CoronaVirus news and updates (and how it's affecting you)

[Coola Yagami]

Sorry, but what is going on the world right now and everyone needing as much news and information as it occurs, we need this thread open regardless of personal biases and whatnot.

So far I've been sent to work at home, and I took it while it was still optional, I found out by Monday it's mandatory so my co-workers without internet are now scrambling to get in touch with their internet providers. My bro has had his hours cut but everyone is excepting to be shut down Monday and take a temporary lay off.

Toilet paper is damn near impossible to find. I did not 'panic buy' but wow, now when it comes time you know, re-stock as one normally would do, I can't find anything anywhere. I might have to get some from Amazon unless anyone else has any other ideas.

So far no one I know is sick, or hasn't shown symptoms, but we're bracing ourselves. Sadly, I do know a lot of people with immune system problems that simply cannot afford to get this disease.

[Zulithe]

My job has been deemed essential so I still commute to work. It's scary because I have to rely on trains and buses, and though the agencies have sent out lots of messages about how they have amped up their cleaning protocols and such, there are still TONS of homeless people all over transit, who sneak in for free. The transit agencies have had decades to crack down on fare evasion and do not take it seriously.

I'm not trying to wage a war on the homeless, but they are one of the most at-risk populations for carrying covid-19 due to the nature of their lifestyle. They also do not obey the social distancing rules that are in place. I'm doing my best to protect myself, but chances are high that I will contract it. I just hope I'm young and healthy enough that it won't be much of an issue. Unfortunately, I live with someone who is more at-risk than I am and I do not want to infect them.

I've been hoping that the President or Governor issues a full quarantine so I can just stay home from work to avoid more exposure.

So aside from all the work and commute BS, I'm having a really hard time ordering groceries. I usually use Amazon Fresh but it's 100% booked up, I check it regularly for openings and there have been zero, even 5+ days ahead of time. No openings at all. I live in the city and don't drive, so I can only bring what food I can carry in a bag home with me occasionally until this gets sorted out.

I actually had like 96 rolls of TP delivered right before the shortages began (subscribe & save order placed way in advance as I was running low) so no issues there. lol.

[frank_one]

+793 dead in the last 24 hours here in Italy.

[Coola Yagami]

+793 dead in the last 24 hours here in Italy.

You're in Italy?

Yeah my state has had many cases and while we still don't have any in our particular town... it's only a matter of time I suppose.

[EddieNES]

Don’t suppose any dromer in the U.S. has some spare hand sanitizer?

I’m starting to get somewhat low and paranoid cuz I can’t find any online or stores. I’d the designated quarantine runner since my wife stays home with the 3 kids.

I’d pay of course. But ebay is pretty obnoxious right now.

Weird times we live in.

PM if possible. Stay safe guys.

[drag0nfeathers]

I have also been deemed essential so I also continue to work here in MA. It has been declared that restaurants, bars, and events of all kinds 25+ people be cancelled/closed. It's SUPPOSED to be a leave your house for an emergency only type of situation yet I still have elderly and families with children at my job to buy soil, mulch, paint, tile, curtains, etc (Lowe's)
Many places have been given either additional compensation or paid time off and we've gotten neither. The media keeps saying were; granting 14 paid days but it's ONLY if you are approved and it's been basically ONLY if you are directly infected... which honestly won't be long. We're recording record profits and our CEO is buying up our own stocks so fast it should be illegal.
Our cases in MA have doubled in the past 24 hours and we've just had out 1st death yesterday I believe... it's going to be VERY bad in another week or two time I guarantee. Hundreds of people through this store alone today and they keep TOUCHING EVERYTHING! We long sold our sanitizing products for profit and I hope they know we aren't doing a damn thing to clean the store. I am working in a veritable petri dish and it's making me feel sick that I am stuck here.
And don't get me the "be happy you have a job right now" crap... I've heard quite enough of it from all my friends who are working from home or on paid leave.
More needs to be done or we are on the exact same road as Italy. Once the hospitals fill up and people start dying maybe America will take this **** more seriously.

Also if we had hand sanitizer I'd ship you whatever you wanted but we've been sold out for over a week. No toilet paper, blech, Lysol, freezers, or refrigerators either... but we're more them making it up with "home projects since people are home and bored" Sure am happy I have to risk my health and family's safety so Karen can paint her living room.

[lonewarrior20]

I work produce at Walmart. its been crazy this last week man. i'm having flash backs of black Fridays of yesterday as I see the hoards of locusts come in and raid everything insight. and now we're at the point of everyone stay home for curfew. I literally need a pass to show police if they pull me over on my way to work. i'm terrified that the pot is finally going to boil over and someone snaps from not getting what they want.

[drag0nfeathers]

Yea that's what I'm waiting for as well... the dreaded "pass" to show police because Lowe's has already said they are NOT closing no matter what. *sigh* I signed up for being available for blizzards, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes... not this virus crap! We're a hardware store not a health and wellness center. If someone has an emergency that requires plumbing, electrical, whatever the case we should have only a few folks here for online order and curbside pick up like the other "essential" retailers are doing. Instead it's a Black Friday free for all of people who are bored and "need projects" I shouldn't have to get sick because someone felt the need to redecorate.

[Zulithe]

Don’t suppose any dromer in the U.S. has some spare hand sanitizer?

I’m starting to get somewhat low and paranoid cuz I can’t find any online or stores. I’d the designated quarantine runner since my wife stays home with the 3 kids.

I’d pay of course. But ebay is pretty obnoxious right now.

Weird times we live in.

PM if possible. Stay safe guys.
Sorry I don't, I have one half-full bottle that I'm trying to stretch out right now.

Any particular reason you need hand sanitizer specifically? Soap and warm water are more effective, hand sanitizer is more of a backup for when you can't wash your hands.

fRqJaZO5yW8

[ToSte]

Proper hand washing with soap is best, but if your heart is truly set on hand sanitizer why not make your own? Just need some rubbing alcohol and aloe gel. Hell just make some for ***** and giggs if you're bored at home.

[IndigoErth]

Our governor is supposedly considering a stay at home order, though I'm really not sure if we'd still be expected to work or not. The work I do has no business being considered essential, though as a vendor/rep I think we're still expected to work if our stores we service remain open. And out of my weekly stops, three of them are Walmart, BJ's (like Costco), and a Walgreens, and I can't really see any of those closing. :tconfuse:

I'm not sure what worries me more... the Walmart, just being the kind of place it is and attracting the amount of people that it does and some of the less savory sorts among them who lack much manners or hygiene consideration (edit: and same for my Dollar Tree)... or the Walgreens being a place people may show up at if they're feeling sick.

I'm hoping that people will start staying away/home more so that those of us who have to be out there will have fewer people around us.

My company is being lenient and saying that it's OK to call out if we feel we need to for our own well being, but that just means my poor supervisor will have more on her shoulders, have to be exposed to more of it herself, and she's 59 with a special needs adult daughter at home, so they really don't need any more exposure than what she/they already risk. Would also mean I don't get paid.


As it is they had to close the beaches because the unseasonably warm temps Friday made all the idiots flock to the beach.

[Roseangelo]

My county in California has been "stay at home" since Wednesday. I think all of California was declared on Thursday or Friday. Since then I have made two trips to the post office (mailbox drop-off only), and have gone on a couple walks to a nearby CVS. Might brave Target tomorrow.

I work for the military, which is very essential. They've always been very adamantly against work from home, but now it's required of virtually everyone. It's definitely an adjustment, but I think it's going ok.

Best to everyone on the front lines in either retail/food or medical.

[Andrew NDB]

* Have enough stuff to last for months. It may not be the best stuff to eat, but it's edible.

* Will be getting laid off, 90% sure next week.

* Sort of ho-hum. In a way, looking forward for the time to do a lot of video stuff.

* Very ready for any sort of looting or miscreant situation.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Kids are starting to drive us up the wall. Sibling rivalry on the rise.

Running out of vodka. :trazz:

[drag0nfeathers]

I made a line with blue painters tape in a giant rectangle around my desk for the 6 foot distance rule... people walk right over it and sit down at my desk like it's just a normal day... *sigh* I'm counting the days until I get sick.
WHY DO THEY KEEP TOUCHING EVERYTHING! Has rung through my head about 200 times already today

[frank_one]

+793 dead in the last 24 hours here in Italy.651 today. Hoping numbers keep to go down.

[MikeandRaph87]

My state has double in the last 36 hours, currently in the 220s. My city has its first case as of overnight so its where I am too now. Waiting to see about the governor extending the two week mandate to a longer period. My district created work for a ten day break down of remediation anticipating atleast March 30th-April 3rd. State test are not going to be an issue so that is a relief. I just hope that the youth take this serious.

For anyone interested in their particular state or country this is a good source.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

[newfan]

Our schools closed indefinitely, with speculation that in a bad scenario it could be up to six months, that would mean they would start up again in the next school year. Children of keyworkers or those known to social services as at risk can still attend though.

[Vicky82]

Closing the schools is a big mistake because the teenagers are not staying home, they are all out hanging with there friends and parents taking there kids out, like it's a normal school holiday.

They should of closed the schools when we are on total lockdown.

Where I live, there were loads of people on Dunstable Downs today, bunch of idiots and I bet these are the same people who are panic buying.

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.lye.5/posts/10219548708362531

Just found out all Mcdonalds stores in UK and Ireland are closing, So I won't be working for awhile.

[Mayhem]

Thought the McD were switching, like many, to drive through only? Or does your store not have drive through?

Parents in self isolation, missus and I both working from home since Wednesday (she filed a sexual harassment case 3 minutes after we started :lol:), but our daughter will be home almost every day from Tuesday due to the school and nursery closure - we have a nursery place assigned (missus works for NHS) but feel it’s not appropriate as she is not frontline. May still use it once per week just to let us recharge batteries... a permanently home 15 month old wanting to grab, climb and vocalise everything is tiring heh.

Other than that, it could be far worse.

[IndigoErth]

So let the confusion being... "stay at home" order starts Tuesday morning, and have no idea if or how this applies to me. :tconfuse: Suppose I aught to message my supervisor.


edit: Supervisor asking if I could cover a couple other Walgreens for someone who had decided to stop working for now. So... uh... yay, more hours? But boo more exposure? :ohwell: Kind of annoys me because if someone calls out then someone else has to pick up the slack and my supervisor is already trying to cover enough. I get that this woman who does those stores is a bit older and maybe worried, but it's not like the rest of us can't get sick from it too or take it home to family members, such as my own mother who is around her age and has an underlying condition... Hoo boy.

If anything it looks like the company is at least being a little generous and is planning to give us two weeks extra pay, no matter if we keep working or not.

[Vicky82]

Thought the McD were switching, like many, to drive through only? Or does your store not have drive through?
Other than that, it could be far worse.

Yeah my store does have a Drive Thru. It was take away only, customers could use the Drive Thru or come into the store to order but they couldn't sit down.

Even with those new rules, we were still busy. The Corona Virus wasn't keeping people away.

[joe-eyeball]

I’m ticked because we now have a stay at home order with only essential businesses allowed to remain going. It sucks because my business is conducted entirely outdoors and I had already arranged for zero face to face interaction with the customers. It is just myself and one employee and we could’ve easily kept interaction with others to almost nothing. But nope no work for me and it’s not like my bills stopped coming in.

[CyberCubed]

So why does Italy now have the highest death toll of the virus? It just recently passed China and it's crazy how many people are dying there. But why Italy of all places? Out of all the European countries people are dropping like flies there...it's very strange.

[lonewarrior20]

So why does Italy now have the highest death toll of the virus? It just recently passed China and it's crazy how many people are dying there. But why Italy of all places? Out of all the European countries people are dropping like flies there...it's very strange.

if I recall, theres a great deal of elderly in Italy and since its more deadly to them i'd say that's why.

[Coola Yagami]

I also heard that life is almost back to normal in China but now a new strain of bird flu has been discovered there???

[Leo656]

I'm hearing now that businesses in NY state are expected to remain closed, and at least some form of "social lockdown" in place, until the end of 2020. So that pretty much means that it will be similar for most of the rest of the U.S., or at least places like NJ which are densely-populated. Which implies that rather than improving, the situation is instead far worse than anyone was led to believe.

This has been hell on my Bipolar Disorder. Every day, I have a ton of things I plan to do, and in the end I can hardly get out of bed. But the news just gets worse every day, so feeling in any way hopeful or optimistic just feels like a fool's errand.

For one thing, there's the economic factors and the simple fact that a nationwide shutdown of 90% of businesses for the next 9 months simply is not sustainable, and no "bailout" program is going to be able to keep people alive for that long. And regardless of when it eases up, MOST of the affected people will simply not be able to work again, not for years, if ever. "Just go work at Walmart" will NOT be a practical solution for the vast majority of these people, and even then, we're talking 100 or more applicants for every available position. It's not going to work.

All I can see in my head is that people start to snap within the next 2 or 3 months. Desperation is inevitable, whether it's from fear or simply frustration. People can't live like this, and once people realize that infection or not, the economic collapse is literally going to be a death sentence for huge swaths of the population, well... riots, anarchy, mass suicides, etc. etc.

Not trying to be a Doomsayer, it's just... what else CAN happen but all of that? My wife's mother is already pushing me to go out and "just get a new job" when we're barely five minutes into this fiasco, because they're already feeling the pinch. I'm in no position to play super-hero right now, be it physically OR mentally.

This sucks. This really is starting to feel like the end of the world. Or at least the end of most of it. No way we ever go back to the way things were a month ago. It's impossible.

Sigh. My wife wants me to relax but I just can't. She's on disability and rarely goes out anyway, and she gets her "free" check every month, AND she rarely gets sick, so to her this is just a big joke. Whatever happens, happens, as far as she's concerned.

I also heard that life is almost back to normal in China but now a new strain of bird flu has been discovered there???

I wouldn't believe a single word of anything that comes out relating to China. Yes, it's natural to look there because that's where it started, but they're more concerned with looking good and maintaining their status as the leading global manufacturer than anything. Given the size and typical behavior of their government-run propaganda machine, I would take anything we hear from or about them with a giant shaker of salt.

Italy is who we have to watch now. Their situation is much more transparent and a lot closer to what we have to deal with over here.

[Redeemer]

I also heard that life is almost back to normal in China but now a new strain of bird flu has been discovered there???

Thats it! I am convinced China is just doing some population control. Let just get this over with and Nuke China off the map! That takes care both of the viruses and population issue! jk :lol:

[CyberCubed]

Most restaurants, take-outs and privately owned businesses are definitely going to go out of business by the end of this year. Gamestop is done. Most comic book stores are screwed (besides online orders).

I feel bad most of all for the seniors in High School. Imagine the kids who were going to graduate in June 2020. They might not get a graduation ceremony this year, no senior prom, no nothing. Man, the kids graduating in 2020 really have it rough, I wonder if the Colleges will even be open to them in the Fall.

[Leo656]

Not to mention all the people who died and continue to die. Funerals are banned, so instead of getting a dignified farewell they just dig a hole and throw you in, or go right to the cremation. I can't imagine how hard that is on the surviving friends and family. No closure, no dignity.

"Life" as we knew it is over. Might as well accept it. It'll get better than this one day, for sure, but who knows how long, and it's never, ever going to be like it was just three weeks ago. Pretty unbelievable. So many things we took for granted are simply never coming back. And it's STILL going to get a lot worse before it gets even one inch better, as hard as that is to believe.

I'm not afraid of getting sick or dying from the virus, but a big part of me wonders what the hell the point of anything is anymore.

[Andrew NDB]

You can be sure this will speed up Best Buy's departure, too. Along with most/all malls.

[Leo656]

So a year from now, when the "smoke" clears, we'll still only be leaving the house to buy groceries, and absolutely everything else will be internet-only. :roll:

"Fun". I never wanted to live to see that kind of a world.

[Andrew NDB]

I think it'll burn out by mid-summer at the latest.

[Leo656]

We'll see. But again, what'll be left to go back to?

My job is "done". Gyms and personal trainers/fitness instructors are not going to be considered essential in a world where people can barely afford to feed themselves. I'm not qualified to do anything else and my back is shot, so manual labor and stocking shelves isn't in my future. Unemployment checks don't last forever.

I'm f*cked and so are a ton of other people. And a few weeks ago, everything was "fine". I knew our lease was up soon, but if we shut down there was another gym five minutes away where I almost certainly would have been hired. Now that's no longer on the table. It's gonna be "Walmart or Nothing", for most of us, and I can't haul boxes around because of my back, so it's "Or Nothing".

Not a lot to look forward to, from where I sit.

Kinda wish someone would just drop a bomb and get it over with already.

[Coola Yagami]

I think it'll burn out by mid-summer at the latest.

Part of me wants to believe that too. It just has to. I mean it's 2020, modern science has to be good for ****ing something.

I mean honestly, Leo cannot be the only one that foresees mass riots, they have to do whatever they possibly can before that happens cause they better believe we'll be going after the fat cats first.

[Andrew NDB]

I mean honestly, Leo cannot be the only one that foresees mass riots, they have to do whatever they possibly can before that happens cause they better believe we'll be going after the fat cats first.

If anything good comes of this, as things get hairier and hairier I hope it is a renewed realization of the importance of the 2nd amendment. If there are riots and looting going on everywhere, do you really want to bet your family's life on police respond times?

[Leo656]

:lol: As I already mentioned the other day, we called 911 when I had a knife pulled on me by my father-in-law and the cops who showed up couldn't possibly have cared less. Not that they ever did before, any of the countless other times we've had to call them, but right now? Oh yeah, right now "the authorities" only exist on paper. They're not going to respond to anything short of a riot.

It's going to hit the big cities the hardest, because there's already tons of violence and crime there on a good day, but we're far from a good day. There's going to be actual martial law enacted soon enough in places like NYC, with actual soldiers and riot police forcing everyone to stay indoors, at gunpoint no less. They've already deployed the National Guard to help set up temporary hospital tents and such, but that's just Step One. The fact that they're being deployed at all gives you some idea of where all this is heading. And it's nothing good.

We're on our own. Once people come to realize it in large numbers, it's going to be anarchy. I'm not rooting for it, but it's inevitable. Once enough people realize, "Wait, I can do whatever I want, and they're not going to punish me for it because it's too much hassle," well... As I've said many times, most people only behave themselves because they're afraid of punishment. Now that the threat of punishment has been removed, well... Anything Goes.

Good luck.

[Andrew NDB]

I think my biggest concern is what this means for the future. For future viruses that emerge. Will this be the go to response now? Shut down everything and stay home? Ehh... doesn't seem like a sustainable thing.

Something like Ebola? F*** yeah, I'm staying home, you don't need any National Guard telling me to. I don't want my organs liquifying. But just another random flu? Ehh...

[Leo656]

Could be. How this plays out will inevitably set precedents for all areas of life going forward.

If anything, though, this proves how tenuous all things already were to begin with. As bad as this is going to get, if it ever happens again, well, it just may more than society can take. This has the whole world on figurative life support, but a similar or worse disaster might just be the "knockout punch". If this fiasco proves nothing else, it's that life as we know it is never more than a balancing act on the tip of a pin. Nothing is "safe" or sustainable, and we really are just One Bad Day away from complete and total disaster. Some people will take comfort in that and choose to "live in the moment", while others may simply choose to end it all rather than face the fact that nothing in life is certain. Knowing for a FACT that it's all meaningless, random chance might be too much for a lot of people to bear.
----------

It's funny what you think of in times like this. For example, in reading about the scramble of various governments to deal with this fiasco, and how woefully unprepared everyone really is/was, I couldn't help but think back to a few years ago when "Godzilla" came out. And I remember reading some news article, where they asked some high-ranking military official, like, "What if this kind of thing happened for real? Like what if Godzilla was real, and he attacked us, would it be the end of the world or would there be a plan in place?" And the military guy played along, naturally, and he was like "It definitely would not be the end of the world, we have contingency plans in place, strategies in place, and if it were ever to happen we'd have it taken care of in a very short period of time and then everything would be fine," basically implying they'd just drop a few bombs and we'd all go on with our lives.

This sh*t has me thinking back to reading that and I can't help but laugh. Like, "Y'all can't even figure out a plan to keep things running when a bunch of people start coughing on each other. A relatively-mild viral infection has all of society on its knees, y'all know goddamn well that if Godzilla showed up we'd all be dead in two days. Quit frontin'." :lol:

Like I said, it's funny what goes through your mind at times like these.

Frankly, Godzilla would be a much better way to go out and I'd take That Sh*t over This Sh*t any day, gladly.

[Cure]

Sorry, but what is going on the world right now and everyone needing as much news and information as it occurs, we need this thread open regardless of personal biases and whatnot.


Yo, let's be real. I don't have anything against this thread, but people should absolutley not be coming to a website like this for their ****ing global news.

[Leo656]

I don't think anyone is doing that, or at least I HOPE not. But on FB and elsewhere I see tons of people who need to vent, and for a lot of people here this is probably the place where they feel the most comfortable doing so, for one reason or another.

But yeah I don't think this is where anyone is getting their Updates on the situation. That would be pretty ridiculous.

[Andrew NDB]

Yo, let's be real. I don't have anything against this thread, but people should absolutley not be coming to a website like this for their ****ing global news.

I was going to say the same thing.

[Andrew NDB]

Yep, it's happening. I work for Marriott.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/marriott-to-furlough-thousands-of-corporate-jobs-in-u-s-and-abroad-in-response-to-travel-collapse-11584834631

[Leo656]

Tough break man. Really sorry to hear.

[Andrew NDB]

Tough break man. Really sorry to hear.

Fingers crossed for an actual furlough and not just plain layoff. That may be a lot hairier to come back from.

[TommyT]

Looks like Ottawa is in bad shape. Officially we have 27, and unofficially

Dr. Etches estimates there are now 4,000 cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, based on modelling data and the rate of transmission.

“Because most cases are mild and undetected, I want to emphasize the importance that everyone needs to treat all interactions with others as a potential source of transmission of COVID-19,” said Dr. Etches.

“At this time, I’m asking that all people ensure they are practicing social-distancing, to the greatest extent they can.”

Dr. Etches says social-distancing is important for everyone, especially for people over the age of 55.

“Talking to your supervisor, manager, employer about how you can work from home, if possible. It means avoiding visiting older friends or relatives. Using phones, video chats, social media to stay connected, unless a visit is absolutely essential.”

Estimated 4,000 cases

The Medical Officer of Health said Sunday that based on modelling data and the rate of transmission, “we now estimate there may be up to 4,000 cases of COVID-19 in our community.”

Dr. Etches warned the forecast for infection shows a doubling in the number of cases in Ottawa every three days.

“The doubling time, we’re seeing is sometimes down to three days, every three days now. By this time next week, it could be 16,000” cases in Ottawa.

16,000 expected by next weekend. If 27 means 4000, then in the US, I can’t imagine.

[Voltron]

It's weird to watch the panic set in like this. I live abroad and everything is running like clockwork here. The virus dominates the news, but the country closed some schools. Obviously, there's concern over whether a lack of quarantine is a good idea. So far, we haven't had a mass deaths like Italy, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Yo, let's be real. I don't have anything against this thread, but people should absolutley not be coming to a website like this for their ****ing global news.

Amen, brother.

[newfan]

Maybe the title should just have the virus name, I don't feel the intent was to be a news source but more to talk given the impact on everyone.
Andrew very sorry to hear about your job.

[Andrew NDB]

Maybe the title should just have the virus name, I don't feel the intent was to be a news source but more to talk given the extent of the impact on everyone.
Andrew very sorry to hear about your job.

As of right now I still have it. But I fully expect to arrive to horrible news this week.

[Mayhem]

So why does Italy now have the highest death toll of the virus? It just recently passed China and it's crazy how many people are dying there. But why Italy of all places? Out of all the European countries people are dropping like flies there...it's very strange.
Oldest by average age population in Europe combined with a still relatively large smoking demographic. Also I don't believe the Chinese figures.

Yeah my store does have a Drive Thru. It was take away only, customers could use the Drive Thru or come into the store to order but they couldn't sit down. Even with those new rules, we were still busy. The Corona Virus wasn't keeping people away.
Yeah after I replied I went to have a look, and yeah all restaurants fully shut from 7pm last night. Wonder if BK or KFC will see an upturn in deliveries?

[CyberCubed]

It's kind of ironic every sci-fi movie you ever watched about a disease that wipes out half of mankind is so eerily similar to what is happening now. Of course thankfully most people are not dying from Coronavirus and the death toll is only at 7,000 at the moment compared to the 70,000+ that recovered from it, but the whole thing with quarantine zones and how quickly it spread across the globe is scary.

All this proves is if there really was a deadly disease in real life that had a 70%+ fatal rate, the entire human race would be effectively screwed. Every sci-fi movie you ever watched about half the human race being wiped out by a disease would come true. The sci-fi dystopian writers were right.

[Voltron]

I'm not sure we should be that surprised. This has happened more than a few times in human history. It will certainly happen again. Doctors have been sounding the alarm about the growing ineffectiveness of antibiotics. Bill Gates made the rounds a few years ago criticizing our inability to handle this exact situation.

That goes for every other rare but known disaster. Just wait until a comet slams into an urban center or a solar flare takes out our power grid. We'll be just as shocked despite having known full well this stuff is out there and waiting to happen.

As a species, we are awful at long term planning.

[Coola Yagami]

I'm not sure we should be that surprised. This has happened more than a few times in human history. It will certainly happen again. Doctors have been sounding the alarm about the growing ineffectiveness of antibiotics. Bill Gates made the rounds a few years ago criticizing our inability to handle this exact situation.

That goes for every other rare but known disaster. Just wait until a comet slams into an urban center or a solar flare takes out our power grid. We'll be just as shocked despite having known full well this stuff is out there and waiting to happen.

As a species, we are awful at long term planning.

I mean all this pretty much proves we'd be too busy laughing at and ignoring the signs of disaster until it's too late.

Like if Godzilla attacked Japan there would still be people saying "whatever that's in Japan, not here's or "it's just one giant lizard, not like there's tons of em, I'm sure the military will blow it up'.

[TommyT]

It's weird to watch the panic set in like this. I live abroad and everything is running like clockwork here. The virus dominates the news, but the country closed some schools. Obviously, there's concern over whether a lack of quarantine is a good idea. So far, we haven't had a mass deaths like Italy, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?



Amen, brother.

Living abroad? As in the UK?

[Newton Gimmick]

I mean all this pretty much proves we'd be too busy laughing at and ignoring the signs of disaster until it's too late.

Like if Godzilla attacked Japan there would still be people saying "whatever that's in Japan, not here's or "it's just one giant lizard, not like there's tons of em, I'm sure the military will blow it up'.

A lot of people would be preparing for the disaster but they'd be called people making a panic over nothing, we'd probably have branches of government warning our leaders who would probably deny it as a hoax (while making sure to do things to save themselves and their investments), we might even have disaster response teams (probably underfunded and possibly disbanded by inept leaders) set up for just such an occasion not be put into use, and then once the disaster was at our door, there would still be people denying it or expecting some magical solution.

Reminds me of a guy I used to work with. Very important person in the state. High ranking government official. Hugely influenced policy. When discussing the potential impact of humans on the environment, he had one solid belief: Humans probably were contributing hugely to the climate change, but by the time we'd wrecked the planet completely we'd find a new planet to move to.

Yes, this person seriously believed that we'd just find a new planet and we'd move our entire civilization there as our planet burned up. Forget all the logistics involved and the near improbability such a thing would be possible, it was clearly to him, the most logical way to deal with climate change, rather than, you know, try and save the planet we're on.

[IMJ]

I mean all this pretty much proves we'd be too busy laughing at and ignoring the signs of disaster until it's too late.

Like if Godzilla attacked Japan there would still be people saying "whatever that's in Japan, not here's or "it's just one giant lizard, not like there's tons of em, I'm sure the military will blow it up'.

What this really proves is that we need a broad spectrum viral cure to change the paradigm completely, much the same way penicillin was a shift that made bacterial illness widely manageable.

We should be reducing testing regulation and funneling tons of money into more things like broad spectrum viral cures, especially those which have some track record of viability.

-waits for some keyboard dweller to lecture me on how a virus works. This is gonna be good-

[TommyT]

What this really proves is that we need a broad spectrum viral cure to change the paradigm completely, much the same way penicillin was a shift that made bacterial illness widely manageable.

We should be reducing testing regulation and funneling tons of money into more things like broad spectrum viral cures, especially those which have some track record of viability.

-waits for some keyboard dweller to lecture me on how a virus works. This is gonna be good-

But there’s then the issue of convincing the tinfoil crowd it isn’t a mindcontrol pill.

You’d have the anti viral doomsayers, lobbing for virus rights.
I mean viruses are people too.

[MikeandRaph87]

My state just closed schools for the remainder of the year! Next week district administration will devise a distance learning plan for the last seven weeks. I still need internship hours with the degree I am going for. This distance learning crap hopefully will get me a waiver on hours that I need.:tgrumble:

[Coola Yagami]

But there’s then the issue of convincing the tinfoil crowd it isn’t a mindcontrol pill.

You’d have the anti viral doomsayers, lobbing for virus rights.
I mean viruses are people too.

It's also the issue of convincing the average Joe that this isn't a tinfoil hay issue but the real deal too.

[Vicky82]

UK on Lockdown for 3 weeks

We can leave house for food shopping, medical needs, exercise.

Can go to work if it's absolutely necessary.

Can't be with more than 2 people outside.

[MikeandRaph87]

UK on Lockdown for 3 weeks

We can leave house for food shopping, medical needs, exercise.

Can go to work if it's absolutely necessary.

Can't be with more than 2 people outside.

More and more state are going this way. The only difference for my state is drive throughs are still open and we are limited to ten people gathering.

My state just said local comic shops are not essential!:x There is always the certain website, but its not the same after tomorrow's #104 is given out a day early.

[IndigoErth]

So the lockdown "stay at home" order does apply to me. Even if our stores are open, we aren't allowed to go. So, after one last sucky day I'm stuck at home as well, likewise excluding food shopping and basics like that.

Sounds like this decision for us was made in part based on the fact that our neighboring states/cities are calling for it.

[Redeemer]

More and more state are going this way. The only difference for my state is drive throughs are still open and we are limited to ten people gathering.

My state just said local comic shops are not essential!:x There is always the certain website, but its not the same after tomorrow's #104 is given out a day early.

My comic book store will still be operating. Our state closed all non-essential stores starting tonight, but my Comic Book Store is getting around this by essentially operating as a mailing service. They will be shipping our pulls to our homes instead. We can also order other stuff and have it mailed to our homes. :D

[frank_one]

+793 dead in the last 24 hours here in Italy.651 today. Hoping numbers keep to go down.And 601 dead today. Things seem to get "better". Lockdown and social distancing are working.

[Galactus]

So this all led to an interesting moral dilemma for me this morning. As I went to the supermarket to buy some essentials for the week an old lady with a walking stick was heading out and fell. My first instinct was to go over and help her but after a few steps I stopped and realised that I could be potentially spreading the virus to this vulnerable person or even her give it to me.

As I procrastinated she managed to pick herself up but noticing me she asked me if I could pick up her walking stick I did but still tried to keep my distance. All day it has played on my mind whether I did the right thing.

[Autbot_Benz]

My state just said local comic shops are not essential!:x There is always the certain website, but its not the same after tomorrow's #104 is given out a day early.

ya that's such bull. The one I use will still be doing online orders for a while. Not sure for how long. I like getting my latest issues every few weeks

[AquaParade]

So this all led to an interesting moral dilemma for me this morning. As I went to the supermarket to buy some essentials for the week an old lady with a walking stick was heading out and fell. My first instinct was to go over and help her but after a few steps I stopped and realised that I could be potentially spreading the virus to this vulnerable person or even her give it to me.

As I procrastinated she managed to pick herself up but noticing me she asked me if I could pick up her walking stick I did but still tried to keep my distance. All day it has played on my mind whether I did the right thing.

That's a complicated feeling, but at least you know you are the type of person who is, in fact, concerned of others.

[Refractive Reflections]

Guess some just want to YOLO... at society's expense.
ayvd28nIW9o

" 'If I Get Corona, I Get Corona': Deniers & Disbelievers Choose To Party Until The End"
https://www.zerohedge.com/health/deniers-defiers-disbelievers-their-impact-spreading-covid-19-may-never-be-known

XGHwz0tRcWo

[IndigoErth]

On the plus side... there are some pretty awesome coronavirus themed music parodies out there. I kind of love that this is how humanity deals with things these days.

And 601 dead today. Things seem to get "better". Lockdown and social distancing are working.
Still more in one day than what mine has had in total so far... Hope it continues to go down and doesn't spike again, you guys have been hit ridiculously hard. :(



Ran out to a couple of stores. Quieter out there, but still a fair amount of people out. Dollar Tree stayed open... a cashier in there decided that a sleep mask substitutes for a face mask. lol Points for thinking outside the box, lady, but I really don't think that's gonna do the job.

[Coola Yagami]

Apparently the Orange in office wants us back to business by Easter.

[Autbot_Benz]

Apparently the Orange in office wants us back to business by Easter.

not gonna happen man he so damn stupid

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Apparently the Orange in office wants us back to business by Easter.

I'd be damn happy to have that be the case.

[frank_one]

Unfortunately we had 743 dead in the last 24 hours here in Italy, more than the "only" 601 of yesterday. But the number of new cases keeps lowering (still in the thousands though) and that's what we need do be focused on.

[CyberCubed]

Unfortunately we had 743 dead in the last 24 hours here in Italy, more than the "only" 601 of yesterday. But the number of new cases keeps lowering (still in the thousands though) and that's what we need do be focused on.

Man, things are crazy in Italy. Absolutely bizarre that country is seeing the worst of it among anywhere else in the world. 700 people dying in one day is insane.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

We are now in lockdown here, as of today. Our county is right next to two counties with confirmed cases, as well as resulting deaths. Not many, but.... The only "bright" side to this is that my job has been deemed "essential" so I am still working and getting paid. Not as much, given that business is slower, which means hours are being cut, but it is what it is. At least I'm not being laid off while this is going on.

[CyberCubed]

Seems I might be working from home starting on Friday for the next week or two, I'm actually happy:

1. I save subway fare, in NY it's crazy. I'll be saving almost $25 a week

2. I don't have to buy lunch, I can just eat what I have at home

3. I don't have to wake up 6:45am because there's no travel time, I can now wake up at like 8:00am and be ready for work at 8:15am.


Man if I get used to working from home I won't want to go back. You never realize how much time you waste getting to work and home (it takes me a little over 1 hour both ways), plus having to buy lunch every day gets expensive.

[lonewarrior20]

Seems I might be working from home starting on Friday for the next week or two, I'm actually happy:

1. I save subway fare, in NY it's crazy. I'll be saving almost $25 a week

2. I don't have to buy lunch, I can just eat what I have at home

3. I don't have to wake up 6:45am because there's no travel time, I can now wake up at like 8:00am and be ready for work at 8:15am.


Man if I get used to working from home I won't want to go back. You never realize how much time you waste getting to work and home (it takes me a little over 1 hour both ways), plus having to buy lunch every day gets expensive.

https://assets.amuniversal.com/27c25bc09f72012f2fe600163e41dd5b

you gotta wonder how many people are doing this now.

[MikeandRaph87]

https://assets.amuniversal.com/27c25bc09f72012f2fe600163e41dd5b

you gotta wonder how many people are doing this now.

I am initiating one on Thursday through Zoom though not with puppets.:P My colleagues and I have to think of three different two week plans, share material, and coordinate. It will be interesting to see who will not have the video active and who will mute themselves though.:lol:

[IndigoErth]

Seems I might be working from home starting on Friday for the next week or two, I'm actually happy:

1. I save subway fare, in NY it's crazy. I'll be saving almost $25 a week

2. I don't have to buy lunch, I can just eat what I have at home

3. I don't have to wake up 6:45am because there's no travel time, I can now wake up at like 8:00am and be ready for work at 8:15am.


Man if I get used to working from home I won't want to go back. You never realize how much time you waste getting to work and home (it takes me a little over 1 hour both ways), plus having to buy lunch every day gets expensive.
The guy who already has to devote so little time to "real" work... I dunno, is this really fair? :tlol:

[Andrew NDB]

He could at least reply to the Melissa Benoist pregnancy thread.

[Vicky82]

Even the royal family arn't immune to the virus.

Prince Charles has got Corona virus. He's 71 but luckily he's only got mild symptoms.

[Voltron]

Tokyo Olympics were pushed back to 2021.

More like the BUMMER Olympics, amirite? Guys? No?

I'll see myself out.

[CyberCubed]

Total death toll is now over 18,000 worldwide. And think of how high this number will get by the end of the year. The virus hasn’t really reached South America yet, just imagine how the virus will spread once all the Hispanic countries come into contact with it. I’m honesty really surprised it hasn’t broken out south of the border yet given the close proximity with the U.S.

[AquaParade]

Huge number of lives lost. It's hard to register a number like that. It becomes even more abstract when you haven't met a single person with the virus. Truly an invisible enemy.

Looks like the stimulus proposal passed and most of us in the states are getting checks for $1200, if I'm not mistaken, as well as boosts to unemployment benefits and some other perks for those who need them. That's something.

[Mayhem]

Total death toll is now over 18,000 worldwide. And think of how high this number will get by the end of the year. The virus hasn’t really reached South America yet, just imagine how the virus will spread once all the Hispanic countries come into contact with it. I’m honesty really surprised it hasn’t broken out south of the border yet given the close proximity with the U.S.
It hasn't really reached Africa much yet either, but give it time...! :ohwell:

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

He could at least reply to the Melissa Benoist pregnancy thread.

Shhhhh... it's an open wound. Our Cubed is a sensitive soul and takes rejection poorly.

...

Either that or he doesn't want to admit to anything and break up a happy relationship.

[lonewarrior20]

Tokyo Olympics were pushed back to 2021.

More like the BUMMER Olympics, amirite? Guys? No?

I'll see myself out.

Could be worse, they could of had to deal with a physcic angry teenager and a biker gang leader with a lazer gun.

[newfan]

Well the new restrictions with the stores seem to be working here, lining up (but spaced out from each other) letting people in as others leave and limiting the amount of items people can have. The lining up didn't look like a welcome sight but actually it was better to then go into a non rammed store. Shelves looking a little better also.

[IMJ]

But there’s then the issue of convincing the tinfoil crowd it isn’t a mindcontrol pill.

You’d have the anti viral doomsayers, lobbing for virus rights.
I mean viruses are people too.


It's also the issue of convincing the average Joe that this isn't a tinfoil hay issue but the real deal too.

Nah, the tinfoil hat crowd won't matter - they aren't infected anyway. They are too busy being sheltered down in a bunker in a desert somewhere while they all wear outfits that look like UPS employees.

[Voltron]

Could be worse, they could of had to deal with a physcic angry teenager and a biker gang leader with a lazer gun.

Yeah, but that happens every other week in Japan. It's like a cafeteria lunch menu of disasters.

[Sumac]

Next week officially will be like a holiday in Russia: everyone will stay at home, aside from those who busy at most important places. I hope I will stay at home too, stress of the last few weeks gets to me.

[Candy Kappa]

I'm home from work. Had a massive headache, was disoriented and no energy last night. And a night sleep did not fix it, now I'm dry coughing so hard I'm seeing stars and a bit hard of breathing.

I might be paranoid, but i worry I might have it now and my partner is in a risk group

[IndigoErth]

Yikes, sorry to hear, hope it isn't. :ohwell: Are you able to get tested?




My mom had some digestive issues yesterday, and of course I've read that it's actually been somewhat common for some people to have that before respiratory symptoms show up. Seems to have passed so hopefully it was nothing, but gah!, don't need that stress worrying. >.<

[CyberCubed]

The disease is currently projected to wipe out 10% of the total human population. when all is said and done. So millions of people out of the billions on Earth. We’re already now at over 19,000 deaths and keep in mind this might not be accurate it’s probably even higher already.

Some also believe China is not reporting the correct number of deaths and is giving out a much lower number than the death rate actually is.

[turtle1237]

Guess some just want to YOLO... at society's expense.
ayvd28nIW9o

" 'If I Get Corona, I Get Corona': Deniers & Disbelievers Choose To Party Until The End"
https://www.zerohedge.com/health/deniers-defiers-disbelievers-their-impact-spreading-covid-19-may-never-be-known

XGHwz0tRcWo

Saw the plague doctor outfit and I am like is that look coming back? But there is no plague doctor outfit in the video.

[Andrew NDB]

Unemployment filed, call put into child support to get those payments reduced for obvious reasons, and hunkering in to watch a lot of Star Trek: Enterprise and work on some puppet and action figure shows. That's about all I can do.

[IndigoErth]

Was just going to ask about the unemployment... if it's best to file right away or wait a few until the government sorts itself out since it may include expanded something or other for that.

Kind of wish there was a separate virus related link to file or instructions on going about that instead of worry about getting tangled up in the requirement nonsense I had to deal with a couple years ago. Hope there is something to specify the virus relation to filing.




edit: Something neat for U.S. residents to browse. The "report card" for states and counties (as of the 3/21 currently) on how each are doing with the social distancing and the general change in community movement for a given area.
https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard

[Andrew NDB]

File right away. The additional unemployment aid will just tack onto it/into it when it comes.

[IndigoErth]

Thanks! :)

[frank_one]

Next week officially will be like a holiday in Russia: everyone will stay at home, aside from those who busy at most important places. I hope I will stay at home too, stress of the last few weeks gets to me.A one week stop doesn't make any sense for a virus that has an incubation period of two weeks.. just my opinion.

[CyberCubed]

Just passed 21,200 total deaths worldwide. NY has the most cases of the U.S. now.

Goddamn we are ****ed. It's really strange how this turned out to be far more serious than anyone ever expected, we probably will lose millions of people as this goes on throughout the year. Remember its only been 3 months since cases were reported outside China. Now imagine what it'll be like at the end of the year.

I never thought I'd live through a plague/disease that wipes out a significant percentage of humanity, but here we are.

[Coola Yagami]

Just passed 21,200 total deaths worldwide. NY has the most cases of the U.S. now.

Goddamn we are ****ed. It's really strange how this turned out to be far more serious than anyone ever expected, we probably will lose millions of people as this goes on throughout the year. Remember its only been 3 months since cases were reported outside China. Now imagine what it'll be like at the end of the year.

I never thought I'd live through a plague/disease that wipes out a significant percentage of humanity, but here we are.

Mostly because of all the stupid people that were like 'oh it's the flu' and the extra month or so we wasted ignoring it instead of doing all we can to keep it the **** out of our country.

[Autbot_Benz]

Mostly because of all the stupid people that were like 'oh it's the flu' and the extra month or so we wasted ignoring it instead of doing all we can to keep it the **** out of our country.

also doesn't help we have a ****ing moronic manchild as president who still hasn't taken any of this seriously.

[Powder]

also doesn't help we have a ****ing moronic manchild as president who still hasn't taken any of this seriously.

https://connectthedotblog.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/for_rent_free.jpg?w=318&h=179

[Voltron]

In all of this, Japan seems to be the odd man out. Despite being one of the first hit and geographically close to the origin of the outbreak, the impact on the islands has been astonishingly low.

There's a lot of talk about why this is. Some have accused the Japanese government of downplaying the crisis, and that the situation is much more severe than is being reported. However, this would mean that the hospitals aren't reporting the massive casualties, which is all but impossible. Also, the families of those affected would have been more vocal about a cover-up. Combine this with the sheer size of Tokyo, the largest urban area in the world, and it's odd that the virus hasn't wreaked more havoc.

Shockingly, Japan never went under self quarantine. Other countries are barred from entering without mandatory screenings and quarantine periods, but the Japanese public have been living life largely unaffected. Schools shut done for a month or so, initially of their own volition. Everything else remained (and continues to remain) open and functioning at full capacity. Schools are set to reopen in April.

There's a lot of speculation as to why Japan avoided the same fate as other countries. One school of thought says that school closings were the best way to stop the spread of coronavirus, and that everything else benefited from that sole action. Others are worried that this is just the calm before the storm, and that a sense of complacency falling over the public may lead to the same kind of infection rates seen in other countries.

At the moment, no one's really sure about anything. There are no concrete answers. Last weekend was a holiday and a lot of people went out and there was a spike in infections, so it's definitely still a possibility that the worst is ahead.

Weird.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I assume one of the contributing factors to Japan having less cases would be their tougher border control.

https://amp.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3074214/coronavirus-japans-travel-restrictions-china-south-korea-kick

[Voltron]

That's a good reason, but doesn't explain everything. Once the virus is in a place, it spreads like wildfire. Hokkaido, a largely rural area, initially had the highest rate of infection. Today, Hokkaido is still second highest. Kyoto is still in the double digits, which is mind-blowing considering Osaka borders it. Border closings will prevent an influx of it, but not the general spread.

Regardless of all the actions, it seems like it should be worse than it is right now.

Obviously, these numbers have to be off. It's the lack of hospitalization that I find most surprising. It's in Japan, but it's not ripping through like it is in Italy and New York.

[frank_one]

A lot of cases in the USA, increasing faster than Italy.

[Voltron]

A buddy of mine is a medical news reporter. He says we're on track for 500,000 cases in the US by April 1st. It's been a solid 33% increase in cases per day. I think he said the same for deaths.

All information points to at least several months of this, if not a year and a half. A vaccine is apparently being tested, but the human trials can't be rushed for fear of unknown, long term side effects.

Until then, guess we're stuck with drinking chloroquine tabs.

Hunker down and stay safe, everyone.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Meanwhile here in the heart of rural America, we're on countywide lockdown and the governor is talking about martial law. Great, so now the government is essentially becoming a military state. Never in my wildest imagination did I think we'd see a time when the whole nation was literally a breath away from absolute authoritarianism. Because that's exactly what it looks like is happening. Police stopping people on the roads just to determine whether they are allowed to be out? Yeah, it's getting scary, but not because of the virus. I'm more worried about where we're heading as a country.....

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Meanwhile here in the heart of rural America, we're on countywide lockdown and the governor is talking about martial law. Great, so now the government is essentially becoming a military state. Never in my wildest imagination did I think we'd see a time when the whole nation was literally a breath away from absolute authoritarianism. Because that's exactly what it looks like is happening. Police stopping people on the roads just to determine whether they are allowed to be out? Yeah, it's getting scary, but not because of the virus. I'm more worried about where we're heading as a country.....

Abbott's talking martial law? I haven't been keeping up with the news, to be honest. I guess I'm not surprised.

[ranger_scout]

One of the most beloved, if not the most beloved, icons in the world of entertainment shared such a good message with everyone.

Julie Andrews says coronavirus 'sense of unity' reminds her of World War II bonding (https://ew.com/movies/julie-andrews-coronavirus-world-war-2/)

[Voltron]

Meanwhile, Sanders is diverting campaign funds into charities.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/488780-sanders-raises-over-2-million-for-coronavirus-relief-effort

Somebody get this man a presidency.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Abbott's talking martial law? I haven't been keeping up with the news, to be honest. I guess I'm not surprised.

Really? With your closer proximity to Austin, I'd have thought you'd be right in top of it. I mean, Dallas and Tarrant counties (and Parker, Denton, among others) have all been put on almost total shutdown. Only "essential" businesses are even allowed to stay open, people being told to shelter in place, etc. It's eerie how dystopian and despotic things are starting to look. Shades of 28 Days Later and 1984 mash-up with Contagion and Hunger Games type scary.

[CyberCubed]

I’m surprised most fast food joints are still open. At least there’s no struggle to find food. If supermarkets closed down than people would really start riots. There’s no greater fear than hunger and not having something to eat.

[Utrommaniac]

Really? With your closer proximity to Austin, I'd have thought you'd be right in top of it. I mean, Dallas and Tarrant counties (and Parker, Denton, among others) have all been put on almost total shutdown. Only "essential" businesses are even allowed to stay open, people being told to shelter in place, etc. It's eerie how dystopian and despotic things are starting to look. Shades of 28 Days Later and 1984 mash-up with Contagion and Hunger Games type scary.

I've barely been out to see how much has been shut down.

But, in my Ft Worth suburb in the few times I have...lots more people going for walks than normal.

[MikeandRaph87]

One thing that is concerning is the diagnosed cases in my state are actually five days old. It takes five days to get a positive or negative result. So the 104 cases in one day are technically from what would be six days ago now, last Friday.

[TommyT]

One thing that is concerning is the diagnosed cases in my state are actually five days old. It takes five days to get a positive or negative result. So the 104 cases in one day are technically from what would be six days ago now, last Friday.

And boom goes the dynamite..

[IndigoErth]

So I got the unemployment application submitted. Does anyone else find their division of unemployment (and some state nonsense in general) tends to be a be a bit, I dunno...vague? Unhelpful even?

I took this from a screen shot of my application. Where the lovely question mark for more info just...repeats the question and fails to state what FMLA even is. And wasn't the only question like this.

https://i.imgur.com/0L7TBmq.jpg

Really now, if people have to go and ask Google then you're failing. :tconfuse:


The other fun thing is that in my state you are required to immediately sign up for the JobLink website. (Is this local or does everyone have their own state version?) Problem is, since I used it almost two years ago the account becomes deactivated if you haven't used it after 90 days. SO you have to contact the employment office to have it reactivated by a human being, you can't do it yourself. Naturally. Had to do that last time and it worked out fine. BUT. This time I called, a few times, and am told by the recording that the office is closed, even though I called within their office hours.

I guess maybe they're closed to over the virus, but it's state stuff, isn't that essential? I know it's closed to public access, but you'd think people would still be there to at least answer questions and whatnot. The recording even says they've hired more staff to help with the increased volume!

So I sure as hell hope that I don't have to have an active account on that site in order to get benefits, because I can't get hold of anyone. And I can't make a new account because it requires your SS# to check to see if you have an account, thus you can only have one.

Supposedly job search requirements, according to an informative PDF, are waived for applicants related to the virus, but I can't find anything more about that. Sure as heck hope I don't need an active account in order for my application to work out. Grr.

[frank_one]

But, in my Ft Worth suburb in the few times I have...lots more people going for walks than normal.It was the same here in Italy weeks ago. All of a sudden people felt the need to go out jogging. Police had to "drag" people out of the parks. Now going out for a walk is forbidden unless you need to walk the dog but you have to stay very near your house.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Really? With your closer proximity to Austin, I'd have thought you'd be right in top of it. I mean, Dallas and Tarrant counties (and Parker, Denton, among others) have all been put on almost total shutdown. Only "essential" businesses are even allowed to stay open, people being told to shelter in place, etc. It's eerie how dystopian and despotic things are starting to look. Shades of 28 Days Later and 1984 mash-up with Contagion and Hunger Games type scary.

There have actually been some new media shakeups in Austin this last year. My main two sources of truthful media (people who say what they actually believe, unpopular or not, and not what ratings want) were severely gutted. One was canceled, the other was neutered and just talks about food most of the time now.

Since then, I haven't bothered keeping current on $hit. My company actually has been my main source of info in the Corona Apocalypse.

[frank_one]

In the next hours USA will be the country with most cases in the world, surpassing China and Italy.

[Coola Yagami]

In the next hours USA will be the country with most cases in the world, surpassing China and Italy.

That's what we get for laughing and ignoring it for 2 extra weeks. Not us-us but enough of us.

[frank_one]

God bless you all, american fellows. New cases today mean new deaths in the next weeks. Stay safe, stay strong.

[Jester]

Enough Tommy. Some people can maintain their faith AND social distance.
I dont want to have to lock another coronavirus thread...although if this is where you get your news...man.

Next time it may be time for some forum based social distancing.

[Leo656]

Managed to go grocery shopping earlier. Broke now for a few days, but it's not like I'm going anywhere. The Shop-Rite over here was surprisingly well-stocked; granted, I wasn't looking for toilet paper, so I didn't notice the situation with that, but I was able to get everything I needed except Macaroni and Cheese. Not a single box in the place except for one box of Kraft White Cheddar and a few boxes of Velveeta Shells & Cheese. I've tried Velveeta Shells multiple times and I just find them gross; guess I'm not the only one. :lol: But I can do without mac n cheese for a few days until the wife goes to CostCo or whatever.

They had TONS of meat products, both fresh and packaged, so that was good. Kinda needed that morale booster after reading all the horror stories in the news about empty shelves; I confess that I'd kinda been putting off going because I was concerned they'd have slim pickings and really didn't want to go out for no reason. But her mother went there earlier and said they were jammed with stuff, so figured might as well get it out of the way. We'll be set on food for a few weeks so all's well on that end.

Surprising number of people there, kinda, but not mobbed. No lines or anything; self check-outs moving smooth, everyone keeping respectful distance. Most people had gloves on; I'd say about half the people had masks, mostly older people. Again, it was nice to see things running fairly-smoothly despite the stuff in the news.

I'm just gonna be nervous now since we had to go out, but really didn't have much choice. Hopefully we'll be alright.

[Wildcat]

Ya I went out to the groceries yesterday. It was stocked just like normal except for specific items having a limit and the toilet paper was gone. Maybe it was worse at first.

I really did not want to go out though. My sister has been helping by bringing extra stuff when she goes out but she’s just as vulnerable to get it and bring it here so it doesn’t really matter.

They say it could take 2 weeks to feel symptoms or you might not feel any at all. I’ve tried to put it aside because when I really think about it creeps me out.

I don’t think gloves help much. Everyone is breathing on everything anyway. Masks I understand but a full hazard suit would be perfect.

Might sound silly but everyone should just wear a complete hazard suit and only go out for absolute necessity. I hear the news in the background about people still going to parks and entertainment places...it’s just ridiculous. How does that outrank the virus?

I realized it hasn’t even been a month that the outbreak started here in the US. It’s still at least a year for a vaccine. I know any breakthrough would be good though. Anything that stops you from dying even if it’s not a proper vaccine.

[ZariusTwo]

Well, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now tested positive

[Voltron]

Prepare for ventilator shortages. News coming out that Trump may deny state requests for aid.

Pray that you don't get this thing, because if you do, you got a death panel waiting.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Yeah, our Lt Governor made some awful comments about "old people will be happy to die to keep the economy going ", or something like that. Makes me sick to think of what kind of people we have in charge of the country/states right now. Gonna do my best to rectify that come November, if they don't somehow find a way to delay or outright nix the election.

[Voltron]

EPA regulations are suspended indefinitely. Fascists are really going whole hog with this crisis.

May want to hold your breath and stock up on potable water.

[Autbot_Benz]

Prepare for ventilator shortages. News coming out that Trump may deny state requests for aid.

Pray that you don't get this thing, because if you do, you got a death panel waiting.

there is gonna be so much blood on Trump's hands once this thing is all over its unbeliveable

[Powder]

there is gonna be so much blood on Trump's hands once this thing is all over its unbeliveable

https://connectthedotblog.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/for_rent_free.jpg?w=318&h=179

[IndigoErth]

Yeah, our Lt Governor made some awful comments about "old people will be happy to die to keep the economy going ", or something like that. Makes me sick to think of what kind of people we have in charge of the country/states right now. Gonna do my best to rectify that come November, if they don't somehow find a way to delay or outright nix the election.
How did people ever become so callous and self centered? :tsad: It's like the fact that these are people's loved ones, who they can't even BE with when they die of it because they may get it too (let alone be able to have a proper funeral!), doesn't even cross their ignorant minds. And some of those deaths aren't even old people.

I mean, okay, asshats like that have always existed, but my god... just openly public now? It doesn't really matter what such jerks think privately behind closed doors if they aren't doing anything that hurts these people, but too many idiots seem to believe these days that all of their thoughts need to come out of their mouth. :tmad:


I don’t think gloves help much. Everyone is breathing on everything anyway.
Yeah, haven't seen much of the point of gloves either. If you don't have hand sanitizer to use in public, okay, maybe, but if someone is NOT in the habit of keeping their hands away from their face they may still just automatically go and do it and with any luck that virus is on those gloves.... and everything those gloves have come into contact with and spreading far and wide.

Twice I was offered gloves while at work, from a fellow vendor at Walmart and a post office employee, but I have a job that would be kind of difficult, or at the very least become frustrating, with gloves on. I've always kept hand sanitizer on hand though, so luckily I wasn't short on any.



The things that make me a little more concerned are things like, say... hair. Supposedly viruses don't live that long on hair, but who knows how long exactly. It's not like most of us can just take it off at home and at night, esp if it's long... hopefully it isn't lurking in there when you're sleeping with your face in it or hair to pillow transference of any length... Someone needs to invent a hair-friendly disinfectant you can brush through it, esp for those for who it isn't realistic to be washing it every day.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

That's an interesting thought. We have to keep ours up because food, but I wonder how others would deal with it. And I concur about the gloves, my job is much harder than it needs to be with them on. Working with money while wearing gloves is like trying to sew with your hands in sandwich bags. Not impossible, maybe, but certainly not efficient. I gave up on it, and just use the sanitizer dispenser frequently.

[Sumac]

The things that make me a little more concerned are things like, say... hair. Supposedly viruses don't live that long on hair, but who knows how long exactly. It's not like most of us can just take it off at home and at night, esp if it's long... hopefully it isn't lurking in there when you're sleeping with your face in it or hair to pillow transference of any length... Someone needs to invent a hair-friendly disinfectant you can brush through it, esp for those for who it isn't realistic to be washing it every day.
How about taking shower when at home? :lol:

[turtle1237]

The USA is a big country. The odds were always high for us being number 1. Now I seeing news reports of young healthy people dying that had no other problems. A heathy dad and a 12 year old girl.

[CyberCubed]

I've been following this site I put below for awhile. 27,000+ deaths worldwide. The good thing (well, I suppose relatively speaking), is that 90% of the deaths are people aged 80 or above. And then 70+ year olds.

So it's people at the end of their natural lifespans. If it was all young people dying this would be really worrisome. But if you look at this:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/

Most people dying are 70-80+ year olds. So at the very least it's not something most people will die from.

[frank_one]

You're right, the virus mostly kills old people, BUT it makes more difficult to people with other diseases and problems to obtain proper medical care. You break a leg, you call an ambulance but the ambulance doesn't arrive because it is going to take a person with coronavirus, not a big deal, right? But what if you have an heart attack, you call the ambulance and it doesn't arrive because it's busy somewhere else? You die.
So yes, the virus kills only old people, but it makes hospitals full, and doctors busy, it puts the healthcare system of a country to its knees thus indirectly killing people not affected by the virus.

[Galactus]

I've been following this site I put below for awhile. 27,000+ deaths worldwide. The good thing (well, I suppose relatively speaking), is that 90% of the deaths are people aged 80 or above. And then 70+ year olds.

So it's people at the end of their natural lifespans. If it was all young people dying this would be really worrisome. But if you look at this:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/

Most people dying are 70-80+ year olds. So at the very least it's not something most people will die from.

The fact that it worse affects older people is not a good thing. Surely we should be doing everything we can to protect the older generation from this not breathing a sigh of relief and shrugging our shoulders and think "ah well they had a good innings".

Also younger people can die from this even healthy ones without pre-existing conditions and while cases vary with some mild they can get extreme symptoms too. It doesn't sound like the kind of virus you'd want to have just to get it over with. It can make living hellish for a long time.

[IndigoErth]

How about taking shower when at home? :lol:
I guess you missed the part where I said "esp for those for who it isn't realistic to be washing it every day." I'm not some person with short, thin, quick drying hair that's no big deal to do it every damn day and who don't care about making it bad with overdoing the amount of washing.

The stupid trope of "I can't, I have to wash my hair" because it takes too much time commitment is unfortunately very true, esp outside of summer.

[Voltron]

So apparently the government has threatened to invalidate the license of networks airing a commercial critical of the federal response to the outbreak.

https://www.politicususa.com/2020/03/26/trump-threatens-tv-stations-if-they-air-coronavirus-response-criticism.html

Make sure someone keeps an eye on this. Looks like we're going to get a far more authoritarian government out of this than we expected.

The fact that it worse affects older people is not a good thing. Surely we should be doing everything we can to protect the older generation from this not breathing a sigh of relief and shrugging our shoulders and think "ah well they had a good innings".

Also younger people can die from this even healthy ones without pre-existing conditions and while cases vary with some mild they can get extreme symptoms too. It doesn't sound like the kind of virus you'd want to have just to get it over with. It can make living hellish for a long time.

This is something everyone needs to remember. There is no bright side to this. If you're sitting around thinking about how a 1% death rate isn't so bad, or that it's only old people, try this: name the people close to you that you'd like to offer up as sacrifice. Speak their names aloud into the world. Make it real. Make it public. Say, "I want (name) to die."

In addition, it looks like recovery runs the chance of life long disability. It may be the dead who are the lucky ones, if the young have to go another few decades struggling for every breath.

This whole "be optimistic" talking point is BS. Be realistic. Take care of yourself and others.

[IndigoErth]

In addition, it looks like recovery runs the chance of life long disability. It may be the dead who are the lucky ones, if the young have to go another few decades struggling for every breath.
Not to mention if another strain of this or something else bad comes around later... Are survivors who are left with lung damage from this going to survive that next one? :ohwell: It could mutate another strain and take a second harder shot at some of the people who already dealt with this one.

[Coola Yagami]

I've heard reports of deaths and recoveries, has anyone heard of recoveries with permanent damage like they said? Like for example, it seems Tom Hanks and his wife recovered, did they get stuck with permanent damage,?

[frank_one]

has anyone heard of recoveries with permanent damage like they said?No, not here in Italy. A lot of fake news are spreading faster than the virus.

[Voltron]

I've heard reports of deaths and recoveries, has anyone heard of recoveries with permanent damage like they said? Like for example, it seems Tom Hanks and his wife recovered, did they get stuck with permanent damage,?

Kurzgesagt made a pretty good video (http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtN-goy9VOY&t=429s) about the general effects of the coronavirus.

The problem we face right now is that the disease is too new to form a definite prognosis. There's news from Hong Kong that it can reduce lung function by 20%-30% (https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-recovery-damage-lung-function-gasping-air-hong-kong-doctors-2020-3) in recovered patients.

National Geographic reports the same thing (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/here-is-what-coronavirus-does-to-the-body/).

The point is: some of us may get lucky and experience mild, tolerable symptoms. Some of us may get a critical case and require intensive care. Some of us may live the rest of our lives scarred by the virus.

DO NOT sit on this. DO NOT listen to people claiming this is "fake news". Anyone who says it has lost all credibility, and we'd be foolish to follow them. Following them has lead us to this very situation.

What's certain is that this is an unknown disease with unknown capabilities. It spreads fast and could have devastating effects for anyone who contracts it. Even if you are healthy and feel like you can survive it, that doesn't mean you can't pass it on to someone who won't.

BE CAREFUL.

[Andrew NDB]

Can attest to a friend of a friend my age (38 ) dying in the Seattle area for coronavirus. They gave him two different experimental treatments, intubated him and put him in a forced coma and he died last night.

[Voltron]

Which brings up another point:

This is going to be expensive. We do not have access to affordable medical care in the United States. People are going to need help.

People are going to need some help from time to time. Laugh and roll your eyes at me all you want, but I cannot stress this enough:

THIS IS WHY WE NEED SOCIAL PROGRAMS. VOTE FOR SOCIAL SAFETY NETS.

There will be medical bills and funerals to contend with during and after this crisis. Some families are going to lose income earners. People will be put on the streets.

DON'T LET PEOPLE SPIN THIS. Demonize the needs of the working class and this is what we get. Widespread hunger and poverty in the United States.

If you can, please find a charity that you're comfortable with and donate. And remember that anyone who says that social programs and charity are for the lazy and "moochers" have been proven wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt.

[TommyT]

Canada is still below 5k. You’ve passed 100k. Again, your population is only 10x ours.

As ****** as it is to pay more in taxes, I’m glad to know we’ll be getting 2k a month in help, for the forseable future. I’m happy to know, we’ve got a good handle on our situation.

Perhaps it’s time to rethink your views on ‘me and mine’.

[Mayhem]

Canada is still below 5k. You’ve passed 100k. Again, your population is only 10x ours.
15k cases in the U.K. (although I suspect it’s at least five times this due to the nature of our testing) and 759 deaths. Our population is five times smaller than the US. If our death rate looks higher than other countries, see my previous comment, testing has been more against more likely sufferers. The number of deaths against population total is a bit better judge of response, treatment and how “well” it’s being countered. And I have this horrible feeling the US numbers are going to explode from this point...

[Redeemer]

1% death rate isn't so bad,

Just to be clear for everyone this virus is not a 1% death rate. It is usually between 4-7% depending on the country. Of all confirmed cases world wide this virus shows a 17% mortality rate!!! To put this in perspective the swine flu had a .2% mortality rate.

I am not going off on you Voltron and I am not trying to incite an argument. I am just making sure everyone knows the severity of the virus and the situation. I am tired of people brushing the virus and situation off, even claiming it to be overblown. I mostly see this on Facebook. I know some foolish people unfortunately :ohwell:

[Voltron]

Just to be clear for everyone this virus is not a 1% death rate. It is usually between 4-7% depending on the country. Of all confirmed cases world wide this virus shows a 17% mortality rate!!! To put this in perspective the swine flu had a .2% mortality rate.

I am not going off on you Voltron and I am not trying to incite an argument. I am just making sure everyone knows the severity of the virus and the situation. I am tired of people brushing the virus and situation off, even claiming it to be overblown. I mostly see this on Facebook. I know some foolish people unfortunately :ohwell:


No worries. Thanks for pointing that out.

The numbers I've been seeing are all over the place. I chose a lower one to emphasize the lack of concern some people are showing. It's also one that I heard most recently.

Hopefully your friends aren't listening to the POTUS, whose misinformation has already lead to deaths.

[Redeemer]

No worries. Thanks for pointing that out.

The numbers I've been seeing are all over the place. I chose a lower one to emphasize the lack of concern some people are showing. It's also one that I heard most recently.

Hopefully your friends aren't listening to the POTUS, whose misinformation has already lead to deaths.

Yeah I hear you, its super hard to get an exact number due to lack of testing and the fact that I am betting China lied about their numbers. No way a country that densely populated does not have numbers like that, especially considering how unknown it was at the time.

Unfortunately some of them are..... :ohwell:

No, this has nothing to do with that. And nothing to do with socialist agendas. Stop making it about that. No one is not being treated.

Andrew there are tons of people not being treated!!!! People are being turned away from hospitals and testing stations bc of the overwhelming numbers! There are not enough ventilators so doctors have to choose who lives and who dies!!! This is happening not just in our country but many countries!!!

Also please stop substituting "Socialism" for "Social Welfare" they are two completely different things.

[TommyT]

Yeah I hear you, its super hard to get an exact number due to lack of testing and the fact that I am betting China lied about their numbers. No way a country that densely populated does not have numbers like that, especially considering how unknown it was at the time.

Unfortunately some of them are..... :ohwell:



Andrew there are tons of people not being treated!!!! People are being turned away from hospitals and testing stations bc of the overwhelming numbers! There are not enough ventilators so doctors have to choose who lives and who dies!!!

Same guy who thought it was just a flu. Same guy who thinks its being weaponized to tank the economy.

Same guy who argued it should be called the Chinese virus.

I mean, Maybe he’s not even him, could be Trump is secretly a huge turtles fan.

[Redeemer]

The lack of ventilators is a VERY real thing. But this has nothing -- 0 -- to do with what healthcare you're carrying around. It's simply a lack of ventilators.

Andrew I literally said nothing about our healthcare system. I was just pointing out the fact that people are being turned away from treatment and testing. That is happening not just in this country, but many countries. It doesn't matter what healthcare system a country has this virus is still going to overwhelm us bc our lack vaccination, immunity and its naturally high morbidity rate.

I think the others are just pointing out the fact that other countries with strong social welfare programs are helping their citizens more in terms of financial stability and quality of life. It is also helping their economy. If you notice the two economies that have taken the worse hit are China and US. No other economies are free falling nearly as fast.

[Andrew NDB]

Andrew I literally said nothing about our healthcare system. I was just pointing out the fact that people are being turned away from treatment and testing. That is happening not just in this country, but many countries. It doesn't matter what healthcare system a country has this virus is still going to overwhelm us bc our lack vaccination, immunity and its naturally high morbidity rate.

I think the others are just pointing out the fact that other countries with strong social welfare programs are helping their citizens more in terms of financial stability and quality of life. It is also helping their economy. If you notice the two economies that have taken the worse hit are China and US. No other economies are free falling nearly as fast.

I don't understand the point. If we had the Cuba model or whatever, suddenly there would be ventilators for all? Based on what? Why would there have been more construction/building?

[Rooish]

No, this has nothing to do with that. And nothing to do with socialist agendas. Stop making it about that. No one is not being treated.

Except this guy. https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/policy/healthcare/489957-teen-who-may-have-died-of-coronavirus-was-turned-away-from-urgent-care-due%3famp

Can't figure out how to hyperlink on the phone.

As a dual citizen who has lived all her life in Canada, I can't say we are doing perfectly here in addressing the virus. But I am supremely grateful for our socialized healthcare, which has not turned our country into some sort of Orwellian totalitarian regime. Also apparently people who have lost their jobs will get $2000 per month, which in my opinion people on disability and welfare here should have already been receiving because it is (closer) to a living wage.

The way this virus spreads and is from country to country is political. The way people and economies (which require people) manage it is political. Millions of Americans are being sentenced to death if Trump prioritizes the economy right now.

Anyway, hope everyone is staying healthy.

[oldmanwinters]

Seems relevant to this thread:

Please respect other members. Attacking or harassing other members on the forums is not allowed. This includes trolling (posting with the intention of upsetting people and/or starting arguments). If you get into an argument with another member, please take it to email/PM/IM and keep it off the forums.

http://www.thetechnodrome.com/frules.shtml

[newfan]

Seems relevant to this thread:



http://www.thetechnodrome.com/frules.shtml


I have been trying to type out a response but actually I'll second that reminder.
Everyone is being affected by this and we don't know how long it will continue or how much more impact is to come around us and or directly, can we not keep the thread where we can talk about it? It would also save it going into the other threads instead.

[Voltron]

If it's any consolation, my wife yelled at me for getting into internet fights. :teek:

I think the others are just pointing out the fact that other countries with strong social welfare programs are helping their citizens more in terms of financial stability and quality of life. It is also helping their economy. If you notice the two economies that have taken the worse hit are China and US. No other economies are free falling nearly as fast.

Bingo.

Here's the deal: Rooish makes an excellent point about this being a political issue. The rule is that politics are not allowed on the board, but try as I might there are certain members who won't stop starting political topics.

Unfortunately, that opens Pandora's Box. I really don't want that to be the case, but there's little helping it.

I'm just asking that the discussion at least remain productive and based upon general debate rules. Making strawman arguments about Cuban socialist models and other nonsense that has no bearing on the conversation will not be welcomed or tolerated. If you're unsure about what's being discussed, ask for clarification.

[Vicky82]

17k confirmed cases, 1019 deaths in the UK now.

[IndigoErth]

Can attest to a friend of a friend my age (38 ) dying in the Seattle area for coronavirus. They gave him two different experimental treatments, intubated him and put him in a forced coma and he died last night.
:( Condolences for your friend (edit: of a friend).

Have seen a number of cases in the news of younger people who have died. Hope people start waking up to the fact that none of us have a free pass with this thing just for not being old.







May head out to Walmart in a few... hoping the rain and the lockdown -- thus everyday is now a weekend day and few have anywhere to be on Money -- will help make it quiet there. *holds breath* Wish me luck. lol

edit: Saw the parking lot and said hell no and came back. Guess everyone had the same failed theory.

[Redeemer]

I don't understand the point. If we had the Cuba model or whatever, suddenly there would be ventilators for all? Based on what? Why would there have been more construction/building?

I don't know what more I can do, but I guess I just have to spell it out for you.
No one here is advocating for Socialism!! Absolutely no one!!! No if and or buts about it no one has argued for Socialism, no one has even brought it up except you.

Socialism by definition: An economy that is collectively owned and operated by the public or community at large via government. Ex: Cuba

Free Market Economy by definition: An economy in which Goods or Services are self-regulated by the open market and its consumers. Ex: UK, Canada, Finland, US, Germany. ECT....

Social Welfare which is what we are advocating for is not an economy type of any sort, but government assistance program designed to help with the quality of life of citizens.

The US use to be the nation with the strongest welfare programs in the world! Its how we became a super-power! It's we won both world wars and were able to fight a two front war in World War 2! We were the first country to have public education for all our citizens and it translated to a highly educated and efficient work force that not only improved the quality of life for our citizens, but gave us a significant economic edge over other countries.

End rant..... :lol:

[TommyT]

Who the hell erased my last post?
EDIT

you know what? Fine. your stupidity will help cull the damned herd. if that's what you all want, I don't care.
Delete all the good info. That's how you added another 20k in 24 hours. tomorrow, it will be 30, the next day 40, you will reach max infection by May 1st, with less than 15% unaffected.

USA. You are number 1.

[Barkworm]

Hi from Germany, it's been a surreal experience so far. Even though there are more than 50k reported cases so far, the number of deaths is still suspiciously low in comparison to other countries ("only" about 400) and might just indicate that the worst is yet to come. Maybe our medical care is that much better than everywhere else but I admit that is probably wishful thinking.

For my family this has become something like a weird vacation. My wife and I are both state employed teachers, meaning our jobs are 100 per cent safe. So since all schools are closed till April 20th, we just stay at home or hang out in our garden all day long. Apart from sending assignments to my pupils or correcting their results I cook and bake all day or do some chores. Once in a while I fight the urge to kill my beautiful offspring but you can't have everything.

[MikeandRaph87]

Hi from Germany, it's been a surreal experience so far. Even though there are more than 50k reported cases so far, the number of deaths is still suspiciously low in comparison to other countries ("only" about 400) and might just indicate that the worst is yet to come. Maybe our medical care is that much better than everywhere else but I admit that is probably wishful thinking.

For my family this has become something like a weird vacation. My wife and I are both state employed teachers, meaning our jobs are 100 per cent safe. So since all schools are closed till April 20th, we just stay at home or hang out in our garden all day long. Apart from sending assignments to my pupils or correcting their results I cook and bake all day or do some chores. Once in a while I fight the urge to kill my beautiful offspring but you can't have everything.

Perhaps this gives you a little more incite. I just finished reading the article before I saw your post.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/germany-has-a-remarkably-low-coronavirus-death-rate-%e2%80%94-thanks-largely-to-mass-testing-but-also-culture-luck-and-an-impressive-healthcare-system/ar-BB11PpiJ?ocid=ientp

Yeah, it is surreal as a fellow teacher. We stopped in class instruction March 13th for the last 7 and a half weeks that remained and went to online instruction.

[Sumac]

Despite the fact that we have a weekend on the next week, I still will go to the job. At least for the first two days. If we have a lot of deliveries, I will probably will work through the whole week, if not, I can take a paid leave. I hope it will be the case, since I really need some down time.

I guess you missed the part where I said "esp for those for who it isn't realistic to be washing it every day." I'm not some person with short, thin, quick drying hair that's no big deal to do it every damn day and who don't care about making it bad with overdoing the amount of washing.

The stupid trope of "I can't, I have to wash my hair" because it takes too much time commitment is unfortunately very true, esp outside of summer.
I too have, relatively, long hair, but it takes just about 10 minutes to wash them in shower everyday. Except when I am too tired or don't feel like going to shower.

[Barkworm]

Perhaps this gives you a little more incite. I just finished reading the article before I saw your post.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/germany-has-a-remarkably-low-coronavirus-death-rate-%e2%80%94-thanks-largely-to-mass-testing-but-also-culture-luck-and-an-impressive-healthcare-system/ar-BB11PpiJ?ocid=ientp

Yeah, it is surreal as a fellow teacher. We stopped in class instruction March 13th for the last 7 and a half weeks that remained and went to online instruction.
Thanks for the link, I read a similar article before and there doesn't seem to be a specific reason for the low death rate. Even the part about the number of tests is being disputed by other sources who say that there should be WAY more testing. The next three weeks will show whether it was just luck so far.

[IndigoErth]

I too have, relatively, long hair, but it takes just about 10 minutes to wash them in shower everyday. Except when I am too tired or don't feel like going to shower.
Blow dry or air dry, and how long does air dry take? I only air dry, which takes forever.

Blow drying is too frustrating and I don't even make the salon people do it when I get some of the length taken off because they complain that it just doesn't want to dry.

[Sumac]

Blow dry or air dry, and how long does air dry take? I only air dry, which takes forever.

Blow drying is too frustrating and I don't even make the salon people do it when I get some of the length taken off because they complain that it just doesn't want to dry.
Air dry - takes couple of hours, but its fine.
I once had a good thick hair, but alas, now its all grey and relatively thin. Though, even when they were healthy, I needed just few hours for them to dry.

[Leo656]

I shampoo and condition every day. Y'all need Jesus.

[Voltron]

Thanks for the link, I read a similar article before and there doesn't seem to be a specific reason for the low death rate. Even the part about the number of tests is being disputed by other sources who say that there should be WAY more testing. The next three weeks will show whether it was just luck so far.

There's a similar thing going in Japan. No one knows why the country was spared, but so far it hasn't been a huge deal here.

School is starting in a week or two, so we'll see if that does anything to increase the infection rate. I still had work because a lot of the students had to jump on to after-school programs to keep up with their studies.

In other news, countries are starting to close themselves off to the United States. Japan will make an announcement concerning US nationals entering Japan sometime next week.

Mexico has already started decrying the mass influx of US citizens trying to escape the fiasco.

Maybe Mexico will build the wall. . . :roll:

[Sumac]

I shampoo and condition every day. Y'all need Jesus.
Never used condition - too expensive most of the time and I am too lazy to use it. Up until 2015 I used only soap to clean my hair, but since they have changed its no longer was a good idea. :tcry:

[Redeemer]

Mexico has already started decrying the mass influx of US citizens trying to escape the fiasco.

Maybe Mexico will build the wall. . . :roll:

are they sure they are US citizens and not just illegals returning home???

anyway i find this extremely ironic :lol:

[IndigoErth]

So what's everyone in lockdown doing to occupy themselves these days?

So far I and a bored friend across the country in CA have been putting in some game time. Though if this lockdown lasts a while I do intend on trying to get off my butt and do something productive, like cleaning up around here...

Have a couple boxes of that awesome Krusteaz Cranberry Orange mix. Might try to get motivated to actually make one today...or this week.



Air dry - takes couple of hours, but its fine.
I once had a good thick hair, but alas, now its all grey and relatively thin. Though, even when they were healthy, I needed just few hours for them to dry.
Cool, so then you could prob understand how losing hours every single day to dry time might sometimes conflict with other things that may also need that time. :tcool:

Never used condition - too expensive most of the time and I am too lazy to use it. Up until 2015 I used only soap to clean my hair, but since they have changed its no longer was a good idea. :tcry:
Egh, isn't soap too drying anyhow?

Though I almost never touch conditioner myself. Too many of them and shampoos seem to have a lot of moisturizes in them now that just isn't needed or beneficial to mine and makes it gross too soon. One a tried years ago had so much in it that my hair seemed greasy and needing a rewash already the next day. I feel like companies do it on purpose to make people use and buy more sooner. :tconfuse:

Personally, I just use a basic inexpensive shampoo without all that nonsense and generally it's good on an every 3rd day schedule and saves both time and cost of the water bill. (And less damage by over washing.)



In other news, countries are starting to close themselves off to the United States. Japan will make an announcement concerning US nationals entering Japan sometime next week.

Mexico has already started decrying the mass influx of US citizens trying to escape the fiasco.

Maybe Mexico will build the wall. . . :roll:
Given the rising amount of cases now, it's probably wise. Though there's this mental picture I have now of the U.S., putting hand to chest exclaiming, "Moi??" Close it off to us of all people?? lol

[Sumac]

After Putin asked everyone to stay at home in Russia, people started buying tickets to the Sochi (our summer resort city), going out into parks to drink and fry some meat and into churches.
Virus? I've hardly heard ye'.:lol:

Tomorrow will be fun.

So what's everyone in lockdown doing to occupy themselves these days?

So far I and a bored friend across the country in CA have been putting in some game time. Though if this lockdown lasts a while I do intend on trying to get off my butt and do something productive, like cleaning up around here...

Have a couple boxes of that awesome Krusteaz Cranberry Orange mix. Might try to get motivated to actually make one today...or this week.
I love to stay at home and would prefer to do it as much as possible. As for what to do: video games, YouTube, video games and more YouTube. Copious amount of unread comic books.

Cool, so then you could prob understand how losing hours every single day to dry time might sometimes conflict with other things that may also need that time. :tcool:
I just dry my hair with towel and then going out to do whatever I want. I don't see completely drying as big deal.

Egh, isn't soap too drying anyhow?
No, but since my hair has become grey and thin, they turn into plastic barbed wire after I wash them with soap. So I need to wash them with a shampoo.

I am using whatever cheapest shampoo I can find. It's just need to be shampoo.

[CyberCubed]

For some reason it slipped my mind most haircutting places are shut down. Most people won't be able to get a haircut for months. I'm glad I got one not too long before this all started. I wonder if people are just going to cut their own hair.

[ChosenOne]

For some reason it slipped my mind most haircutting places are shut down. Most people won't be able to get a haircut for months. I'm glad I got one not too long before this all started. I wonder if people are just going to cut their own hair.

Chiming in from Portugal to say: I did. Just last night, actually. When it grows long enough to tickle my ears, that's when I know it's time and I can't handle the feeling for long so waiting a few more weeks/months was out of the question. I just grabbed the first pair of scissors I found and went to town. Just, uh... Just don't ask me to share the results. But it'll do until everything is back to normal.

[IndigoErth]

For some reason it slipped my mind most haircutting places are shut down. Most people won't be able to get a haircut for months. I'm glad I got one not too long before this all started. I wonder if people are just going to cut their own hair.
Lucky. The length mine is at (just below the bra waistband) is the point where it tangles too easily and I start getting tired of it...and now wishing I'd already gotten some of the length taken off. Hopefully in the summer. Will pass on cutting it myself and just put up with it.



Why can't Netflix have added much of anything good in March. Rarely run across anything good on the HBO channels either... They need to get with the good stuff in this time of boredom.

[Papenbrook]

Can attest to a friend of a friend my age (38 ) dying in the Seattle area for coronavirus. They gave him two different experimental treatments, intubated him and put him in a forced coma and he died last night.


I'm sorry for your friend's loss, Andrew.

I give them my deepest condolences.

[Candy Kappa]

Called my doctor's office, had a coughing fit in the middle of the conversation. Poor reseptionist went from professional phone voice to super concerned, which made me chuckle and get a new fit.

End of call, I'm to wait a couple of days and if I'm not getting better we're going to schedule a video call with a doctor and evaluate whether or not I need to be tested.

[Voltron]

I'm glad you're able to take care of yourself. EDIT: total misread.

You mentioned feeling very ill a few days ago, too. Have you been to a doctor before this?

I came down with a mild chest cold last week. Those was a hot minute where I considered digging my own grave. A former co-worker may have it, too. She was home with symptoms that sound very much like coronavirus.

[newfan]

Sorry to hear you are still unwell Candy, cough sounds rough. Do you feel ill with it too?

[AquaParade]

Called my doctor's office, had a coughing fit in the middle of the conversation. Poor reseptionist went from professional phone voice to super concerned, which made me chuckle and get a new fit.

End of call, I'm to wait a couple of days and if I'm not getting better we're going to schedule a video call with a doctor and evaluate whether or not I need to be tested.

Interesting how that works.

[ZariusTwo]

Had a very brief phone call with my psychologist...he asked if I was fine and I got tongue tied, couldn't give him a straight answer, and put the phone down.

Constantly flip-flopping between videos of doomcasting from mainstream media and David Icke telling us all the pandemic is exaggerated and just a means of imposing the new world order is'nt doing wonders for my equilibrium.

[Candy Kappa]

You mentioned feeling very ill a few days ago, too. Have you been to a doctor before this?

Yeah it started Tuesday night last week.

No, I haven't been to a doctor and this was the first call I made. I did register my symptoms on a medical website yesterday, but that's it.

We've been advised not to visit doctors unless absolutely necessary and sick leave papers aren't necessary as the self-certified of absence have been given a longer time period.

Sorry to hear you are still unwell Candy, cough sounds rough. Do you feel ill with it too?

I don't have a fever, but I have breathing issues, headaches and lack of energy. Just trying to play video games is taxing

Interesting how that works.

Heh, true. My coughs with a normal cold can sound pretty rough, so now it sounds like I'm about to hark up a whole lung.

[Voltron]

We've been advised not to visit doctors unless absolutely necessary and sick leave papers aren't necessary as the self-certified of absence have been given a longer time period.


If I may ask, what's self-certified of absence?

I'm glad it sounds mild enough to weather, at any rate. I hope your partner escapes it, too.

[Candy Kappa]

If I may ask, what's self-certified of absence?

I'm glad it sounds mild enough to weather, at any rate. I hope your partner escapes it, too.

It's a sick leave form you can do without going to the doctor, usually if you're sick for a couple of days or have a sick child at home and can't work.

[IMJ]

So it turns out my best friend's Grandmother has Coronavirus and is basically intubated and on her deathbed.

This is a great tragedy too - she has owned a relatively prominent bar in Portage Park - it's been in their family forever. For those that don't know, Chicago real estate is as hard to acquire and build a business on as it is to get season tickets for the Bears - once those thing are locked down they just stay under family ownership and tend to be worth huge money.

Well basically there's circumstances where instead of anyone endeavoring enough to take it over, the family is short sighted enough that they are going to have to liquidate the place and split the money up between the siblings.

That's a tragedy because now they'll be selling it under these awful market conditions so not only will they lose huge value, but it's such a short sighted action that each "kid" will probably come out of it with like 85k thinking they did well.

I told my buddy that I could write a business plan under his ownership that would keep that bar in business for at least another year and then if he still wanted to sell it, at least then he could probably unload it to a chain like Balleydoyle's for like 1.2 million. I said I'd do it with him for 200k and he could have the rest after the buyout from his Dad and Aunts. But his families shortsightedness won't let them budge.

A little leg work and planning and one year for recovery. 1.2 million or probably 80k each and some legit Chicago real estate is out of your family with no coming back ever.

I can't believe it. I've known this guy for I think 22 or so years now and I feel bad for his Grandmother's situation, but let's face it - the story as a whole is a disgusting tragedy that makes the loss of the otherwise very business savvy family member even worse.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Someone I work with in another part of the state died over the weekend. We're not sure yet what the causes were... so maybe Corona, maybe unrelated.

Either way, I'm bummed. He was a great damn guy.

[CyberCubed]

That's sad to hear, do you know his age? I've heard a lot of younger people (like people in their 30's now), are starting to pass away and this is getting worrisome.

[Papenbrook]

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, Cylon.

I give my deepest condolences to you.

-------

I'm sorry about your friend's situation, IMJ.

My thoughts are with them.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

That's sad to hear, do you know his age? I've heard a lot of younger people (like people in their 30's now), are starting to pass away and this is getting worrisome.

Upper 50s to 60s, but definitely not infirm. Big ol' Texas boy.

[IndigoErth]

Too sad, condolences. :(

[Papenbrook]

I'm worried that a lot of companies are going to file for bankruptcy.

Thousands, probably millions, are likely to be out of work. :(

[Voltron]

So there's growing talk of postponing (or possibly canceling the election) due to coronavirus. Some states have already put back their primary voting days.

This is going to mark an interesting time in US politics.

I'm not a betting man, but I'm sure most conservatives feel it wouldn't be a huge deal if Trump got to remain in office without being challenged.

Unfortunately for them, that's not how it works. The rule is that in lieu of an election, the presidency is surrendered to the Speaker of the House (https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/trump-cancel-election-day-constitution-state-electors-coronavirus.html) until such time as a proper election can be held.

The question now is: as more and more government officials realize this, will they start to fight over what to do? Given that the Oval Office falls to Pelosi, it's unlikely the GOP is going to postpone or cancel the election.
In additionTrump already admitted that easier voting benefits Democrats (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/30/trump-republican-party-voting-reform-coronavirus), so mail-in voting and easier voting probably isn't on the table. However, getting people to congregate in large numbers will help the disease spread. Though the GOP has already made clear they don't care about us dying so long as the economy is ok, so. . . who knows.

Regardless, it's a good idea to figure out a safe way to vote during the upcoming election season. Assuming the election isn't postponed.


EDIT: Advice from hostile foreign powers and people clamoring for more of the current leadership will be removed immediately.

[TommyT]

Had a very brief phone call with my psychologist...he asked if I was fine and I got tongue tied, couldn't give him a straight answer, and put the phone down.

Constantly flip-flopping between videos of doomcasting from mainstream media and David Icke telling us all the pandemic is exaggerated and just a means of imposing the new world order is'nt doing wonders for my equilibrium.

Nobody should be listening to David Icke. That’s like looking to Mike Tyson for answers.

[Redeemer]

So there's growing talk of postponing (or possibly canceling the election) due to coronavirus. Some states have already put back their primary voting days.

This is going to mark an interesting time in US politics.

I'm not a betting man, but I'm sure most conservatives feel it wouldn't be a huge deal if Trump got to remain in office without being challenged.

Unfortunately for them, that's not how it works. The rule is that in lieu of an election, the presidency is surrendered to the Speaker of the House (https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/trump-cancel-election-day-constitution-state-electors-coronavirus.html) until such time as a proper election can be held.

The question now is: as more and more government officials realize this, will they start to fight over what to do? Given that the Oval Office falls to Pelosi, it's unlikely the GOP is going to postpone or cancel the election.
In additionTrump already admitted that easier voting benefits Democrats (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/30/trump-republican-party-voting-reform-coronavirus), so mail-in voting and easier voting probably isn't on the table. However, getting people to congregate in large numbers will help the disease spread. Though the GOP has already made clear they don't care about us dying so long as the economy is ok, so. . . who knows.

Regardless, it's a good idea to figure out a safe way to vote during the upcoming election season. Assuming the election isn't postponed.


EDIT: Advice from hostile foreign powers and people clamoring for more of the current leadership will be removed immediately.

I would be very worried if the election was postponed. Ohio who first delayed the primary and they are now doing a mail in ballot primary.

[Mayhem]

US death toll now at 3,415 and higher than China. Quite tragic in the jump there, although I don't believe China's figures anyhow. It's going to hit 10k by end of April I bet, or very much sooner, maybe Easter.

[turtle1237]

US death toll now at 3,415 and higher than China. Quite tragic in the jump there, although I don't believe China's figures anyhow. It's going to hit 10k by end of April I bet, or very much sooner, maybe Easter.

Not sure I trust China's numbers, they did stop testing.

[joe-eyeball]

US death toll now at 3,415 and higher than China. Quite tragic in the jump there, although I don't believe China's figures anyhow. It's going to hit 10k by end of April I bet, or very much sooner, maybe Easter.

The experts believe we will probably be at 60k by the end of April. It’s sad!

[IndigoErth]

:tsad: Seems a little hard to believe, but with the way new cases are taking off with over 20k+ new ones a day now, maybe that's not so crazy.

From the time my state started finding cases it took about two weeks to start losing some of them. (319 cases, 10 deaths as of today. Small state, but most of that on my end.) So what's 20k+ new cases a day in the nation going to result in within a couple of weeks? :ohwell:

Stay safe out there, guys.





All I ask is that my late April b-day get to be spent with the family all still alive and well...and maybe a local restaurant with my fave pizza still operating and delivering.

[Voltron]

20k a day is a flat rate of growth. They're expecting exponential growth until it runs out of new hosts.

That's why the quarantine is important. If coronavirus were a forest fire, you'd want to keep it away from the trees. In these case, we're the trees. Until we get a vaccine, that and hand washing is what we're left with.

God, I miss New York style pizza. Hope you get it, Indigo! Happy birthday, while I'm at it.

[Leo656]

I said this elsewhere, but realistically, nobody should count on any "relief" until a year from now. NEXT April, maybe, possibly.

Think about it: People are hoping that the shutdown/quarantine/whatever is over by Summer, yet they have absolutely nothing to base that on except "hope", which is not a quantifiable commodity. So that's PROBABLY nothing but wishful thinking. But regardless of that, September/October is when everyone is going to get their normal coughs and sniffles, except this year nobody's gonna take even the slightest chance after All This, so as soon as one person gets sick, we're all right back to where we are now. They'll probably have better testing and more resources by then, but people will still freak out once people start coughing in large numbers. Cold and flu season will run through April or so. By then, one would hope that they'll consistently be able to determine who's sick with what, but like I said, that's the absolute earliest I expect anything close to "normal".

So yeah, if you wanna make plans, make 'em for 2021. This year's over with and done.

Not an ideal solution, I know. We're not prepared for a 12-month shutdown, millions of people are going to lose their homes and a lot of them are gonna die... not from the virus, but from homelessness and starvation. It's not a sustainable situation, but... It's the only realistic thing to expect.

If I'm wrong, great for everyone. But realistically... Yeah, it's gonna be like this for a year.

Good f*cking luck.

[Andrew NDB]

I said this elsewhere, but realistically, nobody should count on any "relief" until a year from now. NEXT April, maybe, possibly.

Think about it: People are hoping that the shutdown/quarantine/whatever is over by Summer, yet they have absolutely nothing to base that on except "hope", which is not a quantifiable commodity.

What's troubling to me is that anyone who is trying to be the least bit optimistic about things are being stampeded out. Largely with stuff like, "You really think June/July? You're WRONG and a bad person! We're all/mostly gonna die/get infected!" kind of stuff. It's also troubling that largely the people saying that the loudest are mostly the same people that were saying even 3 or 4 months ago on social media (unrelated to coronavirus) stuff equivalent to like, "Yeah! Bring down the whole system! It's broken and let's start anew! Revolution!" You know what I mean?

It's a complicated base problem. Half the country has been pretty skeptical about the news for about 3 years now, because it's always been wrong. The other half, believes it absolutely. The problem with the right is that even when there's absolute truth in there or even a measure of it, they're going to be naturally skeptical. This is the fault of the media. The problem with the left is that they're going to continue wolfing it down, undeterred. And the name of the game in the news is scare tactics across the board, because that's what sells.

Which isn't to downplay anything.

Anyhoo, today was the first day I woke up and honestly didn't even realize what day it was until I went and checked. I've just been watching old Star Trek shows that make me smile, working out, eating questionable food, and resisting the urge to watch this "Tiger King" thing everyone on social media seems to want everyone to check out. Apparently it's getting very bad at my former job... whole clean sweep, it seems. Ongoing tooth problem (same one I had the root canal/crown on) is becoming more and more problematic and it sucks that I can't get it taken care of anywhere. I can't even eat some foods, because my mouth fills with this sour taste that emanates from it around the gumline and I get a gag reflex with every bite after the first few. It doesn't hurt or anything, it's just this constant sour taste. Also it's entered my brain that yeah, no haircuts anywhere, probably for a while. Yeesh. I can probably mitigate things with my beard trimmer for a while but eventually that's not gonna fly.

[Wildcat]

I’m all for optimism. I think my posting here in general backs that up. But they’ve clearly stated a vaccine is at least a year away. Which I guess they mean from March when trials started.

The only optimistic thing can think of is maybe before then another medicine or treatment can be used to lower the severity so recovery is not a wait and see. Like if you get it something can actually be done against it.

I have always hated politics. I never get into any political discussions because it’s possibly the worst topic in the world. I’ll admit I’m indifferent to the whole thing (which I realize itself is some kind of stance). I only bring it up because I see it keeps getting combined with this this.

This is a health problem. Health should be the main concern with this. I don’t watch the news all day or anything it’s just unavoidable. July is not nearly enough time for it calm down. If that means delaying movies and other entertainment that’s perfectly fine with me.

Nobody needs to watch “The News” to see a virus outbreak with no vaccine that’s spread like wildfire and has caused thousands of deaths is really bad.

[Andrew NDB]

I’m all for optimism. I think my posting here in general backs that up. But they’ve clearly stated a vaccine is at least a year away.

Is when the vaccine is readily available truly the goal post, though? I can't believe the idea is to stay at home and shut all businesses down until there's one available. Though of course, the availability of one would be the final nail in the coffin of it, for sure.

[Leo656]

I'm simply a realist with a rather dim view of human nature. Seeing how it's playing out Now is how I determine where things will be Then.

Come October, everyone will be freaking out about the first person who coughs. Right back to flooding the hospitals. "We can't take any chances!" Right back to being cooped up inside, because what's the alternative? "Go about your business and hope you don't get sick... and if you DO, that's it a normal cold and not the virus"? Not happening. If it's too dangerous to operate under that mentality Right Now, it'll be too dangerous Then. So again, WHAT good would it do, at all, to even make an attempt to go back to normal anytime before NEXT cold and flu season? Any businesses that reopen in August would be shuttered again by November, or until they have a foolproof way to filter out the COVID-19 sufferers from the "regular" sick people. It would be a colossal waste of time and resources.

I hate it, but there really IS no reasonable alternative except to wait until next year from now before expecting anything to go back to "normal". It simply can't. And even that assumes that the virus doesn't mutate again, which it might. A "start-stop-start-stop" approach to recovery simply isn't going to do any good, and in fact might make things worse. By April 2021, things MIGHT be more or less resolved. Before that, total crapshoot.

Nobody wants it over with more than me, believe me. This cost me my career, which I worked very hard to establish and was finally making some headway in. But that's over with, and my entire line of work has been pretty much eliminated by this situation. I won't have a job to go back to, and I know that. My entire future is incredibly uncertain. The upside of that is, at this point, I have little left to lose, so I've come to accept that what it is right now is how it's going to remain for a very long time.

My only problem with "optimism" in this case is my problem with it in just about every case: It's got nothing to do with Objective Reality. "Wish in one hand, Sh*t in the other, see which one gets filled first." Sure, we all want this to end. Tomorrow, if possible. But it won't. "Hope", in this case, is slow torture. If EVER there was a time to prepare for the absolute worst, so as to be pleasantly surprised later if it turns out not to be that bad, THIS is that time.

I personally lost track of days about a week and a half ago. They're all the same now. Makes no difference.

[Wildcat]

Is when the vaccine is readily available truly the goal post, though? I can't believe the idea is to stay at home and shut all businesses down until there's one available. Though of course, the availability of one would be the final nail in the coffin of it, for sure.I mean if I gotta risk death or catching it and spreading it to others that could die just to see a movie...it’s not worth it. You could have it and not even know.

Right now we can only try to lower the spread as much as possible. That’s our only defense. Which is pretty scary. Things like food and other necessities already require people to go out.

You can’t force something to be normal. Keeping the entertainment business going like nothings wrong just invites more people who don’t take it seriously and inaccurately portrays the situation as not so bad.

What’s wrong putting things like entertainment on hold? They’re not being totally canceled.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm not even talking about that, but I only bemoan the loss of entertainment beyond certain dates that seem reasonable to me. And even then, maybe it's just me being a whiny bastard.

Because sh**. If we don't come out of this by, say, September, I don't foresee future trillion dollar stimulus packages pulling us out of this. And even if they do... that smells like irreparable damage. Not to you or me, but the businesses we are employable to. I continually wonder if we're approaching this in the right way.

And again, there are the very vocal wolves at the gate who are like, "Yeah! F*** it all! This is what we've been waiting for!" or people simply hoping that any 'ole person can vote by mail in November. Just saying... this seems a perfect storm of scallwaggery. And I don't even really care if Biden gets elected or not.

[Leo656]

Several things scare me about this, and I'm just trying not too think too much about it.

For one thing, I live in NJ, which is in danger of catching up to NY's numbers soon because people won't stop being stupid. All last week, numerous people all over NJ were arrested for having parties and outdoor weddings and Lord knows what else, often with attendees of 50 people or more. When we've seen this in the past, in other places, nearly every single one of those people ended up being a carrier, and thus in turn a transmitter. So I expect that we're about to have a huge spike over here, as well.

For another thing, I live in a house with my wife and her parents. Obviously, the more people in one household, the greater exponential risk.

My wife's grandmother lives alone, about ten minutes away. She's in her 80s, and suffered a very serious broken bone in her foot a couple of months ago which she's still recovering from, thus my wife's mother has to go visit and assist her daily. They both are indeed taking the situation very seriously, but as they've said, "What are we supposed to do? We don't have any choice." And since she's out, she usually makes trips to the store as well. My wife also makes a run to the store for something every couple of days, although her car isn't running right at the moment, so there's that. So far, no issues, but it is a numbers game, and I'm concerned that we're about to hit a spike AND most people who already have it don't know it yet. So I just keep hoping that nothing ends up happening. We're taking as many reasonable precautions as we can, but... well, no system is perfect.

All of this has me very concerned. Every time my wife coughs, I start listening really close. Every time I clear my throat, I get nervous. Everybody seems perfectly fine, and I hope it stays that way, but I'm really nervous about something going wrong. My wife, in particular, is a huge "Doesn't worry enough about something until it's too late" type of person.

Sigh. This whole thing sucks.

[Andrew NDB]

My wife works in heathcare... which means I very much pay attention to when she coughs, too. However, now that I'm out of work... I guess this just means I shoo my mom away when she wants to visit. Which she wouldn't want to hear and she's obtuse about going out. Not much else.

[Wildcat]

I'm not even talking about that, but I only bemoan the loss of entertainment beyond certain dates that seem reasonable to me. And even then, maybe it's just me being a whiny bastard.

Because sh**. If we don't come out of this by, say, September, I don't foresee future trillion dollar stimulus packages pulling us out of this. And even if they do... that smells like irreparable damage. Not to you or me, but the businesses we are employable to. I continually wonder if we're approaching this in the right way.What’s another way? I don’t see the problem with just delaying things.

September? What about the Fall season seems like it should start to get better? That’s a serious question not sarcasm because nothing points or suggests that’s enough time. If a vaccine was on the verge of release I’d agree.

[Andrew NDB]

What’s another way? I don’t see the problem with just delaying things.

September? What about the Fall season seems like it should start to get better? That’s a serious question not sarcasm because nothing points or suggests that’s enough time. If a vaccine was on the verge of release I’d agree.

Again, not talking about that. I'm talking about the bigger picture. Businesses forced to stay open because of licensing fees, etc. (costs more to shut down and reopen than just close entirely, which I'm seeing), in the hopes of weathering out the storm. Which they can do for a couple of months, maybe 3. Beyond that? We need to find another way.

[Leo656]

Because sh**. If we don't come out of this by, say, September, I don't foresee future trillion dollar stimulus packages pulling us out of this. And even if they do... that smells like irreparable damage. Not to you or me, but the businesses we are employable to. I continually wonder if we're approaching this in the right way.

Again, not talking about that. I'm talking about the bigger picture. Businesses forced to stay open because of licensing fees, etc. (costs more to shut down and reopen than just close entirely, which I'm seeing), in the hopes of weathering out the storm. Which they can do for a couple of months, maybe 3. Beyond that? We need to find another way.

It won't, but what else can be done? Even kids are dying from this sh*t, now. It's not just something the "old and feeble" need to worry about anymore. Plus, it keeps mutating. Short of "set the whole world on fire", there's nothing else we can do to try and contain this, other than exactly what we're doing.

No, money won't solve it. Yes, many businesses will fall. Yes, millions and millions of people will have no choice whatsoever but to be homeless or commit suicide. You're going to read about people in large numbers, killing their own children and then committing suicide, because they have literally nothing. Make no mistake, things are going to get REALLY bad, unless things suddenly do a complete 180 in a month or so and stay that way, which I'm absolutely not counting on.

All of this is now unavoidable. The world isn't ending, but it's over as we knew it. Most people MIGHT make it, but a lot of people simply won't. A LOT of people are going to die, and not from the virus itself. I've been saying that literally since Day One.

People need to start asking themselves the hard questions, Right NOW, about how much loss they're willing to accept before it's simply too much to endure, if for no other reason than so they're prepared for The Worst when that point comes. And a LOT of people who used to say "I can't understand why anyone would ever want to kill themselves" are suddenly going to have a much greater understanding of it, once they fully realize that no matter what, they're NOT getting back the life they used to have. Some people will find a way to endure, but mark my words, a LOT of them won't. You're right, the current situation isn't sustainable, and it's going to literally kill people.

Yes. Yes it is. Tragic.

Is any of it avoidable? I really don't think so. Millions of people are going to die no matter what we do or don't do, so it really just seems like splitting hairs. There IS a chance that more people might die from the virus than will from impending poverty and despair, so it's not really a chance we can take in good conscience. At least this way, we can say "We Tried." If we let everyone go back to work, and tons of people die from getting sick, everyone will say, "Should've stayed on lockdown."

Not every situation has a solution where people "win." This is Lose/Lose all the way. No good will come of this, except, maybe, a slightly more manageable population and a bit more foresight. But even that isn't a promise and is pretty morbid to look at as "the upside".

I'm past the point of caring about the political side. We're in a mess it'll take more than the next four years to fix, and any issues besides "recover from the pandemic" are completely irrelevant from now until Who Knows When. It really matters very little who "wins" at this point. I doubt anyone even WANTS the f*cking job, now. Policies and debates and whatnot matter very little in the grand scheme of things when it's been revealed that, at a very fundamental level, NOBODY "in charge" Has ANY idea about what the f*ck they're doing, or how to take care of anyone else but themselves. The whole f*cking world got caught with its pants down, with every "world leader" and local governor standing there going, "Duuuh, I'unno, maybe it won't be so bad here, I hope" like a moron. It's lucky there's not already riots; human beings generally don't react very well to discovering that everything they believe in is based on a ball of lies, after all. There IS no "government" or "authority", it's all just meaningless titles and words on paper.

So yeah, it doesn't really matter much, now. If the numbers keep rising, and it doesn't look like much in the way of progress is being made, it's only a matter of time until the guillotines come out, as it were, on a global scale. One would hope it does't get that bad, but... it might. At this point Biden has as much chance as Trump does of being skinned alive and eaten by his own "constituents", if he can't present a believable solution for this mess, which he can't. So like I said... doesn't matter. Nobody even wants the job, now. Why would they?


September? What about the Fall season seems like it should start to get better? That’s a serious question not sarcasm because nothing points or suggests that’s enough time. If a vaccine was on the verge of release I’d agree.

Like I said, regular cold/flu season is going to cause even more chaos. Every single person who has a sniffle is going to rush to the hospital thinking that they're dying, and we'll be right back to where we are until it's all sorted out. That's why I'm quite certain that April 2021 is the absolute earliest we can "relax".

And after that, as I've mentioned, most of that "relaxing" will be sifting through what's left of our "society".

[Andrew NDB]

So yeah, it doesn't really matter much, now. If the numbers keep rising, and it doesn't look like much in the way of progress is being made, it's only a matter of time until the guillotines come out, as it were, on a global scale. One would hope it does't get that bad, but... it might. At this point Biden has as much chance as Trump does of being skinned alive and eaten by his own "constituents", if he can't present a believable solution for this mess, which he can't. So like I said... doesn't matter. Nobody even wants the job, now. Why would they?

You sound about as drunk as I am at this minute. And I don't say that in a bad way. What the hell else are we supposed to do?

It'll be fine.

[Leo656]

HA, if ONLY I had money to spare for alcohol. I had to roll change for milk.

What are we supposed to do? Hold on tight and prepare for the worst. Hope to be one of the ones who doesn't have to end it all. Sounds morbid, but that's all I got.

From where I am, things will definitely be very tight, but her parents can (barely) manage the mortgage without needing anything from me, so we're not in imminent threat of homelessness. At least not at this moment. As much as I hate the situation here sometimes, we're actually slightly lucky. I'm comforted by the fact that, even if we had managed to get out of here at some point before this, we would have lost the place because of this situation, and they might have sold the house and moved out of state, at which point we'd be REALLY screwed. So yeah, if we weren't exactly where we are, I'd be incredibly panicked right now. Kinda glad that apartment I applied for last year didn't pan out. They're on a fixed income so as long as they can pay the mortgage we should be able to coast for the time being.

If it gets worse and stays bad for a really long time, well... like I said, I'm a Realist. I never planned to live forever. Things WERE finally, strongly moving in a more positive direction, but just like that, they're arguably worse than ever. Kinda getting too old to "start over" for the 80th time. It's exhausting, and I'll never be able to go back to working in the field I went to school for. If it looks like we'll be out on the streets at some point, well... I'm probably not gonna. Let's just put it like that.

But see, I always knew my own story wasn't gonna have a happy ending. I've had a lifetime to emotionally prepare for that. What saddens me is, a lot of people who thought they were "safe", are finally figuring out that no, they weren't "safe", they were LUCKY. And some of them aren't going to be able to weather the storm and come out the other side of it, specifically because they're not emotionally prepared to endure such hardship. I've NEVER been a "hopeful" person, and you can't well miss what you've never had, but seeing people who HAD hope lose it... well, it's demoralizing. I feel very, very bad for those people who never thought they'd have to lose everything. But I've said my whole life, most of this sh*t is just random chance and if your number is up, it's up.

We're in complete agreement that the more months go by without people going back to work, the worse off it'll be for everyone. But frankly, that's just something we need to accept at this point. Because again, one person coughs and it all gets shut down again. There IS no avoiding the bloodletting, at this point. We just have to ride out the wave and hope we survive.

[Wildcat]

Again, not talking about that. I'm talking about the bigger picture. Businesses forced to stay open because of licensing fees, etc. (costs more to shut down and reopen than just close entirely, which I'm seeing), in the hopes of weathering out the storm. Which they can do for a couple of months, maybe 3. Beyond that? We need to find another way.Oh you’re talking about the overall economy side of it.

It’s sad that smaller businesses are struggling but I don’t know what to say about that because there’s no tangible way to protect ourselves from the virus.

I think things like toilet paper and other stuff running out will start to go back to normal sooner since there’s no actual shortage of those things. Just high demand at the beginning because it happened so fast.

[Andrew NDB]

HA, if ONLY I had money to spare for alcohol. I had to roll change for milk.

Aw, sh**. My bad.

We're in complete agreement that the more months go by without people going back to work, the worse off it'll be fore everyone. But frankly, that's just something we need to accept at this point. Because again, one person coughs and it all gets shut down again. There IS no avoiding the bloodletting, at this point. We just have to ride out the wave and hope we survive.

I think you're being overly negative. Period, point blank. And I get it. But that's healthy. Obviously it's better to prepare for the worst and be surprised by the best, and all.

Oh you’re talking about the overall economy side of it.

It’s sad that smaller businesses are struggling

Define small businesses. Obviously we think of "big business" as Amazon and eBay and stuff like that. And "small business" as maybe the mom and pop store on 5th street. This is an "all business" problem. Generally mandated by all states' governors. In fact, this is impacting the smaller businesses most. In that they won't be able to exist if this goes on more than a month or two. In fact, in the end... I'm no expert in these things and I'm certainly not the guy to do conspiracy... but maybe this wipes out all the little guys. To where when we come back, it's just Walmart. It's just Amazon. It's just X. Yeesh.

[Leo656]

I think things like toilet paper and other stuff running out will start to go back to normal sooner since there’s no actual shortage of those things. Just high demand at the beginning because it happened so fast.

One would hope. We still have some (mother-in-law is a CostCo member), but there's still f*ck-all nothing on the shelves everywhere you go.

One would THINK that once people saw that everything from f*cking filet mignon to chopped liver was still widely available, that they'd STOP hoarding the f*cking toilet paper (AND the macaroni and cheese :tgrumble:).

Like, you couldn't believe the spread at the Shop-Rite last week. Fresh chicken and giant turkeys and ham and pork chops and goddamn near everything, with a packed freezer section as well. But if you want "Kraft dinner" or to wipe your ass, you're f*ckin' beat. :lol: That sh*t blows my mind. Hopefully things at least settle down a little bit on that front. Most people probably have way more toilet paper than they need, so hopefully they'll let everyone else have a turn.

You can never have too much mac and cheese, though, so while I don't like that situation I understand it. I'd slit an infant's throat for a box of Kraft Three-Cheese right now and it hasn't even been two weeks.

Aw, sh**. My bad.


I think you're being overly negative. Period, point blank. And I get it. But that's healthy. Obviously it's better to prepare for the worst and be surprised by the best, and all.

All good, man, no worries.

And we can hope, right? Like I've said before, being a "negative" pessimist is literally ALL Upside. Let's look at the numbers again! :lol:

- If you always expect the worst to come, you're usually proven correct. So at least you're prepared.
- You get to say "I told you so", which is always, always awesome, even in the worst of times.
- In the unlikely even that you're wrong, that's great! That means Good Things happened instead, and that's great for everyone, including the doomsayers. It's well worth sacrificing "I told you so" in exchange for a happy ending, law's yes. I don't think anyone would dispute that.

It's just a much safer and more comforting position to exist in, given that most things are terrible and most bad things get worse. But it's Win/Win either way! I could never, ever ken to the life of a "hopeful optimist", and all the soul-crushing disappointment that comes along with it. To always and forever want and hope for something to go right, and then it usually doesn't. Blech! Couldn't do it. Since my soul was already crushed at an early age, MOST of my life is either being proven right OR being pleasantly surprised. Both of those things are awesome! :tgrin:

Some people say it sounds exhausting, but from where I sit, it's more liberating than anything. I'm generally a pretty "happy" person, really... I just expect things to be bad/get worse, and they usually do. That's all. It's not like I sit around in despair or anything. More like a giant "Eh" shrug. Sh*t goes bad? "Eh, of course it did." It didn't get that bad? "Well that's great."

I'unno, works for me. Like I said, I'm simply prepared for the If and When. And I'd advise others to start some serious introspection on "personal loss" and exactly how much they're willing to endure, because a great many assumptions about themselves are going to be challenged and tested in the coming months.

[Wildcat]

Define small businesses. Obviously we think of "big business" as Amazon and eBay and stuff like that. And "small business" as maybe the mom and pop store on 5th street. This is an "all business" problem. Generally mandated by all states' governors. In fact, this is impacting the smaller businesses most. In that they won't be able to exist if this goes on more than a month or two. In fact, in the end... I'm no expert in these things and I'm certainly not the guy to do conspiracy... but maybe this wipes out all the little guys. To where when we come back, it's just Walmart. It's just Amazon. It's just X. Yeesh.Well I don’t know. I agree it’s a legitimate problem I think surviving the virus first is still more important.

I get it though. We’ve had money problems and still do unrelated to this. That’s fixable though. Economy eventually recovers and you can do other things.

One would hope. We still have some (mother-in-law is a CostCo member), but there's still f*ck-all nothing on the shelves everywhere you go.

One would THINK that once people saw that everything from f*cking filet mignon to chopped liver was still widely available, that they'd STOP hoarding the f*cking toilet paper (AND the macaroni and cheese :tgrumble:).

Like, you couldn't believe the spread at the Shop-Rite last week. Fresh chicken and giant turkeys and ham and pork chops and goddamn near everything, with a packed freezer section as well. But if you want "Kraft dinner" or to wipe your ass, you're f*ckin' beat. :lol: That sh*t blows my mind. Hopefully things at least settle down a little bit on that front. Most people probably have way more toilet paper than they need, so hopefully they'll let everyone else have a turn.

You can never have too much mac and cheese, though, so while I don't like that situation I understand it. I'd slit an infant's throat for a box of Kraft Three-Cheese right now and it hasn't even been two weeks.Ya it’s funny how only very specific things ran out. I can kinda see toilet paper though. As far as household appliances and such nothing is more important than a working order bathroom imo.

There’s a lot of toilet paper on Amazon. Probably Mac and Cheese too. Although wouldn’t that be easy to make? Buy some noodles and cheese and find a recipe online?

[Leo656]

It's not the same. NOTHING is the same as Kraft, you godless heathen.

I grew up hella-poor so we used to get the store-brand stuff from the food bank sometimes, and good LORD anyone who says "it's the same stuff" is a lying scumbag. My parents used to HATE how on-point my sense of taste was. I didn't even need to see the box, I could always tell if it was the cheap sh*t as soon as it hit my tongue (weird aftertaste due to the cheaper powdered cheese, there's no mistaking it). They'd insist it wasn't, and I'd fish the box out of the trash just to prove they were lying jagoffs, and they'd pull "It's the saaaaame!" and I'm like "If it's the same then YOU eat it!" and of course they would NOT because even a parent trying to pull one over on their snotty kid while saving twenty cents will admit under duress that that sh*t tastes like garbage compared to Kraft.

I also don't really care much for homemade mac and cheese. If I'm going to eat garbage, I insist that it be ONLY the highest-quality garbage money can buy. :lol:

Luckily, Knorr pasta sides seem to be in decent supply, and I adore those as well. Particularly the Creamy Garlic Shells and Chicken & Broccoli ones. So I'm "surviving". I'm just kicking myself because the last time I went to Walmart I could've bought a ton of mac and cheese, but I didn't, because "we had plenty at home." Sure feel stupid NOW. :tgrumble:

[Wildcat]

:lol: Ya they all taste different. Not just macaroni and cheese. Basically all stuff.

I like most types. Generic or Brand name. Some generic stuff is actually pretty good. You wouldn’t think so but it depends.

There is actually a lot of Kraft on Amazon. Just higher prices because they come in bulk packs. Which is good during this time.

[Leo656]

They're gonna start cracking down pretty soon because Amazon workers are going on strike due to unsafe working conditions caused by the virus. So pretty soon people likely won't be allowed to order anything except medical supplies and (maybe) toilet paper. That's officially all the warehouse workers want anyone to be allowed to order as it is; as one put it in one of the articles I read earlier, "I don't wanna be the person to get sick and die for someone's scented oils."

Which I guess makes sense, but yeah. Anybody who's thinking about stocking up from Amazon better get on it right now, because soon there's gonna be a crackdown on what you're allowed to order, a complete Amazon workers' strike, or both of those things. Just a heads up.

[frank_one]

Some stats from Italy:
average age of the dead is 79
70% are men, 30% are women

People are likely to go back to work in May, schools might just be done for this year and reopen in September. Bars, restaurants, cinemas and all other places where people gather will be the last to get back into bussiness.

[Wildcat]

Leo656, I didn’t know. Thanks for mentioning it. Just looked it up. Ya it makes sense.

We actually did get a bulk supply of toilet paper from Amazon so we have enough for now.

Hopefully stores will start catching up to the shortages pretty soon.

[Leo656]

I'm sincerely rooting for nothing less than the Best-Case Scenario on all fronts great and small.

I simply don't expect it. But believe me, I'd sincerely love to be wrong now more than ever. Sh*t, I'd especially love to have a job to go back to, but that's incredibly unlikely.

One day at a time, I guess.

[Wildcat]

Well like I mentioned before I could see some other medicine/treatment coming along that lowers the severity and actually treats the virus instead of leaving it all up to your own body and chance.

This would be the second best thing because it means everyone is more likely to recover. Like there’s other things that don’t have a cure but people survive because there’s an actual treatment for them.

I’m not an expert but I hope that’s possible. It would certainly ease the tension waiting for a vaccine. Generally a year isn’t too long but in this situation its very long. That’s at the very least too.

[Voltron]

What's troubling to me is that anyone who is trying to be the least bit optimistic about things are being stampeded out. Largely with stuff like, "You really think June/July? You're WRONG and a bad person!

I want to preface this by saying that I don't dislike you, Andrew. I don't think you're a bad person. I don't say any of this with the intention of offending you.

If anyone's wondering why I'm so vocal when people post nonsense, it's because my job is to teach people how to write and communicate. It's my job to look at and pull apart arguments to see how well they hold up. While I'm not very good at much, I am excellent at my job.

With that. . .

Andrew, you're wrong. Expecting other people to be optimistic during this is unfair. Wanting people to let you feel the way you feel and being hurt when they don't is about the most snowflake thing one could say.

because it's always been wrong. The other half, believes it absolutely.

Right out the gate we have a logical fallacy. ALWAYS? Sometimes, sure. But always? No.

The problem with the right is that even when there's absolute truth in there or even a measure of it, they're going to be naturally skeptical.

I want to point out that you've been very vocal about "libs" in the past. You've posted articles (that you clearly didn't read) from hard-line right wing sources.

You even started a thread about this very pandemic where you insinuated it was being played up by the "left" to try and impeach Trump.

Don't you dare point the finger at someone else before you admit your own guilt. Or, at the very least, reform your argument to leave out the glaring hole in it.

Which brings me to this gem. . .

This is the fault of the media.

Andrew, how many times have I had to slog through one of your bull$hit news articles you posted only to find it saying the opposite of the click bait headline?

This is your problem. You're the one who constantly posts articles without reading. If the news is wrong, you wouldn't even know.

The problem with the left is that they're going to continue wolfing it down, undeterred.

Again, you post articles without reading them. You wolf down GOP horse crap like it's the cure for coronavirus and you just tested positive with a beautiful kit that we have plenty of.

As for "the left" "wolfing" down news "undeterred", there's currently a petition to stop a certain ass from broadcasting literal fake news every day (https://www.newsweek.com/nearly-100000-sign-petition-calling-end-live-coverage-trumps-coronavirus-briefings-1495195). So at least some people who aren't in Cult 45 are wising up to the game being played.

I keep hoping one day you'll wake up and go "Oh! I've been defending an idiot this entire time!" And while I'm sure Hell will freeze over before you admit any wrong doing or mistakes, the fact that you've ceased posting those lame articles from Breitbart mean that you're at least aware on some level. I take solace in that. Though I'm saddened that it took the end of the world as we know it for you to finally give it a rest.

And the name of the game in the news is scare tactics across the board, because that's what sells.

Stop acting like this is a one sided problem. Remember the caravan? And how Obama wasn't born in the USA? None of those were real.

I have no problem admitting that there's a good deal of nonsense on "the left". There efforts to run political interference is annoying as hell.

But to say that the left are "sheep" is absolutely wrong. At least one person has died because POTUS told people chloroquine is an effective treatment.

Which isn't to downplay anything.

You've been downplaying this from the beginning.

Also, you're still on unemployment? And you're drunk? And you're looking to buy video games and go to the movies? Do you not see the irony in any of this? Were you to see someone else doing this, would you not be livid? Would you not say this is proof that social welfare is only going to be abused?

My point being: as much as I bust your chops, I don't really think you're a lesser person for falling on hard times. It happens. That's been my argument all along. But it frustrates me to no end that you're still this die hard cheerleader for robbing others of the benefits you currently enjoy.

The truth is that this probably isn't going to end any time soon, especially in the US. We have awful leadership at the top that was cheered and celebrated by the Right. Now's the time they get to take responsibility for it.

The fix to this is going to be unpleasant. We're going to have to sacrifice a lot in the coming months. Not everything, but enough to hopefully wake us up to realize that the current system doesn't work. There needs to be solid changes. We, as a nation, cannot expect to survive like this.

We were sold a lie. This "I built that", "self-sufficient" mindset is wrong. None of us are capable of doing ANYTHING on our own. We all had help. Anyone who insists they "pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps" is lying. Anyone who tells you to trust in trickle down economics is lying.

WE NEED SOCIAL PROGRAMS. WE NEED CIVIC PLANNING IN ORDER TO WEATHER THESE INEVITABLE HARDSHIPS. UNITY IS WHAT MAKES US STRONG.

Now we have to be shamed on the world stage as this crisis rips through citizens dying for no reason other than the arrogance and ignorance of morons who won't wise up.

If you're in doubt about any of these ideas, just remember that the most vocal critics of this are currently holding their hand out for unemployment. Corporations just got a trillion dollar bailout but there's no money for you. Not from the corporations. The people paying for the out-of-work are those who are fortunate enough to still have jobs. Do not let that leave your head.

[ranger_scout]

These are just the sort of words for that we need to hear during these times. This is from Paige O'Hara, the lady who voiced Belle in Beauty and the Beast. The message she just shared is one of the many reasosn why she has always been one of my role models and why I'm so thankful to have met her.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-akDloHx6q/

[ChosenOne]

Chloroquine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroquine) is an actual medication used to treat malaria and a number of other conditions. Whether it's effective against the China virus or not is being evaluated, but it's a legit medication. As in, it's legit when it's prescribed/employed by medical professionals. Maybe if people took the time to think things through, they wouldn't drink ****ing fish tank cleaning fluid and die. Straight to the Darwin Awards Hall of Fame.

[IndigoErth]

with a packed freezer section as well.
Lucky. Maybe our Shoprite and Acme are better, not sure, but our Walmart today... had hoped to grab some frozens, but what limited amount of frozen meals there were left was nothing I liked. So much is wiped out, it's absurd. Didn't check our Mac& Cheese, but I doubt there is much, a lot of the cheaper things are pretty wiped out.

Oddly enough the prepackaged deli stuff was stocked okay. Either it was just freshly put out or people around here are super lazy just wanting the microwavable food. lol




Went to Walmart in the late morning and the place was already quite busy. I love how they were trying to pretend to do distancing at the door...but then inside it proves to be a pointless effort. Stores were definitely quieter than this last week after we went into lockdown. Either every one ran out of food already or they're out there because they're bored. Plenty enough cars still on the road. Are most of them really out there to get groceries, hmm? :tconfuse:

Or course I saw some PA and Jersey cars. Guess they snuck over still despite the fact that all of us are supposed to be staying home AND out of state people are now supposed to do a 14 day quarantine after coming into the state. So, no, sorry, if you want to shop at our Aldi you need to go rent a hotel for two weeks and quarantine first. :tlol: They better not be carriers bringing any of that virus with them.

[CyberCubed]

Am I the only one here still working? And not from home but still traveling to work? Unfortunately they didn’t let me work from home so I am still getting in a crowded NY subway to work.

You’d be surprised how packed the subways still are. I expected there to only be a small handful of people but the subways are filled. This is why the virus spreads in NY so easily.

[IndigoErth]

Yikes, be careful out there, Cubed. Would not want to be in your shoes, esp not in that city. :ohwell:

No work for me. I don't think a single one of my stores (plus a post office) are closed, but we're not allowed to go so they're going to have to put up with my department in them being a bit of a mess for a while.

[Candy Kappa]

Chloroquine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroquine) is an actual medication used to treat malaria and a number of other conditions. Whether it's effective against the China virus or not is being evaluated, but it's a legit medication. As in, it's legit when it's prescribed/employed by medical professionals. Maybe if people took the time to think things through, they wouldn't drink ****ing fish tank cleaning fluid and die. Straight to the Darwin Awards Hall of Fame.

Two people in Nigeria died of Chloroquine poisoning after Donald's dumb tweet.

[ChosenOne]

Two people in Nigeria died of Chloroquine poisoning after Donald's dumb tweet.

I'm aware. And as I'm sure you know, pretty much any medication can kill if incorrectly used, overdosed or combined with certain other substances. That's why self-medicating like those two Nigerians did is such a big no-no. Granted, I don't know if it works the same way in the US (let alone in Nigeria) but here in Europe, even over-the-counter stuff comes with a lengthy leaflet listing all the possible risks and side effects of any given drug. Frankly, I think it's farfetched to blame those deaths on Trump. Instead, they should be blamed on lack of common sense. Putting chemicals in your system is no joke. Ironically enough, chloroquine has probably already saved/helped countless other lives in Nigeria, where a vast majority of the population is at risk of contracting malaria.

[Galactus]

Oh wait, it is never they fault. Never ever ever.

China has some serious questions to answer to the world about about it's wet markets and keeping Covid-19 under wraps for as long as it did however that can't be used to deflect from legitimate criticism of various Western governments handling on the crisis.

China did not make Trump dismiss the whole thing as a hoax for a long time. China did not make Boris Johnson adopt this shocking and 100% wrong 'herd immunity' strategy. China did not make various European countries slow to enact lock downs for fear it would make their governments look bad.

"But what about China..." cannot be the response whenever someone brings up their local governments failings.

[CyberCubed]

The weird thing is if anything sparks World War III it will likely be this. China is generally to blame for the virus and they're a first world country now, and once the virus gets under control people will demand blood for blood. And with China being buddy-buddy with North Korea, it's not a pretty picture.

I can easily see the U.S., the European countries, Japan, and Russia putting some heavy sanctions on China after this or increasing taxes on trade.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

The weird thing is if anything sparks World War III it will likely be this. China is generally to blame for the virus and they're a first world country now, and once the virus gets under control people will demand blood for blood. And with China being buddy-buddy with North Korea, it's not a pretty picture.

I can easily see the U.S., the European countries, Japan, and Russia putting some heavy sanctions on China after this or increasing taxes on trade.

I'd like to think most sane people aren't buying into Alex Jones conspiracies and won't want to go to war over a fvcking accidental pandemic.

[Redeemer]

USSR hymn intensifies.


Expecting another abuse of power from worthless snowflake of a "so called" moderator.
Must be great power trips on a half-dead forum, right, Volty?

First of all the USSR was a fascist dictatorship that has a centralized government with a "Planned" Economy. If you are going mock someone at least have your facts straight so it makes sense........ literally nothing we have talked about correlates with the USSR at all...

You literally need to chill out bud. You honestly should not be in this thread if you have resort to mocking......

[lonewarrior20]

Am I the only one here still working? And not from home but still traveling to work? Unfortunately they didn’t let me work from home so I am still getting in a crowded NY subway to work.

You’d be surprised how packed the subways still are. I expected there to only be a small handful of people but the subways are filled. This is why the virus spreads in NY so easily.

still working produce at my Walmart. now their going to be taking our temperature before we can work. if its 101 we have to go home. we'll see if we even have someone taking temps at 4 in the morning. then again if you have a 101 fever you shouldn't be working anyway. the crazy thing is the customers, its the same people that come in everyday. we have old people come in and do excersize walking or this is the only place they can socialize and 'hang' out. and i'm not talking about kids mind you these are adults 45 to 90 years old. if i'm going to get it, its most likely from them.

[frank_one]

once the virus gets under control people will demand blood for blood.Blood for blood, uh? People will only want peace, their main concern will be to still have a job and not to be starving under a bridge.
China will probably pay, if this is all their fault, but no, that's not what people care.

[IndigoErth]

People need to stop acting as if China did this on purpose. Cripe, only people with extreme mental illness would want to inflict a pandemic on the world and see many in their own nation fall, and those nuts are in a small minority. I can't see any nation actually wanting this kind of disruption that's just hurting themselves too.

If it did stem from those live animal markets, the better response would just be a show of remorse from China and an effort to change that situation.

if its 101 we have to go home.
They consider 100 normal and okay to work though? o.O

[turtle1237]

People need to stop acting as if China did this on purpose. Cripe, only people with extreme mental illness would want to inflict a pandemic on the world and see many in their own nation fall, and those nuts are in a small minority. I can't see any nation actually wanting this kind of disruption that's just hurting themselves too.

If it did stem from those live animal markets, the better response would just be a show of remorse from China and an effort to change that situation.


They consider 100 normal and okay to work though? o.O

I don't think any one is saying China did it on purpose. But there are people claiming China was not at fault at all. Yes its there fault, and they should own up to it.

[Galactus]

I don't think any one is saying China did it on purpose. But there are people claiming China was not at fault at all. Yes its there fault, and they should own up to it.

People are saying that China did it deliberately even though it has killed a lot of their own people. Maybe no one here is saying it but that belief is out there.

Sure, the virus initiated in China and their attempt to bury it is something that should and will be continued to be called out but as I said the fault for the spread outside of China is down to how well each individual countries have handled it.

The US and the UK in particular have done a phenomenally poor job (at times deliberately so) handling this and the fault for that lies not with China but their bloated weird haired leaders.

[turtle1237]

People are saying that China did it deliberately even though it has killed a lot of their own people. Maybe no one here is saying it but that belief is out there.

Sure, the virus initiated in China and their attempt to bury it is something that should and will be continued to be called out but as I said the fault for the spread outside of China is down to how well each individual countries have handled it.

The US and the UK in particular have done a phenomenally poor job (at times deliberately so) handling this and the fault for that lies not with China but their bloated weird haired leaders.

Being a American, I think the main problem is us Americans are 2 stubborn and 2, we have 2 parties that really never got along. 1 party would have a ideal(Good or bad) and the other party would vote against it because it came from the other party.

Not going to get into the politics of the matter, but that's how it is.

[Voltron]

Am I the only one here still working? And not from home but still traveling to work? Unfortunately they didn’t let me work from home so I am still getting in a crowded NY subway to work.

You’d be surprised how packed the subways still are. I expected there to only be a small handful of people but the subways are filled. This is why the virus spreads in NY so easily.

I am. I greatly scaled back my personal businesses, but the company I advise and coordinate with is still going full steam.

I'm looking to get a third job in the near future. Work, work, work.

[IndigoErth]

Yeah, what Galactus said. Maybe not so much here, but there is so much of that quite toxic conspiracy BS out there anymore, including over this pandemic at the moment. (Really starting to hate that sort as it seems like they have such a strong desire to poison the world with it best they can.)

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Business as usual for me, with a few "minor" adjustments. Namely, we have lines on the floor for people to stand at when in line to order in-store (take out only) and very few even seem to realize we are still doing in-store business at all. But drive through is still busy, in fact today, once everyone not working woke up and got hungry, it was nuts. Whole families coming through to make big orders, mostly during lunch hours. Early morning breakfast business for those still working was busy too, and we are stuck with a skeleton crew, with everyone's hours scaled back a couple of hours each day to reflect the dip in business. I'm thankful to still have a job (we are "essential" as a food provider, of course) but ugh, I just wish people weren't such panicky lemmings!

[Sumac]

China has some serious questions to answer to the world about about it's wet markets and keeping Covid-19 under wraps for as long as it did however that can't be used to deflect from legitimate criticism of various Western governments handling on the crisis.
I've never said, that other governments shouldn't be held responsible for their decisions. Just that no-one should forget about role China had played in this crisis.

First of all the USSR was a fascist dictatorship that has a centralized government with a "Planned" Economy. If you are going mock someone at least have your facts straight so it makes sense........ literally nothing we have talked about correlates with the USSR at all...

You literally need to chill out bud. You honestly should not be in this thread if you have resort to mocking......
Slogan "OUR POWER IN UNITY" is pretty much from the USSR playbook. And when someone spouts such things, people should think hard about implications of it.

Also, I wouldn't resort to mockery if Volty wasn't...well, what he is. :lol:

People need to stop acting as if China did this on purpose. Cripe, only people with extreme mental illness would want to inflict a pandemic on the world and see many in their own nation fall, and those nuts are in a small minority. I can't see any nation actually wanting this kind of disruption that's just hurting themselves too.
If a person kills someone by accident, are they considered completely innocent?

China haven't done on purpose, but they have created necessary conditions for it to happen, no matter, what various fairy-believers will tell you, that "it could happened anywhere!!".

No, it could not. It could happen only in extremely unsanitary places. Also, I remind you that those markets ALREADY caused epidemic back in 2003.

Sure, the virus initiated in China and their attempt to bury it is something that should and will be continued to be called out but as I said the fault for the spread outside of China is down to how well each individual countries have handled it.
First case of Wu Flu was registered in November of the last year.
China has started doing something about it only in February, as far as we know. It is not a "somewhat bad response", it is actually very ****** response on par with those in US, UK and Russia.