Coronavirus. Not to be confused with Norcovirus.

[mtbMike]

Yeah, my department was 1/7 the size of of the LA County Sheriff's department and unless you're "special", you aren't talking to Captain unless he shows up at a local community meeting to schmooze. We did have one Captain that was dumb enough to give out his cell phone number and consequently had people calling him at 1 am to complain about people burning a fire on the beach after 10 pm and other trivial nonsense. He got a new phone.

 

[fos'l]

Misinformation based on a misunderstanding of what those numbers mean. No one has ANY IDEA of the spread of the virus, because the "active case" numbers are highly dependent upon the rate of testing. If you stop testing does that mean the virus stops spreading? How does the rate of testing vary from country to country? I'm sure you can understand if one country is testing 20x as many people per day, they are much more likely to show increases. Sadly, in the case of the US, the virus got broadly entrenched in our society before tests became broadly available.

Switching topics.... I just got an email from the Army and Air Force Exchange asking members to stop using cash. Some locations may go to electronic-only payments. (For those not in the know, the military exchange is the military base equivalent of a Walmart)

I heard that South Korea was testing 10,000 people a day. Do you know if that's true and, if so, the results? Although very different from us, the results would be interesting.

I was parked on White Whatever Street next to the park in order to ride Irvine Park & SO today and six somewhat elderly guys were sitting together at a picnic table with no thought of social distancing.

 

[hill^billy]

Feel like I've been flirting with this for the last week.... Achey and felt hot (but no fever) last Thursday, Friday felt better but went for a bike ride and felt more short of breath than usual... followed by a few days of feeling like I couldn't catch my breath. Not uncommon for me over the past few months, anxiety related... and this is a high stress situation if anything... but no other symptoms... no fevers... no cough... Had a bit of a cold 2 weeks ago though. ... Monday and Tuesday this week felt great most of the day, didn't even feel extra winded during my HIIT workouts... bit of a agitated throat in the evenings and some headaches though... ... Today a bit down again, headaches, feel hot, but slight chills.... no trouble breathing... but some chest congestion (with small amount of phlegm..) agitated but not sore throat......
Hoping tomorrow bounce back in the opposite direction again....
Still nowhere sick enough to feel like it would keep me down.. and gonna do a strength workout here soon... so definitely mild .. whatever it is... (psychosomatic?, since I ran to fill the water bottles and pick up something from home depot yesterday?)

I would certainly stay away from other’s to help do your part?

 

[BonsaiNut]

I heard that South Korea was testing 10,000 people a day.

I don't know where we are currently, but last week the US was testing 20,000 per day (we are about 7x as large as South Korea). We were getting 10% positives for everyone tested (we tested approx. 140,000 people, and 14,000 came back positive). They had been given instructions to only test people who were showing symptoms... but who knows how closely those instructions were followed.

 

[MTBZen]

Went for a hike today in Aliso woods (yes used a legal way in) with my wife. Very few people out and most were by themselves or what looked like family and practicing SD. (Except for a group of 3 riders who were a bit too close together on the fireroad). Very peaceful. The faucet sure turn on there on the weekends though, hope idiots don’t ruin it for the rest of us

"hope idiots don’t ruin it for the rest of us"

They will..............

 

[SnakeCharmer]

Yeah, my department was 1/7 the size of of the LA County Sheriff's department and unless you're "special", you aren't talking to Captain unless he shows up at a local community meeting to schmooze. We did have one Captain that was dumb enough to give out his cell phone number and consequently had people calling him at 1 am to complain about people burning a fire on the beach after 10 pm and other trivial nonsense. He got a new phone.

I was special at the time. The Captain was a client. The fact that my dad was a higher up in the DOC may have played in part in getting me access to the Captain's office.

Then that Captain promoted to (Regional) Commander and my drive became a lot longer.

 

[hill^billy]

Huh? My son's best friend is a cop and is like family to us, he has said his whole department has been put on 14 hour shifts with no days off! Thats an extra $12,000 per month! I wonder what they are thinking?

 

[Voodoo Tom]

Huh? My son's best friend is a cop and is like family to us, he has said his whole department has been put on 14 hour shifts with no days off! Thats an extra $12,000 per month! I wonder what they are thinking?

$12,000 a month for OT? F@ck I'm getting the wrong end of the stick. No jabs or nuthin against our LE though they have my mad respect and always will...

 

[hill^billy]

$12,000 a month for OT? F@ck I'm getting the wrong end of the stick. No jabs or nuthin against our LE though they have my mad respect and always will...

Yah, but if it doesn’t kill him first! No days off!

 

[scan]

I don't see that Joshua Tree has closed yet.

CLOSED. Drove out there thinking it was open, oh well

 

[evdog]

Hmm. Still not listed as closed on the park's website, just closed to vehicles. Assuming you parked and tried to ride in but were turned back?

 

[BonsaiNut]

CLOSED. Drove out there thinking it was open, oh well

They haven't change the status on the web site. Still says closed to vehicles - but open to foot and bike traffic. From the most current press release:

As of March 21, 2020, Joshua Tree National Park will offer very limited services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. At Joshua Tree National Park, the following services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with the California State order:

• All park roads are closed to vehicles.
• Campgrounds are closed.
• The park will not issue permits nor conduct on-site public or educational programs.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Joshua Tree National Park is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor COVID-19. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website, www.nps.gov/jotr and social media channels.

Some recreational opportunities in Joshua Tree National Park remain accessible to the public in accordance with the latest federal, state, and local health guidance including hiking, biking, and climbing.

• The park remains open to bicycle and hiker access.
• Wilderness access using the Covington Flats Road as well as the entrances to Berdoo Canyon, Pinkham Canyon, Thermal Canyon, and Long Canyon will remain open. Backcountry permits will not be required for the use of these areas and overnight backcountry camping is permitted.
• Additionally, urban trail access at the Oasis of Mara, the California Riding and Hiking Trail, Rattlesnake Canyon, Eureka Peak and the High View Nature Trail as accessed via Black Rock campground will remain open to provide for healthy recreation opportunities.

 

[BonsaiNut]

Quick note to people:

This is NOT the time to be selling stock and buying gold. It appears the market is recovering from the panic-selling lows, and gold bullion is in such high demand (coins and bars) that the price is actually RISING at the same time as the stock market. This suggests that gold is wildly over-valued and once the panic subsides, bullion prices are going to fall dramatically as people try to unload their "safe" gold stash.

I always wonder who the people are who sell at the market low, and then shift their asset allocation at the exact wrong time. There must be tons of them... but I have yet to find anyone to confess. If you haven't sold stock yet, do NOT sell it now.

 

[Danimal]

Quick note to people:

This is NOT the time to be selling stock and buying gold. It appears the market is recovering from the panic-selling lows, and gold bullion is in such high demand (coins and bars) that the price is actually RISING at the same time as the market. This suggests that gold is wildly over-valued and once the panic subsides, bullion prices are going to fall dramatically as people try to unload their "safe" gold stash.

I always wonder who the people are who sell at the market low, and then shift their asset allocation at the exact wrong time. There must be tons of them... but I have yet to find anyone to confess. If you haven't sold stock yet, do NOT sell it now.

Appreciate your insite on the market.
What little stock I have I've kept and not sold. I did however put a little into the market last Friday. A 20% to 50% increase in a few days for those new stocks. But being what it is I expect some wild swings over the next year. And I don't know much about the stock market.

Someone is making a killing in this market.....high speed computerized software traders is my guess.

 

[mtbMike]

Huh? My son's best friend is a cop and is like family to us, he has said his whole department has been put on 14 hour shifts with no days off! Thats an extra $12,000 per month! I wonder what they are thinking?

My old department is going 12 on 12 off but keeping their standard 3 days off so that equates to 16 hours of OT per check or 32 per month = only $2000-2500 for them. They’ve also ordered 130 detectives back into the field.

I rode thru Carlsbad the other day and there were cops everywhere, including on bikes on Coast Hwy. I knew they had bikes but I’ve personally never seen them previously. They weren’t stopping anybody or giving out any social distancing warnings that I saw.

 

[fos'l]

My cousin in NY said they just closed two Trader Joe's and four drug stores because there were positive tests for the virus. Since CA seems a month or so behind NY in virus acquisitions, maybe a sign of the future. Happy I haven't been to either type for awhile, and hope they have delivery/curbside service in about a month when prescription refills are necessary.

 

[UPSed]

 

[BonsaiNut]

Someone is making a killing in this market.....high speed computerized software traders is my guess.

If you had purchased Chicago Board of Equity Volatility Funds in December, you would have gotten a 350% return... because they are index funds pegged to the volatility of the market. Years ago I used to trade Foreign Currencies on my own dime. Now I stay miles away... because there is too much central banking interference to rely on underlying strengths/weaknesses of foreign economies to know WHAT is going on (at least for me). But you're right, if you know how to hedge your trades, the more volatile the market is, the more money you can make.

Turn Volatility to your Advantage

 

[SnakeCharmer]

My cousin in NY said they just closed two Trader Joe's and four drug stores because there were positive tests for the virus. Since CA seems a month or so behind NY in virus acquisitions, maybe a sign of the future. Happy I haven't been to either type for awhile, and hope they have delivery/curbside service in about a month when prescription refills are necessary.

We won't hit the wall as hard as NY has and is because we do not live on top of each other the way NY is structured. We Californians are spread out and we actually get pissy when our personal space is invaded and for once, that is actually going to help curve things in our favor. In NY, everyone has touched every one else one million times or more. That is not the place to be at this time.

 

[fos'l]

We won't hit the wall as hard as NY has and is because we do not live on top of each other the way NY is structured. We Californians are spread out and we actually get pissy when our personal space is invaded and for once, that is actually going to help curve things in our favor. In NY, everyone has touched every one else one million times or more. That is not the place to be at this time.

Be interesting to watch. My cousin resides in Westchester County which is a more spread out, ritzier area. For instance, she has seen David Letterman on her daily walks and her driveway would make a fine drag strip.

 

[mtnbikej]

I came home from one of my rides over the weekend, and saw a large group of kids(not our neighborhood kids) playing tag on one of the grassy areas. The visitor parking was all full as well.....which tells me that someone in our block decided it was a good idea to have a social get together.

 

[MTBZen]

We won't hit the wall as hard as NY has and is because we do not live on top of each other the way NY is structured. We Californians are spread out and we actually get pissy when our personal space is invaded and for once, that is actually going to help curve things in our favor. In NY, everyone has touched every one else one million times or more. That is not the place to be at this time.

NY as a State is far less densely populated than California....tons of open space outside of NYC. Even some of the Burroughs are not as "on top of each other" as people may think. Public transit/subway reliance is probably a big culprit in NYC. I have a place just outside the Bronx in Mt. Vernon and it is a regular spread out suburban neighborhood. New Rochelle, where this started in NY is also a regular "spread out" type town. It's the dense urban places like Manhattan, San Francisco, parts of Chicago and LA, etc. that might have some challenges.

 

[evdog]

I rode thru Carlsbad the other day and there were cops everywhere, including on bikes on Coast Hwy. I knew they had bikes but I’ve personally never seen them previously. They weren’t stopping anybody or giving out any social distancing warnings that I saw.

Police everywhere in OB as well. Multiple pairs of motorcycle cops, cruisers parked at entrances to major beach/park lots, and tons of others driving around.

Had to go into the office this morning. There were Border patrol vehicles parked on the grass in Mission Bay park. And another 4-5 driving along Mission Bay drive. Unless there was a migrant/drug boat that came ashore, guess they are being recruited to help with crowd control?

 

[buggravy]

$12,000 a month for OT? F@ck I'm getting the wrong end of the stick. No jabs or nuthin against our LE though they have my mad respect and always will...

Transparentcalifornia.com lists the compensation of government employees in the state, and it breaks it down by base salary, overtime, benefits, etc. Gives you a good idea of just how many extra hours these fine folks put in. I remember there was a story on local news several years back where people were crying foul about firefighters that were making $250K a year, like they were getting away with murder. They were probably working 5 or 6 24 hour shifts a week. That's earning every penny if you ask me.

 

[rossage]

 

[mtbMike]

Transparentcalifornia.com lists the compensation of government employees in the state, and it breaks it down by base salary, overtime, benefits, etc. Gives you a good idea of just how many extra hours these fine folks put in. I remember there was a story on local news several years back where people were crying foul about firefighters that were making $250K a year, like they were getting away with murder. They were probably working 5 or 6 24 hour shifts a week. That's earning every penny if you ask me.

For two years in a row in San Diego back in the early 2000’s the highest paid city employee was a Fire Captain making about $250K a year. You’re right, he worked about 5-6 days per week and for those unaware....OVERTIME DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS HIS PENSION.

 

[SnakeCharmer]

NY as a State is far less densely populated than California....tons of open space outside of NYC. Even some of the Burroughs are not as "on top of each other" as people may think. Public transit/subway reliance is probably a big culprit in NYC. I have a place just outside the Bronx in Mt. Vernon and it is a regular spread out suburban neighborhood. New Rochelle, where this started in NY is also a regular "spread out" type town. It's the dense urban places like Manhattan, San Francisco, parts of Chicago and LA, etc. that might have some challenges.

The subway transit popularity in NY is being "on top of each other". It is without a doubt a major player in their ongoing issue with this virus infection status.

 

[buggravy]

For two years in a row in San Diego back in the early 2000’s the highest paid city employee was a Fire Captain making about $250K a year. You’re right, he worked about 5-6 days per week and for those unaware....OVERTIME DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS HIS PENSION.

I didn't realize OT doesn't count towards pensions. That sucks.

 

[scan]

They were probably working 5 or 6 24 hour shifts a week. That's earning every penny if you ask me.

No disrespect to fire fighters, but I am sure depending on the day there must be a lot of down time

 

[Runs with Scissors]

I didn't realize OT doesn't count towards pensions. That sucks.

Unless you're a taxpayer. Many jurisdictions do allow OT to count. Fewer as time goes on.

Nothing except base salary/wage should count toward your retirement.