live love laugh
live love laugh's JournalTesting testing 1 - 2 - 3 ...
Covid tests have been a point of contention ever since we learned of the first death from the disease in Washington State. That was in February and when it was reported to the Trump Administration, the CDC instructed the Univ. of WA & Seattle Dept. of Health to stop testing. There's been a lack of available tests for at least 6 weeks after Trump told Americans March 6th “there is no testing kit shortage nor has there ever been." Only this week, April 28th have we heard Trump revisit the commitment he made March 13th when he said ".. top executives from CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Target, have pledged space outside of their stores for drive-through COVID-19 testing."
The administration's been suspected of withholding tests to quash the numbers and the efficacy of tests continues to be questionable as we hear that multiple tests are often needed on symptomatic patients and that the president's son in law's brother somehow has managed to get a testing company up and running to cash in on the carnage.
As Trump announces that everybody is going to be able to get tested, it occurs to me that every individual can be tested now, or could have been tested before now and still will be totally susceptible to infection the moment after they're tested--UNLESS THERE ARE GUIDELINES TO PREVENT INFECTION. Testing is worthless and a waste of money if people aren't compelled to preserve their uninfected status.
If Trump eliminates the very guidelines that are needed free-for-all testing is pretty much a waste of time and taxpayer money.
Boeing lays off 16,000 workers
But was just given taxpayer dollars as a bailout.
Fuck. Boeing. The corporate equivalent of Trump.
https://www.barrons.com/articles/boeing-layoffs-workers-aerospace-51586531617
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Boeing is considering a 10% reduction to its workforce. That could be a sign for investors that Boeing doesn’t believe the outlook for commercial aerospace is as rosy as it once was.
Furloughs, layoffs, worker reassignments and buyouts have been difficult to keep track of for investors. Layoffs at Boeing could spread beyond the company, and in turn affect tens of thousands of American factory workers.
The entire aerospace value chain has reacted as quickly as possible to minimize the impact of the severe downturn in air travel. Only about 97,000 people passed through TSA checkpoints on April 7, down about an incredible 95% year over year.
Boeing (ticker: BA) originally suspended Seattle area production around March 23 and said then it would continue to pay workers for 10 days. On April 2, the company announced a voluntary layoff plan for employees that might like to exit from the business permanently. Boeing extended the production shutdown on April 5. There was no timeline given in the most recent release.
Stimulus: I'm curious
Have you gotten your personal stimulus check or deposit? I haven’t. I know I can follow up on the website but I am more curious as to whether there’s any bias associated with delays because I had red state people say it’s a lie that some have not gotten their stimulus.
The Postal Service is self supporting but mandated not to turn a profit
The Postal Service is fully self supporting financially but mandated not to turn a profit Trump should therefore be prohibited from requiring them to arbitrarily raise prices above profit levels.
Chase lawsuit for mishandling small business stimulus
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/20/small-businesses-sue-chase-bank-over-handling-stimulus/5163654002/<snip >
In the suit filed on Sunday, a cybersecurity firm and event planning company accused Chase Bank of prioritizing small business borrowers who were seeking larger loan amounts rather than processing the government-sponsored loan applications on a first-come, first-served basis as advertised.
The move meant that Chase and other banks would collect larger processing fees – nearly $6 billion in total – by frontloading the queue with businesses seeking higher loans, according to the lawsuit.
The businesses seeking lower loans were deprioritized, so many didn't get the aid they were entitled to, the lawsuit filed on behalf of small businesses said.
The legal action is one in a series of lawsuits lodged by small businesses against big banks such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Bancorp citing unfair business practices and false advertising.
The loans were a part of a $349 billion emergency small business lending program meant to keep businesses afloat and staffers employed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
<snip>
"Chase concealed from the public that it was reshuffling the PPP applications it received and prioritizing the applications that would make the bank the most money," the lawsuit said.
<snip>
The proof of Chase prioritizing larger borrowers lies in numbers provided by the Small Business Administration, the lawsuit alleges. In the past three days, before the PPP loan money ran out, banks allegedly processed loan applications for $150,000 and under at twice the rate of larger loans...This would suggest that banks prioritized applications for the largest loans early on, otherwise "the percentage change of applications submitted in the last three days of the program would be consistent among all application types,"
Update on BFFs Covid case
It’s a week ago that my best friend’s only child—her son—was admitted to Chicago’s VA hospital. He’s on life support/a ventilator because doctors said his lungs kept filling up with fluid (cytokinesis?).
THREE Covid tests had to be taken. The first two came back negative even though he has textbook symptoms. Only today is his diagnosis confirmed.
He’s been given Trump’s drug—hydroxychloroquine. His kidneys became affected and it was discontinued so are steroids being discontinued. The ventilator has been modulated or adjusted to varied settings which I think is a good thing.
His mom who drove him to the hospital is self quarantined and speaks to doctors multiple times a day. All prayers, positive energy are appreciated.
My intent for sharing is to also warn. Not only don’t we have enough tests, but the tests aren’t reliable. If it’s taken three tests to diagnose him, who knows whether or when reentry is safe.
While we applaud Paula Reid ....
There’s an alternate universe that’s been pumped up with disinformation and hatred. I frequent the FB page Turning Point (appropriately named “TP”).
Some of the garbage I read:
“Bitch shut up!”
“I hate journalism to core. Annoying and misleading profession”
“Her husband is a lobbyist for the Chinese.”
“Paula’s husband is a lobbyist for China, she went to college in China!! Evil sick person!!”
“Rude bitch. Shut your mouth.”
“Is the bitch related to Pelosi.”
These comments are from older, mature appearing people. The derangement level is off the charts.
Just one more illustration of why the media is so very important. Many have forgotten and many have never known what real journalism looks like.
CORONAVIRUS OUTLOOK By Susan Miller
I think Susan Miller is the best popular astrologer today. Her take on Covid rings true. There are timing issues that overlap with the fall election. It’s worth visiting Astrologyzone.com — her website—to read the whole piece.
<snip>
Pluto and Jupiter, both slow-moving planets, are traveling within close, significant degrees to each other all year. Jupiter is spreading the virus that Pluto has uncovered, and both planets are spreading the virus exponentially. As said, Pluto and Jupiter are in Capricorn, and Capricorn rules, among other things, older people. Scientists say that older people, appear to be more susceptible to this virus than others. Pluto and Jupiter meet every 13 years. We don’t have a deadly virus every 13 years, of course. Pluto searches for a problem to bring to our attention. If Pluto (or Mars for that matter) finds nothing important to show us, we sail through that period easily.
<snip>
This tells me that the virus will be raging in the spring, especially in March, April and first half of May, but become weak in the summer starting in June. The virus will calm down so much that many people might assume the COVID-19 is gone. I don’t believe this will be the case. Like a snake hiding in the grass and bushes, the virus will lie dormant, only to strike again in September through all of November, and possibly extend as far as mid-December.
<snip>
I looked back at the Spanish Influenza of 1918, which was severe, infecting more than one-fourth of the world’s population. I almost fell of my chair to see that in that year, 1918, Pluto and Jupiter were also orbiting tightly together, just as they are now, in 2020. You can read about it by googling Spanish Influenza of 1918. At that time, the medical community and scientists didn’t know as much about how viruses proliferate as we do now and also didn’t know to limit social interaction.... you should not assume the coronavirus will be over quickly. We must adjust to this state of “a new normal.” I admit that I could be wrong about the precise timing of the virus—it might be shorter. I hope I am wrong and that the virus will end in short order. Still, the mathematical cycles of Jupiter and Pluto suggest we must not check every minute to see if it is gone. This is a very virulent virus that will take time to leave.
<snip>
For now, call your relatives and friends often—hearing your cheerful voice and perhaps talking over Skype or Facetime will mean so much to each of those in your circle who are quarantined within. Everyone will need kindness and compassion. I have one last thought: Jupiter is strongly involved in this aspect, and Jupiter not only expands what it touches, but Jupiter is also considered the planet of miracles. Albert Einstein once wrote, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” He said he chose the latter. I do, too. Jupiter in his current position throughout 2020 will be capable of creating the miracle we all need. Have faith, dear reader.
Childhood friend's only son put on ventilator hour ago
He’s 38. Chicago. Admitted to VA hospital two days ago. Ran a temperature between 101-104 for at least four days. Thursday night she dropped him at the hospital after he complained of chest tightness now she’s self quarantined. They put him on oxygen only. He’s been face timing and calling even talked to his mom this morning. She said he sounded good. Then the doctor called about 9 AM saying he has pneumonia and being moved to a ventilator and ICU.
Send up prayers, thoughts.... positive energy
Our families are like kin. It’s doubly bad because I can’t physically comfort her nor she him.
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Member since: Wed Feb 7, 2007, 11:48 PMNumber of posts: 13,100
