Coronavirus news

[aletheist]

When we assess KC BBQ, a major factor is the quality of onion rings.

Wow, for me that misses the point entirely. My favorite onion rings are at Winstead's, which is a KC steakburger joint, not a KC BBQ joint.

[D. Engebretson]

Today marks the one year anniversary of the lockdown. 

It is hard to believe that it has been an entire year.  I looked back and this thread began not long before on February 28 with a report from J. Eriksson on a "state of emergency" that had been declared in Japan in response to the newly spreading virus.  It appears that they had already gone into their own lockdowns before us.  We were, however, already talking at that time about live streaming our services, something that is now commonplace.  However, it is interesting that the thread was political from the start, even as it is at times now.  I noted at the time that the CDC considered the "potential threat" in this country as "high," but the "immediate threat" for the "general public" as "low."  That was Feb. 29.

We were already 16 pages into the thread this time last year (March 11), and we were initially discussing the elements of the Sacrament, specifically the use of wine. It wasn't until 5:20 that someone reported that "The Episcopal Diocese of DC has canceled all worship services and closed its churches for at least two weeks."

On March 12 I reported that the WHO had officially declared the coronavirus as a pandemic. I also noted that the President had declared a 30 day travel restriction on travel from Europe. Dr. Benke that same day reported: "...our Atlantic District Task Force on Disasters and Emergencies is also getting out information for our congregations including whether to hold services and how to take precautions."  I then noted that "In California the governor "urged an end to gatherings of more than 250 people to counter the spread of new coronavirus."  Benke then noted that this was "unfolding on an hour by hour basis here in NY." On that same day I noted that "the governor of my state [Wisconsin] has just declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin and we have only 6 confirmed cases of caronavirus."  In also wrote that "Dr. Ashok Rai, Prevea Health President/CEO was also quoted as saying the United States health care infrastructure is not designed for a pandemic."

A year ago we were, in a sense, just waking up to a new and frightening reality, with which none of us had any prior experience.  Some shared a few historical items from the Spanish Flu, but by and far we were trying to make sense of an unprecedented global event.  Events were being cancelled right and left, warning statements were being issued, but we had no idea of just how the next twelve months would pan out. 

Now the debate is how we ease out of the restrictions into which we were placed a year ago.

Within the next two weeks we will have 50% dining in restaurants in NYC, and in-person high school instruction.  Additionally, because the stimulus package included aid for states and cities, we will most likely not have tax increases here in the most highly taxed corner of the US.  "Ease out" is indeed the operating phrase.  We are attempting to develop a parish transition plan to the new normal.  It's really going to be slower going here.  But that's OK.

Dave Benke

Since availability to vaccines for all ages should be complete by fall, I'm looking at that time to start restoring a few things and 'easing back' to previous practices.  I'm aiming to have in-person Sunday School and confirmation instruction, as well as my Friday morning Bible study, along with all meetings (church council, voters, etc.). Ladies Aid have been meeting for months, along with their quilting group on Thursdays, so some are already inching that way ahead of my fall goals. I hope that by fall we can move beyond the every-other-pew distancing, although it will be interesting to see what the attitude is regarding masking.  With more and more people being vaccinated, I suspect many of these things will eventually seem unnecessary.

[Jeremy Loesch]

When we assess KC BBQ, a major factor is the quality of onion rings.

Wow, for me that misses the point entirely. My favorite onion rings are at Winstead's, which is a KC steakburger joint, not a KC BBQ joint.

There is no denying that Winstead's rings are the best, but I was trying to strictly keep to BBQ. 

I'm only here because of the rings.  In 2014, my wife and I rented a 15 passenger van and loaded up our kids and my mom to visit the church in KC over Labor Day weekend.  On that Saturday, two ladies gave us a tour of Grandview, Lee's Summit, and KC.  We walked around Nichols Plaza and then had lunch at Winstead's.  A double Winstead with extra onions and an order of onion rings.  That afternoon I met with the church council, elders, and other various leaders so I could ask them some questions.  Then we all went to dinner at Jack Stack in Martin City.  Burnt Ends, two beef ribs, onion rings.  I gave them an affirmative answer to the call not too terribly long after this.

Now I want onion rings but all I have is a banana and a honey crisp apple. 

Coronavirus (too stay on topic)

Jeremy 

[Randy Bosch]

Valuable insights worth pondering from Donald McNeil Jr, New York Times, 1976–2021. Global health beat 2002–2021. Last assignment: lead reporter on the Covid-19 pandemic, in his posting on Medium:

https://donaldgmcneiljr1954.medium.com/why-cant-we-vaccinate-faster-dc444475e4b8

[Randy Bosch]

OOPS! We are straying back into politics that has nothing to do with the church and theology. Please. . . .

Peace, JOHN 

For those we are told herein "live in different worlds", a few words of sage advice from Alan Jacobs yesterday (published in Hedgehog): https://hedgehogreview.com/blog/thr/posts/do-we-absolutely-disagree

[Randy Bosch]

Nonsense Peter. What do you want me to do, list a bunch of footnotes for every comment I make? Do you do that? You just posted a link to an article, that article being deeply deeply flawed. I pointed out the flaws.
I am reading the facts presented by main stream scientists, by those who are actually leading the battle against the virus, and by those who have analyzed their results. You posted without a link from a far right wing think tank. Why do you believe them?
Here’s how I see your postings: if something comes from a certain segment of thought or political views, it is automatically unquestionably wrong. It is part of the vast liberal steamroller crushing your “pet ideas.“ I can’t even comprehend how you hold the views you hold concerning your church body.
I have said it before and I will say it again: I do not think you and I occupy the same world. I can relate to some other “conservatives“ who post in this modest forum, and I can see why they hold the views that they do and I comprehend how they express them. That is not true for me with most of your comments.
And when you simply post a link to a far right source without comment, you use a simplistic tactic previously employed in this forum by the anonymous trolls, now happily gone from our life here.

In other words, you don't understand or comprehend my ideas, nor can you even see how I can hold them. You conclude we occupy different worlds. I, on the other hand, already know what you think on virtually every topic and understand quite well why you think it and what worldview holds it together. I understand you and disagree. You don't understand me at all. So maybe quit commenting on my posts.

Alan Jacob's shared a great story about the famous wit Sydney Smith.

He was walking with a friend through one of the narrow “closes” of Edinburgh, and looked up to see two women, one leaning from a window on the left side of the close and one leaning from a window on the right side, screaming wrathfully at each other. “Those women will never agree,” Smith remarked to his friend. “They are arguing from different premises.”

[Dave Benke]

Nonsense Peter. What do you want me to do, list a bunch of footnotes for every comment I make? Do you do that? You just posted a link to an article, that article being deeply deeply flawed. I pointed out the flaws.
I am reading the facts presented by main stream scientists, by those who are actually leading the battle against the virus, and by those who have analyzed their results. You posted without a link from a far right wing think tank. Why do you believe them?
Here’s how I see your postings: if something comes from a certain segment of thought or political views, it is automatically unquestionably wrong. It is part of the vast liberal steamroller crushing your “pet ideas.“ I can’t even comprehend how you hold the views you hold concerning your church body.
I have said it before and I will say it again: I do not think you and I occupy the same world. I can relate to some other “conservatives“ who post in this modest forum, and I can see why they hold the views that they do and I comprehend how they express them. That is not true for me with most of your comments.
And when you simply post a link to a far right source without comment, you use a simplistic tactic previously employed in this forum by the anonymous trolls, now happily gone from our life here.

In other words, you don't understand or comprehend my ideas, nor can you even see how I can hold them. You conclude we occupy different worlds. I, on the other hand, already know what you think on virtually every topic and understand quite well why you think it and what worldview holds it together. I understand you and disagree. You don't understand me at all. So maybe quit commenting on my posts.

Alan Jacob's shared a great story about the famous wit Sydney Smith.

He was walking with a friend through one of the narrow “closes” of Edinburgh, and looked up to see two women, one leaning from a window on the left side of the close and one leaning from a window on the right side, screaming wrathfully at each other. “Those women will never agree,” Smith remarked to his friend. “They are arguing from different premises.”

That's great - potential sermon material to a discerning audience, one steeped in the Unio Mystica.

Dave Benke

[JEdwards]

Reasonably balanced commentary on the new CDC guidelines for vaccinated persons:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2777536

[Robert Johnson]

Within the next two weeks we will have 50% dining in restaurants in NYC, and in-person high school instruction.  Additionally, because the stimulus package included aid for states and cities, we will most likely not have tax increases here in the most highly taxed corner of the US.

And that aid is basically a transfer from states that are better run fiscally to those that commit to unsustainable future expenditure.

[Dave Benke]

Within the next two weeks we will have 50% dining in restaurants in NYC, and in-person high school instruction.  Additionally, because the stimulus package included aid for states and cities, we will most likely not have tax increases here in the most highly taxed corner of the US.

And that aid is basically a transfer from states that are better run fiscally to those that commit to unsustainable future expenditure.

The liturgical response is "Thank you so much."

Dave Benke

[peter_speckhard]

Within the next two weeks we will have 50% dining in restaurants in NYC, and in-person high school instruction.  Additionally, because the stimulus package included aid for states and cities, we will most likely not have tax increases here in the most highly taxed corner of the US.

And that aid is basically a transfer from states that are better run fiscally to those that commit to unsustainable future expenditure.

The liturgical response is "Thank you so much."

Dave Benke

Considering the only people who voted for that aid are the beneficiaries who also routinely spend their own states and cities into near-bankruptcy before looking for bailouts, all it amounts to is an abjectly partisan (to the point of not even pretending otherwise) statement of, "We have a couple more votes than those guys; let's vote to give ourselves their money! What are they going to do about it?" 

[Charles Austin]

70 percent of the American public approve of the stimulus package.
I assume that if you qualify to receive something, you will refuse it.
Then there is the Republican who sought praise from  his constituents for what they were getting, even though he voted against the bill.

[Dan Fienen]

As with many, many bills that go though Congress, the stimulus bill is like a Christmas Tree. There is the basic tree itself but it is covered with so many ornaments hung on it that it is sometimes hard to see the actual tree. Much of what is contained in the bill is good and needed. Some of it is is also good, but has little to do with dealing with the Coronavirus of the effects of the virus on people. They are things that should be done, but have no real business being in this bill. And another group of provisions many of us object to but they are hung on this bill to get passed with the rest because on their own they wouldn't have any chance of being passed.


Things like funding for vaccine distribution, emergency aid for small businesses adversely affected during the pandemic shutdowns, especially in the hospitality industry, extended unemployment benefits and other aid for those left struggling all are important and need to be passed. Funding for a Silicon Valley underground railroad? Not so much.   

[peter_speckhard]

70 percent of the American public approve of the stimulus package.
I assume that if you qualify to receive something, you will refuse it.
Then there is the Republican who sought praise from  his constituents for what they were getting, even though he voted against the bill.

Wrong. I’ll vote against a trillion dollar bridge over the Chicago skyline. But if they build one, I will drive on it.

If you were a congressman who voted against a spending bill that passed anyway, you would point out the good parts of it, too. On balance the bill is a gross miscarriage of justice and contains a huge amount of pure graft and political payoffs. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing good about it.

[Dave Benke]

As with many, many bills that go though Congress, the stimulus bill is like a Christmas Tree. There is the basic tree itself but it is covered with so many ornaments hung on it that it is sometimes hard to see the actual tree. Much of what is contained in the bill is good and needed. Some of it is is also good, but has little to do with dealing with the Coronavirus of the effects of the virus on people. They are things that should be done, but have no real business being in this bill. And another group of provisions many of us object to but they are hung on this bill to get passed with the rest because on their own they wouldn't have any chance of being passed.


Things like funding for vaccine distribution, emergency aid for small businesses adversely affected during the pandemic shutdowns, especially in the hospitality industry, extended unemployment benefits and other aid for those left struggling all are important and need to be passed. Funding for a Silicon Valley underground railroad? Not so much.

This is where I come down as well.  Much of this is very good and needed and some of it is also just good in general, and there are parts that were inserted for other reasons.  IMO, 80% good, and I am including as good that which helps states and cities that were knocked off their pins.  What I am very happy about is assistance for low-income people, who make up a good chunk of my parish.  If you're making - for example - the NYS minimum of $15 per hour, you're taking home of that amount of $30,000 gross about $2000 per month.  And paying a bare minimum of $1500 per month for your apartment.  Leaving you $500 per month or $6000 per year for everything else.   And if you're on SS or SSI, you are more out of luck - housing affordability is a really big deal for us, and there are components of this that address that issue.

Dave Benke