Pandemic Etiquette
Is it polite to wish ill of my enemies?
You may harbor dark thoughts of coronavirus spreading at a contagion-denying political conference, or a presidential rally, or a trashy expensive Florida resort. Enjoy them! Life is short enough as it is, and may be shorter still if this keeps up.
Etiquette concerns the expression of those vicious fantasies. In particular, some spoilsport will probably observe that epidemics are not easily contained, and the reality of your devilish desire would likely cause extensive collateral damage.
Instead, consider casting your evil intuition as a hypothetical scenario presented in a faux advice column. That way you can have the thought without owning it.
What is the correct form of touch-free greeting?
We have heard suggestions of the Vulcan hand sign and “May the Force be with you”, but unless you are a nerd, we recommend Yosemite Sam’s “BACK OFF” to avoid misunderstanding.
A friend suggests a silly handwashing song. How should I respond?
“That’s delightful” will always keep you out of trouble, particularly if you don’t recognize Pilate’s harangue of Jesus. If asked, everybody loves the theme from Jeopardy and nobody will think worse of you.
How much toilet paper can I hoard before people notice?
Our younger readers may not recall the toilet-paper scare of the early 70s. Thirty-two four-packs in a friend’s basement was sufficient to catch our attention.
I saw someone collapse dead, their blood turned to powder. What should I do?
You’re watching Andromeda Strain, and need not worry.
I am in polite company, and do not wish to refer to the President as a “fucking idiot”. What are my alternatives?
Fool, buffoon, clown, jerk, moron, nitwit, stooge, twit, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, clod, cretin, dimwit, dolt, dope, dunderhead, ignoramus, imbecile, loon, nincompoop, numskull, sap, simpleton, halfwit, lamebrain, but really, just go for it.
My elderly relative is complaining of symptoms. How do I express my sympathy while hiding my fear?
Probably avoid “OK Boomer”.
If all the CPAC and AIPAC attendees (GOP of course) got coronavirus and were left to Darwin, fine with me. I am not a nice person.
@blogenfreude: They’ve already infected our nation with the terminal moronavirus pandumbic.
@blogenfreude & @¡Andrew!: Ted Cruz has put himself on quarantine for 14 days after shaking that guy’s hand at CPAC. Maybe he could just make it four years?
@SanFranLefty: and that idiot Paul Gosar. CPAC may yet have something to contribute to society other than racist sociopaths.
@blogenfreude: Might have to revive Big Shitpile — Austan Goolsbee sez the markets are more spooked now than in 2008.
With the oil price crash, Ru$$ia and $audi Arabia are getting the industrial strength kick in the balls that they both deserve.
@¡Andrew!: I’m having a hard time following this one, but it seems the Saudis are intentionally glutting the market, which suggests they’re the ones kicking Vlad in the nuts.
As with the tariffs, I can’t see how there are any winners from an oil price war.
@¡Andrew!: Ah, here we go: Saudis want Russia to agree to production cap to keep prices up. Russia declines. Fuck you, say Saudis, and flood the market to bring prices down. Saudis have this production flexibility; Russia doesn’t. Thus: Saudis are trying to make Russia cry uncle, and agree to the original request.
@nojo:
I’m okay with the House of Saud kicking Vlad in the nuts.
Bring out yer dead!
If you’re following the Pandemic Bracket, Italy was at 600 cases eleven days ago. Great Again America is at 600 now.
And speaking of brackets, March Madness begins next week. Or does it?
If I’m doing messaging for the Administration, I’m committing to memory 19,732, the Dow close the day before the Inauguration. See? Still ahead!
It’s Doctor Tr666p’s Miracle Cure: Even more tax cuts for the rich!
Louie Gohmert too stupid to self quarantine.
Civil War quarantine letters.
The only way I’m gonna “come together” is if I’m in a bear pile with two or more handsome, hairy, muscular men. Prezinazi AntiChrist can frak right off the planet.
NBA season suspended!
Saving Private Hanks from COVID
Futures down a thousand points after Trump opened his mouth. If he really wants to save the market, he should shut his piehole.
Maybe it’s the zombie side effects that’re the problem.
Three casinos, four bankruptcies. One bellyflopped twice.
/off topic/
I’ve been using my new free time to catch up on James Bond movies. Here’s an absolutely heretical list of my favorites:
1. Moonraker
2. You Only Live Twice
3. Never Say Never Again
4. Octopussy
5. Tomorrow Never Dies
@¡Andrew!: That’s not just heretical, that’s laser-up-the-crotch heretical.
@nojo: Obviously, the cheesier the better. Roger Moore is my fave Bond.
Oh, shit! How could I have forgotten The Spy Who Loved Me and Agent XXX.
Smart, Qualified People Behind The Scenes Keeping America Safe: We Don’t Exist
“I know most Americans like to believe there are selfless, ultra-intelligent operatives like me out there watching over everything from an underground control room,” said the Rhodes Scholar Navy SEAL national security official who for the past 10 years we have all mistakenly presumed to be an actual human being. “Unfortunately, though, I’m not employed by the U.S. government, I’m not working at all hours to foil terrorist plots, nor am I part of some secret network of sharp, capable agents, because no such network exists.”
“And again, neither do I,” the imaginary man added.
@¡Andrew!:
Any that kind of were, got fired by Trump
@ManchuCandidate: I saw a random funny comment the other day comparing Trudeau’s calm, professional Canadian response to the ongoing Tr666p bath salts shitshow: “If this were a movie, Canada would be a Merchant and Ivory style ‘Love in the Time of Corona,’ while the US would be a low budget, late night cable action flick called ‘Spores ‘n Whores’.”
(golf claps)
As if Seattleites need any practice with “social distancing,” jeezus.
Canada City closing border to non citizens except US but I think thanks to Trumps absolute shitshow that that US Amercian exceptionalism won’t last.
I hate Trump and all delusional incompetents like him.
Denver just went dark. No 50+ gatherings, restaurants closed to seating. Officially through May 11 — two months — but you can see that being extended as we ride the logarithmic curve.
There’s no other way the nightmarish Tr666p regime could have ended other than all of us effectively under house arrest and a total economic collapse.
I’m not even concerned about contracting the virus. The economic shock wave that’s gonna hit us in about three weeks is like looking up to see a grand piano falling on our heads, and there’s just nothing we can do about it.
@¡Andrew!: Agreed. As someone barely in the age demo — 60+ — the virus itself is the least of my worries. Personal finances, also not yet a concern. But shit’s crashing down hard, and it’s gonna take a lot of people away with it.
Thank the FSM for legal Maui Wowie.
Smoke ’em if you got ’em.
@¡Andrew!: One of the Corporate Coronavirus Emails I’ve received is from a grow-supply manufacturer assuring clients that all is well. (Must have landed on that list when we did their website.)
@nojo:
This is like a global natural disaster, and we’re about to get hit by both demand and supply shocks.
The hubby and I can muddle through for a few weeks since our work is computer-based, but after that we won’t be able to make payroll for his business if the clients slam their checkbooks shut due to their own financial problems. Then what?
And we’ve got it easy compared to bars, restaurants, venues, manufacturers, and on and on. They’re not gonna be building jets at home.
A month ago, I was fantasizing about spending Spring Break on the French Riviera. Now I’m wondering if I’ll be on the corner screaming “booty for sale.” Not likely to get many takers now that I’m in my 40s (unfortunately?).
@¡Andrew!: One of our clients sells specialized office supplies online. Seemingly safe, until you remember that empty offices don’t need their wares.
@ManchuCandidate: Uh, depending on how things go over the next week (full Gilead), any chance you can sponsor a family of two humans, one tweenager, and two adorable, sweet dogs?
Canada City is lookin’ better & better…
I think those toxic tech bros have already gone full cannibal anarchy in South Lake Union.
@¡Andrew!: Border’s closing in 48 hours. Scoot up to Vancouver fast.
@¡Andrew!:
I guess I’d have to classify all of you dependents. My bungalow could barely hold all of you.
@ManchuCandidate: And to think just ten years ago we were sitting on my couch at Former World Domination Headquarters, watching the midterms open the Gates of Hades.
@nojo:
Yeah. It was the last time I visited Cali.
NOJO • A Kind of Hash @nojo: Never been to a big-league game, so saw the Yankees with friends last night. Grand slam was…
NOJO • A Kind of Hash @¡Andrew!: Not yet, but I’m sure I can borrow one from a neighbor on the…
¡ANDREW! • A Kind of Hash @nojo: Oh wow! Congratulations on the move. Hope it's going well. I assume that you now have a…
MANCHUCANDIDATE • A Kind of Hash For the Ex-Mo contingent... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1W0pDpDBqE
NOJO • A Kind of Hash @¡Andrew!: Never made it, and too late now — I’ve been in Brooklyn since May.
¡ANDREW! • A Kind of Hash @nojo: So, have you dined at Casa Bonita yet? It seems to be the primary cause of mass insanity in…
¡ANDREW! • A Kind of Hash I hope Taylor Swift figured out a way to unleash her flying monkeys/army of lawyers against Tr666p…
MANCHUCANDIDATE • A Kind of Hash Team Kamala/Walz/Swifty
NOJO • A Kind of Hash Nothing in my life goes to waste.
FLYINGCHAINSAW • Harris-Kelly ’24 HARRIS QUOTES TOWER OF POWER IN DEBATE: TURN THE PAGE !