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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, March 19, 2020 9:21 AM

daveklepper

I have not traveled out of my regular routine since the first news of the virus was available.  i have not seen panic buying in the one supermarket I visited nor in the two neighborhood small markets that I visit more frequently.  There do not appear to be any shortages of regular household purchases here.  Only imported exotic items.

 

I'm not surprised Israel's had no panic buying.  People who live in a country that's been the center of a bulls-eye target for so many decades tend not to scare so easily.  Those people are tough.  Trust me, I've met a few.

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Posted by PJS1 on Thursday, March 19, 2020 9:47 AM

Here is one thing that a railroad buff can do that involves little risk of getting COVID-19.

Almost every day I get into the car and drive 35 miles to my favorite train watching spot.  Just me.  It is a relatively remote spot; I don't get close to anyone. 

There probably is a good reason(s) why I don’t get close to anyone.  Most people don't know where it is.  And even more don't give a damn about watching trains.  Well, I cannot help it if they are culturally deprived.

Of course, I have to gas up the car periodically.  So, I carry some homemade sanitizer, and I wipe my hands after handling the pump. 

Given that only .0002%of the people in Texas have been diagnosed with COVID-19, I am not too worried about getting it.  I am a lot more concerned about some of the road nuts that seem to believe they are driving bumper cars. 

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, March 19, 2020 10:07 AM

Quite true.  Statistically you've got a much better chance of being killed on the road than being killed by the "bug."  

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Posted by Convicted One on Thursday, March 19, 2020 6:08 PM

daveklepper
One thhing the USA could learn from us is this:  Obviously hotels have largeliy lost their clientel.  So two hotels, one in T. A. and one in Jersusalem, with possibly more to come, are convelescent homes, where those recovering from the virus, but still under quarentene, can live, since they do not require constant medical care and can free up hospital bed for those that do requie it.

We've got a 9 story hospital downtown that has been in process of being phased out for years, entire floors are mothballed, and they had hard plans to close it entirely within the next couple years.

One can only hope they are now pondering a contingency plan to make productive use of that space.

 

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Posted by 243129 on Friday, March 20, 2020 8:12 AM

charlie hebdo

Dave's continued attacks on China are part of an organized attempt to distract the public from our own failures to properly  deal with a health crisis.  It's an old political strategy: find an external enemy to focus attention away.  In Israel a criminal continues to be premier.  Familiar?

It's time to put aside nationalist arrogance, individual needs and partisanship and work together. 

 

I concur.Yes

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Posted by daveklepper on Friday, March 20, 2020 8:23 AM

L will not reply to the aboveL:

I can point out that I have posted absolutely nothing about the viris in the USA and rely on what I read in on-line newspapers and contributors to this thread.

Regarding Israel, which I do comment on:

On Friday, many more Israelis were listed in critical condition – a total to 10, including a 91-year-old woman who has been described as worse than the rest – but the majority of those afflicted (662) have mild symptoms, the ministry reported. 
 
 
Eighteen Israelis are in moderate condition and 15 have recovered. 
 

ON TUESDAY, the IDF’s Homefront Command along with the Israel Police and Health Ministry opened the country’s first corona quarantine facility in Tel Aviv’s Dan Panorama Hotel; soon after, a similar facility opened in Jerusalem. In total, four hotels will be opened across the country to isolate those diagnosed with the virus as well as provide them with medical care as needed.  
 
 
So far, 47 Israelis are taking advantage of these hotels. 
 
 
Moreover, the Israeli military is moving to a higher state of readiness and is preparing to assist the police to enforce a quarantine should a full nationwide lockdown be imposed due to the continued spread of the deadly coronavirus, IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Hidai Zilberman announced on Thursday.
 
 
While a national state of emergency has not been declared as Netanyahu explained on Thursday, the defense establishment has been preparing to assist should he announce the move and a full countrywide lockdown is imposed. The military will also be enforcing the regulations imposed by the Health Ministry on all bases across the country. 
 
 
I can also report that 17 Palestinians are reported to have recovered, and Thursday was the first day that no new cases were reported in China!  All this information is from on-line articles in the Jerusalem Post, reachable by www.jpost.com.
 
Anyone wisihing to read my letter to Pastor Cao can contact me at daveklepper@yahoo.com
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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 20, 2020 8:29 AM

Convicted One
 
daveklepper
One thhing the USA could learn from us is this:  Obviously hotels have largeliy lost their clientel.  So two hotels, one in T. A. and one in Jersusalem, with possibly more to come, are convelescent homes, where those recovering from the virus, but still under quarentene, can live, since they do not require constant medical care and can free up hospital bed for those that do requie it. 

We've got a 9 story hospital downtown that has been in process of being phased out for years, entire floors are mothballed, and they had hard plans to close it entirely within the next couple years.

One can only hope they are now pondering a contingency plan to make productive use of that space.

Once upon a time hospitals were viewed as altruistic organizations - dedicated to the health of their patients.

Now they are totally for profit entities and with much of today's diagnostic equipment running in the seven and eight figure price tag to acquire there is no pretense of being altruistic.  To be competitive in the hospital marketplace each hospital has to have the latest in diagnostic equipment - those that determine they can't afford the equipment cease to exist.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, March 20, 2020 10:30 AM

Space in the form of unused rooms is not very useful without the needed medical equipment, such as PPE for staff and ventilators for those with compromised respiratory systems. 

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Posted by alphas on Friday, March 20, 2020 12:42 PM

China's role in this mess can not be ignored.   Their first ignoring the problem, then trying to hide it from the world, then trying to blame it on US troops is totally unacceptable.    The other casualty in this is the WHO and its director which accepted China's version for so long that the world was slow to take action.      The WHO (and its director) have lost their credability and its going to take a major change for it to be trusted again. 

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, March 20, 2020 2:29 PM

alphas
China's role in this mess can not be ignored.   

Nor can our role. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by SD70Dude on Friday, March 20, 2020 2:57 PM

zugmann
alphas
China's role in this mess can not be ignored.   

Nor can our role.

You mean the virus won't just go away when the weather warms up!?

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Friday, March 20, 2020 3:00 PM

Funny thing is that probably the best response to COVID-19 was from the Republic of China (Taiwan). One of the the first things they did was to gear up on the prodction of face masks, shut down travel from the PRC and thoroughly track cases of infections.

Note that face masks only have to be good for lowering the infection rate to be useful for slowing down a pandemic.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:22 PM

alphas

China's role in this mess can not be ignored.   Their first ignoring the problem, then trying to hide it from the world, then trying to blame it on US troops is totally unacceptable.    The other casualty in this is the WHO and its director which accepted China's version for so long that the world was slow to take action.      The WHO (and its director) have lost their credability and its going to take a major change for it to be trusted again. 

 

Meanwhile you ignore the current occupant of our WH who was calling it a hoax not long ago and dismissing it as no worse than seasonal flu. 

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:33 PM

charlie hebdo
 
alphas

China's role in this mess can not be ignored.   Their first ignoring the problem, then trying to hide it from the world, then trying to blame it on US troops is totally unacceptable.    The other casualty in this is the WHO and its director which accepted China's version for so long that the world was slow to take action.      The WHO (and its director) have lost their credability and its going to take a major change for it to be trusted again. 

  

Meanwhile you ignore the current occupant of our WH who was calling it a hoax not long ago and dismissing it as no worse than seasonal flu. 

 

 
The problem with your statement is that it is no worse than the seasonal flu, which on a percentage basis kills more people than COVID-19 does and will, and that's from the CDC's own statistics.  By all means protect those that are most suscpetible, but let the rest of us go on about our daily lives normally, it's not going to hurt the vast majority of civilians(who by the way won't need hospitalization either).
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Posted by York1 on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:51 PM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR

 

 
charlie hebdo
 
alphas

China's role in this mess can not be ignored.   Their first ignoring the problem, then trying to hide it from the world, then trying to blame it on US troops is totally unacceptable.    The other casualty in this is the WHO and its director which accepted China's version for so long that the world was slow to take action.      The WHO (and its director) have lost their credability and its going to take a major change for it to be trusted again. 

  

Meanwhile you ignore the current occupant of our WH who was calling it a hoax not long ago and dismissing it as no worse than seasonal flu. 

 

 

 
The problem with your statement is that it is no worse than the seasonal flu, which on a percentage basis kills more people than COVID-19 does and will, and that's from the CDC's own statistics.  By all means protect those that are most suscpetible, but let the rest of go on about our daily lives normally, it's not going to hurt the vast majority of civilians(who by the way won't need hospitalization either).
 

 

Another problem with Charlie's statement is that the "current occupant of our WH" did not call it a hoax.

What's more, Charlie knows it.

York1 John       

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:52 PM

675 new deaths just this morning in Italy. 470 new deaths yesterday in Italy. It's not about you, it's about everyone you come into contact with.

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Posted by Convicted One on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:54 PM

BaltACD
Once upon a time hospitals were viewed as altruistic organizations - dedicated to the health of their patients. Now they are totally for profit entities and with much of today's diagnostic equipment running in the seven and eight figure price tag to acquire there is no pretense of being altruistic.  To be competitive in the hospital marketplace each hospital has to have the latest in diagnostic equipment - those that determine they can't afford the equipment cease to exist.

I agree completely. But if this thing lasts the 18 months that some predict, and if local resources become overloaded, and this hospital does not "ramp up" ....I predict they will have a public relations dilemma to answer for.....

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:56 PM

York1
Another problem with Charlie's statement is that the "current occupant of our WH" did not call it a hoax.

What's more, Charlie knows it.

Only if Fox News is your source.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Convicted One on Friday, March 20, 2020 4:59 PM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
By all means protect those that are most suscpetible, but let the rest of go on about our daily lives normally, it's not going to hurt the vast majority of civilians(who by the way won't need hospitalization either). 

I'm actually glad the the government is making that decision for the people who are too self absorbed  to realize the threat they would pose  to the vulnerable people around them is unacceptable.

And I am normally very anti-authority, and anti-government....but on this issue they have my full support.

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Posted by York1 on Friday, March 20, 2020 5:28 PM

BaltACD

 

 
York1
Another problem with Charlie's statement is that the "current occupant of our WH" did not call it a hoax.

What's more, Charlie knows it.

 

Only if Fox News is your source.

 

 

I don't know what FOX News says about this.  I don't watch it.

However, I have read these, and many more:

 

1.  "What's False    Despite creating some confusion with his remarks, Trump did not call the coronavirus itself a hoax."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-coronavirus-rally-remark/

 

2.  "President Donald Trump slammed Democrats for the way they are reacting to the coronavirus threat, saying that their criticism of his administration’s handling of the outbreak is “their new hoax.”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/trump-slams-democrats-

 

3.  "President Trump says that Democrats are using the virulent coronavirus as a “hoax” to damage him and his administration."

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/28/trump-says-the-coronavirus-is-the-democrats-new-hoax.html

 

There are a lot more sources for this.

 

Several days ago, Charlie posted this:

charlie hebdo
Your last post is about religion and is also a blatant political statement as should be obvious to all. 

Yet he continues to post blatant political statements himself.

People are sick.  People are dying.  Businesses are closing.  Workers are being laid off.

Maybe it's time to put away the blatant political statements for now, and talk about them when this is all over.

York1 John       

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Posted by SD70Dude on Friday, March 20, 2020 5:46 PM

"I haven't touched my face in weeks.  Been weeks.  I miss it!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e2Nwey00rc

I hope he was just joking, but considering the size of his ego I'm not sure.

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by 54light15 on Friday, March 20, 2020 6:56 PM

Well, he is a stable genius and now is a medical expert. Maybe we just need more covfefe on our hamburders. 

But, b'jaysus, that man has the weirdest hair I've ever seen! 

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:09 PM

York 1 states: " Maybe it's time to put away the blatant political statements for now, and talk about them when this is all over."

These are wise and decent words.

It's important but obviously people here cannot seem to stop getting in a hit on your President. It's shameful given the circumstances. 

Thanks York 1.. respect to you.

 
 
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Posted by SD70Dude on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:17 PM

No, it's hilarious.  Gotta find some humour even in the darkest of times.

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:21 PM

Trump called it a hoax several times on TV.  It's  not politics.  It's a public health crisis. 

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:33 PM

York1

 

 
BaltACD

 

 
York1
Another problem with Charlie's statement is that the "current occupant of our WH" did not call it a hoax.

What's more, Charlie knows it.

 

Only if Fox News is your source.

 

 

 

 

I don't know what FOX News says about this.  I don't watch it.

However, I have read these, and many more:

 

1.  "What's False    Despite creating some confusion with his remarks, Trump did not call the coronavirus itself a hoax."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-coronavirus-rally-remark/

 

2.  "President Donald Trump slammed Democrats for the way they are reacting to the coronavirus threat, saying that their criticism of his administration’s handling of the outbreak is “their new hoax.”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/trump-slams-democrats-

 

3.  "President Trump says that Democrats are using the virulent coronavirus as a “hoax” to damage him and his administration."

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/28/trump-says-the-coronavirus-is-the-democrats-new-hoax.html

 

There are a lot more sources for this.

 

Several days ago, Charlie posted this:

 

 
charlie hebdo
Your last post is about religion and is also a blatant political statement as should be obvious to all. 

 

Yet he continues to post blatant political statements himself.

People are sick.  People are dying.  Businesses are closing.  Workers are being laid off.

Maybe it's time to put away the blatant political statements for now, and talk about them when this is all over.

 

Thank you, York 1.

Johnny

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:41 PM

This is the game rightists such as Hannity play.

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/3/20/21186727/hannity-coronavirus-coverage-fox-news

And from Trump at a rally in South Carolina:

https://www.vox.com/2020/2/29/21159294/trump-coronavirus-hoax-south-carolina-first-death

But for a few days at least,  Trump has changed his tone a little,  following advice of his consultants, Shirley still blaming this on previous administrations today.  The Big Lie of Dr. Goebbels in action.

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:44 PM

charlie hebdo

Trump called it a hoax several times on TV.  It's  not politics.  It's a public health crisis. 

 

Trump also closed down travel between the U.S. and China despite the protestations of the WHO and others. Trump is certainly not above reproach for his handling of the COVID-19 situation, but his critics are no better.

A crowded passenger train is not the place to be while in the middle of a pandemic, though the same is true of a crowded bus or airliner.

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Friday, March 20, 2020 7:52 PM

Convicted One
 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
By all means protect those that are most suscpetible, but let the rest of go on about our daily lives normally, it's not going to hurt the vast majority of civilians(who by the way won't need hospitalization either). 

 

I'm actually glad the the government is making that decision for the people who are too self absorbed  to realize the threat they would pose  to the vulnerable people around them is unacceptable.

And I am normally very anti-authority, and anti-government....but on this issue they have my full support.

 

 
Do it the other way around then, quarantine those that are most susceptible and let the rest of the population continue to roam, but don't quarantine everyone.
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, March 20, 2020 11:58 PM

Deggesty

York1

BaltACD

York1

Another problem with Charlie's statement is that the "current occupant of our WH" did not call it a hoax.What's more, Charlie knows it. 

Only if Fox News is your source. 

I don't know what FOX News says about this.  I don't watch it.

However, I have read these, and many more: 

1.  "What's False    Despite creating some confusion with his remarks, Trump did not call the coronavirus itself a hoax."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-coronavirus-rally-remark/ 

2.  "President Donald Trump slammed Democrats for the way they are reacting to the coronavirus threat, saying that their criticism of his administration’s handling of the outbreak is “their new hoax.”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/trump-slams-democrats- 

3.  "President Trump says that Democrats are using the virulent coronavirus as a “hoax” to damage him and his administration."

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/28/trump-says-the-coronavirus-is-the-democrats-new-hoax.html 

There are a lot more sources for this. 

Several days ago, Charlie posted this: 

charlie hebdo
Your last post is about religion and is also a blatant political statement as should be obvious to all.  

Yet he continues to post blatant political statements himself.

People are sick.  People are dying.  Businesses are closing.  Workers are being laid off.

Maybe it's time to put away the blatant political statements for now, and talk about them when this is all over. 

Thank you, York 1.

President Trump, Jan. 22: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”
 
President Trump, Feb. 24: “The coronavirus is very much under control in the USA.”
 
President Trump, Feb. 25: “I think that’s a problem that’s going to go away.
 
President Trump, Feb. 26: “The 15 (cases in the United States) within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.
 
President Trump, March 5: “The United States, because of quick action on closing our borders, has, as of now, only 129 cases (40 Americans brought in) and 11 deaths.”
 
Just days later, there were more than 500 cases and 21 deaths.
Does anyone dispute that is what the President said. 
So little action was taken except to restrict travel from China. N how many how many cases and deaths are there?
From the New York Times: 

Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count

 

The number of known cases of the coronavirus in the United States surged past 15,000 on Friday morning as testing expanded and the virus spread. As of Friday evening, at least 17,836 people across every state, plus Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories, have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a New York Times database, and at least 238 patients with the virus have died.

Emphasis by me.
 
 
 

 

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