COVID-19

Usually my smell test is to follow the money. In this instance, people are losing a ton of it. So that doesn't work. I'd listen to the really smart people at the CDC who are experts on the subject. But we fired most of them. What's strange is I think I agree with the response to take a big hit up front, but shorten the length of the hit. But it's also strange that I'm not really worried about being infected. Far more worried about my parents. Partly about them contracting the virus at their age, but also how Mr. Drop In will react at the grocery store with more people. That could also lead to health concerns or jail.

It was the perfect storm for the market. The market was wildly inflated and many were just waiting for any reason to pull out. Combine that with very real concerns about what this will do to many economies and it makes sense. But it sucks to watch.

I'm not going to blame Trump as much as others.  I think that's as irresponsible as his usual words and actions.  But this is what happens when you have a President you can't believe.  It's what happens when you have a President that constantly tries to tell people to not believe the news.  

No major sporting events in Illinois until May 1st at the earliest. All teams have already agreed.

And cable news on both sides.  Inciting a panic drives up their ratings.  You were more likely to die from H1N1 but more likely to catch the Wuhan virus.  Travel bans are effective to prevent more infected people from streaming in.  Just wash your hands more and stop kissing random strangers KS.  President Trump is doing a good job considering the communist Chinese refused to allow our scientists access.

There is a lot of talk that this virus came from a lab outside Wuhan and that it was either an accidental release or done on purpose.  Lots of conspiracy theories that I'll leave up to you guys to discuss.

COVID scares me to death and I'm all for the abundance of caution. Not sure why Racine Unified schools haven't closed yet. That's my biggest complaint at the moment. Also the toilet paper people kinda freak me out.

You'll be fine.

You have scarier things than Coronavirus growing in the garage.

Holy hell this orange idiot is killing any confidence that was built early in the press conference.

The financial world loves crazy.

Just for you KS.

Meanwhile, we're going to pray it away. Holy fuck.

I'm not going to do a big preachy thing here, at least try not to. If you and your families have been forced into your homes, go take a walk. Do some stuff to keep your immune system going. Covid-19 isn't going to get you. Well, maybe KS due to size. But all of this confinement is not good. Stress about things that likely won't happen isn't good. Not sleeping because of that stress isn't good. That's how you get sick and spread germs.

I don't know if recent decisions are correct. I could make them, but sure glad I don't have to right now.

I have tried really hard to stay out of this because it is hard to talk rationally about irrational things. But I posted this elsewhere and I think it bears posting here too:

There are a lot of smart people that post here from many different walks of life and different backgrounds. And of course Chas posts here too. Lots of healthy and hearty debate over various topics that provides a lot of entertainment for all of us, which is why we come here. The thing that has baffled me reading through this thread is that these same smart individuals are refusing to listen to experts in their field on the seriousness and the risk that this coronavirus presents to all of us and our families because it doesn't fit their worldview or political leaning.

This is not the flu and that argument is a false equivalency. The flu does not put 100's of people in a small area at a time on ventilators and respirators. The flu can be treated with existing medicine and vaccines, this cannot yet. The death rate for coronavirus is happening because lack of equipment needed at the time of impact and that is why this curve is so important. Rick has actually done a good job explaining it. (Believe me I didn't want to compliment Rick and I am sure he will quote that and argue with me on it anyway.) The ways this new threat spreads is still uncertain, if people who are not showing symptoms can transmit this then the numbers are surely deflated. Because we didn't have adequate testing 2 weeks ago I think they will remain that way for at least a few more days.

Bottom line is we just don't know and that is why extreme preventive measures are being recommended by experts. EXPERTS. Doctors and people who study outbreaks and pandemics are recommending this to us based on their EXPERTISE. This isn't a deep state or political conspiracy, this is an effort to try and save lives. Sure old people die all the time from cancer, car accidents, and the flu, but this particular death for a loved one can be avoided if we can collectively just stay home for a bit. Is it disruptive and annoying and inconvenient? Of course. Is it worth it to save lives, I think so. The markets will recover but short term impacts are going to be severe and we will have to truly look out for our neighbors and friends.

I hope this is all for naught and in a few weeks the naysayers can jump and point fingers and say I told you so and we can go back to arguing about other dumb shit. But if not then I hope the late steps we have taken the past few days lessen the overall impact and some of us are spared people we care about because these steps did in fact help. In the meantime have a bourbon or drink of choice and read that book you have been meaning to get to or watch the Netflix show you hear everyone talking about. If we are as fat and lazy as the rest of the world thinks we are then this should be a breeze.