Doubtless when the time is right, the PM and King will have their own words, but I feel compelled to add a few of my own.
It is no secret I am a religious person. Naturally, I see spiritual and prophetic ramifications in COVID-19. Of course, this is neither the time or place to elaborate further.
What I also see, however, is opportunity. If these two weeks turn into eight weeks (as it is for me, with me being an artist), it will present enormous challenges, but also the unwanted and cursed free time will invite chances to make lemonade out of lemons in ways unexpected and different for each of us.
I strongly expect the next year to be the most difficult in the history of Talossa, if only in that it will be difficulty in all our lives not caused by anything Talossan. For us as Talossans, this is novel!
Glüc, we have your back. Anything we can do, and I know I speak for the PM and others on this, to help you in your job as SoS, you've only to ask.
PM Schivâ and the Leader of the Opposition (whose name escapes me), we have ya'll's back, too. It is heartbreaking, Miestrâ, I will not be able to meet you, T, & F in Auckland this summer, and as I write this, the church choir trip to Paris slated for June also looks to be cancelled in the next week. For the U. S., this is turning from a two-week unwanted vacation into an eight-week crushing blow.
My prayer for all us is inner peace and physical safety not only for us all, but every family represented. The world has never really seen something like this before.
God, be with us all. Fritz von Buchholtz, Harry Madison, Bill Cooper, Robert Dobberpuhl, Bill Renzi, et al, pray for us.
Yours always in Talossa and in life,
GV, Senator (Fiôvâ), Scribe, Royal Archivist, and former Seneschál
There are 8 reported cases in NZ as we speak, but no reported community transmission... yet.
The UK has a little over 1100 confirmed cases just now, but the government estimates the real figure of untested active cases to be anywhere between 5k and 10k. 55 deaths in the UK so far.
In Scotland, here, we have had 1 death (near east coast) and have just over 170 confirmed cases, with most of those cases spread over the central belt. Glasgow (my home town) and immediate surrounding area has most of those cases.
There are no mandated lockdowns just yet, but we expect that to happen in the next couple of weeks. We expect an official closure of the schools by the end of the month, and it looks like the elderly are going to be asked to self-isolate from next week for anything up to 4 months.
Big football leagues have been postponed/cancelled. The Grand National (major horse racing event) cancelled. Gatherings of over 500 people have been 'suggested' to cancel, and it looks like that's happening. The concert halls and theaters in Glasgow have all closed for an indefinite period. Tonight saw the start of pubs voluntarily closing with around a dozen of the most popular and busiest bars shutting shop. The University of Glasgow and Strathclyde University have suspended face-to-face classes and the exams are all postponed. Things are ramping up.
We are a little behind the curve compared to the countries in mainland Europe - Italy, Spain, France and Germany getting hit pretty hard. The boffins are saying the UK is around 3 weeks behind Italy and that a huge peak in our numbers is inevitable.
This is a really inopportune time, considering I just applied for citizenship. I got slammed with the stress of the pandemic - school is closed, many of my friends are immunocompromised so I'm worried about them, the grocery stores are clearing out - as well as some of my own upcoming personal projects that are coming up, not to mention how my general day-to-day routine's been impacted by this.
I'll try my best to interact on here more often, so I hopefully become a citizen, but everything just got kicked into high gear at once.
Wash your hands, gang.
Quote from: Laurens Hughes on March 17, 2020, 09:56:20 PM
This is a really inopportune time, considering I just applied for citizenship. I got slammed with the stress of the pandemic - school is closed, many of my friends are immunocompromised so I'm worried about them, the grocery stores are clearing out - as well as some of my own upcoming personal projects that are coming up, not to mention how my general day-to-day routine's been impacted by this.
I'll try my best to interact on here more often, so I hopefully become a citizen, but everything just got kicked into high gear at once.
Wash your hands, gang.
Don't worry too much about it. With everything that is going on, we will be understanding of people's circumstances.
As things currently stand (and as long as nobody goes getting an injunction against The Lexifore Leeway Act) immigration applications stay live for 60 days. If the situation with the epidemic worsens to the point where it is felt that the window should be extended further, then I will introduce emergency measures to lengthen, or even suspend, the time limits.
Check in whenever you can, but don't stress over it. Look after yourself and the people around you. Stay safe.
If anything, this emergency might be a good time to bring back the much fabled Talossa Evening Chat Show :P
Quote from: Lüc on March 18, 2020, 04:22:02 AM
If anything, this emergency might be a good time to bring back the much fabled Talossa Evening Chat Show :P
Super down for this: what would be a good day for you?
Quote from: Lüc on March 18, 2020, 04:22:02 AM
If anything, this emergency might be a good time to bring back the much fabled Talossa Evening Chat Show :P
I've never heard of such a thing. I've lots of time in the next 1.5 weeks - lol!
I live in NYC and work in Westchester, the county just north of the Bronx. So I'm in the middle of this epicenter. There's been several attorneys and court staff at courthouses I've been in the last few weeks who have tested positive. And an employee at a shake shack I visited last week. But so far I'm fine.
Our courts are closed for non-essential appearances, which is giving me a much needed repreave to catch up on outstanding work. People are generally staying in, which is good, and I'm not too worried about getting sick.
I'm more worried about the world we will wake up in after this ends. But I'll save that for another time.
Quote from: Ian Plätschisch on March 18, 2020, 03:46:17 PM
Quote from: Lüc on March 18, 2020, 04:22:02 AM
If anything, this emergency might be a good time to bring back the much fabled Talossa Evening Chat Show :P
Super down for this: what would be a good day for you?
Well, pretty much any, probably, except maybe the weekend as I'm helping with redeveloping my former house for my family to move back into it (bad period for that huh?) so I will probably be pretty tired.
As for the time, I suppose that 4 PM TST (TDT?), which is 9 PM GMT I think, would be fine to get people from both sides of the Atlantic on?
Quote from: Lüc on March 19, 2020, 04:39:41 AM
Quote from: Ian Plätschisch on March 18, 2020, 03:46:17 PM
Quote from: Lüc on March 18, 2020, 04:22:02 AM
If anything, this emergency might be a good time to bring back the much fabled Talossa Evening Chat Show :P
Super down for this: what would be a good day for you?
Well, pretty much any, probably, except maybe the weekend as I'm helping with redeveloping my former house for my family to move back into it (bad period for that huh?) so I will probably be pretty tired.
As for the time, I suppose that 4 PM TST (TDT?), which is 9 PM GMT I think, would be fine to get people from both sides of the Atlantic on?
If in the next seven days, yes, literally any time will work.
Number of reported cases in NZ up to 28 39. No community transmission identified, yet. We've closed the borders (easier to do on an island 2000km from anywhere else)
There are 3 probable cases in my city. (Heard from a friend who went to the hospital for a check-up; nurse was in full protective gear, who asked if my friend had any symptoms. Friend overheard that 3 people at the hospital displayed COVID-19 symptoms.)
Some schools in my state are closed for a month. At this rate, they'll all be closed for the rest of the school year.
Woohoo, spring break... city is completely dead.
Cuomo's PAUSE "I swear it's not a shelter-in-place because reasons" Order hasn't even gone into effect yet (just shy of three hours), I just got back to my apartment and I'm already in full cabin fever mode.
In any event, New York is apparently now the epicenter (at least in the US) because of the high numbers of cases, but that's not really considering how much New York is out-testing other states. Say what one will about Cuomo (and I disagree with him a lot even though I voted for him), but he's the Governor NY needs at the moment.
The fever that swept Twitter for that _Sex and the City_ lady's challenge for NY Governor has led to the establishment of Cuomo's Law: "Twitter political movements have absolutely no impact in real life".
102 cases in NZ right now, two possible cases of community transmission; still no deaths, subhanna'llah.
.... aaand NZ goes into total shutdown except for essential services as of Wednesday.
I have my issues with the current NZ government but I must say they're not messing around to make sure the 'Rona doesn't spread.
I don't want to add to the gloom, so I'll just say that it's not true that there are dolphins in the canals. There, I said it. Don't drink and write, foreign press.
Quote from: Lüc on March 23, 2020, 05:10:35 AM
I don't want to add to the gloom, so I'll just say that it's not true that there are dolphins in the canals. There, I said it. Don't drink and write, foreign press.
Well this is disappointing...
Fancy asking Adern to invade and annex the UK?
We are currently being led through this crisis by a dude with all the leadership qualities of a pork pie and an intelligence level only found at the bottom of a bottle of piss.
Quote from: Eðo Grischun on March 23, 2020, 10:49:23 AM
Fancy asking Adern to invade and annex the UK?
Look, I'll tell you what I've told the Australians pestering us with that same request for ages - it's not our responsibility to bail you out after you (in your case, the English) deliberately voted for a useless white man who told them everything was just fine.
Your only hope is UDI, as I do like Ms. Sturgeon's style:
Quote
"I don't want to see any of you out there, I run my toe up the crack of yer ass" #janeygodleyvoiceover (https://twitter.com/hashtag/janeygodleyvoiceover?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) #nicolasturgeon (https://twitter.com/hashtag/nicolasturgeon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) #COVIDー19 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID%E3%83%BC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) pic.twitter.com/ujvbxy1DS8 (https://t.co/ujvbxy1DS8) - Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) March 22, 2020 (https://twitter.com/JaneyGodley/status/1241792642033295360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Quote from: Eðo Grischun on March 23, 2020, 10:49:23 AM
Fancy asking Adern to invade and annex the UK?
We are currently being led through this crisis by a dude with all the leadership qualities of a pork pie and an intelligence level only found at the bottom of a bottle of piss.
I have all the sympathy in the world for the British people, but precious little for the Labour MPs who should have chucked Jeremy to the curb last autumn and taken back control of their party. They paid the price last last December.
Quote from: Miestrâ Schiva, UrN on March 23, 2020, 04:12:03 AM
.... aaand NZ goes into total shutdown except for essential services as of Wednesday.
I have my issues with the current NZ government but I must say they're not messing around to make sure the 'Rona doesn't spread.
I wish the German government would have reacted faster, instead of blathering endlessly (well, a month and a half, that is) about the possible impact of shutdown measures on the economy. Anyway, a faster reaction would have probably only delayed the mess that we're in now, so what.
Stay safe and well, people.
Perhaps it's the benefit of living in a small country where people tend to know each other. Here's our Minister of Justice being told about greedy landlords in Wellington and promising to personally put a stop to it. (https://twitter.com/five15design/status/1242906252448952320)
I also appreciate the Government's commitment to parliamentary democracy. Parliament is being suspended during the shutdown, but a small committee of MPs - chaired by the Leader of the Opposition and with an Opposition majority - will stay active to scrutinize how the Government is using its emergency powers.
Quote from: GV on March 25, 2020, 05:06:28 AM
I have all the sympathy in the world for the British people, but precious little for the Labour MPs who should have chucked Jeremy to the curb last autumn and taken back control of their party. They paid the price last last December.
a) I agree that Corbyn was not a success as leader, but the English and Welsh people didn't HAVE to vote for Clown Boris, there were alternatives.
b) The leader of the British Labour Party is chosen by postal vote of all party members - if the MPs had sacked Corbyn he would have probably just been re-elected.
Does anyone know if a Talossan citizen has any symptom of this awful disease? How is everybody doing?
New Zealand is now in total lockdown apart from essential services and supermarkets. No deaths, and we intend to keep it that way. Although I may go mad if my daughter insists on watching PJ Masks on endless loop for the next 4 weeks.
Quote from: Miestrâ Schiva, UrN on March 25, 2020, 04:28:10 PM
Quote from: GV on March 25, 2020, 05:06:28 AM
I have all the sympathy in the world for the British people, but precious little for the Labour MPs who should have chucked Jeremy to the curb last autumn and taken back control of their party. They paid the price last last December.
> a) I agree that Corbyn was not a success as leader, but the English and Welsh people didn't HAVE to vote for Clown Boris, there were alternatives.
> b) The leader of the British Labour Party is chosen by postal vote of all party members - if the MPs had sacked Corbyn he would have probably just been re-elected.
a. The problem was there was more than one alternative. The anti-Corbyn Opposition could have made electoral pacts and all sorts of things. The alternatives did not get along, and this is partly why they lost - that and Jeremy is a closet Brexiteer as far as I can tell.
b. I defer to your better knowledge. If the rank-and-file had re-elected Corbyn, that would have given a clear signal Labour being as much a Brexiteer party as the Tories.
Andrew Whalen from
Newsweek is doing an article on how micronations are coping with COVID-19, and wrote to GV because that was the only email he had. I responded thusly:
Quote¡Azul!
Dear Andrew, thank you for your questions. I would completely endorse everything that GV has said below, and add further comments thus:
1. Talossans are pioneers at social distancing. The Greater Talossan Area (aka the East Side of Milwaukee) is, to my knowledge, completely evacuated of Talossans at the moment. All meetings of the Government or the legislature, and indeed all social gatherings of Talossa, have been held exclusively online for a long time - I believe the last time a Talossan actually met another "in the flesh" was several months ago. So we can guarantee that community transmission of COVID-19 in Talossa is zero.
2. For more information on how we are coping during the pandemic, I can heartily recommend the article in the attached issue of our main magazine, _La S'chinteiă_.
3. For our Big Neighbour, the United States of America, I wish nothing but the best of health and welfare, and add only this proverb in our native tongue: "Voastra soleu ispéu da sürvivonçă, c'è despasar acest malignh crisomileu din la Casă Biancă."
I hope this helps!
This is known already among the FreeDems, but my partner has been exposed to COVID-19 and we have been quarantined for the past 2-3 weeks. She is recovering well by now, and I return to work finally tomorrow, but it is a little tenuous. Our metro area has been negligent at best, and our mayor and governor are woefully underestimating the impact of this pandemic. So, y'know, Florida is going to be ground zero for a bunch of corona-zombies.
New Zealand will be coming out of lockdown starting on Thursday. We have had around 20 deaths in total; there are 100 remaining cases, mainly in nursing homes. We seem to have broken the back of this monster, and hopefully our national wealth will not suffer.
Meanwhile, Australia, the UK and the US are suffering because the growth of conspiracy theory in those countries means that the social discipline required to enforce public health measures are lacking. That's what happens when you let your population get dumbed down.
Quote from: Miestrâ Schiva, UrN on May 10, 2020, 11:22:36 PM
New Zealand will be coming out of lockdown starting on Thursday. We have had around 20 deaths in total; there are 100 remaining cases, mainly in nursing homes. We seem to have broken the back of this monster, and hopefully our national wealth will not suffer.
Meanwhile, Australia, the UK and the US are suffering because the growth of conspiracy theory in those countries means that the social discipline required to enforce public health measures are lacking. That's what happens when you let your population get dumbed down.
I'm quite happy to hear this.
However, if you think resistance to the lockdown is just because of conspiracy theories and a dumbed down population, you are giving a lot of people short shrift.
Oh, sorry, I forgot greed and racism. I do notice it's white middle-class people with guns on those anti-lockdown protests, not demanding that they should go back to work but that other people - the servant class - should be required to risk their lives so that they can have their hair cut and their lawns mowed.
EDIT: Sorry, that was quite rude and intemperate. I know that some people are legitimately worried about their livelihood. But again, that is due to government neglect going back generations, which has not given Americans the right to sick leave, and the current bunglefudge response. No-one should have to risk their lives for a paycheck.
The countries which have beaten COVID back are either those which locked down quickly and completely (eg NZ) and those who have adopted "track and trace" like South Korea or Singapore. The US won't or can't do either, especially because a large and well-armed minority won't adopt basic public health measures, either out of economic desperation, conspiracy theory or sheer orneriness. The first would be easiest to fix - if the US hadn't spent 40 years screaming SOCIALISM at such measures.