https://www.foxnews.com/science/china-cornvirus-coincides-plummet-nitrogen-dioxide
And another, morbid, benefit would be solving the financial crisis in US Medicare/Social Security.
For a while. ;)
When I look at the China map for nitrogen dioxide rates, I think about the massive supply chains that's going to break, not only locally for China but around the world.
As Napoleon once said, amateurs study the environment; professionals study logistics. ....or words to that effect. >:D
^Our beloved LB loved that quote.
Quote from: bobarossa on March 03, 2020, 01:36:10 PM
And another, morbid, benefit would be solving the financial crisis in US Medicare/Social Security.
Ouch!
U.S.—The nation's nerds woke up in a utopia this morning, one where everyone stays inside, sporting events are being canceled, and all social interaction is forbidden.
All types of nerds, from social introverts to hardcore PC gamers, welcomed the dawn of this new era, privately from their own homes.
"I have been waiting my whole life for this moment," said Ned Pendleton, 32 -- via text message, of course -- as he fired up League of Legends on his beefy gaming PC. "They told me to take up a sport and that the kids playing basketball and stuff were gonna be way more successful than we nerds who played Counter-Strike at LAN parties every weekend."
"They all laughed at me. Well, who's laughing now?"
To prepare for the onslaught of the deadly disease, nerds are changing absolutely nothing and are expected to rise up to rule the post-Coronavirus society, as they are the ones best adjusted to being sheltered in a basement, garage, or room for many days at a time marathoning Halo, Half-Life, The Legend of Zelda, Red Dead Redemption, or Horizon Zero Dawn. They're also ready for any post-apocalyptic wasteland, as they've played many, many hours of Fallout and are adept and killing bloatflies and collecting bottlecaps.
Of course, many nerds are running out of hygienic products, but they say that's "not an issue."
See: https://babylonbee.com/news/nations-nerds-wake-up-in-utopia-where-everyone-stays-inside-sports-canceled-social-interaction-forbidden
or the facebook pages of many here.
Just got back from my Friday morning trip to the bank and shopping. People are CRAZY out there today! I managed to score one, whole, complete pack of toilet paper by fighting it out of the hands of half-a-dozen people who were trying to beat me to it. I had to run with it like we were playing rugby and I had the ball. Fortunately my stiff-arm still works, so sorry to the fat lady I ran over and her kid but this is SURVIVAL here.
On the bright side, now I know what to get my wife for our next anniversary. :dreamer:
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 13, 2020, 10:52:01 AM
Just got back from my Friday morning trip to the bank and shopping. People are CRAZY out there today! I managed to score one, whole, complete pack of toilet paper by fighting it out of the hands of half-a-dozen people who were trying to beat me to it. I had to run with it like we were playing rugby and I had the ball. Fortunately my stiff-arm still works, so sorry to the fat lady I ran over and her kid but this is SURVIVAL here.
On the bright side, now I know what to get my wife for our next anniversary. :dreamer:
Good to see that people are just as stupid all over the world. Here too there are empty tp racks while corona does not cause diarrhea as far as i know.
(https://static.nieuwsblad.be/Assets/Images_Upload/2020/03/13/16d5e23e-6542-11ea-8463-fcd6b5617639_web_scale_0.4352557_0.4352557__.jpg?maxheight=513&maxwidth=767&scale=both)
Today in many places, the police had to control traffic at the entrances and exits of department store car parks. And extra security personnel were deployed :pullhair: :uglystupid2:.
There is all kinds of stupid in Alabama also. My State has no confirmed cases thus far - yet when I went to Wal-Mart to get stuff to make chili for poker it was nuts. All of the toilet paper and paper towels were gone. Almost all of the bottled water was gone. It was like a major hurricane was on the way.
We always have enough food for several months on hand (as long as the power does not go out). And we stock up when prices are low on nonperishables such as toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex (we both have bad allergies and keep a large stock on hand) etc.....
Google translated an article in Dutch :
Why people hoard toilet paper
The first images of empty toilet paper racks have already surfaced. Photos of carts loaded with toilet paper rolls as well. Those who hoard cannot seem to get around toilet paper. It is a phenomenon that occurs more often with impending doom.
Steven Taylor, a Canadian mass psychologist and author of the book The Psychology of Pandemics, sees it as a form of mass hysteria that is not uncommon in pandemics. He predicts that the toilet paper hype will be a temporary phenomenon. Disease outbreaks often lead to herd behavior, in which people imitate each other without thinking. The fear often spreads faster than the virus itself. "There is always a small group of people who are extremely anxious," he said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review. "They overreact and infect others with their fear."
In fact, these are the people we call early adopters in the fashion and technology world. They are at the forefront of an increasingly large group of people who mimic each other's behavior. What plays an important role are images. Photos of empty toilet papers go viral through social media. More is not necessary to drive people to the supermarket. "Images are efficient means of spreading fear," says Taylor. The idea behind it is that there is a shortage, and that you therefore fish behind the net if you do not act immediately.
It is less clear why exactly toilet paper is massively hammered. In the event of long-term quarantine, a solid stock of shelf-stable food seems more useful than a mass of toilet paper. In case of emergency you can always resort to old newspapers. The United States Department of Homeland Security advises the population to have two weeks' supply of food, water, toiletries and medicines in the event of a pandemic. However, no advice has been provided on toilet paper.
Reporting from Orange County NY, the manager of the local price club told The Wife that the store was 'absolute insanity' and not to come. She complied, which really is something because she loves that store. Stay salty, everyone.
Local Costco shutdown by.... fire marshal for over crowding!! :P
Oh the irony. Internet killed the newspaper so the advice you can always stock up on old newspapers is obsolete.
Quote from: W8taminute on March 13, 2020, 02:26:38 PM
Oh the irony. Internet killed the newspaper so the advice you can always stock up on old newspapers is obsolete.
You can always try the smartphone you use to replace the newspaper ...
I still have a real newspaper subscription but it is printed on micro thick paper so :hide:.
Quote from: airboy on March 12, 2020, 12:56:16 PM
U.S.—The nation's nerds woke up in a utopia this morning, one where everyone stays inside, sporting events are being canceled, and all social interaction is forbidden.
All types of nerds, from social introverts to hardcore PC gamers, welcomed the dawn of this new era, privately from their own homes.
"I have been waiting my whole life for this moment," said Ned Pendleton, 32 -- via text message, of course -- as he fired up League of Legends on his beefy gaming PC. "They told me to take up a sport and that the kids playing basketball and stuff were gonna be way more successful than we nerds who played Counter-Strike at LAN parties every weekend."
"They all laughed at me. Well, who's laughing now?"
To prepare for the onslaught of the deadly disease, nerds are changing absolutely nothing and are expected to rise up to rule the post-Coronavirus society, as they are the ones best adjusted to being sheltered in a basement, garage, or room for many days at a time marathoning Halo, Half-Life, The Legend of Zelda, Red Dead Redemption, or Horizon Zero Dawn. They're also ready for any post-apocalyptic wasteland, as they've played many, many hours of Fallout and are adept and killing bloatflies and collecting bottlecaps.
Of course, many nerds are running out of hygienic products, but they say that's "not an issue."
See: https://babylonbee.com/news/nations-nerds-wake-up-in-utopia-where-everyone-stays-inside-sports-canceled-social-interaction-forbidden
or the facebook pages of many here.
(https://i.imgur.com/APj8hhH.jpg)
That was classic, Airboy!
On a bad note, with all of the schools closed the surf lineups are going to be soooo crowded. Stupid kids.
Being wargamers I figured you guys would get it...it's logistics.
Follow: 100+ countries have this bug. 46 of the lower 48 have this bug (Alabama now has 6 confirmed cases). This bug is a slow burn long life on external surface bug.
Now, the modern world. The minute 2 people get confirmed at a place of business they close...that includes the people who make the toilet people. People get sick and don't come to work, people are afraid to go to work because the guy they work next to is now in quarantine. Out of lack of workers or the presence of the bug itself nothing gets made. The truck drivers start getting sick and then there is no one to haul it.
Now the store shelves are empty and just tonight on ABC news (US) they commented that the shelves will not be getting re-stocked...start to see the picture...yeah, it's being treated like a hurricane...one that will hit potentially every country and last for maybe a year...
Pray this thing burns out...it's got that Spanish Flu vibe...
Stay frosty, good luck and godspeed to you guys wherever you are...now I have to go clear a table off...I got some gaming to do...
(yeah, yeah, I know, who the hell is this guy???...JUST figured out my password situation...ugh)
It's hard to compare different societies, but in China, transportation, water, electricity, communications, and food supplies have all remained functioning. Farmers will continue to grow food. Grocery stores will remain open, as will drug stores. The good news is that the fatality rate for this is low, and only a modest fraction of the people who get it are severely affected.
I'm not staying blindly optimistic. The economic disruption will be huge. But our survival needs should still be met. If we run out of toilet paper, we can all use leaves. Too bad I live in Colorado, and the only leaves we have around here are pine tree needles... OUCH!
But we're dwelling on the positive side of things. The Canadian wood chip export business is thriving. I'm not sure what kind of wood chips get used to make toilet paper, but if this a chance to clear out wildfire fuel in all our parks and forests, it's a win-win. Disney+ subscriptions have probably tripled in the last two weeks here in the US, and worldwide, our health care officials are finally receiving the praise and recognition that they too often deserve. Families are learning to play board games again, microtransactions on phone-based games are up about 4000%, and the entertainment business is going to be creating more good animated series in the next six months than it's generated in the last 10 years!
Comic levity aside, we're mighty adapatable as a human species. This will hurt, but we'll make it through. And we might even learn something this time. Then again, we might not...
I'm waiting on the Strip Clubs to begin Drive-Through Pole Dances. :D
One scary / sobering thought I had on this.
What if this is the beginning of a Ready Player One end of direct human interaction?
Also colleges need to be put on notice with this. Those 40-50k tuition bills are not going to fly anymore.
Any consideration of the, 'bright side' of this pandemic MUST include it bringing an early death to the XFL. :clap:
(https://images4.persgroep.net/rcs/kgWSdAuVM9HmcHus9T2vY8QzKP8/diocontent/168613030/_fitwidth/763?appId=93a17a8fd81db0de025c8abd1cca1279&quality=0.8).
:clap: :clap: :clap: :notworthy:
I'm going to offer an observation that will sound nutty. This is becoming one of the best buying opportunities I've seen in my lifetime for certain goods.
When people panic they often rush to safety. If you have the cash and are in the market for certain types of products - this is shaping up to be one of the best times to buy since the Great Recession - maybe better in some categories of goods.
Also, for everything that is an investment you want to "buy low, sell high." When prices are low is when you have great buying opportunities. Everything but cash and major government bonds is down substantially. If your time horizon is even as short as ten years - this is becoming a better buying opportunity every day that passes.
I've taken advantage of this sort of thing many times over my life. You never know what the future will hold, but I have a lot of confidence in free markets if the government does not screw it up. You make serious money when blood is on the floor in equities.
I'll give you a simple example. Carnival Cruise Lines stock has really tanked. If you go on a lot of cruises, they give you $100 spending money (or more on longer trips) if you have 100 shares. This is the cheapest buy-in for this I've ever seen. Carnival is the only individual stock I own - because of the shareholder benefit which I've used at least ten times. All of my other equities are in low cost index funds (and have been for 25 years or so).
Second example. Toonces was happy to buy his dream watch on a substantial discount. Those sorts of items may fall in price even more as people panic and attempt to get liquid. If you want that sort of product and have the cash - it might be a good time to shop.
I can be wrong. Any prediction about the future is dicey. But I've experienced national panics and panics in local real estate markets at least once every 15 years since 1970.
Then there's this wonderfully informative video on Internet Quarantine Protocol!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxSC3ibqwUw&feature=em-uploademail
As they say, its great to be king.
Thailand's king is now reportedly self-isolating in a luxury hotel with an entourage of 20 concubines and servants (https://www.foxnews.com/world/thailand-king-self-quarantining-from-coronavirus-with-women). :o
What a great guy! He deserves a vacation from being King surely enough. I mean 4 wives plus concubines too? It's a wonder this guy can even sit up straight. ::)
Looks like the Mexican drug cartels are having a difficult time getting materials to make illegal drugs.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexican-drug-cartels-struggle-lab-supplies-china-coronavirus
Trooper pulls over speeding doctor; gives her face masks instead of a ticket (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/state-trooper-pulled-over-doctor-speeding-instead-ticket-he-gave-n1172971) O0
Quote from: airboy on March 20, 2020, 02:53:50 PM
I'm going to offer an observation that will sound nutty. This is becoming one of the best buying opportunities I've seen in my lifetime for certain goods.
It might not be a bad time to sell certain things either. They're offering a decent premium for silver which I've decided is WAY TOO HEAVY for a zombie apocalypse. ;D
Quote from: em2nought on April 03, 2020, 01:02:14 PM
Quote from: airboy on March 20, 2020, 02:53:50 PM
I'm going to offer an observation that will sound nutty. This is becoming one of the best buying opportunities I've seen in my lifetime for certain goods.
It might not be a bad time to sell certain things either. They're offering a decent premium for silver which I've decided is WAY TOO HEAVY for a zombie apocalypse. ;D
Agreed. I've been rebalancing my portfolio regularly for the last six months (buying stocks mostly). Part of the end game of the rebalancing was buying about $10,000 in junk silver coins (think 1964 and earlier US quarters and dimes) for the safety deposit box). That will be put on hold until prices go down.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/drop-in-air-pollution-over-northeast
Not really sure this qualifies as being on the "bright" side, but behold: the trikini (https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/italian-designer-trikini-beachwear-matching-bikini-mask) ::)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa57.foxnews.com%2Fstatic.foxnews.com%2Ffoxnews.com%2Fcontent%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2F1862%2F1048%2Ftrikini-4-elwxia-beachware.jpg%3Fve%3D1%26amp%3Btl%3D1&hash=14db3a6a7edf94894501387331b72d5237beceef)
It qualifies unless she's hiding something horrendous.
Tri ? Oh... she's wearing a mask. I completely missed that part. ::)
bright side is i was able to put new tires on my vehicle thanks to that government stimulus check. i actually gained 3 more hours per week at work. i also bought a new desktop computer, monitor and desk :bd:
Aruba is asking Americans to relocate there for 3 months visa free.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/coronavirus-pandemic-aruba-americans-relocate-visa-free#&_intcmp=hp1r_30,hp1r
Might be a great idea in a couple of months when the snow begins to fall. I can see a new Grogheads HQ Southern Command in the works right now. :bd: