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Post by robeiae on Mar 18, 2020 8:22:27 GMT -5
Interesting piece on what this all might mean for China, going forward: www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/03/18/beijing_fears_covid-19_is_turning_point_for_china_globalization__142686.htmlIt is pretty sad that there is a fair chunk of media peeps and the like who have bought into the idea that China did a good job with the Coronavirus. And it's fair to point some fingers at the WHO leadership, as well. For my part, I see a couple of yuuuge potential fallouts from the pandemic: 1) China may very well be economically fucked, as there will be a huge pullback with outsourcing medicine production from there and possibly other stuff, as well. 2) The US education system and it's inflated costs may get something of a comeuppance--a well-deserved one, imo--because of this, as students and parents discover how much cheaper and easier online learning can be (and students realize they can keep going to some school in another state, while still hanging with their high school friends and living at home).
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Post by robeiae on Mar 19, 2020 8:32:27 GMT -5
Personal Coronavirus update:
The coffee place I was going to is still open, but no more sitting outside. So today, I bought my coffee (I'm tipping yuuuge, btw) and took it to a nearby park, which is where I am now. It's a small park with tennis courts and a playground for little kids. There are some people playing tennis, but other than them, I'm the only one here.
My son is back from Boston; his flight was practically empty. He's looking for a part-time job now (I told him to try Amazon, which is hiring like crazy for its grocery delivery services).
My daughter in Scotland is now coming home (well, to DC), as her friends from Europe abandon campus, afraid that they won't be allowed to return to their home countries if they wait any longer.
My youngest is easily handling learning from home and is anticipating tomorrow's release of Animal Crossing (my son is waiting for tomorrow's release of Doom).
Miami is mostly a ghost town, apart from grocery stores, drug stores, and convenience stores. The malls are now shut down and the few other stores that are open are limiting shoppers to 10-15 at a time (which is functionally a stupid idea, if it leads to people standing in long lines).
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Post by Optimus on Mar 19, 2020 14:12:01 GMT -5
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Post by Vince524 on Mar 19, 2020 20:54:52 GMT -5
I'll give my own personal corona update
My wife is a teacher, she had to go in on Monday to discuss teaching from home. She's been doing it online since. Has a small desk set up for her laptop in the Great Room.
My job moved everyone who wanted home by Tuesday. I'm set up with my work computer 1 monitor (We normally use 2) mouse, keyboard, in a small desk in the bedroom. My wife insists that we put a towel over the computer when we go to bed. Keep in mind, I'm running an ethernet cable from the modem in the Greatroom into the bedroom and I unplug it every night because it's in the way. I also power the PC all the way off. Oh, and there's no camera on the stupid thing.
My foster kids are dealing. Elly is under the weather and we've wondered if she might have it, but unless she breaks a fever they won't test her.
Yotham is just restless.
Hannah is getting over something that sounds like it, but again, no fever so no test. She's got her own apartment.
My daughter Danielle is very anxious. She works at Starbucks at night and has been substitute teaching in the day. Substitute teaching is off now. But she's afraid she'll bring it home to us.
Jessica is stuck in Michigan. Her classes have all moved online. Her stress is that she was interviewing for some nice jobs and the one she really wanted is no longer accepting new positions because of this. They told her they'd call after things return to normal. She's scared she won't get another, but something looks possible.
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Post by robeiae on Mar 20, 2020 9:06:22 GMT -5
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Post by prozyan on Mar 20, 2020 11:39:54 GMT -5
From today's press conference:
"What would you say to the nation to reassure those who are in fear?"
"I'd tell them you are a terrible reporter."
Sigh.
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Post by robeiae on Mar 20, 2020 13:39:50 GMT -5
I laughed.
Trump is awful at this stuff; he's got zero compassion and a (severely) limited ability to understand how he should act in moments like this. But it was a pointless question, and an idiotic one at that, given that every member of the WH press corps is fully aware of Trump's limitations.
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Post by Optimus on Mar 21, 2020 16:30:11 GMT -5
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Post by robeiae on Mar 22, 2020 8:40:28 GMT -5
That really is some top-of-the-line narcissism on display. They're worried to death about the postponement of these surgeries, but are unconcerned with the risk and accompanying stress that medical professionals are now undergoing. The human thing to do here would be to request a postponement. Ditto for others awaiting surgery that isn't truly critical. Also, there's this bit from the Vice article: Sorry to harp on this, but it's the kind of thing that really winds me up, as it shows yet again the deep lack of understanding on the difference between healthcare and health insurance. While I realize that health insurance companies can be--and usually are--major league dicks, when it comes to getting approval for various procedure sand treatments, the fact of the matte is that health insurance IS NOT some sort of discount program. This expectation that one can simply get health insurance and then not have to pay for procedures that cost waaaaaaay more than years of premiums is one of the things that has undermined the system for decades.
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Post by Optimus on Mar 22, 2020 10:38:52 GMT -5
"I want this but don't want to pay for it and if you don't pay for it for me then that means you're trying to kill me."
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Post by Vince524 on Mar 22, 2020 11:32:20 GMT -5
I swear I thought you said Vince not Vice at first.
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Post by robeiae on Mar 22, 2020 19:20:18 GMT -5
So did I.
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Post by celawson on Mar 25, 2020 11:48:49 GMT -5
I know I didn't leave on the best of terms with some of you here, but in light of this pandemic, I just wanted to tell you ALL that I hope you stay safe and healthy during this crisis. Especially Cass who is in a tough location right now. Please do whatever you all can to social distance and practice germophobe hygiene. My family is OK so far, but my husband and I have to continue to see patients, and though we are not front line (yet), there's just no way of knowing which patient might be asymptomatically shedding the virus. So everyday, we come home and immediately drop our clothes into the washing machine, leave shoes outside, etc. My 17 yo daughter is with us, and I've been showing her how to manage things around the house if things go bad. Got all our paperwork/accounts including estate trust together in one place for them. My fear is that if both my husband and I end up sick/dead, my poor 17yo won't be able to go to any relatives home for at least the close contact quarantine period. She will be by herself managing a home and taking care of the dog. Older daughter is staying in Oregon in her apartment with her boyfriend whose family all live in the Netherlands. Boyfriend has an autoimmune condition, so even though they could come live with us (final semester is all online and campus closed), they are afraid to because of my and husband's work. I so wish we could hunker down and venture out only for occasional shopping. A couple of things for you all to consider: Yes the surgeon general keeps saying don't wear masks. I think the main reason is to save PPE, which is in terrible shortage, for health care workers. But please consider, in this time of boredom at home, making your own and wearing it when you go out to the store etc.. The thinking is that illness severity probably depends, at least in part, on the initial viral load you're exposed to. That's why we are thinking front line health care workers are getting pretty sick - they are exposed to the virus in higher concentration and for longer periods (as well as being stressed and exhausted). Masks are easy to make at home. There are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube. Cambridge University did a recent study looking at various materials in terms of blocking tiny particles (similar in size to the novel coronavirus), and found that dishtowels block 73% of particles, and cotton BLEND blocks 70%. To me, it's worth it. Just remember to wash the mask in soapy water after use and dry completely before wearing again. Here's the study: smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/ I'm not sure how this can hurt, and it might help.
Eat well, hydrate, and get rest! Please take care of yourselves. And pray for a vaccine.
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Post by Vince524 on Mar 25, 2020 16:47:01 GMT -5
Hey CE,
I didn't realize you'd left. Hope it wasn't anything I've said. You take care too. If you're not going to be here, find me on twitter or someplace. Vince524
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Post by michaelw on Apr 4, 2020 20:32:30 GMT -5
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