Back At Ground Zero

The WSJ studied the early response in Wuhan. I've also seen this link to a .pdf work.

Comments

[Porchlight]

First?

[Porchlight]

I am so tired of all of this.

Prediction: the US outbreak will not look like Italy's, for various reasons....

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

TEN!!!

[clarice]

Charles Lipson
12 hrs ·
Real news story. Real Twitter post below.
The mayor of Bugliano, Italy has responded to the viral outbreak by prohibiting orgies inside the city limits. He has gone even further, banning threesomes and sex involving more than two people "for the foreseeable future." The fine, as you can see, approaches $1000, although I'm guessing you can split it up among the group.
When will this nightmare end?
No photo description available.

[GUS]

Are people still getting the KUNG FLU because of ORANGE MAN BAD.
Do these cock suckers not recognize that AMERICA is getting tired of the FULL COMMIE???

[Dave (in MA)]

Did Gillum hop on the last plane to Florence?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Mini-Mike's first step on his master plan to avenge the embarrassment of 2020 and make it Ma! Top of the world in 2024;
Want to Be Taller? Radical Surgery Permanently Extends Your Legs.

[Jim Eagle]

GUS,

Not as long as we have you healthy to remind us of the full commie:)

Clarice,

No brioche buns at Publix. In fact, no hamburger buns in the bread section and I was able to snatch two loaves of Frederick's favorite butter bread (industrial style). Also, able to flinch the reamaining lb. of Bison burger and 2X Lamb burger. So we are paleo tonight with a little carb thrown in for the hellva it.

A little irony: Outside the Publix, a Guy from the American Legioins had set up a begging station (as Frederick calls them). We talked about various posts we had belonged to and I asked him if people were being free with their money. He said they all looked like they had seen death.

I think he is right. An older community hoarding TP, Clorox and Hydrogen Peroxide is more a death cult than a happy Italiano balcony fiesta.

[GUS]

Hey!!! Anyone have an update on TAYLOR SWIFT or BEN AFFLECKS' advice on handling the KUNG FLU or for raising CHILDREN???

[Extraneus]

Only 500 points to Dow below 20,000.

[Neo]

And now for something completely different ..

The makers of TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing app with hundreds of millions of users around the world, instructed moderators to suppress posts created by users deemed too ugly, poor, or disabled for the platform, according to internal documents

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Is the world insolvent?

[Neo]

NatGeo:

'Dead Sea Scrolls' at the Museum of the Bible are all forgeries
Months of testing confirm earlier suspicions that the fragments were made in modern times. What happens next?

[GUS]

Did Tom Hanks die yet??

[Old Lurker]

Thanks for that Iggy.

NOT!

[Neo]

Tom is still alive but I can't say that of Wilson

[James D.]

But if taken as a whole the world is insolvent, what does that mean? It's not like there's some outside force to foreclose on us and kick us off the planet.

[hrtshpdbox]

From Iggy's article:
Everyone expecting the financial markets to magically return to January 2020 levels once the pandemic dies down is delusional.

True enough, but everyone expecting financial markets to never return to January 2020 levels is also delusional. And it will probably take a lot less time than most people expect.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

So, let's say the curve bends down in a couple of weeks.

How do you keep it down while allowing people back out of their caves?

How long can the economic lock-up continue before it becomes untenable?

[Extraneus]

Isn't hbox the originator of 'NOT!'?

[Old Lurker]

James, his logic fails because he assumes the value of the debt stays fixed against asset values which are falling. When this happens, those debts too will be worth cents on the dollar. Haircuts happen in courtrooms and lawyer offices...if not in my shopping centers.

:-)

[Extraneus]

20,186 at the close.

[Melinda]

Ig-

It holds until the "refreshments" run low....

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I think the guy was simply pointing out that the entire world has counted on a fake wealth that was largely inflated into existence by the very debt that is making it insolvent.
The world is no longer creating actual wealth.
It's creating the illusion of wealth which always ends with the reality of pain.

[Jim Eagle]

A friend of my FIL who is the top virologist at the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine. Seen it all but mostly in Africa.

https://www.businessinsider.com/read-what-a-virologist-is-telling-family-coronavirus-guido-vanham-2020-3

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--When this happens, those debts too will be worth cents on the dollar.--

Well sure, in the long run the books always balance one way or the other, in households as well.
But his point is assets rise and fall freely giving the illusion of a safe margin but when they start falling they don't fall softly to the floor they land on the picket fence of debt holding them up.

[hrtshpdbox]

Ext, it's true, and I have to start collecting royalties somehow.

[Extraneus]

When do we start seeing the stories about how much Bezos, Buffett and Gates are down? I know Buffett was sitting on a lot of cash, so he'll probably be ok. :-)

[Extraneus]

I've mentioned before that my ex-accountant had the guy who coined "pencil necked geek" for a client, and he really did get royalties on that.

[hrtshpdbox]

Amazon's stock is actually a bit higher than it was one day last week. They're so busy now, while also telling employees to stay home if they feel like it.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Thanks for that 4:05 link, Jack.
Excellent.

[sbwaters]

Every day people create new wealth. Whenever someone figures a more economical (in time or resources) way of doing what people value, new wealth is created. New wealth benefits those who create it, those who benefit from it—emoloyees, customers, shareholders, ... everyone in the world.

What is labeled fake wealth is an IOU for previous accomplishment. Sort of "a player to be named later."

And if that wealth expires — and it can — we individuals simply start over again, humbled, but knowing that no better system than agreed-upon symbolic exchange works as effectively as what we created.

But this time, we will be more chastened for a time — and a little more resistant to pleas for centralization and socialism.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

As for world insolvency, my hopes for today are simply for it to quit snowing and for PG&E to get the frickin power back on.

[Captain Hate]

Your ex accountant had Fred Blassie for a client?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XkB_CFi9row

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--What is labeled fake wealth is an IOU for previous accomplishment. Sort of "a player to be named later."--

No. Fake wealth is putting your house or old Ferrari or a stock on your credit card and saying you're richer.
Even worse; when governments put it on their credit card they have the power to make the house, car or stock "worth" twice as much, inducing more people to buy them on more credit creating a non virtuous cycle that always reverts to mean. And getting back there hurts. A lot.

[hrtshpdbox]

LOL, CH, love the "Adam Schiff brought me here" comment someone made. I used to have that 45, with that picture sleeve. Andy Kaufmann's cohort for his wrestling stunts.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

That's what I was thinking CH.

[John S]

Zerohedge made a pretty basic mistake. he analogizes from the household to the nation. Wrong. The debt of the U.S. in Treasury securities is held by individuals and institutions, and to them, it comprises assets. As a nation, we owe the "national debt" to ourselves. But equities are assets, so a decline in stocks is a reduction of wealth, but it doesn't make us insolvent if the value of equities is less than the national debt.

[Extraneus]

Not sure, maybe, or maybe Fred paid the royalties.

[Old Lurker]

I agree, Iggy. I was addressing James' image of a "global landlord" evicting the entire world all at once.

And SBW "we will be more chastened for a time" based on the last few crashes in my field, "for a time" is some fancy expression related to the half life of a mid career banker, divided by the number of months before the next bonus season. MT can provide the math...

[Captain Hate]

Box,

Those Schiff comments were way pre impeachment so he's gone from a regional sideshow geek to the big stage. Thanks Paul Ryan!

[Jack Lillywhite]

Wasn’t Fred Blassie the schmuck on WWE wrestling?

Hard to believe I use to watch that crap just to see the true believers in the audience.

[sbwaters]

Can't disagree, OL. I was suitably and flippantly vague.

[Extraneus]

According to Wiki, Blassie died in 2003 in Hartsdale, NY, and I'm pretty sure my accountant had an office near there. Maybe it was him.

[MissMarple2]

From the President's Twitter pafe:

That previews small, so if you can't enlarge, go to this link:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1239646763222474754/photo/1

[Jack Lillywhite]

Yikes!

Dow drops 3K. I am thinking Soros is in his element and if you have a 401K hiring someone to ..you know...might be a better investment.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
45s
Yesterday I spoke with the great American Grocers and Supply Chain Executives. We are confident that supply will continue to meet demand nationwide. These beacons of our community will remain open for you, no matter what. We are working hard to remove any barriers to that effort!

[Melinda]

Now that's sourced to an unusual place.

"No, the White House didn't 'dissolve' the pandemic response office. I was there."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/16/no-white-house-didnt-dissolve-its-pandemic-response-office/

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
2m
I ask all Americans to band together and support your neighbors by not hoarding unnecessary amounts of food and essentials. TOGETHER we will stay STRONG and overcome this challenge!

[Buckeye]

I am thinking Soros is in his element and if you have a 401K hiring someone to ..you know...might be a better investment.

I’ve been saying that for years, JiB.

[Extraneus]

Nolte: Democrat Andrew Gillum Still Has Some Explaining to Do

On Sunday, he announced he was entering rehab:

“Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse,” he said, pledging to work to “heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person.”

He said he would be stepping down from “all public facing roles” at this time.

“I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years,” he added, requesting privacy for his family.

Nolte, after some background we're all familiar with:

So…

Whose wedding did Gillum attend?

And if the police reports are true, and if what Mejias says is true, why was Gillum alone and drunk with another man who was not a guest of this wedding, but was overdosing on drugs?

So far, the media are allowing Gillum to get away with not answering these questions, and I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s episode of Democrats Sure Got It Good.

[Marlene]

Okay,sh*t is getting real. LL Bean will close all retail stores,including the flagship store in Maine,midnight tonight until the end of the month. The Freeport,Maine store has closed only five times before and for no longer than 24 hours.

[Extraneus]

China Accuses U.S. Army Lab of Manufacturing the Coronavirus

The Global Times on Sunday peddled a conspiracy theory that reversed the dark suspicions that have long swirled around the infectious disease laboratory located near Wuhan, which some suspect (without any evidence to date) might have either accidentally or deliberately released the virus, as either medical research gone wrong or a deliberately tailored bio-weapon.

The latest mutation of Chinese propaganda merely flips those theories around and applies them to a U.S. Army facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland:

The Fort Detrick laboratory that handles high-level disease-causing material, such as Ebola, in Fredrick, Maryland was shut after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a cease and desist order to the organization in July, 2019 according to local media.

The suspension was due to multiple causes, including failure to follow local procedures and a lack of periodic recertification training for workers in the biocontainment laboratories. The wastewater decontamination system of the lab also failed to meet standards set by the Federal Select Agent Program, media reported.

The lab, which was closed more than half a year ago, recently caught public attention as a petition submitted to the White House website on March 10 listed some coincidences in time between the closure and the COVID-19 outbreak.

For example, “a large-scale ‘influenza’ killed more than 10,000 people” in the US in August 2019 following the closure; and the COVID-19 epidemic broke out globally in February 2020 after the US organized Event 201 – A Global Pandemic Exercise – in October 2019.

The petition also noted that many English-language news reports about the closure of Fort Detrick were deleted amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, raising suspicions over the lab’s relationship with the novel coronavirus.

Petitioners urged the US government to publish the real reason for the lab’s closure and to clarify whether the lab was related to the novel coronavirus and whether there was a virus leak.

The Global Times quoted a few “Chinese netizens” who seemed very excited about this theory, but also noted the “petition” it is so exercised about had a mere 400 signatures – a number the Communist Party’s propagandists might have thought sounded impressive, but in reality is laughably small, especially since China is probably doing everything it can to pump up the number of signatories.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Until this WuFlu thing came along I didn't think it was possible to loathe progs more than I already did.
But reading just a few of their fact free comments after Trump's tweet, how can we possibly live in the same country with people who have that mindset?

[clarice]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/amazon-to-hire-100000-warehouse-and-delivery-workers.html

[MissMarple2]

https://dailycaller.com/2020/03/16/husband-wife-nursing-home-coronavirus-anniversary/

He stood outside her window holding a sign that said "I've loved you for 67 years and still do."

[Jack Lillywhite]

What was it back in the day that the Progs blamed on DC for releasing in California? AIDS? Or something else.

[hrtshpdbox]

Amazon hiring 100,000 Americans, increasing pay:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-hire-100-000-workers-202007679.html

[hrtshpdbox]

Iggy, don't read comments to any tweet, it's murder. And I say that as someone who chiefly uses Twitter to rant at people I don't like, and I'm not always particularly polite about it.

[Jack Lillywhite]

Iggy,

Why I never read Twitter comments. Very sick mentally disabled people.

[MissMarple2]

Ignatz,

When something came up under Obama, I just ignored him and went to find something to do.

I cannot understand these people hurling vile comments at President Trump on Twitter when he is trying to give the public information. It's despicable.

[Marlene]

Florida people,Destantis is giving a presser.

[Marlene]

Desantis.

[Pinandpuller]

i’m sympathetic to the Bernie-left who wants to change how Wall Street operates. why? well, first, Napoleon banned short-selling & indeed, the Emperor of Austria in 1839, Ferdinand I, forbade the “insertion of tables indicating current values of stocks, national or foreign.”

https://twitter.com/nufflez/status/1239656239774216193?s=21

[MissMarple2]

Melania Trump
@FLOTUS
·
4h
I want to take a moment to thank the medical staff, doctors, nurses & first responders who are working tirelessly to help keep our country healthy & safe.

[MissMarple2]

*Walter Bloomberg
@DeItaOne
·
4m
BRAZIL'S FOREIGN TRADE SECRETARY TROYJO HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, WAS PART OF PRESIDENT'S DELEGATION TO MIAMI MEETING WITH TRUMP

[Pinandpuller]

Fake&Gay:

Trump told governors this morning they are on their own:
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times.

https://twitter.com/maragay/status/1239603785275670529?s=21

[Jim Eagle]

Marlene,

Link?

[Marlene]

Jack,your local Jax news. We're watching Sarasota local news.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I like to know my enemy.
If my neighbor is truly going to make me shoot him, I'll feel better if I know he would have done the same to me were he not so stupid as to start a gunfight after disarming himself.

[MissMarple2]

ALERT!!!!

Breaking911
@Breaking911
·
12m
All Pennsylvania Liquor Stores CLOSED Indefinitely - https://breaking911.com/all-pennsylvan

[MissMarple2]

President Trump asking all Americans to school from home, avoid a gathering in groups of more than 10 people, avoid discretionary travel, and avoid eating and drinking in bars, restaurants, and public food courts. pic.twitter.com/z9iJhW8oI0

— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) March 16, 2020

Video at the link.

[Another Bob]

San Francisco - total lockdown.

"The City will legally prohibit residents from leaving their homes except to meet basic needs including visiting the doctor, or buying groceries or medicine, until at least April 7"

[Marlene]

Wow,the Florida Agency for Health Care administrator is Mary Mayhew. She was Maine's DHS administrator during Gov. LePage's tenure in Maine. She was LePage's right hand during the time he fought against Medicaid expansion in Maine. Very interesting,the things you learn during a pandemic. :)

[Jim Eagle]

marlene,

Watching it. More blah, blah, blah. But for some people it maybe the only common sense they hear.

What I have noticed is the quiet. Even on the roads, it seems quiet. Well the bikers have left. I guess that is why.

[Pinandpuller]

I think I’m going to procrastinate a bit with this census form. I’d hate to spend whatever little time I may have left filling out government paperwork.

[Jim Eagle]

A voice of reason which is what to expect from a Nobel laureate.

https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3800632,00.html

Michael Levitt, who I have always respected his opinions on science and humanity.

[DrJ]

FWIW, our census form (online) was very short and did not take much time. It was just the basic information, including number of people in the household, their relationship, age and ethnic background.

Five minutes, tops.

I've received a much more intrusive on in the past.

[Pinandpuller]

I’ve got some bad news and some good news.

The bad news is you’ve got the Coronavirus.

The good news is we have no idea which one.

[Jim Eagle]

Pin,

I never fill them out. Just the basics. Name, address, number of people in household etc. F**k the full form. They will not come to your door and arrest you.

[Pinandpuller]

Jack

Not this summer they won’t

[Pinandpuller]

I just took delivery on a russet looking variety of Jerusalem Artichokes. If you even have 10 square feet in your yard you should consider buying some. eBay still has several listings as far as I know. anonamom can perhaps expound on their inulin content, but honestly they kept some Indian tribes alive in hard times.

[Extraneus]

Justice Department Halts Immigration Hearings Nationwide in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

The decision to postpone master calendar hearings comes shortly after an unprecedented coalition–immigration prosecutors, immigration judges, and immigration lawyers–called on for the courts to be shut down to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents Immigration and Customs Enforcement prosecutors, joined the National Association of Immigration Judges and the American Immigration Lawyers Association in issuing a joint statement Sunday.

[Captain Hate]

“I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years,” he added, requesting privacy for his family.

Your family can have privacy but you should answer questions about your fondness for meth and male escorts.

[mike in houston]

And here in Texas at my favorite grocery store, HEB.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1238825189271617537

[Jane]

Marlene,

What did DeSantis say? Is the primary still going on?

[MG]

I have a PhD in mathematics and a long career in epidemiology and clinical trials.I have put together seven points to give a perspective on COVID-19:

1.COVID-19 virus seems to be mild in persons under age 50. In this group the mortality rate is close to zero, the rate of severe symptoms causing hospitalization is very low and many are exposed and have no or mild symptoms. These statements are data based.
2.In addition, in the older patients, the case mortality rate is 68 deaths /3487 reported cases= 0.020 (2%) according to the CDC data. These reported cases are clearly persons with the most severe symptoms which led to their testing. These patients are also very likely to have comorbidity and relatively weak immune responses. So, the death rate of COVID-19 in the most vulnerable elderly population who report with serious symptoms is about 2%.
3.This 2% is less than almost any year’s flu mortality in this high-risk group. Putting these two data-based facts together, indicates that COVID-19 is a mild virus along the entire age range.
4.The transmission rate of COVID-19 is not known with any accuracy at this point, but the when testing becomes wide-spread the rate of exposure to COVID-19 will go much higher because many individuals are walking around without symptoms or have gone through a mild case of the virus.
5.The Public Health reaction to COVID-19 is clearly overboard and one along the lines of H1N1 would have been much more appropriate. But for many reasons, not all with good intentions, we went down the current path and there is no way to halt it now. No public figure, public health or political, can step in front of this out-of-control train without getting flattened.
6.Control can only be re-established by data. Testing must be done quickly across all age groups and degree of symptoms (including individuals without apparent infection). Only when the relatively mild nature of COVID-19 gets fleshed out by data will those in authority have the power and nerve to stop this lunacy.
7.Related to point 6, we should all be vigilant for accurate, unbiased methods of collecting the necessary data and analyzing and reporting the results.

[MissMarple2]

https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/03/16/he-loves-every-minute-of-this-dan-bongino-hammers-colossal-toolbox-paul-krugman-who-deserves-every-bit-of-it/

[Jane]

Thank you MG!

[MissMarple2]

MG,

Thanks for that information!

[Another Bob]

MG, don’t recognize your handle. An informed opinion based from the actual data is certainly welcomed.

Is this your personal analysis? Or passing along something you read that you agree with?

[Captain Hate]

Well stated, MG.

[Extraneus]

Nice, MG. Many of us here suspect as much, and your more qualified reporting is appreciated.

[Pinandpuller]

Has anyone ever seen the BBC One show Good Neighbors? You should check it out.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

MG,
On point number 2, I agree those tested probably skew toward those older and more vulnerable but can we conclude all of them are?

[MG]

Thank you. The analysis above is my personal analysis.is rather straightforward but gives an an accurate picture of the virus,

[MissMarple2]

Deplorable Tommy P.
@PolizziThomas
Soros Sanders would have this country dying like flies. This prick in the wake of this virus knocking drug companies and saying he would eliminate fossil fuels shows he he doesn’t know how much damage he would do to our economy. How would we get delivery of

groceries without fuels. How would we get the medical supplies we need. How would we run the hospitals. Scumbag joe Biden showed us how far left he has become. He will cut social security. He would not deport scumbag illegals. No wall. If I was President I

would deport any illegals that go for a virus test. I would tell Mexico to put up hospital tents and ship these scumbag illegals right back.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The funniest thing to hear progs say is Trump owns the stock market and Trump owns the economy.
A month ago he had nothing to do with it and a guy who had been in office for over three years was the man who built that.
The Fed and Trump owned it before.
Emperor Xi owns it now.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

*hadn't* been in office

[MG]

We can conclude all are above 50 and almost all are above 60 which puts them in a high-risk group. I have also seen the data on how many have co-morbid conditions but don't remember the proportion.The
immune-compromised is just a reasonable assumption.