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Tuesday Open Thread: Where Does the Time Go?

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 05:34:27 PM EST
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Managing a law practice remotely takes a huge amount of time. I expected it to be less time-consuming since I am not going to courts and jails and client meetings, but it is the opposite.

I have not even had time to read the news today. I assume more people died and Trump is still in his own head rather than addressing the critical issues we all face, so I may not have missed anything.

I hope all TL readers and their families are symptom-free and not going stir-crazy staying at home.

I am fine, but since I am of elevated risk just due to my age, I am only leaving my house to go to the grocery store, where I wear gloves but no mask. I tried for hours on two separate days to make one of those easy no-sew masks, and failed each time. Worse, I ruined two good t-shirts: [More...]

I thought about using this t-shirt for a mask, but I couldn't bring myself to take a scissor to it.

I'll be back as soon as I can catch my breath from the unexpected rigors of remote-lawyering. I usually finish around the time Chris Cuomo starts his night-time show - I'm totally into the Chris and Andrew dynamics. CNN struck ratings gold with these brothers.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome, and feel free to share any info about the Coronavirus and how it has affected you. Or talk about something completely different.

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    Tuesday Open Thread: Where Does the Time Go? | 175 comments (175 topical)

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    John Prine died (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by leap on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 08:51:49 PM EST
    of the damned COVID-19. I'm really sad about this one. I love his music and his ways.

    Hello in there (none / 0) (#8)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 09:06:53 PM EST
    There's a hole in daddy's heart, where all the music goes.

    Parent
    We'll miss Prine.. (none / 0) (#11)
    by desertswine on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 09:41:34 PM EST
    "I gotta say, there's no better feeling than having a killer song in your pocket, and you're the only one in the world who's heard it."

    Parent
    Gene Shay, co-founder of the Philadelphia (none / 0) (#180)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 08:01:01 PM EST
    Folk Festival and spirit of the Philly folk music, FM radio, and singer-songwriter worlds, has died at 85 of COVID-19, after suffering a stroke while on a ventilator in the ICU of our local hospital. Very, very sad day here.

    Parent
    Big moon tonight... (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by desertswine on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 09:58:37 PM EST
    It's worth a looksee. It will be the biggest "supermoon" of 2020.

    The full moon of April, called the Pink Moon, will occur on Tuesday (April 7) at 10:35 p.m. EDT (0235 GMT on April 8), about 8 hours after reaching perigee, the nearest point from Earth in its orbit. This will create a "supermoon," a full moon that appears slightly larger than average.

    The smaller distance between Earth and the full moon makes the supermoon appear about 7% larger than the average full moon and 14% larger than a full moon at apogee, or its farthest distance from Earth -- also known as a "minimoon." A supermoon also appears up to 30% brighter than a full moon at apogee.


    Times of crisis don't forge character. (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 03:28:39 AM EST
    Rather, they reveal it:

    The Guardian | April 7, 2020
    US acting navy secretary resigns after insulting ousted commander - "The acting secretary of the US navy, Thomas Modly, has resigned after delivering a speech to the crew of an aircraft carrier denigrating their former commander, whom Modly fired when the commander's appeal for help dealing with a coronavirus outbreak on the ship was leaked. The scandal surrounding the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear-powered carrier now docked in Guam with half its crew on shore, has created a leadership crisis in the navy."

    Good riddance to him. In other news, back on Feb. 25, Trump campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh "Sprechen Sie Schill?" McEnany assured Fox Business anchor Trish Regan that thanks to President Trump, coronavirus would never reach the United States. But while Regan was later fired for calling coronavirus an "impeachment scam," McEnany was just named Trump's new press secretary.

    I'm telling you, we're trapped in a Fellini film. If anyone needs me, I'll be outside on the back porch with a pitcher of margaritas, getting drunk.

    Aloha.

    Military medicine is the model (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 05:58:18 PM EST
    My Army service was in a medical capacity. My experience belies any claim that the United States government cannot supply quality medical care. United States military medical treatment is the equal of any other, and the trauma care is the most advanced in the world.

    In the military model economy of scale is paramount. As the nation's largest customer for medical supplies, the military has tremendous purchasing leverage. Treatment is standardized, everyone has the same training, and all hospitals are on the same networks.

    A military hospital has is no billing department, which occupies about 25% of the staff and the space in a civilian hospital, to pay more people in office buildings elsewhere. There are no stockholders or HMO executives in the chain of command demanding a cut for handling a transaction. Every alcohol swab is not a $5 line item on a bill. If you are on active duty or a dependent and you need care, you get it and all you need to show is an ID card.

    Ironically, this is also the national medical model used by every industrial nation other than the United States. This means that other countries are in a position to deal with every infected person during a pandemic, while ours assumes that tens of millions of people who can't afford medical insurance will avoid treatment and continue to be a pool of undiagnosed and untreated pathogens.

    I have been preaching the same message for years. (5.00 / 2) (#64)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 10:05:44 PM EST
    I grew up in the US Navy. Lived on naval stations in Guam, Yokosuka, Japan and Adak, Alaska. Was in San Diego, Norfolk, Stockton, CA. All the Navy hotspots. All of my medical care was at a US Navy dispensary or Naval Hospital. There was never a discussion of health insurance or medical bills my entire life. I didn't even know health insurance was a thing until I hit my mid-20s.

    I fell walking along a seawall on the base in Yokosuka when I was around 10 or 11. I broke my wrist in the fall. The ER entrance to the Naval Hospital was nearly right across the street. I walked over, showed them my ID, and told them my father's duty station. They slapped a cast on my wrist and called someone to pick me up. No checks for insurance, no questions about who was paying, they didn't ask permission to treat me. All I needed was the dependent ID card.

    I have advocated for a US Medical Service modeled on the US military service for years. To anyone who would listen. A service whose mission would be to provide health care to the public. No forms, no billing. Just hospitals and clinics providing health care.

    We do not need a Space Force. We could definitely use a Medical Force. On this subject sir, we are 100% simpatico.


    Parent

    Hooray for common sense. (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 10:19:34 PM EST
    "In this time of crisis, the question before the court is whether a seven-member legislative committee has the power to overrule the governor. The answer is no."
    - Clay Britton, chief counsel for Gov. Laura Kelly (Apr. 11, 2020)

    The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Laura Kelly's emergency ban on large gatherings, ruling that the GOP-led Legislative Coordinating Council lacks the necessary authority to override her order.

    Shame on the GOP.

    An Easter dinner that couldn't be beat (5.00 / 4) (#78)
    by Peter G on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 06:26:09 PM EST
    It really pays to be in a couple that comes from two different religious-cultural traditions. Tuesday, a terrific Passover seder. Today, a wonderful Easter dinner:  baked ham glazed with bourbon and peaches; asparagus with Hollondaise; baked potato; home-made biscuits. Bottle of chilled sauvignon blanc from Eastern Washington. Fresh strawberries with whipped cream for dessert. Bliss.

    Glad you had have (none / 0) (#79)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 07:04:32 PM EST
    such wonderful food during all this. I have to tell you though I have had a Passover Seder at my house for a friend and I was not enamored of the food. Maybe she isn't a very good cook. The most amazing thing to me was the length.

    Parent
    Honestly, we're eating better during the stay-home (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Peter G on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 09:42:50 PM EST
    Not staying at the office until 6, then coming home and asking each other whether either of us has a good idea for dinner.

    Parent
    It is a very long ceremony, true (none / 0) (#80)
    by Peter G on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 08:10:35 PM EST
    if you do all of it. Not everyone does. And also if you engage in the Jewish tradition of allowing anyone and everyone at the table to interject commentary and discussion throughout. The length also helps if you follow the tradition of drinking four cups of wine! It's not just a meal; it's a full-evening event.

    Parent
    Yes, (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 06:49:55 AM EST
    my friend said we are not going to drink the entire glass of wine each time. We are going to take a sip. Otherwise we would be under the table.

    Parent
    My stimulus money (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 08:26:39 AM EST
    Popped up in my checking account this morning.

    Check yours.

    I owe every year. (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 11:43:10 AM EST
    (I prefer not to use the IRS for a savings account). So I guess I'll be waiting for a paper check sometime in June.

    Parent
    I thought (none / 0) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 12:17:32 PM EST
    THey were planning to use SS info for SS folks.  
    As in the same direct deposit I get each month.

    But like I said, that said expect the money in late April, so who really knows.

    Parent

    Here (none / 0) (#99)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 12:27:08 PM EST
    The IRS is planning to send a first wave for the week that starts April 13, according to an expected timeline from the House Ways and Means Committee.

    The tax authority will transmit 60 million payments via direct deposit, using the banking information it has on file for taxpayers' 2018 or 2019 tax returns, the timetable said.

    That wave will include Social Security recipients who filed tax returns and included direct deposit information on their returns, according to the House Ways and Means' estimated timeline.

    * The second wave will go to Social Security recipients who did not file 2018 or 2019 returns and receive their benefits through direct deposit.

    I get SS AND filed a federal return.  

    So, I guess I was furst

    Sorry

    market watch, today

    Parent

    I also draw SS while continuing to work (none / 0) (#111)
    by Peter G on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 07:15:45 PM EST
    and therefore file a return. But in 2018 (last return filed so far, in 10/19) we were in overpaid status. Instead of providing a bank account # for a refund, we asked that the overpayment be applied to 2019 taxes. The return, of course, states that we draw SS benefits. Do you think the IRS will be able to figure out that the SSA has a bank account # for us, and be allowed to access that info for purposes of making the stimulus deposit? Somehow, I am doubtful.

    Parent
    Can't say (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 07:50:25 PM EST
    I assumed they were using the same deposit info for me the SS uses every month.

    I did not get a return this year.  Or last year.  The last time I got one I also applied it that back taxes.  I probably have the same bank info I had the last time I got a return but it's been a while.

    Because of pension payouts and stuff I have needed to file every year until I think this year.  After filing online I realized I probably didn't have to.  Nothing owed.  Nothing back.  But I was glad I did after this started.

    Parent

    Actually clears wed (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 08:28:33 AM EST
    But it's there.

    Parent
    Nothing (none / 0) (#92)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 08:56:34 AM EST
    here for either hubby and I or 27 year old that got a tax refund already.

    Parent
    My brother just n law (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 09:18:02 AM EST
    Said the same.  He called the bank.

    Did you?

    Mine shows up on internet banking which sometimes seems to have info on things like my direct deposits before the bank does.

    anyway, available the 15th.  

    I was surprised I saw last night SS people would get them the last of April

    Shrug.

    Parent

    I just called my bank (none / 0) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 09:22:48 AM EST
    It's definitely there.  She said they were not doing them all on the same day.

    Soon I imagine

    Parent

    I checked (none / 0) (#100)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    online. I have found in previous times of calling my bank they have the exact same information that I have from online banking. Also since Trump Tax Reform I have had to issue checks to the IRS so I'm not sure they have my banking information. It could be a couple of months before I see anything.

    Parent
    I am so over ... (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 03:45:52 PM EST
    ... those people whose own personal desire for absolute political perfection in their candidates blinds them to the clear and present danger that's presently occupying the White House.

    I suppose when you're a well-connected consultant who's pulling down an easy six figures annually like Ms. Gray here, you can afford to vote the Green Party ticket and ride out a bad presidency.

    But for those people of color and poverty whose interests she's ostensibly so concerned about, they can't afford another four years of these right-wing jackwagons. Their very lives are literally on the line.

    (Sigh!) Even a Harvard education is no cure for inherent stupidity.

    Congratulations to Wisconsin voters! (5.00 / 3) (#115)
    by Peter G on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 08:21:14 PM EST
    Yay, Towanda! Liberal woman judge beats conservative incumbent for state Supreme Court seat. (Beating an incumbent justice in a state-wide election is almost unheard of.)

    We are weary and worried (5.00 / 2) (#118)
    by Towanda on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 12:41:23 AM EST
    that we will see a surge in coronavirus cases, already serious  in my fair city of Milwaukee, because the U.S. Supreme Court, our state Supreme Court, and the Republicans who rule our legislature decided that we should risk death to vote here.

    So, we are vindicated by the state Supreme Court win that rids us of one -- and a particularly abhorrent and smug one -- of the conservative justices. We also rid ourselves of several Scott Walker appointees elsewhere in our judiciary.

    And I participated in a cybervictory party tonight, another first if almost a week overdue -- a family gathering on Zoom to celebrate the election of one of my brothers as mayor of our hometown.  It's one of Milwaukee's biggest suburbs and home to the major medical center in our state, so its issues are high on his long agenda in these troubled times. So are HR issues, with furloughs pending in his city, for which he is well-suited as a labor lawyer. And in more than a decade as an alderman and city council president, he served on every one of its committees, and more. But it's a big job in a sizable city.

    However, he will have the help of the clan, including a twin who is a leader in public health in this state, two of his children who are staffers in the legislature (and his other child and her spouse are immigration lawyers), a nephew who just joined the lieutenant governor's staff . . . and a proud big sis who edited his campaign lit -- and promised to stop introducing myself to his constituents as the one who used to change their mayor's diapers.
     

    Parent

    Congrats (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 05:55:36 AM EST
    to you and your brother and the State of Wisconsin. I know you Wisconsinites have a lot of repair work to be done after Walker but it sounds like you are making progress.

    Our governor Brian Kemp has been named the nation's worst governor. So where you guys were under Walker is now where GA is under Kemp.  

    Parent

    I just heard (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 09:31:26 AM EST
    This win on the court gives democrats a possible (probable) win in the coming voter purge case before the SC.  Which would prevent the purge of many thousand voters from the rolls.   Which means we have a much better chance to win the state in nov.  

    Do you agree?

    So great to hear some me good news

    Parent

    Maybe. (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by Towanda on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 11:54:52 AM EST
    But a conservative justice still on the court, who actually voted against purging more than 200,000 of us for not returning a postcard (that may never have gotten to many, based on the dismal postal nonservice on absentee ballots) will come under great pressure to come back in the fold. And look a fool.

    For now, we will hold hope, because we have Eric Holder with us,  His work on redistricting has ben wonderful and unlike Obama, Holder found his comfy shoes and came here when we needed him.

    Parent

    My humble contribution... (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by desertswine on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 10:21:29 PM EST
    There was a New Yorker named Cyrus,
    Who contracted a horrible virus,
    He coughed and he sputtered,
    Till his last words he uttered,
    "Philadelphia would be more desirous."

    Ha! You and (5.00 / 1) (#117)
    by leap on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 10:49:35 PM EST
    William Claude Dukenfield...

    Parent
    Cuomo is throwing down the gauntlet (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 10:58:42 AM EST
    Seriously.  

    What he is doing will have consequences,

    I just hope Cheeto is on camera when his head actually explodes.

    Virtual tour... (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by desertswine on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 01:42:11 PM EST
    Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq

    Armchair tourism.

    For (5.00 / 2) (#154)
    by FlJoe on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 11:48:28 AM EST
    all you data geeks out there this is a great site.

    Informative and interactive, allowing you to track states and countries using different metrics.

    Trump tweets, April 17, (5.00 / 2) (#155)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 02:01:56 PM EST
    Liberate  Michigan. another, Liberate Minnesota, yet another, Liberate Virginia, save your great second amendment. It is under siege.

    Urging civil unrest, if not civil war, in the midst of the pandemic crisis.  

    What the hell is this clown talking about? (none / 0) (#156)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 02:15:16 PM EST
    How is the 2A under seige? Who, anywhere, is talking about guns except the rightwing gun nutballs and the orange clown in Wash DC?

    Parent
    Some (none / 0) (#159)
    by FlJoe on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 03:39:47 PM EST
    states have closed gun stores, that's a big no-no to the gun humpers. "You will take my guns from granny's cold dead hands"...or something.

    Parent
    Books stores are closed. But the First Amendment (5.00 / 3) (#172)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 10:55:22 AM EST
    protects the right to create, produce, sell, buy, own, use and collect books. In fact, that right is much more nearly absolute than the Second Amendment right (as recognized by the Supreme Court) to the private possession of firearms for protection of one's person and home and for hunting. Are our First Amendment rights under assault by State governors' orders that fail to include bookstores as essential businesses?

    Parent
    Jeez. (none / 0) (#160)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 05:30:05 PM EST
    You know every single one of the yahoos probably already have 20+ guns at home and thousands of rounds of ammo. No way they can go a couple of months without buying a new shiny toy. Some of this country astounds and bewilders me.

    Somehow I've managed to go 10+ years without having to buy a new gun. I have guns that haven't been fired in as long.

    I have a cousin in NC whose only political issue is the Democrats are going to take all his guns away. I think he is a nut.

    Parent

    When the eff did any Democrat (5.00 / 1) (#161)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 05:51:03 PM EST
    in history ever once say we should take everyone's guns?

    What's (almost) funny is that so many of these folks sound so paranoid and delusional, one starts thinking maybe they shouldn't be allowed to have guns.

    Parent

    From your keyboard (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 08:37:57 PM EST
    To the FSM's ears.

    Parent
    The Boogaloo (none / 0) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 06:02:58 PM EST
    Extremists See `the Boogaloo' In Trump's Tweets

    April 17, 2020 at 5:55 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 261 Comments

    NBC News: "Trump's tweets came after small protests by Trump supporters broke out in a handful of states, many of which were fueled by anti-vaccination and anti-government groups. Anti-government sentiment has percolated among far-right extremists in recent weeks over the stay-at-home orders governors have issued to prevent the spread of the coronavirus."

    "Trump's tweets, however, pushed many online extremist communities to speculate whether the president was advocating for armed conflict, an event they've termed `the boogaloo,' for which many far-right activists have been gearing up and advocating since last year."



    Parent
    The dance sensation (none / 0) (#163)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 06:33:43 PM EST
    that's sweepin the nation..

    These people talk about things like 'the boogaloo' and the QAnon 'Great Awakening' and all I hear is Kristallnacht.

    Parent

    Danse (none / 0) (#164)
    by FlJoe on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 07:39:36 PM EST
    Macabre, if you ask me. As preformed by Monty Python of course.

    Another "liberate" protest, this time in Huntington Beach, California.

    And the guy with the "COVID-19 is a lie" sign - wearing a hazmat suit, mask, goggles, and gloves - says it all.




    Parent
    When the "Obamacare" exchanges (5.00 / 1) (#166)
    by Peter G on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 10:20:42 PM EST
    rolled  out and the government website did not work perfectly at first, it was a big scandal and supposedly proof of Obama's incompetence. I am waiting for the uproar against Tr*mp because the IRS website for tracking your stimulus payment (or providing a bank account number for it to be correctly deposited) does not work.

    DIDN'T work (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by jmacWA on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 04:52:38 AM EST
    for me first time I tried, BUT yesterday I was successful (according to said website) with supplying my bank info.  Why they can't use the routing info Social Security has is baffling, and I have had to pay the last 2 years so it was not on my tax returns.

    Parent
    There are statutory firewalls around the data (none / 0) (#169)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 10:35:30 AM EST
    that both IRS and Social Security collect and maintain, for very good privacy-protective reasons. Ordinarily, no other government agency can access the data that either of those agencies must collect. But there are also statutory exceptions built into those firewalls, including of course where Social Security and IRS have to interact with each other to permit the proper computation of tax liability. So there is no reason Congress could not have foreseen the need to write another such connector into the CARES Act.

    Parent
    Jeralyn did you try this DIY facemask (none / 0) (#1)
    by ragebot on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 05:45:42 PM EST
    Hard for me to think you could not do this.

    I'm going to try that right now (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 09:00:39 PM EST
    I'll report back later, thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't seen that one.

    Parent
    Please, please do not go to shop for (none / 0) (#69)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 09:07:17 PM EST
    groceries. It is possible, with diligence, to get delivery to your doorstep.

    Parent
    Grocery delivery is just not an available luxury (none / 0) (#73)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 12:16:51 AM EST
    in some locales. My local chain's delivery is 3 weeks out and can give no guarantees you'll get anything you ordered. Meal planning is going up there every 2 or 3 days to see what's on the shelf. Resupply has been slow and piecemeal. Plus my health and well being are dependent upon my wife leaving the house for a bit every other day. She swears by it.

    Parent
    Remided me... (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by jmacWA on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 05:28:44 AM EST
    of this guy

    Parent
    Very funny. (none / 0) (#83)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 10:48:29 PM EST
    Thanks for that. I had tears in my eyes from laughing. My wife did too.

    Parent
    Stress isn't good the immune system (none / 0) (#76)
    by McBain on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 10:48:53 AM EST
    Since many people may have been exposed to the virus before the lockdowns, I'm not sure staying inside all day with family is such a good idea.  It will be interesting to see what we learn from this experiment.

    I'm hoping we can open things up a bit in a few weeks.  Figure out how to make restaurants and other businesses relatively safe. Open up parks and beaches in certain areas.  Doesn't have to be all at once but we need to start thinking about it.

    Parent

    I have to disagree (none / 0) (#81)
    by Zorba on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 08:44:15 PM EST
    Those of us who live in a very rural area, on top of a mountain, do not have any possibility of getting groceries delivered up here.  We've all tried- no go.

    Parent
    What a friend (none / 0) (#89)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 06:53:28 AM EST
    of mine who actually lives on the edge of the city is finding is that she places an order and then by the time the person in the store starts to fill it half of the inventory is gone from people coming n and shopping. So my friend basically ends up having to go the store during special hours.

    Parent
    I am having the same experience with (none / 0) (#2)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 06:20:28 PM EST
    work from home. Everything is taking forever. Worried about my 40-yr-old nephew (sister's son, has wife and two kids, one with Down Syndrome) in hospital in Oregon (released from ICU, thank goddess) with a moderately severe case. We will be holding an abbreviated Passover seder via Zoom tomorrow night (including 14 family and friends, of four different religious traditions, located in five cities).

    Glad to (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 06:51:15 PM EST
    hear your nephew is on the mend. Zoom has become very popular it seems. I have never used it until recently.

    Parent
    Same here (none / 0) (#10)
    by McBain on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 09:41:17 PM EST
    Never heard of Zoom until a few weeks ago.    Maybe someone could start a TalkLeft Zoom chat/happy hour?  Probably not my thing but some in here might enjoy it.

    I did with high school friends a few days ago, it started off fun but then we got sidetracked talking about the virus.  

    Parent

    So, the Zoom Passover seder went pretty well (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 09:27:20 PM EST
    Each household made their own seder plate, as best they could with what was available, without making any unnecessary trips to the store. One daughter's best short at "bitter herbs" was kimchi! The one thing that did not work was singing. The second or so of delay in transmission is enough to make you crazy trying to sing "Go Down, Moses" together. "Dayenu" was a laugh riot. Here is some great Passover-themed music, for anyone who didn't get invited to a seder this year: Louis Armstrong, Swan Silvertones, and of course, Paul Robeson.

    Parent
    Thank you for the Paul (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 01:55:39 PM EST
    Robeson link, Peter.  Made my morning.  I did not realize his recordings are so plentiful on U Tube. Listen to his diction. Remasrkable.

    In 2013 I saw a play re Robeson at La Jolla Playhouse The Tallest Tree in the Forest.

    I also read a fairly recent bio of Robeson.  Left it on the train so had to buy the library another copy. Worth it.

    Parent

    What wonderful traditional Pesach music! (none / 0) (#32)
    by leap on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 11:09:43 PM EST
    We never sang those tunes at ours, but wish we had. I love the Swan Silvertones. Heard this one?

    Parent
    Can you do a deposition (none / 0) (#33)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 11:34:35 PM EST
    on Zoom in your opinion, or is the delay too much?

    Parent
    A Q&A on Zoom has a slower rhythm (none / 0) (#37)
    by Peter G on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 08:19:13 AM EST
    than a face-to-face conversation (or interrogation) but easy to get used to. That's sequential. Lot's of organizations are using it for meetings. It's the unison that didn't really work.

    Parent
    Local paper in Oregon did a very good story (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 12:22:32 PM EST
    on my nephew's experience and his family situation. Exemplary local journalism: take an our-town human interest story and turn it into public education.

    Parent
    I found (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 06:49:34 PM EST
    a scarf that I am using as a mask. It is not a knitted one but I am not sure exactly what the material would be called. It is long enough that I can just wrap it around my face and loop it around my neck to make the "mask" tight. I had bought some disposable gloves but I am about to run out of those. I guess I could always use my dish washing gloves but I would have to wash them.

    My mother is sewing everyone in the family a mask. My son that does landscaping is being made to wear a mask by his company and they have makeshift ones with shop towels and rubber bands. LOL.

    Jeralyn, advise you stop going out (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 07:55:27 PM EST
    for groceries. Order on line ahead of need with home delivery.

    Could be difficult (none / 0) (#14)
    by Yman on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 07:50:33 AM EST
    I tried three different options for having groceries delivered, but none of them had any delivery availability.  I couldn't even place an order.  Worth a shot, though.

    Parent
    A friend tipped me off. Have your list (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 01:13:13 PM EST
    ready..  look for delivery slots in the middle of the night.  Success.

    Parent
    I like going in person (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 08:00:37 AM EST
    People are doing distancing religiously here.  Stores are doing things like one way traffic thru the store.  I feel quite safe with gloves.  Might do a mask the next time.

    I like going because I like seeing how supplies are holding up.

    So far here very few real shortages of anything.  Only thing I have noticed repeatedly is iceberg lettuce.  

    Of course shortages of TP but it's always been there to buy.

    Parent

    Plenty of lettuce today (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 12:04:11 PM EST


    Parent
    I prefer to do my grocery shopping in person, too. (none / 0) (#41)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 11:52:05 AM EST
    Specially, fresh produce. I have been venturing out once a week, sometimes two, if I cannot get everything on my list. I am shopping for my neighbors, too, so it is hard to find everything we all want in one store.

    Plenty of empty shelves everywhere but not as bad as it has been. I have been looking for TP for about a month now. The last few times I was at Costco, they told me that they were getting a shipment of TP everyday but people were lining up by the hundreds a couple of hours before the store opened and so they were selling out immediately. The store associate recommended I get there at 6am to get in line if I wanted to be sure I would get it. Since, there was a 0.00001% chance of me being in line at 6am for TP, I told my spouse to get ready to start using leaves from our trees. We were down to our last 2 rolls and then yesterday, I got my Easter miracle, there was TP available when I went for my weekly shop! Praise the Lord!

    I have decided that from now on, I will always keep a spare stash of TP.

    Parent

    speaking of which, (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by leap on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 12:10:30 PM EST
    here's a short history of butt-wipe, from one of my favorite podcasts. Over the millennia, people did use anything available, but not ground up slurry of tree parts. Toilet paper is an advertising miracle.

    Parent
    Doesn't anyone shop anywhere BESIDES (none / 0) (#49)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 04:37:21 PM EST
    Costco? All I seem to hear about is Costco. I have been in a Costco once in 15 years. My mother was visiting and she had a membership. There isn't even a Costco in my county. You have to drive 40 minutes to other side of Lancaster Co. (Interesting note about that Costco, they have hitching posts for the Amish buggies.) The Amish seem to shop at Costco a lot.

    Parent
    Yeah, the small markets haven't been a problem (none / 0) (#50)
    by McBain on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 05:42:37 PM EST
    for me but I keep hearing how crowded Costco is or what they don't have.  I know the prices are good but I've never fully understood the obsession some people have with shopping there.  I guess some really like buying in bulk.

    Parent
    Costco (none / 0) (#51)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 06:30:24 PM EST
    was a boon for me when I was feeding 2 growing boys. I still have a membership but mostly I buy my meat there. You can save money on things like paper towels but it depends if you want to relinquish the storage space.

    Parent
    I have a small family and a storage space problem (none / 0) (#58)
    by McBain on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 12:44:52 PM EST
    but I can see how it would save money for people with the opposite situation.

    In general, I've never been a Costco, Walmart, Target shopper.  I like smaller stores where I can get in and out quickly.  

    Parent

    Ha! In normal times, I do shop at various (none / 0) (#52)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 10:55:24 PM EST
    grocery stores (Costco, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Walmart, Publix and a bunch of ethnic stores).
    Right now, Costco comes closest to fulfilling most of my needs. Apart from that, they have been pretty good about getting items back in stock quickly. I also find that they are being meticulous about protecting their employees and customers by not only sanitizing the carts but by sanitizing the checkout lanes, card machines, etc., after each customer. Another plus, is that being a huge store, there is enough space to keep your distance from other customers.
    Of course, if there was a Wegman's here, that's where I would be shopping.

    P.S.- I have actually shopped at the Costco in Lancaster co. I got one of my dogs from a lady in Lancaster, exactly 13 years ago, to the day!

    Parent

    Been going to Walmart (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 07:15:08 AM EST
    For the same reason.  They are doing the best job of staying stocked.  No doubt because of their own distribution network.  Also they are working to make things safer like sterilizing carts and setting up one way traffic in, out, and around the store and making sure people stay separated by 6 feet.

    Parent
    Wegmans! (none / 0) (#54)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 07:52:56 AM EST
    I do like Wegmans. But, it's in Lancaster Co. also! Much closer than Costco though. York Co. is nearly a food desert IMHO. (I'm ranting). Lack of variety in restaurants, lack of variety in grocers. And what restaurants that are here, are blech. I take visitors to Philadelphia or Baltimore for a good meal. Hell, even the Reading Terminal Market has better variety than the whole of York Co.!


    Parent
    Are you in the part (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 08:40:46 AM EST
    of PA with a good many Amish or Mennonites? I have found that going to their retail outlets where they sell their produce and meats has been a positive experience.

    Parent
    There are some Amish in York Co. (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 08:56:44 AM EST
    Mostly on the southeastern edge close to the Susquehanna River. Lancaster Co., the next county east, is the heart of the Amish in PA. It's a whole tourist industry in Lancaster Co.

    Bird in Hand, Intercourse, Nickel Mines, Kinzer, all Amish communities in Lancaster Co.

    I like to go straight to their farms to buy produce. You can also find cheeses and homemade root beer.

    Parent

    I once did a short freelance job (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 09:25:48 AM EST
    In Lancaster in the 80s.  The only thing I remember was the Amish (or whoever they were) and their wagons and that everything smelled like cow poop.

    Which I guess has been worked into their tourist marketing thing at the time cause after I complained about the smell they gave me a T shirt that said

    LANCASTER SMELLS with a picture of a cow

    I think I still have it.

    Parent

    But they are doing deliveries (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 08:01:39 AM EST
    Here

    Parent
    I checked (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 09:11:23 AM EST
    this morning and Kroger in my area was out a week for pickup.

    Parent
    Target has curbside pickup. (none / 0) (#20)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 11:14:09 AM EST
    Unfortunately no cold or fresh.  So pasta, canned goods, kitty litter, etc are what you can get.

    Parent
    Masks/groceries (none / 0) (#9)
    by CHANCE1998 on Tue Apr 07, 2020 at 09:12:22 PM EST
    Shop online.   Or get delivery or curbside, pickup.

    Hubby and I are both in our 50s, and due to the hoarding, shortages and the  risk--we are getting by with less variety of foods  and shopping multiple places, online.

    Amazon, Walmart, Whole Foods, King Soopers, Safeway and Staples.

    Had luck finding tissues and Lysol wipes at Staples, just by checking often.

    Masks:  I'm wearing bandanas, but they eventually fall off my nose walking the dog.     Latest thing is making masks from ankle socks.   Looks easy, don't recall where I saw it though.

    We're at 2,770 diagnosed (none / 0) (#15)
    by Yman on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 07:55:09 AM EST
    ... in my county (eastern NJ) as of yesterday, with 71 deaths.  We have 14 cases in our small town (pop. @ 5,000) as of last week.  One of my co-workers has it but is at home, so far.  Another just lost her brother (in his 40s), who lives up in the Bronx.

    I feel both fortunate (none / 0) (#19)
    by CST on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 09:47:19 AM EST
    And completely overwhelmed by how busy things have been with work.  Remote engineering has not slowed down a bit, if anything we are all working more.

    A lot of people I know are out of work entirely though, so I feel fortunate that I don't have to worry about that.

    I attended a public hearing via Zoom last night. It went surprisingly smooth considering there were about 60 people on.  I had also never heard of it before but it has definitely met the moment.

    Zoom (none / 0) (#21)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 11:16:18 AM EST
    A number of outfits have dumped it over concerns the data may be routed in a manner available to the ChiComs.

    Parent
    The healthcare org I work for blocked Zoom (none / 0) (#24)
    by Jack E Lope on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 12:14:47 PM EST
    ...connections to/from anything on our internal network as a security measure, late last week.   One stated reason is that most of Zoom's security features are disabled by default, and users have to go through steps to enable security on each connection.  

    Also for security, they started cutting VPN connections to personally-owned PCs, while allowing people to take home their desktop PCs for work-from-home via VPN.

    There have been a lot of security incidents recently, probably hackers thinking that this is a good time to sink their talons into healthcare.

    Parent

    ...and has allowed it again... (none / 0) (#44)
    by Jack E Lope on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 01:03:12 PM EST
    ...with some security measures and processes that were put in place.  I do not know details; I haven't used Zoom.

    Parent
    If it's a health care (none / 0) (#59)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 02:27:50 PM EST
    organization, I would think that they would have to be super careful about patient privacy, given the current law.

    Parent
    Sanders just suspended his campaign (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 12:00:02 PM EST
    Good for hm.

    Spring here (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 12:39:40 PM EST
    Has never been better.  It has been very wet.  For months so it's very green.

    Feel so fortunate to be able to look out my windows and see trees not people.

    There is about 500% more pedestrian traffic around here than normal but that just means two people have walked past my house, both with dogs, in the last few days.

    Thinking about friends who live in cities like I used to.  
    Stay safe.

    Today (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 12:40:40 PM EST
    Is the first day of air conditioning.  

    Also weather warnings later.  Welcome to spring in AR.

    Parent

    Spring (none / 0) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 07:43:47 PM EST
    has been beautiful here except for the pine pollen. It has been the nice part about being stuck at home.

    Parent
    Extremely (none / 0) (#29)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 08:26:55 PM EST
    hot,dry and sneezy around here.

    Parent
    What is the land like (none / 0) (#30)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 08, 2020 at 09:19:08 PM EST
    where you are?

    Forest, rolling hills, mountains?

    I was once in Tennessee and was amazed how green it was.....Not sure if Arkansas is similar.  It is next to east Texas, which is generally flat but green...

    Parent

    Forest and very old mountains (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 08:06:26 AM EST
    The Ozarks are one ole the oldest ranges.  So not as hig assume others but very green in a normal year.

    link

    The Dogwood, like this across the street that shows up very early spring is starting to disappear in green.


    Parent

    Grr (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 08:07:33 AM EST
    So, not as big as some others but very green even in a normal year

    Parent
    Always thought (none / 0) (#39)
    by MKS on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 11:18:47 AM EST
    the sharp edged Rockies, Tetons, etc., were too jagged and unforgiving; the smoother, more accessible mountains were more likable--you could actually hike them.

    Parent
    Ozarks (none / 0) (#43)
    by MKS on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 12:36:11 PM EST
    All right, Cap'n, thanks for the recommendation.

    I did a internet search of "the Ozarks" and found the Netflix show of the same name.  Love it. Great cast.  Anything with Laura Linney is watchable imo.

    Not sure how its real denizens think of it, but I think I have found a bingeworthy show.  Had heard of it, but never really focused on it.

    Parent

    The Ozarks are beautiful. (none / 0) (#130)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 03:49:45 PM EST
    No small wonder why so many people like to vacation there. It's just drop-dead gorgeous, and not at all like the rather bleak-looking landscape conveyed by the 2010 film "Winter's Bone." I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Fayetteville back in 1998, while attending a late-spring conference hosted by the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society at the University of Arkansas. It was beautiful then; I imagine the autumn display of foliage is probably breathtaking.

    Parent
    I spent the afternoon (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 05:08:42 PM EST
    Bringing in allllllll my plants.  And covering up a bunch of other stuff.

    Freeze warning tonight.

    Looks like a one night thing.

    But yeah.  Lots of spring green very early this year.

    Parent

    I spent the afternoon (none / 0) (#137)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 05:09:01 PM EST
    Bringing in allllllll my plants.  And covering up a bunch of other stuff.

    Freeze warning tonight.

    Looks like a one night thing.

    But yeah.  Lots of spring green very early this year.

    Parent

    Big frost here (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 11:04:48 AM EST
    BIG frost.  Very good I brought in and covered stuff.

    One night stand.  Everything is back outside ready to Spring.

    Parent

    Ninety (none / 0) (#144)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 02:00:16 PM EST
    one today, but it's starting to cloud up so that might be tops for today. Hopefully we will get some rain this afternoon.

    Parent
    Very hot and humid here too joe. (none / 0) (#145)
    by fishcamp on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 10:08:46 PM EST
    Just came back from walking my cat up and down my street and it's not cooling off much at night either.  The ocean water temperature is 79 degrees.  

    We still have no people visiting the keys due to the sheriff's roadblock.  Naturally the businesses are pushing to open but it's still way too early.  We now have 65 cases in Monroe county, but 100 miles north in Miami they have over 7,000.  Terrible situation.  Stay healthy my friends.

    Parent

    Cool (5.00 / 1) (#149)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 10:24:49 AM EST
    windy and drizzly today, loving it!

    Parent
    Yep. Walked one of my dogs at midnight a couple (none / 0) (#146)
    by vml68 on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 11:31:21 PM EST
    of nights ago and it had only dropped down to 82 and to top it off, it was so muggy, it took only a few minutes for me to be soaked in sweat.

    As unpleasant as I found it, I remember the days when I had to put on my jacket, gloves, hat, boots, etc., to walk the dog in the middle of the night and then the heat does not seem so bad!

    Parent

    That's where I am. (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 08:11:01 AM EST
    If you divide the state diagonally from NE corner to SW corner (roughly) half the state is very flat delta farm land.

    Parent
    Here (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 08:42:37 AM EST
    is a good map

    Very different parts of the state.  Hillbillies and flat landers.  
    The flat part is mostly the tornado prone areas.  The recent one was in a very flat area even tho it was only 60 miles from here.  The flat/mountainous divide is quite sharp.  It goes Roget thru the middle of Little Rock.

    I live roughly under the "i" in Ozark Mointains.

    Parent

    The link for the map does not work. (none / 0) (#40)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 11:23:30 AM EST
    I live roughly under the "i" in Ozark Mointains.

    Which "i"?  This one, Mointains, or this one, Mointains. ;-)!

    Parent
    Sorry (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 02:02:31 PM EST
    Works for me

    try this

    Parent

    Just heard on tv (none / 0) (#47)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 03:49:21 PM EST
    "This White House is in the grips of anecdotal optimism"

    Kill me.

    I'm sure (none / 0) (#48)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 09, 2020 at 04:23:08 PM EST
    that Boris is what they are thinking off. Once Boris comes out of the hospital they are going to act like he's the only one that ever had the virus.

    Parent
    Headline of the day. (none / 0) (#60)
    by MO Blue on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 04:43:19 PM EST
    Headline of the day 🤪

    Czech nudists told to wear face masks by police

    In times like these, people need to laugh.

    I like this (none / 0) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 06:19:13 PM EST

    The Howling

    DENVER (AP) -- It starts with a few people letting loose with some tentative yelps. Then neighbors emerge from their homes and join, forming a roiling chorus of howls and screams that pierces the twilight to end another day's monotonous forced isolation.

    From California to Colorado to Georgia and upstate New York, Americans are taking a moment each night at 8 p.m. to howl in a quickly spreading ritual that has become a wrenching response of a society cut off from one another by the coronavirus pandemic.

    They howl to thank the nation's health care workers and first responders for their selfless sacrifices, much like the balcony applause and singing in Italy and Spain. Others do it to reduce their pain, isolation and frustration. Some have other reasons, such as to show support for the homeless.

    In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis has encouraged residents to participate. Children who miss their classmates and backyard dogs join in, their own yowls punctuated by the occasional fireworks, horn blowing and bell ringing.



    Parent
    Now with fireworks... (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 06:09:13 PM EST
    at least in m neighborhood. I like it when the dogs join in on the howling.

    Parent
    AFAIK (none / 0) (#63)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Apr 10, 2020 at 06:36:33 PM EST
    It started right here in Marin County.

    Parent
    Michael Avenatti: friend posted bail. (none / 0) (#65)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 02:11:45 PM EST
    Post-sentencing, 14 days quarantine at federal facility, then to said friend's home in L A area.  Why?  Recent case of pneumonia. His attorney then says this will help re prepping for upcoming trials. So special.

    There is no reason in the world why (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 05:56:31 PM EST
    Avenatti should have been detained prior to trial. He is not a serious danger to the community or an uncontrollable risk of flight. Do you not believe in the right to bail? This is not about whether any of us like him; its about the gross overuse (and abuse) of pretrial detention in this country. And now that jails are among the locations at highest risk for rapid spread of COVID-19, at least some judges are doing what they should have done all along -- releasing nonviolent, presumptively innocent persons who are merely accused of crimes.

    Parent
    Am I incorrect? Has he not already been sentenced (none / 0) (#68)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 09:04:45 PM EST
    and serving time on the Nike conviction?  Why should this particular white collar Caucasian defendant be treated differently than any other defendant serving time post conviction in federal custody?

    Parent
    Peter is technically correct, oculus. (none / 0) (#71)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 10:57:27 PM EST
    Michael Avenatti was indeed ordered detained at MCC-Manhattan prior to trial in January, for allegedly violating terms of his bail. And while he has since been tried and convicted, he was not due to be sentenced until June 17.

    That said, I agree with you that Mount Avenatti is probably the wrong hill on which to fight this battle. He's a far better example of white privilege, than he is a victim of an abusive system.

    How many detainees of color are presently incarcerated for their inability to make bail on a nonviolent drug possession charge, while Avenatti gets to fly home to Los Angeles to wait out the COVID-19 crisis at his millionaire friend's house near Venice Beach?

    Aloha.

    Parent

    You don't have to choose (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 11:59:43 PM EST
    County by county, in some states, or statewide, in others, courts, with cooperation of DAs and public defenders, are thinning jail populations by finding ways to release many of the people who shouldn't have been there in the first place. Many of them people of color. The system is messed up, very far from perfect, but there's no reason to treat anyone unfairly just because we haven't stopped all the unfairness.

    Parent
    It feels like the country (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 11, 2020 at 06:57:45 PM EST
    Is holding its breath.

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#77)
    by Peter G on Sun Apr 12, 2020 at 11:00:10 AM EST


    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#86)
    by jmacWA on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 04:58:36 AM EST
    Seems we are getting bombed lately

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#87)
    by jmacWA on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 04:58:48 AM EST


    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#96)
    by Zorba on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 10:14:09 AM EST


    Join or die (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 04:48:54 PM EST
    Governors Take Control of When to Reopen

    April 13, 2020 at 4:56 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 142 Comments

    "States on the country's East and West coasts are forming their own regional pacts to work together on how to reopen from the stay-at-home orders each has issued to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus," CNN reports.

    "The first such group to be announced came Monday on the East Coast. Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his state, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island each plan to name a public health and economic official to a regional working group. The chief of staff of the governor of each state also will be a part of the group, which will begin work immediately to design a reopening plan."

    "Later on Monday, the West Coast states of California, Washington and Oregon also announced they are joining forces in a plan to begin incremental release of stay-at-home orders."

    Andy Borowitz: Nation's Governors Consider Forming Country.

    Another consortium in the Midwest (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by Towanda on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 12:52:55 AM EST
    is coming, where Whitmer in Michigan and Pritzker in Illinois have been impressive leaders. The country sees Cuomo, but we see Pritzker's pressers, and they are just as good (if without the folksy stuff about an Italian mother and a media brother and wasn't their father a great guy and etcetera).

    And mayors of our major cities may be a part of it, as Chicago's Lori Lightfoot has been marvelous. If ever fate smiled down on a city, it happened with her election. And she keeps Chicagoans smiling through it all, with her unexpected and wonderful sense of humor. if you haven't seen the Mayor Lightfoot memes, look them up-- and follow her on Twitter.

    Parent

    Rest easy. Trump (none / 0) (#103)
    by KeysDan on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 05:45:30 PM EST
    Appointed his Council to Reopen America: Mark Meadows, Ivanka, Jared, Mnuchin, Larry Kudlow, Robert Lighthizer, and Wilbur Ross.  

    Andy Borowitz could not be more sardonic.  Not a real economist or public health expert among them unless we consider Jared, the all utility man.  Lighthizer is our failed US Trade Representative.  And not so bipartisan, but that is only what Democrats are expected to do.

    Parent

    He promised us only the best, and he delivered. (none / 0) (#134)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 04:36:26 PM EST
    And I must say that I'm impressed. I, for one, would be very hard-pressed to find a more well-heeled bunch of corporate grifters and hacks than this president. When it comes to capitalist leeches and parasites, this president really knows his stuff.

    Parent
    Another consortium in the Midwest (none / 0) (#120)
    by Towanda on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 12:53:23 AM EST
    is coming, where Whitmer in Michigan and Pritzker in Illinois have been impressive leaders. The country sees Cuomo, but we see Pritzker's pressers, and they are just as good (if without the folksy stuff about an Italian mother and a media brother and wasn't their father a great guy and etcetera).

    And mayors of our major cities may be a part of it, as Chicago's Lori Lightfoot has been marvelous. If ever fate smiled down on a city, it happened with her election. And she keeps Chicagoans smiling through it all, with her unexpected and wonderful sense of humor. if you haven't seen the Mayor Lightfoot memes, look them up-- and follow her on Twitter.

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by KeysDan on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 10:57:49 AM EST
    family members in Chicago report the same observations.  They listen to "J.B's". (Pritzger) informative daily briefings.  And, they greatly appreciate Mayor Lori's straightforward and reassuring messages.  And, the governor and mayor work very well together.  Some were not so sure about Pritzger arriving on the political scene with just the background of being a multi-billionaire, but he has won over the most ardent skeptics.

    Parent
    It (none / 0) (#104)
    by FlJoe on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 05:49:56 PM EST
    hit 96 freaking degrees here today, hot, hot, hot.

    I was worried (none / 0) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 05:55:56 PM EST
    I might have to bring in all my f'ing plants.

    It was supposed to get below freezing tomorrow night.  It now looks like it won't freeze but it's been very chilly fir days.  I have a fire right now.

    Parent

    Warm in Philly, but pouring rain (none / 0) (#112)
    by Peter G on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 07:19:17 PM EST
    for most of the day. Winds were predicted to reach 50 to 70 mph as the rain ended, but didn't. Relieved.

    Parent
    Weird... we got snow all day. (none / 0) (#114)
    by desertswine on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 07:56:29 PM EST


    Parent
    It's been wet, wet, wet out here. (none / 0) (#131)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 04:03:35 PM EST
    We had some serious thunderstorm activity late last night. It was raining and blowing so hard that I had to get out of bed at 1:00 a.m. to close all the windows. Afterward, I couldn't go back to sleep for hours, so now at midday, I'm ready for a nap.

    Parent
    The (none / 0) (#132)
    by FlJoe on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 04:11:21 PM EST
    sea breeze finally kicked in this afternoon, we only topped out at 90.  Hopefully there will be a coupe of storms that will form to the west and blow back to the coast, any rain this time of year would be welcome but any lightning might set off wild fires.

    Parent
    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 06:36:42 PM EST


    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#110)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 13, 2020 at 07:09:00 PM EST


    We all got (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 10:29:30 AM EST
    summer haircuts

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 10:56:36 AM EST


    One sailor is dead, and another ... (none / 0) (#133)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 04:26:58 PM EST
    ... is in ICU at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam as the number of coronavirus victims among the 4,800-member crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt rises to 594.

    Captain (none / 0) (#135)
    by FlJoe on Tue Apr 14, 2020 at 04:41:15 PM EST
    Crozier probably threw away his career but he will be judged kindly by history.

    Parent
    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#140)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 07:47:47 AM EST


    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#141)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 15, 2020 at 07:48:05 AM EST


    Site Violator (none / 0) (#148)
    by McBain on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 09:32:45 AM EST


    RIP Brian Dennehy (none / 0) (#150)
    by McBain on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 02:36:43 PM EST
    He was 81
    I remember him most from the film First Blood but he also had a nice run on stage, earning two Tony awards.

    This is pretty good quote from 2018...

    "I'm now 80 and I'm just another actor and that's fine with me. I've had a hell of a ride," he said. "I have a nice house. I haven't got a palace, a mansion, but a pretty nice, comfortable home. I've raised a bunch of kids and sent them all to school, and they're all doing well. All the people that are close to me are reasonably healthy and happy. Listen, that's as much as anybody can hope for in life."


    I had the opportunity to shake (none / 0) (#151)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 05:54:49 PM EST
    Brian Dennehy's hand at the Warner Theatre in Wash DC after seeing him portray Gary Gauger in "The Exonerated." Mr. Gauger was in attendance as well. Brian Dennehy went on to play Gauger in a film of "The Exonerated." It is probably the best and most powerful stage presentation I have ever seen.

    Parent
    I didn't know he played college football (none / 0) (#152)
    by McBain on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 06:27:00 PM EST
    at Columbia University until I read the article I linked to earlier.  

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    Brian Dennehy's touching performance ... (none / 0) (#153)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 16, 2020 at 07:01:07 PM EST
    ... as sad sack Willy Loman in the 1999 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" is as good as it gets, and he deserved that year's Tony Award for Best Actor. (The production was filmed.) It's amazing how he transcended his tough-guy persona in TV and films to become the toast of The Great White Way. That he did so at age 60 was inspirational. It's too bad that many of the online obituary headlines instead cited his roles in popular but otherwise pretty forgettable films like "Tommy Boy" and "First Blood."

    Parent
    I'm sure he was great in Death of a Salesman (none / 0) (#158)
    by McBain on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 02:52:53 PM EST
    but I wouldn't describe First Blood as forgettable. It was one of the better action films of the early 1980s.  It was also good book with a much different ending.    

    Parent
    You're right. (none / 0) (#183)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Apr 20, 2020 at 01:16:41 AM EST
    "First Blood" should properly be described as a d*ck-swinging uber-macho orgy of spastic violence and clichéd dialogue that's both forgettable AND terribly dated. It was an embarrassingly dumb film that spawned a plethora of equally nonsensical and cartoonish shlockfests which made Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger tens of millions of dollars.

    Parent
    Anyone in touch with Kdog? (none / 0) (#157)
    by vml68 on Fri Apr 17, 2020 at 02:19:47 PM EST
    He is the only TLer I know of that lives in NYC. Hope he is doing fine.

    Saved by TV (none / 0) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 10:16:52 AM EST
    I bet a lot of sanity has been saved by the stuff we can all stream.

    Even I, a known tv fan, was surprised how much great stuff is out there.  I lived in my premium cable bubble.

    But I got this new web based service which led to me dropping all my premium movie channels, cutting my cable bill in half, and started exploring streaming services.

    Carnival Row, The Boys

    and HUNTERS. (On Prime)
    I was wondering if any of our Jewish commenters have seen this.  

    It's very strange.  Obviously I mean that as a compliment.  But not everyone thinks so I guess.

    With people like Pachino and Carol Kane, Lena Olin and Saul Rubinek it's worth a look.  

    I like it a lot but I have a very high threshold for religious offense.  It was sold as a cartoon version of Nazi hunters.  So calling it a "dangerous foolishness"  as it famously was seems to miss the point.

    Just my opinion.

    There were a few comments about The Hunters (none / 0) (#173)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 11:18:08 AM EST
    a while ago in TL. Some liked it but the comic book tone didn't work for me.  

    Just finished season 3 of Ozark, pretty much the same as before.  
    Struggling with Tales From the Loop.  I like the idea and the Philip Glass score but it moves incredibly slow.

    As for films, watched an old favorite, Defending Your Life. Still funny and somewhat relevant. Points out how we let fear hinder our goals. Has some good courtroom scenes.

    Saw Yesterday.  I'm a Beatles fan and I like the idea but it didn't really work for me.  

    The Mule was better than I thought.  Didn't realize it was based on a true story.

    Parent

    Ash Flat has its 15 minutes (none / 0) (#170)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 10:49:04 AM EST
    this link has been sent to me by about 15 people this morning From all over the country.

    It's a story in the Washington Post about a pawn shop in my town.  My tiny town.  And it's a pretty good story.

    Ok, it complicated.  Ask Flat is not my actual street address but it's the closest thing to a town nearby.  

    One interesting bit of this (none / 0) (#177)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 04:13:13 PM EST
    Is most of the people who saw and forwarded this to me saw it in "local papers".  Like the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

    It seems a lot of local papers in very different places around the country ran this.  At the same time.  Which makes you wonder about how local is your local news.

    I'm sure it's more so now with the pandemic.

    Parent

    The Bill Maher Show, (none / 0) (#171)
    by KeysDan on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 10:54:34 AM EST
    aired on HBO last night was insufferable.  And this from someone who generally looks past crevices of wackiness to his wittiness and humor.  However, the overarching theme of the night's screed was, at once, the imperative of social distancing to mitigate the pandemic and its superfluousness.

    To bolster his libertarianish thinking he invited a Republican Congressman from Texas, Dan Crenshaw.  It did not go as well as Bill apparently thought it might.  Crenshaw is a common right wing nut job who supports everything Trump.  Authoritarian, incompetent, corrupt---no problem, that is just "style".  So dispiriting in that Crenshaw is a young veteran who fought for the nation and was severely wounded.

    Bill's second guest was Andrew Sullivan who was generally supportive of Bill's take, but not so much specifically, as in his case---his vulnerable health status tended to make him see matters a bit differently.  

    Overall, the show rates just an "F", but in times where the President of the United States is urging the "liberation" of states lead by governors not in the Republican party, the show  rates a "D" for disservice, as well.

    I saw the show the same way you did. (5.00 / 1) (#174)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 12:54:47 PM EST
    Kind of not on board with Maher on this one. And I agree with Maher a lot. I'm in lock step with most of his views on religion.

    But, I am in the Andrew Sullivan camp. I have a history of lung issues. Though not sitting at home terrified, I am very concerned about catching COVID-19. I started staying home at least two or three weeks before our Gov. ordered it and three weeks before my company told everyone who could work from home to do that.

    Funny, the orange clown and the entire US govt didn't see this coming (according to orange clown). Yet, I got a single email from my sister in Nanjing on 27 Feb 2020 telling me to stock up on food, medicine and gas and stay home.

    If that top secret information got leaked to me through Hotmail, what took the US govt so long to act?

    Parent

    Have to check this out (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 03:50:07 PM EST
    Sometimes he tries to hard.  Bless his heart.

    Parent
    Continuing (none / 0) (#176)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 04:09:03 PM EST
    My comment from above about tv, after dumping my premiums i got HBO NOW.   The streaming version of HBO.  I like it fine.  It basically streams all HBO content in real time no "live" channels.

    It now my one premium.  As a FIRE App.  It costs about half what I was paying the cable company.

    Parent

    The absolute (none / 0) (#178)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 06:53:13 PM EST
    best thing I find about streaming is I don't have to pay for crap like Pat Robertson spouting conspiracy theories. And then there's all the other junk that I do not watch.

    Parent
    To be clear (none / 0) (#179)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 18, 2020 at 07:20:43 PM EST
    I still have what amounts to standard cable.  So probably some religion.  probably.  I have not looked.  I just dropped the movie channels.  .

    Parent
    Not his best work (none / 0) (#184)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 20, 2020 at 05:44:36 PM EST
    You know what I thought was weird

    That he kept coughing and clearing his throat.  I mean,  if you are shooting in your yard with just you and a camera guy, why would you leave that in?  In thought it was weird.

    Parent

    I saw a good movie on Netflix (none / 0) (#181)
    by desertswine on Sun Apr 19, 2020 at 03:31:14 PM EST
    that I wanted to recommend.  Its called "The Death of Stalin."  Its a very dark comedy about the power struggle that ensued after Stalin died.  Steve Buscemi is Kruschev (sp), if you can imagine, but it works.

    Oh, I forgot.. (none / 0) (#182)
    by desertswine on Sun Apr 19, 2020 at 03:33:47 PM EST
    review of "The Death of Stalin."

    Parent
    Rothenberg (none / 0) (#185)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 20, 2020 at 06:04:19 PM EST
    ANALYSIS -- Last September, I wrote in this space that small developments had given Democrats "some reason for optimism about next year's fight for the Senate." But I also noted that the party would "need an upset or two to win control of the chamber next November."

    More than seven months later, circumstances have changed.

    Democrats no longer need an "upset or two" to win control of the Senate later this year. In fact, while the fight for Senate control in November is a toss-up, I'd probably put a pinkie on the scale for Democrats right now.

    It's not that Democrats have really widened the playing field, though they have. Those "extra" races on the board, in places like Montana and Georgia, aren't the greatest of opportunities for them.

    It's simply that the Democrats' initial top prospects have succeeded in proving their fundraising mettle and have taken advantage of Donald Trump's GOP.

    LINK

    Tuesday Open Thread: Where Does the Time Go? | 175 comments (175 topical)

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