FreshFluff

I absolutely loved Coronado Island. The heavy military presence  and “Arrest Fauci” signs somehow add to the ambience.

I looked into this and was not overly impressed. The idea is that their false posirive  rate is low, but the downside is, of course, a relatively low sensitivity  (true positive rate) for stage 1 cancers. 

From their  press release, https://grail.com/press-releases/grail-announces-positive-new-data-with-multi-cancer-early-detection-blood-test-from-ccga-study/

“Detection rates (sensitivity) for the 12 deadly cancer types ranged from 59 to 86 percent at early stages (stages I-III). A combined analysis of this group of cancers showed robust detection at early stages (34 percent, 77 percent, and 84 percent at stages I, II, and III, respectively). In addition, a tissue of origin result was provided for 94 percent of all cancers detected and, of these, the test correctly identified the tissue of origin in 90 percent of cases.

The 12 pre-specified cancer types included anorectal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, head and neck, hormone receptor negative breast, liver, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, as well as multiple myeloma and lymphoid neoplasms. Together, these cancer types account for approximately 63 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States.”

First of all, is stage 3 considered “early stage?” And how do they work up the positive results? With a full body PET scan or what? Also, I\they’re not breaking down the sensitivity rates by stage for each type of cancer. If the test’s sensitivities for, say, ovarian and breast are far higher than the rest, then—assuming you’re male—you’re wasting your time.  

From my lay perspective, it might or might not be worth signing up for the trial based on the current data they’ve submitted. After the results come back, you might need a lot of patience and tolerance for “we have no clue what’s going on”-type responses. 

On 5/21/2022 at 10:41 AM, sync said:

I remember when automatic transmissions were a wonder.

Yikes!

I’m old enough to remember when “automatic transmission” didn’t make me think of COVID. 

-International calls placed by an operator

-Duck and cover drills in school, though we were told they were for earthquakes

-The TV movie The Day After

6 minutes ago, FewBricksShy said:

That’s your choice. I had COVID about six weeks ago. I’m fine now. It was my first time. Now you know a first timer who’s had COVID in the past few weeks who didn’t get terribly sick. I’ve had sinus infections much worse than my COVID infection. 

I’m glad to hear that you’re well. 

On 6/25/2022 at 11:45 PM, FewBricksShy said:

Once realized it was here, we set out to flattten the curve, so as not to mimic China and Italy. It is amazing to me that we have all but forgotten that. The goal was not to overwhelm the hospitals – precisely because we knew it unavoidable. Of course we had a secondary goal of not getting sick. But had the curve flattened early, I think our discourse around all this sound very different. 

That was before we knew about long COVID. The people I know who have gotten infected in the past few weeks (with BA5?), all first timers, are sicker than anyone expected. They’re still experiencing fatigue 4 weeks later. I very much hope that hope they are not affected long term. 
 

I’m going masked in crowded indoor settings and dining out outdoors only. I doubt it will be enough. 

19 hours ago, nycman said:

Too fucking funny.  And of course….most of them are now "old gross men". 

Tempus fugit bitches….you better fucking LIVE!

Yeah, you got yours, biiiiiitches!

Oh, wait. That was me. 

1 hour ago, foxy said:

I started renting a house at the Pines over 45 years ago. I went mostly for the beautiful beach which was of course filled with beautiful men. A lot went on. I haven’t been back in several years. Curious to know if anyone here spends time out there and what things are like these days?
I’ve been reading this book which brings back a lot of memories both good and sad. 

Thanks for posting this. I haven’t been but have always been curious about the island’s history. This book will be on my Kindle soon. 

7 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

Gee, I watch movies with people who aren't living anymore all the time. 

And I feel fine. 

frankly, why is this even an issue??

Have you found yourself wanting to have sex with those people though? 😉

On 6/3/2022 at 1:41 AM, seattlebottom said:

Trixie - came in here around 2005 and had a really neat online persona.  Towards the end of their time here they became kind of down.  They were having issues with a job change and being in a more conservative city if I remember correctly. 

I joined just after Trixie left. I always enjoyed reading his posts about picking up trade. His scouting missions to the Tenderloin in SF were particularly controversial. 

PM’d you, @Coolwave35.

Welcome to the CoM, @KateNickolson.

6 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

Maybe a safer response would be, "Not as sexy as it was when I was your age", since it would not be a comment on his body.

OP said he the son was visiting from out of town. Is he in college? If so, I would avoid any comments that include  the word “sexy.” Remember that the neighbors still think of him as a kid. 

All this assumes that the son is an adult over 18.

20 hours ago, arnie said:

 Anyway I was bent over on my knees shirtless working on the yard focused on the ground and did not see him.  no butt crack, no AC waist band showing..  I did not know he was in town and he walks by and says "Hi you showing off that sexy body?"

The answer to this type of question is usually, “If you have to ask, the answer is no.” But if I were a betting kitten, I’d put $100 on “yes.” Are you hot?

When you put in the effort to look adorable while singing the school’s alma mater at your reunion 

Happy birthday, Honcho! You’re one of the sweetest members on this forum, and I always look out for your posts. 

36 minutes ago, Charlie said:

When one has nothing better to do, it is always fun to wonder what the next British monarchs will call themselves. Edward VII was actually named after his father, Prince Albert, and was called "Bertie" by the family, but he chose to use a traditional name rather than become the first "King Albert". George VI was also named Albert and called "Bertie" by his family, but he too chose a different name as monarch, only in his case it was the name of his father. Edward VIII was called "David" by his family, but he chose to continue his grandfather's name. Considering that Charles I and II were not exactly beloved monarchs, one wonders whether Prince Charles will want to resurrect that 17th century reference or choose something else (George VII?), or follow in the steps of Pope Francis and start a new tradition.

I’m having a tough time imagining a hidebound traditionalist like Prince Charles starting a new tradition.

On 6/6/2022 at 10:27 AM, Phlmuscle said:

Same here. English Literature class in my Junior year at Univ. of Pennsylvania. Why Thomas Wolfe has been on my brain all these years is beyond my understanding. Must have been on an unforgettable test.

I keep imagining my reunion as narrated by Tom Wolfe.

Happy birthday to RadioRob. This community exists today because he stepped in and took action. 

On 6/5/2022 at 4:34 PM, TruHart1 said:

As I’ve shared before, she was the first forum member to have greeted me when I initially joined this site, welcoming me “with open arms!”

 

We will all miss her open, welcoming nature and her intelligence. RIP. 

Oh my God. I thought she was doing ok. I messaged her a hear ago and was going to contact her again.

On 6/2/2022 at 3:35 PM, Charlie said:

I managed to attend almost all of my high school reunions--usually every five years--through the 50th, but by then I was living thousands of miles away and it became too much of an effort to see fewer and fewer people I still cared about. I went to only one of my college class reunions, the 50th, because one of my favorite professors was going to be there as well, and because I was going to be inducted into a couple of alumni societies. It was worth the trip, because the professor died shortly afterwards, so I had a chance to tell him in person how much he had influenced my life. Surprisingly, another one of my professors was also there--the one who had taken advantage of me sexually. He had become a pathetic old man attached to his oxygen tank, and when I sat down next to him to speak to him, I realized he didn't remember me at all, which was just as well.

I doubt that I will attend any more reunions.

I'm glad you got a chance to talk your favorite professor that he had made a difference in your life. I wanted to do the same with a middle school teacher. I contacted the school, who's representative tried without success to contact her. 

As for the professor who took advantage of you, I'm really sorry. 

On 6/2/2022 at 5:21 PM, MikeBiDude said:

Well? How did it go?

I'm still here! 

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7f34fab4-f215-4d2e-aaac-63b06d82db2a

I'm all gussied up and on my way over. My mood:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeLI_VLoR4Q/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cd9kchSpJcR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=