vxbush 12/3/2025 5:51:02 AM

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Reality has finally reached Ellen DeGeneres, but not where it truly counts: Ellen DeGeneres Leaving UK to Return to U.S. After Fleeing From Trump

Poor baby. All upset that it's cold in the UK. She didn't have to move there to find that out, but you know, liberals don't really seem to shine at the "thinking ahead" stage. 

vxbush 12/3/2025 6:07:28 AM

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While you are being barraged with reminders to take the flu shot this season, keep in mind one study from Cleveland Clinic that showed that people who got last season's flu shot were more likely to get the flu. 

Not peer reviewed and also (to my knowledge) not yet replicated, but interesting. An earlier version of this article stated that people who were vaccinated were 27% more likely to get the flu. That's honestly not a big number, and it might be chance, but this along with the "throw it at the dartboard blind and see if it hits" method to determining which strains of the flu are included in the shot don't give me much confidence in the shots anymore. 

Kosh's Shadow 12/3/2025 6:21:01 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 2:

Agreed. A few years ago, I heard people talking about how the stronger "senior" flu shot made them and/or people they knew sicker.

Kosh's Shadow 12/3/2025 6:22:29 AM

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Local classical station is begging this week.

When they did get Federal funds, they always pointed out how most of their money came from listeners; the government money wasn't that important.

Today, it is ALL ABOUT the loss of Federal funds.

It has been a long time since I gave them any money.

JCM 12/3/2025 6:53:34 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 1:

She found out she couldn't bully UK weather.

Kosh's Shadow 12/3/2025 7:18:15 AM

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In #1 vxbush said: Poor baby. All upset that it's cold in the UK.

Maybe Somalia? Saudi Arabia? She'd look better with a bag over her head.

JCM 12/3/2025 7:36:42 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 2:

Total supposition: But based on my biology, bio-chem, virology, and dumpster diving medical journals.

There was study I read, long time ago, Lancet I think. You are unlikely to get the same cold twice. Each time you get a cold it's a different virus. Results may vary depending on the strength of an individuals immune system. The same should apply to flu bugs.

Now I get a flu shot, and it's based on the epidemiologists best guess of the predominate strain for that year. My immune system ramps up to fight the the strain in the shot. While my immune system is doing that often people feel a little under the weather for a day or two. While the body. is fighting the introduced strain in the shot I still am getting exposed to everything else in the world. Since my immune system is busy fighting the shot virus it doesn't have full capacity to fight everything else I am exposed to.

I've never liked the flu shot. While doing foster care we were required to get. Not a problem we dealt with a lot of medically fragile infants. I did notice it never seemed to make a whole of difference.

The study makes sense with my practical observations.

buzzsawmonkey 12/3/2025 9:18:36 AM

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In #4 Kosh's Shadow said: When they did get Federal funds, they always pointed out how most of their money came from listeners; the government money wasn't that important.

The classical station in New York, and of course the NPR station here also, are doing the same thing.  It's pretty funny---particularly since the NPR station was previously bragging all over the airwaves of its "partnership" with the New York Times, and it was not uncommon for it to include a "credit" on many programs, saying that "this program was made possible by a grant from (insert name of company)."  "Non-commercial" (not to mention "independent") my foot.

vxbush 12/3/2025 10:06:00 AM

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In #7 JCM said: The study makes sense with my practical observations.

I would have to concur. My own experience (intentionally not included in my comment above to let the article stand or fall on its own merits) is that the years I got a flu shot, I got sick enough with the flu to have to stay home from work. The years I have skipped, I have done better health wise. 

vxbush 12/3/2025 10:15:52 AM

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Kosh's Shadow 12/3/2025 10:16:22 AM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 8:

WCRB's business sponsors don't include real partisan companies; they probably sponsor WGBH, the NPR station.

WCRB stopped carrying news when Trump won the first time, saying they would be a station to let people get away from the world in music. 

WCRB has law firms, banks, piano store (figures), and other musical organizations

I think the only reason it is still classical is that somehow the first broadcast license holder was able to make future license holders have to keep the station classical. It was commercial until IIRC less than 20 years ago.

I do remember in the 1970's listening to WCRB Saturday Night, when the host Richard L. Kay would play comedy and novelty songs.

I really wish I had gotten some of the stickers and the door hanging he was offering - "Handel With Care", and a door hanger clock "Bach in a Fugue Minuets"

Kosh's Shadow 12/3/2025 10:16:51 AM

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In #9 vxbush said: I got sick enough with the flu to have to stay home from work. The years I have skipped, I have done better health wise. 

Same here.