Master Index of Archived Threads


Pandemic

Lefty Specialist Feb 25 2020 02:18 PM

Sorry, but this one's going to be bad. Brace yourselves, wash your hands and think about working from home. And expect absolutely no help from the federal government because Trump. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-trump-united-states-public-health-emergency-response/?fbclid=IwAR0PlCc5Nb-LJHE8T2VBauI_3KCVq3Ac5crau4a7ZERnSIL75hx5xHlSFkw

Vic Sage Feb 25 2020 02:52 PM Re: Pandemic

i already have a "go bag" packed for the zombie apocalypse, so i'm ready.

Edgy MD Feb 26 2020 08:02 AM Re: Pandemic

Where you gonna go?

kcmets Feb 26 2020 08:20 AM Re: Pandemic

The CPF 'unabomber' cabin in the northern Adirondacks, of course.

RealityChuck Feb 26 2020 12:17 PM Re: Pandemic

The danger is overstressed. The death rate is less than the yearly flu, and it doesn't seem to be dangerous for children. Many people will have it and barely notice. If you have a weakened immune system, you should be concerned, but most people will be fine.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 26 2020 06:24 PM Re: Pandemic

=RealityChuck post_id=32359 time=1582744678 user_id=82] The danger is overstressed. The death rate is less than the yearly flu, and it doesn't seem to be dangerous for children. Many people will have it and barely notice. If you have a weakened immune system, you should be concerned, but most people will be fine.

I dunno. Everything you write makes sense on the surface. OTOH, China's already reporting almost 3,000 deaths since the initial outbreak, which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't too long ago. 3,000 is bad enough but since it's China, I wouldn't be surprised if the real number of deaths is multiples higher.



All experts agree that the virus is extremely contagious.

TransMonk Feb 26 2020 06:48 PM Re: Pandemic

2020 has been completely exhausting and it's not even leap day yet.

MFS62 Feb 26 2020 07:04 PM Re: Pandemic

Pence, a guy who does not believe in science, has been put in charge of fighting the disease in the US. In other words, we're f**ked. Later

batmagadanleadoff Feb 26 2020 07:10 PM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=32379 time=1582769043 user_id=60] Pence, a guy who does not believe in science, has been put in charge of fighting the disease in the US. In other words, we're f**ked. Later

Maybe this will be Trump's undoing: A pandemic in the USA... untold deaths... resulting in a stock market crash... and undeniable evidence that the Trump administration exacerbated this by stripping the departments that were in a position to deal with the health crisis of enormous human resources and money.



3,000 deaths is bad enough as it is, but this virus will spread exponentially, not linearly. The WTC had less casualties from the 9/11 attacks but that was a singular event -- this will get worse every day before it peaks.

Fman99 Feb 26 2020 07:34 PM Re: Pandemic

If I have to stop rubbing up against strangers on busy streets because of this thing I am gonna be pissed.

MFS62 Feb 26 2020 07:36 PM Re: Pandemic

=Fman99 post_id=32382 time=1582770851 user_id=86] If I have to stop rubbing up against strangers on busy streets because of this thing I am gonna be pissed.

OK, as long as you wear protection. No, I mean a mask (which you already know from rubbing up against people).

Later

Edgy MD Feb 27 2020 05:07 PM Re: Pandemic

A 1,191-point fall in the Dow. More points than Lee Mazzilli had hits.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 28 2020 06:27 AM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 28 2020 06:30 AM

Whenever there's a catastrophic health emergency headed my way based on a highly contagious virus that science knows very little about, I always put a religious nutjob who thinks everything could be solved by praying to some invisible man in the sky with magical powers in charge of things.

MFS62 Feb 28 2020 06:28 AM Re: Pandemic

Not working on Saturday for the first time in a long while (a co-worker asked me to switch days off) so I actually have the entire weekend off. Normally, we might have gone to the Casino to leave money with either of the two local Native American tribes , but because of the Coronavirus scare, we are afraid of going to crowded places. I wonder if other people are feeling the same way. Do we need a poll? Later

seawolf17 Feb 28 2020 06:35 AM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=32422 time=1582896509 user_id=60]I wonder if other people are feeling the same way.

The Japanese baseball leagues have closed spring training games to the public, and the Korean league has cancelled preseason games entirely. Obviously it's much more of a physical presence there than here, but still, that's... interesting.



The NBA or NHL haven't made any statements that I can find about their current in-season games, although they both have paused China-related plans.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 28 2020 06:37 AM Re: Pandemic

And health officials now have to clear it with the White House before they can go on TV to discuss the coronavirus. It's another horror story every half hour with this rogue administration. Why didn't they put Jared Kushner in charge of the coronavirus? All Jared has to do, the boy wonder, is to read 25 books on viruses and the thing'll be solved quicker than it takes to watch a Batman two-parter.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 28 2020 06:39 AM Re: Pandemic

=seawolf17 post_id=32425 time=1582896939 user_id=91] Obviously it's much more of a physical presence there than here....

For now. Just wait a while.

Edgy MD Feb 28 2020 09:01 AM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=32426 time=1582897067 user_id=68] And health officials now have to clear it with the White House before they can go on TV to discuss the coronavirus.

Man, that's ass-backwards.

Lefty Specialist Feb 28 2020 11:41 AM Re: Pandemic

This is going to expose our crappy health care system once and for all. Trump's press conference on Wednesday was so bad that there's no way we escape the worst effects of this. He's more concerned about how he'll look than in trying to protect the American people. Cutting the CDC budget looks really good now, dunnit? Putting Mike Pence in charge? Muzzling the experts? Gee, what could possibly go wrong with that? People always wondered what Trump would do when faced with an actual, really important national crisis. He's been lucky to skate by for three years. But he won't be able to dodge this bullet. You may as well call it #Trumpvirus. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/opinion/coronavirus-trump.html

Ceetar Feb 28 2020 11:48 AM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: People always wondered what Trump would do when faced with an actual, really important national crisis. He's been lucky to skate by for three years. But he won't be able to dodge this bullet. You may as well call it #Trumpvirus. I mean, there's a good chance it does very little and he takes a victory lap. I mean, he'll take a victory lap anyway. His inaction killed what, thousands of Puerto Ricans? Skated by? nah. He's actively denying life-saving care to people at the borders. He IS the national crisis. Unless you mean like real pandemic level, but hell, when was the last time America had a real crisis that decisive leadership and a at least competent run government mitigated. MAYBE 9/11. Trump wouldn't have grounded planes or anything, the country may have descended into panic and mayhem. But other than that.. And it's not the mismanaged response we need to look out for, it's the authoritarian power grab that would happen. It's not that _he_'s been lucky, _WE_'ve been lucky. This corona thing gets any worse and he might just start throwing any brown person that comes in from Europe or Asia into the ocean under the guise of national security.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 28 2020 11:57 AM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 28 2020 12:03 PM

This corona thing gets any worse and he might just start throwing any brown person that comes in from Europe or Asia into the ocean under the guise of national security. You ain't kidding and that's no hyperbole. Just this week, the scumbag Trump Supreme Court ruled that the family of a teenager on the Mexican side of the border could not sue after a US agent on the American side of the border shot and killed the teenager for no reason at all. The agent lied and said he was acting in self-defense -- but surveillance video proved he was full of shit. The high court, in a ... wait for it .... 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of the agent, not on the immigrant status of the victim, but on national security reasons. It's open season now. Agents could kill you with impunity, I guess, because it doesn't matter if they're caught lying about their so-called imperilment. These lawsuits are known as "Bivens Actions" and the really extreme radical justice, Clarence Thomas wasn't satisfied because the court apparently, wasn't mean enough for him. In a concurring opinion, Thomas wrote that Bivens actions should be done away with altogether. And fucking Bernie Sanders is on record that he won't pack the courts.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 28 2020 11:59 AM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=32457 time=1582916221 user_id=68] =Ceetar post_id=32455 time=1582915734 user_id=102] This corona thing gets any worse and he might just start throwing any brown person that comes in from Europe or Asia into the ocean under the guise of national security.

You ain't kidding and that's no hyperbole. Just this week, the scumbag Trump Supreme Court ruled that the family of a teenager on the Mexican side of the border could not sue after a US agent on the American side of the border shot and killed the teenager for no reason at all. The agent lied and said he was acting in self-defense -- but surveillance video proved he was full of shit. The high court, in a ... wait for it .... 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of the agent, not on the immigrant status of the victim, but on national security reasons. It's open season now. Agents could kill you with impunity, I guess, because it doesn't matter if they're caught lying about their so-called imperilment.


And those brown persons don't have to be coming into the USA. They could already be here, because the Federal Government has broad quarrantine powers. If the 5-4s let Trump steal money for his fucking wall even though Congress had already allocated it for other purposes, they're not gonna stop him from locking up brown persons in some deplorable concentration camp on grounds of a national health crisis. Of course, Trump's gonna hafta admit to a national health crisis.

Ceetar Feb 28 2020 12:30 PM Re: Pandemic

and just wait, just January when we're still dealing with this pandemic, Trump issues an executive order that he has to stay on to deal with it, the 'change of leadership' would be too detrimental.

kcmets Feb 28 2020 01:42 PM Re: Pandemic

We'll get through this just like we got through Y2K, anthrax, West Nile, SARS, bird flu. swine flu, ebola, measles...

batmagadanleadoff Feb 28 2020 02:03 PM Re: Pandemic

WHO raises Coronavirus threat assessment to its highest levels. White House blames "fake news media" for spreading fake news to harm Trump's reelection bid.

Lefty Specialist Feb 28 2020 02:15 PM Re: Pandemic

Mick Mulvaney wants people to just turn off the news for 24 hours. Meanwhile the stock market loses over 3500 points for the week, which really hurts Trump because he's always pointed to it as evidence of the good job he's doing. I think he should schedule lots and lots of rallies in red states over the next few months. I mean, since everything's under control and all.

kcmets Feb 28 2020 02:18 PM Re: Pandemic

His son says the Dems want 1,000,000 people to die so they can take down his father. Gets crazier hourly, for the last four years.

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 28 2020 02:47 PM Re: Pandemic

I only want 1 guy to die

Willets Point Feb 28 2020 03:27 PM Re: Pandemic

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I only want 1 guy to die We all remember the Rey Ordonez Deathwatch website.

Lefty Specialist Feb 29 2020 02:17 AM Re: Pandemic

And this is why we can't have nice things. Verified account @CNN 38% of Americans wouldn't buy Corona beer "under any circumstances" because of the coronavirus, according to a recent survey. Just to be abundantly clear: There is no link between the virus and the beer.

MFS62 Feb 29 2020 07:57 AM Re: Pandemic

Is it even necessary to guess what political party they belong to? Later

Lefty Specialist Feb 29 2020 12:28 PM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=32502 time=1582988268 user_id=60] Is it even necessary to guess what political party they belong to? Later

Or who they're voting for?

MFS62 Feb 29 2020 05:48 PM Re: Pandemic

The first US patient has died. The announcement said the person who died had "significant, chronic, underlying health conditions" but NOWHERE have we seen what those conditions were. Has anyone read what they were? If so, can you please post it so those of us with chronic conditions can know if we are at more than usual risk. Later

Benjamin Grimm Feb 29 2020 08:03 PM Re: Pandemic

I imagine that it would be respiratory issues, but I don't know that for sure

nymr83 Feb 29 2020 10:21 PM Re: Pandemic

“The average American does not need to go out and buy a mask,” Are we sure Mike Pence knows which administration he is working for here? I would have thought Trump Jr would invest in the mask company before Trump got on national tv and said "we are all safe as long as we wear masks"

MFS62 Mar 01 2020 05:43 AM Re: Pandemic

“The average American does not need to go out and buy a mask,” Are we sure Mike Pence knows which administration he is working for here? I would have thought Trump Jr would invest in the mask company before Trump got on national tv and said "we are all safe as long as we wear masks" They would have the Ivanka logo and be made in China. Later

ashie62 Mar 01 2020 03:17 PM Re: Pandemic

This baseball season will not go uninterrupted

nymr83 Mar 01 2020 08:39 PM Re: Pandemic

=ashie62 post_id=32539 time=1583101021 user_id=90] This baseball season will not go uninterrupted

I assume games in front of empty stadiums will satisfy the TV contracts, which is where all the money comes from.

Lefty Specialist Mar 02 2020 02:21 PM Re: Pandemic

They're already playing in empty soccer stadiums in Italy and empty hockey arenas in Switzerland. Wouldn't surprise me if this happens in the US.

Double Switch Mar 02 2020 04:15 PM Re: Pandemic

Mainichi Shimbun says the March tournament (that begins this Sunday) in Osaka will be held without spectators. I'll still see the highlights on NHK but it won't be the same at all. There will be no one to throw cushions if a rank-&-filer defeats a yokozuna and no spectators for rikishi to land on when they've been pushed off the dohyo.

Ceetar Mar 02 2020 04:26 PM Re: Pandemic

this stuff feels a little like overkill, but it'll provide a good template and test case for how effective these methods are when something much more serious hits.

MFS62 Mar 02 2020 07:02 PM Re: Pandemic

I'm afraid to play Chinese Checkers. Later

Lefty Specialist Mar 03 2020 07:38 AM Re: Pandemic

In my job I deal with Chinese vendors and I can tell you definitively that nothing's coming out of there right now. We were supposed to see a shipment sent out on 3/3 from a major vendor; it just got pushed back to 3/17. I have another shipment (20 containers' worth) that's sitting at the Genoa port in Italy after just making it out of the Venice area. The vessel supposedly picking it up skipped the Genoa port and we're supposed to get it picked up by another vessel on Saturday. But things are deteriorating in Italy right now as well. Interesting times. Think about how many things you touch in a day that other people touch. Wash your hands frequently, and stop shaking hands with others. (hard to do, I know, but it's a big thing). Also clean your smartphone, which is probably the dirtiest thing you carry around with you all day.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 03 2020 07:55 AM Re: Pandemic

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/03/new-york-city-high-school-reportedly-closes-after-suspected-coronavirus-case-in-its-community.html Two NYC high schools shut down over coronavirus fears.

metsmarathon Mar 03 2020 08:18 AM Re: Pandemic

Also clean your smartphone, which is probably the dirtiest thing you carry around with you all day. pro tip: automatic kitchen dishwashers do a great job cleaning all the built-up gunk and grime off your smartphone, and if you use jet-dry, the screen really does come out spotless. in addition, your phone will forever cease to function, which is highly effective at removing it from the disease contagion vector equation.

Lefty Specialist Mar 03 2020 09:29 AM Re: Pandemic

How not to shake hands, Angela Merkel edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvy-3x_oi84

Edgy MD Mar 03 2020 11:22 AM Re: Pandemic

=metsmarathon post_id=32639 time=1583248738 user_id=83] Also clean your smartphone, which is probably the dirtiest thing you carry around with you all day. pro tip: automatic kitchen dishwashers do a great job cleaning all the built-up gunk and grime off your smartphone, and if you use jet-dry, the screen really does come out spotless. in addition, your phone will forever cease to function, which is highly effective at removing it from the disease contagion vector equation.

Excellent work here.

Double Switch Mar 03 2020 03:10 PM Re: Pandemic

I'm afraid to play Chinese Checkers. My US Congressman sent this to the constituents. I wonder if all US Congresspersons have shared this: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 According to DOH, persons who are older or who have underlying health conditions are at higher risk to develop complications from this virus. Individuals that fall in these categories should take extra precautions to avoid exposure and make plans for care in the event that they begin to notice symptoms of COVID-19. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call their health care provider immediately and make arrangements in advance to seek treatment. Since there are no vaccines to prevent against COVID-19, the best strategies for prevention are some commonsense measures from the CDC and DOH: [list] Wash your hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. [/list] [list] Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. [/list] [list] Stay home when you're sick. [/list] [list] If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. [/list] [list] Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash. [/list] [list] Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. [/list] [list] Getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, eating healthy foods, and managing your stress can help you prevent getting COVID-19 and recover from it if you do. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. [/list] [list] If you or a loved one are ill or suffer from a chronic condition such as diabetes, chronic heart disease, respiratory conditions or illnesses that weaken the immune system, consider restricting your out of home activities since you are more susceptible to illness. [/list] [list] Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and be sure to get a flu shot if you have not. [/list] [list] CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of facemasks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility). [/list] [list] Avoid travel to countries with sustained spread of COVID-19. Information about travel to specific countries can be found here through the CDC. [/list] [list] Ensure your home emergency preparedness kits are up to date. [/list] [list] Be wary of false information that may spread through social media. (such as semi-private forums) [/list] [list] Do not show prejudice to people of Asian descent because of fear of this new virus. Do not assume that someone of Asian descent is more likely to have COVID-19. [/list] Reject the Stigma Last week, I joined my colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to dispel the stigma, misinformation, and conspiracy theories that are disparaging and negatively affecting the Asian American community in the United States and abroad. According to the CDC, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, with a specific population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region has the disease and members of particular groups are at no greater risk for contracting it. Being Chinese or Asian American does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19. People—including those of Asian descent—who have not recently traveled to Asia or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 than other people. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I presume it's safe to play games merely named after China. I'd worry more about having old age, heart condition, and diabetes than playing a game where you lose your marbles.

nymr83 Mar 03 2020 03:44 PM Re: Pandemic

at my local Dunkin Donuts last week the folks behind the counter were freaking out because a customer told them she had recently been to China.

MFS62 Mar 03 2020 07:36 PM Re: Pandemic

Found out I AM at higher risk: https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-death-rates-preexisting-conditions-heart-disease-cancer-2020-2 Among coronavirus patients, the preexisting condition that raises risk most appears to be heart disease. Patients already diagnosed with heart disease had a fatality rate of more than 10%. Diabetes was the preexisting condition with the second-highest fatality rate: 7%. I'll be heeding a lot of the advice posted by Double Switch. Thanks for that. (And I was trying to show how irrational fear can be by joking about the game) Later

Double Switch Mar 03 2020 09:28 PM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=32701 time=1583289395 user_id=60] I'll be heeding a lot of the advice posted by Double Switch. Thanks for that. (And I was trying to show how irrational fear can be by joking about the game)

I know that. So I joked back. I've never seen a Chinese Checkers set that was not missing more than a few. Sure cuts down the number of players when you can't field a full set of marbles.



I'm glad you find the information my (D) Congressman sent out to be helpful. It's mostly just good common sense but never hurts to reiterate it. 'scuse me, gotta go wash my hands again and spray the keyboard.

Willets Point Mar 04 2020 08:11 AM Re: Pandemic

Just got a similar email from my Congressional rep.

cal sharpie Mar 04 2020 12:12 PM Re: Pandemic

I fly to Minnesota for a party on Saturday, return Sunday and then fly to London for work for a few days. I could've bowed out of the latter but am electing not to. I live in a city of 8 million people and take the subway to work. I can't worry about flying to not-super-infected places.

Lefty Specialist Mar 06 2020 10:23 AM Re: Pandemic

My company today banned all business travel indefinitely. And there's rumblings of a work-from-home policy coming next week.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 06 2020 10:27 AM Re: Pandemic

Still gotta go out to the supermarket and to get food. Laundry? Dry cleaners? Haircuts?

Lefty Specialist Mar 06 2020 10:34 AM Re: Pandemic

Still gotta go out to the supermarket and to get food. Laundry? Dry cleaners? Haircuts? Nah, I'm good. https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s261x260/88180754_10158146400594222_7479317024905101312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=j7EOvY9ScScAX9vwdrn&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=c50ba15f9b6cf7f0fa29463952b7a22e&oe=5E9A1E97>

batmagadanleadoff Mar 06 2020 10:37 AM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: =batmagadanleadoff post_id=32948 time=1583515659 user_id=68] Still gotta go out to the supermarket and to get food. Laundry? Dry cleaners? Haircuts? Nah, I'm good.

Are you a a bald nudist who's always fasting?

kcmets Mar 06 2020 10:41 AM Re: Pandemic

I have my annual physical tomorrow morning. Not thrilled with the notion of going to a busy doctor's office, someone sneezes on me and there's going to be a whole lot of trouble!

cal sharpie Mar 06 2020 12:08 PM Re: Pandemic

We got a work-from-home policy and they discouraged business travel. I ended up opting out of my London trip not because I'm afraid of no stinkin' coronavirus, but because it makes more sense for me to go later and because I'm afraid that while I'm gone the company will decide that anyone returning from overseas needs to quarantine. I'm still going to endanger the good citizens of Minnesota this weekend, however.

Lefty Specialist Mar 06 2020 12:28 PM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: =batmagadanleadoff post_id=32948 time=1583515659 user_id=68] Still gotta go out to the supermarket and to get food. Laundry? Dry cleaners? Haircuts? Nah, I'm good. Are you a a bald nudist who's always fasting?

No, we just go to the cleaners on Saturdays, got a haircut last week and I had a big lunch. But you can pick me up a couple of boxes of Oreos if you're going.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 06 2020 12:41 PM Re: Pandemic

Laundry can be done at home. I imagine that just about anyone can go a few weeks without a haircut. Dry cleaning isn't at all important if you're not going anywhere. And it's probably been at least a couple of decades since I've taken anything out to be dry cleaned.

Frayed Knot Mar 06 2020 01:29 PM Re: Pandemic

I saw a lady grab eight six-packs of toilet paper to stuff in her cart at a supermarket yesterday. And that's not just 48 rolls of TP but 48 of the newer 'mega-rolls' each of which are 4-6 times the size of the old-fashioned single rolls that many of us grew up with (and which essentially no longer exist) so that's, what?, the equivalent paper to 200-some single rolls. She also took at least one mega- package of paper towels (20-some rolls in the pkg) and multiple boxes of tissues each of which, like the TP and PT, contained multiple boxes of tissues within each box - so probably 1,000 or more tissues in all. Are these people survivalists on their way to an underground bunker to wait out the coronavirus era there? I mean, I can understand the cleaning wipes shelves being, well, cleanly wiped out (though soap and water will protect you just as well and I bet you've already got those at home). But whatthefuck are you hoarding toilet paper and paper towels for?

Frayed Knot Mar 06 2020 07:16 PM Re: Pandemic

The week-long, 34 year old music & tech SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, originally scheduled to begin next week, has now been canceled due to concerns over Coronavirus.

Lefty Specialist Mar 07 2020 04:45 AM Re: Pandemic

The NBA is seriously considering playing without fans in the stands. LeBron is not happy, but it's not his call. http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/lakers-lebron-james-says-he-wont-play-games-without-fans-amid-coronavirus-concerns/ar-BB10RI4V?OCID=AVRES000

Lefty Specialist Mar 07 2020 04:48 AM Re: Pandemic

And what happens if, say, Miguel Cabrera comes down with the virus? Do you quarantine the entire Detroit Tigers team?

Edgy MD Mar 07 2020 05:41 AM Re: Pandemic

Frayed Knot wrote: The week-long, 34 year old music & tech SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, originally scheduled to begin next week, has now been canceled due to concerns over Coronavirus. It was probably a hard decision made easier by vendors and exhibitors all pulling out.

Lefty Specialist Mar 08 2020 05:43 PM Re: Pandemic

In what can only be described as Ultimate Karma, Ted Cruz is quarantining himself in Texas after having had contact with a New Jersey man who attended CPAC and has come down with the virus.

kcmets Mar 08 2020 06:10 PM Re: Pandemic

I wouldn't wish illness on anyone even it plays into my karma kards.

Frayed Knot Mar 08 2020 06:57 PM Re: Pandemic

Ted's dogma got run over by the virus's karma.

MFS62 Mar 09 2020 07:17 AM Re: Pandemic

Is the Virus a CIA weapon? As only Russia can say it is. https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-accused-us-spreading-conspiracy-114500601.html Later

Lefty Specialist Mar 09 2020 07:21 AM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33016 time=1583712649 user_id=53] I wouldn't wish illness on anyone even it plays into my karma kards.

Well, he's not ill, just quarantined. Like Trump should be come November.

kcmets Mar 09 2020 09:16 AM Re: Pandemic

Has anyone here (or have family or friends) that have been diagnosed yet?

LWFS Mar 09 2020 09:20 AM Re: Pandemic

No... but that makes sense. It's not that widespread yet. I mean, it WILL be, but it's not yet. Meanwhile, in completely foreseeable and still kinda shocking news: [BLOCKQUOTE]10:41 AM-- HHS Secretary Paul Aza on Fox News: This is a very serious health problem. Nobody is trying to minimize that."[/BLOCKQUOTE] [QUOTE="Trump, Tweeting"]10:47 AM-- So last year 37000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 cases of Coronavirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that![/QUOTE]

Lefty Specialist Mar 09 2020 09:32 AM Re: Pandemic

No. But since they completely botched the rollout of testing kits, lots of people may be walking around with it and not knowing it. The numbers only look small right now because there hasn't been real testing. Once they can test widely, the numbers are going to explode. Again, this isn't a death sentence. The overwhelmingly vast majority of people who get this will either not get very sick or will recover. Under 22, you seem to be almost immune. However, older people are at serious risk, especially if they have other conditions, like attending CPAC.

Chad ochoseis Mar 09 2020 10:09 AM Re: Pandemic

I hope someone's working on a CPAC vaccine. You don't want any part of that shit.

Centerfield Mar 09 2020 10:32 AM Re: Pandemic

Chad ochoseis wrote: I hope someone's working on a CPAC vaccine. You don't want any part of that shit. If that means attending a small, harmless portion of CPAC then I want no part.

Lefty Specialist Mar 09 2020 10:45 AM Re: Pandemic

It would actually involve getting a small part of CPAC, killing it, then injecting it into you so that you'd be immune from future outbreaks of CPAC.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 09 2020 11:08 AM Re: Pandemic

lolollol

kcmets Mar 09 2020 12:47 PM Re: Pandemic

We live near a large VA Hospital compound and word on the street is they've been placed under lock down and no one is allowed in or out? Not sure if it's fb jive or just common sense keeping our aging vets safe.

Edgy MD Mar 09 2020 08:46 PM Re: Pandemic

I used to be part of an organization that would routinely meet at the same hotel at the same time as CPAC. What scared me the most is how empowered the young men seemed to feel from having found their tribe. One day they were losers, and the next, they were invincible, and convinced they deserved to be. They carried themselves like they were better looking than they were, and actually kind of were better looking because of the irrational confidence they projected. It was like they pomaded their hair with ideology or something.

Lefty Specialist Mar 10 2020 05:38 AM Re: Pandemic

So, if you were planning that trip to Italy......please call your travel agent.

Edgy MD Mar 10 2020 06:34 AM Re: Pandemic

So, are the pandemic and the collapsing stock market one story or two? Or three, including the declining status of the president? https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/screen-shot-2020-03-10-at-8.31.13-am.png>

Lefty Specialist Mar 10 2020 06:59 AM Re: Pandemic

In this order: 1) Epidemic breaks out in China. 2) Incompetent administration does nothing, wasting valuable time. 3) President intentionally minimizes the problem, refusing to take steps because they might panic the stock market. 4) Stock market panics anyway, because they know what's coming. 5) Seeing a slump coming, OPEC tries to get everyone to lower their output. 6) Saudis and Russians argue, so MBS opens the spigot wide, crashing oil prices. 7) Market, already panicked, goes into double panic. 8) Meanwhile, US is 4-6 weeks behind the curve in mitigation, and we'll be paying the price shortly. Part of the problem with #3 is that people are taking their lead from him. The Japanese league is delaying opening their season, which was to start on March 20th. Nobody's talking about changing March Madness, or the NHL playoffs. MLB's answer is to ban reporters from locker rooms, which is something they've always wanted to do anyway. You take unpopular measures now so that you don't crash the healthcare system later. We're not taking this seriously enough, and that comes from the top.

nymr83 Mar 10 2020 07:19 AM Re: Pandemic

Part of the problem with #3 is that people are taking their lead from him. The Japanese league is delaying opening their season, which was to start on March 20th. Nobody's talking about changing March Madness, or the NHL playoffs. MLB's answer is to ban reporters from locker rooms, which is something they've always wanted to do anyway. The early rounds of the NCAA Division 3 Tournament was played in front of empty gyms in Baltimore (Johns Hopkins) this past weekend. I don't know how things work in Japan, maybe they need those gate receipts, but TV Money is king in American sports and playing without a crowd rather than canceling games is going to be "Plan B", the NBA is already discussing it.

Willets Point Mar 10 2020 07:47 AM Re: Pandemic

It's going to be awfully quiet at work.

MFS62 Mar 10 2020 07:49 AM Re: Pandemic

So far, the market is rebounding this morning (+800 as I write this). Trump will probably brag that it is responding to the measures his administration is taking to deal with the virus. And his sheep will bleat their agreement. I just want to hear one reporter ask him this question: "If the virus is a hoax, why did you just sign an $8 billion bill to fight it?" His head would explode. Later

Ceetar Mar 10 2020 08:12 AM Re: Pandemic

wonder what stocks I should buy. Gonna refinance my mortgage too.

kcmets Mar 10 2020 11:24 AM Re: Pandemic

Italy going on 60,000,000 million person lock down! Can you imagine?

Lefty Specialist Mar 10 2020 11:48 AM Re: Pandemic

Umm... The state creates a ‘containment area' in New Rochelle With New Rochelle, a small city just north of New York City in Westchester County, emerging as the epicenter of the state's outbreak, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced a targeted containment strategy to halt the spread of the virus. “New Rochelle, at this point, is probably the largest cluster of these cases in the United States,” he said at a news conference on Tuesday. The state's plan focuses on a “containment area” in New Rochelle, where it would deploy the National Guard to clean schools and deliver food to quarantined residents, Mr. Cuomo said. The area is a one-mile radius centered around a synagogue believed to be at the center of the cluster, officials said.

kcmets Mar 10 2020 12:20 PM Re: Pandemic

I think at least one of our posters lives in the NewRo area.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2020 12:26 PM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: Umm... The state creates a ‘containment area' in New Rochelle With New Rochelle, a small city just north of New York City in Westchester County, emerging as the epicenter of the state's outbreak, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced a targeted containment strategy to halt the spread of the virus. Pretty soon, the whole fucking USA's gonna be contained. Whatever's happening in Italy is gonna happen here. It's only a matter of time. Last I looked, us American residents are the same species and have the exact same DNA structure as those unlucky bastards in Italy and Wuhan who got it first. Italy was struck before the USA only out of sheer randomness. Meanwhile, here's some of what our deranged narcissistic grifting scumbag president had to say at the Center for Diseases Control a few days ago: As of the time I left the plane with you, we had 240 cases. That's at least what was on a very fine network known as Fox News. And you love it. But that's what I happened to be watching. And how was the show last night? Did it get good ratings, by the way? I heard it broke all ratings records, but maybe that's wrong. That's what they told me. I don't know. I can't imagine that. And I've heard the numbers are getting much better in China, but I hear the numbers are getting much better in Italy, et cetera, et cetera. I think people are staying in the United States more. They're going to spend their money in the United States. And then this is ended. It will end. Anybody that wants a test can get a test. That's what the bottom line is. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful. Anybody that needs a test gets a test. But as of right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test -- that's the important thing -- and the tests are all perfect, like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect, right? This was not as perfect as that, but pretty good. You know, my uncle was a great person. He was at MIT. He taught at MIT for, I think, like a record number of years. He was a great super genius. Dr. John Trump. I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it. Every one of these doctors said, 'How do you know so much about this?' Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for President.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 10 2020 12:38 PM Re: Pandemic

Truth really is stranger than fiction. Not so many years ago, a TV show or movie featuring a buffoon like this as president would have strained belief. But here we are. "And the tests are beautiful." What an utter fool. And about 42 per cent of the public approves of this moron.

Lefty Specialist Mar 10 2020 01:13 PM Re: Pandemic

Maybe I should have done that instead of running for President. The only thing I agree with. Italy went into lockdown because the virus got away from them. Just try doing a lockdown when Bubba needs more ammo for his AR-15 and can't get to the gun shop. That 42% is stupid and won't obey the rules. You'll get stories like this: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/09/coronavirus-missouri-man-breaks-self-quarantine-school-dance/5000818002/

whippoorwill Mar 10 2020 01:47 PM Re: Pandemic

Hey guys...REALLY glad you are taking this seriously...I live very close to PSU and three other colleges and I am very concerned about what's gonna happen after spring break. Anyway I'm just checking in to remind you all to make sure you get plenty of pet food too!

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2020 01:50 PM Re: Pandemic

=whippoorwill post_id=33128 time=1583869620 user_id=79] Anyway I'm just checking in to remind you all to make sure you get plenty of pet food too!

Which brands taste the best? What do you recommend? Cat food or Dog food? Or some other animal? Did you ever try turtle food?

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2020 01:51 PM Re: Pandemic

=whippoorwill post_id=33128 time=1583869620 user_id=79]... just checking in to remind you all to make sure you get plenty of pet food too!

So if I eat pet food I won't get Coronavirus?!?

whippoorwill Mar 10 2020 01:53 PM Re: Pandemic

Nah... turtle food is smelly :) I did once accidentally lick a cat food spoon and it was pretty salty so I'd say try each kind til you find one you like!

whippoorwill Mar 10 2020 01:53 PM Re: Pandemic

Frayed Knot wrote: =whippoorwill post_id=33128 time=1583869620 user_id=79]... just checking in to remind you all to make sure you get plenty of pet food too! So if I eat pet food I won't get Coronavirus?!?

If only!

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2020 02:12 PM Re: Pandemic

"I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it." -- No, people are surprised that you understand Dr. Seuss.

dgwphotography Mar 10 2020 02:22 PM Re: Pandemic

CIAC has cancelled the rest of the winter sports tournament schedule: https://www.gametimect.com/ciac-cancels-all-remaining-winter-state-tournaments/#photo-19155562

Double Switch Mar 10 2020 02:31 PM Re: Pandemic

Frayed Knot wrote: =whippoorwill post_id=33128 time=1583869620 user_id=79]... just checking in to remind you all to make sure you get plenty of pet food too! So if I eat pet food I won't get Coronavirus?!? If only!

And wouldn't that frost the Grifter-in-Chief's hide? Imagine if pet food, one of the few commodities he has not slapped his name on, were the Silver Bullet!! My last cat, departed before the turn of the century, preferred Friskie's Turkey. I never tasted it but I'd go with his recommendation.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2020 02:38 PM Re: Pandemic

CIAC has cancelled the rest of the winter sports tournament schedule: https://www.gametimect.com/ciac-cancels-all-remaining-winter-state-tournaments/#photo-19155562 And the Ivy League canceled its NCAA basketball tournament. Governor Cuomo called in the National Guard to enforce his New Rochelle quarantine/lockdown. The NYC MTA is threading the needle, telling the public that the subway is safe, while at the same time, telling riders to avoid it, if they have other reasonable options. Telling the riders to stay away will cost the MTA lotsa $$$, so this must be bad. Not surprisingly. Keep on doubling the number every day and soon enough, it's incomprehensible. The country's gonna shut down on its own, piece by piece, whether Trump wants it to or not. (And he doesn't).

Edgy MD Mar 10 2020 04:08 PM Re: Pandemic

As long as they come out to the polling stations.

Frayed Knot Mar 10 2020 04:53 PM Re: Pandemic

Governor Cuomo called in the National Guard to enforce his New Rochelle quarantine/lockdown. This is the National Guard Mr. Petrie, we have weapons and the Governor has authorized us to use them. So we don't care about which important person you work for, put down the briefcase and get back in your house! And if the ottoman is a health hazard then just move it, but don't try to come out through your front door again.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 10 2020 04:56 PM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: As long as they come out to the polling stations. Oh my god! The scheming crook is gonna use his broad emergency powers to declare a National Emergency right before Election Day and then shut down the polling places and cancel the elections.

Double Switch Mar 10 2020 05:39 PM Re: Pandemic

Frayed Knot wrote: Governor Cuomo called in the National Guard to enforce his New Rochelle quarantine/lockdown. This is the National Guard Mr. Petrie, we have weapons and the Governor has authorized us to use them. So we don't care about which important person you work for, put down the briefcase and get back in your house! And if the ottoman is a health hazard then just move it, but don't try to come out through your front door again. Brilliant! Now I must go to MeTV and see if I can DVR some reruns.

Double Switch Mar 10 2020 05:43 PM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: As long as they come out to the polling stations. Oh my god! The scheming crook is gonna use his broad emergency powers to declare a National Emergency right before Election Day and then shut down the polling places and cancel the elections. Hmmm, now this is a perfect point for promoting all states vote by mail. In my state and two others, we do all our voting by mail-in paper ballot. So here's the thing - we have no polling places to close. This means that the only states whose voters can still vote are all blue states - except for Oregon which is more purplish but still pretty safely not red. We three states would be as good a sample size as any poll in the nation. And it would eliminate the EC. Sounds like a viable solution to me.

Lefty Specialist Mar 10 2020 06:37 PM Re: Pandemic

Every state needs to move to vote by mail. The primaries next week will be problematic, and they need to move to VBM to defeat any Trump Virus in November.

MFS62 Mar 10 2020 07:49 PM Re: Pandemic

I think at least one of our posters lives in the NewRo area. Our long time friends live in the quarantine zone (two actual cases live in their apartment building). The husband has "high risk" underlying conditions. They are really scared and being very careful. They have been told that if they really have to get somewhere (e.g.- doctor's appointment) they will be brought there by military provided transportation. As for the food thingie, you may end up on a pizza and pancake diet. Not too healthy, but they are things that someone can slip under your door. Later

MFS62 Mar 10 2020 08:12 PM Re: Pandemic

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2930351817002881&set=a.561339670570786&type=3&eid=ARCBUHP5TXFVw_lnKHdtYO1m2sWpauaN8eGFJYadhgDiocduG9cbSn1wqAlf8wFsYBUCz8KZNXZx5GZK Later (mods, please turn this into a graphic. It contains important stuff.)

MFS62 Mar 10 2020 08:13 PM Re: Pandemic

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2930351817002881&set=a.561339670570786&type=3&eid=ARARdvHXt_cIaIiFc1EnciQQ-1baT34D-GVamp9l-p32SbVh-7tbdgkgX3t2Vj4fQS4sdTkjYexnKkEC

Edgy MD Mar 11 2020 05:52 AM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: As long as they come out to the polling stations. Oh my god! The scheming crook is gonna use his broad emergency powers to declare a National Emergency right before Election Day and then shut down the polling places and cancel the elections. I guess this really throws the conventions up in the air also.

Frayed Knot Mar 11 2020 06:04 AM Re: Pandemic

NY Post Headline: CORONAVIRUS CONFERENCE CANCELED IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS

Lefty Specialist Mar 11 2020 06:38 AM Re: Pandemic

Our friend and carpool buddy works for Google in Manhattan. They've been told to work from home until April 10.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 11 2020 08:07 AM Re: Pandemic

My company announced a mandatory work from home day tomorrow so as to test it's readyness for a full-blown WAH order. I already work remotely though. Still showing up at the wework

Lefty Specialist Mar 11 2020 11:07 AM Re: Pandemic

Breaking: World Health Organization has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 11 2020 11:08 AM Re: Pandemic

Do they call it the "novel" coronavirus because Trump thinks it's fictional?

Lefty Specialist Mar 11 2020 11:39 AM Re: Pandemic

He's waiting for the graphic novel.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 11 2020 11:46 AM Re: Pandemic

SF mayor bans Warrior games and all large gatherings.

Chad ochoseis Mar 11 2020 11:50 AM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: Every state needs to move to vote by mail. The primaries next week will be problematic, and they need to move to VBM to defeat any Trump Virus in November. Ohio's got a 3/17 primary. So far, Cuyahoga County has advised Boards of Elections who have used senior citizen centers for polling places to find new locations. But nothing more than that and nothing so far at the statewide level.

Vic Sage Mar 11 2020 11:52 AM Re: Pandemic

i live in the New Rochelle containment zone. The national guard is shooting anybody who steps outside, and packs of feral dogs are eating the bodies. actually, there are no restrictions on movement; stores are open. The only things closed down are places of public congregation (churches, parks, schools, etc.).

nymr83 Mar 11 2020 11:55 AM Re: Pandemic

Vic Sage wrote: i live in the New Rochelle containment zone. The national guard is shooting anybody who steps outside, and packs of feral dogs are eating the bodies. actually, there are no restrictions on movement; stores are open. The only things closed down are places of public congregation (churches, parks, schools, etc.). nevermind that with a virus that can live on surfaces for hours, the supermarket is probably more dangerous than any of those places based on the number of unique visitors who cycle through in a day and the number of things they touch that you touch.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 11 2020 11:58 AM Re: Pandemic

But if you touch something at a supermarket you can (if you're diligent enough) wash your hands before you touch your face or eat any food. But in a crowd such as a church or an arena, you're more likely to be in the spray area if someone coughs or sneezes.

Lefty Specialist Mar 11 2020 11:59 AM Re: Pandemic

Vic Sage wrote: i live in the New Rochelle containment zone. The national guard is shooting anybody who steps outside, and packs of feral dogs are eating the bodies. actually, there are no restrictions on movement; stores are open. The only things closed down are places of public congregation (churches, parks, schools, etc.). They said they were waiting until Thursday for full enforcement. Keep yer head down and stock up on Milk-Bones.

nymr83 Mar 11 2020 12:00 PM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: But if you touch something at a supermarket you can (if you're diligent enough) wash your hands before you touch your face or eat any food. But in a crowd such as a church or an arena, you're more likely to be in the spray area if someone coughs or sneezes. I don't know what goes on at your place of worship, but we're all drinking so much self-sanitizing vodka at mine that everyone should be ok. its like walking around with little shot glasses of cleanser

Benjamin Grimm Mar 11 2020 12:13 PM Re: Pandemic

I don't HAVE a place of worship!

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 11 2020 12:14 PM Re: Pandemic

We're not going to get opening day off, at least in front of crowds

batmagadanleadoff Mar 11 2020 12:33 PM Re: Pandemic

I ate out last night. At one point, I ate some food with my hands. I probably touched the table,, too. In fact, I'm sure I did.

Double Switch Mar 11 2020 12:53 PM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't HAVE a place of worship! Me neither but I suspect that many people call their "watering hole" a place of worship. I do my "worshiping" at home so as not to be a hazard on the streets.

Lefty Specialist Mar 11 2020 01:50 PM Re: Pandemic

I have stocked up so that I have 6 different kinds of beer in my beer fridge. If the apocalypse comes, I'll be ready. Our company is stubbornly refusing to issue the Work From Home memo. People are getting restless.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 11 2020 03:12 PM Re: Pandemic

SUMMARY: White House pulls key witnesses from an oversight hearing on the Coronavirus under pretext of an emergency meeting so that they wouldn't testify about how incompetently this admiinstration has been handling the crisis. The Administration* Screwed Up the Coronavirus Response From the Jump and Is Now Covering Its Ass The White House pulled key witnesses from a House Oversight hearing for an "emergency" meeting. By Charles P. Pierce Mar 11, 2020 https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a31405286/house-oversight-coronavirus-witnesses-summoned-white-house/ There was a hearing on Wednesday in the House of Representatives on the state of the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. First, the hearing was incredibly dark and gloomy. From Bloomberg, via the Detroit News: “Bottom line: It's going to get worse,” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci told the House Oversight and Reform Committee. “If we don't do very serious mitigation now, what's going to happen is we're going to be weeks behind” in containing the spread. Fauci said the U.S. must limit the influx of the virus from abroad and take steps to contain it domestically, including by restricting large gatherings such as sporting events. He said a vaccine is still at least a year away. Responding to questions, Fauci said he couldn't give a precise estimate of how many people in the U.S. might get infected. “It is going to be totally dependent on how we respond to it, so I can't give you a number,” Fauci said. “If we are complacent and don't do really aggressive containment and mitigation, the number could be way up and be involved in many, many millions. But if we sought to contain, we could mitigate it.” Then it just got weird. From The Hill: Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said at the start of the hearing that it would end an hour and a half early because President Trump called an “emergency” meeting with the witnesses, who are leading the government's coronavirus response...“This morning we were informed that President Trump and Vice President Pence have called our witnesses to an emergency meeting at the White House,” Maloney said. “We don't know the details, just that it is extremely urgent.”At about 11:30 a.m., she ended questioning from lawmakers, saying she received notice from the White House that the witnesses needed to leave “now.” “I don't know what's going on at the White House,” she said. “There seems to be a great deal of confusion and a lack of coordination at the White House. I hope this does not reflect on the broader response to this crisis.” Two people familiar with the matter questioned whether the meeting Maloney referenced was in fact an emergency, and it was unclear if it was separate from the daily 4 p.m. meetings that have been led by Pence. One official suggested the cited meeting may have been called to limit the time of the Oversight hearing, where officials were facing difficult questions from Democrats about the administration's handling of the coronavirus. You think? The administration* screwed this up from jump and now is engaged in an all-out effort to cover its ass, not only on its original bungling, but also on the continuing consequences of that bungling. And any charge that this particular administration* is blocking congressional oversight is prima facie true at this point. Reuters helpfully connects a few more dots in that regard. The officials said that dozens of classified discussions about such topics as the scope of infections, quarantines and travel restrictions have been held since mid-January in a high-security meeting room at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), a key player in the fight against the coronavirus. Staffers without security clearances, including government experts, were excluded from the interagency meetings, which included video conference calls, the sources said. “We had some very critical people who did not have security clearances who could not go,” one official said. “These should not be classified meetings. It was unnecessary.” The sources said the National Security Council (NSC), which advises the president on security issues, ordered the classification. “This came directly from the White House,” one official said. There is no good reason for this policy except to keep inconvenient information from the public. If this were just another crooked emoluments deal, that would be one (really bad) thing. But it's not easy to think of anything concerning the public health in the middle of a global pandemic that you would want to keep from the general public unless it was for political reasons, which would be completely inexcusable in the current context. They really don't know what they're doing.

ashie62 Mar 11 2020 04:08 PM Re: Pandemic

The Hoops March madness will be played in empty arenas

stevejrogers Mar 11 2020 04:27 PM Re: Pandemic

=ashie62 post_id=33244 time=1583964524 user_id=90] The Hoops March madness will be played in empty arenas

A lot of these events getting canceled/pushed back are based on massive throngs coming from all over the country/globe. So logistics have to include liability issues.



I'm not sure if I ever promoted it early on in the here, I know I did push events we ran in Jersey City around 2010-2013, but I help run a small scale, two-day short films (less than an hour run time) fest in Asbury Park, NJ. Our 7th season is slated for the weekend of April 18-19. As well as a much less grandiose, and only a few years old, one in Point Lookout, New York (near Jones Beach on Long Island) on April 8th.



The Asbury one has attracted M and N-List celebs, and we do show international films, but for the most part the attendees are all filmmakers and the like from the New Jersey/New York/North Western Pennsylvania areas.



Right now both fests still on, but boy all these other bigger name cancellations are making my cancellation/push back to the summer trigger finger at bit itchy.

kcmets Mar 11 2020 05:53 PM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: I have stocked up so that I have 6 different kinds of beer in my beer fridge. If the apocalypse comes, I'll be ready. Most uplifting news I've read today here, there and everywhere.

G-Fafif Mar 11 2020 07:41 PM Re: Pandemic

NBA suspends its season after a player (Rudy Gobert of the Jazz) tests positive.

kcmets Mar 11 2020 07:52 PM Re: Pandemic

=G-Fafif post_id=33254 time=1583977295 user_id=55]NBA suspends its season after a player (Rudy Gobert of the Jazz) tests positive.

Phwam!



I imagine a college player or two will soon test positive and the whole

NCAA March Thingy will be cancelled as well.

G-Fafif Mar 11 2020 08:05 PM Re: Pandemic

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive in Australia.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 11 2020 08:06 PM Re: Pandemic

Holy shit

Lefty Specialist Mar 11 2020 08:08 PM Re: Pandemic

They won't be starting the baseball season on time. People better get used to that.

Frayed Knot Mar 12 2020 03:45 AM Re: Pandemic

=G-Fafif post_id=33257 time=1583978720 user_id=55] Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive in Australia.

And if Captain Phillips/Captain Sully/Fred Rogers isn't immune, are any of us safe?

seawolf17 Mar 12 2020 06:39 AM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: They won't be starting the baseball season on time. People better get used to that. I think with the NBA down, that's a foregone conclusion. It's just a matter of what that looks like. I'd bet they suspend games two weeks at a time or something like that.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 12 2020 06:41 AM Re: Pandemic

They should play in front of empty seats.

Willets Point Mar 12 2020 07:03 AM Re: Pandemic

Start the season in June. Play ~120 games. Make a new schedule with all games within division and interleague games against corresponding division to reduce travel.

Willets Point Mar 12 2020 07:15 AM Re: Pandemic

Or if they're going to play without spectators, just play the regular season with a new schedule at the Spring Training locations as the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.

ashie62 Mar 12 2020 07:18 AM Re: Pandemic

You can forget about all hoops, baseball and such for awhile Time to learn a new hobby

Benjamin Grimm Mar 12 2020 07:24 AM Re: Pandemic

Willets Point wrote: Or if they're going to play without spectators, just play the regular season with a new schedule at the Spring Training locations as the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. THAT'S a good idea. A lot less travel. I'd keep the same schedule, though, even though it would involve some flights between Florida and Arizona.

MFS62 Mar 12 2020 07:56 AM Re: Pandemic

These assholes are putting us in danger (does this belong both here and in the politics thread?) https://www.yahoo.com/news/sean-hannity-thinks-coronavirus-panic-120516477.html How can they still deny it is real? Later

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 09:05 AM Re: Pandemic

MLS (Major League Soccer) suspending its season.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2020 09:12 AM Re: Pandemic

Wow. And the president wanted to make a great environment for businesses to operate.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 12 2020 09:25 AM Re: Pandemic

This coronavirus is gonna wreak havoc and mayhem with the elections. It's gonna reduce turnout. Plus, a large number of poll worker volunteers are elderly.. And the GOP will not facilitate turnout because that's what they do and who they are.

kcmets Mar 12 2020 09:50 AM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=33280 time=1584026742 user_id=68]This coronavirus is gonna wreak havoc and mayhem with the elections. It's gonna reduce turnout.

If coronavirus is still an issue in November nothing is going to matter.

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 10:00 AM Re: Pandemic

NHL drops dropping the puck, too, reportedly about to announce it's joining the suspending parade. Bunch of college conference basketball tourneys as well, including the AAC, featuring my alma mater (which is why I'm aware of it in the slightest).

batmagadanleadoff Mar 12 2020 10:02 AM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33284 time=1584028209 user_id=53] =batmagadanleadoff post_id=33280 time=1584026742 user_id=68]This coronavirus is gonna wreak havoc and mayhem with the elections. It's gonna reduce turnout.

If coronavirus is still an issue in November nothing is going to matter.


Why wouldn't it be an issue? A vaccine is at least a year and. half away -- and that's if science nails it -- with everything going right and science figuring things out almost immediately. By comparison, there's still no AIDS vaccine -- 35 years after that virus broke out.

Double Switch Mar 12 2020 10:07 AM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33284 time=1584028209 user_id=53] =batmagadanleadoff post_id=33280 time=1584026742 user_id=68]This coronavirus is gonna wreak havoc and mayhem with the elections. It's gonna reduce turnout.

If coronavirus is still an issue in November nothing is going to matter.


Exactly this.



To imagine an effective vaccine within a matter of days, manufacturing and distributing and administering in a few more days? That's a comic book world.

kcmets Mar 12 2020 10:18 AM Re: Pandemic

I imagine no such thing. I've never read an entire comic book.

Double Switch Mar 12 2020 10:21 AM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33289 time=1584029891 user_id=53] I imagine no such thing. I've never read an entire comic book.

So ... no super heroes?

Lefty Specialist Mar 12 2020 10:24 AM Re: Pandemic

There is hope that this kind of seasonally dies out like the flu and colds (which are caused by coronaviruses) do. Not vanish, but diminish somewhat. The next 8 weeks are the danger zone, and they're expecting 75-150 million people will be infected. Vote by mail is the only workable solution for November (when this will probably be back in force with no vaccine yet available), and states need to be working on that right now. Otherwise the Orange One will find a way to cancel the election. On the plus side, my company finally said everybody who can, can work from home.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2020 10:25 AM Re: Pandemic

Yes, I think the hope is not that there will be a miracle cure by November, but that the epidemic will have run it's course by November.

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 10:26 AM Re: Pandemic

Bernie-Biden debate for Sunday moved from Phoenix to DC.

kcmets Mar 12 2020 10:27 AM Re: Pandemic

Double Switch wrote: So ... no super heroes? I was a Seaver/Frazier kinda kid, I guess.

ashie62 Mar 12 2020 10:36 AM Re: Pandemic

Big 10 Basketball Tournament cancelled. Rutgers has one good year in 30 and woosh.. Don't see how baseball can survive this. Would the Mariners be on the road for two months?

batmagadanleadoff Mar 12 2020 10:54 AM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: Yes, I think the hope is not that there will be a miracle cure by November, but that the epidemic will have run it's course by November. Does a person who catches and then survives the coronavirus develop an immunity to it? Do we know? Not all viruses trigger immunities -- and so you could get those again. I think I heard or read that we don't know, as far as coronavirus goes. I've seen experts on TV hoping that eventually, herd immunity will develop, but do they know for sure that people develop immunities to this?

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 11:19 AM Re: Pandemic

Now baseball.

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 11:20 AM Re: Pandemic

Not just the Mets, but the Met (as in Metropolitan Museum of Art).

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 11:30 AM Re: Pandemic

Senate will not go on recess without taking up emergency legislation because GOP senators up for re-election realized following McConnell's lead would be poison.

G-Fafif Mar 12 2020 12:12 PM Re: Pandemic

Gov. Cuomo: no public gatherings in NY of more than 500 people, save for schools, hospitals, nursing homes, mass transit. Takes effect Friday at 5 PM; other gatherings, of under 500, can be filled to no more than 50% capacity. Broadway going dark tonight.

Ceetar Mar 12 2020 02:39 PM Re: Pandemic

And here I am planning a gathering of 50+ people, many elderly, for Sunday. I'd precautionary stock up on soap and sanitizer for it but it appears that could be tough.

MFS62 Mar 12 2020 02:49 PM Re: Pandemic

=G-Fafif post_id=33304 time=1584033557 user_id=55]Now baseball.

Say it ain't so, [CROSSOUT]Joe [/CROSSOUT]Greg.

Later

Double Switch Mar 12 2020 06:16 PM Re: Pandemic

Don't see how baseball can survive this. Would the Mariners be on the road for two months? Recalling that happened to the Mariners at the end of a season back in the '90s (I looked it up - 1994) ... but wiki says it better than I can: "The Kingdome's roof had been problematic from the beginning. Leaks were discovered in the roof two months before the stadium opened, and several attempts at repairs made the situation worse and/or had to be undone. In 1993, the county decided to strip off the outer roof coating and replace it with a special coating. Sandblasting failed to strip the old roof material off, and the contractor changed its method to pressure washing. This pressure-washing resulted in water seepage through the roof, and on July 19, 1994, four 26-pound (12 kg), waterlogged acoustic ceiling tiles fell into the seating area. The tiles fell while the Mariners were on the field preparing for a scheduled game against the Baltimore Orioles, a half-hour before the gates were to open for fans to enter the stadium. As a result, the Kingdome was closed for repairs. The Mariners were forced to play the last 20 games of the 1994 season on the road after the players' union vetoed playing the "home" games at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, or some neutral site, as the union believed its members should only play in major-league venues. The extended road trip could have lasted over two months, but was shortened due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, which began on August 12 and ended up cancelling the remainder of the 1994 MLB season and delaying the start of the 1995 season." I guess people in Seattle are flexible and can cope. Because here's what happened during 1996: "=#008000]In 1996, a game between the Mariners and the Cleveland Indians on May 2 in the Kingdome was suspended in the bottom of the seventh inning because of a minor earthquake." But that can happen in the Bay Area for both the Giants and the A's. And in LA/vicinity for the Dodgers, Angels, and Padres, too. As for baseball surviving? I am not worried in the slightest. Will people survive is more important to me.

Double Switch Mar 12 2020 06:21 PM Re: Pandemic

Double Switch wrote: So ... no super heroes? I was a Seaver/Frazier kinda kid, I guess. Clyde!

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 08:30 AM Re: Pandemic

Trump blames Obama and Biden for country's spectacular failure to provide adequate Coronavirus testing. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-condemns-cdc-lack-coronavirus-testing-blames-obama-n1157671

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 09:30 AM Re: Pandemic

Coronavirus testing involves taking a swab from the subject's nasal cavity. It's not a blood test. https://www.sciencealert.com/how-does-the-coronavirus-test-work

kcmets Mar 13 2020 11:00 AM Re: Pandemic

One of my fb friends posted there are or soon will be 'drive-up' testing sites in our area. No getting out of car and waiting in a crowded room or anything; pull up, provide some info and get a 'Q-tip' in the nostril. Will follow up if he posts anything more on that.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 11:07 AM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 13 2020 11:14 AM

Example eleventy billion and three on how the rich and powerful will exploit and abuse those less fortunate and less powerful to advance their own self-interests: https://theweek.com/speedreads/902009/trump-reportedly-rejected-aggressive-coronavirus-testing-hopes-help-reelection One reason the USA is so far behind the rest of the world in Coronavirus testing is because Trump doesn't want wide-scale testing because then, the number of confirmed cass will go up, hurting him politically, he believes.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 11:12 AM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33362 time=1584118808 user_id=53] One of my fb friends posted there are or soon will be 'drive-up' testing sites in our area. No getting out of car and waiting in a crowded room or anything; pull up, provide some info and get a 'Q-tip' in the nostril. Will follow up if he posts anything more on that.

No help from the grifter in the White House. Governor Cuomo is seeking private sector help to increase Coronavirus supplies.





And talk about karma ( being discussed in the Baseball Forum). Trump's been dealt a politically existential crisis that he can't bullshit his way out of.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2020 11:14 AM Re: Pandemic

But he's still trying!

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 11:25 AM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: But he's still trying! FOX is still whitewashing the pandemic. It's blaming China and the Democrats for the health crisis and booking guests with zero medical qualifications to rant and blame. And because it's China's fault, FOX is urging an investigation into Hunter Biden's China activities. FOX is also downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic.

kcmets Mar 13 2020 11:41 AM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=33364 time=1584119542 user_id=68] =kcmets post_id=33362 time=1584118808 user_id=53] One of my fb friends posted there are or soon will be 'drive-up' testing sites in our area. No getting out of car and waiting in a crowded room or anything; pull up, provide some info and get a 'Q-tip' in the nostril. Will follow up if he posts anything more on that.

No help from the grifter in the White House. Governor Cuomo is seeking private sector help to increase Coronavirus supplies.


Seems to be a NYS Army National Guard assignment, but not a lot of detail

seems to be available quite yet. We have a large national guard presence here

with an armory blocks away and an active base a few miles away. We'll see.

Centerfield Mar 13 2020 11:43 AM Re: Pandemic

Not sure why NYC public schools are still open. Like, we're either in danger or we're not.

ashie62 Mar 13 2020 11:58 AM Re: Pandemic

Double Switch wrote: Double Switch wrote: So ... no super heroes? I was a Seaver/Frazier kinda kid, I guess. Clyde! I met Clyde at a Two Guys meet and greet in the sporting goods dept in 1970 . He had to stand on a table in his uni. It looked embarrasing for him Joe Frazier wasn't bad either!

kcmets Mar 13 2020 12:02 PM Re: Pandemic

That's funny, I was going to add a Joe Frazier joke to that post but pulled up.

Double Switch Mar 13 2020 12:54 PM Re: Pandemic

That's funny, I was going to add a Joe Frazier joke to that post but pulled up. The first Joe Frazier I thought of was this guy.

Lefty Specialist Mar 13 2020 01:40 PM Re: Pandemic

Trump bowing to reality and declaring a national emergency. Nancy has negotiated a paid sick leave bill with the administration, and McConnell sent his senators home for the weekend. Just one more reason to fire his ass this November.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 02:14 PM Re: Pandemic

That scumbag Kemp from Georgia who stole his state's Governorship is up to his old tricks, ratfucking elections at the Dems' expense: Louisiana and Georgia Have Cancelled Elections. I Don't Like Where This Is Heading. A couple of contests down South have already been called off, citing coronavirus. https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/0b1812cd-e29f-44af-a0d3-74c35dc4b603.jpg?fill=1:1&resize=120:*> By Charles P. Pierce Mar 13, 2020 I don't like the way that this is heading. From WAFB: Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Friday, March, 13 next month's Presidential Preference Primary has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. COVID-19 is commonly known as coronavirus. The primary was originally scheduled for April 4. Ardoin said the election will be postponed at least two months. No, I don't like it at all. From the AP, (via the Athens Banner-Herald): John Barrow of Athens, a former Democratic congressman, and former Republican state lawmaker Beth Beskin of Atlanta both planned to challenge Justice Keith Blackwell for his seat on the Georgia Supreme Court in the May election. Then the court announced last Friday that Blackwell is resigning and his replacement will be named by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Blackwell's announcement said he plans to remain on the bench until Nov. 18 — six months after the nonpartisan election for his seat. Yet when Beskin and Barrow showed up to qualify for the race this week, state officials said they had called off the election. “His seat is not vacant,” Beskin said Thursday, the day before the qualifying period to sign up for Georgia's 2020 elections was set to expire. “We should be having qualifying for his seat right now. To cancel an election the day before qualifying, I don't think it's legal.” Barrow said canceling the election amounts to “the ultimate act of voter suppression” by depriving voters of a chance to elect one of the state's most powerful judges. “They're taking this election off the books before the event that authorizes them to do it,” Barrow said after filing suit Thursday in Atlanta. This is how it starts, and don't think that more than a few Republicans haven't looked at the polls, and at the news of the pandemic, and seen an opportunity for mischief in that confluence of events. I'm certain that it's occurred to people inside Camp Runamuck. I don't like where this seems to be heading. All's I'm saying. https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a31478129/louisiana-cancel-election-georgia-judge-race/

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 02:18 PM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 13 2020 03:55 PM

That scumbag Kemp from Georgia who stole his state's Governorship is up to his old tricks, ratfucking elections at the Dems' expense: Louisiana and Georgia Have Cancelled Elections. I Don't Like Where This Is Heading. A couple of contests down South have already been called off, citing coronavirus. https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/0b1812cd-e29f-44af-a0d3-74c35dc4b603.jpg?fill=1:1&resize=120:*> By Charles P. Pierce Mar 13, 2020 I don't like the way that this is heading. From WAFB: Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Friday, March, 13 next month's Presidential Preference Primary has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. COVID-19 is commonly known as coronavirus. The primary was originally scheduled for April 4. Ardoin said the election will be postponed at least two months. No, I don't like it at all. From the AP, (via the Athens Banner-Herald): John Barrow of Athens, a former Democratic congressman, and former Republican state lawmaker Beth Beskin of Atlanta both planned to challenge Justice Keith Blackwell for his seat on the Georgia Supreme Court in the May election. Then the court announced last Friday that Blackwell is resigning and his replacement will be named by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Blackwell's announcement said he plans to remain on the bench until Nov. 18 — six months after the nonpartisan election for his seat. Yet when Beskin and Barrow showed up to qualify for the race this week, state officials said they had called off the election. “His seat is not vacant,” Beskin said Thursday, the day before the qualifying period to sign up for Georgia's 2020 elections was set to expire. “We should be having qualifying for his seat right now. To cancel an election the day before qualifying, I don't think it's legal.” Barrow said canceling the election amounts to “the ultimate act of voter suppression” by depriving voters of a chance to elect one of the state's most powerful judges. “They're taking this election off the books before the event that authorizes them to do it,” Barrow said after filing suit Thursday in Atlanta. This is how it starts, and don't think that more than a few Republicans haven't looked at the polls, and at the news of the pandemic, and seen an opportunity for mischief in that confluence of events. I'm certain that it's occurred to people inside Camp Runamuck. I don't like where this seems to be heading. All's I'm saying. https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a31478129/louisiana-cancel-election-georgia-judge-race/ Eventually, the Democrats are gonna figure it out that you can't play decent with the GOP. It's like bringing a butter knife to a nuclear war. What's the point in abiding by norms and civility when the other side, time and time again, for decades now, won't? The GOP does what it does because it's much easier to beat the living shit out of your opponent to the point they're rendered so unconscious, that they can't even call for their own ambulance -- it's easier to do that than it is to convince and persuade your opponent verbally, that your point of view is more sensible than theirs.

Double Switch Mar 13 2020 02:38 PM Re: Pandemic

Eventually, the Democrats are gonna figure it out that you can't play decent with the GOP. It's like bringing a butter knife to a nuclear war. I am eaten up by curiosity and compelled to ask - what is your profession or are you retired? Since I asked first, I'll offer that I'm retired more than 6 years from what boils down to decades of project managing. If the answer is "none of your business," I'll go with that.

Ceetar Mar 13 2020 02:55 PM Re: Pandemic

=Centerfield post_id=33368 time=1584121434 user_id=65] Not sure why NYC public schools are still open. Like, we're either in danger or we're not.

because, literally, 100k of them are homeless and wouldn't have a hot meal if you closed school.



As they say, pandemic's don't create problems so much as reveal them.

nymr83 Mar 13 2020 03:22 PM Re: Pandemic

=Ceetar post_id=33378 time=1584132917 user_id=102] =Centerfield post_id=33368 time=1584121434 user_id=65] Not sure why NYC public schools are still open. Like, we're either in danger or we're not.

because, literally, 100k of them are homeless and wouldn't have a hot meal if you closed school.



As they say, pandemic's don't create problems so much as reveal them.


keep the cafeteria open for whoever needs it. that still keeps 90% of students and faculty home which helps stop the spread.

Edgy MD Mar 13 2020 03:31 PM Re: Pandemic

That looks more and more like what Baltimore'll be doing. But each of these decisions are hard as hell and federal guidance is, obviously, a disaster in itself.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 13 2020 03:51 PM Re: Pandemic

=nymr83 post_id=33381 time=1584134522 user_id=54] =Ceetar post_id=33378 time=1584132917 user_id=102] =Centerfield post_id=33368 time=1584121434 user_id=65] Not sure why NYC public schools are still open. Like, we're either in danger or we're not.

because, literally, 100k of them are homeless and wouldn't have a hot meal if you closed school.



As they say, pandemic's don't create problems so much as reveal them.


keep the cafeteria open for whoever needs it. that still keeps 90% of students and faculty home which helps stop the spread.


This might be a sensible compromise among tough choices. Arguments on both sides. Why should a whole population be at increased risk by keeping schools open. Kids in close quarters all day long give it to each other and then spread it to their parents who go to work and spread it and then everyone has it.

Frayed Knot Mar 13 2020 05:20 PM Re: Pandemic

Two staples on the April sports calendar have been added to the postponed list: The Masters and Boston Marathon

Lefty Specialist Mar 13 2020 06:07 PM Re: Pandemic

Trump refuses to take responsibility for the Coronavirus testing clusterf*ck. That's leadership. We need to hope that we don't follow the Italy trajectory. If we do, it's going to be calamitous.

Willets Point Mar 13 2020 06:21 PM Re: Pandemic

My kids have no school until April 27. We live in interesting times.

kcmets Mar 13 2020 06:45 PM Re: Pandemic

https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/0b1812cd-e29f-44af-a0d3-74c35dc4b603.jpg?fill=1:1&resize=120:*> How many Nina's?

TransMonk Mar 13 2020 07:37 PM Re: Pandemic

The Governor of Wisconsin announced today that all of our schools will be closed March 18 - April 6. One of those weeks was going to be spring break, so really only 8 extra days. My wife and I are lucky to both have jobs where we can either easily work from home or bring our 6-year-old with us to work if we need to. We know the vast majority of folks don't have those options.

MFS62 Mar 14 2020 05:17 AM Re: Pandemic

OK, so we know the exposure and what to do to try to be safe. But then; If you feel some symptoms, you're supposed to self-quarantine. If you still feel ill, what do you do? How do you get tested? Do you: Call your our family doctor? Call your local hospital? Go to the emergency room? It still is not clear. Later

Fman99 Mar 14 2020 05:32 AM Re: Pandemic

Oh, our illustrious president had to tell us that a national emergency constitutes "two very big words." Stop making everything sound like a fucking pitch for a fucking reality TV show already. I loathe this big moron.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 14 2020 05:42 AM Re: Pandemic

No, it's not clear. But I did read that you shouldn't show up at the emergency room unannounced. The first step is a phone call, but to whom I'm not sure.

RealityChuck Mar 14 2020 06:45 AM Re: Pandemic

Report from Schenectady Only five cases in the region so far, one in Schenectady, but people are taking it seriously. I work at a local college. Last week was spring break, but they're extending it another week. Classes will resume online only on the 23rd. We have the infrastructure for it (Canvas) and this week will be spent training the faculty. Administrative departments are are setting up to work online if needed. All travel has been cancelled. Proctors' Theater -- which runs road shows of Broadway productions -- is closed for a month under state restrictions. We have season tickets and, luckily, the two shows we're going to miss are not the big ones this season. Smaller live theaters have also closed. Movie theaters still seem to be open. Schenectady schools have shut down, but they are providing lunches, either for pickup or, in some cases, delivered. I haven't shopped since last weekend, so I can't report. By good luck, I bought a case of toilet paper from our warehouse store because we were running out. Haven't had to break into it, so I'm fine. One a happier note, local liquor stores are offering pickup service, and one seems to be advertising deliveries.

RealityChuck Mar 14 2020 09:25 AM Re: Pandemic

Just went shopping. BJ's Wholesale was a madhouse with lines the longest I've seen, stretching halfway down the store. Didn't bother shopping there; I'll try in the evening when things might be slower. Local supermarket was a bit busier than normal, but manageable. No paper products to be found, but otherwise things were stocked, though some options were a little thin.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 14 2020 11:43 AM Re: Pandemic

This is turning into a monumental economic disaster for everyone

batmagadanleadoff Mar 14 2020 01:21 PM Re: Pandemic

One theory on how the Spanish Flu of 1918 died out is that the virus was so contagious, that practically everybody in the whole wide world was exposed to it. Those who survived the Spanish Flu developed immunities to it and eventually, the virus had nowhere to go. Perhaps not so with COVID-19 as people do not develop immunities to the other known coronaviruses. I hope this won't be the case or that I'm misunderstanding the article excerpted below. Lipsitch is far from alone in his belief that this virus will continue to spread widely. The emerging consensus among epidemiologists is that the most likely outcome of this outbreak is a new seasonal disease—a fifth “endemic” coronavirus. With the other four [coronaviruses], people are not known to develop long-lasting immunity. If this one follows suit, and if the disease continues to be as severe as it is now, “cold and flu season” could become “cold and flu and COVID-19 season.” https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/02/covid-vaccine/607000/

Lefty Specialist Mar 14 2020 02:21 PM Re: Pandemic

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: This is turning into a monumental economic disaster for everyone It's going to crater the service industry, which is the biggest part of the economy. Airlines, cruises and hotels are collapsing. And we haven't seen the worst of it. Trump doesn't realize it yet, but he's going to have to spend a shitload of money propping up the economy in the next few months. Pretty much everything is going to shut down for a month or perhaps longer. That will have incredibly damaging effects. Small businesses are going to take it on the chin. No one's going to go to the nail salon, or local restaurants, or shop for clothes, or buy pretty much anything except basic supplies. Streaming services will make out great, though.

Ceetar Mar 14 2020 03:37 PM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=33394 time=1584184623 user_id=60] OK, so we know the exposure and what to do to try to be safe. But then; If you feel some symptoms, you're supposed to self-quarantine. If you still feel ill, what do you do? How do you get tested? Do you: Call your our family doctor? Call your local hospital? Go to the emergency room? It still is not clear. Later

call the hospital and they'll arrange for you to come in/quarantine and give instructions.



for most, self-quarantine unless the shortness of breath thing starts to really become an issue. Don't spread it, and alert those you've been near. the thing has an incubation period of up to like 15 days or something, but I don't think they're suggesting asymptomatic transmission, so cough, cover your mouth, wash your hands, etc.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 14 2020 03:59 PM Re: Pandemic

=Ceetar post_id=33411 time=1584221867 user_id=102] the thing has an incubation period of up to like 15 days or something, but I don't think they're suggesting asymptomatic transmission ....

They might be. See the Atlantic article, linked above.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 14 2020 04:53 PM Re: Pandemic

My understanding is that there might not be long-lasting immunity because the virus will continue to evolve. So if we get this year's version, we shouldn't get it again, but we'll have limited (or no) immunity to next year's version. Once they figure out a vaccine, they may have to come up with new versions every year, like with the flu shot. Just just my take, partially informed as it is.

Ceetar Mar 15 2020 07:36 AM Re: Pandemic

the thing has an incubation period of up to like 15 days or something, but I don't think they're suggesting asymptomatic transmission .... They might be. See the Atlantic article, linked above. I haven't read up entirely (the Atlantic mentions one case, which easily could've been some weird error in the scan) but it seems unlikely given the spread rates and all that. Especially since you have to cough to spread it right, and if you're not symptomatic? we interviewed a public health bio student on the podcastrecently, she mentioned that Trump shut down the USAID's Predict program, which was doing good work in getting to these diseases before the pandemic/reactionary state. Suffice to say, that program's entire budget his probably been wasted already many times over economically during just this virus.

Frayed Knot Mar 15 2020 10:14 AM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: My understanding is that there might not be long-lasting immunity because the virus will continue to evolve. So if we get this year's version, we shouldn't get it again, but we'll have limited (or no) immunity to next year's version. Once they figure out a vaccine, they may have to come up with new versions every year, like with the flu shot. Just just my take, partially informed as it is. That's pretty much it. If I recall my HS biology well enough, the virus and an antibody we create (or acquire from outside) to fight that virus is akin to a lock and key relationship: one is uniquely specific to the other. So last year's flu vaccine won't necessarily be effective against this year's flu since this year's is likely to be a different strain. Flu shots start to be manufactured months in advance anticipating the characteristics of whatever variant is likely. It's these new and previously unknown variants that throw us for a loop and cause science to start almost from scratch. A couple of Canadian scientists have just been able to replicate this particular Corona in a lab and efforts to find the key for its lock will proceed from there (and elsewhere). This is also the answer to the oft-asked question as to why we have never been able to cure the weak virus that causes a common cold: because you never actually get the same cold twice.

Double Switch Mar 15 2020 10:41 AM Re: Pandemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fnPn9Xr7fI

batmagadanleadoff Mar 15 2020 12:12 PM Re: Pandemic

Scumbagggery capitalism at its very worst. And guess which orange scumbag who's the president of the USA is behind this? Trump is trying to poach German scientists working on a coronavirus vaccine for Curevac, a company promising trial vaccines by this Summer, to come work for the USA. He's offered enormous sums of money to lure their scientists to leave Curevac and to come here. He wants a vaccine that is exclusively available to the USA. https://theweek.com/speedreads/902398/trump-reportedly-trying-lure-german-company-working-coronavirus-vaccine-exclusively What is his fucking plan if he gets the rights to a coronavirus vaccine: to withhold the vaccine from the rest of the world unless they dig up dirt on Joe Biden?

Lefty Specialist Mar 15 2020 03:46 PM Re: Pandemic

=Ceetar post_id=33428 time=1584279371 user_id=102] I haven't read up entirely (the Atlantic mentions one case, which easily could've been some weird error in the scan) but it seems unlikely given the spread rates and all that. Especially since you have to cough to spread it right, and if you're not symptomatic?

It's respiratory droplets. So that could include breathing, even if not symptomatic.



Noted cow-lawsuit dim bulb Devin Nunes told people to get right out to their local restaurant if they're healthy. I guess if he kills enough people who follow his advice, Democrats can flip the seat. In current polls, Republicans are 30% less likely to believe we have a serious crisis on our hands than Democrats. That's the Fox News effect writ large.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 15 2020 08:47 PM Re: Pandemic

the thing has an incubation period of up to like 15 days or something, but I don't think they're suggesting asymptomatic transmission .... They might be. See the Atlantic article, linked above. I haven't read up entirely (the Atlantic mentions one case, which easily could've been some weird error in the scan) but it seems unlikely given the spread rates and all that. Especially since you have to cough to spread it right, and if you're not symptomatic? Infected people without symptoms might be driving the spread of coronavirus more than we realized https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-spread/index.html Excerpt: New studies in several countries and a large coronavirus outbreak in Massachusetts bring into question reassuring assertions by US officials about the way the novel virus spreads.... [A] Massachusetts coronavirus cluster with at least 82 cases was started by people who were not yet showing symptoms, and more than half a dozen studies have shown that people without symptoms are causing substantial amounts of infection.... [*] "We now know that asymptomatic transmission likely [plays] an important role in spreading this virus," said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Osterholm added that it's "absolutely clear" that asymptomatic infection "surely can fuel a pandemic like this in a way that's going to make it very difficult to control...." [*] "There is also strong evidence that it can be transmitted by people who are just mildly ill or even presymptomatic. That means COVID-19 will be much harder to contain than the Middle East respiratory syndrome or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which were spread much less efficiently and only by symptomatic people," [Bill Gates] wrote, using the scientific word for the disease caused by the virus. Others agree that people without serious symptoms play a substantial role in the spread of the new coronavirus. "Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic transmission are a major factor in transmission for Covid-19," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and longtime adviser to the CDC. "They're going to be the drivers of spread in the community."

Ceetar Mar 15 2020 09:37 PM Re: Pandemic

=Ceetar post_id=33428 time=1584279371 user_id=102] It's respiratory droplets. So that could include breathing, even if not symptomatic.

well sure, but like.. don't stand in the spray zone of someone spit-talking? Or is it like they're touching their mouth and then shaking hands or touching a doorknob before you and then you're touching your mouth? Still feels too low if that's the case.



I still think they're symptomatic though. mildly symptomatic is still symptomatic. I keep reading usually about 5 days until it manifests. Are we saying it's contagious on day 4? or just day 5 is so mild for most people that one or two coughs isn't enough for anyone to realize they're spreading it?

Edgy MD Mar 16 2020 06:46 AM Re: Pandemic

I've been symptomatic since I was two. One minute, I assume that I just got my usual season sniffles, and the next, I'm positive I'm the new Typhoid Mary.

MFS62 Mar 16 2020 07:26 AM Re: Pandemic

We will soon find out whether we will be working from home. We use a closed end system, and we would have to bring our work phones home and install them so the calls can be recorded, monitored and saved. Four different equipment and telecom vendors are involved. Our techie person was going to beta test the capability this past weekend. Later

Lefty Specialist Mar 16 2020 08:49 AM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Jr., who works for a government contractor in the ATF building, just got the OK to work from home last night. They'd been resistant, because Trump doesn't want to be seen shutting down the Federal government. He said the Metro in DC was the emptiest he'd ever seen it. Skype is a really useful thing these days.

Double Switch Mar 16 2020 09:52 AM Re: Pandemic

A year ago Trump was all about shutting down the government and proud to "own it."

batmagadanleadoff Mar 16 2020 10:22 AM Re: Pandemic

Trump sez the Coronavirus is under control. Does anybody outside of FOX viewers even listen to this repulsive con man anymore? Yamiche Alcindor, who devoured Trump at a presser a few days ago, should ask him point blank at the next one if he still thinks the virus is fake news and a Democratic hoax? If she's even allowed to still attend those things.

Edgy MD Mar 16 2020 12:24 PM Re: Pandemic

We're a little up in the air here, with outlooks changing from hour to hour. I have two contract jobs I'm working on, but I'm mostly living off my wife like a sponge, but her job is contract by contract too, and we're without health benefits for the time being. She teaches kids in their homes. So she's torn over whether she should keep visiting. We both feel kinda symptomatic. Kinda feverish. Kinda nauseated. No tests are available yet, but she's worried if it's responsible to keep visiting homes, even as she washes between kids and keeps distances. And there's a good chance our alleged symptoms are hysteria. I like to think of myself as someone who keeps his head, but I'm not pulling that off as well here. She's our breadwinner. Also, we had a nest-egg that kind of has been smashed a little bit by the market in recent weeks. I gotta go rob a liquor store or steal some garden cabbages or something.

Lefty Specialist Mar 16 2020 12:51 PM Re: Pandemic

Darwin works in mysterious ways. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241209151.html The pastor of a megachurch in South Florida warned his parishioners Sunday that fears of exposure to COVID-19 was a “demonic spirit,” and he encouraged his parishioners to show up to worship and not heed warnings from officials to avoid crowded spaces. “Do you believe God would bring his people to his house to be contagious with the virus? Of course not,” said pastor Guillermo Maldonado, who goes by the term of “apostle,” at a service on Sunday morning at the King Jesus International Ministry in Kendall. “This service is usually packed. So now they're home in a cave afraid of the virus, that you want to transmit the virus,” Maldonado said to a venue that appeared half empty, as some churchgoers left seats between them. “If we die, we die for Christ. If we live, we live for Christ, so what do you lose?” And not to be outdone..... @JordanUhl· 21h A revivalist church in Tampa, Florida was open today despite a global pandemic because they're "not pansies." The pastor, Rodney Howard-Browne, is a climate change denier and, despite warnings from medical professionals, encouraged people to shake hands.

ashie62 Mar 16 2020 01:32 PM Re: Pandemic

OK, everybody home at 8 pm. Whats on TV?? I have been watching more Family Feud than is healthy A friend at Pfizer told me they were having severe server and IT issues transitioning to a home work force. Half come in, half stay home rinse and repeat each day

TransMonk Mar 16 2020 01:37 PM Re: Pandemic

I've set a goal of watching all of the Marvel movies on Disney+ in chronological order. We'll see.

Willets Point Mar 16 2020 01:55 PM Re: Pandemic

=TransMonk post_id=33501 time=1584387454 user_id=71] I've set a goal of watching all of the Marvel movies on Disney+ in chronological order. We'll see.

I'm going to watch all the Disney and Pixar animated movies.

Fman99 Mar 16 2020 08:08 PM Re: Pandemic

The kids and I are all home for the next four weeks. I can do my job from the house with a minimal amount of adjustment. The kids (grades 9/7) will be able to do a fair amount online. My wife, who runs a day care center, will be at work each day, at least until the county/state forces her to close her doors.

nymr83 Mar 16 2020 10:07 PM Re: Pandemic

=Fman99 post_id=33536 time=1584410926 user_id=86] The kids and I are all home for the next four weeks. I can do my job from the house with a minimal amount of adjustment. The kids (grades 9/7) will be able to do a fair amount online. My wife, who runs a day care center, will be at work each day, at least until the county/state forces her to close her doors.

are people sending? my daughter's school is closed but my son's daycare is open. we're opting not to send him at the moment - if its serious enough for all the schools to close why should i send to Daycare?



thats not to say there arent legitimate reasons to risk it like if you are both cops or healthcare workers or firefighters but do people who can be home just send because they can?

Fman99 Mar 17 2020 05:37 AM Re: Pandemic

They are at a reduced enrollment, but remain open.

kcmets Mar 17 2020 05:27 PM Re: Pandemic

My next door neighbor just called from Stop 'n Shop and said he was standing by a pallet of toilet paper and asked if we needed some. Crazy nice, right? I need a tissue...

nymr83 Mar 17 2020 06:21 PM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33598 time=1584487638 user_id=53] My next door neighbor just called from Stop 'n Shop and said he was standing by a pallet of toilet paper and asked if we needed some. Crazy nice, right? I need a tissue...

Sorry, no tissues in stock.



Kudos to Stop 'n Shop by the way - I heard they were opening all their stores 6 - 730 AM for senior citizens ONLY so they can shop with less exposure to people

nymr83 Mar 17 2020 07:49 PM Re: Pandemic

wow. 3 states held real, live, [CROSSOUT]corona virus sharing sessions[/CROSSOUT] primaries today. Pretty crazy. push them all back to the last day, its not like Biden hasnt locked it up or anything.

MFS62 Mar 17 2020 08:18 PM Re: Pandemic

Trump's people were warned,and apparently dismissed it: https://www.yahoo.com/news/2017-obama-officials-briefed-trumps-145833497.html Later

Frayed Knot Mar 18 2020 05:30 AM Re: Pandemic

O's Rool, A's drool!! "People with blood type A might be more vulnerable to the coronavirus, while those with type O blood could be more resistant, according to a new preliminary study" -- https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/people-with-blood-type-a-might-be-more-susceptible-to-coronavirus-study-finds/ So suck on that you so-called 'A-Listers', this is definitive proof that ... actually it's nothing of the sort. It's merely preliminary study from based on statistics found in Wuhan. Basically what they found is that while Wuhan's population is 33.84% type-O and 31.16% type-A, those hospitalized with Covid-19* were just 25.8% type-O but 37.75% type-A, slightly different from what you'd expect based solely on randomness, and that deaths showed a similar pattern: 41% A vs 25% O No reason, speculation or otherwise, was given for the disparity in results. Type B & AB patients were, as they always are, ignored for the freakish statistical anomalies that they are. Frankly I don't know why we allow those people to still exist. * Covid Nineteen No we can't dance together / No we can't touch at all Please give me some space as you walk on by

Lefty Specialist Mar 18 2020 06:00 AM Re: Pandemic

@JamesFallows Trump: “I called this a pandemic long before others did. I've always viewed it as very serious.” This is a flat-out lie and needs to be described as exactly that. 1:15 PM · Mar 17, 2020

MFS62 Mar 18 2020 06:56 AM Re: Pandemic

Frayed Knot wrote: "People with blood type A might be more vulnerable to the coronavirus, while those with type O blood could be more resistant, according to a new preliminary study" -- https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/people-with-blood-type-a-might-be-more-susceptible-to-coronavirus-study-finds/ Basically what they found is that while Wuhan's population is 33.84% type-O and 31.16% type-A, those hospitalized with Covid-19* were just 25.8% type-O but 37.75% type-A, Add that to the list of reasons why I'm screwed. That checks off the fourth box. (The other three are age, Diabetes and heart problems). As for help, Rand Paul is holding up the aid bill because he wants to add an amendment that will pull all the troops out of Afghanistan. https://www.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-rand-paul-holds-senate-103200295.html If the debate takes a long time, his actions could end up killing more Americans than the Taliban. Later

Ceetar Mar 18 2020 07:37 AM Re: Pandemic

I'd love to see the government with a rule that things have to fucking relate. (Though we should pull all troops out of everywhere, trim the military budget by a few trillion, and dump that money into healthcare and public services)

Benjamin Grimm Mar 18 2020 07:57 AM Re: Pandemic

The Los Angeles Times wrote: Can Trump use the national emergency to delay the election? No. The president does not have that power. Legal scholars are widely in agreement on this point, as are both Republican and Democratic election officials. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service reached the same conclusion when it investigated the question in the aftermath of 9/11. Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence cannot stay in office past their four-year terms without being reelected. If the election does not happen for any reason, constitutional rules of succession kick in. That could mean a lawmaker down the line of succession who is not up for reelection could be the new president. That person very well could be a Democrat, and installing a the Democrat in the White House is not an outcome Trump or any partisan Republican seeks. “The 20th Amendment says if we have not chosen a president by a certain date, it goes to succession,” said Rick Hasen, an election law scholar at UC Irvine. “It's not like a delay would keep Trump in office longer. Here's the list of people in line for the presidency (according to Wikipedia). I think that all of them would be out of office by January 20 if there's no election, except for Chuck Grassley. (Also, without an election, there would be nobody in the House of Representatives, and one third of the Senate would be newly appointed by various governors.) And Chao would have to be skipped too, because she's not eligible since she's a naturalized citizen. 1 Vice President Mike Pence Republican 2 Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Democratic 3 President pro tempore of the Senate Chuck Grassley Republican 4 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Republican 5 Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin Republican 6 Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Republican 7 Attorney General William Barr Republican 8 Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt Republican 9 Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue Republican 10 Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Republican 11 Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia Republican 12 Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar Republican 13 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson Republican — Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao Republican 14 Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette Republican 15 Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Republican 16 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie Republican 17 Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf Republican

Ceetar Mar 18 2020 08:23 AM Re: Pandemic

what a bullshit article. "By rule, Trump can't do X" If you don't include HOW this would be enforced it's worthless. It's not even a given Trump just steps away peacefully if a normal, only slightly rigged, election happens.

Lefty Specialist Mar 18 2020 09:22 AM Re: Pandemic

I wouldn't trust the Supreme Court to rule against Trump in a 'national emergency'.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 18 2020 10:11 AM Re: Pandemic

It's Jaws all over again in Florida. "Florida governor refuses to shut down beaches amid spread of coronavirus"

Vic Sage Mar 18 2020 11:59 AM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The Los Angeles Times wrote: Can Trump use the national emergency to delay the election? No. The president does not have that power. Legal scholars are widely in agreement on this point, as are both Republican and Democratic election officials. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service reached the same conclusion when it investigated the question in the aftermath of 9/11. Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence cannot stay in office past their four-year terms without being reelected. If the election does not happen for any reason, constitutional rules of succession kick in. That could mean a lawmaker down the line of succession who is not up for reelection could be the new president. That person very well could be a Democrat, and installing a the Democrat in the White House is not an outcome Trump or any partisan Republican seeks. “The 20th Amendment says if we have not chosen a president by a certain date, it goes to succession,” said Rick Hasen, an election law scholar at UC Irvine. “It's not like a delay would keep Trump in office longer. Here's the list of people in line for the presidency (according to Wikipedia). I think that all of them would be out of office by January 20 if there's no election, except for Chuck Grassley. (Also, without an election, there would be nobody in the House of Representatives, and one third of the Senate would be newly appointed by various governors.) And Chao would have to be skipped too, because she's not eligible since she's a naturalized citizen. 1 Vice President Mike Pence Republican 2 Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Democratic 3 President pro tempore of the Senate Chuck Grassley Republican 4 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Republican 5 Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin Republican 6 Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Republican 7 Attorney General William Barr Republican 8 Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt Republican 9 Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue Republican 10 Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Republican 11 Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia Republican 12 Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar Republican 13 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson Republican — Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao Republican 14 Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette Republican 15 Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Republican 16 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie Republican 17 Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf Republican Pence wouldn't be in the line of succession. He'd have to step down too if not reelected. So if Trump tries to move the election, we get President Pelosi! Go ahead, Don... I dare you! And how would it be inforced? By armed guards, that's how. You think the national security apparatus of the US, including the armed services, would follow this idiot down a constitutional rabbit hole from which the country would never recover? I don't.

seawolf17 Mar 18 2020 12:05 PM Re: Pandemic

So would Pelosi, because her term would be up also.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 18 2020 12:06 PM Re: Pandemic

Yeah, the only one from that list who would still be in office is Grassley, whose term ends in January 2023.

Ceetar Mar 18 2020 02:52 PM Re: Pandemic

Vic Sage wrote: And how would it be inforced? By armed guards, that's how. You think the national security apparatus of the US, including the armed services, would follow this idiot down a constitutional rabbit hole from which the country would never recover? I don't. we're 50 feet down that rabbit hole already.

seawolf17 Mar 18 2020 03:35 PM Re: Pandemic

I had a good hide-in-the-bathroom-and-cry moment this afternoon, trying to balance between all four of us "working" from home at the same time. Cathartic to get it out of my system.

kcmets Mar 18 2020 04:22 PM Re: Pandemic

Let it out! I'm pretty depressed too as I'm sure many others here are.

metsmarathon Mar 18 2020 04:36 PM Re: Pandemic

i'm not quite depressed (yet) but certainly feeling overwhelmed and more than a little anxiety-ful.

kcmets Mar 18 2020 05:49 PM Re: Pandemic

Yes, overwhelmed and anxious is probably how I feel instead of dropping the 'D' word. We know so many people who have had the carpet lifted right out from under them in just like ten days.

Frayed Knot Mar 18 2020 06:52 PM Re: Pandemic

I was actually out and about a little bit today ... and there were some VERY empty stores. I mean, not supermarkets, but I had both a Target and Dick's Sporting Goods practically to myself and an REI I tried to duck into was closed and will be so for the next two weeks according to the sign on the door (and I don't know what makes them think things will be better by then). I also passed by (but didn't stop at) a bunch of fast food joints and it looked like most if not all of them had signs saying they were doing window pick-up only.

Fman99 Mar 18 2020 06:57 PM Re: Pandemic

I'm still able to run outside a few times a week, and I'm working from home full time with the kids who are full time students at home. My wife's got it toughest, she has to furlough half of her employees this Friday due to reduced numbers at her day care center. We're all healthy, and we're all together, and as I told my loved ones, everything else after that will fall into place in some fashion or another.

Edgy MD Mar 18 2020 07:09 PM Re: Pandemic

I'm planting a lot of vegetables this spring.

kcmets Mar 18 2020 07:16 PM Re: Pandemic

That's always a good thing!

MFS62 Mar 18 2020 07:34 PM Re: Pandemic

=seawolf17 post_id=33641 time=1584554715 user_id=91] So would Pelosi, because her term would be up also.

And then, looking at the rest of that list, we'd really be screwed.

Later

kcmets Mar 18 2020 08:13 PM Re: Pandemic

I'll never get what people see in Pelosi, she's the ultimate piece of political garbage in my eyes. Teflon scamming for three decades. I think people are finally waking up to her and Chuckles and how useless and outdated they've finally become.

LWFS Mar 19 2020 12:33 AM Re: Pandemic

I had a good hide-in-the-bathroom-and-cry moment this afternoon, trying to balance between all four of us "working" from home at the same time. Cathartic to get it out of my system. I've had to "suspend" my daughter from school twice in three days.

Lefty Specialist Mar 19 2020 05:34 AM Re: Pandemic

Mrs and I working from home for a week now and since we both work for the same company we can share lots of gossip and complaints about so-and-so. But the situation is looking pretty dire. Our company will survive, but I have to believe there are massive layoffs coming. And my retirement account isn't nearly as cushy as it was a month ago. :( We've been getting out and walking for an hour a day just to clear our heads. And I have my little greenhouse set up for my spring veggies.

Ceetar Mar 19 2020 06:28 AM Re: Pandemic

I panic-bought 3 cases of beer. [url]https://medium.com/@mikeroosevelt/the-impact-of-covid19-on-my-brewery-66246230a84b my local (and good people). Beer can be tough too, given the three tier system and such. They had pallets of beer all set for distribution and the distributors are all like "well uh, all the stores are closed we can't sell this so we're not buying it" And beer, especially hoppy beer, is an agricultural fresh product. They're not going to be able to sell this in a few months any more than you'd be able to sell milk. And this is one small business in one industry. They're probably all hurting in similar ways.(especially small asian-owned restaurants?) A lot of how we recover from this is going to depend on how bloodthirsty the banks are.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 19 2020 06:29 AM Re: Pandemic

My friend who runs the Rockaway brewery was talking about launching bicycle delivery

Ceetar Mar 19 2020 06:37 AM Re: Pandemic

yeah, luckily the liquor board has relaxed the rules to allow for stuff like that (and bars to do take out). It's probably a safe bet, as annoying as some of them are, that any email/tweet/etc out there expanding offers/deliver/etc is at least partially a desperate cry for help. Often it's the owners that are the only ones left, not making money, handling your sales, delivering your beer, etc. Alementary, as mentioned in the article, laid everyone off. They were proactive in that regard, they said everyone was able to get in and apply for aid/unemployment/etc and they "beat the lines". silver lining I guess. I'm part of their membership club and on the web meeting last night they were half joking about being willing to sell the stools out of the taproom if you'd buy them.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 19 2020 06:45 AM Re: Pandemic

I've been thinking about this on and off for a few days now and I can't let go of the thought: I can't believe that Jared Kushner's in charge of things with the WH and this pandemic. You'd think that someone in that position would have dedicated their entire life to medicine and have an accomplished career in the field. There'd be a reasonable chance that that person would be an academic or a scholar as well. Instead, we get this know-nothing mediocrity who can insinuate himself in charge of this crisis just because he's married to the president's con-artist count daughter. We're a banana republic and it's all so normal. Oh, and Jared's in charge of resolving the middle east Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well. You know, if Jared screws up the pandemic to the point that the virus kills all the Israelis and Palestinians, then there wouldn't be a conflict any more over there and Jared could take credit for eliminating that problem. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to wait for Jared to read his 25 books on infectious diseases so that he can become the next Jonas Salk and save the world. And when he eventually tells us that he read 25 books, it probably means that he only read one and a half books. I'm sure that the only thing that'll come from Jared being in charge is that he'll figure out how to use the WH and his position to make millions of dollars for his family from the coronavirus.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 19 2020 06:55 AM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=33675 time=1584621928 user_id=68] I've been thinking about this on and off for a few days now and I can't let go of the thought: I can't believe that Jared Kushner's in charge of things with the WH and this pandemic. You'd think that someone in that position would have dedicated their entire life to medicine and have an accomplished career in the field. There'd be a reasonable chance that that person would be an academic or a scholar as well. Instead, we get this know-nothing mediocrity who can insinuate himself in charge of this crisis just because he's married to the president's con-artist count daughter. We're a banana republic and it's all so normal. Oh, and Jared's in charge of resolving the middle east Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well. You know, if Jared screws up the pandemic to the point that the virus kills all the Israelis and Palestinians, then there wouldn't be a conflict any more over there and Jared could take credit for eliminating that problem. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to wait for Jared to read his 25 books on infectious diseases so that he can become the next Jonas Salk and save the world. And when he eventually tells us that he read 25 books, it probably means that he only read one and a half books. I'm sure that the only thing that'll come from Jared being in charge is that he'll figure out how to use the WH and his position to make millions of dollars for his family from the coronavirus.

Ceetar Mar 19 2020 06:57 AM Re: Pandemic

I'm sure that the only thing that'll come from Jared being in charge is that he'll figure out how to use the WH and his position to make millions of dollars for his family from the coronavirus. [url]https://www.salon.com/2020/03/18/how-jared-kushners-family-is-cashing-in-on-covid-19_partner/ reporting is easy these days. Just take anything the administration says and figure out how it makes him a buck. Everything he says should be treated like he's a used cars salesman and framed that way.

Willets Point Mar 19 2020 08:06 AM Re: Pandemic

It may be my introvert tendencies, but I'm kind of enjoying not being required to go out and interact with people. Also, since I work in an archive, the material I deal with everyday has been sitting around for a while and it can just wait a little longer, so I'm not feeling any pressure to get work done.

metsmarathon Mar 19 2020 09:05 AM Re: Pandemic

lol. i'm starting to think maybe i'm not such an introvert after all...

Edgy MD Mar 19 2020 09:23 AM Re: Pandemic

The world needs turntable.fm to come back.

kcmets Mar 19 2020 09:38 AM Re: Pandemic

=Ceetar post_id=33670 time=1584620890 user_id=102]I panic-bought 3 cases of beer.

I drink old man beer during the week and better stuff on the weekends. The

other day in ShopRite I got the last case of Bud cans in the fridge and KB says

to me if they start running out of beer like everything else you may have to quit

for a few weeks or a month.



We laughed and laughed...

Ceetar Mar 19 2020 09:53 AM Re: Pandemic

http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20200318_160424-e1584633195977.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 19 2020 10:55 AM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: The world needs turntable.fm to come back. That would be something. Sobering, terrifying stuff in the Times today. Don't even read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-outbreak.html

nymr83 Mar 19 2020 12:19 PM Re: Pandemic

That Bolero Snort Brewery is good stuff

Ceetar Mar 19 2020 02:18 PM Re: Pandemic

Alementary is better, but yes. I opened the Irish Mild. dark mild with irish cream. was pretty good. sweet. a lot like an irish coffee heavy on the baileys. With more time I probably would've hit others, Hackensack, Ghost Hawk, Magnify, Naptime up in NY. Still time I suppose, next time I break quarantine.

Edgy MD Mar 19 2020 02:35 PM Re: Pandemic

Part of me thinks Vice President Biden might just want to start presiding now. Make a speech every week assessing the threats and reassuring the people, put together his own team of advisors and experts, offer advice to scared industries, publish guidances, reach out to states, etc. We'll see who people take their cues from.

seawolf17 Mar 19 2020 03:23 PM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: Part of me thinks Vice President Biden might just want to start presiding now. Make a speech every week assessing the threats and reassuring the people, put together his own team of advisors and experts, offer advice to scared industries, publish guidances, reach out to states, etc. We'll see who people take their cues from. Could you imagine? 45 would be apoplectic.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 19 2020 03:35 PM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: Part of me thinks Vice President Biden might just want to start presiding now. Make a speech every week assessing the threats and reassuring the people, put together his own team of advisors and experts, offer advice to scared industries, publish guidances, reach out to states, etc. We'll see who people take their cues from. Could you imagine? 45 would be apoplectic. It's already happening and I know that Biden's already made at least at two speeches as if he were the president presiding over this emergency. Anybody with half a brain has already figured out to ignore Trump, and that includes most Governors, especially those who preside over the largest American cities, who began shutting things down while Trump was still with the happy talk about Democratic hoaxes and that it's just a small number of cases that will dwindle down to zero in a very short time. The only people still taking advice from Trump are those without half a brain and hard-core FOX viewers. I mean, Kushner's in charge? And Mike Pence, who presided over one of the biggest HIV outbreaks in recent history because he refused to distribute syringes thanks to his religious beliefs? Pence, who publicly stated that the way to stop the AIDS epidemic that hit Indiana was to pray the gay away? Pence, who publicly denied a link between smoking and cancer and who believes in conversion therapy and intelligent design? This religious crackpot is in charge of an existential medical crisis that might kill millions just in the USA before it runs its course?

Edgy MD Mar 19 2020 04:07 PM Re: Pandemic

Yeah, I know he's rhetorically switching into presidential mode. But I want him to go further and build some presidential infrastructure. A shadow-cabinet if you will, but obviously one focused on this particular disaster. Also, I want him to have a presidential-quality staff around him because he's prone to mis-speaking, and I want peeps keeping him on message to distinguish him from the nightmare that can't end soon enough.

kcmets Mar 19 2020 08:14 PM Re: Pandemic

Ronzoni? That's gringo pasta, no? We're in this whole group text thing the last hour, we're officially exposed. Yay.

Edgy MD Mar 19 2020 10:20 PM Re: Pandemic

I got assigned an article a week and a half ago before precautions went into overdrive. When the editor told me to make sure I kept my social distancing, I initially figured he was counseling me not to inject myself into the story. The term was relatively new. But by the time I got there to cover it a few days later, precautions were in full effect. It changed the substance of the story and so I noted what the principals were doing in response. By the time I turned it in, he asked for almost a full re-write, because I didn't have the Coronavirus response as my lede, saying "It's the only story in the world right now." He's right, of course, but ... we're still keeping migrant children in cages extrajudicially and apart from their families. I fear this being the one story out there will provide cover for a lot of unjust bullshit — prior shit like that, which has now been dropped, but also new bullshit, too.

Ceetar Mar 20 2020 06:40 AM Re: Pandemic

I think I saw that ICE was going to temporarily suspend raids (who believes that?) but up until very recently they were still posing as doctors and breaking into peoples homes.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 20 2020 11:02 AM Re: Pandemic

https://images.theweek.com/sites/default/files/23_16.jpg?resize=807x807> https://images.theweek.com/sites/default/files/7_140.jpg?resize=807x807>

Ceetar Mar 20 2020 12:35 PM Re: Pandemic

Batman at the center of this. He'd be the perfect vector for viruses that cross over from bats right?

Willets Point Mar 20 2020 12:49 PM Re: Pandemic

Not that I disagree with the sentiment, but I feel that I saw a very similar Batman comic for the Sept. 11 first responders.

Lefty Specialist Mar 20 2020 02:09 PM Re: Pandemic

My company just announced that there will be furloughs, 'voluntary unpaid leave' and reductions in hours for employees between now and May 31st. The kind of memo you send late on a Friday afternoon.

MFS62 Mar 20 2020 02:53 PM Re: Pandemic

I hope neither candidate reaches the Democratic Convention with a clear majority. Cuomo would kick Trump's ample ass in a debate and the election. The country has been shown what real leadership is all about. Later

batmagadanleadoff Mar 20 2020 03:05 PM Re: Pandemic

If Cuomo wanted to totally shut down NYC, he'd shut down the MTA - trains and buses.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 20 2020 03:07 PM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=33787 time=1584738309 user_id=68] If Cuomo wanted to totally shut down NYC, he'd shut down the MTA - trains and buses.

One reason he cant is because the health industry commutes.

Ceetar Mar 20 2020 05:20 PM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=33788 time=1584738442 user_id=68] =batmagadanleadoff post_id=33787 time=1584738309 user_id=68] If Cuomo wanted to totally shut down NYC, he'd shut down the MTA - trains and buses.

One reason he cant is because the health industry commutes.


police as taxi.

Willets Point Mar 20 2020 06:51 PM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=33785 time=1584737614 user_id=60] I hope neither candidate reaches the Democratic Convention with a clear majority. Cuomo would kick Trump's ample ass in a debate and the election. The country has been shown what real leadership is all about. Later

I thought Mario was dead.

Frayed Knot Mar 20 2020 06:52 PM Re: Pandemic

And it's official now, the 2020 season has been canceled. Yes folks, the XFL announced today that its inaugural season will not be resumed due to Coronavirus. As a result, the champion for the league is going to be ... oh who the fuck cares!

seawolf17 Mar 20 2020 07:07 PM Re: Pandemic

And this is only week one. Society is going to collapse.

Edgy MD Mar 20 2020 08:18 PM Re: Pandemic

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=33787 time=1584738309 user_id=68] If Cuomo wanted to totally shut down NYC, he'd shut down the MTA - trains and buses.

My cousin's a train driver. He says it just him a dozen homeless guys down there in the hole anyhow.

MFS62 Mar 21 2020 07:50 AM Re: Pandemic

Enough already! I don't want to see spots on the news showing that some Hollywood celebrity or athlete has COVID-19. I want to find out whether my neighbor or butcher has it. Some idiot who was on the Bachelor isn't that important to me. I know anyone can get it and we are all at risk (some more than others). I don't need to see these daily examples taking up news time when we can learn what is happening to diagnose and treat it. End of rant. Later

Frayed Knot Mar 21 2020 01:38 PM Re: Pandemic

The celebrity stuff can sometimes be helpful. Now, for instance, if Idris Elba strays onto my property again I'll know this time not to invite him in. I could say the same thing about Tom Hanks but we're not currently on speaking terms so it's not likely he'd just show up unannounced.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 21 2020 03:15 PM Re: Pandemic

Help is on the way! Ivanka's back to work at the White House! https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/ivanka-trump-coronavirus-test-work/index.html So while everybody's shut in, hiding from the coronavirus, Ivanka and Jared can steal all the money.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 21 2020 03:19 PM Re: Pandemic

Help is on the way! Ivanka's back to work at the White House! https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/ivanka-trump-coronavirus-test-work/index.html So while everybody's shut in, hiding from the coronavirus, Ivanka and Jared can steal all the money. I can't wait for her inevitable fucking tweet advising everybody to social distance and handwash. Good god. She'll be so proud of herself after that tweet, she'll tell her scumbag father to go and get her the Nobel Peace Prize.

ashie62 Mar 21 2020 04:43 PM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=33808 time=1584798600 user_id=60] Enough already! I don't want to see spots on the news showing that some Hollywood celebrity or athlete has COVID-19. I want to find out whether my neighbor or butcher has it. Some idiot who was on the Bachelor isn't that important to me. I know anyone can get it and we are all at risk (some more than others). I don't need to see these daily examples taking up news time when we can learn what is happening to diagnose and treat it. End of rant. Later

Thank you

Benjamin Grimm Mar 21 2020 05:02 PM Re: Pandemic

Maybe learning that Tom Hanks has it makes it more real for some people and gets them to take this more seriously.

Willets Point Mar 21 2020 05:41 PM Re: Pandemic

The Rudy Gobert story has been very useful for all those parents suddenly homeschooling their children to teach the concept of hubris.

Lefty Specialist Mar 21 2020 06:30 PM Re: Pandemic

AIDS wasn't real for a lot of people until Rock Hudson was diagnosed with it. Tom Hanks getting COVID and the NBA immediately suspending its season at virtually the same time made a lot of people go 'whoa'. And that's when you started to see the lines at grocery stores. Don't really care about the Bachelor guy. I think everyone's pretty aware now.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 21 2020 06:44 PM Re: Pandemic

Jeez, this is terrible and it's only the beginning: In Italy, its highest one-day death toll jumps to 793. The average age for deaths is about 80 and the recovery rates and death rates for those hospitalized are about the same.

Frayed Knot Mar 22 2020 05:41 AM Re: Pandemic

The population distribution of Italy skews older (as it does in much of Europe) compared to most of the world which at least is likely A reason why the death rate there seems to be so high. This isn't a good sign if you're in Miami Beach, and certainly not if you're in Del Boca Vista.

Frayed Knot Mar 22 2020 07:00 AM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 22 2020 01:25 PM

USA Swimming and USA Track & Field (among others) are both calling for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to be postponed until next year. As of now the IOC, an organization which quite possibly surpasses even the NFL for 'our-show-must-go-on' arrogance, as well as Japan's government are pronouncing themselves as "fully committed" to the games going on as scheduled starting in late July.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 22 2020 07:51 AM Re: Pandemic

I'm now one degree of separation from COVID-19. My girlfriend's aunt, 64, whom I've never met, has tested positive in New Jersey. She's at home, not hospitalized.

nymr83 Mar 22 2020 09:00 AM Re: Pandemic

=MFS62 post_id=33785 time=1584737614 user_id=60] I hope neither candidate reaches the Democratic Convention with a clear majority. Cuomo would kick Trump's ample ass in a debate and the election. The country has been shown what real leadership is all about. Later

#WhereIsJoe and #PresidentCuomo have been trending on Twitter. Biden says he'll get around to talking about what he thinks maybe we should be doing on Monday. Cuomo is already doing and he sounds good on TV.



Timing is everything. If Corona had hit us a few months ago Cuomo could have entered the race and would likely be the frontrunner. I would consider Biden an average speaker and debater for a politician. Cuomo is an A+ speaker though I havent seen his debate skills.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 22 2020 10:00 AM Re: Pandemic

Cuomo just spoke for what seemed like 60 minutes

Edgy MD Mar 22 2020 11:21 AM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm now one degree of separation from COVID-19. My girlfriend's aunt, 64, whom I've never met, has tested positive in New Jersey. She's at home, not hospitalized. Is that one or two? Either way, I imagine most of us are within that range, whether we know it or not.

Edgy MD Mar 22 2020 12:11 PM Re: Pandemic

My closest friend from my high school years just wrote to let me know he has had a positive diagnosis. In addition, he gets a dose of shame, knowing that he gave it to his whole family. I just read that Senator Rand Paul has become the first member of Congress with a positive diagnosis. He and I aren't particularly close.

MFS62 Mar 22 2020 12:51 PM Re: Pandemic

First death reported in my town (population 12,000). Later

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 01:25 PM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: In addition, he gets a dose of shame, knowing that he gave it to his whole family. How are people who need to self-quarantine supposed to do that if they live with others? Are they supposed to check into a hotel or something? This is -- obviously -- a disaster

Willets Point Mar 22 2020 01:42 PM Re: Pandemic

Willets Point wrote: The Rudy Gobert story has been very useful for all those parents suddenly homeschooling their children to teach the concept of hubris. Speaking of hubris.

Ceetar Mar 22 2020 01:45 PM Re: Pandemic

I haven't followed the latest, but is it still up to 2 weeks of potential contagious/symptoms lag time? Almost a week for us since we've seen anyone, and only very careful grocery store time in the interim. Wife has been at work but mostly in PPE. One of the elementary school kids parents reportedly tested positive on 3/13. Closest to me I've seen yet I think. Apparently sense of taste/smell disappearing is an early symptom, so that's helpful.

Chad ochoseis Mar 22 2020 04:17 PM Re: Pandemic

Some idiot realtor had an open house today at the newly renovated property next door to my house. My girlfriend called the realtor's office to complain, but nothing happened. Ohio just issued a stay-at-home order - no indoor activity except what's deemed essential. But it doesn't become effective until the end of the day tomorrow.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 04:42 PM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 22 2020 06:07 PM

Seconds ago, I just saw what I think might be the most outrageous thing Trump ever said and that's saying something. It's definitely up there. At a live presser, when he found out that Sen. Mitt Romney is in self-quarantine isolation, Trump responded in grade school sarcastic sing-song fashion: "Gee, that's too bad!" When the reporter followed up with "Was that sarcasm?" the scumbag that's our president naturally denied it. Because plausible deniability and so long as no one can read his sick twisted mind to establish 100% irrefutable proof, he thinks he can bullshit everybody.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 06:01 PM Re: Pandemic

Never got a table at the notoriously exclusive Rao's? Never even bothered to try because you don't know Woody Allen personally or any of the other big shots who own a Rao's seat and so what's the point of trying? Well now's your chance. Rao's is doing takeout. https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/19/21186924/raos-peter-luger-sushi-yasuda-coronavirus-takeout-delivery https://pagesix.com/2020/03/18/famed-eatery-raos-offering-takeout-amid-coronavirus-lockdown/

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 06:06 PM Re: Pandemic

Seconds ago, I just saw what I think might be the most outrageous thing Trump ever said and that's saying something. It's definitely up there. At a live presser, when he found out that Sen. Mitt Romney is in self-quarantine isolation, Trump responded in grade school sarcastic sing-song fashion: "Gee, that's too bad!" When the reporter followed up with "Was that sarcasm?" the scumbag that's our president naturally denied it. Because plausible deniability and so long as no one can read his sick twisted mind to establish 100% irrefutable proof, he thinks he can bullshit everybody.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 07:04 PM Re: Pandemic

Ohio orders its abortion clinics to halt all abortions. How convenient. If it extends this order for several months, the sought after abortions will be rendered moot.

kcmets Mar 22 2020 07:09 PM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 22 2020 07:15 PM

What's with your obsession with abortions?

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 07:15 PM Re: Pandemic

What's your obsession with abortions? It's singlehandeldly holding back progress and returning this country back to where it was 50, 60, 75 years ago instead of bringing it to where it should be 10 or 30 years from now. It's emblematic and symbolic of the renegade and lawless party that that GOP has become and all of the outrageous and anti-democratic (emphasis on the "small d") issues it supports. It's the main reason why far right conservatives invented their batshit crazy legal theory of originalism or textualism: to combat liberalism and the logical reasoning by which the Supreme Court determined that women have the right to privacy and that that right includes the right to an abortion. There is now a 5-4 far right, (not just right) Federalist Society approved majority on the Supreme Court and that's a dangerous thing. What's your obsession with abortions?

kcmets Mar 22 2020 07:21 PM Re: Pandemic

Abortion hasn't been a hot political topic, has any candidate even touched it like the last three or four elections? No, that's like almost 16 yrs.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 07:29 PM Re: Pandemic

=kcmets post_id=33875 time=1584926502 user_id=53] Abortion hasn't been a hot political topic, has any candidate even touched it like the last three or four elections? No, that's like almost 16 yrs.

It's a key reason for why Trump got elected and for why Merrick Garland was blockaded.

kcmets Mar 22 2020 07:45 PM Re: Pandemic

Maybe abortion needs it's own thread, and not mussing up this one. A much more important one.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 08:21 PM Re: Pandemic

I started this discussion with a pandemic related abortion post. Ohio used the coronavirus to institute its emergency abortion ban. And abortions are just the beginning. The GOP will use every tool in its toolbox to use the coronavirus as a questionable pretext tp gain political advantages everywhere from this crisis. Including, of course, the presidential election itself. Count on it. Because they're ruthless and capable of anything.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 22 2020 10:08 PM Re: Pandemic

https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEMnTE1cAEiYgLyhohcwT1ZAqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowyNj6CjDyiPICML_fxAU?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen Ohio's abortion providers to defy state attorney general's order to cease abortions. Abortions are essential and time-sensitive, they respond. Ohio is at the new forefront of states enacting laws and regulations designed to stop abortions.

kcmets Mar 23 2020 04:31 AM Re: Pandemic

Edgy MD wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm now one degree of separation from COVID-19. My girlfriend's aunt, 64, whom I've never met, has tested positive in New Jersey. She's at home, not hospitalized. Is that one or two? Either way, I imagine most of us are within that range, whether we know it or not. We have no symptoms here but have been around several people who are now 'officially' testing positive. I imagine we and most people we know are at least carriers. We'll see what happens. My wife drifts in and out of being totally freaked out. I'm trying very hard to not.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 23 2020 05:17 AM Re: Pandemic

Read all about what the worst president ever did in China just a few months before the coronavirus outbreak. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusiv-idUSKBN21910S "It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in that role, which was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2007 and 2011. “If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster.”

TransMonk Mar 23 2020 09:45 AM Re: Pandemic

My wife and I have closed our toy shop indefinitely. We'll see what aid the government gives, but it was only breaking even without COVID-19. My wife and I both have other jobs and our household income will not decrease much in the short term, but we also own the building that houses the shop and it's going to be tough to make that mortgage after a month or two with no revenue coming from the shop. Overall, we are very, very lucky. But this past weekend was bittersweet as we are not sure that we will be able to re-open once this is all over. We have only owned the business for about 5 years, but the business was a staple in our town for 30 years before that.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 23 2020 11:13 AM Re: Pandemic

Sharing this article because it addresses a lot of the things that I myself have been wondering about: Coronavirus survives on surfaces for days, but what does that really mean?

kcmets Mar 23 2020 12:07 PM Re: Pandemic

No Olympics until further notice. Don't know why it took until today to become official.

seawolf17 Mar 23 2020 01:35 PM Re: Pandemic

So sorry to hear, Monk. I think a lot of folks are going to be in your same situation, which is unbelievably sad.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 23 2020 05:56 PM Re: Pandemic

Here's today's presidential tweet, in all-caps. Well, it's one of a flurry, as usual, but youse know what I mean. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! He's going batshit crazy over the economy and the stock market. And because he's a sociopath, he's considering sending everybody back to work and back into the streets, which the medical experts say will increase the inevitable death toll. Because he doesn't give a flying fuck about anything or anybody other than himself. Even if hundreds of thousands or even millions more have to die for his gain.

seawolf17 Mar 23 2020 06:20 PM Re: Pandemic

Because Captain Dipshit probably has stock in Pfizer or whatever, and they're going to be selling a bajillion nitrochloroquine (or whatever it's called) tablets and Z-Packs in the next few days. HE. DOES. NOT. CARE. ABOUT. ANYONE. OTHER. THAN. HIMSELF.

LWFS Mar 23 2020 07:04 PM Re: Pandemic

Here's today's presidential tweet, in all-caps. Well, it's one of a flurry, as usual, but youse know what I mean. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! He's going batshit crazy over the economy and the stock market. And because he's a sociopath, he's considering sending everybody back to work and back into the streets, which the medical experts say will increase the inevitable death toll. Because he doesn't give a flying fuck about anything or anybody other than himself. Even if hundreds of thousands or even millions more have to die for his gain. Apparently, this tweet came a few minutes after somebody named Steve Hilton made a very similar point, minus caps, on Le Chaine Television de Renard. Which, y'know, is shocking. Meanwhile, in NJ, Governor Murphy has leveled up to Fuck All Y'all Bitches Mode re: social-distancing-bad-actors.

Ceetar Mar 23 2020 07:20 PM Re: Pandemic

Meanwhile, in NJ, Governor Murphy has leveled up to Fuck All Y'all Bitches Mode re: social-distancing-bad-actors. of course supposedly one of the biggest offenders is south jersey cops still dining out. but i'm sure those were sting operations of course.

TransMonk Mar 24 2020 07:10 AM Re: Pandemic

Here's today's presidential tweet, in all-caps. Well, it's one of a flurry, as usual, but youse know what I mean. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! He's going batshit crazy over the economy and the stock market. And because he's a sociopath, he's considering sending everybody back to work and back into the streets, which the medical experts say will increase the inevitable death toll. Because he doesn't give a flying fuck about anything or anybody other than himself. Even if hundreds of thousands or even millions more have to die for his gain. I think two things are certain at this point: more people will get sick and die AND the economy is headed for a recession (if not depression). Trump cannot stop the states from enforcing their stay at home orders. He is teeing this up as a general election fight in order to rile up his supporters, deflect blame and further divide the country. "I told everyone to go about their lives, but those Democrat governors imposed marital law. THEY ruined OUR beautiful economy and thousands of people died anyway." It is just as dangerous and I fear it will work. I hate to say it, but in another week when Tom Hanks, Idris Elba and Rand Paul recover and get better, it's only going to inflame his supporters and give him more talking points to support his gamble. Until famous people start dying, I'm not sure MAGA-leaning folks are going to get the point. Maybe not even then...

Lefty Specialist Mar 24 2020 07:28 AM Re: Pandemic

Just when you think Trump can't get more dangerous, he does. If he has his way, we'll have a patchwork quilt of restrictions and non-restrictions. People will keep dying, the economy will tank even worse and for far longer. And there will be plenty of people ready to take up his banner. "We can't let MEDICAL people tell us what to do during a pandemic!"

Ceetar Mar 24 2020 08:05 AM Re: Pandemic

This is a car wreck in slow motion. It seems unavoidable and no one that could even do anything about it seems concerned, but we're headed towards a rigged election that they're trying to further rig. They're going to keep people home. They're going to ban mailed ballots or the republican led states are going to go 'meh' and not provide them. they're going to have ICE outside voting booths. Or at least, they're going to threaten to. And even if it doesn't get _quite_ that dire, this recession/depression is coming. Small businesses are being killed and the government is more concerned about the stock market and big businesses that don't pay taxes anyway. Some businesses will bounce back from this, but many won't. It seems like the best anyone is doing is offering additional loans. So great, if you bounce back without a hitch MAYBE you can make enough of a profit to pay down some of that. we need a revolution. it's time.

TransMonk Mar 24 2020 09:18 AM Re: Pandemic

We need people marching in the streets...unfortunately, that goes against social distancing guidelines.

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2020 11:41 AM Re: Pandemic

=TransMonk post_id=33981 time=1585063106 user_id=71] We need people marching in the streets...[CROSSOUT]unfortunately, that goes against social distancing guidelines.[/CROSSOUT] at six foot intervals.

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2020 11:44 AM Re: Pandemic

And now this virus has delayed the release of the new Lady GaGa album ... I mean how much more of this can we take?!?!?!?

batmagadanleadoff Mar 24 2020 12:01 PM Re: Pandemic

=Ceetar post_id=33975 time=1585058708 user_id=102] they're going to have ICE outside voting booths. Or at least, they're going to threaten to.

Only citizens can vote. So if you're at the polls, you should be safe from ICE. But who knows with this administration?

Ceetar Mar 24 2020 12:25 PM Re: Pandemic

they're going to have ICE outside voting booths. Or at least, they're going to threaten to. Only citizens can vote. So if you're at the polls, you should be safe from ICE. But who knows with this administration? That has not stopped them. And even were it NOT to scare people away, it easily means lines and "citizen checks" at under-manned, minority-heavy polling places. Who might barely have the time to vote anyway, and here's another hurdle.

nymr83 Mar 24 2020 12:41 PM Re: Pandemic

they're going to have ICE outside voting booths. Or at least, they're going to threaten to. Only citizens can vote. So if you're at the polls, you should be safe from ICE. But who knows with this administration? That has not stopped them. And even were it NOT to scare people away, it easily means lines and "citizen checks" at under-manned, minority-heavy polling places. Who might barely have the time to vote anyway, and here's another hurdle. They can't ask for ID without probable cause nor can they "help" enforce local voter ID laws without an invitation from the state to do so. So basically their presence would 1) maybe deter some small amount of voter fraud by illegal aliens 2) mostly be a huge waste of time. overwhelmingly #2.

Ceetar Mar 24 2020 12:54 PM Re: Pandemic

They can't ask for ID without probable cause nor can they "help" enforce local voter ID laws without an invitation from the state to do so. So basically their presence would 1) maybe deter some small amount of voter fraud by illegal aliens 2) mostly be a huge waste of time. overwhelmingly #2. oh, I'm sorry, the RULES say they can't do it. what are you, democrat establishment?

batmagadanleadoff Mar 24 2020 01:21 PM Re: Pandemic

Enough already! Here's my enough already. What the hell is the matter with this country? How much of this maniac in the White House are we supposed to continue to tolerate? When is enough enough? Here's the latest. He won't use the Defense Production Act to order industries to produce desperately needed life-saving medical supplies. The US - the richest country in the world, by far - is still lagging behind every other major industrialized country in coronavirus testing. And much of that might be by intentional design as the scumbag is reluctant to increase testing because then, "the numbers" will go up. And now, he wants society's most vulnerable to the virus to essentially sacrifice their lives by going back out in the work force so that, maybe, the economy will rebound. The only reason there's not a political revolution in the streets is because this country has lost its mind.

Lefty Specialist Mar 24 2020 01:23 PM Re: Pandemic

The amount of voter fraud by illegal aliens is about 1/10000000th of the voter fraud perpetrated by voter suppression in this country.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2020 01:37 PM Re: Pandemic

Hopefully he'll be talked out of this "starting the economy soon" thing. Even Lindsey Graham thinks it's a bad idea. But Trump is, at this moment, more dangerous to the public welfare than he's ever been. And still not enough people see it.

Lefty Specialist Mar 24 2020 01:38 PM Re: Pandemic

Here's my enough already. What the hell is the matter with this country? How much of this maniac in the White House are we supposed to continue to tolerate? When is enough enough? Here's the latest. He won't use the Defense Production Act to order industries to produce desperately needed life-saving medical supplies. The US - the richest country in the world, by far - is still lagging behind every other major industrialized country in coronavirus testing. And much of that might be by intentional design as the scumbag is reluctant to increase testing because then, "the numbers" will go up. And now, he wants society's most vulnerable to the virus to essentially sacrifice their lives by going back out in the work force so that, maybe, the economy will rebound. The only reason there's not a political revolution in the streets is because this country has lost its mind. It's about managing in 24-hour increments. That's about as far ahead as he looks. He knew this virus was coming. He didn't want to tank the markets, at least until Jared and the kids had sold off their stock. He played it down as long as he could, because he'd spent 3 years bragging about how high the Dow was. Then he picked some fights to distract from the real problem, and flatly lied his ass off ("I always knew it was a pandemic"). Now people are going to be dying in big numbers and he'll blame the blue state governors instead of himself. And his hotels and golf courses are hurting so of course he's going to want to open things back up prematurely. Whenever Trump speaks, you always have to think, "Okay, how does HE personally benefit?" Because that's all you need to know about this situation (or any other).

Ceetar Mar 24 2020 01:41 PM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: Whenever Trump speaks, you always have to think, "Okay, how does HE personally benefit?" Because that's all you need to know about this situation (or any other). What was the lag time between Maralago getting shut down, and his first comment about restarting the economy? over/under 15 minutes?

Edgy MD Mar 24 2020 02:37 PM Re: Pandemic

Lefty Specialist wrote: Whenever Trump speaks, you always have to think, "Okay, how does HE personally benefit?" Because that's all you need to know about this situation (or any other). My play is to ask how recently somebody on Fox said a more coherent version of the same thing.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2020 02:38 PM Re: Pandemic

This is somewhat comforting, but I'm still not sure what I think about eating food prepared by a stranger. I did order a pizza about ten days ago, and had a Popeye's sandwich around the same time. But since then it's just been stuff I've prepared at home. Have any of you been eating takeout or delivery food in the last couple of weeks? Food Safety and Coronavirus: A Comprehensive Guide

Ceetar Mar 24 2020 03:10 PM Re: Pandemic

not anymore than normal, but it's only been a week for me. I'd like to do it more, from a 'support small business' standpoint.

Lefty Specialist Mar 24 2020 03:57 PM Re: Pandemic

Quarantine timeline: Last ate in a restaurant: 17 days ago Last time in New York office: 12 days ago Last takeout: 12 days ago Last trip to non-grocery retail: 11 days ago Last trip to grocery store: 4 days ago Last trip to liquor store:4 days ago Last checkup on son living in another city (who rolls his eyes)- 1 day ago

kcmets Mar 24 2020 04:30 PM Re: Pandemic

We had take out pizza tonight. Our Chinese place is closed until at least 4/1. Jonesin' for their hot and sour soup.

LWFS Mar 24 2020 04:37 PM Re: Pandemic

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This is somewhat comforting, but I'm still not sure what I think about eating food prepared by a stranger. I did order a pizza about ten days ago, and had a Popeye's sandwich around the same time. But since then it's just been stuff I've prepared at home. Have any of you been eating takeout or delivery food in the last couple of weeks? Ain't nothing wrong with some matchsticked canned bamboo shoots. Or some bean sprouts, or fishballs instead of straight tofu (crazy tasty addition to Asian soups, readily available at any Asian grocer's freezer section). Or chives instead of scallions. Substitution is flavor country, right? kcmets Mar 24 2020 08:57 PM Re: Pandemic Yes, wood ears! And they do a few bean sprouts too. Not sure I've had a fishball, will have to look at that tomorrow. We now return you to our pandemic thread... Frayed Knot Mar 25 2020 06:30 AM Re: Pandemic Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 25 2020 07:57 AM And we can now add Prince Charles to the list of well-known Covid-19'ers I guess having 'Royal Blood' doesn't make one immune ... who knew? Also Jackson Browne Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 25 2020 07:41 AM Re: Pandemic oh, this could be the thing that takes out a lotta classic rockers Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 25 2020 07:47 AM Re: Pandemic Oh and Floyd Cardoz noted NYC chef who "created" the Box Frites and Taqueria offerings at CitiField concourse kcmets Mar 25 2020 01:39 PM Re: Pandemic Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: oh, this could be the thing that takes out a lotta classic rockers Saw and saved this the other day. It's poor PS skillz, but kinda funny... http://www.kcmets.com/CPF/keith.png> Frayed Knot Mar 25 2020 02:08 PM Re: Pandemic And we know that nothing can kill Keith so a mask on him would merely be window dressing. Lefty Specialist Mar 25 2020 03:11 PM Re: Pandemic Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: oh, this could be the thing that takes out a lotta classic rockers Saw and saved this the other day. It's poor PS skillz, but kinda funny... http://www.kcmets.com/CPF/keith.png> I am so totally stealing this. Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 25 2020 04:01 PM Re: Pandemic Cardoz btw didnt just contract the disease but died from it. He was a big Mets fan. LWFS Mar 25 2020 04:35 PM Re: Pandemic Frayed Knot wrote: And we can now add Prince Charles to the list of well-known Covid-19'ers I guess having 'Royal Blood' doesn't make one immune ... who knew? Also Jackson Browne Doctor my eyes have seen some phlegm And my lungs got no room in 'em without coughing Lord I need to get some rest See I have done all Fauci said Washed my hands 'til they turned red with the chafing I'd suck your needle for a test Doctor, my eyes Tell me what's so gross Was I unwise to let my neighbor get so clooooooose Frayed Knot Mar 25 2020 05:16 PM Re: Pandemic That's gold Jerry, Gold! Edgy MD Mar 25 2020 07:56 PM Re: Pandemic Yes it is. And great to have a cooby sighting too. Lefty Specialist Mar 26 2020 05:55 AM Re: Pandemic My sister-in-law's father was rushed by ambulance to the hospital with symptoms last night. He's late 70's with some underlying conditions, living in Manhattan. Not good. batmagadanleadoff Mar 26 2020 11:32 AM Re: Pandemic I've been thinking about this on and off for a few days now and I can't let go of the thought: I can't believe that Jared Kushner's in charge of things with the WH and this pandemic. You'd think that someone in that position would have dedicated their entire life to medicine and have an accomplished career in the field. There'd be a reasonable chance that that person would be an academic or a scholar as well. Instead, we get this know-nothing mediocrity who can insinuate himself in charge of this crisis just because he's married to the president's con-artist count daughter. We're a banana republic and it's all so normal. Oh, and Jared's in charge of resolving the middle east Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well. You know, if Jared screws up the pandemic to the point that the virus kills all the Israelis and Palestinians, then there wouldn't be a conflict any more over there and Jared could take credit for eliminating that problem. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to wait for Jared to read his 25 books on infectious diseases so that he can become the next Jonas Salk and save the world. And when he eventually tells us that he read 25 books, it probably means that he only read one and a half books. I'm sure that the only thing that'll come from Jared being in charge is that he'll figure out how to use the WH and his position to make millions of dollars for his family from the coronavirus. You put this fucking ignorant and arrogant idiot in charge of an existential health crisis and there's not gonna be repercussions? Don't Worry, America, Jared Kushner Is Going to Save You From COVID-19. Having conquered Middle East peace and innovated America to within an inch of its life, the Trump son-in-law is now taming COVID-19. Oh—Ivanka too! Excerpt: Wednesday, during the latest installment of his daily briefings that have become must-see TV, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he spoke with Jared Kushner. You know Kushner—the president's son-in-law. The president's son-in-law is a member of the president's COVID-19 taskforce, but he is not a doctor or an elected official. In fact, Jared has no experience handling pandemics, or any medical background whatsoever. Jared Kushner doesn't know about science or medicine but Cuomo must appeal to him for help from the federal government. And that's not the only place the president's son-in-law has popped up the last few days. One of the biggest questions we've all been puzzling over is, why won't the president invoke the wartime Defense Production Act to force companies to make ventilators? He “signed two executive orders citing provisions of the Defense Production Act” but then refused to use those provisions. Later it was revealed that Trump refused to use the wartime law “reportedly after corporations successfully lobbied his top adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.” Meanwhile, Cuomo holds continual pressers that have the same refrain again and again: “We need the federal help, and we need the federal help now.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/dont-worry-america-jared-kushner-is-going-to-save-you-from-covid-19 Edgy MD Mar 26 2020 02:46 PM Re: Pandemic Can governors somehow use their authority to put factories to work on medical supplies? batmagadanleadoff Mar 26 2020 03:10 PM Re: Pandemic https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/03/coronavirus-in-us-president-trumps-campaign-threatens-legal-action-over-ad-highlighting-white-house-coronavirus-response.html Has anybody seen this brilliant and brutal political ad attacking Trump -- with his own words -- for his incompetent coronavirus response? It's in the link above. The president has his attorneys issuing a cease and desist order and also claiming that he never said what he said -- that the ad manipulates his voice. Normally, I'd say that his lawsuit is batshit crazy but he's placed about 100 batshit crazy judges on the judiciary so far, including two at the top, so who the hell knows? Plus, anybody that's still supporting this maniac is batshit crazy, too. nymr83 Mar 26 2020 03:19 PM Re: Pandemic Edgy MD wrote: Can governors somehow use their authority to put factories to work on medical supplies? I suspect said factories, unless they want to help, would claim a gross violation of the dormant commerce clause. Edgy MD Mar 26 2020 04:18 PM Re: Pandemic Well, firstly, states have emergency powers too. More importantly, secondly, a good government can incentivize private cooperation, rather than coerce it. nymr83 Mar 26 2020 04:52 PM Re: Pandemic Edgy MD wrote: Well, firstly, states have emergency powers too. More importantly, secondly, a good government can incentivize private cooperation, rather than coerce it. As Cuomo said the issue here is states end up bidding against each other. Edgy MD Mar 26 2020 04:55 PM Re: Pandemic Sure, I know. Stupid question: With all those 3D printers out there, can Dean Kamen or his people or somebody design a ventilator that everybody can spit out on their 3-D printers? Or at least, print out most of the components? Anyone can be a writer or a musician now, right? Is it crazy to think that anyone can be a manufacturer, too? Frayed Knot Mar 26 2020 05:07 PM Re: Pandemic I saw a report on "splitters" which were manufactured via 3D printers that were allowing existing machines to be hooked up to more than one patient. Under normal circumstances it's a piece that probably doesn't exist so creating it like that without have to have an existing manufacturer refit all kinds of machinery makes this kind of thing sound like the perfect target for 3D technology. kcmets Mar 26 2020 07:54 PM Re: Pandemic So now the big buzz is that the US has more cases than China had. Does anyone really think that China accurately reports to the world what really goes on there? Edgy MD Mar 26 2020 09:05 PM Re: Pandemic No one. I mean, it's the one thing every know-it-all yapper I run into online seems to agree on. The official Chinese count is a big, fat lie. Then they try to convince me that this proves what a prince the president is, and my head explodes. Again. G-Fafif Mar 26 2020 10:23 PM Re: Pandemic City of Long Beach has closed the boardwalk. Too many people not keeping their social distance in decent weather. kcmets Mar 27 2020 02:15 AM Re: Pandemic Edgy MD wrote: Then they try to convince me that this proves what a prince the president is, and my head explodes. I hope you're not lumping me in with 'they.' I'll just leave this and the N-BF alone for awhile I guess. Edgy MD Mar 27 2020 06:18 AM Re: Pandemic =kcmets post_id=34179 time=1585296924 user_id=53]I hope you're not lumping me in with 'they.' Absolutely not.