1

This is just the beginning.

I’m shocked, positively SHOCKED I TELL YOU, that Trump’s minions resorted to violence and broke into the Capitol. Who woulda thunk it? EVERYBODY!

I just didn’t feel it when Trump hassled Raffensperger. What I mean is it was heinous, but it was not palpable. Maybe it’s covid lockdown, maybe it’s the broad spectrum internet era, but when something as bad as this happened in the last century, you’d feel the buzz amongst the populace, that something unique was going on, something dangerous. Just ask anybody who lived through Kent State, never mind the assassination of President Kennedy. It’s like our entire nation has become blasé.

2

“Money talks and we’re the living proof

There ain’t no limit to what money can do

Money talks, money talks…”

“Money Talks”

The Kinks

https://bit.ly/2ME0vlf

It’s the economy, STUPID!

You could live on minimum wage in the seventies. Income inequality was of relatively little concern. There was not a plethora of billionaires, and what happened in your head and heart was still key, which is why humanities majors were prevalent at elite institutions, ain’t that a laugh, check the statistics today, if you major in art, or English, you’re laughed at, derided, even though they’re the basics of our society, and we all live for entertainment, especially in this covid era.

But then inflation was out of control and people wanted change. And Reagan got elected. And cut taxes and the run-up began, and the people with the money liked it, and they never wanted to give it up.

And during the nineties, the economy was raging, and to get re-elected, Bill Clinton eviscerated the welfare state and as the century turned, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. But the poor had computers and flat screens and ultimately smartphones so they were not entitled to complain. Unless you were literally starving on the street…oh, that didn’t work either, look at the homeless problem.

So…

By the middle of the second decade of this century, there was a new class of losers. Those who had high-paying blue collar jobs that had been shipped overseas, those in careers that didn’t pay enough, and with globalization they were all told to get service jobs, which pay poorly and…if you work in the Amazon warehouse, you’re treated little better than the robots rolling alongside you. The pressure!

Yes, America was a pressure cooker, but this was not acknowledged by the winners, who’d rigged the game in their favor, using their big bucks to buy off the government. Furthermore, no one in government even understood the internet and the behemoths it enabled, the techies ran circles around D.C.

So, you had no cash and no opportunity. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT!

Oh sure, there’s the issue of racism. But money always comes first, it always triumphs. And Trump latched on to this, employing scapegoats to make his point. Immigrants…any group that voted Democratic, then again, most of the bedrock blue collar voters had switched parties. The Dems kept saying to trust them while they did nothing for the downtrodden and the truth is it’s hard to make it in America today, and if you did, you were fine with maybe others rising up, but you were never gonna sacrifice, never ever, nor would your kids do so either. If you were poor? You could be an athlete or an entertainer, whether on reality TV or social media. Fame and money became our culture. And if someone made money, they were lionized, and assumed they knew better than the rest of us. As if knowing business makes you an expert in everything.

3

So Trump harnesses the discontent, and flummoxes not only the Republican party, but the Democrats too. The Republicans rallied around Trump, because the Republicans believe it’s about winning at any cost, damn your principles. As for the Democrats…they were completely clueless. There was a faction on the left pointing out the inequities, the need for change, but they were not heeded…not only the party, but the overpaid wankers on the news laughed at Bernie Sanders when the truth is he was on to something. This is Entertainment 101. You focus on the REACTION! As for Hillary Clinton, she evidenced the old paradigm, you paid your dues in the traditional ways and you earned your success, you were entitled to it, the same way old time musicians still bitch about streaming, as if the old game is ever going to come back, and be clear, it’s not.

So the Democrats self-flagellate, looking for answers. And they glom on to the racist bent, because they don’t want to look inside themselves, no way.

And the pollsters had been wrong, but they would not admit their model was broken, that polling was broken, everybody was not sitting at home eager to pick up the landline, many people will never pick up a phone call unless they’re clear who’s calling…we’re inundated with junk calls, even so-called “legitimate” calls, especially the “surveys.” Can we stop doing the work of these duplicitous companies, if you want my feedback, PAY ME! But the corporations, the winners, want everybody to work for free, saying it benefits the worker, the same way you post away on social media and they sell your info to advertisers and you lose all privacy along the way.

So, Trump gets elected and nothing changes. NOTHING! We’re told to rely on the system. This is like saying to rely on physical retail in the music business, that ship sailed YEARS AGO!

4

Then Trump does what he tells us he’s going to do. The left is positively shocked, and the right is happy. Meanwhile, the news outlets, even the best of them, are busy appearing fair and balanced while the network that employs that moniker is anything but. In other words, those truly with power EXPRESSED NO OUTRAGE!

It was like living through the Holocaust. Yes, a couple of years back I went to the Los Angeles Holocaust Museum. They had newspaper plates from the era. The Holocaust was in the news all the time, but what did we do in America? NOTHING!

The only recent outrage came from those with no base of power, without big bucks, so it was ignored.

As for the right, it has spent decades discrediting the news it does not control, to the point where “New York Times” became a pejorative and you only listened to messages that agreed with your sentiments. And anything said on the left was “biased.” Didn’t matter if it was true, it was not only discounted, but ignored, even though if you watch Fox they’re constantly referencing the “New York Times,” because unlike the channel, the “Times” actually does reporting.

Are you catching the schism? Between rich and poor and left and right?

And then came the internet.

5

Google provides different results to the same query. Right there, we have the root of this insanity. There’s no there there, no truth, no facts. And then Facebook and Twitter and other social media… They were not started by humanities majors, they were started by people who were eager to make MONEY! Not only did they not care about the consequences of their platforms, THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THEM! And when the flaws were pointed out, they circled the wagons and denied them, the machine had to keep running, for the money, even though the money was flowing into ever fewer hands. How many of the poor had investments? ALMOST NONE!

But D.C. could not control tech, no way. And the techies woke up and hired lobbyists and Mark Zuckerberg even became friends with Donald Trump, akin to Don King, who noticed his fighter was losing and then ended up in the other corner to sign up the eventual winner, that happened, truly. Then again, even millennials have no idea what I’m talking about, boxing is history, MMA rules, and that’s how Joe Rogan became the biggest podcaster extant, with more influence than many news outlets.

Meanwhile, the news outlets can’t stop crying about disruption. The truth is the old local newspaper model no longer works, don’t try to prop it up, let it die and allow new platforms to arise. Like physical retail in music…turns out the public didn’t want to buy physical, and even Best Buy cut ties with the sycophantic industry. But we got streaming, which is better, but we’ve got the old people decrying it and we’re still in an era of chaos, but that’s just representative of the world we live in. Hardware is so turn of the century, now it’s all about software. But, once again, oldsters may dress young and get plastic surgery, but they still do not understand the changes in the essence of today’s society.

6

Then Wall Street broke the economy, through outright crime, rating nearly worthless securities as valuable, and when it all crashed, not only did the government rescue the Street, no one went to jail. There were no consequences! If it’s white collar crime, you skate. Oh, there are a few contrary examples, but the U.S. essentially wiped out the Mafia, yet above board/white collar crime, you could always hire an attorney to run circles around those working for the government and delay and ultimately get off the hook, time and time again.

But if you were poor, especially Black, and you committed traditional crime…they locked you up, ruining families, hobbling the next generation, but the problem was seen as drugs when the problem was always at the top, always at the top.

And what was the ultimate message that was received? Lying is fine, everybody does it, and you do what you have to to survive. Clinton lied, Trump did seemingly nothing but lie, and we were told to lionize Obama, who accomplished little other than being our first Black president. Sure, we got the ACA, aka “Obamacare,” but the Republicans were playing three-dimensional chess and Obama and the Democrats were playing checkers. To the point if you were not wealthy, even if you were a Democrat, you were disillusioned. And despite the election of Biden, this sentiment still stands. Biden represents the finger in the dike, rebuilding from the ground up? Hell, we can’t even fix our roads and bridges.

7

So, Trump’s success was not, like a typical entertainer, he lied about his past. And he was uncontrollable, but his fans believed in him. This eluded the Democrats completely, NO ONE was passionate about Hillary, seemingly not even the woman herself, who was afraid of stating the truth and when she did, like with the “deplorables,” immediately caved in to news blowback and apologized. Trump? He did it his way. That’s a star. You may hate him, but let’s own the truth.

8

Now it’s not only Wall Street that pays no price. Neither does Trump. He lies about Ukraine and doesn’t get convicted. Sure, he’s emboldened, but this only stokes the fury of his fanbase.

But now it’s worse. Fox, the rest of the right, they say what they want willy-nilly with no consequences. We have to wait FOUR YEARS for Fox and Newsmax to bite the bullet, when Smartmatic threatened them with legal action. THEY IMMEDIATELY APOLOGIZED! Ran clips stating the truth: https://nyti.ms/3otG48W Once again it comes down to money, Smartmatic’s image was being tarnished, hurting further business. As for traditional big business… Well, they’re all multinationals and they’re all afraid to take a stand, they say they’re apolitical when the truth is they’re the most powerful players on the planet. So, they won’t sue anybody, they’re afraid of alienating potential customers. Same deal with entertainers…if they state their truth they might lose some paying customers. So, everybody’s holding back, there’s a chilling effect, and it’s all based on MONEY! And we laugh at those without cash and lift up the business billionaires, no matter what they do. And their companies are so big, and so intertwined with life, that no boycott can hurt them, none.

9

Did you listen to Tucker Carlson last night? https://bit.ly/399C4DW

While other news outlets covered the news, Fox aired their usual inanely biased commentators, and if you listened to them you’d believe the problem was the Democrats. Yes, a few Trump supporters got out of hand, but if you gave the left any power, you’d lose all your FREEDOM!

Our nation is in the dumper as a result of “freedom.” Covid is raging, but a huge swath of our public has been educated in inanities, and there’s no way to persuade them their beliefs are untrue. They get their news from biased sources and the right has demonized truthful sources and this is where we are.

Forget what happened yesterday. It’s disillusioning and tragic, BUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER JANUARY 20TH?

Believe me, Trump’s tribe is not gonna wake up. Nor are their leaders/enablers on Fox, Newsmax, OAN, talk radio, Facebook… You can’t whack all the moles, it’s absolutely impossible, there are too many.

In other words, forty years of history have come home to roost. And you can’t turn the ship around in a day. But we must to survive as a democracy. Am I glad Biden won? OF COURSE! Do I have hope he’ll enact fundamental change, NO WAY! Because the leaders of the Democratic party don’t want change, they just want to be on the gravy train, part of the club, and you ain’t in it. They want your vote, they promise you results, but the truth is they only listen to those with big money, and even the left pooh-poohs the Squad. The right is a big tent, they embrace QAnon believers, but if you cross the line just a tiny little bit on the left, you’re canceled.

And the left doesn’t even know how to deal with this rampant cancellation. Left leaders, even in universities, are afraid of their constituents/students. No one wants rape on campus, no one wants people to be less than equal, but when you start getting the brain police involved and the lexicon changes constantly and if you screw up your life is ruined…this is a gift to the right. But no, the left must not alienate anyone, as it loses the plot. As for the left’s basic values, based on the working man and equality…the working people all went right, they’re now Republicans, and all Democrats know their party is controlled by the fat cats.

10

So yesterday is just evidence of where we are, how far we’ve traveled. But only when Trump’s followers invaded the Capitol was the right outraged. This guy has been crossing the line ad infinitum and even his natural enemies are licking his boots, i.e. Cruz and Graham. The elected officials are afraid of the president and his fanbase. And the truth is, as a result of the gerrymandering the right claimed victory in, the end result is they ceded their party to the far right. That’s what happens when you push it too far.

Where were all those establishment figures outraged today, calling for Trump’s ouster, FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS!

Pelosi was too afraid. The right was complicit.

America was disillusioned.

It’s over folks. We believed in the American myth to such a degree that we had blinders on and missed the future. It’s our own damn fault, not China’s, not some immigrant’s. Turns out the immigrants were part of the solution, they were key to Silicon Valley’s success, but now they must go too! To satisfy the jingoistic ignorant.

As for the news… The best story I read today, and I read many, was in the “New York Times,” because it was the perspective FROM INSIDE THE CAPITOL: https://nyti.ms/2LzNkBh

I watched three channels yesterday afternoon, CNN, MSNBC and Fox, none of them were as informational as this one article, never mind the others in the “Times.” And, oh yeah, I read all the articles in the “Wall Street Journal” and the “Los Angeles Times” too, and they were nowhere near as comprehensive, never mind intriguing. But, the “New York Times,” which bends over backward to give both sides, is a far-lefty rag that’s a joke. HUH?

But despite the web being all about reading, the truth is people get their news visually, or they only read the headlines, no one has time for depth, never mind being able to even read and comprehend writing. Everybody’s in their own little niche, we can’t even have a conversation, we all have different interests. Facts are history, truth is out the window, and the elected officials and news outlets we used to trust in are so busy following the buck that they won’t stand up for what’s right.

So the story is what is going to happen after January 20th. Do you truly think all these Republicans, these right-wingers, are going to be transformed as a result of yesterday’s antics? OF COURSE NOT! If they can believe Hillary Clinton ran a child sex ring out of the basement of a pizza parlor, they can certainly believe that the election was stolen from Trump. Forget that it’s insane on the surface, that doesn’t matter, it’s how you FEEL that counts.

Now the truth is social media canceled Alex Jones and put a huge dent in his reach and impact. We’ve got to start canceling so many more people, that need to be canceled, not for failing to provide a trigger warning for “Huckleberry Finn.” Put Trump in jail. Try some of the elected enablers. Even more, penalize these news outlets. You can’t cry fire in a crowded theatre, if you incentivized civilians to riot…are there now costs?

Rich and powerful people have to pay penalties.

Instead, Steve Cohen skates and now owns the Mets. What message does this send?

I never thought in my lifetime America would slide this far. But I had my eyes open. Those controlling the levers of power did not, or they ignored the truth. When it comes to disruption, they believed it couldn’t happen to them. Yesterday, Trump and his rioters taught a lesson about disruption. And the truth is it’s not about the falsehood of the vote, but the falsehood of AMERICA!

Trump may do some damage within two weeks, but the truth is the Republicans are never gonna impeach and convict him and he’s not going to resign so let’s hope he doesn’t try martial law, but what we really need to do is focus on fixing the bedrock of this country. Which is based on opportunity and facts, with a bit of education thrown in to boot, which Betsy DeVos said should be at a religious school as opposed to a “government school.”

Government is good. We needed government in Katrina and we need it now during Covid. Forget the labels, the truth is America is already socialist in so many ways, can you say MEDICARE? Elon Musk transforms an entire industry, whether Tesla wins or nots the truth is in the near future everybody will be driving an electric car. But if you’re Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren you’re anti-America. No, they’re not, THEY’RE PRO-AMERICA! Stop telling us what is unrealistic, what can’t happen. Trump should be a beacon for what can happen, turning this entire nation ever more rightward as it becomes more and more isolationist. But big ideas on the left, big changes on the left, it just can’t happen.

As for the rank and file…they’re just playing the lottery, literally or figuratively, and that doesn’t deliver hope.

As for the insane Mr. Musk? He paid penalties for tweets. He’s been sued. He’s been cowered. But if you’re Trump, if you’re in the government? FUGGETABOUTIT!

P.S. Enough with the endless optimism. If you can’t own your problems, you can never fix them.

We cover a lot of ground here. We start with an investigation into Todd’s imminent virtual tour, and then move on to such topics as his engineering of “Stage Fright,” the recording of “We’re an American Band,” the rescuing and resuscitation of Badfinger’s “Straight Up,” the end of Todd’s relationship with Albert Grossman, his sale of his “Bat Out of Hell” royalty points to finance his Hawaii estate, the reversion of his rights and… Rundgren’s a thinker. You’ll not only learn about Todd’s career choices, you’ll gain insight into your own. A legend speaks!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/todd-rundgren/id1316200737?i=1000504606517

https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/The-Bob-Lefsetz-Podcast

Bob, you are not the only one taking this shit seriously.  We’ve been on lockdown since March 10.  My wife is type 1 diabetic and hasn’t even been to the grocery store since February.

We haven’t visited with family or friends, however we have friends that regularly get together with their friends and family because they think they’re all “being careful”.  And they’re getting together inside without masks!!

W.T.F.?!?!

How can educated, seemingly informed people be so freakin dumb?!  It seems like everyone has a different take on the virus that only serves their affirmation bias.

We watch in disgust and disbelief at friends and family who are so reckless and selfish, while so many people are sick and dying.

Quarantining is not just to protect us, it’s to protect others. C’mon, how hard is it to abide by basic acts of human decency?!

And don’t get me started with our neighbor who’s been telling me for months that his doctor says ‘the virus needs to run through the entire population for us to have immunity’.  HIS doctor told him, so it must be true.  I call bullshit, but can I say this to his face?  Oh no.  I must be crazy to disagree!

Take care and stay safe!

Adam Lerner

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My wife and I are still on lockdown.   Yesterday a friend of ours went into the hospital with covid.  He’s 61.  No ambulance would take him, and in desperation he managed to drive himself.     The hospital has taken him so we are hopeful.   I was near the guy 12 days ago (8 feet, outdoors) but still see it as a close call.   We all have to be vigilant.

Michael Alex

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Hey Bob, it’s just a shame what has happened to our country. Under the mismanagement of the trump incompetence administration.  The situation we find ourselves in today was avoidable and I can’t understand the levels of ignorance and just stupidity that have allowed this to explode. My whole family has been extra careful from the start of the pandemic yet this week we have came down with Covid 19. Whether it was the last trip to the store? or that Starbuck run? Having two teenagers who’ve been great over all pretty good about giving up so much for so long..  Or maybe It was something else?? Somehow it crept in and now we’ll see what’s next. I be lying if I said I wasn’t scared a bit. but now the worry is about not spreading it more.. that’s becomes even more bothering and So we have been locked down and not left the house at all. And will follow the CDC rules. No ones needs hospital attention and I pray we don’t.  but as I’m the one with the health issues so we shall see how this plays out? Right now just sick as a dog. With all the systems.  But I just wanted to share as we did everything to prevent this from happening yet here we are. but this is not a perfect world.. Sometimes your best just isn’t good enough.  Praying for better days ahead for us all.

Frank Higginbotham

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I got Covid (thx to wife, essential health-personel, they get infected too) at the end of November, took me until yesterday (jan 5) to get better. I had it “mild”, no fever, but aches and pains, hard to breathe, no taste and smell – and jet-lag like tiredness and brain-fatigue – it’s a weird and insidious virus; no joke. Take care, stay safe!

/ Chris Bell – in Sweden

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I’m not trying to freak you out but the long haulers have a lot more to worry about than just losing their taste and smell. My 22-year-old nephew, a big strapping lad who works construction as a heating and air conditioning installer and had no known pre-conditions got COVID 19 in mid-August and is still not back to work. He has gastrointestinal issues, chronic fatigue and some minor breathing issues. He is nowhere near ready to return to work and may have to be retrained to hold any kind of job at all. Worse is that the doctors just don’t know. He has improved some in the fatigue area and can stay up a few hours longer than he could a month or two ago. As for the rest, there is little change.

Regards,

Ruth O’Doherty

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At the time of lockdown last March, I was a 20 years into a career as a touring musician, FOH/MON engineer, TM and PM (I’ve worked directly with several of the people you’ve talked about in your newsletter and interviewed on your podcast). 2020 was going to be a busy year after taking it easier in 2019 for the birth of my second son. 9+ months of confirmed work vanished overnight, and rather than traveling around the world, doing my small part to help bring joy to people, not to mention being the primary financial support to my family, I’ve become a stay-at-home dad and housekeeper.

Despite being quite ill-prepared for this, my wife and I podded up with another family within our same risk tolerance and got a pre-school curriculum to try and keep our kids social and learning while the rest of the world stopped. As of this week, we’ve had to put a stop to that because, while only one of the four parents goes into a work place, cases there have spiked and we’re not willing to put our family at risk.

We’re lucky in that we, at least for the time being, have food, shelter, and somewhat financial security. So many people I know in the industry don’t. I find myself getting frustrated at family members, acquaintances, and people who live in my town (5mi outside of Boston) who seem to not fully grasp the situation. Many times I’ve had to type the phrase “I don’t work until you stop being so selfish.”

Politics and religion aside, we’ve all got to figure out a way live together. It boggles my mind how obstinate people can be in the face of even the smallest challenge to their belief system. I’ve lived my life with the simple tenet “what if I’m wrong?” That forces my actions to not intentionally cause anyone else harm based on my beliefs.

Sometimes with my COVID quarantine I fear I’ll be like those last soldiers in Vietnam, wandering through the jungle, no knowing that the war was over, but seeing the numbers every day, I know we’ve still got a long way to go.

Stay strong, stay safe, and stay healthy.

Josh Cohen

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Hello Bob, happy new year (I hope!). I work at WME so I have been working from home since last March basically taking 2020 tour routing and moving it to 2021 and praying some of it can play. The rate at which we have dealt with this crisis and particularly the disorganization over the vaccine rollout is very disappointing. As of today, the number of doses is not the issue, it’s lack of a distribution plan for getting needles in arms. All of our futures and ability to get back to work depend on this and it sickens me to see politicians fight over elections rather than digging in on a local or national level to get us out of this mess…but don’t get me started on that topic because it’s a rabbit hole.

My wife works at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville and she is one of the people that sits you in that chair and administers those concoctions like Rituxin and chemo.  She got her vaccine last week and has the second follow up shot scheduled for 3 weeks later, right down to the same hour that the first shot went in her arm. Yesterday she came home from work telling a story about how people in the next phase of the vaccine rollout are getting the vaccine sooner because supply is exceeded demand in phase one. The next phase here in TN is called phase 1a then 1b and thats for older people and those with some condition that make them more vulnerable. Turns out that each county in our state has an allotment of vaccine doses coming in at random intervals. In the outlying counties where the populations are smaller, they have a lot of leftover doses that were supposed to go to those healthcare workers, first responders, etc.  So they are opening up these doses to anyone in the next phase that is interested. I have an 84 year old mother that falls into this category so I checked into it. Turns out it’s a signup genius form on the county health department website….yes you heard that right, a signup genius with 200 slots per day. All counties surrounding metropolitan cities are full on the signup forms well into February but if you look one more county out there are lots of slots available. This process is akin to a high stakes scavenger hunt that only spreads by word-of-mouth. My mom has a tv and a flip phone she uses for emergencies only. She doesn’t use a computer and she certainly isn’t in the path of news spreading through socials so how would she have known. She will be fine because she is now learning the game, but what about all those people that don’t get this news. What about those that don’t have a family member to help them out. At this rate we will still be giving vaccines in the summer and that is unacceptable. This vaccine distribution system is absurd. I keep thinking they will convert our covid testing sites to vaccine sites but that would make too much sense I guess. My hope is that we see more organization, clearer direction, and greater acceptance as more doses come online. Wouldn’t it be great if we could load up out idle tour busses with vaccine doses, send them out into the field, set up the Merch booth and knock this out at warp speed. In the meantime, like you, I will stay in my house and dream about what my next live concert will look like. At this point I don’t care who it is, it could be some guy playing Aqualung on flute for all I care…I will get chill bumps just being out and seeing live music again. I really look forward to seeing everyone’s reviews of “their first show back”.

Until then, keep researching where the doses are, share that news with someone that qualifies for that phase that might not get the news otherwise, then take the next step to help them figure out how to get a ride to get the vaccine…and above all, stay well in the meantime.

Lane Wilson | WME

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Bob….you are a smart person for staying in.  I pretty much won’t go anywhere I don’t have to, and even then have had groceries delivered a few times.  even now when my wife and I go for walks, we wear masks despite the fact that people are also courteous about wearing masks and giving other walkers 6 feet separation.  But I live in liberal Madison.  Members of my family (we don’t live near them) have no fear about airports and traveling and don’t believe in wearing masks, and it makes me crazy.  we have zoom dinners and gatherings now, and that works for me….why can’t it for everyone else to speed up the elimination of this virus?

Mike Farley

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Couldn’t agree with you more on this. As a fan of data, the following is, to me, most telling:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/covid-19-in-the-u-s-how-do-canada-s-provinces-rank-against-american-states-1.5051033

 

I live in Nova Scotia and with a few notable exceptions both the government and the population in general have been very diligent about dealing with the virus. We may be more restricted for a period of time, but I prefer having my personal liberty restricted to the lives of others ended. My conscience is at ease knowing that we have kept the populace in general safe.

 

What a fucked up world we live in when being able to do what I want, pardon the pun, Trumps the safety of the population in general. History will frown upon the handling of the pandemic in many jurisdictions.

 

Keep up the good work!!

 

Steve Schumph

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Been in lockdown since March 8th and sold my home in East Hampton, NY (Suffolk County becoming the epicenter throughout the Summer 2020 when our formally 2nd home and resort community became full-time residences for thousands of New Yorkers.  Stella and I moved to Fulton County, NY –  in the Adirondack Park —  I, being ineligible for the vaccine or any vaccine — due to having contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome and the attending months of infusions to cure that paralysis in 2017.

I’ll be out of physical touch with family and friends until that 70-80% of the world is vaccinated; working remotely,  building a new music-playback studio, and watching those golden vacuum tubes glow.

Alex Miller

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The world map in the daily NY Times tells the story. American exceptionalism in this case is that best practices apply except in a lot of the US. At some point the common good has to become the focus over personal liberty.

Stephen Knill

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Saw one of Dr. Seuss’s very first cartoons showing an America First character with a beard entwined with a nazi character that made me think of the current state of America. When Trump barked “America first!” Numerous times at his inauguration I feared for this nation and now look at us. We are the laughingstock and pitied by anyone with any knowledge. The R’s anti science crowd ‘s rhetoric has come home to roost but all Trump cares about is overturning the election. Guess we got what we deserved.

Hal Kempson

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Keep pissin’ in the wind, you might think no one is listening but we know your aim is true!   Here in Ireland, our gov appointed medical experts urged self same gov in November to go back to full lockdown, nothing but essential services.   Gov, afraid of taking an unpopular decision, said nah, we need shops etc to be open, we want to give people ‘as normal a Christmas as possible.’    Leaders, eh?   Result?    Massive surge at the end of Dec., hospitals/ICUs full to the max and about to be overwhelmed and, guess what, country now on full lockdown.   Stable/horse/bolting/etc.    As for vaccines, they are arriving in minimal numbers and even then innoculations have been delayed because of insufficient staff numbers/training.   It feels like whatever is possible to get wrong, they are getting wrong.

Our alt-right/anti-vax people are, relative to the US, very limited in numbers;  instead, we depend on our government to fck things up.   Cali sounds like a nightmare, Bob, and over on this side we are not exactly livin’ the dream.   Good spirit and good health to you and Felice.

Fachtna O

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Regarding this virus: I just wish the folks who feel that it is an overblown deal would realize that distancing, lockdown, etc isn’t necessarily about NOT getting sick but is about metering it so that the hospitals don’t get overloaded. If you overload the facilities, drain the resources and burn out the staff, other serious emergency medical issues may not be attended to in good time. That heart attack or stroke that normally would have been attend to in good time now turns into a fatality.

It’s a big-picture thing that a lot of entitled folks aren’t getting.

Neug

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I am a blind individual living in Louisiana and I get out to go to the corner grocery store to pick up food.  No, I do not have an iPhone SE20, but hope to obtain one this year and have a blind tech friend help me learn it.  It has a steep learning curve for blind users or so I am told.

 

I’m sorry about your infusions, and to have to do that bi-yearly must be trying esp. now!

 

Amerika, Inc. just really feels broken.  I have rather good friends with whom I must bite my tongue w hen they say, Covid is not so bad, mostly people get it who have other conditions or they say, minorities don’t have a good work ethic or don’t eat right.  They are very pro-life, but seem more pro-fetus.  Wars kill people too, and such stupid wars.  The infrastructure we could have had.

 

Too bad the news broadcasts have to turn a slick profit now.  News should be about information, not money.  The late Sumner Redstone owns or owned CBS, for instance, and I forget who owns ABC, it used to be Capital-Cities-ABC, than Disney bought something, or was it Time-Warner-AOL.  When does this dinosaur-eating-dinosaur hunger end?  Perhaps, we need a figurative asteroid to bring people to their senses?  Remember, about 60 million years ago, a popular theory suggests an asteroid hit near Mexico, and bye bye T rex and things even bigger.

 

Best

Stay well

David

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“If you get sick nobody cares about you…”

Sadly, you are so correct.

I’ve had an open wound on my leg for 6 months. I’ve seen my PCP 4 times, an EZ Care Doctor once, and spent 2 1/2 days in the hospital, and I had to do my own research and then beg my PCP for a referral to a wound specialist.

Of course I now have a new PCP. But, I’ve learned thru this experience that it’s hard to find anyone that actually gives a fuck. I don’t think it has helped that I’m a Black man. And a musician.

I can literally see the apathy for my health in the MD’s eyes.

My new PCP is Black. I have a feeling I’m gonna get more compassionate care.

Welcome to America in 2021…

Glad you are getting good care. I’m sure it helps being in LA too…with great doctors.

Best regards my friend in music,

Marc Fort

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Kia ora from New Zealand Bob – I don’t read every one of your emails, but I read this. We (well most of us I think) from here have watched in amazement and horror at the way the ‘developed’ world has dealt with this virus. No doubt that there’s a balance between personal liberty and community safety, not to mention economic activity and general mental wellbeing, it’s a tough one to call and not every jurisdiction / state / country will or should make the same call. But some things are universal – caution, kindliness, government support for those who need it, communication and trust. We’re relatively lucky here (25 deaths, no lockdowns for months now) but we know it could change in a heartbeat. Australia has had issues and now these new variants…our border brings in a few hundred people every week and a couple of dozen cases. The government is just starting the procurement process for vaccine storage and distribution. We’re not at the front of the queue for vaccines, and nor should we be. We all hope that by the time our supplies of vaccine arrive, there’s a clear plan for roll out, with the right groups prioritised and hard-to-reach people and locations acknowledged. It all costs a fortune and we’re not a rich country – but we have a lot going for us, specially now in summertime, at the beach and the cafes, enjoying our holidays.

Good luck to us all.

And to you.

all the best

Deb O’Kane

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Hey Bob, over here in Australia the response to Covid couldn’t be more polar opposite to the nightmare that’s happening in the US. Today, Jan 6, we have added only 13 cases to arrive at a country-wide active case count of 293. While i’m sure there are others that are unknown or not in this number, the science of tracking and tracing the virus is in full effect down under.

In July, the city of Melbourne experienced a dramatic rise in cases and went into a lockdown that lasted 112 days. Melbournians couldn’t leave their house but to buy food and essentials, go to work if their job is considered essential or for a short exercise. No household gatherings were allowed. If you were outdoors without a mask you got a $200 fine. If you were out past curfew without a good reason, the fine was over $1000. In those 112 days the city of Melbourne took what could have been a public health disaster and turned it completely around. Today in the state of Victoria where Melbourne is located there are 0 people in the hospital due to Covid 19.

You were down in Australia around this same time last year. If you were to make that trip today, you would be escorted from the international airport to a bus that will take you to a guarded hotel and spend 14 days in quarantine before leaving your hotel room and walking into a populated area. Some dickhead recently tried to evade the cops at the airport and was fines $19,000.

They’re not fucking around here.

Which may be why, after nearly a year since Covid broke into the news, Australia has a total of 909 confirmed deaths from the virus. Our highest daily death toll at the peak of the Melbourne lockdowns was less than 60.

Now it’s Sydney’s turn; just before Christmas there was an outbreak in the Northern Beaches. Several neighbourhoods were locked down and over Christmas and New Years Eve, those people were told to stay home and not go outside. And with few exceptions, that’s just what they did and the outbreak seems to be back under control, with numbers steadily decreasing. Everyone is wearing their mask and adjusting their routine to reduce their exposure. Pretty much everyone is just doing the right thing.

We have a 2 party political polarisation in Australia similar to the USA. 2 major political parties who most of the time, agree on very little. But what we have done differently here is to have a semi-competent leader listening to science and getting all Australians onboard with what needs to be done to protect the citizens. A few people got hefty fines and were made an example of. And there were also a few empty-headed protesters who made anti-science signage and attempted to march in groups. We have wackos too. But the major difference is we didn’t have a wacko in charge who validated all the other wackos.

Hope to see you down here again someday. – Nate

Nate Goyer

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I can relate to your infusion story. I spent an hour every 6 hours every day for 3 months in the chair getting IV antibiotics to kill an infection that was doing its damnest to kill me. It’s boring.

And because of that I’ve been in lockdown since the beginning of 2020. I’m now very infection prone and I’m scared to death-literally-of getting COVID. I go to the store on Sunday morning when it’s deserted and walk around my neighborhood for 20 minutes a day and that’s it.  I hate it but I hate being sick more. And I can’t understand people who don’t take it seriously. It’s serious, people!

Phil Brown

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My husband literally hasn’t left the house since March, I’ve gone to the infusion center every 8 weeks for my meds. My 93 year old mother in law lives with us so it’s been no one in or out, no help, not even my in-laws. It’s quite simply not worth the risk to any of us.

Stay safe and well. We’re with you.

Alexia Erlichman

P.S. This country feels completely f’d, it’s a sad state of affairs.

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In the middle of nowhere in Colorado pretty much by myself for 8 months. Went on a Moe tour last February SF , Portland , Seattle . Realized how lucky I was . Shut myself in.  Two worlds it’s -very strange. People call me all the time and say we are flying in can we stay with you? No. Hang in there.

Peter O’Fallon

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Your words have impact. I thought I was the last person still on lockdown, so I feel a tiny bit better knowing I’m not the only one. Thanks.

Kelly Guimont

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i was in Victoria for a year,virtually all citizens supported with  their Premiers (governors) rules once virus got up to 700 a day, 8000 active. worlds longest lockdown, mask mandatory, go out for 1 hour a day, cant go more then 5 km from your house, 8 pm curfew. it worked they eradicated the virus for 2 months, some cases now from travellers returning. movies resto open, big tennis tournaments soon, F1 in march.  The rules work, i dont understand how US citizens are so stupid and cant see that. All you have to do is look at Aus, NZ, Taiwan, Singapore.

Brian Barry

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I could not agree with you more. As a Tour Manager for many great Canadian Acts, I hope everyone will be vaccinated ASAP so we can work on further solutions to get out shows back! The ongoing conversation since our first mandatory lockdown (we are in our second full mandatory lockdown here in Southern Ontario) is “when do you think we will get back to work?”  Answer. Wear a mask. Get vaccinated. Do your part  Its already in our backyard. If we all do this together as one, we will come out stronger and get this over with sooner (look at Australia and New Zealand). Very tired of the maskless and law bending folks out there slowing down the process of getting back to “normal life”. Our road crews are hit heavily by this pandemic. Some worse than others.  We look forward every day to getting back on the road and do what we love to do best. And we’ll all gladly do it with a mask on!

Oh and What you say has a huge impact on us and we all love you for it.

Continue to take care. Be safe.

Joe Cacioppo

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100% still under quarantine, not even a question to break it. COVID has the potential to hurt too many people near me, and would feel absolutely horrible to spread it to them. I am afraid – big time of the long term effects it can have on someone.. As a healthy 26 year old, I want to keep it that way.

Sam Tany

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If we armed ourselves with paint bomb guns and used them we could quickly identify the fools refusing to even wear a mask.  The war on ignorant people starts now.

Steve Brown

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I live in Mississippi. I’m 12 miles from a college town and 2 miles from a town of 2500. In that little  town, most customers come in for take out. No mask. The grocery store 50% no mask. The kiosk, server, no mask. Two restaurants I use to dine in, not safe.

95% of the state is under so called mask mandates. No enforcement. I can’t listen to the governor’s briefings because he praises the citizens for their efforts and sacrifice. The state health officer bites his tongue.

They say they will start next week with older than 70 vaccinations. The week after, 65 and above. How can they do that when as of yesterday, only 20,000 had been vaccinated statewide?  Hospitals are on crisis standards of care.

Oh, we have casinos. There, the smokers and drinkers keep their face coverings around their neck 90% of the time. Most bar, restaurant and social gathering rules don’t apply

Today, record number of deaths reported. The last couple of weeks have set  records for positives.

John Kauchick

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Doing only the minimal over here. Going once a week to Whole Foods at 8:30 am. Going to NH but stopping rarely to Trader Joe’s in Portsmouth and then to our house. No restaurants. No stores. Back and forth. Not even stopping to pee if necessary. Afraid to go cross-country skiing in Jackson but may go during the week to see how to goes. Will buy skis this year to avoid rental. Taking it seriously because we won’t get the vaccine until April or May.

Meanwhile one of my closest friends joined the Daniel Eick group and an incredibly gifted, interesting, intelligent person now exists on the lunatic fringe telling me that my DNA will be changed if i take the vaccine. How the hell did that happen? Can you write about that? How intelligent normal people have fallen off the face of the earth believing we are ruled by reptilians.  This should not be.

What is happening to mental health during this is era is as bad as the disease that is killing us.

“The world has gone mad” (in French) is what my husband says every morning when he looks at his phone. News from France and the U.K. where friends and family are -not much better.

Only sanity we saw this year was in southern Senegal where our friend who lives in Dakar was spending a week. No masks. No death really. Looked normal from the hour we spent with him on What’s App. He said it was because they understood public health and that the population is young. I wonder if they’re next.

Patti Jones

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This is a no brainer for me. I don’t need anyone’s permission, endorsement or blessing to decide not to hike across a fucking mine field. I don’t play Russian Roulette. Fuck that. If “they” wanna play that game, be my guest. Not me.

Graves and urns are filled with the compost of those who thought they could beat, or cheat, the odds. And if they want to call me a scared lib-tard snowflake pussy sheep, no prob, fuck ’em. I don’t give a fuck.

If I’m wrong, I live. If they’re wrong, they might die. Or kill.

Clapton? Morrison? Have a chat with Prine, or Toots, or Pride, or Diffie. Yes, gents, you’re free…to join them.

Yeah, this sucks. It’s a dull, boring, frustrating, fidgety, groundhog day blursday eye-rolling drag. Big fucking deal.

You don’t change an equation (or epidemiology, physics or history) by ignoring it.

I isolated in March, locked down completely from April to July, never left the house except to take out the trash. Mid July I started going to Costco and Ralphs. September, some outdoor dining. October even dated a little. Human contact, hallelujah! November, scaled it way back, had Thanksgiving and Christmas in my little pod with my ex wife and our son, and now, back on total lockdown. No hay problema, cabrones.

News says even going out at all is “high risk in LA”. That one in five will get it. That’s all I need.

So Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, Costco, CVS, Target, even meal pickup, all out. My local Costco employees got Covid, was in the news, and I was there three times over the holidays. So that’s it. Done. Instacart, baby.

I have TVs and computers and streaming services and way too much homework anyway from years of being on the road half the time, plus organizations I serve with Zooms practically every day, and actual work to do from home. Plenty to keep me busy. I’ve done 31 episodes of ADR on a TV series, half a dozen commercial VOs, still have a royalty stream, and live streamed 200+ shows since March and am still on 3 days a week for an audience I have come to know personally, all in the same boat, all looking to each other for strength and encouragement and engagement.

What the fuck do I have to complain about? Not a goddamned thing. Imma pay attention, take the note, shut it down and make lemonade every day. I’ll buy you one at the finish line.

Dan Navarro

I’m an RN. You speak the truth. Everyone thinks they are immune. That the rules don’t apply to them. That it won’t happen to them. And then it does. I talk to patients all day. First the virus was “out there, somewhere.” Then it started creeping into the periphery. You knew someone who knew someone. Then a bit closer. A coworker’s husband, perhaps. Or a coworker, themselves. And then it hits your family. All of them. Even though they follow the precautions. I can tell by my conversations exactly what is happening with the virus before I even hear it on the news.

The vaccine can’t come fast enough.

Kim McAllister

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We’ve been sitting in our house in San Francisco since March, not seeing family in person for the holidays (even though they’re only a few hours away!). And now it seems like we just did it so everyone else could go about living their normal lives. I get it, life isn’t fair. I signed off social media because it just made me frustrated and angry.

Greg Simon

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Bob,

You are NOT alone on this!  My wife and I had the same basic discussion tonight.  You hit it on the head, no one thinks it will happen to them, and they “know their group follows the rules, so we can hang out on New Years, we’re all smart”. Meanwhile,  a friend’s relative – who they thought it was ok to spend Thanksgiving with, because you know, they are careful.  Just passed away from Covid. It is maddening.  Just tonight I went to pick up dinner at a local restaurant [PA just reopened limited indoor dining].  It was a small place, one couple dining in a corner, but as I walked in, there was this guy looking at a menu to order take out, MASKLESS!!  It was all I could do not to yell at him.  I just don’t get it.  I really think we’re doomed.   Healthy and happiness to you! Peace.

Chris Goerlitz

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Bob, we’re all locked down.  It just feels that way but as every day passes people closer to us are contracting.  Even the careful folks.  A Dr. friend said last year to me, around April, “we’re all gonna get it”.  The circle is closing in.

Danny Ostrow

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It’s pretty shitty here in SoFla. Though plenty of people still wear masks, distancing etc., plenty do not. And where I am (Boca Raton) is pretty much a Dem stronghold, so wtf? And up the road in Delray Beach, downtown Atlantic Ave is packed with tourists and locals. Oy!

I remember seeing somewhere (Twitter?), “How American of us to stop taking precautions during a pandemic because we’re bored.” That, plus the criminal lack of leadership (Trump and Gov. Florida Man) and we are truly fucked.

But Happy New Year, Bob.

Richard Pachter

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You are not alone.

We quarantine my friend. We live in Syracuse NY. I just said this same thing to my wife that why is it I feel like our family is the only one playing it safe any more…

Our county has more positive rates than ever before (like the nation). With that even, her coworkers don’t wear masks in meetings (teacher). I’m fortunate, working remotely. But our kid’s friends have had sleepovers, go out to dinner, etc. We remain home.

Sorry to hear of those infusions you go through.

Just had to share from this side of town.

Steve Anderko

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Every time I go out (which is very little – usually to take the kids to the park) I am shocked by how many people are out and the # cars on the road.

Right after listening to an interview on NPR about rationing of crowded hospital beds and ambulance rides I saw the videos of the anti-maskers parading around Ralphs and the Century City Mall.  I got so mad and frustrated.

Agree it makes no difference to some but I appreciate you voicing your frustrations.

Stay safe,
Eric Stern

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My wife and I are “in the woods” of eastern interior Maine, surrounded by anti-vaxxers and COVID non-believers and Trump fanatics.  It ain’t good.  Meanwhile, a friend from my growing up days has died, here in Maine, and another friend is on 100% oxygen (not a ventilator, at least not yet) in Florida.

Stay well.  And be proud that you’re living in the 64th best country on earth…

Kevin Ritchie

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I have a friend who told me that I couldn’t get the virus.  He thinks it’s a hoax. Now his son, grandson and wife have gotten it.  Now the narrative is that no one he knows, seventeen people who’ve had the virus have gotten sick.  They’ve gotten sick, but have not been hospitalized.

I know someone in NYC that got COVID and died.

I spoke with someone today I’ve been working with in California whose father got COVID and they had to put him on a ventilator.  His Pop’s prognosis is not good. They expect him to die. My colleague could hardly keep it together when he told me this.  He’s obviously devastated.

So back to my buddy and his seventeen contacts.  He’s still trying to convince me that people won’t get sick.  I’m not sure what parallel universe he’s occupying. Unbelievable…

Tim Pringle

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I agree with you Bob. We are in another universe. I run for government in my town in NJ. My daughter is a healthcare tech at a hospital and she is bagging dead bodies everyday at 22 years old for $18 an hour. Ridiculous!!! I ran into our newly elected mayor who I was talking about my concerns, and she told me “What are you worried about, its just a head cold”, and laughed at me. So sad, because I like this person, but as a Republican, she has been brainwashed like so many. Living in a Republican town, and running for office as a Democrat, and trying to talk common sense in all these people is truly a lost cause.

Nick DeStefano
Democratic Candidate 2020 & 2018
Pequannock NJ

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Going to the grocery store is like a demolition derby: move fast, don’t bump into anyone and get out safely.

Same for you?

Brad Auerbach

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I am Bob! And I’m getting really pissed at all those who, because of their willful ignorance, have extended this nightmare on the rest of us. Had the government just paid everyone to stay home, this would be over now! Instead of giving $12 Billion, which they printed out of thin air, to the owner-class, had they given the $8 trillion to pay everyone to stay home, the money would have trickled up to the rich in any case. It would have been less expensive (by orders of magnitude) to do it Bernie’s way.

But . . .

I am fucked!

Kieron K. McKindle

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Hello Bob,

Please don’t be too disheartened. I’m reading from rural France and feel as though only maybe one or two other people have observed lock-down like our household (that is too say, strictly, respecting germ theory!). We’ve been mind-boggled, angst-ridden, stupefied and furious about the general attitude of complacency and slavish obedience to (lifestyles of) convenience despite Covid’s raging – and often indiscriminate – horrors. We are resigned to it now – and just trying to reach a point of compassion – for in the immortal words of filmmaker Deepa Mehta: “people are dumb.”

Anyway, hope you don’t feel like you are screaming into the void. From a farmhouse in France, we can hear you!

Stay well and thank you for your work.

Hannah.

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No, I haven’t been around anyone except my wife and dog since March 11.
No stores, restaurants, tattoos or bowling.
I am fortunate to be able to do this and while not easy, I’m happy to be alive.

Mike Donahue

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It’s not even about politics it’s about self centered people vs community centered people.

Problem is everyone who is under 40 is spreading it and traveling either going to Tulum or Miami or Weddings (!!?) or parties or seeing family for Christmas or New Years. People are selfish assholes. They don’t want their grandparent to die but they also don’t want to give up on fun either! We are fucked.

Jared Shelton

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I’m writing to you from Sydney, Australia.

We’ve just been ordered to wear masks on supermarkets etc – for the first time. Until now they’ve been suggestions.

This when we only have a few hundred active cases on the entire country with  total casualty numbers being 909.

We are closed interstate again and we’ve got super efficient tracking now. A young asymptotic camper visited half a dozen towns but a tracker located him and was able to warn him right away and he did a right thing.

Testing numbers are like 30-40 000 a day in Sydney and Melbourne each but we’ve had close to 70 000 test days per city.

As the social distancing still mostly works we’re ok. This is the holiday month and many, many plans have been cancelled as  the state borders closed just before New Year.

Still people are not really questioning or rebelling against all this. Seems common sense is prevailing over individual freedom right now.

My elderly family lives in Finland. This will be most likely the second year in a row we don’t get to see them. But they’re are alive and healthy and so are we here.

Wishing you and all L.A. people all the best.

Aku Valta

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Bob, I’ve read your posts for many years and, yes, I do care that your medical condition may make the vaccine ineffective for you. The thing is, we got to this moment in the ‘GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD’ by forgetting the admonition to ‘Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You’ which every religion and most belief systems embraces. We are all worried, scared and very tired of being apart from the ones we love. But if I manage not to spread this virus to anyone, I will feel a great sense of peace.
May there be better days ahead for us all!
Lisa Berryhill Davis
Nashville

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Thank you for expressing the bitterness I am feeling towards my fellow humans better than I ever could. What has happened to compassion? And respect for education? Ignorance is bliss until you die I guess.

Lynn

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My wife and I, and most friends I know here in CT are in total lockdown, masked when we go out on the trip to Stop n Shop or CVS…but it’s getting even scarier, so your take on things is spot on. I occasionally see people (mostly teens and twenty somethings) flouting the rules, too…

True about what you said…if I had a heart attack tomorrow, could they get me to hospital on time, hurry hurry hurry….oh oh oh oh oh?… (my attempt at a modern day geriatric Ramones tune). Probably not, and if they did, would there be a hospital bed available? Probably not. And unlike you in sunny warm CA, we can’t set up emergency wards in the parking lot this winter. Like the dyslexic rabbi says, “YO!” But do keep sounding the warnings, Cassandra!

Chip Lovitt

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Keep it up. Vermont is playing by the rules. We have hope. Jim

Jim Eaton

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Hey Bob – Samantha and I are 1000% with you.  We stay home – we get instacart and take out and tip very well.

Still wiping down groceries like crazy people

Hang in there brother!

Stay well!

Bill B

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As a husband and parent I look out for me and mine. Sounds like you are doing the same. As for those who aren’t taking care of themselves and those they care about, shame on them. To paraphrase Loren Eiseley, if it should turn out that we have mishandled our own lives, it seems a pity that we should involve others in our departure.

George Laugelli

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I hate to put this on an email, but you and I might be the last two people
left on Earth. I haven’t done anything except go to the store for groceries
and feel like I’ve been isolated since 2018. I can’t believe the idiots
going out for more or to restaurants or shows or trips (TRIPS!) throughout
2020.
We will get through it.
Best,
Eric Alper

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The more affirmation I recieve regarding vaccines the better . I shake my head at this one ..https://www.facebook.com/11the.meme.show11/videos/406960050621477  an RN with a masters . I can’r wrap my head around it . How do you deal with the nay sayers ?  BZ

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I hope you are feeling ok and had a 2 and half hour session, not a 4 and a half hour session.  I love when you piss in the wind because it is always so close to my pissings into the winds.  I am dumbfounded by the hubris in America.  I am amazed at how confused and overwhelmed with info I am, just to feel more unsure of any decision.  I am glad you say it so when I say it to my pisser in the wind I feel less alone.

Be safe.  Keep writing.  I hope the vaccine works for you.  I wish I could take you to lunch at the Snug Harbor – oh how old fashioned a lunch date feels now.

Happy new year!!

Chris Moore

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I am in Lockdown Bob..  Stick with it!!

XOXO

Mardi Silva
Controller
Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise

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Keep with the message.  I just hope the lunatics that don’t believe they will be affected wake up. Twelve year olds have died from it already yikes!!

Chris Chapin

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The whole of Britain is in lockdown Bob.  We’re with you.  It’s a global thing.
Julia Davis

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No Bob you’re not The UK is in total lockdown

Happy new year

Nick Stewart

Founder & CEO.

Nick Stewart & Associates | Man in the Moon Records.

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No, Bob, you’re not.

I don’t leave the house unless I have to go to Trader Joe’s that’s about once every six weeks because I get to borrow the cart and walk two blocks with cases of water and everything else come to your via Amazon or Amazon fresh.

I’m in a bubble how about you? I bet you I leave my apartment less than you leave yours …

– Howard Hughes (Liane Curtis)

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I don’t understand the convoluted logic that these people take. A friend posted today that flu cases were drastically down because of COVID preventative measures (they are). His conclusion? Those measures are not working for COVID, and should be stopped. And also, this proves that the case and fatality numbers are “obviously not accurate.” I also don’t understand his comfort with posting stuff like this publicly.

Tom Grueskin

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Hi Bob, I wish you well!   I am a cancer patient (multiple myeloma) living on Vancouver Island….my doctor phoned me last night at 9:30, to ask how I was doing!
We talked about the virus medications ….like you I will not be able to have the shot because of my compromised immune system….he noted that the new drugs were only tested on healthy people to keep the success rate high..and to please the Shareholders!
To my relief all of my cancer treatments and drugs are free, and my prognosis is that I will be in remission for 2-3 years….I am 74.
People here are generally behaving well so far with cases flattening….
All the best Jim Cameron

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I’m in San Francisco. My wife and I stay inside, or walk to the store which is half a block away. I do not understand how stupid people are. Especially the stupid fucking Republican cult believers who do all this crazy shit and then end up in the hospital on incubatrors saying they didn’t know or suddenly realize they were wrong. And then their enablers who say we must have sympathy for these people, because they believed what the president told them. I’ve seen a few of these recently on twitter. I have no sympathy.

Anyway, stay safe!

Alex Walsh

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No, you are not the only one still in lockdown.  My husband and I have been home since March.  We haven’t seen our kids or grandkids, except for one of our daughters and her children over Christmas after they quarantined for 14 days then took Covid tests.  No guarantee, my doctor said, “you should” be OK.  It was like Russian Roulette, luckily we dodged a bullet, but we won’t risk anythink like again until we’re vaccinated, if all goes well. We booked a family vacation in August, fingers crossed it happens.  I used to look forward to my weekly grocery store trips (masked up and well equipped with hand sanitizer).  Then when L.A. County started to surge, I moved it to every other week.  Now with this new “more infectious strain”, I’m considering having groceries delivered.  It feels like the walls are closing in and it’s 10 months later. Nothing compared to Anne Frank, but, like my mother said, “you can always find someone who had it worse than you, but it doesn’t negate your reality.”

What you say has much impact and I think it will with the majority of your readers. I care about you and I hope you can take the vaccine. I’m not discounting anything you’ve said because, sadly, it’s true.  I don’t know what has happened to this great country of ours either.  Where, when, how did it slip away?

God take mercy on us while continue to wash our hands, wear our masks and stay home.

Merlene Travis

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Bob – I wanted to reach out, patient to patient. I do a 4 hour infusion every other Tuesday, so I know what you mean. But when people ask me all the time how do I deal with it I tell them this: to me, it’s like taking a flight. Now, traveling always sucks but if you’re good at it and prepared, then it’s more tolerable. So here’s a few tips that might help:

Comfort – My grandkids got me a blow up neck pillow with a nice cover. Really makes a difference. Don’t get the bead kind, they are never comfortable. The blow-up kind can be set for your own comfort level and when you’re not using it, it folds up very small and easy. As for your feet, look for a slipper/flip-flop called OOFO. They are amazing. Especially when you get up to walk around.

Food – I always bring a muffin or a bagel with me and eat before they start. I liken it to sitting on the plane before take-off. Actually takes the edge off a bit. And bring more food for later, even if you don’t eat it. I like fruit or pretzels.

Your Mind – Shut off the world! I do NOT take calls, I do NOT answer emails or texts and I do NOT watch TV. Like you I bring an iPad with 2 things in mind:

1. I know the Benadryl will hit about 20 minutes after its in and I zone out. I plan “2-fer Tuesdays” and pick 2 albums by 1 artist and que them up. Put on my bluetooth headphones, maybe some sleep blinders and zone out for 60-90 minutes. Nobody bothers me and when I come out of it, I’m over Kansas City and time for a snack.
2. Twilight Zone – I download 3-4 episodes at all times on the iPad. Skip the intro and they run 23 minutes. Perfect way to kill a little time until seats and tray tables up.

Peeing – Ask to get the hydration a little bit before and then the rest after. Not only will you pee less, but the after-flush is like that hot towel they bring you just before you land. Very refreshing and really hydrates you. Then you can pee after they unhook you and you’re in the “terminal”.

And don’t forget to tip your bartenders and waitresses – I bring 2 dozen Dunkin Doughnuts with me each time for the nurses and staff. It’s the littlest thing in the world to do but they love it. And after all, Nurses Rule.

Hang in there. It’s always good to vent. But keep looking at the horizon, never your feet.

Be well and stay safe. All the best, Michael Reinert

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Hello Bob; long time reader here, first time caller.

I had a thought and Yyou might know how to make it happen:

 

Last March/April, the DOD made a big deal about deploying the Navy Hospital Ship “Mercy” to LA and a sister ship (Comfort) to NYC.   As far as I can recall, neither got much use. The intent was not to house Covid patients (not a feasible idea due to the close quarters on a Navy ship) but to treat seriously ill and injured non-Covid patients, thereby alleviating some pressure on the medical infrastructure.  Like people with heart attacks, or cancer.

 

It would seem that now the LA health care community could really benefit from a redeployment.

Assist hospitals with non Covid patients; and 3.) boost the community’s spirits, particularly for all the beleaguered healthcare workers.

 

How can we best communicate with the federal government or the military that we need help now?  If they were willing to do so last Spring, I think everyone agrees that it would be even more helpful now.    Can we implore LA Mayor Garcetti to ask that Mercy redeploy to LA?

I’m not in LA, but as an older guy with several pre-existing conditions, I am fearful of going into any hospital now, even here in Riverside County.

Bill Knopf

Indio, CA

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This made me laugh, in a good way, you talking about trying to pass the time during your shots and anxieties about being in public.  The rest of the screed I agree with completely, tho it sets my blood a-boilin’. People are lazy, stupid and entitled, especially in America, and especially certain groups of Americans.  And I don’t know which is worse, the virus itself or the infection of jingoism and ignorance you mention.

I saw someone post on social media yesterday a meme with an image of people being herded into trains by the Nazis with the caption “Just do what you’re told, everything will be alright.”  I can’t even fathom the ignorance and entitlement that would embolden a white male wasp to compare himself to victims of the Holocaust for having to wear masks and take small safety precautions for the health of others.

I also can’t understand why it’s taking so long to administer the vaccines.  What IS the hold up?

You, you’re not pissing in the wind, at least you’re doing your homework and taking the time to share your story and some knowledge and that’s appreciated.  Thanks Bob, and stay healthy!

Geronimo Son

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Thanks for sharing your your medical issues and your conundrum. I hope the Rituxan doesn’t negate the COVID Vaccine.

But I have another question..WTF IS GOING ON IN LA COUNTY???

I grew up in Lakewood, went to art school in Pasadena, lived downtown 35 years ago, then in Hollywood before moving to New York where there are skyscrapers, subways, buses and most people don’t have cars. Real human density.

We figured out a way to slow the progress of the pandemic.

I’m curious as to your opinion of what is going on in LA in regards to the pandemic???

While it would appear that everyone must be deeply tongue kissing each other for hours in between orgies, I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. I get that much of LA is dense (yes literally and figuratively) as is much of this country (70 million morons voted for the worst manager ever), but it’s warm, I remember all the 75 degree Christmas’.

Please let us know why you think LA is exploding with cases. I’m not shitting you, it’s a goddamn mystery from 3000 miles away.

I think your audience wants to hear this, we read your honest take on so many other topics.

Thanks – Darryl Estrine

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You are correct…LA is the epicenter for Covid 19 today.

If LA county was a state, and with 10M people it would be a good size state, it has the most deaths of any state except TX in the last week, and TX is 4 times its size…actually LA would be the worst state for deaths per capita at 1.8 deaths in the last 7 days, next being Kansas at 1.7.

It looks like hospitalizations for CV-19, which is the most reliable statistic, shows CA might be hitting its peak, but that may be because they are running out of room.  If this is a peak then the next two weeks will be the worst for deaths and hopefully we will see a decline the second half of this month.  As this flu moves quickly with seasonality, LA could be all clear within a couple of months.

Good point about the new vaccines, based upon new technology they may work better for someone like you than the traditional ones, like the one most recently approved in the UK that has been in development for 10 years (the baseline vaccine).  That’s the one I’m waiting for…I have great hope for the new technology used to develop the new vaccines and the promise it holds to treat more diseases in the future, but I’ll go with the tried and true for now.

Stay Safe!

Ed Kelly

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I’m with you Bob. Not quarantined because I work outside the home, but I have incredibly minimal interactions with anyone outside my family, and never maskless outside the home. I simply love my entire family too much to play the risky game with this. I’m germ averse as it is, and think most people are super careless and gross (pre pandemic) so winter always made me freak out. Now? I’m so pro mask – I intend to keep wearing mine during cold and flu season, long after this vaccine has done its job. No doubt covid will flare up just like the flu so maybe we should change the name of the viral season… I always admired eastern cultures who would mask as a courtesy when the bugs are being passed around. Common sense but hey.

I frame this situation to my 6 year old like this: all of us at some point are called on by our country to do hard things for the good of others. Grandma and grandpa did it, my grandma and grandpa did it, and now we are doing it too. It’s our duty to look out for everyone around us, and sticking together as a family and wearing our masks, and visiting folks on the iPad is the best way to do that right now. A super long and wonky way to learn compassion and selflessness, but that’s the lesson to teach.

My kids are bored, my wife wants me to take her on a date, and my parents miss us. But we are healthy, we can still stand each other and I rest easier knowing we haven’t contributed to the spread and are trying to be a small part of the solution. We are pretending to be bears hibernating for the winter, eating lots of cookies and continuing to learn to love being together more than being apart.

Wish you well Bob, I look forward to your writing and have for a decade. Stay safe and healthy and we will all see this on the other side. My wife reminds me that a better tomorrow often requires a lot of nasty struggle first. We are in the throes now, we’ve gotta believe (and behave) as if a better future is ahead.

Eli Chastain

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Your words are hitting some of us.  I don’t want anything to do with COVID-19.  I don’t have a medical condition that puts me in a severe red zone if I contract this thing, but I also like being able to taste my dinner and, oh yeah, breathe and survive.  I can’t believe the Tweets that I read from the LA Times talking about 2020 holiday travel numbers setting records.  People are fucking maniacs and I’m tired of people not giving a shit about the citizens around them.  Was it SO important to have an in-person holiday dinner that risking health to get there was worth it? That’s nuts.

I stay home for work and generally stay home 90% of the time.  The 10% that I leave is to get groceries or bathroom items.  That’s it.

I don’t have COVID.  I’ve been tested.  I don’t want to get it.  And if I had it, I don’t want to give it to people.

We’re greedy, narcissistic, selfish human beings in America because we’ve been told time and time again how great it is here.  That’s all bull shit.  Our health insurance situation is shit.  Education is expensive and out of reach without MASSIVE debt.  LIVING is expensive.  Everything is being peddled for profit by some suit in a highrise. I’m tired, man.

I knew we’d be in trouble when it was being said that it was going to take a communal effort to get this thing in control.  In all honesty, I don’t trust my fellow citizens on that level.  I kinda know the American life score and it’s sad but so very true.

Best to you with your health on all levels.  I’m in this thing with you to keep up my end of the bargain.

David Moorhead

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Man! It sounds like you really have to go through it with the drip process,  and very often too. Six month increments is a ritual I bet. For the grace of God there go I. I just have to see my 2 Cancer docs once a year. I know I’m lucky.
I’m still staying in. I cheat to buy a bottle every other week. All else is online and drive up load my trunk please. Mail and work from home on computer. I am lucky.
The distractions of football and soon to be baseball are welcome. Music still #1 but no shows. I’ve not tried an online show yet. It can’t be the same.
Bought gas 3 times since March. One time was for lawn mower.
Had a nice garden but that’s over now.
I’m up for doing it all again to stay safe. I know I’m lucky.
Keep the faith.

Chuck Thatcher

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I’m with you, both still in lockdown and being treated with Rituxan (though for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis). When I had my infusions last month, my doctor (the one overseeing the Rituxan infusions that is) advised that the Covid vaccine would likely still be generally effective, but not as effective as it is for the general population… so who knows, at least for now.  In any case, good luck and stay safe!

Dave Pierfy
Wright Entertainment Gro

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My Uncle has taken Rituxan treatments for almost a year, to deal with a neurological/neuropathy issue.

He now has COVID, and has been in the hospital since Christmas, with no sign of leaving in the foreseeable future. It’s a virtual lock that those Rituxan treatments destroyed his immune system, and not allowing his body to develop antibodies to fight the virus.

They’ve given him Convalescent Plasma treatments – where they infuse him with the blood donated by people with the antibodies – and it’s not working. He just can’t produce antibodies even when they’re fed into him. Thanks, likely, to Rituxan.

He has good and bad days, mostly bad. Ventilator might be on the horizon, though he’s staving that off so far.

Food for thought.

Stay healthy and safe.

—Rob Maurer

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Bob, during a virtual Dr appointment today I asked my doctor how will I know when I am eligible for the vaccine, who will tell me and how will I be told. She paused for a moment and literally said… “I have no idea, we haven’t been told anything.”

Michael Brandvold

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I’ve been on lockdown since
March 10.

If we could only get the media to shut the fuck up and focus on the population and promoting living-a life.
Stop selling, spinning, more,more, more…

STOP THE egomaniacal opinions,
we might have a chance if WE all remember

We are all HUMAN
all made from the same material
Stop the identity BS
FOR soon no one will identify
we all will b gone.

U treat the vaccines like a touring show and WW2.
U commandeer all the refrigerated trucks, thousands of the trucks.
FEDEX UPS WTF?
vaccines should go to places like dodger stadium, the new billion dollar temple to football in Inglewood and all those other wastelands of parking lots.
In smaller towns, smaller venues.

HELLO LIVE NATION!

Then Take all the out of work production managers/ crews/ that have made rock n roll WORK
to make this happen.
OVERNITE!

I’m so disappointed in our country.
Especially how money only matters.

StayWell and safe.

Marc Brickman