Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

fintail

Just went for a walk: Office Depot had TP, H Mart had TP, Rite Aid had TP. None are the biggest bargains, but if one needs it, the plague of locusts hasn't ransacked those outlets yet.

venture

fintail said:

Just went for a walk: Office Depot had TP, H Mart had TP, Rite Aid had TP. None are the biggest bargains, but if one needs it, the plague of locusts hasn't ransacked those outlets yet.

I was just at Home Depot. They have it too. I saw a guy walking out with 3 big bundles of it. A sign inside said "2 per customer". LOL

I didn't know they sold it.

fintail

I suspect it isn't Costco priced, either. I also saw some wacky prices on Amazon, apparently with many of their staff working from home, not much priority is given to policing the opportunists.

I see the markets had a rebound today. Dead cat bounce or are troubles losing intensity?

venture said:

I was just at Home Depot. They have it too. I saw a guy walking out with 3 big bundles of it. A sign inside said "2 per customer". LOL

I didn't know they sold it.

driver100

fintail

Coronavirus:

driver100

That is even better!

tifighter

fintail said:

I suspect it isn't Costco priced, either. I also saw some wacky prices on Amazon, apparently with many of their staff working from home, not much priority is given to policing the opportunists.

I see the markets had a rebound today. Dead cat bounce or are troubles losing intensity?

venture said:

I was just at Home Depot. They have it too. I saw a guy walking out with 3 big bundles of it. A sign inside said "2 per customer". LOL

I didn't know they sold it.

Dead cat bounce. I'd be happy to be wrong, though.

abacomike

With the run on toilet paper, it won't be long before toilet paper replaces Bitcoin as an alternative monetary exchange.

Try to imagine paying for gasoline at the gas station with 12-pack rolls of Charmin!🤪😜😩😛😋

cdnpinhead

. . . or any amount of Bitcoin.

jmonroe

abacomike said:

With the run on toilet paper, it won't be long before toilet paper replaces Bitcoin as an alternative monetary exchange.

Try to imagine paying for gasoline at the gas station with 12-pack rolls of Charmin!🤪😜😩😛😋

I could do that with no problem and even leave a roll or two as a tip.

jmonroe

imidazol97

I'm not sure if this requires logging into Fakebook or not. But it's hilarious.
Maybe someone knows how to extract it and present it here in a viewable form..

https://www.facebook.com/robert.merrihue/videos/2938117232875018/

imidazol97

I Did score some 12 packs of TP. I learned that Kroger puts out a pallet at a time from a gossip group on Fakebook for our community. One lady went there at 5 am to get TP.

No milk on shelves at 8 pm. No ground meat. Lots of frozen food shelves stripped. Media has done well. Ridiculous. Son found his Kroger stripped last evening when he went to stock up on food since sister-in-law is coming to visit since her employer is shutting down for 2 weeks. So tonight I got 1 pack of TP for them if they need it.

You would think government had said they were going to close all stores for 3 weeks and people are out to stock up. Luckily the frozen pasta with meat by Birdseye that I was sent to fetch were on the top shelve and smaller size so people didn't grab them. I had to stretch my 5'7" to reach them on the back of the shelf, however. Can I sue Kroger for back strain?

suydam

We had some bare spaces and hard to find items, but mainly got our weekly shopping done just fine.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Probably intends to sell it on eBay to the panicked sheep.

I saw several mentions of how long the current corona virus can last in the air and on surfaces today given in a manner making it sound more dangerous than typical. So I looked up how long a "cold" virus survives: same time in the air and same time on steel or plastic surfaces.

This is not a flu. It's a cold virus. Elderly folks with risk factors are susceptible to complications. When a regular cold virus spreads most people don't think about the tiny symptoms they have at first and they spread it to many people. I noticed I had a slight nose tingle and then sniffles after my colonoscopy procedure on Tuesday. I apparently caught something in the procedure area or maybe the waiting room.

I am amazed at how this is being used to run down the market, along with the oil argument. Short selling is profiting and need

driver100 said:

‘We’re hustlers’: Amid coronavirus fears, this couple has made more than $100,000 reselling Lysol wipes
Manny Ranga and Violeta Perez have spent the last few weeks hitting up every Vancouver region Costco to buy Lysol wipes and liquid cleaners. They then resell the products on Amazon to make a profit.


Ranga, 38, said one six-pack of wipes that goes for $20 at Costco can fetch four times that online. (A check of Amazon on Thursday showed that a six-pack was going for $89 under their seller name "Violeta & Sons Trading Ltd.")

After shelling out about $70,000 in bulk buys, Ranga said they've made more than $100,000 in sales.

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9905496--we-re-hustlers-amid-coronavirus-fears-this-couple-has-made-more-than-100-000-reselling-lysol-wipes/

Hmmmm. I wonder why regular folk can't find TP and sanitizer wipes on the store shelves to buy 1, 2, or 3 for their own use. Outrageous.

Amazon should outlaw the abuse of price gouging.

I know that someone was selling a part that is hard to get for a GM engine for $585 for a used one, on Ebay. A new one used to cost about $85 and now costs $140 when available.

I hope people wise up and those grifters get stuck with two lifetimes of toilet paper.

oldfarmer50

andres3 said:

dino001 said:

I finally realized why this thing needs to be treated this way. It's two factors:
1. About 10 percent of people require hospitalization, out of which many require respirators.
2. Virus is much more contagious than flu or cold.

When you combined these two, wide spread would overwhelm best healthcare system turning hospitals into battleground medical facilities with doctors making decisions who gets the respirator and lives, who doesn't. Most people would live through it, of course, but the elderly population would be really vulnerable. I think it's worth to bite an economic bullet and go in a short recession to avoid this scenario.

So the 1.5 trillion dollar Wall Street bailout by the "Fed" and the Farm bailouts in the tens of billions continue.

I'd like to see a bailout where I end up with a free Corvette.

I must have misplaced my farm bailout check. I’ll examine the mailbox extra good tomorrow.

roadburner

The Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court shut down all but essential court services until April 10th. Fortunately I get along great with the defense bar and the Circuit Judge and we are working together to play the hand we've been dealt. My First Assistant's daughter came home from the UK today so according to the emergency court orders my assistant can't enter the courthouse for two weeks. This whole over-reaction(IMHO) will bugger up the criminal dockets for months. I was sent a pdf file of a sign I was supposed to post at my office door; I edited it and then posted it:

A couple of other offices now want copies.

abacomike

Saw the ophthalmologist this morning. He said my vision in both eyes, without glasses, is now 20/20 for distance. The world looks so bright and different. In 4 weeks, I go back to see their optometrist for a prescription for corrective lenses for reading. It takes 4 weeks for my left eye to heal completely which is why he is delaying giving my an RX now.

They make lenses that are progressive in that there is no correction on the top of the lens, but progresses to mild correction and finally heavy correction on the bottom of the lenses for reading. I cannot see clearly objects or words on a page that are closer than 18 inches away. So if I want to see normally I will have to wear glasses all the time so I don't have to put on reading glasses to see objects close to me (18 inches away or closer).

So I have to carry a pair of reading glasses with me everywhere I go for the next 6 weeks until I get progressive lens glasses. I also have to get a pair of polarized sunglasses because it is so bright down here now which makes driving difficult.

But life is so much better without cataracts.

fintail

I didn't see any media types pointing guns at any heads and ordering people to buy TP and frozen food, or even remotely suggesting anyone buy anything. The media can be annoying (still wondering where some get their news...), but people have free will. This is all the lowest common denominator populace in action, this is what we've come to. At least it isn't a hoax or just the common flu anymore, per experts who know everything.

And I too would love to see the speculators and gougers hung out to dry. Sadly, it will likely just be called "capitalism" or something.

I think these are $11 apiece at my local Rite Aid:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quilted-Northern-12-Double-Rolls-Ultra-Soft-and-Strong-24-regular-rolls/264666203588?hash=item3d9f55c5c4:g:6DAAAOSwbJhea-6J

These all sold LOL:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Quilted-Northern-6-Double-Rolls-Ultra-Soft-and-Strong-Layers-Toilet-Paper-/153863834661?hash=item23d2ffcc25:g:atUAAOSwaZVebBke&nma=true&si=fE5VaovvNZB8xuMiPszWzEGQ1So%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

venture

abacomike said:

Saw the ophthalmologist this morning. He said my vision in both eyes, without glasses, is now 20/20 for distance. The world looks so bright and different. In 4 weeks, I go back to see their optometrist for a prescription for corrective lenses for reading. It takes 4 weeks for my left eye to heal completely which is why he is delaying giving my an RX now.

They make lenses that are progressive in that there is no correction on the top of the lens, but progresses to mild correction and finally heavy correction on the bottom of the lenses for reading. I cannot see clearly objects or words on a page that are closer than 18 inches away. So if I want to see normally I will have to wear glasses all the time so I don't have to put on reading glasses to see objects close to me (18 inches away or closer).

So I have to carry a pair of reading glasses with me everywhere I go for the next 6 weeks until I get progressive lens glasses. I also have to get a pair of polarized sunglasses because it is so bright down here now which makes driving difficult.

But life is so much better without cataracts.

Mike,

I had both of my eyes done, probably about 18 years ago now. Regardless, when I was fresh from the surgery I could not read anything about 18" away and closer either. As a few weeks passed, slowly I was able to read closer and closer and smaller and smaller type. Low light conditions did make it more difficult and still do.

I have a pair of reading glasses that I bought at a drug store. They lay by my computer where I normally open any mail that gets past the trash can in case I need them.

Point being - don't assume you will need an expensive pair of glasses and if you do find out you really do, you can get them at any time.

venture

The wife and I stopped at the drug store early last evening. I had to get cashews.

When I was checking out she asked the clerk if they were out of hand sanitizer. He said they have 4 left, they were behind the counter, and were 1 per customer. She got one. When we got home I noticed it was a small container of CVS brand hand sanitizer and was probably only a few ounces. Sort of made me chuckle.

Then we went to the grocery store. It was nuts. Normally when you enter there are carts stacked against the wall and back about 15 feet. There were about 20 there when we got there and none when we left about 15 minutes later. People were waiting until someone was leaving to get their cart. I got 5 boxes of TastyKakes for $10 and she got a pound of hamburger. (She made the butcher open a package of one of the 30 or so that had 1.25 pounds in so she could buy 1 pound. She told him all her receipes call for a pound).

omarman

She made the butcher open a package of one of the 30 or so that had 1.25 pounds in so she could buy 1 pound. She told him all her receipes call for a pound.

And with that simple request your wife gave the butcher hope that it's all gonna be okay! She was probably the easiest customer to please all day long.

abacomike

venture said:

abacomike said:

Saw the ophthalmologist this morning. He said my vision in both eyes, without glasses, is now 20/20 for distance. The world looks so bright and different. In 4 weeks, I go back to see their optometrist for a prescription for corrective lenses for reading. It takes 4 weeks for my left eye to heal completely which is why he is delaying giving my an RX now.

They make lenses that are progressive in that there is no correction on the top of the lens, but progresses to mild correction and finally heavy correction on the bottom of the lenses for reading. I cannot see clearly objects or words on a page that are closer than 18 inches away. So if I want to see normally I will have to wear glasses all the time so I don't have to put on reading glasses to see objects close to me (18 inches away or closer).

So I have to carry a pair of reading glasses with me everywhere I go for the next 6 weeks until I get progressive lens glasses. I also have to get a pair of polarized sunglasses because it is so bright down here now which makes driving difficult.

But life is so much better without cataracts.

Mike,

I had both of my eyes done, probably about 18 years ago now. Regardless, when I was fresh from the surgery I could not read anything about 18" away and closer either. As a few weeks passed, slowly I was able to read closer and closer and smaller and smaller type. Low light conditions did make it more difficult and still do.

I have a pair of reading glasses that I bought at a drug store. They lay by my computer where I normally open any mail that gets past the trash can in case I need them.

Point being - don't assume you will need an expensive pair of glasses and if you do find out you really do, you can get them at any time.

I'm in no rush to spend $500 on another pair of glasses. But the ophthalmologist said the lenses he put in both eyes would be for distance only - not for close work like reading, computer, iPhone, or threading a needle. He said I would always need corrective lenses for that. But I drove the car yesterday for the first time in a week and I saw perfectly - even the dashboard and GPS screen. But I could not see anything closer which he said would happen.

There is another lens he could have put in that would have corrected my vision for near and far but that would have cost me another $2000 over the $3350 I already spent for laser. My insurance only pays for non-laser surgery with no correction for vision.

I am going to need sunglasses though because of the brightness of the sun down here. I won't be doing anything for 4 weeks until the left eye is completely healed.

Thanks for you input.

abacomike

Effective immediately, all schools in the State of Florida are closed until the first week of April, at the very least. They will determine if the closures will be extended beyond that at the end of the month.

All the cruise ships are tied up in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami - 20+ ships. The sight is eerie! Publix grocery stores close at 8:00 PM every night now for extensive sanitizing overnight. Local movie theaters have limited audiences to 1/3 of capacity to provide space between movie-goers. All casinos have cancelled shows - even the new Hard Rock Guitar shaped venue.

It's like a ghost town down here. Traffic on the highways and interstates is 1/3 of normal. Many restaurants are closed for 2 weeks. They canceled the Players Golf Championship after the first day of play in Ponte Vedra Florida where my brother lives.

This is serious stuff! But at least I have enough toilet paper and household disinfectant to last a month. Food is the only thing(s) I will need next week.

Finally, my once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Master's Tournament in Augusta has been cancelled. But they will send me passes and accommodations for next year for the entire 4-day tournament (Tuesday through Sunday).

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

I didn't see any media types pointing guns at any heads and ordering people to buy TP and frozen food, or even remotely suggesting anyone buy anything. The media can be annoying (still wondering where some get their news...), but people have free will. This is all the lowest common denominator populace in action, this is what we've come to. At least it isn't a hoax or just the common flu anymore, per experts who know everything.

And I too would love to see the speculators and gougers hung out to dry. Sadly, it will likely just be called "capitalism" or something.

I think these are $11 apiece at my local Rite Aid:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quilted-Northern-12-Double-Rolls-Ultra-Soft-and-Strong-24-regular-rolls/264666203588?hash=item3d9f55c5c4:g:6DAAAOSwbJhea-6J

These all sold LOL:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Quilted-Northern-6-Double-Rolls-Ultra-Soft-and-Strong-Layers-Toilet-Paper-/153863834661?hash=item23d2ffcc25:g:atUAAOSwaZVebBke&nma=true&si=fE5VaovvNZB8xuMiPszWzEGQ1So%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

NY is threatening draconian fines if a business raises prices more than 10%. I‘m no fan of price gougers but I can’t see arresting some hot dog vendor because he has to charge more to pay his assistant to sit home for two weeks.

imidazol97

Happy Pi Day

venture

abacomike said:

venture said:

abacomike said:

Saw the ophthalmologist this morning. He said my vision in both eyes, without glasses, is now 20/20 for distance. The world looks so bright and different. In 4 weeks, I go back to see their optometrist for a prescription for corrective lenses for reading. It takes 4 weeks for my left eye to heal completely which is why he is delaying giving my an RX now.

They make lenses that are progressive in that there is no correction on the top of the lens, but progresses to mild correction and finally heavy correction on the bottom of the lenses for reading. I cannot see clearly objects or words on a page that are closer than 18 inches away. So if I want to see normally I will have to wear glasses all the time so I don't have to put on reading glasses to see objects close to me (18 inches away or closer).

So I have to carry a pair of reading glasses with me everywhere I go for the next 6 weeks until I get progressive lens glasses. I also have to get a pair of polarized sunglasses because it is so bright down here now which makes driving difficult.

But life is so much better without cataracts.

Mike,

I had both of my eyes done, probably about 18 years ago now. Regardless, when I was fresh from the surgery I could not read anything about 18" away and closer either. As a few weeks passed, slowly I was able to read closer and closer and smaller and smaller type. Low light conditions did make it more difficult and still do.

I have a pair of reading glasses that I bought at a drug store. They lay by my computer where I normally open any mail that gets past the trash can in case I need them.

Point being - don't assume you will need an expensive pair of glasses and if you do find out you really do, you can get them at any time.

I'm in no rush to spend $500 on another pair of glasses. But the ophthalmologist said the lenses he put in both eyes would be for distance only - not for close work like reading, computer, iPhone, or threading a needle. He said I would always need corrective lenses for that. But I drove the car yesterday for the first time in a week and I saw perfectly - even the dashboard and GPS screen. But I could not see anything closer which he said would happen.

There is another lens he could have put in that would have corrected my vision for near and far but that would have cost me another $2000 over the $3350 I already spent for laser. My insurance only pays for non-laser surgery with no correction for vision.

I am going to need sunglasses though because of the brightness of the sun down here. I won't be doing anything for 4 weeks until the left eye is completely healed.

Thanks for you input.

Yeah. I had a choice of being able to see close or far. I chose far. (Who would choose close?). Hopefully your close vision will improve as you heal and also as you get used to it. You will probably never be able to read really tiny text without help, but cheap reading glasses remedy that.

I forgot to add: I agree with the sunglasses. I spare no expense on sunglasses. The last pair I got were $240 and worth every penny.

pensfan83

At out usual breakfast spot that is jammed every Saturday. There's 8 total people here including us.

bwia

With all this talk about running out of toilet paper here is the solution, a bidet. This is very common in the Caribbean (we have one) and it is designed to wash one's genital and anal area.

ab348

roadburner said:

The Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court shut down all but essential court services until April 10th. Fortunately I get along great with the defense bar and the Circuit Judge and we are working together to play the hand we've been dealt. My First Assistant's daughter came home from the UK today so according to the emergency court orders my assistant can't enter the courthouse for two weeks. This whole over-reaction(IMHO) will bugger up the criminal dockets for months.

Up here the govt shut down all jury trials for at least 60 days. The wheels of justice will grind even more slowly than usual.

tjc78

It’s wild out there!

I ran the grocery store for when they open at 7 because somehow I ran out of bacon. It’s my sons birthday and I wanted to make it for him along with homemade pancakes

100 people were lined up to get in the store and the store was wrecked. I heard the manager asking for all night crew members to stay and stock.

The entire paper aisle was bear, eggs bare, mest was thin. Bread guys were there restocking.

Wow

imidazol97

Thanks to whoever suggested the Plen Vu prep that's drunk to get ready for colonoscopy was better than the 1/2 gallon prep. I drank the 16 ounce of prep. Much better than 4 doses of the other stuff last time. Then 6 hours before procedure, same prep.

I had to pay $60 for that because my insurance does not cover the "new" stuff. Worth every penny.

I did catch a cold virus from the place. Always seems to happen. Either it's from the procedure room. Or the
"lady" in the waiting room who sneezed into her hand with her fingers splayed open. She was there with a sister and an elderly patient who was having a procedure of some kind. I gave the sneezer a dirty look as I jumped up and moved as far from her contaminated air as I could get! LOL She smiled and got up to go to a corner where the shelf had a bottle of hand sanitizer. I guess she was so dumb she thought sanitizing her hands afterward made up for all the virii she exploded into the air through her plump fingers.

I'm glad I had convinced my wife to stay in the car instead of coming up with me. I was surprised the office took my word that I had a driver to take me home without seeing her in person. Wife's in two high risk categories.

imidazol97

For those wanting graphic data to help visualize what's happening, here's a link. Of course data
needs to be interpreted in context of variables.

https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/covid-19-coronavirus-infographic-datapack/

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

With all this talk about running out of toilet paper here is the solution, a bidet. This is very common in the Caribbean (we have one) and it is designed to wash one's genital and anal area.

Thanks for the explanation. I would have been watering the plants with it.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

For those wanting graphic data to help visualize what's happening, here's a link. Of course data
needs to be interpreted in context of variables.

https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/covid-19-coronavirus-infographic-datapack/

I think that last graphic in the lower right hand corner says it all.

I just went to the market to get some Kleenex and cat food. Not a single paper product left. They were out of my cat’s favorite brand. This is serious. When the cat’s not happy, ain’t nobody happy.😾😿

jmonroe

pensfan83 said:

At out usual breakfast spot that is jammed every Saturday. There's 8 total people here including us.

I was wondering who those other dopes were.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

jmonroe said:

tjc78 said:

Really sucks!!! Hoping for a painless process to get fixed. The beauty of it being a lease is you aren’t on the hook for DV.

I've heard that about leasing. Given that there has to be the same percentage of lease cars having accidents as the typical purchased cars, I'm surprised that lease contracts haven't been changed to account for this.

jmonroe

Because the banks and insurance are in bed together. They've obviously made a calculation that it is better for them to ignore the world is spherical, or that DV exists, rather than to acknowledge it.

Georgia is the only State out of 50 that I know of that automatically acknowledges, and even further, puts 1st party DV claims on the market (you can buy insurance for it).

What a Proggressive State! Who'd of thunk?

The issue with diminished value is that it is an unrealized loss that cannot be truly determined and will change due to multiple variables. A buyer may consider the diminished value to be more or less than the "expert" who estimates the loss. The longer you keep the car the less loss due to diminished value you will incur. Het into another accident how much of the new diminished value is allocated to each accident.

Case in point, I got into an accident many years ago that was 100% the other drivers fault and I definitely had a loss in value due to the accident. Now it's 6 or 7 years and maybe 80k miles or so later and I am pretty close to having fully depreciated the car. Currently the value of the car is likely less than the loss in diminished value at the time of the accident and if I dispose of the car now I most likely would not realize any loss due to diminished value from that accident.

benjaminh

Two charts from a piece in today's New York Times. There are different charts in this article based on different scenarios.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus-trump-response.html

abacomike

venture said:

abacomike said:

venture said:

abacomike said:

Saw the ophthalmologist this morning. He said my vision in both eyes, without glasses, is now 20/20 for distance. The world looks so bright and different. In 4 weeks, I go back to see their optometrist for a prescription for corrective lenses for reading. It takes 4 weeks for my left eye to heal completely which is why he is delaying giving my an RX now.

They make lenses that are progressive in that there is no correction on the top of the lens, but progresses to mild correction and finally heavy correction on the bottom of the lenses for reading. I cannot see clearly objects or words on a page that are closer than 18 inches away. So if I want to see normally I will have to wear glasses all the time so I don't have to put on reading glasses to see objects close to me (18 inches away or closer).

So I have to carry a pair of reading glasses with me everywhere I go for the next 6 weeks until I get progressive lens glasses. I also have to get a pair of polarized sunglasses because it is so bright down here now which makes driving difficult.

But life is so much better without cataracts.

Mike,

I had both of my eyes done, probably about 18 years ago now. Regardless, when I was fresh from the surgery I could not read anything about 18" away and closer either. As a few weeks passed, slowly I was able to read closer and closer and smaller and smaller type. Low light conditions did make it more difficult and still do.

I have a pair of reading glasses that I bought at a drug store. They lay by my computer where I normally open any mail that gets past the trash can in case I need them.

Point being - don't assume you will need an expensive pair of glasses and if you do find out you really do, you can get them at any time.

I'm in no rush to spend $500 on another pair of glasses. But the ophthalmologist said the lenses he put in both eyes would be for distance only - not for close work like reading, computer, iPhone, or threading a needle. He said I would always need corrective lenses for that. But I drove the car yesterday for the first time in a week and I saw perfectly - even the dashboard and GPS screen. But I could not see anything closer which he said would happen.

There is another lens he could have put in that would have corrected my vision for near and far but that would have cost me another $2000 over the $3350 I already spent for laser. My insurance only pays for non-laser surgery with no correction for vision.

I am going to need sunglasses though because of the brightness of the sun down here. I won't be doing anything for 4 weeks until the left eye is completely healed.

Thanks for you input.

Yeah. I had a choice of being able to see close or far. I chose far. (Who would choose close?). Hopefully your close vision will improve as you heal and also as you get used to it. You will probably never be able to read really tiny text without help, but cheap reading glasses remedy that.

I forgot to add: I agree with the sunglasses. I spare no expense on sunglasses. The last pair I got were $240 and worth every penny.

I just got back from the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. The mall was like a ghosttown.

I was looking for a pair of polarized sunglasses with titanium frames. After checking out 8 different stores where the average price for a pair was $250, I decided to check out a familiar store (I left out the name of the store for reasons you will soon discover) - I remember I bought my grandson a pair of sunglasses there when he was here last time.

They had three different styles in titanium with polarized lenses. The store was empty and the two sales ladies and I started a conversation for 20 minutes because the manager of the store said that I looked like her high school principal. I laughed and explained that I was a school principal most of my life. After the 20 minute conversation where we reminisced about our middle and high school years, I asked the price of the pair of sunglasses. She said they were $275. I said that was over my budget. I asked if the glasses came with a hard case so I could leave them in the car. She said no, only a cloth cover.

I thanked them both for their time and conversation and as I was about to leave, the manager called me back and said she would sell me the sunglasses at their employee price and will throw in a hard case so I could leave the glasses in the car. I gave her my credit card and the total charge was $98.23 including tax. I was dumbfounded - I said, "...you mean there is that kind of mark-up on these glasses and the hard case...? She asked me if I wanted to pay more for them - and of course I said $98.23 was a great price. End of story!

jmonroe

benjaminh said:

Two charts from a piece in today's New York Times. There are different charts in this article based on different scenarios.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus-trump-response.html

Those are just made up scenario. Untill you perform a study of 10 million people following each scenario it's just playing with numbers and curves. However, practicing good hygiene should always be followed.

jmonroe

fintail

As usual, I am sure that idea is a road paved with good intentions, if you know what I mean.

I'd have no problem with shutting down someone gouging for necessities. Hot dogs aren't that (at least for me, you know what those things are made from )

Then again, pharma gouges and profiteers as their business model in the US, and they effectively make their own laws.

oldfarmer50 said:

NY is threatening draconian fines if a business raises prices more than 10%. I‘m no fan of price gougers but I can’t see arresting some hot dog vendor because he has to charge more to pay his assistant to sit home for two weeks.

fintail

TP report. Did my usual shopping early this morning - few people out. Wally World Neighborhood Market paper goods shelves were barren, but other food stocks looked normal. I stopped at a tiny Walgreens looking for something else: totally empty, and back to the nearby Rite Aid for something else, they had maybe half as much as yesterday, maybe 10% of usual stock, but not sold out. I found the candy I was looking for too, so not a wasted trip.

fintail

It's going to be interesting once the US "catches up" to those dealing with it for a longer period, given our dysfunctional healthcare system. We definitely won't have the lowest casualty rates.

Lower right is also amusing, shows what social media has given us, endless useless chatter.

imidazol97 said:

For those wanting graphic data to help visualize what's happening, here's a link. Of course data
needs to be interpreted in context of variables.

benjaminh

A ten-minute compilation of cautionary accidents (warning: language and vehicle accidents)....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxVqlTKzWXQ

jmonroe

abacomike said:

venture said:

abacomike said:

venture said:

abacomike said:

Saw the ophthalmologist this morning. He said my vision in both eyes, without glasses, is now 20/20 for distance. The world looks so bright and different. In 4 weeks, I go back to see their optometrist for a prescription for corrective lenses for reading. It takes 4 weeks for my left eye to heal completely which is why he is delaying giving my an RX now.

They make lenses that are progressive in that there is no correction on the top of the lens, but progresses to mild correction and finally heavy correction on the bottom of the lenses for reading. I cannot see clearly objects or words on a page that are closer than 18 inches away. So if I want to see normally I will have to wear glasses all the time so I don't have to put on reading glasses to see objects close to me (18 inches away or closer).

So I have to carry a pair of reading glasses with me everywhere I go for the next 6 weeks until I get progressive lens glasses. I also have to get a pair of polarized sunglasses because it is so bright down here now which makes driving difficult.

But life is so much better without cataracts.

Mike,

I had both of my eyes done, probably about 18 years ago now. Regardless, when I was fresh from the surgery I could not read anything about 18" away and closer either. As a few weeks passed, slowly I was able to read closer and closer and smaller and smaller type. Low light conditions did make it more difficult and still do.

I have a pair of reading glasses that I bought at a drug store. They lay by my computer where I normally open any mail that gets past the trash can in case I need them.

Point being - don't assume you will need an expensive pair of glasses and if you do find out you really do, you can get them at any time.

I'm in no rush to spend $500 on another pair of glasses. But the ophthalmologist said the lenses he put in both eyes would be for distance only - not for close work like reading, computer, iPhone, or threading a needle. He said I would always need corrective lenses for that. But I drove the car yesterday for the first time in a week and I saw perfectly - even the dashboard and GPS screen. But I could not see anything closer which he said would happen.

There is another lens he could have put in that would have corrected my vision for near and far but that would have cost me another $2000 over the $3350 I already spent for laser. My insurance only pays for non-laser surgery with no correction for vision.

I am going to need sunglasses though because of the brightness of the sun down here. I won't be doing anything for 4 weeks until the left eye is completely healed.

Thanks for you input.

Yeah. I had a choice of being able to see close or far. I chose far. (Who would choose close?). Hopefully your close vision will improve as you heal and also as you get used to it. You will probably never be able to read really tiny text without help, but cheap reading glasses remedy that.

I forgot to add: I agree with the sunglasses. I spare no expense on sunglasses. The last pair I got were $240 and worth every penny.

I just got back from the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. The mall was like a ghosttown.

I was looking for a pair of polarized sunglasses with titanium frames. After checking out 8 different stores where the average price for a pair was $250, I decided to check out a familiar store (I left out the name of the store for reasons you will soon discover) - I remember I bought my grandson a pair of sunglasses there when he was here last time.

They had three different styles in titanium with polarized lenses. The store was empty and the two sales ladies and I started a conversation for 20 minutes because the manager of the store said that I looked like her high school principal. I laughed and explained that I was a school principal most of my life. After the 20 minute conversation where we reminisced about our middle and high school years, I asked the price of the pair of sunglasses. She said they were $275. I said that was over my budget. I asked if the glasses came with a hard case so I could leave them in the car. She said no, only a cloth cover.

I thanked them both for their time and conversation and as I was about to leave, the manager called me back and said she would sell me the sunglasses at their employee price and will throw in a hard case so I could leave the glasses in the car. I gave her my credit card and the total charge was $98.23 including tax. I was dumbfounded - I said, "...you mean there is that kind of mark-up on these glasses and the hard case...? She asked me if I wanted to pay more for them - and of course I said $98.23 was a great price. End of story!

Didn't she tell you that she used to sell cars? You guys could have had a good time comparing notes about that

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

benjaminh said:

Two charts from a piece in today's New York Times. There are different charts in this article based on different scenarios.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus-trump-response.html

I think those death projections are wishful thinking on the part of the NYT.

imidazol97

oldfarmer50 said:

I think those death projections are wishful thinking on the part of the NYT.

Have to consider the source. Plus it's lots of hypothetical thinking.

The government, this time, started slowing the travel from the source country against resistance. But that has effectively slowed the spread into the country. Now we know more about the novel corona virus and its behavior.

Just like with colds, social distancing will slow the spread from infected individuals. The small percentage who are at risk of complications, just like from other cold and flu viruses, will need hospitalization and care.
A researcher has determined that plasma therapy helps. So identifying those who have had the flu and obtaining antibodies from their blood will help absent a vaccination. Other articles say that HIV treatment regimes have helped the at risk recover.

A young woman who had Corona 19 and recovered described her experience as a bad cold or mild flu, which is what many will experience. I saw the interview. I'd guess her age as 30s? She was infected along with many others at a house part of about 35 women. Others also tested positive. They would be good sources of antibodies now.

It's good the slow down procedures to weaken the spread have been implemented.

Our governor referred to the 3 weeks for schools being closed as a long spring break. Then the schools are trying to pretend there's going to be online learning occurring so they won't be expected to make up those days. Yeah. Sure. Learning. LOL At home. From home.

Too bad I haven't decided on buying another car. This could be a great time at the empty dealerships.

imidazol97

There was a car cruise in scheduled today. We've had a mix of rain and snow at 32 deg F. I decided not to drive the hour to the show. There was another closer show scheduled for tomorrow that's closer.

Outdoor gatherings should be safe for social distancing.

houdini1

Poor man's coronovirus test at home. No Joke. Take a deep breath, hold it for 10 seconds. If you can do this comfortably, without coughing, you are not infected.

fintail

Online school will be like office workers "working from home". Sleep in, play with the dog, watch TV, repeat. March will be a write-off in terms of productivity. One cool thing is all the public skates have been canceled at my local rinks, so there's open ice for hockey practice. Hockey people will play through it.

People just need to wash their hands often, not cough/sneeze on others, limit contact with higher risk people, and this should eventually pass with far less than the worst possible outcome. But if any of that is not adhered to en masse, it could be messy. Not sure if there's a real conspiracy by the NYT wishing for millions of deaths (again, if all of these media sources are crooked, what are the good ones? I hear crickets...), but if people don't behave, it appears within the realm of possibility. I'm not worried about me as I am still relatively young and healthy, but I have a little concern for my 90-something grandma and even my 70-something mom.

cdnpinhead

imidazol97 said:

Happy Pi Day

Thanks for the reminder. I've been a four place person (guy in the old days) since high school: 3.14159.

YMMV