Times are tough right now, and we all need a good laugh, I hope this helps
Happy #StPatricksDay Everyone! ☘️
Have fun, but please be safe! pic.twitter.com/tHf9rgMNLm
— Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) March 17, 2020
Just in case anyone was missing the tuneless, convivial drunks of yesteryears… this could the soundtrack of my Irish-American Bronx childhood, if you added more puking noises and some extremely random profanity.
My attention has been divided for the last several days, because while I have serious credentials as an aspiring agoraphobe, the Spousal Unit’s company just switched to work-from-home on Friday. And like many Virgos faced with a change in routine, it takes him a while to adapt. I love the man dearly, but it’s a good thing our tiny house has four separate levels and a yard, ifyouknowwhatImean — those of you in long-term relationships are nodding along…
Also, it’s allergy season here! Death to all polleniferous junipers!
Here are the differences between typical allergy, cold and flu symptoms, and ones associated with the coronavirus. https://t.co/i9AWkvrcwO
— CNN (@CNN) March 14, 2020
And certainly the data from South Korea and China is very encouraging, even if we don't quite have a sense for what the endgame is there yet. There's *maybe* a case that the number of new cases in Italy is leveling off, though we should probably wait a few more days on that.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) March 16, 2020
Not ashamed to admit I called my therapist yesterday. After baseball I had a tough time adjusting, staying home a lot, self-worth, anxiety etc. if you’ve dealt with anxiety/depression in the past I encourage you to make arrangements now so you have someone to talk to.
— dan haren (@ithrow88) March 16, 2020
Excellent Democratic messaging!
Any stimulus package should go directly to families, not ineffective tax cuts. Let's also expand Social Security checks, cancel student loan debt, & invest in affordable housing. We should learn from 2008 & fight for workers, not just Wall Street. https://t.co/VQ4BpCBOTF
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 16, 2020
Repub rebuttal:
YES RON THATS THE POINT pic.twitter.com/toursyHwed
— Robert Jones (@stanton_jones) March 17, 2020
Amazon is planning to hire 100,000 new delivery and warehouse workers in the U.S. to meet demand as people turn to ecommerce while social distancing. Will raise pay for employees in those functions through April https://t.co/VojdjQMbXZ
— Dana Mattioli (@DanaMattioli) March 16, 2020
These states have taken some action – closing schools or modest bans – but are severely lagging and have not adopted the CDC recommendation on gatherings: AR, FL, NV, SC, TN, UT, WY
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) March 16, 2020
There are 16 people in this photograph https://t.co/tKDld4NOEE
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) March 16, 2020
coronavirus like the plague and if ur going out to bars and parties like everything is all good cause ur not part of the vulnerable population, u are the fleas.
— m i t h (@ManlnTheHoody) March 16, 2020
“Health officials warn that this could become the worst influenza pandemic since 1918,” Trump’s aides were told — in a mock exercise with Obama officials three years ago.
Inside Obama’s effort to prep Trump for this moment. https://t.co/PhWq7HZEnO by @nahaltoosi @dlippman and me
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) March 16, 2020
This lady is a nurse in Tennessee.
She just left the grocery – it’s chaos – and she’s tired.
“Y’all, there are so many stupid people in this world…”?????? pic.twitter.com/BCMSMm31vr
— Rex Chapman???? (@RexChapman) March 16, 2020
Baud
I’m a little surprised about Hawaii. I figured they would be a hotspot because of all the Chinese tourists.
Baud
debbie
I lived in the neighborhood where the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade ended. The first few years (late 70s to early 80s), it was fun and convivial, but as the years passed, it was more about watching out for all the piles of puke and the drunken cops and firemen climbing up fire escapes.
R-Jud
Just had an e-mail about two confirmed COVID-19 cases in my daughter’s school, one in the class across the hall. (I’m in the U.K., where schools are not yet closed). I guess we’re self-isolating now. I’m very worried for her classroom aide, a woman in her 50s with heart trouble.
rikyrah
Good Morning, Everyone ???
Baud
@rikyrah: Good morning.
Gin & Tonic
What I saw yesterday, only on Twitter, from the estimable Daniel Dale, and a bit of Twitter follow-up, but then nothing in any mainstream reporting: in the news conference, Trump was asked what it was like to be tested (which involves a simple nasal and cheek swab, taking seconds,) and his answers was complete gibberish, leading anyone with more than two brain cells to conclude the obvious, that he lied about having been tested. Why isn’t this news?
Butch
Nate Silver really should stock to statistics. His hot takes are nonsense.
NotMax
Okay, okay, story hails from last summer but has “remember to link this for St. Paddy’s Day” written all over it.
evodevo
YES, AL, we could be talking about the same man lol…my Virgo’s room is on the first floor and mine is on the second or else we would have come to blows years ago. I go outside and do chores when I have had enough…and YES the cedar tree right outside my window is shedding clouds of pollen right now.
Baud
@Gin & Tonic:
Trump lying is not news.
And very few people care about his health.
satby
Last Saturday (wow, only three days ago) I was considered something of a panicky tinfoil hat wearer for clearing out my booth and saying I was going to be “on vacation” from public exposure until April 4th. Yesterday (or very late Sunday) the restaurant in the cafe was ordered closed which drives 2/3 of the business there. So far, the market is insisting on staying open but we’ll see. At least now people are just beginning to realize this might be serious, but denial and greed are still the operatives.
Nina
Celebrate St. Gertrude’s Day, stay home with your cats and fight the plague
debbie
@Gin & Tonic:
Gibberish, yes, but the nasal swab is not comfortable.
satby
@Baud: in fact a great number of us are rooting for both him and Dense to be sidelined by the virus, completely, if that’s what it will take for a functioning government again in this emergency.
Gin & Tonic
@Baud: Au contraire, my friend. I care deeply about his health.
Gin & Tonic
@debbie:”Not, not uh – something I want to do everyday…you know, it’s a little bit of a — it’s a little bit of — good doctors in the White House, but it’s a test. It’s a test. It’s a medical test. Nothing pleasant about it.”
NotMax
Repeating for morning crowd.
BTW, if your local library belongs to Kanopy and/or Hoopla, there’s channels for those on the Roku (and of course the apps function elsewhere as well).
Expect both services getting slammed by a sudden spike of users right now so they may be experiencing ramping up issues.
Baud
It would be great if Bernie would drop out after tonight so Dems could unify, but he won’t.
Tony Jay
@R-Jud:
I’m hearing that the ‘word on the staff corridor’ is that headteachers are expecting to be told on Friday that schools will be closed for the next few weeks, at least.
How much of this is wishful thinking I dunno, but what’s undeniable is that everyone in the world of Education wants the whole thing shut down ASAP but the Government doesn’t want to take responsibility for it.
Stay safe.
Jeffro
I’m not ok with DeWine ignoring a court order and canceling the OH primary. Not ok at all.
Peale
I agree with Johnson. Since it’s going to be too expensive to set up the typical screening bureaucracy to weed out those who simply will isolate to enjoy a little extra paid R&R staycation and those hard working souls who really deserve the paid leave, it’s best not to do anything at all about the matter.
Betty Cracker
@R-Jud: Yikes! Hope y’all have an uneventful quarantine and that the aide dodges the virus.
PenAndKey
You know, as a Wisconsin resident I feel compelled to apologize to the world for having Ron Johnson representing me. Right about now I’d be perfectly happy if someone told me he was being forced to work as a triage attendant at a hospital without any PPE. The tool is going to ensure people keep getting sick and dying all so he can keep his Ayn Rand Acolyte merit badge.
rikyrah
@Gin & Tonic:
They phucking LIE about everything. That the MSM CONTINUES to remotely take ANYTHING this Administration says as truth…
ridiculous!!
Who the phuck actually believes that he took the test?
And, if you believe he did…and, I am inclined to believe that he did….
WHO THE PHUCK THINKS THAT IT WAS NEGATIVE?!!
I surely don’t.
Baud
debbie
@Gin & Tonic:
I saw that. Spoken by a big, fat baby.
I don’t know about that CNN chart up top. I’ve had asthma for five years (allergy induced), and I cough a lot.
Baud
The proposal is crap, but we’ll see what happens.
debbie
@Jeffro:
He isn’t canceling it.
Ohio Mom
I was all ready to vote and am wondering what goes through DeWine’s head.
He got a lot of good press for his first actions— closing schools,restaurants and bars, arranging for unemployment for restaurant and bar workers, etc.— did he just get carried away with closing things? I don’t think he’s that smart. Or is it more sinister, a dry run for November?
At any rate, moments like this one, I really miss Kay! Do we need a petition to get her back?
cintibud
I posted this last evening but didn’t get a single comment, maybe because I didn’t ask for comments. I’m posting this again because I’m really worried and wonder what other folks think
A bit nervous about volunteering at the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry tomorrow. Folks need our services – especially since there is no large grocery stores close and shelves may have been bare when they were able to catch a ride. We have already packaged up the food and will have our clients stay in their car. No ID’s, no signatures, will just take names – we’ll recognize most folks. Someone else will bring the food and send the folks on their way. Will wear gloves and keep my distance. Still I’m the baby of the crew at 64. The highest risk folks we are telling to stay home but my wife was alarmed when she was helping packaging up the food with the other volunteers this afternoon at the general lack of concern. Older folks not being all that careful.
But folks really need the help
jonas
@Gin & Tonic: From Dale’s Twitter:
I think he probably was tested, but it’s telling that he can’t really say what the test actually *was*, only that he remembers it being uncomfortable. He’s in obvious cognitive decline.
NotMax
Locally,
satby
@cintibud: people do need the help. Sounds like every reasonable precaution short of closing completely is being observed. Wear gloves, keep as much distance as you can, and hope that the other volunteers start to take it more seriously. If you’re still uncomfortable or you have higher risk additional health problems, tell them you’re sorry but you can’t continue to volunteer for a few weeks and leave. They’ll manage.
I’m a perpetual volunteer too, and I know it goes against the grain not to help in an emergency, but it’s no help if you become another person to look after because it depletes resources. They can and should put out a call for younger, less at risk volunteers. As I told someone just yesterday, the torch needs to pass to a younger generation, and if we let them they’ll step up.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@satby: People got to eat.
Here in the SF Bay Area went to the grocery store on the way home, place was mobbed selves empty. Clerk said it’s been this way since 6:00am and they will be open during the State mandated shut down. Were is the sense in that, avoid a disease spread by personal contact by standing around in a crowd?
Nelle
How many countries do we have troops stationed in? Is the military just leaving them in place? I kind of look to them to be ahead of the curve on situations like this, unless the orange menace has his fingers in the stew. Who has he sold them to?
NotMax
@jonas
There now (if we accept the testing took place) is confirmed existence of samples of his DNA which can be subject to subpoena in certain court cases.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
So Ron Johnson took Clueless Glibertarian A-Hole honors? I would think he was grandstanding except I have seen Libertarians seriously claim Herbert Hoover was a socialist and WWII could have been fought with Freemarket solutions.
A Ghost to Most
@Peale: So do you subscribe to the Boomer Remover theory as well? Some of the youngs are actively promoting it.
This Boomer thinks our generation has earned it.
R-Jud
@Tony Jay: Thanks. I’m hoping they shut all the schools, but at the very least, OUR school through what would have been the end of the Easter holidays (27 April, for those of you in the US). That’s a good 5-6 weeks of interruption, but it could help.
As for our personal 14-day journey, I’ve still got something of a Brexit stash in the pantry. And as my ex will be going into quarantine, too, it means we can shuttle The Child back and forth on our usual schedule for now, so she doesn’t get too fed up with either one of us. Fingers crossed nobody gets sick– or at least too sick to function.
Two of my other friends announced that they are in self-isolation due to someone in the household having corona-ish symptoms (fever, dry cough and fatigue), and a third is going to be isolating for THREE MONTHS due to the fact that he has a congenital heart condition.
cintibud
@satby: Thanks. Right now my wife is picking up donations from Target. She has gloves and promised to keep her distance. I thought masks would be overkill for us but we didn’t consider our volunteering at the time. Now I wish we had some. I guess the cheap masks I have for sanding are no help
NotMax
@Nelle
More than 100 countries. No exaggeration.
satby
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: yes, people have to eat. But it’s the end of winter here, and not a bit of produce in this farmers market besides microgreens, lettuce, and cold storage apples and root veggies are actually grown in this area now. The farmers are getting their produce from the same places your local grocery store is, and there’s been no run on fresh veggies. They should close the market, it’s less than 1/3 farm produce anyway, but they’ll try to stay open in spite of the fact they shouldn’t, it’s not an essential business.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@jonas: Or something else, Trump after all is salesman so he’s been BSer all his life, so his BS skills should be the last to go.
Elizabelle
Good morning all.
Next St. Patrick’s Day, we stand a good chance of having a sane and legitimate POTUS.
FWIW — and not being an Ohioan — I don’t have a problem with DeWine’s shutting down the polling sites. Hope Ohio can go to mail in ballots. DeWine may have actually encouraged turnout, since some vulnerable or vulnerable-adjacent voters might not have chanced mingling at the polling stations. Wonder if turnout will fall off because of assumptions Biden has it in the bag, though …
It’s interesting that the Democratic race pretty much got decided just before COVID-19 hit hard. We would be even more nervous little creatures if we were still in the throes of primary insecurity. And it protects the candidates and campaign staffs/volunteers.
rikyrah
My sister, who is part of the vulnerable population, was going to go to a funeral today. I convinced her not to. She’s totally opposite of me. I am an introvert, so, telling me to stay inside isn’t a hard task. She’s a very social person, and telling her to stay inside….I only know that she’s not feeling well if she stays inside the house for a spell. Otherwise, she is out there and on the go go go.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@satby: The State of California begs to differ with you. Their order specifically exempts Farmer Markets from the shut down. Farmer Markets tend to be outdoors and they spread out people from grocery stores. The whole concept is keep people way from each other.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@Gin & Tonic:
He always sounds like the student who didn’t do the reading–lots of generalities and no specifics. Or come to think of it, also like a form rejection.
satby
@cintibud: masks aren’t as protective as people think. Once the water vapor from your breathing dampens them they don’t provide much of a barrier. It’s why hospital workers change masks between patients, or used to try to before hoarders created shortages. If YOU were sick it would protect people from you sneezing or coughing on them. Distance and careful hand washing should be enough, especially after you remove the gloves. Because you can contaminate your hands taking the gloves off.
Cameron
This morning’s Tampa Bay Times says we’re up to 160 cases here in Florida. Primary is going ahead on schedule.
Shalimar
Needing 16 people to announce that gatherings of over 10 people are bad is pretty much the Trump clusterfuck in one incompetent nutshell.
NotMax
@Gin & Tonic
All his answers are gibberish. A veritable Sargasshole Sea of gibberish.; to the scribbling MSM that’s become both old news and an accepted norm.
satby
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: This is the snowbelt and mine is inside. People get packed in like cattle. And California has a year round growing season, so there’s a decent argument that you’re getting fresh, locally grown food. It’s not growing season here. Not comparable at all.
Dorothy A. Winsor
I just sent this link to bridge playing Mr DAW. It’s a report that the first death from the virus in Colorado was an 80 year old woman who spread it to hundreds of old people by playing in a bridge tournament.
cintibud
@satby: Yeah, I’ve been hearing that those masks really wouldn’t help.
Also glad the Ohio elections have been put off. I didn’t bother to request a mail in ballot, after this all hit I was thinking of not voting. Sounds as if I will be able to request a mail in ballot now.
Elizabelle
We are so lucky to have this digital watering hole.
A lot of us would feel so isolated without it. As it is, we know each other well enough here to squabble, and some have an institutional memory of the place.
Yea Balloon Juice.
And I wish Kay would come back. Has anyone been in contact with her? Maybe a front pager could pass along our comments. She likely has something to say about the Ohio primary ….
Wish we would see Raven too.
Dorothy A. Winsor
I’m glad we early voted last week in the IL primary.
Someone on Instagram posted a schedule they made for themselves to feel like their day had some structure. I might do that. It might help me feel more settled. The schedule wasn’t tight, just blocks with things like 2 different dogs walks for exercise, a time for some work needed to do, a break, etc.
NotMax
@Elizabelle
Definitely a raven-shaped hole here.
satby
@Elizabelle: bet $$ both of them lurk.
SFAW
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
“This is my book report on Lord of the Flies. I read the book. It was a good book. I liked it. I especially liked the part where Miss Piggy did something important. It was a reelly gud book. I think the author, Mr. or Ms. J. D. Goldman, should be awarded the Nobel
PiecePeace Prize for Writing, because this was a good book. But one question I had, which the auther did not answer: where was this ‘Lord’ he/she mentioned in the title? I bet that there were flies all over the island, but they didn’t seem to have a Lord. Was he some super-giant fly that carried off the kids one-by-one? OK, so maybe he/she shouldn’t get a prize. Maybe I should get a prize for this beautiful book report! About a book I read, called Lord of the Files.The End
P.S. My dad is reelly rich, not like those
coloredsdarkiesnipeople he won’t rent to.Really The End Now”
satby
@Shalimar: and all 16 standing shoulder to shoulder.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@SFAW:
Yeah, like that!
I’m skipping the class in the gym this morning. I can’t believe they’re still holding it. Instead I’m going out for my first walk of the day. I feel like I have to sneak in and out.
PsiFighter37
So this is great: someone on the opposite side of the floor at my office went home last Monday because they weren’t feeling well. Tuesday morning – they split us to remote locations. Friday – they find out this guy tests positive.
This morning – one of his colleagues, who is working at same remote location I was, but much, much closer (like 15-20 feet away) tests positive. Jesus fucking Christ. I am so mad at my employer right now – they are simply reacting and making very poor decisions instead of being proactive. I am probably going to self-quarantine for 2 weeks proactively as a result…I don’t think I have a choice, and I do not trust my company to give me good guidance.
NotMax
@satby
Someone with better skills than I could Photoshop them standing on the Kremlin wall.
;)
SFAW
@satby:
A guy I used to work with MANY years ago would sometimes say (when he saw a bunch of us shooting the breeze) “Gee, someone lob a grenade in there, they’d get the whole bunch of ya.”
satby
@PsiFighter37: sounds like you work for my old company. Happy to be retired because I don’t miss it at all. Well, except the salary.
satby
@SFAW: I always think the White House doctor looks like he’s in a hostage video.
Chyron HR
@Baud:
Bernie just needs to hold out a few more weeks for the Biden Remover to turn this thing around.
rikyrah
Tom Brady retiring!
End of an era.
different-church-lady
I AM TIRED OF VIRUS PORN. I AM NOT READING ANY MORE VIRUS PORN. WE ARE NOT ALL GOING TO DIE FROM A LACK OF TOILET PAPER!!!
geg6
First case in my county was reported late last night. Not unexpected, seeing as Allegheny County (Pittsburgh and its immediate environs) has numerous cases and counting and Washington County has reported one (a very rural county). Beaver County touches both, so it was inevitable.
My governor has joined with NY, NJ and CT in their joint effort, so I am very glad we have Tom Wolf there right now.
Stay safe all.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@satby: The kid’s really upset that they’re having to reuse masks in the OR.
Another Scott
@Nelle: Yes, US military personnel are staying in place. More news here:
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus/
Cheers,
Scott.
MazeDancer
Quarantine Lockdown – Official Day 1
Yesterday’s only outing consisted of going to the Post Office to pick up the case of recycled toilet paper delivered last week from Amazon. Which, remarkably, the P.O. hadn’t sold.
Have 3 months of cat food/supplies. 3 months of people food.
Very grateful I could do that. Very.
Have little hope people will tolerate quarantine for months, even if they have the wherewithal.
Knew from a month ago, with the expected second wave in the Fall, it would be a year before those of us in the immuno-compromised category could be out and about. Though there may be a Summer respite.
Feeling so sad at all the people who will die. So many due to arrogance or selfish lack of concern. All the pets in shelters who might not make it either due to lack of people and money.
Please, if you can, go foster some kitties and/or doggos for the duration. Will perk up your quarantine immeasurably.
satby
@Dorothy A. Winsor: that’s tragic. But this virus in particular sheds before symptoms, and if someone felt fine weeks ago before shut downs and quarantines started stories like that will occur. It’s why the lag in testing is such a failure, countries that got ahead of the curve like Korea tested people who felt well and discovered significant numbers of asymptomatic individuals.
Splitting Image
If you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s day this year, remember to drink responsibly. And by that I mean stay away from that green shit.
Real Irish people don’t touch that stuff; and the more food colouring they put in it, the less alcohol you’ll get in each glass.
This has been a public service announcement.
Also, if you’re self-isolating, the Pogues and the Dubliners both make great listening.
Ohio Mom
Cintibud, my disabled son needs you to vote for the Hamilton County bus levy! Don’t skip this election (whenever and wherever it may end up being held).
Also, props to you and your wife for all your work with the food bank — as a local, I know how much need there is in our city. It’s astounding to me how we let so many people fall into such deep poverty. Or maybe not astounding, considering everything. Maybe disgusting and revolting are better descriptors.
We went to the St Vincent DePaul in the West End last month to donate the things Ohio Dad doesn’t need any more since he got an insulin pump — various odds and ends and some insulin pens — and were very impressed with how efficient they are.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@different-church-lady: But we will have soiled underwear.
satby
@?BillinGlendaleCA: I don’t blame her at all. It’s a huge risk to hospital staff. While fuckheads like Goku sit on boxes of them at home. Even though student nurse clinicals are cancelled, and the hospital would provide masks to them anyway.
Immanentize
@cintibud:
Masks are more important for those who have the disease than for those who do not. Prevents the spray of particles….
That said, I have “cheap masks for sanding (and painting),” which I picked up at Ace because they were on a huge sale last Fall. They are N-95. Much the same protection as the medical surgical masks except they are not tested for repelling fluid under pressure.* So check yours, and if they are construction N95 they may be pretty good if you needed them. Which you might not.
* This seems to be an interesting question of who gets to sell what. Pharma companies or the construction companies
Even the surgical mask N95s are self-regulated to the extent that the manufacturer shares their test data to get certified. The serious “Surgical respirators,” which are intended to block fluids (like synthetic blood) from being sprayed into your nose and mouth while breathing. These are government tested, at some point I’m sure. If you Google “Surgical N95S vs Standard N95” there is a good PDF from 3M that explains the differences.
Betty Cracker
@rikyrah: I heard Brady isn’t retiring but rather becoming an unrestricted free agent and going elsewhere. There’s some talk that he may land in Tampa, which has a serious QB problem, or some other franchise that needs butts in seats (assuming attending football games will be a thing this year).
satby
@MazeDancer: hugs. Many sanitary virtual hugs ?
SFAW
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
You could always do what the Orange Plague does: wear Depends.
zeecube
@SFAW: I’d give your book report a “10”.
NotMax
@Splitting Image
And if anyone tries to foist green bagels on you, run like the wind.
MattF
Worth noting that Kevin Drum, who is immunocompromised, has lots of current graphs and statistics.
Ohio Mom
[email protected] 56: And Steve in the ATL, what happened to him? Bad time to have a job that requires flying constantly.
And Bella Q? Then there are the ones who still drop by but very rarely these days — Helen in Erie & Queens comes immediately to mind but I will remember others later on.
What is going on here, I don’t know, but sometimes I think we need a post dedicated to some self-reflection a community.
Suzanne
I am exhausted. I’m not sleeping well, even though I’m working from home and the kids and Mr. Suzanne are out of school. We’re supposed to move at the end of May/first of June and there is so much to do for that and yet I’m sooooo freaked out and not sure if I should.
Heidi Mom
@geg6: Agree about Tom Wolf, he’s doing what needs to be done. Cumberland County has 5 cases, no surprise–intersection of PA Turnpike and I-81, several colleges and US Army War College, so lots of residents who travel. I doubt there’s going to be a Spring Car Show next month (a very big deal for Carlisle). In other news, Idris Elba and Kristofer Hivju have tested positive, so the virus is taking on John Luther AND Tormund Giantsbane! Stupid virus. Stay safe, everyone.
SFAW
@zeecube:
Out of what? 10? Or 100?
The Liar-in-Chief said he got 200 points (out of 100) for that report. The teacher — a big, strong man — came to Little Donnie Dumbfuck, and said, with tears in his eyes “Sir, this may be the finest example of writing in the history of the English language.”
zeecube
@Betty Cracker: Speaking as a Saints fan, I hope Brady picks the Bucs.
germy
p.a.
I knew there were issues w raven (not necessarily implying HE was the issue) but clueless abt Kay leaving. Always felt she was a very thoughtful commenter.
??
Betty Cracker
@zeecube: I don’t really care where Brady lands as long as the Bucs get rid of the Pick 6 King.
Matt McIrvin
@A Ghost to Most: A lot of the kids going on about the Boomer Remover are going to discover that being horribly, horribly sick is no fun even if it doesn’t kill you.
satby
@Ohio Mom: pull up any thread from a couple of years ago and you’ll see many names that aren’t here any more. It’s normal for people to come and go. Life happens, jobs change, people get busy with other things. It’s stunning that commenters stay as long as some do here.
germy
Immanentize
@Betty Cracker: supposedly, in the big Brady negotiations, it came down to the Patriots and the Buccaneers. And I guess the Patriots said, Basta!
Go your own way!
Ohio Mom
[email protected]: One of the pivotal events of my life was having the flu for five weeks in my early 30’s. Flat on my back, unable to do much of anything for a month.
I did not know how sick it was possible to be before that experience. It certainly was the end of any sense I had of being invincible.
Ohio Mom
[email protected]: I get that but we’ve had a spate of people leaving in a huff lately, which seems new to me.
germy
Except for the photos of Trump… shaking hands…
Immanentize
@satby: Yes people leave work, families, churches, neighborhoods and this blog. Even life. That is not a very deep or useful observation.
And in all those cases when people we value move on, I for one miss them — sometimes deeply. Those who became a part of the fabric of the community and someone I was always happy to see — their absence can hit particularly hard.
That’s how I feel about Kay and Raven.
(And Stevin too, if only for the grammar corrections and music sympatico)
Elizabelle
@Ohio Mom: Yeah. This year has been a bit different from normal attrition.
Good luck with that bus levy! I guess you guys have more time to publicize it now.
germy
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/welcome-to-your-hastily-prepared-online-college-course
Elizabelle
Our “missed” from the blog are about to have some serious time on their hands.
So, hoping for the best and a check-in. Come back, Kay and Raven and Steve not in an airplane seat.
germy
zeecube
@Betty Cracker: Agree it’s time to move on from that Winston kid. Talented but too erratic. But the possibility of seeing Brees v Brady 2X next season where it comes down to which quarterback has the ball when the clock runs out? I’m up for that. Granted, they are both old geezers so to speak in the twilight of their NFL careers, but still playing at the top of their game.
NotMax
@Elizabelle
Who doesn’t like Levy’s?
:)
cintibud
@Ohio Mom: Oh I would have gone to the polls, but would have been very nervous and would make sure there isn’t a line. I’m pretty close so I could check multiple times. We should have a mail in option soon – I hope.
Definitely voting for the bus levy
WereBear
I can’t find his name from search engines, but that CDC doctor reminds me of those sailors from the Pueblo desperately sending signals their captors wouldn’t understand.
rikyrah
Too cute ?❤️
burnspbesq
@germy:
re bailout for airlines: fuck no. That’s why we have Chapter 11.
But i really don’t understand the thing Our Progressive Betters have about share buybacks. Do they think somebody other than the shareholders own the fucking company? If a company has cash in excess of reasonably anticipated working capital and capex needs, who do they think should get it?
germy
Betty Cracker
@Immanentize: Jeesh. I don’t see how it’s a good idea unless the Bucs draft a young, malleable QB and let him be an understudy for a year or two.
I don’t follow the NFL as much as I used to, but it seems like that model used to be the norm, whereas now teams now pay blue-chip college QBs obscene sums and give them very little development time. The Favre-Rodgers case study shows how the opposite approach can work.
Anyhoo, I like the Bucs’ coach and cannot stand Winston. If the Brady gambit gets rid of Winston and gives Arians a chance to work his scheme, maybe it’ll pay off…
germy
@burnspbesq: The workers?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@burnspbesq: There used to be this thing called dividends.
satby
@Ohio Mom: several people left and only sporadically commented after the last redesign fiasco. If someone flounces off in a huff, that’s their business, which both raven and Kay did. My way or the highway tantrums aren’t as compelling to me I guess.
artem1s
@Jeffro:
As one of those poll workers who would have been needlessly exposed, I’m not cool with you assuming that this was a bad decision. And that we can’t delay and have a fairer primary. Are you OK with thousands of poll workers getting exposed for no good reason during a period where we know nothing about who is and isn’t a walking Orange Menance? Are you OK with thousands not getting to vote at all because they are terrified to go into a crowded room and expose themselves and their family members?
Every vote already cast has been counted. There will be more time to voter remotely and early. Why are you not OK with every possible vote getting cast?
DeWine is an ass when it comes to his Dominionist beliefs but the state got this one right. Period.
JMG
My daughter and several of her friends in France have come up with a socializing idea I think has merit. On Wednesdays, they’re going to have video dinner parties via Skype. They’ll agree on a common menu, all cook it, eat it and share the experience.
PS: The one stat category Brady excelled in last year was error avoidance. A very low interception rate. Since Winston set league records for interceptions and interceptions returned for touchdowns, that alone would probably be enough to get Tampa into the playoffs.
WaterGirl
@Chyron HR: I think using that phrase is in very poor taste.
Betty Cracker
@burnspbesq: The gobs of money Trump lavished on corporations through the Donor Relief Tax Cut went straight to stock buy-backs instead of hiring and wage growth as advertised as justifications for the largess. It was a giveaway to corporations that did not need further fluffing, and working folks got the short end of the stick as usual. That’s what people were angry about.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@burnspbesq:
There’s not a lot I hold in common with Our Progressive Betters, but I will get onboard with their concept on this.
Money in excess of working capital should go into a rational sharing of the success of the enterprise – dividends, employee pay, new product development and a rainy day fund.
cintibud
@Immanentize: Well I’ll be dog-goned. Ran into the garage and I found 2 brand new N95 masks and a “lightly used” one that I saved. May have more. Not sure how much real help they will be but maybe if I wear it tonight I might make some of the other 70+ volunteers be a little more careful. Not that they aren’t, but there is definitely a feeling of going through the motions
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Why base stock value on a metric like dividends that can be actually counted as opposed to vague promises of rosy upcoming outlooks?
satby
Thanks, always delighted to be considered shallow.
TBH, I worry about Steveinthewhereever, because I remember his wife had some health problems. But people who’ve announced their departures have made clear why they’re not here. And I can respect their choices even if I disagree with why they make them.
WaterGirl
@satby:
??
PenAndKey
@burnspbesq: The workers. You know, the people who actually earn the company their war chest of money? The ones who have been dealing with a multi-generation wage supression because of the “free hand of the market” forgetting that currency velocity is critical to economic health?
I’m not necessarily 100% on board with that view and think that dividend payouts should be the primary drive for long-term share purchases and not earnings through short-hold trading as many practice, but our current economic philosophy of “shareholder value” above literally every other concern has led to the inequalities and instabilities the global economy is currently experiencing. One can easily make the case that something serious needs to change
Or this, basically. There are so many better uses for excess funds than stock buybacks that it’s a tragedy of riches. Stock buybacks are short sighted greed, plain and simple.
SiubhanDuinne
@Ohio Mom: I’ve had brief email contact in the last couple of days with Steve in the ATL. He’s driving, not flying these days.
OzarkHillbilly
@germy: In their Idaho/Nevada bunkers.
satby
@WaterGirl: referring specifically to the designer who threatened people.
Baud
FWIW, giving profits to workers doesn’t cushion the company from financial blows any more than giving it to shareholders does. Once the money is gone, it is gone.
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: Tell Steve Not in the BJ Comments to get his butt back here, pronto! (pretty please)
Ohio Mom
There’s a moral in this, though I don’t know what it is: the discussion on recent departures is turning as vituperative as the discussions which prompted the aforementioned depatures.
satby
@SiubhanDuinne: Oh, good to hear! Let him know he’s been missed, and I hope his wife is well. Thanks!
Ohio Mom
@SiubhanDuinne: Thanks!
PenAndKey
@WaterGirl: I’m going to second the question marks. I spent years viewing the site primarily on my phone. It’s only since the re-design that I’ve been reliably able to comment on a mobile device again. Other than the too-prevalent-for-my-liking ads on the top and bottom of the screen on mobile (a necessary evil) I’ve got no complaints about the design.
ByRookorbyCrook
People leave this blog for breaks all the time. Kay and Raven will be back, or they won’t. It is their decision, no one booted them, they made the decision on their own, for their own well being. When they come back, we will all celebrate their return. If they do not, we will remember their insight. Nobody ever wonders what happened to that Cole guy who used to comment here.
I prefer Boomer Doomer to Boomer Remover. Sucks when the existential threat to your existence is on the other proverbial foot. Yes, some youths are callous by not social distancing. Some olds are callous in not addressing climate change or crippling student debt. These people are called assholes and they span all generations. But I am Gen X, so I despise all cohorts equally, even my own, it is part of our charm
satby
@PenAndKey: Oh, for gods sake, I was talking about the years ago one, not the one WaterGirl managed.
Eunicecycle
@PenAndKey: I remember when I first went to work for a big company in the 70s, and they preached to us about the 3 legged stool: Employees, shareholders, and community. All 3 were important to success and I think at the time they practiced what they preached for the most part. At some point they changed, so that shareholders only mattered. We all blamed it on the MBAs; maybe not fairly.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: I don’t think that this redesign was the fiasco.
Kattails
@satby: Pull the first glove part way off inside-out, so you have your fingertips still wrapped in glove. Then use the should-be-clean inside of the first glove to pull the second one off, again inside-out, and dispose of the rolled up gloves. It really does minimize contact with any contaminated part of the glove.
Baud
@Eunicecycle:
Workers voted for Reagan.
Princess Leia
@cintibud: My husband I are community members at a Catholic Worker house of hospitality. We are both in the danger age range, and he has a bunch of health issues.
We are used to providing 4 street meals a week, plus housing 25 or so homeless ladies. What we did was find some younger folks to go out on the line and to do awesome sack meals instead of hot meals. We package it and then stand back while they take it away to give out.
We also shut the house down completely to outsiders- plus no ins and outs. People need food for sure, but not everyone should be the deliverers right now.
Many of my regular volunteers were pretty upset that they couldn’t come in. The situation is crazy.
Eunicecycle
@Baud: There was that. The family whose name is on the company were and are HUGE Republicans; one family member is head of Ohio’s Republican party right now.
PenAndKey
This is my standard method of using neoprene gloves in the lab. Pull the first glove off half-way (making sure not to touch your wrist with the off-hand fingertips first) then kind of do an inverted peel with both gloves so they’re inside out and in a ball at the end. I tend to work with a lot of carcinogenic compounds and potential pathogens when doing enrichment testing and genetic sequencing, so anything to minimize cross-transfer is welcome. You also want to avoid “snapping” the gloves, since that can fling anything on their surfaces quite a distance away from the glove itself.
I hear he’s turned into a cranky hermit who spends his time yelling at passers by and driving into open fields.
But in all seriousness, I’ve seen a lot of voices come and go on the blog. I didn’t interact with all of them since I spent large spans of that time lurking, but there are enough of you that I feel like we have a community (cantankerous and odd as it may be) so it feels like a loss every time someone leaves. I hope Kay comes back, and I guess I didn’t even realize Raven had left, but if they don’t that’s their prerogative.
But all the rest of you? Don’t effing go anywhere. You’ve been my central repository of sanity for at or over (I can’t remember) ten years. I’ve been interacting with you longer than I’ve had most of my friends at this point in my life. That probably says something, but most importantly it means as much as I might snipe at times I value each and every one of you.
Other than that guy who kept affecting a crappy fisherman accent, whatever his name was. I’m glad he’s gone.
You know, now that you say that, that may have been the one that drove me to lurker status a few years ago. Wasn’t that the one that made page size issues and comment field auto-fill issues a thing for a long while? My comment wasn’t meant as a dig, just me being forgetful since it’s been so long since they’d done a design refresh prior to WG’s work.
danielx
@A Ghost to Most:
Speaking of booms, hospitals, etc, I noted this last evening – even though there is a current enormous crisis, hospital maternity/obstetrics units everywhere better start planning for a serious surge in births starting about November. So many people with time on their hands…
Baud
@danielx: I was thinking the same thing.
Immanentize
@germy: fabulous
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Baud: @Eunicecycle: I always thought “Reagan Democrats” should be called “Nixon Democrats”, based mostly on what I know about my extended family and their “old neighborhood” friends and acquaintances– the “white working class” of Chris Matthew’s dreams. I remember in ’92, my uncle’s best friend telling me “I’m a lifelong Democrat, and I’m writing in Buchanan!” Basically, a bunch of Archie Bunkers and not enough Ediths.
burnspbesq
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
There still is. They go to … (wait for it) … the shareholders. (gasp).
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: You did say you’re sort of pregnent.
Immanentize
@satby:
This respect of which you speak? It includes painting them as “flouncing off in a huff?”
HeartlandLiberal
We decided to risk a run to two grocery stores this morning, for last minute stock up items, e.g. milk and chocolate milk, potatoes, onions, eggs. We already had most everything for at least four weeks or more. At our Kroger, and the co-op we shop at, crowds were low. We intentionally went at 8:00 am, hoping this would be the case. We wore masks and plastic gloves, we are a high risk household, us because of age, our son because of medical condition.
I may have mentioned this before, but I was reminded by the stripped and bare shelves of canned goods, spaghetti, and all the things that have been hoarded, of the day in 1972 when we went over The Wall from West Berlin to spend the day in East Berlin. We were amazed at the poor stocks in grocery stores, the dearth of consumer goods that we took so for granted in the West. It was a shocking experience, burned into our memories. I still have a couple of children’s books I bought at a kiosk in East Berlin, telling how all the happy East Germany children are because of the friendly Russian Bear.
Recently I watched a video about a restaurant opened in Germany, the specialty of which are the cheap dishes that East Germans made to get by with the poor supply of quality foods and lacking quantity under the rule of the Communist Party and Honicker (may he rot in Hell, forever). I commented (it was on YouTube), that I found it really hard to get all nostalgic about life in a society where people were encouraged to spy on and denounce each other, and where citizens were subject to arrest without trial, torture by the Stasi, and summary execution at the will of the party.
All these memories make me fear even more the threat to the Rule of Law and equal treatment under a Constitution that is so under threat of destruction by Trump and the GOP.
Sorry for getting all serious. These times have us really revisiting our past experiences and trying to bring some context to this pandemic and its impact on us, the American people, the economy.
Immanentize
@danielx: But aren’t we social distancing?
danielx
@satby:
Come sit by me.
Immanentize
@Baud: Yes, but what race/gender/culture will those babies be? Asking for Spencer.
burnspbesq
@germy:
Not a terrible idea. Works pretty well in Germany. Good luck convincing the Delaware Legislature.
Omnes Omnibus
@burnspbesq: I have always thought that corporation should be be required to maximize stakeholder value, but my views are not reflected in our corporate codes – yet.
danielx
@Immanentize:
Some of us, yes. Others are seizing the day.
Feathers
Sigh. My grandfather, during his long stay in the dementia section of the nursing home, would stand up and start singing Danny Boy whenever someone started playing the piano in the day room. Turned out none of the patients minded, and the staff was amused, so nobody stopped him. He sat down when he was done and other songs were played. Apparently one of the orderlies learned the opening notes to Danny Boy just so Grandpa Joe could sing it again. He had a pretty good voice.
My favorite version is Eva Cassisdy’s: https://youtu.be/oSKM0YiU8LU
danielx
Tic Tac Toe cat thinks self quarantine is obnoxious and so are you.
danielx
@Feathers:
Totally!
Ruckus
Wy is not having bans on public gatherings?
OH NO the shear horror of it!
I live in a small valley in SoCal. About 200 sq miles. About 2 million people. Wy has less than 600,000 in an area of almost 100,000 sq miles. The city I live in has just under 50,000 people in 7 sq miles, Cheyenne has just under 64,000 in 32 sq miles. They live in a ban on gatherings.
Kattails
@A Ghost to Most: Oh yes, like the early 20’s young woman who, having started work on Jan. 10, called out “sick” or “emergency meeting” or…more times than this aging boomer has called out in 6 years; she got her ass canned. Good luck running your brave new world with that work ethic. Oh, wait, am I making gross generalizations??
Seriously, I try to take everyone as individuals, and this kind of ageism is just as depressing and stupid as the sexism and racism that those youngs would deplore. Please knock it TF off.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: I don’t think so either! :-) I just wanted more information on what satby was thinking.
satby
@Kattails: I know that, but had a hard time visualizing how to describe it, so thank you for doing it so well. Still, hand washing after is a must.
Omnes Omnibus
@Kattails: AGTM thinks that most denizens of this blog are cheese-eating surrender monkey and is building some sort of armored war-wagon up in the mountains. I think that one may safely consider him to be an outlier as far as opinions go.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: Well, you wouldn’t, would you? Now, about that back button….
satby
@Immanentize: no, that’s the “disagree with those choices” part.
And GBCW posts are flouncing off, though Adam is the one who originally used that phrasing. It seems you’re angry with me about something, no idea what.
satby
@Omnes Omnibus: oh, she knows I didn’t mean this last one, I just want to avoid the T word.
Kattails
@Omnes Omnibus: Ah. Got it, thx, I’ll make a note & save my energy next time.
Christ I’ve got to get some work done….
SFAW
@Omnes Omnibus:
Can I assume the term “stakeholder” encompasses more than the shareholders?
zhena gogolia
@SiubhanDuinne:
Oh, what good news that he’s in contact.
Nethead Jay
@zeecube: As a fellow Saints fan, wouldn’t that be something! I can imagine the entire locker room licking their libs. And that would also stop me from worrying about them trying to get Teddy B.
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl:
I didn’t notice any mass exodus because of the redesign.
Omnes Omnibus
@SFAW: Yes, workers, local communities, etc., as well as shareholders.
PenAndKey
@SFAW: That used to be a given, and used to include not only the employees but also the community the business was in. The idea that stakeholders only refers to “shareholders” is a more recent perversion of that principle.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: Happily, satby was not talking about THIS redesign. :-)
She was talking about a redesign that happened years ago.
mrmoshpotato
LMAO to that Tennesseean nurse’s rant.
piratedan
@Immanentize: wtf is YOUR problem?
go outside and play…
Kay felt that the commentariat as a whole weren’t offended enough by the Bloomberg candidacy for her liking and GBCW’ed herself away…
Raven felt that someone he had an affinity with, but who exhibited troll-like and stalker behavior behavior towards others got a raw deal from the blogmaster and did the same thing…
I know that this IS indeed a stressful time for most of us here, but christ almighty, you want to pick a fight with someone, go find a Republican to take your venom out on or take a walk outside versus making this some needlessly irritating pissing contest.
JCNZ
@Shalimar: Brilliant!!!!!!
Ruckus
@Ohio Mom:
The moral is that we are all on edge. Maybe for a variety of reasons but I think the main one is political. trump. And his buffoonery and bullshit. It affects everyone, in many ways deeper than we probably realize. So much of our government for the last 30 yrs (and many more actually) has been republicans trying to ruin it and somewhat succeeding, until trump. His total inability to even screw up a government right has made a fucking mess of everything he touches or even gets near. And it affects all of our lives, some far more than others. Take me as an example. SS and the VA are my main two supports. I talked to my boss and I’m not going in for 2-3 weeks, which means only SS is my income. I use the VA, in the last 5 yrs rather extensively. (I think I’ve had 6 MRIs in that time for example) trump wants to cut both drastically and they are already below where they should be. So my life may get drastically worse if shit for brains has anything to say about it. What that means is that my outlook right now is rather bleak if I were to only look where we are right now. But I know there is a future and it isn’t trump, as long as whatever/whomever your deity is, is paying attention. How that plays out will be different for each of us, how it affects us and how we see the near future and how we respond to the present.
I’m cautiously optimistic but that’s my nature, and yes it’s burned me before. Everyone will have a different outlook. And everyone will react different. In this thread there are obvious differences in how we see the same event. Most of these are not wrong they are just different, as we all are, mostly the same but not completely. It makes it interesting and can make it tough to slog through. Some will walk away because it’s better for them.
Sister Golden Bear
@?BillinGlendaleCA: And bonuses for the rank and file.
Ruckus
@Elizabelle:
Raven and I email on occasion, he’s OK, last time we chatted, but he was pissed about how an interaction went down and how he felt it and the participants were treated. I don’t know if he’ll ever come back, I hope he does and Kay as well, they are valued members of the community. But people do move away from communities all the time. I have physically moved several times in my life, 4 times in the last 8 yrs, 4 more times in the 16 yrs before that, twice I moved over 2000 miles. Some stay in one place for decades, others never stay in one place for long.
burnspbesq
@Omnes Omnibus:
Make the same principles apply to LLCs, por favor.
J R in WV
@WaterGirl:
Some people reject change, of any sort. Will even foment far more change by leaving a job where the software tools are updated. Strange but obviously true. I miss all those guys! Hope they’re taking care of themselves!!
Elizabelle
@Ruckus: Thank you for the update. Please tell Raven “hey” for me.
Jane Austin
@evodevo: Get out the shop vac and suck all the pollen off that tree!