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We’ll have to see how that defense holds up when people are dying.

 Matt Swain wrote:
I think this is long overdue.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalentertainment/2020/04/10/covid-19-lawsuit-against-fox-news/?fbclid=IwAR0JyWGyalv5dQdVSCxphlWFDJ3epytF5kJLapTgJFhADNL7142LLWP9CGI#2a6107cc5739

I hope it succeeds. People will claim their "Freeze peach" rights, tough. If people want to believe fox and it only affects them, that's one thing. But when fox lies and people believe it, act on it and endanger the lives of people who don;t watch fox, it's not jsut about their "freeze peach", it's affecting other peoples lives and yes, then it's time to stamp on them.

Meanwhile america continues to prove the 20% theory: There is no theory so stupid that 20% of people won't believe it.

Tell people that 5G towers cause cthe ovid virus to materialize in the air around them, they believe it.

Tell people the covid vaccine will contain mind control chips created by bill gates, they believe it.

I honestly think there's no hope for humanity anymore. I jsut wish someone would do a satire of the beatle's lonely people song as "Look at all the stupid people, where do they all come from?"

Not gonna lie, I've been waiting about a week now for the closers over on Wikipedia/AN to release their verdict on the reliability of Fox News as a source. The bulk of the argument against Fox News' reliability this go round (this is a dust up on Wiki maybe every other year or so?) was all about their coronavirus coverage (EDIT: And climate change stuff now that I'm looking at it again) with more than a few people pointing out Daily Mail was basically determined unreliable for the same kind of reporting.

I've got my popcorn waiting. No matter which way it ends up going, it's gonna be gud.

Speaking of Belfast, I almost forgot....it’s the 11th night. Yet I haven’t seen any bonfires anywhere, not even in their usual spots. These had the potential to be problematic in the course of this pandemic but it looks like the precautions are being taken.

Nice to see an attempt at doing something against Fox News, in the larger picture fake news. This pandemic has made evident something the rational knew already; this type of 'reporting' negatively affects Americans in a significant way. It kills people. Indirectly, but it does.

 Future War Cultist wrote:
Speaking of Belfast, I almost forgot....it’s the 11th night. Yet I haven’t seen any bonfires anywhere, not even in their usual spots. These had the potential to be problematic in the course of this pandemic but it looks like the precautions are being taken.

I passed a couple of small ones on my way across town yesterday. Nothing big two of them had signs up for social distancing. Apparently they are being lit around 10 to keep the party down a little. Hopefully all will get pass off ok. The 12th organisers have behaved brilliantly right from the start. You can think what you like about the orange but they have done it right ever since this started. Just hope the idiots in the blue bag brigade don’t ruin things over the weekend.

 Matt Swain wrote:
I think this is long overdue.

Not only was it long overdue, it was long ago. That article is from April 10th - a lifetime ago in 2020. A judge threw the case out a month later, in May.

To proactively answer your next question, the murder hornets didn't actually turn out to be a problem.

stratigo wrote:

Voss wrote:

 Dreadwinter wrote:

GoatboyBeta wrote:
I honestly don't get how a mask/face covering is any different from other required safety equipment most of us use all the time. Are seat belts, crash helmets, life jackets, hard hats, high vis vests, safety goggles and boots ect all an infringement on our freedoms as well?

In my state, one of the few that allows this, a helmet is not required on a motorcycle. Bikers will foam at the mouth here if you suggest they wear one so they survive a crash. Most of them go on about freedom and waking up in America, but when you quiz them on specifics of the Constitution, they generally don't know what it actually says..

Ah. Same here. This is Bike Week around these parts too. So many morons sans helmets. Also in shorts and t-shirts as well, which always makes me think of shredded meat stretched out across a highway.


Speaking of which, the motorcyclists [at their 'unofficial' event, that happens to correspond with the yearly official event] decided to join in on the BLM protest and 'militia' counter-protest today (the latter being openly armed in many cases, because Open Carry laws say that's fine). Made it extra fun. Tense, but happily no major incidents.
A fair number of folks weren't wearing masks, though, in all three groups. Neither were various tourists who wandered through the camera shots, as they tried to navigate sidewalks at the town square through crowds of protesters on opposing street corners.

Bullet dodged for immediate consequences, but we'll see what the statistics are like in 8-14 days.

there is one big difference in the analogy though.

People refusing to wear helmets will help kill only them.

People refusing to wear masks will help kill people around them.

I wish that were true. But the people that have to go out and scrape the meat crayon off an interstate are putting themselves at considerably more risk than the driver put themselves. What if they aren't wearing a helmet and they catch a rock to the face and steer in to another vehicle? A bug in the eyes and they lose control on a busy roadway?

When you are on the road, there is never a point when you are only risking your own life.

66k cases in us, another record. Yet disney land feels safe to open...

But at least trump was seen wearing mask. Some progress.

Found a way to make sure Everyman takes this seriously.
It can lead to erectile dysfunction and impotancy.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1261359/coronavirus-cases-update-china-study-sexual-hormones-erectile-dysfunction

Just to amuse people, I present a case of another anti covid science argument getting shredded.

108811447_3196827437051658_7921910144172994398_n by matt swain, on Flickr

I’m 99% certain that Ron DeSantis wears a girdle.

Another case of a totally false anti covid science argument being ran thru a stump shredder.

108518919_4053259318024175_435865597184757644_o by matt swain, on Flickr

There is no point arguing with people about this. If at this point they don't understand, they are willfully ignorant and care only about themselves and their bottom line

Florida has just recorded a number of cases in one day greater than any EU country at the height of their outbreak, according to C4 News.

Refusing to wear a mask to help your country and fellow citizens is not a choice someone randomly makes. It's ingrained in your psyche and usually people at large just didn't notice your selfishness before now.

My state is introducing mandatory masks in public spaces tomorrow, and I heard from the neighbor that a small portion of people have actually been talking about making fake, ineffectual masks to flaunt the system undetected.

Meanwhile, luckily....my wife and I have no symptoms yet, and it's been 5 days after potential exposure. So I may have gotten lucky.

BUT! I did find a new statement that makes masks magically appear, or get pulled up from chins when I come across them in public stores, or on deliveries. I just nonchalantly tell them I am wearing my mask to keep them safe, as I just got exposed the other day, and suddenly they are serious about that mask they were mocking. Well, look at that, lol. Even after this scare passes, I am using that as a little white lie to get anyone I see to be more responsible.

 Azreal13 wrote:
Florida has just recorded a number of cases in one day greater than any EU country at the height of their outbreak, according to C4 News.

Indeed it has, yet we're forging ahead with reopening our schools and our theme parks are fully open.

In my county, we're relying on parents to check their kids before sending them to school, but plan to temperature check teachers at the door.

Masks will be mandatory, but every other precaution is followed by the awful qualifier "where possible". It is going to be an ugly, ugly fall.

We don't have the staff to reduce class size, nor do we have the space to put 6 feet between the desks. We struggle to get 12" between every desk for testing. So we'll social distance as possible.

Aaand here in the UK we are back to mixed messages. Michal Gove who is a senior member of the government with the wonderfully vague post of Minister for the Cabinet Office, did the rounds on the Sunday news and politics programs. Saying that he's against compulsory mask wearing and "trusts peoples common sense".
*shrug*

GoatboyBeta wrote:
Aaand here in the UK we are back to mixed messages. Michal Gove who is a senior member of the government with the wonderfully vague post of Minister for the Cabinet Office, did the rounds on the Sunday news and politics programs. Saying that he's against compulsory mask wearing and "trusts peoples common sense".
*shrug*

Let's see how that turns out.

 Gitzbitah wrote:

 Azreal13 wrote:
Florida has just recorded a number of cases in one day greater than any EU country at the height of their outbreak, according to C4 News.

Indeed it has, yet we're forging ahead with reopening our schools and our theme parks are fully open.

In my county, we're relying on parents to check their kids before sending them to school, but plan to temperature check teachers at the door.

Masks will be mandatory, but every other precaution is followed by the awful qualifier "where possible". It is going to be an ugly, ugly fall.

We don't have the staff to reduce class size, nor do we have the space to put 6 feet between the desks. We struggle to get 12" between every desk for testing. So we'll social distance as possible.

I have to admit, every time the school issues come up (regardless of country) the same questions occur to me (but they're _never_ asked by journalists or politicians). Where are they going to materialize double the teach staff and floor space (and all the support that requires) to 'social distance' class rooms and reduce class sizes?

It isn't even vaguely possible unless they're simply selecting children to not go to school, and that's just inherently ugly.

Not to mention good luck getting the smaller children to socially distance at all.

I wonder how much of my state is going to be plagued with medical illnesses that mean they can't wear a mask tomorrow, when the indoor requirements for being masked kick in?

Instead of a country of Patriots that willingly suffer a bit to keep everyone safe, we're going to all be victims with reasons as to why we don't have to step up, instead.

*This does not include people with the (very) small range of legitimate medical conditions that prohibit mask wearing, who are fragile enough anyways that they should simply be staying home when possible, and taking advantage of the widespread curbside services businesses offer.*

GoatboyBeta wrote:
Aaand here in the UK we are back to mixed messages. Michal Gove who is a senior member of the government with the wonderfully vague post of Minister for the Cabinet Office, did the rounds on the Sunday news and politics programs. Saying that he's against compulsory mask wearing and "trusts peoples common sense".
*shrug*

of course he'd say that as a mask would prevent him from doing his Pob* thing

* Pob was a horrid puppet from 80/90s kids tv that bears more than some likeness to Gove

As for trusting common sense didnt he see the pictures in his missus paper of that beach and pubs

 AegisGrimm wrote:
I wonder how much of my state is going to be plagued with medical illnesses that mean they can't wear a mask tomorrow, when the indoor requirements for being masked kick in?

Instead of a country of Patriots that willingly suffer a bit to keep everyone safe, we're going to all be victims with reasons as to why we don't have to step up, instead.

*This does not include people with the (very) small range of legitimate medical conditions that prohibit mask wearing, who are fragile enough anyways that they should simply be staying home when possible, and taking advantage of the widespread curbside services businesses offer.*

My County said that while you are not required to wear a mask if you have breathing problems, you are required to then wear a face sheild with a cloth in order to prevent spreading

And today's darwin award goes to guy who took part of covid-19 party(host confirmed to have it) believing virus to be hoax and died due to virus...

Good job. Hopefully he didn't end up killing others with his stupid actions.

Things like that seem impossible to me and mine but then every once and a while we catch some of the "alternate reality updates" some people consume daily and it starts to make some sense how it can happen.

 AegisGrimm wrote:
BUT! I did find a new statement that makes masks magically appear, or get pulled up from chins when I come across them in public stores, or on deliveries. I just nonchalantly tell them I am wearing my mask to keep them safe, as I just got exposed the other day, and suddenly they are serious about that mask they were mocking. Well, look at that, lol. Even after this scare passes, I am using that as a little white lie to get anyone I see to be more responsible.

Better than coughing in public, which was what I was thinking of doing...

*****

Articles from the NewsNow newsfeed that are sorta related to some posts here...

30-year-old dies of coronavirus after attending Texas ‘COVID-19 party’ :
"He thought the disease was a hoax. He thought he was young and invincible and wouldn’t get affected by the disease.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/07/13/30-year-old-dies-of-coronavirus-after-attending-Texas-COVID-19-party-.html

Teachers who taught summer school in same classroom catch coronavirus, one dies: report :
"Three Arizona summer-school teachers who followed the recommended safety protocols for the coronavirus while in the same classroom contracted the contagion — and one of them died, reports say."
https://www.foxnews.com/us/teachers-who-taught-summer-school-in-same-classroom-catch-coronavirus-one-dies-report

The first article doesn't mention if the victim had a pre-existing condition. The second one does, with the teacher who died having "diabetes, lupus and asthma". Seems irresponsible to let someone with pre-existing conditions return to teaching.

Voss has a very good point -- where are these teachers going to come from? On a local forum, some don't want to return to the classroom. Some are in vulnerable demographics. While not all households can afford to keep children at home, online distancing and homeschool do work. I'm still looking for an article that explains why children have lower rates of infection than adults, or studies that take into account that children presently have a lower exposure to the virus than adults, which may be the only reason why they haven't been infected. Other viruses have decreased in infection rates among children this year, but not because children have suddenly acquired a healthier immune system than they had last year.

Are children actually 'as likely' to get COVID-19 as adults?
In a preliminary study, "The investigators found that children under 10 who were in close contact with people who had COVID-19 demonstrated a 7.4% infection rate — very similar to the 7.9% infection rate in adults. However, the researchers also determined that children were less likely to develop symptoms, even though they seemed just as likely as adults to contract the virus."
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/are-children-actually-as-likely-to-get-covid-19-as-adults

Pox-Parties are a thing. People do them for chickenpox for kids because its generally just an annoying itching and spots for most, however its far less deadly at a young age than at an older age for an adult to catch it. So its encouraged to spread it around between kids.


So the concept is not bad, the problem is this isn't kids swapping a disease that is mostly harmless to them (there are those who have a more serious reaction, but they are in a vast minority) with a view toward long term protection. Instead its adults who are missunderstanding/informed on the situation either because they think they are "young are immune and it only affects the retired"; or because they "don't believe it" and think its all a hoax.


The former is flawed but that young immune thing is still doing the rounds; the latter is deeply worrying since its showing vast lack of trust in the government. A curious thing when you consider that the USA is a modern developed nation not banana plantation being taken over by a very hostile and violent military group.

Perhaps banana plantations and corn plantations are not so different after all?

 NinthMusketeer wrote:
Perhaps banana plantations and corn plantations are not so different after all?

Well, when you have an torwards 2 party adapted system with these parties beeing so entrenched that no rival party can rise, haven't you just achieved a more stable plantation?

Morning coffee thought while sitting down for work / remote

Man the US will be portrayed in a lot of movies as an extraordinarily dumb government for future pandemic movies.