Octopus Overlords

The United States has supplied Brazil with 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine for use against the coronavirus, the two governments said on Sunday, despite medical warnings about risks associated with the anti-malaria drug.

The White House released a joint announcement on the drug, whose use has been touted both by U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, just days after the World Health Organization suspended testing it in COVID-19 patients because of safety concerns.

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:46 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

Just FYI, lots of people have received these, and the official stance is that it has to be returned. I don't know if that will ever be enforced, so it's up to you whether to take the chance.

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:19 am

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:46 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

Just FYI, lots of people have received these, and the official stance is that it has to be returned. I don't know if that will ever be enforced, so it's up to you whether to take the chance.

Too late, not an option. Talked with my sisters and we decided Trump just donated $400 to 3 different charities. All four will be made in my dads name so they can track him down for recovery if they like.

stessier wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:26 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:19 am

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:46 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

Just FYI, lots of people have received these, and the official stance is that it has to be returned. I don't know if that will ever be enforced, so it's up to you whether to take the chance.

Too late, not an option. Talked with my sisters and we decided Trump just donated $400 to 3 different charities. All four will be made in my dads name so they can track him down for recovery if they like.

That's not how it works. Whomever is the executor will be in for a world of hurt if they turn the eye of Sauron on them.

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:40 am

stessier wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:26 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:19 am

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:46 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

Just FYI, lots of people have received these, and the official stance is that it has to be returned. I don't know if that will ever be enforced, so it's up to you whether to take the chance.

Too late, not an option. Talked with my sisters and we decided Trump just donated $400 to 3 different charities. All four will be made in my dads name so they can track him down for recovery if they like.

That's not how it works. Whomever is the executor will be in for a world of hurt if they turn the eye of Sauron on them.

I am well aware of that. It's me and my Sister and we both agree for them to bring it on. Should we get nailed, we are fine paying it back but we will be sure to document it and share on social media as well. If they want to get ugly we are fine with that as well.

Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:46 am

morlac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:01 am My father passed away last Nov. Yesterday (it was a couple weeks ago but we hadn't opened it)he got a letter from Trump informing him how awesome merica is and to enjoy his $1,200 stimulus check. We then checked his account that we are finally closing and settling on to discover it $1200 bigger. Thanks Trump! The best part..... it is made out to Lawrence ###### DECD. That's right the letter is literally addressed to a deceased person.

Just FYI, lots of people have received these, and the official stance is that it has to be returned. I don't know if that will ever be enforced, so it's up to you whether to take the chance.

Grifman wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:56 pm Good news (finally!) on the virus front:

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/cor ... ee17285938

Fauci says if one of the leading vaccine candidates proves effective, we should have 200 million doses available early in 2021.

Zarathud wrote:The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:29 am

Zarathud wrote:The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

Yup and that will be why voting will be "temporarily postponed for the duration of the new public health emergency". (bars, restaurants and churches will remain open of course.)

El Guapo wrote:

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:29 am

Zarathud wrote:The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

Yup and that will be why voting will be "temporarily postponed for the duration of the new public health emergency". (bars, restaurants and churches will remain open of course.)

No, what will happen will be: (1) ban on public gatherings of 10+ people, that will be enforced much more stringently in the cities than the country; (2) mail in ballots mailed diligently to rural voters than city voters; (3) many more polling stations in the countryside than in cities, etc.

Of course, it'll be a lot easier to do these in states with GOP governors than Democratic governors.

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:47 am

El Guapo wrote:

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:29 am

Zarathud wrote:The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

Yup and that will be why voting will be "temporarily postponed for the duration of the new public health emergency". (bars, restaurants and churches will remain open of course.)

No, what will happen will be: (1) ban on public gatherings of 10+ people, that will be enforced much more stringently in the cities than the country; (2) mail in ballots mailed diligently to rural voters than city voters; (3) many more polling stations in the countryside than in cities, etc.

Of course, it'll be a lot easier to do these in states with GOP governors than Democratic governors.

Hmmm, I like your devious autocratic thinking!

Throw in some mandatory temperature checks at the door to delay things but a strict enforcement of the poll closing times and you've got yourself some suppression!

And a cadre of lawyers to contest all paper ballots.

Zarathud wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:31 am The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

El Guapo wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:54 am

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:47 am

El Guapo wrote:

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:29 am

Zarathud wrote:The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

Yup and that will be why voting will be "temporarily postponed for the duration of the new public health emergency". (bars, restaurants and churches will remain open of course.)

No, what will happen will be: (1) ban on public gatherings of 10+ people, that will be enforced much more stringently in the cities than the country; (2) mail in ballots mailed diligently to rural voters than city voters; (3) many more polling stations in the countryside than in cities, etc.

Of course, it'll be a lot easier to do these in states with GOP governors than Democratic governors.

Hmmm, I like your devious autocratic thinking!

Throw in some mandatory temperature checks at the door to delay things but a strict enforcement of the poll closing times and you've got yourself some suppression!

And a cadre of lawyers to contest all paper ballots.

This is mostly stuff that's already being done in a lot of red states (other than the public gathering restrictions). Trump and the GOP are just going to be a lot more aggressive about it.

Then there's also the risk that voter registration information is mysteriously missing or slightly changed the day of voting in Philly, Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami, etc.

malchior wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 11:02 am

El Guapo wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:54 am

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:47 am

El Guapo wrote:

$iljanus wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:29 am

Zarathud wrote:The Trump narrative will become that the protests spread the coronavirus second wave, not reopening the country.

Yup and that will be why voting will be "temporarily postponed for the duration of the new public health emergency". (bars, restaurants and churches will remain open of course.)

No, what will happen will be: (1) ban on public gatherings of 10+ people, that will be enforced much more stringently in the cities than the country; (2) mail in ballots mailed diligently to rural voters than city voters; (3) many more polling stations in the countryside than in cities, etc.

Of course, it'll be a lot easier to do these in states with GOP governors than Democratic governors.

Hmmm, I like your devious autocratic thinking!

Throw in some mandatory temperature checks at the door to delay things but a strict enforcement of the poll closing times and you've got yourself some suppression!

And a cadre of lawyers to contest all paper ballots.

This is mostly stuff that's already being done in a lot of red states (other than the public gathering restrictions). Trump and the GOP are just going to be a lot more aggressive about it.

Then there's also the risk that voter registration information is mysteriously missing or slightly changed the day of voting in Philly, Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami, etc.

And perhaps the Russians actually pull the trigger on their capability. They looked around last time but didn't touch anything (probably). We've done nothing since to protect that infrastructure.

El Guapo wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 11:17 am Of course, they could go farther than that, but it raises the difficulty and risk.

The malaria drug hydroxychloroquine did not prevent Covid-19 in a rigorous study of 821 people who had been exposed to patients infected with the virus, researchers from the University of Minnesota and Canada are reporting on Wednesday.

The study was the first controlled clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine, a drug that President Trump has repeatedly promoted and recently taken himself. Conducted in the United States and Canada, this trial was the first to test whether the drug could prevent illness in people who have been exposed to the coronavirus. This type of study, in which patients are picked at random to receive either an experimental treatment or a placebo, is considered the most reliable way to measure the safety and effectiveness of a drug. The participants were health care workers and people who had been exposed at home to ill spouses, partners or parents.

“The take-home message for the general public is that if you’re exposed to someone with Covid-19, hydroxychloroquine is not an effective post-exposure, preventive therapy,” the lead author of the study, Dr. David R. Boulware, from the University of Minnesota, said in an interview.

The results are being published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Influential hydroxychloroquine data came from a small U.S. company that is allegedly 'almost certainly a scam'

Lancet says concerned about validity of widely cited hydroxychloroquine study

em2nought wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 1:26 am Kinda sucks when Trump Derangement Syndrome taints your science.

Influential hydroxychloroquine data came from a small U.S. company that is allegedly 'almost certainly a scam'

https://www.theweek.com/speedreads/9179 ... ainly-scam

Lancet says concerned about validity of widely cited hydroxychloroquine study

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health ... r-BB14Wbb9

Preparing K-12 classrooms for the fall will require substantial resources and personnel. School systems should develop plans informed by public health guidance with broad input from parents, teachers, unions, school health services, and, where possible, students. Considerations should include not just academic planning, but also family support. Given the pandemic-related stress many children have experienced, school systems should hire additional counselors, social workers, and nurses to reach out to assist families on a regular basis. Lessons from successful community schools should be applied broadly for these types of interventions.

Congress should quickly make sufficient funding (in the billions) available to states and localities to support K-12 education for the fall. Extra funds should be available to public school districts that would be expected to face the greatest gaps in staffing and infrastructure, based on formulas that measure the number of children who receive nutritional assistance and special education services.

The federal government should also accelerate research relevant to school reopening.9 Critical questions include how best to care for children with respiratory disease and multisystem inflammatory syndrome from COVID-19, the extent of transmission in school settings, the relationship between school shutdowns on community spread, and the value of specific educational designs and interventions for disease transmission and learning.

More than 1,278 confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients were in the hospital as of Friday, the highest level by more than 100 since the state started providing that data on April 9.

Overall hospital bed usage rose to 8,320 (85% capacity) from Friday’s total of 8,139 (83% of capacity).

However, Thursday’s total of 8,820 (87% of capacity) was the highest level since the state started reporting that statistic March 26.

Las Vegas is officially back.

President Donald Trump traveled to Maine Friday to tour a facility that makes medical swabs used for coronavirus testing, but the swabs manufactured in the background during his visit will ultimately be thrown in the trash, the company said.

Puritan Medical Products said it will have to discard the swabs, a company spokeswoman told USA TODAY in response to questions about the visit.

It is not clear why the swabs will be scrapped, or how many. The company described its manufacturing plans for Friday as "limited" – but the disruption comes as public health officials in Maine and other states have complained that a shortage of swabs has hampered their ability to massively scale up coronavirus testing.

...

Workers in white lab coats, hair nets and plastic booties worked at machines making swabs while the president walked through the room. Trump, who did not wear a mask for the visit, stopped at one point to talk with some of the workers.

And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.

The Utah Department of Health is reporting 546 new cases of COVID-19 — 107 more than the previous single-day high mark — and one death from the disease Saturday.

The numbers come just one day after Utah reported more than 400 new cases, what was also then a new daily high by nearly a hundred cases, amid a recent spike that led state leaders to slow down a proposed downgrade in risk levels and keep most of Utah at the yellow, low-risk phase.