Wuhan Coronavirus: Megathread - Got too big

[JosephStalin]

They're collapsing too, just slower.

I mostly telecommute. Now exclusively, unless something needs swapped on a rack or what have you. My clients are keeping me and my company employed... but we're starting to shudder from this, too. A few clients have asked to renegotiate contracts, and a few have tried to tell us without spelling it outright that we're likely going to lose them because they just can't afford us anymore. Those that are staying are hinting strongly they need to negotiate lower prices or lower services or preferably, both.

It's all giant machine, and it's bleeding to death. Some parts stopped immediately, like the retail jobs and service industry jobs. Turns out that outsourcing everything fucking else was a real galaxy brain take, damned globalist fucksticks. But other parts of the machine are still slowing to a crawl. Yeah, IT, software developers, journo-bloggers, they can all work from home... until no one buys the products they're working on, or buys products at all, meaning no advertisement revenue, causing mass layoffs if not outright shutdowns.

And I still have a horrible suspicion that in 1-3 months we're going to start seeing food shortages. Actual shortages, not "panicking Karens bought up all the rice again" shortages. Yeah, I know, we keep hearing the farms are fine. But there's too many people that are trying very hard to dance around talking about things in that sector. Something is up. Costco saying we'll be fine... as long as we're "open minded" with what food we'll be willing to eat. Tyson openly sending up flares and red flags because shit's broke fam. A few people have suggested it's cause all the "migrant workers" from Mexico fled and aren't coming back, which it turns out was another bad globalist idea to get our country addicted to.

But I think that once we start seeing something fucking big collapse, like Disney or some big journalist outlet... something that's a common household name, then you'll start to see some real panic.

Maybe we'll start to see the bloggosphere start to believe in liberalism again once the mass layoffs hit Google, Buzzfeed, The Guardian, etc etc. When suddenly those fuckers are needing to learn to code -- whoops, sorry, 30 million people are ahead of you in line, good luck -- then this whole lockdown thing will be decidedly less fun.

Especially if they say no more money printer go brrrr, instead, sign up for food stamps, hope you like government cheese. Nope, it's not organic or free range or even GMO free, but it's literally all you have to eat. Make sure it last a week or two, because you aren't getting any more.

Ya, am also expecting shortages of some things. Have started to stock up on things we use, such as rice, salt, certain paper products, toothpaste, certain meats/poultry, etc. Humble suggestion - buy 2-3 extra boxes of iodized salt. Very cheap, lasts forever, useful for many things. People need salt. You can get by without sugar for an extended period, but not salt.

@opalescence is either clueless, living off the parents, or a troll. Sure doesn't live in the real world.

Well, well, looks like Numbnuts Newsom and the rest of the overpaid turds who work for the state of CA may be taking a 10% pay cut due to state budget situation. Maybe. Bet employee unions will fight this to the death, or will go along, as long as the pay cut is restored later. Even so, CA public sector workers tend to earn more than private sector workers doing the same jobs. But right now many CA workers have taken a 100% pay cut.

https://www.governing.com/finance/California-Cuts-State-Salaries-10-Percent-to-Offset-COVID-19.html?utm_term=READ%20MORE&utm_campaign=More%20Productive%20from%20Home%3A%20Governments%20Learn%20to%20Love%20Remote%20Work&utm_content=email&utm_source=Act-On+Software&utm_medium=email

https://archive.vn/HwACi

And according to this story, CA K-12 teachers may face layoffs due to budget cuts. Hey, teach, blame Numbnuts Newsom. ALL his fault. Know a young lady who is a kindergarten teacher. Trust she will be okay.

California Teachers Face Layoffs as Pandemic Forces Big State Budget Cuts - Times of San Diego

California’s public schools, physically closed since mid-March and strapped for cash, are coming out of a frying pan and into a financial fire.

timesofsandiego.com

California Teachers Face Layoffs as Pandemic Forces Big State Budget …

archived 18 May 2020 18:14:11 UTC

archive.vn

And CA state universities and community colleges will also apparently face budget cuts. From some of the shit I've seen coming out of the state universities, they deserve the cuts. Sorry to see community colleges get the cuts. These schools are one of the best things a city/county does for its' residents. Affordable access to education and skills. No better bargain in the post-secondary educational world.

Size of state budget cuts becomes clearer

Experts had predicted states would have to cut higher education funding. The scope is becoming clearer every day.

www.insidehighered.com

https://archive.vn/t2WkI

Food issues, eh? How would you rate a diet of buckwheat, potatoes, cabbage, pork rinds, sausage and mushrooms on a scale from 1 to awesome?

-5. Maybe less if the potatoes are French fries, the mushrooms are good, and the sausage is good. Have never eaten buckwheat, but I used to watch Buckwheat on The Little Rascals. Don't eat cabbage or pork rinds, rarely eat sausage.

In addition to planting gardens and stocking up on certain foods, recommend stocking up on inexpensive multivitamins. Am getting a couple of extra large bottles. Can't hurt.

 

[Simpadoo]

One re China.

Let's see how this one plays out. Americans can get forgetful, in time.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/americans-are-giving-made-in-china-the-cold-shoulder/ar-BB14cN3P?li=BBnbfcL

https://archive.vn/3gcQj

This guy's a dumbfuck. If he had actually undergone open-heart surgery he wouldn't talk such shit.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/post-coronavirus-travel-will-be-as-enjoyable-as-open-heart-surgery-dubai-airports-ceo-says/ar-BB14d2if?li=BBnb7Kz

https://archive.vn/ctUFP

Something on the crazy bitch masquerading as Los Angeles County's "health director". She's playing with fire...

Woman Dictating LA County Shutdowns Isn't a Medical Doctor, Paid More than $500K

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer takes questions at a news conference in Los Angeles Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020. The California Department of Public Health advisory says gatherings of 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled, and gatherings of people at higher risk...

www.redstate.com

Woman Dictating LA County Shutdowns Isn't a Medical Doctor, Paid More…

archived 15 May 2020 01:54:22 UTC

archive.vn

She does look like Beetlejuice

 

[FatalTater]

For those prepper / gardener types, what should be prioritized in a victory garden? I mean, for those who are limited to containers and pots, or those who have a small backyard, or even those who have like an acre of land they can re-purpose in a hurry?

Lots of plants can be grown in a 3 gallon bucket (or larger,) like a single tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber or squash plant. Just remember to water them regularly since they can't just put down deeper roots if they dry out. Those plants need 6-8 hours of sunlight daily to grow well, so find a sunny spot for them.

Kale, collards and beans are very nutritious and grow easily. Insects like them as much as humans do so be prepared to do battle for your crops.

Grow what you'll eat. Don't grow tomatoes if everyone in the household hates them.

There are tons of youtube channels about gardening that give better advice than I could, some of my favorites are -
David the Good https://www.youtube.com/user/davidthegood/videos
Gary Pilarchik https://www.youtube.com/user/pilarchik/videos
Ray (Praxxus55712) https://www.youtube.com/user/Praxxus55712/videos and https://www.youtube.com/user/VoodooGarden/videos
John Kohler https://www.youtube.com/user/growingyourgreens/videos
Self Sufficient Me https://www.youtube.com/user/markyv69/videos
Huw Richards https://www.youtube.com/user/HuwsNursery/videos

If you REALLY want to fall down a rabbit hole from hell look into permaculture. It's fascinating but attracts weirdos to the extent that I'm surprised there isn't a thread on them here.

 

[CeleryStalks]

Michigan, USA

Governor Whitmer announced a partial reopening of the northernmost parts of Michigan on Friday, May 22, being all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula and 17 counties in the Lower Peninsula.

The plan would reopen retail businesses in those regions starting Friday, including bars and restaurants, which will be required to operate at 50% capacity. Those businesses also must train employees on safety protocol, keep groups six feet from one another and require workers to wear face coverings.
"This is a big step, and it’s right before the holiday weekend," Whitmer said at a Monday press briefing. "I want to encourage everyone to stay smart and stay safe. Keep your wits about you. Let’s not all go rushing out and force a closure."...
The governor's order also permits small social gatherings of up to 10 people in both regions 8 and 6.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/05/18/whitmer-announce-reopening-plans/5212594002/

(archive)

New analysis of how long Corona has been in our state, based on the date of onset of symptoms rather than the date of confirmed tests. Has some nice graphics comparing the two ways of dating cases, and Detroit's curve vs. the west side of the state.

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/coronavirus-came-michigan-earlier-thought-records-show

(archive)

Here in Michigan, the State charges a 10 cent deposit on most canned and bottled drinks, which you get refunded by turning them in for recycling at your grocery store or elsewhere. That has been halted since March, and cans are piling up. 50 million dollars' worth, by one estimate.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/05/18/michigan-bottle-returns-open-closed/5194368002/

(archive)

Personal anecdote: the state prisoner I know tested negative for Coronavirus. He was swabbed in the nose last week, spent the ensuing week in his cubicle with seven other prisoners, was called out with six of them and told to pack his stuff in a plastic bag, was taken across the complex to a corona-positive unit, waited there until they checked the paperwork and realized he wasn't even supposed to be there, was sent back to his original cube, and is now there with only one other man. In a cube that had eight people all last week, six of whom apparently tested positive and are now in the quarantine unit. But they were required to wear their cloth masks all the time.
Luckily (?) he was feeling under the weather a couple weeks ago, so we're hoping he had a mild case and just got over it already.
Edit: spelling

Spoiler: Michigan Recap

SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN
Shelter-in-place order from Tuesday March 24 to Monday April 13. Friday, May 1, Friday, May 15, May 28 May 1, maybe? (archive) (executive order saved on KF) . The Republican-controlled legislature has refused to extend Governor Whitmer's emergency authority. Governor Whitmer insists her emergency orders are all still in effect (Rundown on the laws).
State attorney general Dana Nessel (D) is also leaving enforcement of the stay-at-home order to local discretion until the courts weigh in on it (archive). She has stated Governor Whitmer's orders are valid and are to be enforced (archive). The legislature is not calling for civil disobedience at this time (archive).
The legislature has filed a lawsuit against the governor (archive). Oral arguments were heard May 15 (archive). The judge's decision is pending, but will most likely be appealed either way.
State senate leader Mike Shirkey (R) is also supporting a petition drive to change the law. Such a petition would require 340,047 signatures to be collected. It would be veto-proof if approved by the legislature, and would go on the next general election ballot if denied by them (archive 1, archive 2, archive 3).
U. S. Rep Paul Mitchell (R - The Thumb) has filed a lawsuit independently against Governor Whitmer, in federal district court. Link, pdf on KF. He has also founded a committee to work on the petition recommended by Sen. Shirkey.
There have been at least nine other lawsuits against Governor Whitmer's actions during this crisis, mostly regarding the shut-down order, in various stages of progress and in various courts (summary of eight of them). However, "all deadlines applicable to the commencement of all civil and probate actions and proceedings" are suspended until the end of the states of emergency and disaster. Executive order, and thus in limbo. (archive).

OTHER SHUTDOWNS
Recap from NPR
Major protest at the State Capitol April 15 (A&N thread). Minor protest outside Governor's Mansion April 23 (archive). Protest at the State Capitol April 30 (A&N Thread). Protest at the capitol May 14 (archive).
Auto manufacturing resuming May 18. (archive)

ECONOMY AND MISCELLANY
Over 1 million unemployment claims filed = 10% of the total population of the state, nearly 25% of the workforce (Archive - April 16).
Massive phone-tracking project reveals Michigan travel is slowly creeping back up (website).
Car crashes are down, fatal car crashes are down, and overall death is actually down. (archive - April 12)
The State is facing a $2.5 billion budget shortage (archive).

FREE STUFF!
Evictions suspended while the state of emergency lasts (archive) Executive order. May or may not still be valid.
Water will be turned back on for all households while the crisis lasts (archive) Executive order. May or may not still be valid.

HEALTH CARE
Hydroxychloroquine banned by governor's order (archive). Nevermind LOL! Now she's asking the federal government for it and claiming the ban was a mistake in the first place. (archive). Detroit-area hospitals are testing the drug's effectiveness as a preventative on first responders and health-care workers (archive). Article on results, May 8 (archive).
Elective surgeries are banned. Maybe? Who knows. If/when in effect, abortions were not included in the ban (thread).
At any rate, hospitals are resuming elective surgeries.
Up-to-date count of available hospital beds, etc. in the State (the Detroit area is "Section 2, North and South.")(government website)
State of affairs May 5 - about half as many hospitalized cases and ICU cases as on April 12 (archive).
Detroit field hospital, capacity 1,000, closed. Never had many more than 20 at any time. (archive, May 7).

LAW AND ORDER
All localities given more discretion to release prisoners early (archive). It was an executive order. Who knows if it's still valid?
Lansing (the capitol) police are not physically responding to minor crimes such as larceny, property damage, and break-ins to unoccupied buildings, including garages. Other police are adopting similar policies (archive) (archive).
Detroit shootings up, but most other crime down (archive - April 30); Muskegon police report crime is up (archive).
Breaking the lockdown is a misdemeanor, punishable by $1500 fines and 90 days jail time. (Still valid???) Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) has stated there will not be a "ramp up" of police enforcement (archive). The attorney general has left it to local law enforcement to close businesses, as her hands are full with price-gougers and con artists (archive).
The police cannot, at present, pull drivers over simply for being out during the shutdown (archive). Multiple sherrifs from the rural north to Detroit suburbs have stated they will not be enforcing parts or the entirety of the order (archive).

OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reviews deaths and adds overlooked cases to the count three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Recovery counts are updated on Saturdays.
The massive spike in cases today is owing to intensive testing done in the state prisons, 513 of the 773 new cases today are from the prison system.

Regular reviews of death certificate data maintained in Vital Records reporting systems are conducted by MDHHS staff three times per week. As a part of this process, records that identify COVID-19 infection as a contributing factor to death are compared against all laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS). If a death certificate is matched to a confirmed COVID-19 case and that record in the MDSS does not indicate the individual died, the MDSS record is updated to indicate the death and the appropriate local health department is notified. These matched deaths are then included with mortality information posted to the Michigan Coronavirus website.

Detroit Metro (pop. 3,860,000 total; 1,796/sq. mi.; 694/sq km):*

33,535 confirmed / 3,879 dead
33,453 confirmed / 3,865 dead yesterday
(i.e. 14 new deaths, down 1 from this day last week)
Normal Detroit Metro Death Rate: 104 per day.**

Other Michigan (6,120,000; 65/sq. mi.; 25/sq km):

18380 confirmed / 1,036 dead
17,689 confirmed / 1,026 dead yesterday
(i.e. 10 new deaths, down 8 from this day last week)
Normal not-Detroit Death Rate: 167 per day**

All Michigan (9,990,000; 103/sq. mi.; 40/sq km):

51,915 confirmed / 4,915 dead
51,142 confirmed / 4,891 dead yesterday
(i.e. 24 new deaths, down 9 from this day last week)
Normal Michigan Death Rate: 271 per day.**

Death toll doubled since: April 19.
We have been (were?) locked down since: March 24 (until April 30?),
Masks have been mandatory in stores since: April 27 (until April 30?).

Detroit Metro Daily Deaths Last Seven Days:
69*** / 25 / 27*** / 18 / 26*** / 4 / 14 = 226***

State Government site, daily - today's archive;
State Gov site, total, includes breakdowns by sex, age, race and ethnicity - today's archive.
*Here defined as the City of Detroit, and Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, minus state and federal prisoners, who are not counted towards any county's cases, but are kept in categories of their own.
** As of 2018.
*** 19, 35, and 19 statewide deaths, respectively, were added on these days upon State review. Presumably most were in Detroit, but I don't know exactly how many.
One Ann Arbor man allegedly killed by his roommate in a Corona-related dispute (archive). The suspect has been released from custody while the investigation continues (archive).
One Flint security guard allegedly murdered for telling a woman that her daughter needed to wear a mask in a dollar store. Multiple suspects are in custody (archive, A&N thread).

 

[EmuWarsVeteran]

Welp. It happened. Clownworld found a fucking way. I don't know how it did. But we're there again! Congress has voted to aprove the law decreeing that face masks are of mandatory use on public spaces. How? I don't know. Why? I have no clue. What even is the point when the state of alarm is falling in like a week or so? I don't think even they know! But for some fucking reason this is the one thing left and right decided was a good idea to pass at this fucking point in time. So next week everyone gotta wear a muzzle. Oh yeah that's another thing the decree doesn't specify mask type. So time to get out your most offensive gimp suit buddy! Also from what I heard the way it's written it only limits public spaces meaning state-owned spaces. Not the street or the supermarket or any of that shit. Like you can walk on the street fine but don't you dare step on the woods without a mask! Obviously that wasn't their intent but as one of you pointed out we elected fucking Austin Powers for healthcare no one can really expect him to properly proofread his drafts. *Sigh.* I don't even know if I should laugh or cry at the absolute state or congress. But I got a half full jug of moscatel so I think I'll decide after I make it completely empty.

 

[Shaka Brah]

View attachment 1303314

Michigan lieutenant governor to join Sen. Kamala Harris in coronavirus town hall

The town hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2020.

www.mlive.com

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will join U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and others in a virtual town hall Monday, May 18, to discuss stimulus funding for communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health and well being of black communities have long been harmed by under-investment in essential programs and resources that people rely on for their health and safety," Rooks said in a prepared statement. "The groups and services in communities that help people meet their core needs must receive state and federal support to reduce the harm of this pandemic and ensure healthy communities.”

To watch the town hall, register for the Zoom conference, here.

"We need mo money fo da programs!"

 

[737 MAX Stan Account]

Well, how long before the Dems disown Gretchen?

 

[FuckedUp]

Well, how long before the Dems disown Gretchen?

Around the time they disown Hillary.

 

[JosephStalin]

Oregon's little Hitler gets told no by a judge. Good.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-tosses-out-oregons-coronavirus-restrictions/ar-BB14gvf0?li=BBnb7Kz

https://archive.vn/EQxhJ

Added: Trying to put people back on house arrest is not a good idea. Playing with fire.

Here's a quotation from the following story I find utterly disgusting. "I deeply understand the stress and anxiety that people have, that entire dreams have been torn asunder because of the shutdowns, their savings account depleted and their credit ratings destroyed," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. In other words, "Too bad, so sad." IT'S ALL HIS FAULT. EVERY LAST BIT. HE DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK. HE NEVER MISSES A PAYCHECK.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/reopening-the-us-states-relax-rules-but-some-could-return-to-stay-at-home-orders-if-coronavirus-cases-surge/ar-BB14e8DQ?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

https://archive.vn/jiyvR

 

[Gustav Schuchardt]

Latest one was Carrero Blanco, the original choice of successor by franco. We disposed of the guy with a good old bomb under his car (and that is not stuck to the car but on a tunnel under the road), it had so much explosive in it the car flew over the roof of the nearest building and into the patio. People to this day are still making the "is that a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's carrero blanco!" Joke.) And make sure he doesn't come back the old fashioned way. Who even fires the king? The brits, that's who. God damned manners. Now it turns out ye olde rifle is too rude a way to dispose of bad monarchs. Bloody snobs with their posh customs.

Hmm, I never knew that bit of history. He was Franco's choice as PM and heir apparent but after his assassination, his replacement, Carlos Arias Navarro instituted democratization, unwillingly. The King succeeded Franco and sacked Navarro to get someone more reliably liberal and at that point, Franco's regime was clearly going to be replaced with Euro democracy.

It's a very different situation from Edward VIII who was a ceremonial head of state who was believed to be pro-German at a time when war between Germany and the UK was pretty likely. The government removed him under the pretext that he couldn't stay king and marry Wallis Simpson because she was a divorcée so he had to choose between her and being king and he chose her.

I think both countries lucked out pretty remarkably, to be honest. The Spanish example is one of the few I can think of where a political assassination produced a result the assassins found preferable to how things were before. And the UK example is one of the few where a system with a hereditary head of state can survive someone with (at best) very dubious loyalties become that head of state. If Edward VIII had been at all devious he could have just kept Simpson as a mistress until his German buddies arrived and got rid of his domestic political opponents, aka 'the UK government' and acted as a figurehead for the German occupation regime. Something the UK government was so concerned about they decided to try to force him to abdicate.

stock up. Stock your freezers, get a few plants going where you can. Food is going to get significantly more expensive, especially in areas where it’s imported.

Back when this started I stocked up on dried and tinned stuff. Then I remembered frozen food is less bland and stocked up on that. Then I realized I could do a shop once a week in mask and gloves to get fresh stuff. Right now I walk up to the food trucks - one does decent falafel, the other decent Vietnamese curry and summer rolls.

If it all turns to shit I'll fall back to frozen and then finally dried/tinned stuff. And I've got a car, so I can always make a break for it.

I would say 'I don't think my government is evil/incompetent enough to confine me in a place with no food' but I bet that's what the Boers thought too...

 

[Barnard]

Welp. It happened. Clownworld found a fucking way. I don't know how it did. But we're there again! Congress has voted to aprove the law decreeing that face masks are of mandatory use on public spaces. How? I don't know. Why? I have no clue. What even is the point when the state of alarm is falling in like a week or so? I don't think even they know! But for some fucking reason this is the one thing left and right decided was a good idea to pass at this fucking point in time. So next week everyone gotta wear a muzzle. Oh yeah that's another thing the decree doesn't specify mask type. So time to get out your most offensive gimp suit buddy! Also from what I heard the way it's written it only limits public spaces meaning state-owned spaces. Not the street or the supermarket or any of that shit. Like you can walk on the street fine but don't you dare step on the woods without a mask! Obviously that wasn't their intent but as one of you pointed out we elected fucking Austin Powers for healthcare no one can really expect him to properly proofread his drafts. *Sigh.* I don't even know if I should laugh or cry at the absolute state or congress. But I got a half full jug of moscatel so I think I'll decide after I make it completely empty.

I'm still unclear on whether masks are supposed to be effective or not. First it was they're no good unless you're already in one room with an infected person, then they were said to work well when there's a lot of asymptomatic people out and about, but then I've heard catching this virus outdoors is rather difficult? We're very likely to rescind the requirement to wear masks outside soon. The Czech Republic introduced mandatory masks everywhere a month before we did and our government got a lot of flak for doing it too late... but the Czechs have (and have had at every point in time) more cases per capita than we do. They work for hamsters though. (archive)

Either way it seems like something you should be introducing first, not last, if going for it at all.

 

[RodgerDodger]

Oregon's little Hitler gets told no by a judge. Good.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-tosses-out-oregons-coronavirus-restrictions/ar-BB14gvf0?li=BBnb7Kz

https://archive.vn/EQxhJ

Added: Trying to put people back on house arrest is not a good idea. Playing with fire.

Here's a quotation from the following story I find utterly disgusting. "I deeply understand the stress and anxiety that people have, that entire dreams have been torn asunder because of the shutdowns, their savings account depleted and their credit ratings destroyed," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. In other words, "Too bad, so sad." IT'S ALL HIS FAULT. EVERY LAST BIT. HE DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK. HE NEVER MISSES A PAYCHECK.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/reopening-the-us-states-relax-rules-but-some-could-return-to-stay-at-home-orders-if-coronavirus-cases-surge/ar-BB14e8DQ?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

https://archive.vn/jiyvR

I get the feeling that a lot of Courts are going to quickly start unwinding the madness. The Oregon order is a harbinger. There is literally no viable precedent in US History where these “Stay at Home” orders, especially those done without benefit of approval of the Legislature, will withstand Constitutional or Legal scrutiny or review. Most other uses of that sort of power have involved times of war, and have been restricted to areas actively viewed as in the theater of a War. Such as Hawaii during WW2. And even then History has not treated them kindly.

The Friday order issued by a Federal Judge to the North Carolina Governor strikes me as something so simple and resonant that it will be echoed broadly throughout the Judicial system. “There is no Pandemic Exception to the Constitution of the United States or the Free Expression Clause of the First Amendment”. That gets to the heart of the matter, does it not? The People’s Rights are not a thing you can order them to take off like a coat at the Governors convenience. No matter how good a reason they may think they have.

And this gets to the root problem that Whitmer or Oregion’s Governor face. They cannot single handedly suspend the rights of American’s, any American’s, without explicit leave of the Legislature or Judiciary. Governors and Presidents are granted broad powers to deal with a crisis. But for a limited time after which they must present a valid case to the people and their representatives. And they are not the ones who get to decide on that validity.

 

[JosephStalin]

Three about the upcoming "baseball season". If the teams have to play according to the MLB safety protocol, it won't be worth anyone's time to even watch a game on TV/streaming. The ONLY reason these games are being played is to satisfy contractual obligations to TV/streaming and players. Fuck that. See you in '21, MLB.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/no-sunflower-seeds-will-mlb-s-67-page-safety-and-health-protocol-keep-players-safe/ar-BB14g3vw?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=mailsignout

https://archive.vn/2LR3D

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2020/05/16/coronavirus-mlb-safety-protocols-change-how-game-played/5207588002/

Coronavirus: MLB safety protocols to change how game is played

archived 18 May 2020 22:15:04 UTC

archive.vn

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/05/16/coronavirus-mlb-team-outlook-home-games-baseball-stadiums/5200793002/

Coronavirus: MLB team-by-team outlook for home games

archived 16 May 2020 13:46:18 UTC

archive.vn

 

[Moonpie]

Just wanted to drop this here.

 

[The Big O]

So I was just checking on my state's reopening plans and found this shit:
View attachment 1302398
"new normal"
NEW NORMAL

NEW NORMAL
FINAL STAGE IS NEW NORMAL

BRB, brewing molotov cocktails.

edit: I did a tiny bit more looking and found this on mass.gov
View attachment 1302428
Until a vaccine. Fuck.

I knew he was going to be a lame duck in reopening everything here in MA. A lot of that is not conducive to restoring our state economy without fucking us over further.

Real talk: I was actually called back into work starting this week. Silver lining in that, I suppose.

 

[Feline Supremacist]

I get the feeling that a lot of Courts are going to quickly start unwinding the madness. The Oregon order is a harbinger. There is literally no viable precedent in US History where these “Stay at Home” orders, especially those done without benefit of approval of the Legislature, will withstand Constitutional or Legal scrutiny or review. Most other uses of that sort of power have involved times of war, and have been restricted to areas actively viewed as in the theater of a War. Such as Hawaii during WW2. And even then History has not treated them kindly.

The Friday order issued by a Federal Judge to the North Carolina Governor strikes me as something so simple and resonant that it will be echoed broadly throughout the Judicial system. “There is no Pandemic Exception to the Constitution of the United States or the Free Expression Clause of the First Amendment”. That gets to the heart of the matter, does it not? The People’s Rights are not a thing you can order them to take off like a coat at the Governors convenience. No matter how good a reason they may think they have.

And this gets to the root problem that Whitmer or Oregion’s Governor face. They cannot single handedly suspend the rights of American’s, any American’s, without explicit leave of the Legislature or Judiciary. Governors and Presidents are granted broad powers to deal with a crisis. But for a limited time after which they must present a valid case to the people and their representatives. And they are not the ones who get to decide on that validity.

Our rights are God given and no scrap of paper confers or denies rights to any individual; in fact, no petty official, elected or otherwise, has the authority to take away or restore our rights. The concept of natural rights was the driving force behind the establishment of the United States and codified into law. More and more of these "orders" and "decrees" will be ruled illegal, especially when it becomes clear this virus is not as lethal as suspected and the same politicians determined to take away our rights are the same people that caused thousands of needless deaths.

Live free or die.

 

[Kiwi Lime Pie]

Enough to reply to and share today that I categorized them under various spoilers.

Spoiler: Response to "Why is it such a problem?

Why is staying at home for a few weeks such a problem?

• A "few weeks" has often morphed into a few months (or more) with no end in sight.
• As @HTTP Error 404 and @Mrs. Adams posted, three categories of people can't go on indefinitely with reduced or zero income: workers with reduced hours, workers ineligible for unemployment, and business owners ineligible for PPP or other relief funds.
• When business are ready to open up again, those workers earning more from unemployment (thanks to the $600/week Federal portion) than their regular job don't want to go back to work, making it harder for those business to reopen with the necessary staff.
• Well-intended directives preventing eviction of renters not paying their rent for as long as this remains a crisis (however vaguely defined) have led to some renters able to pay their rent in full refusing to do so. This negatively impacts individual people who are landlords and rely on the money to cover expenses related to the rental property and use any net earnings as supplemental income (article / archive).

Just stay home until it blows over, please.

The problem is that "blows over" is so subjective that it's an empty phrase and allows those in charge of the shutdowns to move the goalposts indefinitely under the guise of, "It's not blown over yet."

Governors and Presidents are granted broad powers to deal with a crisis. But for a limited time after which they must present a valid case to the people and their representatives. And they are not the ones who get to decide on that validity.

"Because I said so," might be the best way to deal with an uncooperative toddler. It rarely works, and usually has the opposite effect, on other adults.

-----

Spoiler: Safety and You

I'm still unclear on whether masks are supposed to be effective or not.

With so many organizations wanting to be first to report their news, announcements, and guidelines, it all seemed so rushed that there was quite a bit of backtracking and subsequent announcements that contradicted prior ones. The combination of misinformation and conflicting information has made it very frustrating for the average person to know what's going on and what the best thing to do is a any point over the past few months .

I'm still maintaining a basic level of caution because I live with old people, but in general, I'm done caring.

Because I check up on my older parents and have an older person as my boss, I have a vested interest to follow precautions regarding mask-wearing, hand-washing/hygiene, and social distancing. However, I plan to take full advantage of the day when my area allows me to fully return to my workplace and paying hobby with minimal or no restrictions.

-----

Spoiler: Telecommuting and other Work Issues

I mostly telecommute. Now exclusively, unless something needs swapped on a rack or what have you. My clients are keeping me and my company employed... but we're starting to shudder from this, too. A few clients have asked to renegotiate contracts, and a few have tried to tell us without spelling it outright that we're likely going to lose them because they just can't afford us anymore. Those that are staying are hinting strongly they need to negotiate lower prices or lower services or preferably, both.

I think part of the problem stems from the misconception that people working from home deserve less pay because they have less work-related expenses and the erroneous belief that "(almost) anyone can work from home." I can understand those clients wanting to renegotiate contracts if their own revenues have dropped and want to have their expenses reduced proportionate to that. However, I feel for you or anyone else who has clients who use this as a way to demand services for nothing (or close to it) and then balk at paying more once their finances and cash flow improve.

tbh I am also afraid of economic damage, and I'm not sure if my company will survive beyond 2021.
I was never particularly afraid of virus, but the economic carnage that is happening and seemingly unlimited printing is definitely scary

I, too, have concerns over the economic impact. Before COVID-19 even hit, my boss was telling people she might finally retire. At the time, rough math suggested that if she allowed me to take over most of the business, I could probably make just enough each year to make it worthwhile to me. Once COVID-19 hit, however, this has become less appealing because a good chunk of our monthly revenue stopped coming in and there's presently no idea when or if most of it might come back. Similarly scary is the idea of trying to find a new job any time soon because many companies probably won't be looking to hire anyone due to their own reduced operations, except maybe to replace workers too scared to return to work. That the Democrats' solution is to try to impose UBI so that nobody has to work seems neither reassuring nor much of a practical, long-term idea.

The ONLY reason these games are being played is to satisfy contractual obligations to TV/streaming and players.

But right now many CA workers have taken a 100% pay cut.

The players and owners fighting over revenue-sharing and who gets paid what isn't good, either. As you said, many people -- whether in CA or other states -- have no money coming right now through no fault of their own. Many of the fans MLB needs right now don't even know how they'll pay next month's bills. To them, two groups of millionaires squabbling over a fair division of more millions of dollars is perceived as a first world problem.

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Spoiler: Educational Impact

Know a young lady who is a kindergarten teacher. Trust she will be okay.

I don't think anyone likes to see cuts to essential services such as education. With tax revenues down as much as they are right now, though, there's not much in the way of alternatives to address this no-win situation.

Sorry to see community colleges get the cuts. These schools are one of the best things a city/county does for its' residents. Affordable access to education and skills. No better bargain in the post-secondary educational world.

Most community colleges already operate on minimal budgets as a way to keep tuition as affordable as it is, so they're most susceptible to significant decreases in their funding. I totally agree about them and what they do for their students of all ages and backgrounds.

-----

Spoiler: On the Latest From Michigan

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will join U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and others in a virtual town hall Monday, May 18, to discuss stimulus funding for communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health and well being of black communities have long been harmed by under-investment in essential programs and resources that people rely on for their health and safety," Rooks said in a prepared statement.

Gilchrist for quite some time has been trumpeting the assertion that a disproportionate number of minorities have both contracted and died from COVID-19 is the result of some sort of discrimination. As others have pointed out in the thread, many inner-city residents make poor decisions in terms of personal health and pot/vaping shops seem to be more concentrated in these same areas. Instead, it's easier to blame discrimination that likely doesn't exist.

Interestingly enough, Gilchrist largely got his position because Detroit Democrats were disappointed in the lack of minority Democratic candidates running statewide in 2018 and hinted they might not come out to vote for Whitmer and the Democratic slate. Consequently, Whitmer chose Gilchrist as her Lieutenant Governor solely to get those much-needed Detroit votes.

New analysis of how long Corona has been in our state, based on the date of onset of symptoms rather than the date of confirmed tests. Has some nice graphics comparing the two ways of dating cases, and Detroit's curve vs. the west side of the state.

Very informative and it seems to confirm what Kiwis across the globe have noticed empirically that COVID-19 likely made its rounds well before any official announcements came out. This also confirms a chart I saw elsewhere showing Michigan's overall trend seems to be downward.

-----

Spoiler: Local Statistics

Here are this week's COVID-19 numbers:

My City
Cases: 284 total, 15 in the past week
Deaths: 32 total, none in the past week.

Cases/10k: 48.13 (+2.54 in the past week) -- 5.6% increase
Deaths/10k: 5.42 (unchanged in the past week)

Workplace City
Cases: 71 total, 3 in the past week
Deaths: 7 total, none in the past week

Cases/10k: 46.50 (+1.97 in the past week) -- 4.4% increase
Deaths/10k: 4.58 (unchanged in the past week)

Note: My city has a hospital in it, so that could account for the slightly higher case and death rates per 10k.

(Edit: Spelling)

 

[Ahriman]

The Chilean capital, Santiago, falls silent after a strict #COVID19 lockdown is imposed. Chile has recorded more than 41,400 confirmed cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began.

Question - how are things in Poland? I'm chatting up with some chick and things don't look as grim as Spain or Italy, but still no signs of recovery.

 

[MrBlueSocks]

And for the majority of us, the risk of death is less than 1%.

Massively less. If you're under 65, and have no significant health problems then you'd have to be staggeringly unlucky to die from this.
England :
Population 56,000,000
Pop 0-64yo 46,000,000 - 81% of population

Deaths from Covid 34,000
Deaths 0-64yo from Covid 4000 -
(figures correct to end of April, at which point deaths were clearly trending down, but still ongoing, so worsen the odds a touch maybe)

So, mortality rate > 65 year old = 0.3% = 300 per 100,000
mortality rate < 65 year old = 0.001% = 9 per 100,000 . And they'll be the unhealthiest 9 .

(it is a bit of a reaping if you're above 90 years old, about 13% . But that cohort are expected to die any year anyway. )
ONS . archive

 

[Dog-O-Tron 5000v5.0]

I get the feeling that a lot of Courts are going to quickly start unwinding the madness. The Oregon order is a harbinger. There is literally no viable precedent in US History where these “Stay at Home” orders, especially those done without benefit of approval of the Legislature, will withstand Constitutional or Legal scrutiny or review. Most other uses of that sort of power have involved times of war, and have been restricted to areas actively viewed as in the theater of a War. Such as Hawaii during WW2. And even then History has not treated them kindly.

The Friday order issued by a Federal Judge to the North Carolina Governor strikes me as something so simple and resonant that it will be echoed broadly throughout the Judicial system. “There is no Pandemic Exception to the Constitution of the United States or the Free Expression Clause of the First Amendment”. That gets to the heart of the matter, does it not? The People’s Rights are not a thing you can order them to take off like a coat at the Governors convenience. No matter how good a reason they may think they have.

And this gets to the root problem that Whitmer or Oregion’s Governor face. They cannot single handedly suspend the rights of American’s, any American’s, without explicit leave of the Legislature or Judiciary. Governors and Presidents are granted broad powers to deal with a crisis. But for a limited time after which they must present a valid case to the people and their representatives. And they are not the ones who get to decide on that validity.

Hopefully. But they will fight it and this is how they are characterizing it:

Brown said she would immediately appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court to try to keep the emergency orders in effect.

“This will ensure we can continue to safeguard the health of all Oregonians — including frontline health care workers, those living in nursing homes, workers in agriculture and food processing plants, and Oregonians with underlying health conditions –– while the legal process moves forward,” Brown said.

"You see, we aren't trying to take away your freedoms! We are SAFEGUARDING HEALTH! Saving the Heroic Twerking Nurses, your Grandma (don't you love her?), and the poor downtrodden migrant workers!"

This is the argument every democrat and social justice person is making now.