{"id":39267,"date":"2020-03-18T10:28:04","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T17:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=39267"},"modified":"2020-03-18T10:38:02","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T17:38:02","slug":"open-thread-3-18-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/18\/open-thread-3-18-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–3\/18\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a hectic day here in the CatBox, as I try to get my head around the notion that my cancer is stage IV and metastatic, and that I\u2019m very likely to die, before a year is up.\u00a0 I see Evelyn (my Oncologist) again next Tuesday.\u00a0 If my cancer tests amenable to immunotherapy, I\u2019ll go that route.\u00a0 Evelyn wonders whether I can handle chemo.\u00a0 It causes severe Republicosis, and if it hits after I\u2019m in bed, the time it takes to get my leg on and get to the throne is likely to be too long to hold it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll need to do a pain\/problem\/benefit analysis and decide if the time is worth the decreased quality of life.\u00a0 I will be getting radiation for my spine.\u00a0 She also gave me liquid Oxycodone.\u00a0 Tonight is a WWWendy night.\u00a0 She was very upset to learn of this.\u00a0 Happy Hump Day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 3:27 (average 4:59).\u00a0 To do it, click here<\/a>.\u00a0 How did you do?<\/span><\/p>\n

Cartoon<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump* Virus Update<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"0318TrumpVirus\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\"0318TrumpVirusTesting\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

From Alternet<\/a>: As nations around the world buckle down amid <\/span>coronavirus<\/span><\/a> outbreaks, approaches to isolation and <\/span>social distancing<\/a> are <\/span>inconsistent<\/a>, at best, in the United States. While some cities and states are implementing <\/span>bans<\/span><\/a> on restaurants and bars staying open and <\/span>capping<\/a> the number of people in a space, some groups are moving forward with, ahem, business as usual. One example from last Sunday morning? Pastor Guillermo Maldonado, of King Jesus International Ministry, a megachurch in Kendall, Florida, encouraged his congregation to keep coming to service, downplaying concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, as reported by the <\/span>Miami Herald.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe God would bring his people to his house to be contagious with the virus? Of course not,\u201d Maldonado, a Trump supporter<\/a>, said to his congregation, as reported by the outlet.<\/p>\n

“This service is usually packed. So now they\u2019re home in a cave afraid of the virus, that you want to transmit the virus,\u201d Maldonado continued. The Herald noted the venue \u201cappeared half empty\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026\u201cIf we die, we die for Christ,\u201d Maldonado told parishioners. \u201cIf we live, we live for Christ, so what do you lose?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jesus that I worship does not call us to be this stupid.\u00a0 I hate to say it, but this is an appropriate strategy for Republicans only!\u00a0\u00a0 RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/span><\/p>\n

From The New Yorker<\/a>: Donald J. Trump has tested negative for empathy, the White House doctor confirmed on Monday.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In an official statement, Dr. Sean Conley said that Trump submitted to the empathy test even though, in the physician\u2019s opinion, \u201cit was not really necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI expected him to test negative,\u201d Conley said. \u201cEmpathy-wise, he has been entirely asymptomatic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The White House doctor attributed Trump\u2019s empathy-free status to his established practice of social distancing from anyone showing even the faintest sign of compassion, kindness, or humanity.<\/p>\n

Dang, Andy! I have zero trouble believing that! RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/span><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (a blast from the past): The Association – Windy (1967 Ravinia Festival – Highland Park IL )<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n