Objectively intelligent.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I poked around and you're right, it's like a Greek tragedy and the victims are overwhelming African Americans. One of the funerals stayed within social distancing guidelines, only five attendees, but some people came separately by car and sat at a distance and there was still enough mixing to spread.

Dude, grow up. Do you think the not distancing is just rural trumps? The heavily black neighborhood a half mile from me is an epicenter. FB friends keep posting photos of people in Brooklyn and Queens not distancing- hipsters G, hipsters ain’t listening.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Dude, grow up. Do you think the not distancing is just rural trumps? The heavily black neighborhood a half mile from me is an epicenter. FB friends keep posting photos of people in Brooklyn and Queens not distancing- hipsters G, hipsters ain’t listening.

Blame is silly at the moment. This thing is uniquely contagious. It’s going to take numerous historians, and most will be half right as narrative writers always are, to assign that.

Of course this doesn’t hunt one demographic more than another. It hunts density. How far does a cough or sneeze spread? How tightly are the people of the community packed?

This is always going to give rise to an argument it kills minorities more than others. For good reason. That’s true. The stats tell the story.

Okay. But the takeaway? It’s not blame. It’s simple recognition that humans living in tight areas, rich, poor, whatever, will catch viruses more easily. More so poor people.

These are awful realities. But I sometimes wonder how much more awful than the fact children die of cancer every day, car crashes take out untold life years, and general obesity kills hundreds of thousands, quite slowly.

I don’t know how to blame the lot of us for not living in utopia. I surmise the only way out is to avoid killing docs and nurses and incrementally reopening.

That’s what is going to occur. It’ll prove the theory this virus is not as generally lethal as guessed, or the opposite.

We’ll need to let this thing test us a bit, but not foolishly and population-wide like the Brits.

[Icky Thump]

On what to watch for as far as danger signs. While I have opined that I think the infection rate in NY is probably 20x higher than reported, this highlights the danger signs of the disease:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/o...gtype=Homepage

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Blame is silly at the moment. This thing is uniquely contagious. It’s going to take numerous historians, and most will be half right as narrative writers always are, to assign that.

Of course this doesn’t hunt one demographic more than another. It hunts density. How far does a cough or sneeze spread? How tightly are the people of the community packed?

This is always going to give rise to an argument it kills minorities more than others. For good reason. That’s true. The stats tell the story.

Okay. But the takeaway? It’s not blame. It’s simple recognition that humans living in tight areas, rich, poor, whatever, will catch viruses more easily. More so poor people.

These are awful realities. But I sometimes wonder how much more awful than the fact children die of cancer every day, car crashes take out untold life years, and general obesity kills hundreds of thousands, quite slowly.

I don’t know how to blame the lot of us for not living in utopia. I surmise the only way out is to avoid killing docs and nurses and incrementally reopening.

That’s what is going to occur. It’ll prove the theory this virus is not as generally lethal as guessed, or the opposite.

We’ll need to let this thing test us a bit, but not foolishly and population-wide like the Brits.

I'm honestly concerned for some of the Trumpsters I love, the people in my family who listen to the guy and get excited about liberating Staten Island or the like.

As to some of the neighbors who sit around drinking beers on their lawns together, I'm just steering clear, those fuckers are assholes for doing that around here.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I'm honestly concerned for some of the Trumpsters I love, the people in my family who listen to the guy and get excited about liberating Staten Island or the like.

As to some of the neighbors who sit around drinking beers on their lawns together, I'm just steering clear, those fuckers are assholes for doing that around here.

The whole "liberate" concept is moronic. I live in one of the most aggressively locked down states. I get in the car, drive to the store, drive to the wife's office, conduct what business we can observing social distancing. Nobody is imprisoning me.

The development nearby is openly building homes in violation of the prohibition on construction.

You're pretty much free to do almost anything you like other than go to restaurants, movies, and concerts. You just have to take the chance of getting the virus, and getting dispersed by police for violating rules.

But there are zero police around these days. Like most other people, they too are socially distancing.

These yahoos in Michigan are really protesting against the idea of caution. Their goal seems to be to force everyone to abandon caution. That sort of protest would make no sense, however, so instead they make the state the boogeyman, observing this bizarre fiction that if only the state would allow freedom, all of the people would go back to living exactly as they did a few months ago.

That's only going to happen incrementally, smartly. Cautiously.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I'm honestly concerned for some of the Trumpsters I love, the people in my family who listen to the guy and get excited about liberating Staten Island or the like.

As to some of the neighbors who sit around drinking beers on their lawns together, I'm just steering clear, those fuckers are assholes for doing that around here.

Well, that's nice, because I say (about them)

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Well, that's nice, because I say (about them)

I've had social distancing drinks with a business partner and my wife in the driveway. I've also had lengthy conversations with neighbors who are docs. We just stay far apart from each other.

The only tough part is one friend has an absolutely adorable dog that after a couple drinks one has to remind himself never to pet. Such a sweet animal. Probably thinks I'm an insufferably cold asshole.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

The whole "liberate" concept is moronic. I live in one of the most aggressively locked down states. I get in the car, drive to the store, drive to the wife's office, conduct what business we can observing social distancing. Nobody is imprisoning me.

This is true. As have said before, I generally buy in bulk so am set on things. The only thing that's been a chore to get has been cleaning stuff, paper towels and toilet paper.

Yesterday, I had to drop off something at Fedex and Sam's Club is right next door. I went, waited on line, and got close to what I needed in a very pedestrian 25 minutes. Absent the cops and masks, it would have been close to normal.

These yahoos in Michigan are really protesting against the idea of caution. Their goal seems to be to force everyone to abandon caution. That sort of protest would make no sense, however, so instead they make the state the boogeyman, observing this bizarre fiction that if only the state would allow freedom, all of the people would go back to living exactly as they did a few months ago.

That's only going to happen incrementally, smartly. Cautiously.

The only thing they can be protesting (other than not being able to go to the beauty parlor) is lack of income. We have a service economy that has obviously been crushed. But, sorry human (even moron) life is more important.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

The whole "liberate" concept is moronic. I live in one of the most aggressively locked down states. I get in the car, drive to the store, drive to the wife's office, conduct what business we can observing social distancing. Nobody is imprisoning me.

The development nearby is openly building homes in violation of the prohibition on construction.

You're pretty much free to do almost anything you like other than go to restaurants, movies, and concerts. You just have to take the chance of getting the virus, and getting dispersed by police for violating rules.

But there are zero police around these days. Like most other people, they too are socially distancing.

These yahoos in Michigan are really protesting against the idea of caution. Their goal seems to be to force everyone to abandon caution. That sort of protest would make no sense, however, so instead they make the state the boogeyman, observing this bizarre fiction that if only the state would allow freedom, all of the people would go back to living exactly as they did a few months ago.

That's only going to happen incrementally, smartly. Cautiously.

Just to echo what you're saying, my brownshirt cousins keep complaining martial law, but that's ridiculous. There are no police in the streets, let alone troops. The "lockdown" only works because it's what most people want to do. The government is not ordering people to do things, it's helping them cooperate.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Yesterday, I had to drop off something at Fedex and Sam's Club is right next door. I went, waited on line, and got close to what I needed in a very pedestrian 25 minutes. Absent the cops and masks, it would have been close to normal.

I've enjoyed quite leisurely wine and beer shopping every two or three days or so at the Whole Foods. All the same choices; I'm just masked now.

The only thing they can be protesting (other than not being able to go to the beauty parlor) is lack of income. We have a service economy that has obviously been crushed. But, sorry human (even moron) life is more important.

What services do these people offer? My household is dependent on a service income. I bought the extra protective gear, we're having the place bleached from floor to ceiling and patients are still showing up, in masks. (I'm running it from the finance side for the moment, so I'm hanging out there a couple days a week, apologizing to people who are still showing up for appointments. It's listed as an essential business, so many people think it's still open.)

It'll suck to have be extra careful, but we've got to do it to reopen. That's a new cost of business. These protestors seem to want to follow Sweden's lead. Self-responsibility. OK. Well, that's fine. But here's the thing about Sweden:

They are also socially distancing. And they tend to be better educated than most Americans, as is demonstrated from the type of people at these protests. They are also more fit, not eating a diet of shit all the time. They understand responsibility. Too many Americans do not.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Just to echo what you're saying, my brownshirt cousins keep complaining martial law, but that's ridiculous. There are no police in the streets, let alone troops. The "lockdown" only works because it's what most people want to do. The government is not ordering people to do things, it's helping them cooperate.

The only people who have a legitimate gripe are people who work in businesses that really should not be shut down. Car dealers and construction companies are closed in this state. That doesn't make much sense. Those businesses can be operated with social distancing. You don't need to kiss or shake hands with a car salesman, and you do not need two or more people to swing a hammer.

These protestors strike me as professional malcontents. I've heard they were solicited to participate and that doesn't surprise me. I'd suspect many of them aren't employed and haven't been for some time. If they were laid off, they'd be nervous but perhaps optimistic, sitting at home with enhanced unemployment benefits, hoping to be brought back to work after those run out.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

The only people who have a legitimate gripe are people who work in businesses that really should not be shut down. Car dealers and construction companies are closed in this state. That doesn't make much sense. Those businesses can be operated with social distancing. You don't need to kiss or shake hands with a car salesman, and you do not need two or more people to swing a hammer.

These protestors strike me as professional malcontents. I've heard they were solicited to participate and that doesn't surprise me. I'd suspect many of them aren't employed and haven't been for some time. If they were laid off, they'd be nervous but perhaps optimistic, sitting at home with enhanced unemployment benefits, hoping to be brought back to work after those run out.

Construction is an essential business here, and the city/state is taking advantage of the lack of traffic to fast track some road work that would have taken months under normal circumstances.

I'm thinking about getting someone to replace my fence. It's not like I have to go anywhere near them to point out what needs to be done and I can leave a check under a rock or something.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I've enjoyed quite leisurely wine and beer shopping every two or three days or so at the Whole Foods. All the same choices; I'm just masked now.



What services do these people offer? My household is dependent on a service income. I bought the extra protective gear, we're having the place bleached from floor to ceiling and patients are still showing up, in masks. (I'm running it from the finance side for the moment, so I'm hanging out there a couple days a week, apologizing to people who are still showing up for appointments. It's listed as an essential business, so many people think it's still open.)

It'll suck to have be extra careful, but we've got to do it to reopen. That's a new cost of business. These protestors seem to want to follow Sweden's lead. Self-responsibility. OK. Well, that's fine. But here's the thing about Sweden:

They are also socially distancing. And they tend to be better educated than most Americans, as is demonstrated from the type of people at these protests. They are also more fit, not eating a diet of shit all the time. They understand responsibility. Too many Americans do not.

They are also dying at a rate per million higher than we are. It was double the rate, a day ago.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

They are also dying at a rate per million higher than we are. It was double the rate, a day ago.

They’ve chosen to accept that as a society. My guess is that’s a normal rate in their model. It may be a decision with which we disagree, but they’ve been adult about it. They are handling it with grace generally, as one would expect from a mature society.

Here, we want to behave recklessly. Unlike the Swedes, who are distancing and suffering the hits to get to herd immunity, these protestors want to behave just as they did last year. They call it a scam. They don’t want to choose the enhanced rate the Swedes have in their model. They want to prove Covid is weaker than the flu. That it’s all fake news.

But when the deaths increased they’d scream and blame politicians.

Hands off my medicare you fucking communist!

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

Construction is an essential business here, and the city/state is taking advantage of the lack of traffic to fast track some road work that would have taken months under normal circumstances.

I'm thinking about getting someone to replace my fence. It's not like I have to go anywhere near them to point out what needs to be done and I can leave a check under a rock or something.

I’ve handed and received checks and sat in socially distanced meetings. If you’ve a mask in and you aren’t touching your face, you can avoid this.

I believe one can only do so much.

And exercise: https://www.acsm.org/blog-detail/acs...id-19-pandemic