re: OT: Alabama Coronavirus Thread (see link in OP for case numbers and death totals in AL)

LINK ]Washington State Builds Coronavirus Contact Tracing 'Fire Brigade' (NPR)

I’ll tell ya, the IHME projections seem worthless. They said April 21st would be the peak deaths per day in AL, with 20 on that day (ended up with 31).

There were 34 on April 22nd.

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next Top Gun coming out in December

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I wonder how new movie distributions will happen as we get back to normal?

It seems AMC narrowly avoided bankruptcy and is barely hanging on with $4.9 billion in debt.

Think we go straight to streaming with these for a while (or maybe at some point for good)?

Another 4.4 million first-time applications for unemployment this week, bringing the total to 26 million in about a month. Yeah, this is totally sustainable long-term.

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It will be interesting to see how it pans out with antitrust laws regarding monopolies.

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Prediction: Disney will be allowed to do whatever it wants.

The three biggest anti-trust efforts ever undertaken by the government were Standard Oil, AT&T, and Microsoft. Microsoft was ultimately allowed to continue doing pretty much whatever it wanted, and while Standard Oil and AT&T were broken up, over time the entities they were broken up into have gradually coalesced back into a small handful of bloated conglomerates. I mean if Comcast can't be broken up despite the fact that they have literal monopolies on broadband internet service in numerous geographic areas then Disney is probably safe even if they double their current ownership of the domestic box office.

This is where I think some fail to realize the situation. Open up the big companies and manufacturing. Yeah they go back to some productivity but no one is still buying. Car sales are down and are expected to stay at a record low over the next year. Same for a lot of large manufacturing items.

Small businesses reopen but unless people deem it necessary they will not be able to sustain either long term.

The reports are saying people were caught off guard and the financial industry already predicting spending if we recover will be down for at least a year because people are going to start saving to not be in this situation again. Especially with CDC and most medical officials calling for a second wave in either the fall or next winter.

So go ahead and open a large auto plant or some other industry because they will not bring back everyone as the demand for those goods are down. Not to mention the ones that stayed open are closing down in many places now due to the virus outbreak. Look at all the poultry and chicken plants. But we want to rush to open these things back up.

Even long term issues for businesses will force many to close their doors. Do you think state and local governments are going to have a easier recovery. Their coffers are empty and having to borrow. Most states are probably going to see the largest cuts spending over the next years and to help compensate businesses along with individuals are getting ready to see some of the largest tax increases.

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Prediction: Disney will be allowed to do whatever it wants.

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I agree

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The three biggest anti-trust efforts ever undertaken by the government were Standard Oil, AT&T, and Microsoft. Microsoft was ultimately allowed to continue doing pretty much whatever it wanted, and while Standard Oil and AT&T were broken up, over time the entities they were broken up into have gradually coalesced back into a small handful of bloated conglomerates. I mean if Comcast can't be broken up despite the fact that they have literal monopolies on broadband internet service in numerous geographic areas then Disney is probably safe even if they double their current ownership of the domestic box office.

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I might replace ATT with Ma Bell but in regards to ATT they are currently the largest internet and cable company currently. Comcast I believe is currently 6th or 7th in regards to broadband. The interesting variable in all of that is Bill Gates. Owns Microsoft and made large billion dollar investment into Comcast to get them where they are now. The Gates Foundation has a large ownership stake in Cox Cable. Now Microsoft and ATT have been partnering up for ventures. The only other major player for both internet and cable over the years has been Charter which was owned and created by his former friend Paul Allen.

The problem with broadband and cable outside of the satellite companies which has really helped ATT to move to the front on both markets the government prevents competition by only allowing consumers one option. Now where I live we are starting to see local municipalities step in and control by forcing the companies to bid for the service to the area. It has shown to get a more competitive rate for the consumer.

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I just hit reply to the latest post. I'm not addressing anything you said in particular.

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No problem

But I do agree because I think neither option currently is viable long term and all solutions by those in charge that have been presented are reactionary and only focus on the short term.

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Of course it is

So if somebody dies of a heart attack that also has covid, I guess they also get marked as a covid death

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Governments would NEVER exaggerate the threat of an emergency as an excuse to gain more power and restrict civil liberties.

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So if somebody dies of a heart attack that also has covid, I guess they also get marked as a covid death

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Yep. Asymptomatic person who throws a stroke, suffers sudden cardiac arrest, dies at the end of a long battle with a terminal illness but tests postitive after death is being counted as COVID in some places.

Heck, there are probably some places that will count the guy that gets shot 15 times but tested positive after death as a COVID (lookin' at you JeffCo). That's a double win. More COVID to count when you try to claim impact for money AND the crime rate goes down!