Haironyourchest

Is that a Mitzi or Dihatsu? Brilliant little van. Death trap though. Imagine heading on in that.

Wifey went to the shop again today. No mask. The elderly shopkeeper, who has a chronic life threatening condition was there. He had no mask either. I went shopping later, there was a local auld feller in there who likes to harass me about my driving (too slow, apparently). He had no mask. The young lad seems to have given up wearing a mask or face shield as well. The purpose of the masks is to dehumanize us. Divide us, stop us normally interacting. Also to create fear. Encourage ratting and distrust of each other, like in the former East Germany. It's just evil.

Second sheep from the left's mascara is running...

We can get an idea of how a Labour gov would have handled it by looking at their counterparts in the states.

Cool story! Be careful what you wish for!

So I get a phone call at work today, from a client from last year. She's 81, just flew in from the States. Quarantineing for a couple if weeks. Before she flew over, she tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies and SARS antibodies. No symptoms of either. Never felt unwell and feels fine now.

Just bought some milk in my local shop. Small shop, place was packed. The local bigwig was there. The priest was there. A pal of mine was there. The only person wearing a mask was a tourist. My pal had one round his neck, but not wearing it. I had mine in my pocket, where it stayed.

I see a gap in the market for a gadget. A heart monitor, possibly combined with a smartwatch, that alarms if your vital signs get out of whack. If you go unconscious etc. If you don't address the alarm and reset within a timeframe, it triggers a distress call. There's already a "man down" app for phones that trigger if the phone goes horizontal. Of course, all these gadgets are fine and good and much better than nothing, but they can't stem an arterial bleed. Working alone is perfectly safe 90% of the time, as the majority of the work is moving about, moving things, setting up, organization, etc. The only really dangerous part is running the saw, and that shouldn't be dangerous if the prep work has been done thouroughly. Working with the wrong partner can be more dangerous than working alone.

Only solution is get another worker on site. An estate, you say? What cost to hire another bod vs the legal fallout if you were killed or maimed. Work will be more efficient with two as well. Failing that, my choice would be a satalite distress beacon, like they use on boats. You pull the pin and it transmits your location to the coast guard, mountain rescue etc. Hillwalkers sometimes use them. Don't know if it would transmit under a forest canopy though, would have to check.

And before someone replies "Covid kills young healthy people too!" Etc... Very, very small percentage. And it's debatable whether the Covid killed them or they had a perviously undiagnosed condition, latent autoimmune tendency or something. Super fit young guys drop dead on soccer pitches every week around the world. In nations of tens and hundreds of millions, there will always be unexpected and seemingly inexplicable deaths. But it's disregarding the vast preponderance of the stats...

We're making a fuss about it because the whole thing was and is, a farce. Sweden. Ruined economies. Wife beating. Buying only soda pop not permitted. Demonstrations and riots permitted. Police bullying followed by police cowardice Felons released from prisons "for their own protection" Law abiding citizens locked up "For their own protection". Police stopping us from traveling the roads of our own countries. Overseas tourists allowed free reign but not natives. Government telling us to do this and that, while their own agents (paramedics, police, politicians) publicly flout the rules. Covid doesn't kill. Old age and co morbidities do. Covid just gives a nudge in the direction of heaven. In the States, hospitals have been busted inflating their C-19 cases by a factor of around 10. I could go on and on. Nobody really gives a **************** about the mask, I have a mask and ware it if requested. It's the whole deal that's the problem.

I know a fellow who contracted Covid. Early 50's, lifelong smoker. Didn't know he had it. Didn't feel at all sick, just a slight temperature. Only reason he found out was because he was tested at his job.

So all four of the paramedics were assholes then? Paramedics who's vocation is to save people's lives. And the staff in the chipper were assholes as well? And the three tourists who were also chatting with the paramedics, within a meter distance? Assholes too?

This afternoon, I was driving through town, and noticed an ambulance parked near the chipper (fish & chipper). Wondering who was going be wheeled out on the gurney, I parked and rubbernecked in my wing mirrors. Four paramedics were going in and out of the chipper for about ten minutes, and no casualty appeared. Then I noticed one paramedic had a bag of chips. Then I see them taking each others photos in front of the chipper. Then - would you believe it - they four each take turns to take each others photo with the staff, standing next to the (young lad) staff inside the front door opening, shoulder to shoulder. I couldn't see if they had their arms around his shoulders, but it would not surprise me. Do you think there were any masks involved in all of this carry-on? Nope. Neither staff nor ambulance crew. Social distancing? Not a hope. These were ambulance crew. Read that again: Ambulance crew. Now, this happened in rural Ireland, which is a pretty nutty place, but still.... If the ambulance crew are not taking social distancing and masks seriously...maybe they know something we don't.

Ireland will follow the UK on masks in shops from Monday. We have Texans flying in now, Texans, as you may have heard, are more dangerous than tourists from other states and countries... Pub opening pushed back three weeks. The mask mandate is window dressing to cover political embarrassment. They have to keep spinning the narrative that we are all in grave danger, to retrospectively justify their initial overreaction and economically devastating policies.

Yup - pivot point for hauling in reverse. I haven't gotten around to attaching a tow ball yet, but I would say front of the load bed would be the place.

They rot faster that way, I'm told..

Dig the hole a bit deeper and bury the stump of course. Upside down.

That would be awesome! Please take some good footage of the winch close ups etc.

That would be awesome! Please take some good footage of the winch close ups etc.

You'll need a 10 tonne round sling or webbing sling on your anchor tree. And a 10 tonne rated chain on the stump.

That's the one. Or maybe sanding the capstan drum to give it some more friction? Or glue something hard waring yet flexible to it, can't think what.

There's a spray-on product for slipping v- belts that increases grip. Maybe try that on the rope?

It's also shown the viability of anarchy - unfortunately - at least in the short term. In America mainly. The police can't stand up to large coordinated mobs. Government unwilling to crack down. Saw it with the Travellers here in Ireland, no funerals allowed, but when 200 Travellers showed up in Cork for a funeral - and the state knew they were coming - they provided a police escort. Rolled out the red carpet in contravention of their own laws. Saw it the the "protests" across the water and this side. Police were bullies, hassled people for mountain hiking but backed right the **************** down when faced with large groups. Normal people need to start using this tactic. Just show up to do whatever, in a thousand strong group. Who's going to stop you?

Thailand __say__ they have virtually eliminated it. Thailand is a monarchy where disrespecting the king gets you thrown in jail. Think about it... Common sense....? When people figured out what the probability of death was for healthy people they did use their common sense, and circumvented the draconian rules as much as possible.