The Swamp

So just a random thought I had this afternoon: Why the emphasis on the economy right now? We know its going to go into the shitter. There's no amount of interest rate manipulations or stock market chicanery that is going to save anyone from the upcoming recession. You just can't shut down everything in the world (pretty much) and not expect it to have that effect.

The number one priority needs to be the public health, safety, and welfare. Get that sorted out first, then work towards getting people back to work.

Or am I missing something?

What you're missing is the liberal plot to destroy America, Dave.

Jesus man, open your third eye. The virus is the greatest hoaxspiracy ever imagined.

Fuck yes, New Mexico.



(Just noticed that info is 3 days old.)

Why is the stock market still open?

Calgary just closed everything. But I still have to go to work.

Check out Flightradar24 for North Atlantic air traffic this morning

I don't know what air traffic over the North Atlantic at 8:30 am EST on a Monday is supposed to look like, but that a low amount of flights.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 10:09 pm Can stupid people really not grasp this is a virus for which there is no immunity as it is completely new?

They don;t want to grasp it - too complex, too many big words. Much easier to listen to the man in the cowboy hat who yells a lot.

Pruitt wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:40 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 10:09 pm Can stupid people really not grasp this is a virus for which there is no immunity as it is completely new?

They don;t want to grasp it - too complex, too many big words. Much easier to listen to the man in the cowboy hat who yells a lot.

And people are selfish. I know a co worker who still went to Mexico on Saturday and posted pictures on Facebook.

And then the company has to compensate their 2 week quarantine they return? Fuck that shit, they should be fired.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:42 am

Pruitt wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:40 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 10:09 pm Can stupid people really not grasp this is a virus for which there is no immunity as it is completely new?

They don;t want to grasp it - too complex, too many big words. Much easier to listen to the man in the cowboy hat who yells a lot.

And people are selfish. I know a co worker who still went to Mexico on Saturday and posted pictures on Facebook.

And then the company has to compensate their 2 week quarantine they return? Fuck that shit, they should be fired.

Mexico is about as safe as you can get!

Still, that's not the point.

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:37 am I don't know what air traffic over the North Atlantic at 8:30 am EST on a Monday is supposed to look like, but that a low amount of flights.

Exactly right

I got a question about this. I know that temperature checks are becoming a common precaution in Asia and I suspect they are going to become part of our lives here, one of the legacies of this virus. What exactly are they? How do they work? They don’t seriously stick a thermometer in your mouth (or in the other place), right? What is the technology?

I could see a future where nobody enters a mall or a grocery store without passing one of these, so it’s going to be important.

Rex wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:34 am

I got a question about this. I know that temperature checks are becoming a common precaution in Asia and I suspect they are going to become part of our lives here, one of the legacies of this virus. What exactly are they? How do they work? They don’t seriously stick a thermometer in your mouth (or in the other place), right? What is the technology?

I could see a future where nobody enters a mall or a grocery store without passing one of these, so it’s going to be important.

Rex hasn't been to the doctor in 15 years.

Ear/forehead scans.

Rex wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:34 am

I got a question about this. I know that temperature checks are becoming a common precaution in Asia and I suspect they are going to become part of our lives here, one of the legacies of this virus. What exactly are they? How do they work? They don’t seriously stick a thermometer in your mouth (or in the other place), right? What is the technology?

I could see a future where nobody enters a mall or a grocery store without passing one of these, so it’s going to be important.

That's where (parts of) China eventually went.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:36 am

Rex wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:34 am

I got a question about this. I know that temperature checks are becoming a common precaution in Asia and I suspect they are going to become part of our lives here, one of the legacies of this virus. What exactly are they? How do they work? They don’t seriously stick a thermometer in your mouth (or in the other place), right? What is the technology?

I could see a future where nobody enters a mall or a grocery store without passing one of these, so it’s going to be important.

Rex hasn't been to the doctor in 15 years.

Ear/forehead scans.

So who was the guy outside the subway station that took my temp rectally? Fuck, I realized I never even saw a thermometer!

Maryland has gone ahead and shut down bars /restaurants etc as of 5:00 today.

Tri-state just announced the same.

For chrissake. A fucking Senator doesn't know the difference between Martial Law and Marshall Law.

Just got an email from my gym that they are shutting down "by order of the local government." Damn, didn't think our mayor would go to that level this quick, especially since it is a huge national chain. Gym seems like the absolute most dangerous place to be. I stopped going 3 weeks ago (first week due to fixing up old house in prep for open house, but I'll take hipster cred for being an early adapter).

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:35 am

For chrissake. A fucking Senator doesn't know the difference between Martial Law and Marshall Law.

Heh, spelling aside, at least some Republicans are FINALLY taking even a minute stand against the base's talking points. Ted Cruz Tweeted something praising AOC's Tweets!

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:36 am Just got an email from my gym that they are shutting down "by order of the local government." Damn, didn't think our mayor would go to that level this quick, especially since it is a huge national chain. Gym seems like the absolute most dangerous place to be. I stopped going 3 weeks ago (first week due to fixing up old house in prep for open house, but I'll take hipster cred for being an early adapter).

I was planning on going by at some point and checking from the app my insurer uses to check attendance to reimburse our fees. Just needed a couple more to hit the requirement for the month.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:38 am

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:35 am

For chrissake. A fucking Senator doesn't know the difference between Martial Law and Marshall Law.

Heh, spelling aside, at least some Republicans are FINALLY taking even a minute stand against the base's talking points. Ted Cruz Tweeted something praising AOC's Tweets!

I've liked Ted Cruz over this period. He was the first to self-quarantine after news about CPAC, and then now again for another 14 days. And he probably doesn't have it.

Say what you want about Ted Cruz. He's a horrible person, but he's a legitimately smart guy. As compared to guys like Marco Rubio and Devin Nunes, et al.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:55 am Say what you want about Ted Cruz. He's a horrible person, but he's a legitimately smart guy. As compared to guys like Marco Rubio and Devin Nunes, et al.

Not setting a high bar there though

Baloney wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:56 am

brian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:55 am Say what you want about Ted Cruz. He's a horrible person, but he's a legitimately smart guy. As compared to guys like Marco Rubio and Devin Nunes, et al.

Not setting a high bar there though

True. Though I'd go so far to say he's one of the smartest people in Congress period. They don't hand out degrees from Princeton and Harvard to everyone. His intelligence is what makes him so dangerous, though fortunately intelligence is not only not valued in the current Republican Party, it's a detriment.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:38 am

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:35 am

For chrissake. A fucking Senator doesn't know the difference between Martial Law and Marshall Law.

Heh, spelling aside, at least some Republicans are FINALLY taking even a minute stand against the base's talking points. Ted Cruz Tweeted something praising AOC's Tweets!

In addition to his pro-AOC tweets, he's posted a few other things that showed actual leadership. Shocked.

Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

like what are you thinking as worst case? hospital shootings?

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

I know this is a cliche, but I'm just trying to take things one day at a time. I know people say that, but I'm trying to take it literally. Not gonna worry about tomorrow. I'll worry today if there's a reason to worry today, but otherwise just gonna take care of my wife and dog and keep in touch with my mom and make sure she's taking precautions, etc.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:10 am

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

like what are you thinking as worst case? hospital shootings?

If not, you are now!

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:10 am

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

like what are you thinking as worst case? hospital shootings?

People dying in the streets/violence because of a shortcoming of local healthcare systems. Hoarding. Interruption in food chain supply. The financial impact of lots of my friends and family.

Again, I know it's an overreacton, but it's all I'm seeing. It gets in my head and rattles around and I just dislike the overwhelming feeling that there's nothing we can do other than wait this out.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:23 am Maryland has gone ahead and shut down bars /restaurants etc as of 5:00 today.

I knew he was having a presser at 11a, so I headed to Mclean and bought another $350 of beer/wine.

Good step to keep grocery stores/pharmacies/gas stations open. People I observed were pretty jittery. Going to start getting real tense now that all the fucking morons aren't able to congregate at bars/restaurants.

Saw a number of people on Fb posting stuff and it took every fiber not to light them up.

My one mistake was vastly underestimating how much beer I would need. Gonna have to buy some more here this week before the shit really hits the fan. Just gonna go up to the local gas station though.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:11 am

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

I know this is a cliche, but I'm just trying to take things one day at a time. I know people say that, but I'm trying to take it literally. Not gonna worry about tomorrow. I'll worry today if there's a reason to worry today, but otherwise just gonna take care of my wife and dog and keep in touch with my mom and make sure she's taking precautions, etc.

That describes where I'm at almost exactly. Add in kids, but I think the virus apparently thus far not being much of a threat to the younger population has helped make this not as bad as it could be from a "what if" scenario. My wife is still out on disability from her shoulder surgery for another two weeks. She works in public health and is almost certainly going to have to go to work. I'll ramp up the dread to an 11 then, and hopefully not before.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:19 am My one mistake was vastly underestimating how much beer I would need. Gonna have to buy some more here this week before the shit really hits the fan. Just gonna go up to the local gas station though.

There's a beer store next to the pet food store. Gotta take care of both of us.

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:13 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:10 am

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

like what are you thinking as worst case? hospital shootings?

People dying in the streets/violence because of a shortcoming of local healthcare systems. Hoarding. Interruption in food chain supply. The financial impact of lots of my friends and family.

Again, I know it's an overreacton, but it's all I'm seeing. It gets in my head and rattles around and I just dislike the overwhelming feeling that there's nothing we can do other than wait this out.

As far as I know, there's no evidence that that kind of chaos happened in China or Iran or Italy. I think the fact that the disease isn't really that deadly for most people will help us avoid a social breakdown like that. Like, I worry about my kids getting the virus because it would suck, but I really have no fear that they will die from it. (Yet.) So I am not really scared in that sense.

One positive thing I'll say (and not doing it to gloat) is that all three levels of government here have been great.

Prime Minister, Mayor and even our idiot Premier (like our Governor) have been measured, calm, firm yet understanding.

Protections in place for all workers, taxes can be paid late, timetables have been shared...

Restaurants in the city may be closed soon.

Premier just had a press conference where he told Ontario to calm down - he'd spoken to the head of Irving Pulp And Paper (Canada's largest supplier of toilet paper and other paper products - and he was assured that the supplies will not run out.

I think the most ridiculous thing I've googled so far is how to clean a squirrel. (Easy pickings on my deck.) State of Missouri got me covered.

BSF21 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:08 am Guys seriously how do you deal with this feeling of dread? I'm not so much scared of getting sick as I am of the way other people are going to act if this gets bad. All the medical professionals in my life are really highly concerned and it's starting to get me really churned up. I'm sure I'm overreacting but this is rough.

I've had the dread since last week. Shit's getting real.

Just got this text from my GF (who works at EvergreenHospital...the epicenter of it all):

Hi! I’m hearing here currently they are seeing almost all men, age 40-60. Like 80% of current cases. So please be super careful!