BarretWallace

My husband's parents tested negative, thankfully.

I prefer Canadian Mist whiskey myself.

I just saw this on CNN. It shows how the pandemic is affecting kids via their letters to Santa.

A Norse is a Norse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a Norse of course
That is, of course, unless the Norse is the famous Mr. DT.

Go right to the source and ask the Norse
He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse.
He's always on a steady course.
Talk to Mr. DT.
 

I hope they open up the pearly gates for him fast, he's coming in hot *Salute*

...and I've now gotten news that my husband's parents may have been exposed to COVID thanks to a contractor working at their house.

This weekend the virus struck close to home, so to speak.  One of the "kids" (I call them that even though they're adult and moved out) tested positive, and is in rough shape but recovering.  My mother in law likewise tested positive; I'm a little more worried about her due to age (but will never say that to her face because she'd kick my @$$).
 
Thankfully, my better half and I both tested negative.  We've both been careful with virus precautions (masking, no unnecessary trips, keeping a tight bubble, etc.) and consider our negative tests to be a good sign that our habits are working.  On a quasi-selfish note, it also means we probably aren't the vector for the "kids" or mother in law.  We're also taking this as a sign that it's not yet time to ease up on our safety precautions.  Neither of us plans to go anywhere for Christmas gatherings, which sucks, but we are putting some aspects of life on pause, not stopping them.
 
I am fortunate to work in an environment that facilitates virus precautions (private cubicle, private lab space, ready availability of PPE and cleansing products, strict masking and distancing rules, etc.).

This weekend the virus struck close to home, so to speak.  One of the "kids" (I call them that even though they're adult and moved out) tested positive, and is in rough shape but recovering.  My mother in law likewise tested positive; I'm a little more worried about her due to age (but will never say that to her face because she'd kick my @$$).
 
Thankfully, my better half and I both tested negative.  We've both been careful with virus precautions (masking, no unnecessary trips, keeping a tight bubble, etc.) and consider our negative tests to be a good sign that our habits are working.  On a quasi-selfish note, it also means we probably aren't the vector for the "kids" or mother in law.  We're also taking this as a sign that it's not yet time to ease up on our safety precautions.  Neither of us plans to go anywhere for Christmas gatherings, which sucks, but we are putting some aspects of life on pause, not stopping them.
 
I am fortunate to work in an environment that facilitates virus precautions (private cubicle, private lab space, ready availability of PPE and cleansing products, strict masking and distancing rules, etc.).

This weekend the virus struck close to home, so to speak.  One of the "kids" (I call them that even though they're adult and moved out) tested positive, and is in rough shape but recovering.  My mother in law likewise tested positive; I'm a little more worried about her due to age (but will never say that to her face because she'd kick my @$$).
 
Thankfully, my better half and I both tested negative.  We've both been careful with virus precautions (masking, no unnecessary trips, keeping a tight bubble, etc.) and consider our negative tests to be a good sign that our habits are working.  On a quasi-selfish note, it also means we probably aren't the vector for the "kids" or mother in law.  We're also taking this as a sign that it's not yet time to ease up on our safety precautions.  Neither of us plans to go anywhere for Christmas gatherings, which sucks, but we are putting some aspects of life on pause, not stopping them.
 
I am fortunate to work in an environment that facilitates virus precautions (private cubicle, private lab space, ready availability of PPE and cleansing products, strict masking and distancing rules, etc.).

Current IHME projections expect 538,000 US deaths by 4/1/2021.  That's including lockdowns and rapid vaccine rollout.

Hey, now, don't threaten my low-carb foldable wraps!!!!  Seasoned, baked, shredded chicken, grated cheese, Hatch red sauce, maybe some diced tomato.........yummmmmmmmmmm.  One of my *favorite* lunches.

For the linguistically impaired:
 
'One problem in this pandemic is the vagueness of the bureaucratic language. Words like "recommendation" and " should" ought to be understood as "GODDAMMIT, THIS IS HOW YOU DO THINGS NOW, ASSHATS, OR MAY YOUR SOFTSHELL TACO WRAPS ALWAYS GET MOLDY IN THE BAG!"'
 
That's a curse that ought to strike fear into the heart of every Swede. 

Biden has asked Fauci to serve as his chief medical adviser in addition to staying on in his longtime role as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 
 
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/528677-biden-asked-fauci-to-serve-as-chief-medical-adviser

Sweden Sees No Signs So Far Herd Immunity Is Stopping Virus
 
...according to the country’s top epidemiologist, “The issue of herd immunity is difficult,” Anders Tegnell said at a briefing in Stockholm on Tuesday. “We see no signs of immunity in the population that are slowing down the infection right now.”
 
every third Stockholmer tested has antibodies, according to figures published this week
 
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-24/sweden-says-it-sees-no-signs-herd-immunity-is-stopping-the-virus

I imagine they already know -- isn't one of the major Republican "must haves" for an additional stimulus bill liability protection for business so they can't be sued for things like this?

This is exactly what needs to happen. The only thing wrong is that the family should be asking for $30 million rather than $30,000.
 
Companies need to learn to take public health problems seriously whether it's COVID, ebola, the next bird flu, or the next global pandemic. 
 
Publix might not be flagrantly wrong. But some company needs to take a major financial hit during this crisis over not protecting their employees/customers so that all the companies in the next crisis will understand they need to be pro-active in protecting everybody.

That does sound like a practical, workable approach. Unfortunately it includes the words, "government regulation." You know that's going to prompt knee-jerk negation by many conservatives, not to mention aggressive opposing lobbying and advertising by the insurance industry.
 
In any case, the Biden administration can't make any substantive progress on health care unless and until Democrats gain control of the Senate. Otherwise the best he can do is end government legal challenges to the ACA, and restore the coverage stripped from it by Trump's executive order.

Nixon never admitted he did anything wrong, nor expressed regret or remorse. That's not a requirement for a presidential pardon. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-presidential-pardons/2018/06/06/18447f84-69ba-11e8-bf8c-f9ed2e672adf_story.html
 
I absolutely expect Donald Trump to accept a pardon, because it means he escapes consequences for his actions as President, and escaping consequences has been a theme of his whole life. He'll simply deny he ever did anything improper, but state that he was avoiding "fake, unfair" prosecution.