PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Alan Klein]

The whole Sweden thing baffles me. They currently (according to the Worldometer statistics site) have 21,092 confirmed cases of the corona virus, and 2,586 deaths. That's 12.2 %. The US has 1,095,0234 confirmed cases, and 63,856 deaths -- about 5.8%. It appears to me that Sweden just decided to let its old people die, which is a pretty harsh decision. The death rate is far, far lower in the other three Scandinavian countries, and this herd immunity thing is not exactly happening in Sweden. Even if they have 50 times the number of people infected as the confirmed number, that would be less than 10 percent of their population. They need something like 60-70 percent before they even start to get herd immunity. And they probably don't have 50 times the confirmed number, because they seem proud of their testing program. I think Sweden royally screwed the pooch, and now they're all doing the bureaucratic dance to try to convince people otherwise, even in the face of the numbers.

The US deaths are now higher than the worst flu season in the past ten years, and it took about a month and a half to get there.

From the standpoint of control testing, the Swedish model will give us a look at what happens when isolation is relaxed.  We may have to wait though to see if it works out better in the future.  We really don't know at this point. Let's see what things look like 6 months from now, a year. 

[LesPalenik]

America isn't Slovakia.   When Slovakia closed its borders, no one noticed.

Slovakia with 5.5 million tourists in 2018 stopped all flights in early March between Italy and their three international airports (they didn't operate any direct flights to and from China) and they banned all foreigners from entering the country. Czech Republic, also a relatively small country, had in 2018 6.7 million foreign visitors (620,000 from China), most of them staying in Prague. I was there exactly a year ago, and the centre of Prague was quite full with people (see below). In 2019 there were over 10 million foreign tourists there. Similar to Australian measures, all flights between China and Prague were stopped at the beginning of February.

[William Walker]

For weeks now, I have tried to illustrate the idea that the rest of the world has an interest in what happens in America and that it really important for (some of) us that she does well.

This is a link to an article by Irish writer Finton o"Toole that appeared in The Irish Times on the 25th April 2020: "Over more than two centuries, the United States has stirred a very wide range of feelings in the rest of the world: love and hatred, fear and hope, envy and contempt, awe and anger. But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now: pity."

https://johnmenadue.com/fintan-otoole-donald-trump-has-destroyed-the-country-he-promised-to-make-great-again-irish-times-25-4-2020/

There is a paywall at The Irish Times, but this person has managed to make it available.

I sincerely urge the Trump supporters to read this - word-for-word. I know it will be difficult but keep in mind that this is what a large portion of the civilised world feels - including many of your fellow countrymen.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

...But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now: pity."...

Yes.

It is a pity what anti-Trumpers have been doing to America. But we are working hard on rectifying that and making America great again.

[William Walker]

Yes.

It is a pity what anti-Trumpers have been doing to America. But we are working hard on rectifying that and making America great again.

Read the bloody article!

No need to come back and comment....just read it.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Read the bloody article!

The title says it all (Trump has destroyed the country). Not worth reading.

[JoeKitchen]

Joe,

Your constant attempts to rewrite history against all the available facts are simply ridiculous.

But at least it does confirm that you finally agree with the view that Trump did downplay the pandemic.

Regards,
Bernard

Bernard, there have been several articles written on this, the media, here at least, downplayed this.  Why dont you worry about Japan and Abe, and stop speaking about stuff you know nothing about. 

[JoeKitchen]

Lots of ifs to start with. Second, it has yet to become clear that its model is superior. Third, if you think the Sweden model would work in US, considering the freedom at all cost and who cares about the others if my risk is low, I have many things to sell you.

And last, the correct statement would be for a similar pandemic. I doubt they will be so cavalier with other diseases with significantly higher mortality.

Once again, it is nice to know the very  low opinion you have  of your fellow Americans.  But anyway, as I said before, and now WHO is saying, we will be playing  Sweden soon enough.

[JoeKitchen]

Read the bloody article!

No need to come back and comment....just read it.

Donald Trump has Destroyed ...

Sounds so objective.   

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

I am orange (no pun intended):

[JoeKitchen]

So the Ken Doll in charge of CA, aka Newsom, in a temper tantrum closed all beaches and public parks in CA this week due to the beach goers last weekend.  However, at least one beach plans on not following his edict and any CA residents (I personally know of) will instead just go to city parks, leading to more crowding since those parks are smaller. 

And at least one county is deciding to ignore Newsom altogether is will completely open today. 

California county plans to defy Gov. Newsom, lift stay-home order

So yeah, you guys are starting to lose here.  I suspect Michigan will become more and more protesting as well after what happened last night. 

This is really bringing out all of the petty tyrants in the Democratic party. 

[elliot_n]

So yeah, you guys are starting to lose here.  I suspect Michigan will become more and more protesting as well after what happened last night. 

What happened last night?

[chez]

The title says it all (Trump has destroyed the country). Not worth reading.

Yeh, heaven forbid, you might actually learn something.

[Robert Roaldi]

What happened last night?

He might mean this protest https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coronavirus-update-04-30-20/h_e90047bd263620ce7d71d643aba02ed0.

Reading the article, it mentioned that among the demonstrators was a small group with swastikas and confederate flags. Interesting meme that, swastikas and confederate flags, generic rebel symbols, I suppose. Isn't it ironic that a swastika should be put forth as a symbol for freedom, given how many Americans died for that freedom by trying to stop the nazis. Shows how much thought goes into these things. Confederate flags signal "Hollywood rebel" to my mind.

[kers]

Yes.

It is a pity what anti-Trumpers have been doing to America. But we are working hard on rectifying that and "making America great again".

And what does that mean exactly?

[JoeKitchen]

He might mean this protest https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coronavirus-update-04-30-20/h_e90047bd263620ce7d71d643aba02ed0.

Reading the article, it mentioned that among the demonstrators was a small group with swastikas and confederate flags. Interesting meme that, swastikas and confederate flags, generic rebel symbols, I suppose. Isn't it ironic that a swastika should be put forth as a symbol for freedom, given how many Americans died for that freedom by trying to stop the nazis. Shows how much thought goes into these things. Confederate flags signal "Hollywood rebel" to my mind.

Thanks for completely discrediting yourself here and going out of the way to spread hyped up stories specifically designed to shame the protesters.  The fact is, the overwhelming vast majority are normal citizens just protesting for there rights. 

So instead of making bad faith arguments, what you do all of the time, why dont you try and stick to the issues. 

[elliot_n]

Thanks for completely discrediting yourself here and going out of the way to spread hyped up stories specifically designed to shame the protesters.  The fact is, the overwhelming vast majority are normal citizens just protesting for there rights. 

So instead of making bad faith arguments, what you do all of the time, why dont you try and stick to the issues. 

All the protestors are white?

[JoeKitchen]

All the protestors are white?

Maybe you should try to not give into propaganda by people with an obvious agenda, like CNN. 

Don't Get Fooled by Fake Photos of Coronavirus Lockdown Protests

[Craig Lamson]

Well. Its been a few days but I see we have gotten nowhere new.  So I had three days of work this week and spent all day yetereday on post, I still have a few more days to go.  I shot 2 motorhomes in three days, a total of 27 photos.  Normally thats a 4 day shoot but the units shipped yesterday.

I must say working was therapeutic.  Four days of no TV or radio news and no internet news. I checked my email but thats it.  Getting up at 5 am instead sleeping in was different .  But being out and about brought some interesting insights.

1. Gas is dirt cheap. I filled the van for $1.01 a gallon.

2. The roads are pretty much empty.  Its a 60 mile drive to this clients factory and ther was only about 1/4 of the normal traffic.

3. No one seems to care about using masks.  The plant was not open (it opens on Monday) but I walked by a management meeting in one of the break rooms and I could see ten guys sitting in decently spaced circle but no masks.  Last night I went and got take out from PF Chang.  The server who brought the food to my car was maskless.  So much for take out for me.  This I think does not bode well for opening up the country at least for people who are compromised.

4. I think I'll need to re-evaulate trying to get fully back to work.  I'm not sure how I will feel going in a factory that is in full product and people are not being responsible and wearing masks. I can deal wiht sanitizing the stuff we are working on, but its not so easy to sanitize a public restroom or stay safe when interfacing with people who are careless.  I'm tired of being home and wokk feels really good, but...I have a 90 yo mother living with me...

5. The world really looks different right now and I wonder when it will ever feel normal again.

Working had it moments.  The night before the shoot I went to charge some aa batteries for my pocket wizards and my charger would not work.  Seems the powersupply was bad and I didn't have another.  I feed 12 pocket wizards so I was prepared with enough spare Enlopes but I ended up with 36 dead batteries.  I still have 24 somewhat charged batteries in the wizards.

Capture One 20 gave me fits.  Every time I unplugged the camera I needed to restart the computer, camera and Capture pilot to connect again.  Its the first time I've used 20 on a shoot.  Maybe the last unless it gets fixed.  I had 12 still on the Macbook so I used that instead..until..Capture Pilot quit working.  The camera would connect and I could fire it from the Ipad but the file would not show up. It would on the computer but not the ipad. (actually three different ipads)  It was after shooting quite a few files that it would lock up.  To fix it I had to start a new session and it would work again for awhile. I had to start three sessions to finish the shoot on Weds.  I had a spare Macbook but it was the last day so I just fumbled along.  I'm really not sure why this is happening but I'll need to get to the bottom of it.

An interesting week. I'm happy to have made some images, and the units I shot were amazing.

So back to the arguments.

[Craig Lamson]

For weeks now, I have tried to illustrate the idea that the rest of the world has an interest in what happens in America and that it really important for (some of) us that she does well.

This is a link to an article by Irish writer Finton o"Toole that appeared in The Irish Times on the 25th April 2020: "Over more than two centuries, the United States has stirred a very wide range of feelings in the rest of the world: love and hatred, fear and hope, envy and contempt, awe and anger. But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now: pity."

https://johnmenadue.com/fintan-otoole-donald-trump-has-destroyed-the-country-he-promised-to-make-great-again-irish-times-25-4-2020/

There is a paywall at The Irish Times, but this person has managed to make it available.

I sincerely urge the Trump supporters to read this - word-for-word. I know it will be difficult but keep in mind that this is what a large portion of the civilised world feels - including many of your fellow countrymen.

So I read it, typical Trump bashing drool.  Same as the last 3 years.  Quite frankly, who cares.  He's President until Jan 20, and either he stays in power for another four years or someone else takes over.  As far as the 'civilized world", I could care less what they think of the President.