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April 25, 2020
Non-Members (advertising supported) edition
Editor’s corner
With Chuck Woodbury
Our lives will be a lot different for a long time. “Normal” as we knew it will not return May 15, or anytime this summer. Maybe in a year we’ll gain some freedoms, but until a vaccine is available, how we live will be altered in ways that none of us can now imagine.
If you want to know what we are up against with the incredibly nasty virus we’re dealing with today, read the book “The Great Influenza,” the story of the 1918 Pandemic. It’s estimated that about 500 million people worldwide were infected and that between 50 and 100 million died — three to five percent of the world’s population. More than 4,500 people died in Philadelphia alone the week of Oct. 16, 1918. Local officials allowed a big parade to go on rather than cancel it, and deaths began to soar just days later.
My great-grandmother and great-uncle died in that pandemic.
Every Mayor, Congressman, Senator, Governor and the President should read this book. It’s eerie how much of what occurred then rings true today. It provided me with a far better understanding of what we’re up against and how we should deal with it. Despite the catastrophic effect self-isolation is having on the economy, there is no other way, short of a vaccine, to stop the spread of the vicious disease. COVID-19 has already taken the lives of two people I know, including our columnist and my good friend Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor. When you lose a friend or family member, the pandemic becomes all too real!
THE THOUGHT OF NOT RETURNING SOON to my previously normal life is difficult to imagine. I feel like a prisoner in my RV. I have written many times of what a charmed life I have lived. Many of us, I believe, who were born into the middle class in North America in the mid-20th century can say the same. And now, for the first time ever, our freedom has been taken from us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like that one bit. Part of me wants to scream “unfair!” But then I remember that I am far better off than countless millions of others. I have a job, I have food and I have a comfortable place to live. How can I feel even a tiny bit of self-pity? I have no right!
The RV industry is spouting PR happy talk about how everything will soon be back to normal. That’s a nice thought, but it’s a fairy tale. How can it return to normal when there’s a virus out there that can stop us in our tracks so easily, and that has already cost more than 26 million Americans their jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that about half of all small businesses in the United States have temporarily closed their doors. Most are mom-and-pop operations, where the owners have busted their behinds for years, created jobs, and in many cases struggled financially all the while to pursue their dreams. Talk about unfair!
Most of the readers of this newsletter are of an age that makes them prime targets for infection. Personally, it will be a long time before I sit in a crowded movie theater, restaurant or sports stadium. I’m not headed to any RV shows or rallies anytime soon, and I know I am not alone.
For now, we need to hunker down at home or in our RVs, catch up on reading, maybe take up a new hobby, and be thankful that we and our families are safe.
If you think what I have written here is just a bunch of negative mumbo-jumbo, then check back in two or three months. If I am right, then you may gain some confidence in my use of a crystal ball. If I am wrong, then I will deal with the massive amount of egg on my face and toss my crystal ball into a dumpster.
For you, for now, please be careful! Be safe! Wash your hands often. And if you have a few dollars to spare, donate some to your local food bank. Oh my goodness — millions of people, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs and suddenly can’t pay their rent or feed themselves or their children — please help them if you can.
We are all in this together! Fight the invisible enemy with all you’ve got! Let’s come out the other side as kinder, stronger, better people.
LET’S DREAM A LITTLE. . .
Most of us are stuck at home now or self-quarantined in our RV. We’re not traveling with our RVs except to go from one place to another to wait out the coronavirus threat. We think that means there’s a whole lot of daydreaming going on about where to go when things return to normal. So we have a question for you: What RV trip is at the top of your bucket list? Is it an adventure to Alaska via the Alaska Highway? Or maybe you’d rather get your kicks on Route 66? Are there National Parks you’ve never seen but yearn to? Read more and consider sharing your dream trip with your fellow RVing readers.
My Roadside Journal
(about whatever is on my mind, not necessarily RV-related)
Stories in tomorrow’s newsletter
• Economic forecaster predicts RV industry will travel a “long and bumpy road” to recovery.
• Almost 231,000 bridges in the U.S. need repairs – and that’s not all!
• Person who defaced sites in Death Valley NP in January turns himself in.
PLUS: Campground updates • Latest fuel prices • Latest RV recalls • Free and bargain camping locations • Reader survey • and much more …
We need your support now more than ever
RVtravel.com is working overtime to bring you the news about how the current pandemic is affecting the lives of RVers. In the meantime, more than half of our advertisers have stopped their campaigns due to necessity. We are able to continue because of our nearly 5,000 readers who have become voluntary subscribers. Please consider making a pledge today, no matter how modest. FROM THE EDITOR: If you are being hit financially by the pandemic, please take care of yourself: don’t worry about us. But if you are doing okay, we could use your help.
Brain Teaser
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday News newsletter.)
Last week’s Tip of the Day in RV Daily Tips Newsletters
• Cool, clear, fresh and FREE water.
• Why filter perfectly good water?
• Is it really safe to boondock?
• RV grill connection confusion.
• RV Electricity: How much power do I have?
Keep “virus-safe” at the fuel pump
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Some states are already relaxing restrictions put in place to curb coronavirus. While life may never really be the same as it was before the pandemic, one thing is clear – Americans are hankering to get back to travel. The fallout in oil prices has made for the lowest costs at the fuel pump in decades. But how can you fuel up and keep safe from COVID-19? Find out here.
Wind storm uproots trees, crushes RVs. See video (may be disturbing!)
Oh, my goodness! This truly is every RVer’s nightmare – a thunderstorm creates powerful winds blowing at 80 miles per hour. In this case, trees were ripped out by their roots, and then toppled onto RVs, trucks, cars and park buildings. Large hail damaged roofs and RVs’ siding. It happened Monday night at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, on Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. Watch the video.
Dear friends say goodbye to Gary Bunzer
By Mark Zepp
My wife, Amber, got the text message we had been fearing on April 17 at 9:50 p.m. Our dear friend had lost his month-long battle with COVID-19. Gary Bunzer was a living legend in the RV Industry. Over his decades-long career, under the byline “The RV Doctor” he wrote thousands of articles, produced numerous videos and gave countless seminars to thousands upon thousands of people on virtually anything that had to do with RVs. Continue reading.
Here’s something Gary wrote about his dad, George, a few years ago. It also gives us good insight into Gary and part of the reason why he will be missed by so many people. At the end of his tribute to his dad is a link to a song Gary wrote about him. The words could apply to Gary, as well. (He’s not the lead singer in it, but he’s playing his guitar.) A beautiful song and tribute to his dad – and to Gary, a most kind and generous man with a gentle soul.
Many places you can shop for huge savings right now…
Since most retail stores are closed, many have turned to their online stores to promote huge sales. If you are in the market for something new for yourself or your RV, now may be a good time to buy. Here are some stores having big sales right now.
Last year at this time, these were the most popular articles
• “Real ID” Act may soon complicate RVers’ lives
• Hitch Pitch: Take the pain out of RV leveling
• Tire brand confusion: Who makes which RV tires and where?
• How common is RV drivers’ road rage, and what can be done about it?
Reader Poll
How would you describe your mental health in these troubled times?
Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment. We’ll post the final results in next week’s newsletter. CLICK HERE.
Readers tell us (What we learned about you last week)
We analyze what we learned about you and fellow RVers from our reader polls and your comments.
• What is your current relationship status?
• Are you shopping more online now than a few months ago?
• For self-quarantining couples, how well are you getting along?
Who is responsible for educating the RV park idiots?
By Rosanne Drechsel
There are so many things to love about camping and just as many opportunities to enjoy it safely. … We have camped for fifty years, the most recent five years as full-timers. … We have watched, and sometimes helped with, setup and take down procedures – trying our best to educate and share helpful information. Unfortunately, again this morning we watched an RVer perform his take down and pack up procedures using techniques that made no common sense. Read more.
Dometic’s new compressor-run refrigerator. Is it right for you?
Need a new RV refrigerator – or just tired of your old-style absorption unit? Dometic may have what you need. The new DMC4101 model tosses out LP gas-fired technology for an electric compressor cooling system. Unlike residential units touted by the RV industry, Dometic says it’s reevaluated and come up with a technology especially designed for RVs – one based on a 12-volt variable speed compressor. Learn more.
This campground is top secret. Do you know where it is?
We know of an amazing, beautiful, free campground. The campsites are underneath three-tiered waterfalls, and they’re so private you can’t see your neighbors. There are doves that bring firewood straight to your door. The bears are so friendly they offer to cook and clean and wash the dishes. And the river is overflowing with trout – you don’t even need a fishing pole! Where is it?
Want to downsize? Sell your stuff on eBay
By Chris Guld
We sold our house in 2003 and moved into an RV. First we packed the RV with whatever we needed. When that was done, everything else had to go! … I can’t say it was easy – sometimes it was gut-wrenching – but when it was done we were free. Free to go where we wanted and do what we pleased. Get more tips on how to become “free” here.
RV crime video: A look back at the great L.A. motorhome chase
Stuck in the house? Getting a little bored? How many hands of solitaire can you play? If you need a few minutes of rollicking drama involving an RV, here’s your chance. May marks the one-year anniversary of a police chase across the freeways and surface streets of Los Angeles that saw a reportedly stolen Class A motorhome in a demolition derby-like chase scene. Read more and watch the chase here.
Tip: An easy windshield de-bugger!
Here’s a tip from one of our readers, A. Fisher: Bugs making suicide runs on your windshield? Get an 8-ounce (or so) container of Rain-X washer fluid additive and just add it to your windshield wiper fluid – works great without all that work! There’s also Rain-X Bug Remover (not concentrated) that does the job. Driving down the road and collecting bugs? Don’t wait for the next fuel stop – just use the windshield wipers!
California mountaintop beacon shines again to honor COVID-19 heroes
The historic beacon atop Mount Diablo in Mount Diablo State Park once again illuminates brightly in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Through the cooperative efforts of California State Parks and Save Mount Diablo, the beacon will continue to shine from sunset until sunrise each Sunday until the crisis is over. Read more.
Take a look inside this incredible retro RV!
We’ll bet you a brand-new Airstream that you’ve never seen anything as neat as this before! Arno van der Naald (in Belgium) posted these photos of his RV on the We love Old Campers and Motorhomes Facebook page. He writes, “Here [is]an impression of my ’71 Van Hool. It used to be a city bus in Brussels, Belgium. Built it 5 years ago.” He explains to a commenter that it does indeed run and drive. So cool! [I’m ready for a butterscotch malt, too thick to slurp through the straw! —Diane]
Semi sideswipes trailer – enough to ruin your whole day
With so many folks on lockdown, the road outside has been awful quiet. But digging back into history, we found this “sad tale of woe” from a couple who, last December, were minding their own business until they got an unexpected – and most unwelcome – visit from a semi-truck towing a stock trailer. Here’s the one-minute (cringe-worthy) video.
Your views from quarantine: What’s out your window? Part 2
With Emily Woodbury
👍 A few weeks ago I asked you to send us a photo of the current view out your window or door. As I mentioned when I posted the first batch of photos last week (you can see them by clicking here), I received about 200 photos (and you’re still sending them – thank you!). Not to mention the comments in last week’s post were so encouraging, I’ve decided to bring you round two. Plus, I just wanted to share more of your wonderful photos anyway. 🙂 See part 2 here.
Popular articles from last week
• Update on Virginia RV park devastated by governor’s shut down order.
• FMCA struggles to retain members and cope with lost income.
• Video: Take a spin in a toy hauler? We don’t think this is what they meant…
• Your views from quarantine: What’s out your window?
• Full-time RVers in a bind. Here’s how you can help.
• RV Electricity – Surge protectors: basic vs. advanced.
• RV Life in a Coronavirus World: A story of a converted school bus and wild cows.
• Have a good laugh: “My Self-Isolation Quarantine Diary”
• Hilarious! Couple sings, “Baby it’s COVID outside!”
• Campground Chatter with Janet Groene, April 18, 2020.
• RV Shrink: Becoming an RV “trunk popper” during the pandemic.
Let your drill clean your RV, really!
This is so neat! This 4-piece cleaning brush attachment connects right to your drill – no more scrubbing for you! Deep-clean virtually any surface with hardly any effort. The drill brushes are perfect for grout lines, corners, tiles, tubs, showers, carpets, wooden furniture, windows, shower doors, siding, linoleum, stoves, counters, fiberglass, grills, marble, and more. You can even wash your dishes if you want! Learn more or order here.
Resources
Our Facebook and RVillage Groups: RV Horror Stories • RV Advice • RV Electricity • RV Parks with Storm Shelters • RV Buying Advice • Northwest RV Camping • Southwest RV Camping • Free Campgrounds • Budget RV Travel • RV Videos • RV Coronavirus News • plus Texas RV Camping and Florida RV camping. And please join our group on RVillage (like Facebook except just for RVers).
Where to complain about bad RVs, dealers, service, RV parks. This is an ever-expanding list of resources where you can report, share or discuss your problems with RV manufacturers or dealers.
Best Club for RVers: Escapees. Click here to learn more or join. Endorsed by RVtravel.com.
The RV Show USA
Listen each Wednesday evening on Facebook or YouTube for the live taping of America’s only syndicated radio program about RVing.
RV Clubs
Check out our Directory of RV Clubs and Organizations.
What does financing an RV for 20 years REALLY mean?
In case you missed this article the first time around, here it is again. Important! Click here.
Save bandwidth while watching YouTube videos
How to watch YouTube videos using very little bandwidth.
Stuck with a lemon RV? Contact Ron Burdge, America’s premier RV lemon law attorney.
Ask the RV Shrink
RV preppers in training – all about freeze-dried food
Dear RV Shrink:
I noticed in the comments of last week’s column that a reader named Tumbleweed suggested RVers stock up on freeze-dried food. Have you ever tried the stuff? Is that a good idea? Does it taste like cardboard? I’ve never heard of it before, but have been looking into it. Just thought I would get your two cents’ worth. —Future Prepper in Peoria
Read the RV Shrink’s two cents’ worth.
You must keep road flares in the RV for emergency
You should always have road flares in your RV in case of an emergency. This pack of three bright, waterproof and shatterproof LED disks are perfect to keep tucked away. These bright lights can be seen from a mile away and can be used for traffic control, as a warning light or as a rescue beacon, and they can also be used for recreational activities such as camping and hiking. Learn more or order here.
RV Education 101
Determining your RV’s pivot point
With Mark Polk
It doesn’t matter if you are driving a motorhome or towing a trailer, every vehicle has a pivot point. The pivot point is a fixed point on the vehicle at which the vehicle rotates around when making a turn. It sounds more complicated than it is. Read more.
RV Electricity
What’s all the noise about generators?
What’s all the noise about generators?Dear Mike,
Are the so called RV-Ready generators any quieter than the contractor generators you’re always talking about? The salesman at the store says they are, but I’m a little leery of spending my hard-earned money on something that’s going to be too loud to use while boondocking. I’ve already added solar panels, but I might need to run a generator for an hour a day to charge my batteries if the sun doesn’t shine. …
Read the rest of the question and Mike’s response.
This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
How much power do I have? A reader wonders why the circuit breaker keeps tripping in the house from a trailer hooked up in backyard where wife, a health care provider, is staying to protect her family.
RV Tire Safety
Can a tire blowout be “contained”?
Every few months someone posts a question on one of the numerous RV Forums Roger Marble monitors, asking if it is possible to prevent the damage done to the RV when a tire fails and has a belt separation or comes apart from a sidewall Run Low Flex failure. Here’s a bunch of information on that topic, as well as on the use of a TPMS.
Hot off the press! Sign up for our RV Daily Tips Newsletter!
Every Monday through Friday you get a short, informational email from us delivered straight to your inbox. Inside each issue you’ll find: quick RV tips, popular articles, reader polls, RV thoughts, helpful resources, a website of the day, RV clubs and organizations, trivia, jokes and more! If you don’t like it, you can easily unsubscribe, but we doubt you’ll want to. Read Friday’s issue here and then sign up here.
Strengthen your hands, fingers and forearms
Here’s a great, easy way to build up the strength in your hands, fingers or forearms. Perfect for RVers. If you suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis or tennis elbow this is for you. It’s also great for simply building up the strength of your grip. This is a best seller and costs about $8. Learn more or order.
Building an RV Park
We’re still waiting!
By Machelle James
I have to admit, writing an article for you every two weeks is sometimes a challenge. Since everything is still frozen financially, we continue to do work that we can on our own. We have pulled out more than 20 tree roots with the help of our friends that have their RVs up here to visit when they can. Read more.
The RV Kitchen
Baked Oatmeal
Bake your breakfast. Assemble this dish a day ahead only if you wish. It’s creamier if soaked overnight. Then have that first cup of coffee while waiting for this hearty breakfast to come out of the oven. It’s very rich in fiber. As little as a scant cupful, topped with milk or yogurt, is a fill-up. Get the recipe. [This sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it! —Diane]
The Digital RVer
Isn’t it time to start that travel blog you’ve been talking about?
By Chris Guld, Geeks on Tour
Most RVers keep notes of some kind when they travel – maybe in a paper notebook, maybe on Facebook, maybe by sending out emails. You’ve been meaning to put them all together, maybe even make a book out of them, right? During this pandemic with orders to Stay Home, you might just have the time to do it. Find out how simple it is here.
Keep insects and bird nests out of your RV furnace
Wasps, mud daubers, birds and rodents pose a serious threat to the furnace on your RV. They can enter through the furnace vents. Their nests can interfere with air flow and cause serious damage. Camco 42141 (Model FUR 200) Flying Insect RV Furnace Screen fits Duo-therm and Suburban furnace vents. Camco offers several furnace screens so check which one will fit your vent. Learn more or order.
Back in the day…
Back in the day…
What do you know about the history of RVing? RV history expert Al Hesselbart shares some fascinating stories:
• Aviation pioneers and the early RVs
• The history of motorized RVs
• The evolution of campgrounds
• The early RV visionaries
• Sheldon Coleman, building a gear empire
Reader letters
Dear editor:
What might be the early prognosis for campers in June, July, August and September across the nation? I had plans for a trip on the Mother Road in July from Joliet, IL, to Oatman, AZ, then north to Vegas, Tahoe, N/E Washington state, Southern Idaho, Utah, and East on I-70 to Ohio. Would you think this might come to fruition? —C.A. Ramkey
Dear C.A.
You could probably do the trip, but it would be difficult to find places to stay, and many businesses, museums, parks, etc., will likely still be closed, which I think would lead to a lot of frustration. I’d highly recommend postponing the trip for a year.
Facebook Groups of Interest
• Military RVing
• The Real Housewives of RV’ing
• Pennsylvania Camping and RVing
PLUS OUR OWN GROUPS: RV Horror Stories • RV Advice • RV Electricity • RV Parks with Storm Shelters • RV Buying Advice • Northwest RV Camping • Southwest RV Camping • Free Campgrounds • Budget RV Travel • RV Videos • RV Coronavirus News • plus Texas RV Camping and Florida RV camping.
Here’s an idea for you while you’re self-quarantining: Record your family history on your iPhone or video camera. If you want some inspiration, we recommend you get the book To Our Children’s Children. It will prompt many ideas of what to talk about. Your children and grandchildren will appreciate this when you are gone. Think about it, wouldn’t you love it if your parents could have done this for you?
Trivia
The word “whiskey” comes from Ireland and Scotland. The Gaelic word usquebaugh is an adaptation of the Latin phrase aqua vitae, which translates to “water of life.” The earliest account of making whiskey is in Scotland in 1494. By the way, Scots and Canadians spell whiskey without the e; the Irish and Americans spell it with the e.
Bumper sticker of the week
Turn signals – not just for smart people. —Thanks to Jaye Jeffress!
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker? Send it to diane(at)RVtravel.com
Joke of the Week
This is it. The day your dogs have been waiting for. The day they realize their owners can’t leave the house and they get you 24/7. Dogs are rejoicing everywhere. Cats are contemplating suicide.
Worth Pondering
“A lie can travel half-way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” —Mark Twain (Thanks to Tom Speirs!) [Editor: And that was even before the internet!]
WHAT IS IT? (from above) A rug beater, of course. They were used from about 1880 through the 1920s for cleaning carpets and area rugs. The rugs were hauled outside, hung over a line, and pounded on with the beater until the dirt and dust were gone.
Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?
RV Travel staff
CONTACT US at editor@RVtravel.com
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Emily Woodbury, Russ and Tiña De Maris. Contributing writers: Mike Sokol, Richard Mallery, Roger Marble, Janet Groene, Julianne Crane, Chris Guld, Machelle James, Bob Difley, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
FOREVER IN OUR MEMORIES — OUR STAFF MEMBER IN HEAVEN. Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor.
Honorary Correspondents: Loyal readers who regularly email us leads about news stories and other information and resources that aid our own news-gathering efforts.
• Mike Sherman • George Bliss • Tom and Lois Speirs • Alan Warren • Steve Barnes + others who we will add later.
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Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com
As a response to the Covid-19 we can all contribute to, let’s, as hard as it may be, to make a concerted effort to NOT buy anything made in China. This won’t be easy, as so many of our needed things are made there, but, spend some effort. It wold also be useful, for the long term survival of at least our economy, to tell vendors that you will NOT purchase anything made in China if it’s at all possible at the moment. The pennies or even dollars we can save by buying Chinese, are all little nails in our coffin.
One example dear to my heart, actually my stomach, is the majority of canned seafood on offer at Grocery Outlet stores. I REALLY like shopping at G.O., but all the apparent store brand of Polar canned seafood is from China. Ever since having lost a beloved pet cat to tainted pet treats from China, and seeing news of baby formula in China also being tainted with melamine,
I have been very wary of Chinese sourced food products. YMMV, but, as “they” say, consider the source. And, for many more reasons now.
I used a rug beater like this in the 60s in PA. Lol
As for the people protesting why can they keep 6 FT apart and wear Mask. I guess if Government told them not to wear one they would have them on. Please listen, this is not an us vs them. We are all in this. Protesting in this manner is just going to up the #s in a few weeks time.
Please be smart
Chuck, first time “writing”: just want you to know that I could feel the sadness in your text, and, no, it’s not “Mumbo-Jumbo.” Losing someone close is tough, and the feeling of not having any real control is frustrating. I really appreciate and enjoy your points of view. I think we, as a nation, will all have a better outlook on life, and a renewed respect for our fellow man and woman.
Opinions are pretty numerous. Everyone has one. You can find plenty of information on the internet to support your opinion no matter what it is. If we disagree with info that doesn’t support our opinion we can label it fake news. So we have to respect the laws that vary greatly from state to state whether we agree or not, especially if we are visitors to that state. The degree of problem from covid-19 also varies from state to state. It may be inconvenient, but states have a right to decide what they prefer to do during this time. My state is lifting shelter at home rules soon, but we will choose to stay pretty much in place since we can. Why take chances unnecessarily when we are happy anyway. Hopefully we’ll live to travel another day.
It is my understanding with talking with Missouri State Park people that State Parks will open back up for camping on May 4, 2020. It is if the Governor stays with his plan. I’ve already had my reservation cancelled by them for May1-3. I’m packed and ready to hit the road. Most campsites are far enough apart to keep social distancing. Maybe just use your own bathroom in your rig. Happy Camper.
Before you all just roll over and do what they tell you to do. You might want to take a few minutes and read the paper linked down below. There is good info out there that says this whole CV19 deal is a bit over done. Consider this, 92% of the people that have died from CV19 had serious underlining health issues. If your healthy the odds are pretty slim that you’ll have any huge problems if you get it. In fact you may not even know you had it. The CDC told hospitals and doctors to stop testing the dead and just go ahead and call it a CV19 death. Why would the CDC do this and what Doctor would sign a death certificate without knowing for sure what the actual cause of the death was? The fact that the government is supposed to be paying between $13,500 and $300,000 per CV19 death might have something to do with it. The number of deaths from flu and pneumonia have been going down lately. One can only think these deaths are now being added to CV19 death toll, as I’m pretty sure we haven’t found a cure for the flu and pneumonia in the past month or two. Also the fact that their test can have upwards of 80% false readings, it makes it a bit hard to believe the “official” number of cases. Also there are a number of countries and nine of our own states that did none of this lock down BS and their case numbers are no worse than the rest of the countries that have gone full lock down mode. To quarantine the sick makes good sense. To quarantine the non sick is Tyranny. The ’17-’18 Flu season killed 80,000 in the USA. In Feb ’18 they were dropping dead at 4,000 per week from the flu. Where was the outcry over that? A recent John Hopkins study concluded that between 250,000 and 440,000 people die each year from medical errors. Now it would seem to me that if the media and politicians gave a hoot about stopping people from dying they might want to get fired up over that instead of CV19. I’m not saying to completely disregard all common sense safeguards, but I really don’t think we need to let the media and politicians scare us into some dark corner of our locked house where we can rub our hands together and shake in fear. This link is to a fairly well done piece:
http://mileswmathis.com/covid.pdf
“by a man with an Internet connection.” All righty then.
I know of many people with the same thoughts.
My research agrees with what you wrote.
1918 there was no internet so word did not spread like the BS you have put out in you opinion above. Go read and study about the 1918 virus and stay away from me and my family.
Pretty caviler 80,00 die from this or that… 92% have underlying conditions… 2 people Chuck knows have passed, please show some respect.
From data out of Germany and now the US the mortality rate is 0.4-1% of those infected if we have medical care for them. The virus chooses. We have 330,000,000 in the US, the math is simple. If they all hit the ICUs at the same time the number goes up, way up. That’s 3x-10x the mortality of the flu and no vaccine for the susceptible parts of society. This is likely just starting and won’t end until there is a vaccine. 54,000 dead now, we’ll be really lucky to hold it under 200,000 (my number 2,000 per day that gets us to about the first of July if things don’t take off.
There’s no Tyranny, no deep state, just well meaning people trying to save lives. Your lives, your parents and your kids lives. Someones want to pay you to stay home and be with your family, I’m really sorry, what’s your problem? We are still very short of testing capability US and world wide… it’s not a conspiracy sorry. Like the initial statement about not need masks… think that was so the masks could get to the health workers, greater good?
Don’t be selfish, it’s not about you. Do your part, be reasonable, take a breath, stay safe and don’t drink any Clorox…
In NC, it was revealed that 20% of all Covid infections were in nursing homes and a full 50% of all Covid deaths were in nursing homes. Yes, its terrible but to bring the economy to a dead stop with tens of thousands in NC unemployed and over 22 million nationwide is even a bigger problem. Up until now, its been an either/or situation with competing state Governors seeing who can implement more draconian rules. A middle of the road approach is needed. This country needs to get back to work and we need to provide workers with safety protocols as best we can. However, this country will not survive sitting back for months(and even some “experts” calling for shutdowns until 2022!). In this case the cure will surely be worse then the disease.
I agree. Most of the shutdowns were not needed. Nearly all the restrictions put into place violate the Constitution. The worst part is far too many willing or even eager to give up their Constitutional Rights, just out of the fear and hysteria the media spread. And anyway, let’s not forget the purpose of the lockdowns/restrictions was to “flatten the curve” … (Which it did)… NOT stay in until the virus is eradicated (which now seems how much of the media is playing it).
Yes the restrictions violate the Constitution. Just like the restrictions of having to go through Xray , taking your shoes off, getting patted down for no reason just to board a plane, being banned from wearing full burqa, stop and frisk laws, racial profiling in certain neighborhoods, racial profiling driving down the road.
But they do not violate the constitution the supreme court ruled on that more than 100 years ago.
you should watch NY Gov Cuomo daily briefings for a fact based explanation of why we are doing what we’re doing. Its true less densely populated areas have not had the outbreaks of cities, but millions of people do live in cities. And if they get infected and travel to your town, then you are at risk, too. If we didn’t start isolation, our hospitals would have been over whelmed. We will get through this, just don’t waste the advantage we have gained by isolating. As soon as people congregate the infections will go back up and more people will die — maybe you or me or someone we love.
You’re spot on today Chuck. A vaccine is the only way we’re going to turn this tide. Even then there’s going to be a new normal.
Except there may never be a vaccine for this, just as there isn’t for the common cold (which in some cases is also a corona virus). And even if a vaccine is developed it could be years before it’s fully tested, approved and widely available. Keeping the economy locked down for a year or two will ensure there is nothing to go back to, and will ultimately result in more deaths than the virus. The new normal is going to be social distancing, face masks and lots of hand washing. Life is risky…
Forgive me venting. I understand where both sides are coming from. People want too go back too work. We have people who are afraid too go outside because the federal and state government put the fear into people.
Here are some more examples. The city council in Green Bay Wisconsin told the police department in green bay that if people are not following the social distance law the police have a right to arrest you and fine you. Wluk tv out of Green bay had this story.
Wtmj radio out of Milwaukee Wisconsin had these two stories. The city council out of Milwaukee passed a law saying you could not protest because you are not obeying the shelter in place orders. The city council told the Milwaukee police department to start arresting people if they protest. The next story involves the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. 18 out of 23:suburbs have passed a law stating you must wear a mask while you are outside. Here are the only exceptions. Kids under two years old. People who are out exercising and you are maintaining social distancing. If you have trouble breathing with a mask on then you need to have a doctors excuse why you are not wearing a mask.
Now Walmart is requiring all employees to wear a face mask. If a person does not want too wear a face mask you or I should not be force to by government or state authorities to wear one. We should be allowed a choice to if we want to wear a mask or not wear a mask.
Just like a Muslim woman should be able to board an airplane dressed in a full head to toe burqa and not be subjected to be being “frisked”, or have to go through a body scanner . Or an African American male in a “hoodie” pulled over his head should be able to “hang out” in any neighborhood he wants without the police being able to “stop and frisk”.
Chuckle, please, I beg you to look it up. If I’m wrong, please point me in the right direction. My opinion was based on detailed research, not disinformation.
I wait your reply with an open mind. I have given facts, it is your right, and i do mean right to reply with facts that counter what my research has uncovered. Thanking you in advance for attention to thks matter, and look forward to anything you can counter o what i have stated.
Chuck, well said.
A comment on reopening. I follow the math and have been following Covid-19 this about as closely as one on the sidelines can. I live in Portland OR and was up in your stomping grounds yesterday to visit a large aerospace company that is just starting to re-open. To get on site we had to have masks and the number of people in the area we were in (large room) was the two of us and never more than 2 of their employees. I carried hand sanitizer and used it. Social distancing at all times possible though we did elbow bump.
Most everything else we say was closed. There was drive through fast food and grocery stores open but little else. Traffic was great, speed limit from Olympia to north of South Center at 9:30am… awesome.
Someone asked below why Home Depot and not the department stores… Easy, a broke water pipe or roof repair is a tad more urgent than a new pair of socks and the bins are easier to disinfect.
So I’ve softened some on reopening, where it can be done safely. As you say though, until there is a vaccine many things we had will be out of reach.
Stay safe in there, we’ll get through this.
I’m not sure we should wait any longer. Most, and I qualify that, most rv parks are great places to get out and stretch. They are spaced far enough apart for social distancing and one can enjoy getting out of the house and doing a bit of recreating. If we don’t get out and use these rv parks they might just go away and we will have no place to stay in the future if they go out of business. Not sorry and I know this is where I’m going to get flack, but, It’s about the money. This wound (the pandemic) will only fester and get worse if we don’t get back to work and spend some cash. We can’t rely on the government to support us… after all where does the government get this money that they are giving to us. That’s right …. its ours and trust me they are coming to get more of it in the near future… just saying.
While I agree with some of your editorial I cannot agree with the extent of the lockdown. Why can we go shopping at Vons and Home Depot with precautions but not at a department store? The cure may be worse than the disease. Close to 40 per cent by of cases in LA county are in skilled nursing or assisted living. And just now they’re containing them. Isolate the infected and reopen the economy
Why are campgrounds closed? By nature camping separates groups outside group sites. Why close trails beaches and other recreation sites?
Our constitution is being trampled on like crazy.
Chuck, as the country starts it’s transition toward the new normal I am hearing stories about crossing state borders. I have been told that Utah has a 14 day quarantine in place, not too bad if you are headed there for a 2 month visit, but what if you are simply trying to transit the state. We are planning to do our annual summer visit with the kids, grandkids traveling from Florida to Massachusetts in our RV. If we had to do a quarantine in each state we transit the trip would be 6 months just to get there. It would seem that a weekly article about state policies might be a good temporary series that would help many of us that Snowbird, or as we are now saying, Sunbird.
Well done Chuck. I appreciate that you always tell it like it is. You’ve always promoted RVing but never glamorized the RV life. And there’s no sense sugar-coating this or pretending it’s all going to be fine by summer. The old normal won’t return for a long, long time, if ever. We can, however, find things to be grateful for and ways to feel better by helping others get through this. Our food banks need generous regular donations now more than ever!
Thank you Chuck for your introduction and evaluation of the virus. I think we are taking the right approach by slowly getting back. I get that we need to be back in business and that oil is tanking and our economy may soon follow, but we have to take this approach. I’m in Idaho and our great governor is taking a phased in approach to getting back to business and he is being recalled by an extremist group for doing so! We are encouraged to keep our distance and wear face masks. Yesterday my husband and I went out shopping for the first time in 6 weeks and wore our masks. We went to Home Depot to get vegetable starts for our garden. I would say that for the approximate hundred or so people we saw, maybe 20 were wearing masks. Not even the clerks were wearing masks! Now mind you, there were no arrests which I think is the right thing to do. To take the common sense approach, but there’s that group of extremists that are making it look bad for the rest of us by staging protests because their rights are being violated with the stay home orders or businesses being shut down. I say, for all the extremists, be the canary in the coal mine and let us know how it goes and for the rest of us, let us do what we think is right by staying home.
No it’s not a rug beater. That’s what we used to swat at Alaskan mosquitoes!
Or naughty husbands!
Thank you Chuck for your Editor Corner comments today. We the people need to know this today and everyday we wake up. I pray to God we all get the message before it’s too late.
Thank you again my brother!
My question is this. Do we continually keep this country on lock down and crash the economy? People are hurting and that is why people are protesting. People are killing themselves because they can not handle the stresses of being off. There are more domestic abuse cases because people are locked up.
You can do a search and listen to different people who have said that the more hospitals claim a death as covid 19 the more money they receive from the government. I know of two guys who I listen too have said this about hospitals. How do we know these deaths were really covid 19. These two guys I listen too said people,who are dying have underlying health care issues.
The reason why people are being fearful is because the media has installed a fear in everyone. If you do not fear comfortable about being inside stay inside.
You are right. Sensationalism is the rule of the day. Cause of death hass been adjusted to list [coronavirus] in many cases, as cause of death. Rates, it should read. Patient compromised with multiple diseases, of contracting [coronavirus] need his or her life.
Fact. If you die of a common Staff infection during a long term hospital stay ( highly likely) that is not recorded as cause of death. Just a fact.
Sorry Jeff, but the reason YOU are so fearful is that your version of “the media” has installed that fear into you.
Brain teaser; The number Seven. Take away the S and you have Even.
I was just going to say I got it on my seventh try without giving away the answer.
Must be to deep for me.