D&D and the rising pandemic

[Umbran]

I'm not mistaking anything for anything. I didn't create the joke. There's a reason why it's a tongue-in-cheek "theory".

It sure sounds like Idiocracy is a retelling of Kornbluth's, 1951 story "The Marching Morons". While Kornbluth was being satirical, he was leveraging REAL eugenics theories of the early to mid 20th century.

Just a few posts above this, we have a post noting that the US only just recently passed the point where the majority of the population believes in evolution. We have been constantly talking about how backwards some folks are.

And your follow on sure seemed to be using the "tongue in cheek" theory to talk about possible real short-term events. So, really pardon me if I don't see you as carrying on a joke. In this context, it is tragic, not comic. Please don't expect me to have a sense of humor about bad biology in this thread. It ain't happening.

 

[Zardnaar]

Potential exploit not really viable in most cases but some of you may have friends who could do it.

1. You can apply for a critical skills exemption visa to enter New Zealand. Translation you're a qualified healthcare provider.

2. From NZ you can reach the Cook Islands. Season 13 of Survivor was filmed there.

3. Cook Islands reached 96.7% vaccination rates.

Cook Islands achieves over 90 percent vaccination coverage

The Cook Islands government has vaccinated more than 90 percent of its eligible population against Covid-19.

www.rnz.co.nz

4. Cook Islands has 0 cases of Covid borders are closed to everyone not from NZ.

5. Cost of living in CI is cheap. You could probably semi retire for under $10 USD a year or take a paycut for local wages.

6. Spend the next 2-3 years semi retired or retired in tropical paradise with some of the friendliest people in the world.

7. Once Covid is dealt with one way or another go live wherever.

Have discussed this with my wife. Sell overpriced NZ house retire before age 50.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It sure sounds like Idiocracy is a retelling of Kornbluth's, 1951 story "The Marching Morons". While Kornbluth was being satirical, he was leveraging REAL eugenics theories of the early to mid 20th century.

To a certain point, it sort of is. But having experienced both, I think it’s more likely the screenwriting team, etc. may have heard the title & a synopsis at best. There’s a commonality of core issues, but they quickly diverge. The movie focuses a LOT more on the broad comedic elements.

 

[Hussar]

Rage.

That's all I can feel now. Just angry all the time.

I'm so tired of being angry.

Japan to name and shame hospitals that refuse Covid-19 patients

Move follows death of a baby born last week to an infected woman forced to give birth at home after being turned away from ‘several’ hospitals.

www.scmp.com

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There’s another showdown brewing in Florida. Like Gov. Abbott in Texas, Gov. DeSantis issued orders against mask mandates and vaccine passports.

Well, Disney has decided you’re not getting in one of their cruise ships without a vaccine passport. And Florida is one of their major port states. Oh yeah, plus they have amusement parks there, too. IOW, Disney, a large American company and a major force in Florida’s economy is basically telling DeSantis to take a hike.

So the big question is: how much will he try to flex on the House of Mouse? If he can’t force Disney to comply, his executive orders fall apart; the bans cannot hold.

The slouching rough beast heading his way looks very mouselike…

 

[Imaculata]

DeSantis is a monster, for deliberately and knowingly help spread the virus and cause more deaths, just to earn a few points with his political base. But then again, that is not a big surprise given some of his other behavior relating to covid.

On a different note, theme parks!

Three weeks after getting my 2nd shot, I visited my favourite themepark to get a healthy dose of fun. Masks are still required in public transport in the Netherlands, but as soon as I came into the park, I was the only one out of many hundreds of people to occasionally mask up in queues.

I heard one guy behind me even mock me for wearing a mask, to score points with his girlfriend. She must be so happy to be in a relationship with a selfish moron. I'm not wearing a mask to protect myself. I'm wearing one to protect people around me. Even if I'm fully vaccinated, I could still be carrying the virus and spreading it to others. So masks may no longer be mandated, but I'm choosing to care for others. But apparently that makes me a weirdo among hundreds of self absorbed selfish pricks.

No exaggeration. I was the only one wearing a mask in a crowded themepark!

The park at least tried to keep people safe. There were screens to divide the queues, and lines painted on the ground to indicate social distance... which everyone ignored. Everyone, young and old, were just huddled together like this was just like any other day at a themepark and like no harm could come to them (or others, if they bothered to care). The repeated reminders by the park to maintain social distance fell on deaf ears and were ignored by all. Kudos to the park, for bringing back voice actors to rerecord lines for covid, and to also do so in English... and to bother to make it rhyme!

Unrelated, but special mention of that guy in line in front of me who ordered hotdogs for his whole family. I hope your rollercoaster crashes and burns! Don't you just hate it when it's almost your turn to order, and the person in front of you just makes a huuuge order, and now you have to wait forever to order your one hotdog. I can't stand it. I guess that makes me a little selfish too. XD

 

[Zardnaar]

Just read some of the emergency powers being used here
Somehow I don't think they would fly in USA. They can't forcibly vaccinate you as I understand it. What they can do.

1. Restrict all travel wherever they want.
2. They can force you to qurantine.
3. They can shut down any business they like.
4. They can requisition vehicles from the public.
5. They can close or destroy buildings and livestock. This includes your house (if it's unsanitary).
6. They can make you get tested.

They do have to pay compensation the amount sorted out in district court and it's final.

A lot of the wording though is "as he sees fit".

Section 70 if anyone is bored.

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1956/0065/latest/whole.html

 

[Umbran]

Well, Disney has decided you’re not getting in one of their cruise ships without a vaccine passport. And Florida is one of their major port states.

DeSantis had already (preliminarily) lost that fight against Norwegian Cruise Line. That probably does a lot to support Disney in this.

So the big question is: how much will he try to flex on the House of Mouse? If he can’t force Disney to comply, his executive orders fall apart; the bans cannot hold.

His ban on mask mandates in schools is also in trouble. Two counties have defied him. His basic tool for enforcement seems to be to withhold pay from administrators who impost mask mandates. However, there's a huge chunk of Federal covid relief money for schools that hasn't been used, and that the feds can disburse any way they want, including to cover any wages that DeSantis withholds.

On top of that, the ACLU is suing the state of Georgia over such a ban on mask mandates, and the Federal Department of Education has made noises about investigating such bans as being possible civil rights violations. A free basic education is a civil right, and making parents choose between that education and their kids' safety may not pass muster.

 

[Zardnaar]

DeSantis had already (preliminarily) lost that fight against Norwegian Cruise Line. That probably does a lot to support Disney in this.




His ban on mask mandates in schools is also in trouble. Two counties have defied him. His basic tool for enforcement seems to be to withhold pay from administrators who impost mask mandates. However, there's a huge chunk of Federal covid relief money for schools that hasn't been used, and that the feds can disburse any way they want, including to cover any wages that DeSantis withholds.

On top of that, the ACLU is suing the state of Georgia over such a ban on mask mandates, and the Federal Department of Education has made noises about investigating such bans as being possible civil rights violations. A free basic education is a civil right, and making parents choose between that education and their kids' safety may not pass muster.

Wouldn't banning masks violate freedom of expression in the constitution?

 

[Umbran]

Wouldn't banning masks violate freedom of expression in the constitution?

Possibly, depending on context. But, to be clear, the Governor of Florida didn't ban masks. He banned requiring masks.