SPOX's Daily Briefing –The Winners. The Losers. The Heroes.

The pandemic has changed our lives and created a new normal.  The economy has changed with some big winners and some people that suffered greatly. But from this, we created new opportunities for many people. As we go through Phase 1 of the recovery, we can deal with this up-side-down environment.

Essential Businesses and Activities

We declared upfront, that grocery stores, pharmacies, and hospitals are all essential and all should stay open.

But that is where things get fuzzy. The states are making their own lists of what’s essential for the people in their state. There is some sort of an agreement that hardware and home improvement stores, pet supplies (pets need pet food) and distribution centers followed by Churches and Houses of Worship are essential.

Here is a list of some questionable businesses that are open in some states. Gun shops, Marijuana Dispensaries, and Golf courses are open for business.

The Winners

Expanding Business

Many businesses expanded their operations and hired people to take care of the extra load. Some of these were for disinfect supplies, large food chains, meat producers, medical equipment including masks, video games, and on-line ordering all increased.

There were some problems with the meat packaging and a shortage of products but those are getting resolved. The only problem I had was availability of ice for my beverage at night. I solved this by buying a couple of ice trays and making my own.

Stock Market

The stock market fits into the Winner and Loser categories. On 2/12/2020 the market hit its all-time high (29,551). Then the shit hit the fan and the market crashed to the bottom (below 19,000). A month later it started its rally back.

Some people lost their life savings. Others, who had a heads up, dumped their stock before the crash. Now the big spenders are riding the waves of the market and making lots of cash. They start by buying at a low price and waiting for the regular buyers to get into the market which raises the price and then they sell, make a profit and wait for the next wave.

The Losers

Unemployment

Thank God the government stepped in and supported the people who lost their job. For many, it saved their homes, their family, and their sanity.

For others, it was a pay raise.  Some found out they got paid more for staying home and playing video games. Some workers are refusing to go back to work until the subsidy ends.

One unemployed worker said this in his defense, “I have two dogs to take care of. Why should I go back?”

The New Normal

Working at Home

This is definitely a New Normal candidate. It solves so many problems. Travel. Pollution. Social Distancing. Annoying co-workers. Availability of food and drinks.

Of course, so many jobs can’t be done this way. As previously reported, baseball is looking into umpires working from home. It could improve accuracy especially balls and strikes besides there is one less person gathered at the plate.

Personal Masks

Masks have become regular clothing for us socially concerned citizens. One whiskey company is carrying it to the next level. They are furnishing their masks with their logo printed on the front. What makes this unique is they have provided a hole in the middle of the mask to allow the customer to easily slip a straw through the mask. Enjoy.

Delivery Services

The delivery of food and other supplies to your door has become normal. My family regularly orders from our favorite restaurant. They have started a new service: Delivery by Drone.

Last week we ordered a three-course meal and sat on the porch and watched the delivery. Four drones came sweeping over the neighborhood. It looked like a Blue Angels flyover.

Restaurant and Bars

The reopening of these establishments has started with a bang. One owner said that her business did 30% more for the first two weeks than last year. The consumption of alcohol is up although the draft beer drinking curve is flat because of the shortage of CO2.

Our Heroes

Our condolences to those who have lost love ones and to the patients and their family members that continue to fight COVID-19. Salute to our doctors and medical workers and our first responders.

Conclusion

We may change jobs and buying habits but in the end, we will get back to normal. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

SPOX's Daily Briefing – Sports Changes and the New Normal

SPOX's Daily Briefing – Sports Changes and the New Normal

Through this terrible time we are finding new things to do and new ways to do them.

It gives us the opportunity to do some things differently. For example, sporting events will change, maybe forever.

To start with, No fans. If you want to watch your favorite team or player, your best bet is TV. Let’s take a look at some of the possible changes.

Baseball

Mound visits will be by cellphone only.

All pine tar and rosin must contain disinfectant.

No physical umpires. Some will be working from home. It may improve the accuracy.

Three at the plate is considered overcrowding because of social distancing.

They are still working on the dugout trash issue.

They are considering getting rid of manual scoreboards. The Cubs and Red Soxs are objecting, of course.

Football

Players must wear helmets at all times.

All Helmets must have plastic shields attached on the face bars.

No person shall be on the field or the side lines without a face mask except coaches who can remove theirs to yell at officials.

Surfing

Drones are being used to monitor surfers.

They must stay in the water and practice social distancing.

Once they are done with a wave they must leave the beach or stay in the water. No stopping to check out the chicks.

Some states are starting to spray beaches using drones to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This could help the surfers to get back to their normal routine. Now if we could get the drones to help with all the garbage left on the beach that would be great.

One female sunbather at a nude beach in Hawaii commented on the drones. “They are so cute. I didn’t know the little planes could fly so slow and that close to the ground.”

Bowling

We’ve had Wii Bowling for a while now. This is the internet game where people meet in small groups and simulate bowling using a large monitor and hand device.  The bowlers stand in front of the screen and make a motion toward the computer.

Some even have the sound of pins crashing together but I would miss the thud of my ball going into the gutter.

Golf is looking into a similar situation.

Just think no lost balls and an automated score card.

You could play on your favorite course whenever you wanted and have a beer sitting right next to you between shots.

NASCAR

Good news. Racing will begin with limited attendance. Again, social distancing will prevail. Masks must be worn along with other preventive gear during the whole event.

For those of you that are lucky enough to get a ticket, you must pass a temperature check coming into the event and exiting. I don’t know what that’s all about.

I am sure I’ll be watching this on TV. Networks realize how difficult it is to watch the streaming cars going by the camera, so they will add new features like a sound track of the race and the pit crew as well as a view of all accidents by time of race.

Tennis

One governor setup a set of rules for players as they come back to the court.

Singles only.

They must keep an empty court in between other matches.

Players must use their own ball.

I don’t know about this one. I would get tired chasing my ball to the other end of the court.

I will miss the vendors walking through the stands yelling “cold beer here, cold beer”.

SPOX's Daily Briefing – What does COVID-19, George Carlin, and Computer Modeling have in common?

Our condolences to those who have lost love ones and to their family members that continue to fight COVID-19.

My first experience with computer models was ‘Back in the Day’ as people tried to guess what the weather was going be for the next day or so. This was before satellites, so they just called people to the west of them, asked about the weather, and which way the wind was blowing.

I remember George Carlin, Hippy-Dippy Weather Man, over 50 years ago, had to admit to his audience that a lot of people were shoveling about two feet of “partly cloudy” off their driveways that morning. “Sorry about that.”

I don’t know about you but I’m getting tired of seeing the health models and graphs. These are all based on predictions and guesses.

For example, the first CDC prediction was over 147,000 deaths as health models started coming from everyone who wanted to get their name on the news. Then came the shutdown of the businesses and the economy. We stopped large groups from gathering including sporting events.

We came up with the idea of social distancing, wearing masks, and a stay-at-home order to limit the spread of the virus. This did help although many people ignored the advice.

We kicked off that order with Mardi Gras and it’s 1.4M attendance.

We follow that with the start of the blue crab season in D.C. Fish markets. Finally, someone stepped in to try to enforce the order, as hundreds crowded the markets, most without masks.

We topped that off by shutting down a funeral in Brooklyn where hundreds of mourners had gathered. One official called the gathering “absolutely unacceptable.”

Also, the police shut down a birthday party attended by nearly 60. The police also broke up a marijuana party and a demonstration in front of a state capital. The large crowd demanded ‘Free Toilet Paper for All’. One unmasked protester said, “No one can stop this movement.”

George had similar problems with his weather models.

“Now, I imagine some of you were a little surprised at the weather over the weekend. Especially if you watched my show on Friday. I’d like to personally apologize to the former residents of Rogers, Illinois. The tornado caught them cats nappin’, man!”

Phase 2 – Starting the recovery

Are we going back to a new normal or the same old stuff?

Of course, golf courses, marijuana stores, and big-box outlets were already open, all deemed essential.

As bars/restaurants opened last week in Arizona, a crowded Tempe college bar sparked concerns. Authorities said the crowded bar appeared to disregard social distancing guidelines. A source told me he did see one person eating a burger.

Testing seems to be a political football. If we had a vaccine, testing would be critical. With our current situation, a negative test means you don’t have the virus TODAY.

George’s Sure Thing prediction: "Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Turning partly light by morning."

Bottom line - here is a summary of death stats last year.

Flu related – 79,000 +

Drug related – 79,000+

Car Crashes – 39,000+

Murders – 17,000+

I’m like George, it’s going to be ‘Partly Cloudy’.

SPOX's Daily Briefing – Surfs UP in Huntington Beach

As we start to recover from the Pandemic, businesses are opening and we are getting back to our normal activities. However, Huntington Beach, my old stomping ground, is in the spotlight.

The Governor recently closed beaches in conservative Orange County after thousands of people enjoyed the beaches the weekend before but also compromised social distancing.

So we gathered at the Huntington Beach pier and protested. Some were saying the governor had singled out Orange County and overstepped his authority while allowing other beaches in California to remain open.

Meanwhile, Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, and San Diego beaches and piers remained open with time limits.

What politicians don’t understand we are a different bred. The beaches are everything to us.  

Except for the beaches being empty, everything seemed pretty normal. People were surfing, skating, walking, running, and biking all over the place. There were life guards in place watching the ocean. The garbage cans were overflowing and there was the usual amount of trash on the sand.

There was no Ladies Volleyball going on. That always draws a crowd. You know it’s more than the competition.

Also, Newport Beach was closed including my favorite place, Blackie’s by the Sea. They did keep the parking meters going. So, many people jumped in their boats and headed to the open sea to fish and party.

Us beach bums are a different lot. This is not how we roll.

Salute to our doctors and medical workers and our first responders. Join me at Blackie’s for the coldest beer in town. Let’s go catch a wave today.

 JR Spox

SPOX's Daily Briefing – Golf is a Contact Sport

Our leaders don’t understand Golf is a full contact sport. It’s the competition and the companionship. It’s the exercise and having fun in the sun.

Finally golf courses across the country are opening with restrictions. Some are still closed.

Washington, Illinois, New Jersey and Maine declared open dates for golf courses earlier in the week.

Bay Area golfers who are ready to get back on the green will be able to do so soon, but not in every county. Golfers must practice appropriate social distancing but proclaim that golf is a "safe outdoor activity”.

On the other side, Florida golfers were caught ignoring social distancing rules at a golf course and were fined.

In Arizona, the courses never closed. Now that the winter visitors have left, the Governor, under pressure, is adding restrictions. He had deemed earlier that golf courses were essential businesses, allowing them to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The golfing community came up with their own set of restrictions which seem to make sense.

A.    Utilize on-line or phone tee time reservation systems

B.     Regularly sanitize common surfaces

C.     Be creative with cup liners to avoid having players reaching into the hole to retrieve golf balls

D.    Eliminate cups and holes on practice greens.

E.     Modify driving range hitting areas to ensure social distancing between players.

F.      Discourage group congregation, or to limit numbers of people in a certain area of the club or pro shop, the parking lot, and around tees and greens.

G.    Ask golfers to leave the golf course immediately after playing

H.    Ensure that the flag stick remains in at all times

I.       Restrict use of driving range and putting greens

Some restrictions recommended make no sense at all.

1.      At the golf course’s discretion, foursomes are allowed if they are from the same household. Otherwise, no more than two players from separate households per tee time. Single players should be asked if they would like to be paired together.

2.      Restrict play to one rider per power cart, unless a minor is also playing.

3.      Eliminate on-course garbage cans, encourage golfers to carry and properly dispose of their own garbage when leaving the course.

4.      Remove bunker rakes and other on-course furniture like benches, ball washers, water coolers, etc.

  

Here are Spox’s recommendations to start back into the real world of golf.

A.    Ladies golf groups and outings – all must wear masks and limit talking

B.     All tournaments can proceed as scheduled with shot-gun starts

C.     Beer carts permitted with only draft beer, no cans or bottles – mixed drinks by delivery only

D.    The Tees and Greens problem – players shouldn’t leave a green until next group is gone from the next tee

E.     No celebrations for a hole in one or other great shots

F.      Hunting for lost balls restricted to one player searching at a time

G.    Ball washing allowed between holes if disinfectant used

H.    Golf tees, after use, must be discarded in waste cans

I.       Caddies allowed with protective gear – designated pin puller and ball retriever - they must have their own cart

J.       Pro shops: Trying on shoes or handling equipment for sale or rent is discontinued

K.    Used golf ball purchases limited to 6 per player – purchase of same day balls prohibited

L.     Use Wii Golf on-line when possible

M.   And last but not least. The 19^th hole – social distancing recommended – no playing cards or exchange of money except by credit card or IOU

All I can say ‘FOUR’. We will be back soon.

Salute to our doctors and medical workers and our first responders.
 JR Spox