The Swamp

One thing I could see changing or improving is how do you do one to one communication at scale. We have the data and technology to do this.

Mini-rant:

Today I got an email from my bank and it frustrated me because I read it as a consumer that may be doesn't know everything that's going on and they came out and first they said, "We're in times of change and things are really changing around us. By the way, we're going to be closing many of our branches and some will be having auto teller only. But because of all the disruption, we want to give our employees a chance to go back to their families and do what we've been asked to do."

And at that first paragraph I said, you know what channel I go to, you know what branch I go to? Why don't you least touch that and make it somewhat personalized to my situation? And then they go about talking about, "oh, we're also going to be changing some of the services and the way you connect. If you want to know more about these services, here's where you go."

And again, a general comment and then they gave a general phone number. I'm going if I'm a consumer, let's say I'm an elderly consumer that is not digital banking astute so branches really mean a lot to me. This email did nothing to relieve my fears and did everything to confuse me as to what's my next step. And I think, if there's ever been a time when data analytics and highly personalized communication should be out there, isn't it now?

They have the data. Can't elderly customers get a phone call and millenials get an SMS with an update? And small business owners get important information for them.

I was rapidly aging out of the this demographic anyway, but, man, it is going to be a LONG time before I would feel comfortable and not totally skeeved out to walk into a popular and crowded amusement park or the like again after this...

tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:28 pm I was rapidly aging out of the this demographic anyway, but, man, it is going to be a LONG time before I would feel comfortable and not totally skeeved out to walk into a popular and crowded amusement park or the like again after this...

It's laughable to me that there's still A LOT -- way too many -- of people who think that come May 1 we're just going to be throwing open the doors of the casinos and filling hockey arenas. I mean, can you imagine going to a hockey game with 18,000 people in a month from now?

On some lizard brained level I actually get why Trump and the government keeps doing this in several week increments, but I think if might be better if we had some people leveling with people that this is going to continue for as long as until there's a legitimate treatment or a vaccine.

brian wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:33 pm

tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:28 pm I was rapidly aging out of the this demographic anyway, but, man, it is going to be a LONG time before I would feel comfortable and not totally skeeved out to walk into a popular and crowded amusement park or the like again after this...

It's laughable to me that there's still A LOT -- way too many -- of people who think that come May 1 we're just going to be throwing open the doors of the casinos and filling hockey arenas. I mean, can you imagine going to a hockey game with 18,000 people in a month from now?

On some lizard brained level I actually get why Trump and the government keeps doing this in several week increments, but I think if might be better if we had some people leveling with people that this is going to continue for as long as until there's a legitimate treatment or a vaccine.

I think it's mostly to give the economy hope. We talk about flattening the curve for the disease, we are flattening the curve for the economy as well. By giving weekly increments, business might try to stay open and reduce staff hours hoping for the best. If you were to say there no solution until the fall, you'd get a spike of people to the unemployment line.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:43 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:33 pm

tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:28 pm I was rapidly aging out of the this demographic anyway, but, man, it is going to be a LONG time before I would feel comfortable and not totally skeeved out to walk into a popular and crowded amusement park or the like again after this...

It's laughable to me that there's still A LOT -- way too many -- of people who think that come May 1 we're just going to be throwing open the doors of the casinos and filling hockey arenas. I mean, can you imagine going to a hockey game with 18,000 people in a month from now?

On some lizard brained level I actually get why Trump and the government keeps doing this in several week increments, but I think if might be better if we had some people leveling with people that this is going to continue for as long as until there's a legitimate treatment or a vaccine.

I think it's mostly to give the economy hope. We talk about flattening the curve for the disease, we are flattening the curve for the economy as well. By giving weekly increments, business might try to stay open and reduce staff hours hoping for the best. If you were to say there no solution until the fall, you'd get a spike of people to the unemployment line.

That's happening anyway. The unemployment rate in Nevada is expected to be the highest in the nation when the new numbers come out (because of the reliance on tourism). I've heard as high as 30 percent.

It's kind of like the airlines. When they know your flight will likely be delayed a couple hours, but they only push back the estimated time of departure in 20 minute increments.

I’m talking about - AFTER. When things are back to some version of normal. It’s gonna be awhile before I go into germ playground line a six flags or the like. Just...no. Gonna feel weird.

I'm there with you. I don't live in a city with major sporting events happening year round (outside of college sports and triple A baseball), but I do attend things like comedy shows, a concert or two, festivals, and the movie theater every so often. My board game convention would've been the big "lots and lots of people in one area" event for me all year.

But that's the thing now. Unless every literal person has been checked for the virus after the curve has flattened and can be deemed well, it just takes someone standing a little too close in a store for you to catch it. That's the scary thing. But at that point it's too many people and I can't stay inside all the time. So I'll have to take my chances living and stand away from people as best I can.

I'm just glad I live in a sparsely populated area overall. As of now, only 315 positive cases and 5 deaths in New Mexico.

WEll, the whole flattening the curve is important in the grand scheme, of course, but it's also where hospitals aren't overloaded. There will still be people who get it, but there won't be as crushing a load on the healthcare system. It may eventually become "like the seasonal flu" but it most certainly is not right now.

With states needing to fight with the feds to get equipment, with Massachusetts only getting masks because the governor is friends with Jonathon Kraft, maybe this is a good time to secede. New England and NY can be a country (maybe not NH) and then California can be a country.

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:12 pm With states needing to fight with the feds to get equipment, with Massachusetts only getting masks because the governor is friends with Jonathon Kraft, maybe this is a good time to secede. New England and NY can be a country (maybe not NH) and then California can be a country.

Can you wait to declare when I’m hopefully there in September?

Only if you promise to bring up lots of bourbon

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:43 pm Only if you promise to bring up lots of bourbon

Well that’s understood with cross state trips. I’ll set up a go fund me.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:26 pm

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:43 pm Only if you promise to bring up lots of bourbon

Well that’s understood with cross state trips. I’ll set up a go fund me.

You better bring a lot for Romero. I remember years ago we scheduled a meetup together in Boston at a bourbon bar. He was late and I was on my third bourbon by the time he showed up, and two bourbons later he was pissed because I told him I had to leave, because he hadn't had much bourbon-drinking time yet. (Actually, I do feel bad about bailing on him, but I had an early meeting with the boss.)

Going to bars -- that was nice. The bar was Drink and I was disappointed they got rid of the giant blocks of ice each bartender chopped away at to give you the perfect shaped cube for your drink.

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:34 pm Going to bars -- that was nice. The bar was Drink and I was disappointed they got rid of the giant blocks of ice each bartender chopped away at to give you the perfect shaped cube for your drink.

Drink is fucking awesome. First place I ever had a “Toronto”. Haven’t been there since 2012 or so.

Ha ha, so that's your 7 year's late apology, Romero!

I apologize for nothing.

7 years!?!

cerrano wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:37 pm

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:34 pm Going to bars -- that was nice. The bar was Drink and I was disappointed they got rid of the giant blocks of ice each bartender chopped away at to give you the perfect shaped cube for your drink.

Drink is fucking awesome. First place I ever had a “Toronto”. Haven’t been there since 2012 or so.

What's a "Toronto?"

Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:01 am

cerrano wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:37 pm

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:34 pm Going to bars -- that was nice. The bar was Drink and I was disappointed they got rid of the giant blocks of ice each bartender chopped away at to give you the perfect shaped cube for your drink.

Drink is fucking awesome. First place I ever had a “Toronto”. Haven’t been there since 2012 or so.

What's a "Toronto?"

From Serious Eats:
2 ounces rye whiskey
1/4 ounce Fernet Branca
1/4 ounce simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters

At Drink they used Willet rye and it was easier to find years ago, but now there ain't a bunch up here anymore. Some people don't like Fernet, but I enjoyed it.

That sounds really good but I feel like I'd want some real citrus?

cerrano wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:04 am

Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:01 am

cerrano wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:37 pm

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:34 pm Going to bars -- that was nice. The bar was Drink and I was disappointed they got rid of the giant blocks of ice each bartender chopped away at to give you the perfect shaped cube for your drink.

Drink is fucking awesome. First place I ever had a “Toronto”. Haven’t been there since 2012 or so.

What's a "Toronto?"

From Serious Eats:
2 ounces rye whiskey
1/4 ounce Fernet Branca
1/4 ounce simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters

At Drink they used Willet rye and it was easier to find years ago, but now there ain't a bunch up here anymore. Some people don't like Fernet, but I enjoyed it.

You can add a Maple Leaf as garnish, but then if you did that you wouldn't have a cup.

EdRomero wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:18 am

cerrano wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:04 am

Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:01 am

cerrano wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:37 pm

EdRomero wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:34 pm Going to bars -- that was nice. The bar was Drink and I was disappointed they got rid of the giant blocks of ice each bartender chopped away at to give you the perfect shaped cube for your drink.

Drink is fucking awesome. First place I ever had a “Toronto”. Haven’t been there since 2012 or so.

What's a "Toronto?"

From Serious Eats:
2 ounces rye whiskey
1/4 ounce Fernet Branca
1/4 ounce simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters

At Drink they used Willet rye and it was easier to find years ago, but now there ain't a bunch up here anymore. Some people don't like Fernet, but I enjoyed it.

You can add a Maple Leaf as garnish, but then if you did that you wouldn't have a cup.

And you'd have to drink it in the cellar.