PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Craig Lamson]

I think Biden has made some exaggerations and aspirational statements this campaign season, but certainly no lies.

Na, they were lies. 

[faberryman]

You are correct, actually making quarterly tax payments changes how one looks at Federal taxes.

And making them weekly or monthly doesn't? When I was paid weekly and monthly, I would look at the gross and net on my pay stub and say WTF?

[LesPalenik]

France has seen rapid acceleration of the virus in recent weeks, with the total number of confirmed infections exceeding one million on Friday.

“The serious cases arriving in our hospitals today are the result of infections that happened 15 days ago,” Health Minister Olivier Veran said after visiting a hospital in Marseille. Two weeks ago, France was registering about 20,000 new daily infections with about 20 people entering intensive care units per day. On Friday, 122 people were admitted to ICU.

Infection rates have increased since the summer, with the seven-day average of daily confirmed cases at over 10,000 at the end of September, compared with about 5,000 at the end of August. By mid-October the seven-day average of daily cases was at 20,000 and is now almost 30,000. The number of patients in intensive care units now stands at 2,441, compared with about 400 at the end of August.

“The progression of the epidemic is not over. We still have hard times ahead of us,” said Prime Minister Jean Castex. An overnight curfew in Paris and eight other major cities was extended on Friday to large parts of rural France. The lockdown, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., will now cover 46 million people, or more than two thirds of the population, and will remain in place for six weeks.

Using the 15 days infection lag, the US deaths would increase just around the election day.

[Alan Klein]

I think Biden has made some exaggerations and aspirational statements this campaign season, but certainly no lies.

I don't know about direct lies.  But he's changed his policy position on practically everything he ever did and believed in.  Was that an epiphany or politics?

[faberryman]

I don't know about direct lies.  But he's changed his policy position on practically everything he ever did and believed in.  Was that an epiphany or politics?

You wouldn't vote for him if he hadn't "changed his policy position on practically everything he ever did and believed in" so I don't know what you are complaining about. I am pretty sure you haven't changed your mind on anything in forty-seven years so I guess I can see how Biden changing his mind is a real problem for you. Speaking of forty-seven, Trump changes his mind on things forty-seven times a day, and your view is that is the sign of an exceptional leader who is able to change his approach based on changing facts on the ground. For the love of God.

[faberryman]

I too have a number of old Bogen pods bought over 40 years ago that are still going strong.  I don't like Carbon fiber for my work and prefer metal.  Heck most of my many light stands are Manfrotto and all over 30, like a bunch of my gear.  I also use a couple of different Benro tripods and they are great.  Never saw the appeal to Gitzo.

I don't know who made one on the tripods I use and it seems to work pretty well. The thing is sometimes by the end of the 400 page thread on which is the best tripod you decide you really don't need a new tripod after all. I see that a lot. I mean take a look a the threads discussing whether the Nikon Z7 or the Canon R5 is best. They go back and forth for months and end up not buying either of them because the rumor sites said Nikon was coming out with the Z9 and Canon was coming out with the Canon R whatever. Meanwhile, they haven't taken any pictures because they are waiting for a better camera. But I guess all that is obvious and I am not saying anything that hasn't been said before. I haven't taken any pictures in a couple of months but at least I haven't been reading any camera reviews either.

By the way, I am not entirely sure if the Nikon and Canon model numbers I mentioned are correct. Like I said, I haven't been reading an camera reviews lately.

[Alan Klein]

Respect for Covid restrictions is breaking down in Europe like the USA despite the rise in cases.  It seems Europeans are just as oppositional as Americans.  Who would have thought?  Also, government control of tracing, testing, and other similar measures are not working and breaking down.  Of course, no one is running for president over there.  So we won't hear about this in America


How Europe’s Fight Against Covid-19 Went Awry Over the Summer
One major difference during the virus’s second wave: Public support for governments’ handling of the pandemic is in many countries fraying, raising questions about how sustainable the latest round of restrictions will be.

“If you’ve got large sections of society who are just unconvinced by what they’re being asked to do, there is a point at which people stop going along with it, or the level of resentment builds until the policies become unsustainable,” said Robert Dingwall, emeritus professor of sociology at Nottingham Trent University.

Although governments expanded testing capacity, critical problems remained, including slow turnaround time due to a lack of laboratory capacity, which meant countries struggled to perform enough tests to match the scale of the outbreak. In France, Spain, Britain and elsewhere, test-and-trace systems haven’t coped.

Contact-tracing apps also widely failed. In France, less than 5% of the population downloaded a government-built app. “It hasn’t worked,” French President Emmanuel Macron said last week. “I’ve asked our teams to completely redesign things.”

Government support for those in quarantine is patchy across Europe, which disease experts say may dent compliance with quarantine directives.

“Living with this virus is going to be a process of trial and error,” said Graham Medley, professor of infectious-disease modeling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Edit:  Here's the link.  https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-europes-fight-against-covid-19-went-awry-over-the-summer-11603531801

[faberryman]

It seems Europeans are just as oppositional as Americans.  Who would have thought?

This is just you making broad generalizations based on minimal data, because you need a box to put people in. Now you're putting people in the same box because that is an even easier way to think about a complex world. Head on over to your local Home Depot and park in the parking lot. You'll probably see some people with masks and some people without masks. There are some people that aren't there because they are afraid to go out, and some people that aren't there because they don't need to buy anything. And just because someone isn't wearing a mask doesn't mean he is being "oppositional"; maybe he just forgot to bring it with him. And that guy wearing a mask; maybe he is oppositional, but his wife made him do it, and he didn't feel like arguing about it.  People are different. They are not just one way or the other, here or there.

[Alan Klein]

This is just you making broad generalization based on minimal data, because you need a box to put people in. Now you're putting people in the same box because that is an even easier way to think about a complex world.

The article reads like it's happening in America.  They're just a little behind us that's all.

[chez]

Fear mongering again I see. 

During the hight of the thing in NYC, many were predicting the Javis center would be filled to the gills along with the Navy hospital ship sent to the city.  It did not happen.  Maybe it came close, but it did not happen and it was all for not. 

Now, after 8 or 9 months we know how to handle this so well a 74 year old fat man was back to work in days after catching it.  We are past the hysteria; come back down to earth.  Really, it must be getting cold up there.

It is time to move on with our lives.  I know I am and having one of the best quarters ever.

Really, we know how to handle it? Is that why there are over 1,000 people dieing from Covid every day? Is that what you call "handling it"?

[faberryman]

Really, we know how to handle it? Is that why there are over 1,000 people dieing from Covid every day? Is that what you call "handling it"?

We are turning the corner. Whoops, wrong corner.

[chez]

We are turning the corner. Whoops, wrong corner.

Yeh, turning 4 corners and ending back where you started...out of control.

[Alan Klein]

Yeh, turning 4 corners and ending back where you started...out of control.

Yes.  It's getting pretty bad in Europe again. 

[JoeKitchen]

Really, we know how to handle it? Is that why there are over 1,000 people dieing from Covid every day? Is that what you call "handling it"?

People die, it's what happens.  You cant prevent death, only delay it.  But when the average age of death is 78, and the average age of Covid deaths is also 78, I am finding it difficult to continue acting like this is going to be an end of times event and that I need to remained locked up inside for the next year or two. 

Perhaps you should, but the rest of society cant. 

Not to mention hospital deaths have greatly decreased due to us now knowing ventilators dont work whereas proning does along with new treatments. 

The quicker you except the reality of the situation, the better it will be.  My brother is still freaking out over this, whereas my parents have told point blank "we did not retire to stay locked up in our house and not travel."  It does put them at risk, but what kind of life is it to lock yourself inside 24/7; I have to agree with them. 

[faberryman]

People die, it's what happens.  You cant prevent death, only delay it.  But when the average age of death is 78, and the average age of Covid deaths is also 78, I am finding it difficult to continue acting like this is going to be an end of times event and that I need to remained locked up inside for the next year or two. 

Perhaps you should, but the rest of society cant. 

Not to mention hospital deaths have greatly decreased due to us now knowing ventilators dont work whereas proning does along with new treatments. 

The quicker you except the reality of the situation, the better it will be.  My brother is still freaking out over this, whereas my parents have told point blank "we did not retire to stay locked up in our house and not travel."  It does put them at risk, but what kind of life is it to lock yourself inside 24/7; I have to agree with them.

Believe it or not, I remember you said this last week, and no matter how hard you try to convince me otherwise, I am not going to climb El Capitan, with or without ropes, or even if Spock is there in rocket boots. I don't want to die and miss all the fun around here.

[JoeKitchen]

Believe it or not, I remember you said this last week, and no matter how hard you try to convince me otherwise, I am not going to climb El Capitan, with or without ropes, or even Spock in rocket boots. I don't want to die and miss all the fun around here.

Well, that is your choice, and you are free to have it.  Just dont tell me what I can and can't do. 

If I want to go outside (which his a far cry from climbing El Capitan without ropes), that is my choice, just like it is your choice to cower indoors. 

[Alan Klein]

You wouldn't vote for him if he hadn't "changed his policy position on practically everything he ever did and believed in" so I don't know what you are complaining about. I am pretty sure you haven't changed your mind on anything in forty-seven years so I guess I can see how Biden changing his mind is a real problem for you. Speaking of forty-seven, Trump changes his mind on things forty-seven times a day, and your view is that is the sign of an exceptional leader who is able to change his approach based on changing facts on the ground. For the love of God.

Biden didn't change his mind because he had an epiphany, wised up, or matured.  He did it because of current politics.  So you really don't know what he believes.  He has no core. Trump has pretty much stuck to his beliefs that he's been espousing for years long before he ran for president.  Like his beliefs or not, he sticks with them mainly.  Not totally because he too is a politician.  But for the main, we know where he stands on issues. 

[faberryman]

Well, that is your choice, and you are free to have it.  Just dont tell me what I can and can't do.  If I want to go outside (which his a far cry from climbing El Capitan without ropes), that is my choice, just like it is your choice to cower indoors.

I don't think I have told you what you can and can't do. If I did, I apologize. But you wouldn't have done it anyway, so no harm, no foul. You'd be surprised what I have been doing lately. I don't beat may chest and crow about it every week though. About the only thing I haven't been doing is going to restaurants, but I didn't go to restaurants that often anyway so it is no big deal. For example, I've been to the doctor so many times that I wore out my insurance card and had to get a replacement. Though, granted, there were a couple of months there when I didn't go to the camera store and buy unnecessary stuff. I made that last one up. There is no camera store anywhere near me.

[faberryman]

Yes.  It's getting pretty bad in Europe again.

Not only that, it is pretty bad in the US, but not again. It's been bad here continuously.

[Craig Lamson]

And making them weekly or monthly doesn't? When I was paid weekly and monthly, I would look at the gross and net on my pay stub and say WTF?

No, is much different.  The money is in your possession and you need to actually write a check and see it leave your account.

Its never your cash when they deduct it from your check.