Althouse: At the Sunrise-Distancing Café...

March 17, 2020

At the Sunrise-Distancing Café...

EE9E6A48-0A9F-4A06-957E-C8F3CC859E65_1_201_a

... there is beauty all around.

196 comments:

Mark said...: Ready, set, go --

In tonight's Trek, one of Lionel Ritchie's gang has his ship damaged and crew killed. Then he goes on the Enterprise and seeks to do it all over again.; 3/17/20, 8:03 PM
Mark said...: Meanwhile, on TNG, it's Locutus.

And I just learned that the cute blonde guest member of the crew is Brian Dennehy's daughter (shudder).; 3/17/20, 8:06 PM
Ralph L said...: Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Snoopy drowning in the lake; 3/17/20, 8:09 PM
Yancey Ward said...: That was the peak in her career, it seems.; 3/17/20, 8:09 PM
Yancey Ward said...: You have to admit, that was awesome cliffhanger for TNG- Picard as a Borg.; 3/17/20, 8:10 PM
Mark said...: It's my world and welcome to it.; 3/17/20, 8:14 PM
Mark said...: His son later goes on to merge with a bald-headed Indian V-ger.; 3/17/20, 8:17 PM
Maillard Reactionary said...: The water and the light are amazing. Bravo.; 3/17/20, 8:17 PM
Ken B said...: Biden, increasing his distance from the truth https://pjmedia.com/election/joe-biden-spreads-misinformation-about-trump-and-the-who-amid-coronavirus/; 3/17/20, 8:19 PM
stevew said...: Sunrise photos seem frivolous and escapist in these times.; 3/17/20, 8:21 PM
mockturtle said...: That really is an interesting shot. Great textures.; 3/17/20, 8:22 PM
Mark said...: My prediction about the corona virus outbreak is this --

Most people will gain five to ten pounds in the next few weeks.; 3/17/20, 8:23 PM
Mark said...: End of Flashdance is on now.

Back around when it was in the theaters, I used to go out with a girl who looked like Jennifer Beals.; 3/17/20, 8:25 PM
Ken B said...: Cooked corned beef and cabbage for St Patrick's Day dinner. Turned out very well using an instant pot.

3 lb corned beef, rinsed with 4-5 cups water and some spices, for 90 minutes then release after 10 minutes
Meat out, cabbage, small potatoes, carrots in for 4 minutes, quick release.

I might do 3 minutes next time as I like firmer cabbage, but it was fine, meat was very tender and tasty.; 3/17/20, 8:26 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: As one who has been "meh" on this sunrise project.

I must say this photo is stunning.; 3/17/20, 8:28 PM
Mark said...: When TNG started to get tougher with episodes like the Locutus one, that's when the series and characters began to get interesting.

Still, Picard was no Kirk . . . and certainly no Sisko. He's great as Director Bullock, though.

Riker was always a putz too.; 3/17/20, 8:29 PM
Mark said...: Years later, I also went out for a while with someone who reminded me a lot of Seven of Nine.

Yeah, I had the luck for a while.; 3/17/20, 8:31 PM
rcocean said...: We've done Corned beef several ways. First the ol' pot of water on the stove trick. And then baking it in the oven, with some water and foil. We liked the 2nd method better. We like it better with potatoes then cabbage.; 3/17/20, 8:33 PM
Mark said...: Some of us make corned beef the same way we make our cranberry sauce.; 3/17/20, 8:34 PM
reader said...: Ken B you did 90 minutes? I’m doing 60 (15 minute natural release). It’s Not too late for me to adjust. Was yours dry at all?; 3/17/20, 8:36 PM
Mark said...: So another mystery of the work-from-home national lock-down is how --

Two days in a row now one of my bosses (I work at Initech) e-mails me at 4:30 giving me a project to do that they want first thing in the morning.; 3/17/20, 8:40 PM
Ralph L said...: How do you cook cabbage without vomiting?; 3/17/20, 8:41 PM
Mark said...: OK, I'll bite.

How do you cook cabbage without vomiting?; 3/17/20, 8:43 PM
Mark said...: A Mr. Creosote joke on Family Guy.; 3/17/20, 8:44 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Groceries were too much of a challenge to do the St. Patrick’s spread I wanted to, but my preschoolers and I did make my favorite chocolate cake with bright green empress icing and shamrock sprinkles.

My favorite Irish dish is colcannon. Delicious!; 3/17/20, 8:46 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: The last week I've been having quite a giggle over the Andrew Gillum situation. My Portland liberal brother doesn't like me talking about it for some reason. My tag for this stuff is the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie.

Who said you'd have to have a heart of stone not to laugh?

At one time it was a maxim of American politics not to get caught with a dead girl or a live boy in your bed. I wonder if Gillum thought he was bulletproof.; 3/17/20, 8:47 PM
traditionalguy said...: Flavor musts: Don't forget to add a bottle of Guinness to the Instapot. And eat the Corned beef with mustard and mayonnaise .

And that Sunrise Tree needs more Treeness to make the Tree of the Year Award.; 3/17/20, 8:48 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: Oh yah, Happy St. Paddy's! I really missed not be able to swan around in my kilt.; 3/17/20, 8:49 PM
Mark said...: My favorite Irish dish is colcannon. Delicious!

I guess Victor McLaglen in those John Ford movies was quite a character, but delicious? To each her own, I guess.; 3/17/20, 8:49 PM
traditionalguy said...: Tom Terrific has joined the worst team in the NFC South. I blame Trump.; 3/17/20, 8:51 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The FIX is in; 3/17/20, 8:51 PM
stevew said...: Corned beef, first choice to make: red or gray. Simmer it in hot water for 45-50 minutes per pound. By itself. Add the vegetables, we go with cabbage (in eighths), carrots, and turnip (some like to add parsnips), to the water late in the process or after you have removed the beef. Don't forget the soda bread, big decision there is caraway seed or not. If so, about one tablespoon in the mix is good. Don't make it in a loaf pan, drop it on a cookie sheet and bake until the thick center is done.

Most call this a New England boiled dinner. Don't spare the butter.; 3/17/20, 8:52 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: I’m not Irish, much, but Mr. Pants and the little ones are. We have a lovely Irish last name, one of the ones people give their kids as a first name, and he’s adorable and looks like an extra in a TV adaptation of a Maeve Binchy novel. Curly hair, rosy cheeks, sparkling green eyes.

I appreciate the outsized literary contribution such a tiny island has made to the world. It was a sad, poor, tragic, second worldy kind of place until basically the 90s.

I also appreciate the detective novels of Tana French which are set in modern Ireland.; 3/17/20, 8:53 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Colcannon? had to google it.

looks nummy.; 3/17/20, 8:53 PM
exhelodrvr1 said...: Dr Drew was talking about the flu. I tried to get him to stop.; 3/17/20, 8:57 PM
Temujin said...: Bucs are going to be great. They are a team with great receivers and tight ends, a great coach, a strong D, and no running back. Their former QB was an interception machine. Brady? He suddenly makes them a real team. This should be fun.

Mark said: "Two days in a row now one of my bosses (I work at Initech) e-mails me at 4:30 giving me a project to do that they want first thing in the morning."

I've worked out of a home office for 25 or so years. Before it became a thing. What you'll find working out of the home is that you end up working more. At night. On weekends. It's always there.; 3/17/20, 8:58 PM
Andrew said...: It's very interesting to read about today's primaries on Twitter (the ones that occurred, so excluding Ohio).

First, there was a lot of confusion, including some voting locations that weren't even open, were severely understaffed, or didn't have the right equipment.

But more significantly, many Democrats are furious that the primaries weren't postponed. There's anger in particular at Tom Perez and the DNC because of their insistence that the primaries happen (ostensibly to help Biden). A few people are even saying that Perez and other officials should be prosecuted, if it can be proven that today's primaries worsened the spread of the virus.

Numerous elderly people refused to vote out of health concerns, and feel like they were deprived. Others did vote, and were in long lines or crowded rooms for an extended period of tine, so now are genuinely fearful that they could have been exposed.

While Ohio definitely miscommunicated about the primary being postponed, many people here, including some of the poll workers, are expressing gratitude. It's been pleasantly surprising to see so many Democrats here praising Governor Mike DeWine for his leadership.; 3/17/20, 8:58 PM
Gospace said...: My one remaining liberal friend who still thinks the Mueller report proved Trump colluded with Russia has moved on.

He now thinks Trump should be impeached for not accepting the WHO test kits for C-19. And a half dozen other things involving C-19. Including getting rid of the White House pandemic office- OMG, what a crime there! That it never did anything, duplicated other government agencies, and had no actual power to do anything, that's all immaterial.

Impeach Impeach! Impeach!

I see these thoughts echoed on liberal threads I peruse on threadreaderappdotcom. I wonder if liberal ever peruse conservative threads there......

The next really serious medical shortage in the United States will be padded rooms after election day 2020. We're going to need someplace to store the deranged liberals until they can be cured.; 3/17/20, 9:02 PM
Gahrie said...: How do you cook cabbage without vomiting?

You begin by rendering some bacon. I'm in the "no such thing as too much bacon" camp, so I use at least half a pound. Remove the bacon and throw in a couple of diced onions. When they are nearly done, throw in the sliced cabbage and some crushed garlic. When the cabbage is nearly done, mix the bacon back in with some parmesan. Delicious as is, or with some balsamic vinegar. You can replace the cabbage with Brussels sprouts.; 3/17/20, 9:04 PM
Gospace said...: Mark said...
My prediction about the corona virus outbreak is this --

Most people will gain five to ten pounds in the next few weeks.

Quite seriously, I'm already partway there. Was planning on going out today and walking the malls.; 3/17/20, 9:05 PM
Ken B said...: Reader
Not remotely dry. Very moist and tender. It was 3 pound and about 3 inchesthick mostly, but not really flat.; 3/17/20, 9:06 PM
Ken B said...: Mark
I fear you might be right about the pounds. We are walking every day, but no gym. Plus drinking more alcohol I expect too.; 3/17/20, 9:09 PM
Inga said...: My 16 year old grandson’s friend will be living with my daughter’s family until the sister who just arrived from Spain gets the all clear. He left the house before the sister arrived. If the sister comes down with Covid19 then my daughter and the boy’s family will have to make some decisions. So for the next two weeks he’s at my daughter’s and who knows after that, it may end up being longer.; 3/17/20, 9:10 PM
FullMoon said...: As usual, other states follow California in wokeness. San Fran doing this for quite a while:

Thunderdome 2020 Begins – Philadelphia Police Will Not Arrest for Burglary or Theft Due to Coronavirus…; 3/17/20, 9:10 PM
Ken B said...: I endorse Gahrie's fried cabbage. One plus of the instant pot though is less smell. Cooks a shorter time, much of it sealed.; 3/17/20, 9:11 PM
Ken B said...: Gahrie
Years ago we were on a high end cruise. Ordered bacon from room service. Brought an enormous pile, at least two pounds, maybe more. We ate it, but there really is such a thing as too much bacon!; 3/17/20, 9:13 PM
FullMoon said...: Ken B said...

Cooked corned beef and cabbage for St Patrick's Day dinner. Turned out very well using an instant pot.

3 lb corned beef, rinsed with 4-5 cups water and some spices, for 90 minutes

90 minutes total time, or 90 minutes after pot comes up to temp and timer begins countdown?; 3/17/20, 9:13 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: "Italian emergency-medical technicians have experienced a high rate of infection, Dr. Cereda said, spreading the disease as they travel around the community."

I lifted that from a WSJ article .

eee gads.; 3/17/20, 9:17 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: wait - back to cabbage. delicious smelly cabbage!; 3/17/20, 9:17 PM
Roughcoat said...: Back around when it was in the theaters, I used to go out with a girl who looked like Jennifer Beals.

Did she have a push broom moustache like the guy who did Beals' dance scenes?; 3/17/20, 9:19 PM
narciso said...: i hadnt made the connection with the other dennehy; 3/17/20, 9:20 PM
narciso said...: https://www.hoover.org/research/coronavirus-isnt-pandemic?fbclid; 3/17/20, 9:20 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: There is a beauty all around! Can't ever forget that.

And there is one honorable, intelligent virologist in Israel who explains the epidemic. .; 3/17/20, 9:25 PM
narciso said...: I guess i. Liked riker, because he was most kirk like, except kirk would have eventually sought his own command.; 3/17/20, 9:25 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: With apologies to The Knack:

When you gonna give to me, a gift to me
Is it just a matter of time, Carona?
Is it d-d-destiny, d-destiny
Or is it just a game in my mind, Carona?; 3/17/20, 9:27 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: As someone who's worn the clan tartan on special occasions over 30+ years, I have to say, kilts bring a smile to people. Unless they're laughing at me....

I'm still working with my Nepali bodega clerk on saying Toppa the marnin t'ya, Guvnor.; 3/17/20, 9:28 PM
exhelodrvr1 said...: From the article B.A.G. linked:

“we know how the virus behaves, how it spreads, and which groups are in danger. We know now that his virus is primarily dangerous to old people, and to people with a history of chronic disease, and those who are immunocompromised.”

Appealing to Israeli leaders “who are appearing every night at 8 p.m. to announce all kinds of steps, some of them very important,” he said, they should “first and foremost calm people down.”; 3/17/20, 9:29 PM
FullMoon said...: From B A G link above

Israeli virologist urges world leaders to calm public, slams ‘unnecessary panic’
By TOI staff 15 March 2020, 6:28 pm 34 Edit

A leading Israeli virologist on Sunday urged world leaders to calm their citizens about the coronavirus pandemic, saying people were being whipped into unnecessary panic.

Prof. Jihad Bishara, the director of the Infectious Disease Unit at Petah Tikva’s Beilinson Hospital, said that some of the steps being taken in Israel and abroad were very important, but the virus is not airborne, most people who are infected will recover without even knowing they were sick, the at-risk groups are now known, and the global panic is unnecessary and exaggerated.

“I’ve been in this business for 30 years,” Bishara said in a Channel 12 interview. “I’ve been through MERS, SARS, Ebola, the first Gulf war and the second, and I don’t recall anything like this. There’s unnecessary, exaggerated panic. We have to calm people down.

“People are thinking that there’s a kind of virus, it’s in the air, it’s going to attack every one of us, and whoever is attacked is going to die,” he said.

“That’s not the way it is at all. It’s not in the air. Not everyone [who is infected] dies; most of them will get better and won’t even know they were sick, or will have a bit of mucus.”
But in Israel and around the world, “everybody is whipping everybody else up into panic — the leaders, via the media, and the wider public — who then in turn start to stress out the leaders. We’ve entered some kind of vicious cycle.”
He urged the public to internalize that “we’re talking about a virus that is not airborne. Infection is via droplet transmission… Only if you are close to someone who has the virus, and you get the saliva when he sneezes or coughs, can you get ill. And if you don’t then maintain personal hygiene,” primarily by washing hands.

He said the virus did not appear to be “too intelligent” — unlike flu, “which is very intelligent, it changes, adapts, and it infects people via their airway passages.”

Bishara said some of the harsh steps taken in Israel — which has essentially closed its borders, limited gatherings to no more than 10 people, closed all educational facilities, and shut down malls, restaurants and places of entertainment and culture — were motivated by the leaders’ acknowledged awareness that the Israeli health system will buckle under any further strain.

Home quarantine has been ordered for “everyone who has passed by someone who may have been infected by someone else,” he protested, “because they know that our health system cannot withstand coming under any more strain, because we are perennially stretched to the limit.”

Referring to Italy’s national lockdown, he said that “quarantine is an effective precaution, but there has to be temperate use. You can shut down a whole country, but there are other means.”

At this stage, he said, “we know how the virus behaves, how it spreads, and which groups are in danger. We know now that his virus is primarily dangerous to old people, and to people with a history of chronic disease, and those who are immunocompromised.”

Appealing to Israeli leaders “who are appearing every night at 8 p.m. to announce all kinds of steps, some of them very important,” he said, they should “first and foremost calm people down.”; 3/17/20, 9:30 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Venting the instant pot outside is helpful when you’re cooking stuff like cabbage, or my pork shoulder in cider vinegar. If unplugging and resetting the timer is an issue, you can just plug it in on the patio and do the whole thing outside. I love to cook but hate cooking smells so anything I can do outside, I like to.; 3/17/20, 9:31 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Mark said...
My prediction about the corona virus outbreak is this --

Most people will gain five to ten pounds in the next few weeks.

3/17/20, 8:23 PM

Considering what I noticed in people's grocery carts last week - I think you're correct.

I saw no shortages in the produce department.; 3/17/20, 9:33 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: Am going out to the supermarket tomorrow, for the first time since Thursday; either to Walmart or Fred Meyer, haven't decided yet. Perhaps I'll need to go to both, although my list is fairly short. No toilet paper yet needed. Further plague-induced reductions in the bus service from Monday but I'll worry about Monday when it comes.

Corned beef, eh, but you all have me salivating over some good cabbage. Usually I steam it and then add butter but may be adventurous and try a recipe that calls for baking it between layers of a batter made from eggs, bacon, milk, flour, and herbs.; 3/17/20, 9:35 PM
Jaq said...: " What you'll find working out of the home is that you end up working more. At night. On weekends. It's always there.”

Yup. I would actually change clothes at quitting time as a way to tell myself to stop working. In the summer anyway, in the winter, it seemed like it was always working. Sometimes doing the mindless and repetitive stuff in front of the TV at night.; 3/17/20, 9:35 PM
narciso said...: http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=386385; 3/17/20, 9:37 PM
narciso said...: More of these neutral bureaucracy.; 3/17/20, 9:38 PM
Temujin said...: I was similar for years. I used to wear 'work clothes' at my desk at home. I just felt that it helped me get into the work mindset and felt more like I could take control of a situation wearing those clothes. Then, like you, I'd change at 'quitting time'. That ended. These days, living in Florida, it's shorts (Ann are you listening?), t-shirt and sandals. I only dress when I have to travel. Which is not happening these days.

And yeah, I get the mindless and repetitive stuff in front of the tv at night. Well...like now. I'm still checking work emails. Jesus.; 3/17/20, 9:39 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Saute chopped up bacon in a couple of tablespoons of butter in the Instant Pot until it is crispy. Take the bacon out with a slotted spoon and set it aside to drain on a paper towel. Then put a shredded cabbage, a sliced white onion, two sliced Gala apples, some apple cider vinegar (and maybe a couple of splashes of water to prevent burning), and salt and pepper to taste in the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. After venting, stir the bacon in. Delicious, easy and you don't stink up the house.; 3/17/20, 9:42 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: You can replace the cabbage with Brussels sprouts.

Hmm; haven't bought any since a stalk at Thanksgiving and another at Christmas. Definitely a vegetable that people either do or do not have a taste for.; 3/17/20, 9:46 PM
Kathryn51 said...: Re: Corned Beef. At one time, my dearly departed mother cooked corned beef in a pressure cooker. I don't cook corned beef.

Re: the primaries. It is insane that primaries and/or caucuses are held in the dead of winter. A major snow or ice storm could impede access - are the parties going to cancel? Flu season? Virus epidmics? Pandemics?

Primary elections should be in the spring/early summer.

If nothing else, it might help shorten silly season. And I'm saying this as a life-long libertarianish Republican that was heavily involved in Reagan campaigns (starting in 1976 when he challenged President Ford.) Caucus/primary season was not this insane back then.; 3/17/20, 9:48 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: I am going to drink a lot of Jameson tonight - to celebrate beauty:); 3/17/20, 9:50 PM
mockturtle said...: It will be interesting to see which is ultimately more deadly, COVID-19 or TDS.; 3/17/20, 9:51 PM
reader said...: Ken B your timing was spot on. Thank you very much! It was a wonderful dinner.; 3/17/20, 9:53 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: My favorite cabbage dish is gado-gado, from Indonesia. It's steamed cabbage, green beans and bean sprouts with peanut sauce and a garnish of fried to the crisp onions. With sambal bajak as the chutney, of course.; 3/17/20, 9:55 PM
Ken B said...: Reader
Glad to hear it!; 3/17/20, 9:56 PM
narciso said...: The first primary was florida in 1901 then wisconsin four years later, a progressive bug?; 3/17/20, 9:56 PM
Ken B said...: Reader
Glad to hear it!; 3/17/20, 9:56 PM
narciso said...: Oregon in 1910, there wasnt a preference primary till 1912; 3/17/20, 9:58 PM
Ken B said...: “ 90 minutes total time, or 90 minutes after pot comes up to temp and timer begins countdown?”

Timer 90 minutes, so 15 up to pressure, 10 or so after and the 2 min to vent.; 3/17/20, 9:59 PM
Wa St Blogger said...: ... there is beauty all around.

Yes. And we often forget that while we fight.; 3/17/20, 10:07 PM
rcocean said...: Substitute Irish Whisky for Cabbage and you've got a great meal.; 3/17/20, 10:13 PM
walter said...: 2020 St. Paddy's in quarantine; 3/17/20, 10:15 PM
narciso said...: what could go wrong; 3/17/20, 10:16 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Milwaukie guy said...
My favorite cabbage dish is gado-gado, from Indonesia. It's steamed cabbage, green beans and bean sprouts with peanut sauce and a garnish of fried to the crisp onions. With sambal bajak as the chutney, of course.

3/17/20, 9:55 PM

That sounds very good!; 3/17/20, 10:17 PM
walter said...: So..perusing the decimated frozen veggie aisle chez Walmart, a woman much further than 6ft away is wearing her winter scarf over her assorted breath orifices.
Which direction does the concern arrow go?
Oh, right!; 3/17/20, 10:18 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Mark said...
Most people will gain five to ten pounds in the next few weeks.

I may have already gained mine. I've eaten a lot of bread recently. Who could have known that carbohydrates are fattening?; 3/17/20, 10:20 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Ken B said...
“ 90 minutes total time, or 90 minutes after pot comes up to temp and timer begins countdown?”

Timer 90 minutes, so 15 up to pressure, 10 or so after and the 2 min to vent.

3/17/20, 9:59 PM

Yeah, Instant Pot is not so instant. The great thing about it is that you can just dump everything in and forget about it. That's nice when you're cooking risotto - you don't have to stand there and stir it forever.; 3/17/20, 10:21 PM
Clyde said...: Re: People being afraid to go out and vote, I know for a fact that there was plenty of time to vote early in Florida. I voted two Saturdays ago on my county's first day of early voting. No line. One oval to fill out. And there's always the vote-by-mail option for the general election, which I suspect is going to be very popular by the time this whole coronavirus thing plays out. I've usually liked to go out and vote on Election Day itself, but in the future, it'll be early voting or by-mail for me.; 3/17/20, 10:26 PM
Clyde said...: Had an old friend from my Army days back in the '80s contact me on Facebook today. He sent me a couple of old pictures, one of which was of a group of us at a party in the barracks in West Berlin. Damn, we were young back then!; 3/17/20, 10:29 PM
Mark said...: Both when you get bored and to deal with stress/tension, its common to start munching.

Somebody said the other day that when they went to the store, the ice cream section was still packed. But right now, I could go for some ice cream.

However, another part of the shortage is that I have looked for months, but been unable to find any peppermint ice cream.; 3/17/20, 10:30 PM
Mark said...: I've also already lost track of what day it is.; 3/17/20, 10:31 PM
walter said...: Sometimes hearing "It's not you, it's me" isn't comforting.; 3/17/20, 10:34 PM
fleg9bo said...: We have a lovely Irish last name, one of the ones people give their kids as a first name

Your last name is Paddy? I hope your first name isn't Patty.; 3/17/20, 10:34 PM
Mark said...: The vote-by-mail option for the general election.

That sure inspires confidence in the integrity of the system.; 3/17/20, 10:34 PM
Mark said...: All these recipes for corned beef.

I'm telling you -- it's a lot easier to just open up the can and fry it in a pan. You want to get a good crust on it.; 3/17/20, 10:36 PM
Mark said...: Just saw Biden's streamed victory speech. He looks like some CGI Max Headroom.; 3/17/20, 10:38 PM
walter said...: They claim he stutters..; 3/17/20, 10:39 PM
wildswan said...: "Mark said...
My prediction about the corona virus outbreak is this --

Most people will gain five to ten pounds in the next few weeks."

I've been walking but then, fatally, I suggested that after our stint we get a maple latte (to go, of course) to help a small business we know. Tastes great and I am doing good - except on the pounds.; 3/17/20, 10:40 PM
Mark said...: Just saw a Mercedes commercial where the guy (in an inter-racial couple, of course) sneezes.

Yeah, like I'm going to buy some corona death car. Not.; 3/17/20, 10:41 PM
YoungHegelian said...: What's green & sits out in the rain?

Paddy O'Furniture.

(say it fast & you'll get it).; 3/17/20, 10:42 PM
walter said...: "I bring home the corned beef, fry it up in a pan. And never, never, never let you forget that it's not Spam"; 3/17/20, 10:42 PM
Mark said...: They still have Dixie riddle cups?; 3/17/20, 10:43 PM
William said...: The ultimate purpose of Irish food is to help resolve in one's heart that starvation is not the worst fate that man can endure.....Irish identity doesn't seem to thrive in social isolation. When I was out and about today, I saw more face masks than flashing green accoutrements. I forgot it was St. Patrick's Day.....My grandfather was an Irish immigrant. He died in the flu epidemic of 1918. I find that fact deeply troubling......Ryan's Daughter is on at 1 AM. It was a big budget David Lean film from 1970. It flopped. I haven't seen it in fifty years. If I'm awake I'll give it a go.; 3/17/20, 10:45 PM
Mark said...: I took the trash out to the dumpster and people 20 feet apart were viewing each other with suspicion.; 3/17/20, 10:46 PM
Josephbleau said...: “My favorite Irish dish is colcannon. Delicious!

I guess Victor McLaglen in those John Ford movies was quite a character, but delicious? To each her own, I guess.z”

I recall a Sgt. Quincannon in a Wayne Ford film, sure and he got drunk and lost his stripes though.; 3/17/20, 10:47 PM
tommyesq said...: Do you touch up photos via Photoshop or something similar? Your pictures are very sharp.; 3/17/20, 10:49 PM
walter said...: "Ryan's Daughter is on at 1 AM. It was a big budget David Lean film from 1970. It flopped. I haven't seen it in fifty years. If I'm awake I'll give it a go. "
Maybe slightly ahead of its time..; 3/17/20, 10:53 PM
walter said...: "Most people will gain five to ten pounds in the next few weeks."
Rahmbo's sentiments notwithstanding, sometimes a crisis goes to waist.; 3/17/20, 10:58 PM
Narayanan said...: Yummy way to add those pounds.
Cabbage in fritters.; 3/17/20, 10:59 PM
Narayanan said...: Aka kofta.; 3/17/20, 11:00 PM
Mark said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/17/20, 11:01 PM
Sebastian said...: Not wading into the flu vs. WuFlu debate, but:

How would everyday life be affected if flu deaths were reported the way WuFlu deaths are now?; 3/17/20, 11:02 PM
Mark said...: I didn't remember Mary Ellen being a tomboy.; 3/17/20, 11:03 PM
Lucid-Ideas said...: I want to be responsible and distance myself from anyone I think could have the virus. But I cannot distance myself from my beautiful bride. I accept our predicament, so does she. We shall accept this predicament alone. Together. Isoloted and untouched. We shall, as they say, be netflix and chilling.; 3/17/20, 11:03 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: St. Patty's and St. Paddy's sound exactly the same in Chicagoese.

No one is going to respond to my question about kilts generating smiles? It's St. Pat's FFS.

Am I going to have to get a grant from CDC to study "Kilts, Smiles and Mental Health in a World About to Die from Climate Change?"; 3/17/20, 11:04 PM
Inga said...: What’s going on? This seems like an uptick in younger people getting more serious cases of Covid19.

https://www.motherjones.com/coronavirus-updates/2020/03/300-people-with-coronavirus-are-in-intensive-care-in-france-most-of-them-are-under-60/?fbclid=IwAR2PUnp1uiUgKaMERRyaDkVEyJ-vMK9vN5dX38R5OM6bw55GPMpWCo-JxR8

“In France, 300 people with coronavirus are in intensive care; more than half of them are under the age of 60.

Though coronavirus is understood to be particularly lethal among the elderly, France’s new numbers underscore the reality that younger generations can still face serious consequences.

French health authorities on Saturday reported a sharp rise in the number of infections, with 4,500 reported cases and 91 deaths from the virus. Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced sweeping restrictions to limit movement across France, shutting down restaurants, bars, theaters, and non-essential stores.”; 3/17/20, 11:04 PM
Narr said...: If it's clear in the predawn the next few days, to the SE, you might see several planets--
Jupiter pretty well, Mars, Saturn, and Mercury if you're really lucky.

Victor McLaglen was a Jock, and proud of it.

The films of David Lean, aren't.

Happy St Pat's, all you Micks!

Narr
Drink some green Corona; 3/17/20, 11:07 PM
Mark said...: I didn't remember Erin being only 11 years old, either.

Of course, at the time, it would not have been so scandalous to notice her.; 3/17/20, 11:09 PM
Mark said...: What’s going on? This seems like an uptick in younger people getting more serious cases of Covid19. . . . In France, 300 people with coronavirus are in intensive care; more than half of them are under the age of 60.

This from the country that didn't give air conditioning to the elderly and many of them died as a result.

It's called triage and rationing.; 3/17/20, 11:12 PM
Mark said...: Victor McLaglen was a Jock, and proud of it.

He was also a leading man at one point, rather than a supporting character.; 3/17/20, 11:13 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Don't know if it is still the case, but 25 years ago, the French were still smoking a lot. That might have something to do with younger people getting it there.; 3/17/20, 11:14 PM
Mark said...: Joe is more than half-way to a majority.; 3/17/20, 11:18 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: An Irish priest got pulled over for speeding. The cop leaned into the car and said, "Father, have you been drinking?" The priest said, "Only water, officer." The cop said, "I smell wine." The priest picked up the bottle on the passenger seat, looked at it and said "Heavens preserve us, He's done it again!"; 3/17/20, 11:21 PM
Ken B said...: Channeled my Irish ancestors for a while tonight. Wandered around town yelling “Look, Fat!” and starting push-up contests. And you know the thing the thing.; 3/17/20, 11:26 PM
Ken B said...: Inga
Part of the problem is that young people think it’s an old person disease so they aren’t complying with the recommendations.

Remember, despite what Anne Applebaum and The Atlantic say, the Chinese government is why this spread so fast and so far.; 3/17/20, 11:30 PM
madAsHell said...: And you know the thing the thing.

Biden is an Irish name?; 3/17/20, 11:30 PM
Nichevo said...: Bay Area Guy said...
I am going to drink a lot of Jameson tonight - to celebrate beauty:)

For $25.99 or whatever I paid, this handle (liquor biz slang for a 1.75L double-sized bottle) of Kirkland Irish Whiskey 4yo is entirely unobjectionable. Hic! O'Hic!; 3/17/20, 11:30 PM
walter said...: You'd think men wearing dresses would be the shit these days, alas my questionable (fellow) Micks.
Man up and pants that shit ;); 3/17/20, 11:35 PM
Milwaukie guy said...: My favorite modern etnic joke is the one where ISIS has a Irishman, Welshman, Scotsman and Englishman in captivity and they're planning to saw off their heads.

But, ISIS is having PR problems with the sawing the heads off thing and they decide, per Western culture, to give everyone a last wish.

The Irishman asks to hear the finest Dublin tenor to sing Danny Boy one more time. The ISIS lads tap into Youtube and they're like, we can do that.

The Welshman asks for the Cardiff Boy's Choir for a song. The Scotsman asks for Scotland the Brave played by the by Black Watch at Endinburgh Castle. The ISIS dudes are we can get that.

The Englishman says, Cut me bloody head off first.; 3/17/20, 11:36 PM
walter said...: madAsHell said...Biden is an Irish name?
"O'Biden" per Joe; 3/17/20, 11:40 PM
GingerBeer said...: Professor, Without a doubt the best photo you've ever posted on the blog. Thanks.; 3/17/20, 11:43 PM
walter said...: Milwaukie guy,
I love the idea of ISIS meeting with a PR agency and navigating the double edged sword of beheadings.; 3/17/20, 11:46 PM
chickelit said...: Lovely photo, Althouse. It reminds me of Roy G. Biv; 3/17/20, 11:49 PM
FullMoon said...: An Irishman walks past a bar..; 3/17/20, 11:49 PM
Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCD said...: Anyone noticed how many new people have showed up in the commentariat the last three weeks? And I'm not talking about the commenters just on this blog -- I mean all of them. At least the on the blogs I follow.

That could mean a lot of things. A lot of Anonymous comments (thankfully not allowed on this blog), people staying home and more engaged in the blogosphere, people who are bored seeking an outlet for expression, people looking for connection, people...

What I find most interesting are the people who don't post their own thoughts, but just critique, criticize and refute others' thoughts. Nothing generative, just critical. Such people tend to be rude, snide and curiously ideological. Even absolutist, in many cases. No information, data, nor backup. They arrive with levels of ontological certitude not commonly seen.

I think they're full of shit. Unusually vacuous. Strange. And invariably Trump-hating. Conspicuously so, I might add...

And I miss Dr. Michael K. Haven't seen him today. Unfortunate. Perhaps he's doing the Lord's work with real patients. At least it's comforting to think so...; 3/18/20, 12:02 AM
Mark said...: Beware the purveyors of fear and despair.; 3/18/20, 12:03 AM
eddie willers said...: A funny Scott Adams repeated last night about the Biden-Sanders debate:

"The dentures were flying!"; 3/18/20, 12:12 AM
Mark said...: Looking at the Germany numbers -- 0.2 percent fatality. Not 2 percent.
26 deaths with 9360 confirmed cases.; 3/18/20, 12:17 AM
walter said...: Ignatius Acton Chesterton OC,
MK is far more frequent here than you.
Scroll down the dates; 3/18/20, 12:19 AM
Mark said...: It would be good if the media could find and interview some of those folks that have had confirmed cases and recovered.; 3/18/20, 12:24 AM
Mark said...: The Star Trek episode, by the way, was The Doomsday Machine, with William Windom guest starring as Commodore Decker. That's the one where a giant space sausage/cigar that can carve-up and eat planets decides to go after some starships.

Since we had no winner today, the prize money will rollover to tomorrow.; 3/18/20, 12:32 AM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: When do we stop waiting for the “tsunami” and acknowledge that it’s not coming and we can come out now?; 3/18/20, 12:33 AM
Mark said...: Watching one of the Cuomo boys pulling rank in New York and telling the City, "NO, you will not quarantine yourself. That cannot happen."

Glad to see him pulling out the "respect my authority" card.; 3/18/20, 12:40 AM
walter said...: From previous(sorry!)
Yancey Ward,
Re presumed importance of "patient zero":
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-taiwan-case-study-rapid-response-containment-2020-3
And given the country origin, likely never known.; 3/18/20, 12:41 AM
walter said...: 'PANTS,
Perhaps after our exposure/peak period passes similar Westernized nations?; 3/18/20, 12:43 AM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: San Franshithole has shut down until the ChiCom virus crisis is over, or until a Dem is elected president.; 3/18/20, 12:44 AM
walter said...: BAG has preloaded that whinery.; 3/18/20, 12:46 AM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: Victor Mclaglen was an Englishman, but he had a lot of success playing John Wayne’s drunken Irish buddy.; 3/18/20, 1:05 AM
Drago said...: Inga: "What’s going on? This seems like an uptick in younger people getting more serious cases of Covid19.

https://www.motherjones.com/coronavirus-updates/2020/03/300-people-with-coronavirus-are-in-intensive-care-in-france-most-of-them-are-under-60/?fbclid=IwAR2PUnp1uiUgKaMERRyaDkVEyJ-vMK9vN5dX38R5OM6bw55GPMpWCo-JxR8

“In France, 300 people with coronavirus are in intensive care; more than half of them are under the age of 60."

Whoa whoa whoa.

"younger people"? How much younger?
"under the age of 60"? How much "under" the age of 60?

I notice that info isn't provided. Why isn't that provided?

Are the "half" that are "under 60" in their 50's? If so, how would that equate to "younger people".

I think we are going to need to see something a bit more specific than that. And by "a bit more specific", I of course mean a lot more specific.; 3/18/20, 1:06 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: "My favorite Irish dish is colcannon."

That's my favorite too! I made it today. Yum.; 3/18/20, 1:16 AM
walter said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/18/20, 1:17 AM
walter said...: <60 being younger than what's been typically discussed, no?
A marginal rate under 60 less concerning, but >50%?
If true, that would strike most as unusual, even factoring in pre-existing conditions.
But by all means, more info helpful.; 3/18/20, 1:19 AM
Joan said...: Thanks for the Irish jokes! (It's OK for me to tell Irish jokes, my Dad was Scots-Irish.) I will be using them on my family tomorrow. :)

Everyone was in a bummer mood today at school as we were only "open" for one hour this morning, and another in the evening, so parents could come in and pick up their kids' things. We should have been back in class today after a nice little 4-day weekend, but no. Instead, we're closed for at least 2 weeks and on top of that, the bishop (Diocese of Phoenix) has cancelled all masses and gatherings of more than 10 people per the CDC guidelines. We're all walking around shell-shocked by that one.

And yet, we all managed to get our first day's work online for our students, and email their parents, too, about how this is all going to work for the next 2 weeks (at least).

I'm TRYING to keep spirits up and managed a really good corned beef and cabbage boiled dinner and the Guinness was tasty, too. Still can't shake the pall having over everything, but I see that the death rate hasn't skyrocketed yet so maybe we'll be able to crawl back out of our caves sooner rather than later. I know we're doing the right thing but man, this is hard in ways I never imagined.; 3/18/20, 1:26 AM
Milwaukie guy said...: I'm particularly fond of Scottish jokes. Both the real clever ones and as well as the other half about different ways to say "but you fuck one goat...."; 3/18/20, 2:20 AM
Milwaukie guy said...: Sometimes I freak out when I see a comment from me at 2:20 AM and then realize it's just after midnight here. Good night.; 3/18/20, 2:23 AM
walter said...: Lift the Kilt and all bets are off ;); 3/18/20, 2:24 AM
walter said...: Russiagate, Mueller, Comey et al fixing to lay low whie X'poo's virus wreaks havoc; 3/18/20, 2:34 AM
walter said...: Sidney Powell
Retweeted
James Woods
@RealJamesWoods
·
13h
Quarantine is difficult. To elderly citizens it can be life-threatening. Many don’t use computers. Could we set up phone banks where volunteers could help them? Hollywood could do the first one the way we have done celebrity fund raisers during past catastrophes. @realDonaldTrump; 3/18/20, 2:40 AM
walter said...: Via intsterpubnert:

ITALY IS NOT THE US. REPEAT: ITALY IS NOT THE US: Distinguishing factors.

But note even in Italy, a country that hugs, smokes, and uses public transportation, the average age of the victims of the Chinese Flu is 80 or so.

My question is: What are we doing to protect those populations? Well, not much. Sure, we closed care centers to visitors, but we still allow the nurses to go in and out, and a lot of those people have small kids who are in daycare. As for the elders being cared for by family? Well, a lot of them still have essential doctors’ appointments as do their families.
What is the quarantine doing? It is destroying the economy. It is doing that with amazing efficiency.

At which point do we ask ourselves what the INTENDED effect is?
115
Posted at 2:00 am by Sarah Hoyt; 3/18/20, 3:10 AM
Crazy World said...: We had floods and tornadoes here on my little island today. Still was able to pay the employees yay us.; 3/18/20, 3:12 AM
walter said...: That little island is?; 3/18/20, 3:40 AM
alanc709 said...: My instapot corned beef recipe: pressure cook for 45 mins, roast at low setting for 15 mins to caramelize the outside. Makes even the cheapest corned beef very tender and juicy.; 3/18/20, 4:29 AM
rhhardin said...: Richard Jewell (2019) is okay - with a sort of timid message that the media are scum, compared to the higher level that's actually happening.

But VLC media player doesn't display captions properly so I used PowerDVD, which does. That also gives me the previews first, on which: they're all unbelievable crap. Feminized men and women not treated as sex objects.

What you want is the lady takes her top off and men run the plot. #MeToo ended that and that doesn't leave much available for action besides mental breakdowns.

Jewell is old style except nobody would want the lady to take her top off so she doesn't. Two good guys and a few evil guys run the action.; 3/18/20, 5:03 AM
donald said...: Just went through security at the Philadelphia airport. I get through am gathering my belongings and some stiff tells me to put up the trays. I tell him no, it’s his job. He says it’s mine. I explain to him that he works for me and to get off his ass, also that it’s a crime against the American taxpayer that his job even exists. He calls his supervisor. I tell him the same thing. Supervisor: “Have a nice day sir”. Me:; 3/18/20, 5:11 AM
rhhardin said...: Left has Chinese fire drill over name Chinese virus.; 3/18/20, 5:20 AM
Lurker21 said...: Biden is Irish on his mother's side, and he's milked that for whatever it's worth, like John Kerry, who wasn't Irish at all. That's the Finnegans, as Irish as they come. His father's side, the Bidens, were English, with some French and Irish, going back to Colonial Maryland and Pennsylvania.

This primary campaign looks like a Potemkin village, a fake facade for Biden's coronation by the party regulars.; 3/18/20, 5:34 AM
stevew said...: Publishing fatality rates is wrong, irresponsible even.

Punch line from a Scottish joke, best delivered with a Scottish accent:

I don't know where ya been, and I don't know what you've been up ta, but I'm glad to see you've won first prize.

Plenty of corned beef left over, odds are good there'll be hash with breakfast today.

COVID19 Symptoms; 3/18/20, 5:42 AM
Anne in Rockwall, TX said...: According to my local news, there are two patients in ICU with the Corona virus. One is in their early 20s and one is 30. Neither have any pre-existing health issues.

They are having trouble saying this is only dangerous to the elderly and compromised. My first thought was, "I wonder if they vape?"; 3/18/20, 5:59 AM
AllenS said...: This virus might clean out the meth heads. There's a silver lining in everything.; 3/18/20, 6:28 AM
Jaq said...: I think that there is a lot of conclusion jumping going on when the claims that it was only harmful to the elderly are made. Lot’s of wishful thinking.

Also “cui bono” type of thinking is not applicable in every case, or even in most cases. It assumes a kind of all knowingness about consequences in chaotic times. In simple cases, sure. Somebody poisoned gramdpa, somebody inherited millions of dollars, you look at that somebody pretty closely. This is nothing like that.; 3/18/20, 6:31 AM
Inga said...: Tennessee brothers with 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer forced to donate them

Good.; 3/18/20, 6:35 AM
Jaq said...: Right now there seems to be the assumption being pushed that a nasty flu that went around “must have been” coronavirus. From that conclusion jump, we get the the comforting idea that it isn’t that bad.

It would be nice to have real evidence rather than just a feeling. People get really sick from the normal flu too, people die of it.; 3/18/20, 6:49 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Publishing fatality rates is wrong, irresponsible even."

How can we possibly know the "rate"?

We have no idea how many are sick, as the dying and dead present themselves for medical care. Some of the sick but not dying are calling in for tests and some are not and we're not counting all these people unless they are tested. There's no "rate" available.; 3/18/20, 6:50 AM
Jaq said...: Italian coronavirus infections have slowed in recent days after the country took drastic quarantine measures to stop the spread of the pathogen.

The figures are a sobering warning to Britain, which unlike Italy has not closed schools, shut down shops or blocked travel.

The number of daily cases in Italy has been stagnant in the last four days, settling down at around 3,500 new patients per day.

Yesterday's increase in the overall tally was 12.6 per cent, the second-lowest rate since the virus began spreading in Italy on February 21 - offering a ray of hope to Italians even as the death toll rose by 345 to 2,503.; 3/18/20, 6:55 AM
Jaq said...: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8123307/Italys-doctors-warn-catastrophic-situation-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-345-2-503.html

A couple good graphs too.; 3/18/20, 6:57 AM
stevew said...: In the absence of data people just make it up, generally to suit their purpose and argument.

Powerline posts some data on the virus worldwide, including infection rate and deaths per capita. These are real statistics and useful to the discussion. Italy and Spain have the highest rates; the US is much lower. The point is made that population density is much higher in Italy and Spain than it is in the US. Even though we have 320m people here, the country is so vast that we are social distancing relative to much of Europe even before the implementation of that policy.

Per Capita Death Rates at Powerline; 3/18/20, 7:10 AM
Grant said...: Late to the corned beef party, but: immersion circulator. 5-6 pound brisket at ~175 for 10-12 hours. Overnight, anyway. Makes the house smell great when you wake up and is never, ever dry. Helps if you corn your own beef. Simple process but takes maybe ten days and some refrigerator space.

Tip: collards are the new cabbage, and they grow all winter long down here on the 36th parallel.; 3/18/20, 7:27 AM
Jaq said...: One does wonder what the impact of the custom of greeting with a kiss on each cheek would be. But these are still speculation now, speculation with lives at stake.; 3/18/20, 7:36 AM
Browndog said...: Blogger AllenS said...

This virus might clean out the meth heads. There's a silver lining in everything.

Not helpful!

The virus might get the meth heads to clean up their act, and go on to live happy, productive lives.

Happy thoughts...; 3/18/20, 7:45 AM
Jaq said...: The UK seems to see this as war, and in war you take casualties in one area hoping to reduce them in all areas. The idea that you let the young and fit get the virus and build up herd immunity overwhelms the health care system the least, and cuases the least economic disruption, but people will die, a lot of them, no matter the choice made. We are “thrown” which is a metaphor for being thrown into the air and you can take actions or not, but whatever you do or don’t do can’t change the fact that you are thrown, but will impact how you land.

We can’t lock down the economy forever. That kills people too and will lead to civilization collapse. But the UK strategy takes major balls, and it requires citizens to see themselves as soldiers in this war that we cannot avoid.

Right now we are all hiding in foxholes, we are going to be forced to pick how we are going to come out, because we can’t stay in our foxholes forever, if we do, at some point roving gangs will bash down our doors and steal or stuff and take our daughters.; 3/18/20, 7:57 AM
Jaq said...: The other advantage of the UK approach is that you have time to build capacity for the inevitable surge. The question of course is will the young people manage to keep the oldsters protected from the ravages, like a country of Ann Franks, while the war with the virus rages among the young.

Maybe there will be a vaccine before the inevitable surge comes.

All of this speculation is based on narciso’s link, BTW.; 3/18/20, 8:00 AM
Jaq said...: Dow futures limit down.

Maybe instead of “Love in the Time of Cholera” I will watch “Margin Call."; 3/18/20, 8:16 AM
Calypso Facto said...: exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...
Don't know if it is still the case, but 25 years ago, the French were still smoking a lot.

Yes, still the case. Had a terrible time avoiding smoke in Paris with my asthmatic daughter. Restaurants don't allow smoking indoors, but many were open air in the summer, with smoking and non-smoking sections divided by just a half-wall.

Changing topics, has Ann ever weighed in on kilts? Are they too short-like?; 3/18/20, 8:19 AM
Mr. Forward said...: The skunk under the porch was a little more social distancing than I planned on.; 3/18/20, 8:27 AM
MadisonMan said...: That little island is?

I would guess Kauai. There's been a Kona low.

btw -- if you make cabbage and bacon, sprinkle some fresh mozz mini-balls on it before serving. Yum.; 3/18/20, 8:56 AM
reader said...: Grant -

For straight brisket I have been cooking it sous vide for 12 hours (like you said it comes out nice and moist). For BBQ I smoke it to 150 degrees then wrap in butcher paper and keep smoking until it’s done (just about 12 hours). But corned beef I’ve always done in the crock pot (8 hours). I decided to play with using the instant pot last night (under 2 hours). Just thinking about how good it was makes me happy. Thanks again Ken B.; 3/18/20, 9:30 AM
Marc in Eugene said...: Mr Trump has won sufficient delegates to clinch GOP renomination.

The first plague fatality in Lane County occurred last night, a woman at about 2100. Requiescat in pace.

I looked at Walmart's website and a couple of items I will be shopping for are marked 'out of stock'. Am going to hope that they are on the shelves when I get there.; 3/18/20, 9:41 AM
Marc in Eugene said...: And I had missed the fact that I can't make the usual visit to the old folks at the care facility because Governor Brown has forbidden such visits using her 'emergency powers'. D.g., I'm not in a position to judge whether the quality of life interest is or is not superior to the preserve physical health interest. The one lady who I speak to on the telephone was adamant that not having visits is a good thing, for now, anyway. And it's not as if the people visited are the only ones living in the place, either.

From Monday the buses are all running on the Saturday schedules i.e. less frequently (often this means every hour instead of two or three times an hour). The one I use for work doesn't run on the weekends to begin with but they're going to run it on some improvised weekly schedule, two or four times a day I'd guess.; 3/18/20, 9:58 AM
rcocean said...: Before the famine, the Irish Peasants lived on milk, butter, and potatoes. Every family had a cow and of course, plenty of their own potatoes. Visitors remarked that the Irish peasants seem to be the healthiest, and best looking in Europe. Then came the potato blight...; 3/18/20, 10:21 AM
rcocean said...: My wife bought the corned beef - but she got the cheap kind, not the Brisket. Big error. She is still learning about Beef.; 3/18/20, 10:22 AM
Nichevo said...: What kind of corned beef other than brisket is there?; 3/18/20, 10:49 AM
Ken B said...: I commend BAG for the Ioannidis link. This is the sort of skeptical response we need to consider. But notice his concern. He isn’t asserting that covid is not a threat. He is concerned with the evidence and its uncertainty. This is NOT “the flu argument “.; 3/18/20, 11:41 AM
Ken B said...: Here is a good discussion of the problems with the Brits' initial plan. https://unherd.com/2020/03/the-scientific-case-against-herd-immunity/

Remember, the bag Achilles rcocean McCullough faction want to do even less than the Brit plan.; 3/18/20, 12:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Calypso to exiledonmainstreet:

"Don't know if it is still the case, but 25 years ago, the French were still smoking a lot."

Yes, still the case. Had a terrible time avoiding smoke in Paris with my asthmatic daughter. Restaurants don't allow smoking indoors, but many were open air in the summer, with smoking and non-smoking sections divided by just a half-wall.

For a while it seemed (to this tourist, anyway) that smoking was declining, visit to visit. On our last visit though (last fall) it seemed like mass chain-smoking had been resumed with a vengeance. (Understandable response to the stress of current events?)

As Calypso points out, "non-smoking" is kind of a joke. One memorable evening the woman in the indoor ("indoor") table near us got up from her dinner, I exaggerate not, every 10 minutes to go outside ("outside") to manically inhale another cig. Of course, standing right in the doorway her smoking was more obtrusive than it would have been if she'd just stayed parked at her corner table.; 3/18/20, 12:37 PM
Mark said...: When did Jonah Goldberg start going on Fox News? I don't normally watch it, but have more recently.

In any event, if he's on, I'm seeing what else is there is to watch.; 3/18/20, 5:52 PM
Mark said...: Oh, looks like I'm a day behind. That's what you get for leaving tabs open.; 3/18/20, 6:00 PM
John D said...: Ms A.

A great many of your images focus on the subject of the sun while rising. Your title for this photo indicates the same artistic intent.

The sun has taken a back seat in this image whether you realize it or not. The light, shadows, and textures in the surface of the lake are spectacular, and the inclusion of the sunrise is almost a distraction.

Take this image and crop out everything above the far edge of the shoreline and you may see what I see.; 3/18/20, 10:11 PM
Ann Althouse said...: @John D

I framed it this way to highlight the surface of the lake, so I did see that!

It's true that the orange strip at the top could be eliminated completely and that would make the lake feel almost like the sky behind the trees. You can see how that looks just by scrolling the page up until the orange sky is off screen.

Did you notice the wall of ice crashed up against the shore at the bottom?; 3/19/20, 6:06 AM