former lurker

With each post you continue to wow me. Your thinking and approach makes you all the sexier. About the clinics, in Massachusetts we're experiencing a tsunami of people seeking tests leading up to the holidays. We have drive up clinics with 9 lanes that have had to halt operations from time to time because traffic spilled out of the lot, down the street, around a corner and into another intersection causing concerns about potential automobile accidents. There is some concern that the onrush is because people think once they test negative they can have large indoor gatherings, something local health officials are trying to dispel.

On NPR, they interviewed someone in charge of setting up distribution of the vaccines in Arkansas. The devil/god is in the details. The Pfizer vaccine requires storage in subzero conditions that will require either new refrigerators/freezers or a steady supply of dry ice. The vaccine has to be thawed for several hours, then diluted with saline. Once diluted, it can only be used during the following 5 hours. Each vial has 5 or six doses. Any of those doses not consumed within 5-6 hours will have to be discarded. The Moderna vaccine doesn't need the same subzero conditions but can be refrigerated. It requires less thaw time, too. It's therefore a better candidate for transporting to remote locations that may not be equipped to store the vaccines for any length of time. There's some issue with the number of doses per vial and when they must be deployed or discarded. The two vaccines aren't interchangeable and both require a second shot/dose, but on a different timetable. If someone receives a first Pfizer dose, s/he has to get the second Pfizer dose and not the Moderna dose. There are still a lot of questions about the data as we've only got press release summaries. The Pfizer study (and perhaps Moderna, too) are timed to the occurrence of an event -- contracting corona. Part of the reason the vaccines reached the stage for application to distribute is the prevalence of corona in the country. Had the incidence of the virus been lower, the event would have taken longer to materialize in sufficient volume to reach trial conclusions. Among the details I'd like to know are what protocols were in place w/r/t mitigation strategies. If, for example, the group getting the vaccine wore masks, isolated themselves, etc., and the placebo group did not it would make the data less impressive. That is, the effectiveness rate is based on 1 case of corona among the group receiving the vaccine for every 9 cases among the group receiving the placebo. I'm assuming that the only variable is whether you got the placebo or the vaccine, but that information hasn't been communicated yet. Both vaccines are genetic -- RNA based. I don't know enough about the recipes to have a sense of whether there are resource limitations and timing lags or whether rapid, ramped up production is possible.

Probably not. He's shooting for a small segment of clients who are willing to spend a large premium. I'd bet most of those clients aren't turned off by the budget question. In other words, the clients he's "losing" aren't likely to be his target audience and aren't likely to hire him. I'm in that group, not so much because of his tone or his likely price tag, but because I doubt he'd provide the experience that I want.

Reading this it strikes me how little some people are willing to sacrifice in the midst of a health crisis. It's been less than a year since the virus hit the U.S. and for months and months there have been complaints, protests, etc, over such impositions and disruptions as wearing a mask in public, standing 6 feet apart, working from home, etc. There are people who have suffered to be sure, but much of that has been offset by government stimulus spending. Now that the stimulus money has run dry, there will be real financial harm unless the Government acts to mitigate it. But what is the alternative? Pretend there's not a novel, highly infectious and deadly virus and ignore the best medical advice available? I suppose you can find Jewish holocaust deniers, too, but it's disheartening to read a medical professional downplaying the dangers and overstating the sacrifices entailed in mitigating the disease. S/he should know better.

This continues to be confusing. How did he "steal his own money"? He took it and promptly left? Did the other escort not show?

That's the sort of detail that makes a big difference. No one's asking for a "review", just for the basis for the statement he "robbed" you. I take it the $1000 was not part of the rate you agreed to pay, but was extra cash you had on hand?

How did he "rob" you? Details would be helpful and you should provide them if you're going to level the accusation.

That seems pointless and petty. If you're not comfortable (I'm not) sending that stuff, move on. No need for game playing and time wasting.

That is part of the challenge. But it strikes me as important to engage those people and try to get them to think of what they are being asked to do/not do as a contribution to a great cause, rather than as an exercise in government attempting to control all aspects of their lives. Not everyone will be persuaded, but some will and every bit helps.

We have big challenges. I hope that in the U.S., our new President will pose the crisis as a challenge akin to fighting World War II, requiring sacrifice and unity. Wearing masks, keeping gatherings limited and spaced, etc., are small sacrifices. We also need to address the economic hardships, particularly for those living at the margins economically and those whose livelihood depends on activities we need to curtail (domestic and service workers, those who work at and run restaurants, bars, gyms, barbershops/salons, etc.). And if in the U.S. we are going to leave the states to do much of the heavy lifting, we need to make sure they have the resources to do so at a time when much of their economies are slowed and revenues are scarce.

I don't think I misconstrued anything. But you wrote what you wrote and readers are free to reach their own conclusions.

You are splitting a hair re: reduced rate, and made this more confusing. You made a last minute appointment, wanted something specific, recognized there was a decent chance that wouldn't/couldn't happen, and set a price with and without the specific. You paid what you agreed to pay for what you did get. We all have our own ways of evaluating experiences. Had that been mine, given the last minute hiring, I probably would not have given a 4 star review. Had I felt conflicted about giving a 5 star review, I just wouldn't have submitted a review.

Now that sounds amazing. I've never made a stew with brisket. I've done the corned beef route, the traditional roasted brisket route, and for stews I make beef stew or veal stew. Some smooth red wine and some demiglace help with the flavor, but so do the veggies.

Nothing. The four Commonwealths function exactly as any state. It's just a name. Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia are named as Commonwealths.

I routinely got carded into my 30s. Then, not so much. My grandparents and parents lived long lives and never looked their age.

It seems odd to have two names for the same entity, but its probably to conform with the wording of the State or Commonwealth laws. I'm assuming PA assigns certain functions to the counties, so Philadelphia has to remain a county to exercise those functions without having to revise the statutes.

Odd, yes. Although you have to assume some of the guys who advertise aren't as committed to this as a full-time job. Also, sometimes lack of response means the escort is busy. It could also be that he's not interested in meeting. Ideally, the escort would have an approach that either communicates lack of availability for a period of time, or triggers a response (even a form/canned response) to say that. But I'd agree that a lack of response is odd if he's seeking business. Some guys advertise to keep their names out there so people will subscribe to their OF. Others are exploring what the level of interest might be. Unless you've got good/reliable feedback from other clients, or an escort has an established reputation, it can be hit or miss. I've never understood why some clients feel mistreated by lack of response. If the escort doesn't respond, I move on. What irks me is when they commit to meeting, reaffirm, then just fail to show up and don't bother to tell you they're not coming. That's only happened to me twice, but I was peeved. But I got over it since no money was exchanged. It inconvenienced me, but not mostly it just failed to meet what I expected. My quibble with your prior post was the phrase "shit behavior". Lack of response is odd, perhaps, inconsiderate, perhaps reflects lack of seriousness or organization. But I'd use "shit behavior" to describe stealing, threatening, etc. I guess I might include ghosting after committing to a time/location, especially if I had to travel and spend money for a hotel, etc. But I haven't really invested anything other than a quick contact if he simply ignores me. Maybe it's just the phrasing, and we're really not disagreeing about the conduct itself. A lack of response without a subsequent contact and explanation is enough of a reason to move on for me.

And I find sometimes it better to say nothing if there's nothing to be gained by responding.

"Shit behavior"? I'm confused. He DIDN'T respond, correct? Shit behavior doesn't describe disinterest or lack of communication, it describes something abusive. Perhaps the scort has an attitude. We're inferring that. You're showing with quite direct statements that you have one. Makes me wonder. For all the speculation about escorts called out for fake ads reading the forums and either disappearing or changing names, do escorts read the forums to screen clients? Wouldn't be difficult to do. We all have our own styles of writing/communicating.

Perhaps you mean illustrate his opinion with examples and details. The two critical posters have mentioned a "vibe", reaction, and a conclusion but no one other than them knows what they're talking about.

Do you have some reason/evidence that "nomad" is the escort himself?

Or perhaps they substituted the date they wrote the review for the date of the meeting, or got the date wrong.

I don't. I'm not sure any of us knows what happened with the account on RM. I just know what I've read here. I also know what my own experience with him was like. I've gotten texts from him but haven't reconnected. I'm skittish about meeting anyone as we head into flu season.

I'm not a newbie. I've met ILVH and he is as he says. Handsome, educated, well-built and very good at all forms of bodywork. He is pricey, especially if you're looking for a one or so hour session, but I found it worth my time and money to spend more time with him.

Good for you. So long as you are clear about that which you're comfortable no one should complain. They can decide whether to see you or not. It's a simple thing called respect.