blungld said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership or someone menacing others openly with a gun, because I would think the latter is illegal. Now, if you want to make guns illegal because you feel like it could be used against you, I think there are a lot ways for people to kill others. For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

---

Anarchistbear said:

---

bearister said:

---

---

Misses the boat on Central Valley where the hot spots are food processing plants. People are infected and bring it home. Once again the onus is put on us not industries where the virus thrives. Closing wineries is a joke- what you mean is you are closing tasting rooms but meat packing and other ag plants continue to run as essential.

---

Yep.

Once the white people are at risk, then something must be done, but no worries about the meat packing plants or prisoners.

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership

---

Yes

Quote:

---

For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

Will you be competing in the next All-Valley Tournament or Kumite? If so, I'd like to watch you compete.

Quote:

---

OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you?

---

We had co-ed bathrooms in Clark Kerr in 1988. 22 years ago. Showers too. It's not a big deal unless you're a prude.

Quote:

---

Trolls like Aunbear and Calpoly can feel free to **** off and keep your "snowflake" or other knee jerk responses to yourself. Not interested in your idiocy or discussion with you. Just grown ups.

---

I feel left out. I was hoping you'd address this to my 30-40 some alts. 75% of which wouldn't even be able to respond to you.

Anarchistbear said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

Anarchistbear said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

Anarchistbear said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

Anarchistbear said:

---

bearister said:

---

---

Misses the boat on Central Valley where the hot spots are food processing plants. People are infected and bring it home. Once again the onus is put on us not industries where the virus thrives. Closing wineries is a joke- what you mean is you are closing tasting rooms but meat packing and other ag plants continue to run as essential.

---

Fresno and Kern County are included.

Edit: Notice also that Napa and Sonoma (location of most wineries) are not

---

Yes but the closures do not affect food processing plants in Fresno and Kern, the major source of COVID infection among Hispanics in the Valley and it's subsequent spread. The closures are consumer driven.

---

I would call food processing plants an essential business.

---

An essential business responsible for many outbreaks and hot spots in a pandemic should not be regarded as "essential" unless they control the safety of workers. The track record of a lot of these places says otherwise.

I mean if you are really interested in curbing the virus concentrate on the biggest hot spots- Food processing, bars, nursing homes, prisons for a start.

---

Sure, but you can't close them any more than you can close nursing homes or prisons. You can create guidelines and fine them if they aren't met. If you are advocating for that then I agree.

What these new closures are meant to do is control the spread so that if a bunch of workers at a plant get sick at least they can't spread it at a bar or restaurant after work.

---

Food processing plants are different than a prison or nursing home which can't easily be closed. Food plants can be closed or production curtailed for endangering the public health with their food- outbreak, recall etc., if someone gets sick eating the food the plant is responsible . But what if they are also endangering the public health by infecting their workers and then us through bad practices; it's similar. The problem is the State doesn't want to intrude.

---

I sort of like having food and I disagree that such plants can be easily closed without some major downstream consequences.

Unit2Sucks said:

---

Big C said:

---

Unit2Sucks said:

---

Unit2Sucks said:

---

Has anyone tried to get tested recently in SoCal? I'm with family and one family member (who was out of town partying with a big group last week) has pretty obvious COVID symptoms and having a hell of a time getting tested in Riverside. We're currently in the OC and trying to get an in-law tested (mild symptoms but high risk group, had been in contact with the other person about a week before symptoms) and it's all but impossible. There are a number of drive-through testing sites that claim to have availability but when you go through the website to the finish line it says there are no openings available. The high-risk person did a phone consult with his HMO provider and was told he had maybe a 5% chance of COVID based on the symptoms and they didn't think that warranted testing at this point. My internal response was that the state wanted to keep positive test results under 6% which is hard to do if you don't test people who are on the margins.

I genuinely thought it would be easy to get tested everywhere but maybe that's no longer the case? Is this a sign of the increased spread or perhaps just people freaking out and opting for testing because of the news?

---

Just to follow up - the younger family member tested positive and is now "quarantining" with my Fox News in-laws. Also, the sick family member's significant other is continuing to work as a server and has not been tested. My wife is currently reading them the riot act because they don't seem to understand how bad an idea this is. One of them is a just-retired nurse so you would think it wouldn't be that hard to figure out.

They are laughing this off as paranoia on her part. Apart from continuing to expose themselves to their reckless children, the in-laws have been pretty good about sheltering in place, social distancing and wearing masks.

Fortunately, we made the decision to leave early and avoid any physical contact with the person we had presumed to have been infected so we should be safe from the family's infection, but we can't be sure.

---

This looks like a treatment for a TV series or even a feature-length movie! And you get to decide if it's a comedy, a drama or some sort of hybrid.

---

It would be like Leaving Las Vegas if you substitute the Inland Empire for Vegas and Fox News for drinking.

---

It gets even better, or worse I suppose. My wife just showed me some social media post for the significant other of the COVID family member who apparently believes in all manner of conspiracy theories including one that the CDC tests were infected with COVID and that is why people are getting sick. Hence, this person won't get tested. Fortunately, because the Gav closed restaurants in many counties, no more customers will be exposed to this person's probable infection. Unfortunately, this person will now rely even more on my in-laws financially.

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership

---

Yes

Quote:

---

For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

Will you be competing in the next All-Valley Tournament or Kumite? If so, I'd like to watch you compete.

Quote:

---

OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you?

---

We had co-ed bathrooms in Clark Kerr in 1988. 22 years ago. Showers too. It's not a big deal unless you're a prude.

Quote:

---

Trolls like Aunbear and Calpoly can feel free to **** off and keep your "snowflake" or other knee jerk responses to yourself. Not interested in your idiocy or discussion with you. Just grown ups.

---

I feel left out. I was hoping you'd address this to my 30-40 some alts. 75% of which wouldn't even be able to respond to you.

---

Wasn't addressed to you, but OK.

I admit, I chuckled at the reference to All-Valley Tournament or Kumite. Loved Karate Kid when I saw it in my youth, but that also was the most ridiculous representation of martial arts. Kumite did seem real, and I loved Blood Sports but it actually turned out to be a fraud.

I haven't competed since college. And the funny thing is that the last time I fought was also in college at a parking lot in Underground (no longer there in campus). Lasted all of 30 seconds over Street Fighter 2. Someone wanted to fight me over the game, I tried to talk him out of it, and he insisted, even smacking me upside the head while I was playing. Went to the parking lot, I gave him two light front kicks to his chest and he was asking me what the hell was wrong with me as if he didn't think we would actually hit each other. No harm, no foul, and we went back to playing Street Fighter. Other than sparing, haven't fought or competed almost 30 years. Used to compete in high school when I focused on TKD, but since I focus mainly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, just go to exercise, train and spar. Probably don't have the cardio to last two rounds if I wanted to compete now. And I don't have it in me to want to compete. I also have no desire to fight even with the most obnoxious persons. Because I know enough to defend myself, I probably passed more on opportunities to fight. No need to prove myself.

I was in Clark Kerr in 1989. Small world. I was in a two bedroom suite so didn't have co-ed bathroom. But if you feel that way, you should be out there promoting gender neutral bathrooms. If you feel the way you do, why have bathroom for each gender. And if you have any female members in your family, you should encourage them to use the men's bathroom to prove a point. Having gender neutral bathroom would take care of everything, right?

Oh, you are always left out. But putting you on the list is like trying to put you on ignore. Too much trouble for too little value. But when you are not a delusional fool, you are funny, so no real motivation to ignore you.

Matthew Patel said:

---

blungld said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership or someone menacing others openly with a gun, because I would think the latter is illegal. Now, if you want to make guns illegal because you feel like it could be used against you, I think there are a lot ways for people to kill others. For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

---

---

When it turned out Frank Dux was a fraud, broke my heart.

You seem genuinely interested. You should check out some local MMA gyms. Not hardcore academy or studio, but just a place to get started. Avoid studios or academy if you just want to get started. I had a friend my age visit me in SoCal a few years ago, and he wanted to attend a session. Half way through the session, he had to go to the bathroom and his body was in shock. He told me that he was expelling from both ends. But now, he is going almost every day up North, and I can recommend the same gym if you are interested. And expect to sweat. Doing so may also spare us at least 50% of your sock puppets.

calbear93 said:

---

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership

---

Yes

Quote:

---

For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

Will you be competing in the next All-Valley Tournament or Kumite? If so, I'd like to watch you compete.

Quote:

---

OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you?

---

We had co-ed bathrooms in Clark Kerr in 1988. 22 years ago. Showers too. It's not a big deal unless you're a prude.

Quote:

---

Trolls like Aunbear and Calpoly can feel free to **** off and keep your "snowflake" or other knee jerk responses to yourself. Not interested in your idiocy or discussion with you. Just grown ups.

---

I feel left out. I was hoping you'd address this to my 30-40 some alts. 75% of which wouldn't even be able to respond to you.

---

Wasn't addressed to you, but OK.

---

I know.

Quote:

---

I admit, I chuckled at the reference to All-Valley Tournament or Kumite. Loved Karate Kid when I saw it in my youth, but that also was the most ridiculous representation of martial arts. Kumite did seem real, and I loved Blood Sports but it actually turned out to be a fraud.

---

The referee was a real karate guy - he trained everybody. But they're still actors, so it's not going to be as real as the martial arts lesson my kid took today.

Quote:

---

I haven't competed since college. And the funny thing is that the last time I fought was also in college at a parking lot in Underground (no longer there in campus). Lasted all of 30 seconds over Street Fighter 2. Someone wanted to fight me over the game, I tried to talk him out of it, and he insisted, even smacking me upside the head while I was playing. Went to the parking lot, I gave him two light front kicks to his chest and he was asking me what the hell was wrong with me as if he didn't think we would actually hit each other. No harm, no foul, and we went back to playing Street Fighter. Other than sparing, haven't fought or competed almost 30 years.

---

Like Daniel-San says, we train so we won't have to fight. Same deal with my daughter. She got to use the Samurai sword today. First lesson. Taekwondo is not the taekwondo I took at Cal anymore.

Quote:

---

Used to compete in high school when I focused on TKD, but since I focus mainly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, just go to exercise, train and spar. Probably don't have the cardio to last two rounds if I wanted to compete now.

---

I have the cardio to get from the kitchen to the easy chair. I did get to beat the living crap out of my daughter with a foam thingie today though and inform her that in fact, *I* am her father. Then she snuck attacked me from behind later. Good times.

Quote:

---

And I don't have it in me to want to compete. I also have no desire to fight even with the most obnoxious persons. Because I know enough to defend myself, I probably passed more on opportunities to fight. No need to prove myself.

---

Wise.

Quote:

---

I was in Clark Kerr in 1989. Small world. I was in a two bedroom suite so didn't have co-ed bathroom.

---

I was in the dorms, lived directly under Mike Pawlawski. He was kind of a jerk back then, but has grown up since.

Quote:

---

But if you feel that way, you should be out there promoting gender neutral bathrooms.

---

I don't think the public is ready for that. My solution is a three bathroom solution. Men's, women, and private. Those who worry about who is what gender can use the private stall.

Quote:

---

And if you have any female members in your family, you should encourage them to use the men's bathroom to prove a point.

---

Once my 5 foot tall 100 lb daughter gets trained up a little, I'll be sure to have her push your head into a toilet to prove a point.

Quote:

---

Oh, you are always left out. But putting you on the list is like trying to put you on ignore. Too much trouble for too little value. But when you are not a delusional fool, you are funny, so no real motivation to ignore you.

---

You do you. Just admit that you always to go your last resort cause it's true.

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership

---

Yes

Quote:

---

For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

Will you be competing in the next All-Valley Tournament or Kumite? If so, I'd like to watch you compete.

Quote:

---

OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you?

---

We had co-ed bathrooms in Clark Kerr in 1988. 22 years ago. Showers too. It's not a big deal unless you're a prude.

Quote:

---

Trolls like Aunbear and Calpoly can feel free to **** off and keep your "snowflake" or other knee jerk responses to yourself. Not interested in your idiocy or discussion with you. Just grown ups.

---

I feel left out. I was hoping you'd address this to my 30-40 some alts. 75% of which wouldn't even be able to respond to you.

---

Wasn't addressed to you, but OK.

---

I know.

Quote:

---

I admit, I chuckled at the reference to All-Valley Tournament or Kumite. Loved Karate Kid when I saw it in my youth, but that also was the most ridiculous representation of martial arts. Kumite did seem real, and I loved Blood Sports but it actually turned out to be a fraud.

---

The referee was a real karate guy - he trained everybody. But they're still actors, so it's not going to be as real as the martial arts lesson my kid took today.

Quote:

---

I haven't competed since college. And the funny thing is that the last time I fought was also in college at a parking lot in Underground (no longer there in campus). Lasted all of 30 seconds over Street Fighter 2. Someone wanted to fight me over the game, I tried to talk him out of it, and he insisted, even smacking me upside the head while I was playing. Went to the parking lot, I gave him two light front kicks to his chest and he was asking me what the hell was wrong with me as if he didn't think we would actually hit each other. No harm, no foul, and we went back to playing Street Fighter. Other than sparing, haven't fought or competed almost 30 years.

---

Like Daniel-San says, we train so we won't have to fight. Same deal with my daughter. She got to use the Samurai sword today. First lesson. Taekwondo is not the taekwondo I took at Cal anymore.

Quote:

---

Used to compete in high school when I focused on TKD, but since I focus mainly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, just go to exercise, train and spar. Probably don't have the cardio to last two rounds if I wanted to compete now.

---

I have the cardio to get from the kitchen to the easy chair. I did get to beat the living crap out of my daughter with a foam thingie today though and inform her that in fact, *I* am her father. Then she snuck attacked me from behind later. Good times.

Quote:

---

And I don't have it in me to want to compete. I also have no desire to fight even with the most obnoxious persons. Because I know enough to defend myself, I probably passed more on opportunities to fight. No need to prove myself.

---

Wise.

Quote:

---

I was in Clark Kerr in 1989. Small world. I was in a two bedroom suite so didn't have co-ed bathroom.

---

I was in the dorms, lived directly under Mike Pawlawski. He was kind of a jerk back then, but has grown up since.

Quote:

---

But if you feel that way, you should be out there promoting gender neutral bathrooms.

---

I don't think the public is ready for that. My solution is a three bathroom solution. Men's, women, and private. Those who worry about who is what gender can use the private stall.

Quote:

---

And if you have any female members in your family, you should encourage them to use the men's bathroom to prove a point.

---

Once my 5 foot tall 100 lb daughter gets trained up a little, I'll be sure to have her push your head into a toilet to prove a point.

Quote:

---

Oh, you are always left out. But putting you on the list is like trying to put you on ignore. Too much trouble for too little value. But when you are not a delusional fool, you are funny, so no real motivation to ignore you.

---

You do you. Just admit that you always to go your last resort cause it's true.

---

Interesting point about the dojang teaching samurai swords in TKD. When I was training and teaching TKD, weapons were strictly not taught. And using samurai sword would have been unthinkable considering how much my TKD master hated everything Japanese. But who knows how things are now. I think it is awesome to encourage daughters to learn martial arts. TKD is great but I would eventually have your daughter learn more grappling arts. All my kids have been doing martial arts too since they were toddlers. They know never to bully and always to defend the weak. Love the confidence they have when they are out, not having to fight to know they can fight. I am sure at this point, you daughter can beat me up. I may have more than foot on her, but I am now old and tire easily. I hope she goes through life fearless and ready to dominate.

Not sure what you wrote at the end. But I hope your daughter keeps it up and convinces her dad to spend a bit less time on these boards creating sock puppets and get back in shape. Get back into martial arts. And maybe one day we two old men can engage in a friendly sparing session until one us passes out from fatigue (most likely after 5 minutes).

calbear93 said:

---

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership

---

Yes

Quote:

---

For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

Will you be competing in the next All-Valley Tournament or Kumite? If so, I'd like to watch you compete.

Quote:

---

OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you?

---

We had co-ed bathrooms in Clark Kerr in 1988. 22 years ago. Showers too. It's not a big deal unless you're a prude.

Quote:

---

Trolls like Aunbear and Calpoly can feel free to **** off and keep your "snowflake" or other knee jerk responses to yourself. Not interested in your idiocy or discussion with you. Just grown ups.

---

I feel left out. I was hoping you'd address this to my 30-40 some alts. 75% of which wouldn't even be able to respond to you.

---

Wasn't addressed to you, but OK.

---

I know.

Quote:

---

I admit, I chuckled at the reference to All-Valley Tournament or Kumite. Loved Karate Kid when I saw it in my youth, but that also was the most ridiculous representation of martial arts. Kumite did seem real, and I loved Blood Sports but it actually turned out to be a fraud.

---

The referee was a real karate guy - he trained everybody. But they're still actors, so it's not going to be as real as the martial arts lesson my kid took today.

Quote:

---

I haven't competed since college. And the funny thing is that the last time I fought was also in college at a parking lot in Underground (no longer there in campus). Lasted all of 30 seconds over Street Fighter 2. Someone wanted to fight me over the game, I tried to talk him out of it, and he insisted, even smacking me upside the head while I was playing. Went to the parking lot, I gave him two light front kicks to his chest and he was asking me what the hell was wrong with me as if he didn't think we would actually hit each other. No harm, no foul, and we went back to playing Street Fighter. Other than sparring, haven't fought or competed almost 30 years.

---

Like Daniel-San says, we train so we won't have to fight. Same deal with my daughter. She got to use the Samurai sword today. First lesson. Taekwondo is not the taekwondo I took at Cal anymore.

Quote:

---

Used to compete in high school when I focused on TKD, but since I focus mainly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, just go to exercise, train and spar. Probably don't have the cardio to last two rounds if I wanted to compete now.

---

I have the cardio to get from the kitchen to the easy chair. I did get to beat the living crap out of my daughter with a foam thingie today though and inform her that in fact, *I* am her father. Then she snuck attacked me from behind later. Good times.

Quote:

---

And I don't have it in me to want to compete. I also have no desire to fight even with the most obnoxious persons. Because I know enough to defend myself, I probably passed more on opportunities to fight. No need to prove myself.

---

Wise.

Quote:

---

I was in Clark Kerr in 1989. Small world. I was in a two bedroom suite so didn't have co-ed bathroom.

---

I was in the dorms, lived directly under Mike Pawlawski. He was kind of a jerk back then, but has grown up since.

Quote:

---

But if you feel that way, you should be out there promoting gender neutral bathrooms.

---

I don't think the public is ready for that. My solution is a three bathroom solution. Men's, women, and private. Those who worry about who is what gender can use the private stall.

Quote:

---

And if you have any female members in your family, you should encourage them to use the men's bathroom to prove a point.

---

Once my 5 foot tall 100 lb daughter gets trained up a little, I'll be sure to have her push your head into a toilet to prove a point.

Quote:

---

Oh, you are always left out. But putting you on the list is like trying to put you on ignore. Too much trouble for too little value. But when you are not a delusional fool, you are funny, so no real motivation to ignore you.

---

You do you. Just admit that you always to go your last resort cause it's true.

---

Interesting point about the dojang teaching samurai swords in TKD. When I was training and teaching TKD, weapons were strictly not taught. And using samurai sword would have been unthinkable considering how much my TKD master hated everything Japanese. But who knows how things are now. I think it is awesome to encourage daughters to learn martial arts. TKD is great but I would eventually have your daughter learn more grappling arts. All my kids have been doing martial arts too since they were toddlers. They know never to bully and always to defend the weak. Love the confidence they have when they are out, not having to fight to know they can fight. I am sure at this point, you daughter can beat me up. I may have more than foot on her, but I am now old and tire easily. I hope she goes through life fearless and ready to dominate.

---

I was definitely looking for something more practical, but the fact that the dojo is being operated by a female black belt and that she was very highly recommended for positive attitude and building self-esteem made her a good choice I thought. She only reopened this week. Today's first lesson was just my daughter in the dojo and another student doing it remotely on Zoom.

It was fantastic. She got to punch and kick a heavy bag, break various boards of different resistance, and of course sneak attack me. Very happy she's reopened and think this is gonna be great for my daughter, who had a hard year of adjustment from junior high to high school.

She does some Krav Maga too, but since you can't really practice Krav Maga in competition, this is a good starting place.

Quote:

---

Not sure what you wrote at the end. But I hope your daughter keeps it up and convinces her dad to spend a bit less time on these boards creating sock puppets and get back in shape. Get back into martial arts. And maybe one day we two old men can engage in a friendly sparring session until one us passes out from fatigue (most likely after 5 minutes).

---

Oh, you'd kick my ass easily. The only thing I'm good for now is sumo wrestling.

As for the "sock puppets," I'd prefer they not be necessary, but since Greg R. hasn't agreed that the whole idea of keeping me off the board when he can't is silly, I just do what I need to.

Anyhow, this was a pleasant and unexpected diversion, which gives me the opportunity to make this point.

Regardless of differences in religion, race, class, etc. we are much more alike than we are different. If we take the time to understand each other, we can probably find common ground. When we come at things automatically assuming the worst of the person we're talking to because they have a different background than we do, we miss the opportunity to find that common ground and find something that we can all learn to live with.

Just think about it.
__

Y

I keep telling myself that I'm going to get back into martial arts but it's been really hard to find the time. I was pretty heavily involved in UCMAP during my time at Cal and had always hoped to go back and continue to train and become an instructor but life gets in the way. Maybe I'll start training up my kids during COVID.

Unit2Sucks said:

---

I keep telling myself that I'm going to get back into martial arts but it's been really hard to find the time. I was pretty heavily involved in UCMAP during my time at Cal and had always hoped to go back and continue to train and become an instructor but life gets in the way. Maybe I'll start training up my kids during COVID.

---

That's awesome, U2.

in simpler times only the police had video evidence. now the turn has wormed..
------
off topic oregon troopers, smillle you're on candid camera (ha ha).. # with a hollister bump

calbear93 said:

---

Unit2Sucks said:

---

I keep telling myself that I'm going to get back into martial arts but it's been really hard to find the time. I was pretty heavily involved in UCMAP during my time at Cal and had always hoped to go back and continue to train and become an instructor but life gets in the way. Maybe I'll start training up my kids during COVID.

---

That's awesome, U2.

---

*I need counseling because I can't stop looking at that.

calbear93 said:

---

Blu - I will assume you wrote this post in sincerity since you do come across as very sincere, if sometimes overly passionate. And I respect you enough to try to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Quote:

---

I have never responded within a post before so I hope I've done it right. My post was rather glib and satirical in nature. Yes it is sincere, but not exactly a doctoral thesis.

---

With that, I want to better understand why you believe the things above are only what Republicans want

Quote:

---

I don't think it is only what Republicans want, but Republicans most leverage obedience and orthodoxy and tenets like "we are a Christian nation" and" less government in a way that leads them to the most hypocritical positions when the rubber hits the road on issues like freedom, liberty, and less government.

---

or why you think they are about lack of freedom (unless you mean freedom to be the ability to do whatever the hell you want to do whenever you want to do it no matter who it hurts, which I assume you don't).

• "Sending to war." By now, I hope we understand that many (not all) of the wars were started or escalated by Democrats, whether escalation in Afghanistan (started by Bush, supported by both parties, and escalated by Obama), Vietnam war (started by Kennedy and escalated by Johnson as well as Nixon), Korean War (Truman), WWII (FDR), etc. Yes, Iraq was all Bush. Furthermore, we have a volunteer army. And finally, I would assume you don't believe we will have freedom if we do not have a military and sometimes go to war (e.g., Civil War, WWII, Afghanistan when Taliban was sheltering the terrorist who caused 9/11) to protect our freedom. I assume when you say your nice things about our military and say that they protect our freedom, it is not some virtue signalling and that you actually believe that. What do you think the military does to protect the freedom? Just play soldier and dress up? Sometimes you have to go to war to protect the exact freedom you love. How is that a reflection of lack of freedom or a big government? Are you suggesting that we have no military? If we do have a military, what would be the point if they could never go to war? We can debate whether any specific war is the right one, but I would hope you don't believe we can have freedom without sometimes going to war against those who would take those away.

Quote:

---

Obviously war is a complicated national story and human condition. I do not believe Christians who believe in the sanctity of human life do nearly enough to protect life when it comes to war and are happy to violate "thou shall not kill" when told the right story of otherness, heresy, and/or patriotism. I think the narrative of war is often propaganda and not really a battle for protection of freedom or enduring human value. It is rare that war serves a moral purpose. Most Christians I know (who are also Republicans) are vocally in support of military and often chicken hawks. They celebrate and embrace war, they should be the most reticent about war and the ones who support every other effort until war is necessary. This is not the case. They are Old Testament vengeful souls, not turn the other cheek New Testament followers of Jesus. I have a problem with religion and patriotism used as a tool for slaughter or imperialism I believe American Christians should be playing the role of putting Christ's actual teachings into action, not the role of the most lizard brained blind followers of authority and control. They should be more offended by the flyover and the use of the flag as symbol at football games, than those who do not stand during the anthem. They want others to participate in the exploitation of symbols in a way that strips those symbols of any sincere meaning and move them into the realm of propaganda: "kneel to the mindless display of bogus patriotism that brainwashes young men to associate athletics with war so that they see killing as a heroic act in the same way scoring touchdowns is." There is intentional subtext and conditioning at play in the way our military appropriates sport and church and THAT is what the good GOPers should be protesting not those who see the hypocrisy or try to draw attention to actual values like justice. Sincere patriotism is the town parade that applauds for its veterans and tells stories that celebrates their sacrifice AND the message that war is horrifying and should be avoided at all costs. And not, shiny jets and tanks making war seem like a video game at a football game.

---

• "Or the state decides to execute you" - I am once again confused on why this is representative of big government or even a matter of freedom. Now, the proper discussion may be whether execution is a cruel and unusual punishment. We can also argue whether we should permit the sanctioned killing of our own people, even if they were found to have committed horrible and unimaginable crimes. We can also argue how death punishment is permanent that cannot be reversed once executed. But dropping that in the context of "freedom" seems odd unless you think no one should even go to jail (which also is a restriction on freedom). I assume you are not suggesting that someone who is rightfully found guilty and was rightfully or wrongfully sentenced to death should be let loose back into society. If you think even someone who raped and murdered children should not be killed, I would agree with you but not because i think it represents big government or infringes on the freedom of the criminal. I would want the person to spend of rest of his life in jail and be deprived of his "Freedom" and spend more government time and money to keep him in jail even if it would be smaller government to kill him and be done with it. That is not based on my belief in smaller or bigger government. That is based on my belief on the fallibility of our justice system and the sanctity of life.

Quote:

---

I do not believe the power to kill should sit with the state. But my point is that Christians should believe this more than I do if they are going to argue for their pro-life positions and if they see wearing a mask as an infringement on personal liberty. To see mask wearing as governmental over reach, but execution totally justifiable is appalling logic and morally bankrupt...and certainly anti-Christ. Throughout I am conflating the GOP Trumpism with the evangelical because they have come to represent the distilled core values of this president and the contemporary positions of the base that keeps him in power.

---

• "Woman is pregnant." I assume you don't think a free nation can be free of all laws intended to protect others. For example, unless you are for complete anarchy, I would assume you would not view a law that prohibits a woman from slaughtering her born child as infringement on her right of privacy no matter how much of a burden the child is to the woman and how much she would love to be free from the child. Yes, she can give it up for adoption, but until she does, she must not abandon it or kill it. A woman who is pregnant can give it up for adoption once it is born. A Siamese twin who want to be free of her sibling is not free to kill her sister. So, it isn't a matter of freedom for the woman. It is a matter of whether the fetus is alive, is it not? Because if you believe that the fetus is alive and a person, then I would assume you would not side in favor of incremental convenience for the woman over the protection of a child's life. We can debate that, but when people just talk about a woman's right on abortion without any debate on whether the fetus is alive, I am as persuaded as when someone refers to woman's right about a mother who killed her kids. And a law that prevents a mother from killing her kids is not something I hope you or anyone thinks is big government or representative of the conservative hypocrisy.

Quote:

---

We are not going to reach agreement here, because we have different beliefs on what the criminal action is here and who should be protected. We could debate this for the next year and never agree. I believe in the rights and protections for the pregnant mother and believe that she knows better than anyone what is best for her family and the potential unborn child. This is one of the most serious decisions she will make and I defer to her not anyone else's religious belief or the government. Is there a place where it becomes murder? Of course. But I do not believe that the collection of cells is a human, and I choose the living human first. I believe that the medical community who are not monsters but people who care about life more than any poster toting evangelical or point-scoring politician to come to consensus on a workable definition of viability outside the womb (which is where I believe the protections of civil rights kick in for the fetus unless the life of mother is at risk).

---

• "Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership or someone menacing others openly with a gun, because I would think the latter is illegal. Now, if you want to make guns illegal because you feel like it could be used against you, I think there are a lot ways for people to kill others. For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns. Will I ever do it unless absolutely necessary? Of course not. Although I don't own guns, I would assume, even if I had one, I would no more menace people with it than I would about snapping someone's neck. We also know that you can kill people with knives. Now, the question should be what level of gun control is appropriate and what allows mass murder. That should be the focus of the discussion, but lazy discussion on gun control takes it completely off track. Obviously, carrying a bazooka is not OK. Maybe a small gun that you keep locked up in your house in case there is a burglary? I don't but I assume most would be OK with that. Now, there is a lot in between, and that is what we should discuss. I am not in favor of no gun control. I am leaning more towards stricter gun control (mainly because I have never owned a gun and will never own a gun). But I am not trying to make clones of myself or force others to adopt what I believe as one and only. I am respectful of the second amendment (which is a greater protection than the right of privacy used to ban all restriction on abortion). But, again, not sure how freedom to bear arms is big government or restriction on freedom. You seem to want to restrict freedom provided by the second amendment so that you can be free of feeling afraid of guns (which some may argue is irrational - as Boston marathon terrorist act showed, evil, insane people can cause mass murder with or without guns).

Quote:

---

Here we get into possibly different beliefs. I think the 2nd Amendment has been entirely *******ized on both it's strict language and intent. I think the American love of guns and the paranoia that surrounds it is social sickness not a wonderful enduring attribute that should be enshrined. Honestly, I am disgusted by the political priority a great number of Americans put on the ability to kill (oh yeah protection I forgot). I see it as a moral failing, and again the high number of Christians who love weapons is more than rank hypocrisy its disturbing absurdism. We do not have a crisis of self-protection. We have a crisis of fear and escalation of violence. At a legal level I believe that the case can be made that trained citizens who serve to protect the country on call could responsibly use guns in that capacity. I would be willing to concede limited round rifles for hunting, and a single pistol for highly trained citizens with license that needs to be renewed each year and is rescinded for any number of reasons (mental decline, anger issues, depression, violence, etc). It should be a highly selective right. On the personal level, the need to carry military grade weapons in public has NOTHING to do with exercising liberty or rights or protection, it is a cultural statement. It's a middle finger to the rest of society. It itself is an act of aggression. It infringes on my right to happiness. It scares the hell out of me and that person is 100% indistinguishable from a lunatic, terrorist, etc. It increases social stress, and proclaims that violence is a social value and the primary resource for settling conflict. A utopian healthy American society is not a painting of civilians hugging and smiling at one another with their AK-47s strapped over their shoulders. That is dystopia.

---

• "Kneel during national anthem" - why isn't someone free to kneel? Is there a law prohibiting this? Has Kap gone to jail? I don't think so. Or are you suggesting that people should not be FREE to criticize that action. I personally think he should do what he believes and I support him, but I also support the right of business owners to dictate code of conduct for their employees and for people to have healthy debate on whether that is the appropriate behavior. What part of that is restriction on freedom or big government? If you think those you agree with should be "FREE" from criticism, that seems to be a big government and lack of freedom to me.

Quote:

---

Our president and most of the people crying about masks got their panties in a bunch over kneeling for the anthem. Hypocrisy again. Freedom to do what they want with their body (not wear mask) and no freedom for the bodies of those who kneel (wish we could arrest those sons of *****es).

---

• OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you? How about if some purely innocent 30 year old man uses the same bathroom that a 5 year girl is using? What if the 30 year old man was gay and not transgender but wanted to use the bathroom the same time as your 5 year old daughter. OK, with that? If not, why not? And how does that change depending on whether the "man" identifies as a woman and dresses a certain way? I get that we should have empathy that the transgender person would want to use the restroom corresponding to the gender she associates with. But what about how she feels changes the main basis for why a straight man would not be allowed to use a woman's bathroom while a 5 year old girl was in there? Was that restriction to protect the man or the little girl? I really do want to understand and have my ears wide open because I do trust you are genuine. I want to understand how you would address the other side of the coin.

Quote:

---

Slippery slope arguments dodge the issue. If you do not have a non binary or trans person in your life, you can not understand the hell they go through and the way in which the examples you used and the terms of this "debate" try and paint them as deviants and freaks and create ridiculous worst case scenarios to manage their bodies out of fear of the unknown. A trans person trying to use a bathroom in peace should not in any way provoke an argument about rape and molestation. These are the same types of scare tactics used against every minority group looking for access from the status quo. Same crap said about women, blacks, gays, etc. Rape is a crime. Prosecute when it happens. And let trans people take a piss for God's sake. They are not rapists in any greater number than the Christians (actually molestation rate amongst priests might be higher--maybe we should ban people going to church?).

---

Having said all that, I am fully in support of requiring people to wear a mask. If not wearing a mask when social distancing is not practical only hurts those not wearing a mask, I could not care less. But if it impacts those who are trying to do the right thing, screw the selfish *****s. We need to get this pandemic under control, and mask wearing seems like a low hanging fruit.

Quote:

---

Those were hasty answers but get to my basic feelings on the questions you raised. Take what you will from it. I am glad you agree on mask wearing.

---

---

Todd Ingram said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

Not Me - Us said:

---

calbear93 said:

---

"Don't want to be around people who pose a threat carrying weapons of menace openly." Let me get this straight. Are you against gun ownership

---

Yes

Quote:

---

For many like me who have been training in martial arts and mixed martial arts for decades, we know that it is fairly easy to kill people without guns.

---

Will you be competing in the next All-Valley Tournament or Kumite? If so, I'd like to watch you compete.

Quote:

---

OK one more - "don't dress in one of their prescribed ways of gender presentation and then try and use a toilet" - Again, let me ask you a question. If I were to go into a bathroom that you wife was using, would that be OK with you?

---

We had co-ed bathrooms in Clark Kerr in 1988. 22 years ago. Showers too. It's not a big deal unless you're a prude.

Quote:

---

Trolls like Aunbear and Calpoly can feel free to **** off and keep your "snowflake" or other knee jerk responses to yourself. Not interested in your idiocy or discussion with you. Just grown ups.

---

I feel left out. I was hoping you'd address this to my 30-40 some alts. 75% of which wouldn't even be able to respond to you.

---

Wasn't addressed to you, but OK.

---

I know.

Quote:

---

I admit, I chuckled at the reference to All-Valley Tournament or Kumite. Loved Karate Kid when I saw it in my youth, but that also was the most ridiculous representation of martial arts. Kumite did seem real, and I loved Blood Sports but it actually turned out to be a fraud.

---

The referee was a real karate guy - he trained everybody. But they're still actors, so it's not going to be as real as the martial arts lesson my kid took today.

Quote:

---

I haven't competed since college. And the funny thing is that the last time I fought was also in college at a parking lot in Underground (no longer there in campus). Lasted all of 30 seconds over Street Fighter 2. Someone wanted to fight me over the game, I tried to talk him out of it, and he insisted, even smacking me upside the head while I was playing. Went to the parking lot, I gave him two light front kicks to his chest and he was asking me what the hell was wrong with me as if he didn't think we would actually hit each other. No harm, no foul, and we went back to playing Street Fighter. Other than sparring, haven't fought or competed almost 30 years.

---

Like Daniel-San says, we train so we won't have to fight. Same deal with my daughter. She got to use the Samurai sword today. First lesson. Taekwondo is not the taekwondo I took at Cal anymore.

Quote:

---

Used to compete in high school when I focused on TKD, but since I focus mainly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, just go to exercise, train and spar. Probably don't have the cardio to last two rounds if I wanted to compete now.

---

I have the cardio to get from the kitchen to the easy chair. I did get to beat the living crap out of my daughter with a foam thingie today though and inform her that in fact, *I* am her father. Then she snuck attacked me from behind later. Good times.

Quote:

---

And I don't have it in me to want to compete. I also have no desire to fight even with the most obnoxious persons. Because I know enough to defend myself, I probably passed more on opportunities to fight. No need to prove myself.

---

Wise.

Quote:

---

I was in Clark Kerr in 1989. Small world. I was in a two bedroom suite so didn't have co-ed bathroom.

---

I was in the dorms, lived directly under Mike Pawlawski. He was kind of a jerk back then, but has grown up since.

Quote:

---

But if you feel that way, you should be out there promoting gender neutral bathrooms.

---

I don't think the public is ready for that. My solution is a three bathroom solution. Men's, women, and private. Those who worry about who is what gender can use the private stall.

Quote:

---

And if you have any female members in your family, you should encourage them to use the men's bathroom to prove a point.

---

Once my 5 foot tall 100 lb daughter gets trained up a little, I'll be sure to have her push your head into a toilet to prove a point.

Quote:

---

Oh, you are always left out. But putting you on the list is like trying to put you on ignore. Too much trouble for too little value. But when you are not a delusional fool, you are funny, so no real motivation to ignore you.

---

You do you. Just admit that you always to go your last resort cause it's true.

---

Interesting point about the dojang teaching samurai swords in TKD. When I was training and teaching TKD, weapons were strictly not taught. And using samurai sword would have been unthinkable considering how much my TKD master hated everything Japanese. But who knows how things are now. I think it is awesome to encourage daughters to learn martial arts. TKD is great but I would eventually have your daughter learn more grappling arts. All my kids have been doing martial arts too since they were toddlers. They know never to bully and always to defend the weak. Love the confidence they have when they are out, not having to fight to know they can fight. I am sure at this point, you daughter can beat me up. I may have more than foot on her, but I am now old and tire easily. I hope she goes through life fearless and ready to dominate.

---

I was definitely looking for something more practical, but the fact that the dojo is being operated by a female black belt and that she was very highly recommended for positive attitude and building self-esteem made her a good choice I thought. She only reopened this week. Today's first lesson was just my daughter in the dojo and another student doing it remotely on Zoom.

It was fantastic. She got to punch and kick a heavy bag, break various boards of different resistance, and of course sneak attack me. Very happy she's reopened and think this is gonna be great for my daughter, who had a hard year of adjustment from junior high to high school.

She does some Krav Maga too, but since you can't really practice Krav Maga in competition, this is a good starting place.

Quote:

---

Not sure what you wrote at the end. But I hope your daughter keeps it up and convinces her dad to spend a bit less time on these boards creating sock puppets and get back in shape. Get back into martial arts. And maybe one day we two old men can engage in a friendly sparring session until one us passes out from fatigue (most likely after 5 minutes).

---

Oh, you'd kick my ass easily. The only thing I'm good for now is sumo wrestling.

As for the "sock puppets," I'd prefer they not be necessary, but since Greg R. hasn't agreed that the whole idea of keeping me off the board when he can't is silly, I just do what I need to.

Anyhow, this was a pleasant and unexpected diversion, which gives me the opportunity to make this point.

Regardless of differences in religion, race, class, etc. we are much more alike than we are different. If we take the time to understand each other, we can probably find common ground. When we come at things automatically assuming the worst of the person we're talking to because they have a different background than we do, we miss the opportunity to find that common ground and find something that we can all learn to live with.

Just think about it.
__

Y

---

My 11 yr old son has spent almost 2/3 of his years studying MMA at the dojo down the street from us. He is basically a nerd who still likes to hold hands with his dad in public, but word got around at his elementary school that he can break boards and nobody messes with him, ever.

Can we get a group cyber-hug?

If the bats don't do us in the pigs will.

A swine flu threat with pandemic potential is emerging in China - Axios


https://www.axios.com/swine-flu-pandemic-potential-china-3340dc22-37d9-4aec-895b-e91091c15665.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&stream=top

Oh, and no cyber hugs:

bearister said:

---

If the bats don't do us in the pigs will.

A swine flu threat with pandemic potential is emerging in China - Axios


https://www.axios.com/swine-flu-pandemic-potential-china-3340dc22-37d9-4aec-895b-e91091c15665.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&stream=top

Oh, and no cyber hugs:

---

What is going on in China with bats and pigs? In the past 24 hours, over 53,000 people tested positive.

bearister said:

---

If the bats don't do us in the pigs will.

A swine flu threat with pandemic potential is emerging in China - Axios


https://www.axios.com/swine-flu-pandemic-potential-china-3340dc22-37d9-4aec-895b-e91091c15665.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&stream=top

Oh, and no cyber hugs:

---

.org

I saw that about the swine flu. Goodness gracious. Maybe nature is trying to tell us something.

...and since we are on the subject of pigs...

'We don't live in a communist country!': battle over masks rages in Texas


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/02/texas-masks-coronavirus-covid-battle?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

"The death rate in a given country depends a lot on the age structure, who are the people infected, and how they are managed," Ioannidis said. "For people younger than 45, the infection fatality rate is almost 0%. For 45 to 70, it is probably about 0.05%-0.3%. For those above 70, it escalates substantially."

offshorebear said:

---

"The death rate in a given country depends a lot on the age structure, who are the people infected, and how they are managed," Ioannidis said. "For people younger than 45, the infection fatality rate is almost 0%. For 45 to 70, it is probably about 0.05%-0.3%. For those above 70, it escalates substantially."

---

As a cautionary note: percentages up till now benefit from decent medical care. Whereas bad outcomes could trend much muuch worse if'n when caregivers are swamped with patients. Anyways lets not go there.
# fingers crossed

Big C said:

---

Todd Ingram said:

---

Quote:

---

Not sure what you wrote at the end. But I hope your daughter keeps it up and convinces her dad to spend a bit less time on these boards creating sock puppets and get back in shape. Get back into martial arts. And maybe one day we two old men can engage in a friendly sparring session until one us passes out from fatigue (most likely after 5 minutes).

---

Oh, you'd kick my ass easily. The only thing I'm good for now is sumo wrestling.

As for the "sock puppets," I'd prefer they not be necessary, but since Greg R. hasn't agreed that the whole idea of keeping me off the board when he can't is silly, I just do what I need to.

Anyhow, this was a pleasant and unexpected diversion, which gives me the opportunity to make this point.

Regardless of differences in religion, race, class, etc. we are much more alike than we are different. If we take the time to understand each other, we can probably find common ground. When we come at things automatically assuming the worst of the person we're talking to because they have a different background than we do, we miss the opportunity to find that common ground and find something that we can all learn to live with.

Just think about it.

---

My 11 yr old son has spent almost 2/3 of his years studying MMA at the dojo down the street from us. He is basically a nerd who still likes to hold hands with his dad in public, but word got around at his elementary school that he can break boards and nobody messes with him, ever.

Can we get a group cyber-hug?

---

I don't know. After seeing my daughter with the samurai sword, I'm kinda afraid in my own house.

Matthew Patel said:

---

...I don't know. After seeing my daughter with the samurai sword, I'm kinda afraid in my own house.

---

okaydo said:

---

---

No sympathy at for these clowns. I hope they keep spreading it amongst themselves.

Evangelical mantra: "Everything happens for a reason."

bearister said:

---

Evangelical mantra: "Everything happens for a reason."

---

evangelicals lie. > are clueless imbo



grabbed from a bbc series "father ted" 1995-98", unknown hereabouts
> Top Rated TV #151 | 15 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards

German virologist Hendrik Streeck advocates "herd immunity" - World Socialist Web Site


https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/06/11/herd-j11.html

bearister said:

---

German virologist Hendrik Streeck advocates "herd immunity" - World Socialist Web Site
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/06/11/herd-j11.html

---

but the article is hostile to Streeck's approach..

Quote:

---

This strategy of "herd immunity" has had devastating consequences in every country where it has been tried out. Behind the United States, Britain and Brazil have the second- and third-highest number of deaths in the world. Swedish epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who is responsible for the coronavirus response in his country, was forced recently to admit that the refusal to implement lockdown measures led to a catastrophic number of deaths. As the WSWS has explained, the policy of "herd immunity" is a "murderous pseudo-science."

---

# filed under "be careful what you wish for"

bearister said:

---

Evangelical mantra: "Everything happens for a reason."

---

So why do they even care about things Liberals do? Is it their opinion that everything a Republican does is part of God's plan, both good or bad. But somehow God can't control those Liberals and so everything THEY do is not God's plan and is up to them to stop.

What a convenient world view.