Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[Pondosinatra]

Interesting experiment going on in Sweden....guess we'll know in a couple weeks...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ockdown-europe

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Items tend to go quick once they come back in stock on Amazon.

But damn, can't even check out. And the fact that it's THIS hard to get toilet paper is completely asinine!

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

From everything I found online...here's how the progression in Europe happened...

First recorded infection in Italy was believed to have been from a Chinese worker in an auto plant.

As the virus spread for a few weeks unknown to anyone, Spanish fans flocked to Italy for a Spain vs Italy football (soccer) match, got infected went back home to Spain after the game.

In Germany, it was their version of spring break and thousands went to Italy to ski, got infected, went back home and spread it in Germany.

Madness.

Exploitation of cheap labour leads to pandemic. Some might call it karma.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by Scottishguy

Exploitation of cheap labour leads to pandemic. Some might call it karma.

Do you blame the cheap ass company or the cheap ass consumer?

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Do you blame the cheap ass company or the cheap ass consumer?

Well this has typically always been the case throughout human history. It's just that it's now happening on a global scale.

There's good and there's bad that comes with it. Probably more bad. Though maybe hopefully this pandemic will increase the move towards automation.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by Scottishguy

Well this has typically always been the case throughout human history. It's just that it's now happening on a global scale.

There's good and there's bad that comes with it. Probably more bad. Though maybe hopefully this pandemic will increase the move towards automation.

More automation is the solution for global unemployment??

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by MrHT

But damn, can't even check out. And the fact that it's THIS hard to get toilet paper is completely asinine!

That's the beauty of the online marketplace, you have millions of consumers vying for that one package of toilet paper.

In all seriousness, a lot of stores actually have TP, but some of them just keep it in to back room and hand it out when asked. I know you said you aren't shopping Target, but you can see on their website what is in stock at your local store.

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

More automation is the solution for global unemployment??

Short term pain for long term gain. We can't keep going trying to create a pale imitation of a 90s economy forever.

[MazeRunner]

Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.

Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertw.../#18a63f6067bb

so if I filed taxes this year and had it sent via check, is that how they'll send the money?

Because the year before that I had it put on my old debit card which I no longer have.

[Pondosinatra]

So who's going to pay for all this free money being printed out by our governments left and right?

Not the rich, that's for sure - for one that group involves all our elected officials, so they want no part of that.

And even if a bill was somehow passed to 'tax the rich' - they would simply leave the country for one of several tax havens throughout the world.

You'd think that with 3000-ish billionaires globally, that they would feel a moral obligation to devote even a rounding error of their finances to help all those affected by this - but the truth is, they just don't give a shit about us.

For sure, there'll be an upswell of goodwill and those of us still with jobs wanting to help out, but those in position to help out the most simply don't give damn.

I mean, you hear the odd story of athletes or actors donating - but they're just noise, the vast majority are doing nothing - and again, even though they make more money in an hour than we do in our lifetimes, they're nothing compared to the super rich of the world.

[Batman1980]

Which is why as I've said it feels like a backhanded way to help people. Especially since (I'm sure this is an exaggeration but it might be accurate) millions have been out of work for weeks and may already be unable to pay their bills. Also why I've said this shutdown needs to be lessened sooner rather than later before the economic pressure hits a breaking point for millions of bitter Americans.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Do you blame the cheap ass company or the cheap ass consumer?

Wealth disparity is the largest it's ever been so I'm going to say it's the companies and stockholders.

Consumers will always gravitate to a price they can afford.

[Batman1980]

I think there's a fundamental flaw with American economics, doesn't seem like most other 1st world(ha, best country in the world my eye) have this many issues providing their citizens with some measure of economic security.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Wealth disparity is the largest it's ever been so I'm going to say it's the companies and stockholders.

Consumers will always gravitate to a price they can afford.

So soccer mom running into Walmart to buy sneakers for little Johnny knowing full well they were made in a Vietnamese sweat shop but buying them anyway because they're cheap gets a pass?

[Batman1980]

I'm not getting into that at 11 PM because it's not a good road to go down, let alone the middle of the night.

[Pondosinatra]

Speaking of the rich...amazing coincidence....and sure there'll be an 'investigation' by the securities commission....yet no charges will be laid.

https://www.mediaite.com/news/three-...irus-meltdown/

[darkness2918]

Here are digital copies of The Expendables 2 & 3, tested with Vudu to make sure they work & they do. Enjoy

The Expendables 2: EL3WMARXJYLL
The Expendables 3: 7BTBB2B3J6G4

These should help keep someone entertained during these crazy times.

[travisbickle]

Well it's nice to know that the WHO is in China's pocket...

Senior WHO official dodges questions about Taiwan’s WHO membership; praises China - YouTube

"If I had Covid 19, I'd want to be treated in China" Yeah, so they can weld you into your apartment and shoot you in the head if you're out in the streets breaking quarantine.


Time to clean house.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

That's the beauty of the online marketplace, you have millions of consumers vying for that one package of toilet paper.

In all seriousness, a lot of stores actually have TP, but some of them just keep it in to back room and hand it out when asked. I know you said you aren't shopping Target, but you can see on their website what is in stock at your local store.

Well that’s stupid. Why are they hiding it? People need it!

[ctujackbauer]

WSJ - NYU Langone Tells ER Doctors to ‘Think More Critically’ About Who Gets Ventilators

NYU Langone threatened to discipline doctors who talked to the press about this. Naturally, it ends up in the press because this would be kind of difficult to keep under wraps.

The article is subscription-only, but you get the idea from the headline and two paragraph preview.