[Info-vax] [Totally OT] Covid-19, was: Re: Creating an open source version of VMS, was: Re: OpenVMS Hobbyist Notification

[Michael Moroney]

Bill Gunshannon <bill.gunshannon at gmail.com> writes:

>On 3/26/20 1:04 PM, Bruce Bowler wrote:
>> On Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:27:21 +0000, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply)
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> In article <r5ikp2$mub$1 at dont-email.me>, "Jay E. Morris"
>>> <morrisj at epsilon3.com> writes:
>>>
>>>> https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/heres-why-people-are-panic-buying-and-
>> stockpiling-toilet-paper.html
>>>
>>> Essentially says that in panic one wants high volumes and value, and
>>> toilet paper is cheap and bulky.  I'm not convinced.
>>>
>>> Much of it can be explained by the vicious circle, but why toilet paper
>>> in the first place?  There are other things which are cheap and bulky.
>> 
>> Besides which, it's a RESPIRATORY virus, not a GASTROINTESTINAL virus.
>> Hoard Kleenex, not TP.
>> 

>Never blame malice for something that can be reasonably
>explained by stupidity.

Yes.  It doesn't take much to start a run on toilet paper.
In the 1970s, Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show made a joke about a
toilet paper shortage (which didn't exist).  The next day, people went
panic buying, and guess what?  The next day, there _was_ a toilet paper 
shortage!

>The scatalogical vicious circle reminded me of this:  A company wanted
>to use Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" for an advertisement.  His heirs
>didn't allow them.  It was for medication for hemorrhoids.

Speaking of scatalogical products, celebrity connections and Johnny Carson,
Johnny Carson once sued a porta-potty company which sold its product under the
name "Here's Johnny".

(I assume everyone here is old enough to know of Johnny Carson)