Coronavirus pandemic

[ixnay]

1995hoo, that's the most dignified selfie ever taken or posted! (I trust you know which one I'm talking about)

ixnay

[1995hoo]

1995hoo, that's the most dignified selfie ever taken or posted! (I trust you know which one I'm talking about)

ixnay

Thanks

[bing101]

Interesting how scared this thread was a month go.

No faith anymore.

Im glad things are getting better & I hope everyone has been staying safe

The number of new cases in the U.S. is cratering dramatically. But the government will continue to use the virus as an excuse to trample our rights.

I predicted a long time ago this would happen. This is like how they used 9/11 and other crises.

I can see alot improving in the years to come.

-more funding for science, medical & health

-respect for public official jobs, health, science & police

-respect for grocery store workers, drivers & etc

-people will be clean again?

Cons

-security like measures for health screening at airports or any cross continent travel

-more technology being implemented & to screen for sick people

-more 9/11 like health screenings

-public discrimination of asian people & out of country travelers.


Luckily I see more good then bad but it will definitely push us to the future & more good will come of it then bad.


iPhone

Yeah right. This is America. Our public attention span is shorter than a flea's so we'll get all of the cons with none of the pros. We're too short-sighted as a nation to plan ahead and be wise like that.

I hate to agree though and we might have to deal with another pandemic sooner than we think.

[vdeane]

So Cuomo just signed an executive order requiring all people in the state to wear face masks starting in three days.  That's great for those who can make one at home, but what about those of us who can't?  Ordering one online takes a LOT longer than three days... this one I found on Amazon takes until June for delivery!

Honestly, it strikes me as a bit of security theater, given the limited effectiveness, the fact that we're supposed to maintain social distancing, and the fact that quickly passing by someone within a short distance isn't a big danger as long as they don't cough/sneeze because of the low viral load.  For me, since my Aspergers has left me with a tactile sensitivity (I prioritize comfort above all else when it comes to clothing, for example), this will probably be the most felt departure from normalcy yet, aside from working from home.

[1995hoo]

So Cuomo just signed an executive order requiring all people in the state to wear face masks starting in three days.  That's great for those who can make one at home, but what about those of us who can't?  Ordering one online takes a LOT longer than three days... this one I found on Amazon takes until June for delivery!

Honestly, it strikes me as a bit of security theater, given the limited effectiveness, the fact that we're supposed to maintain social distancing, and the fact that quickly passing by someone within a short distance isn't a big danger as long as they don't cough/sneeze because of the low viral load.  For me, since my Aspergers has left me with a tactile sensitivity (I prioritize comfort above all else when it comes to clothing, for example), this will probably be the most felt departure from normalcy yet, aside from working from home.

If you look at reply 1772, you'll see what my mom did–I believe she cut an old cotton shirt and simply folded it over. She used rubber bands to secure it, although she did say those don't hold it in place as well as she'd like (she was certainly adjusting it often enough). Essentially, she passed the folded shirt through the rubber band at each end and then folded it back to the inside so it was sort of "hooked" over the rubber bands.

I'd wager you would find that to be more comfortable than the N95 mask I was wearing, in part because the two bands on the mask hold it in place quite tightly. That's good, of course, but it's also a bit uncomfortable. I told myself that I'd rather deal with discomfort from a mask than discomfort from the virus!


Edited to add: I asked my mom if she could give me the details on how she did it and she sent me a link to this video from Arlington County, Virginia. My mom didn't use a coffee filter as mentioned here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy76TG53Npo&feature=youtu.be

[jemacedo9]

So Cuomo just signed an executive order requiring all people in the state to wear face masks starting in three days.  That's great for those who can make one at home, but what about those of us who can't?  Ordering one online takes a LOT longer than three days... this one I found on Amazon takes until June for delivery!

Honestly, it strikes me as a bit of security theater, given the limited effectiveness, the fact that we're supposed to maintain social distancing, and the fact that quickly passing by someone within a short distance isn't a big danger as long as they don't cough/sneeze because of the low viral load.  For me, since my Aspergers has left me with a tactile sensitivity (I prioritize comfort above all else when it comes to clothing, for example), this will probably be the most felt departure from normalcy yet, aside from working from home.

The problem is this:  the scientists are still trying to figure things out.  At first, it was thought that just touching contaminated surfaces and transferring to your nose was bad.  Then it was being around coughing and sneezing only.  Then it was not touching your eyes either.  Then it was just being around someone talking is enough to get some.  No one knows what the viral load limits are. 

But think about it logically:  droplets are breathed out of your mouth and nose, in order of increasing volume  when you breathe normal, talk normal, yell/sing/talk loudly, breathe heavy, cough, sneeze. 

If you're walking in the woods and you're passing by one person breathing normally...probably ok.
If you're waking on a trail and 10 people pass you running and breathing heavily, even though keeping 6 feet laterally away from you...not as ok...but maybe still ok.
If you're in a supermarket, indoors, and you pass by 30 people breathing normal...not as ok, but maybe ok.  Maybe.

It's a gamble, right?  And it's not just a gamble for yourself.  Because you could catch it and be unaware, and now you're adding your breath droplets for 1-5 days before you realize it.  How much are you willing to risk...both getting it and passing it?

Everyone wants an iron-clad answer now to 1. how can we prevent getting it and passing it? and 2. when can we go back to normal?  Both are impossible to answer.

I'm not willing to pass it along to anyone if I can prevent it.  If it means I'm uncomfortable and inconvenienced for another month, so be it...I can be patient enough to live with that. 

If this is really all a big giant hoax to make us slaves to our corporate masters...then I've had a good run and I have a bridge in mind to jump off of.  Short of that...I'm just going to be patient and keep my parents and relatives and as many people alive and suffering as I can.

[J N Winkler]

I am reluctant to wear a mask in public because I am concerned that it gives others a false sense of security when they wander into my six-foot space bubble.  I would rather not dilute their incentive to maintain the strict physical distancing that keeps all of us safe.  If masks become mandatory in my local area, however, I will be forced to wear one when I go out, just to send a social signal of willingness to do what is asked of us in terms of limiting spread.

[Max Rockatansky]

I am reluctant to wear a mask in public because I am concerned that it gives others a false sense of security when they wander into my six-foot space bubble.  I would rather not dilute their incentive to maintain the strict physical distancing that keeps all of us safe.  If masks become mandatory in my local area, however, I will be forced to wear one when I go out, just to send a social signal of willingness to do what is asked of us in terms of limiting spread.

Having a beard it makes my face itch infinitely worse than without one.  I can't imagine what I'm experiencing is a net win, I don't wear it when I'm not required to. 

[oscar]

Having a beard it makes my face itch infinitely worse than without one.  I can't imagine what I'm experiencing is a net win, I don't wear it when I'm not required to. 

IIRC, firefighters and others who really need to have a tight-fitting mask, with no leakage around the edges, aren't allowed to have beards.

I don't have that issue. I wear a mask only when I'm indoors with other people, but that's mainly to stretch out my few consumer-grade surgical masks (bought in December when I was battling a nasty cold during the holidays). 

[kalvado]

I am reluctant to wear a mask in public because I am concerned that it gives others a false sense of security when they wander into my six-foot space bubble.  I would rather not dilute their incentive to maintain the strict physical distancing that keeps all of us safe.  If masks become mandatory in my local area, however, I will be forced to wear one when I go out, just to send a social signal of willingness to do what is asked of us in terms of limiting spread.

6 feet are a weaker measure than a mask. 6 feet is enough (maybe) for bigger droplets to loose speed and settle on the floor, while mask intersepts those droplets it the point of origin. And mask may do so more efficiently

[Max Rockatansky]

Having a beard it makes my face itch infinitely worse than without one.  I can't imagine what I'm experiencing is a net win, I don't wear it when I'm not required to. 

IIRC, firefighters and others who really need to have a tight-fitting mask, with no leakage around the edges, aren't allowed to have beards.

I don't have that issue. I wear a mask only when I'm indoors with other people, but that's mainly to stretch out my few consumer-grade surgical masks (bought in December when I was battling a nasty cold during the holidays).

That's true with most departments and usually is lumped into uniform standards somewhere.  Most of the masks I have are home brew which I'm required to wear at work.  The home brew stuff feels okay but I doubt the loose feel is what would ideally be desired.  The actual legitimate masks are the ones that get to my skin since they are a tight fit. 

[Roadgeekteen]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

[Max Rockatansky]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

Could always enlist in the military if this stuff is going on still when you hit 18.  Might be beneficial to kick college down the road if you don't have an academic scholarship going. 

[Roadgeekteen]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

Could always enlist in the military if this stuff is going on still when you hit 18.  Might be beneficial to kick college down the road if you don't have an academic scholarship going.

I'm not sure if I'd be eligible to serve even if I wanted too.

[RobbieL2415]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

Could always enlist in the military if this stuff is going on still when you hit 18.  Might be beneficial to kick college down the road if you don't have an academic scholarship going.

I'm not sure if I'd be eligible to serve even if I wanted too.

You can serve at either 16 or 17 with parents' permission.

[Max Rockatansky]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

Could always enlist in the military if this stuff is going on still when you hit 18.  Might be beneficial to kick college down the road if you don't have an academic scholarship going.

I'm not sure if I'd be eligible to serve even if I wanted too.

You can serve at either 16 or 17 with parents' permission.

In all seriousness I was thinking that would be a viable alternative for a lot of people who all the sudden have really uncertain near term prospects for college.

[Roadgeekteen]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

Could always enlist in the military if this stuff is going on still when you hit 18.  Might be beneficial to kick college down the road if you don't have an academic scholarship going.

I'm not sure if I'd be eligible to serve even if I wanted too.

You can serve at either 16 or 17 with parents' permission.

In all seriousness I was thinking that would be a viable alternative for a lot of people who all the sudden have really uncertain near term prospects for college.

A lot of schools are going test optional, and there are dates up until November so I should be fine.

[Max Rockatansky]

I was going to take the SAT this year, but all dates before August were cancelled, and many schools are waiving the requirement, so I don't know anymore.

Could always enlist in the military if this stuff is going on still when you hit 18.  Might be beneficial to kick college down the road if you don't have an academic scholarship going.

I'm not sure if I'd be eligible to serve even if I wanted too.

You can serve at either 16 or 17 with parents' permission.

In all seriousness I was thinking that would be a viable alternative for a lot of people who all the sudden have really uncertain near term prospects for college.

A lot of schools are going test optional, and there are dates up until November so I should be fine.

If I was paying for classes or having to take out a loan I wouldn't be so chancy with my money.  Its probably better to wait a year or two before all this virus BS levels out and you don't risk wasting a ton of time in addition to cash.  Even the regular work force has a ton of demand for certain jobs that will likely have some hazard pay for awhile.  Not all this college and school stuff can be done online, something will have to give....or break down (which it kind of has with this year) eventually.

[SEWIGuy]

I wouldn't join the military if you are concerned about contracting Covid.  They're really not all that prepared either.

If I were roadgeekteen, I would enroll where you want to go, and if they go "virtual," see if the local junior college offers the virtual option at a lower price.  Then talk with an admissions counselor about what courses could transfer in.

[Max Rockatansky]

I wouldn't join the military if you are concerned about contracting Covid.  They're really not all that prepared either.

If I were roadgeekteen, I would enroll where you want to go, and if they go "virtual," see if the local junior college offers the virtual option at a lower price.  Then talk with an admissions counselor about what courses could transfer in.

I've yet to see (and maybe someone can enlighten on this) anything substantial yet that would show how the next college semester would be handled online...or the next couple.  At minimum you could have a guaranteed paycheck (which your parents might not have given the state of many non-essential businesses) and access to health insurance through Tri-Care. 

[1995hoo]

I wouldn't join the military if you are concerned about contracting Covid.  They're really not all that prepared either.

....

Note the various news reports this week about various military commanders insisting they maintain the haircut rules, purportedly in the name of "discipline," leading to lines of soldiers at the few barbershops that remain open to cater to them.

[Max Rockatansky]

I wouldn't join the military if you are concerned about contracting Covid.  They're really not all that prepared either.

....

Note the various news reports this week about various military commanders insisting they maintain the haircut rules, purportedly in the name of "discipline," leading to lines of soldiers at the few barbershops that remain open to cater to them.

Most bases have their own barbers located at the PXs.  That would be interesting to see how tightly that is regulated or if the solution ends up being something more home brew with a trimmer. 

Speaking of haircuts I'm seriously considering buzzing my hair or outright shaving for awhile.  My haircut is a standard 4 blade on the top and 2 on the side.  I have a beard trimmer but I can't find anything useful in the outside retail world at the moment.  At the very least buzzing would be low maintenance which would be nice (t was when I lived in Phoenix) for the summer months.  I'm sure my wife won't be happy though. 

[1995hoo]

....

Speaking of haircuts I'm seriously considering buzzing my hair or outright shaving for awhile.  My haircut is a standard 4 blade on the top and 2 on the side.  I have a beard trimmer but I can't find anything useful in the outside retail world at the moment.  At the very least buzzing would be low maintenance which would be nice (t was when I lived in Phoenix) for the summer months.  I'm sure my wife won't be happy though. 

I got my hair cut the weekend of February 29/March 1 because of a work event the following Thursday and Friday. Glad I got it cut then before all the barbershops closed! It's just now getting to the point where in the next week or two it'll start to feel like it's getting longer and it'll annoy me. Often I can stretch it for another week or two if necessary by using hairspray, but I'm going to have a tough time deciding what to do. My wife has offered to trim it, but I'm not sure I trust her. I don't think she understands my point about how it's not just trimming the sides so the hair doesn't grow over my ears, but also trimming the top so it's not as thick (especially as the weather gets warmer), and I think she thinks she can use my electric trimmer to do the whole thing (the barber uses scissors for a good bit of the process).

I was kind of struck by one of the pictures from Arlington Cemetery on Tuesday in which my wife took a picture from behind of my mom and me when we stopped at a family friend's niche located on the other side of the wall from where my father was inurned. I'm obviously well aware of how the hair on the sides of my head is getting grey, and I'm aware of the thin spot at the top of the back, but I didn't know just how grey the hair on the back of my head has gotten until I saw that picture. If I didn't know better, I might have thought the picture was a picture of my father and mother from a year or two ago because from behind I looked so much like him prior to his health issues in his final year or two (due to the combination of the hair, our having been a similar height, and my wearing a dark Brooks Brothers suit, as that was the maker he favored as well).

[SEWIGuy]

I wouldn't join the military if you are concerned about contracting Covid.  They're really not all that prepared either.

If I were roadgeekteen, I would enroll where you want to go, and if they go "virtual," see if the local junior college offers the virtual option at a lower price.  Then talk with an admissions counselor about what courses could transfer in.

I've yet to see (and maybe someone can enlighten on this) anything substantial yet that would show how the next college semester would be handled online...or the next couple.  At minimum you could have a guaranteed paycheck (which your parents might not have given the state of many non-essential businesses) and access to health insurance through Tri-Care. 

If he's a student and under the age of 25 he can stay on his parent's health plan.  Anyway many college's offer remote learning as a matter of course.  So they are usually pretty good at it and have the technological capabilities.  If it is a community college that offers transfer credits to four year schools, it is a cheaper option.

And sure you can get a paycheck now.  But that just delays you from getting what is very likely a larger paycheck later when you earn your bachelors.

[kwellada]

The number of new cases in the U.S. is cratering dramatically. But the government will continue to use the virus as an excuse to trample our rights.

I predicted a long time ago this would happen. This is like how they used 9/11 and other crises.

Yesterday was the highest single day total of deaths.  Perhaps it's a bit early to be trotting out "freedumb" cries.  The only reason the infection and death rate isn't higher is because enough people have minded the guidelines and stay at home orders.  The fools who want to immediately go back to normal will make 2600 deaths a day seem like a low number before long. 

It sucks and I'm among the many going utterly stir crazy, but this is the way pandemics are curbed.