COVID-19 Coronavirus

[tremblinwilbury]

Coronavirus 'drive-by' birthday party...

[BSJ]

Mar 27, 2020 17:42:55 GMT Horacewimp said:

Mar 27, 2020 17:02:57 GMT eloneen said:

Oh no! I hope they recover soon and that you and your family stay healthy! 

I spoke to them this morning and they all seem fine, they are all normally in good health and so no reason why they won’t beat the virus, assuming that’s what they have contracted. My brother and his wife seem to be already over the worst of it. 

                                                                                        

[tremblinwilbury]

Covid-19: The race against time

This is an excellent article on the state of coronavirus in Ireland… a small nation on the edge of Europe.

The prospect looks bleak, but the author reminds us of some important points at the end of his article that should give us hope.

[eloneen]

Good news from NC,  as critical shortages of protective supplies become commonplace.  



www.cnn.com/2020/03/27/health/n95-respirator-rewear-coronavirus-duke-trnd/index.html

[tremblinwilbury]

It's just a moment, this time will pass

This is a time when some things take on a much greater significance to each one of us than they normally would. Isn't it funny how many of us turn to music or songs to encompass the situation, or to comfort us?

I'm no different. In the back of my mind the words from my favourite (or favorite, for my Mercan friends ) U2 song keep me company…

I'm not afraid of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company

I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere, baby

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

I will not forsake, the colours that you bring
But the nights you filled with fireworks, they
They left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears
And through your eyes I can see

And you are such a fool
To worry like you do, oh oh
I know it's tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now, my oh my

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Oh love, look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it

I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm 'til you discover how deep
I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass

And if, and if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a moment, this too shall pass

This is a simple and beautiful version featuring just Bono and The Edge...

[eloneen]

We just got word from family in Louisiana that two members of our extended family (distant cousins who were brothers) were hospitalized earlier this month with serious coronavirus symptoms. One recovered and went home, and the other passed away early this morning.   Both of their families are quarantined now. I remember them from my childhood, but I was not close to them. All three my brothers were, however. The family is understandably shaken. 

The virus is running rampant in the New Orleans area right now. So sad! 

[Horacewimp]

Sorry to hear about the death of your relative eloneen, our thoughts are with you and your family.

[dillwyn]

So sorry eloneen

[BSJ]

eloneen

[Helmut83]

Sorry to hear about your distant relatives, eloneen.

One thing that worries me particularly is that people in many countries are so terrified about the virus that they are desperate to find a Mesiah, so they are eager to hand big portions of their constitutional rights and freedom to their presidents. This trend is particularly strong in countries which have a tradition of personality cult, like Argentina and other poor countries, where people are bred in the belief that it will be a supreme, illuminated leader, not ideas, what will take them to promised lands.

This context is the perfect excuse, the wet dream of any third world country dictator. Opportunists like Argentina's president, Fernandez, are planning to make the most out of this chance to advance over the citizen's freedoms (again, a majority of whom are willing to hand them in the hopes that their illuminated leader will do everything right and save them). As an example, yesterday it has been sanctioned that if anyone is circulating by car inappropriately (and this depends pretty much on the criteria of the policeman who stops him) the state can confiscate his car. Yeah, not a fine anymore, but the state stealing your car never to give it back. And this was met by many people with applause. Are we crazy? This is completely illegal and unconstitutional. And Fernandez is probably just getting started. When people realize what a mistake it was to convalidate his taking the sum of public power, it might be too late.

I've just heard that in the US Trump forced a car manufacturing company to produce goods for public health instead. Pretty much the same kind of abuse. I think everywhere in the world we citizens should be aware that politicians will try to use this pandemic as an excuse to advance over our rights and freedoms. We should be alert and not let them advance. One thing is being civil and collaborating, a very different one is handing our asses on a silver platter to politicians and convalidating their authoritarian and illegal behavior because we are scared of the virus.

[eloneen]

Mar 28, 2020 20:16:59 GMT Helmut83 said:

Sorry to hear about your distant relatives, eloneen .

One thing that worries me particularly is that people in many countries are so terrified about the virus that they are desperate to find a Mesiah, so they are eager to hand big portions of their constitutional rights and freedom to their presidents. This trend is particularly strong in countries which have a tradition of personality cult, like Argentina and other poor countries, where people are bred in the belief that it will be a supreme, illuminated leader, not ideas, what will take them to promised lands.

This context is the perfect excuse, the wet dream of any third world country dictator. Opportunists like Argentina's president, Fernandez, are planning to make the most out of this chance to advance over the citizen's freedoms (again, a majority of whom are willing to hand them in the hopes that their illuminated leader will do everything right and save them). As an example, yesterday it has been sanctioned that if anyone is circulating by car inappropriately (and this depends pretty much on the criteria of the policeman who stops him) the state can confiscate his car. Yeah, not a fine anymore, but the state stealing your car never to give it back. And this was met by many people with applause. Are we crazy? This is completely illegal and unconstitutional. And Fernandez is probably just getting started. When people realize what a mistake it was to convalidate his taking the sum of public power, it might be too late.

I've just heard that in the US Trump forced a car manufacturing company to produce goods for public health instead. Pretty much the same kind of abuse. I think everywhere in the world we citizens should be aware that politicians will try to use this pandemic as an excuse to advance over our rights and freedoms. We should be alert and not let them advance. One thing is being civil and collaborating, a very different one is handing our asses on a silver platter to politicians and convalidating their authoritarian and illegal behavior because we are scared of the virus.

Thanks for your kind thoughts, Helmut83 . 

Just a bit of background on the order to produce supplies: What the President did is based on laws that we have had in place since the Korean conflict to authorize by presidential decree the temporary production of items essential to national security by private enterprises during a time of crisis. The government pays for the items being produced and manages distribution, and in times like these, when the economy is in the trash, it is a stimulant to the economy. This is not something that Trump dreamed up; in fact, many people were frustrated that he was taking so long to do it, since there is such a dire need for medical supplies, and only large scale industrial level production and national level distribution management will be effective. Up until now,  the procurement of essential medical supplies has been pure chaos, with states experiencing extreme shortages and competing with each other for manufacturing orders, with some states outbidding the others. In one case, Trump told the governor of Michigan (and other governors) that they had to place their own orders instead of relying on the federal government, even though that is the procedure in a situation such as this. So the governor placed a bid, and then was outbid by the Federal Emergency Management Administration... infuriating and chaotic.

I can't say that I trust Trump very much, but I do trust our laws and other leaders who serve as a check on presidential power. Our system of government is set up to  place checks on the types of abuse that you describe.

[eloneen]

Thanks Horacewimp , BSJ , dillwyn, tremblinwilbury . I appreciate your kind thoughts. 

[unomusette]

Sad news about your relative eloneen , I'd like to add my condolences too

[eloneen]

Thanks unomusette 

[Horacewimp]

It is good to see some industries have adapted to the problems we face and have started or are starting to produce ventilators. I’ve read that Dyson, Gtech and the seven F1 teams based in the U.K. are doing this.