-- and I have no problem with giving the providers a lot of benefit of the doubt since they are very much feeling their way through things as well.

Agreed. The incentives were probably scaled back in anticipation of “padding”. And they’re probably inadequate overall. I just wish they could have come up with a scheme that didn’t reward fouling the data.

 

Just found this article by Nature, very relevant to the way the narrative is being spinned by some media:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0820-9​

Our analyses clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus.

 

What they are saying is that it is a wild construct and not a man manipulated one. There is still a lot of speculation over the wild construct leaking from the Wuhan research facility.

 

What they are saying is that it is a wild construct and not a man manipulated one. There is still a lot of speculation over the wild construct leaking from the Wuhan research facility.

It is “plausible” but “highly unlikely” the virus was leaked from a US research facility after alien virus experiments.

 

It is “plausible” but “highly unlikely” the virus was leaked from a US research facility after alien virus experiments.

You have no idea of the bunch of conspiracy theories my friends have attached themselves to that I've had to fight these last few days. In the end, it all boils down to whatever the heck people are willing to believe. It doesn't matter if you raise the dead in front of them or not, they're still going to contradict direct, tangible evidence if it doesn't suit their beliefs.

 

Well I survived another trip to my local super market. With a limit of one per customer I grabbed the largest package of Charmin I saw so that went well. The pre-mix salad mixes were scarce but I found some we like. Soups are still hurting and sparse selection. Deli and cold cuts no problem and plenty of good fresh bakery. No donuts though and I am beginning to crave a nice couple of jelly donuts. I was able to restock my frozen raw shrimp stash so that was good. They now have the in doot and out door with one way aisles but I screwed that up as I was over halfway through the store before I noticed the added arrows on the floor. Worked out OK as I hit it early so no wait and no crowd to bitch at me for going the wrong way. My face mask in a modified bandanna which belonged to one of my dogs, actually a Budweiser bandanna. If the state wants me wearing a face mask when out in public they can provide one or at least tell me where I can get some? I call BS on that! Overall good so far today.

Ron

I wouldnt have one either but i happened to know someone in the medical field that gave be a couple.
I was lucky because when i went to ShopRite recently they have a sign on the door "Please Wear A Face Mask".
Not sure if i could get in without one.

But you are very lucky that they are rationing paper products at your store because in the said ShopRite they did not do that and now the paper isle is completely barren. If they did not impose that at your store you may not have been able to get any. That's what happened to me. I was lucky i got some from nice neighbors and a little online although it took a couple weeks to ship.

 

@SamR and others...

There is a growing believe now that it did come from a Wuhan research facility. Mainstream media is now starting to pick up the story too. I just heard this on OAN this morning.
The 'man made' idea came from a limited source if i remember right.
We of course still have to wait for an official investigation of course.
The first case was found 10 miles from the facility in question which happens to be a virology lab.
The place has made mistakes in the past. Coincidence?
A coincidence like this has to be investigated thoroughly.
The Chinese gov says, "Let science not politics determine this"
Ok sure, investigation on the way.

 

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... It just might be a duck. We shall see. If proven it will be like heaven opened its gates for the lawyers just waiting to find someone to sue.

 

Previously I mentioned the density in the NYC mass transit. This is a recently taken image of a single subway car. Imagine tens of thousands of these metal boxes packed like this on any average day. How many face mask can you see? This is why I say NYC gets what it deserves. I did minor research on the image and my read is that it is true and a few days ago. Yet, they never shut down mass transit. Go figure.



I could never go back to living like that.

Ron

 

...now the paper isle is completely barren.

Predictable consequence of anti-gouging laws. Price hasn't changed, but you can't buy any.

 

Predictable consequence of anti-gouging laws. Price hasn't changed, but you can't buy any.

What's interesting is much of what one can or can not buy has a hell of a lot to do with geography. NY and NJ good luck with paper products like toilet paper and paper towels. My wife's cousin lives in the greater Phoenix AZ. suburbs. Her husband went to the big supermarket yesterday. There in the front of the store was a pile of toilet paper with a guy handing it out 1 roll per customer and he got his one roll and cousin Deb said the stuff is horrible. This is not like Florida with an approaching hurricane and flashlight batteries $8 each. It just seems some areas of the country have larger shortages than others. While I can see population density figuring into things some of it seems to have no rhyme or reason.

As I mentioned yesterday my trip to the supermarket went fine and I really have no need to go back for a long time as we are well stocked.

On another note, I believe it was Illinois. People were removing the toilet paper from Interstate Rest Areas. So what do the do? They closed any unmanned rest areas. Here in Ohio they now allow food trucks in rest areas so the truckers have food. Like having an attendant in a rest area will prevent toilet paper theft?

Ron

 

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... It just might be a duck. We shall see. If proven it will be like heaven opened its gates for the lawyers just waiting to find someone to sue.

"It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong."
Richard P. Feynman

 

This is why I say NYC gets what it deserves.

It does make you question how serious they can be. Actions speak louder than words.

MOD EDIT: Unrelated potentially politically-charged commentary removed.

 

Corona crisis debate raging in Mexico:

The debate is evidentally raging as to whether to classify beer as essential.
The Mexican National Alliance of Small Business argues that barley based beverage supplies are critical at these times and should be guaranteed, "because beer helps people get through quarantine in better terms"
Plus it is cheaper than bottled water.
Max.
Hear Hear!

 

Hear Hear!

You mean, "Here, here!" ... in response to "anyone want a beer"?

 

You mean, "Here, here!" ... in response to "anyone want a beer"?

The origin circa 1700 was Hear Hear it was later often corrupted to Here here!
Actually the orign was Hear him! Hear him! A british parliament declaration!
Also according to OED.
Max.

 

The origin circa 1700 was Hear Hear...

Yes. I was making a funny.

 

Yes. I was making a funny.

A bit slow today!

 

Now I understand why the dogs chew the furniture and other things I always wondered about.

Ron

 

A nice surf 'n' turf family dinner.

Finished cooking the Lobster with a little Cherry smoke on the grill.