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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: smokester on March 07, 2020, 11:27:07 AM

Title: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 07, 2020, 11:27:07 AM
I'm beginning to think I am in a dream state that I can't wake up from. Here in London I am now finding it hard to get basic things like pasta and loo roll. It's not at the point of crisis yet, but there are some I know who are struggling to get these basic things locally as they aren't surrounded my all the big supermarkets like we are here in south west London.

It is a big concern I know and to be honest I bought a contigency-plan store of food about 5 weeks ago and then got on with life knowing I could isolate my family for a month if I had to as long as I had running water. Things then just proceeded as normal while incorporating basic advice like using hand cleaner as a rule when entering our apartment.

Things have changed now. It's like people are breaking the "break-glass" boxes as if the zombies have attacked.

I didn't think the world, with all its freak weather etc., could have become even more surreal than it was. But it has.

How is everyone else here holding up?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 07, 2020, 02:10:39 PM
My mom has caught the madness, she's bought a bunch of stupid poo and substitutes for foods that just don't work.

For example, she bought these weird vacuum packed ham slices, and I found a recipe. You stick it in the middle of a grands biscuit, and top it with white gravy.

So she bought crescent rolls and chicken gravy. That... doesn't work.

She was saying that she would make me take a rideshare to the doctor instead of the bus, until I told her ridesharing was how it is spreading in NY state.

The entire situation was taken too casually initially, and now it's led to all this crazy poo. I'd read Corona sales have dropped because of it, so when I was picking up whiskey I checked.

I imagine it's the price that's driven down Corona sales. A six pack is $11, a 12 pack is $18. You can get a 12 pack of Heineken for $11.

People are certainly losing their poo, I drove off the jehovas by repeating the advice I heard on the news, maintain a six foot distance from people.

The panic certainly is greater than in the past, the closest I'd say it is reminds me of the anthrax scare and the run on Tamiflu.

There's a great playlist on youtube where the host breaks down assorted movie and comic book viruses, and he started with all the zombie movies.

It is interesting to see how fragile the systems we take for granted break down. Well, Terrifying really.

One I found strange, the percentage on rubbing alcohol seems to have been marked down. I usually buy 90% for electronics cleaning, and I've heard 60-80% is ideal for wound cleaning, but all the stuff I've seen lately is 50%. I wonder why that is.

Of course, our Business Man in chief said this will all blow over by April. I still wonder what the golly made him think that, let alone say it out loud.

I'm trying to remember some of the crazy foods from the simpsons, for instance, in homer's WWIII shelter, he had canned chicken wings.

I'd eat Cheezus H. Rice. Chunky Farms Tail & Tendon Soup, not so much.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 07, 2020, 06:22:39 PM
I'm not worried about food or basic necessities, but given it's in my area, I suspect it's merely a matter of time before people we know begin to get sick.  I've heard that it's not as bad as everyone says, and I've heard that it's much worse than everyone thinks.  So, I'll just keep on as before hoping that it doesn't get bad and adjusting to whatever conditions occur. 

I do wash my hands a great deal more than I did in the past.  That's supposed to help -- that, and avoiding touching one's face.  I don't take public transportation to work, in part, because it seems a good vector for disease, at least more so than my car.  I have the impression that alcohol based hand sanitizer doesn't really have any effect on the virus, so I haven't bothered.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 08, 2020, 12:48:41 PM
Johnny Carsonesque toilet paper shortages have been reported across Australia.

It's panic buying. They heard that the first thing to run out in Wuhan was toilet paper, and decided to join the club.
I hear Tescos is rationing. Rice and Bean madness have hit the US.

My Jack in the box decided that the drop in foot traffic was as good of an excuse for a remodel as any, and will be closed for four months. (A car recently drove into it)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 08, 2020, 01:40:10 PM
The local Safeway is busy as normal on weekends but I haven't seen anyone hoarding toilet paper.  I guess it would be inconvenient to run out, but it's not clear why a respiratory infection should send people running out for that product.  Maybe I'm a bit slow on the uptake here.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 08, 2020, 03:48:59 PM
I just read a small blurb on it. People go to store for food. Store is out of food they want. Toilet paper is there. Toilet paper is large item, Toilet paper does not expire. People buy Toilet paper, people experience false victory feeling.

I don't know if I buy that, but there's one explanation.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 08, 2020, 06:53:39 PM
I went to the store today.  To my amazement, one entire side of an aisle was empty with a sign saying the supplier had been wiped out of stock.  This was the rice and dried beans aisle.  Fortunately, I buy rice in 20 pound bags (a year's supply of basmati from the Indian grocery) and we have enough dry and canned beans to last for years, so I didn't need to put any strain on the food supply.  The store was mobbed but I think that's kind of normal for Sunday afternoon, thanks to the M-F work week.

I didn't check the toilet paper aisle.  One woman was shopping in a mask, which seemed silly to me, as the masks offer no protection against this virus.  We just had a cruise ship full of sick passengers assigned to the Port of Oakland, where they are theoretically being quarantined. 

When I was younger, I went to Paris and a day after I landed, terrorists bombed the airport where I'd just arrived.  I figured that if it's your time, if there's a bomb or a virus with your name on it, there's not much you can do to thwart fate.  You can do the best you can to try to stay healthy, eat well and take exercise, but other than that, I don't think you can avoid an epidemic.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 09, 2020, 01:48:30 AM
Running the numbers it seems that virtually everyone is at some risk of dying from the virus regardless of age or health, and I think those odds are what is driving the panic.

If you were diagnosed with something serious and the doctor told you that you have a 99% percent chance of a full recovery you'd be jumping with joy. But by the same token, if you were in a room with 99 other people and someone was going to shoot a single bullet into the crowd, given the opportunity I'd rather not be in the room in the first place.

Let's be honest, if we all isolated for 2 or 3 weeks, it's the virus that would be dead. And I could catch up with some admin...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 09, 2020, 07:05:13 AM
It's interesting, and somewhat concerning, to see the stock markets' current rollercoaster trading behaviors.  Automatic pauses to trading have been instituted after the market plunged this morning.  Locking down sections of the industrial producing areas, like they're doing in Italy, can't be good for business.  The Fed keeps throwing money at this, reducing interest rates and offering more short term loans to banks.  Oil is trading at very low prices.  I'm wondering about whether the average consumer will see a drop in gasoline prices -- probably not.

As for not being in that room in the first place, yes, I agree.  But, in preparation, I go dig up my yard, believing somehow that digging soil might be beneficial.  Exercise and getting down with the local microbes might give me a little protection.  But that's probably just wishful thinking.  The weeds have gotten ahead of me, so it can't hurt to make the yard look better.  Right now, I'm trying to deal with daylight savings time.  I hate having the clock moved forward and backward.  It's disruptive in basic ways.   Have a good day and remember to wash your hands.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 09, 2020, 08:39:36 AM
Those pauses make me question the utility of the stock market in the first place. At this point they're just trying to mitigate damage.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 09, 2020, 10:45:12 AM
I do feel that this crisis is a true wake up call to all those who have been living in a dreamworld of opulence.

Perhaps, after it's all over, we can all get back to the business of just living rather than racing to the imaginary top.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 09, 2020, 12:49:37 PM
I mean, the existence of that "circuit breaker" implies the opulent will be defended, but if you have to go to work, even if you're sick, you're even more bent now.

Apparently the "circuit breakers" are designed to prevent weird computer behavior that happens after such drops. It happened in 1987. Apparently the computers start making weird buying/selling decisions in such a scenario, but that's as far as the article I was reading got into it.

I found out that 50% alcohol is functionally worthless. Any idea why they sell that crap six?

I've read the Oil thing is some form of economic war between the Saudi's and Russia. Guess they decided to dump fuel on this crisis.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 10, 2020, 04:36:07 AM
life is life
or not for some
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 10, 2020, 04:50:22 AM
This is true. In fact for most folk the "some risk" approaches 100%.

Do ingrowing toenails count in comorbidity? Assuming you had the virus, that is.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 11, 2020, 10:50:35 PM
They can't help.  The pain, alone, must be an added stressor that depresses the immune system.

I stay off of public transport as much as possible.  Even though I'd be happy to let them take me from one place to the next, I feel safer in my car.  At least there's probably less germs.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 12, 2020, 02:22:51 PM
So, England's counter-measures in the first stage response was to tell all the naughty people to wash their hands, use tissues (which makes no sense unless you have the virus (at which point you should self-isolate)) and to self-isolate for 14 days if you feel you have the virus. I'm not sure how much those counter-measures cost, but I bet it was a pretty penny.

As now the virus looks like it could be serious as lots of people have died, England has moved to its stage two response of counter-measures which consist of telling all the naughty people to wash their hands, use tissues (which makes no sense unless you have the virus (at which point you should self-isolate)) and to self-isolate for 7 days if you feel you have the virus.

They have refused to close schools because ... ok, I have no idea why they wouldn't do that as my kids school has 1700 pupils all with the ability to swim in the virus soup and then take it home to their parents, grandparents and carers. Apparently, it has something to do with kids on free school meals or something. School meals are so much more valuable than the well-being of the grown-ups around you.

I can be sensible about how I interact with what I come into contact with outside of my dwelling, and I can also keep my family safe by minimising their contact with anything that poses a risk, but I cannot, and would not separate myself from my children who will unwittingly spread the virus far and wide.

Interesting to see what out third stage counter-measures will be. Probably something like free doughnuts.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 12, 2020, 10:43:19 PM
Kinda scary, Our president lied a lot in his speech regarding the ongoing crisis.

First, he forgot the word cargo. Dipshit actually said "Carg". That's like, Phil Hartman mocking Reagan territory.
Next, he said anyone who wants a test for the Corona virus can get the test. That is ALSO not true.
Another false claim was that people returning to the United States are being screened for the virus.
Other points that the White House was forced to walk down were a suspension of trade with the EU, which would have REALLY bent things up, and that Insurance Companies will pay for patients to be tested and treated for the virus.

What in the golly?!

Additionally, He himself refuses to be tested for the virus.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 12, 2020, 10:52:11 PM
I felt like I was watching a short film directed by Salvador Dalí during the press conference.  He's stopping people from coming from Europe but not the UK?  I guess he wants to be sure people can visit his golf courses.

And then he bragged about how we didn't really have the virus here because we're smarter and better than Europe and Asia.  Jesus wept.  If there is a God, he'll wipe out the current administration with that infection.  The cruelty and mendacity of that man is only surpassed by his stupidity and lack of compassion.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 12, 2020, 11:03:39 PM
I remember when conservative news sources were saying those same yellow curtains were some Islamic poo during the Obama administration. For some reason that is no longer a concern.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 13, 2020, 01:37:50 AM
I think that Trump is really threatened by the Coronavius for 2 reasons: a) It's more orange, and b) it's got the halo he's always wanted.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 13, 2020, 02:00:47 AM
Pray for Zod? Not the crappy one from the new movies, the fabulous one from the 80's.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 13, 2020, 07:33:01 PM
Pray for Zod? Not the crappy one from the new movies, the fabulous one from the 80's.

I confused that with Zardoz, the weird flying head thing.  With Sean Connery in odd costumes.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 13, 2020, 08:47:47 PM
The weird flying head shows up occasionally on Rick & Morty.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 13, 2020, 11:13:47 PM
I wish the flying head could take the virus away with it.  I think and fear that it's only a question of time before people here begin to get sick, some of them deathly ill and it is unnerving waiting for it to happen.

My husband tried to go to the store to buy lettuce and it was so insanely crowded that he left the basket and walked out.  Went to a local mom n pop place instead and was in and out in a few minutes.  I just read a pretty scary article in the NY Times about two 29 year old women in Hunan, medical professionals, who caught the virus when caring for patients, one of them had serious pneumonia that led to multiple organ failure and death.  And she and her spouse were doctors with access to the best medical care, so I don't hold out great optimism for our decades of wild west everyman for himself public policy and the ensuing dearth of qualified medical care and facilities.  If it gets bad here, we're basically screwed.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 14, 2020, 02:19:06 AM
My daughter asked if any of the folk in the “recovered” column had previously been in the “dead” column.

She says that in the movies that is the first sign of the zombie apocalypse.

Needless to say, this is a statistic that I am now tracking with interest.

Does my sense of humour count?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 14, 2020, 07:45:09 AM
I don’t know. I don’t understand humour.

At this moment in time, you're not missing out much.

Death toll doubled in the U.K today so no doubt more panic buying will make sure that doesn't happen again tomorrow.

I'm off to the shops.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 14, 2020, 11:28:46 AM
Maybe Boris should announce that you can't really mummify someone by wrapping them in bogroll.

Can you not?

Hmmm.. I'm off to the shops again, this time for clingfilm.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 14, 2020, 02:04:48 PM
Handy Tip: Don't use it as a face mask.

You need to get out more, clearly.  Plastic can "do wonders for your face."
To wit:

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 14, 2020, 03:32:34 PM
You need to get out more, clearly.  Plastic can "do wonders for your face."


Bugger! Off to the shops again for a crate or 2 of honey.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 15, 2020, 05:52:47 AM
Pick up some more bog rolls while you are there!

Sorted. I tell you what though, those bloody pensioners can put up a fight when motivated.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 15, 2020, 09:57:13 AM
We can, can't we!

Story is: you're soon to be "cocooned".

Don't forget your hand sanitiser before going in.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 15, 2020, 02:25:39 PM
.... I couldn't help thinking that maybe Boris Johnson is just viewing this as some perverse way to cut down the population of OAP's by ensuring mass exposure and so reduce the cost of pensions <Shrugs> the Tories never did give a poo for Human life).

We've examined exactly that possibility when trying to figure what on earth we are trying to achieve here to combat the virus. I don't think it's that farfetched.

We have a long way to go before some kind of victory day, but I'm glad to hear that you are back home and healthy, Aelthric, and the news that Bubu is also well.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 15, 2020, 07:36:16 PM
I'd heard from Linda that you had the royal treatment on your return flight.  The whole experience must have been surreal.  I'm glad you are back home and that Jock & Linda are there to fuss over you.

I went to the grocer's today and not a single roll of "bog" paper?  is that what you call it?  You take it to the swamp with you?  At any rate, that's more amusing than "toilet" paper or "bath tissue."  There was a sign indicating that there was only one package allowed per customer.  Had there been any, I wouldn't have bothered as we have plenty for the time being. But I did pick up a few things and made a nice dinner.

I'm probably going to go work tomorrow and have a serious conversation about being allowed to work from home as the governor basically told me to stay home.  If I can get the computer set up and work without going in, that would be a bit safer.  I still go out and walk around but try to stay away from people and crowds.  My visit to the grocers was about the only outing for the day and laundry & cooking kept me occupied for the remainder.  I hope things are ok with all of you.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 15, 2020, 09:32:35 PM
I heard they've closed Bars and Cinemas now. That might just be LA, but I heard Newsom wanting it to be statewide.

Restaurants added mid story on the news, before that, the governor offered the assinine "Just reduce seating to maintain the 6 foot barrier".

Like, sure Gav, you gonna cover rent?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 16, 2020, 05:48:36 AM
I managed to panic buy a shedload of eggs today. They all go out of date on Wednesday so they're not much use to anyone, but I enjoyed the panic buying anyhow.

Or maybe they saw me coming?

Hmmm...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 16, 2020, 07:10:40 AM
I think you still have another month to enjoy them.  https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/EggsSell.htm (https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/EggsSell.htm)  Time for omelettes, quiches, custards and some lemon curd!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 16, 2020, 03:46:15 PM
I think you still have another month to enjoy them.  https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/EggsSell.htm (https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/EggsSell.htm)  Time for omelettes, quiches, custards and some lemon curd!

In that case I might advertise them at a pound a throw.

No throwing allowed though.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on March 16, 2020, 03:50:54 PM
I have supplies, water, food, hygenals.  I also have a "quarentine" plan.  I'll be in a big home with my best friend and his family, none of which are at risk individuals or children.  Also, his mom owns a restaurant, so I will continue to be employed for carry out, at least, and I work at the grocery store, as well.  Probably a hard quarentine soon.  God, goodluck. 
Love you guys.  So far, we are supplied.  I'm so sorry for the people.
Peace n Love,
Chicken Little

Also, we've been eating eggs more often over here.  Bit of a belly ache over it. 
I feel like rice helps, anything else?


aelthric, good to hear from you.  The story of your flight alone is awesome and I also echo your delightment in demonoid for our friends. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 16, 2020, 08:40:47 PM
My boss was totally cool about my working from home.  In fact, the counties affected have basically issued Shelter in Place orders for the next 3 weeks, so it's not clear if the business will have more than a skeleton crew in the office.  I brought home my laptop and will sign on in the morning.  I'm lucky.  I feel for those who work in restaurants and who rely on tips for much of their income.

bea, please stay safe, as I worry about you being out & about.  It feels strange here even going to the grocery store.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 16, 2020, 11:04:38 PM
I get that the shelter in place order is meant to prevent spread, but I have this horrible feeling it will daisy chain.

Similar to how travel bans proved ineffective, I feel like this "shelter in place" poo will only result in lost jobs.

I also severely bless'ed hate "social distancing" It sounds like a gods damned Oprahism,  like "teachable moment" instead of "learning experience".

bless'ed PHYSICAL DISTANCING is what is important. You can still text and IM to your hearts content!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 17, 2020, 01:17:45 AM
Yeah.  They have to come up with a new hip catch phrase.  I hate being hip.  It's such a bore.  And so vulnerable to 'groupthink.'  Like everyone has to have a beard now.  Gak.  I don't mind people who have always had beards, but those guys who have to grow one because everyone else now has one, ick.  But I digress.

At least I can stay home and work.  That's a help.  Who knows if this will stem the tide of transmission.  It can't hurt.  I do feel for those who work at jobs that will be eliminated by people not  going out.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on March 17, 2020, 04:36:32 PM
I am being ever careful.  Definitely out of a resturaunt job for now.  The grocery store is going to be solid, at least making a little money for us to keep buying food.  Watching frozen two with my daughter at the moment. 
I agree with you aelthric, also wanting to quickly state that this has all been entirely too convenient for social reform to not have been planned, my opinion. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 17, 2020, 08:29:33 PM
I don't think the responses were planned, but they're certainly using the pandemic to cross off items on their wishlist.

I thought it was weird how the Governor of California gave himself powers to take over motels and hotels - since eminent domain already exists.

It's like he wants to be able to grab the facilities WITHOUT the implied compensation of eminent domain. That's... worrying stuff.

One of my neighbors is a gardener, and the cabin fever drove him to doing the entire property (The property management guy stumbles drunkenly with a weedwhacker, and doesn't do anything else)

The gardener did an excellent job, and then drunky showed up and pretended like he did it. I wish he'd use his weed whacker as a suppository.

UPDATE:

The rolling self-quarantine is starting to scare me, I heard the Vegas casinos have been told to stay closed for an entire month, it really makes you worry about how people are going to make rent or pay their mortgage. Hell, it's not like building owners can just waive rent indefinitely, they've got poo they have to pay for too!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 17, 2020, 11:05:23 PM
Things are weird and they're probably going to get weirder and let's hope that the icky political and economic consequences are the worst of it.  I'm hoping the virus will peak early and spare lots of people.  I spent the entire day working from home.

It wasn't nearly as much fun as going to the office.  I like being around people and there's generally good spirits there.  Sitting at home working with a little laptop is a far cry from the luxuries of the office.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 18, 2020, 03:17:36 PM
So the U.K has bent to the popular measures to supposedly combat the virus such as closing schools and rolling out tanks. Hypocritically, I was now on board with the herd immunity method as I figure the virus isn't as deadly as Hitler and we kicked the poo out of him.

On a serious note: I called a couple of old friends today as one thing I have experienced due to the situation, is the desire to catch up with folk a haven't seen in a while. Anywho, to the point: the first friend I called was his usual self, laughing a joking about the whole business and not particularly worried. The conversation with the second friend I called was slightly different on account that she was actually ill with it. She'd been on a cruise and came back on the 8th feeling fine, but by the 10th she got really ill and went to bed for four days. She kept saying she felt ok now but her coughing made me think she still had a little way to go. They won't test her, or rather, there is no system in place for her to be tested so she can't even be sure that she's now clear (immune) and can just get on with it.

I asked her how she would rank the illness compared to the flu and she said that in truth that it wasn't as bad (for her). She did say that while she was ill she kept waking up and taking more paracetamol only to then go back to bed and immediately sleep, so she didn't really experience much of it.

I cannot deny that I feel reassured by the latter conversation.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 19, 2020, 05:12:56 AM
I hope your friend makes a full recovery.  The virus seems sort of unpredictable, killing perfectly healthy young people in their 20's as well as others whose age or immune-compromised state renders them more vulnerable.  It's the former situation that gives me pause.  I resist even going to the grocery store these days.  It's a drag to stay home for days on end, and it worries me that my husband is still going to work.  I wonder if he's going to bring something home.  But he really doesn't have a choice.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on March 19, 2020, 05:02:36 PM
There is a ton of misinformation and FUD being spread, hopefully mostly unintentionally. Just be smart, practice social distancing, and general hygiene practices and unless one falls in the danger categories christ mentioned, I feel I'm doing my part to keep myself, as well as others, safe.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 19, 2020, 05:37:30 PM
Not in the UK, it isn't - where is this information from? All of the data that I have seen indicates that it is essentially non-critical for 0-10, non-fatal for 10-30, 1% mortality (due to other issues) for 30-50. (A bit tricky after that, up where I live) I have seen nothing (and believe me I have been looking) that substantiates it killing perfectly healthy young people.

In the UK the youngest victim to date is a 40-something with MND.
I had believed this, myself, also, except that I soon began reading articles in well respected periodicals that led me to question that assertion.  It no longer seems to be the case.   This New York Times article about two young women in China, both medical professionals and healthy mothers in their late 20's were both taken gravely ill; one died. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/world/asia/coronavirus-death-life.html?searchResultPosition=1 (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/world/asia/coronavirus-death-life.html?searchResultPosition=1)



 (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/world/asia/coronavirus-death-life.html[/url)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 19, 2020, 05:50:05 PM
I tried to link a story about a New Jersey family that had been devastated but maybe the BB code won't allow for more than two links per post, so I'll try here.  Four deaths so far, the elderly mother, three of her children aged in their 50's and several of the other family members, who did nothing more egregious than to attend a large family dinner one evening a week or so ago, have fallen ill and/or are in quarantine.

https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-20200319-amq3mvwl55dp5cnyfffjoxbpla-story.html (https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-20200319-amq3mvwl55dp5cnyfffjoxbpla-story.html)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 19, 2020, 05:51:50 PM
https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-new-age-analysis-of-risk-confirms-young-adults-not-invincible/ (https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-new-age-analysis-of-risk-confirms-young-adults-not-invincible/)

This is the third and I think that Simple Machines doesn't like multiple links for some reason.  If I knew that a virus going around had a 20% chance of putting me in the hospital, I might think twice about being in a situation where I might risk getting exposed to it.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 19, 2020, 06:59:17 PM
Governor just issued a stay home order for my state.

The rolling nature of this "self isolation" is starting to upset me. I understand why they don't want to set firm dates, but hearing things like "May or June" is not conducive to calm acceptance.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 19, 2020, 10:55:40 PM
We were told through the first week of April.  We've been on "shelter in place" orders since Tuesday.  I guess they're planning to extend it?  Lordy.  I'm tired of being home all the time.  I don't even want to go to the supermarket 3 blocks from my house.  But this is tiresome.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 20, 2020, 01:31:32 AM
I think it's that "enforcement" began at 12:00 midnight.

I've also read that the whole "shelter in place" is a lot like the hotel grabs. They don't use eminent domain or martial law because those circumstances have specific rules, that can't be rolled.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 20, 2020, 02:45:27 AM
I'd say that younger people probably suffer the same normal mortality rates with the novel coronavirus as they do the more common strains of the flu.  And the aged and infirm suffer higher ones.  The trouble is that they are not isolated from the rest of the population and often can serve as asymptomatic carriers.  That, combined with the tendency of young people to feel immortal, can be problematic.  This group of future Nobel laureates kind of drives home the point.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/19/coronavirus-spring-break-party/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/19/coronavirus-spring-break-party/)

The grocers around here have started instituting senior shopping hours early in the morning.  Most of the stores engage in "deep cleaning" overnight, with the normally 24 hour stores now closing at 9 pm for the cleaning and restocking made necessary by nutjobs stockpiling food and "bog roll."
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 20, 2020, 03:43:47 PM
Don't get me wrong - some people die of ingrown toenails, too: some will die "of coronavirus" in the 0-50 age group but it isn't end-of-the-world scary for them, more like a lottery win in reverse. It is exactly the sort of story that news media like to chase down, however, so they can spread "human interest". I wouldn't be surprised if every single under-40 coronavirus fatality has a news story about them somewhere - that tells you that there aren't that many.

Looking at the global numbers, however, I stand by my statement that this new super-plague doesn't really pose a threat to young healthy folk. We oldsters, however ...

A friend of a friend works in a white goods store: they are getting people panic-buying freezers to provide somewhere to stash their stockpiles. They had to institute a "no more than 5 freezers per customer" rule!

Quite honestly I've seen a few "American" fridges delivered to various neighbours this week, and no sign of their old ones being taken out.

Odd thing is that I had to grab a few things from a Co-op local this afternoon and they had everything I wanted due to a 1 item of any particular product limit. There was the usual number of people shopping, buying the usual amount of food and the whole experience was completely "normal" by standards of a few months ago. If it stays like that then no one need buy anything extra and we can see this thing through rationally.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 20, 2020, 05:36:26 PM
I don't know where I'd put one freezer, let alone five.  We have a refrigerator freezer, larger than the ones that are common in the UK but relatively small as we live in an apt.  Even with its relatively modest size we end up with stuff stuck at the back and forgotten.

I wonder at the utility of all this stockpiling.  It seems more of a question of people not knowing what to do, but they can shop.  So they do.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 20, 2020, 08:01:42 PM
My roommates dealership shifted his job to car collection rather than shuttle driver. He was driving mechanics out to houses to tow cars back to dealership.

The STATE said "Nah, you're nonessential".

He's often 20-40$ short on rent. He always pays it back, but I can visually see him struggling. I'm officially scared now. And a little angry.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 21, 2020, 09:03:15 AM
We walk for health.  About an hour a day.  Same route into the hills.  It's pretty steep so a good workout and just under 4 miles.  Lately, I've been impressed at how people are usually so courteous as to give each other lots of space when passing.  They walk into the street, or cross to the opposite sidewalk.  Wait for others to pass until there's enough space.  It's heartening and sad all at the same time.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 22, 2020, 02:16:50 PM
I was talking to a friend of mine today and he told me that his sister is on the frontline of Coronavirus wards in Paris. She'd told him to be very cautious if he fell ill as the wards there were filled with men over the age of 30. Not many women and hardly any men younger than that, but plently in from that 30ish age. She told him (he's 40 something) that men that are ill and feel like that have the flu, are broken by the disease sometimes within 2 hours. It takes you down that quickly so you have set up a system where you, or someone close to you, can check how you are doing every 15 minutes or so and if you feel that it's taking you down, then you have to get yourself admitted pronto.

Scary stuff.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: kayos0826 on March 22, 2020, 07:35:27 PM
Im in Iowa. There are shortages, mostly toilet paper. We are ok, wife is worried. No school, so our son is happy he gets to do what he does all the time, play video games and watch YouTube. Me, I work Night Audit at a hotel, by an airport. Yes Im scared, but I take precautions (hand sanitizer, spry down surfaces if guest have touched, etc) I still worried. We are very slow, only averaging 10 rooms a night. Normally that is how many rooms I have left. We arent shutting down though. So Ive got full hours, which Im thankful for.

I know that I dont post much here, but this group has a special place in my life and it makes me feel good and gives hope reading how everyone is doing ok and getting by.
Take care everyone. Be safe. Tell a loved one you care. Wash your hands.   
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 22, 2020, 08:47:16 PM
You're on the tip of the spear there.

Thankfully I've not read anything about IOWA taking control of hotels and motels, but here in California our Governor has done exactly that, and I've heard they've particularly prized rooms with Air Conditioning, so it might do to stay aware of such things.

I think he intends to shove homeless into those, if they like it or not.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 23, 2020, 01:10:41 AM
Would totally fit edge of buzzword. Mom was watching a let's say, ethnic interest film today on bounce, and every white character in the film spoke in football coach buzzwords.

BOUNCE is an OTA cross border network that plays movies without censorship. They get to say the golly word!  On the negative side, no subtitles.

My roommate got sent home from his walk by the cops today. He does a 3 block loop, and they told him to go home.

So he can't go to work, and he can't do his full walk. This month he makes rent, but next month is a bit of a wildcard of terror for all of us.

Someone shot out a streetlight behind us, presumably to make crimes easier, and it was sparking pretty bad, It's raining. They have it shut off now, and I'm relieved they didn't shut off our power to do it.

That would have made an uncomfortable situation even more miserable.

I wonder about the pressure valves. I've heard child and spousal abuse have exploded.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 23, 2020, 10:22:24 AM
Holy golly, My Roommates job challenged the state, and WON.

It's still a modified schedule. Normally he's a shuttle driver, customers from dealership to wherever the golly they're going, and that business is DEAD.

However, they argued the alternative schedule, where he drives a mechanic out to the customer's house, mechanic collects the vehicle, and so on and so forth.

I'm glad, because I had no alternatives. we were straight up bent.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 23, 2020, 10:57:11 AM
Gosport reporting: still not dead yet.

You're on the tip of the spear there.

If that isn't a quote from "Edge of Tomorrow", it should be.

Battersea reporting: still only half dead as is usual.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 23, 2020, 10:58:38 AM
That's a huge relief, 8ully, and I'm happy for you.  Your family has had a string of bad luck lately and it's about time things turned around for you.

I'm glad to hear you are ok, Kayos.  I hope you will stay safe at the hotel.  It must be a challenge to have to go to a job where you come into contact with so many people. 

I'm staying home today.  Sort of tired, but at least I'm still here.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on March 23, 2020, 01:58:07 PM
dweez reporting in. Been "teleworking" since last week and will continue for the foreseeable future. I'm trying to get "Tworking" to catch on even though multiple threats of reporting it to HR.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 24, 2020, 02:16:41 PM
.... I'm trying to get "Tworking"....

Well you certainly have the hips for it, baby.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 24, 2020, 07:38:43 PM
I figured the people here would be amused by a technical issue I ran into today.

My Aunt got non-essential ed, and wanted to play "The Sims 2", so she went to the closet, pulled the game out, and started installing. And ran into a situation I'm VERY familiar with, a disc was missing.

About two years back, I happened upon a copy of "The Sims 2" at goodwill, and figured whydafucknot? I paid my two dollars, and took it home. Don't think I've ever installed it, I think I last played it before the release of 3.

Turns out, I had the CD release too!

hmm, maybe some of this post would be better served out of public eye. Sufficient to say, I helped my aunt deal with her Shelter in place plans.

We tried to solve it through skype, but apparently some invite got lost, and I can't type messages to her on skype. We WERE able to video chat (I have a mic)

So I tried to send her the disc through skype, no dice, file limit on skype is 300 mb. I find that interesting, as that limit wasn't there the last time I used it, I remember routinely sending 1 gb video files through skype back on XP.

We ended up using Google Drive.

Skype took 45 minutes to download, google drive gulped down the disc image in under a minute. Downloading skype felt like the Dial-up days. Once again proving, not all web traffic is created equal.

I also (Poorly) explained Origin and Steam to her. She still doesn't quite understand and we've tabled that for another time.

She did almost walk into the ACCESS minefield, and I warned her off.

Origin delisted Sims 2, so you can't buy it there anymore.  If you contact EA about a delisted title, they tell you to buy it off ebay. No joke.

Governor Newsome said some alarming poo on his now near daily address, but it's almost impossible to unpack it from his bless'ed ADVERB ADDICTION.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE JOURNEY OR HOW MAGNIFICENT THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN!

WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS, WHERE ARE WE ALLOWED TO GO?!

Sorry, bit angry.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: kayos0826 on March 25, 2020, 12:28:55 AM
I'm glad to hear you are ok, Kayos.  I hope you will stay safe at the hotel.  It must be a challenge to have to go to a job where you come into contact with so many people. 

We are very slow. No plans on shutting down, averaging 10 rooms occupied. Normally that is how many rooms I have empty. I work Night Audit, so limited contact with guests. Haven't had to go to airport for the last week thankfully. When I get to work I wipe down all the surfaces I touch with sanitizer wipes. If I touch anything that a guest has touched I use hand sanitizer gel.

Yes I have had anxiety attacks. I have just sat crying. I worry about my wife or son getting sick because of me. I feel horrible for being happy it is slow. I read about hotels and kitchens closed all over the world. We are open and I am happy we are open so I get full pay (Full Time, no one else wants nights), but I feel guilty being slow. With few guests I can limit my contact and attempt to maintain physical distancing.

For those that know, I have not had any contact with Aura now for 2 years. She is 17 and refuses to have anything to do with me. Her mom won and successfully poisoned the well.  There have been reported cases in the area she lives in. Dont get me started on the stress from that.

I watch the news, a lot. Stresses the wife out. Its how I am dealing with this, just viewing the raw data. Trying to focus on the good in the world. How the canals in Venice are cleaning up. Air pollution is dropping. Dogs are enjoying their humans being home. Cats are wondering when we will leave so they can sleep.

I feel better now. Thank you for being there. All of you. What a long strange trip it has been. Im proud to know you folks.       
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 25, 2020, 01:34:16 AM
I'm really sorry to hear about Aura being estranged from you as I know how much you love her and doted on her.  And I get your anxiety about not infecting yourself or your family.  But you gotta eat, which means you have to go out.  My husband goes to work and stays away from any others in the shop, and is obsessive about washing hands.  I don't go out much as I got laid off from my job and mostly stay home, but we also worry about him bringing home some infection. 

It sounds like you are doing all you can to stay safe.  Hopefully, this can be brought under control before it turns into a disaster movie.  I went to the grocery store today and did all I could to get the hell out of there as fast as I could. I wore disposable gloves.  They had sparse stock and I was unable to get many items on my list.

I went to a few stores today to buy food.  I won't go again for at least another week.  It's too scary.  I wipe down the doorknobs, light switches, phone, computer keyboard and microwave in my house with alcohol every day.  I feel like a crazy person but what do you do when there's something deadly that you can't see?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 25, 2020, 03:10:04 AM
I mean, I probably don't have to tell you, but for others, make sure the isopropyl alcohol is at least 60%

I know those assholes at CVS are selling 50%, they roped my mom. I'm not even sure WHY they sell 50% alcohol.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: kayos0826 on March 25, 2020, 05:07:49 AM
you can make hand sanitizer from 91% ISO and aloe vera gel

3/4 cup or 180mL of ISO
1/4 cup or 60mL of gel
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on March 25, 2020, 08:01:30 AM
.... I'm trying to get "Tworking"....

Well you certainly have the hips for it, baby.

I've been told that they don't lie.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 25, 2020, 08:20:58 AM

I've been told that they don't lie.

Yep, and neither do I.

Well, the lockdown in London isn't affecting me as firstly I cannot work from home, and secondly, everything I do can be considered essential - especially now I'm qualified to to electrical work. Nonetheless, I don't think I'll work much past this week as I need another rest.

So, Prince Charles has it and only has mild symptoms. That fact buoyed me up a bit as the news has been so dire of late I could feel myself sinking.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on March 25, 2020, 12:57:04 PM
Would totally fit edge of buzzword. Mom was watching a let's say, ethnic interest film today on bounce, and every white character in the film spoke in football coach buzzwords.

BOUNCE is an OTA cross border network that plays movies without censorship. They get to say the golly word!  On the negative side, no subtitles.

My roommate got sent home from his walk by the cops today. He does a 3 block loop, and they told him to go home.

So he can't go to work, and he can't do his full walk. This month he makes rent, but next month is a bit of a wildcard of terror for all of us.

Someone shot out a streetlight behind us, presumably to make crimes easier, and it was sparking pretty bad, It's raining. They have it shut off now, and I'm relieved they didn't shut off our power to do it.

That would have made an uncomfortable situation even more miserable.

I wonder about the pressure valves. I've heard child and spousal abuse have exploded.

I'm so sorry 8ully.  That is all pretty crazy.  You just keep your head on tight, have enough food and water. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 26, 2020, 04:01:45 AM
washing up liquid and water will stop spreading the virus, removes the fatty layer that surrounds the little blighter as per Uni medics
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 27, 2020, 03:20:42 AM
A man I knew from various work related functions died yesterday in NYC.  He was a nice person and accomplished in his field.  Not a great deal older than me.  I don't want to leave my house.  It's getting too weird.

And now the U.S. gets to win the prize for the most infected.  With a population a fraction of the size of China's.  Lord help us.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 27, 2020, 03:38:09 AM
A man I knew from various work related functions died yesterday in NYC.  He was a nice person and accomplished in his field.  Not a great deal older than me.  I don't want to leave my house.  It's getting too weird.

And now the U.S. gets to win the prize for the most infected.  With a population a fraction of the size of China's.  Lord help us.

I don't believe the numbers from China for a moment. There were some estimates that put their death toll at the millions due to millions of phone accounts suddenly disappearing. I can believe that as even if their real death toll was just 10 times the official figure, it would create enormous civil unrest that could threaten the ruling party.

The saddest thing about China in this crisis is that they cannot have it both ways: it was hailed for a fantastic response and now also applauded for being able to contain it with such limited loss of life. If what they claim is true, then it is unquestionable that if they'd listened to Li Wenliang in the first place, this "evidently" would never have happened.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 27, 2020, 09:30:31 AM
When I heard the triage stuff, I got nervous, as I remember Aelthric's adventures with NHS quite a while back, and the language is familiar.

There is a medicine that prevents a condition from being terminal, and patients are being told their prescriptions will not be filled, because their medication has been set aside for others.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tanyachen/kaiser-permanente-lupus-chloroquine

Just the fact that this rather terrifying news is coming from BUZZFEED makes it all the worse. Top 15 ways you're going to die (Number 7 will shock you!)

Reminds me of the tamiflu poo when 13 people got anthrax mailed to them and it became a "National" crisis.

golly Trump and his "Game Changers".  Everyone talking about vaccines and treatments when those options are not actually on the table. Every time I see the prayer hands on facebook for a vaccine, I want to slap the person using it.

As to the Toilet Paper, turns out it wasn't a consumer run that caused the shortage, it was the Wal-Mart style "Just in time" logistics formula.

See, stores don't want stuff filling up pallets in the back of the shop, they want the product on the shelf as soon as it shows up. This creates shortages when the automated system fails to order "enough". (And if you let a computer override human logic, you've already bent up)

At CompUSA the computer constantly flagged me for termination. This led to many mandatory 20 minute interviews with the rather Dour HR lady. By interview three she'd warmed to being like a surrogate grandmother, and always apologized for the inconvenience. The forms we had to fill out together were formidable.

Specifically, I clocked WAY more hours than the standard sales staff, and the efficiency algorithm DID NOT LIKE THAT. I wasn't in sales, I was in service. My role was considered critical to the company, but not by the machine.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 27, 2020, 11:27:49 AM
We have so little trust in our leaders, and we have been brainwashed with and by "fake news", that we can no longer believe anything. We don't believe our own numbers, China's numbers, Germany's numbers or any numbers. (Russia? 3 Dead?)

Why? (1) Because we don't want to believe them, and (2) because the people publishing them have previously proved themselves untrustworthy. Especially foreigners. And Boris.

Personally, I think that the numbers are credible, and everyone is doing their level best to be honest, but because of previous behaviours they are simply not believed by most.

^ This is what makes the whole initial reaction by the Chinese so desperate for the rest of us. If they really kept the numbers down to a fraction of what the rest of us could pray for, then they could have certainly contained the outbreak and none of this would have happened.

The Russians are also a bit suspicious in this too. They have incredibly low numbers and are willingly giving away respirators and other equipment, but are also rapidly building field hospitals?  I don't get it?

Chloroquine is not effective against coronavirus.

At least one person has died from inappropriately taking Chloroquine.

Better quote that too.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 27, 2020, 11:48:21 AM
To be fair, the guy self administered and it was the wrong kind of Chloroquine, but yes, this is evil. True unmitigated evil.

Read the evil email "Even if your doctor writes a prescription, we won't be filling it".

Contrast, Rite-Aid told me to come get a three month supply of my daily med. It's not Chloroquine though, and there is no buzz about it. Also means I don't have to go back to Rite-Aid during the SAHO. That's a smart response, unlike... essentially everyone else.

I've had to fight for my meds in the past though, a tennis match of "that's their department" happened. Essentially, Rite-Aid has to order out for my pills, and they don't want to be the ones left holding the bag. My Insurance company likes to play dumb, as if they've never heard of me. My doctor would like to light both of them on fire with her mind.

I don't have a car, so my insurance company sends me day passes for the bus... but they're not great at it, I keep an empty one handy and drop the six bucks.

I haven't visited my Psychiatrist or Psychologist since the scare started, and that's probably for the best, those bus rides kicked my ass anyway.

I'm just glad she switched my meds in december, the old ones had me vomiting at least once a week. I haven't puked since.


As to the China Angle, I believe Smokes wishes China had suspended international travel themselves, to contain the virus, but it's a fair criticism of the OTHER countries for not doing that themselves.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 27, 2020, 12:10:03 PM
It's a common refrain, and I also find it offensive.

Like the people who say Magic Johnson was "cured" of AIDS. There is no cure.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 27, 2020, 12:52:23 PM
I find the efforts of the health care community heroic.  I have a hard time believing that the current administration is doing its best.  It has accrued a very poor track record that has actually exacerbated the current situation.  That's about all I have to say on the matter.  No need to flog a dead horse on this.  (I had to change "slog" to "flog" then thought of "snog" which is a term not generally used in the U.S., it reminded me of the change one letter game in Chaos on the Noid fora.)

I'm less knowledgable re the UK, but it doesn't seem to me that cutting funds to the NHS was a great idea in retrospect.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 27, 2020, 01:16:22 PM
Hugely popular with assholes. Cutting social services is how they get hard.

On a lighter note, my mom's talk show that she watches, Mel Robbins, was replaced with... Lacrosse. No one gives a poo about Lacrosse!
(Production was halted March 14th, but she wasn't getting a second season anyway)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 27, 2020, 03:00:57 PM
I don't follow this logic: if they did really well, they should have done better?

Remember that they were the first: countries with advance warning (Italy? Us? US?) couldn't/ can't contain it, even though they knew what was coming, but the Chinese could have had no idea what was coming. Hindsight is great, but not a (fair) basis for criticism.

This is sort of my point. If this virus cannot be controlled by man and will rampage through communities regardless of what they do, then China's indiscretions regarding the medical professionals that first saw this virus in early December can, not be forgiven, but can be ignored for the moment. If however, China can effectively halt the virus and keep the death toll a fraction of the count of a country whose population 40 times smaller than their own, then criminalising half a dozen or so clinicians to maintain public order and political stability and allow the virus to spread far and wide, makes them wholly responsible.

Again, I do not believe their numbers in any way whatsoever as they have form for under reporting fatalites, especially rail crashes.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 27, 2020, 03:50:54 PM
Yup - this is where I started - if you habitually lie like a cheap Changi watch, no-one will believe you when it is important.

I'm still not sure that I follow you (probably because I'm not very knowledgeable about China's antics) but I am slightly concerned that you appear to be advocating abandoning public order and political stability: this is a very bad idea which would/ will become apparent when the virus clears. I am struggling to see what post-Covid UK looks like, let alone a post-breakdown China. And let's not forget, abandoning public order and political stability still may not have stopped the spread.

You're assuming that there's only one kind of public order. They maintained public order in Tiananmen square, but I'd call it something quite different. As for political stability, while once a young socialist worker (China was the motherland back then), I rather think that Chinese politics are due a reform so I'm all for change.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 28, 2020, 08:58:53 AM
Nope. But changing between different kinds has a habit of being a little disruptive, and not the sort of thing that you want to be encouraging in the middle of a plague, where some sort of strategic leadership is imperative. I'm not sure that a sort of Pol Pot or Lenin "regime change" (or even a Saddam Hussein version) is what is necessary now in any country.

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of democratic administrations around the world would have been alarmed had one of their clinicians warned of a new and potentially dangerous virus they hadn't seen before. I realise it's not really worth the debate now as the horse has well and truly bolted, but I will remain pretty angry that all this could have been avoided had the Chinese authorities had the far sightedness that they could have been hailed as heroes if they hadn't been so concerned about possible civil unrest. Masses of people dying is far worse.

At least they have exonerated Li Wenliang. That should keep them in office.

I see there is some momentum gathering about the unreliable numbers in China now. I thought it was only tabloids reporting on the 1000's of urns being delivered to Wuhan, but I see The Telegraph, The Guardian and even Time is reporting on it. The number just for that area is up by nearly 3000 compared to the previous 2 years.

Scary numbers here in the U.K today too.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 29, 2020, 11:46:47 AM
It looks like mom may actually be able to prepare the ham rounds.

I think I mentioned that in the food thread, and possibly here, mom panic bought what she thought was canadian bacon. It wasn't, it's these weird as poo ham rounds. Almost as if they took a slab of sandwich meat, and merely collected the ends. Or the rind off a cured sausage.

Either way, it's a creamed eels, corn nog, wadded beef type panic purchase.  I came up with the idea of shove em in the middle of a biscuit, bake it up, and drown it in white gravy.

And they've finally restocked white gravy. No bread, but they had white gravy.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 29, 2020, 12:14:04 PM
If you have meat broth, you can make gravy with a little flour.  Cook on the stovetop, until it thickens.  It's less likely to lump if you put a little water in with the flour and mix a smooth liquid from it before adding to the broth.

Of course if you don't have broth (those little bouillon cubes should work in a pinch) or flour, it's pointless.  I'm glad you are managing to put together some food.  Sorry I'm too far away to help much.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 29, 2020, 12:45:10 PM
At least a had a whole day playing Dragon Age Inquisition. I must have mentioned it here about 6 years ago but have never found enough time to play it.

Not sure it's a good thing as I could have been productive had I put my mind to it.

What the heck. It's Sunday after all.

Is it Sunday? I truly have no idea.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 29, 2020, 01:23:17 PM
I know how to make white gravy, I just thought making it from scratch was a waste of two cups of milk, one of those items people are panic buying.

If I can stir a packet of powder into two cups of water instead, I'm willing to take the "ITS NOT HOMEMADE" hit.

Sunday here. Despite being bioware, I never had any desire to play the dragon age series. It's a bad mix of thatched huts, shitting in buckets, and protagonists essentially getting flayed for being good people.

Bioware lost the plot somewhere. I don't get how you could go from Mass Effect 2 to 3, or how Andromeda was ever possible.

Like, you'll sell more games if your customers are HAPPY.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 29, 2020, 05:04:59 PM
I guess there's gravy with milk in it.  It sounds more like béchamel sauce.  You melt butter (or some kind of fat) add flour, cook, and then add milk stirring until it thickens a bit.  Is that what you mean?  Or is sort of what they add to chipped beef?  It's been so long that I barely remember some of the things we ate that contained meat and white sauce when I was a child.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 29, 2020, 05:39:27 PM
Milk, butter, flour, pepper to taste.


Okay, the recipe with the packet white gravy was glorious. Mom added cheddar cheese (it was close to exp) and it was just, fantastic.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 30, 2020, 05:08:03 PM
State struck back, roommate is furloughed, he came home weeping.

This... this is the insidious side of this poo. Specifically, the "Oh, send 50% of your workforce home to help enforce social distancing".

WHO THE golly GETS TO JUST BLITHELY DECIDE THAT?

We already paid rent, we tend to get it in on the 26th to avoid any possible "hiccups" but now... now the fear just gets to sit in my gut for a month.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 30, 2020, 05:50:58 PM
After a week, he should be able to apply for unemployment benefits with the State, and, once approved, get some relief from the Feds as well.  If he doesn't know, he should start here:
https://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm (https://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm)

I can't apply because I was hired as an intern and there was no intention or obligation to keep me on any longer than they pleased, so I'm screwed in that dept.  Your roommate, after he gets over the initial shock and sense of despair, will be able to get some help.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 31, 2020, 01:12:34 PM
Newsom just said he's extending this shitshow until may.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on March 31, 2020, 03:05:14 PM
Yesterday, the VA Governor announced a "Stay At Home" order until June 10th but it's pretty much just making official all the proper practices that I've been following for the last 3 weeks.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 31, 2020, 04:08:14 PM
To be fair, coronavirus is the shitshow, and he doesn't get to choose for how long that stays around.

Newsom is a model of mature governance compared to that wacko in the White House.  On an unrelated subject, I wonder how tarascon is faring in this?  I'll shoot him a line and ask if he's ok.  I finally went after the uncontrolled plant growth in the backyard.  Filled 3 huge green bins and quit when I ran out of space.  We barely made a dent.  At least it's a beautiful day and we got some fresh air and exercise.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 01, 2020, 10:21:17 AM
Well the new monitor is the nuts and then some. Not sure I'm liking the lack of productivity it brings with it, but at least it makes the lockdown far less scary.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on April 01, 2020, 12:03:04 PM
That monitor looks sick. I'm still just rocking a couple 27" mixed models (ASUS and Viewsonic) from 6+ years ago but I'm definitely considering the curved widescreens when I eventually do upgrade (these still work fine so can't justify it).
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 01, 2020, 01:05:18 PM
This should be in the "things I hate" thread.

Nope. It addresses the lockdown.

That monitor looks sick. I'm still just rocking a couple 27" mixed models (ASUS and Viewsonic) from 6+ years ago but I'm definitely considering the curved widescreens when I eventually do upgrade (these still work fine so can't justify it).

Dragon Age plays at 3840x1200. You have to crane your neck to check your health levels, but even if you don't and get slain, it looks spectacular.

It'll definitely hold back the stir craziness. For a while at least.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 04, 2020, 03:46:07 PM
Apparently we don't do contrails any more:

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/ow2ypt3gynk8o5b/Sky.jpeg?raw=1)

It's the 5G masts absorbing the vapour. It's then mixed with the sucked up coronavirus and Bob's your uncle.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 04, 2020, 05:59:02 PM
Does anyone have a link on the science test being done that ocean air amplifies spread? I saw it on the news last night but I can't find any sources online.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 04, 2020, 06:21:22 PM
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-02/coronavirus-ocean-swimming-surfing-safe-beaches-los-angeles (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-02/coronavirus-ocean-swimming-surfing-safe-beaches-los-angeles)

From what I understand, there is a danger of spread via fecal matter that can be released into the sea during heavy rains because of sewage overflows.  The crashing waves can aerosolize the virus and make it hazardous for swimmers or surfers.  I'm not sure this is what you were looking for.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 04, 2020, 09:49:38 PM
The only thing I can find are the general WHO guidelines that Heat and Humidity will not protect you from the virus, nor will dry cold weather.

golly I hate my local news sometimes. When I tried to find their site I was inundated with notification requests and autoplay video.

This is the poo I WANT to learn about. Like when I see the Governor, I feel like maybe he COULD have been a charismatic speaker, but he's dull as golly!

He uses almost as many adjectives as 45, and keeps talking about how amazing the response has been, and I'm just like "Cool Story Bro".
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on April 05, 2020, 12:55:56 PM
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati OH. ..

Apparently my county in IN and the surrounding counties are worse than say hammond and gary Indiana for spreading..
I'm doing the best I can by staying home and giving myself chemical burn when I work the grocery store at night.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 05, 2020, 01:19:39 PM
This just got real on me.

My niece who works as a cardiac nurse down the road from in St Thomas's hospital, has just been deployed to work on the Covid19 wards. Some of her friends there had already been deployed and they say it's truly unbearable due to the amount of people, young and old, that don't get out of there alive.
 
She is also terrified that she will be one of them.

It made me think what a huge ask it is to deploy people to a place where their own lives are at risk. I get it if you are a soldier, but a nurse?

To be honest, the thought of it is moved my heart to my mouth.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 05, 2020, 05:10:51 PM
To heal the sick, right?  I've seen several medical professionals respond by saying "this is what I signed up for." 

Still, you have to have iron guts to jump in and deal with this directly.  I hope your niece will be ok.  A good friend's daughter is a nurse and she's dealing with similar things. (I've known her since she was a baby.)  It's hard not to worry for them.  None of us knows how bad things will get and how long this will last.

You stay safe, Bea.  It also takes courage and determination to go out into this and work a retail job helping people get food with young ones at home.  I always go out of my way at the grocers to thank the clerks for being there for us.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 06, 2020, 12:14:18 AM
To heal the sick, right?  I've seen several medical professionals respond by saying "this is what I signed up for." 
Harsh but true !!
All Birmingham Medical students (son was at the same Uni, could be UK wide ?) were employed and started work in local hospital straight away due to covid.
Wife is a bed coordinator in Main covid Hospital in Leicester and they are about to run out of body bags, had 4 left Saturday.
Nurses and doctors dying all over doing their job. PPE  is still in short supply but getting better, Glasses are the ones in demand as people have different features and struggle to get them to fit comfortably (wearing for 12 hours or more) Gave my wife a selection to choose from (borrowed from work) and people were crying out for the style as you can tilt the lens to suit.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 06, 2020, 03:04:03 AM
My wife left the NHS on the 31st of March. It had nothing to do with the outbreak, is was because of problems at work (yeah, they never ceased, goldie) and she has some health conditions that made it difficult to perform at the levels expected of her. She was due to start a new job on the 1st of April but they have had to delay that. They are still honouring her contract, but I think the best they can do is ask her to take all of her annual leave before she even starts as, because of a quirk in the rules for the coronavirus furlough payouts (she had to be in her current job in February), she's entitled to nothing.

About healing the sick: we have infectious diseases hospitals (at least we used to) that are high risk. I don't expect anyone who becomes a nurse could ever imagine their own lives might be on the line without it being their own decision. I mean, I realise that even if the public were asked to do something on a ward where the risk of contracting the virus rose exponentially, they'd probably do it (I would). The key word in that comment is "asked".

The odd thing is she came to see us when we had our first "super spreader" who was actually quarantined in St Thomas's. She was desperately ill with a cough and we joked about the coronavirus and stood well back. This was months ago when no one was in a panic, but I'm now hoping she really did have it back then.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 06, 2020, 04:30:10 AM
My sister retired earlier than she had planned to because her job caused her to have to enter cruise ships on a regular basis.  She decided she couldn't take the risk of bringing home the infection to her husband.  This thing is really screwing people in unpredictable ways.  I'm sorry about your wife's new job.  Within one week of my having to work from home, I got laid off.  So we have money to worry about too.

As for your niece, I'd hope that she'd be given a choice as to whether or not to work with Covid 19 patients.  But even if she avoided that, I'd expect that hospitals are risky places to work at this point. 

I'm grateful for any medical professionals even in regular circumstances, as they have hard work to do and they deal with people at their worst.  This contagion separates people from their families and there's no predicting whether once one enters a hospital with it, they'll ever come home again.  We can only hope that the vaccines will be moved up as fast as possible.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 06, 2020, 07:42:36 PM
Not only are they not getting a choice, they're re-using oral thermometers, and the sensitization of said pieces of poo is less than ideal.

I've never liked oral thermometers, but they used to beat the alternative!

Now with the laser or ear ones, they should be relics of a bygone era.

I don't have a link to the article, but the specific nurse who refused the oral thermometer was immediately terminated. Oh yeah, it was reddit legal advice.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 07, 2020, 12:03:40 AM
I know it's impossible, but he should get a klingon discomendation by his medical staff.

That's the one where they dramatically cross arms, then turn their back on you. From then forward, you are unpersoned to the empire.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 08, 2020, 12:45:52 AM
Those are pretty funny.  I liked the first and last ones the best.

I went to the grocers today.  Got some produce, milk and a pound of flour.  The flour is wiped out.  It's so hard to find.  I'm baking a lot and am almost out.  It's sad to read news on a daily basis of people who have passed.  We went for a walk wearing N95 masks.  They get hot as you exhale into them.  I think that if this continues into the summer it will get even harder and harder to maintain these isolation protocols.  I'm amazed at how clueless some people are who don't maintain their distance.  I just walk into the street to stay away.  No skin off my nose.  I can use the exercise.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 08, 2020, 01:00:22 AM
I had to run a receipt to mom when she went to CVS, and it was like a game of tag, dodging dipshits in the parking lot. No masks, no gloves.

I got her the receipt, and I got home. Nothing dramatic, she just wasn't wearing her glasses and bought the wrong poo, but still, people are being complete chickens with heads cut off morons.

We've got flour, but I just realized I haven't checked it in a while. Things you never want to do that suddenly become vital. I hear YEAST is becoming difficult to get if you don't buy it in bulk, but apparently the Bay Area still has a good supply.

Despite a long family history, I'm poo at baking. I've always wanted the Portal Cake for my birthday, and it looks like another year will come and go without it.

Apparently the bakery where the actual cake comes from charges $65... and while that's a bit nuts for someone on my budget, I could see paying it once, for the lifetime experience.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 08, 2020, 02:53:01 AM
You don't roll out of the womb as an accomplished baker.  You have to work at it. 

Kind of like the "how do you get to Carnegie Hall?" joke.  Once I ran into some elderly German tourists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.  They were having trouble dialing a number of a friend/relative w/whom they were supposed to stay in Queens.  They did not speak English. 

After  a while, I figured out that there was one additional numeral in the number they had written down, and after deciphering it, I took the man to a phone booth to help him dial it.  In the meanwhile my non-German speaking friends sat with the wife in the museum cafe.  Being genial sorts, they attempted to entertain her and converse the best they could.  Apparently, there was an exchange in which the wife surmised that I played the piano at Lincoln Center.  How the conversation took that turn is God's own mystery.  The point being, you never really know your own capabilities, so why not take a stab at it?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 08, 2020, 10:07:37 AM
My neighbour 6 doors up has succumbed to the virus.

He was elderly and not well but had been taken to hospital after a fall and, unfortunately, contracted the virus while there.

His wife has been in pieces for weeks worrying this might happen, and I can't even see her to check she's alright (she's a pensioner). She couldn't even see him at the end after spending their entire lives together.

Tragic.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 08, 2020, 12:33:54 PM
That's so sad. It's the one thing I dread, being separated from my husband or other family when one of us is terminal and on life support.  I can't imagine how your neighbor's wife is dealing with it.

Is it possible to bake her something or take over a food care package and leave on her doorstep?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 09, 2020, 01:11:15 PM
Much clapping at 8pm this evening. Even our lot and we're usually knee deep in dinner.

Have to say, brought a tear to my eye. Seriously.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 09, 2020, 01:36:01 PM
Much clapping at 8pm this evening. Even our lot and we're usually knee deep in dinner.

Have to say, brought a tear to my eye. Seriously.

We did the same here at 7 p.m. on Sunday.  We have an ER doc on the street and he's a saint.  Says "this is what I signed up for, no thanks needed."  He sends regular updates and helpful info via the block email.  I hope he stays safe.  I feel like a wimp being afraid to go grocery shopping and this guy hurls himself headlong into the crisis on a daily basis.  He's a better man than I and I feel obligated to do something.  I took a box of masks to the local grocers for the checkout people.  They were only dust masks but they seemed happy to get them.  The store can't get them as they're back ordered everywhere.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 09, 2020, 04:48:51 PM
I’m extraordinarily irritated by this (not your actions, but the lunacy of “clap for careers“). We let CEOs pay themselves millions of pounds, while they pay the medical cannon fodder peanuts. We then make up the difference by giving them applause. As if these people weren’t heroes and heroines before coronavirus and won’t be afterwards, but they were ignored (and complained about, and sued) before the plague, and they will be again after the plague.

Clapping may make the public feel good, but kind words butter no parsnips. If we had any decency as a society we would reward them and value them all the time, not just when we are bored during lockdown; and we would show them that they are valued with money, not clapping.

I was never really onboard with it but probably more through disinterest than any particular stance. However, this evening I believe what I saw were people immensely grateful for the fact that there are people out there that they can rely on in the tidal wave of extinction level news we are fed every day. It was more relief and a feeling of solidarity with a side helping of thanks. It was unavoidably emotional.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 09, 2020, 07:15:12 PM
I think that doctors are better compensated in the U.S. than in the U.K.  Here, I think it was an effort to bring people together by allowing them to express positive feelings as a way to let off steam after being stuck in the house for so long.  At least we got the chance to say hi to the neighbors from the front porch.

I'm totally agreed that those who really keep society running should be better compensated and that there should be a radical pruning of executive salaries and benefits.  The skewed income disparities that have only grown in the past half century have had disastrous effects on our society.  This epidemic has only emphasized how inequitable compensation has become. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 09, 2020, 11:17:27 PM
Prayer hands on facebook have me stabby.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 11, 2020, 05:14:20 AM
Ael isn't speaking of ancient sleights.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 11, 2020, 01:12:28 PM
Health care in the U.S. is a f**king nightmare.  The U.K. would be well advised to run as fast as they can in the opposite direction.  The only model we present to the world is what NOT to do.

We have a gullible undereducated populace who largely remains ignorant of the true cost of keeping all these middlemen in their designer suits.  I'd be gratified to see the end of private health insurance companies.  They suck off all this money to run gigantic bureaucracies that are ostensibly intended to contain costs when they actually do the opposite.

My only hope is that now so many people have been thrown out of work and will lose their employer provided health insurance, they'll finally wake up to how much these private companies are costing us.  We've been buying insurance on the open marketplace for years, as my husband is self employed and my own employers have skillfully avoided paying me any benefits as I've worked entirely on short term contracts.  It was only due to the grace of Obama's Affordable Care Act that we are not complete slaves to working in order to pay for health insurance with food being a secondary luxury.

When I think that a more enlightened society like that of the UK is considering gutting or discarding the NHS it fills me with despair.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 11, 2020, 04:37:03 PM
Personally I am always of the opinion that you have to make the best of a bad situation. Sure there are problems with how governments tackle this crisis but, to date, it appears that those problems are mirrored in countries across the board regardless of which political administration is running things. Slagging them off is just a waste of breath and intentionally makes matters worse. Best to keep calm and carry on, I say.

Who knows, after we get over this very large bump, we might find ourselves in a much better world.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 11, 2020, 06:30:44 PM
I baked cookies.  Better to chop chocolate than to curse the darkness.

I can only hope this debacle ends up improving things.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 11, 2020, 07:55:21 PM
Wisconsin is suing patients if they don't pay on checkout.

VA - I think that's Virginia? Is placing liens on houses if you don't pay on checkout.

The one facebook group I've been using to lift my spirits through this either unpersoned me or they buttoned the group - you don't actually get such messages on facebook, but I got in two arguments today.

The first was against a quack pushing colloidal silver - I linked to the mayo clinic information on how it's quackery, and the Oprah guest who turned himself into a smurf.

Another member suggested TAKING albuterol sulfate inhalers from family with asthma, because they "felt better" after using it.

I was chained to one of those stinky inhalers through most of my teen years, thankfully my lung function is fine these years, but if someone had snatched my rescue inhaler then, I might have died, or reacted badly.

I also pointed out that shared inhalers would be a fast way to spread the virus.

Those both make the group sound like poo, but it really wasn't bad. I found it interesting seeing what measures grocery stores across the country are taking to protect workers and customers, and some of the memes have been funny.

The group had been getting pretty nasty lately, I mentioned here that facebook pray hands can golly right off, and the poo emoji... I don't think I can describe how much I hate it.

I've been TRYING to educate an aunt on the various game clients available, and I have mentioned to her the sims 4 sale prices will end soon, but radio silence.

Like, I get it, the games clients actively bless'ed suck, but if you want EA games, you HAVE to have an origin account. Aside from outright Piracy, which I tend to avoid now that I'm an adult, it's the only option for later titles.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on April 11, 2020, 10:44:12 PM
Hi 8ully. 
Everything you say is an interesting read, I know I've said it.  Doesn't sound like the fb I know, haha.  But yes, no one really wants to hear the truth, they just want to be right. 
Six, chocolate chip cookies~ sounds delightful, and are also the only cookie I've ever successfully made from scratch, once.
I've actually had to go two days without electricity when that storm hit the midwest here, ripped up a bit of the town, I live in a good location for the storms to roll downhill, lucky me.
Glad to see you both well. 
I'm actually getting a leg falling asleep, like I need to be for this easter day tomorrow, and working tomorrow night. 
Be well.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 12, 2020, 12:33:31 AM
I'm sorry to hear you have to work on Easter, Bea.  Most of the grocers around here have decided to close for the day.  Giving the employees the day off with pay.  I remember when I lived in S. IL. how bad the storms could be, particularly the tornadoes.

8ully, I despise the poo emoji so much that when I see it on FB, I hide the posts.  Praying hands are juvenile.  They're like some kind of index or pointer.  I'd like to develop a game where you use that instead of a cursor.  Zipping around the screen pointing at stuff with the praying hands would be fun.  Kind of like Space Invaders, but with the triangular hands instead.  The people on your FB group sound ridiculous.  Someone on FB posted this youtube link of Jim Bakker the disgraced fundamentalist televangelist and his new scams to sell buckets of prepared food for the end times.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 12, 2020, 02:44:34 AM
every time I see pray hands I want to explain kancho, but those gits would never believe me.

I'm watching through the elm street series right now, and freddy is quite a poo. I don't think I'll review the films as I did with F13. Aside from that last shitty one, "Jason goes to hell" I consider it the superior series.

Freddy is just such a bless'ed piece of poo mixed with bugs bunny that I can't enjoy it. I guess I'm hate watching.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 12, 2020, 04:07:40 AM
This morning for breakfast I decided to have fried green-ish tomatoes cooked in extra, extra virgin olive oil (should really only be used for dressing), rock salt (plenty of it), lashings of ground black pepper and all served atop of 2 slices of wholemeal toast, washed down with a glass of Carménère (Chilean).

Bit indulgent but it is the apocalypse and perhaps way too early for
Spoiler (hover to show)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 12, 2020, 04:14:28 AM
It sounds like a good dinner. My dad used to make us fried green tomatoes.  And they were really delicious.

8ully, I get the hate watching.  I think that's the explanation for my viewing of "Girls."  It's late and I've been reading the NY Times.  Probably not a good way to get back to sleep given the current news cycle.

Oh well.  Maybe I can find some cute videos about kittens or something to lull me back to sleep.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: kayos0826 on April 12, 2020, 09:32:52 PM
Who knows, after we get over this very large bump, we might find ourselves in a much better world.

water is clean in Venice, smog levels are the lowest in decades. we found out that most meetings could just be an email.

now if we learn from this... that is the true question
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 13, 2020, 12:34:12 AM
water is clean in Venice, smog levels are the lowest in decades. we found out that most meetings could just be an email.

now if we learn from this... that is the true question
Hope so, but Humans being Humans  ??? ???
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 13, 2020, 09:15:15 PM
Very dumb and possibly sad update here.

NASCAR is currently defunct, you k0000000000000000000000000000000000now why.
00000000
But they're doing virtual races in this new moto game. All a bit too serious to me. I liked Forza just fine, but actually sitting and playing a 24 hour race seems batshit to me.000000000000000
Anyway, these people made a super fancy online motorsport... shortly before the pandemic000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
So the REAL racers, are racing in the game. And 0000000000000000000000000000
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 13, 2020, 09:19:17 PM
Wow, quite the keyboard tantrum.

Don't buy Razer... I suppose.

Anyway, two nascar racers have made obvious n00b mistakes while game racing.

poo, I'm afraid of you now 0 key.

The first Nascar racer Rage Quit a session, costing himself one of his ACTUAL, REAL LIFE sponsors.

The second story isn't funny.

Dipshit decided mic check was the time for the N word.

He was already in the last year of his sponsorship contract, he's essentially committed career suicide.

He was the McDonald's driver.

For the technically inclined, I dove under my desk and unplugged the keyboard, that zero thing was going batshit.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 18, 2020, 06:22:23 AM
I'm interested in what Trump means by the 2nd amendment is under siege? Does the 2nd apply equally across states? What does it have to do with individual state lockdowns and is it a call to start shooting something?

China is just confusing me now. It's changing its figures but backing it up with saying they never under-reported the figures. Which is it? Personally, I think they witheld real statistics for political reasons that led to incorrect modelling that was insufficient to combat the potential of the virus. I also take issue with the persecution of Li Wenliang but I am also worried that Trump is starting to sound like me.

Why do I feel that the situation is getting worse when the world is trying to tell me the opposite.

Thank God I panic bought alcohol.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 18, 2020, 09:44:42 AM
1) I'm interested in what Trump means by the 2nd amendment is under siege?

2) China is just confusing me now.

3) Why do I feel that the situation is getting worse when the world is trying to tell me the opposite.

4) Thank God I panic bought alcohol.

1.  It's a dog whistle to his idiot base.  They freak out when anything they perceive to be their liberties (taking a gun to the supermarket, church, _(fill in blank with a public place)_____________) is impeded by common sense safety laws.  Here, we now have to wear masks to go out in public.  Are people rioting in the streets?  Nope.

2.  Move over.  You have company.  This is a government that likes to make up its own facts.  Their media releases are not to be questioned.  It boggles the mind that they'd have so few casualties.  But it will probably be years before we know the truth.

3)  I suspect you are right.  Rely on the evidence gathered by your eyes and ears.

4)  I bought a case of wine a couple weeks ago, myself.  I guess if we run out there's always yoga.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 18, 2020, 11:53:42 AM
.... I guess if we run out there's always yoga.

Is that a red or a white grape?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 18, 2020, 10:11:28 PM
NBC is doing a concert for global unity, but if you try to load it on their website, they want your cable login.

Guess I'll just go golly myself then.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 19, 2020, 01:36:53 AM
I've never been a big fan of tv concerts or award shows.

It is like a cruel joke, though, "promoting global unity" while putting content behind a paywall.  Nice universal access that.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 19, 2020, 02:10:30 AM
Our laundry was also stolen today. golly everything.

I like the Dri-tech shorts, wicking poo, you know? I'm now wearing the only pair I own.  I looked it up, I can't even get new ones, the factory is shut down for the virus. $15 a pop.

I've been struggling to meet at least THAT level of civility, not sitting in my bless'ed underpants all god damn day.

So now, in addition to the bless'ed CAR, I've got a police report filed on stolen LAUNDRY.

OH golly DAMNIT, my good pair of jeans was in that laundry.

Icing on poo cake? Cops said we should change our door locks, as the thief clearly has building access.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on April 19, 2020, 09:16:21 AM
God that sucks.  I've always been a hawk on my clothes in bigger towns, but I left them at the mat a few times over the years, never experienced that, but I'd be mad for sure.

I'm still not very good at drinking.  Trying to keep it together.  My mother and my children's father have been disappointing this week, to say in the least.  I dont have to live with either, but as my only family members you'd think they would practice giving a poo.
I'm trying.
Job is still going well, I'm definitely wearing a mask to grocery store shopping and using rubber gloves at the gas station and anywhere else.  I'm doing what I can to help. Its sort of split around here, some people wear masks while others look at each other like they are stupid.  I'm annoyed by everyone, I read psychological apps to help me stop cynical me.
 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 19, 2020, 11:37:31 AM
8ully, I am so sorry to hear about your clothes.  That's just awful.  First your car and now this.  People can be so cruel. I checked ebay for them and you can get some more for around $15 a pair.  If you "Watch" items, sometimes if they don't move quickly, the lister will offer you a discount.  I often buy clothes, particularly socks and tee shirts on eBay.

I'm glad to see you back, Bea.  Sorry about the relatives.  But I'm glad you still have work.  Sometimes I get frustrated in the house so I literally pound sand. I dug up a large clump of ornamental grass yesterday and put in some rose bushes that I'd started from clippings.  They have buds so they should be blooming soon.  Sometimes plants are preferable to people.  I'm sore today from fighting with the plants.  That was a large well established clump but it looked bad as the center had died.  I also pulled tons of weeds so that my hands hurt.  At least I can see a difference when I go outside.  That's reassuring.  God knows I need the exercise.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 19, 2020, 04:02:31 PM
I'm trying to figure out how to make a claim for the self-employed grant that the government is offering for loss of earnings. Turns out I can't until at least mid-May and it's anyone's guess when the funds will become available if my claim is successful. Thankfully I have always done my tax returns (some might remember the VAT crap I have mentioned here) so my earnings are consistent for years past and I am supposedly entitled to claim 80% of that per month while I am out of work.

To be honest I probably wouldn't have even made a claim if the Inland Revenue hadn't refused to listen the mitigating circumstances that made me eligible to pay VAT that I had never received from clients. They were prepared to take £12k from me without a payment scheme because I am self-employed. That would have meant I would have had to sell my expensive machinery, van and cleared out my bank account - effectively putting me out of business - but they didn't give a crap and said it was my own fault and I should cough up.

It wasn't my fault as a matter of fact, but they wouldn't listen.

Anywho, I got it down to £5k with help from the bright boy and life went on.

Now, any funds that I might be entitled to, I am definitely going to claim regardless if I could survive without them. Not really my style but perhaps the government will have to make cuts to the VAT office staffing and what goes around ...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 19, 2020, 04:45:49 PM
Those piggy banks are being distributed by... the banks here in the US, and surprise surprise, the giant corporations are at the head of the line.

One article explained the banks are looking to businesses they have favorable relations with... as if that wouldn't just piss me off more. It's another bank bailout under a cowpoo excuse.

United sent an email to all their employees saying they're fired effective October 1st... AFTER the airlines got bailed out.

I have a horrible feeling that the results in November are now predetermined, I can already hear the TV ads "The firm hand that guided us through the storm" and the counter ads, just clips of him blathering on at these daily press conferences.

Sorry, I didn't mean to get political there, it just... all flows like sewage.

I'm trying desperately to look to whatever possible good there is. I'm eating well, we stocked up so I don't have to send Mom out into the ghost zone, which I was feeling guilty about.

My computer is running well despite a slight scare with the bios, oddly enough, unplugging the machine and holding in the power button seemed to clear it. I've been doing that to dells for years, and it was a hail mary attempt, but it worked.

Dog is doing well, shortly before the virus ended life as we knew it, he fell and ripped open his foot. I'm glad it happened then instead of now, taking him to the vet now seems almost impossible. He's mobile now, if mercurial as a cat. That's business as usual.

I'm really missing Goodwill. Like, badly. I didn't realize just mindlessly grazing there meant so much to my brain.

Hey! My Lucky Jeans weren't in the laundry that got stolen. I suppose that is lucky.

All my god damned socks were though.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 20, 2020, 03:49:37 AM
I wear teva flip flops 90% of the time. I don't wear them on the bus.

I (didn't) have a lot of pairs of socks, and my shoes tend to last a good long time. I'd say my current pair were purchased around 2013.

If I'm in the city, I don't want to be wearing flip flops.

I do love the damn tevas though, I've fully punctured them, soaked em in the bathtub, and they sealed back up.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 20, 2020, 05:16:48 AM
You live in California: what are (were) you doing with socks?

Glove puppets when you're lonely.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 20, 2020, 05:45:56 AM
glue gun and googly eyes I suppose.

But then I've got that googly eyed politician who occasionally bites me. Life is never dull.

I will admit, the laundry thing, it's really looped me. We have a camera in the laundry room, but my roommate supposes it's a dupe.

I sincerely doubt that bless'ed civic and the clothes will suddenly appear in the parking lot, but I'd not complain if it happened.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 20, 2020, 09:28:47 AM
It mystifies me that someone would steal wet used clothing (or did they abscond with them from the dryer)?  They gonna wear em or sell em.  If they don't like them, maybe they show up somewhere in a bag in the neighborhood?

Socks are important.  The dessert can get cold at night, and, aside from that, you don't want your feet sticking to your shoes if it gets hot. 

eBay is a great source for socks, especially varieties that are out of stock or discontinued.  Good prices.  I sound like a huckster for that company, but really.  I just bought more socks this week.  What can I say?  They were a good deal.  New and cheaper than dept. stores.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 20, 2020, 07:09:40 PM
Well, my roommate went to wash his laundry, and they had re-washed them. That's right, The clothing was returned! Feckers could have sprung for a dryer spin though...

My roommate is spawn camping the laundry room as he doesn't want his poo stolen, I wonder if they will return to the scene of the machine.

I jokingly said maybe they went to sell the clothes online and found out they're worthless. Mom was not amused by my humor.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 20, 2020, 07:35:52 PM
Well, that's a relief.  Maybe someone got confused and took them by mistake?  Who knows what goofy stuff people are capable of these days.

I was watching the news today and it was not encouraging to hear that this might go on for over a year.  God, if the right wingnuts are protesting staying home after a few weeks, what are they likely to do after months and months of this?  The more I hear about this disease, the more I don't want to leave my house. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 20, 2020, 08:58:11 PM
The socks were still gone. Guess they needed socks.

Got all my athletic shorts back though, felt like Christmas. One pair was missing, but that might be in my clean clothes hamper somewhere.

Georgia is reopening Gyms, Fitness centers, Hair Salons, Movie Theaters, Restaurants, Nail Salons, and Massage Parlors.

You may remember, Kemp already opened the beaches.

And Trump suspended Immigration.

The Boston Globe printed 15 pages of obituaries.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 21, 2020, 05:53:32 AM
For the first time in 4 weeks I managed to get an iceberg lettuce. I'd almost forgotten what they looked like.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 21, 2020, 12:17:04 PM
That's because 90% of the iceberg is hidden.

I did well to find it then.

Perhaps they've always been available.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on April 21, 2020, 01:06:56 PM
That's because 90% of the iceberg is hidden.

I don't know whether to laugh or groan.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 21, 2020, 04:50:37 PM
I have to go to the doctor tomorrow.

The roommate being furloughed means I can get a ride from him, the bus has been restricted in a way that my usual way of loading the bus pass the day of would not even be possible, let alone desirable.

I really wish I could just cancel it, but my meds can eat my teeth, bones, and liver if I'm not careful, so I really do have to show up for the bloodletting.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 21, 2020, 05:34:22 PM
I don't know whether to laugh or groan.
What he said.   ;D

8ully I'm glad you can get a ride as I know how time consuming and annoying public busses can be.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 21, 2020, 06:40:09 PM
They called me this afternoon to change it to a telepresence interview. I asked about the blood and the phone witch just said that I'm "current" whatever the golly that means.

I welcome the not going into a house of the sick during this curve, but it kind of pisses me off that I went to those blood draw appointments like clockwork and now find out it wasn't as important as I was led to believe. You all know my woes of public transit, I've whined here extensively.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 24, 2020, 12:00:39 AM
So at today's horrible press conference, doctor UUUGE had some new medical advice.

Injecting disinfectant.

I want to say what that person should inject himself with, but I don't want a visit from the secret service.

Fun fact: A site I was a member on during Bush II, second term, Threatened Bush II. Not only did the secret service try to track the user down, they had an interview with the site owner as well.

That user was named "shitfuck." That's right, a website operator had to deal with the secret service over a user named "shitfuck"

So I'll try to avoid directly threatening the person who suggested INJECTING DISINFECTANTS today. Also, the sun magically kills illness now, despite the fact that standing and REAL medical advice on this is that the virus doesn't give a flying golly what climate you're in.

Like everyone else, I want this nightmare to be over.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 24, 2020, 12:13:19 AM
I truly dont know what to say about Trump so i will say nothing but :P :-[ :-\
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 24, 2020, 05:15:45 AM
I find what Trump said yesterday even more incredulous than when he said that he had "natural ability" after the CDC praised his knowledge of the virus. He would have trouble figuring out which way round his underpants should be worn without help from advisers.

What I find most disconcerting for America is that while Trump is temporary, his legacy is tarnishing the credibility of the States long term. And what I find most disconcerning for the rest of us is that while I personally don't like the U.S.A's hobnail boot keeping world order, it does/did (to a lesser or greater degree) do that. Nowadays, I can't see many nations that would fear America with him in charge.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 24, 2020, 09:42:00 AM
The problems are structural and the person in charge represents a minority of the voters.  How?  The Electoral college, an antiquated and corrupt system that  privileges the preferences of less populous states over those of the greater.  And a long standing system of gerrymandered districts that result in GOP candidates prevailing in what have been historically Democratic districts.  This has been a long, damaging process and most of us just look on it in dismay.  I've taken to the streets, but a fat lot of good that has done.  Even purportedly legal means to remove corrupt or incompetent leaders, such as Impeachment are hamstrung by the machinations of those who do not perform as required, i.e. they prefer party affiliations over the greater good. 

It is beyond sad.  Watching a great idea of governance crumble is a tragedy.   And feeling like there's nothing you can do to stop it is beyond anything I'm capable of describing.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 24, 2020, 10:23:25 AM
I don't find one person too upsetting, whoever they are and whatever they do. A moran is a moran, a rich bully is a rich bully and we have to just live with them.

What I find upsetting now, and will never forgive, is a nation that lines up in support of that person. That nation may rehabilitate itself at the next election, but I am not very positive about that possibility. All of the nation is tarnished by a "leader" that recommends mainlining bleach (and to buy products that his company sells regardless of their efficacy or health risk), while their staff - including "medical experts" are unable to contradict their glorious leader.

I cannot understand or forgive a party in an ostensibly "democratic" society that stands in lock-step behind a self-interested, authoritarian bully because they are so desperate to cling to power, no matter what the cost to their society and their country, let alone to the rest of the world.

I am desperately trying to avoid invoking Godwin's Law, but i think comparisons are unavoidable.

Is the term "moran" one of those clever, self-contradicting words that can trip up people whom question them?

Trump's idiocy is boundless yet he seems to successfully reign by terror. Some of the exchanges with reporters that have become international news are infuriating and I wish just one of those he puts down would tell him to STFU.

How is he going to spin this latest gaff. Is he going to blame one the lackies around him? Maybe he'll say it's all fake news and he was photoshopped into the footage.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 24, 2020, 03:35:30 PM
he went with (b)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 24, 2020, 03:44:07 PM
https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/26479-get-a-brain-morans

(https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/026/479/morans.jpg)

Never acknowledge - or even remember - a "gaff": If it is mentioned again it is:

(a) Fake news

(b) Taken out of context.

Again - this is typical of a bully, what bothers me is not the bully, but the folk that knowingly support and enable the bully.

So I read that it was his interpretation of sarcasm and the press made him do it.

By your reckoning just about every country leader is also complicit or at least complacent. If no one calls him out on his sarcasm claim and says not to talk such utter cowpoo, he'll believe he's got away with it again.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 24, 2020, 10:15:24 PM
I didn't watch today's. Couldn't.

My town made masks mandatory by city council vote. On one hand, the masks are vital. On the other hand, I don't like that kind of power in the hands of the city council.

I believe a State mandate would be more appropriate, but I understand why that might not be possible or desirable.

I have heard that the protesters did indeed infect each other.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 25, 2020, 04:55:10 AM
By your reckoning just about every country leader is also complicit or at least complacent. If no one calls him out on his sarcasm claim and says not to talk such utter cowpoo, he'll believe he's got away with it again.

In reverse order: he has got away with it. He can't not get away with it.

World leaders: No, not all. Some are actively taking advantage without being complicit. The New World Order™ will give an awful lot more ground to the authoritarian leaders that America currently looks up to with admiration (institutionally, at least: has anyone even looked at Russia's published numbers?). But as far as BoJo goes, yes: complicit. Lap dogs abound.

My idea of a NWO is for everyone else to cut America loose, and for the rest of the world to learn to survive without Apple and Starbucks. Being bullied by a bully is never fun, and sucking up to the bully in the hope of crumbs is worse than starving. The WHO, the UN, NATO and all the rest need to learn to survive without US funds - at long last we should let (e.g.) the middle east sort itself out without the neighbourhood gorillas messing in the sandbox.

Steady on. A world without Apple, I ask you ...

The way I see it, idiotic world leaders are in the majority - depending on what you personally believe. I hate the practice of torturing dogs before they are eaten that South Koreans believe is their cultural right (stems back to China again, though). And as their country's leaders allow it, they must also be as idiotic as Trump - in my opinion.

A NWO would be tricky to configure outside of my house. I mean, the bloke 6 doors down insulted my work once so he'll have to go too.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 26, 2020, 11:13:38 AM
I blame the TriLateral commission, black helicopters and their jack booted thugs.  In short, we are all doomed.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 26, 2020, 11:37:02 AM
I've eaten so much during this lockdown that I doubt I'll be able squeeze back out through the door once I'm allowed to. I'm finding that incredibly depressing.

Of course. there is a cure for that. It's called eating less.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 27, 2020, 09:54:39 AM
Back to the grind today working for a recently retired MP no less.

Not that hard work but I was glad to be burning calories for a change rather than collecting them.

Of course, as soon as I got home I had a sandwich, a large beer and 2 triple choc biscuits.

Bugger. Will I never learn ...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 27, 2020, 08:20:55 PM
I got into the habit of a beer at lunch for a while, that was a hard one to break.

I've been ignoring the white house briefings for my own sanity, but the local poo is very dumb.

Beaches are now open, but you are not allowed to stop moving. I imagine walking through other people's exhales as you frog march the beach won't lead to new cases of infection at all!

The rally's are damn near identical to tea party gatherings, and I found out that isn't just a coincidence. It's the same organizers. Not a big shock there.

I would suggest reviewing the film of these rallies and sending these patriot $1000 fines for violating the public health orders, but know that they won't.

Lot of my neighbors don't wear masks and just loiter about on the stairs. I want to shove them off or super soaker them with lysol, but I would be arrested if I did that. Probably be charged with a hate crime as well.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 28, 2020, 10:21:27 AM
At least Trump's daily updates keep you watching, if only in anticipation of the next car crash. I've come to the conclusion that England's gameplan is to show you so many unfathomable graphs, and then go on to rattle on about each one endlessly, that you either completely forget about the coronavirus or completely lose the will to live. Either eventuality could be classed as a win.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 28, 2020, 08:39:02 PM
Yeah, Newsome bugged the poo out of me with the endless talk with no options or facts.

Like, there are no options. That's where we are. Idiots are screaming for things to open up so we can get our plague on.

The leader of the "movement" just tested positive for Covid-19.

I can't watch Trump. I just can't do it anymore.

I did have a neat group I was a member of, but either it shut down or one of the mods purged me. I don't know, because facebook won't tell me, and the group no longer appears.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 28, 2020, 09:52:17 PM
I can't listen to Trump.  It's like rewatching a tragic car accident over and over again.  Kind of like listening to non stop Dan Rather with that model of the Challenger that blew up.  I was stuck home sick that day with a tv that got only one channel and I had to turn it off because I just couldn't take the constant replays of Christa McAuliffe's parents faces as they saw their daughter die.  Once you realize that our country is being governed by a narcissistic sociopath, what's the point of giving him further audience?

Newsom is like a dangerous intellectual by comparison.  I voted for him and I'd do it again.  At least he has a brain and the ability to reason with an impulse to do the best for the residents of his state.  I attribute the relatively low number of cases in CA to his proactive policies.  I got laid off from my job in part as a result of those closures, but at least I'm still alive and hope to stay that way.  I have real concerns about the impulse to reopen stuff too soon.  The more I read about this virus the more it scares the bejesus out of me.  I'd like to avoid it if at all possible.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 28, 2020, 10:06:10 PM
I'm still irrationally angry about the single use plastic bag ban.

Because it doesn't affect people like Newsom or Moonbeam.

People who lecture from a place of comfort... I get the frustration, but not the stupidity.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 28, 2020, 11:18:22 PM
I don't like that they charge for plastic bags or paper bags now.  So, how many of those "non" single use bags are just going the same place that the single use bags did?

This 10 cents a bag thing is like a regressive tax on those less able to support it.  The only good thing about the pandemic is that most stores aren't charging for bags now.  That's temporary, but I've been taking advantage of it.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 29, 2020, 07:26:00 AM
So, if there is a global meltdown of the airline industry, is it time to examine other possibilities of overseas travel? We (the boy and I) were thinking sea trains running in transparent tubes throughout the oceans. You could kinda whale and shark watch while you go.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 29, 2020, 07:56:06 AM
So, if there is a global meltdown of the airline industry, is it time to examine other possibilities of overseas travel? We (the boy and I) were thinking sea trains running in transparent tubes throughout the oceans. You could kinda whale and shark watch while you go.
great idea,
Denmark approves start of work for €7 billion underwater tunnel to Germany  is this you ?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 29, 2020, 08:23:40 AM
great idea,
Denmark approves start of work for €7 billion underwater tunnel to Germany  is this you ?

We were hoping to get Elon on board. No pun intended.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 29, 2020, 03:58:03 PM
Seeing a lot of idiots saying salty air at the beach will kill the virus.

It does not.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 30, 2020, 03:23:11 AM
Seeing a lot of idiots saying salty air at the beach will kill the virus.

It does not.

Wasn't so long ago that they were saying there was an increased risk to surfers as the virus was vented into the sea via sewage systems, and then could become an airborne aerosol in the sea spray.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 30, 2020, 03:51:10 AM
I heard the thing about sea air, not so much the sewage, but I've not found any primary sources. Which makes me think my local news fished poo off facebook.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 07, 2020, 11:13:50 AM
So, this time of year I get a hayfever cough that stays with me for months. It's like a tickle in my lungs that is really hard to scratch no matter how hard you cough. With all the madness around us I am frightened to even try and stop the tickle for fear of being treated like a leper.

It calms down at night which is exacly the time that I'm not worried about coughing!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 10, 2020, 06:20:32 PM
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/city-manager/news-releases/cluster-of-covid-19-cases-traced-to-birthday-party/?fbclid=IwAR3rJCBGy5bALehIk61l0SwPTitiVcU76g0-b_wY17FeaqwerVnnRTCXmJM

bless'ed. Idiots.

My rear adjacent neighbors, who I've mentioned in the past, had a maskless BBQ today.

It's as if the idiots declared "Mission Accomplished" on May 1st, despite doing golly nothing but complain.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 11, 2020, 12:24:51 AM
This has become my sick-0 Wheel of Fortune.  I spin it every morning.  It does wonders to curb my desires to go out.  https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html)

It's apparently more healthy to spend time in isolation out of doors.  Less concerns about compromised HVAC forced air systems in apartment buildings.  But of course if you are going to be a dunderhead about it and go to a maskless barbeque or other party, well you deserve a Darwin award.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 11, 2020, 09:30:41 AM
I'm not so sure about your assertion re:  low risks of transmission by casual social interaction.  A family in New Jersey had dinner one evening.  They customarily ate together once a week.  This was a multigenerational, extended Italian American family.  3 died and several others were sickened.  One had traveled and was an asymptomatic carrier. 

This is a really nasty disease.  It apparently affects children, young people and older adults in different ways, but none of them are pretty.  A sensible person would take steps to avoid contracting it, lest they discover the hard way that they are one of the people who would experience severe symptoms, despite generalized demographics.

And there is no disputing your observation about the U.S. being so obsessed with individual rights that they are willing to sacrifice elementary school children and church-goers rather than give up their "right" to arm themselves to the teeth.  I suspect this is due to a combination of some kind of mass hysteria and excess of testosterone, but there must be psychologists and sociologists with theories that explain it better than I can.  Every now and then, we contemplate migrating to New Zealand where there are reasonable gun laws.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 11, 2020, 02:55:19 PM
To clarify:  this was an extended family that lived in clusters of small groups that on the occasion in question, left their homes to visit the home of a relative for a group meal.  That is where the transmission occurred and that resulted in the subsequent deaths and illnesses of many in the group.

The fact is that the precise vectors of transmission of this virus are not completely understood.  Many people who carry the virus are asymptomatic, but still can spread the virus to others, and of that group, some seem to be more effective than others in transmitting the virus.  This is a highly contagious illness with profoundly unpleasant symptoms, some of which are deadly.  It's not unreasonable to exercise an abundance of caution in attempting to curb its transmission.  This, from one of those "give me liberty or give me death" Yankees.  I wish more of my countrymen would respect science as much as they do Fox News.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 11, 2020, 04:22:26 PM
I can't remember if I posted about the city council member who was removed in Antioch - First place I lived, but he was very much of the "If old people die from this, let it happen"

He also said homeless dying of the virus will reduce the burden they represent to city finances.

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/04/30/antioch-city-council-calls-meeting-to-remove-outspoken-commissioner/

California Uber Alles.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 11, 2020, 10:08:21 PM
Sounds like a real proponent of eugenics.  He'd fit in perfectly in at least one historical regime that comes to mind.

I know Antioch because it's next to the town where my vet is located.  It is basically a small river town that once prospered due to nearby coal deposits, agriculture and river traffic.  There's a good deal of poverty and crime there.  The downtown is comprised of a small, riverside historic district surrounded by nice early 20th century bungalows and victorian style homes.  It has a big ugly 70's style high school and there's not much going on in terms of local industry any longer.  Many of the farms and orchards that once surrounded it are succumbing to subdivisions that were constructed to accommodate people fleeing the high rents and housing prices of the Bay Area.  But now the economy depends on big box retailers and discount chains.  Macy's just closed its store in the mall, and the local CVS drugstore also closed.  Even my favorite thrift store there closed because of a lack of donations.  So it's not exactly doing well, financially.  There are fundamentalist churches in town, some in former movie theatres.  Still, that kind of attitude is a bit outré even for a slightly provincial city.  It sounds like the guy is digging in his heels despite widespread calls for his resignation.  I know the city hall because it has a public restroom and free parking.

How long ago did you live there, and for how long?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 11, 2020, 10:32:41 PM
Born to about five ish? Dad got sick, mom refused to live there anymore. She did not want me going to public school in the area, and the religious school classed me as retarded.

 They never divorced, but we separated. I visited regularly, but when dad got more sick, we started having me fly into FAT, Grandma lived in Clovis, Fresno.

We went back once, after dad died, mom had to sell the boat as it was contaminated. Probably wasn't the best that we went aboard, but, golly.

I wonder sometimes, if he'd come with us, if he might have been able to stick around longer.

I hold no love in my heart for Antioch, but I do miss the boat.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 11, 2020, 11:43:09 PM
I'm sorry about your Dad.  That sounds really sad.  The religious school sounds retarded.  It's clear that you aren't.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 12, 2020, 12:19:38 AM
I'm not a big fan of Catholicism for a lot of reasons, but my first reason not to like them was that they made my mom cry.

I do wish Dad could have been a bit less unyielding, they never stopped loving each other, but he couldn't stand to have her see him at his worst.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 15, 2020, 01:04:36 PM
A few years ago, a friend had a debilitating stroke requiring him to move back closer to his family where he has been living in a nursing home.  I spoke with him on the phone about a month ago, and he'd had regular flu but was on the mend.  It was a good conversation.  Still, I've been worried about him.  I just got a text from his sister that he's on a ventilator and has COVID 19 with a poor prognosis.  We're all worried sick about him.

If you can send healing thoughts across the waters, please do.  He's a really good guy and this is just so unfair.

Wishing your friend a complete and speedy recovery, six, I know only too well this virus is a real bugger.

I now have 3 friends who have had run-ins with Covid. One recovered and then had a relapse that was worse that the terrible first bout. Still, she's ok now. You may remember me talking of this friend a couple of years ago as her brother committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. Bloody awful luck this girl has.

The next friend I know with it has now had it for seven weeks and cannot shift it. She's not as bad as some and is at home (still pretty unwell though), but she just cannot recover completely.

The last friend is not sure if she has it but her 4 year old daughter does. Her daughter is quite ill but my friend just feels a little out of sorts.

Needless to say: I hate covid19.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 15, 2020, 07:06:48 PM
Thanks, smokes.  He passed away this morning. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on May 16, 2020, 12:28:32 AM
So sorry for you 6.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 16, 2020, 02:26:02 AM
I'm desperately sorry to hear that, six. These deaths are almost impossible to reconcile.

While this pales into insignificance with the pain and suffering all around, today I was allowed to claim SEISS which is income support for the self employed. Bizarrely, the amount I am due to receive is almost, to the penny, the amount the government took from me when I had a clerical oversight. It's good as I have been worried about the fact that now I am back working I cannot really social distance from the contractor I am working with as doing so would open up far worse health and safety issues. I mean, if I am up a ladder with something heavy that I have to hand down, I can't exactly throw it 2 metres. There isn't much virus around now and both my partnered contractor and myself do not mix outside our households, so the risk is further minimised. However, these funds will allow me to take another couple of months off if necessary.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 16, 2020, 02:32:04 AM
That sounds like a real boon at a vulnerable time for you.  And I'm sure it's harder as you have a family to support.  I wish the U.S. had better support for the self employed.  Do take care and do as much as you can to stay safe.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 16, 2020, 02:47:56 AM
golly this virus.

I saw him on TV again, he says "We're back! Sometimes you don't have a vaccine and you just have to work through it!"

I never wish illness on anyone, they say that you get back what you wish on others threefold, but I really wish someone could inception a single bless'ed thought into that head of his for the sick and vulnerable.

I am so terribly sorry you lost your friend.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on May 16, 2020, 08:38:42 AM
I'm very sorry for your loss, 6. My thoughts and condolences to you and your friend's family. It's devastating right now and with all the isolation, it's easy (so not the right word) to be stuck in your bubble and forget/not think about how others are being affected.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 16, 2020, 10:26:39 AM
Thank you for your condolences.

It's hard to wrap my brain around this as it happened so quickly.  The virus is really terrible.  Wash your hands.  Stay safe.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 17, 2020, 07:59:56 AM
I went to my friend who's had the virus in north London today (the one with the endless bad luck) as she had a plumbing issue and didn't trust anyone local. It was a long way and I couldn't help feeling more worried than I might usually even though she recovered from the virus a month ago. I couldn't help worrying that there might be some still floating around somewhere but in the end I just bit the bullet, put it out of my mind, and did all the work she needed doing.

I'm considering a couple of Hail Marys now I'm home. Perhaps even a shot or 2 of disinfectant. Environmentally friendly stuff of course.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 17, 2020, 08:52:26 AM
Do you have a mask to wear for in home jobs like that?  I'd expect it's necessary.  I don't know if gloves are necessary as long as you are hand washing, regularly, but the virus is so scary.  I hope you can still stay safe while continuing to earn a living.

I went to a grocery store yesterday and people were pretty stupid in not making any effort to distance themselves from one another.  I had to go out of my way to avoid them.  This illness is not going away any time soon, and just because people are bored by having listened to the news going on about it for months doesn't mean it's not still a danger. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 17, 2020, 12:40:16 PM
I have masks aplenty but I only use them when working with dust. They aren't going to do much to protect you from the virus, but they would others if you were contagious. You have to constantly fiddle with them when working anyhow, so you'd have to wash your hands every 2 minutes which just isn't feasible.

The Oxford vaccine sounds like it's good to go. I think they knew there was a great chance it would be successful as it was built on an existing corona virus vaccine that had good results. In fact, the only time anyone has ever made any sense when describing what was going on with the damn virus, was when I first listened to the head of that department in Oxford spell it out clearly and in plain english. That was about a month ago.

The truth is: if a viable vaccine is not realistic (maybe ever), then I think at some point we all are, quite willingly, going to have run the gauntlet with the virus on a daily basis. The alternative might be worse if there is a complete financial meltdown of the planet.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 18, 2020, 10:38:13 AM
I got in a bit of a fight with a friend of my aunt's on facebook.

His position is "It's time to go back to work".

But the way he's saying it is "Other people may die, and I'm willing to take that chance".

To which I replied "If YOU are afraid of MY drunk driving, YOU should stay home!"

My Aunt then commented on my dry humor, to which I replied

"All jokes aside, your friend is a shitty person."

Considering she's been ducking skype calls for a month, I feel good about it.

And Smokes, I'm not insulting you. I'm insulting the bud light swilling hillbillys.

I do wonder what will happen if there is never a vaccine. They haven't cured AIDS yet, what the golly makes people think they have a handle on this mess?

I am so incredibly angry for the tradespeople, like you Smokes, who have to play Russian Roulette, just to keep living.

I think that makes me hate my Aunt's friend MORE.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on May 18, 2020, 11:30:10 AM
Instead of chastisement, Aunt dropped a smiley. LOL.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 18, 2020, 04:48:48 PM
Thanks for the concern, 8ully, but I don't think I'm running a fraction of the risk that the staff at my local convenience store are. They have to brush shoulders with hundreds of folk a day just to get paid.

I suppose ultimately it's financial pressure that forces people into making the choice to return to work. It should never be a directive issued by those on social media.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on May 18, 2020, 06:14:19 PM
I have 2 N95 masks that I rotate when going to the grocers', otherwise, I wear a bandana when I'm out so I can cover nose and mouth to avoid troubling other people that I have to pass. 

Most people either go into the street or cross to the opposite sidewalk, so it's been pretty easy to deal with moving about on the days I do go out.  Of course, this whole business has been the kiss of death in terms of being able to do much job hunting.  In order to work from home you have to be employed in the first place.  So I'm getting more training in order to take exams for certificates when the testing centers open up.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on May 19, 2020, 12:09:37 AM
Haven't stopped working, As we are owned by PCC Airfoils (American owned) they came up with
"So critical for defence and etc etc" we have stayed open, PCC wouldn't allow Furlough and so now PCC have taken the move to lay off most of their UK work force.
The aerospace market is bad and will not recover for a long time (even worse than 9/11) as the quote goes
"We live in interesting times"

Corona - Hospital my wife works in is full again, of negative cases and beds have vanished.
All who are admitted are tested and checked, goes something like
A query tested then either. 
B negative
C positive
most are negative and moved to B and most cannot be moved from the B due to still ill from ??  Wife said it's as bad if not worse then when corona peaked.
They are still waiting the second wave of corona.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 19, 2020, 04:03:11 PM
I thought this was rather nifty:


Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on May 19, 2020, 11:56:14 PM
lots going around on making masks, will be the norm for the young ones,
Designer of course  ;).
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on May 24, 2020, 09:27:31 AM
I have heard of a lot of people taking the piss out of some of the income support schemes as they are still working as close to usual. It's not really their fault as all the government asked was whether your business had been "adversely affected" by the coronavirus. If your business was down by 10% that would be true, however, the chancellor pays you 80% of your normal earnings so you end up 70% better off in this example.

Surely the solution is just to ask people to submit their downturn and then calculate how to balance that up for them?

If at the end of the next financial year I am up on last year, I'd pay it back voluntarily. I bet I'm alone in that thinking.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on June 06, 2020, 03:49:43 PM
All of a sudden it's like the coronavirus doesn't exist. I don't know whether that's through natural boredom of the issue, other, bigger fish to worry about, or that the virus is genuinely less of a threat to us.

It's all a bit confusing to be honest.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on June 06, 2020, 08:41:44 PM
I think people have short attention spans.  The virus is as prevalent and as dangerous as ever.  It mystifies me that they are relaxing the restrictions on some businesses.  And the recent spate of demonstrations with people using limited PPE and social distancing concerns me.

Our county has 3805 known cases with 101 deaths.  My reaction to this is to stay home as much as I can.

How are London and its surroundings faring?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on June 07, 2020, 11:24:12 AM
Mom got in a fight at the market. She was masked up, and a jackass without one kept trying to edge her out of aisles by standing close.

It is a good thing I was not there.

Nothing physical, no laws broken, but she came home very shook up. No hamburger buns or horseradish either, but that's extremely minor compared to her wellbeing.

golly that guy.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on June 07, 2020, 01:01:19 PM
I am often tasked with pointing to the clearly marked red squares on the floor that people seem oblivious to.  I'm standing in line, waiting my turn to check out and there are BIG BRIGHT RED squares indicating 6 foot distances where you should stand.  Like they have pictures of footprints in them and everything.  How people can ignore those mystifies me, but there's often some oblivious idiot who insists on standing closer than 6 ft from me and I have to request, politely, that they back up.  At least up here, you can't even enter the store without a mask.

The other thing that the stores have attempted to do is to limit passage through the aisles by making them one way.  There are directional signs on the floor at the entrance to the aisles.  Absolutely nobody pays attention to those.  I'll enter the aisle if there's nobody in there, but people just don't heed them in general.

I go as little as possible.  It is hard to know if there will be a second wave, with even worse interruption to the food supply.  Some people act like the whole business is over.  I wish it were.  I'm sure everyone is exhausted by this pandemic.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on June 07, 2020, 02:31:32 PM
How are London and its surroundings faring?

Pretty much standing room only in public spaces.

We've been told that it's 1 in 1000 that actually has the virus on the south east, and that the risk is minimal in the open air. Add those 2 facts together and sprinkle on a little Dominic Cummings spite, and no one gives a damn any more.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on June 24, 2020, 10:15:16 PM
It is exhausting, but I'm still keeping my distance from people and places as much as ever.  In Indiana here people aren't wearing masks anymore and I'm still waiting tables, we the employees still must wear masks, but the boss caught wind that the masks will not be mandatory by July.  That I doubt.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on June 26, 2020, 06:44:09 AM
be safe wear one.
Dont know what to say about England, People think were over it  :-[ :-[
Hospital where wife works is solid with covid patients again. 2 weeks after EID and BLM marches then bang.
Looking at the pictures of Bournemouth and I think it will be a 3rd or 4th spike let alone 2nd spike  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on June 27, 2020, 04:22:41 AM
I got news today that one of my former workers (painter and decorator) died from the virus a couple of months ago. He was a filipino.

He was especially good at his trade and looked up to by all of his colleagues. He was one of the few guys that worked for me that asked me to teach him my techniques. Most, if not all if the others (I had 12 working for me on that particular contract) thought they knew it all already.

R.I P. Elma.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on June 27, 2020, 07:42:04 AM
I'm sorry to hear about your coworker, smokes.  That's pretty sad, since he was probably in the prime of his life. 

goldie, I hope your wife can stay safe. I worry about doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health care professionals who have to come into close contact with so many people every day, many of whom are ill.  I shake my head at the number of Americans who refer to people who insist on wearing masks as 'sheep.' 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on June 27, 2020, 09:18:33 AM
I believe the hope was that the curve of the virus would drop by July 1st, so long as everyone took precautions.

Since all the idiots decided they were done staying inside and wearing masks May 1st, that's out the window.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on July 27, 2020, 12:36:58 PM
We all might just as well write off 2020 completely. To be frank, I would totally sign up to the idea of a do-over.

If we ain't near some kind of normality by 2021, then stop the world I definitely want to get off.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on July 27, 2020, 12:48:47 PM
We definitely qualify for a "mercy rule" calling of the game.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on July 27, 2020, 03:59:12 PM
I've been trying the "safe word" but it just ain't happening.

I think the rules are borked.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on July 27, 2020, 04:27:04 PM
Reminds me of the movie "Eurotrip".

Quote
Fluggaenkoecchicebolsen
The safe word used in the Vandersexxx Erotic club, featured in the movie "Euro trip"
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Fluggaenkoecchicebolsen

I was going to link the YouTube video where the guy tried to use it but it showed "tushy" (man tushy) so opt'ed just to link the Urban Dictionary entry.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on August 05, 2020, 04:00:38 AM
The spread of Covid-19 is based on two factors: 1. How dense the population is and 2. How dense the population is.

I see what you did there.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on August 05, 2020, 03:02:02 PM
The spread of Covid-19 is based on two factors: 1. How dense the population is and 2. How dense the population is.

Well, folk are pretty fick down the road in Lambeth.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on October 18, 2020, 12:40:28 PM
I was approached by Imperial to be part of a COVID testing research study. Of course I agreed and I received a home testing kit that I'll have picked up next Saturday.

This got me thinking on what result I'd truly like to hear back from it. On the one hand I'd like to know if I have it and I am just asymptomatic as that'd make me unsusceptible to the disease, but that'd put me in quarantine for 2 weeks which would screw me up proper with work (and my wife). On the other hand if I test negative then I don't know if I've had it and how tolerant I'd be to the disease if I were to catch it. That would be a bit of a pointless result.

I'm hoping that just being a part of the program might make me a candidate for an antibody research study if they run one - which actually gives me the exact same dilemmas now I think of it?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on October 18, 2020, 08:42:44 PM
Reinfection has become a concern, you may be asymptomatic the first time, but apparently the secondary infections are worse.

I really hope your test comes back covid negative.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on October 19, 2020, 12:55:01 PM
Reinfection has become a concern, you may be asymptomatic the first time, but apparently the secondary infections are worse.

I really hope your test comes back covid negative.

You're right, that's the only sensible result to wish for.

Thanks for the sentiment too, 8ully.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on October 28, 2020, 03:56:10 PM
My result was negative as it should have been.

It doesn't mean that I didn't contract the virus 10 minutes after sending the test off, of course. This, for me, is the real flaw with getting tested for your own piece of mind as you can contract it even while awaiting your test result. Sure, testing is great for tracing and knowing when to isolate, but I don't see many people that worried about those around them.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on October 28, 2020, 11:08:30 PM
The mask I wore today was disgusting. My roommate has been getting boxes of them from work (They issue him the boxes, he's not just grabbing them) and those ones are for the most part inoffensive. You jam down your nose wire and you go about your outdoor business.

But he had to stockpile his last ten until they get him a new box, so the glory days are over. I got a bunch at the dollar store, and that was a huge mistake.

On the upside, I managed to get a bottle of 70% alcohol for the first time in a year.

I am very happy your test came back negative, apparently there is a whole new batch of post covid health complications coming down the line.

One thing that bugs me is everyone is "Ready" for this to be over, and that's not a given, at all. People are pissed off at the second wave, but they didn't take the precautions that would have prevented this second wave in the first place! THIS poo COULD HAVE BEEN OVER IN AUGUST!

Instead people madam loudly about freedoms being taken away. It makes me incredibly angry.

There is no magic cure, and the vaccine trials are going poorly. Everyone wants a cure, and it ISN'T ON OFFER.

I've heard The President has taken credit for solving the Covid-19 crisis on the white house website, but I don't have the stomach to load that up.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on October 29, 2020, 04:55:38 AM
I love you, you absolute pedant. Platonically, of course.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on October 29, 2020, 06:38:46 AM
"peace of mind".

I must be slow today.

Imperial released some of their findings from that research I was part of and apparently 100,000 a people in uk are contracting the virus daily. I guess I was lucky then.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on October 29, 2020, 09:30:44 AM
I must be slow today.

Imperial released some of their findings from that research I was part of and apparently 100,000 a people in uk are contracting the virus daily. I guess I was lucky then.
Well, you were lucky that day.

Well, you were lucky at the exact moment you did the swab.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on October 29, 2020, 11:35:12 AM
Well, you were lucky at the exact moment you did the swab.

I was. I could've taken an eye out.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on October 31, 2020, 06:37:59 AM
Rumour has it that we could be in another month long lockdown by Wednesday.

That might be just enough time for all my injuries to heal.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on October 31, 2020, 01:36:04 PM
It's official:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/oct/31/uk-coronavirus-boris-johnson-to-give-press-conference-on-new-lockdown-live-news
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on October 31, 2020, 10:50:25 PM
Not nice but needed, Wife has informed me how bad local hospitals are !
Some of the stories in the hospital ref visitor's and their attitude  + spreading covid beggar belief  :o :o
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 01, 2020, 06:53:13 AM
It's official:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/oct/31/uk-coronavirus-boris-johnson-to-give-press-conference-on-new-lockdown-live-news

Yeah, where I said "rumour" I should have said "reliable leak to the press".

The theory is that the leak was to ensure Boris couldn't go back on the idea. Frankly, my view is that we cannot continually go back into lockdowns to protect the health service as the country would eventually collapse in many other ways. Somehow we have to get a point where we can cope with as many cases that present themselves. This would surely mean that all the billions, if not trillions, spent on lockdowns should be redirected to the health service until we are at a point when therapeutics and vaccines are effective and available.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 01, 2020, 11:48:32 PM
I honestly don't think society can cope.

Too many people flouted any form of restriction, and now we're super turbo ultra mega bent.

Welcome to flu season.

The other part that spun my head around is how many people are ANGRY that Boro listened to Science Advisors.

STUPID SCIENCE BITCHES:
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 02, 2020, 05:23:19 AM
Another part that scares the poo out of me is that everyone assumes a Vaccine or Cure is right around the corner.

HIV is a virus, that thank god is not as spreadable as Covid-19. There is no vaccine. There is no cure.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 03, 2020, 12:03:09 AM
Western civilisation has reached the point where the general public doesn't know who to believe. "Science" is not a single block, and a lot of scientists publish according to their paymasters. The smoking debate established the parameters for this type of argument: science (and common sense, obviously) says it is bad for you, but some scientists can be paid to sow confusion. Intuitively we know what we should do, but we also know what we want to do, and if anything even vaguely official can be interpreted to support the latter over the former, we have a tendency to grab that with both hands and run with it. (... and then blame "the scientists" when out all goes pear shaped)

The trouble is that The Sniffle™ is not the zombie apocalypse, and people aren't afraid of the consequences of getting it (the fact that some people die doesn't bother the vast majority, as they are - probably correctly - confident that they won't): I have been watching sports reporting with some interest: when sportsman X gets it, the reporting is universally "how many games will I miss", not "OMG - what if I die!": catching it is viewed as a minor inconvenience that should be shrugged off and - where possible - ignored.

It really doesn't help that every single person that advocates (and/ or imposes) a lockdown doesn't have a clue how or when the lockdown will end: in all cases the lockdown is seen as putting off the inevitable, rather than eradicating the menace. I am beginning to suspect that the only globally available solution is to abandon those that are going to die, but to spread them out a bit so that the peaks don't look too embarrassing. (... whilst pretending that this isn't what is happening: some leaders are better at this pretence than others)

Unfortunately the Stat's have worked against us, as the youth are not as likely to die as us "Old Uns" they know it and party till we do.

reminds me of a movie

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 03, 2020, 03:06:36 PM
TNG is coming home (Yay!!) as nearly all of his block have already done so. He has to create a new bubble here and he cannot travel back until things change with the restrictions.

I'm pretty chuffed with that to be honest.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on November 03, 2020, 04:00:21 PM
I'm glad you're getting your buddy back! With the re-lockdown over there, I was a little concerned. I've been staying in a pseudo-perpetual isolation state, mostly out of the fact that we're perma-working remotely for the foreseeable future.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 04, 2020, 04:04:48 AM
I hope that you are going to isolate him in the garden shed for 14 days before you let him in range of the rest of the family.

I'm glad he'll be home.  I hope you can work something out.  I have a friend whose son works at a grocery store as a checkout clerk.  He has to undress and shower when he gets home, kind of like something in "Outbreak."  She's immunocompromised (MS) and worries that he'll relay an infection from work.  But you can't stop your kids from living while this goes on.  I think lots of families have to make such choices.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 04, 2020, 04:15:10 PM
I hope that you are going to isolate him in the garden shed for 14 days before you let him in range of the rest of the family.

You and your predilection for mangers. I ask you.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 05, 2020, 12:37:56 AM
I have a friend whose son works at a grocery store as a checkout clerk.  He has to undress and shower when he gets home, kind of like something in "Outbreak." 
wife has been doing this for months  ???

hey hoy 4 more weeks to go until the next one
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 05, 2020, 11:50:43 AM
I have always found that this is the best way to do it. Showering without undressing just makes a mess.

A million years ago, I used to subscribe to the Village Voice, a progressive weekly newspaper from NY City.  One issue featured a daffy suggestion for novel multi-tasking that would turn laundry day into a social event.  It was called something like a "Wash and Wear Party."  You and your guests would all hop in the shower fully clad and soap down to dance music, cleaning your clothes in the process.  It didn't sound all that comfortable to me at the time, but the graphics and accompanying photos were pretty funny. 

COVID has a way of taking all the fun out of everything. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 05, 2020, 03:32:42 PM
I can't say I saw much difference to central London today. It seems a lot of shops have caveats they can use to stay open - including the one I have recently fitted out. Saying that, traffic was halved so I could finally drive the van across the river to drop stuff off rather than being a slave to the delivery options.

Pubs are well and truly closed this time round, though.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 06, 2020, 12:15:01 AM
I can't say I saw much difference to central London today. It seems a lot of shops have caveats they can use to stay open - including the one I have recently fitted out. Saying that, traffic was halved so I could finally drive the van across the river to drop stuff off rather than being a slave to the delivery options.

Pubs are well and truly closed this time round, though.

Same here ?   Traffic still busy, We even have garden centers open, no idea how they manage that unless a cafe means they can ??
Local brewery can offer (all can) take aways as per last time so I am safe.
Plenty of parties (so gatherings) still apparent on large parks  :o
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 14, 2020, 06:48:55 AM
I have no idea what it is like outdoors. I don't go there.

How d'ya get outta the tomb then?

So, I don't really understand this new lockdown beyond a few shops being closed. Everywhere is still busy and most outlets have quickly added a click and collect service which allows them to trade, and folk to visit them to collect - which surely defeats the object? Mind you, you can still "collect" from pubs which would be nice if it wasn't pissing down all the time ...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on November 14, 2020, 09:28:38 AM
^Some insight, as usual.  Thanks people.
Here in northern central illinois covid is booming.  I've been sick about three days, in bed.  I don't believe its covid, but I've been out of work for a week to be sure.  The restaurants are back to pick up only, and we have the front deck open for dining.  Not that I'll get in there before its shut down too.  If heard we are going back to complete lockdown, but it's hard to keep up with the rumors to truth in such a larger town than I've been used to in 18 years.
Plus, I gave up months ago in keeping up with any information released to the public, I just sanitize my hands anywhere I go, soon as I'm in the car, and removed and wash when I get home. So far so good. 
I'll get better, i already have, just some wicked sinus infection and my body is unhappy digesting it. I take necessary precautions not to spread.  I stay home.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 14, 2020, 02:59:09 PM
It's nice to see you here again, Bea, and I'm sorry about the sinus infection.  The rolling sets of lockdowns in the U.S. and abroad seem common sense to me given how many new cases there are.  Your handwashing sounds like a good precaution as you have to deal with customers.  It's sad to see many restaurants and bars going under from this.  We can only hope that improved testing and vaccines will help us all get back to normal.  It would be nice to be able to stop worrying every time we sneeze or cough that it doesn't necessarily mean curtains.  I hope you can continue to stay safe and that you feel better soon.  Hope the kids are ok.  Are they going to school or doing distance learning?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 17, 2020, 04:11:39 AM
Is there an argument for vaccines of the future to be offered to volunteers way before the end of clinical trials? They knew these vaccines were going to be effective because of Oxford's SARS vaccine that is incredibly similar and that was very successful. I ask this as rolling out early stage vaccines before their time to volunteers, may save many, many more lives than would be lost by going through the motions. Surely that is the only true objective?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on November 18, 2020, 09:01:30 PM
Yes, the kids are distance learning.  My daughter is very unhappy with the setting, which is normal especially with the big move. It take her sometimes up to 6 months or better to relearn or retrain certain skills, such as slowly winding down an O.C.D. issue, over time.  Shes going to be 14 in december and her attitude and chemistry are certainly showing, I understand her <3. My son is content as a pig in poo :) he loves being at home.  I'd love to talk to you about them sometime Six.  They are beautiful. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on November 18, 2020, 09:04:54 PM
You know, I'm sure I've told you at least once before I love reading your communicated material. 
Servicemen/ women pray for war, as in war they can earn quick promotion and daily drudgery is minimised in favour of expediency and results.

I guess that the same is true in virology at the moment - there is many a quick route to a Nobel, and you don't have to worry about the usual health & safety nonsense: overall results are more important than losing the odd few volunteers.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 18, 2020, 11:24:04 PM
As you know my wife works in the "Main county hospital" and it is a lot worse than the first lockdown, No wards/ beds are available. On top they are trying to catch up with first wave we had.
Majority of cases in the critical wards are men, fighting for their lives and those that do survive have having various after effects. Up to 60 litres of air being pumped into your lungs an hour is not good.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 19, 2020, 01:48:30 PM
Businesses here have decided to defy orders.

In the first wave they "got away with it" because police refused to enforce the mandates. I remember on the local news the cop was positively smug. Hands on hips and he did like a little wiggle dance as he said they weren't going to enforce. Like the "oh no you di'int" motion.
 I was shocked that someone could be so flagrant.

Apparently there are going to be real consequences this time around. There should have been real consequences then. poo, FOUR RESTAURANTS in Pacific Beach were identified as super spreader locations.

I really don't get this masque of red death poo. Halloween kicked us into this restrictive tier, Thanksgiving is going to be a black wave of death.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 19, 2020, 02:52:31 PM
You know, I'm sure I've told you at least once before I love reading your communicated material.

That's very gracious of you. There isn't a lot of it about, unfortunately.

You should see the recycle bin. It reads like the bible.

There really isn't a perceivable lockdown this lockdown - at least not in London. That said, I think that there is good adherence to the rules now. This is mainly because there are no longer really "rules" but more just a way of life. Facemasks now live with your phone and keys.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on November 19, 2020, 03:02:36 PM
I haven't noticed anything different either except that Starbuck's indoor cafe area is closed (just indoor pickup and go). Since classes started this semester, the cafe has always been full (though social distancing was properly observed). I probably haven't noticed much change because I pretty much stayed in lockdown mode after restrictions were lifted since I was working remote and really had no place to go.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 20, 2020, 11:59:01 PM
There really isn't a perceivable lockdown this lockdown - at least not in London. That said, I think that there is good adherence to the rules now. This is mainly because there are no longer really "rules" but more just a way of life. Facemasks now live with your phone and keys.

Same in the midlands, more people wear masks than before except the few, but how do garden centers stay open ???
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 21, 2020, 12:54:18 AM
10PM curfew goes into effect tomorrow night here, people are already screeching.

There have already been cease and desist orders handed out like candy. One diner is constantly on the news because the owner says he will defy ALL orders.

Because Diners don't have outdoor seating. By design. IT'S A BIG BOX! Still, I wouldn't want to stake my business on pissing off the government.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dandrummerman on November 22, 2020, 07:19:08 AM
Hello.

I didn't read back more than a few pages, was wondering if anyone here had gotten it or at least suspected it?

I *suspect* that I had it in early February. My wife and daughter and I had visited the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (https://www.aahom.org/) after which my wife and I got very sick (me first). We ended up fighting it in bed for a few days, luckily not at the same time. Our coughs took 4-6 weeks to go away, and our breathing didn't seem to go back to normal for a few months. My daughter (2 at the time) never got sick.

It is possible it wasn't covid. But I'd put a small bet on it if I could. I recently took a rapid covid test and it came back negative for the virus and antibodies. I don't think the antibodies would still be in my system for 9 months though.



I live in the Detroit area, it was bad here once near the start when hospitals reached capacity but we kept it at bay *just enough* back then. Now state numbers are going up again, but is all across the state rather than JUST the Detroit area. Most of this is due to the red areas of the state, which have way more anti-maskers. It is pretty sad.

I'm glad I don't work in healthcare.

MI just reimposed a mask mandate and shut down indoor dining, as well as made HS students distance learning only, among other things. We had several restrictions for months, put in place by executive emergency order by our governor (d) that were struck down just a couple months ago by our supreme court (R).

Go figure that our numbers are on the rise when you remove all those restrictions. The current directives are from the Michigan Department of Health, and I expect that Republicans will work hard to get these removed also.

I hate politics. I hate how the stupid thing has come to be so political.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 22, 2020, 09:32:52 AM
Hello Dan.

I have had times when I thought I may have it due to an unusual and extreme feeling of fatigue. I also felt under the weather at some of those times so my money was on that I'd had it. However, I was recently asked to participate in the Imperial College research which involved testing (antigen not antibodies) and a lengthy questionnaire (the test was negative). When I got to the questionnaire there was a section about whether I'd had it and the options were was I sure due to a test, had I displayed symptons and had been in close proximity to someone to someone who later tested positive, did I just suspect it without evidence or did I think that I hadn't had it. When I was really faced with the question, I answered that I didn't think I'd had it.

Most people I know think they've had it for one reason or another, but considering the estimate is about on 10% of the population may have had it asymptomatically, I strongly doubt that they have and it's just wishful thinking.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 22, 2020, 03:50:21 PM
Apparently the antibodies can last up to a year, but all this science is being done at a breakneck pace.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 23, 2020, 04:21:14 AM
Oxford's vaccine data is announced and sounded disapponting at first glance. However, now after listening through how it all works it's actually quite encouraging. In fact, the result that showed nearly 90% efficacy for a half dose and then a full dose, will not only make the vaccine go much further, but also might be a far more useful result in terms of understanding how the body reacts to these vaccines.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 23, 2020, 10:46:39 AM
Is this the Astrozeneca one?  I think it can also be kept in a regular refrigerator unlike the others that require much colder storage.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 23, 2020, 11:13:17 AM
Is this the Astrozeneca one?  I think it can also be kept in a regular refrigerator unlike the others that require much colder storage.

Yes. It's also incredibly cheap to make and I think the plan is to distribute it globally at cost - but don't quote me on that.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on November 23, 2020, 03:27:03 PM
Wow, haven't had a dan siting in a long time. Probably the last time I fired up IRC (many moons ago). Hope you're doing well. I don't think you were married (or a father) the last time we chatted so, congrats!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dandrummerman on November 24, 2020, 08:55:59 PM
Hi Dan. Glad you didn't die.

Hello hello. I am glad I did not die also.

Dweez it was 3 years ago I jumped in here on a thread about the D and called you a poser for quitting IRC after I did. Sorry.

At that time I was married and wife was about a month preg so maybe I didn't even know we were expecting quite yet.

Quitting IRC was the best thing for me. I was quite unproductive sitting there waiting for people to talk sometimes (always had a job, but my free time was shot). I do miss it, I think we had some fun. Or I did. At the very least I've gained a couple of friends out of it all.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on November 28, 2020, 09:13:35 AM
Good to see you.  :)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on November 28, 2020, 11:25:49 AM
Hello hello. I am glad I did not die also.

Dweez it was 3 years ago I jumped in here on a thread about the D and called you a poser for quitting IRC after I did. Sorry.

At that time I was married and wife was about a month preg so maybe I didn't even know we were expecting quite yet.

Quitting IRC was the best thing for me. I was quite unproductive sitting there waiting for people to talk sometimes (always had a job, but my free time was shot). I do miss it, I think we had some fun. Or I did. At the very least I've gained a couple of friends out of it all.

IRC was a lot of good fun but you aren't kidding about it sucking up time. Glad your doing well.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 28, 2020, 11:37:03 AM
Forgive me dan, I editied your post to include christ's disappearing ink as I thought it sounded odd without it.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dandrummerman on December 01, 2020, 04:37:08 AM
Forgive me dan, I editied your post to include christ's disappearing ink as I thought it sounded odd without it.

I've gotten used to seeing other people post replies that make no sense and figure they are either crazy or christ posted.

Wouldn't have mattered if people questioned if I was crazy.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 01, 2020, 06:19:11 AM
I've gotten used to seeing other people post replies that make no sense and figure they are either crazy or christ posted.

Wouldn't have mattered if people questioned if I was crazy.

I think you'd be out of place if you were sane.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 03, 2020, 11:16:58 PM
So 14th December the Covid Vaccine will reach care homes and then as stated in Gov broadcasts.

All looking forward to receive it  :o
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 04, 2020, 03:25:18 AM
So 14th December the Covid Vaccine will reach care homes and then as stated in Gov broadcasts.

All looking forward to receive it  :o

It was guaranteed to be rolled out in some way next week so that would be earlier. Care homes must be 1st, surely?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 04, 2020, 11:36:43 PM
It was guaranteed to be rolled out in some way next week so that would be earlier. Care homes must be 1st, surely?

was on bbc news ref the date stated.
Wife has been "offered it" but hasnt said when though, Out local race course is being set up with tents etc to administer the vaccine.(very Contagion esk")
I will have to wait a while, but have been offered the FLU jab next Saturday morning :-\
Bit scared as when there is Flu / colds about I do suffer with them
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on December 05, 2020, 07:12:02 AM
I've never so much as had a flu shot.  I'm damn nervous to take the vaccine, I'm terrified to give it to my daughter.  Hate to sound heartless but I'm going to stay home and watch the results a couple months.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 05, 2020, 08:24:00 AM
I've never so much as had a flu shot....

It's mainly for old folk. Like goldie and myself.

In truth (here at least), they have offered the flu vaccine to over 50s where is is normally for over 65s as they are greater risk of dying from influenza. I've never been inclined to have it but I will this year as I can get it at my leisure. I'd rather get some extra cover and I have to figure that whatever the risks might be by taking a vaccine, dying is worse.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on December 05, 2020, 11:11:32 AM
I regularly get flu shots as most illnesses I get turn into sinus infections and related coughing fits, so whatever I can do to keep that from happening, I do.  I just got a reminder to get vaccinated against Whooping Cough and Tetanus.  I have had the PPT (pertussis/aka whooping cough, polio and tetanus) but I guess they need boosters every decade or so.  Some of these diseases are pretty awful, so a small jab and sore arm are a whole lot better than the alternative.

Most of these vaccines are well vetted before distribution.  I can understand why people would be worried about taking the corona vaccines.  But mostly, I'd expect the worst that would happen is that they'd be ineffective.  Most of them are two doses and cause mild symptoms that may not be much fun, but given I have one dead friend from this virus and others who were sickened with it, I'd be pretty much jumping at the chance to avoid it.  I feel fortunate to have escaped from it for this long and hope my luck holds out until an effective vaccine is available.  The sooner most people are able to prevent themselves from getting infected or infecting others, the better.  This has been a dreadful year for so many reasons.  We all want it to end.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 05, 2020, 11:16:09 PM
NHS have been told they will start vaccinating next week (week commencing 7/12/20)
They must go in their own time and transport to the race course.
I feel sorry for her / them as no transportation for people who cannot drive as yet will be put on for them and the race course is situated in an area which has never come out of tier 2/3.
Will be given the injection and have to wait for at least 30 mins in case of reaction.

I'm not bothered about the vaccine but long term effects for pregnant and basically young people when they start to get it. Listened to a pod cast ref the Thalidomide cases in the 60's,
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 08, 2020, 09:22:57 AM
well were off and injecting
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 08, 2020, 02:20:26 PM
well were off and injecting

Happy days! Did your missus get the jab?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on December 08, 2020, 03:35:54 PM
State rang the bells today.

For real, emergency alert.

I guess they're sick of people treating things casually.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on December 08, 2020, 03:55:31 PM
And I think they're running out of hospital beds.  The numbers are going up here, also.  The French think that 2 metres = 24 inches. 

I am hoping we can get a vaccine before we get sick.  We are basically stuck here until travel becomes safer.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 09, 2020, 09:48:44 AM
Happy days! Did your missus get the jab?

Nope.
None in Leicester at all, all being sent to the lower tier levels leaving us tier 3 wanting. 8)
Hospital she bed coordinates in were seconds away from
declaring a major incident thus shutting the Hospital completely to any new patients.

And I think they're running out of hospital beds.  The numbers are going up here, also.  The French think that 2 metres = 24 inches. 

I am hoping we can get a vaccine before we get sick.  We are basically stuck here until travel becomes safer.

hope so for you as well
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 09, 2020, 12:03:39 PM
It was a strange day with the news reporting on the first person to have the vaccine, the oldest person to have the vaccine, the tallest person ... I thought that landmark day would be more encouraging and celebratory, but I couldn't feel the joy.

I'm so over COVID. None of us are ever going to get our year back.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on December 09, 2020, 03:20:22 PM
Apparently Los Angeles hit capacity.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 10, 2020, 05:46:10 AM
I wonder whether without the virus Trump would still be holding office for the next 4 years?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 10, 2020, 08:22:47 AM
Apparently Los Angeles hit capacity.
Its not nice.

I wonder whether without the virus Trump would still be holding office for the next 4 years?
I wonder
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 10, 2020, 08:55:09 AM
He might still be, even with the virus. And not just 4: he may still declare himself El Presidente for life. And the Republicans would back him to the hilt, and the Supreme Court. He, and they, don't really care about the vote.

It appears to the layman that we are witnessing the death of democracy in the US: without invoking Godwin's law it appears that historical precedent is being ignored (or followed, depending upon which side one is).

I find myself lost for words when watching news reports about Trump and the GOP in general. It's not their actions that are bewildering, it's the political system. It makes no sense whatsoever for either of the main parties.

The one thing I have learned without a shadow of a doubt about American States, is that they are far, far, far from "united".
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 10, 2020, 11:29:40 AM
I find myself lost for words when watching news reports about Trump and the GOP in general. It's not their actions that are bewildering, it's the political system. It makes no sense whatsoever for either of the main parties.

The one thing I have learned without a shadow of a doubt about American States, is that they are far, far, far from "united".
what is the American term for Brexit I wonder ???
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 10, 2020, 12:44:24 PM
what is the American term for Brexit I wonder ???

Same, just with a drawl.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on December 10, 2020, 04:00:13 PM
I can barely explain it myself.  It used to be a more fun place to live.  People were nicer to one another.  Since the golden age of Reagan, the GOP has progressively figured out ways to transform a minority party with a shrinking, aging base, into one that dominates half the legislature, the executive and now the supreme court.  And the division of the US into a two class system, economically, has had some really terrible ramifications.  I shake my head and feel powerless to do much about it.  This ain't gonna end well. 

As for Brexit, "gollee, dang, tha's anothah thang I don't get."  Hope that's enough of a drawl for you.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on December 10, 2020, 05:44:21 PM
Born under Reagan, so I can't speak on how things were before that. I understand he and Thatcher used the same focus group company to sell "rugged individualism" to the masses. I keep trying to track down the documentary I learned that in, but no luck.

Mom was a plant lady, dad was a truck driver. Ends were met, but luxuries were few. Sometimes dad would take me to Mickey-d's, and we got a VCR of dubious origins.

One of the main problems with describing America is that it is truly vast, and sadly, ever more fractious. For everyone who agrees with the science, I'm willing to bet there are 50 "it's just a flu, you can't force me to wear a mask." If not more.

I've seen people get real pissed over being called "Flyover states" but I'm really starting to feel a burn against those flyover people, and their defiance.

Only NOW has my city cracked down on outdoor restaurants. They should have done that in March. I've said this on several platforms, but Checkers had the take out window process shaved down to a SCIENCE in the year I was BORN.

McDonalds STARTED as a walk-up. You order your food, you hand over the cash, and you GET THE golly OUT OF THERE.

The magic anti-covid forcefields designed for outdoor dining clearly failed. So people should stop.

The Thanksgiving death wave continues to ripple and burn across the nation, but at least the politicians are starting to contract it. I wish they were subject to the same level of care as everyone else, but as always, Money buys better service.

Brexit blew my bless'ed mind when I first read about it. An entire ethos based on SPITE.

Now I'm not saying I love the EU, they do some poo that if they were working class would see their asses kicked, and rightfully so.

But no Nation, Commonwealth, Protectorate, what have you, should operate under the concept of JUCHE. That's some North Korean poo.
(edit: there is only one E in Juche)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 11, 2020, 09:09:24 AM
As for Brexit, "gollee, dang, tha's anothah thang I don't get."  Hope that's enough of a drawl for you.

It was pretty good but were you wearing the right hat?

....
Brexit blew my bless'ed mind when I first read about it. An entire ethos based on SPITE.

Now I'm not saying I love the EU, they do some poo that if they were working class would see their asses kicked, and rightfully so.

But no Nation, Commonwealth, Protectorate, what have you, should operate under the concept of JUCHE. That's some North Korean poo.
(edit: there is only one E in Juche)

Oddly, Brexit, for all its divisiveness and troublemaking, actually demonstrates a democracy for how it should work. There were no constituencies or block voting, it was one person, one vote and that tallied up to produce a result. Of course there were other factors that skewed the argument - things like the fact that there wasn't many who liked David Cameron and as soon as he announced the referendum there was probably an instant few million that would have voted Brexit to put one over on him. I dare say the same would happen to Trump if he initiated a referendum so controversial, regardless of the validity of what was being debated/decided.

However, in my opinion the E.U could do nothing but make this the most painful process ever so that organisations like The M5S and other Eurosceptic parties would fade away. I think they've done a good job doing that but the sensationalism created in the process has demonised that democratic vote and I was shocked today how readily they capitulated to Viktor Orban, as his idealogy/politics threatens Europe far more than Brexit ever would.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 11, 2020, 10:52:40 PM
I was shocked today how readily they capitulated to Viktor Orban, as his idealogy/politics threatens Europe far more than Brexit ever would.
At a uneducated guess, Today may turn into a regular occurrence
" How a far-right party came from nowhere to stun Romania in Sunday's election"
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on December 12, 2020, 08:09:17 AM
I understand the need for the vaccine to work.  I really hope to God that none of you get sick, until the vaccine works, at least.  Breaks my heart, I'd prefer no one got sick, must be a horrible way.  I know my grandmothers are 90 and my family and I are all on the edge about it.  I've seen them both now, I want to be around them so much, this has just been awful.  My little girl is struggling with not going to school or the grocery store, but it's the least I can do to protect her. My sons father is doing the same for him, thank the heavens.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 12, 2020, 11:49:27 PM
The Vaccination has started where i live and as yet all ok (except a couple of reactions in london)
Fingers crossed.

Must admit when i had the flu vaccination Saturday, its the first time i have ever been in and out of the doctors surgery on time  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 17, 2020, 04:08:37 PM
This poo's getting serious-er. There are people I know testing positive all over the place. It's like you can catch this new strain just by looking at a photograph of someone positive.

I feel now that it's not if I get the virus but when.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on December 17, 2020, 08:24:13 PM
My brother found out he has contracted it. Said he had a fever and body aches one day a few days ago and now has now sense of smell so he went to the Dr. and confirmed.

My co-worker also just found out he has been in recent contact with someone who just tested positive. I'm feeling like crud myself but it feels like the onset of a sinus infection (which I used to get quite a lot). Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 17, 2020, 11:41:22 PM
be well both, make sure you have some one to obtain food for yourself dweez and keep an eye over you.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 18, 2020, 10:16:30 AM
My brother found out he has contracted it. Said he had a fever and body aches one day a few days ago and now has now sense of smell so he went to the Dr. and confirmed.

My co-worker also just found out he has been in recent contact with someone who just tested positive. I'm feeling like crud myself but it feels like the onset of a sinus infection (which I used to get quite a lot). Fingers crossed.

Got 'em tightly crossed bro.

Gosport has just been promoted to “tier 3”.

Is that the First Circle or the Gallery?

I saw the footage of Tuesday night in central London of people partying before us moving into tier 3. Come on guys, don't be so bless'ed ridiculous! The sooner we stop the spread, the sooner we can go back to partying all night long. If we actively and willingly spread it around without concern for others, we'll be in the poo for so, so much longer.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on December 18, 2020, 01:41:59 PM
I hope you are ok, dweez, and remain that way.  I'm hoping this is nothing more than a minor case of the sniffles.

The whole business is worrisome.  Cases are increasing here and I try to stay away from people while out of doors and wear masks inside when I can't.  I have some friends who had it--mild case, but they both lost their sense of smell/taste.  I hope we can all stay healthy until the vaccines are available.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on December 18, 2020, 04:35:10 PM
I hope you're ok too dweez.  I got pretty sick a few weeks back, sinus infection is what it felt like at first.  I stayed home the entire time, took about 2 weeks to feel better and almost 3 weeks off work.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on December 18, 2020, 06:16:39 PM
Well, must have just been stress from work and not drinking enough water. Got myself hydrated and a good night sleep and I feel right as rain.

We had a leak from an A/C unit cause water damage to one of our racks, causing a domain controller (manages user authentication and authorization) to hang (reboot fix it though). Our DNS server had visible water damage which fried a network card then short out the mobo. Been on site all day yesterday and today (just me and the hardware replacement guy) to get it fixed with my team in MS Teams/Zoom chats continuously but finally got the server restored.

Then I took some time for me and watched the latest ST: Discovery and The Mandalorian.

Yeah Bea, sinus infections are the worst.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 19, 2020, 09:09:15 AM
An announcement shortly is predicted to put London and the south east of England into a new tier 4. That essentially relegates Gosport  :P but if it means I can't get a takeaway Thai on Boxing day, I'll be livid!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on December 19, 2020, 02:13:13 PM
We're in full "Purple tier" which is apparently just short of the dead rising.

I understand the entirety of Southern California is at 0% ICU capacity at this point.

There was some crap about the in-store dining restriction being struck down, but that's been stayed.

I already bitched about restaurants turning bike lanes into "outdoor dining" but I found the covid picnic tables particularly offensive.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 20, 2020, 12:02:41 AM
As we are again being roped into the same Tier as leicester city  >:( I may resort to getting out my old
PS2 and the dance mat
something to wile away the hours and shed a few mince pies

May also get me fit enough to run away from the New Mutant Covid 19 ( sounds like a movie plot for X-men)
This one sure spreads quicker than butter on warm toast
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on December 20, 2020, 08:16:06 AM
Server admin lesson 247: hydrate the people, not the servers.

Noted!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 22, 2020, 10:06:35 AM
It's all going a bit bonkers. People have to do their Christmas food shopping over the next couple of days but it's raining COVID.

This situation is just not tenable. Something radical has to happen like people being offered an unapproved vaccine or something. Otherwise the death toll is just going to outweigh any measure, sensible or otherwise, that any government could install.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 24, 2020, 01:26:59 PM
My neighbour's mum passed last week from COVID and she was in Italy so he couldn't even go to the funeral.

Our Christmas eve takeaway curry is off as the staff tested positive. Thankfully we have back-up treats thanks to M&S.

Somebody shoot this bless'ed virus!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on December 24, 2020, 01:55:15 PM
I was flipping through Amazon Prime movies and caught something about "COVID-23" and "moving into the 4th year of lockdown". WTF is up with that? Do we really need to have "artist's interpretation" of gloom and doom coming for the next 3 years?

BTW, typing on such a serious subject, while "Carol of the Bells" is going on, is sort of disconcerting.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on December 24, 2020, 02:40:08 PM
My neighbour's mum passed last week from COVID and she was in Italy so he couldn't even go to the funeral.

Our Christmas eve takeaway curry is off as the staff tested positive. Thankfully we have back-up treats thanks to M&S.

Somebody shoot this bless'ed virus!

It's pretty unnerving to read about morphed new versions of the virus that are more contagious.  Sorry to hear about your neighbor's mother.  We are going to an outdoor barbeque tomorrow with a small family we know on the island.  We're wearing masks and don't plan to stay long.  Really, the virus makes any kind of festivities seem like a risk.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on December 24, 2020, 04:30:52 PM
Outdoor BBQ? Good deal. I hear the indoor BBQs can be dangerous.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 24, 2020, 04:49:02 PM
I honestly believe that the new mutant strains that are far more transmissible, cannot be avoided with any measure. Most of those I know who've contracted it follow all the guidelines and are quite anal about it (which isn't a bad thing). I suppose you could argue that they are more likely to pass it on within their bubble as they believe themselves to be safe, but beyond that, you still have very little chance of avoiding this damn madam of a virus.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 25, 2020, 12:20:02 AM
Yep it moves like Usain Bolt on crack the new variant.

Wife as the vaccine monday, both have agreed that if she turns Zombie I behead her  ;D ;D
You gotta laugh these day ( and nope I think it is safe the vaccine)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on December 26, 2020, 05:57:42 PM
In the US it's looking like 7 million people decided to fly home for the holidays.

This after the wave of death thanks to Thanksgiving travel.

Statewide 0% ICU availability.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on December 27, 2020, 04:56:35 AM
We should all emulate the Agoraphobic cowboy.  The pandemic would be contained in weeks.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on December 27, 2020, 07:08:50 AM
I want a California burrito.

I want to peruse goodwill for poo I don't need.

I put both dreams aside for prudence.

But holy golly I want that burrito.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 27, 2020, 08:52:21 AM
I want a California burrito.

I want to peruse goodwill for poo I don't need.

I put both dreams aside for prudence.

But holy golly I want that burrito.

That's a poem right there.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 29, 2020, 04:48:56 PM
So my local Indian Takeaway had to hire another chef and some other staff while the regulars are in isolation.

My God the food was fantastic and the chef even phoned me up to ask how it was. I told him to move to Battersea.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 30, 2020, 12:01:03 AM
So my local Indian Takeaway had to hire another chef and some other staff while the regulars are in isolation.

My God the food was fantastic and the chef even phoned me up to ask how it was. I told him to move to Battersea.
;D ;D
May be there for a while
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 30, 2020, 03:31:55 AM
;D ;D
May be there for a while

I would say "I hope so", but I don't.

There was only one of the staff that tested positive and he wasn't kitchen staff but, of course, they all have to isolate. He isn't too good according to his brother but he isn't very old so he should be ok.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on December 30, 2020, 11:34:05 PM
Tier 4 for all, wife had the vaccination, not turned Zombie at all  :( :(
A symptom of Pfizer is itchy arm or / and a painful arm (varying degrees)
Hospitals short of staff as lots have caught the new strain, some offered vaccine, some not ???
Person we know is a doctors receptionist part time and her colleagues all have been given the vaccination, I find this unbelievable as unless you have been to the hospital and have a letter stating the doctor must give you a face time appointment you cannot even go past the door threshold. Whereas some front line staff haven't been offered it.  :o :o.
Someone get a grip
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on December 31, 2020, 10:48:46 AM
Tier 4 for all, wife had the vaccination, not turned Zombie at all  :( :(
A symptom of Pfizer is itchy arm or / and a painful arm (varying degrees)
Hospitals short of staff as lots have caught the new strain, some offered vaccine, some not ???
Person we know is a doctors receptionist part time and her colleagues all have been given the vaccination, I find this unbelievable as unless you have been to the hospital and have a letter stating the doctor must give you a face time appointment you cannot even go past the door threshold. Whereas some front line staff haven't been offered it.  :o :o.
Someone get a grip

A year ago I was hoping this virus and its knock on effects would be sent packing with 2020. Looks like we aren't going to be able to celebrate for a while yet.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on January 05, 2021, 12:25:34 AM
Round 2 / 3 / ?
Basically same old same old, Need to enforce what is in place now with gusto
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on January 05, 2021, 03:42:45 AM
I think I've seen this movie: is this the one where the police shoot anyone they see in the streets to enforce the curfew?
European film by chance
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on January 05, 2021, 11:21:16 AM
25% infection rate in San Diego.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on January 05, 2021, 12:05:50 PM
1 in 30 people currently have the virus in London. That's pretty shocking.



Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on January 06, 2021, 04:43:43 AM
On the upside, 29 in 30 don't.

Well I have just found out that someone else that I knew quite well has passed away from COVID. What's more alarming for me is that I found out due to it being a news article on the London BBC. I wasn't really paying much attention to the TV but then her name was mentioned and her niece was interviewed. Made me sit up for sure.

Her name was Jan Docker and she taught at my kids' primary at the back of my house:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-55554293

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on January 06, 2021, 08:58:45 PM
I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.  I fear that the new strain will result in even more fatalities.  I 'm more inclined than ever to stay home except for grocery shopping, and even to do as little of that as possible. Stay safe, everyone.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on January 07, 2021, 12:23:45 AM
Well I have just found out that someone else that I knew quite well has passed away from COVID. What's more alarming for me is that I found out due to it being a news article on the London BBC. I wasn't really paying much attention to the TV but then her name was mentioned and her niece was interviewed. Made me sit up for sure.

Her name was Jan Docker and she taught at my kids' primary at the back of my house:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-55554293

so sorry for you

I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.  I fear that the new strain will result in even more fatalities.  I 'm more inclined than ever to stay home except for grocery shopping, and even to do as little of that as possible. Stay safe, everyone.

wise choice

Wow the area where I work is on national TV ref high covid rate, more testing so a higher number.  Been in tier 4 since March 2020 and has never come out.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on January 28, 2021, 04:02:04 AM
I'm getting a little pissed off with all the criticism toward the government at the moment. I am no fan of the Tory party nor any of the leaders of any of the political parties to be honest, but as I have catalogued here over the last year there can be no doubt of the reasons behind our high infection rates - and subsequent death rate.

I picked my wife up from work on Monday as it was freezing and she has to walk about a mile and a half to get home. Between here and her work place I must have seen 200 joggers. As there was still remnants of the weekend's snow and that it was also pissing down, most of them were not running on Clapham Common (too muddy) but on the pathway around it. They were in bunches of 6+ joggers almost shoulder barging the pedestrians as they passed them. Now, the criticism of the government is they are not tough enough but these people are just stretching rules to beyond breaking point while staying within them.

Another thing that gets me about the media's reporting of lockdown "violations" is that none of the journalists report on each other. They are all for outing MPs, policement, even doctors occasionally. But never, so it seems, has a journalist ever done a thing wrong. I find that very hard to believe.

Rant over.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on January 28, 2021, 01:15:04 PM
I picked my wife up from work on Monday as it was freezing and she has to walk about a mile and a half to get home. Between here and her work place I must have seen 200 joggers. As there was still remnants of the weekend's snow and that it was also pissing down, most of them were not running on Clapham Common (too muddy) but on the pathway around it. They were in bunches of 6+ joggers almost shoulder barging the pedestrians as they passed them. Now, the criticism of the government is they are not tough enough but these people are just stretching rules to beyond breaking point while staying within them.

Another thing that gets me about the media's reporting of lockdown "violations" is that none of the journalists report on each other. They are all for outing MPs, policement, even doctors occasionally. But never, so it seems, has a journalist ever done a thing wrong. I find that very hard to believe.

Rant over.

Been reading about the abuse Runners have been receiving and yet have seen none myself (I choose to run early doors though ( cannot stay asleep after 5.30am) see lots of wildlife and no people).
Agree with you, if behaving badly ( as per anyone) then give em a nudge into the mud. ;D

Interesting the abuse / support Gary Lineker received on twitter Sunday after showing a vid of him travelling to the big game in the atrocious storm to speak prior during and at the end of the match.
Not essential and football was essential from either side. Kinda sums up this lockdown in a tweet or two hundred ;D

You just got it off your chest, which is needed at times :)

I personally think Big B will be thrown to the wolves when we are at a "state of near normal" to keep the party in power.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on February 14, 2021, 12:15:12 PM
My missus had the Oxford jab today and she hasn't (so far) experienced any ill effects from it.

Big relief to be honest as now
Spoiler (hover to show)

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on February 15, 2021, 12:49:31 AM
My missus had the Oxford jab today and she hasn't (so far) experienced any ill effects from it.

Big relief to be honest as now
Spoiler (hover to show)
thats good news
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on February 15, 2021, 06:57:54 AM
My weekly trip to Waitrose to buy Saturday's paper is the big event of the week!

I'm not surprised in that car.

So the missus had a bit of a rough night. She didn't feel unwell at all but displayed the symptoms of being so. I could have put her to sleep in the hallway and she'd have heated the flat. When she woke this morning she was right as rain and plodded off to work early.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on February 16, 2021, 09:05:45 AM
I'm glad she's feeling better.  We went onto the Dutch gov't website to make an appointment for the Pfizer vaccine.  Who knows if they will come through, but I'm hoping they will take pity on us.  The French appear to be hopeless, except for our elderly parent, who is over 75.  We plan to schedule his vaccines for after another minor surgical appointment next week.  It's a big production to transport him to the docs as his ability to get around isn't what it once was.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on February 17, 2021, 03:52:25 PM
I went back to work today for the first time since just before Christmas. It was pretty grueling and I realised (again) just how much I need the pub, a holiday and, above all, a laugh. All those things (and more) are pretty unattainable with this damn virus about.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 08, 2021, 10:48:51 AM
I have my appointment for the jab next Tuesday and I very happy about it. I don't suppose it will make any difference to the way I lead my life as my profession was always unaffected, but at least I can rest easy that TNG isn't going to get his grubby little hands on my monitor any time soon.

Touch wood.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 08, 2021, 11:33:39 AM
My roommate got his first dose yesterday.

I'm 1c, which appears to be the end of the line.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 09, 2021, 12:27:09 AM
I have my appointment for the jab next Tuesday and I very happy about it. I don't suppose it will make any difference to the way I lead my life as my profession was always unaffected, but at least I can rest easy that TNG isn't going to get his grubby little hands on my monitor any time soon.

Touch wood.

If Astra then get some painkillers in, if luck no side effects, if not then slight flu symptoms for a day or so.
I am 1 year below the injections
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 10, 2021, 12:28:57 AM
Get my jab next Tuesday, local GP  :)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 10, 2021, 08:14:07 AM
Congrats.  I get the second in a couple of weeks.  I hear it's usually worse than the first.  Had a sore arm and some fatigue.  Hopefully it won't be much worse than that. 
Let us know how you feel afterwards.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 11, 2021, 12:25:05 AM
depends on the person, wife had no effects on the second other than a slightly sore upper arm,
I have the Astra jab, she had the Pfizer.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 16, 2021, 04:37:32 AM
Just back from my Astra' jab and so far no free blood clots. Got to be honest, not sure if they used a fine needle or something but I didn't feel the jab at all.

Here's a thing: speaking to my current client, he told me one of his work colleagues developed a blood clot a few days ago about a week after his jab. Thing is, he had the Pfizer vaccine so what does that prove? My guess is that if under normal circumstances 2 in a 1000 people will randomly develop blood clots, you'd be able to correlate that with just about anything they do - like drinking tea or breathing air ...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 16, 2021, 05:47:58 AM
Hope all continues to go well for you.  I read a good deal about the blood clots, and the connection to A-Z vaccine is inconclusive.  The population getting the AZ vaccine is older, and older people are more prone to blood clots.  All three of the major vaccines have been connected to lower platelet counts (you can get blood clots with low platelets), but it's hard to say if this is a big problem.  There have been deaths associated with brain bleeds from clots, but whether they were caused by the vaccine is not known.  People are being careful to avoid repeating the problem until they are sure the vaccine isn't the culprit.  But so far, there's no real compelling evidence to link it as a cause.

We are waiting for my husband to get an appt here.  The Dutch have been distributing BioNTech/Pfizer (that's what I got) and will also use AZ, so we have no idea what the deal is.  We are thinking of seeing a Dutch doc to see if his pre-existing health conditions and role as caretaker for an elderly parent might help him secure an appt.  The more people get vaccinated the sooner the proliferation that has been fostering new harder to control variants can be tamped down.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 16, 2021, 08:06:32 AM
Hope all continues to go well for you ....

4.5hrs in and still no ill effects.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 16, 2021, 01:21:08 PM
Thanks to both of you for letting us know what effects you've experienced.  My main concern with AstraZeneca is that it appears to be less effective against the strain that is ravaging South Africa, and that is working its way through Latin America.  The Brazilian strain also sounds particularly nasty, and we are anxious to get some protection as we are not so very far from our neighbors to the south, and there's plenty of migration between those places and here.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 16, 2021, 02:56:51 PM
I had mild lassitude for 72 hours: no pain, nausea or particular unpleasantness.

mrs. christ on the other hand has been a moaning minnie: nausea/ fever/ splitting headache/ interrupted sleep for 24 hours (so far).

Both Astra Zeneca.

I guess everyone reacts differently.

Nearly 12hrs and nada so far. I do have a tiny red mark where the needle went in but I ain't getting no love from the fam' for it.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 17, 2021, 01:55:00 AM
Well it's nearly a day later and I think I might have a little aching from the jab, but then, I always have a little aching from something so the jury's still out. Either way, I was definitely short changed in side effects.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 17, 2021, 05:46:32 AM
I'm glad you are not feeling any undue unpleasantness.  Sad to hear about Mrs. C.  My sister had Moderna and was miserable for the first day or so:  fever, chills, headache, etc.  I think there's a 28 day interval between the two jabs for that one.  I get the second Pfizer next Tues. so I will see how that goes.  It's supposed to be worse than the first.  So, more sore arm, and maybe fatigue will be worse.  I can deal with that. 

I was reading about the clever and nasty virus and its ability to adapt in ways that will eventually minimize the effectiveness of the vaccines.  So medicine is still working on ways to outsmart it.  https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/how-sars-cov-2-evades-immune-system-defenses/ (https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/how-sars-cov-2-evades-immune-system-defenses/)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 17, 2021, 07:44:01 AM
Well it's nearly a day later and I think I might have a little aching from the jab, but then, I always have a little aching from something so the jury's still out. Either way, I was definitely short changed in side effects.
slight headache and aching neck, thighs.
Its worth it
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 17, 2021, 07:51:07 AM
slight headache and aching neck, thighs.
Its worth it

Not really getting much of anything. I am tired, but that's not unusual if I take a day off as I never really get oxygenated.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 18, 2021, 07:58:49 AM
feel a lot better today, slight aches have gone (except the age ones).
roll on the second
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 19, 2021, 05:53:37 AM
Might get my first shot today, appointment scheduled, but mice and men...
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 19, 2021, 08:31:25 AM
Good luck.  Let us know how it goes.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 19, 2021, 12:48:56 PM
I noticed there was a marked difference in the way I think now. Things like not being bothered by touching the keypad while entering my pin, or standing next to someone who just coughed. It's like covid is starting to leave my mind.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 20, 2021, 06:30:23 PM
I got the moderna one. And a pretty bad sunburn. Managed to keep it off my face by wearing a hoodie, but my feet are burnt. Should have worn jeans and sneakers, but it was super hot.

Not sure where I'll be getting the second, I got the first at the petco park location, and they're closing up shop.

The only screening I really had to dealt with was a security guard who wanted to see the Email, and a check in lady who seemed severely burnt out.

She asked which arm I wanted the shot in four times. By the third I thought she was trying to "correct" me, but the nurse let me say left arm. I'd heard it leaves the target arm sore and numb, so I chose the non-mouse hand. :P

Nurse was skilled, I didn't even feel the needle.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 21, 2021, 06:07:21 AM
How are you feeling?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 21, 2021, 08:10:15 AM
Left arm was sore yesterday, but honestly the majority of my complaints are the sunburn.

I bought some Kentucky based analgesic. Aspirin never did much for me. I replaced the band-aid, there was a lot more blood than the standard flu jab, but as I said, the nurse who injected the vaccine had skills. I gripped the bottom of the chair in anticipation, she calmed me down and said I didn't have to worry. And I didn't.

The walk to my pickup point was a bit longer than I anticipated, but previously it was just one bus stop. Quite a bit more of a walk.

From what I've read, my online registration has me in a system, and in two weeks, I get another injection. Apparently the Moderna is popular in my area, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

One thing that bothers me is I have Jury duty on the 29th, and that's before my second dose. Here's hoping I'm excused. Unlike my doctor, I don't think "The only day I am available is thursday" will fly.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 22, 2021, 04:57:33 AM
Glad your first jab was uneventful.  There should be a 28 day interval between Moderna injections.  If you had the jab yesterday, that means almost 4 weeks.  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/moderna/index.html (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/moderna/index.html)
Looks like the US will soon approve the AstraZeneca vaccine.

I don't know how that will fit into the jury duty schedule.  How does a jury trial work these days?  Put jurors 6 feet apart and limit witnesses to one at a time?  Sounds pretty strange.  I remember the last jury duty that I had to report for:  small courtroom.  I don't know if it would even fit the needs for distancing these days.

If you say you want to be excused because of vaccination issues, that opens you up in the future.  If you say you want to be excused because of COVID related safety fears, that might be more compelling.  Hard to say what tack to take unless you are chomping at the bit to get onto a jury.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 23, 2021, 12:57:05 PM
Got Pfizer jab 2 today.  We got one for my husband, too.  So that was a great accomplishment. 
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 23, 2021, 04:34:38 PM
Nice.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 23, 2021, 08:54:50 PM
12 hours later and the sore arm thing is kicking in.  Also, slept through most of an episode of Endeavour, so the fatigue is also a factor, but nothing really bad.  Just took an Advil in hope of warding off most of the pain.  I'm just glad it's done.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 01, 2021, 12:41:02 AM
good news Wife has only 1 covid ward now to bed coordinate  at her work, slowly but surely.

Think the youth need the vaccine soon looking at all the vids going around  :-[
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 03, 2021, 12:30:46 AM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56620646 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56620646)
Hope i still get my second
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on April 17, 2021, 03:05:38 PM
Got my second dose today at RIMAC, which is a college Gym for UCSD when it isn't a COVID center.

Far more pleasant experience. Got the same driver IN to the appointment as the first time.

Mom brought a Walker because we were standing around for a long time at the Petco Supersite, and that seemed to be an expedited pass. Felt kind of bad because they had us cut most of the lines, but honestly, can't complain.

The gym is an indoor location, so no sunburn. There was a bit of a bother getting the ride OUT, first they dropped us in the ADA lot (Americans with disabilities act) but then they golf carted us to the designated uber/lyft parking garage.

The ride back driver was really nice. I definitely preferred this location to the SuperSite, but it was much further away from home.

The county covered both rides.

As to my second appointment, it was always scheduled, they just didn't bother to, you know, contact me. At first they were going to turn me away today, but I asked them to look up my cell number instead of going by the "system" and sure as poo, I was scheduled.

I have a gross taste in my mouth, but that might just be my mouth.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 17, 2021, 09:08:09 PM
I am glad you managed to get that done.  Hope the weird taste is the only side effect.  My husband got Pfizer #2 a few days ago and had worse side effects, kind of like a mild flu:  fever, headache, nausea and sore injection site.  He's fine now, but he kind of laid around for a day feeling like crap.

It's great to have that over with, even if we have to get boosters going forward.  There's a sort of peace of mind that goes with this.  That's worth the price of admission.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 18, 2021, 07:23:24 AM
They were giving the over 30s (country currently at the over 45s) the vaccine at Manchester Asda on Friday. If I'd thought about it I could have grabbed my second shot while I was there.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 18, 2021, 12:51:26 PM
Manchester ASDA? What happened - took the wrong turning at the North Circular?

Damn sat nav. Only went out for milk.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 21, 2021, 03:50:44 PM
Did my surge test which is required for my area this evening and it gets collected from my daughter's school tomorrow. Should be a few days before I know whether I have the South African lurgy or not which is just as well as I'm feeling a little chesty.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on April 21, 2021, 05:11:10 PM
I hope it's nothing.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: Beatrix on April 21, 2021, 10:21:21 PM
As do I.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 22, 2021, 05:01:26 AM
Thanks and it is this time of year in the U.K when I start to get little hayfever coughs, runny nose and sticky eyes etc. Methinks it's just that but I should have pretty good vaccine protection from serious illness if it does prove more sinister.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 22, 2021, 10:55:28 AM
deff hope all ok
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: dweez on April 22, 2021, 11:19:00 AM
Sending out good feelings to you!
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 22, 2021, 02:00:47 PM
Thanks again all.

I think now that I have protection, the biggest fear of catching the lurgi would be the disruption it would cause to my work schedule.  I suppose that not a bad place to be in considering what the world looked like a year ago.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on April 23, 2021, 11:13:28 AM
Result back and I'm lurgi free.

Off to the pub it is then.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on April 23, 2021, 11:51:25 PM
quality result, quality celebration
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on July 16, 2021, 05:26:24 PM
I have a sneaky feeling that the poo's going to hit the fan again over here and we'll all be back to square one. Not that I think that mistakes are the cause - although they certainly contribute - I just think there isn't a real, long term solution so we're stuck in this depressing cycle.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on July 16, 2021, 08:43:26 PM
Here mothers are "Fighting" to "free" their kids from masks.

bless'ed goblins.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on July 17, 2021, 12:24:24 AM
I have a sneaky feeling that the poo's going to hit the fan again over here and we'll all be back to square one. Not that I think that mistakes are the cause - although they certainly contribute - I just think there isn't a real, long term solution so we're stuck in this depressing cycle.

Local Hospitals on Black alert, not for covid but just trying to cope with the back  log of op's.
Winter will be a "killer" but as you state what else can be done.

Here mothers are "Fighting" to "free" their kids from masks.

bless'ed goblins.

We have a prime minister who frees people from masks   :-[
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on July 21, 2021, 08:37:41 AM
Gets interesting and interesting er atm
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on July 22, 2021, 01:46:12 AM
Gets interesting and interesting er atm

Like, everyone I know has (or recently had) COVID - and I know a lot of people. Most of them didn't even know they had it and was discovered by the regime of testing required by schoolchildren or for travel, but those who did display symptoms were really ill by all accounts.

While that sounds ominous, it does pose the possibility of real herd immunity and an end to this damn virus.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 27, 2021, 04:03:35 PM
So, what we all need to do now is have a Delta hug-in to freeze out Omicron.

If one more reporter say "omnicron", I'm going to write a stern letter.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 27, 2021, 07:08:26 PM
A micron is one-millionth of a meter.  The name sounds like the first line of an ode.

O micron,
Go somewhere else and replicate please.
Admire your mutated spike proteins
somewhere far far away
where form never follows function
and pigs love to fly
please don't make us get sick and die.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 27, 2021, 07:26:23 PM
Cancel these follow up variations, no one wants them.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 28, 2021, 12:20:23 AM
Cancel these follow up variations, no one wants them.

BRAVO sir so agree, As yet local hospital (where wife works) is very busy but with normal winter/coughs/colds/ flu etc not many Covid as yet, in fact only 1 ward.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 28, 2021, 03:59:14 PM
I listened to the South African doctor, who originally discovered the strain, on the Andrew Marr show this morning. She only queried it as the "unvaccinated" guy in her surgery had incredibly mild symptoms that didn't fit anywhere much so she had him tested and he was covid positive. They then tested his family who were also positive, and also had incredibly mild symptoms. They sequenced the virus and discovered Omicron.

It got me thinking that if the highly transmissible strain is only as serious as the common cold, then spray the bless'ed world with it and get rid of all the other strains. If Delta etc push back, spray it again. If it mutates into something deadly, spray it again. In fact, is there an argument for creating a GM strain that only gives you hiccups and they spray the world with that – a bit like releasing mosquitos into the wild that cannot harbour the malaria parasite.

These are some of my ideas to save the world and should not be revealed to Donald Trump (he’ll only steal the credit). Mind you, if the republicans are right, he already knows the genomic sequences for all strains that may occur in the future.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 22, 2022, 11:11:00 AM
So, I'm travelling on trains for about an hour each way to and from the training centre I'm at. There is hardly as much a clearing of one's throat on any of the trains so I'm confused how our numbers are meant to be so high? A couple of months ago when the numbers were lower, I hardly knew anyone that didn't have the dreaded coroni. The outside world was a cacophony of coughs and you'd dare not breath with a window open.

Is it now truly so mild that people don't present the illness?
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 22, 2022, 10:01:13 PM
Is it now truly so mild that people don't present the illness?

seems so
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 22, 2022, 11:50:38 PM
From the rising death toll in China, due to the Omicron variant, it seems this variant is no less deadly than its predecessors.  The difference is that many people have been vaccinated and therefore have some immunity.  The ones succumbing to it in China tend to be elders who have not taken the shots.  Those who are fully vaccinated can carry the virus and spread it while infected but asymptomatic.

From what I've read, this is really not a good disease to catch.  I still wear masks in public when I go out.  There seems to be a lull of false security right now.  It's entirely understandable as we're all sick of this COVID business and want life to go back to normal.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 23, 2022, 03:33:39 PM
From the rising death toll in China, due to the Omicron variant, it seems this variant is no less deadly than its predecessors.  The difference is that many people have been vaccinated and therefore have some immunity.  The ones succumbing to it in China tend to be elders who have not taken the shots.  Those who are fully vaccinated can carry the virus and spread it while infected but asymptomatic.

From what I've read, this is really not a good disease to catch.  I still wear masks in public when I go out.  There seems to be a lull of false security right now.  It's entirely understandable as we're all sick of this COVID business and want life to go back to normal.

China is different as they were hailed for being able to halt any outbreak in its tracks by their excellent measures of locking people up in cages. While that may mean that the virus never really took hold in any given area of China (if we believe the numbers), but it also meant it that the community there hadn't been truly exposed to the virus with or without vaccinations. Most people I know here with COVID are on their 3rd or 4th bout of it. Even those that are unvaccinated have probably brushed shoulders with it a few times.

I heard a professional once say about Omicron, that it was a vaccine strain as catching would invariably give you the best antibodies. This just hasn't happened in China.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on March 23, 2022, 06:29:53 PM
I've never understood that.

My mom once ended a friendship - she was friends with the mom, I was friends with her sons, because she believed in that "pox party" poo where you intentionally expose children to chicken pox. Great way to get shingles.

Like she started out the conversation calmly, saying that I wouldn't be taking part, but it elevated into a screaming match because mom DARED to consider this woman to be ignorant.

That woman is and was ignorant.

Several years later the vaccine came out and I was vaccinated. I consider that one of the most painful inoculations I've ever experienced, and my mouth tasted like hot dogs for several hours afterwards. Very unpleasant.

But I don't remember the ones from when I was a baby. Maybe they hurt more.

Got my pneumonia shot on my last visit.
Thankfully I didn't have to get the nose swab of doom this time.

I'm still wearing a mask because I don't want flu either.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 24, 2022, 03:45:11 AM
China is different as they were hailed for being able to halt any outbreak in its tracks by their excellent measures of locking people up in cages. While that may mean that the virus never really took hold in any given area of China (if we believe the numbers), but it also meant it that the community there hadn't been truly exposed to the virus with or without vaccinations. Most people I know here with COVID are on their 3rd or 4th bout of it. Even those that are unvaccinated have probably brushed shoulders with it a few times.

I heard a professional once say about Omicron, that it was a vaccine strain as catching would invariably give you the best antibodies. This just hasn't happened in China.

When not immunized, either via a prior case of the virus, or a vaccine, Omicron has proven to be as deadly as prior strains.  This is a disease with long range effects like brain fog and one that can inhabit and cause problems all over the body.  Personally, I would rather give it a wide berth.  I have enough trouble remembering where I put my glasses without some pathogen adding to the problem.  And I'm not all that keen on blood clots, either.  The Mayo Clinic has a reputable site that gives good information on a range of health problems.  Here's a link to their description of some of the long term problems reported even with mild cases of COVID.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351#:~:text=In%20some%20people%2C%20lasting%20health,they%20have%20had%20COVID%2D19%20. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351#:~:text=In%20some%20people%2C%20lasting%20health,they%20have%20had%20COVID%2D19%20.)
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 24, 2022, 03:22:46 PM
When not immunized, either via a prior case of the virus, or a vaccine, Omicron has proven to be as deadly as prior strains.  This is a disease with long range effects like brain fog and one that can inhabit and cause problems all over the body.  Personally, I would rather give it a wide berth.  I have enough trouble remembering where I put my glasses without some pathogen adding to the problem.  And I'm not all that keen on blood clots, either.  The Mayo Clinic has a reputable site that gives good information on a range of health problems.  Here's a link to their description of some of the long term problems reported even with mild cases of COVID. 

In all honesty that really isn't the attitude here any more (as far as I've experienced). You now can go to work if you test positive and people with the virus are no longer lepars in the street - I often speak with people who are infected and only keep a few feet away. Maybe it's because people are more confident now that they are vaccinated, but I really think that most people believe that if they are not dead yet from it, then they won't ever die from it.

Of course, if there was another strain like Delta that did the rounds, I think we'd all recoil a little more.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on March 24, 2022, 07:05:45 PM
They are lifting mask requirements in schools and other places around here, but most stores still have mask requirements, and I routinely wear a N95 when I go into public places.  There's a couple of close friends that I visit without masks but we're all fully vaccinated. 

I went to the theatre a couple weeks back and had to present proof of vaccination and wear a mask during the performance.  The actors, of course, were unmasked.  It felt strange to be sitting in seats next to strangers again but with this damned mask on.  Lord knows I would like an end to this need to exercise caution everywhere.  It's sad to see how many good restaurants have gone under due to the pandemic.  I miss going out and dining, listening to live music, etc.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on March 26, 2022, 02:20:00 PM
They are lifting mask requirements in schools and other places around here, but most stores still have mask requirements, and I routinely wear a N95 when I go into public places.  There's a couple of close friends that I visit without masks but we're all fully vaccinated. 

I went to the theatre a couple weeks back and had to present proof of vaccination and wear a mask during the performance.  The actors, of course, were unmasked.  It felt strange to be sitting in seats next to strangers again but with this damned mask on.  Lord knows I would like an end to this need to exercise caution everywhere.  It's sad to see how many good restaurants have gone under due to the pandemic.  I miss going out and dining, listening to live music, etc.

In the English part of the U.K we are completely back to normal. Shops and other forms of business parctices are allowed to set their own rules regarding COVID, but the State does not suggest or police them.

It been sunny here this week and driving around it's refreshing to see people gathering and having fun. At the end of the day, life has to be worth living for it to be a life at all. I feel robbed of the last 2 years of my life as it just never happened.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on March 27, 2022, 10:04:17 PM
Unfortunately the rise in cases is true though
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 16, 2023, 02:40:58 AM
I had thought that seeing the back of COVID would mean that life could be fun again.

It most certainly isn't.

WTF happened to the world? I'm doubtful that even Jags and Macs are making it better.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 16, 2023, 03:05:38 AM
It hasn't ended, but the safety nets erected during covid in the US have been. I'm lucky that my insurance covers the vaccine updates and testing, but a lot of people are essentially shrugging their shoulders and wondering why they are down with a recurring respiratory illness.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, and if it wasn't critical, I'd have canceled it.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 16, 2023, 04:28:14 AM
It hasn't ended, but the safety nets erected during covid in the US have been. I'm lucky that my insurance covers the vaccine updates and testing, but a lot of people are essentially shrugging their shoulders and wondering why they are down with a recurring respiratory illness.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, and if it wasn't critical, I'd have canceled it.

I know it's folly to make comparisons with life, but I'd rather be here suffering with COVID than I would just going about my business in eastern Ukraine or any part of Gaza.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 16, 2023, 08:00:41 AM
Yup. But just wait: the same will be true of living in America/ Gilead soon, and doubtless the UK will follow shortly after.
Who can argue with Christ prediction. 8)

I know it's folly to make comparisons with life, but I'd rather be here suffering with COVID than I would just going about my business in eastern Ukraine or any part of Gaza.
Plenty around, but a severe cold is the symptoms for most.

What surprises me, though, is that no-one seems to have actually noticed that Elon Musk is the living embodiment of Hugo Drax. Bond villains used to be so obviously over the top that they couldn't possibly be real, but seriously - what is the world going to do if it turns out that Starlink satellites have lasers targeted on earth? ironically I'm not sure that 007 is a solution in the real world, but wouldn't it be nice.

Actually it is quite thrilling watching the world turn to poo, as it is doing it in ways that I couldn't have imagined only ten years ago.

They who control Social media now influence / control the  hoi polloi.
Scary to see the false posts that can be over checked in a few minutes, whilst the main social media sites cannot be bothered.

Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 16, 2023, 12:35:57 PM
I stand out like a freak in my N95 mask in most public places since the majority of Americans have decided that Covid is either over or a minor inconvenience.  This, despite the fact that people are still dying from it.

As for our political system.   It's so broken.  I can only hope that Agent Orange is in a matching jumpsuit before the next Presidential election.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 16, 2023, 09:50:30 PM
My post didn't say poo.
Again you are Christ who posts the truth ;D ;D
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: smokester on November 18, 2023, 11:12:30 AM
The combination of Jags, macs, retirement, and Gosport Borough carrying all before them in the Southern League South go a long way to putting the world to rights.

... especially as I am old enough that I won't live to see the comprehensive mess that politicians are making of this world come fully to fruition. I am glad that I am not American, though, so I am unlikely to live under a full fledged Dictatorship like they likely will soon. To take but one example: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes Suella Braverman look like an amateur: both with single figure IQs, granted, but one is all-in on her stupidity where the other is just taking baby steps.

What surprises me, though, is that no-one seems to have actually noticed that Elon Musk is the living embodiment of Hugo Drax. Bond villains used to be so obviously over the top that they couldn't possibly be real, but seriously - what is the world going to do if it turns out that Starlink satellites have lasers targeted on earth? ironically I'm not sure that 007 is a solution in the real world, but wouldn't it be nice.

Actually it is quite thrilling watching the world turn to poo, as it is doing it in ways that I couldn't have imagined only ten years ago.

This sums up my point really. While COVID was a terrible time for us, you always knew that mankind would find a way through it even if personally you may not. With what's going on in the world now, there no guarantee there will ever be a path to stability.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: goldshirt*9 on November 18, 2023, 08:20:18 PM
What surprises me, though, is that no-one seems to have actually noticed that Elon Musk is the living embodiment of Hugo Drax. Bond villains used to be so obviously over the top that they couldn't possibly be real, but seriously - what is the world going to do if it turns out that Starlink satellites have lasers targeted on earth? ironically I'm not sure that 007 is a solution in the real world, but wouldn't it be nice.

"Advertisers are fleeing social media platform X over concerns about their ads showing up next to pro-Nazi content and hate speech on the site in general, with billionaire owner Elon Musk inflaming tensions with his own posts endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory"

Have you by chance the number for next weeks lottery  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 8ullfrog on November 19, 2023, 02:12:24 AM
Sadly, this is not actually about antisemitism. It is about payment processing.

There are things that you simply cannot say on the internet and remain in business, unless you run the entire show.

If you cross those lines, banks cut you off.  And without payment processing, you literally cannot run ads, because you cannot be paid.

This doesn't really have anything to do with covid though.

(What the one X'er said is ABSOLUTELY antisemitism, it's the "great replacement" theory.)
Musk lost hundreds of millions of dollars, for the equivalent of a "this" throwaway comment.
Title: Re: Is the Corona virus the elephant in the room?
Post by: 6pairsofshoes on November 19, 2023, 08:14:58 AM
Give 'em enough rope...