Althouse: How we live now.

March 29, 2020

How we live now.

Time to go take a stupid little fucking afternoon stroll
— ben (@bitch_updates) March 27, 2020

205 comments:

1 – 200 of 205 Newer› Newest»

BarrySanders20 said...: Get a dog, Ben. They love it when people are home, and love walks especially. Plus, unlike people, they don't even care if you are a whiny little millennial bitch! Marvelous creatures.; 3/29/20, 9:56 AM
chickelit said...: I noticed this too. I commute 7 miles one way to work on what is essentially a bike path. Lately, it's been quite crowded at all times with pedestrians, mostly people with dogs and a few families. The dogs are the worst because people let them stray across the path on their super long leashes, effectively blocking bike traffic.; 3/29/20, 9:56 AM
chickelit said...: Dogs really have replaced kids.; 3/29/20, 9:57 AM
Maillard Reactionary said...: Make sure you have your permission slip from the local authorities before you try that, buddy.; 3/29/20, 9:59 AM
Jaq said...: One thing I noticed in Florida is that the hot women who would normally go to the gym are out walking in their body positive outfits and I think that this is likely causing an increase in traffic accidents.; 3/29/20, 9:59 AM
stevew said...: Hahaha. As some may have noticed and noted, I was a bit at my wits end after about 5 days of this stuff. I attribute that to the fact that ordinarily I am on a plane and away every week for a couple of days or so. But I've settled in now. It's nice, though very much a Groundhog Day (the movie) feel. Days blend together, never immediately sure which date or day of the week it is.

Maine and NH have closed their coastal beaches and parks. The places to go for walks are becoming limited.; 3/29/20, 10:01 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: "The dogs are the worst because people let them stray across the path on their super long leashes . . ."

Don't blame the dog. If there is blame, direct it at the human at the other end of the leash.

It's funny to see how people react to the changes this caused. The asshole bikers (not saying Mr. Chicklet is one, but there are thousands) are now inconvenienced by new users of "their" path. Everyone is going to have to adjust some expectations. There's little or no road traffic now, so maybe the bikers should move to the roads.; 3/29/20, 10:04 AM
rhhardin said...: One convention problem, probably inherited from Britain, is that if you ride a bike with the dog heeling on the left where heeling is supposed to be taught, you have to ride on the left side of the bike path, and you encounter at least one keep-right nazi every day. The idea being to keep the bike between dog and the rest of the path traffic.; 3/29/20, 10:05 AM
Ann Althouse said...: That tweet made me laugh for 2 days.; 3/29/20, 10:14 AM
Fernandinande said...: Poor Ben looks a little too young to be a nervous old man on twitter, but I guess that's what he is.

Get a dog, Ben.

Apparently he has a chihuahua, which is pretty similar to a dog.

Make sure you have your permission slip from the local authorities before you try that, buddy.

As a retired Hall Monitor, I know how to fake my Mom's signature.

We're not really doing anything differently, and the dog walk is going to happen in a little bit, as always.

Even though they're quite friendly to strangers, I always get the dogs out of the way of other people who are walking, but now I wonder if they think we're doing the social cowering thing.; 3/29/20, 10:17 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: don't get me started.; 3/29/20, 10:19 AM
Bob Boyd said...: Tired of strolling? For a little variety, try climbing a tall building in your area.; 3/29/20, 10:23 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: walks, strolls, attempts to do so away from others in a town that already loves to be out on the paths. good luck.

The other evening I felt like getting out. I bundled up because it was chilly and damp. I was pleased the path was empty. oh joy. I take the path west and then depart onto the street where I zigzag thu a nearby neighborhood. I'm alone. No wait... all of a sudden a gen z or millennial aged girl closes in behind me and she's talking on the phone.

I can hear her. what's the conversation?

"Toilet paper.... paper towel.... no hand sanitizer.... no canned goods....no ... It's like, OMG."

I stopped and turned around and waited until she passed, then re-routed myself as far away from her as possible.; 3/29/20, 10:24 AM
Howard said...: ain't that the truth; 3/29/20, 10:26 AM
Wilbur said...: "It's nice, though very much a Groundhog Day (the movie) feel. Days blend together, never immediately sure which date or day of the week it is."

Welcome to retirement. And I love it.

Before anyone starts, I know, I know, Your mileage varies.; 3/29/20, 10:26 AM
WK said...: Going out for a virtual 5k today. Everyone starts at their driveway and runs their own route. Alone. Honor system for reporting times.....; 3/29/20, 10:29 AM
Wilbur said...: If you're (A)riding a bike (B)with a leashed dog, and (C)using a bike path, you may want to consider eliminating one of those three.; 3/29/20, 10:30 AM
chickelit said...: Wilbur said...If you're (A)riding a bike (B)with a leashed dog, and (C)using a bike path, you may want to consider eliminating one of those three.

Let me clarify my 9:56 comment. I'm the one on the bike on a bike path which has been taken over by people walking and walking their dogs thoughtlessly. I didn't say anything about people riding bikes with leashed dogs. That's still pretty rare, at least here.; 3/29/20, 10:35 AM
Francisco D said...: If you want to see asshole bicyclists, move to the Tucson area.

We are a big biking community with quite a few professionals who move here to train. They dominate the on-road bike paths. When they ride in groups they cause car traffic to veer into the next lane on busy major roads. You can also find them on smaller two-lane roads where there are no bike lanes. I have almost had several accidents when a car swerved into my path to avoid bikers.

This area has a 150+ mile bike path, but the bikers rarely use it. They prefer the roads because they can go faster for prolonged periods. It gets scary when they ride the white line.

My wife and I are bicyclists but we find the Tucson bikers to be really annoying.; 3/29/20, 10:39 AM
mockturtle said...: I find it really irritating that I keep getting my daily onslaught of solicitations for political donations in my email.; 3/29/20, 10:39 AM
chickelit said...: Wilbur said...If you're (A)riding a bike (B)with a leashed dog, and (C)using a bike path, you may want to consider eliminating one of those three.

But that would require enforcement. People should control their dogs. If people can't control their dogs, other people will.; 3/29/20, 10:39 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Welcome to retirement. And I love it.

Me too!!

Welcome to living in the past of your Grandparents times. At least you still have the internet.; 3/29/20, 10:39 AM
chickelit said...: mockturtle said...I find it really irritating that I keep getting my daily onslaught of solicitations for political donations in my email.

We solved this in California by essentially eliminating one of the major political parties. ;); 3/29/20, 10:41 AM
pacwest said...: Maybe now that people have some extra time they should TRAIN YOUR DOG! You, your dog, and everyone around you will be much better off. If your dog can't follow a basic heel command you shouldn't be on the paths.; 3/29/20, 10:48 AM
Bob Boyd said...: My dog can tell if someone has the 'Rona.

Like, when we're walking, if he smells virus, he'll start growling and snapping and he'll back them up against a wall or a hedge or something and hold them there until I can inform them.

Unfortunately, they're often so focused on the dog's behavior they don't process what I'm telling them, which is not helpful. I'm just the messenger, people. Take it easy.
I get that I need to tweak the process, but that's to be expected. It's still early days.

Anyway, I'm surprised at how many people test positive. Kinda scary.; 3/29/20, 10:58 AM
etbass said...: Chicklet said, "Dogs really have replaced kids."

But they are less expensive, don't talk back, don't have attitudes.

OTH, they don't come to your funeral.; 3/29/20, 11:02 AM
Bob Smith said...: I love taking my daughters Lab for a walk. I’m 80 and he’s 14. We’ve grown old together.; 3/29/20, 11:03 AM
rcocean said...: Bikes and pedestrians really don't mix well, and should be separated whenever possible. I don't know how many times I've almost gotten knocked over by some idiot biker either going too fast, or not paying attention. Even the nice ones, that yell "on your left" before passing, get annoying.; 3/29/20, 11:07 AM
Mark said...: Bikes and pedestrians really don't mix well, and should be separated whenever possible.

The bikists think you should be walking in the gutter. It's their trail and you need to get the hell out of the way.; 3/29/20, 11:12 AM
Narr said...: Also retired, and didn't really need the downshift, but what are you gonna do?

I walk alone, and in company--dog, dog and wife, attractive strangers but they change speed and direction too much--quite a bit more than B.C.

Thursday and Friday I spent several hours each day gardening--pruning, trimming, hacking, and cursing among clouds of pollen and other plant dander. The oaks are crapping their springtime tassels all over, but we don't have any of those in our own yard so don't get very much.

It's a good thing my allergies have moderated in my dotage, or I'd be wheezing like a worn-out teakettle. I'm not a yardwork lover, but there's something atavistically satisfying about fighting back against the green hell.

Narr
And it was in the 80s already!; 3/29/20, 11:14 AM
Jeff Gee said...: I'm not sure why, but I think you need all 3 adjectives in exactly that order for this to work. Move 'fucking' to the the front and it's about a third as funny. Eliminate any of them and the whole thing dribbles away to nothing.; 3/29/20, 11:14 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: It is fun to find gems on streaming services. Someone who has been around for a long time, but is totally new to me.
On Amazon Prime I found this guy.
& I'm in love.

Waldemar Januszczak

click his face "TV", then the menu - "Films"

Anyway, wiki - "Januszczak has been described as "a passionate art lover, art critic and writer. His presentation style is casual but informed, enthusiastic, evocative and humorous. He bumbles about on our TV screens, doing for art what David Attenborough has done for the natural world," and someone who acts out of "a refusal to present art as elitist in any way. He makes it utterly accessible and understandable." []"

Watched 2 hours of Gauguin... His Renaissance films are fantastic. Love the way he pronounces Renaissance.; 3/29/20, 11:16 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: ... "Renaissance Unchained" is great.; 3/29/20, 11:17 AM
Charlie Currie said...: Yesterday while walking my dog, I came upon a dad, his young (5/6) daughter, in her best Disney princess dress, and their dog. They were on a scavenger hunt - the little princess had a clipboard with a list. My dog, who is 16, but still looks like a puppy, was on the list - a puppy.; 3/29/20, 11:20 AM
David Begley said...: Driving over to Omaha’s Elmwood Park for a walk. We will either drive or walk by Warren Buffett’s house.

Warren Buffett has always made money for his partners. Bought more last week. BRK.B.; 3/29/20, 11:25 AM
RigelDog said...: Sadly and scarily, I am seeing more and more people convinced that there's something dangerous and evil about getting out and walking. I've been having contentious exchanges right now on my NextDoor email group because people are so terrified that they think I'm a lunatic for stating the truth that, unless you are confronted with a truly crowded walking/running/hiking area, you should feel free to get out and partake of the fresh air and exercise. No public health expert is saying that you shouldn't be outdoors, but people are starting to hate on anyone who isn't sheltering 24/7 within 4 walls. Then there's England, which is limiting walks to your own neighborhood and at only one per day!! WTF. No health-based explanation for this has been given as far as I am aware. My guess is that it's being done as a security measure so that they can clamp down on people who are NOT doing what they should--such as congregate in groups.; 3/29/20, 11:26 AM
Bill Peschel said...: Reading that tweet is fine, although it is hard to judge intent. Is he being wry or is he really unable to appreciate it?

The unfortunate thing to do is to scroll down, because then you get hit with the stupid stick:

Brian Jordan Alvarez
@brianjoralvarez
·
Mar 27
Ppl born in 2000 are now 36......let that sink in
(Not surprisingly, he's an actor)

Then there's this entitled twoat:

Danielle דניאלה
@dani_miyerah98
·
22h
College students:
- Don’t qualify for $1200 check if claimed as dependents
- Don’t qualify for $500 bc over 18
- Don’t get tuition refund
- Don’t get rent forgiveness for off-campus housing
- Don’t get to keep on-campus jobs
- Don’t get student loan forgiveness
- ?????; 3/29/20, 11:29 AM
Tomcc said...: OTH, they don't come to your funeral. Unless you're George Bush!
RigelDog: I'm getting that sense, too. People are acting like Martial Law has been declared. It seems to be the "do-gooders". It's always the do-gooders.; 3/29/20, 11:31 AM
Ralph L said...: They just finished painting bike route (to the next town) emblems on my main residential street. But my section is a century old so it shakes bikers vigorously. No one is going to use it, and are bikers so dumb they need arrows at every intersection?; 3/29/20, 11:35 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: I like afternoon strolls, dammit!

And I really like afternoon naps, although only on the weekends......; 3/29/20, 11:40 AM
Tomcc said...: Bill Peschel: a friend of my 22 yo daughter's was complaining about not getting the stimulus check because she was listed as a dependent. She works for Nike and is getting paid her full time wages during the shutdown.; 3/29/20, 11:41 AM
Marc in Eugene said...: If you want to see asshole bicyclists, move to...

Eugene. But I'm not always grumpy and the reality is that most often most people are being fairly polite and careful, pedestrians and cyclists both: it's a minority of 'em who behave badly. The cyclists with their dogs on leashes, although capable of much more damage than those without dogs on leashes, don't in fact cause more-- annoyance, yes, certainly. I've witnessed a near miss or two, tsk.

Stopped at Safeway when I was out on my morning walk; first time in three weeks, I think. No toilet paper but my usual source was busy and I didn't ask her about it: was there at 0715ish and the store had opened at 0700. Didn't need much and what I wanted was on the shelves. Was, perhaps, the youngest customer in the store.; 3/29/20, 11:43 AM
JaimeRoberto said...: I've been taking advantage of the reduced traffic by riding my bike on country roads I'd never ride during the week due to traffic. I generally stay off bike paths during normal times because of the pedestrians. Now they are even more congested with people. It's better for everyone if I just stick to the roads. Luckily I live in an area with lots of wide roads an bike lanes in the city.; 3/29/20, 11:46 AM
MadisonMan said...: That tweet made me laugh for 2 days.
Well, it's no Dingell-Norwood, but I have the same feeling.; 3/29/20, 11:53 AM
Drago said...: Francisco D: "If you want to see asshole bicyclists, move to the Tucson area."

If you want to see asshole bicyclists, move to the Boulder, CO area.; 3/29/20, 11:53 AM
Francisco D said...: Chicklet said, "Dogs really have replaced kids."
etbasss responded But they are less expensive, don't talk back, don't have attitudes.

You obviously have never adopted Golden Retrievers.

They are very expensive, but at least you don't have to send them to college.
They talk back all the time if you do not pay enough attention to them.
They have a serious attitude issue: they want your affection ALL the time.

That said, it is a price worth paying.; 3/29/20, 11:53 AM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Even the nice ones, that yell "on your left" before passing, get annoying.

3/29/20, 11:07 AM

What's annoying to bicyclists, is when you yell "on your left" to a pedestrian to keep them from suddenly swerving and walking into the path of your bike - but they can't hear you because they have rap music or whoever blasting away in their earbuds. Or they're chattering away to their companions in some other language and don't even glance back at you.

People who play their music so loudly that they can't hear traffic noise have been an annoyance to me since the days of the Sony Walkman. People need to be able to hear what's going on in their immediate surroundings, particularly in urban areas, for their own safety.; 3/29/20, 11:55 AM
mockturtle said...: If you want to see asshole bicyclists, move to the Boulder, CO area.

Oh, yeah!!!; 3/29/20, 11:57 AM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Francisco D said...
Chicklet said, "Dogs really have replaced kids."
etbasss responded But they are less expensive, don't talk back, don't have attitudes.

You obviously have never adopted Golden Retrievers.

They are very expensive, but at least you don't have to send them to college.
They talk back all the time if you do not pay enough attention to them.
They have a serious attitude issue: they want your affection ALL the time.

That said, it is a price worth paying.

3/29/20, 11:53 AM

All true. My late and much missed Golden was a rescue though, so he didn't cost much. Why someone wanted to get rid of a beautiful, lovable lug of a 10 month old Golden Retriever mystifies me - but I'm glad they did. He did destroy a couple of pairs of shoes when I first got him so maybe it was the chewing. He stopped that.; 3/29/20, 11:59 AM
mandrewa said...: No difference in the total number of deaths in England for this year, as of March 26th, from last year.

See Public Health England; 3/29/20, 12:01 PM
Fernandinande said...: People are acting like Martial Law has been declared.

You spelled it right! (I've seen several several mentions of "marshall law" here).

And you're right it's not actually martial law because it's enforced by the police, so "police state" is more accurate until the military gets involved.; 3/29/20, 12:06 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: If you want to see asshole bicyclists, move to the Boulder, CO area.

Yes - come see! Latest asssholery? e-bikes traveling the speed of cars, wizzing by on the major creek path.; 3/29/20, 12:07 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: "Then there's England, which is limiting walks to your own neighborhood and at only one per day!! WTF. No health-based explanation for this has been given as far as I am aware."

The limeys have gone daft. They're using drones to track and punish people who drive out to the countryside for walks, even though those people are maintaining social distances in isolated areas.

But it's apparently OK to get on the Tube in London, even though the trains are even more crowded because the Underground has cut back on the number being used.

As I said yesterday, it's too bad the British police didn't pursue Muslim rape gangs in Rotherham with the same zeal they are now expending on people taking walks and those who use incorrect pronouns.; 3/29/20, 12:07 PM
rhhardin said...: Random Steyn hosting of Rush 9/3/2009, the news is first swine flu death in Columbus (Ohio), "So we're not immune."; 3/29/20, 12:11 PM
Drago said...: Reposted from another thread:

Btw, Nancy Pelosi, just this morning, said Trump was killing people and watergate-style impeachment is back on the table and will be driven by House committees in After-Action "investigations".

Precisely as predicted. By June the dems will crank this up.

This is THE 2020 Dem/LLR Campaign Strategy.; 3/29/20, 12:13 PM
Drago said...: BleachBit-and-Hammers: "Yes - come see! Latest asssholery? e-bikes traveling the speed of cars, wizzing by on the major creek path."

I have already contacted my e-lawyer to handle several actions where my avatar was struck from behind...or from bikes emerging from hyperspace, or something.; 3/29/20, 12:15 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The most annoying thing on the bike path in the summer, besides the random pot smoker vagrant clubs or newbie out-of-state students who act like they own the entire path width, and have no idea about the unspoken rules and basic etiquette... of sharing a pedestrian path. ?
It's parents who decide to take their little ones to the busy bike bath for a first-time bike ride lesson.

such a bad idea.; 3/29/20, 12:16 PM
Mark said...: No difference in the total number of deaths in England for this year, as of March 26th, from last year.

There were about 702,000 deaths in the United States about this time last year.
There have been about 704,400 deaths in the U.S. so far this year.; 3/29/20, 12:16 PM
PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...: post title made me think of "The Way We Live Now"

Great novel by Anthony Trollope. Available free for Kindle, excellent Free! audiobook https://librivox.org/the-way-we-live-now-by-anthony-trollope/

Also a very good PBS miniseries available on Amazon Prime, perhaps Netflix and elsewhere.

Do all three and it will get you through a week of lockdown.

John Henry; 3/29/20, 12:18 PM
Pianoman said...: I've been taking walks every night, a little longer distance than usual. It's amazing to see the lack of cars on the roads. I'll usually see one or two other people walking at that time, so I pretty much have the neighborhood to myself.

Results of the "hydroxy cocktail" are starting to filter in, and it's about as positive as you can expect. There's a doctor in NY claiming that, of the 350 patients he administered the cocktail to, only 2 had to be hospitalized and none of them died. There's also the latest results from France in which 80 patients were treated and only one died, an 86-year old with advanced stages of Covid.

So I'm going to enjoy these walks as long as I can. Seems to me that by the end of April, the streets are going to get back to their normal busy state.; 3/29/20, 12:20 PM
Pianoman said...: @BleachBit: ""Toilet paper.... paper towel.... no hand sanitizer.... no canned goods....no ... It's like, OMG."

You owe me a new keyboard for that one. Funniest thing I've seen all day. thanks!; 3/29/20, 12:23 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: @Mark,

There were about 702,000 deaths in the United States about this time last year.
There have been about 704,400 deaths in the U.S. so far this year.

Thanks, Mark. Great, if true. Do you have the source for those numbers? Not challenging you, just wanna be sure.

Because, if that's true, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off, on a NORMAL YEARLY FLU SEASON.; 3/29/20, 12:24 PM
Achilles said...: Fernandistein said...
Poor Ben looks a little too young to be a nervous old man on twitter, but I guess that's what he is.

Get a dog, Ben.

Apparently he has a chihuahua, which is pretty similar to a dog.

No it isn't. I am not even sure what chihuahua's are but they aren't dogs.

We had to watch a friends chihuahua and terrier when she got moved into the barracks. We had a pee pad for it.

I would lure it onto the pee pad every hour to keep it drained out. It just dribbled pee everywhere it went after any not even really loud noise.; 3/29/20, 12:26 PM
Achilles said...: Mark said...
No difference in the total number of deaths in England for this year, as of March 26th, from last year.

There were about 702,000 deaths in the United States about this time last year.
There have been about 704,400 deaths in the U.S. so far this year.

Meade will never forgive you Mark.

Ken B thinks you are not morally serious.

Mockturtle thinks you are a whiner.

Meanwhile the CDC and the feds are tracking our locations using cell phone data to deal with the outbreak. We can totally trust the feds with our cell phone data.

The National Guard is being used to run down New Yorkers in Rhode Island.; 3/29/20, 12:38 PM
Mark said...: Results of the "hydroxy cocktail" are starting to filter in, and it's about as positive as you can expect

If it saves just one life . . .; 3/29/20, 12:38 PM
Mark said...: Bay, CDC reported 2,839,205 deaths in the U.S. in 2018. That's about 7,779 people each and every day dying of other causes.; 3/29/20, 12:45 PM
Mark said...: Number of U.S. deaths for leading causes of death in 2017:
•Heart disease: 647,457
•Cancer: 599,108
•Accidents (unintentional injuries): 169,936
•Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 160,201
•Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 146,383
•Alzheimer’s disease: 121,404
•Diabetes: 83,564
•Influenza and Pneumonia: 55,672
•Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis: 50,633
•Intentional self-harm (suicide): 47,173; 3/29/20, 12:47 PM
chickelit said...: Fernandistein said...And you're right it's not actually martial law because it's enforced by the police, so "police state" is more accurate until the military gets involved.

Just you wait and see what hits the fan when marital law starts getting enforced with couples ratting each other out.

tangenital aside: and no sunbathing either.; 3/29/20, 12:48 PM
chickelit said...: Death, death, death, sickness, illness and more death. I'm predicting a boom in estate lawyering for oldsters. This can be done remotely.; 3/29/20, 12:49 PM
Mark said...: It's good to see things in context.; 3/29/20, 12:52 PM
Iman said...: https://www.theamericanmirror.com/2020/03/video-quarantined-new-yorker-tries-to-recreate-italy-magic-by-singing-out-window-but-is-told-to-shut-the-fk-up/; 3/29/20, 12:54 PM
Wince said...: Mark said...
Results of the "hydroxy cocktail" are starting to filter in, and it's about as positive as you can expect.

"Loooooose the Dad-bod!"; 3/29/20, 12:54 PM
Wince said...: Iman said...
video-quarantined-new-yorker-tries-to-recreate-italy-magic-by-singing-out-window-but-is-told-to-shut-the-fk-up

"...It's always been a matter of trust."; 3/29/20, 1:00 PM
tcrosse said...: Maybe if Trump calls the hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin cocktail a hoax, the governor of Nevada will allow its use for Covid-19, because Science.; 3/29/20, 1:01 PM
stlcdr said...: Blogger Mark said...
It's good to see things in context.

3/29/20, 12:52 PM

I don't think people want to acknowledge the number of deaths each year: the numbers just seem too sobering. Simply, people can't comprehend large numbers.

As a side note, a Brit noted that, "while annoying, it's a good thing that the police are apprehending and fining people who are out and about driving."

I'm absolutely gobsmacked. But then, I knew there was a reason for leaving Britain. That attitude is a lost cause.; 3/29/20, 1:02 PM
gadfly said...: A woman who identifies herself an Ochsner Medical Center nurse [in New Orleans] has published a gut-wrenching post on social media, going into detail about how she has seen coronavirus overwhelm a patient and pleading with the public to stay inside “as if your life depended on it.”

The post, which has been shared more than 23,000 times on Facebook as of Saturday night, ends with a plea for people to stay inside and wash their hands.

"Do this as if your life depended on it...because it does," [Claudia] Griffith writes.; 3/29/20, 1:08 PM
Drago said...: tcrosse: "Maybe if Trump calls the hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin cocktail a hoax, the governor of Nevada will allow its use for Covid-19, because Science."

Careful.

That kind of criticism of any dem any where at any time for any reason usually drives LLR-lefty Chuck into a frenzied attack on any republicans in sight.; 3/29/20, 1:09 PM
reader said...: My PSA would be to ask parents not to send there 8 to 10 year old out to walk their 50 to 70 lb dog without adult assistance if the dog isn’t trained to walk on a leash. This can lead to the child or dog being hurt by cars or other dogs.; 3/29/20, 1:12 PM
reader said...: Their; 3/29/20, 1:12 PM
Fernandinande said...: going into detail about how she has seen coronavirus overwhelm a patient

"A patient". Wow.

They could publish these scary anecdotes about anything and at any time.; 3/29/20, 1:22 PM
Fernandinande said...: Just you wait and see what hits the fan when marital law starts getting enforced with couples ratting each other out.

Heh - I corrected one of those posters of "marshall law" to "marital law", but I'm not sure anyone "got it"...; 3/29/20, 1:29 PM
Anthony said...: Going to a Culver's (Yes! We have them in AZ!!!) drive-thru and then eating it in the back of the Forester either in their lot or a grocery store's, then going to the grocery store as usual for a Sunday afternoon. Go for an hour's bike ride this afternoon, then sit in the sun and sip gin and tonics -- solely for the prophylactic action of the quinine, mind you -- eat dinner, go for a walk.

So pretty much the same as any other Sunday except for eating lunch outside.; 3/29/20, 1:30 PM
bagoh20 said...: The dog walking thing needs fixed. The problem is that normally your right hand (strong hand or weapon hand) needs to be kept away from oncoming traffic, so rightly we stay to the right when walking. Unfortunately dogs are traditionally walked on the left side which makes them closest to oncoming traffic and other dogs. We need to change the dogs to the right side. It's not optimal, but on this side of the pond it makes sense, and I think at least half of us do it anyway, becuase so many are right-handed. Then the problem is that your strong hand (right) is occupied with the dog. That's why I always attach the leash handle to my belt with a carabiner, and hold it further down with my right hand so that if I need to let it go to use my hand the dog is still retrained.; 3/29/20, 1:39 PM
Fernandinande said...: video-quarantined-new-yorker-tries-to-recreate-italy-magic-by-singing-out-window-but-is-told-to-shut-the-fk-up

Good. Those stories about Italian "flash mobs" and the magic of Italy were fake news in the first place since the "mob"* consisted or 2 or 3 people on their balconies spraying germs into the street below.

*there is no Mafia.; 3/29/20, 1:47 PM
Kelly said...: My dogs are loving it. Five miles on Friday, 4 miles yesterday, started back on intermittent fasting to keep the quarantine pounds away.; 3/29/20, 2:06 PM
Josephbleau said...: “Marshall Law” must be what you learn at the John Marshall School of Law.; 3/29/20, 2:14 PM
FullMoon said...: "...going into detail about how she has seen coronavirus overwhelm a patient "

Did the nurse become infected? Why not? She taking hydroxychloroquine like front line New York doctor interviewed by Tucker Carlson?; 3/29/20, 2:15 PM
MadisonMan said...: Going to a Culver's
That was our dinner yesterday too. Drive-thru only.

Delicious.; 3/29/20, 2:18 PM
Etienne said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/29/20, 2:18 PM
tcrosse said...: "The bipartisan COVID-19 stimulus bill just signed by President Trump includes welcome tax relief for retirees: The required minimum distribution rules for Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k)s are waived for 2020."

Hurray!; 3/29/20, 2:30 PM
Nichevo said...: Warren Buffett has always made money for his partners. Bought more last week. BRK.B.

Do you *mean* to invoke Hyman Roth, the treacherous Corleone collaborator in Godfather II?; 3/29/20, 2:31 PM
narciso said...: did that stupid battleaxe, forget her precious peach mint, which wasted precious time, on the Ukrainian pantomime, of course not,; 3/29/20, 2:38 PM
narciso said...: signs shes been shut in too long; 3/29/20, 2:40 PM
Etienne said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/29/20, 2:45 PM
Michael said...: If I am inside all the time what is up with the hand washing?; 3/29/20, 2:46 PM
Etienne said...: "Wash your hands because...

...you don't know what was in that big turd."; 3/29/20, 2:51 PM
narciso said...: silly question; 3/29/20, 2:59 PM
David Begley said...: Walked by Warren Buffett’s house. He was home. All is well.; 3/29/20, 3:00 PM
David Begley said...: Etienne

Warren Buffett has always made money for his partners. BRK.B; 3/29/20, 3:02 PM
narciso said...: is this really the solution; 3/29/20, 3:08 PM
Michael K said...: going into detail about how she has seen coronavirus overwhelm a patient and pleading with the public to stay inside “as if your life depended on it.”

Maybe if that idiot Mayor had cancelled Mardi Gras. Now that idiot is trying to blame Trump fo her mistake. A worthy successor to Mayor
"Chocolate Brown" for screwing up.; 3/29/20, 3:17 PM
narciso said...: yes, she's a real rocket surgeon, she could work at cnn:; 3/29/20, 3:19 PM
narciso said...: https://babalublog.com/2020/03/29/cubas-state-run-media-boasts-over-cnn-providing-covid-19-propaganda-boost-for-communist-regime/#comment-171292; 3/29/20, 3:19 PM
narciso said...: curious isn't it; 3/29/20, 3:22 PM
john said...: I wish someone would lend me a loan.; 3/29/20, 3:26 PM
narciso said...: what is conventional wisdom; 3/29/20, 3:27 PM
narciso said...: compare and contrast; 3/29/20, 3:31 PM
Fernandinande said...: https://time.com/5812069/rhode-island-new-york-coronavirus/

Raimondo also announced that, starting Saturday, the National Guard will work with local law enforcement to go “door-to-door” in the state’s coastal communities, asking if anyone has come from New York and requesting their contact information.; 3/29/20, 3:32 PM
john said...: Nevermind, Comment deleted, joke doesn't make sense.; 3/29/20, 3:32 PM
narciso said...: a more sensible plan; 3/29/20, 3:37 PM
Fernandinande said...: "martial law" is now the correct term in Rhode Island - check the picture.

"The National Guard and Rhode Island State Police set up a checkpoint just over the Rhode Island-Connecticut border, where they were advising New Yorkers to maintain a 14-day quarantine after arriving in Rhode Island.Credit..."

The "advice" is "do it or get arrested", so they changed from "advice" to "order" a few sentences later:

"Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, said on Friday that if New Yorkers entering the state did not quarantine themselves for 14 days after arrival, they would be fined and, if they continued to flout the order, arrested."; 3/29/20, 3:38 PM
Etienne said...: john said..."I wish someone would lend me a loan."

Do like Congress! Just write an IOU...; 3/29/20, 3:43 PM
loudogblog said...: I am so scared right now. My roommate has an autoimmune disease. She is in a high risk category. We have to be very careful not to bring this virus into the house. I work at a major theme park. They sent us home a few weeks ago but they're still paying us. That can't go on forever. I am so afraid of the future.; 3/29/20, 3:52 PM
Openidname said...: "Blogger RigelDog said...

"I am seeing more and more people convinced that there's something dangerous and evil about getting out and walking."

At the risk of this being a "me, too" post . . . me, too. Especially the thing about NextDoor (also Facebook). Actually, "even COVID-19 super-spreaders can’t seem to infect people effectively in open spaces."

Citation: https://quillette.com/2020/03/27/covid-19-science-update-for-march-27-super-spreaders-and-the-need-for-new-prediction-models/

There seem to be two camps -- maybe it's a continuum, but most people clump at the two ends. There's the optimistic camp, which thinks COVID-19 is not all that easy to get and not that many people will get it. And then there's the pessimistic camp, which is putting on gloves to open their take-out food containers, then burning both the gloves and the containers before washing their hands with bleach. There seems to be a correlation (not perfect) between optimism and leaning right/Republican, on one hand, and pessimism and leaning left/Democrat, on the other. Not sure why.

People are scared. People are uncertain. People lack good information. I get it. But I'm concerned about the drift toward local community-based fascism.; 3/29/20, 3:56 PM
Etienne said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/29/20, 4:07 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: We need to end this shutdown.

Whatever advantage we're gaining from it, in my opinion, is negated by the financial, emotional and psychological damage we are doing to ourselves.

We've become morbidly, fanatically risk averse. Risk is the price of freedom.

I'm almost to the point of thinking that people should simply defy the government and go back about their business.; 3/29/20, 4:09 PM
DavidUW said...: I've been saying this repeatedly.
Even with 100k-200k deaths, how many are truly "excess"?

That's the question.

If it mainly kills 70+, there are roughly 45M of them in the USA.

They die at a rate of around 2.2M/year.

People are losing their life savings, businesses, jobs, for a potential 5-10% increase in old dead people this year.

F. this.; 3/29/20, 4:13 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: I say end the shutdown although I am uniquely unaffected by it.

My income is mostly SS and pension. My other income is from my church work.

I don't have to go anywhere.

I'm 70 years old, so I'm in a high risk group, although I'm in excellent health, take no meds, am in great physical condition and have no pre-existing conditions weakening my immune system.

End the shutdown. Live with the risk. Get life going again. Get people back to work.; 3/29/20, 4:13 PM
Mark said...: How we live now

Today's Mass reading:

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” . . . “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” . . . Then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” . . .

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. . . . Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” . . . Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” . . .

“Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” Jesus wept. . . .

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” . . . He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”; 3/29/20, 4:19 PM
n.n said...: The Church is caught in a catch-22 situation and a solution with a double-edged scalpel, another one. So, the Wuhan-sourced virus and Covid19 pair are an argument against planned parenthood (i.e. excessive deaths), globalism, immigration reform, communities without borders, and rent-a-wombs and sperm donors (i.e. genetic convergence).; 3/29/20, 4:20 PM
narciso said...: well it's a matter of faith, does it really have it, the pontiff sadly is a little weak in that department,; 3/29/20, 4:22 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: I don’t think the Church is caught in anything. The theology of the Church is not to worship this temporal life.; 3/29/20, 4:22 PM
Ken B said...: DavidUW said
I've been saying this repeatedly.
Even with 100k-200k deaths, how many are truly "excess"?

That's the question.

If it mainly kills 70+, there are roughly 45M of them in the USA.

They die at a rate of around 2.2M/year.

People are losing their life savings, businesses, jobs, for a potential 5-10% increase in old dead people this year.

F. this.

——
Just preserving this against later deletion.; 3/29/20, 4:24 PM
Etienne said...: On Friday, October 12th, 1962 the Pacific Northwest was hit by a windstorm. As powerful as a hurricane, it seemed to me.

Everything exploded, roofs were gone, cars were smashed and upside down. Store windows were broken, and telephone poles and wires were everywhere.

On October 22nd, 1962, the President advised that we should prepare for nuclear war.

Were we scared? Scared of what? The whole f'n town was blown up already!

Sometimes people with fear are funny. You know what it's like to die from a nuclear weapon? Consider this question:

Q: If you drop a bowling ball on your foot, how long does it take before you feel the pain?

A: Instantaneous; 3/29/20, 4:24 PM
Jimmy said...: The job of the media should be to inform us. Particularly with this virus, much is known, some of it rumor, conjecture, lies, hysteria. Policy makers are trying to chart a course, and it isn't easy. It is made more difficult by a media who are trying to instill hysteria, panic and hatred of Trump and Republicans.
Is it helpful? has been asked a lot lately. are the NYT, WAPO, vanity fair, new yorker, atlantic, et al. are they being helpful?? or are they spreading lies, bending facts, dates, anything to cut into trumps job.
can anyone show me, how any of the named media are actually trying to help? My impression is they are propaganda outfits, that would make Pravda blush.
they are extensively quoted on this blog. NYT wapo, atlantic, etc. is it helpful? or does it just cloud the issue. good for clicks maybe. but does it help find the truth?
reality is it is about fucking up trump and his supporters. Not about helping to find a way out of a difficult situation.
they aren't helping at all. why even refer to them at all? it is , at this point, just propaganda, embarrassing even by Soviet Standards.
Lots of people, on both sides of this thing, want to help, want to resolve things, for the better. For America. the media clearly does not. why are we even listening to them at this point. they aren't helping, they are actively trying to fuck up over half this country. for political gain. to remove a president up for re election in Nov.; 3/29/20, 4:25 PM
Howard said...: That's fine Thomas, but whatever you and you're vigilante Corona spreading vectors do, stay in New York state. We don't need your kind up here in New England.; 3/29/20, 4:26 PM
Ken B said...: A poster who is older concludes

“ ... I'm in excellent health, take no meds, am in great physical condition and have no pre-existing conditions weakening my immune system.

End the shutdown. Live with the risk. ”; 3/29/20, 4:27 PM
Known Unknown said...: " A worthy successor to Mayor
"Chocolate Brown" for screwing up."

The mayor was Ray Nagin, and he referred to New Orleans as a Chocolate City.

And yeah, he wasn't very good at mayoring, either.; 3/29/20, 4:27 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: Hell, Howard, I was thinking of visiting you.; 3/29/20, 4:28 PM
Known Unknown said...: "Just preserving this against later deletion."

Thanks for being on the job, Ken!; 3/29/20, 4:29 PM
n.n said...: I don’t think the Church is caught in anything. The theology of the Church is not to worship this temporal life.

I thought that would be misinterpreted. The "Church" is secular, progressive, with a Pro-Choice religion, and liberal ideology. It is the established Church in America.; 3/29/20, 4:29 PM
Howard said...: All right. With all the corona panic I've really been missing the daily racism here on the blog thanks to Doc Mike and known unknown for carrying the flag; 3/29/20, 4:29 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: Howard, you were a Marine.

Can you imagine a WWII veteran panicking like this over the risk of death?

Frankly, we’re behaving like panicking children.; 3/29/20, 4:30 PM
Ken B said...: David UW
Imagine you have 45 family members — uncles, cousins, etc. . About 2 of them die yearly. You can spare a few more can't you?; 3/29/20, 4:30 PM
Howard said...: Fortunately I live in a town called you can't get here from there; 3/29/20, 4:31 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: Racism is a non-issue in the U.S., Howard. It isn’t happening.

A lot of time you have interesting things to say.

This part of your game is utter bullshit. Stop it.; 3/29/20, 4:31 PM
n.n said...: Neither planned parenthood nor planned parent nor collateral damage. The goal is to reduce excessive deaths, injury, and suffering that has been brought to American shores through unbridled globalism and immigration reform.; 3/29/20, 4:34 PM
Ralph L said...: he wasn't very good at mayoring,

IIRC, he was re-elected.; 3/29/20, 4:34 PM
Howard said...: Thomas, I'm not panicked at all. I'm just being very careful because I don't want the coronavirus to spread like wildfire.; 3/29/20, 4:35 PM
n.n said...: Racism is a non-issue in the U.S., Howard. It isn’t happening.

Diversity (i.e. color judgment), including racism, is a progressive and liberal condition, and, in fact, official policy in many governments, corporations, etc.; 3/29/20, 4:36 PM
Mark said...: "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice!"

Where are you God? When he heard that Lazarus was ill, Jesus remained for two days in the place where he was. What??

It appears that the Lord has abandoned us. But he has not. In the midst of all this, Jesus weeps. He suffers with us.

And even if he is not walking among us in the flesh, he is with us in the Spirit, as he was with Lazarus. And in Him who is the resurrection and the life; even if one dies, yet will he live.

Death has been defeated.; 3/29/20, 4:36 PM
Ken B said...: “ Can you imagine a WWII veteran panicking like this over the risk of death?”

Actually as Althouse observed, it’s the denialists who are panicking. Most of us are assessing risks and trying to deal with difficult choices under conditions of great uncertainty.; 3/29/20, 4:38 PM
tcrosse said...: There's no shame in being afraid. The shame is in letting fear keep you from doing what you have to do.; 3/29/20, 4:38 PM
Mark said...: In my worldly moments, I do get a little tense. But that's bound to happen when you trust in the world, which is inherently temporary.

Trust instead in the eternal.; 3/29/20, 4:41 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: My GP is director of infection control at a local hospital. He recently gave a video lecture on the virus. His main points.

1. Everybody will ultimately get it.
2. Most people won’t even know they had it.
3. Others will have mild cold and flu symptoms.
4. A very small number with co-conditions and compromised immune systems will get very sick.

On the other side we have the emotional, psychological and financial risk and damaging that we are inflicting on people.

I say, accept the risk, and go back to work and back to your life.; 3/29/20, 4:41 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: @Ken B

The use of the word “denialist” is now proof of bad faith and deliberate lying.; 3/29/20, 4:44 PM
Narr said...: I don't have the slightest idea how this will come out, but I'm with Achilles and some others on the complete capitulation of personal liberties to the ministrations of the (Deep) Therapeutic State. Maybe all this is legitimately necessary . . . and maybe it serves other goals at the same time.

A friend who worked in the state prison system used to tell me about the OFF-PRISON-GROUNDS impromptu roadblocks and vehicle searches prison employees and other civilians had to endure--essentially random stops without cause. All part of the GWOT, remember that one?

And of course we've all become accustomed to molestation and aggravation by government flunkies as a routine part of air travel.

Narr
But IANALEO so what do I know?; 3/29/20, 4:45 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: @NARR

Yes, once you’ve surrendered rights to the state, it’s tough to get them back.

See the Patriot Act and the deliberate misuse of the FISA courts to spy on and undermine the Trump campaign.; 3/29/20, 4:48 PM
Ken B said...: Narr
Serious question. I bet most of the actions you find infringing were taken by state governments. Were you unaware of the extensive powers state governments have, and have previously exercised?

Most Americans seem to think that the bill of rights applies to states, but they are wrong. Parts of it do, parts do not. States have always had powers denied the federal government, and have sometimes exercised them.; 3/29/20, 4:51 PM
Mark said...: Everybody will ultimately get it.

Even IF that is true, that is a big word -- "ultimately."

"Ultimately" could mean over a period of 10-15 years.

And, sure, everyone COULD get it if someone gives it to two friends and they give it to two friends and so on and so on . . .

But it is also looking like that's NOT going to happen. The "new" cases we're seeing were likely exposed either before the social restrictions went into effect or in the early days when people were ignoring them.

There is a chance that this insanity, kept up for a LITTLE while longer, might be crazy enough to work in strangling the virus in the crib.; 3/29/20, 4:54 PM
Etienne said...: "Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out..."

Thank God they didn't cremate him.

Although the Vatican now says it is a legal form of disposal of the useless corpse.; 3/29/20, 4:54 PM
n.n said...: the deliberate misuse of the FISA courts to spy on and undermine the Trump campaign.

Obama is the reality of past political myths.; 3/29/20, 4:57 PM
Mark said...: Thank God they didn't cremate him.

Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

If we were made from dust once before, people can be made from dust again.; 3/29/20, 5:02 PM
Tommy Duncan said...: (Newser) – An electrician looked out over the empty streets of New York City one morning last week and considered the change. "It's like the Twilight Zone," he said, the Wall Street Journal reports. "That energy you get from New York—it’s all the people. Now there’s no people." That's how Burgess Meredith felt in an episode of the original series, The Twilight Zone. And how Jack Warden and Shelly Berman felt in others. Rod Serling's series, launched in 1959, often examined what life would be like, and what we'd be like, in isolation. The series looked at that and other external threats, as well as the threats from our own behavior. We might not always be at our best if that energy was gone.

Decades later, The Twilight Zone can be found on cable channels and streaming services, offering understanding and lessons in black and white. The Washington Post has compiled a list of the seven most relevant episodes. Refinery29 was able to hold its recommendations to five, including "Nightmare At 20,000 Feet"—in which no one would listen to William Shatner about that monster on the wing of the plane. Here's the Post's list:

"Time Enough at Last" Meredith alone is left after a nuclear attack, thrilled that he can now do nothing but read.

"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" On an idyllic street, neighbors turn against each other when they fear an alien is about.

"The Lonely" Warden's solitary confinement is eased by a robot.

"The Mind and the Matter" Berman's wish to be rid of other people comes true.

"The Shelter" The possibility of a nuclear attack forces a doctor with a bomb shelter to choose whom to save.

"The Whole Truth" A smooth-talking car salesman loses his greatest skill.

"Where Is Everybody?" Earl Holliman encounters home, theaters, streets—but no people.; 3/29/20, 5:04 PM
Mark said...: Of course, there were times in Torchwood (I think, though it might be Doctor Who) where Captain Jack Harkness, who has been made immortal, is blown up into many pieces or chopped up or essentially cremated and still his body reincorporates and he comes back to life.

If it can happen on the Beeb, God can do it.; 3/29/20, 5:09 PM
Narr said...: Ken B, why yes, I am familiar with the federal system, thank you.

Which is not really the issue IMO.

Narr
But IANKB so what do I know?; 3/29/20, 5:14 PM
n.n said...: Shouting Thomas said...

I don’t think the Church is caught in anything. The theology of the Church is not to worship this temporal life.

I want to be clear that I was not referring to the Catholic Church, which is often designated as the "Church." It is, rather, to clarify the characterization of terms, concepts, and practices. I like the [Catholic] Church, philosophy, and principles, just not the other Church, PC. I'm not that green. Although, I do favor green hills, and carry greenbacks, backed by the full faith and credit of the People and our Posterity. And, with that, I'll leave you to pursue a late lunch.; 3/29/20, 5:20 PM
Joanne Jacobs said...: I went for a walk today. People want to say "hello" yet stay at a distance. I kept moving from the footpath to the street or crossing the street to avoid others, and saw everyone shifting to maintain the gap. It was like a dance.

We're all in this together -- but separately.; 3/29/20, 5:22 PM
narciso said...: and more of it; 3/29/20, 5:25 PM
FullMoon said...: Ken B said...
.....it’s the denialists who are panicking. Most of us are assessing risks and trying to deal with difficult choices under conditions of great uncertainty.
3/29/20, 4:38 PM

Ego defense mechanism. "I am afraid, so there must be a good reason for my fear. When others disagree, they are insinuating I am a coward. Therefore I will continue to provide reasons to prove to them and myslef my fear is valid."

As opposed to "I am concerned for my health and will do everything I think necessary to stay healthy while not denigrating those who may not share my concerns."; 3/29/20, 5:38 PM
Sebastian said...: In case you hesitate to follow narciso links:

"by the data I see right now it is not causing excess mortality beyond seasonal norms when looked at in total with all causes of death"

Not the end but the start of sensible analysis:

What is the net effect of the Wuhan virus?

How is the net effect changing?

What is the cost per (old) life saved?

Can we tell whether we are saving lives, and how many?; 3/29/20, 5:39 PM
FullMoon said...: Why are the exposed doctors and nurses not dying en masse?

Seems like logical question. Any of the news people asking today?; 3/29/20, 5:40 PM
narciso said...: it's more satisfying to generate panic, reasonable considerations apply, I am no hurry to go to the movies, starz and epix has some offerings,

occasionally I like to go out at catch some fresh air, a crazy notion, staying a reasonable distance from others,; 3/29/20, 5:44 PM
madAsHell said...: On Friday, October 12th, 1962 the Pacific Northwest was hit by a windstorm.

It was a tornado. It took frogs from Lake Washington, and scattered them all over the neighborhood.; 3/29/20, 5:44 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: @DavidUW,

"I've been saying this repeatedly.
Even with 100k-200k deaths, how many are truly "excess"?"

BOOM!

The question not many folks are asking.

Well done, Sir.; 3/29/20, 5:45 PM
Mark said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/29/20, 5:46 PM
Mark said...: I walked over to the Trader Joe's, but saw that they were limiting entry to the store and there was a line of spaced-out people.

They were also keeping a distance from one another.

So I went over to the Aldi instead.; 3/29/20, 5:46 PM
madAsHell said...: Seems like logical question. Any of the news people asking today?

I'm not seeing much turn-over in grocery clerks either!; 3/29/20, 5:48 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: I just had a nice 4-mile walk with my pooch and teenage son. Both were in good moods, which put me in a good mood. And the sun is breaking thru the clouds. Gimme some of that Vitamin D please.; 3/29/20, 5:50 PM
Mark said...: Cuchi-Cuchi on The Love Boat right now.; 3/29/20, 5:51 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Narcisco @ 5:22 - well worth reading - thanx.; 3/29/20, 5:54 PM
Josephbleau said...: “Most Americans seem to think that the bill of rights applies to states, but they are wrong. Parts of it do, parts do not. States have always had powers denied the federal government, and have sometimes exercised them.“

Please advise me of an article of the bill of rights the States can violate with impunity.; 3/29/20, 5:57 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Speaking of Vitamin D....
Listened to some doc on the radio the other day. He was answering all types of questions. One of the questions was about what, if any, vitamin supplements were worth taking?

he said that while it's all "new" with this virus, that there is some evidence that patients with high enough levels of vitamin D in their system fared better than patients without enough D.
D-3 is the supplement to take. Also, getting enough melatonin was also a good thing.; 3/29/20, 5:59 PM
Big Mike said...: So he copulates while strolling? With whom?; 3/29/20, 6:11 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Mark said...
I walked over to the Trader Joe's, but saw that they were limiting entry to the store and there was a line of spaced-out people."

Do you live in Cali or Colorado?

The spaced-out people all stopped by the pot stores first. Then they got the munchies.; 3/29/20, 6:24 PM
DavidUW said...: ken. save all you want.
i don't delete shit.; 3/29/20, 6:31 PM
Ken B said...: DavidUW
I was giving the future you credit for being ashamed of that awful comment. Won’t happen again.; 3/29/20, 6:32 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: "3. Others will have mild cold and flu symptoms."

A friend of mine caught what appeared to be a minor cold last weekend. Ordinarily, it's the sort of thing that wouldn't even keep her home sick. Yet, just to be careful, she's self-isolating from her family and sleeping in a spare room, although I would think her germs (including any corona virus ones) were already all over the house before she started coughing and sniffling. She's feeling better and nobody else in her family got sick.

A very mild case of corona or just a run-of-the-mill head cold? Who knows? She didn't feel that terrible and didn't want to go to a hospital and use a test kit that could be used by someone with more severe symptoms.; 3/29/20, 6:34 PM
DavidUW said...: Ken,
1) I don't have 45 family members. And guess what, of my dead immediate family members, their lifespans ranged from 24 to 102. You can die from anything, anytime. My family is not exempt. Neither is yours.

2) As I've stated repeatedly, I have a 0.28% chance of natural death in the next year according to the mortality tables. This virus may, may, double that all the way to 0.56%. Versus a 100% risk of impoverishment, I'll take that death risk every day, all day, every year.

3) my parents, who are still alive, have about a 10% chance of a natural death in the next year. This virus MAY, MAY, increase that all the way to 11%.

4) GFY.; 3/29/20, 6:38 PM
sinz52 said...: DavidUW says: "You can die from anything, anytime. "

That is certainly true.
But I try hard to reduce my risk in all areas.

I keep my car tuned up and the tires checked for wear.
I buy a fire extinguisher for my home and I have a CO2 alarm and smoke alarm.

And now, I am taking the most extreme precautions possible to avoid dying of COVID-19. (I am 65 and immune suppressed from a kidney transplant, so I am at high risk both for catching it and for dying from it if I do catch it.)

What I do NOT do is take the fatalistic attitude that nothing can be done and so I should just wait to die of whichever cause Fate sends me.

No one forced me to get on the kidney transplant waiting list after my kidneys failed. But when the dialysis team told me that I probably only had another 5 years to live on dialysis, I resolved not to just fold my tent and steal away into the night.

And now, I have resolved not to just passively accept my fate this time either.

And to anyone out there who considers me expendable in the Glorious Cause of Pumping the GDP and the Dow Jones Industrial Average:

GFY.; 3/29/20, 6:57 PM
DavidUW said...: Take your precautions.

I'm not going to be living poverty for 20 years like the great depression so you can get 5 on dialysis.; 3/29/20, 7:13 PM
Marcus Bressler said...: People I cannot stand: #1 - Journalists. #2 - Cyclists. Nuff said.

THEOLDMAN

They probably can't stand me so....
P.S. I am hoping that numerous print editions of newspapers fold over this.; 3/29/20, 7:17 PM
walter said...: FWIW, walking the dog is not allowed in Serbia.
Certain breeds are going to be bouncing off the walls.; 3/29/20, 7:20 PM
Roughcoat said...: In the pubs where I grew up some of you would have been punched quickly off your bar stools for the way you're talking here.; 3/29/20, 7:23 PM
Siduri said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/29/20, 7:43 PM
Openidname said...: "Josephbleau said...

"Please advise me of an article of the bill of rights the States can violate with impunity."

The Seventh Amendment. The Constitution doesn't require states to provide jury trials.; 3/29/20, 7:45 PM
FullMoon said...: In the pubs where I grew up some of you would have been punched quickly off your bar stools for the way you're talking here.

Six foot arms?; 3/29/20, 7:45 PM
Openidname said...: "madAsHell said...

"I'm not seeing much turn-over in grocery clerks either!"

About a week ago, I said "In two weeks, we need to check whether grocery store clerks are dropping like flies. And if they're not, we need to rethink shelter-in-place."

I'll give it another week.; 3/29/20, 7:47 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: To cover the Catholic bases, the Gospel in the Traditional Rite (John 8,46-59) concludes:

Abraham pater vester exsultávit, ut vidéret diem meum: vidit, et gavísus est. Dixérunt ergo Iudæi ad eum: Quinquagínta annos nondum habes, et Abraham vidísti? Dixit eis Iesus: Amen, amen, dico vobis, antequam Abraham fíeret, ego sum. Tulérunt ergo lápides, ut iácerent in eum: Iesus autem abscóndit se, et exívit de templo.

As for your father Abraham, his heart was proud to see the day of my coming; he saw, and rejoiced to see it. Then the Jews asked him, Hast thou seen Abraham, thou, who art not yet fifty years old? And Jesus said to them, Believe me, before ever Abraham came to be, I am. Whereupon they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.; 3/29/20, 7:49 PM
Mark said...: It seems pretty clear now that Gene Roddenberry despised the human body.

Yet another episode where the guest aliens have "evolved" beyond the use of bodies to become disembodied brains/energy/etc.; 3/29/20, 7:50 PM
Etienne said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/29/20, 7:53 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Doc saidD-3, but only if you're low on it anyway. stay below 10,000 whatevers a day.; 3/29/20, 7:54 PM
Etienne said...: "Whereupon they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself..."

They'll stone ya and then they'll say "good luck"; 3/29/20, 7:58 PM
Jaq said...: "t seems pretty clear now that Gene Roddenberry despised the human body.”

Certainly not of the female kind.; 3/29/20, 7:59 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: Please advise me of an article of the bill of rights the States can violate with impunity.

The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791. New Hampshire maintained its established church until 1817, Connecticut to 1818, and Massachusetts until 1833; now, I don't consider that that was any 'violation' of the Bill but I expect that others' viewpoints will be different. My vague understanding is that the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment to prohibit the states from establishing churches.; 3/29/20, 8:00 PM
Etienne said...: For those sending prayers to John Prine, here's my favorite song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KmfjWBulic; 3/29/20, 8:18 PM
Ken B said...: Josephbleau
I see Marc has answered. Look up incorporation of the bil of rights. Another example, the prohibition against quartering soldiers, which applies only to some states right now, amusingly enough. The most important one is probably the requirement for a grand jury to indict.

Why not ask Narr? He seems to think I insulted him by saying something so trivially obvious.; 3/29/20, 8:27 PM
Clark said...: With respect to the Bill of Rights (incorporated against the States) and quarantines and such: The issue is not whether the Bill of Rights applies to the States (it does almost completely), rather it is that the police power of the state when regulating in the context of a health emergency is at its apex. The State's actions are still subject to the Bill of Rights, but an enormous amount of deference will be given to the state.; 3/29/20, 8:31 PM
Sebastian said...: "I'm not seeing much turn-over in grocery clerks either!"

Nor NBA players.

So far, only one athlete with serious complications identified in the media, worldwide, as far as I know. Any others? Have any even be hospitalized, anywhere?; 3/29/20, 8:32 PM
Ken B said...: Clark
I agree completely. It’s just that over the past few days we have seen people surprised states can “do that.”; 3/29/20, 8:36 PM

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