The Unknown
I definitely felt it and I'm south of LA County.
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
State of Mind
Is that I felt last night? When was this?
"What a century this week has been." - Seung Min Kim
Pitiable and Illegally Dumped Object
Round 11:40pm
Edited by terumokou on Sep 19th 2020 at 1:13:34 AM
Burning love!
The Unknown
Are the fires still going on? The air quality has been so terrible today that I can see a constant haze everywhere.
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
The one nearest to me, the Bobcat Fire, is still going but now over 75% contained. But the air quality is still bad and it's only now after almost a week of staying in a place with better air cleaning that my sinus issues from smoke have been lessening.
Edited by Tuckerscreator on Oct 3rd 2020 at 7:37:44 AM
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
Los Angeles Times: Pressured by theme parks, Newsom wavers on California reopening rules
Newsom's administration had planned to release the guidance Friday, a spokesman for the governor's office, Nathan Click, told the Sacramento Bee. But, following industry criticism of draft rules, state health officials said that no announcement was immediately expected and that conversations with the industry were ongoing.
"Given the size and operational complexities of these unique sectors, we are seeking additional input from health, workforce and business stakeholders to finalize this important framework," Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's top public health official, said in a statement.
California has faced growing pressure to reopen theme parks from the industry and local officials worried about the pandemic's economic effects on their communities. The state has a color-coded tier system that lets businesses including restaurants, retail shops and movie theaters reopen based on coronavirus case levels and infection rates, but it does not currently address theme parks.
Disney officials this week announced the layoff of 28,000 workers, largely at its theme parks in Florida, which have reopened, and California, which are awaiting the state's guidance to be able to do so. Also this week, Walt Disney Co. Chairman Bob Iger quit Newsom's economic recovery task force.
Amusement park leaders saw an initial draft of the proposed rules Thursday and urged state officials to further consult with the industry before finalizing them, said Erin Guerrero, executive director of the California Attractions and Parks Assn.
"While we are aligned on many of the protocols and health and safety requirements, there are many others that need to be modified if they are to lead to a responsible and reasonable amusement park reopening plan," she said in a statement. No further details of the draft guidance were released.
A message was sent to Disneyland seeking comment on the proposed California guidance. The theme park in Anaheim has been closed since March 14 due to the pandemic.
Workers United Local 50, which represents Disneyland's food service workers, said on social media that more than a third of its nearly 7,800 members would be affected by layoffs, including about 400 full-time workers.
Several Orange County officials have pressed Newsom to issue guidance for theme parks to reopen, noting that parks have reopened elsewhere in the country with health and safety measures and that many park activities are outdoors, where viral transmission is considered less risky.
"We need these parks to open not just for our children or tourists but for our businesses and the communities that rely on them," Michelle Steel, chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, said this week.
Man, fuck this self-righteous slick-haired control freak of a governor we have.
Well, yeah, that little stunt the Orange County Board of Supervisors pulled with school reopenings isn't going to convince anyone that "local control" is a good idea.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
The Unknown
I don't pay attention to my own county's politics — and I probably should — but at least I know that Michelle Steel isn't trustworthy.
I honestly don't think reopening Disneyland is a good idea. (Yes, Knotts exists, but let's be real here.) Most of the rides are indoors and ride vehicles are high-touch by nature. You'd have to disinfect everything constantly.
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
The Unknown
Wednesday is the 3rd annual state-wide Clean Air Day. Everyone is encouraged to either avoid driving, carpool, or take the bus. The website also has a list a bunch of things you can do besides that.
The owner of Facebook is trying to do something not morally repellent for once: Mark Zuckerberg is spending millions like never before to overhaul a landmark law - a law which restricts the ability of the state to raise property taxes and which is considered, persay, a major factor in the housing crisis.
Otherwise, it seems like there are 12 ballot propositions up for a vote next Election Day. Since I cannot resist the temptation to comment on a policy issue, here are they with some comments:
- Proposition 14: Issues $5.5 billion in bonds for state stem cell research institute Seems like a good idea to me
- Proposition 15: Requires commercial and industrial properties to be taxed based on market value and dedicates revenue This is the proposition discussed above, it seems good too
- Proposition 16: Repeals Proposition 209 (1996), which says that the state cannot discriminate or grant preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting It's pretty well established that "color blind" policies aren't. Fourth OK.
- Proposition 17: Restores the right to vote to people convicted of felonies who are on parole Again, seems OK
- Proposition 18: Allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primaries and special elections I'd probably go much farther and lower the voting age to 16 but this one is an acceptable intermediary step
- Proposition 19: Changes tax assessment transfers and inheritance rules I dunno, the "sense of" section of the proposition seems like it goes against #15 so I'd oppose
- Proposition 20: Makes changes to policies related to criminal sentencing charges, prison release, and DNA collection Tough-on-crime measure, oppose. Also, the penal code there still uses the terms "sodomy" and "oral copulation"?
- Proposition 21: Expands local governments' power to use rent control I dunno, I don't think it's demonstrated that these things help
- Proposition 22: Considers app-based drivers to be independent contractors and enacts several labor policies related to app-based companies Questionable, isn't this a way for Uber and co. to cheat around the responsibility that they have as employers?
- Proposition 23: Requires physician on-site at dialysis clinics and consent from the state for a clinic to close This comes off like some special interest thing, I'd lean oppose
- Proposition 24: Expands the provisions of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and creates the California Privacy Protection Agency to implement and enforce the CCPA No opinion
- Proposition 25: Replaces cash bail with risk assessments for suspects awaiting trial Seems like a good idea, but I'd want to know how these risk assessments work - in Switzerland we've had a fair amount of bother with them
The Unknown
From what I understand, it does. They don't want to pay fair wages to their employees.
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
The They who said it
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
I checked into Prop 22, it claims minimum wage guarantees, but in practice, the wage provided would still be under minimum wage due to how the wage would be calculated, and it also blocks unionization should the drivers ever want to do that. So your assumption is correct, it is a way for the rideshare companies to dodge responsibility. Oppose
23 is probably a special interest thing. It's essentially the same as the anti-abortion restrictions in some of the deep red states, except for dialysis, of all things. There seems to be no reason for it at all, considering there have not been any newsworthy problems in dialysis clinics to my knowledge. So Oppose
21 is definitely also Oppose because rent control has been demonstrated to not help many times, because it incentivizes landlords to actively make the stay of renters miserable so they can raise rates to market value faster, and also takes more property off the rental market.
Edited by Florien on Oct 12th 2020 at 5:15:03 AM
State of Mind
Yep. There's a reason this Prop is being spearheaded by Uber.
"What a century this week has been." - Seung Min Kim
Apparently, Uber was using their app to persuade people into voting for Prop. 22 until a court blocked them for doing so. If Prop. 22 does pass, will Uber just pull a "screw you" on their drivers and leave California all together?
I think you meant "doesn't pass", and I doubt Uber would leave. Too big a market.
The Unknown
Taking a break from the presidential election thread to point out that April 22 got passed. So RIP Uber drivers.
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
The Unknown
The southern counties are now on purple tier lockdown.
This is the gist of what's closed or not as a result.
Retail: open indoors at 25% capacity
Malls: open indoors at 25% capacity and food courts closed
Nail salons: open indoors with modifications
Electrolysis: open indoors with modifications
Personal care services (body waxing, etc.): open indoor with modifications
Tattooing and piercing: open indoors with modifications
Museums, zoos and aquariums: outdoor only
Places of worship: outdoor only
Movie theaters: outdoor only
Hotels: open with modifications
Gyms: outdoor only
Restaurants: outdoor only
Wineries: outdoor only
Bars and breweries: closed
Family entertainment centers: outdoor only, like mini golf, batting cages and go-kart racing
Cardrooms: outdoor only
Non-essential offices: remote work only
Professional sports: no live audiences
Schools: must stay closed
Theme parks: must stay closed
Edited by Karxrida on Nov 18th 2020 at 7:03:27 AM
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
My gym is in the process of moving equipment outside. We should be good to reopen in a little while. I'm thinking of volunteering to help with the moving process.
Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.
Already saw a LA Times article about Orange County officials bitching about the new restrictions. Well, too bad. You shouldn't have encouraged the covidiots and "mask orders are totalitarian" morons, guys.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
So the response to the governor being a fool is to pour fuel on the fire out of spite?
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
More charitably, it's to refuse to make sacrifices for the public good when the governor himself is so blatantly refusing to.
Shutting down is a very significant sacrifice of money. This isn't rational or ideal, but emotionally, it's hard to blame them for going "oh fuck you" at his lack of leadership or shame. You don't feast while your people starve.
Edited by Ramidel on Nov 25th 2020 at 11:02:23 AM
I despise hypocrisy, unless of course it is my own.
...Feeling considerably more validated hating that preppy fuck.
He comes from wealth, and he tells everyone to just make due and trust him. He attends luxurious dinners and he fines people for not taking him seriously.
Edited by NickTheSwing on Nov 29th 2020 at 12:41:29 PM
Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci38695658/executive
4.6 earthquake within S. El Monte. It was short but somewhat strong enough to leave the feeling in my legs for a while. Mind you I'm miles away but it was a very noticeable shake for a 4.6.
Burning love!