Telling it like it is.

[Xairbusdriver]

As much as some here would call it "Fake News", I feel an obligation to post this link to an honest and frank essay from a doctor about what is happening in too much of this country. It also suggests why we should all me doing our part in this pandemic. Just as in all the other countries facing this problem, we each have the responsibility of doing our part.
Early Coronavirus Testing Failures...

[Xairbusdriver]

Will there be a second wave of the virus?

With nearly 20,000 new cases a day, some don't see us even finishing the first wave! At least in the US! Seems many have decided that with most States "opening up" there is no more need to practice distancing or mask wearing, much less staying home! NEWS FLASH!! The virus has not left the room! It is still spreading! It is still killing! What part of serious do these people not understand?

Prominent forecasters are predicting a slow but steady accumulation of additional deaths between now and Oct. 1...

Forecasts range from 56,000 to more than 90,000!

Earlier this year the the reproduction number ("R" value) was above 2. During the "stay at home"/"closing businesses and large gatherings of people" the rate got down to just below 1 ( latest estimates was ~0.91, at its lowest ). But with the push the "open up", it has already exceeded 1 again. Basically, the "R" value indicates the rate at which one individual infects another. At 1, only one new person becomes infected by the another person and the "curve" is fairly flat. At 2, you see an increasing rate; 1 infects 2. Those 2 infect 4. Those 4 infect 16. No math degree is needed to see where this leads. The obituary pages have pointed out the outcome of any rate above 1. The CDC now estimates between 124,000 and 140,000 deaths by July 4, 2020. Those are deaths, not just reported cases! Are you doing your part to stop this increasing number? Many countries have. These figures are easily found by any good search engine. You should have plenty of time to do that.

[jchuzi]

Here's a quip that, unfortunately, is all too true:

The spread of COVID-19 is based on two factors:

1. How dense the population is.

2. How dense the population is.

[Xairbusdriver]

There's Nothing Contrived About the Death Toll

“It’s easy to pick and choose and believe what you want,” Hoffman tells Elemental. She’s referring to confirmation bias, a well-known phenomenon in which people — all of us, in fact — readily take in new information that confirms our preconceived notions and ignore anything that goes against our views.

This is a real virus. It’s affecting people in every country,” Mina says, and there’s “nothing contrived” about the death toll. “Anyone who thinks otherwise, I think they need to get out of their social media bubble."

Fortunately, we can get factual info from the daily weekly monthly occasional(?) Task Force doctors.

[Xairbusdriver]

Justice Department Issues Warning About Fake Mask Exempt Cards

"A recently issued alert by the department is urging the public not to heed information printed on the fraudulent cards, which purport to carry the authority of the "Freedom to Breathe Agency," which is neither a federal nor a state agency."

Selfishness knows no limit. Especially when added to individual stupidity. "Hey! I saw this card on the interweb, so it must be real!" Are these people even graduates of pre-kindergarten?!

[jchuzi]

Winston Churchill once said, "The biggest argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." Although I don't entirely agree, there is some merit to that statement. Of course, I'm much more intelligent than the average voter, but that would only last for ten minutes.   

[Xairbusdriver]

Who is "Winston Churchill"?

[Xairbusdriver]

Here's one of the best non-CDC set of goals I've yet to see. Five basic goals, why they matter, how they are measured and which States are reaching them (hint: Very few).

"...states meet these basic criteria to reopen and stay safe"

[Xairbusdriver]

Duning-Kruger Effect?
A bit dated, but this text (sadly) explains a lot.

[Xairbusdriver]

The "Fat Lady" Has Yet to Sing. Indeed, even with an effective vaccine, this virus may be with us for a very long time.

[Xairbusdriver]

Don’t mess with Canada — eh! Kentucky Man Accused Of Breaking Canada's COVID-19 Rules Faces $569,000 Fine.

Hasn't Canada heard that 'Merican's know what's best for everyone else?!
You 'guys' are still just sore losers after sticking with a KingQueen!

[Xairbusdriver]

During her 18 years in the national security and global affairs world, Yaël Eisenstat became increasingly concerned with how the internet was contributing to political polarization, hate and division. She set out to both publicly sound alarm bells and see what role she could play in helping reverse this course.

"Lies are more engaging online than truth," says former CIA analyst and diplomat Yaël Eisenstat. "As long as [social media] algorithms' goals are to keep us engaged, they will feed us the poison that plays to our worst instincts and human weaknesses."

A TedTalk: How Facebook profits from polarization

[Xairbusdriver]

Started to put this in the Humor thread, but it is too serious:

Appropriate analogy.  "The curve is flattening so we can start lifting restrictions now” is like saying “The parachute has slowed our rate of descent, so we can take it off now.”

[Xairbusdriver]

Although I don't consider the USA Today much of a newspaper, they usually have some some useful graphics. Here are several ways of comparing the "flu" and the COVID-19 symptoms:

Is it the flu or COVID-19? How to tell the difference.

[krissel]

Thanks, Jim!  That was a comprehensive article with plain talk information.