Coronavirus

[hollis517]

Anybody else totally excited about living during a pandemic? I loved the first part of The Stand a lot (minus the Mother Abagail/Randall Flagg fantasy stuff), and if I survive to move to, say, Boulder … Hey, pot’s legal there! I also think that the way the hardcore Religious Right defying shelter-in-place orders, the world will be fine in their absence. Just stay FAR AWAY from anyone who doesn’t obey strict self-quarantining and hope for the best — Isn’t much we can do about grocery shopping contacts.

We’ll need to be total homebodies for ~18-24 months, and maybe even more. Lots of time to read — Hallelujah!

Also, have y’all wondered how we’ll survive if essential services like electricity/plumbing/trash fail? Communications?

And how about the striking workers at places like Amazon — who fired 5-year employee Chris Smalls for being an activist (Amazon Fires Worker Who Led Strike Over Virus), Instacart, and Whole Foods? I saw current video of filthy conditions at UPS — both in-office and in delivery trucks — that prompt me to advise y’all to be very careful of delivered items. Hell, I need a heatproof spatula, but I will not cross a picket line!

This global catastrophe is revealing so much about society. Don’t y’all find it fascinating? I sure do.

 

[Neesy]

Anybody else totally excited about living during a pandemic? I loved the first part of The Stand a lot (minus the Mother Abagail/Randall Flagg fantasy stuff), and if I survive to move to, say, Boulder … Hey, pot’s legal there! I also think that the way the hardcore Religious Right defying shelter-in-place orders, the world will be fine in their absence. Just stay FAR AWAY from anyone who doesn’t obey strict self-quarantining and hope for the best — Isn’t much we can do about grocery shopping contacts.

We’ll need to be total homebodies for ~18-24 months, and maybe even more. Lots of time to read — Hallelujah!

Also, have y’all wondered how we’ll survive if essential services like electricity/plumbing/trash fail? Communications?

And how about the striking workers at places like Amazon — who fired 5-year employee Chris Smalls for being an activist (Amazon Fires Worker Who Led Strike Over Virus), Instacart, and Whole Foods? I saw current video of filthy conditions at UPS — both in-office and in delivery trucks — that prompt me to advise y’all to be very careful of delivered items. Hell, I need a heatproof spatula, but I will not cross a picket line!

This global catastrophe is revealing so much about society. Don’t y’all find it fascinating? I sure do.

Can't say I am excited about it but I am wondering how long it can go on.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Spoiler

....that was absolutely fuc*in' beautiful!......

 

[Edward John]

Explanation

BREAKING: No remaining exams/assessments can negatively impact your course grades for this semester

THANK YOU COLM!!!!

thetab.com

Thanks Spidey!

 

[GNTLGNT]

He used to take the shortcut across my house to the power line to cross the street. Often, he would sit on the line and stare at me through the kitchen window.
The same power line the birds now brazenly occupy while stalking me. I think they kidnapped the squirrel.

....nah.....just disguised......

 

[GNTLGNT]

Anybody else totally excited about living during a pandemic? I loved the first part of The Stand a lot (minus the Mother Abagail/Randall Flagg fantasy stuff), and if I survive to move to, say, Boulder … Hey, pot’s legal there! I also think that the way the hardcore Religious Right defying shelter-in-place orders, the world will be fine in their absence. Just stay FAR AWAY from anyone who doesn’t obey strict self-quarantining and hope for the best — Isn’t much we can do about grocery shopping contacts.

We’ll need to be total homebodies for ~18-24 months, and maybe even more. Lots of time to read — Hallelujah!

Also, have y’all wondered how we’ll survive if essential services like electricity/plumbing/trash fail? Communications?

And how about the striking workers at places like Amazon — who fired 5-year employee Chris Smalls for being an activist (Amazon Fires Worker Who Led Strike Over Virus), Instacart, and Whole Foods? I saw current video of filthy conditions at UPS — both in-office and in delivery trucks — that prompt me to advise y’all to be very careful of delivered items. Hell, I need a heatproof spatula, but I will not cross a picket line!

This global catastrophe is revealing so much about society. Don’t y’all find it fascinating? I sure do.

....nothing like a global death toll to set me all aquiver, that and working as a nurse so I can rejoice over bringing the possibility of contagion home......

 

[Edward John]

So, for those wondering. Non detrimental means that any of the coursework you do from now on, essays or exams, will not affect your current grade, i.e. coursework already completed, unless it improves upon it.

 

[hollis517]

I study pandemics. I expect to get this one. People I know and like or love or hate or don’t GAF about will die, maybe including me. But this is HISTORY! You’re just giving me the typical NT holier-than-thou response yet unable to see what’s fascinating about how fragile societies are, how incapable so-called leaders can be (and how prescient others can be), how the content of our character is revealed — to show both unthinking avarice and considerate leadership, etc. There is so much to be learned, and when is that NOT exciting?

Don’t you read Stephen King? How about The Stand? — Or did you think pandemics could never really happen (although they have, over and over, and probably will again, unless we’re really attentive and efficient and learn everything possible)? Read The Ghost Map (Steven Johnson), about the cholera epidemic in 1850s London — no Fantasy, just Florence Nightingale’s popular nonsense vs. Science in theory and practice. Read Pandemic: Tracking Contagions From Cholera to Ebola and Beyond (Sonia Shah). Read The Demon in the Freezer (Richard Preston), about weaponized smallpox and anthrax. And on and on. Don’t lecture me on reality — I’m probably more well-versed in it than most.

This time we find ourselves in is So. Damned. Interesting. Just like the Chinese adage, May you live in interesting times. Well, we do.

 

[hollis517]

....nothing like a global death toll to set me all aquiver, that and working as a nurse so I can rejoice over bringing the possibility of contagion home......

See my response to Out of Order.

Btw, as a nurse, are you getting all the equipment, protection, and funding that you need? If not — and horrible as this might sound — you might want to consider striking or at least staging a walk-out. But of course you won’t, because there are actual lives IN YOUR HANDS … and that’s exactly why you don’t get those things that I listed. Governments know they can count on you to work under the worst possible conditions.

 

[FlakeNoir]

I study pandemics. I expect to get this one. People I know and like or love or hate or don’t GAF about will die, maybe including me. But this is HISTORY! You’re just giving me the typical NT holier-than-thou response yet unable to see what’s fascinating about how fragile societies are, how incapable so-called leaders can be (and how prescient others can be), how the content of our character is revealed — to show both unthinking avarice and considerate leadership, etc. There is so much to be learned, and when is that NOT exciting?

Don’t you read Stephen King? How about The Stand? — Or did you think pandemics could never really happen (although they have, over and over, and probably will again, unless we’re really attentive and efficient and learn everything possible)? Read The Ghost Map (Steven Johnson), about the cholera epidemic in 1850s London — no Fantasy, just Florence Nightingale’s popular nonsense vs. Science in theory and practice. Read Pandemic: Tracking Contagions From Cholera to Ebola and Beyond (Sonia Shah). Read The Demon in the Freezer (Richard Preston), about weaponized smallpox and anthrax. And on and on. Don’t lecture me on reality — I’m probably more well-versed in it than most.

This time we find ourselves in is So. Damned. Interesting. Just like the Chinese adage, May you live in interesting times. Well, we do.

People are frightened, while what you say is true--let's talk about this in a way that's not going to flare up more unease--I think there is enough of that out there already.

Many responses are borne from frustration in people not being able to support loved ones right now.

 

[kingricefan]

Don't forget the chainsaw and wood chipper. You may be safe for now, though, since I can't get to them (or you) to use them.

Ooooo, I forgot all about the woodchipper.......

 

[fljoe0]

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she said she was out of half and half. I told her I was going to the store today and would pick some up for her. I went to the store and picked up the half and half plus some other things and a 12 pack of beer. I was walking into my house with a bag of groceries in one hand and a 12 pack in the other and my foot caught on the threshold and down I went. The quart of cream busted open and went everywhere. What a mess. But I saved the beer. Not a single broken bottle. Should I take mom some beer and tell her that beer is better in her coffee? I'm trying to avoid going to the store more than necessary but I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow. Maybe I should get two quarts and hope that one survives.

 

[mal]

Just curious EJ - you're Scottish - are they generally a stubborn lot? (I married one of them)

I'd say Scottish people are no different than any other nationality. It's the red blood and the seven deadly sins that make us all the same.

 

[mal]

Take advantage of it. Everyone will pass. The university is not willing to fail students because of the coronavirus pandemic. It would be a public relations nightmare for them. Bottom line... Easy 'A.'

Yeah. And it's not like degrees/diplomas mean much nowadays. Even befoe the recent pandemic.

 

[Dana Jean]

Yeah. And it's not like degrees/diplomas mean much nowadays. Even befoe the recent pandemic.

They mean something to me. It tells me a lot about the people who get them too. It doesn't define someone's ambition though or intelligence.

 

[HollyGolightly]

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she said she was out of half and half. I told her I was going to the store today and would pick some up for her. I went to the store and picked up the half and half plus some other things and a 12 pack of beer. I was walking into my house with a bag of groceries in one hand and a 12 pack in the other and my foot caught on the threshold and down I went. The quart of cream busted open and went everywhere. What a mess. But I saved the beer. Not a single broken bottle. Should I take mom some beer and tell her that beer is better in her coffee? I'm trying to avoid going to the store more than necessary but I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow. Maybe I should get two quarts and hope that one survives.

Oh man! Good save. But you're just going to have to go back and get your mom the half and half. Beer does not go in coffee.
I have to get some things tomorrow. Mostly I'm click listing, but we're nearly out of coffee - that can't happen. Down to half a a stick of butter - we can't run out of butter. I'm going to try and get there early - after the senior shopping hour, but then me.

 

[FlakeNoir]

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she said she was out of half and half. I told her I was going to the store today and would pick some up for her. I went to the store and picked up the half and half plus some other things and a 12 pack of beer. I was walking into my house with a bag of groceries in one hand and a 12 pack in the other and my foot caught on the threshold and down I went. The quart of cream busted open and went everywhere. What a mess. But I saved the beer. Not a single broken bottle. Should I take mom some beer and tell her that beer is better in her coffee? I'm trying to avoid going to the store more than necessary but I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow. Maybe I should get two quarts and hope that one survives.

Oh what a picture you've painted, that was great... thanks!
Sorry about the re-shop though, good luck!

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

hope the Easter Bunny can practice social distancing, better scrub those eggs too

To be real though, I doubt easter shopping will be easy, I doubt explaining to kids that the Easter Bunny has to isolate himself in his rabbit hole will be an easy feat, better hope you have last year's candy stocked up.

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

School is cancelled til May 4th now, at this point assuming (fingers crossed) people can actually practice social distancing effectively for once instead of naysaying, the problem dissipates so a safer level (even if that is a somewhat unrealistic expectation), I doubt there'd be much to do at school then. Better than catching it though.

 

[FlakeNoir]

hope the Easter Bunny can practice social distancing, better scrub those eggs too

To be real though, I doubt easter shopping will be easy, I doubt explaining to kids that the Easter Bunny has to isolate himself in his rabbit hole will be an easy feat, better hope you have last year's candy stocked up.

I bought Easter Eggs in the days leading up to our (whole country) shut down. Out of 4 kids, I only have one living at home now... he knows all about the E.B, but we still have eggs appear outside the bedroom doors to wake up to on Easter Sunday morning. I also bought hot x buns a couple weeks ago and put them in the freezer.
My big kids... one is married and living far away, I will deposit money for them. The other 2 are living in flats reasonably near and I was able to drop parcels to their doors before lock-down.