Coronavirus COVID-19

[93henfan]

Just some food for thought (ha)...

Folks who live paycheck to paycheck will miss payments. That can be devastating to credit reports for MANY years. That will drive up their revolving costs, future car loans, could block them from getting a mortgage, etc...

As for restaurants, it recently hit me that although some are doing good carry out business, most of them are missing out on their #1 revenue... beverages. I think it's common knowledge that beverages, especially alcohol are the biggest profit margin for restaurants. My guess is we will see far more restaurants out of business.

This could be anecdotal, but my last two months credit card bills have been less than 50% of my norm (not exaggerating). Keep in mind that I charge everything I can on the card for miles and pay each month. Gas certainly has something to do with it since I have four drivers who charge their gas to me. But the large bulk of it is restaurants. I'd say we used to eat out at least 2 times a week and as many as 4. Now... we've done pizza twice and that's about it.

This WILL be the great depression for many folks IMO.

I just got a spam call about my power bill. The person said I had 45 minutes before they were going to shut-off my power if I didn't pay them. We don't owe anything, so I told them I was going to call the power company. They gave me another fake number. called the power company, and gave them the fake numbers and verified we didn't owe anything and the power was not going to get shut-off. The guy at the power company also mentioned that during the pandemic they are not shutting off anyone's power. There are a lot of companies and people working to help people get thru this, unlike the great depression. Won't be able to help everyone, but we can try.

You actually answer your phone when it's not a number in your contacts list?

Fuck.

That.

[Ivytalk]

I just got a spam call about my power bill. The person said I had 45 minutes before they were going to shut-off my power if I didn't pay them. We don't owe anything, so I told them I was going to call the power company. They gave me another fake number. called the power company, and gave them the fake numbers and verified we didn't owe anything and the power was not going to get shut-off. The guy at the power company also mentioned that during the pandemic they are not shutting off anyone's power. There are a lot of companies and people working to help people get thru this, unlike the great depression. Won't be able to help everyone, but we can try.

You actually answer your phone when it's not a number in your contacts list?

Fuck.

That.

Minnesota Nice.

[∞∞∞]

Just read drive-in theaters are doing really well right now, and some outdoor spaces are being converted into new ones (first time in decades the industry has grown). Makes sense in hindsight, but it's been fascinating to see what ideas work well during the pandemic.

[BDKJMU]

Just some food for thought (ha)...

Folks who live paycheck to paycheck will miss payments. That can be devastating to credit reports for MANY years. That will drive up their revolving costs, future car loans, could block them from getting a mortgage, etc...

As for restaurants, it recently hit me that although some are doing good carry out business, most of them are missing out on their #1 revenue... beverages. I think it's common knowledge that beverages, especially alcohol are the biggest profit margin for restaurants. My guess is we will see far more restaurants out of business.

This could be anecdotal, but my last two months credit card bills have been less than 50% of my norm (not exaggerating). Keep in mind that I charge everything I can on the card for miles and pay each month. Gas certainly has something to do with it since I have four drivers who charge their gas to me. But the large bulk of it is restaurants. I'd say we used to eat out at least 2 times a week and as many as 4. Now... we've done pizza twice and that's about it.

This WILL be the great depression for many folks IMO.

I just got a spam call about my power bill. The person said I had 45 minutes before they were going to shut-off my power if I didn't pay them. We don't owe anything, so I told them I was going to call the power company. They gave me another fake number. called the power company, and gave them the fake numbers and verified we didn't owe anything and the power was not going to get shut-off. The guy at the power company also mentioned that during the pandemic they are not shutting off anyone's power. There are a lot of companies and people working to help people get thru this, unlike the great depression. Won't be able to help everyone, but we can try.

-Why did you answer a call not on your caller ID?
-When it became obvious it was a scam right off the bat, why didn't you just tell him to go fuck yourself?

[BDKJMU]

I just got a spam call about my power bill. The person said I had 45 minutes before they were going to shut-off my power if I didn't pay them. We don't owe anything, so I told them I was going to call the power company. They gave me another fake number. called the power company, and gave them the fake numbers and verified we didn't owe anything and the power was not going to get shut-off. The guy at the power company also mentioned that during the pandemic they are not shutting off anyone's power. There are a lot of companies and people working to help people get thru this, unlike the great depression. Won't be able to help everyone, but we can try.

You actually answer your phone when it's not a number in your contacts list?

Fuck.

That.

Exactly. For my landline I've got the CPR Call Blocker 5000, which has 5,000 of the worst offending spam #s. In 2+ years I've had it I've blocked an additional 570 #s. Doesn't completely eliminate them, but I've gone from maybe 10-12 spam calls a week, to a couple a week..

[grizzaholic]

I just got a spam call about my power bill. The person said I had 45 minutes before they were going to shut-off my power if I didn't pay them. We don't owe anything, so I told them I was going to call the power company. They gave me another fake number. called the power company, and gave them the fake numbers and verified we didn't owe anything and the power was not going to get shut-off. The guy at the power company also mentioned that during the pandemic they are not shutting off anyone's power. There are a lot of companies and people working to help people get thru this, unlike the great depression. Won't be able to help everyone, but we can try.

You actually answer your phone when it's not a number in your contacts list?

Fuck.

That.

Had a restricted/unlisted number since highschool.

[kalm]

Here is a good discussion of the problem with comparing estimates of flu deaths to counts of COVID-19 deaths that my daughter called my attention to:

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/ob ... _IPObORbQc

A key quote:

In the last six flu seasons, the CDC’s reported number of actual confirmed flu deaths—that is, counting flu deaths the way we are currently counting deaths from the coronavirus—has ranged from 3,448 to 15,620, which far lower than the numbers commonly repeated by public officials and even public health experts.

So if we want to compare apples to apples, we would need to compare the somewhere around 60,000 counted COVID-19 deaths to this point to the 15,620 counted flu deaths actually counted during the past six flu seasons.

I would qualify that some by saying I think COVID-19 deaths are more likely to be recognized because of the nature of the situation. But, still, when people compare number of flu deaths to number of COVID-19 deaths they are normally comparing an estimate that accounts for under-reporting to a hard count.

I linked that article a page or two ago. Good luck with anyone replying to it.

It’s all quite interesting. People cite the deaths due to economic depression but never mention the lives saved by lower traffic fatalities, dropping murder rates, etc. I’m not saying they equalize but they’re rarely mentioned in the economic disaster porn either.

Gil and JSO...maybe the two most rational posters on the CS pandemic threads right now.

[AZGrizFan]

Yeah. We should just stay shutdown and then nobody would die.

[UNI88]

Here is a good discussion of the problem with comparing estimates of flu deaths to counts of COVID-19 deaths that my daughter called my attention to:

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/ob ... _IPObORbQc

A key quote:

So if we want to compare apples to apples, we would need to compare the somewhere around 60,000 counted COVID-19 deaths to this point to the 15,620 counted flu deaths actually counted during the past six flu seasons.

I would qualify that some by saying I think COVID-19 deaths are more likely to be recognized because of the nature of the situation. But, still, when people compare number of flu deaths to number of COVID-19 deaths they are normally comparing an estimate that accounts for under-reporting to a hard count.

I linked that article a page or two ago. Good luck with anyone replying to it.

It’s all quite interesting. People cite the deaths due to economic depression but never mention the lives saved by lower traffic fatalities, dropping murder rates, etc. I’m not saying they equalize but they’re rarely mentioned in the economic disaster porn either.

Gil and JSO...maybe the two most rational posters on the CS pandemic threads right now.

I think the premise of that article is quite plausible. And I don't think COVID-19 is like the flu. It's worse but it's not the plague either.

It's good that the primary purveyors of pandemic porn (you, Gil and JSO) are sticking together. Keep their spirits up Coach Buttermaker!

[grizzaholic]

Yeah. We should just stay shutdown and then nobody would die.

But what about the Gophers and Prairie dogs???? If everyone is home, who will shoot them?

[kalm]

I linked that article a page or two ago. Good luck with anyone replying to it.

It’s all quite interesting. People cite the deaths due to economic depression but never mention the lives saved by lower traffic fatalities, dropping murder rates, etc. I’m not saying they equalize but they’re rarely mentioned in the economic disaster porn either.

Gil and JSO...maybe the two most rational posters on the CS pandemic threads right now.

I think the premise of that article is quite plausible. And I don't think COVID-19 is like the flu. It's worse but it's not the plague either.

It's good that the primary purveyors of pandemic porn (you, Gil and JSO) are sticking together. Keep their spirits up Coach Buttermaker!

I will proudly accept that moniker!



The Three Musketeers of libertarian Cajun statistics, high prairie stoicism, and PNW hippie inland agrarianism (or whatever the fuck I am)

[Ivytalk]

Just read drive-in theaters are doing really well right now, and some outdoor spaces are being converted into new ones (first time in decades the industry has grown). Makes sense in hindsight, but it's been fascinating to see what ideas work well during the pandemic.

In this century, it’s a bit hard to find drive-in theaters. Besides, they are magnets for natural disasters. Did you ever see Twister?

[93henfan]

YES!!!

Under the most-stringent plan, which would be a worst-case scenario, D.C. would not be able to reopen for at least another three months, Nesbitt said.

Under the least-stringent plan, which would be a best-case scenario, the city would do a phased reopening, but that also would not begin for at least two months.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... y/2288790/

[Gil Dobie]

I just got a spam call about my power bill. The person said I had 45 minutes before they were going to shut-off my power if I didn't pay them. We don't owe anything, so I told them I was going to call the power company. They gave me another fake number. called the power company, and gave them the fake numbers and verified we didn't owe anything and the power was not going to get shut-off. The guy at the power company also mentioned that during the pandemic they are not shutting off anyone's power. There are a lot of companies and people working to help people get thru this, unlike the great depression. Won't be able to help everyone, but we can try.

-Why did you answer a call not on your caller ID?
-When it became obvious it was a scam right off the bat, why didn't you just tell him to go fuck yourself?

It was a local number, probably spoofed. I have a lot of people call me to sell sports memorabilia, so I answer any number not marked spam.

[Gil Dobie]

Yeah. We should just stay shutdown and then nobody would die.

No son look at the news, the lock down stay the fuck home restrictions are being relaxed in many states.

[HI54UNI]

YES!!!

Under the most-stringent plan, which would be a worst-case scenario, D.C. would not be able to reopen for at least another three months, Nesbitt said.

Under the least-stringent plan, which would be a best-case scenario, the city would do a phased reopening, but that also would not begin for at least two months.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... y/2288790/

I'll 2nd your YES!!!! I was scheduled to go to DC for work later in May. Now they will do it over the phone.

[Ibanez]

They aren't turning off their power at this point, and I'm sure they are arranging payments. To relate to your post, there are more outlets for assistance than there were in the 1930's. It's good thing this didn't happen in the middle of winter when the heat bills are higher.

There are more outlets. There are also nearly 3x as many folks in the US. Boiling this down to one utility bill is folly. I view credit reports all day. One $30 collection from a cable or phone company can tank your score.

If you're getting hit with a $30 collection, your score is already probably shit to begin with.

[93henfan]

YES!!!

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... y/2288790/

I'll 2nd your YES!!!! I was scheduled to go to DC for work later in May. Now they will do it over the phone.

I actually had to go in on Wednesday morning for a special visit. I obviously avoided mass transit. It only took an hour and a half to get from my house to my office, which was remarkable. No traffic. I was able to park on the street right in front of my building. They had tape over the payment kiosks, so it was free. Mall was pretty much empty except for some joggers. I took a quick pic. Notice no cars:

[∞∞∞]

My direct manager has had all the symptoms. He's been out all week, but came to work last Friday with a high fever (but no other symptoms).

Doctors are testing him now for the flu, and if he doesn't have it, then they'll do a covid-19 test. He was in NYC last week too.

I'm developing a cough this morning, so I'm staying home just in case. Hopefully just seasonal allergies.

Update, but he tested negative for the flu and C-19, although he's got some upper respiratory virus which they gave him meds for.

My dry cough has gotten progressively worse this morning, so I scheduled a doctor's appt. I probably have what he has.

So an update to this, but my doctor asked me to come in this morning to take an antibody test. With the (lack of) tools at the time, she said it may have been a misdiagnosis and wants to make sure.

I had a productive cough from early March to early April, diagnosed as tonsil irritation/allergies (I thought maybe bronchitis). But allergy medicine (combination of Allegra and Mucinex) never worked and the cough got worse and peaked around late March.

However, I have actual seasonal allergies now and the meds are working great.

Taking the test in an hour...results in 1-3 days.

[93henfan]

Update, but he tested negative for the flu and C-19, although he's got some upper respiratory virus which they gave him meds for.

My dry cough has gotten progressively worse this morning, so I scheduled a doctor's appt. I probably have what he has.

So an update to this, but my doctor asked me to come in this morning to take an antibody test. With the (lack of) tools at the time, she said it may have been a misdiagnosis and wants to make sure.

I had a productive cough from early March to early April, diagnosed as tonsil irritation/allergies (I thought maybe bronchitis). But allergy medicine (combination of Allegra and Mucinex) never worked and the cough got worse and peaked around late March.

However, I have actual seasonal allergies now and the meds are working great.

Taking the test in an hour...results in 1-3 days.

Good luck, man! I am now 16 days past Penn Medicine notifying me that a member of my radiation set-up team was positive for COVID, so I dodged that bullet (I think).

The member of my 9-person team at work who contracted COVID finally got off a ventilator after four weeks in ICU. She is moving her head and talking a little. It's freaking frightening that that is all the progress she has made. She is a rather large black woman who is probably in her 50s if I had to guess.

[∞∞∞]

So an update to this, but my doctor asked me to come in this morning to take an antibody test. With the (lack of) tools at the time, she said it may have been a misdiagnosis and wants to make sure.

I had a productive cough from early March to early April, diagnosed as tonsil irritation/allergies (I thought maybe bronchitis). But allergy medicine (combination of Allegra and Mucinex) never worked and the cough got worse and peaked around late March.

However, I have actual seasonal allergies now and the meds are working great.

Taking the test in an hour...results in 1-3 days.

Good luck, man! I am now 16 days past Penn Medicine notifying me that a member of my radiation set-up team was positive for COVID, so I dodged that bullet (I think).

The member of my 9-person team at work who contracted COVID finally got off a ventilator after four weeks in ICU. She is moving her head and talking a little. It's freaking frightening that that is all the progress she has made. She is a rather large black woman who is probably in her 50s if I had to guess.

Glad she's getting better. I mean as crazy to think I may have had it, I think I'd want a positive result so I'm not too worried about catching it again (at least in the short-term). Plus if there's any way my antibodies could help research, I'm in.

We'll see though. Could've been anything else, or a different virus.

edit: Say it's positive, really shows the importance of social distancing/staying home right now.

[Ibanez]

Just read drive-in theaters are doing really well right now, and some outdoor spaces are being converted into new ones (first time in decades the industry has grown). Makes sense in hindsight, but it's been fascinating to see what ideas work well during the pandemic.

In this century, it’s a bit hard to find drive-in theaters. Besides, they are magnets for natural disasters. Did you ever see Twister?

1) I love that movie
2) There's one in Beaufort, SC that's been around since the late 70s. I've seen quite a few films there. There are about 3 within 1 hour of me (just south of Charlotte)

This is a great idea, I think I'll take the family out to one tonight.

[kalm]

What in the actual fuck?

Maryland has deployed members of its National Guard and state police to supervise 500,000 coronavirus testing kits currently being held at an "undisclosed location," Governor Larry Hogan told The Washington Post on Thursday.


During a teleconference interview with Washington Post Live, Hogan explained that the decision to impose heightened surveillance procedures followed reports of federal officials seizing supplies delivered to other states. Maryland recently purchased the test kits from South Korea after requests for assistance from the United States federal government went unanswered and domestic suppliers could not provide the aid

https://www.newsweek.com/national-guard ... 1588284513

[93henfan]

What in the actual fuck?

Maryland has deployed members of its National Guard and state police to supervise 500,000 coronavirus testing kits currently being held at an "undisclosed location," Governor Larry Hogan told The Washington Post on Thursday.


During a teleconference interview with Washington Post Live, Hogan explained that the decision to impose heightened surveillance procedures followed reports of federal officials seizing supplies delivered to other states. Maryland recently purchased the test kits from South Korea after requests for assistance from the United States federal government went unanswered and domestic suppliers could not provide the aid

https://www.newsweek.com/national-guard ... 1588284513

Hogan is one of the best governors in America. It's amazing the dipshits in Maryland actually elected him.

Maryland saw what the feds did with conficating the masks that Massachusetts ordered and said, "no you won't" with our stuff.

Gotta love it. He even got Korean Air to fly to BWI with the goods, which isn't one of their airports, so the feds couldn't meddle.

[CID1990]

What in the actual fuck?


https://www.newsweek.com/national-guard ... 1588284513

Hogan is one of the best governors in America. It's amazing the dipshits in Maryland actually elected him.

Maryland saw what the feds did with conficating the masks that Massachusetts ordered and said, "no you won't" with our stuff.

Gotta love it.

Hogan is one of the greatest political enigmas to me, EVER

How that guy got elected gov.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.. wait....

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