March 13, 2020

Boy, do I miss a strong Surgeon General like C. Everett Koop right about now.

C. Everett Koop: The Surgeon General Who Put Science Before Personal Ideology

I remember receiving What Every American Needs to Know About AIDS in the mail. I wish I still had my copy from that time. He did as much as he could while in his position as SG to stick to the science and leave religion and politics out of his job, and it showed. It also likely improved and saved many, many lives.

He wasn't perfect, but he'd be a damned sight better than the placeholder we have now.

March 13, 2020

Agreed, they should have just taken the WHO tests to begin with.

trump* doesn't like WHO.
Trump Seeks to Halve U.S. Funding for World Health Organization as Coronavirus Rages [FEB 10]

We were gonna have a better test! Hmm...
Key Missteps at the CDC Have Set Back Its Ability to Detect the Potential Spread of Coronavirus [FEB 28]

But wait! There's always the money angle. Always.
Trump may be profiting from new Covid-19 test kit maker, Thermo Fisher Scientific Corp. [DU post w/many links]

Screw trump* - if there's a way for states to get WHO tests and use them, they should just do it.

March 13, 2020

trump* will be to blame, but the country as a whole will be held accountable

worldwide as economies fail. Our reputation is shot on every single level. The world is going to pay, not just the US and it's going to be painful. Somebody needs to take responsible action, now.

Everyone. Call. Your. Senators.

Democrats have a new coronavirus relief package. Here’s what’s in it.
Hopes of bipartisan deal rise as White House, Democrats negotiate coronavirus relief package [edited to add]
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact

March 12, 2020

Hypocrisy on so many levels.

The Hyde amendment the Repubs want to shove into the proposed bill is also part of an ideological wish list, no?

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/coronavirus-funding-held-up-by-gop-because-of-abortion-and-people-are-furious-saving-fetuses-over-actual-lives/

https://twitter.com/JStein_WaPo/status/1238123392080936961

STFU, Mitch.

March 12, 2020

Congressional phone numbers

House Directory of Representatives
https://www.house.gov/representatives

Senate Directory
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact

March 12, 2020

This is why Congress needs to bypass trump* and

pass something to mandate WHO tests now, to address job issues now. If it stalls in the Senate, make the loudest stink ever about the political leaders who want the rest of us to die --for profit and political points, of course. Lamar Alexander, we are all looking at you. May your name be mud forever more.

It's only with testing and some sort of long term plan addressing people and their needs, not the stupid stock market, that this thing is going to get brought under control. And I say this a retiree who just got creamed... it is not at the forefront of my mind at the moment. Public health and job stability are the current issues that matter. Finding some way to get testing going, to get sick people a way to stay home safely, and to keep the country's labor infrastructure from collapsing will do far more good long term than any of the BS that's currently floating out there now.

March 12, 2020

Same worry about the duration.

I am trying not to put all my hope in the freezer, though I have stuffed it full, including a little extra cheese, butter, milk and a dozen eggs in silicone muffin tin liners stacked in a gallon ziplock. Also people, google how to freeze food flat. It's amazing. (And if everyone already knew this, enjoy laughing at me!)

I have evaporated and powdered milk as well. I will miss fruit most of all, so I will be swimming in it until the two small melons are gone. There are half a dozen oranges/apples & a jar or two of fruit packed in juice for treats down the road.

Expecting at least some power issues, I bought a bag of charcoal to cook outside if need be. No steaks (they take up too much room and don't keep as well as ground meat) but the cast iron pot, pan, and griddle will come in handy for heating water or cooking just about anything else over flames.

What little chicken I bought has skin and bones for maximum calories in minimum portions as well as stock making. A small ham or roast can be cooked and refrozen in chunks for sandwiches, soups, and rice dishes. Bacon keeps well until opened, takes up little room and keeps on giving to other dishes if you save the grease. (Thank you, Publix 2 for 1 sale today, or I wouldn't have thought of it.)

I bought flour, lots of it, have a fair amount of sugar and molasses on hand, and plan to make my own bread and crackers after the few loaves I bought are gone. No plans to freeze any because of space. Will need to remember to print out some extra recipes for that just in case...

Oh, and I went to the liquor store too. Medicinal purposes and all.

I have never actually made fun of doomsday preppers, but I did think they were a bit overboard. I am not thinking that now. For all I stocked up, a lot of my food naturally accumulated in the pantry over time and I still look at the cupboard and wonder how long I could last. My heart goes out to people trying to stretch their budgets to deal with this. I am horrified to think of the number of people who may lose their jobs.

Apologies for the ramble; just thought I would add more ideas in case anyone is interested, and I would love to hear more from others who have thought of ideas for long term.

March 12, 2020

I live in rural GA and people are just now starting to wake up to reality of the situation.

I finished most of my stocking up shopping today. There was one tiny sign in the paper products aisle limiting tissue purchases to 2 per customer - just tissues, not TP; otherwise, there was little to no change from any other day. It was surreal. I was the only one with a cart full of rice, beans, meats, frozen veg, and soups. (And two cases of cat food, a large bag of same, and two great jugs of kitty litter from each store.) I went to two stores: WalMart and Publix. Publix was the one rationing tissues. WalMart's TP section was starting to look a bit ragged, but still stocked. I may go out one more time (early am, with gloves on) to pick up pet meds and a last round of toilet paper and tissues, along with a couple of canned staples I forgot, and then I'm done.

I did pick up some bottled water, but not a great deal. I already have water purification pills and a life straw if needed from the last hurricane season. There's always bleach in a pinch, but I'd rather not do that.

For those who wonder about stocking up on TP, it's because I don't want to go to the store again for quite some time and though I may start to rely on Amazon at some point, I don't count on the option being there.

I am seriously considering a back yard vegetable garden, black thumb notwithstanding.

The next month will be all about home time and hope.

My worst nightmare for all of us is that we hunker down and make it through the next month or so, but there is no working infrastructure for food at that point. Also, if the power goes out long term, my carefully stocked freezer is screwed. Rice and beans for a while, I guess. Am I alarmist to wonder?

March 11, 2020

I remember that commercial, and thought of it today as well.

Easy, obvious, and somebody ought to be making public health announcements along these lines right now. Jerome Adams is our current Surgeon General (had to look it up) and is, AFAIK, doing fuck all to promote public awareness and safety.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Adams