Things to Muddle Over

| April 21, 2020

1967 Blizzard

I want to make one thing very, very clear: no matter who gets elected, if the CV19 bug returns next fall, as I think it will along with the usual seasonal flu, and possibly again in 2022, whoever is in the Oval Office will get blamed for it, especially if the economy gets worse.  A couple of financial analysts think the economy is going to tank by then, as well, and that will also become the fault of whoever is in the Oval Office, period.  So who do you want getting blamed for all that? Biden? Sanders? Or Trump? Just sayin’.

Remember, the government has no control over the markets; they are only indicators of economic stability.

Herbert Hoover was President when the stock market teetered, tottered, and then crashed in October 1929. President Hoover and Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon led the way with optimistic predictions that business was “fundamentally sound” and that a great revival of prosperity was “just around the corner.” Although the Dow nearly reached the 300 mark again in 1930, it sank rapidly in May 1930. Another 20 years would pass before the Dow regained enough momentum to surpass the 200-point level. – Encyclopedia Britannica

Oil is losing ground. Nobody wants to buy it. Refineries aren’t lagging or lacking for crude to work on, but no one is buying gas at the pump, despite its cheap price, so the oil companies are having to pay for storage now, until things pick up. If I see a gas station with gas at 1964 prices, I will get a photo of it, fer sure. It is getting that bad. They can sell the coffee, popcorn, and gimcrackery in the gas station store, but gas at the pump? Not so much.

The local “truck” farmers (people who grow fresh produce) are already putting in their crops in the shelter of “grow houses” (canopied land to cut the cold and wind) and are wondering if they’ll have enough patrons to break even this year, never mind make a profit. And the few around here who farm corn and soybeans for the commodities markets are just as worried as the farmers further away from the Big Cities.

A company in Illinois is using empty shipping containers as places to sterilize used PPE masks (the N95s) with a gas technique, and return them to use. Cost is about $0.85/mask. Recycling works, and they are using a tried, tested, and correct technique. So far, they’ve returned 80,000 per day to hospitals and first responders.

Someone please tell me why a toddler in NYC thinks it’s okay to drink hand sanitizer, or some dim bulb on the East Coast thinks she should cook her food in a combination of bleach, vinegar and hot water????  The sheer stupidity of people is astonishing, and yes, I know that kids like to put stuff in their mouths, but can we get it out of reach of the little ones?

My neighbor to the north decided he’d had just about enough of being cooped up and sat in his yard with a bottle of water. When it started raining, he just pulled the hood of his jacket over his head and sat there smiling. I had the window open a bit. The fresh air smelled really good.

Since Hubble can’t see any further than the “red blob limit” (13 billion light years), does this mean the Universe is infinitely infinite, or infinitely small?

What if we really ARE the only ones like us anywhere in the Universe? Who will we talk to when we get out there? (Jabba the Hutt was a thug and a drunk, so he doesn’t count.)

Sunsets on Mars are blue. Not enough O2 in the atmosphere to provide a red effect.

Just to let you know, I calculated the escape velocity (Delta Vee) for the Sun.  It is as follows:

618 kps

60 secs = 37,080.00 kpm

60 min = 2,224,800.00 kph

One km equals 0.62137119 of 1 mile.  100 kilometers equal 62 miles.

I did that all by hand, no calculator. No wonder I hate math.

1,382,426.62 MPH ESCAPE VELOCITY FROM THE SUN.

It explains why Oumuamua (Space Needle) made a left turn and left the solar system, at 250,000 MPH. Not enough Delta Vee.

So far, at least 6 comets have impacted on the Sun, with the outer icy layers exploding when the comet hits the Sun’s atmosphere. The rocky center just keeps on keeping on. NASA has videos online.

A black hole has been found that has such an effect on its surrounding space that it alters the space-time continuum by creating a drag around the black hole.

I will never give up chocolate, Wagner’s and Tchaikovsky’s music, or bacon, or cats.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Category: "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", 2020 Election

64 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Commissar

Not a formal study. Only linking it because it was observed results of chloroquine use on veterans with Covid19.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.16.20065920v1.full.pdf

AW1Ed

Not disputing their findings- it’s what it is. I will say Veterans don’t make a good control group, and a lack of detail- age, presence of another morbidity, and disease stage- will all play into the outcome. None are mentioned. If your point is more data collection needs to be done, I agree.
Hydroxychloroquine may also have prophylactic properties that need to be explored. After all, it has been found to be of some benefit in a few cases overseas. Work with what you have.

Commissar

Oh, and the economy has already tanked. We were running on borrowed time before this virus hit.

Most analysts expected a recession in 2020 long before Covid19 was even a thing.

The fact that we squandered all the tools we would use to recover from a recession on propping up the economy and inflating Trump’s numbers make us extra fucked.

We already have near zero interest rates, we already are at record deficit spending, we already cut taxes (and squandered the cuts on corporate taxes), we already have been spending hundreds of billions propping up markets even before the recent Covid19 related spending.

Roh-Dog

So NOW do we see the evils of socialism, corporate or otherwise?
Or are we still blinded by insatiable need for man-made equality?
How about this as a thesis: starve the beast to save us all.

Commissar

You have no idea what socialism is.

And no. The reason our economy was incapable of handling a virus and was already doomed without the virus is precisely because of how bad our late stage capitalism is.

Roh-Dog

I mean, I have SOME idea. I google the f**king sh*t out of fancy words and fancier ideas. If imma reading these char-acters correct-like, I’s be thinkin, if the little man don’t own sh*t, is cuz all they evil coompanies own all those politic talking fellers, kinda like late-stage socialism, like that USSR place and all that commune isms they done had. You know, like that Orwell’s farm I heard so much about!

socialism noun
so·​cial·​ism | ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm
1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

Oh! Waters done. Time for my weekly rag-on-a-stick a’bathin’!

timactual

The economy is quite capable of handling a virus. What it can’t handle is the power of hysterical political hacks and their “expert” sycophants whose knowledge of how an economy functions is equivalent to a medieval chirurgeon’s knowledge of medicine.

timactual

After watching this video again I realize just how appropriate it is to compare it to the practice of economics and high finance.

11B-Mailclerk

You and your fellow travelers panicked, over something very much like flu, and you wont admit it.

You then helped wreck millions of lives, over bullshit, and you wont admit it.

And you expect anyone to give credence to anything else you say?

Commissar

Shut the fuck up. Seriously. There is no damn excuse for the level of willful obstinate ignorance you have about this virus.

11B-Mailclerk

You and yours are exposed for the frauds you are, hyping a flu-equivalent for a power grab, you treacherous skank.

If this is so fucking deadly to wreck society, we would be hip deep in corpses.

It hasn’t even hit “bad flu”, here. You can’t obfuscate that inconvenient fact.

And it only gets more obvious with each passing day that this was a panic, and that folks like you exploit it for power.

Despicable.

HMCS(FMF) ret

CHINA LIED, PEOPLE DIED

timactual

First the hysterical raving about the apocalyptic killer virus and the extremist measures taken to combat it, now the hysterical denials and attacks on those who didn’t go along with the mob.

Roh-Dog

Yeah! If you don’t toe the party line and stick to the script, we’ll report you to the Ministry for State Security!
How was that Comrade Fürher?
I need your acceptance more than oxygen.
Show me how I’m a worthless capitalist dog!

SFC D

You seem to have expansive knowledge on nearly everything, but what is it that you actually do? Do. A very small word that means so much.

To paraphrase some great philosophers:

“To do is to be”. Aristotle.

“To be is to do”. Socrates.

“Ooo be do bee doo” Sinatra.

rgr769

He never has said he has an actual JOB.

A Proud Infidel®™

I DO remember him saying that he once worked at a McGunk franchise.

Commissar

Right now? Volunteering as an EMT until this is over.

OldManchu

Oh yeah?… and what was your job “before” this started, and what is your job “after” this is over? Feeding the hungry children?

How many Covid bodies have you drug around?

timactual

That never gets old. Maybe because we do.

Mason

If only Obama had done a better job. “His” economy couldn’t survive a global pandemic?

OldManchu

Excellent point.

Don’t hold your breath for Lars to answer that one.

Commissar

Obama to blame for not ripping the throat out of Wall Street and banks for the financial crisis.

I also Blame Obama for continuing the bailout of banks instead of bailing out families and small businesses. In fact he is arguably to blame for the entire structure of the bailouts because Bush was considering focusing on families and small businesses and called Obama because he wanted the president elect to concur with the plan and continue it going forward. Obama deflected and said it is entirely Bush’s decision.

Bush then went with the “safe” plan and focused the bailout on banks. Which Obama continued when he took office.

But the problem, fundamentally is structural.

So I really blame Reagan and Clinton. Clinton the most because Reagan never represented the interests of workers and American families. Clinton, as a democrat, had a responsibility to.

Roh-Dog

Clinton never had your interests in mind, it was theater my guy.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass–Steagall_legislation
And for a aperitif, your poster boy for GOAT was bought and paid for
https://uk.reuters.com/article/analysis-shares-obama/wall-street-puts-its-money-behind-obama-idUKNOA53525520080605
Get your head out of your ass.

timactual

*sigh*
Almost had me there. I was agreeably surprised at the beginning, feeling all warm and fuzzy at the middle, then crestfallen at the same old BS ending.

I give it a thumbs down.

timactual

“We already…”

And we were already doing those things before Trump was elected. Financial recklessness is bipartisan is not exclusive to the office of President.

H1

Next years flu season better be lit AF or i’m calling foul.
When they backtrack on the NY fatality numbers it will get, interesting.

timactual

I am sure it will be prominently displayed on page 302 of the NYT and other fine Publications of Record.

IDC SARC

Gotta play the hand you’re dealt…observe the situation keenly and make your plans, have a bump plan. That’s effing life.

“On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest, and in resting died.”

~Adlai Stevenson

AW1Ed

Since we’re quoting such uplifting prose,

For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,

And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed:

And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,

And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still.

Lord Byron’s “The Destruction of Sennacherib” verse three.

MI Ranger

SO I am muddling and muddling…when do I get to put the mint in a glass of rum with the sugar? I think they call this a Mojito! I will just be glad when it is all over!

OldManchu

Lars is not a racist. He dates Chinese women to prove it.

rgr769

Those women are likely Chinese CCP MSS agents.

Commissar

I am pretty equal opportunity with respect to women.

OldManchu

I imagine you have to take what you can get.

How about Chelsea Manning? Game? I’m sure you don’t discriminate against any women do you?

AW1Ed

The best argument for intelligent alien life, Ex, is they haven’t tried to contact us.

5th/77th FA

When the Aliens fly past Earth, they lock the spaceship doors and keep their eyes straight ahead.

They do stop by larsie boi’s house to do a little anal probing, insuring that his head is still firmly lodged up his azz.

timactual

Let’s hope they are not into Urban Renewal and decide to clean up this blighted area.

OWB

Got me some chocolate cake in the refrigerator. Sounds like lunch.

Also sounds like I am not the only one getting restless. I, however, am finding lots of things to do outside. A neighbor walked by yesterday and startled me when she spoke. We talked a while, with plenty of space between us.

On second thought, may just get out a fork and forget putting that cake on a plate. Might as well go into full slug mode and eat directly out of the pan.

OWB

I see a trip to Aldi’s in your future.

Made that trek last week, and it went just fine. No waiting line. Staff outside in masks and gloves sanitizing buggies. And the choc cake came from there, in the frozen section.

Only problem was one totally clueless idiot who refused to pay attention to the one-way aisles. I wore a bandana and automotive garage disposable gloves.

timactual

Psssst! Amazon will deliver! I got a shipment coming in Friday.

Devtun

Oil will be back when we get to any type of normalcy. Crafty investors are waiting for the bottom. Manufacturers of toilet paper, Kimberly-Clark and Proctor & Gamble, are doing pretty darn well during the lockdown. Operations are running 24/7 to meet demand. There are babies out there who will inherit truck loads of TP from their hoarding parents.

SFC D

And in 20 years, our country will be run by people who were homeschooled by daydrinkers.

timactual

I’ll bet they weren’t daydrinkers two months ago.

Slow Joe

I, for one, will keep buying as many shares of the C-Fund in the TSP as I can.
I can’t believe 19k is the max per year.
That’s racisss.

11B-Mailclerk

There are other assets you can buy, other investments to make.

Not tax-advantaged, but worth making.

OWB

Now might be a good time to buy an oil tanker, for instance.

rgr769

Are there low-mileage used oil tankers for sale on Craig’s List? Cuz maybe we could put together a TAH syndicate to buy a few and make a killing.

Roh-Dog

I got 5 on it.

Thunderstixx

Put me down for 20.

timactual

Hah! Pikers! Count me in, bigtime! I’ve got more than that in quarters alone. It will take me a while to count the dimes, nickels, and pennies though.

Steve 1371

I would invest in a tankful of heating oil if it would drop in price. I generally fill up in August but with all the fuss about low oil prices it would seem like heating oil would fall in price. My wood shed is almost full and hopefully will be soon so it can dry all summer long. Current home heating oil price here is $2.47 a gallon. I filled my truck last week at $2.53 a gallon. Not a bad price at all.

Mason

Regular gasoline at Sam’s Club last week was $1.399/gallon. We very well could be looking at well under a $1 here for the first time in decades.

Fyrfighter

Just hit sams, regular unleaded was $1.25

Skyjumper

Gas in my AO is at $.95 per unleaded regular.

Two places here in Cheesehead land are the nations lowest…..$.79/gal.

(Gas tax in this state is $.33/gal)

Roh-Dog

Still $1.90ish here in the PRoConnecticut, because ‘reasons’.
My guess: high overhead due to stupid property taxes, high environMENTAL law compliance costs, permit fees for licensing from the Bureau of Taxes and Miscellaneous Revenues, and my favorite, ‘because you have a business you need to pay for some junkie to be stung out on state-sponsored methadone dolled out by expensive and worthless state employees’ tax.
Stay away from CT, if you get off the highway they’ll find a way to fine you into staying!

Graybeard

Being in Texas, oil bidniz runs in the family.

Lotta rigs workers getting pay cuts or laid off entirely.

One of the young ladies in our church who helps run the preschool ministry is having to delay her wedding by a year because her fiancee is a pipeliner.

The oil company stock my wife inherited from her father has lost about 40% of value. Two of my grands may have trouble paying for school next year because some of that money comes from a family friend’s oil pumps.

But – we’ve seen hard-times in the oil industry before, and come back from it. One Putin and Saudi Arabia bankrupt themselves and other smaller producers (Venezuela just is deeper in the hole now) – I’m hoping that the good ol U.S.A. will rebound in oil production.

Mason

Saw oil futures went negative yesterday. They were paying people to take them. That sort of thing is unthinkable in the oil business.

Good news is that once we open back up, they should rebound fairly well.

timactual

“But – we’ve seen hard-times in the oil industry befor ”

Seems to be a boom or bust business. My wife’s family was making money hand over fist during a previous boom. Now they all have real jobs.