Corona Virus: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

[Daveman]

Makes sense. Other states have done the same for NJ/NY for some time.

[El Guapo]

So red = more employment, blue = less employment?

[wonderpug]

So red = more employment, blue = less employment?

Man, no wonder Republicans don't like blue states.

[Smoove_B]

NY/NJ/CT all signed onto a practice of quarantining people arriving from states that have spikes of coronavirus - NJ.com

Like Ohio!

On topic - this is rather interesting (the united travel advisory). I'm a little surprised, quite frankly. It makes sense but I'm wondering exactly how this is going to play out in the NJ shore communities.

[Daveman]

Back when we holding out some hope we might be able to go to Florida in July or August we reached out to the rental agency and were told there was a Governors order not to rent to residents from NY and NJ... might have included MA too.

[Fretmute]

NY/NJ/CT all signed onto a practice of quarantining people arriving from states that have spikes of coronavirus - NJ.com

Like Ohio!

On topic - this is rather interesting (the united travel advisory). I'm a little surprised, quite frankly. It makes sense but I'm wondering exactly how this is going to play out in the NJ shore communities.

It's especially interesting to me, because I'm supposed to travel from a state I assume they'd ban (Texas) to Boston in the next two weeks. Maybe the VP will just do the sensible thing and not approve my travel at all (which is ideal to me anyway).

[Smoove_B]

We have a few MA residents that maybe know what the local rumblings are. I would be amazed (quite frankly) if other states don't start putting travel restrictions in place for people coming from AZ, TX, UT, etc...

[Skinypupy]

TX stuff

Thanks. I will fully admit ignorance of what's happening outside of NJ - at least, the finer details.

Hey Utah, we need to talk:

https://twitter.com/V2019N/status/1275806542248333312

Gov. Gary Herbert (R): “no plans to shut down Utah’s economy” after the state’s epidemiologist warned that the “only viable option to manage spread and deaths will be a complete shutdown” and urged the governor to reimpose tougher limits on public life. -via @nytimes

[El Guapo]

For awhile now visitors to Massachusetts from other states have been "urged" to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. It's totally unenforced as far as I can tell (and not a mandatory restriction anyway). I'm not aware of any indications that they'll up travel restrictions like that, but it's possible in light of the NY/NJ/CT action, I suppose.

[Kraken]

For awhile now visitors to Massachusetts from other states have been "urged" to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. It's totally unenforced as far as I can tell (and not a mandatory restriction anyway). I'm not aware of any indications that they'll up travel restrictions like that, but it's possible in light of the NY/NJ/CT action, I suppose.

Yeah, I haven't read any chatter about quarantining, but Baker's a go-slow kind of guy; it won't surprise me if he joins that compact, and I doubt that we'll move to phase 3 anytime soon, either. Not after the pain we suffered to get our numbers down to where they are now.

[Smoove_B]

Meanwhile, Putin trolls Trump - hard.

MOSCOW — After months of coronavirus-related setbacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin was set to preside Wednesday over a long-awaited military blowout to celebrate 75 years since Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II.

But as Russia emerges — perhaps prematurely — from almost three months of lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus, the parade has taken on additional meaning for the Kremlin: as a declaration of victory over the virus itself and a turning point in Putin's reign.

The parade will kick off a weeklong nationwide vote on a series of proposed constitutional amendments that, among other things, would reset presidential term limits — allowing Putin, 67, if he so desires, to rule Russia until 2036.

[El Guapo]

I wonder how those constitutional amendments are polling. Will be a nailbiter, no doubt.

[ImLawBoy]

For awhile now visitors to Massachusetts from other states have been "urged" to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. It's totally unenforced as far as I can tell (and not a mandatory restriction anyway). I'm not aware of any indications that they'll up travel restrictions like that, but it's possible in light of the NY/NJ/CT action, I suppose.

This is all pretty unenforceable, I think. It sounds like a strong suggestion that you self-quarrantine for 2 weeks, and if you don't, you'll get the frowning of a lifetime (from behind a mask and at least six feet away).

[El Guapo]

For awhile now visitors to Massachusetts from other states have been "urged" to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. It's totally unenforced as far as I can tell (and not a mandatory restriction anyway). I'm not aware of any indications that they'll up travel restrictions like that, but it's possible in light of the NY/NJ/CT action, I suppose.

This is all pretty unenforceable, I think. It sounds like a strong suggestion that you self-quarrantine for 2 weeks, and if you don't, you'll get the frowning of a lifetime (from behind a mask and at least six feet away).

This all really sounds like Susan Collins's true calling. She can go person to person expressing deep concern and frowning at anyone not abiding by the quarantine restrictions.

[YellowKing]

Well, color me shocked, but Governor Cooper did the right thing today.

- NC will stay in Phase 2 of re-opening
- He is also requiring face coverings for all employees and customers of retail stores and restaurants indoors and outdoors where social distancing is not possible. I know that last line gives mask-rebels some wiggle room to shirk the system, but at least it's something.

I had grown skeptical after weeks of saying they were concerned about the numbers but not really changing their course. Nice to see the state finally take a hard line.

[Fretmute]

I wonder how those constitutional amendments are polling. Will be a nailbiter, no doubt.

All the ballot boxes are near large, open, upper story windows.

[Zaxxon]

I'm not sure whether this is the right thread for this, but it's close enough for government work.

Martha McSally's TRIP Act might be the most insane thing I've read lately. And everything's insane lately.

-$4k tax credit to each adult, $500 to each child
-For travel >= 50 miles from home, and within the United States
-Covers food/beverage, lodging, transportation (including standard mileage rate for personal vehicles), live entertainment including sports, non-business conferences
-Trips taken after 12/31/2019 and before 1/1/2022
-Mentions eligible expenses incurred or paid during the taxable year, implying this is in effect for both 2020 and 2021.
-Credit is nonrefundable
-I shit you not, the authors felt the need to specifically call out vacation homes as eligible destinations. (Expenses related to the home itself are excluded, but travel to the home and food/beverages/entertainment costs at the home are fair game.)

So let me get this straight. We are proposing:
-Encouraging travel far from home during a pandemic
-Doing so in a way that will specifically exclude half the population from any benefit (since it's a nonrefundable credit and nearly half the population pays no Federal income tax)
-Will non-specifically exclude even more of the population (as it's an after-the-fact credit, meaning even if you do pay Fed income taxes, you need to have the cash on hand to take these trips and be able to wait until tax time to receive your credit).
-Those two portions of the population I just mentioned? They're the ones who actually might not be taking any trips in 2020 or 2021--the rich folk are likely still doing so, or at least if they're not doing so it's likely out of health/COVID concerns rather than due to a lack of funds.

I mean, sure, as someone who would qualify for this, $18,000 in tax credits for trips sounds great: ballyhoo!, huzzah!, and all that. But this seems like a wildly irresponsible idea in the first place, and extremely poorly implemented, to boot. If we're trying to encourage travel to resume in order to bail out the travel industry, wouldn't it make more sense to do so in a way where we're subsidizing folks who actually wouldn't take those trips without a subsidy?

WTactualF?

[LawBeefaroni]

Don't think it will pass but if it does, I'll be driving to Wisconsin or Indiana to get new fishing gear to offset taxes. America!

[Holman]

Hey, at least it'll be cheaper to attend funerals for out-of-state relatives.

[Stefan Stirzaker]

Wife and I just finished Lenox Hill series on Netflix, the last episode was pandemic. Having watched them during the series building up the hospital and then pandemic hitting NYC was a great brutal view of their few months. It is only a short 30 min episode but having a connection with the doctors was important and seeing them make those hard decisions to turn off life support on a brain stem death due to covid, family members being called to say there is no hope and those few that recovered. Even the early calls to shut down the country by one of the doctors at the start. It's worth watching.

[Enough]

Don't think it will pass but if it does, I'll be driving to Wisconsin or Indiana to get new fishing gear to offset taxes. America!

Wow, I wonder if I could deduct photography trip expenses like new gear?

[Smoove_B]

Never change FL, never change.

https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/1275854598146871296

Floridians angrily claiming masks are the work of the devil because “they want to throw God’s wonderful breathing system out the door.”

[Smoove_B]

Oh, and the record was today; my guess was off by 24 hours.

https://twitter.com/yayitsrob/status/12 ... 8329178116

NEW - The U.S. reported 38,672 new cases of the coronavirus today, setting a new record for the highest daily total of the pandemic so far, according to @COVID19Tracking data.

[gameoverman]

I'm not sure whether this is the right thread for this, but it's close enough for government work.

Martha McSally's TRIP Act might be the most insane thing I've read lately. And everything's insane lately.

A lot of what I've heard from people who propose ways to deal with this virus and its effects reminds me of the Chernobyl tv miniseries. The series where almost everyone from the power plant managers on up were only concerned with keeping their positions and making sure the Party leading the country was obeyed and that the leadership wasn't forced to admit to any mistakes or failures. None of the ones worried about those things thought of helping the people.

[Holman]

Never change FL, never change.

https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/1275854598146871296

Floridians angrily claiming masks are the work of the devil because “they want to throw God’s wonderful breathing system out the door.”

I refuse to wear pants because it throws God's wonderful shitting system out the door.

[Jaymann]

I take it she refuses to wear those devilish tampons because they throw out God's wonderful...

[LawBeefaroni]

So I take it that these same Floridians don't use hair product, don't drive cars, don't use A/C, and aren't on any medications whatsoever. Also, no shoes or flip flops.

[malchior]

Speaking of Florida...it is so hard to believe!

https://twitter.com/DWUhlfelderLaw/stat ... 3253243905

[Smoove_B]

Didn't see this coming:

The White House said Wednesday that President Donald Trump will not change his plan to travel to New Jersey this weekend despite a new order by the governor requiring visitors who have been in states with high numbers of coronavirus cases to quarantine for 14 days.

“The president of the United States is not a civilian,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere, when asked about Trump’s compliance with the quarantine order given his travel Tuesday to Arizona, which has seen a rise in the rate of its Covid-19 cases.

“Anyone who is in close proximity to him, including staff, guests, and press are tested for COVID-19 and confirmed to be negative,” Deere said in a statement.

Also, the President isn't a civilian? What am I missing? Is he a sovereign nation unto himself?

[Jaymann]

He is a rogue nation.

[YellowKing]

I'm all for our fearless leader going out and showing the world how immune he is to this disease. Please, go shake hands in as many crowds as possible. Be sure to breathe deep and touch your face often, Mr. Trump!

[Max Peck]

Cadet Bonespurs (Not a civilian! You're a civilian!) is above every other law of the land, so why would he be subject to the dictum of a mere governor?

[malchior]

Didn't see this coming:

The White House said Wednesday that President Donald Trump will not change his plan to travel to New Jersey this weekend despite a new order by the governor requiring visitors who have been in states with high numbers of coronavirus cases to quarantine for 14 days.

“The president of the United States is not a civilian,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere, when asked about Trump’s compliance with the quarantine order given his travel Tuesday to Arizona, which has seen a rise in the rate of its Covid-19 cases.

“Anyone who is in close proximity to him, including staff, guests, and press are tested for COVID-19 and confirmed to be negative,” Deere said in a statement.

Also, the President isn't a civilian? What am I missing? Is he a sovereign nation unto himself?

Murphy went on Chris Hayes. He specifically was asked this and Murphy said...the President is definitely essential personnel. Whatever. Of course, he'd deflect there. The interesting part was where he said that NY/NJ/CT had a robust testing & contact tracing capability. I raised my eyebrows at that one.

[Smoove_B]

NJ had a robust testing & contact tracing capability.

Some day I will tell stories; today unfortunately is not that day.

[Isgrimnur]

Write them now.

[geezer]

Don't think it will pass but if it does, I'll be driving to Wisconsin or Indiana to get new fishing gear to offset taxes. America!

Wow, I wonder if I could deduct photography trip expenses like new gear?

You mean the equipment itself? Check out a section 179 deduction.

[Unagi]

Also, the President isn't a civilian? What am I missing? Is he a sovereign nation unto himself?

Nope, here is what you are missing:

Someone asked me once if I knew the difference between a civilian and a citizen. I know now. A citizen has the courage to make the safety of the human race their personal responsibility
-Starship Troopers

and Trump's not even a civilian....

[Enough]

Don't think it will pass but if it does, I'll be driving to Wisconsin or Indiana to get new fishing gear to offset taxes. America!

Wow, I wonder if I could deduct photography trip expenses like new gear?

You mean the equipment itself? Check out a section 179 deduction.

Actually already do that one, heh.

[Grifman]

Never change FL, never change.

https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/1275854598146871296

There is a more extended version of the first woman circulating on Twitter - what you see here is just part of her rant. She goes on to talk about Bill Gates, 5G and 6 foot social distancing:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1275912010555932672

[$iljanus]

Never change FL, never change.

https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/1275854598146871296

There is a more extended version of the first woman circulating on Twitter - what you see here is just part of her rant. She goes on to talk about Bill Gates, 5G and 6 foot social distancing:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1275912010555932672

If she mentioned George Soros I could have filled in my conspiracy bingo card! WHO would have been acceptable too.