Members get a daily Covid-19 topic focused on Covid in Tennessee.
Supporters are part of a self-improvement sub-group where value is dispensed daily on personal growth in all aspects of life, informed by many sources. New members welcome!
Today in Tennessee, 591 people had confirmed positive SARS-CoV2 infections reported, 9 people died, and hospitalizations rose again, now up to 476 patients. Positivity was 9.53%.
I made the mistake of criticizing an "influencer" for propagating vaccine fear several weeks back. Today he noticed and engaged. I found it striking how quickly he engaged in name-calling and insulting, rather than simply being involved in a constructive exchange. It was illuminating, showing how effective those who set out to undermine vaccination have been at spreading their messages. The same tropes are trotted out, the same attacks leveled. Frankly, I was disappointed, as I would normally ally with him on most political ideas.
It just reminded me that we have many false dichotomies in the conversation. You're either anti-freedom or anti-vax. You're either a knuckle-dragging Trump supporter or you're a communist. And I could name many more.
But that's not how life works. Life is not either-or.
But stark contrasts sell.
Confidence sells.
Slick presentations sell.
Truth rarely stands a chance.
Along the same lines, a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that, among the unvaccinated, only 29% believe the virus to carry more risks than vaccines, while 39% believed that the vaccines are more dangerous than catching the virus. The remainder were unsure.
Look, I understand the conspiracy-minded belief that it's all a scam. I get how one can get there. Yes, it concerns me greatly that so much of our freedom has been given up in the name of protecting people who didn't necessarily want to be protected. And it would not surprise me at all if we didn't see violence in the name of trying to return these lost freedoms (though I will be surprised if such efforts yield their desired fruits).
I also am very comfortable with the theory that the entire string of coronavirus diseases, from the original SARS to the current Covid, are probably bioengineered. It would not surprise me at all if this was eventually revealed to be true. There are some solid arguments out there for this being the case.
A report from Texas is saying that the "lambda" variant has been identified in a patient there. Lambda is the prevalent variant in Peru. In the US, 83% of sequenced cases currently are delta variant.
Keep your nutrition up, keep your rest up, don't be reckless in your exposure opportunities, and vaccination is a really good idea for most folk, despite what the Prophets of Vaccine Doom preach.
Stay healthy!
I'm on a weekend night call schedule this weekend, which always leaves me feeling under-rested and generally icky.
But I wanted to remind you that outdoor exercise without screens is really good for your mental health.
Go outdoors, preferably into the woods.
Get in tune with those surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the smells, even the movement of air and the varying temperatures as you walk.
We were made to be outdoors.
We were definitely not made to work in cubicles.
One Degree!
What you want from your body will dictate what you need to set as goals, and the goals will determine what you'll end up having to change to attain them.
I've spoken many times about systems being better than goals, and my position has not changed.
But goals are easier to discuss and to understand, so for this week, we'll be very specific about goals.
Do you want more muscle mass?
Do you want to be stronger?
Do you want to run faster?
Do you want to gain weight?
Do you want to lose weight?
Do you want to improve general fitness?
Do you want longevity?
Do you want strong bones?
Do you want to earn a Black Belt?
Understanding the benefits and costs of each particular goal may help you decide what you want.
For example, if you want to compete in body-building competitions, you'll not be doing the same thing as if you were focused on longevity. Same with strength competitions.
But general fitness and longevity go fairly well together.
Running is great but will increase the likelihood of needing knee or hip ...
I'll make this one short and to the point.
Spring time change is hard on all of us. Having to get up an hour early doesn't make going to bed an hour earlier much easier.
Yes, it's nice to have more productive time in the evening.
But it's at the cost of forcing us out of be an hour earlier, as we all know.
Our challenge is to adjust our circadian rhythm to match the world's expectations around us.
My main strategy is supplementing with a dose of melatonin about a half hour before I need to be asleep. It helps most people fall asleep more readily.
If you need a nap during your day, take it between mid-morning and early afternoon. Limit it to 20 minutes.
Taking a longer or later nap may make it even harder to get off to sleep in time.
All of the other normal advice applies even moreso:
- Take a 20-minute walk after supper.
- No screen time for the last hour before bed.
- Listen to calm music after supper.
- Don't eat for 2 hours before bed.
- Don't have conflict-laden conversations ...
