.

People who are merely doing a job, which they have chosen as a career, and are getting paid for their services, are not heroes.  I'm getting tired of hearing people say that health care workers, grocery store workers, delivery people, first responders such as law enforcement, firefighters, EMT etc. are heroes for merely doing their job.

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers know that their chosen career path will expose them to sick people. Law-enforcement officers know that their chosen career path will expose them to bad guys who may want to hurt them.  Just because you may have chosen a career that may be more dangerous or risky doesn't make you a hero.

Those who go above and beyond the call of duty may be heroes but ordinary every day people who go to work and do their job are not heroes.

So let's quit labeling everyone a hero who is merely doing a job, which they have chosen, and are getting paid to do.

It cheapens the honor paid to real heroes.

That's my two cents.

American Revolution II

It's about time for the American people to revolt against the tyranny we are facing.  This government oppression of healthy, regular law-abiding Americans has gone way too far.  The American people have been hoodwinked and bamboozled by the Liberal Democrat mainstream media into fear and panic believing that we are all going to die if we contract the Wuhan virus.  It's absolutely not true.

The epidemiological models are a bunch of malarkey.created by a bunch of yahoos who call themselves scientists.  The mainstream media, no doubt, found the most doomsayer scientists to create models with a worse case scenario of death.  The Democrats/mainstream media giddily report deaths -- the more the better for their sick and twisted political gain.  They start out telling us that their scientific models predict 2.2 million deaths in the United States from this novel Wuhan coronavirus.  Then they revised it to 240,000 deaths in the United States.  Now it's down to 60,000. As of right now, there have been 21,662 deaths in the United States attributed to this novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  And in reality, the numbers are inflated because, according to Doctor Birx from the CDC, anybody who tests positive for COVID-19 but actually dies from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, or any other comorbidity is counted as a COVID-19 death. So the number of deaths from the actual virus are actually much lower than reported.

The more deaths to report, the happier the liberal media is.  Why can't they focus on recovery instead of death?  Because this is their last chance and last hope of destroying President Trump and removing him from office.  They are a bunch of sick puppies with no regard to human life.  Their only objective is to destroy America.

This Fauci character, so-called expert in infectious disease, is a Hillary Clinton loving liberal Democrat.  He's blaming Trump for not locking down the country soon enough. Claiming that lives could be saved if Trump would have acted sooner.  When On February 29, 2020 he told NBC news there was no need to change your day-to-day business.

PETER ALEXANDER, TODAY SHOW CO-HOST: Dr. Fauci, it’s Saturday morning in America. People are waking up with real concerns about this. They want to go to malls, to movies, and maybe the gym. Should we be changing our habits, and if so, how?

FAUCI: Right now at this moment there is no need to change anything you’re doing on a day by day basis.

Well guess what, Doctor Fauci, Trump did act sooner.  He banned travel from China in January.  And was mocked and called a xenophobe and racist by the same liberal Democrat media that are now claiming he didn't act fast enough.  Hypocrites!

And the lush Lala land living Nancy Pelosi, Who encouraged her constituents in San Francisco to go out and enjoy the Chinese new year, in Chinatown, despite the threat of the novel Chinese coronavirus -- now wants to try to impeach President Trump once again, because he didn't act fast enough to stop the spread of the virus?  Hypocrite!

A few days ago I learned that our governor, Idiot Inslee, after complaining that President Trump and the Feds were not doing enough to help our great state of Washington in this crisis, now is returning 400 ventilators that were never used nor needed and is dismantling a field hospital.  This 250 bed makeshift hospital at CenturyLink Field that was erected by 300 soldiers over several days did not see one patient!  Not one!  Now everything is being returned to FEMA, just days after it was built.  What a waste of the United States military time and equipment and supplies. Yet there will be no apology from Idiot Inslee.  He's quick to point the finger at others, but won't take any blame for his mistakes.  Contrary to Idiot Inslee's complaint that President Trump and the federal government didn't do enough to help Washington during this crisis, obviously President Trump and the federal government did more than enough.  But you will never hear that from Inslee.

I've already mentioned this story about the girl who was pulled over and cited for going on a Sunday drive and fined $200.  I read another story about a man being physically pulled off a city bus in Philadelphia, I believe, by cops -- for not wearing a mask!  Absurd.  Our Constitutional rights are being violated and nobody seems to care.

Yesterday, Lisa told me about the governor of Michigan -- excuse me, the totalitarian dictator of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. Perhaps in her deranged quest to destroy President Trump, or America in general.  Or perhaps being drunk with tyrannical power.  Or perhaps out of sheer hatred or anger -- or all of the above -- has banned the sale of seeds and paint in hardware stores.  Because they are not "essential". At a time when people are home and can be planting gardens -- there is only a small window for planting seeds in the spring.  Or could be improving their home by painting -- since everyone is ordered to stay home anyway.  What better projects than to plant a garden and paint your home?

These liberal Democrats have absolutely no common sense at all.  They are completely driven by anger and hate.  The sheer stupidity of liberal Democrats really amazes me.

By the way, this is the same tyrannical totalitarian dictator governor of Michigan who banned the use of hydroxychloroquine in her state after President Trump claimed that its use was promising in the treatment of COVID-19.  She literally wants her constituents to die.  Nothing would make her happier than to see the death total rise.  She's a sick and deranged woman.

This is not a devastating pandemic that kills everyone who gets infected.  This is slightly worse than the common seasonal flu.  In terms of virulence and mortality rate. There is promising treatment using the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.

There is absolutely no reason for businesses and schools to be shut down and people to be ordered to stay home or else face fines by a tyrannical government in the guise of protecting the citizens.  It's a bunch of malarkey. Hundreds of millions of healthy, law-abiding Americans are basically under house arrest.  It's not right.

Guess what?  Americans have brains and can think for themselves.  If we are at high risk, then we can choose to stay home to avoid becoming infected.  But let people live their lives and make their own choices.  This is a free country.  Give us back our freedoms!

There never was a reason to shut down the country and disrupt or ruin 327 million Americans lives.  And in so doing ruin the economy thereby weakening our mighty nation.  It only took a few short weeks for tyranny to prevail and Americans are taking it lying down.

The American people need to push back.  If this tyranny goes much further, there must needs be another American Revolution.

The American people have been duped by the media.  We have patiently put up with this tyranny in the name of safety health and well-being.  But it's time to take our freedoms back.  This is a free country.  We don't live in Communist China.  We live in the greatest country in the world -- the United States of America.  The land of the free and home of the brave.

This country was born on freedom from oppressive governments.  Freedom to make our own choices is essential.  Many men have fought and died to preserve these freedoms.  Did they fight and die in vain?  We must take back our democracy and our freedoms.  If that requires another American Revolution, then so be it.

That's my two cents.

Happy Easter

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you]." -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "None Were with Him", April 2009 General Conference

Happy Easter everybody!

Exactly!

I got this from Lisa's blog.  But this is exactly what I've been trying to tell everybody in all my recent blog posts. 



I honestly can't believe the American people are putting up with this tyranny.  It just goes to show you how to easily brainwashed people are.  People believe everything the media tells them as if it's gospel truth.

I hate to break it to you but almost everything the media tells you is lies.

Anyway, this hits the nail on the head!  Quarantine is when you restrict the movement of sick people.  Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people.

That's my two cents.

Easter Message from President Trump

On this Good Friday, as millions of people are fasting and praying in response to an invitation from our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, I find it apropos that President Trump gave an Easter message from the Oval Office.

This is what he said:

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much.  On this Good Friday, Christians from all around the world remember the suffering and death upon the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  At Easter Sunday, we will celebrate his glorious resurrection. 

At this holy time, our nation is engaged in a battle like never before — the invisible enemy.  Our brave doctors, nurses, and responders — first responders, responders of all — are fighting to save lives.  Our workers are racing to deliver critical medical supplies. 

Our best scientists are working around the clock to develop lifesaving therapeutics, and I think they’re doing really well in doing so.  Our people are making tremendous sacrifices to end this pandemic. 

Though we will not be able to gather together with one another as we normally would on Easter, we can use this sacred time to focus on prayer, reflection, and growing in our personal relationship with God.  So important. 

I ask all Americans to pray that God will heal our nation; to bring comfort to those who are grieving; to give strength to the doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers; to restore health to the sick; and to renew the hope in every person who is suffering.  Our nation will come through like never before.

I thank the many families who have prayed for me and for my family.  And your prayers are felt, and I am forever grateful. 

I’d like to thank our great Vice President and his wonderful wife, who we all know very well, Karen, for the incredible job they do and for their service not only to the country but for their service to God. 

Almost 3,000 years ago, the Prophet Isaiah wrote these words: “Darkness covers the Earth…but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you…For the Lord will be your everlasting light.” 

As our nation battles the invisible enemy, we reaffirm that Americans believe in the power of prayer.  We give thanks for the majesty of creation and for the gift of eternal life.  And we place our trust in the hands of Almighty God. 

I’d like to just wish everybody a very Happy Easter.  We’re going to be celebrating that very, very special day, and it’s going to be, hopefully, a very good weekend and a very productive weekend. 

And I want to thank everybody in our country and beyond for all they’ve had to put up with.  One hundred and eighty-four countries, as of this morning, are fighting this enemy and we pray for them all.

It's refreshing to have a President of the United States who believes in God and values prayer and understands the importance of faith.  I have no doubt that the Lord will hear the prayers of his people and life will get back to normal again, the economy will strengthen, the pandemic will wane.  And as President Trump says, "Our nation will come through this like never before."

Thank you President Trump and Happy Easter to you and yours as well!

That's my two cents.

Far Worse Than a Virus

I know I sound like a broken record.  I keep harping on the response to this COVID-19 pandemic.  But it's absolutely mind-boggling to me.  Our country is being destroyed -- the lives of 327 million Americans are being destroyed economically, mentally, spiritually, financially, emotionally, socially, and even physically.  All because of panic created by the liberal media intent on destroying America.  And they are succeeding!

I have always been a staunch President Trump supporter.  I know his heart is in the right place and he is worried about the lives of Americans.  But I think he's being bamboozled.  He is relying on so-called medical experts and projection models.  He needs to rely on his instincts like he usually does.  Because the experts and the models are wrong.  His instincts are to get the economy up and running ASAP.  That is the right thing to do!  Unfortunately, because of his compassion and love for Americans, in trying to save lives, he is putting his trust in people who are leading him down the wrong path.  Whether intentionally or unintentionally.  Obviously the media and Democrats want as much death and destruction as possible.  They gloat in reporting increasing numbers of death and hospitalizations and illnesses. They love seeing the economy destroyed.  They love seeing fear in people.  It's disgusting.

I fear that if President Trump doesn't make the hard choice to reopen the economy soon, very soon, not only will our country be irreparably damaged, but his base will start to doubt him.  I realize he's stuck between a rock and a hard place at this point. But this lockdown is not sustainable.  And I believe it's unconstitutional. I can't believe 327 million people are taking this without any pushback.  I believe in honoring, obeying, and sustaining the law -- but this is unlawful!  Yes, if necessary, quarantine infectious people.  But don't quarantine an entire nation of healthy people.  That is tyranny.

I read a story about a 19-year-old girl in Virginia I believe, who went for a drive just to get out of the house.  Not going anywhere.  Minding her own business alone in her car just driving down the road.  She was pulled over and given $200 citation for not staying home.  Absurd!

We don't live in Communist China or even socialist Europe.  We live in The United States of America -- the land of the free and the home of the brave!  These stay-at-home orders are wrong!  Every single American's life is being destroyed. America has become a giant ghost town.  If you do go out, it's like walking into the apocalypse.  People in hazmat suits with thermometers dictating who can see a doctor or receive health care.  Everyone wearing masks -- even outside.  It's surreal.  By the way, just an FYI, do you realize that wearing a mask protects other people from getting your germs, not vice versa?

Here's a reality check. (From a article linked on Rush Limbaugh.com)

"...But do you know the odds of any American getting this virus?  One would think that number is easily known or available.  It’s not. A lot of digging into various municipal data portals reveals, based on the population tested, that rates can vary from, at most, eight-tenths of a percent in New York City to two-one-hundredths of a percent in Phoenix. 

"Did you know the chances of recovery from the coronavirus are about 98%—if you catch it?  Did you know there are models showing 50% of the population may have already had it, never knew they had it, and recovered?  Again, one would think this data would be widely available and reported.  It isn’t. What is presented widely are numbers and warnings that scare and frighten us, and we are now being conditioned to a lot of panic and speculation.  But part of the reason we are getting conditioned to a lot of panic is because of the wide range of speculation about other numbers we accept as our new fright-inducing reality, an increasingly confusing and frenzied set of numbers.  And the normalization of our panic is having dire consequences and augurs for even worse.

"Our officials and media have warned us of 2 million deaths in the United States.  Then 200,000 deaths.  Then 100,000 to 240,000.  This needs to stop. There have been a total of 68,000 coronavirus deaths worldwide.  And we are told we will see, just in America, three to four times that number.  Does that even pass the plausibility test?

"Is it too much to ask for some perspective with numbers we do know about, numbers which have never shut down our country, much less a church or synagogue, much less entire industries; numbers which have never restricted travel or put this nation into one big frenzy?  In any given month in America, we lose about 54,000 Americans to heart disease; 50,000 to cancer; 14,000 to asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema; 12,000 to stroke; 10,000 to Alzheimer’s; 7,000 to diabetes; 5,600 to drug overdoses; and 4,700 to influenza and pneumonia. Since February, in America, coronavirus: 9,500.   Where is the sympathy for the victims and families of those other causes of death?  The daily mortality count?  The blaring headlines?  The upending of the country?  We hear almost nothing about them.  Those deaths give us over 157,000 deaths a month.  Given all that is being done about one cause of death, COVID-19, it turns out this is a very advantaged disease, indeed.  And we will in time develop a vaccine for it, not to mention more and more good news coming in the short term about treatments from other extant medicines like hydroxychloroquine.

"But there is more.  With all the blaring chyrons and death and disease counts, has anyone tried to search for the average age of the death toll from this pathogen?  It’s very hard to do—though we are told the virus more maleficently affects those over 65, and is worse with each year of age.  Why do you think this point, this fact, is not everywhere available?  Could it be there is an investment and interest in scaring all of us?  You can find some stories with state and local data, but isn’t it interesting the general data is not available? Our best analysis shows in New York City 70% of the deaths are of those over age 65.  And almost all deaths across all age groups come with underlying conditions. New York has a serious problem and requires great effort and attention, which is being applied.  But the fact that the virus is having its way there does not mean that it is making its way anywhere or everywhere.  States with even greater populations, like California and Texas, are showing death rates 90% lower than New York.  States like Iowa and Minnesota have low numbers, too—but Iowa is not in lockdown and Minnesota is.

"Is there perhaps not a smarter way to address this plague other than mass immuration?  Sequestering those who are elderly with underlying conditions, those who test positive, and those who are symptomatic “while basically treating the rest of society the way we have always dealt with familiar threats like the flu” is how Thomas Friedman put it early on.  He and Dr. David L. Katz of Yale called this a vertical strategy.  The horizontal strategy of “restricting the movement and commerce of the entire population, without consideration of varying risks for severe infection,” is too blunt, too paralyzing—and too malefic." --An Advantaged Disease, Indeed, April 6, 2020, By William J. Bennett & Seth Leibsohn

So there are some real statistics that the media doesn't want you to know.  The media wants you to believe that if you get infected with COVID-19 that you are as good as dead.  Reality is the chance of you actually contracting the virus is rare.  And even if you are unlucky enough to become infected, your chance of recovery is excellent.

To President Trump and those of you who believe medical experts and scientists are never wrong and who use data to convince you of such, you are being bamboozled.  Medical experts and scientists often disagree.  Scientific data is often proven wrong -- especially new data that hasn't been scientifically studied. Which this data on COVID-19 is because it's such a new virus. The information and data is bound to keep changing as more is learned and studied about this particular virus.

To rely on a few so called medical experts and their advice is dangerous.  Especially when an entire nation -- and the world for that matter -- is at stake.

To quote again from the article:

"The president’s instincts to re-open this country as soon as possible are right. This country is not prepared for a worsening of all the other social harms and deaths brought on by an incredibly overwrought, self-induced, hysteria and panic that doesn’t parse.  It better be.  But remember with all the nonprofits, volunteer, and self-help communities organized to address these problems being shuttered and harmed, direly and financially, be prepared for massive social failure and more death.  This is what happens when sanity is at discount and hysteria reigns supreme.  This is what happens when societies get used to pandemonium.  As bad as the coronavirus is, and it is bad, unless we arrest the frenzy and panic mongering, we should be prepared for things worse than the virus." --An Advantaged Disease, Indeed, April 6, 2020, By William J. Bennett & Seth Leibsohn

(William J. Bennett is the former secretary of education and director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy.)

(Seth Leibsohn is a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute and the host of "The Seth Leibsohn Show," heard daily on 960am/KKNT in Phoenix, Ariz.)

I know I keep harping on this but our country is being destroyed and brought to its knees, not by a virus, but by insanity, hysteria, and panic induced by a liberal media intent on destroying America and President Trump, with no regard for human life.

President Trump, please trust your instincts and put a stop to this insanity, madness, lunacy.  Open the economy.  Let people get back to work!  Let's get back to living as normal Americans and human beings who go to work, go to school, go to church, go shopping, go to restaurants, go to concerts, go to sporting events, etc. Now!  Before it's too late.  Quarantining 327 million people is not only just plain crazy, but also very dangerous and destructive to all Americans.  Not to mention tyrannical and unconstitutional.

That's my two cents.

Good Friday Fast

Another General Conference has come and gone.  It is always a spiritual high to listen to prophets, seers, and revelators.  I will be posting some quotes in the upcoming days and weeks after the transcripts come out.

I do want to mention the special fast that President Nelson (our prophet) has invited us to do this Friday, April 10.  Friday is also Good Friday.  This is a day when Christians remember the crucifixion of our Savior and His suffering for us. Many Christians also traditionally fast on this day.

Here is the invitation from our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson:

“Let us unite in pleading for healing throughout the world,” the prophet said. “Good Friday would be the perfect day to have our Heavenly Father and His Son hear us! … Let us prayerfully plead … that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.”

Traditionally a fast begins and ends with prayer.  This is when we plead with our Heavenly Father for the blessings for which we are fasting.  In the Church, we traditionally fast -- don't eat or drink anything -- for two meals or 24 hours.  So for instance, eat dinner the night before.  Skip breakfast and lunch and then eat dinner at night.

And just as an aside, periodic 24-hour fasting has been medically proven to be beneficial to the human body.

Some people are not able to fast due to medical or health reasons.  In these cases, perhaps you could fast for a shorter amount of time (perhaps fast for one meal instead of two) or choose another sacrifice that you could make.

So I will reiterate what the prophet has invited us to fast for particularly this Friday:

1 -- That the present pandemic may be controlled
2 -- That caregivers may be protected
3 -- That the economy will be strengthened
4 -- That life will be normalized again

The Prophet's invitation is for all people, not just members of the Church.  Please join us this Friday in this special fast.

As you begin and end your fast with prayer, remember you can also plead with Our Heavenly Father to help you with other personal trials you are facing, or for other people.

Let us follow the prophet and fast this Friday to ask the Lord to help put an end to this COVID-19 nonsense.

That's my two cents.

General Conference Reminder

Just a reminder about General Conference this weekend.

Saturday April 4: 9:00 AM-11:00 AM, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM

Sunday April 5: 9:00 AM-11:00 AM, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

You can watch on BYU TV,  Latter-day Saints Channel, YouTube, ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Just a note: The Saturday evening session at five o'clock -- which would normally be the priesthood session -- is for everybody.  By the way all times are Pacific Daylight Time.

The Prophet said in the last General Conference six months ago that this April 2020 conference would be different than anything we have experienced and unforgettable.  He already hit the nail on the head because of the COVID-19 panic there will be no congregation and it will not be in the 20,000 seat conference center.  Music will be prerecorded.  And only those speaking or directly involved will be in attendance at each session.  Also, this is the bicentennial (200th anniversary) of Joseph Smith's First Vision.  So that also makes it a special General Conference.

I am super excited for conference this weekend.  I can hardly wait for it to get rolling.

With everybody being home under government mandated orders, there are fewer distractions to keep you from watching General Conference. There is no better time to come listen to a Prophet's voice and learn what the Savior wants to teach us.

That's my two cents.

Swatting at a Gnat

We are in the midst of a viral pandemic.  But the Chinese Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) has not caused near the devastation (nor will it) that the reaction to it has.  Before you start rolling your eyes, let me explain.

First, let me preface this with an explanation that I actually studied pandemics and epidemiology as part of my biology degree.  So I do understand what's going on.  This being a new virus, there's not much research done to make predictions.  But, last I heard, the experts are saying it could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 people in the United States. Granted, we haven't crested the hill yet but as of right now there are 225,998 confirmed cases in the United States and 5,311 recorded fatalities in the United States from this coronavirus.  Worldwide there are 981,221 confirmed cases and 50,230 fatalities attributed to COVID-19.

Keep in mind that the vast majority of deaths attributed to this pandemic Chinese virus are in elderly, sick people with several comorbidities contributing to their death.  The death rate drops dramatically the younger you are.

As a comparison, let's look at the numbers of other causes of death throughout the world.  This is according to worldometer.info as of right now.  (If you go to the website the numbers are constantly climbing).  This is their health section:

3,285,992 Communicable disease deaths this year 

123,070 Seasonal flu deaths this year 

1,924,014 Deaths of children under 5 this year 

10,759,066 Abortions this year 

78,238 Deaths of mothers during birth this year 

41,682,784 HIV/AIDS infected people 

425,518 Deaths caused by HIV/AIDS this year 

2,078,893 Deaths caused by cancer this year 

248,286 Deaths caused by malaria this year 

2,831,408 People who died of hunger this year

1,265,378 Deaths caused by smoking this year 

633,088 Deaths caused by alcohol this year 

271,438 Suicides this year

213,173 Deaths caused by water related diseases this year 

$ 101,262,201,224 Money spent on illegal drugs this year

341,692 Road traffic accident fatalities this year

Keep in mind this is since January 1, 2020.  So about three months only.  These are worldwide numbers not just United States. The 50,230 COVID-19 deaths pale in comparison. Now, I know those numbers are going to increase dramatically over the next few months but, so will the other causes of death throughout the world.

My point is, why the obsession with this current pandemic?  Yes, it's a deadly pandemic, But there have been worse and there will be worse in the future. And a lot more people die from other communicable diseases than will ever die from this pandemic.  I just don't understand why 327 million people in the United States (and over 7 billion people worldwide) are basically put on house arrest over this current pandemic. It's for our own good right?  To protect us?  What about agency?  Are we not smart enough to figure out that if we are at risk we should stay home and self quarantine?  I don't agree with healthy people -- millions of healthy people -- being put on lockdown like criminals. Healthy people should be able to choose what risks they want to take.  Nobody should be forced  into quarantine if they are healthy and are not suspect as carrying disease.

None of this craziness happened during our last pandemic 10 years ago.  Obama was in office.  You probably barely remember hearing about the swine flu. I know this panic started as a political stunt by the Democrats.  And the world followed.  But this has gotten way out of hand.   This shows you the power of the media.  Best advice I can give you -- don't watch the news!  Don't watch TV.  I haven't watched one minute of television news since 2012.  And I manage to stay up to date on current events.

I agree that quarantines are sometimes necessary.  Quarantines of actual sick or possibly sick people.  But not an entire country or entire world for that matter.  Pure insanity.  In trying to prevent a few deaths from this pandemic, much more destruction is occurring.

It's like swatting at a gnat and being hit by a train.

There is more to health than just lack of physical illness.  There is mental health, emotional health, and spiritual health.

This tyrannical lockdown on 327 million US citizens is taking a heavy toll on many people's mental, emotional and spiritual health. Not to mention physical health as well because we can't get the medical care we need for other ailments.

While millions of healthy people are on lockdown -- the economy is being destroyed.  What took President Trump three years to build up has been destroyed in a month or two. Besides weakening the most powerful country in the world, economic destruction is a heavy blow to families.  People's mental and emotional states are deleteriously affected by economic downturn.  This will cause increase in stress and will most likely lead to more suicides.  This is a much bigger threat and devastation to all Americans than this Chinese coronavirus is or ever will be.

Amidst all this craziness, people are having babies alone in hospitals, no one can visit dying relatives and can't say their last goodbyes to loved ones.  Many sick people will end up dying in hospitals as a result of lack of family support.  I guarantee you without a shadow of a doubt that I would be dead right now if wasn't for the family support and prayers that I received after my accident 18 years ago.  This isn't right.  People should be able to go visit relatives and see new babies in the hospital.  They should be able to visit their dying family members and say their last good byes.  Even just going to the doctor now you have to get past the hazmat guy with the thermometer to even get in the door.  And they don't want you to bring anyone with you.  It's ridiculous.

I had three doctors appointment scheduled for next week.  Two of them called and canceled.  I'm just waiting for the third.  Two of these are with specialists and one with primary care.  Do people no longer need healthcare because there is a pandemic?  That's absurd.  My mom desperately needs a procedure which of course was postponed.  In the meantime, she's bedridden and has no quality of life.  This isn't right.  Both of us are going to end up dead before we get any medical treatment.  All because media induced panic caused people to be scared of a virus.  Guess what, we don't live in the dark ages, we know how to prevent illness.  Why don't we practice illness prevention and go about living life?  Yes, some people will succumb despite their best efforts.  But, do we destroy our nation and overturn 327 million people's lives to save a few thousand?  Who are mostly at the end of their life anyway?  I don't think so.  Call me what you will but I believe it is better for one man to perish than a nation to dwindle and perish.

There are so many people who are not getting much-needed medical care and treatment because of this panic over the pandemic.  Completely media generated.  And I guarantee you more people are dying from lack of medical care, stress-induced suicides, increased domestic violence and criminal activity, and other unforeseen ways this tyrannical societal shut down is affecting people than this virus is killing.  Not to mention quality of life.  It's sheer lunacy to me.

On top of that, sports, concerts, church, funerals -- people can't even die without their life being disrupted -- are all canceled or banned.  People are supposed to stay 6 feet away.  But guess what, sneezes and coughs travel much farther than that.  This whole thing is crazy.  Has everybody lost their minds?

It makes no sense to me to quarantine people but then let them go shopping.  What's the point of that?  Let people go back to work.  Let the economy start roaring again.  Let kids go back to school.  Let people go back to church.  Let people have funerals.  Let people visit the sick and dying in hospitals.  The government should not shut down society because of this Chinese Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic.  It is destroying our country and our people's health and well-being.

Stop swatting at gnats while we are all getting run over by trains.

That's my two cents.