RealAvalon

Well, not THAT inflatable pool toy anyway ...

There isn't anyone that is 'horrified' about a gradual re-opening. The argument is whether to base it on science or on politics.

I hope you're implying retired, and not dead.

pat yourself on the back

Did you really? Kudos. Tell us more please.

Elective surgery was suspended in Canada mid-March to prioritize hospital beds (ICU beds in particular) for COVID. After a month and a half delay because of COVID 19 planning, my friend went into the hospital today for cataract surgery. He arrived at 10am, and was out of the hospital by 11:15am, with one Ativan, and no bill to think about. Amazing.

seriously? its 2020

I've started to add push ups, in the middle of my runs. Not many, maybe 50 or so. It's probably more of a psychological boost than anything else, makes me feel like I'm 'cross-training'. Haha

I think that's a llama - no?

Glad I didn't see that while I was driving

you're describing a rape fantasy

That would be good, but no, probably not the case. Look at the Locker Room thread in the Gallery, where guys have their images stolen and privacy ignored. So much for the importance of 'personal liberty' crap that gets referenced, when it's convenient, on here frequently

try 30 minutes of Sweatin to the Oldies … has a tremendous effect on @Benjamin_Nicholas

Winona Ryder. Almost ruined Mermaids, Cher and Bob Hoskins (so funny) saved it.

Not sure where my head was at, but first time I read this thread title I thought it said, "Who would your mother let you do?" And I thought … what the? … and then re-read it. Hahaha.

COVID deaths have been concentrated in Quebec first, and in Ontario second. BC is between Alabama and South Carolina population wise. Vancouver is probably more of an international travel hub, especially from Asia, than either Birmingham or Columbia. The Centre for Disease Control in BC does phenomenal work. Prevention is part of the DNA of the BC health care system. For example, the BCCDC has been a world leader with rolling out new public health responses to HIV including providing PrEP free of charge to high risk individuals to prevent spread of the virus. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/province-announces-hiv-drug-coverage-1.4467003

You would also need to factor in the unreported COVID deaths in the USA. Comparisons are difficult without that information. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/opinion/coronavirus-us-deaths.html If someone else has information about the significant bump in unexplained deaths in the USA for March and April, that isn't behind a paywall ... please post the link.

It was quite as lengthy as a Kessler

I've written about this in the 'What other countries are doing about COVID' thread. There is large support for keeping the border closed for now - several of the provincial Premiers have made public pleas to the federal government to keep it closed. And for now it is closed until June 21st. I've wondered about how this is going to play out politically between Canada and the USA, and whether it's going to be another awful NAFTA renewal negotiation with the Trump administration. The border will, I expect, become a political issue for the USA administration ('everything is back to normal, nothing to see here folks'), and Trudeau and the Premiers will try and filter the rhetoric and respond as sensibly (science-based) as possible. With more extensive testing and follow-up per capita than the USA, the number of cases is about 1/3 of the USA rate, and the number of deaths about 1/2 the USA rate. And as @EZEtoGRU said, more than 60% of that is in Quebec, which has only about 25% of the population. The timing of spring break and proximity to New York, are postulated as explanations for Quebec's unusually high number of cases. I don't know what the day to day experience of health case is in the USA. I can tell you that in Canada, I am secure that if I am infected and require medical treatment, I know the response will be prompt and comprehensive, and I will not have to ever waste one moment thinking about what is or isn't covered by insurance, or if I will have a bill to pay after it is all over. There will be no medical bill. Perhaps some prescription costs. Canada has lucked out with the timing of this pandemic, in the same way Canada lucked out with the 2008 recession. There is a minority government in Ottawa - which requires the government to work with the other political parties. Minority government has always been the best government in Canada. (National employment insurance and universal health insurance with a 60's minority government, and a national housing program with a 70's minority government.) Canada - across all political parties - has had a science based non-politicized approach to the pandemic so far. (In the case of BC, for example, the provincial government has had the opposition health critic hosting some of the on-line town hall meetings about the pandemic.) It's not all sweetness and light of course. The Liberal and Conservative parties have had a few public dust ups. The first was during the passage of the initial legislation to allow for the Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB), of $500/week, for people not covered by Employment Insurance. The legislation submitted in the House of Commons had a longer period of approval than the draft that had been submitted to the other federal parties - and the Conservatives labelled it as a power grab. And a compromise was worked out. Canada and the USA were in different economic/budget situations at the start of this pandemic. Canada's national debt to GDP ratio was around 50% and falling, and the USA was 110% and rising. Many of the provincial governments that were operating with budget surpluses (and paying down debt) are now facing deficits. Canada has been able to afford to prime the pump with stimulus spending to support various sectors in the economy (multiply by nine for approximate USA equivalence). $500 million to the arts, $2.5 billion to oil industry (including money to clean up abandoned oil/gas wells in pursuit of climate goals), $270 million to agriculture (they want a lot more), $200 million to medical research, billions of dollars to provinces to support health care systems, WHO funding for international work. There's almost no sector of society that hasn't received some sort of federal funding: fisheries, mental health, homeless, arts and culture, students, seniors, families, airlines etc. etc. As a self-employed person that has had contracts dry up, I have been able to receive the CERB. The program began April 2nd, and was back dated to March 15th. By the middle of April I had received $2,000, to cover the March 15th - April 15th period. By the end of April another $2,000 to cover the April 15th - May 15th period. Beginning of May an additional $2,000 to cover the May 15th - June 15th period. All of this money is taxable. The idea was to get it out the door into people's hands given the emergency situation, and next year when things calm down it can be taxed back from people that didn't need it. I.E. Non-hysterical. As with the USA the virus has made obvious the weaknesses within the social fabric of the country. The long-term care system for seniors will be the subject of national debate, whether there needs to be national standards and additional federal dollars committed to improve the system.

I've loved blue cheese since I was a little kid

AKA basement casual

House? What house?

Even if he's not a racist, but just stupid, he's allowed to vote. "God" bless democracy.

And, did you jerk off in front of your computer just to say 'fuck you' to the lame blackmailers? Asking for a friend.

Naw. You'll probably just get more fan mail