Coronavirus pandemic

[Max Rockatansky]

Anyone doing some updates with their highway sites, pages, or social media sites given the Virus stuff has most of shut down?  I've been doing a crap ton of writing this past week trying to finish two series I started back in 2018.  I haven't had a chance to make a dent like this week (four articles just today) in about three years.  I've also been trying to put at least one item up on the Facebook page daily from the photo albums and blog series.  I noticed that on Facebook we're getting a lot more comments than we usually do by a large margin.

[US 89]

Over/under on how many Oregonians will light themselves on fire during the pandemic?

[jakeroot]

Over/under on how many Oregonians will light themselves on fire during the pandemic?

There will be blood.

[Brandon]

Over/under on how many Oregonians will light themselves on fire during the pandemic?

There will be blood.

Because, you know...

"I've lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can't even"

[Max Rockatansky]

Over/under on how many Oregonians will light themselves on fire during the pandemic?

There will be blood.

Because, you know...

"I've lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can't even"

Wouldn't death by "failure to pump gas"  appropriately qualify as proof of Darwinism?

[D-Dey65]

Because, you know...

"I've lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can't even"

How screwed up can people possibly be if they think pumping their own gas requires special qualification? This isn't rocket science, people! It's easier than doing laundry for Christ's sake! Remember, I've even done it in New Jersey and got away with it.

[MikieTimT]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

[1995hoo]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've been using disposable rubber gloves at both the gas station and the grocery store (and yesterday at Home Depot)–I use them while pumping gas or in the store, and I throw them away after replacing the pump or returning the shopping cart and before getting into the car, this so as to avoid the risk of contaminating the car (so yesterday, for example, when I went to Home Depot and then to Wegmans, I used two pairs of gloves–not three pairs because I didn't need to put gas in the car).

[oscar]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

Can't you just wash your hands immediately after pumping, or use disinfectant wipes if you have some at hand? AFAIK, unless your fingers have open wounds, any virus isn't going to get from a gas pump into your bloodstream or respiratory tract, unless you do something with unwashed hands to put it there like touching your face. Ordinary skin contact isn't enough.

Both of my cars have a supply of disinfectant towelettes in a door pocket. That's been my standard practice, -even pre-Covid-19, for when an adequately supplied bathroom isn't available when I need it.

[kalvado]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've been using disposable rubber gloves at both the gas station and the grocery store (and yesterday at Home Depot)–I use them while pumping gas or in the store, and I throw them away after replacing the pump or returning the shopping cart and before getting into the car, this so as to avoid the risk of contaminating the car (so yesterday, for example, when I went to Home Depot and then to Wegmans, I used two pairs of gloves–not three pairs because I didn't need to put gas in the car).

I bet I can do gas fill with just a single glove. Only time I really need both hands is taking the card out of the wallet, and wallet is arguably clean anyway

[Max Rockatansky]

Speaking of hand washing, my hands are cracking pretty badly at times with all this extra washing due to the virus scare.  I've been applying some of my Wife's lotion lately which kind of helps.  I suppose a lot of people probably now have similar cracks and exposures on their skin that they wouldn't normally. 

[webny99]

Speaking of hand washing, my hands are cracking pretty badly at times with all this extra washing due to the virus scare.  I've been applying some of my Wife's lotion lately which kind of helps.  I suppose a lot of people probably now have similar cracks and exposures on their skin that they wouldn't normally.

Same here, but I always wash my hands a lot and they seem to crack up badly a few times every winter, so I haven't noticed it more than usual.
It does help to wear gloves outside in cold weather, and dry your hands with non-paper products. Paper towels are so coarse that they dry your hands out and make them crack much worse.

[1995hoo]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've been using disposable rubber gloves at both the gas station and the grocery store (and yesterday at Home Depot)–I use them while pumping gas or in the store, and I throw them away after replacing the pump or returning the shopping cart and before getting into the car, this so as to avoid the risk of contaminating the car (so yesterday, for example, when I went to Home Depot and then to Wegmans, I used two pairs of gloves–not three pairs because I didn't need to put gas in the car).

I bet I can do gas fill with just a single glove. Only time I really need both hands is taking the card out of the wallet, and wallet is arguably clean anyway

I probably could, except I prefer to use the thing that holds the pump open so I don't have to stand there doing it myself, and I usually need two hands to set that thing (plus I usually set it to the slower speed if there are two options).

[Max Rockatansky]

Speaking of hand washing, my hands are cracking pretty badly at times with all this extra washing due to the virus scare.  I've been applying some of my Wife's lotion lately which kind of helps.  I suppose a lot of people probably now have similar cracks and exposures on their skin that they wouldn't normally.

Same here, but I always wash my hands a lot and they seem to crack up badly a few times every winter, so I haven't noticed it more than usual.
It does help to wear gloves outside in cold weather, and dry your hands with non-paper products. Paper towels are so coarse that they dry your hands out and make them crack much worse.

When I was in grade school I had an issue with being afraid of germs (which didn't translate past the 3rd grade thankfully).  This honestly kind of reminds me of those times with all the constant hand washing everyone is having to do.  It was kind of nice just being at home for the entire day yesterday working in the garage and yard.  My hands got dirt and mud all over then but I didn't t have wash them for a solid six hours which I'm taking as a small win.

[webny99]

Is it... dare I say... an advantage to share a state with the Big Apple at a time of crisis like this?
The more I hear reports trickling in of other states going into lockdown, the more I realize that our situation in Upstate NY just might be a blessing in disguise: the rest of the state rolls with what NYC does, of course, so we get the advantage of the spread being curtailed very early relative to how much the virus had spread, while still being hundreds of miles removed from the physical epicenter of the outbreak.

So I guess we're indebted to NYC for forcing the rest of the state to shut down when it did. There's no telling when a theoretical separate state containing the non-NYC areas of NY would have shut down, but I guarantee it would have been a week or so later, at minimum.

On the other hand, an upstate that was a separate state would not be subject to the whims to states that don't want anything to do with people from NYC right now.  Rhode Island in particular has gotten draconian with respect to people from NY.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/490019-cuomo-threatens-to-sue-ri-over-new-coronavirus-policy-targeting-ny
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/rhode-island-police-to-hunt-down-new-yorkers-seeking-refuge

Yikes! That does seem a bit extreme. But at least it's only Rhode Island, and 99% of the NY plates there probably actually  are from the NYC area, because of the proximity, the people that have summer homes there, and so on. That is to say, if there's going to be a state that assumes NY=NYC, it makes sense for Rhode Island to do so more than any other state.
If PA, VT, or MA tried something similar, then we'd have a problem since they share borders with upstate and probably even have people commuting across the state line. I would think those states would give much more careful consideration to the implications of such a policy, and ultimately I don't think we'll see them doing what Rhode Island is doing.

Some states, like Texas, have put airport restrictions in place, but those are all specific to the NYC airports, so I don't have any issues with that.

[webny99]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've been using disposable rubber gloves at both the gas station and the grocery store (and yesterday at Home Depot)–I use them while pumping gas or in the store, and I throw them away after replacing the pump or returning the shopping cart and before getting into the car, this so as to avoid the risk of contaminating the car (so yesterday, for example, when I went to Home Depot and then to Wegmans, I used two pairs of gloves–not three pairs because I didn't need to put gas in the car).

I bet I can do gas fill with just a single glove. Only time I really need both hands is taking the card out of the wallet, and wallet is arguably clean anyway

I probably could, except I prefer to use the thing that holds the pump open so I don't have to stand there doing it myself, and I usually need two hands to set that thing (plus I usually set it to the slower speed if there are two options).

I should point out those are almost non-existent in NY. It's a rare treat to find a gas station that still has them.

[J N Winkler]

I last purchased gas on March 5 and do not expect to buy more until late April or early May because we are simply not driving much anymore.

I haven't been bothering with hand sanitizer or nitrile gloves.  I am not aware that anyone has confirmed a case of infection through surface contact; the CDC mentions it only as a possibility.  I think it is much more important to maintain six-foot separation (to keep clear of airborne droplets) and to refrain from touching unwashed fingers to any mucous membranes.

I am actually much more likely to wear nitrile gloves when changing the oil in a car, because used motor oil is full of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and those cause cancer.

[Rothman]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've been using disposable rubber gloves at both the gas station and the grocery store (and yesterday at Home Depot)–I use them while pumping gas or in the store, and I throw them away after replacing the pump or returning the shopping cart and before getting into the car, this so as to avoid the risk of contaminating the car (so yesterday, for example, when I went to Home Depot and then to Wegmans, I used two pairs of gloves–not three pairs because I didn't need to put gas in the car).

I bet I can do gas fill with just a single glove. Only time I really need both hands is taking the card out of the wallet, and wallet is arguably clean anyway

I probably could, except I prefer to use the thing that holds the pump open so I don't have to stand there doing it myself, and I usually need two hands to set that thing (plus I usually set it to the slower speed if there are two options).

I should point out those are almost non-existent in NY. It's a rare treat to find a gas station that still has them.

When I leave NY and am able to lock the pump, I think I've returned to civilization.

The Northeast had some hysteria over a woman who started on fire while pumping gas due to static electricity and that's when the clips went the way of the dodo.  Seems like an overreaction, since every other state out there is doing just fine.

[02 Park Ave]

Because, you know...

"I've lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can't even"

How screwed up can people possibly be if they think pumping their own gas requires special qualification? This isn't rocket science, people! It's easier than doing laundry for Christ's sake! Remember, I've even done it in New Jersey and got away with it.

You should have been arrested.  What would possess you to do something like that?

[Bruce]

Actually, in the absence of cleaning the pump handles and buttons/touchscreens between customers, full service gas pumps might not be a bad idea for a few weeks at least.  I personally take a plastic glove to pump with and dispose of after pumping, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

Can't you just wash your hands immediately after pumping, or use disinfectant wipes if you have some at hand? AFAIK, unless your fingers have open wounds, any virus isn't going to get from a gas pump into your bloodstream or respiratory tract, unless you do something with unwashed hands to put it there like touching your face. Ordinary skin contact isn't enough.

Both of my cars have a supply of disinfectant towelettes in a door pocket. That's been my standard practice, -even pre-Covid-19, for when an adequately supplied bathroom isn't available when I need it.

I've been screamed at for "being too slow" in disinfecting my hands after using the pump and pay screen (pre-virus). I can't imagine what they would do to my car if I were to leave and use an inside bathroom.

[D-Dey65]

How screwed up can people possibly be if they think pumping their own gas requires special qualification? This isn't rocket science, people! It's easier than doing laundry for Christ's sake! Remember, I've even done it in New Jersey and got away with it.

You should have been arrested.  What would possess you to do something like that?

Basic impatience. The people working at the gas station were too busy BS-ing with one another and gambling or some other dumb thing. Plus, somebody told me that the cops were frequent customers of the station. Guess what; Nobody cared, including me. I even got a receipt for my purchase. Having to pump your own gas doesn't even rate with a parking ticket.

[fwydriver405]

This started popping up on the VMS signs in the entire State of Maine. The first message is on a photo below which is only being displayed on the Maine Turnpike.



The other message (and the only message MaineDOT signs are displaying) on the sign says:

PLEASE STAY HOME
HELP FIGHT
COVID-19

[jeffandnicole]

Because, you know...

"I've lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can't even"

How screwed up can people possibly be if they think pumping their own gas requires special qualification? This isn't rocket science, people! It's easier than doing laundry for Christ's sake! Remember, I've even done it in New Jersey and got away with it.

You should have been arrested.  What would possess you to do something like that?

Under the assumption this isn't sarcasm...

You do know what the penalty is for someone pumping gas in NJ is, right?

It's a penalty starting at $50 for a first offense,  most likely given to the station owner.

A state Labor and Development Dept inspector would need to see the violation occurring, not the police.

So far, in the many decades of full service gas in the state (1949 was when the law was enacted), a total of 0 violations have been recorded, as far as I know.

[Max Rockatansky]

Because, you know...

"I've lived in this state all my life and I REFUSE to pump my own gas. I had to do it once in California while visiting my brother and almost died doing it. This a service only qualified people should perform. I will literally park at the pump and wait until someone pumps my gas. I can't even"

How screwed up can people possibly be if they think pumping their own gas requires special qualification? This isn't rocket science, people! It's easier than doing laundry for Christ's sake! Remember, I've even done it in New Jersey and got away with it.

You should have been arrested.  What would possess you to do something like that?

Under the assumption this isn't sarcasm...

You do know what the penalty is for someone pumping gas in NJ is, right?

It's a penalty starting at $50 for a first offense,  most likely given to the station owner.

A state Labor and Development Dept inspector would need to see the violation occurring, not the police.

So far, in the many decades of full service gas in the state (1949 was when the law was enacted), a total of 0 violations have been recorded, as far as I know.

Anyone know what the counterpart law in Oregon is?  I've filled up on own there plenty of times because I didn't want to wait for an attendant.  Usually when questioned I just said "oh I'm from out of state and didn't know."   That excuse was always highly plausible when I had Arizona plated and was somewhat close to a state line. 

[ozarkman417]

I took a drive down to Arkansas yesterday... Route US 65 to and through Branson is just totally abandoned, as a result of all the shows being unable to operate. While I was in Arkansas, I visited the popular Hawksbill Crag. It appears this virus is not stopping tourists from going there. Staying six feet apart from other hikers is simply impossible, not only due to the amount of people, but the sheer cliffs on the side of the trail. I definitely took a risk there, though the county the Crag is in has no cases.. yet. Online classes start for me tomorrow.

I am curious as to how this virus will affect AADT stats.