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OK, the Corona Virus Isn't Going Away. Now What?


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There was a very interesting interview with Bill Gates. To paraphrase, he said the countries that did well with COVID had dealt with SARS, so they realized the gravity of the situation and had mechanisms in place to deal with it. That wasn't the case here, or in Europe or South America, for that matter.

 

As this point, I'm past finger-pointing about what happened in the past. It's time to accept the equivalent of the fact that we rear-ended the car in front of us, the person on the passenger side is pretty messed up, the tow trucks are on the way, the cops are taking reports, and our insurance is going to go through the roof because in a rear-end situation, we're the ones at fault.

 

From here, we move on to damage control, or at least, taking what we learned the first time around, so we can apply it to when it pops up next. The virus itself still has many twists, turns, and surprises ahead...and it doesn't have a political affiliation. It just wants to reproduce.

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When you think about it, the virus is just being a good virus. The fact that it is bad for us is our opinion of it. Like us and every other living thing on the planet, it just wants to reproduce.

 

And the only reason why we need to know who blew the response is to know who to trust in the future. Hit me once, shame on you. Hit me twice, shame on me.

 

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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On a tangent your other thread, "Disaster Fatigue":

People will get increasingly loose with their covid protocol as time passes.

 

But not only that, ... I see over and over, (and this started months ago) People with Authority, school district leaders, political leaders, even hospital adminsitrators say the most ignorantly ridiculous things about "what the situation is going to be like in a few months".

 

They've opened the schools up; as if the virus knows something is different now from April? Every week in Augusta they close another one; who is getting infected and having their life impacted by the "wisdom" of "well, we'll open the schools on (arbitary date).

As if delaying one school a week from another is going to make some magical difference? I watched a Formula 1 race today in Russia. They're "slowly allowing more fans back to the races"? What has changed? What was the medical event that guided this decision? It wasn't a BUSINESS decision, was it?

 

People talk about things "being back to normal by (November,December, end of the year, whenever) with no reasoning. I have guitar students routinely asking "when are you opening your office back up?" - as if a) I have some way of knowing that and b) something is different from when I closed it back in March???

 

So ironically Craig, your thread title, according to most people in my region, is wrong - THE CORONAVIRUS HAS GONE AWAY. I've learned so much about myself and our "civil"ization this year. I've had Inverted Dunning-Kruger all of my life, people are dumb all over as Frank says. It will take another explosive flareup that managed to affect enough of the population that everyone knows someone that's died from it, in order to have people's behavior change. Because we're just slightly smart monkeys; we won't do if we can't see. Disease is invisible, people die in hospitals instead of in the streets, myocarditis, renal insufficiency, neurological damage - invisible. The median i.q. are wrecking us. Dumb has been weaponized by the right.

 

... and the timing with the flu, which should be offset by a few months I would think, couldn't be better. People will get more and more lax every month, and by Christmas - college students home for the holidays, families getting together, cold weather making people congregate inside (or close)... January, February could be the peak that makes people finally start considering actually getting serious about stopping it until we get a vaccine. Testing everybody, quickly, and contact tracing. THE ONLY WAY OUT.

Guitar Lessons in Augusta Georgia: www.chipmcdonald.com

Eccentric blog: https://chipmcdonaldblog.blogspot.com/

 

/ "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien

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Yes we're all tired of it, and for those people that haven't had the disease touch their friends or family, as time goes by they will get more and more relaxed about it.

 

And if it hits close to home, it'll be "Why me?"

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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Completely on topic in case anyone caresâ¦

 

Striking Up the Band AgainâSafely

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread in early 2020, musicians and band directors were quick to realize the implications for live music. In order for bands and vocalists to resume practicing and performing together in person, more needed to be known about the risksâand how to mitigate them.

 

But only scant data existed on how instruments, including the human voice, spread particles into the surrounding space.

 

To fill in the knowledge gap, two leading organizations of music educatorsâthe College Band Directors" National Association and the National Federation of State High School Associationsâteamed up to commission a pair of studies, led respectively by the University of Colorado-Boulder"s Shelly Miller and University of Maryland (UMD) mechanical engineering professor Jelena Srebric, who is acting associate dean of research at the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

 

The goal: conduct tests to measure the behavior of particles emitted when a brass player sounds a note, or when a soprano lifts her voice in song.

 

'The more we understand about the trajectory of aerosols in situations such as indoor rehearsals and concerts, or outside at a sporting event, the more we"ll be able to devise methods for keeping performers and spectators safe, while enabling us to continue to enjoy live music,' Srebric said.

 

Working out of a specially equipped chamber near UMD"s College Park campus, Srebric and her team have been running tests on clarinets, euphoniums, flutes, French horns, oboes, saxophones, trombones, trumpets and tubas, while also measuring the aerosols emitted by actors and vocalists.

 

With two sets of preliminary results released so far, the studies have yielded some cause for optimism: while playing wind and brass instruments, along with vocal performances, can indeed become vectors for virus transmission, the risk can be reduced by an impressive degree through the use of protective measures.

 

Instruments vary considerably when it comes to aerosol emissions, the researchers found. The oboe, for instance, is a particle powerhouseâthanks to the high-pressure action of its double reeds. Flutes, despite their breathy timbre, turn out to send relatively few particles into the surrounding air, although those particles are spread directly to the right at face level.

 

Meanwhile, actors and vocalists alike can fill a space with aerosols, particularly at moments of peak intensity (as in a declaimed monologue, pop song or hymn).

 

The good news: in all cases, emissions can be cut to safer levels by performing with a mask onâor, in the case of wind and brass instruments, using a bell cover with the musician wearing a modified instrument mask. For instruments that do not accommodate bell covers, such as the flute, then the musician can wear a face shield and a plexiglass barrier to their right could be installed. Based on the studies" findings, the sponsoring organizations have drawn up guidelinesâsupplemented with posters and videosâfor schools, colleges, and other organizations involved with live music.

 

For Srebric, there is satisfaction in knowing her work will be put to immediate, practical use. 'It"s such a great cause,' she said. 'A world without live music is no good!'

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

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That is encouraging, although I wonder what the high-frequency loss is signing through a mask. On the other hand, it will prevent spraying into the microphone, which is a good thing anyway :)

 

The only red flag is "emissions can be cut to safer levels." How much safer is safer? For example, I would think that playing outside, like for a high school football game, would probably be less problematic than choir practice in a small rehearsal room.

 

There's so much uncertainty over what will happen this Winter.

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It'll be warmer here in Florida but dryer too. A lot of northerners will come down with their diseases to add to our home grown ones. I have a good immune system and rarely get sick.

 

Our season is usually booked solid by now, but it's completely empty. We mostly play at yacht clubs, country clubs, resorts, and retirement developments. It's a good market here in Florida and I haven't lacked for work since I chose this one when I was a younger man of 40.

 

An 'in public' place I've been playing at for 12 years wants us back once a week in season, and thankfully it's outdoors. I have mixed feelings about it, eager to play, want the money, but slightly apprehensive about the plague. It's a restaurant with a full liquor license, on a deck, over a salt water lagoon, across from a state park. Almost paradise.

 

We've been there longer than anyone else, even the owners are new. We draw a crowd, but so many of our crowd is from 'the north' and even Canada that I don't know if there will be enough to keep it going. But as long as the owners want us, we need to do it.

 

It's a most unusual year.

 

Insights and incites by Notes.

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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Mr. & Mrs. Trump both tested positive for COVID.

 

Trump criticized Biden for wearing a mask. Hmmmm. Who has the last laugh now.

 

Don't listen to a real-estate salesman, listen to the doctors and protect yourself, wear your mask.

 

Besides for providing some protection, it keeps the facial recognition attached to those ubiquitous cameras in public spaces from tracking your movements :)

 

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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Notes, this is NOT the place for politics. I don't want wishes of a speedy recovery, theories that Trump doesn't have it and it's just a campaign ploy, or schadenfreude.

 

We have more pressing problems, like the uncertainty about when/how we'll be able to have normal gigs, when/how the live sound industry is going to come back, and potential performance alternatives.

 

A friend of mine was laid off yesterday from a company that makes PA systems. No one's buying them because there's no place to play. His severance pay lasts two weeks. He's a smart guy and will likely be able to get a job, but still...with Disney, airlines, Goldman Sachs, and other companies starting a new round of layoffs, there will be less money for people to spend. There may be more stimulus in the future, but there's no free lunch and money spent now will have an economic impact later.

 

Another friend who is heavily involved in consulting and works with live sound companies is having a really hard time dealing with business dropping off a cliff. What makes it worse is that COVID-19 won't "end" with a clear dividing line, it will peter out over time. That time will be at least months, and more likely a year. So any recovery will be piecemeal, and on top of a reduced infrastructure.

 

The UK has taken some steps to bail out the arts, but I have no idea how effective that's been, or how long it will sustain.

 

The one positive trend we're seeing is that many music stores and companies dealing with consumers are doing great business. I had written an applications-oriented article about a piece of gear, and sent it to the company for fact-check. They asked me to please hold off getting it published, because they're so backordered only a limited number of people would benefit from the article at this point.

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And this brings us to a comment from Chip above: It wasn't a BUSINESS decision, was it?

 

The answer is of COURSE is was! This comment implies that you're completely OK with shutting down the economy, throwing the country and world into a second Great Depression until what? The virus has a cure? Everybody develops herd immunity? Government money will support everyone who's lost their job until then? Hate to break it to you but that will never happen. Stimulus money it temporary, it's only there to buy time but not years of time, only months. Kids need to be in a real, physical school and not be stuck at home with uneducated parents who have no clue and an iffy tablet or laptop. Even if the parents are educated, make decent money but are now working from home, they can't handle taking care of school age kids. It's simply too much. Parents, ESPECIALLY lower income, lower educated ones need to get back to work and their kids need to be in school. It's the only chance those poor kids have to get up and out of where they're at now. And, look at the disruption if you take this out another year. You're talking basically two lost years of children's education so they're now two years behind.

 

Yes, yes I know I'm Captain Obvious here. Many believe it's better to be alive and out of work than to be dead but hey, business is thriving. At this point that's a stupid argument, sorry. Government stimulus money was always going to be temporary, it was to buy time for hospitals and medical people go come to grips with this thing which has happened. Not good enough for me yet but they've made a lot of progress. Do you (meaning a generic "you") really want to see great companies like Disney, Boeing, the airlines, the cruise lines. at least half of all restaurants. all the casinos, all the big sporting events, and more I can't think of just go POOF? Out of business. Do you have any idea how many millions of workers all these companies represent? Just restaurants alone is 15 million people. You can triple that at least, probably more when you include all the other categories. You're talking about a total economic disaster if that happens. I mean bank failures, your retirement goes out the window, Social Security gets cut for CURRENT recipients, not just for younger people going forward. You'll either lose your house or can't pay rent and get tossed out. Your house is paid for? What about property taxes and just basic living expenses? Landlords can't live with rent moratoriums for years so they go into foreclosure along with everybody else.

 

That's what a Great Depression looks like. The prior mere recessions look like nothing compared to that. This is the reason for even liberal states reopening businesses and schools. States are losing billions in tax revenues and are about to be forced to lay off their workers too which is why part of the possible new bill in Congress includes funds for local governments who are hurting as well. Again, only temporary though. This scenario was totally predictable back in March and was talked about then. Basically it's lives or money. Easy to say, hmmmm lives GOOD, money BAD. Without money you have no life.

 

The virus is here to stay and we can't be locked up and businesses and schools shut down forever. The question now is when? Is it going to be any better now or next year? I'll submit it won't make much difference so we may as well reopen now and just work it out because putting it off another six months just causes that much more financial hardship with no payoff for that sacrifice.

 

Everything I just laid out and it's only scratching the surface, describes two really bad choices, the lessor of two evils. No easy answers. Treatments are better and will continue to get better. Hospitalization rates are going down because of that. Those of us older people with underlying conditions will continue to look after ourselves but I come down on people need to get back to work and the schools need to reopen and we'll just have to live with the consequences because imho the alternative is worse.

 

Bob

Hammond SK1, Mojo 61, Kurzweil PC3, Korg Pa3x, Roland FA06, Band in a Box, Real Band, Studio One, too much stuff...
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Remember Bob, for Europe to get herd immunity to the Black Plague, about 50% of the people died. Some places like London, Hamburg and others it was well over 60%, other places less.

 

Personally, I don't think potentially losing 50% of the population is better than a depression.

 

We don't know what it'll take, how many people will die, how many more will have their lives shortened due to permanent organ damage. Either way it seems to be a lose-lose situation.

 

There is still hope for a vaccine, and I figure we should hold out long enough for that before we talk about herd immunity. We should at least give the vaccines in development today the chance.

 

On the other hand, a vaccine may never come, but perhaps better treatments will.

 

Some people think giving money to working class people is worse than giving money to big businesses in the form of price support (The sugar industry in Florida gets $4B/year according to the Palm Beach Post to keep their wholesale prices high and keep us paying more for sugar). I disagree,but that's the beauty of living in a semi-free country. We get to disagree.

 

Of course my opinion is clouded by (1) I'm in the high risk age group and (2) I saw what it did to my sister-in-law who is NOT in the high risk group. Neither is her son and his fiance in the high risk group.

 

Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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Kids need to be in a real, physical school and not be stuck at home with uneducated parents who have no clue and an iffy tablet or laptop. Even if the parents are educated, make decent money but are now working from home, they can't handle taking care of school age kids. It's simply too much. Parents, ESPECIALLY lower income, lower educated ones need to get back to work and their kids need to be in school. It's the only chance those poor kids have to get up and out of where they're at now. And, look at the disruption if you take this out another year. You're talking basically two lost years of children's education so they're now two years behind.

 

Not so much looking to debate this, just asking the question (and going OT) ... I wonder if this is true in the modern world. Other that reading and arithmetic (at least up until high school). I either don't remember (at my advanced age) or later discovered what I learned to be not so much true. Pretty much anything you need to know you can just ask SIRI. But you do need to know what to ask and 4 year olds are really good at iPad.

 

So I'm thinking what schools really need to teach is the ability to reason and not to jam a bunch of "facts" down kids throats. The only thing I got from that (and 3 years of Latin class) was to become really good at playing Jeopardy. If you can reason seems to me everything else is easy. I remember trying to help my kids with math homework. Of course they way I knew how to do it was "wrong" (answer not important). They had to do it "the right way". So I always tried to impress upon them, when you look at a problem and you change a variable somewhere ... does this make the answer bigger or smaller, or really bigger and really smaller. There are calculators for everything else. YMMV

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Bob (Jazzmammal)

 

My brother-in-law and his family were anti-masker/herd-immunity practitioners and preachers.

 

Then his wife, his son and his son's fiance all got COVID. His wife (in her early 50s) was in a windowless isolation room thinking she was going to die without getting to say 'good bye' to her family. The children were in the hospital too. His wife is left with organ damage that will most likely shorten her life.

 

My B-I-L says he's wearing a big red "S" on his chest - for stupid.

 

Which is the lesser of the two evils?

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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Remember Bob, for Europe to get herd immunity to the Black Plague, about 50% of the people died. Some places like London, Hamburg and others it was well over 60%, other places less.

 

Personally, I don't think potentially losing 50% of the population is better than a depression.

 

Notes

I must have missed the reports that the death rate from Covid rose from a tiny fraction of 1% to 50%.

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Not to put too fine a point on it, but a lot of old people dying does take pressure off of social security and medicare. At this point, having old people die would be helpful to the economy. They're probably not full-time employed, so the only taxes they're paying are off of their social security. (Which BTW people paid for - it's not a gift from the government. So if the people who paid into the fund die without withdrawing everything they paid into social security, then they've made a gift to the US Treasury.)

 

I'm not advocating turning oldsters in soylent green...just stating the obvious.

 

As to opening up/not opening up etc. etc., people are so effing spoiled they can't contemplate a situation where there's no answer. And there isn't, just like there's no "answer" to an earthquake destroying a town. The "solution," such as it is, is obvious - put the economy on hold until opening up can occur at a greater rate, there's a vaccine, enough people have died, etc. Our economic system is predicated on continual growth fueled by consumer spending, and that's simply not possible right now. I think everyone will just have to realize that growth will not be possible for a while. Maintenance, however, will be possible if people are smart...and yes, I know that's asking a lot.

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Not to put too fine a point on it, but a lot of old people dying does take pressure off of social security and medicare. .

 

Well if you"re going there ... it also gets rid of a lot of those those black and brown people. Make one wonder if that might be part of the current government"s plan.

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I was NOT saying that getting rid of old people was an intended goal, I was just pointing out one of the consequences of losing a significant amount of the older demographics. Another consequence would be a lot of empty seats in government, so I don't think it was part of a plan. Ditto people of color, it wasn't realized that was a factor until after COVID hit.

 

What people need to keep remembering is that something on this level hasn't happened in a hundred years, long out of the available generational memory. No one had the slightest idea of what to do, and basically, people still don't know what to do, even though more is being learned about the disease every day (at least that's a good thing). But the world started at ground zero in terms of how do you deal with a new pandemic when the world population is over 350 billion, and often living in crowded environments.

 

We still don't know what will happen in northern hemisphere this Winter. Some people predict disaster, some say there are fewer people to infect so it won't be as bad as if it had started in the Winter. My prediction is that whatever people are predicting will likely by wrong :)

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Usually the result is between the two extremes.

 

IMO rushing to open up before a vaccine has a chance is foolhardy - others disagree.

 

No matter what the death percentage, what if it gets your healthy wife, son and his fiance while leaving the husband and daughter unharmed? Is that a fair price to pay? Would you sacrifice them on the chopping block to save the economy? Would you sacrifice yourself to save the economy? Do you have the right to ask others to do that?

 

When you are sailing, when the captain first thinks if it might be time to reef the sails, it IS time to reef the sails. So we need to keep the sails reefed until the storm is over or light enough to safely navigate.

 

And yes, Capitalism/Corporationalism depends on perpetual growth, but the Earth is a closed system. Perpetual growth in a closed system is impossible. Perhaps it's time we think about sustaining instead of growing. Perhaps capitalism is the problem? I don't know.

 

We are like an algae bloom but humans are the algae, the earth is the pond, and the rate of growth to disaster is much, much slower. Eventually the algae bloom kills all the algae in the pond. It seems like we humans might be approaching that, but as I said, the rate is much slower. Will our children or grandchildren see the hard times before the fall? I don't know.

 

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton

Owner, Norton Music http://www.nortonmusic.com

Style and Fake disks for Band-in-a-Box

The Sophisticats http://www.s-cats.com >^. .^< >^. .^<

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Ha ha, Craig said "Soylent green." It made the Registry of Historical Films, rightfully so. It had a great impact on me when it was released, being so prescient & cautionary. Then it became a notable pop culture reference. Now its coming semi-true. If people could go "Home" right now, there'd be a line at the domes at times. If it was good enough for Edward G. Robinson, it should be good enough for America! PROFIT! Ye gods.... :eek::taz::doh:

 "I want to be an intellectual, but I don't have the brainpower.
  The absent-mindedness, I've got that licked."
        ~ John Cleese

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We still don't know what will happen in northern hemisphere this Winter. Some people predict disaster, some say there are fewer people to infect so it won't be as bad as if it had started in the Winter. My prediction is that whatever people are predicting will likely by wrong :)

 

As cold weather arrives, U.S. states see record increases in COVID-19 cases

Nine U.S. states have reported record increases in COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, mostly in the upper Midwest and West where chilly weather is forcing more activities indoors.

Though since this is just a news analysis, I wonder about correlation vs. causation. I suppose we'll have a better idea as time passes and more cold weather indoor activities occur. Maybe.

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

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With Trump apparently leaving the hospital, I'm seeing some people say this shows you don't need to be afraid of the coronavirus. Except they're forgetting the rest of the sentence: "...if you have a helicopter that can whisk you away to a world-class medical facility as soon as you get a positive test, have an army of expert doctors at your disposal, and have access to a bevy of experimental drugs and treatments that are not available to the public." Until that happens, I think I'm still going to pass on getting it :)
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Everything Trumps been getting is available to any one of us on an emergency basis and where I live people have been airlifted out by chopper if the paramedics determine it's necessary. In a big city a 911 call will get you paramedics within 10-15 minutes which is about how long Trump's flight was to Walter Reed. In today's high tech society, I don't know if it makes much difference which doctors someone sees as long as they're diligent and take their work seriously which I think the vast majority do. ALL of the latest treatments for this, all the research, all the current thinking is available online 24/7. I've read references to that many times since all this started. A doctor in podunk Alaska can login and discuss an issue with another doctor in Australia, London or anywhere else and get links to anything relevant. It's a great world we live in from that POV.

 

People who die from this are outliers now. Not to discount that at all but again, COVID is the second most common cause of death right now. Heart disease is number 1, cancer is number 3. We're all still at risk for many, many things. Yes, COVID is riskier if it's only compared to one of those but add them all up it's just part of our overall life risk. Notes, you've commented many times that you're not willing to risk your life for the economy. That's an example of a straw man argument because nobody's asking you to do that. You've also written many times about where your house ls located, your lifestyle etc. You're free to stay locked up in your house, take extreme precautions for as long as you like. The economy can start opening up and it doesn't have to effect you or anybody else who's concerned one bit. Stay home until you feel safe. That's what I'm doing right now.

 

Here's a question that could be worth it's own thread. At what point would you feel safe? Do any of us have a benchmark in mind? A friend yesterday said yes, when the death rate is the same as the flu, I told him I think that's pretty simplistic. What do you guys think? Like I wrote above, a vaccine is not like a switch. Poof, a vaccine is approved and we're all safe now. No, it will take years before that happens so when's that point? When 30% of the population is vaccinated? 50% When we really know the long term health risks after we've caught it and recovered? When we have readily available near cure treatments that take the fear out of this thing? When will that happen? This is a really big question because it's tied directly to the economy. When will people feel safe.

 

When I go shopping the traffic and crowds are pretty much back to normal and have been for about two months. I slap on the mask and have to hope everybody else has theirs on securely which I know some don't. A mask doesn't protect you, it's supposed to protect everybody else. It's really just a weak crutch, better than nothing but that's all it is. Old people in nursing homes are no longer at risk now either, they're locked up tighter than a bank vault. No help for the Social Security system any more, Craig. If old people who are mobile choose to go out and then get sick then they'll just have to deal with it just like any of us will when we go out for supplies. Unless we're total recluses, the more we have to go out for essentials, the more the risk compounds so I'm sure many of us will catch this thing sooner or later.

 

Personally, I don't agree any more with government stamping their foot down and telling everybody we're not going to open whatever business. I did agree earlier but it's been long enough. Just this afternoon I watched an interview with the CEO or Regal Cinemas because he's decided to close the entire company down until further notice so just imagine the number of staff layoffs involved. He's pissed because they've spent millions getting the theaters safe with all kinds of measures taken but in NY and CA who he specifically mentioned, restaurants are open with restrictions but not theaters. Ridiculous. He's also pissed because studios have been under such restrictions they still can't complete their big blockbuster movies and he needs those to be available or it's not worth it to open.

 

I just love it when some say or imply that we can all live just fine for another year while our whole economy crashes into ruins around us. It's not possible, guys and one of the many things that has bothered me about public education for as long as I can remember is nobody gets taught basic economics. The ignorance I see concerning really basic, simple economic concepts is mind boggling starting with what capitalism really is.

 

Bob

Hammond SK1, Mojo 61, Kurzweil PC3, Korg Pa3x, Roland FA06, Band in a Box, Real Band, Studio One, too much stuff...
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Everything Trumps been getting is available to any one of us on an emergency basis

 

My understanding is that the drugs he's been getting are experimental, and not available to the general public (at least not yet).

 

However, I do know one person who's really happy on one level about this turn of events....when she saw Trump had ties to Regeneron and that cases were back on the rise, she bought Regeneron stock during a dip. Today, with him leaving the hospital and the stock price zooming up, she's a very happy camper.

 

So my advice to musicians who can't get gigs is make a time machine, go back a month or so, and sink everything you have into Regeneron. :) There's always a silver lining.

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"While Regeneron did not detail what the potential side effects of the treatment could be, mild reactions to IV-therapies and More serious symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath, according to Medical Xpress.

 

Regeneron"s findings came from a study of 275 people who were treated after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

 

The detailed data from the trials has not yet been made public or peer-reviewed. "

 

can you say " Preliminary " ? "Side Effects ". " experimental "

 

Craig, I know you sre being flippant. Lets keep perspective

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

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Regarding my previous statement, "My understanding is that the drugs he's been getting are experimental, and not available to the general public (at least not yet)"...from MSN News (emphasis mine): The president has received care accessible to few other Americans. He was given a brew of laboratory-made antibodies that fewer than 10 other patients have received outside of clinical trials. And for him, returning home means arriving at a place that can be adapted to cater to his needs.

 

So I don't agree that "Everything Trumps been getting is available to any one of us on an emergency basis." I can pretty much guarantee it would not be available for me, and I'm pretty sure it will be some time before it will be available to the average person who gets sick with the Coronavirus. One can only hope that it's sooner rather than later.

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How many times have we all commented that news about all this changes daily if not hourly? On CNBC this afternoon they said the new antibody treatment Trump got could get emergency approval as soon as this week. Remdesivir has been available for months. Now, don't get me wrong, we're not the President but I've read many articles over the past months talking about ordinary people getting access to experimental drugs to treat COVID. The biggest difference is probably timing, us regular folk it probably wouldn't get it until we start to crash. If some are worried about incomplete trials, side effects and all that fine, don't take it. Doctors only make suggestions, they can't force treatments on anybody.

 

As for the comment about Regeneron stock, that's what makes this country great. The stock market is open to anybody with as little as $100 to start with and if that's not enough to buy one share of an expensive stock some brokers will let you buy a fractional share. It was already a high flyer before this so it will probably come back to earth in a day or two so you can buy it then if you're so inclined. For me I'll pass on it, biotechs as a group are too volatile and unpredictable. The market is not just for fat cats which is a point that seems to get lost around here. Robinhood is a new brokerage basically set up for millennials and the last I heard they have over 14 million mostly small accounts. Average age? 31 and trading is mostly done on smart phones. Anybody here feel old yet?

 

Bob

Hammond SK1, Mojo 61, Kurzweil PC3, Korg Pa3x, Roland FA06, Band in a Box, Real Band, Studio One, too much stuff...
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And don't forget, changes by the present administration have put millions of US Citizens without health insurance, so they won't get any of those drugs.

 

Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton

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The market is not just for fat cats which is a point that seems to get lost around here.

 

I believe no one here thinks they can't participate in the stock market. It's that they can't afford to participate because their money has to be dedicated to liquidity for cash flow, not investment (which is prudent in case the economy really goes south). I agree with the maxim, "never invest more than you can afford to lose" and I'm not sure how many people are feeling flush right now.

 

Robinhood is a new brokerage basically set up for millennials and the last I heard they have over 14 million mostly small accounts. Average age? 31 and trading is mostly done on smart phones.

 

That's how my friend bought Regeneron. :)

 

If anyone wants to get into the stock market and isn't using a professional advisor, I recommend playing the stock market on paper as a test. Pretend you bought X amount of shares in X companies, track it over time, and see how good you are at it. You might be surprised to find out after a few months that if you had actually invested cash, you would have come out ahead.

 

FWIW I realized quite a while ago that investing in myself gave the best return on investment. For example if I invest $4K of my time into something that generates royalties over time, odds are I'll make back considerably more compared to making $4K by doing piecework for a client, and investing it in the stock market. Different strokes for different folks, and all that.

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