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Covid19 Thread 1 (The Elephant in the Room)

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SeaAndSky said:
This is not a news source I usually check, but I guess I will henceforth add the "Guardian" to my "don't even bother to look at it" list.
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Fair comment. However, if I ignored all the unreliable sources I would never get any news at all.
I think the thing is, to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular outlet. I regularly check a thoroughly disreputable news outlet, because they often publish breaking news faster than others. Thus alerted that there may be something of interest, I can check other sources later.
 
While masks for Berlin vanished last Saturday, a much larger order of masks and lab coats have arrived now and will be given to hospitals tomorrow.
Hope hospitals in France and the U.K. will get their stuff, too. Important materials should be given to where they are most needed and not abused to gain an advantage or make quick money.
NOT saying this has happened.

I still hope people from all over the world will realize that we're in this together and work together instead of against each other. That who ever discovers a cure or vaccine first will share it with the world. I hope country leaders will realize that a quick advantage will turn into a disadvantage when thinking in longer terms. Because when another country breaks down, you loose a possible future trading partner. And the opportunity to learn and exchange knowledge. Not mentioning that you may spend a future life in exactly that country...

Anyway, those who make selfish decisions now one day will realize what they have done and then will have to deal with heavy carry-overs. So everyone who acts for personal gain at the expense of others has my deepest compassion. Having to deal with past life guilt is not fun.
 
Hi Speedwell,

You're definitely right. I use Yahoo as my news source in that regard. It's a complete mix of mostly junk news sources, but they can sometimes prove useful with further research.

Cordially,
S&S
 
Here's a shout-out to our friends from Oz. It looks like the Australians are hot on the heels of a tremendous break-through. Time will tell, and results in vivo and results in vitro can often be very different, but I'm always encouraged when there is news of a drug that is already approved for human use that may be effective against this virus:

https://www.deccanherald.com/scienc...onavirus-in-lab-grown-cells-study-821458.html

S&S
 
The next two make me so sad. The first is about the 1% having luxury getaways to use at a time like this. The second is about a front-line nurse who caught the virus on the job and went home, only to die alone.

https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/inside-the-luxurious-underground-bunkers-where-the-rich-bug-out/

https://www.foxnews.com/us/detroit-er-nurse-dies-alone-at-home-from-coronavirus

This is something that shouldn't happen. A front-line soldier shouldn't be allowed to just die alone after they are "wounded", not if it could have been helped. It is such a shame that no one was there for her, when she was there for so many others. I don't know why it is necessary to contrast what happened to her with the sight of luxury bunkers and hotels for the wealthy, but the contrast is so sharp and disturbing to me. Here is someone who literally gave her life helping others, dying without anyone to care for her or give her love in her last hours--all alone. While at the same time, those who left the scene of the action bide their time in luxury waiting for the battle to be over. I'm not particularly against the wealthy, and I'm home myself biding time with my own family, but this . . . . It just seems intolerable that she should have to die like this.

Somehow this should just not have been allowed to happen.

S&S
 
SeaAndSky said:
Here's a shout-out to our friends from Oz. It looks like the Australians are hot on the heels of a tremendous break-through. Time will tell, and results in vivo and results in vitro can often be very different, but I'm always encouraged when there is news of a drug that is already approved for human use that may be effective against this virus:
S&S
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Oy vey! This shows you how much I haven’t really been paying attn! :confused: I knew that we are in the midsts of developing something but didn’t know it was this close...

I guess the one positive thing to come out of this virus is that a) I still have a job.. and b) I’m doing some wicked overtime which leaves me a lot of money to either go online shopping or save it for a long deserved holiday...

Eva x
 
SeaAndSky said:
The second is about a front-line nurse who caught the virus on the job and went home, only to die alone.
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I disagree. Regardless of whether they catch the virus or pass away of other means, they don’t die alone. Only the spiritually asleep would say that everyone who has died from this virus has died alone. They haven’t, as you have all your guides, passed loved ones and every one around you. You only “physically” die alone.

Eva x
 
Today I read an interesting article about why Hungary is a less affected country with a relatively low death toll (the pandemic officially reached Hungary on 4 March). Hungary has 7 bordering countries and we still don't have curfew, only a mild restriction. The healthcare is suffering, but it's a fact that we don't have a serious death toll yet, not even in the capital.

It may be mere speculation by scientists, but covid-19 seems to be more aggressive where a certain vaccine is not compulsory for the babies. The vaccine is called BCG and it's again tuberculosis. It's only advised to give to babies in most Western countries, and countries like Italy or the US don't even vaccinate the babies with BCG, according to Hungarian articles. Other countries only had shorter periods when this vaccine was a must. The main reason of the disappearance of BCG is because tuberculosis became such a minor problem in advanced countries in the last decades.
This vaccine became compulsory in Hungary in 1954, when it was really needed since the 50s were one of the harshest decades of the country in the 20th century. For some reason, the vaccine is still in use and still compulsory, and I'm sure I've got it too. It doesn't make people resistant and invulnerable to covid-19, but it may protect the lungs from the most severe sympthons, as far as I can understand.

Here's one article in English:
http://semmelweis.hu/english/2020/04/the-role-of-bcg-vaccination-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/
 
A heads up to those with slow if not glacial adjustment reactions that if you haven't already to stock up on groceries (if still possible) and to buy seeds due to the ongoing outbreak is having adverse effects on the supply chain as well the farmers. Livestock farmers are having very real problems with getting feed and getting livestock to market as well whole sellers taking big hits. Also the sale of seeds has been banned in some places (surprising) and a lot of farmers are having issues getting workers for harvest so crops are likely going to waste in the fields. Dairy farmers are also being hit due to lack of truckers and processing issue so they are having to dump the milk at a loss.

In short buy what you can and buy seeds as hard times are soon at hand as things are not going back to what they were anytime soon.
 
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HI S&S Australian scientists and engineers are among the best in the world... It's not widely know that Australian engineers and scientists at the government run CSIRO invented WiFi and has received a fortune in royalties Also I think you said you were a patent attorney If you haven't already the battle for patents over WiFi could be a good read for you

Al The Best
 
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I find it astounding that the US allowed the passengers from the cruise ships in Florida walk out and into the general population.. At present there is a New South Wales police homicide squad investigation into the owners of the cruise ship Ruby Princess and health New South Wales for allowing there passengers to disembark into the general population That is the only cruise ship this happened to in Australia There are now 662 coronavirus cases and 11 deaths linked to passengers from the Ruby Princess Goodness knows how that will multiply out over e coming weeks Obviously those in charge in the US took no notice of the Australian experience
 
Grel said:
Allo Allo.. I feel ashamed since the newspaper where I write is just as bad.
-Grel
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Grel, I think it's perhaps a bit hasty to completely dismiss a paper as 'bad' on the strength of one questionable story. Probably all papers that are considered reputable manage to make a bad judgement call on some occasion or other. There are some papers here that are concerned only with sensationalising all they can, regardless of the truth, and that's what I'd consider something to be ashamed of!
 
Hi Grel,

Just as bad as what? I'm not sure what newspaper you are referring to. The only one that has come up by name recently has been the Guardian. So, that is my assumption.

Cordially,
S&S
 
What Grel maybe talking about is....Some working in the media just want to tell it how it is and not be restricted by governments and the editorial polices of who they work for on what they can report on on how they report on issues... How much of what is going on not only with the the coroavirus but everything else that is going on around the world do you think is restricted by governments... Plenty
We believe what our governments what us to believe It all BS The biggest of all BS's
 
Out of interest, here's the Guardian's own statement of its policy:-

The Guardian is in every corner of the globe, calmly reporting with tenacity, rigour and authority on the most critical events of our lifetimes. At a time when factual information is both scarcer and more essential than ever, we believe that each of us deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its heart.

More people than ever before are reading and supporting our journalism, in more than 180 countries around the world. And this is only possible because we made a different choice: to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay.

We have upheld our editorial independence in the face of the disintegration of traditional media – with social platforms giving rise to misinformation, the seemingly unstoppable rise of big tech and independent voices being squashed by commercial ownership. The Guardian’s independence means we can set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Our journalism is free from commercial and political bias – never influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This makes us different. It means we can challenge the powerful without fear and give a voice to those less heard.
 
tanker said:
Grel, I think it's perhaps a bit hasty to completely dismiss a paper as 'bad' on the strength of one questionable story. Probably all papers that are considered reputable manage to make a bad judgement call on some occasion or other. There are some papers here that are concerned only with sensationalising all they can, regardless of the truth, and that's what I'd consider something to be ashamed of!
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I guess it's everything about this mess and my own misgivings about being a writer.. I think I am in the wrong career.
-Grel
 
Grel said:
I guess it's everything about this mess and my own misgivings about being a writer.. I think I am in the wrong career.
-Grel
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Why do you feel it's the wrong career for you, Grel? What first drew you to it when you decided to be a writer? Has this virus given you these misgivings, or did you have them before all this? I think the situation we are in is maybe not the best time to make too many life-changing decisions, but just to go along with it until life returns to normal. We'll all learn lessons from it, I believe, and hopefully find that something good comes from it all.
 
Actually, I think the news media are just returning to their default setting. It seems to me that for a brief, glorious period, news providers sought to be unbiased and objective in their reporting and presentation of the news. I'm sure they never succeeded totally (due to both personal and institutional biases). However, you'll never hit what you don't aim for. At least they seemed to be trying.

I can still remember the screams from members of my generation in the 60s (the granddaddies of the screams heard today) to abandon any pretense of objectivity because something was so terrible that it had to be fought "tooth and nail". "Up against the wall pigs!" was the byword of the day in the late 60s. Then Watergate came along, and generations of journalists have been taught to look upon that as the paradigmatic triumph and ultimate peak experience for journalists. Today, these two attitudes have combined to spawn a monstrosity that preens self-righteously in a cultural and political echo-chamber, and then wonders why the public no longer respects journalism and journalists in general.

Of course, John & Jill Q. Public still think highly of those who echo their own opinion of things. Unfortunately, we now live in completely different universes depending on political and cultural orientation with our own distinctive media resources. So it goes.

I sometimes wonder whether it would ever be possible to have a media "bell curve" where the vast majority of information resources fit in the middle and were generally respected by all. (Today we have two separate bell curves that mutually despise each other).

At my age I doubt I would live to see it even if anyone in the media had any interest in trying.

S&S
 
tanker said:
Why do you feel it's the wrong career for you, Grel? What first drew you to it when you decided to be a writer? Has this virus given you these misgivings, or did you have them before all this? I think the situation we are in is maybe not the best time to make too many life-changing decisions, but just to go along with it until life returns to normal. We'll all learn lessons from it, I believe, and hopefully find that something good comes from it all.
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It's always been there. I started writing because I have a natural skill with it. Originally, I was a second year pre med but became seduced when I wrote an article about the lack of oversight in FEMA.
Switched majors. I am not sure that was a good idea!
-Grel
 
SeaAndSky said:
Actually, I think the news media are just returning to their default setting. It seems to me that for a brief, glorious period, news providers sought to be unbiased and objective in their reporting and presentation of the news. I'm sure they never succeeded totally (due to both personal and institutional biases). However, you'll never hit what you don't aim for. At least they seemed to be trying.

I can still remember the screams from members of my generation in the 60s (the granddaddies of the screams heard today) to abandon any pretense of objectivity because something was so terrible that it had to be fought "tooth and nail". "Up against the wall pigs!" was the byword of the day in the late 60s. Then Watergate came along, and generations of journalists have been taught to look upon that as the paradigmatic triumph and ultimate peak experience for journalists. Today, these two attitudes have combined to spawn a monstrosity that preens self-righteously in a cultural and political echo-chamber, and then wonders why the public no longer respects journalism and journalists in general.

Of course, John & Jill Q. Public still think highly of those who echo their own opinion of things. Unfortunately, we now live in completely different universes depending on political and cultural orientation with our own distinctive media resources. So it goes.

I sometimes wonder whether it would ever be possible to have a media "bell curve" where the vast majority of information resources fit in the middle and were generally respected by all. (Today we have two separate bell curves that mutually despise each other).

At my age I doubt I would live to see it even if anyone in the media had any interest in trying.

S&S
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I don't know, I've never really been that interested in newspapers (apart from the crosswords), and even less in politics, so seem to have missed all that. We have a paper 'The Independent' currently, but I've never read it so don't know how independent it is.
 
Hi Grel,

Is it too late to switch to something that might be more satisfying? I understand your dilemma, having lived my life in a profession that was really not very well matched to my temperament or interests. BTW--I have a strong belief in the importance of news media. It is a very worthwhile field. I'm just not too happy about developments in this field over the last 50 years.

Hi Tanker,

I was really speaking of the "press" or news media in general, including broadcast media. BTW--I don't know that you've missed that much in avoiding this area. I like keeping up with certain things, but take everything said that has a political or ideological component of any kind with a pound of salt. The level of bias and opinion in news reporting is incredible, but that aspect would at least be moderated if the distinction between news reporting and editorial was observed.

Cordially,
S&S
 
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