COVID-19 Virus

Our condolences to those people who have lost loved ones around the world. We hope that it will be brought under control as soon as possible. We particularly remember our members in countries affected, most notably our members in Italy where they appear to have suffered the largest outbreak outside of China. Our thoughts are with you.

Le nostre condoglianze a quelle persone che hanno perso i propri cari in tutto il mondo. Speriamo che venga portata sotto controllo il più presto possibile. Ricordiamo in particolare i nostri membri nei paesi colpiti, in particolare i nostri membri in Italia, dove sembrano aver subito la più grande epidemia al di fuori della Cina. I nostri pensieri sono con voi.

In Australia there are a few instances of the virus and the government is now taking it very seriously. On the news tonight it is said they have ordered 55 million face masks yet there is only 26 million of us. Many stores have run out of stock of many items mainly toilet paper, tissues and some foods as the Asian population here send back items to their relatives in China. Many factories in China have closed so stock is low even for building materials on high rise structures.
Whilst it is hoped it is a passing thing, every day signs from all around the world seem to show it could be an absolute horror story.
Let's pray it won't be that.
EDIT Mar 14:
The government has put a ban on all events from this Monday over 500 people which means all shows, sports, festivals etc have now been cancelled. Not good for us as we have a 1000 show this Tuesday and another 800 the following week. My guess is they wil be cancelled too. Already many regular shops, restaurants and other business have closed.
It seems this catastrophe has the ability to not only kill many, but financially destroy those who do survive. Many are saying a depression looms very closely. Amazing how things can change so quickly.
In a matter of months Australia has gone from drought to fire to flood and now this.
Please take care.
EDIT Mar 15:
Shows go ahead but capped at 480 max. Now New Zealand has banned all incoming tourists and biggest food stores here are limiting how much can be bought... like WW2 rationing I recall.
Here are some helpful links for those concerned.
Live news and figures
LIVE DATA
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
WHO
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Australian Government Alerts
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/64d54c97-6c8d-31e3-848c-be0e93cadc52
UK The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-latest-news-uk-covid-19-self-isolation-deaths-cases2/
IRISH TIMES
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-ireland-to-see-ramping-up-of-testing-amid-jump-in-new-cases-1.4202616
USA
https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/
USA State by State
https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-us-state-by-state-breakdown
EUROPE
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/current-risk-assessment-novel-coronavirus-situation

An update for Australia for March 19 2020
The amount of people who can hang out together has gone from 500 to 100 and now to 10, so this has a dramatic effect on how one can conduct business and keep social events alive.
The Entertainment industry has been one of the most adversely affected, as a huge percentage of its participants are self funded and self employed. They usually do not have superannuations, or many savings as many live month to month. Whilst not the optimum way to live, they have been doing it this way for ever without much problem. It is only at times like we face now that it all becomes a nightmare for many.

All shows, festivals, concerts, meetings etc have been cancelled for up to 6 months eliminating any form of income for that time. Facebook posts are showing the confusion, fear and worry of how they and their families will survive the financial problems, let alone the virus itself. Fortunately we in Australia have a health system that offers its citizens free care and hospitalisation and the government is offering some financial help. Sadly some countries do not offer the same protection.
So many industries in many countries are suffering similar fates as their business are forced to close.

Unlike I imagine most on this forum, I do remember the rationing and fear of WW2 and whilst it seemed like it would never end. It did.

So one thing is certain, it will come to an end, hopefully sooner than later. Just have to keep treading water until it dries out.
In the meantime, take care and support those you love and care for, as well as those strangers who may need it more than you do.

ozstar wrote:Unlike I imagine most on this forum, I do remember the rationing and fear of WW2 and whilst it seemed like it would never end. It did.

While it is true that it did end, it must be pointed out that to many, that made no difference.
Many were left destitute, lives ruined- many died and died penniless. While it ended for society, for many individuals, it never did.

The drastic climate change brought by the K-T event that wiped out the Dinosaurs ended, too. Eventually. After a major extinction event that ended most species on the planet. The planet recovered, in time, but that does nothing for that vast majority that were lost.

People like to talk about how people are "worried" or "struggling" but they don't like to mention those who drown, lose their homes, those whose "worries" become "REAL.
It's not as simple as people are merely "worried" for many. And those that are "struggling" or a portion of population, there are those that are "sinking fast or already sunk" that people like to ignore the reality of.

Trump, in the United States, continues to call it "that chinese virus" as he tries shifting blame. In the meantime, his DOH administration has done everything it can to make it difficult to get tested for it. This keeps the numbers of Reported Infections Low. But puts the population as a whole at much greater risk.
More have died than have recovered from Covid 19 in the USA.
In Italy, they began Vigorous testing and were able to halt the spread of the virus. In the USA, you must "Qualify" to get tested for Covid19 and many people that didn't qualify for it but that did finally get tested turned out to indeed be positive for it.
Fox News, the heavily-biased newsource that Loves Tump, has downplayed the severity of it, putting its audience at risk, to protect that little Dictator-wannabe. They praise his handling of this when he has Botched it Every Step of the Way. They claim he never called the virus a Hoax. He damned sure did call it a hoax.
And the Socialists are doing everything they can to point to this pandemic as "proof" that socialism is the solution, while already socialist countries are faltering in handling it. Politics in the USA has split into two major extremes.

At our local store, people were physically assaulting eachother, to get Toilet Paper. What a priority. And when it comes down to it, some are not just Worried Or Struggling, they are Shafted.

It is not lost on us all that Humanity is too clustered and Over-populated. While Trump and Fox attempt to point the finger and to place blame (on anyone except themselves), the reality is that we all share the burden of blame. It is as much our own folly as it is the natural chance of Pandemic at fault.

I agree with everything you said Aravisian. They say America is going to suffer more then any other country before this thing is over. Yes, the death tole in Italy is the worst now, but soon the US will exceed that.

https://thesecrettruthabout.com/the-geo ... s-mystery/

Thank you We was worried we had it as before it was a majour outbreak my uncle was in hospital with a Virus and We both had sore throats. Lemon and honey and paracetomol beat what Ambulance and Hospitals nebulizers could not do suprisingly with being on Antibiotics and Steroids it still took over. It's a good healer but not a cure so Hopefully it wasn't Convid, but symptoms were very close

I'm so sorry to hear that you are sick Jason. These times are tough, people don't know if its just a simple cold virus, or full on influenza, or the dreaded Covid-19 virus. Please keep doing all the things that you can do to get better.

I was watching a video today where a guy said that he was really sick, and that he was getting tested for Covid-19. His symptoms were worse then the standard flue though. He's suffering major migraine headaches to the feeling of wanting to puke. He's got pains in his arms and chest that feel like he's been hit by a freight train.

According to China, the Covid-19 virus causes mucas build up in the airways, which is then allowed to dry, and that blockage prevents you from being able to breath. They recommend drinking hot liquids very often throughout the day. So that if the virus does get to your throat, hopefully the hot liquids will push the virus to the stomach where it can get killed by our stomach acids, and keep the virus out of the lungs.

We have to look to other countries for research and information, because America is not doing a dam thing. Furthermore, I trust a chief medical officer in China over that golden haired bafoon that America has as president. That should tell you a lot! So again, please keep taking care of yourself as best you can Jason until you can get some more conclusive answers, as to your condition.

This song may reflect how people are feeling at the moment:

https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/track/lonely-city

The antidote:

https://themidnight.bandcamp.com/track/ ... -not-alone

Hello All... I do believe Trump was defending the USA after Chinese Officials said our military started this:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/worl ... heory.html

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/28/us/disea ... index.html

"They claim he never called the virus a Hoax. He damned sure did call it a hoax" Oh really..? Guess that depends on your point of view.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump ... ly-remark/

Hope you have all been doing good...

On a lighter note, a family trying to bring some joy to a dark situation:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ ... ss-224818/

The video appeared on the BBC Breakfast News programme, ironic that they announced the video "... had gone viral."

On a grim note, a 50-year-old bus driver, Jason Hargrove, from Detroit died 4 weeks after a woman passenger coughed five-times in his face without ever covering her mouth.

I believe in karma, that woman will get her's soon enough.

The bigger picture is we are under carefully planned "house arrest" but it's for our safety.

https://youtu.be/ZrOXLymc8j8

Jet exhaust are NOT chemtrails...
<facepalm>

Do you know... It would be far more effective to add something to Gasoline so that cars spewed forth "mind control" instead of jets? The problem with the Chemtrail conspiracy claims- other than the complete absurdity of it- is that the supposed "mind control" deployed by all these independently owned and operated jets would disperse quickly in the upper atmosphere.
With cars, it would be on the level where people actually are- would be distributed more evenly and be invisible.
Needless to say, cars are not spewing mind control, either. But it goes to show how ignorant conspiracy nutters are, how poorly they think through their claims and how little they understand about Brownian Motion, Chemistry and Biology.

NO- 5G is NOT the "TWOOF!" behind Covid-19.
These claims are so stupid, it makes my head hurt. The basic claim is that there is no virus, but 5G radiation is "Oscillating" our hemoglobin rendering it unable to 'absorb oxygen.'
Again, the conspiracy nutters don't stop to think about
-The virus has been independently and thoroughly observed under the microscope, which is how it was identified int he first place and that it registers in a variety of other tests.
-The virus is community spread in many areas and many countries that do not have 5G towers.
-Not to mention a complete lack of understanding as to how blood transports oxygen... The reason covid-19 creates breathing difficulty is because the alveoli in the lungs get covered in mucus that dries there, creating a Physical Barrier blocking oxygen from reaching the alveoli.

Conspiracy nutters love to make stuff up, without evidence, ignore evidence that contradicts their claims and try to Feed on Fear and Panic. I consider them to be the lowest form of life because they do not care about what harm they create, as long as they satisfy their own EGO in validating their belief that they know a Special Secret and are smarter than the average bear.

Knowledge and wisdom are a resource that belongs to everyone. But Conspiracy Nutters distribute confusion, misinformation and dissension.
Conspiracy nutters cause endless damage, including with topics like Climate Change, putting everyone at risk, with their denials of the very real and dangerous effects we are observing.

And why is it, that these Conspiracy Nutters are so utterly immune to these supposed chemtrails? Why are the utterly invincible against assassination from the "Evil Illuminati?" Why is it they are not stopped from telling their "Claimed Truths" but instead are (disturbingly) common and loud, unchecked and not "Silenced" by the Powers That Be?
Because they are 100% full of B.S.

If there is one thing certain in this Covid-19 pandemic, planning and proper handling is lacking. In the USA, the handling of this has been botched and poorly handled from the top down.

AND TENS OF THOUSANDS ARE DEAD, ALREADY.
DEAD.
PEOPLE ARE DYING.
Because of arrogance, ignorance and denial- the virus continues to spread.
And low-life Conspiracy NUTTERS would try to confuse the issue and divert attention from PROPER MEDICAL CARE THAT CAN SAVE LIVES in order to chase an absurd and STUPID RED HERRING about harmless E.M. radiation when are exposed to greater blasts of radiation from SUNLIGHT.
It is the epitome of Arrogant STUPIDITY and the Conspiracy Nutter INSANE wackos need to just STFU.

Surveillance company using COVID-19 to sell their wares - received this from Fight for the Future:

"This makes me sick: facial recognition companies are taking advantage of a world-wide crisis to promote their invasive tech.1 As if that wasn't bad enough, Washington State just passed a facial recognition bill that was literally written by a Microsoft employee.2

Tech companies are still looking for any opportunity to spread their dangerous facial recognition technology. There's no question that we need to keep fighting to stop this, especially as governments are taking unprecedented actions to stop the spread of COVID-19. Facial recognition does not keep us safe and should not be a part of the response to the pandemic. Take action right now to call for a ban of facial recognition to stop it from expanding during this crisis.

It was only a few weeks ago that people and elected officials were coming out against Clearview—the sketchy company using facial recognition to identify people from billions of images scraped from across the Internet. But now, just weeks later, this company is in talks with governments about how to use their tech to track peoples’ every move.3

At the same time, facial recognition in airports is being touted by US Customs and Border Protection as safe and hygienic.4

The problems with facial recognition before COVID-19 haven’t changed: it threatens our basic rights, it’s invasive, biased, and vulnerable to hackers. At a time when we’re all focused on safety, opening the door to facial recognition is the wrong thing to do.

We need to keep calling for a ban on facial recognition, even while we’re focused on the health crisis. If we don’t, tech companies will exploit our fear and the fact that we’re distracted and facial recognition will spread.

Once facial recognition is put in place it’s likely that the government will continue to use it, even after this crisis has subsided. If they track our movements now, they could keep tracking them forever. We can’t let this happen.

Take a minute to sign the petition (https://www.banfacialrecognition.com) for a ban on facial recognition. Let your lawmakers know that this tech is not a tool for curtailing the spread of COVID-19.

Together,

Caitlin at Fight for the Future

Footnotes:

1. One Zero: https://onezero.medium.com/facial-recog ... 9b99d60649

2. One Zero: https://onezero.medium.com/a-microsoft- ... b950396927

3. Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-track-v ... 1584479841

4. Twitter: https://twitter.com/OFODEAC/status/1238866399524724736"



Also security (or lack of it) with Zoom:

"Zoom has been misleading all of us. Their video conferences are not safe or secure. And during this crisis, that means they’re putting people in danger.1

But Zoom is showing signs that it’s ready to clean up its act. Sign the petition to tell them to keep people safe by actually implementing end-to-end encryption.

Zoom has exploded in popularity as users have flocked to use audio and video conference services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this popularity has come greater attention and numerous investigations that revealed serious privacy and security issues.2

The good news is that Zoom seems to be responding. This week they made a number of important changes to address some of our top concerns. But they’re still not doing the number one most important thing they could do to keep people safe: implementing real end-to-end encryption.3

Agencies tasked with battling COVID-19 are using Zoom to discuss sensitive, confidential health information. Therapists and doctors are using it for incredibly private conversations with patients. Children are using it to go to school. End-to-end encryption is needed now more than ever to protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Zoom has apologized for misleading the public and claiming they were using strong encryption when they weren’t. But we don’t need Zoom’s apology. We need their platform to be safe.4

Without end to end encryption, we’re all vulnerable. Zoom employees, stalkers, criminals, or governments could be snooping on our conversations––they’re just asking us to trust them.

Demand Zoom protects us from these threats and implement default end to end encryption for all video calls, audio, and text chats.

TAKE ACTION - sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tel ... -19-crisis

The recent flood of new users has grabbed the attention of cyber-criminals and hackers. It’s only a matter of time before governments and law enforcement agencies around the world start demanding that Zoom hand over our data or build back doors so they can spy on us.5

Zoom implementing end to end encryption could be one of the single most important things any company could do to keep people safe right now.

Tell Zoom to keep us safe.

Together,

Ayele, Fight for the Future

Footnotes:

1. The Intercept. https://theintercept.com/2020/03/31/zoo ... ncryption/

2. Tech Crunch. https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/31/zoom- ... -own-risk/

3. Zoom. https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/04/ ... -webinars/

4. Tech Crunch. https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/01/zoom-doom/

5. Citizen Lab. https://citizenlab.ca/2020/04/move-fast ... -meetings/"

And while we are working from home, Congress is trying to pass the EARN IT bill:

"We’re living our lives online to a degree we’ve never experienced before—working from home, taking classes online, connecting with each other, and getting healthcare through tele-health appointments. It’s the wrong time for lawmakers to do anything to threaten our online security.

But right now Congress is considering the EARN IT Act, which would give Attorney General William Barr the power to break end-to-end encryption, putting us all at risk of hacking, privacy breaches, and government abuse.1

We’re organizing to stop this dangerous bill by flooding Congress with emails and phone calls, but we need your help. Will you donate now so we can protect digital safety and security?

DONATE: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/donate

Congress wants us to believe that the EARN IT Act will protect children from online exploitation. Instead, the EARN IT Act makes us all less safe by destroying important online security and privacy protections.2

You see, the EARN IT Act grants the Attorney General broad authority to force tech companies to do whatever he wants, and what William Barr wants is no secret. For decades, he has demanded that tech companies create “digital backdoors” to allow law enforcement agencies access to our personal communications.3 But experienced security professionals warn that killing encryption will have disastrous effects.4 After all, previous attempts by the government to install digital backdoors have threatened our communication systems, power grids … even nuclear facilities.5 That’s terrifying.

Public safety and personal privacy don’t need to be earned; they are protected by the Constitution.6 Don’t let Congress chip away at your essential freedoms online. Please consider making a donation to help us stop the EARN IT Act from threatening our rights and our lives.

DONATE

Regards,

Dayton at Fight for the Future

Footnotes:

1. The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/31/2111 ... encryption

2. EFF: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/01/c ... urity-bill

3. Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/barrs-encr ... 1579257002

4. Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/2015/07/30/sec ... ncryption/

5. Wired: https://www.wired.com/2014/11/countdown ... y-stuxnet/

6. ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology"

And more people will continue to die who don't take this virus seriously. Blue states who the governors have issued a statewide shutdown, are winding down the curve, and thus the virus spread values have gone down! However, in red states who's governors think that the world is overreacting to nothing, and are keeping their states active, are showing increasing numbers of spread cases among the population.

If this continues, mother nature will take out the weak, natural selection at its finest. If you don't want to listen to scientists, then you might as well be next on mother natures, to remove from the population list. Only those who actually give a c***, and follow scientists guidance regarding Covid-19, and self quarantine, will be able to get through this pandemic.

I find it truly awful, the sheer number of people, who walk around the stores without masks on. They are basically telling me, they don't give a c*** about me, or anybody else. Fine, message received, I will stay clear away from you! People who do wear masks however, are at least telling me that they care, and are trying to prevent the spread of the virus. Those people I can respect.

I was doing a scooter ride in our local parks yesterday, nobody was wearing masks, but you don't really need to so much in the open atmosphere of the planet. Everybody was enjoying their day, walking, jogging, riding, walking their dogs. But as soon as it involves the indoors, all bets are off, and I require masks to be worn, and I will always do so in situations when I have to go inside stores or other business's.

Swarfendor, thanks for making us aware of the "Earn It" Bill. That is very disturbing.

star treker wrote:If this continues, mother nature will take out the weak, natural selection at its finest. If you don't want to listen to scientists, then you might as well be next on mother natures, to remove from the population list. Only those who actually give a c***, and follow scientists guidance regarding Covid-19, and self quarantine, will be able to get through this pandemic.

Part of the trouble is that those that do the above are not the only ones "naturally selected" as you suggest. Many may be asymptomatic carriers. And Covid is reported to be 3x as infectious as Influenza.

Current models are showing that Covid-19 is Far More Airborne than previously thought. In one simulation, joggers that were asymptomatic but infected were shown to leave a wake more than 60 feet behind them of Infectious Air. Another sim showed one cough spreading over twenty feet.
MASKS. Necessary, now. Wear Them.

And here I've been riding past pedestrians on my scooter, you never know who might be infected. The only good news is, I live in an area where infection rates are low, because the government actually gives a c***, and issued a shutdown to curb the infection from spreading further. Places where the government doesn't give a c***, have the highest widespread rates, and they are increasing. Thanks for the information Aravisian!

Watch "One Beating Heart: A Livestream Fundraiser for Covid-19 Relief -Text PLUS1BH to 50155 to donate" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/quO_WNVo1xE

I heard Italy will start lowering the quarantine conditions from May 4, I hope life will soon become as normal as possible. Thank God that this winter period I was spending in my Thai home property and here not many people were infected with this virus.

Well one country got it right - New Zealand - only one case - New Zealand PM for World President!

I just wanted to update people on what life has been like in my area, due to Covid-19. People who take the virus seriously, are walking around town with masks on, as well as, in the businesses. Some people are not wearing masks and are at a greater risk of infection. Some people are wearing masks but no gloves, those are folks who rely too much on hand sanitizer. What I do, is I wear both a mask and gloves, and I make sure to never touch my face, until I am home, and have sanitized my hands first.

Pizza restaurants like Dominoes and Ceasers, are doing what is called contactless delivery. How it works, is you go to their site and make your order online as normal. But you will be given an extra box field to put directions in where you want them to leave your pizza, and you prepay the driver's tip online, so that way the delivery stays contactless.

Grocery stores have lanes drawn on the floor now, and you are supposed to navigate them like you would a car on the road. And you are supposed to maintane proper social distancing of 6 feet inbetween customers at all times. In many mechanics shops and tire shops, you are not even allowed in the building, you drop your car off, call them, let them know its there, then you leave. They fix it, they call you, leave the key in the ignition for you to pickup your vehicle, and you pay by phone or online.

In local bike shops, they only allows 1-customer in the building at a time, maintane 6 feet social distancing, and all that jazz. We live in a different world now. And recent news as mentioned that there is a new strain of the Corona virus now that is more deadly then the one we've already had. Its going to get worse before it ever gets better, if it ever does that is.

star treker wrote:And recent news as mentioned that there is a new strain of the Corona virus now that is more deadly then the one we've already had. Its going to get worse before it ever gets better, if it ever does that is.

The virus mutates more quickly then Flu or Cold, by far. I have seen news of new strains, but none that say a new deadlier strain. Have a link?

Sorry buddy, it was just a bit of hearsay news with no confirmation, so I don't have a link. Maybe you can find something to confirm what I've heard?

star treker wrote:Sorry buddy, it was just a bit of hearsay news with no confirmation, so I don't have a link. Maybe you can find something to confirm what I've heard?

I have had no luck- You know me, Already tried...
Found some articles on mutations increasing its virulence.
But mutations are not design nor planned- and they can inhibit a viruses ability to function as easily as they can make it worse.

So -update...
I mentioned this to Swarf in a PM last week- We all got tested for Covid-19 here since we are essential workers AND I wanted to know since I was shipping out online sales anyway...
Results are in:
Negative for sarsCoV-2

Glad your healthy, but now you have to stay that way! Don't take any unnecessary risks out there, stay safe.

Aravisian wrote:So -update...
I mentioned this to Swarf in a PM last week- We all got tested for Covid-19 here since we are essential workers AND I wanted to know since I was shipping out online sales anyway...
Results are in:
Negative for sarsCoV-2

Very glad to hear Aravisian! Like star treker said - stay safe, stay well.

star treker wrote:Glad your healthy, but now you have to stay that way! Don't take any unnecessary risks out there, stay safe.

I do not include taste testing street lights as "unnecessary," sorry.
If a man can't walk around town licking inanimate objects, what CAN he do?

Aravisian wrote:

star treker wrote:Glad your healthy, but now you have to stay that way! Don't take any unnecessary risks out there, stay safe.

I do not include taste testing street lights as "unnecessary," sorry.
If a man can't walk around town licking inanimate objects, what CAN he do?

Not advisable ... when its 20° below - I wouldn't want to be the paramedic with the blow torch! #ice, ice, baby# [Vanilla Ice]

Swarfendor437 wrote:Not advisable ... when its 20° below - I wouldn't want to be the paramedic with the blow torch! #ice, ice, baby# [Vanilla Ice]

Aravisian on the left, me on the right!

Here in the UK, 8 pm Thursday is marked to honour front-line medical staff dealing with Covid-19 - in Los Angeles they do it every night - perhaps we this side of the pond should follow this exemplar:

https://youtu.be/a5j50F4rlzA

OK, just a quick update. Things have been slowly coming back to normal, since the quarantine had gotten lifted. There are a lot of cars driving on the road now, a surprising amount honestly. However, I don't really think that things can ever get back to being 100% normal. We still see people wearing masks in the stores, I myself wear a mask as well.

Also, there has been some research and testing being done on a vaccine that has worked on monkeys, human trials have already started, so if those goes well, it probably won't be long until the vaccine ends up in hospital and clinics, and we start actually dealing with this thing beyond social distancing.

Stores are starting to open that were previously closed. Some banks appear to be slow in re-opening their lobbies though. So, I think if people continue to do the best that they can to social distance, things will continue to get better. However, there are states that are not taking this virus seriously, mainly all the red states and racist homophobic states, they are the ones that have much higher infection rates and deaths.

Also, in those crazy states, citizens are attacking other citizens who are wearing masks. People don't realize, assault is a felony charge that involves jail time and fines, that don't magically go away because its Corona days. One of those states governors had to come out and make a public statement asking the citizens to stop attacking other citizens. Cripes its bad in some states.

What is being reported over here about things in the US is swarms of people in the lakes at the Ozarks, almost piled on top of each other. Crazy!

Just watched this interesting take on events, more so about Trump being a hero in respect of taking power from the Federal Reserve (=the Rothscilds' lap dogs).

https://youtu.be/MAjE4rbfLGQ

What we are seeing now, is a brutal dictator, deploying dicatorship based strategies and policies, as seen from other dictatorships from throughout the world. Now the US citizens are no longer safe, as they are being attacked by their own government. Freedom? Liberty? Democracy? None of those are important to the US leader. He is willing to destroy people's lives, just to get a dam photo OP. And even now, he continues to show his resolve, by sending in troops to hurt its own citizens. How is this any different, then what is seen from other dictatorship based countries? The answer is, its NOT!

America chose to vote for that golden haired buffoon, and now they are reaping the rewards. I think America thought they knew the man from the show The Apprentice. Sorry America, you folks didn't know shitucky from Kentucky! You invited the devil into your administration, dun dun dun. So glad his pole numbers are so low though, hopefully that will help the Democrats side when he gets his a*** voted out. And here we thought Corona virus was going to be the worse thing the country would see. Ohhhhhh, how we were wrong about that one. Yikes!

I was 'attending' local Linux User Group on Jitsi (member has a digital ocean server with jitsi server on it to facilitate the meeting) - he had the unenviable task of meeting Trump when he was a cameraman with a national TV station - in his words - "as much brain as a barking dog" and taking over the Fed was to fund Putin!

Latest Newsletter from The Independent Institute arrived in my inbox today - worth taking a look at:

https://www.independent.org/publication ... sp?id=3872

I'm honestly not surprised at all. When you think about how the administration has been handling Covid-19, compared to how the rest of the 1st world countries have handled it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, that there is a game being played by the American leader. Its all going to come out. Watch as the lawsuits and the enditements flow, history is being made.

star treker wrote:I'm honestly not surprised at all. When you think about how the administration has been handling Covid-19, compared to how the rest of the 1st world countries have handled it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, that there is a game being played by the American leader. Its all going to come out. Watch as the lawsuits and the enditements flow, history is being made.

Indictments. Wow, that is your worse one, yet.

What is amazing is how Trump and Barr work to eliminate any investigator into their departments, yet are not called out for it by the Republican party, at all. In fact, Lindsey Graham voted DOWN the legislation to allow greater oversight of the Dept. of Justice, unless that legislation allows Bill Barr to Dismiss any investigation -including investigations into HIM.
They still move to protect corruption. They are exposing themselves and in my opinion, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Devin Nunes, Bill Barr, Rod Rosenstein (who landed the plane, then jumped ship because crooked he may be, at least he is smart), and others that directly covered up or supported the Corruption should be Removed from office permanently and charged for conspiracy against the United States. That would at least inhibit the precedents that Trump has set, for the future.

But we know none of that will happen. Congressional and Presidential pay is actually on the LOW side. So why do these guys get in there career up until they are in their 80's? They don't Retire? Immunity from prosecution, that is why.
The Democrats are not really any better and they will not support charges being filed against their 'current enemies' because that would also put THEM in danger of being charged, too.

It seems like every month, since the outbreak of Covid-19, I've had an update for you all. Well, here we are in July, and were still dealing with Covid-19, since March. But hey, this time its with a twist! There is a new strain of the Corona virus that they detected about a month ago, a version that is twice as bad as the first, but we already knew this.

Ahhhh, but still its new, know why? Because the governments decided to re-open in the USA, whatever progress that the US States did make on combating against it, well, it has resurged with a vengeance. And it doesn't help, all the idiots in the country, walking around without a mask on. There all spreading the virus all around, like the fricking idiots that they are. Truth is, at the end of the day, most humans are stupid, and humans are going to wipe each other out.

Religious people like to talk about Armageddin and the end of the world all the time. Well, I don't think its going to be Satan coming up from the bowels of the Earth, setting the Earth a blaze. No, its going to be humans killing each other, just as it always has been. I think our time is coming, saddle up people, the poo is about to hit the fan, twice over.

Well, here we are, already on the 8th day of the month of August, gosh how time flies! And what is interesting, is despite the fact that the days fly by, so little has been done with the Corona virus in this country. The USA is known throughout the entire world, as a country that has been falling behind. The USA has really become a 3rd world country, in its handling of everything.

Just when you thought the US would have already hit a new low, we just keep finding new lows to dominate in our position as the worlds suckiest country. Americans are not allowed to leave the US and go to other countries, and people from other countries, are not allowed to come to the US. Thats how bad it is here! But you got so many Americans acting like nothing has changed!

Thats right, Americans are still traveling the states, and going here, and then going there. They bring their families along to go to States like Utah, rent cars, and then get them stuck in the hills made for Jeeps, or stuck out in the sand doons of Sand Hollow. No American wants to deal with the reality that there world has changed due to the Corona virus.

Americans don't want to deal with reality, rather go on with their lives like nothing ever happen, easier that way I suppose, to live in ignorance. But the reality is, the number of infected people cases keep rising each day, literally thousands and thousands of people have been infected, and thousands have died. Soon the number of cases will be up in the millions by the time we ever get a vaccine, if we do at all, as it is a Corona virus after all.

In my small town there hasn't been too many cases, as opposed to big cities where you get tons of cases. But I know a family in my neighborhood who got it, and thankfully they got over it without too much trouble, but they are the lucky ones! In most cases tested of people with Covid-19, if the virus doesn't kill you, it often renders people with ever-lasting conditions, like heart troubles for example.

Just too many people in America treating the virus like its no big thing, and refuse to wear masks, because they will ruin their pride. And what is that no-mask policy getting people? Its spreading the virus around like a plague! You know that Logan Paul ahole that I hate so much? Well, apparently, him and his brother went to some party, and they came down with corona virus, none of them wore masks. Gee, I wonder what went wrong, just how far is the US going to go down the stupidity pole?

So ya, this Corona virus is not going away. Unlike other countries who are competent and have competent leaders, and have dealt with the virus properly, the US is falling so far behind, that the next thing we will all have to look forward for, is the economic collapse, which is coming. The US is a broken country, and its only going to get worse, were the laughing stock of the world you know that right? Nobody has respect for the US anymore.

And what is interesting is, after WW2, we helped Germany and Japan form a democracy, which they still have in spades. But the US who taught them democracy all those years ago, have become the dictatorial fascist POS country they used to be. Welcome to the new world!

star treker wrote:Americans don't want to deal with reality, rather go on with their lives like nothing ever happen, easier that way I suppose, to live in ignorance.

In talking to others around the world, I would suggest that this is not an American Condition as much as a Human Condition.
People all around the world seem to be the same. Taking needless chances and ignoring the severity of the virus.
In the USA, it is our faulty governmental Administration that has pandered to the lazy ignorance, whereas in other countries, the leadership put their foots down, to the grumbling gripes of their citizens.
Our Government pulled out the eyes and ears on the ground before the virus spread, causing us to lose our advance warning of it. Twice.
In spite of this, we did get warning- Which was ignored by the Trump administration. The administration believed that the knowledge of Coronavirus covid-19 would make the administration look and and cost votes. They tried to just deny it and hoped it would blow over.
When it did not, the admin stayed the course with repeated denials and claims that it would "go away on its own," "burn out by summer" and "99% of people who catch it are fine." Fox news has done nothing else but claim that it was being "Blown out of proportion" in hopes of public opinion being favorable of a woefully incompetent administration.
And this flies in the face of the medical records showing that while many survive the virus, they are ill for inordinately long times and have lasting health effects to their lungs, heart, liver, kidneys... Young people are dying of strokes, children are showing symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease... the list goes on and on how destructive Covid-19 really is.
Whenever doctors and experts refuted the administrations claims, the administration would retaliate and attack the integrity of the doctors.

We have a big fat Child in the oval office.

The American People are not any different from the Indonesians or the French... But we did 'elect' a President that is nothing else except a Selfish BUFFOON.
And as luck would have it, we got the Worst Possible President to handle the current times- In the current times.
Figures.
I no longer register as Republican and no longer claim the party. the changes to the Republican party started with Newt Gingrich and have increased since Trump took office. No longer is it Lincoln's Parry, the supporter or freedom and less government. It has become an authoritarian religious institution that relies on keeping the population Ignorant and relies on lies and dirty tactics.
I have joined a growing Majority of Americans that claim "Independent party" as both the national parties seem to have gone to extremes.
Americans as a people are as diverse as always. And you have a few that disregard the advice of experts just as you have many that follow the advice causing you to not see them. They are not flocking to beaches and coughing later.

The current Administrations Polling Numbers on "Approval of handling the Coronavirus outbreak" are dismally Low. Do not lose faith in the people just yet.

Time for independent Jesse Ventura to make a comeback then.
You are right about 'ignorance is bliss' not being limited to America, Aravisian. We have an equally bigger buffoon running our nation too. Still believe deep down that this corona virus strain was developed for depopulation and/or a chance for the pharma's to make billions more.

The Internet Archive helping those studying at home being sued by publishers! The Archive's response:

https://blog.archive.org/2020/07/29/int ... 0%7cctalnk

Great response to inevitable absurdity.

Humans can be very absurd, yet another example of the human condition, that is responsible for the mess we are facing each day.

Another example, if you remember the movie Space Balls, it was an obvious parody satire of the Star Wars movies. Under copyright law, parody satire is legal fare use. For the record, Mell Brooks never got into legal troubles with his production of Space Balls.

However, when years later, in the 2000's, when Moosbutter did his awesome and funny parody satire song for Star Wars, Lucas Arts came down on him like a ton of bricks, using their company lawyers, to sue his but over parody satire. The lunacy of humanity will never end.

Worth watching:

https://banned.video/watch?id=5eb3062575314400169f3e6c