Stores and restaurants re-closing due to COVID

[disneysteve]

Does anyone remember when people on this forum used to discuss financial topics?

I think COVID is the single biggest financial topic of our lifetime by far. It has touched every aspect of our financial lives from our jobs, education, shopping, dining, travel, healthcare, investing, etc. And it has impacted virtually every single person in multiple ways.

I'm certainly not trying to argue opinions or points of view. I am doing everything I can to share FACTS and shoot down ignorance and stupidity, especially from all of the folks who continue to act as if COVID isn't real or isn't a big deal and think they don't need to wear a mask or change their behavior as a result of it. Will I change anyone's mind? I already have in a couple of cases. And honestly, it's kind of my job as a healthcare professional.

[Fishindude77]

Does anyone remember when people on this forum used to discuss financial topics?

I would encourage everyone to turn off the news. Go get some sun, take a walk. Covid-19 wont be the downfall of our society, it will be social media and discussing heated things online. More and more people keep falling into this trap and they dont even realize it.

I leave everyone with this question. When discussing heated topics, how has your life improved by trying to convince others your point of view is right, or debating things online? Have you ever felt better by doing this on a digital platform? There is your answer.

Best post I've seen on this forum in a while.
Thanks !

[cypher1]

Does anyone remember when people on this forum used to discuss financial topics?

I would encourage everyone to turn off the news. Go get some sun, take a walk. Covid-19 wont be the downfall of our society, it will be social media and discussing heated things online. More and more people keep falling into this trap and they dont even realize it.

I leave everyone with this question. When discussing heated topics, how has your life improved by trying to convince others your point of view is right, or debating things online? Have you ever felt better by doing this on a digital platform? There is your answer.

Spot on advice, rennigade. I am my worst enemy for getting off FB over a year ago, only to discuss politics on a financial forum. SMH.

Last night, I was relaxing outside while talking on the phone to my buddy in CA with Covid in self isolation. Through all this we both agreed how lucky we are, with everything going on and having good relations with family and friends. Even when I talked about a recent friend's suicide ,we both agreed our own physical and mental health is most valuable. Life is too short to complain about the news. Too much energy wasted. Now I'm gonna go mow the lawn!

[ua_guy]

Does anyone remember when people on this forum used to discuss financial topics?

I would encourage everyone to turn off the news. Go get some sun, take a walk. Covid-19 wont be the downfall of our society, it will be social media and discussing heated things online. More and more people keep falling into this trap and they dont even realize it.

I leave everyone with this question. When discussing heated topics, how has your life improved by trying to convince others your point of view is right, or debating things online? Have you ever felt better by doing this on a digital platform? There is your answer.

Plenty of places to do that on here - nobody is forcing you to read this thread nor are they preventing you from discussing other topics.. And I agree with others - Covid is impacting everything financial right now. It's not an issue of watching news or reading up on issues, or falling into some nebulous trap--what do you mean by that, anyway? The pandemic rages on here in America costing lives and fortunes - and making others. It would seem ignorant to not discuss and debate the issues at hand as they relate to finance.

[james.hendrickson]

I leave everyone with this question. When discussing heated topics, how has your life improved by trying to convince others your point of view is right, or debating things online? Have you ever felt better by doing this on a digital platform? There is your answer.

Well said Rennigade.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I'm with disneysteve. Here in California and especially Orange county people are against wearing masks blatantly and arrogantly refusing to wear masks. Masks saves lives.

[kork13]

Our school district just released their "draft guidelines" for reopening... Involves what looks like stoplight (R/Y/G) categorization of what actions they'll take based on conditions.

While it's clear they put some thought into it, they never actually stated how they'll be opening, under what conditions, and how they would assess moving from one category to the next. Kinda frustrating that they'd choose to release details on how they're going to label conditions & respond based on that, but no answers to what "category" under which they'll actually open (or not)!
One notable, masks will be required for all students, K-12 -- we'll have to test with our 5y/o to see how well he handles the mask for hours on end... He does fine with it for short periods going around in public, so he may be okay on that front. Another of their very few definitive answers is that there will be a remote option available for all students, regardless of the school district's operations "category."

DW & I are still discussing what we want to do.... Part of the problem is that there really isn't a good option here -- it's just a matter of choosing between a variety of bad options, hoping to select the least negative one....

[disneysteve]

Part of the problem is that there really isn't a good option here -- it's just a matter of choosing between a variety of bad options

Exactly. We are thankful to not have school-age kids anymore but we have lots of friends and relatives who are really struggling with this. DW was just talking to a friend with a 4-year-old. Normally, he would go to the preschool at our synagogue but she doesn't feel their plan is safe or appropriate so she's looking for other options. Most likely, she'll hire one or more people to come and care for him at their home. But that presents it's own set of risks. Another friend has a 9-year-old. They've already decided they are not sending her back to public school because they don't feel the district's plan is being managed well. So now they are exploring online school options and costs.

I also have friends who are teachers who are terrified that their district will require them to be back in the building full time. They are older and at elevated risk due to health conditions. Early on, they were told they would have the option to stay at home, but now they're being told they won't have that option so they're stuck deciding if they want to literally risk their lives to go to work or what? They don't want to start looking for work in the current environment in their mid-50s or older.

The whole situation is a mess.

[QuarterMillionMan]

[QuarterMillionMan]

On masks, N95 has a very tight seal and very good protection (but hard to breathe). The blue masks air comes in from the sides (easier to breathe). How can one tell a real N95 from a fake? And what does a KN95 mean, is it the same as an N95? Can someone enlighten me.

[disneysteve]

On masks, N95 has a very tight seal and very good protection (but hard to breathe). The blue masks air comes in from the sides (easier to breathe). How can one tell a real N95 from a fake? And what does a KN95 mean, is it the same as an N95? Can someone enlighten me.

N95s are regulated by the US government
KN95s are regulated by the Chinese government

N95s typically have 2 elastic straps that go around your head, helping to make a tight seal.
KN95s often have ear loops, so they don't fit as snugly.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Clark County School District (CCSD) is asking to follow California's online format. https://www.reviewjournal.com/

[disneysteve]

The Marlins/Orioles game was cancelled due to at least 14 players and staff testing positive for COVID.

Trying to reopen everything and resume normal activities like sporting events is such a fiasco.

And now Congress wants to put through another stimulus package that cuts unemployment benefits. They claim it's to encourage people to go back to work but that totally ignores the reality of the situation. Millions of people aren't out of work because they want to be. They're out of work because their workplaces are either still closed, open but at a greatly reduced capacity, or out of business entirely. How does cutting their unemployment help them?

Plus more and more schools are announcing their plans for the fall will be online classes only, so how are all of those parents supposed to get back to work if their kids will be home?

The whole thing is a mess that has been mishandled from day one.

[disneysteve]

Google is extending WFH until at least July 2021. I think we'll see more and more of that to follow.

I saw a meme yesterday that said "Once COVID is over" is starting to sound a lot like "When I win the lottery".

[ua_guy]

Google is extending WFH until at least July 2021. I think we'll see more and more of that to follow.

I saw a meme yesterday that said "Once COVID is over" is starting to sound a lot like "When I win the lottery".

I keep hearing this ("when covid is over") in conversation too. It's as if people think the day a promising hits the open market, everything reverts back to the way it was and full recovery can begin. Just like someone turned off the light switch.

I'm not a medical expert, but I have to think that there's another full year of caution and uncertainty (at least) while vaccine administration takes place. Who gets it, where, how much will it cost, and when, I think are questions that may not be easy to answer or sort out.

Congress should really think on this unemployment thing. Re-opening the economy to bring jobs back didn't work that well, in fact, it kind of went against everything that was recommended, and everything that was predicted to happen, is happening right now. The government can pay people and float the economy. Or they can choose not to, and probably see economic destruction the likes of which have never been seen before.