What zombie movies got wrong about the actual apocalypse, part 1,487: they omitted scenes of people on the street demanding the right to be eaten by zombies.
Yesterday US deaths from Covid 19 jumped to 1,939.
A good way to ruin banana bread is to add chocolate chips. If you must add chocolate chips remember to reduce the added sugar by the amount of chocolate. Use Pecans in Banana bread. Walnuts are for brownies and Zuchini bread.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:31 am:
No surprise at all that many who vote in interests of the wealthiest would be out there foolishly risking their lives and others in “coronavirus liberation” rallies. America, we need a serious talk about this.
Candy — you are aware that Boris Johnson has said repeatedly that the mayor in Jaws is his hero? He makes little jokes about, “You may lose a few small children, but the overall benefit to the community…”
I just saw that Quorum Health Corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 4/7/2020. This group owns several Hospitals in Illinois as well as nationally. Is this something we are going to see for others as result of the crisis we are in and what will this do with hospital bed availability?
Has anyone read the book World War Z? The movie with Tom Cruise had nothing in common with it except the name. Anyway the book is about a guy who interviews people after humanity survived a zombie apocalypse. The beginning is focused on how it got so bad in the first place. It started in China and the Chinese government covered it up till they couldn’t anymore. The US government is completely unprepared because the administration refuses to take it seriously due to fears of economic downturn and more “important” problems. Instead they do the bare minimum while pushing through a phony zombie cure to keep people from panicking.
More seriously — I don’t think we win by calling people stupid and brainless. They’re making decisions based on the information they receive and their own circumstances. We’re never going to convert them, but we could treat them with respect and do our best to save their lives.
And if you think people deserve to die because they have been misled by a well-funded, coordinated campaign of misinformation — well, I don’t know want to know you.
I have been reading the stories about hospitals losing money because elective procedures are banned right now and ER visits are down. I understand the elective procedures thing; I had to reschedule one myself.
I have a number of questions about the ER visits being down. Since real emergencies, by definition, can’t wait, I have to wonder if the drop-off is from all the people that normally use the ER as their primary care facility? Are the people that used to use the ER for routine care not getting treatment, or have they just changed to using a prompt / urgent care facility (often owned by the hospitals) that likely bills less than an ER visit would be billed? The stories don’t say.
- Just Another Anon - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:48 am:
I have always said that if there were a zombie apocalypse, there would be Zombie rights organization, the ACLU would open an undead rights division, and Slate and Vox would ask why no “undead american” has been appointed to high office in the current administration. Shortly thereafter, they would memory hole that article and change the nomenclature to “life challenged person”.
Union co. hospital is one of those owned by Quoram.
Union co. Convenient Care has probably lowered the levels of ER admittance as many in this county used the ER for initial care as many have little to no insurance.
Rnug, people in Springfield go to the emergency room because the hospitals in Springfield have removed family practice from downtown facilities. Family practice clinics have gone to the white car owning suburbs. These clinics natural will not take Medicare patients. So they are therefore forced to go to the super-expensive Emergency rooms. Thank the Hospital Associate lobsters for this screwy result.
RNUG son is ER doc. He is seeing fewer emergencies (heart attacks, strokes, appendix etc.) than normal. There is concern that these folks are ticking time bombs. They are not going to urgent care in his system either. There are also fewer patients who use ER as primary. He has recently seen an uptick in people going to ER with anxiety (a little more than normal).
I wanted to say Medicaid patients. Suburban clinics will not take Medicaid, so they are forced to use the Emergency rooms. It is a way to grab federal dollars.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:30 am:
==Has anyone read the book World War Z? The movie with Tom Cruise ==
Brad Pitt starred. Other than that I agree with the post.
Except Zombies are not real, and blindly following every Government edict without questioning is not what founded the country.
I know that freedom of speech and the ability to make a living isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a real part of the debate, and the tweeets of a left coast poet doesn’t change that.
Does anyone else have an odd craving for Rich to jump in and say something like, knock it off with the Pitt-Cruise back and forth, that was the last administration, get back on the topic of zombies, deletions will follow, final warning. Or to ask for a thread on zucchini and banana nut bread and be told to get their own blog?
They’re not zombies (exclamation point) People are so blinded by their hatred of the non-living they fail to see the value the undead play in re-starting our economy.
=Except Zombies are not real, and blindly following every Government edict without questioning is not what founded the country.=
Stupidity isn’t what founded the country either.
=I know that freedom of speech and the ability to make a living isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a real part of the debate, and the tweeets of a left coast poet doesn’t change that.=
Freedom of speech? Left coast poet?
Grow up. The president tweets like a petulant, thin skinned banana republic dictator on a daily basis.
Everyone needs to make a living. Some of us realize short term pain is an investment in long term success.
I guess some “freedom fighters” are not made of tough enough stuff to sacrifice for the greater good.
I agree with the sentiment, but it is difficult when they arrive at the demonstration with assault-type weapons clearly intended to intimidate, shout belligerently, and give out false information. Respect goes both ways.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 1:06 pm:
I wish the protesters would stop escalating this, because they’re doing it in different states. If they’re that passionate, how about channeling energy and effort toward good and volunteering or doing other helpful deeds?
“blindly following every Government edict without questioning is not what founded the country.”
Yeah, I don’t drive 55 either. But when it comes to matters of life and death, this just makes sense to follow. The US and state governments are not some fascist or communist dictatorship looking to curb our freedoms, they are trying to preserve as many live as possible. So if you want to be irresponsible, then go all the way and don’t get treatment if you get sick.
Okay, this whole banana bread thing has gone….wait for it…..bananas. Banana bread contains bananas. Not zucchini, walnuts, pomegranates or onions. Bananas. As for the Tinfoil Hat Brigade endless rants about their freedom to spread disease and become victims at other’s expense, I ask what about the freedom of the innocent to remain disease free? The Zombie jokes were awesome, people. Signed, A. Zombie.
I believe these people are the poorer rural people located where there are hardly any cases and they are trying to have money in their bank account when this is all over. There will be troubling times for many hourly workers who have been displaced. I definitely think Pritzker should open Illinois up regionally. Downstate gets overshadowed by Chicago and the Suburbs. Like the youngest in a family of fourteen, no one even remembers they exist most the time.
== believe these people are the poorer rural people located where there are hardly any cases==
Hardly any cases…because the stay at home order was in place early enough to spare those areas from an early spike. If the order is lifted without care, those areas can experience the full onslaught and have a spike which could easily overwhelm the local hospital. I’m guessing they don’t want that; as a rural downstater, I know I don’t.
- Gish - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:20 am:
Ha. That is delightful.
- ItsMillerTime - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:21 am:
More like demanding to leave the safe zone so they can go out to the zombie infested streets to get a haircut.
- Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:21 am:
Thanks, now I have to clean the coffee off the wall…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:24 am:
“Zombies have rights too”
“Zombies need food, who is looking out for the Zombies?”
“You can have my brain, once you pry it from a Zombie’s cold, dead hand”
- Al - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:25 am:
Yesterday US deaths from Covid 19 jumped to 1,939.
A good way to ruin banana bread is to add chocolate chips. If you must add chocolate chips remember to reduce the added sugar by the amount of chocolate. Use Pecans in Banana bread. Walnuts are for brownies and Zuchini bread.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:25 am:
Not only that but carrying large weapons while demanding to be eaten by zombies.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:26 am:
They have herd immunity. Zombies won’t eat you if you don’t have a brain.
- Dog Lover - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:29 am:
Thank you for the laugh. I needed it.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:30 am:
JAWS wound up being strangely prophetic about how some politicians feel about beaches and public safety.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:30 am:
Well done Ducky.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:31 am:
No surprise at all that many who vote in interests of the wealthiest would be out there foolishly risking their lives and others in “coronavirus liberation” rallies. America, we need a serious talk about this.
- XonXoff - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:31 am:
I hope things don’t escalate with these dolts to the point of cold dead hands. Some of them have been hankerin’ for this moment for a long time.
- Lt Guv - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:31 am:
Ducky nails it.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:32 am:
Candy — you are aware that Boris Johnson has said repeatedly that the mayor in Jaws is his hero? He makes little jokes about, “You may lose a few small children, but the overall benefit to the community…”
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:33 am:
The Netflix film The Silence explores this theme.
- snowman61 - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:34 am:
I just saw that Quorum Health Corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 4/7/2020. This group owns several Hospitals in Illinois as well as nationally. Is this something we are going to see for others as result of the crisis we are in and what will this do with hospital bed availability?
- thoughts matter - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:36 am:
This tweet wins the internet today.
Thanks for the chuckle. Brightened my day.
- ItsMillerTime - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:39 am:
Has anyone read the book World War Z? The movie with Tom Cruise had nothing in common with it except the name. Anyway the book is about a guy who interviews people after humanity survived a zombie apocalypse. The beginning is focused on how it got so bad in the first place. It started in China and the Chinese government covered it up till they couldn’t anymore. The US government is completely unprepared because the administration refuses to take it seriously due to fears of economic downturn and more “important” problems. Instead they do the bare minimum while pushing through a phony zombie cure to keep people from panicking.
Anyone seeing some similarities?
- efudd - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:40 am:
I have spoken with a constitutional lawyer.
They informed me that my rights are being violated by not having the free choice to be eaten by zombies.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:40 am:
More seriously — I don’t think we win by calling people stupid and brainless. They’re making decisions based on the information they receive and their own circumstances. We’re never going to convert them, but we could treat them with respect and do our best to save their lives.
And if you think people deserve to die because they have been misled by a well-funded, coordinated campaign of misinformation — well, I don’t know want to know you.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:41 am:
=== Anyone seeing some similarities?===
Tom Cruise?
- We'll See - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:43 am:
I see a lot of leather vests among the protesters - who knew Bruce Rauner cosplay would be a thing in 2020?
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:48 am:
== filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy … ==
I have been reading the stories about hospitals losing money because elective procedures are banned right now and ER visits are down. I understand the elective procedures thing; I had to reschedule one myself.
I have a number of questions about the ER visits being down. Since real emergencies, by definition, can’t wait, I have to wonder if the drop-off is from all the people that normally use the ER as their primary care facility? Are the people that used to use the ER for routine care not getting treatment, or have they just changed to using a prompt / urgent care facility (often owned by the hospitals) that likely bills less than an ER visit would be billed? The stories don’t say.
- Just Another Anon - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:48 am:
I have always said that if there were a zombie apocalypse, there would be Zombie rights organization, the ACLU would open an undead rights division, and Slate and Vox would ask why no “undead american” has been appointed to high office in the current administration. Shortly thereafter, they would memory hole that article and change the nomenclature to “life challenged person”.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:48 am:
Boom. news of one of these protesters in another state who has died of covid-19.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:49 am:
=who knew Bruce Rauner cosplay would be a thing in 2020?=
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:51 am:
Just wondering … when is open season on zombies? Do I need to get a license … and how do I do that if all the government offices are closed down?
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:52 am:
=who knew Bruce Rauner cosplay would be a thing in 2020?=
Apologies for the double post (hit the wrong key) but that is some good stuff right there.
Great post.
- efudd - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 9:58 am:
RNUG-
Union co. hospital is one of those owned by Quoram.
Union co. Convenient Care has probably lowered the levels of ER admittance as many in this county used the ER for initial care as many have little to no insurance.
- Al - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:04 am:
Rnug, people in Springfield go to the emergency room because the hospitals in Springfield have removed family practice from downtown facilities. Family practice clinics have gone to the white car owning suburbs. These clinics natural will not take Medicare patients. So they are therefore forced to go to the super-expensive Emergency rooms. Thank the Hospital Associate lobsters for this screwy result.
- Stones - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:05 am:
Who would have ever bet that a roll of toilet paper would be worth more than an barrel of oil?
- illinifan - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:09 am:
RNUG son is ER doc. He is seeing fewer emergencies (heart attacks, strokes, appendix etc.) than normal. There is concern that these folks are ticking time bombs. They are not going to urgent care in his system either. There are also fewer patients who use ER as primary. He has recently seen an uptick in people going to ER with anxiety (a little more than normal).
- Al - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:27 am:
I wanted to say Medicaid patients. Suburban clinics will not take Medicaid, so they are forced to use the Emergency rooms. It is a way to grab federal dollars.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:30 am:
==Has anyone read the book World War Z? The movie with Tom Cruise ==
Brad Pitt starred. Other than that I agree with the post.
- Monadnock Pigeon - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:35 am:
==Anyone seeing some similarities?==
The movie starred Brad Pitt, and shared only the book’s title.
The book? Eerily prescient…
- Paul Powell - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:36 am:
Except Zombies are not real, and blindly following every Government edict without questioning is not what founded the country.
I know that freedom of speech and the ability to make a living isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a real part of the debate, and the tweeets of a left coast poet doesn’t change that.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:38 am:
A good overview of what rural hospitals are facing is covered in this podcast: https://www.npr.org/2020/04/14/834628512/rural-hospitals-the-waiting-game
A deep dive on the economic value of a human life, how the gov’t decided what number to put on that value, and what the number is used for is here: https://www.npr.org/2020/04/15/835571843/episode-991-lives-vs-the-economy
BTW, if you do not subscribe to both Planet Money podcasts, you probably should.
Last week, a whole episode explored the the story of the check delivered by the Comptroller’s office to a vendor in the parking lot of the McDonalds in Dwight. https://www.npr.org/2020/04/17/837216447/episode-992-the-mask-mover
- Ginhouse Tommy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:43 am:
Anybody else get an invite to the State Capitol at noon on May 1 for the grand reopening of the state?
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:53 am:
===Has anyone read the book World War Z? The movie with Tom Cruise===
Brad Pitt, not Tom Cruise. But yes the book is brilliant. Written Studs Terkel/oral history style. Eerily prescient.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 11:12 am:
Does anyone else have an odd craving for Rich to jump in and say something like, knock it off with the Pitt-Cruise back and forth, that was the last administration, get back on the topic of zombies, deletions will follow, final warning. Or to ask for a thread on zucchini and banana nut bread and be told to get their own blog?
- Dotnonymous - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 11:18 am:
- Paul Powell - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 10:36 am:
Except Zombies are not real, and blindly following…
Teabaggers aren’t real either…they are also a product of imagination…gone wrong.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 11:19 am:
They’re not zombies (exclamation point) People are so blinded by their hatred of the non-living they fail to see the value the undead play in re-starting our economy.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 12:14 pm:
=Except Zombies are not real, and blindly following every Government edict without questioning is not what founded the country.=
Stupidity isn’t what founded the country either.
=I know that freedom of speech and the ability to make a living isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a real part of the debate, and the tweeets of a left coast poet doesn’t change that.=
Freedom of speech? Left coast poet?
Grow up. The president tweets like a petulant, thin skinned banana republic dictator on a daily basis.
Everyone needs to make a living. Some of us realize short term pain is an investment in long term success.
I guess some “freedom fighters” are not made of tough enough stuff to sacrifice for the greater good.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 12:36 pm:
=== ruin banana bread is to add chocolate chips.===
Meh.
Agree to disagree.
It’s my banana bread.
:)
- Jibba - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 12:40 pm:
===we could treat them with respect===
I agree with the sentiment, but it is difficult when they arrive at the demonstration with assault-type weapons clearly intended to intimidate, shout belligerently, and give out false information. Respect goes both ways.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 1:06 pm:
I wish the protesters would stop escalating this, because they’re doing it in different states. If they’re that passionate, how about channeling energy and effort toward good and volunteering or doing other helpful deeds?
- JoanP - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 1:37 pm:
=how about channeling energy and effort toward good and volunteering or doing other helpful deeds?=
Since they think this is all a hoax, they should volunteer to clean up ERs and ICUs and retirement homes . . . without PPE.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 1:41 pm:
“blindly following every Government edict without questioning is not what founded the country.”
Yeah, I don’t drive 55 either. But when it comes to matters of life and death, this just makes sense to follow. The US and state governments are not some fascist or communist dictatorship looking to curb our freedoms, they are trying to preserve as many live as possible. So if you want to be irresponsible, then go all the way and don’t get treatment if you get sick.
- revvedup - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
Okay, this whole banana bread thing has gone….wait for it…..bananas. Banana bread contains bananas. Not zucchini, walnuts, pomegranates or onions. Bananas. As for the Tinfoil Hat Brigade endless rants about their freedom to spread disease and become victims at other’s expense, I ask what about the freedom of the innocent to remain disease free? The Zombie jokes were awesome, people. Signed, A. Zombie.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 3:22 pm:
=Since they think this is all a hoax, they should volunteer to clean up ERs and ICUs and retirement homes . . . without PPE.=
Oh, they’ll be in the ERs and ICU’s without PPE, but they won’t be cleaning up. With any luck the staff who will have to treat them will have PPE.
- John's Daughter - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 3:35 pm:
I believe these people are the poorer rural people located where there are hardly any cases and they are trying to have money in their bank account when this is all over. There will be troubling times for many hourly workers who have been displaced. I definitely think Pritzker should open Illinois up regionally. Downstate gets overshadowed by Chicago and the Suburbs. Like the youngest in a family of fourteen, no one even remembers they exist most the time.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Apr 21, 20 @ 4:36 pm:
== believe these people are the poorer rural people located where there are hardly any cases==
Hardly any cases…because the stay at home order was in place early enough to spare those areas from an early spike. If the order is lifted without care, those areas can experience the full onslaught and have a spike which could easily overwhelm the local hospital. I’m guessing they don’t want that; as a rural downstater, I know I don’t.