Told a guy in Walgreens that masks are still a state mandate and he called me a cunt. Happy Wednesday. Mackenzie@coffeeshopjihad who identifies as “If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?” -Paul Kalanithi • فارسى بلدم • running w/ MS • سبحان الله rt=\=endorsementWashington, DC AskAboutAustinTice.org
The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a study on delayed gratification in 1972 led by psychologist Walter Mischel, a professor at Stanford University. In this study, a child was offered a choice between one small but immediate reward, or two small rewards if they waited for a period of time. Wikipedia
Coronavirus live updates: Cases in the U.S. Top Two Million and Are Rising in 21 States. A headline in the New York Times
I’m not usually a Paul Krugman guy, I disagree with him as much as I agree with him, however, I wholeheartedly agree with his latest Editorial. The gist of which is: At this point, there have been enough international success stories in dealing with the coronavirus to leave us with a clear sense of what beating the pandemic takes…But you have to be strict and you have to be patient, staying the course until the pandemic is over, not giving in to the temptation to return to normal life while the virus is still widespread…So it is, as I said, a kind of marshmallow test…And America is failing that test.
I don’t think this is a political thing although it does have political overtones, which President Trump has aggravated by refusing to wear a mask and encouraging thugs with weapons to threaten their state governments among other counterproductive behavior, however, California is a Liberal state with a Democratic Governor and Legislature and we are starting to open up even though infections and deaths are still climbing. We, our culture, I guess, don’t seem to have what it takes to stop this. In my part of the Bay Area, I’m dismayed at how few people wear masks on busy streets. and even in stores and restaurants, I see people wearing their masks to cover their mouth and their nose is hanging out, ready to spread the virus.
As an aside, when President Trump toured a swab factory without a mask last week, they had to destroy all the swabs that weren’t sealed. I have no idea how many, more than ten, I would bet. End aside.
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There are plenty of reasons to bash Mr. Trump, but the visit to the swab factory is not one. The company and the President wanted to show off how they make their swabs. They deliberately made a small batch for the demo which they then discarded. I’m sure their normal procedures are in careful hygienic conditions. Even if he wore a mask, he and his entourage would not have been following all necessary hygiene. I’m letting this one slide.
Linda, I keep looking at this and keep wanting to answer with something other than “You’re right”. However, I’m sure you are. Still, it’s a bad example to set.