timjwilson

I'd love to have the cash to trike one of these.

2 hours ago, MakeItSo said:

Both apps are free. Free versions display small ads, but they do not bother me as these are inconspicuous. You can pay a nominal fee to remove ads. 
Outgoing and receiving calls on fongo are free to / from any Canadian number (landline and cell), and international rates are very low (compared to cellular provider fees); fongo charges for outgoing texting, something like $1/month unlimited to canadian numbers, or $2/month worldwide. Receiving texts is always free.
Calls on textnow are free to any US / Canadian numbers, and international rates are very low too; texting is free to US and Canadian phone numbers. 
Visit corresponding websites for rates to worldwide locations. 
You can make / receive calls and send / receive text messages using wifi or a cellular network connection. Call quality is excellent on our android phones. Texting is real-time. We are happy with the setup. Works for us wherever we travel overseas, with no roaming fees.
There is a regulatory fee to port a phone number, as I recall it was $25, and took several days to complete. You own the number, and if you get tired of either app you can port a number from them elsewhere, including back to a cellular operator. You can port a cell number, or a landline number.

PS: You do not need to port an existing number, you can test both apps by applying for a new number through either app, but these numbers will be considered virtual numbers, and come with certain limitations, they may not work with some services (ie short-code texting, etc). 

Since you posted, I went down the rabbit hole a bit and discovered a number of apps offering similar services. I would prefer one which functions with the local cell network as well as WIFI. Looking at this as well https://www.sideline.com/ 

1 hour ago, Ferret said:

Interesting article but there is much more to it than "time". One has to assume that the antibiotic prescribed will actually do the job. The wide spectrum antibiotics being prescribed are a good part of the problem causing antibiotic resistance. IF Doctors actually knew what was causing the infection and exactly pinpointed the antibiotic required, it would go a long way to solving said problem. Basically, it's their best guess and I want no part of that. Even in situations of sepsis or CSF involvement, a quick microscopic check in a lab will tell the Doctor which category of bacteria is involved and they can immediately prescribe something more definitive than a wide spectrum antibiotic.

Every person that I know who is vaccinated STILL wears a mask and takes precautions to avoid getting the virus and possibly being the cause of spread and/or mutation. It's what grown up responsible people do.

 

No argument on any of that

On 11/24/2021 at 7:49 AM, Ferret said:

You are the kind of person who takes antibiotics for an infection... but doesn't take all of them for the required time frame... and decides to hang on to them in case some other infection happens. 

If you do not understand the implications of the above behaviour then I suggest you talk to a Doctor. The vaccine is to stop severe illness and death. Period.

However the medical world has now learned that for most simple infections it is better to take antibiotics only until one feels better. Things change.

https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/09/antibiotics-resistance-superbugs/ 

I do believe you are correct that the vaccine can stop severe illness and death but I have seen no evidence it stops virus mutation and spread. Have you?

I'm looking for input from those with experience porting (permanently retaining - moving) a US cell phone number so calls ring on a Mexican cell phone. Company used - quality, can be used for ID verification, etc.

Some companies I've looked at; OpenPhone, CallCentric, (Magic Jack?).  Another similar service is Google Voice but apparently one needs to be physically in the US to port the number.

3 minutes ago, bobby brown said:

these tests are not reliable--how can you test for something that does not exist--these so called tests will pick up the common cold you may have  had in the past-- "false positives"--

Not a blood draw.

1 hour ago, ibarra said:

a search using "canada sinovac 30 November" resulted in over 10 articles similar to this one:

https://www.daily-sun.com/post/589074/Canada-to-allow-entry-of-travellers-fully-vaccinated-with-Sinopharm-Sinovac-COVAXIN

Here is another interesting media article (with excerpts) which raises some questions I have had. As I mentioned earlier, post infection and a single vaccine is the best scenario.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/natural-immunity-isnt-enough-for-a-covid-passport-should-it-be 

"Still, two recent studies suggest immunity from a previous infection confers longer-lasting and stronger protection against SARS-CoV-2. A large study of tens of thousands of Israelis, a preprint that hasn’t yet been peer reviewed, found that people who never had COVID and received two doses of the Pfizer shots were six to 13 times more likely to contract Delta than those who were previously infected with COVID."

"However, in another analysis from the same study, the COVID-recovered who remained unvaccinated were twice as likely to be re-infected as the COVID-recovered who received a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Others have shown that people with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection “mount unusually potent immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines,” virologist Shane Crotty wrote in Science magazine, which may explain why they are also more likely to experience side effects like fever and fatigue."

"A study out of Rockefeller University published in Nature , meanwhile, found that memory B cells that can linger for decades and unleash potent antibodies every time the body is re-exposed to SARS-CoV-2 outperformed memory B cells produced by mRNA vaccines."
 

Unfortunately protocol for covid19 recovered individuals is double mRNA vaccines. The second vaccine has resulted in hospitalization for a number of these individuals. I wish there was data and even acceptance of a single Sinovac vaccine following infection. To me, this seems scientifically practical, as Sinovac is an old school style vaccine, structured on the polio vaccine scaffolding. Sometimes I wonder why this style is prevalent in China and if one believes their data covid19 is for the greater part under control there. 

7 hours ago, mudgirl said:

Thanks for the info, Tim. I've actually always leant towards the natural immunity to things- I never got my kids vaxed for measles, chicken pox, etc. I know kids die from those diseases in countries with poor sanitation, and the odd one might die in a first world country, but it's not at all a huge risk living where I was, in Canada. So mine all got chicken pox and measles, just like I did when I was a kid, and they were sick for a few days or a week, and now have natural immunity. But if there had been another polio epidemic, I definitely would have gotten them vaccinated for that. There's just some things that aren't worth risking and Covid is certainly one of them for me. 

I'm 72, have never gotten a flu shot, and haven't had the flu in 25 years. But I definitely got vaxed for Covid. 

If I did not get the virus early on, I would have been vaccinated. 

1 hour ago, mudgirl said:

Where do you find this information re entry? And all the studies I've read say that vaccination has been shown to be 5 times more protective than natural immunity.

 

Wrong. Period. 

Canadians are not kept out of their own country regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. If you aren't, quarantine applies. Read the rules on the Canadian govt. website.  

Here is the information about the exemptions for previously infected Canadians. I posted it earlier in this thread. You need a serum test (titers) as proof.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/exemptions

Exemptions;

Already recovered from COVID-19

If you are now symptom-free, you can provide proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test when crossing the border, instead of a negative one.

- After August 9, 2021: The test must have been conducted at least 14 and no more than 180 days before:
- the initial scheduled departure time of your aircraft, 
or
- your entry into Canada by marine or by land 

As far as the vaccine conferring greater immunity, this is an unknown as a secure fact. It is hypothesized that infection and one vaccine may be the best. Who knows for sure. I have read a number of studies indicating that infected individuals see an increase in B cells as time passes. In comparisons to SARS 1, recovered individuals had strong B cell presence 17 years later. I'm not anti-vaccines. I just think post-infected individuals should have a choice. 

Here is a recent study which is a little complex to read. Although pointing out some superior benefits of the vaccine it points out that immunity from infection increases over time, via B cells.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8369496/

Some other studies/papers discussing the subject.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20247-4
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03696-9
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19
 

On 10/24/2021 at 2:59 PM, Honorandfaith said:

I recommend that you join the FB group, Construction at Lake Chapala, lots of great warnings and recommendations. I can tell you several people NOT to use. Some advertise heavily in the Guad Reporter ( not that they are responsible for their advertisers business practices). 

So PM me if you like. There are great perils here. It's not what you think. Take it from this lady who has several year of experience restoring historic homes in the US! 

"Membership in this group is allowed with **careful vetting**. To apply you MUST have an actual FB profile page, thoroughly read and answer ALL the questions and SUB QUESTIONS to join this group." - Isn't this a little overboard?

Government of Canada to accept additional vaccines for travel

Starting November 30, 2021, 03:01 AM EST, three additional COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by the World Health Organization will be accepted for travel to and within Canada.

• Sinopharm (also referred to as Covilo)
• Sinovac (also referred to as Coronavac)
• COVAXIN        

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

8 hours ago, Bisbee Gal said:

Other than @johanson, I didn't hear of or see any outages in Ajijic.  Was it really a MAJOR outage???.  

Just his house...or at least that's the talk on the streets.

6 minutes ago, timjwilson said:

too quick on the draw

Too cool your confusion Natashia, see my edit. - just a little humor.

1 minute ago, Natasha said:

that's more like an 800 number and can connect to locations all over the country

too quick on the draw

551 104 4888 - can't recall which location

Natashia likely more useable.

SMART develops 10-minute test for detection of COVID immunity

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/934727

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-021-00045-9#ethics

I had antibody - Tcell - Bcell testing by blood draw at Chopo - 1800 pesos but included full panel. Following infection.

Has anyone got experience with Dishnet internet? 

6 hours ago, lcscats said:

You bury a cat six cable (internet cable) from your house to the other house.  Put an access point at the other house and plug your end of the cable into the starlink box assuming it has more than one internet jack on back.  If it doesn't you have to add a hub to your house to split the signal.  Even if you don't understand my blah blah my point is its very doable and lowers monthly cost to 60 USD or so for each house.

Did that with the Hughes system 20 years ago - 1/4 mile run - worked fine.

19 hours ago, HoneyBee said:

Why is natural immunity never taken in to consideration ? (when discuss mandates).

As I posted earlier, the Canadian Government is recognizing natural immunity as far as entry goes. There are many studies showing natural immunity (recovery from infection) to be at least equal to that conferred by vaccination. 

As reported several times on the forum, boric acid works great for controlling ants. They take it home and wipe out the colony. Harmless to pets used appropriately. If a search does not reveal this for you, I'll provide my recipe and method.

What???!!

9 hours ago, Ian Greenwood said:

..I certainly don’t want trash or grief at my home which is a place of peace and tranquillity… however you can find me at the Ajijic malecon  tomorrow from about 10 .15 until 11.45…shouldn’t be much trouble finding me long shaggy hair , black dog , …i10 laps….introduce yourself . Unfortunately l leave for the beach on Sunday and then l am sailing in the  Caribbean until mid Nov ….but keep in touch …my phone is 376 766 5896 .

Is it the dog or you with the long shaggy hair?😎

Exemptions;

Already recovered from COVID-19

If you are now symptom-free, you can provide proof of a positive COVID-19 molecular test when crossing the border, instead of a negative one.

- After August 9, 2021: The test must have been conducted at least 14 and no more than 180 days before:
- the initial scheduled departure time of your aircraft, 
or
- your entry into Canada by marine or by land
 

On 10/11/2021 at 7:10 AM, traderspoc said:

pm me with your name and email and I will connect you with the best healthy insurance agents in Mexico for expats, yes medical expenses going up with inflation, it best to be insured. self insurance not the same as it was many years ago. I know of someone who recently had to pay $80,000 US to a Guadalajara hospital. saved their life, but had to cash IRA's  and pay tax on IRAs with withdrawal also. They were to sick to go to USA for Care or fly their. I do not know what they are going to do the next they need medical care ,  their emergency money is gone.

The coverage I have covers me all around the world except USA, i could have chosen to be covered in USA, 

me and my wife like to travel while we are still young, we need to be covered worldwide

I am retired, had health insurance license in USA.

yes health insurance cost money, but its insurance, to cover the emergency when it happens. and peace of mind.

 

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