Corona…

[jakelafort]

Here is something that may lead to cure or treatment.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200305132039.htm

[Jody Lee]

@jake, Yeah…however it was a federal mandation to restrict all non-essential visitors. Not so surprising…a hospice clergyman is considered essential, EVEN when the resident is not actively dying.

[jakelafort]

Jody, that is not surprising but it is puke-worthy. How about a nursing home for atheists or at least a wing?

[Jody Lee]

I prefer euthanasia if it comes to that.

[Belle Rose]

@Reg yep. Our school district was the first in the nation to be hit and the first to close… But my sons private school stayed open but now they are being forced to close. Thankfully we have the resources and everybody’s going to be doing school online

[jakelafort]

Some more hypocrisy/BS in re corona…horse racing tracks in USA except one are operational but fans are excluded. At same time the racinos (horses and casino) continue to operate the casino where people have their hands all over slots.

[PopeBeanie]

jakelafort wrote:

Here is something that may lead to cure or treatment.

Interesting! The drug is called Camostat (something).

Just found a recent addition to a wikipedia article about it:

An in vitro study shows that Camostat reduces significantly the infection of Calu-3 lung cells by SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

[D]

All of Spain is now in shutdown. You cannot go outside except to buy groceries or go to the pharmacy facing a 3000€ fine otherwise. No travel between any towns or cities. All trains and planes grounded. Supermarket runs out of bread, water and milk by 9.30 and my local pharmacy only handles medicine through a slot in the door. Still very little panic. Everyone civilized. Friendly neighbours. Government will cover most salaries and many personal expenses. Of course all medical treatment as always is free and any sick leave is fully covered and paid as long as necessary. Basically it’s a two week vacation.

[PopeBeanie]

Davis wrote:

Basically it’s a two week vacation.

I’m jealous.

But I’m wondering if this will happen a few more times just for covid-19, while the whole world would have to clamp down in synchrony to slow it down. It’ll require a lot of infections before there’s significant herd immunity, unless it starts out and spreads throughout a country that doesn’t have enough infrastructure to clamp down on its people. Think Africa.

I can’t see how it will disappear everywhere soon. Expect a year or more before a vaccine works, unless a whole lot of scientists around the world work on it and possibly cooperate. Perhaps China is the most likely “hero”, which they may try to be. I wouldn’t put it past them to ramp up some unethical testing.

People would increasingly hate a year or more of border closure mania.

I’m not trying to sound negative. This could be the virus that teaches us a great lesson or two before something much more devastating comes along. Like an unexpected mutation. (Just kidding there… any significantly more virulent mutation is pretty unlikely. But expect different viruses and other pathogens to keep coming.)

[jakelafort]

My sentiment on our long term survival is negative. That seems to be the consensus of those here who contribute regularly. Is there anything that can alter our trajectory? It is frustrating to see how hopeless we as a species are and how incapable we as individuals are of making a difference. The consistency of human nature is at play in wars, revolutions, atrocities, various forms of exploitation, the failure of any government to work as designed and in the corruption of our institutions.

Lately i have been thinking about my passion-horse racing in the USA. Horse racing is in trouble. A little background-horse players who fail to appreciate the propensities of individual trainers are doomed to failure. That is more true now than it ever has been. Up until about 30 years ago a super trainer was able to win at a rate of 18 to 20 percent. Now a super trainer will win at a much higher rate. 30 percent or so and there are significant runs of 40 plus percent. Today’s super trainers take over charges through claims or change of ownership and get wildly improved performances. Not once in a blue moon but nearly every time! The super trainers are known by regulars as juicers.

Recently two of the most notable juicers were indicted. The feds have the dope on the dopers.It is a whole conspiracy in which even vets are involved. Very likely they will do time. They are responsible for causing serious injury and death to some horses. Their use of illegal substances is known by the oversight committees and by the management of the race tracks. Once in a while a trainer gets a suspension but for the most part it is a case of look the other way. This is particularly true for the most prominent trainers. I am pretty sure what evolved in horse racing is that the pioneer juicers got such great results that a few other trainers were tempted into the practice. Little by little others felt compelled because it is a business and business persons need to be competitive.

Where am i going with this? It is a case study in human nature and a microcosm of the pitiable human foibles and folly. Oh the hell with it…

[Jody Lee]

That seems to be the consensus of those here who contribute regularly. Is there anything that can alter our trajectory?

@jake, I have always been a very naive person. Still am somewhat. As I age though and come to my senses, persay…I realize that there are more shitty people in this world than not. People are selfish and have no integrity. It would be nice to think the trajectory of being fucked could be altered but, personally, I think we’re too far gone. Disappointment has set in where my naivety once was.

[_Robert_]

Since economic efficiency demands that resource levels are “Just Enough” and timing is “Just In Time”; doesn’t take much for the wheels to fly off the apple cart.

If social distancing is practiced correctly the peak numbers will flatten but the duration will lengthen. Feeling a bit like an Inca this morning . My guess is that a hot humid Summer will slow it down however next Fall could be the darkest hour.

[jakelafort]

Jody, selfish and lack integrity?

Donald Trump hero and cult leader to many Americans. Can’t they see who he is? Or is it his vile nature and lack of depth that somehow is the very thing? If he is the Jesus on a white stallion to so many Americans how can we expect to alter the trajectory? What have we learned? Thousands of years of civilization and Donald Trump.

Examine history and everything that is granted to the oppressed and discriminated groups is earned through blood and strife. Civil rights, gay rights, women’s rights etc. The lens of history is rife with the most despicable exploitation and sadism. Lynchings, genocides, crusades, torture, assassinations, rape etc. Additionally we see the English deliberately starving the Irish during the famine. We see Belgians in the Congo doing the unspeakable in full pursuit of profits from rubber. We see an Atlantic slave trade that is unspeakably cruel and has the complicity from individuals of the very groups who are being dehumanized. The list goes on and on.

At the same time there are individuals who act in an admirably selfless way. I think we have all observed at least a few individuals in which we come away with the impression that reaffirms something good in our nature. I have witnessed some pretty incredibly altruistic nurses at nursing homes. Here and there we see individuals sacrifice and risk and subordinate for others. Pretty cool. But when we act as a group it seems that the worst of human nature manifests.

We truly live in interesting times though. Our days are numbered. Will this corona virus somehow bring us together and show our species that cooperation is the better path? Nah. Course not. Will rapidly advancing climate change and diminishing resources point us towards cooperation and away from abuse of power, tribalism,and polarization? Nah. Course not. Will reason win out over religion/superstition/tribalism to engender better secular values? It has made inroads but not likely to ever eradicate it. (if ya wanna be bathed in depression listen to Sam Harris podcast on nuclear war-the threat is so high and we have been very close)

In any event i think your path is pretty common. Idealism yields to experience and sours us on humanity. Is this the best of all possible worlds…to steal a famous line?

[_Robert_]

[Unseen]

I’m late to posting songs, but here’s one that came to mind:

[Author]

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