It's hazy, warm and humid in my neck of the woods so naturally everybody is out strolling. Most people have masks on but not everyone and some have them hanging below their mouths. I'm guessing the hotter and more humid it gets, the less people are going to be willing to wear masks.
It's interesting looking @ old black and white photographs from 1917 during the pandemic (Spanish Flu that lasted a full three years). People are outside from the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas and they are wearing masks. It was the law.
And they say that the Chinese Coronavirus is much lethal than the Spanish Flu of hundred years ago. I say Chinese because it is not from Canada, as far as I know. We ate no bats here, just poutines and pizzas and cheeseburgers and hotdogs, without the dog in it.
Plus all the other excellent Canadian cuisine. ...Lobsters, Salmons, Crabs, hot chickens, pastrami, Montreal smoke meats, tourtières, pea soups, baked potatoes with sour cream and bacon.
Our governor is starting a mask madness contest and I think it's inappropriate. I get what she's going for but I doubt it will convince most people to wear a mask and if anything (to me) it just makes it seem like they're optional.
Our governor is starting a mask madness contest and I think it's inappropriate. I get what she's going for but I doubt it will convince most people to wear a mask and if anything (to me) it just makes it seem like they're optional.
Doesn't sound like they're going to enforce it, at least outdoors.
It should be that like everywhere else, that masks are required outside if you can't maintain 6 foot distance. If I lived there and was not exercising (which could be walking BTW), then I would wear it around my neck and pull it up when someone is coming. I mean, those things will be suffocating in the summertime, especially if you're outside a good while. They'll get all sweaty and grimy and probably leave red marks on your face.
Have you been waiting for your stimulus check? There are some who receive social security and have yet to get their stimulus check from the federal government.
The Social Security Administration has given an answer as to when SSI recipients might receive their stimulus check. If you are expecting a paper check, you might want to go look at your mailbox on Friday.
“You should receive your $1,200 payment in the same way you receive your monthly SSI payment: Direct Deposit and Direct Express by May 13; Paper checks will begin May 15,” according to the Social Security Administration.
Those who qualify for Social Security include individuals who are 65 or older, blind or disabled and have limited income and or resources at their disposal. If you are a Social Security recipient and have any questions about how to get your stimulus check, visit Social Security Administration.
"Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because it's only going to cost more," warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy."
Democrats powered a massive $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill through the House on Friday, an election-year measure designed to brace a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system struggling to contain a pandemic still pummeling the country.
The 208-199 vote, over strong Republican opposition, advances what boils down to a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health-care priorities. It has no chance of becoming law as written, but will likely spark difficult negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans. Any product would probably be the last major COVID-19 response bill before November's presidential and congressional elections.
The enormous Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters and homeowners, college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service.
"Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because it's only going to cost more," warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy."
Republicans mocked the bill as a bloated Democratic wish-list that was dead on arrival in the GOP-led Senate and, for good measure, faced a White House veto threat. Party leaders say they want to assess how $3 trillion approved earlier is working and see if some states' partial business reopenings would spark an economic revival that would ease the need for more safety net programs.
Republicans are also sorting through internal divisions and awaiting stronger signals from President Donald Trump about what he will support.
"Phase Four is going to happen," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, using Washington insider-speak for the measure. "But it's going to happen in a much better way for the American people."
Trump and top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are insisting the next measure should protect reopening businesses from liability lawsuits. The president is also demanding a cut to payroll taxes, but GOP leaders are not yet onboard.
The daylong debate painted a Capitol scene that's become common in the era of coronavirus, even as it remains disconcerting. The sparsely populated House floor was dotted with lawmakers and aides wearing protective masks and even gloves, though some Republicans lacked them.
Many members looked shaggier and sported beards they had not worn weeks ago. Roll call votes lasted over an hour each because lawmakers were voting in small groups to limit crowding.
To enhance the bill's political impact, Democrats named their measure "The Heroes Act" for the payments it would provide front-line emergency workers. With more than 86,000 Americans dead, 1.4 million confirmed infections and 36 million filing unemployment claims in an frozen economy, Democrats saw GOP opposition as an easy campaign-season target.
"Are you kidding me?" said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, of Republican assertions that it was time to stop spending more money. "Where do you guys live? Food lines at our food banks around the block? In the United States of America?"
Republicans saw the bill as a Democratic political blunder. They said overly generous unemployment benefits discouraged people from returning to work, and attacked language helping immigrants in the U.S. illegally get federal benefits. They also singled out provisions helping states set up voting by mail and easing the marijuana industry's access to banks.
"It may help the cannabis industry, but it won't help Main Street," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Clearly, the bipartisan consensus that produced four previous coronavirus bills is crumbling quickly. Polls show GOP voters are satisfied with the federal response and aren't agitating for more. Self-branded deficit hawks are citing the massive increase in the spiraling $25 trillion national debt.
Some congressional aides said the Democratic bill's real price tag could breach $3.5 trillion. A partial estimate of tax provisions alone revealed eye-popping costs: $412 billion to renew $1,200 cash payments to individuals, more than $100 billion to pay health insurance premiums for the unemployed and $164 billion to make an "employee retention" tax credit for businesses more generous.
Republicans leaders faced disunity between conservatives who feel enough has been done and pragmatists who back rescuing the Postal Service from looming insolvency and delivering cash to revenue-starved state and local governments. The huge price tag and a lack of consultation with Republicans by Pelosi cemented GOP opposition.
"This bill is nothing more than the Democratic policy agenda masquerading as a response to the coronavirus crisis," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. He said the bill is "going nowhere, and is going nowhere fast."
Pelosi overcame party divisions of her own. Some moderate Democrats opposed the package for its price tag and politically fraught provisions like assisting marijuana businesses. A few progressive Democrats were upset because it did not do more, such as guaranteeing workers' salaries and bolstering their health insurance coverage.
Those for whom the vote was most politically risky were the 30, mostly freshmen, from House districts that backed Trump in 2016. One, Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, labeled the measure "bloated" and said she'd vote no.
Liberal Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., told reporters that she'd also oppose the bill. She said if constituents ask her if the bill would put money in their pockets or preserve their health care, "I can't tell them yes."
Looks like another round of stimulus checks were just approved. And here I am, still without my first one...
It'll never pass. Republicans won't allow it.
That said, i wouldn't be surprised if *something* comes later this year.
Things are starting to open up in Connecticut soon. My mothers beautician called her to offer her "the first spot" when they opened back up. She really laid it on thick - telling her that my mom is her #1 client. My mother declined.
I just found it interesting that they're that desperate for appointments that they're calling people one by one to see if they're interested. I'm sure they'll get people who will do it but...
That said, i wouldn't be surprised if *something* comes later this year.
Things are starting to open up in Connecticut soon. My mothers beautician called her to offer her "the first spot" when they opened back up. She really laid it on thick - telling her that my mom is her #1 client. My mother declined.
I just found it interesting that they're that desperate for appointments that they're calling people one by one to see if they're interested. I'm sure they'll get people who will do it but...
my sister's stylist comes to her house and does it. she (the stylist) said it's actually better for her that way and she's thinking of just doing it that way from now on. she said she'd be able to to give up the shop and not have to worry about the rent or utilities on it and actually make more money...even with the extra gas figured in.
and i found out today that we're going to keep our reduced (open) hours until at least july 5th. i actually don't mind that since it means i won't have to work so late for the next few weeks. and hopefully another position will open up and i can move to an earlier shift, anyway, and not have to worry about closing time at all.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Linear Mode
