Squirrel

This is THE BEST video I have seen/heard ... Trevor Noah interviewing Dr. Fauci. All the basics, what you need to know. Very well done. https://www.upworthy.com/trevor-noah-interviews-dr-fauci-coronavirus?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&ts=1585350929&fbclid=IwAR1Q0ePcTT53TcQI6gxZ-XDxYbqLJa7BdzchcIUyoWsxZIHzQomn61KAsZQ

A good read and a fair assessment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-is-still-exceptional--but-now-for-its-incompetence/2020/03/26/4d6d1ade-6f9b-11ea-a3ec-70d7479d83f0_story.html

Pricing is one thing, distribution will be another. It concerns me greatly that the White House would actually block procured supplies from being sent. Actions like that aren’t just petty in times like this, it’s downright evil. "What I've gotten back is that vendors with whom we've procured contracts -- They're being told not to send stuff to Michigan," Whitmer said live on air. "It's really concerning, I reached out to the White House last night and asked for a phone call with the president, ironically at the time this stuff was going on." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/after-trump-attacks-whitmer-she-says-vendors-arent-sending-desperately-needed-coronavirus-supplies/ar-BB11Nb4k?ocid=sf2&fbclid=IwAR09A5TdQvUEzSyPwQWFToNpy889W882u595vc_mCZSoIlNrD_z0-hxGnBA

Poor Italy. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52067673

As my niece said, there is so much research going on around the clock, around the globe. And drug trials in process or starting many places. Hers will be starting soon. Time. And a little hope.

If you are on Instagram at all, you can see a lot of the players’ activities, workouts and otherwise. Bux seems to have a pretty big yard where he has been doing some batting practice. Granted, not against live pitching, but ... still fun to see even if in only very small snippets.

Oy, another bad form move by the White House in response to the pandemic. Troops should go where needed and not deployed where they aren’t during times like this. The proposal was dropped, according to the WSJ, but, that wasn’t confirmed, according to the NYT. I hope that proposal was dropped as it would be a really, really, REALLY, bad form move. https://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-objects-to-u-s-plan-to-put-troops-at-border-11585247654 https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/03/26/world/americas/26reuters-health-coronavirus-canada.html

I haven’t looked at that one in a while. The last thing I read it was unconfirmed. There was someone in Japan who was reported to have caught it a 2nd time, but they don’t know if perhaps the first test she had was faulty.

They are still doing so much research. My niece hears a lot of it because of her job. I would expect the mortality rate percentage to drop a lot, but with the contagion rate ... we’ll, we won’t even know what that truly is, either. This is just so new and no one has any immunities. I heard they are trying to see if there is a link to blood type and being more susceptible. No confirmation on that yet but initially thought that maybe Type A was more susceptible and Type O less susceptible. They are also experimenting with injecting the plasma of someone who is now immune into the worst cases. Just new things happening every day. New discoveries, new drug trials. That time thing is important. I think they will be successful with drug therapies in the next few months.

My Mom remembers my Grandma talking about the Spanish flu. She said that there wasn’t a family not touched by it. Also, the shelter in place things ... St. Louis did that and had far, far fewer cases. Philadelphia didn’t and saw a lot of deaths.

I think we’re all reading lots of articles daily because many of us don’t have much else to do. I’m over saturated at this point. I seek advice from my experts. If you want to give it, I’ll say, ‘hmmm, Learned man or experts?’ I’ll probably choose experts, no offense, because doctors and other resources close to the battle of research are more to my style. But I’m doing what you’re doing and I imagine we’re all a bit stir crazy. But, there is a difference between opinion and declarative statements with incorrect data in them. And maybe one is the other and it’s not always easy to discern reading words from a computer screen. So ... how the opinion is given matters greatly when some of us are stir crazy, some nervous and worried and some calm and some defiant. I’ve liked most of what you’ve said here and you and I have been on the same page with testing. But even that is too late. Distancing is good for now and will hopefully buy us time, but if too many are not practicing it, it may not matter to our health care facilities. That said, the economic impact ... there are large portions of the population that will feel it more than others. It doesn’t matter if it’s distancing or shelter at home ... for me, personally, I don’t know when we will be allowed to perform for an audience again, and I don’t know when that audience will feel comfortable sitting next to one another again. My impact will linger longer than the bartender’s. But ... don’t know. We’ll see. In the meantime, I’m enjoying warm weather but missing the great Chicago sing along. Oh, and I wish you’d still be posting the numbers you were. They were useful.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-LjxGSgnBj/?igshid=1hrgwrruxf1je https://www.instagram.com/p/B-NBEWTAZWa/?igshid=iy31g666r2qs

Cuomo should talk directly to China

Right. I don’t think anyone is disagreeing much in what could have been done. And what could have been done would have mitigated much. But from this point forward, where we are today ... forget distancing and shelter in place to resume businesses and concerts and sports and ? You think because what wasn’t done, we just carry on now? That’s kind of the where the question is at ... what is best right now? I still think if everyone would just lock down now it could have a great affect in slowing contagion to a point where medical systems can handle the influx.

Oh, I totally agree we are past the China and SKorea models. I stated that a couple of posts ago. The Senate has opportunity to put the stimulus money toward production of needed supplies. That is a defensive move, but it could have also been a proactive move. Trump could have ordered a ramp up in production, and imo, still should. But he has no real interest in helping. He has outbid states on hospital supplies and is stockpiling until governors are ‘nice’ to him. Just want someone to push for a better response. But yes, is too late. Time is now all we can do through shelter in place. Maybe the states’ governors should push through deals with China. They have lots and lots of supply right now.

This just makes too much sense ... yet, here we sit. Do it already!

On another note, as I’ve said before, my niece works for a pharmaceutical company which has been working on COVID-19 drugs, and has been since the outbreak in China. They are ready to start trials and will as soon as they select and get agreements from various markets. She is very close to and knowledgeable of what is being done in the scientific community. We need time. At this point in time, there is no use in talking about what should have been done. I’ve been saying all through this thread the China and SKorea models are what we should have been doing but it’s too late for that. Right now we need time, and sheltering in place is the only way to buy that. Yes, there will be an economic fallout, but there is no way to actually quantify and compare ... which scenario is worse. Glunn posted a letter just up a bit that I thought was excellent. If the entire country just would do a 30-day shutdown, we’d be okay. But with states issuing them at various times, is problematic and will make the situation more drawn OUT and worse on all fronts ... in human toll AND economic toll. I’m out of work now until mid-May and no idea about my salary. I’ll be paid until Apr. 12, after that? Don’t know. But I have savings and my health insurance will be maintained so I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m trying to identify different groups and GoFundMe campaigns to donate to. There are other initiatives if people want to investigate what they can give in time and services. blood is needed needed. Now I’ve rambled. Just trying to remain hopeful.

Maybe, lacking central leadership, the governors should just all agree to 30 days, now. Too many people coming and going. Just shut it all down, 30 days, and then work from there. The China and SKorea models have worked.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KeNqMJL9c/?igshid=tme32qlcpv72 https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KuxwBD9c_/?igshid=1pwllc9no2n77 https://www.instagram.com/p/B-IaFoGF-Aj/?igshid=o8u0dmiawvhu

Thanks, heezy ... you’ve done it again

I think this anecdote is a bit far-fetched. I choose science and medical authority. Flattening the curve will save lives. It wil lesson the burden at hospitals so more people can be treated over time. All at once and choices are then made as to who dies because there aren’t enough ventilators or respirators. We can lessen the over all mortality numbers this way and maybe the mortality rate, too. It might even delay exposure to many until a vaccine is available or bide time until drugs are repurposed or created to alleviate the worst symptoms. My niece is actually working on the latter now. Her company is busy with trials that will hopefully be available when the next wave hits. No one is suggesting we shelter in place for 12-18 months. But sheltering right now for the next few weeks will make a huge difference. It’s actually a proven fact. And in your bartender scenario, or anyone living paycheck to paycheck, how do they pay for medical expenses? Is the inability to pay part of the natural selection process? I'm not sure what's worse ... dying because he can't afford medical attention, not seeking attention and spreading the virus, or dying from starvation because he can no longer afford food?

Flattening the curve absolutely is about saving lives. In my opinion, it very erroneous to claim otherwise. It’s about making sure there is enough medical equipment and supplies and hospital beds to help the sick and about preserving medical staff. And not just with the virus but for other medical emergencies, too. Italy has had to make choices because there just wasn’t enough to go around when the spike hit.

And now I am out of work through May 10. No word on salary reductions or if I will still get anything at all, but our medical benefits will be maintained. As long as I don’t have to go on COBRA, I’ll be fine with my savings, which is far better than most. Given my industry, as hard hit as hospitality, given the number of self-employed musicians out there, it’s going to be rough for many. I’m doubtful we’ll be back in May, even, and likely out until September. Even then, audiences will be leery to return. My industry will feel lingering affects for a while. My sister is a doctor and my niece works for a small pharma company who is doing some major drug testing for the Coronavirus. Both have ‘insider info’ but particularly my niece... stay at home is the order. I trust people with medical and scientific knowledge. In my opinion, that is not hysteria, but being safe, practical and following protocols. Yes, it’s inconvenient and hardships will be felt economically, but I think it’s the right thing to do. I’ve never been worried for myself, but I do not want to pass anything onto anyone else. As sconnie pointed out, hardship will be felt regardless. I’d rather not gamble with human lives. The Senate needs to get its act together and stop with the half a trillion dollars to big business with no questions asked or answered, no conditions, no oversight, and no guarantee for employees. I feel angry and worried, but not hysterical. I think my emotions are justified given how this all has unraveled. Our government KNEW and was warned back in January the severity of this. And did nothing. People will die. People already have. What lives might have been spared, we’ll never know. Because they did, and are still doing, nothing ... but putting up roadblocks to necessary aid. At this point, I believe it’s intentional.

Ah, math ...

The president told states to get their own medical supplies, and then the U.S. outbids the contracts so the states still can’t get needed supplies. And Trump has refused to tell these manufacturers to ramp up production, as he has the authority to do. I don’t get it it.