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Sunday Night Open Thread (All Topics)

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 05:02:12 PM EST
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I spent half the afternoon writing the absurdly long media open thread below, and then had two posts in a row on the primaries, so here's an open thread for all other topics, without making you scroll forever to reach the bottom.

< Sunday Night Media Open Thread: Non-Primaries Edition | Pete B. Drops Out, Amy K. Cancels Rally >

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    Sunday Night Open Thread (All Topics) | 68 comments (68 topical)

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    I never cared much for Donna Brazile, ... (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 01:01:22 PM EST
    "Stay the hell out of our race. I get sick and tired of listening to Republicans tell me and the Democrats about our process. First of all, they don't have a process. They're cancelling primaries. And for people to use Russian talking points to sow division among Americans, that is stupid. So, Ronna, go to hell."
    - Donna Brazile, after GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel suggest that Democrats likely face a brokered convention if they don't choose Bernie Sanders as their nominee (Fox News, March 3, 2020)

    ... but, hey, you go girl! It's about time somebody told the GOP chair off.

    ;-D

    When (none / 0) (#19)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 03:29:41 PM EST
    I saw Donna Brazile trending all I could think was what is she bashing democrats for now? Kind of refreshing that she or somebody finally went off on Ronna.

    Parent
    That was my first thought, too. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 05:32:42 PM EST
    But then I noticed a lot of white wingbats in the Twitterverse squealing in outrage over their party's beloved albeit dingbatted chair being told to go to hell and demanding that Ms. Brazile be fired by Fox News, because heaven forbid that the retrograde denizens of that particular silo should ever have to be subjected to contrary points of view.

    "Poor babies," I thought. "How they just love to dish it out, but they sure can't handle the return fire." And thus, I was content.

    Now all we need is someone to step up and tell President Trump:

    "Hey, a$$hole! Shut the f*ck up!"

    ;-D

    Parent

    I love this woman. (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 11:42:25 AM EST
    Susie Essman Reveals Why She Won't Say Donald Trump's Name. I completely share her philosophy. I've never used his name here at TalkLeft and I never use it in conversation. I refuse to humanize someone I completely believe in my heart of hearts is less than than that.

    Good for Reggie (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 04:51:31 PM EST
    Judge Demands Unredacted Mueller Report

    March 5, 2020 at 5:35 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

    "A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Department of Justice to hand over to him a copy of the unredacted Mueller report and accused Attorney General William Barr of misrepresenting its findings in the days before it was submitted to Congress last year," The Hill reports.

    That's judge Reggie Barnett Walton

    Rest in peace, Max von Sydow (1929-2020). (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 03:31:43 PM EST
    The renowned Swedish character actor first made his mark in director Igmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal" and worked steadily in film for over 60 years. It's to von Sydow's infinite credit as a master of his craft that most people are far more likely to remember many of the notable roles he played, such as the elderly and frail Catholic priest Father Merrin in William Friedkin's 1973 horror masterpiece "The Exorcist," than to remember the name of the actor who actually played them. (And von Sydow was only 44 when he was cast as Father Merrin.)

    Personally, while I'll always remember him as the definitive Ming the Merciless in "Flash Gordon" (1980), I think one of von Sydow's very best performances was as the aging defense counsel to a Japanese-American on trial for murder in the underrated 2000 drama "Snow Falling on Cedars," whose eloquent closing argument stands as a thoughtful meditation on racial prejudice and injustice in America. The camera scans the courtroom until it focuses on the actor's well-lined and shopworn face, while he delivers his monologue in only one take.

    He will be missed.

    Mayor Pete is out (none / 0) (#1)
    by MKS on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 05:32:57 PM EST
    This helps Biden.

    Warren staying in helps Biden.  He may have to pull an inside straight, but it may be happening.

    Mayor Pete may be out now (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 09:57:49 PM EST
    But he will still be younger than Biden if he runs any time in the next forty years!

    Parent
    Almost the same for Trump (none / 0) (#22)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 10:11:32 PM EST
    Which I guess means he's already twice as old as Trump's next wife.

    Parent
    Klobuchar (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 05:45:00 PM EST
    blocks Bernie in MN. Warren might block Bernie in MA but if she doesn't win MA on Super Tuesday it is going to be interesting. Warren should pick up a lot of delegates in CA.

    At this point though it seems nobody really has a path to the nomination except Biden. Bernie is going to get wiped out in closed primaries.

    Somebody compared this to 1992 where NY decided who the nominee was going to be and it looks like that may be the case again and we will not have a definite until April.

    Parent

    If Amy and Bloomberg (none / 0) (#3)
    by MKS on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 06:08:33 PM EST
    leave on Wednesday, then it could get real interesting.

    Parent
    I doubt (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 06:18:14 PM EST
    Bloomberg is going to leave simply because it appears that 1. Bloomberg blocks Bernie in NY and 2. apparently him leaving helps Bernie more than Biden believe it or not.

    Parent
    Warren (none / 0) (#5)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 06:24:23 PM EST
    And Klobuchar will suspend campaigns on Wed.

    Bloomberg stays in, he doesn't trust Biden not to self implode

    Parent

    That's what I thought (none / 0) (#6)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 08:51:54 PM EST
    This helps Biden.

    But there's a surprising spread of second-choice candidates among Buttigieg supporters.

    In this poll at least, second choice candidates were:  
    Sanders - 21%
    Biden - 19%
    Warren - 19%
    Bloomberg - 17%

    Parent

    I just noticed (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 05:58:34 PM EST
    They are calling next Sunday's Outsider a SEASON finale not a SERIES finale.

    maybe a response to the rave reviews.

    Thought that was interesting.  Since that one story is a limited series.  

    Parent

    There are other ways (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 09:08:55 PM EST
    It could help Biden

    Biden and Buttigieg campaigns talking of consolidating support



    Parent

    For all you Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall fans (if any) (none / 0) (#8)
    by desertswine on Sun Mar 01, 2020 at 09:48:45 PM EST
    The Mirror and the Light wil be released (finally) on March 10.
    Seems like its been a long wait but its over at last.  Another Booker Prize?

    Harry Reid, (none / 0) (#10)
    by NoSides on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 01:26:59 PM EST
    well known for his description of Barack Obama: "light-skinned" and had "no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one", has just endorsed Joe Biden.

    Perfect.
    Down we go.

    Tweety just retired! (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:03:41 PM EST
    Live on TV.  it sounded abrupt.  Like he might not be back after the commercial.

    Stay tuned.

    Holy Krap (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:06:54 PM EST
    He did not come back after the commercial.

    This should be a good story.

    Kornaki uncomfortably says ok, well we have to fill the rest of this hour.

    Parent

    Bub bye tweety (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:08:57 PM EST

    Chris Matthews announces retirement, mutually parts ways with MSNBC
    Matthews was due to retire in the near future with the events of the past week playing a factor in the timing of the move, an MSNBC spokesperson said.



    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#14)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:19:21 PM EST
    Retirement  Party. Two minutes notice,

    Parent
    Kornaki keeps apologizing (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 06:27:17 PM EST
    And shrugging.

    It seems like he just walked off the live set just to f'ck with them

    I assume this is related at least partly to his recent ravings about Bernie.  French, Nazis etc.

    Parent

    Accusations (none / 0) (#16)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 02, 2020 at 07:35:54 PM EST
    of sexism and harassment.  And, his odd interview with Elizabeth Warren after the last debate---questioning the Bloomberg employee's statement.  And, as you note, the invasion of France and, too  the puzzling Castro business, and his fear of being beheaded in Central Park.  What in the world?

    Parent
    'But Her Emails: Part Oh, F*ck, I lost count!' (none / 0) (#17)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Mar 03, 2020 at 04:50:46 AM EST
    In which Republicans once again pee on their own legs and convince themselves that this time, it's really raining, dammit!

    I know we live in a new world (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 08:41:01 AM EST
    But this is really hard to believe


    Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Wednesday night:

    A lot of people will have this and it's very mild. They'll get better very rapidly. They don't even see a doctor. They don't even call a doctor. You never hear about those people. So you can't put them down in the category of the overall population in terms of this corona flu and/or virus. So you just can't do that. So, if you know, we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work. Some of them go to work, but they get better.

    We (none / 0) (#24)
    by FlJoe on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 08:53:04 AM EST
    can always hope they show up to work at the WH

    Parent
    My mistake (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 09:12:27 AM EST

    Donald J. Trump
    @realDonaldTrump
    ·
    40m
    I NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work. This is just more Fake News and disinformation put out by the Democrats, in particular MSDNC. Comcast covers the CoronaVirus situation horribly, only looking to do harm to the incredible & successful effort being made!



    Parent
    My company has already put (none / 0) (#27)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 11:55:52 AM EST
    in numerous international travel bans. We have partnerships in Italy. Field engineers all over the world.

    However, they have no put in restrictions with regard to domestic travel. We have people traveling constantly between sites in CA, MN, MI, AL and PA. My bldg hosts many of these folks. I have made the decision to work from home indefinitely for the foreseeable future. (I already worked at home every Monday). I have a long history of respiratory and lung issues. Most recently a severe PE. Coronavirus could kill me. I have chosen not to expose myself to the travelers who wander the hallways outside my office.

    I've already been called Chicken Little here. Before 6 deaths were reported in WA. I still say this will spread like a prairie fire in the US.

    I saw a news interview from the orange jesus rally in NC. One woman wasn't worried because they were under the "protection" of Psalm 91. Whatever the heck that means. Another woman didn't believe the virus was even real because it was being reported by Democrats. And she doesn't believe ANYTHING a Democrat says.

    This the American public folks. Again, repeat after me, prairie fire. Good luck to you all.

    Parent

    Better safe than sorry. Take care of yourself. (none / 0) (#30)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 12:57:16 PM EST
    Spouse's company and other companies that they deal with have all put bans on international travel. For now, domestic travel is up to the individual. In the past month, he has been through SFO, EWR, JFK, LGA, ATL, IAD and multiple places in FL. He is now reconsidering next weeks travel.

    Even if he does not get sick, I have had a cough for over a month now and don't really need him being a carrier for any more germs.

    Parent

    Mike Pence is going to pray it all away. (none / 0) (#33)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 03:04:26 PM EST


    Parent
    The death toll in Washington state is now 10. (none / 0) (#32)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 01:32:47 PM EST
    As of yesterday that state's department of health had reported 39 cases of the virus. Further, a clear majority of these cases appear to be clustered around the Life Care Center, a senior assisted living and nursing care facility in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland which has about 108 residents and 180 staff members.

    That city's officials have further reported that more than two dozen of its firefighters and police officers who've responded to calls at the Life Care Center over the last few weeks have been placed under quarantine and that presently, 12 of them have flu-like symptoms.

    I just flew from Hilo to Los Angeles last night to spend a few days with a childhood friend who has terminal cancer. Our United Airlines flight was a B-737-800 jet, which seats 166 passengers, of whom I'd say about 10% were wearing surgical masks.

    I think while most people in Hawaii are aware, it's not stopping them from traveling. But then, we're so dependent on air travel in the islands that my anecdotal evidence is probably not all that representative of air travel in the rest of the country.

    Hopefully, public health officials in North Carolina are more savvy and empathetic than the folks who comprise the Blond Creamsicle's fan base. Otherwise, COVID-19 may provide these science skeptics with a live-action example of the natural selection process in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    UPDATE: The University of Washington ... (none / 0) (#40)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 01:24:28 PM EST
    ... has announced that it will cancel all in-class instruction for now and switch to remote learning and online classes until further notice.

    I'm not quite sure how professors and instructors will teach the lab portion for BIOL 452 (Vertebrate Anatomy) that way but all snark aside, since the greater Seattle area is currently Ground Zero for the COVID-19 virus outbreak right now and the UW community is over 50,000 students, the "better safe than sorry" approach is probably for the best.

    Because my alma mater is also home to a major regional medical center and a well-renowned schools of public health and public policy, it's highly unlikely that UW administration officials are going to go off the deep end in their collective judgment here.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Trump has a lot (none / 0) (#37)
    by KeysDan on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 10:04:27 AM EST
    of hunches on the virus.  What does the a World Health Organization know anyhow.  His latest "hunch" is that the death rate will be a lot lower than WHO says. Pence can probably stop the prayer session he starts off with at his virus task force meetings.

    Parent
    We can hope Trump's hunch is right, for once. (none / 0) (#38)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 12:52:23 PM EST
    But that said, it's really for the best that local public health officials simply ignore the Blond Creamsicle's profoundly ignorant musings and continue their contingency preparations for their respective communities.

    Parent
    Good for Mittens (none / 0) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 12:32:52 PM EST
    Romney Says Hunter Biden Probe `Appears Political'

    March 5, 2020 at 1:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 6 Comments

    Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said that a GOP investigation into Hunter Biden and Ukrainian gas company Burisma "appears political," The Hill reports.

    Said Romney: "There's no question but that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political, and I think people are tired of these kind of political investigations."
    In other news (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 12:35:02 PM EST

    Netanyahu Comes Up Short Again

    March 5, 2020 at 1:15 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

    "With all votes counted, Israel's election results indicate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud is the largest party - but the right-wing bloc has failed to secure a 61-seat majority to form a government. Benny Gantz's Kahol Lavan party trails behind the Likud by several seats," Haaretz reports.

    The result marks no end in sight for political deadlock.

    Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post reports Netanyahu suffered another blow "when Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman endorsed Blue and White leader Benny Gantz's efforts to pass a law that would prevent an indicted MK from forming a government."
    From our ''Surrender, Dorothy!'' file: (none / 0) (#31)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 01:01:20 PM EST
    Disgraced former GOP congressman and own best fanboy finally admits the long-since obvious. The question is whether anyone really and truly even gives a sh*t at this point.

    Cruise Ships (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 05, 2020 at 05:28:12 PM EST
    I have never really understood cruise ships.  But to get on one during a viral pandemic just seems like asking for it.

    Novel coronavirus.. (none / 0) (#36)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 02:03:54 AM EST
    We've been calling it la corona. It trips more delightfully off the palate as it bounces down the tongue on its way between the lips.  And its easier to say.

    That almost sounds like you're ordering a beer. (none / 0) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 12:59:37 PM EST
    (Sigh!) Would that it were so simple.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Aloha, Faye Kennedy (1931-2020). (none / 0) (#41)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 01:37:06 PM EST
    A native of Kansas City, MO and a resident of east Honolulu since 1978, Faye was a veritable force of nature in the civil rights movement and Hawaii Democratic politics, who established the Honolulu chapter of the NAACP and served on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. Her political savvy, her empathetic and inclusive persona, and her wise counsel will all be very dearly missed.

    Virus panic (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 06, 2020 at 02:36:44 PM EST
    I left a comment the other day about chatter of some young nurses related to me by a friend who is a supervisor of nurses in an extended care facility.

    The stories coming out in the last 24 hours about the chaos in the healthcare industry makes those fears a bit more understandable

    There's a big story in the NYTimes too.

    Chaos at hospitals due to shortage of coronavirus tests

    The Dead Don't Die (none / 0) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 07, 2020 at 10:17:15 AM EST
    Is running on MAX.  Seriously, you need this.  The cast alone makes it worth sitting thru

    Directed by
    Jim Jarmusch   
    Writing Credits  
    Jim Jarmusch    ...    (written by)
    Cast (in credits order) verified as complete  
    Bill Murray    Bill Murray    ...    Chief Cliff Robertson
    Adam Driver    Adam Driver    ...    Officer Ronnie Peterson
    Tom Waits    Tom Waits    ...    Hermit Bob
    Chloë Sevigny    Chloë Sevigny    ...    Officer Mindy Morrison
    Steve Buscemi    Steve Buscemi    ...    Farmer Frank Miller
    Eszter Balint    Eszter Balint    ...    Fern
    Danny Glover    Danny Glover    ...    Hank Thompson
    Maya Delmont    Maya Delmont    ...    Stella
    Taliyah Whitaker    Taliyah Whitaker    ...    Olivia
    Jahi Di'Allo Winston    Jahi Di'Allo Winston    ...    Geronimo (as Jahi Winston)
    Kevin McCormick    Kevin McCormick    ...    Guard One
    Sid O'Connell    Sid O'Connell    ...    Guard Two
    Caleb Landry Jones    Caleb Landry Jones    ...    Bobby Wiggins
    RZA    RZA    ...    Dean
    Larry Fessenden    Larry Fessenden    ...    Danny Perkins
    Rosie Perez    Rosie Perez    ...    Posie Juarez
    Jodie Markell    Jodie Markell    ...    Woman on TV
    Carol Kane    Carol Kane    ...    Mallory O'Brien
    Rosal Colon    Rosal Colon    ...    Lily
    Tilda Swinton    Tilda Swinton    ...    Zelda Winston
    Sara Driver    Sara Driver    ...    Female Coffee Zombie
    Iggy Pop    Iggy Pop    ...    Male Coffee Zombie
    Selena Gomez    Selena Gomez    ...    Zoe
    Austin Butler    Austin Butler    ...    Jack
    Luka Sabbat    Luka Sabbat    ...    Zack
    Sturgill Simpson    Sturgill Simpson    ...    Guitar Zombie
    Charlotte Kemp Muhl    Charlotte Kemp Muhl    ...    Fashion Zombie
    Rest of cast listed alphabetically:

    The bad reviews are almost as funny as the movie.  Clearly they were mostly written by people who never saw a Jim Jarmusch movie because it's exactly what you would expect if he made a zombie movie.

    I laughed out loud.  

    Don't forget to change your clocks (none / 0) (#44)
    by desertswine on Sat Mar 07, 2020 at 11:55:14 PM EST
    this weekend.

    Thanks for the reminder. (none / 0) (#45)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 12:21:03 AM EST
    I completely forgot about it. Where I live, we don't recognize daylight savings time. But this week, I'm in Southern California.

    Parent
    So I just went to the supermarket (none / 0) (#46)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 11:25:21 AM EST
    I was a little worried because one item on the list was toilet paper.

    Happily I found a large selection.  Name brand and generic.

    I bought generic.

    I went to Costco yesterday.. (none / 0) (#47)
    by desertswine on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 12:55:30 PM EST
    and they had no paper products whatsoever; no toilet paper, no tissues, and not even any paper towels.  And apparently they did away with the little old ladies who hand out those free food samples.

    Parent
    I was planning to head to Costco today (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by vml68 on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:31:44 PM EST
    but got lazy, postponed till tomorrow. Toilet paper is on the list.
    So, I have to ask, why are people hoarding toilet paper? What is the connection between tp and the Coronavirus? I can't figure it out.


    Parent
    If you google (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:35:53 PM EST
    You get some psychology not worth linking to that it has to do with control.  Having some kind of control in a scary situation.

    Which made me LOL.

    I dunno, personally when I think control toilet paper is not what I'm thinking about.

    But you should google.  It's even on Snopes.

    Parent

    Here (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:41:14 PM EST
    In research I conducted with marketing professors Charlene Chen and Leonard Lee, we found that consumers compensate for a perceived loss of control by buying products designed to fill a basic need, solve a problem or accomplish a task. This is what we're seeing as people rush to buy rice, cleaning products and paper goods in illogically large proportions.



    Parent
    Thanks. Would never have thought of that! (none / 0) (#54)
    by vml68 on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:53:00 PM EST
    At first, I thought that maybe it was because one of the symptoms was diarrhea. Googled but did not see it listed as a symptom. Did not think to google why people were stocking up!

    As an asian family, we are always well stocked up  on all kinds of rice (basmati, jasmine, regular long grain, brown rice, red rice, etc.)  :-)!
    My cleaners are Dr Bronner's and vinegar. Got plenty of that, too. Don't use much paper products besides tp. Have enough for the next couple of weeks, so, no urgency. As long as I can grab a few rolls in the next couple of weeks, I'm good.

    Parent

    I think it's for people who (none / 0) (#65)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 05:22:00 PM EST
    fear having to go into an underground bunker for an unknown period of time, during which they can't come out to replenish essentials like toilet paper.

    Parent
    Maybe they just got a delivery (none / 0) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:04:04 PM EST
    Or maybe my neighbors were unaffected by the panic

    Probably through low information.  Got me.

    Parent

    Out of curiosity (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:08:14 PM EST
    I just called Walmart

    They report high demand but no shortage

    Parent

    The truth is (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 01:19:42 PM EST
    This corona thing has not so far been that frightening to me.  

    But seriously, when enough of the population is stoopid enough to start a run on toilet paper, of all freaking things, just because of a tweet or a rumor or whatever

    That's really scary.  The general herd stupidity which did not start with Trump but has found a champion in him is really freakin scary.

    Parent

    I don't know about the toilet paper... (none / 0) (#55)
    by desertswine on Sun Mar 08, 2020 at 06:26:03 PM EST
    I just guessed that people were buying a lot of it now so that they could avoid going to the store later when la corona passes through town.  People are buying up a lot of water, too, but nobody's going to turn the water off.  That control thing you posted makes sense.

    Parent
    You can also blame the news media ... (none / 0) (#57)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 02:24:34 PM EST
    ... for constantly presenting coronavirus to its viewers and listeners in quasi-apocalyptic terms, and repeatedly highlighting Trump's obvious shortcomings in a time of crisis, which undermines general public confidence in government at the exact time we need it most.

    Further, the media has really failed to focus sufficient public attention on the work of public health officials such as the NIH's Anthony Fauci, MD, who's one of the country's premier immunologists, and Hawaii's own chief epidemiologist Sarah Park, MD, a renowned expert on pediatric infectious diseases who was one of the very first officials in the country to note that COVID-19 does not pose anywhere near as great a threat to children as it does to older adults.

    These are the people we should be listening to right now, and not those politicians who repeatedly prioritize their own egos and short-term interests over the public welfare. The good politicians out there know enough to subordinate their own roles to the expertise of public health officials in moments like these and stay out of the way. The primary job of elected officials right now is to ensure that those experts have sufficient resources necessary to protect the public to the extent possible.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I watch the media (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 02:31:16 PM EST
    Almost constantly and was not even tempted to run out and stock up on toilet paper

    You can't just blame this on the media.

    Also when the president is lying and constantly putting out misinformation about a virus that's killing people every day it's just kind of big news.  I think they have actually done a pretty good job of focusing on Trump insanity.

    It needs and deserves to be focused on.

    Parent

    Look, at this point, Trump's ignorance ... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 03:04:30 PM EST
    ... and lies are a given. That is, the guy's dishonesty and dissembling are really not news anymore. And in a time of public health emergency, the best thing the news media can do right now from a public service standpoint is to just ignore him.

    If they must talk about Trump relative to coronavirus, they should simply inform the public that his public statements / tweets are not credible on this particular issue. (Or any other issue, for that matter -- but that's neither here nor there right now.) Keep it short and sweet, and seek out the public health experts for comment on the issue, not the politicians.

    Malignant narcissists like Trump crave public attention. It doesn't matter to him whether that attention is for good or bad reasons, so long as people are talking about him. And so, Trump continues to leech the light and suck the air out of the room, aided and abetted by a news media that should really know better than to present the coronavirus epidemic like it's some Lifetime Channel docudrama miniseries, with Trump and Pence cast in the lead as either malevolent cartoon villains (MSNBC) or heroic victims of our too-politically-correct times (Fox News), your choice.

    People need to be informed, not entertained.

    Parent

    I don't blame media either. (none / 0) (#60)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 03:22:45 PM EST
    Since my sister does live in China, I do have some first hand information on how bad the virus can be and how fast it can spread.

    I have a long history (going back to childhood) of upper respiratory issues. I'm now nearly 61. I have decided, on my own, not to take chances with being exposed. So I have self-imposed myself into quarantine while I watch how this thing plays out.

    My wife has travel plans (by air) in early April. We have plans for a auto trip to the Catskills in late April. We haven't cancelled any of these plans, yet. We are taking a wait and see approach.

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    I'm trying not to (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 03:27:20 PM EST
    Leave my house.  Which is surprisingly easy and painless.  Walmart delivers.  Or gathers for you to pick up.

    Also I happen to think the insane response from this administration to this outbreak is really just as big and important as the virus itself.

    This should in any sane world be a turning point in this administration.

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    I'm through looking for ''turning points.'' (none / 0) (#64)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 04:38:50 PM EST
    CaptHowdy: "This should in any sane world be a turning point in this administration."

    Given that 55% of the country thought the president should be both impeached and removed from office for the Ukraine scandal, I had formerly thought that would be the turning point -- and it likely would have been, if only we had a GOP-controlled U.S. Senate that acted reasonably and responsibly in the face of overwhelming evidence of Trump's incompetence, malfeasance and corruption.

    So, since it's now been left up to voters to decide this administration's fate come November, I think if Trump does buckle and fall at the polls, it'll be far more likely due to the staggering weight and sheer volume if his toxic bull$hi+, than to any single act or particular event.

    Talking to people here in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, I get the distinct impression that The Trump Show has simply exhausted most people, who are weary of its perpetual drama. And while there are a few citizens who cling to a notion of false equivalence, i.e., "both sides do it," most aren't shy about placing the blame squarely where it belongs, on Trump and the Republicans.

    Aloha.

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    That's fine if it works for you. (none / 0) (#63)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 04:12:10 PM EST
    But there are an awful lot of people in this country who are presently operating under an increasingly opaque cloud of misinformation and distortion, which can lead -- and indeed, has led -- to flawed or bad decision making and perhaps even tragedy.

    We need our news media to act as sober and responsible conduits for fact and truth about the COVID-19 virus because it's the right thing to do at this particular time, rather than present the epidemic with dramatic effect as breathless harbingers of doom and gloom because chaos and despair garner eyeballs and serve as great clickbait.

    Aloha.

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    Coincidence or conspiracy? (none / 0) (#56)
    by Jack E Lope on Mon Mar 09, 2020 at 11:30:07 AM EST
    Costco's in-house brand is named for their city of origin, Kirkland, WA.  The hospital with the most Covid-19 deaths in the US is Evergreen Health...in Kirkland, WA.

    All kidding aside, some official announcements have told people to prepare to self-quarantine for 2 weeks or more.   Huge packages of TP and pet food were hard to find for a couple of days after that.

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    Cosmos (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 10, 2020 at 09:36:16 AM EST
    New season started last night on NatGeo

    Cosmos: Possible Worlds shows a hopeful future through science
    Cosmos returns with a new season that explores the many possible worlds thriving within our own planet and how we can work together for a better future.

    Spring day 1 (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 19, 2020 at 01:28:09 PM EST
    Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. At the spring (or vernal) equinox, days and nights are approximately twelve hours long, with daytime length increasing and nighttime length decreasing as the season progresses.

    Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth. Subtropical and tropical areas have climates better described in terms of other seasons, e.g. dry or wet, monsoonal or cyclonic. Cultures may have local names for seasons which have little equivalence to the terms originating in Europe.
    According to (none / 0) (#68)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 19, 2020 at 02:32:09 PM EST
    NOAA, the vernal equinox does not officially begin until 12:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
    Still, it's the earliest it has occurred in 124 years.
    Spring is (almost) sprung.

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    Sunday Night Open Thread (All Topics) | 68 comments (68 topical)

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