Politics, Religion & Money – Page 153 – Prattling Before the Pratfall

Instant Depression

Let’s compare the Dow Jones index at the end of trading yesterday to the day before Trump’s inauguration:

January 19, 2017 – 19,732.40
March 20, 2020 – 19,178.98

All of the gains that he was constantly boasting about have been lost. Estimates of unemployment in the 3rd quarter are upwards of 20%. Instant economic Depression! As predicted by many of Trump’s critics, he is incapable of handling the demands and strain of a genuine crisis.

Trump’s telling governors that it’s up to them to do the Federal government’s job of providing emergency medical equipment, and he’s falsely claiming an anti-malaria drug will protect against the virus — with Dr. Fauchi standing right behind him! Then he went totally ballistic on a reporter. He usually saves this level of hate for black women.

Trump must be tremendously (he loves that word) frustrated, being denied the love of loyal supporters at his rallies. Remember all of those right-wing-nuts saying that Bill Clinton was “unhinged?”

Fox’s Fake News

Finally, at long last, are they finding their shame?

Here’s a recap of what the Stable Genius has had to say.

Breaking BAAd

For the first time in its 124 year existence, the Boston Athletic Association Marathon, aka the Boston Marathon, has been rescheduled.

The 124th Boston Marathon has been postponed – the @BAA understands the city's decision that the marathon cannot be held on April 20, and we offer our full support to take all efforts to postpone until September 14, 2020. Read more: https://t.co/CsnHNKOAZz pic.twitter.com/eBEGDM18FT

— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) March 13, 2020

One silver lining of the Covid-19 virus crisis is I’m getting out of jury duty, but will this be what I see at the supermarket today?

Breaking Wind… Stereotypes

Sailors know the value of Mr. W.

Mr. W.’s incarnation appears to be something of a tribute to Rondo Hatton. Svengoolie, a pal to misunderstood misfits everywhere, explains.

https://youtu.be/hHl2MG0vqfc

What’s That Name Again?

Remind me again of the official name for the coronavirus. Is it Covfefe-19?

Epic Failure Success

A puff-piece about Epic Systems.

It’s possible that the Data General minicomputers from long ago shown in the video were running MUMPS-dialect operating systems that I had custom-assembled in Cambridge, Massachusetts for Epic Systems when they were still in Madison. That receipt listing a 800 bpi 9-track tape drive makes me laugh. How well I remember having to calculate data blocking factors for the various computer tape drives of those times.

I once had to drive a rental car 300 miles from Cranbrook, British Columbia to the Federal Express depot at the Spokane airport to pick up an operating system tape. A customer neglected to tell me he bought a different tape drive than the one he first ordered, so the tape I brought with me to Canada wouldn’t work. So I called the office to get a compatible tape created, and sent to the nearest place that could receive overnight delivery from Boston.