Muh Muh Muh My Corona (virus)

That sounds like a great episode of Planet Money.

 

People think of Amazon as just a place where people buy things - I have to think the data they collect - what people are buying and where and when - is much more valuable than a "like" on FB. I'm sure a few hedge funds would kill for that kind of data, finding the anomalies, the surges of interest or sudden declines.

 

Amazon will let companies that sell on their site get a peek of that data - for a price. Your internal numbers show Widget A is a top seller, but Amazon will say "Yes, but our data shows the average buyer only buys it once and then opts for your competitor's Widget product in subsequent purchases." Then they'll "ask" you to spend X to increase your visibility on their site and/or run ads within the Amazon search results.

Walmart has that data too - both online and in-store.

 

Coronavirus kills another 1,000 in Texas in just 10 days

 

This hasn't been a mystery.

The key to containing Corona isn't masks or lockdowns or anything.

It's widespread testing and contact tracing, and it has to happen on the federal level, except our Chief Executive said "let the states do it, so I can try to dodge any blame when it doesn't go right."

 

That, but combined with and enhanced by the anti-government mindset by so many citizens would make it unworkable. They wouldn't cooperate with contact tracing because it's Big Brother - they'd slippery slope it and claim the Feds are going to tell you who you're allowed to spend time with.

 

They haven't tried. Even just a competent, federally-coordinated testing program would have value and some would cooperate with the contract tracing. Part of the problem is definitely the size of this country and the issues with the way some of its people would react, but these things should have been put in motion in January and February.

 

No frigging way that the "muh freedums" crowd would allow contract tracing by mobile app.

Numerous stories now that many people refuse to even answer contact tracing questions.