BruceVC

Yes I did, in 1993. One year before our Democratic election, I did my basics in 1 SSB which is an armored car regiment and then I was transferred to maintenance which is a non-combative unit that involved drivers, stores and other supportive units. But SA wasnt at war anymore as the Cold War has ended in 1989 in Africa so no one was fighting actively but we had real violence in the country as numerous groups wanted to prevent our first Democratic election

First time I agree with you on something, this could be beginning of a beautiful relationship If I ran the USA conscription program you would definitely be one of the first type of citizen I would conscript, I cant think of anything more beneficial to improve your general views than 2 years in Afghanistan or the ME...trust me you would thank me afterwards

Thanks for the detailed post , you have provided me information to ponder on Would you agree with GD that the police overall for you are more problematic than constructive in making society better through ensuring the rule of law and order is enforced?

https://biblehub.com/context/leviticus/11-13.htm " These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they are abhorrent, not to be eaten: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, and the kite and the falcon in its kind, every raven in its kind, and the ostrich and the owl and the sea gull and the hawk in its kind, and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl, and the white owl and the pelican and the carrion vulture, 1nd the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat. " I came across this when I was reading about the practice of globally eating bats, in both the Bible and Torah they basically mention people mustn't eat birds and bats. I was wondering what insights older civilizations of man knew that made them come to this conclusion..similar to views both Jews and Muslims have about not eating pork ( I love pork and its my favorite meat ). I would guess they would have experienced in there time period what we have now proven through our understanding of medical and scientific empirical evidence that people became sick and did contract diseases and viruses like Corona I am interested in what others may think is the reason these religious texts mentioned you mustn't eat animals like birds, pork and bats ?

I agree, nothing worse than having the webcam on and seeing my face

In SA we had a major security breach in government using Zoom recently, this was probably due to the individuals not following normal software security protocol Personally we use Microsoft Teams during the lock-down, my customers are mostly in the financial sector and they have also adopted it as far as weekly updates meetings are required . I am very happy with it and its collaborative functionality, it allows me to share files, make calls and we can have our online meetings up to 50 people

So this particularly theory is not the normal fake news around the origin of the virus, it is interesting and some credible scientists have ostensibly supported it. If you want to believe the science and the absolute truth about the origin of the virus I am not sure we will ever know with 100 % certainty. I personally believe it absolutely comes from bats and from Wuhan animal market for the reasons below. However its incorrect to say " its well known that bats werent sold at the wet markets " , bats have been a stable form of food in Asia and some African countries and I have seen documentaries that were filmed about the Wuhan market made before the virus and you can clearly see bats and many other animals in cages about to be sold for food Its is well known that bats were and still eaten in Asia and Africa as I mentioned https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_as_food https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/bats-delicacy.htm We know form the science and understanding of the genesis of viruses that bats are indeed carriers of many of these diseases https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/29/health/bats-viruses-coronavirus-scn/index.html So Im not saying you wrong, I am suggesting the most likely reason for this Zoonotic disease is the still the reason most believe which is the Wuhan market because of the many viruses that have been proven to come from animals like bats Finally the most important question is really " does it matter the true origin of the virus" because if it was accidentally created in a lab or transmitted from animals to humans we know 2 things with certainty it comes from China it can now spread from human to human and has become a global pandemic which needs to be addressed and this is the most important point

Tell your wife thats a classic " middle class problem " ....Im sure that will make her feel better

These type of factors also have a influence on my sleep patterns and this has been raised as a real issue causing insomnia or bad sleep So the virus has created a reality where many people are not working temporarily or have been retrenched or they work in the informal sector and this type of work has evaporated due to the lock-down so most people are just sitting at home and dont work which adds to the problem around not being " socially active " as you mentioned which adds to bad sleeping patterns

But surely by now you should be able to understand and recognize the difference between Trumps tweets and general vacuous comments and when he says something that is true? For example when he mentioned hydroxychloroquine as a possible " corona cure " in that same discussion Dr Fauci responded that there has to be extensive clinical tests on any cure or vaccine which basically translates to " ignore what Trump said " So in summary Im saying dont waste so much time analyzing and criticizing what Trump says unless its supported by some of his advisors who do know what they saying and actually understand the facts. And this applies to basically everything he says, this is exactly what his entire presidency has been about and Im always surprised how globally people are still fixated on what he says as if its official USA policy

Firstly thank you for sharing, I dont think your post is long-winded at all. Its honest, sensitive and makes perfect sense. I think many people share your experience and feelings especially at the moment I also believe people are fundamentally good and most people really try to right thing in these difficult circumstances and various life experiences This virus has made all us reflect on many things which include our choices and things we have done in the past. Sometimes we will ruminate on how these past choices have shaped our current lives. My view is you cannot change the past and all of us can continue to regret things but end of the day only one question really matters... " what are we going to do going forward " So my advice is try hard to not worry at the moment about past mistakes because realistically the virus gives us limited options but continue to do things that are altruistic as they do matter and there are always people we can help in this dark times, like the elderly Once the virus is over then make those choices that can change your personal life

I hear you, I must say you have someone who has moved more around the world and had to integrate into different countries cultures than anyone I have ever known. Its impressive and I think harder to do than people realize especially if you have never immigrated before. Just in the time I have chatted, since 2010, to you I believe you have lived in Denmark, Germany , UK and Australia I have also moved 3 times in the last 20 years but its all within my own country and all my numerous trips overseas have been on holiday or work related and never longer than 1 month so it doesnt count. Just my latest move to Cpt was " stressful " and yet Cpt is considered one of the best cities in the world to live in So I can honestly say I truly have respect for your mental fortitude and how you are able to seemingly adopt to new cultures and ways of life ....you may not see yourself in that light but you should

I was wondering how is everyone's sleep patterns during the virus? There have been many stories about how generally peoples sleep has been erratic with people experiencing intense dreams and or fever dreams. Most of this is related to stress and anxiety relating to the pandemic according to sleep experts and doctors who study sleep patterns My sleep the first 10 days of the lock-down was very inconsistent, I found I couldnt sleep until about 1 am and then would wake up at about 7 am but battle to get out of bed or just stay in bed for another hour or so and then feel disconnected and generally lethargic during the day despite having to work But my sleep has had a marked improvement since I have created a routine and structure to my day based on the reality of the lock-down, being able to work remotely makes a huge difference and gives me a real purpose outside other things I do at home

I have huge respect for people who during the virus help with deeds like you did with assisting elderly people with shopping, this is a good things and deserves kudos But why would you feel more useless and less altruistic about this, I am confused as you are doing something very constructive in your own way?

Happy Birthday Calax, you know how you can feel much better about your age ...imagine being 45/46, like me, and then ask how you would feel . The truth about getting older is its all good and has its own benefits , you just want to try to have as few regrets and or missed opportunities as possible. We all make mistakes in life and do indeed have regrets but try hard to not repeat mistakes and always remember you made certain choices at a specific moment in time that seemed correct under those circumstances ...hindsight is 20/20 but this cannot be used to create anxiety about the past choices...this saying should be seen as instructive going forward only

There is also a suggested link to countries with high levels of air pollution and smog, like parts of China, and people getting sick easier due to weaker or comprised respiratory systems which is the same as a heavy smoker

I was following this debate on numerous international news channels around why more men die or are adversely effected from the virus and even though the reasons you mentioned were raised I am not convinced its accurate or the real reason..basically the argument is lifestyle choices There are many men globally who have become sick and they are in perfect health and sadly some of them have died. Also the pregnancy argument makes sense but what if a women has never been pregnant would the boosted immune system still apply? I think the real reason for this concerning reality is still to be understood like many things we just dont know yet about the virus What about if the virus was created by man-hating radical feminists in an attempt to destroy us men and usurp the natural balance and around gender hierarchy ..... Im sure Volo has links to support this ?

I want to avoid the virus very badly but not at the price you are suggesting

This is an important discussion around Corona antibodies and what revealing them in the body would mean. This is not about being right but rather the facts as the world learns them and these can literally change on a daily basis in some cases From your understanding do you agree that if a person has never been exposed to Corona then there would be no trace of this specific virus in your body? If you agree with that then numerous tests can reveal if you have the virus and that would mean you could be a symptomatic person or asymptomatic person but you could also be a person who has recovered from the virus and then there would be forms of corona antibodies Is your point that is no accurate way of determining if you have corona antibodies because you cannot have corona antibodies if you have not had the virus? I just want to be clear on what you saying because for me what I dont know or what I am misunderstanding is important so I can update my knowledge

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/17/6-states-where-people-are-protesting-stay-at-home-orders/ Guys what do you think about this behavior we are seeing in some states, its boggles my mind that ostensibly small groups of people are openly both denying and rejecting the risk of how this virus spreads and how dangerous it can be It seems unfortunately to be a case of playing an appalling form of politicizing this virus and this really puts peoples lives at risk, and impacts the overall recovery of the USA from the virus and should be heavily condemned IMO

This debate may seem unnecessary but there is some relevance around it purely because of the virus and how this is a time where people are dying and we dealing with degrees of misinformation and these developments should be understood and hopefully not repeated. So Im not taking sides on this topic, the only side I care about is humanity and all of us surviving, but looking at the facts as objectively as possible Firstly I can understand how the young lady thought she had the virus and initially responded but then she went to hospital and was tested which came negative, now the counter argument to this in the article is how we can have false positive testing. But there is a test you can take if you have had the virus which absolutely will show you had the virus because there are real physical symptoms like corona antibodies that will be revealed https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibody-blood-test-covid-19-2020-3?IR=T But the family didnt insist on this test, and surly they would have if this was a real concern around false positive testing, and she continued to post on Instagram saying she had the virus. I cannot see how this is not grandstanding and attention seeking ? But then the police did seem to be a little heavy handed with the argument " she is spreading panic due to no recorded cases in the county " because of the virulent nature of the virus and how it can spread' But she not have continued to suggest she had the virus after the initial test came back false

I appreciate the clarification, its changes how I first viewed what you were saying and I can understand what you were meaning even if I dont necessarily agree with it all But just to touch on something you mentioned around comparing the effectiveness of police vs army in enforcing the law. In SA we have deployed the army to enforce the lock-down around round blocks and doing work in the townships. This has been criticized by many for basically the same reason you mentioned, people saying " the military arent good at enforcing the law" , We have also has 1 or 2 real incidents of the military being heavy handed and using excessive force but these are now criminal matters and not the norm In the USA you have the National Guard which can be deployed to address issues like domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, as well as civil disorder. I consider this pandemic both a global and domestic emergency so surly if the National Guard can be deployed why cant they perform similar duties to the police ? This point is more applicable to SA because I fear we may have some anarchy as the lock-down continues and quite simply we dont have enough police to ensure law and order. And when I raise this point on talk shows I want to get a balanced view of how this would work in other countries which is why the USA reality is important to how I want to frame this

I find it unusual that someone like you, a veteran who supports and understands the importance of the military would find the police to be ....contemptuous? The police put themselves and there lives on the line in many places everyday, they play a critical role in ensuring the rule of law and order....there would be no civilized society without institutions like the police. Its unhelpful to generalize about an entire profession when there are some examples of bad actors In SA there are surveys that tell us people think the police are the " most corrupt institution in the country " which is utter nonsense as they not. People love to malign the police but if there house is getting broken into by real criminals with the intent to rob\rape\kill the same people attacking the integrity of the police would be expecting, correctly, the police to save them

I have no issue with Wikileaks as anyone can use them as reference to do other research to confirm there veracity if a person has the interest in the actual information This does seem like an appalling story of financial greed and shows a real lack of integrity, I also notice at the end there were no criminal charges so that just adds to the general anger towards banks. The people directly involved in this should have been prosecuted All I can say in defense is I have many family members who are investment bankers and 2 work in a USA hedge fund but based out of the UK. Most of direct family in SA are in banking including my dad who is now retired and I can promise they would never intentionally be part of this kind of criminal and unethical conduct ( with the exception of 1 uncle who has been incarcerated in the USA for financial irregularities related to 2008) but I can understand your point and why banks in Oz have such a bad reputation based on this types of developments

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-toll-idUSKBN21Z052 China has "admitted " there initial reporting on the deaths Wuhen were incorrect , they now say there were about 4600 deaths......4600 total deaths from the epicenter of the virus, where the virus was its most virulent and where the Chinese and the world didnt understand the nature of the virus is a joke China should add a 0 to that number and even then I would not be convinced its the accurate number if you look at the deaths we are seeing throughout the world But I understand honest disclosure is new to China so this should be seen as a positive ....I suppose