PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Alan Klein]

Some medical advice from some doctors could be life threatening. Why do you think, astute patients get a second or third opinion? I don't know any barber whom I would trust with my medical questions, usually I consult such matters with my friend, a retired professor. My doctors are great for prescribing any test requisitions I ask for. Now, if I get should wrong haircut opinion from the doctor, professor or even barber, it's no tragedy, in two months it will be all forgotten.

Barbers use to do surgery.  The red and white poles represented blood and the napkins they used to clean up during bloodletting. I knew barbers who gave better advice than many experts I've heard.  Plus they give me a better haircut than those experts ever could.  Ever notice how experts and professors have little pieces of toilet paper covering the cuts they made while shaving?  You really want to trust an expert? My barber lives in a bigger house than I do.  He's also a NY Yankee fan which is great in my book.

"A barber surgeon was a person who could perform minor surgical procedures such as bloodletting, cupping therapy or pulling teeth. Barbers could also bathe, cut hair, shave or trim facial hair, and give enemas. The surgeon came with the army at war but could be used by individuals in peacetime."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barber_surgeon

[faberryman]

You guys must live really complicated lives to need all this expert advice.

[Alan Klein]

But that's exactly my point. If you are not comfortable with your doctor's opinion, you seek another doctor's opinion...not what your barber thinks. So for a given question, you seek opinion(s) from people that know things about your questions, the experts...not any random person on the street.

What do you do when you need expert advice from a medical expert about viruses and an economic expert regarding if you should shut down the economy? 

[Alan Klein]

Not entirely true. I once thought about buying a small country golf course. My barber said, "John, you don't know a fuckin' thing about running a golf course." He was right, so I didn't.

My wife always gives me advice.  She tells me she's an expert at everything.

[Alan Klein]

I do not vouch for the accuracy of this map, but it sounds interesting and worth debunking, if not true.

Like crime, C19 is local, in spite of the name "pandemic." Therefore, one-solution-fits-all is hardly a solution. Quarantine NY and surrounding areas and ⅔ of the problem is solved.

Actually, if this thing continues next year, NY, NJ and the surrounding metro area where I live will be way ahead of the rest of the country.  We're self-immunizing now as part of the herd.  So while the rest of the country will be locking themselves up again at home, we'll be out at restaurants enjoying Chinese food.

[John Camp]

Actually, if this thing continues next year, NY, NJ and the surrounding metro area where I live will be way ahead of the rest of the country.  We're self-immunizing now as part of the herd.  So while the rest of the country will be locking themselves up again at home, we'll be out at restaurants enjoying Chinese food.

I could use me some good Chinese food right now. Or Indian. Vietnamese and Thai, I can live without. We're up to our knees in Mexican food here in Santa Fe, most of it to a very high standard. In fact, I think I'll get off the couch and go put together some black beans and rice. Little hot sauce, Diet Coke.

[chez]

Barbers use to do surgery.  The red and white poles represented blood and the napkins they used to clean up during bloodletting. I knew barbers who gave better advice than many experts I've heard.  Plus they give me a better haircut than those experts ever could.  Ever notice how experts and professors have little pieces of toilet paper covering the cuts they made while shaving?  You really want to trust an expert? My barber lives in a bigger house than I do.  He's also a NY Yankee fan which is great in my book.

"A barber surgeon was a person who could perform minor surgical procedures such as bloodletting, cupping therapy or pulling teeth. Barbers could also bathe, cut hair, shave or trim facial hair, and give enemas. The surgeon came with the army at war but could be used by individuals in peacetime."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barber_surgeon

Alan...why are you waiting on your dentist to open up and why did you have doctors deal with you medical problems ( ie: experts in their fields) when you could have just had your barber pull your teeth and your local bar tender deal with your medical issues.

Seems like you talk up a big storm...but when rubber hits the road...it's all talk no action. You've been bitching about experts for weeks now, yet you rely on them. Surely if you view experts as some loser...that barber of yours could handle all your issues.

Come to think of it...you are hiding in your home on experts advice. Listen to Trump...just drink some bleach and you should be fine to venture out.

[Alan Klein]

I could use me some good Chinese food right now. Or Indian. Vietnamese and Thai, I can live without. We're up to our knees in Mexican food here in Santa Fe, most of it to a very high standard. In fact, I think I'll get off the couch and go put together some black beans and rice. Little hot sauce, Diet Coke.

Yeah Mexican sounds great.  Anything different.  So you're in Santa FE.  Great town.  My wife and I spent three days there two years ago on our first leg of a southwest tour of the parks.  What's that mile area where all the stores are?  Wonderful SW art and stuff.  Georgia O'Keeffe's museum nice too. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanklein2000/albums/72157694819890421

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

What do you do when you need expert advice from a medical expert about viruses and an economic expert regarding if you should shut down the economy?

Simple, you listen to both and then decide if you value life (yours or that of others) over someone else's money. If your own finances are involved, you seek a solution/compromise, while minimizing the downsides.

[Alan Klein]

Simple, you listen to both and then decide if you value life (yours or that of others) over someone else's money. If your own finances are involved, you seek a solution/compromise, while minimizing the downsides.

Isn't that what political leaders are doing right now?  Trying to balance two very difficult problems with no easy or clear solution?

[LesPalenik]

Actually, if this thing continues next year, NY, NJ and the surrounding metro area where I live will be way ahead of the rest of the country.  We're self-immunizing now as part of the herd. So while the rest of the country will be locking themselves up again at home, we'll be out at restaurants enjoying Chinese food.

There is already a small infected herd in the White House.

The positive COVID-19 tests in the White House caused three of the nation's top public health officials to self-quarantine.

[Alan Klein]

There is already a small infected herd in the White House.

Well then, they won't have anything to worry about next year when they're returned to the White House. 

[JoeKitchen]

I am surprised by this and thought we were at least 2 or 3 weeks out from this in PA, or at least in the SE section of state. 

Gov. Tom Wolf: 'Cowardly' counties 'choosing to desert' virus fight

Many counties are planning on not following Wolf's orders and opening up.  I read Lancaster is one, which is only an hour drive from Philadelphia.  Essentially instead of having a public conversation on what is the best plan and realizing we can not live like this forever, many liberals here in the NE were making bad faith arguments (you want to kill grandma or you value money more than lives) to shut down all conversation and now we will be having a free-for-all.  Good job! 

People have now been pushed past the breaking point significantly decreasing the possibility of re-opening with social distancing measures in place due to mental fatigue, and Wolf is still fighting it.  Well Wolf has always been a middle of the road politician who will now get hit by traffic going in both direction.  The right will criticize him not doing ti quicker now and the left will hate him for not being more harsh on those opening, which he cant be since you cant really imprison business owners when you let criminals out of jail. 

But anyway, went golfing today, got hooked up with a formal golf pro and got some great advice on my game.  Even shook hands at the end. 

[Alan Klein]

I am surprised by this and thought we were at least 2 or 3 weeks out from this in PA, or at least in the SE section of state. 

Gov. Tom Wolf: 'Cowardly' counties 'choosing to desert' virus fight

Many counties are planning on not following Wolf's orders and opening up.  I read Lancaster is one, which is only an hour drive from Philadelphia.  Essentially instead of having a public conversation on what is the best plan and realizing we can not live like this forever, many liberals here in the NE were making bad faith arguments (you want to kill grandma or you value money more than lives) to shut down all conversation and now we will be having a free-for-all.  Good job! 

People have now been pushed past the breaking point significantly decreasing the possibility of re-opening with social distancing measures in place due to mental fatigue, and Wolf is still fighting it.  Well Wolf has always been a middle of the road politician who will now get hit by traffic going in both direction.  The right will criticize him not doing ti quicker now and the left will hate him for not being more harsh on those opening, which he cant be since you cant really imprison business owners when you let criminals out of jail. 

But anyway, went golfing today, got hooked up with a formal golf pro and got some great advice on my game.  Even shook hands at the end. 

A governor cannot act as a king and make laws undemocratically.  That's the reason we dumped King George III in 1776.  Laws have to be created by a legislature.  Even then, these laws might be found unconstitutional.  How can you force people they can't work to feed their family? 

[JoeKitchen]

A governor cannot act as a king and make laws undemocratically.  That's the reason we dumped King George III in 1776.  Laws have to be created by a legislature.  Even then, these laws might be found unconstitutional.  How can you force people they can't work to feed their family?

And that is part of the problem.  If you don't have the political will to enforce the laws you make, nor have the backing of sheriffs and police commissioners (many in the those counties have stated they just simply will not comply with any orders to enforce), the laws become pointless, just like during prohibition. 

I fear now we will have black markets popping up in blue states that have no regulations on social distancing while also not paying any taxes to help with funding those health resources we need.  Although I still am not in need of a hair cut (I'm a photographer, so I can get away with it growing out), if I wanted to I now know of two barbers/stylists cutting hair at their houses.  I am not friends with these people, I do not have friends who are, and only marginally knew of them, but now, for some reason, I do.  So, makes me wonder if I suddenly know two people offering hair cuts without really looking for someone to cut my hair, how many of these operations really exist right now.   

A government brought on free-for-all is now what we are creating, and instead of acknowledging they messed up, the governors are doubling down.  Wolf is talking about retaliations such as pulling medical funding from those counties (another empty threat he can not politically keep) or like Newsom closing the beeches but only certain vocal republican counties. 

But anyway, it is starting to break, even Bill Maher has lost it with the left.  I think this is the end of wokeness and people actually paying attention to the hysteria of the left. 

[William Walker]

I do not vouch for the accuracy of this map, but it sounds interesting and worth debunking, if not true.

Like crime, C19 is local, in spite of the name "pandemic." Therefore, one-solution-fits-all is hardly a solution. Quarantine NY and surrounding areas and ⅔ of the problem is solved.

Slo, look at your map, pretend it is January 2020, pretend that it's a map of the world, and pretend that red spot is Wuhan.....

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Slo, look at your map, pretend it is January 2020, pretend that it's a map of the world, and pretend that red spot is Wuhan.....

Yes, we’ve already been pretending all this time it is a big deal.

In 1968, 100,000 Americans* and one million worldwide died of the Hong Kong flu. No economy crashed, no idiotic lockdowns, no curfews, no (anti) social distancing. Beautiful Woodstock instead.

* at 200 million population - today it would mean 165,000 fatalities.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Yes, we’ve already been pretending all this time it is a big deal.

In 1968, 100,000 Americans* and one million worldwide died of the Hong Kong flu. No economy crashed, no idiotic lockdowns, no curfews, no (anti) social distancing. Beautiful Woodstock instead.

* at 200 million population - today it would mean 165,000 fatalities.

Thankfully, today we are doing better, with all the measures you don't like, thus avoiding unnecessary deaths.

[William Walker]

I am surprised by this and thought we were at least 2 or 3 weeks out from this in PA, or at least in the SE section of state. 

Gov. Tom Wolf: 'Cowardly' counties 'choosing to desert' virus fight

Many counties are planning on not following Wolf's orders and opening up.  I read Lancaster is one, which is only an hour drive from Philadelphia.  Essentially instead of having a public conversation on what is the best plan and realizing we can not live like this forever, many liberals here in the NE were making bad faith arguments (you want to kill grandma or you value money more than lives) to shut down all conversation and now we will be having a free-for-all.  Good job! 

People have now been pushed past the breaking point significantly decreasing the possibility of re-opening with social distancing measures in place due to mental fatigue, and Wolf is still fighting it.  Well Wolf has always been a middle of the road politician who will now get hit by traffic going in both direction.  The right will criticize him not doing ti quicker now and the left will hate him for not being more harsh on those opening, which he cant be since you cant really imprison business owners when you let criminals out of jail. 

But anyway, went golfing today, got hooked up with a formal golf pro and got some great advice on my game.  Even shook hands at the end.

I would have used Alan's barber...!

[Manoli]

Show us da money ..

Two showdowns over the scope of presidential power reach the Supreme Court today. The justices will consider—via live-streamed telephone hearings—President Donald Trump’s quest to keep his financial records secret. In April 2019, three congressional committees subpoenaed years of Mr Trump’s records from his banks and accountants. Lawmakers say the information could help them craft stronger ethics laws and guard against foreign influence in elections.

Several months later, the Manhattan district attorney issued subpoenas for Mr Trump’s financial records and tax returns for a grand-jury investigation into alleged hush-money payments to paramours. Mr Trump’s lawyers call both endeavours “unprecedented”. Efforts to “rifle through the president’s personal financial history”, they say, are designed only to “score political points”.

New York’s prosecutor counters that presidents would be above the law if they could not be investigated while in office. Precedent is not friendly to Mr Trump’s plea. When Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton faced other predicaments involving the separation of powers, the Supreme Court decided against both, unanimously.