chirakawa

Pretty cool. I noticed that the local schools here are handing out hotspots to students who don't have internet access at home. The hotspots are on T-Mobile.

Especially if I could go somewhere.

I've read where Far UVC is being developed for sterilizing equipment.

I'm amazed at how talented and clever these people are.

Yes, thanks. I've been reading up on the details as they trickle out. Actually, he's been talking to the owner about the available loans to try and maintain payroll for a while. It's a loan which doesn't have to be paid back if the owner maintains his payroll. It's only good for 8 weeks so it's kind of risky for the business owner, and since this owner is in his 70's he may decide it's a risk he's not willing to take. The owner actually sent them home yesterday thinking they most likely would be laid off, but kept the possibilities open until Monday morning when he will announce his final decision. My son can probably get by on the unemployment benefits you describe for a while. No way he could pay his bills on a stocker job at Walmart or Kroger. Young people are flocking to those jobs in my area. They don't have children, mortgages, home insurance, etc.

To answer your first question, I'm okay with dying. It's part of life. I'm willing to risk my life, if it means that the survivors would be spared the hardships and heartaches of a prolonged depression. I never lived through one, but I knew and talked to a lot of people who did. I've read about the Great Depression. It's not something I want to see the world experience again. There are worse things than death. As to your second question, I believe in the science. However, there's a lot that the scientist don't know about this virus. For example, I haven't heard one scientist say that you can't get this virus again after recovering from it the first time. Read through the CDC FAQ's and see how many times they say they are still learning or are not sure, etc. When this started, the scientists were sure that the death rate would be 4% or higher. Now, they're saying 1%. They don't even know yet, because they don't know how many people already have the virus. I also believe in the science of economics. Most economists outside the government are not near as optimistic about the prospects after a prolonged work stoppage. The government can only print so much money, and then it becomes worthless. As far as how this may be if we had started this in January, who knows. It's hard for people to take something serious that they haven't seen or aren't familiar with. I guess it's the same as why people don't evacuate during hurricanes. I think it's difficult to do successfully without enforcement. Just to be clear, I fully support what actions the authorities are taking and have taken. I've been a hermit for a month now. I'm trying to do my part. I've encouraged others to do the same. Doesn't prevent me from questioning and being concerned about the cause and effects.

I agree, but I presently have a retirement income and can afford to sit at home and do nothing but philosophize. On the other hand, this is a hard sale to my son. Yesterday morning when he went to work, he was a 15+ year employee of a small locally owned business. Last night he was unemployed, because the County instituted a stay at home order during the day. Normally, he would be up early this morning out looking for another job, but that is prohibited activity...........and who's hiring? So, I'm sure that instead he is at home wondering how to pay his bills for the next few months until the doctors are satisfied this threat has passed. I'm just saying that it's not so easy as "everyone just stay at home until the boogeyman goes away". Most of the experts, scientists and doctors are saying that this could easily go on until the Fall, and then start all over again. Governor Cuomo said yesterday that this is a matter of many weeks yet for NYC and it hasn't even begun good in rural America. I don't have any answers. I just hope that the cure isn't worse than the disease. On a lighter note, did you see the story about the 90 year old who survived this thing? Watch the short video Here

For what? What part of my post suggested anyone volunteer for anything? Are you misrepresenting my posts again Barb? I will say this. If I were a younger working class person, I would continue to work if the country's leaders determined that it was in the best interest of our nation. I worked through several deadly disasters in my career at risk to myself. Today, on the news, I saw a video clip of the Governor of New York expressing second thoughts about how he had completely shut down the city. I think it's unfair to criticize those who are having this very frank discussion, regardless of what their politics might be. What I don't want to do is spend the final 10 years of my life (if I have that much left) in an economic depression without the pension and retirement income that I spent over 40 years working and saving for. It could all be gone quickly, and what little might remain could be worthless, ravaged by inflation. An economic depression would destroy the standard of living that most of us retirees worked for and have been able to enjoy up to this point.

I don't care for Mr. Patrick and don't agree with him on much. However, this country is already headed for a deep recession. If we enter into a depression, it may cost as many lives as this virus will and it will definitely change a way of life for billions of people. It will set back the world's economy many decades. So, while not necessarily agreeing with him, I certainly can see his point.

This can apply to anyone. Traveling has nothing to do with it. So, you are advocating that everyone, everywhere should self isolate?

I would guess that New Orleans is experiencing this increase as a result of Mardi Gras, which recently ended the last week of February. People go there from all over the country. Mardi Gras is the antithesis of social distancing.

You don't have to wait for the mail to do the census. You can go to https://my2020census.gov/ and fill out the questionnaire. You just won't have the census ID which comes with the mail out and is tied to your mailing address.

With regard to what to call county leaders, if you lived here, it wouldn't be confusing at all. The county leader is called a judge because the commissioners are part of a "commissioners court". It doesn't have to make sense to anyone outside of here. Texans believe in local control of most things, kind of like our country used to be. The Governor could step in and take charge, but he has left it up to the counties to make most of these decisions. He did order that restaurants and bars could not serve in house. There are 254 counties in Texas. One size does not always fit all. If you feel unsafe with Texas' methods, I advise to not come here. You have a choice. 🙂

Or, a link to a computer virus.

A Texas county judge is the administrator of the county and sits at the head of the county board of commissioners. He is not part of the judiciary. County judges are very powerful in Texas. He's more like a city manager, only for the county.

Yeah, I think location matters. I was looking at Houston dealers and most of their "1/2 ton" trucks are 2 wd. I also think Ford leans more toward 4 wd than Chevy just by my dealer search. A quick search of Capitol Chevy in Austin shows 265 Silverado 1500's and 200 of them are 2 wd with 65 4 wd. I've owned about 20 pickups in my life, including Dodge, Ford, Chevy, Datsun, and Toyota. Only one was 4 wd and I bought it because it was the only thing they had in Colorado. The only time I ever put it in 4 wd was to test it.

I assume you're only referring to 250, 2500 and above. Most 150,1500 pickups are still 2 wd.

No.

Aurora is a penny stock. Very tempting.

Congratulations on great news. Be patient.

I think it's location dependent. I bought a new pickup in Colorado and the dealer told me they don't even get 2 wheel drive trucks in for sale. However, in Southeast Texas, probably one in ten on the lot is 4 wheel drive. I'd be interested in knowing what percentage of new pickups sold are 4 wheel drive. I'd guess it's well below 50%. A Bing search didn't give me the answer. If I'm not mistaken, Chevy 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive are the same bed height.

I just put "unknown" in that blank space. I find it pretty strange that in a country where we keep being told that we're all one people and we should be colorblind and not label people in terms of race and not discriminate, etc.........................that the government keeps wanting to separate us by race. It's not just the census, it's every form you fill out everywhere. Not a big deal to me, just an observation.

Yeah, I think Brewster County is saying "if you want to ignore the government and the doctors and the scientists advice to stay home and isolate, fine. If you're determined to come to Big Bend for Spring Break, fine, but you're not going to stay in our hotels, motels, air BNB's, and RV parks, nor will you eat at our restaurants". You can argue about whether their actions are wise or not, but you have to give them credit for getting out in front and trying to do the right thing, even when it means a loss of much money for the area.

Brewster County. Here is the order. Spring Break is a busy time for the Big Bend area, thousands of visitors normally. It will probably cost the County lot's of money to do this, but they don't have the facilities to handle a large scale medical emergency. I think the hospital in Alpine is only like 25 beds. Anyway, this is the only County I know of to close such facilities to outsiders.

Maybe they figured there was enough chlorine in the water to kill anything which got coughed/sneezed up. 🙂