Poll
Question:
How is your employment been affected by Covid-19
Option 1: I'm "essential" - I still have to go to work
votes: 18
Option 2: I'm working remotely from home
votes: 49
Option 3: I've been laid off
votes: 9
Option 4: I wasn't employed to begin with
votes: 6
Just wondering how everyone is making out these days, and thought I'd pollify it.
I am a freelancer so I technically haven't been laid off, but all my gigs have been suspended/cancelled.
They've cancelled a lot of court appointments, but I still need to go to court. I can work remotely when not in court.
I'm essential...lol.
But I'm only going to the office once or twice a week. I do plan on scaling that down. WE'll see.
Other. I'm working till Friday, then I join the temporary layoff scheme.
I'm working from home until at least April 20th, though the expectation is May 20th.
Which is a big win since my eldest two children have been laid off (both work in restaurants) so I'm helping them for the foreseeable future.
I run the Receiving and Mail Services at UC Santa Cruz. Both are considered essential. What that means is that my team are essential to maintaining the spread of covid-19 in these times. After a week of banging my head, I have the department on semi-curtailment. That means we receive mail, UPS and Fedex, and freight, but we no longer deliver it. I have instituted means for distancing if packages are picked up, and I am assured we will get more gloves and hand-sanitizer shortly (which I translate to 8-10 weeks).
I figure I will get some sort of nice sympathy card after I catch this, and having long-term bronchial problems after a couple of bouts of uninsured bronchitis in my 20s, I could be a prime test case.
My view - we're screwed.
I am working from home until um...well...the date keeps moving out from me. I think I get to go back into the office on April 13th now.
We'll see.
Oh, and nice fucking way to screw up a poll and have a "Jaron Option"
Quote from: Valmy on March 24, 2020, 05:21:35 PM
I am working from home until um...well...the date keeps moving out from me. I think I get to go back into the office on April 13th now.
We'll see.
Naw man, you have to go back to work by April 6th. The White House called.
Quote from: merithyn on March 24, 2020, 05:20:59 PM
I'm working from home until at least April 20th, though the expectation is May 20th.
Which is a big win since my eldest two children have been laid off (both work in restaurants) so I'm helping them for the foreseeable future.
I hope they take some time to spend with their mom after this :P
Quote from: celedhring on March 24, 2020, 05:22:59 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 24, 2020, 05:21:35 PM
I am working from home until um...well...the date keeps moving out from me. I think I get to go back into the office on April 13th now.
We'll see.
Naw man, you have to go back to work by April 6th. The White House called.
This is Texas. The President has no power here! But seriously this is a decision by the local government.
Quote from: PDH on March 24, 2020, 05:21:17 PM
I run the Receiving and Mail Services at UC Santa Cruz. Both are considered essential. What that means is that my team are essential to maintaining the spread of covid-19 in these times. After a week of banging my head, I have the department on semi-curtailment. That means we receive mail, UPS and Fedex, and freight, but we no longer deliver it. I have instituted means for distancing if packages are picked up, and I am assured we will get more gloves and hand-sanitizer shortly (which I translate to 8-10 weeks).
I figure I will get some sort of nice sympathy card after I catch this, and having long-term bronchial problems after a couple of bouts of uninsured bronchitis in my 20s, I could be a prime test case.
My view - we're screwed.
Yeah I noticed the USPS is still reliably delivering my junk mail every day. I sure hope at least something they are delivering is worth it.
You know how it works though. Fox will start churning out the idea that we need to save America's economy. Trump will be nasty and tie compliance to all sorts of things. Republican governors will overturn the lockdowns, and they will have the support of a sizeable chunk of the population.
Quote from: Valmy on March 24, 2020, 05:23:27 PM
Quote from: merithyn on March 24, 2020, 05:20:59 PM
I'm working from home until at least April 20th, though the expectation is May 20th.
Which is a big win since my eldest two children have been laid off (both work in restaurants) so I'm helping them for the foreseeable future.
I hope they take some time to spend with their mom after this :P
:rolleyes:
That is so not going to happen. If I get sick and end up intubated, they'll spend an hour a month with me for about six months, then forget.
I guess I should be proud that in general they're self-sufficient? :P
Working from home; at our facility here everyone but the lab rats had their badge deactivated (:o). Our factories in New York got special permission to operate at 25% capacity. Almost all our European facilities are completely shut down.
Quote from: Oexmelin on March 24, 2020, 05:27:23 PM
You know how it works though. Fox will start churning out the idea that we need to save America's economy. Trump will be nasty and tie compliance to all sorts of things. Republican governors will overturn the lockdowns, and they will have the support of a sizeable chunk of the population.
We'll see. Our Governor is a bit of an oddball and kind of does his own thing unlike our Lt Gov.
Quote from: merithyn on March 24, 2020, 05:27:34 PM
I guess I should be proud that in general they're self-sufficient? :P
My mum always says she wishes she'd raised me to be less independent and needier :lol:
I'm WFH - as is the entire firm I think.
I don't do litigation much but the courts here are experimenting with video conferencing. Seen some barristers say it's very weird to get a judgment in your favour handed down from the Court of Appeal while you're sat in you living room.
My mom, an ex head surgical nurse who is now 82, retreated up to her ridge 1200 feet above the Coastal Highway in Big Sur back at the end of Feb. She has friends who can bring food up to a stop about halfway to her house - she drives down from there to get it.
As far as I know she has not had any contact in well over a month. Face to face contact. I do get 300 emails a day and 14000 whatsapp messages, but that is okay.
Quote from: PDH on March 24, 2020, 05:40:46 PM
As far as I know she has not had any contact in well over a month. Face to face contact. I do get 300 emails a day and 14000 whatsapp messages, but that is okay.
:wub:
Your mom sounds amazing.
Quote from: PDH on March 24, 2020, 05:40:46 PM
My mom, an ex head surgical nurse who is now 82, retreated up to her ridge 1200 feet above the Coastal Highway in Big Sur back at the end of Feb. She has friends who can bring food up to a stop about halfway to her house - she drives down from there to get it.
As far as I know she has not had any contact in well over a month. Face to face contact. I do get 300 emails a day and 14000 whatsapp messages, but that is okay.
:lol:
After two days of lockdown I got a message from my mum: "the real risk for your dad isn't coronavirus. It's me with a pillow"
So I assume it's going well.
Quote from: PDH on March 24, 2020, 05:40:46 PM
My mom, an ex head surgical nurse who is now 82, retreated up to her ridge 1200 feet above the Coastal Highway in Big Sur back at the end of Feb. She has friends who can bring food up to a stop about halfway to her house - she drives down from there to get it.
As far as I know she has not had any contact in well over a month. Face to face contact. I do get 300 emails a day and 14000 whatsapp messages, but that is okay.
Resourceful far-sighted lady. :cool:
She need to be bringing you into the world. :P
I started working from home last Wednesday. My work is basically the same working remote as it was in the office, except the coffee sucks here and my chair is an uncomfortable piece of IKEA crap. My boss said I could stop by the office and bring home my office chair, but I don't think I could fit it easily into my car and it would be a pain to bring it home and eventually bring it back. Our office is still technically open and there's one or two people working there instead of from home.
Caffe Ladro has free shipping on two bags of coffee and Raven's Brew is offering free shipping period, so I will soon solve my coffee problem.
My work is hardly important, yet I can work at home and collect a paycheck with minimal health risk. It's bullshit.
PDH, I have several extra bottles of hand sanitizer. If you want some, let me know and I'll send you some. It's only 62% alcohol, but probably better than nothing.
Essential and not in quotes. I work in a homeless shelter established by the patrician Massey family. Walking to work daily. I just got an extension and increase in hours. We've had staffing issues because of fear and illness, so we had six temps in the kitchen today. They are all good to great.
Happy I am not working at home. Very Happy. Bindir Dundat.
I will be working from home until I have somewhere to send my kids to. Right now, that is not until may.
Quote from: saskganesh on March 24, 2020, 07:24:39 PM
Essential and not in quotes. I work in a homeless shelter established by the patrician Massey family. Walking to work daily. I just got an extension and increase in hours. We've had staffing issues because of fear and illness, so we had six temps in the kitchen today. They are all good to great.
Happy I am not working at home. Very Happy. Bindir Dundat.
:cool:
Good on you Sasks, keep up the good work.
I used to work with the homeless, at times challenging, but I can't imagine the extra pressure the virus is putting on peoples situations and on those helping them.
Quote from: PDH on March 24, 2020, 05:40:46 PM
My mom, an ex head surgical nurse who is now 82, retreated up to her ridge 1200 feet above the Coastal Highway in Big Sur back at the end of Feb. She has friends who can bring food up to a stop about halfway to her house - she drives down from there to get it.
As far as I know she has not had any contact in well over a month. Face to face contact. I do get 300 emails a day and 14000 whatsapp messages, but that is okay.
I like the sound of your mom a lot. Is there any way we can put her in charge?
My mums a retired nurse as well. :)
Quote from: fromtia on March 24, 2020, 07:34:59 PM
I like the sound of your mom a lot. Is there any way we can put her in charge?
My mums a retired nurse as well. :)
Mom doesn't pull too many punches. When I told her a couple of weeks ago that any visits for the near future were out she told me, "good, I was pretty sure you weren't dumb enough to do that."
She actually figures she may well get it, but she wants to get it after the curve is dropping and the hospital system is more back to normal.
Quote from: PDH on March 24, 2020, 07:48:34 PM
Quote from: fromtia on March 24, 2020, 07:34:59 PM
I like the sound of your mom a lot. Is there any way we can put her in charge?
My mums a retired nurse as well. :)
Mom doesn't pull too many punches. When I told her a couple of weeks ago that any visits for the near future were out she told me, "good, I was pretty sure you weren't dumb enough to do that."
She actually figures she may well get it, but she wants to get it after the curve is dropping and the hospital system is more back to normal.
Yes that's the sort of cool, logical calculation a lot of people need to be making.
I'm fairly sure most of us here on Languish will get it, eventually.
My employer makes me go to the office once a week just because. Otherwise I work from home the other 4 days. I'm still luckier than most.
Well, I was an essential worker til a few days ago :sleep:
I expect my boss is counting the days til I can come back to work, as she has to cover my shifts in the meantime.
Oh, and since she started working in the lab for the first time in years, we now have plexiglass everywhere and a security guard up front screening people and forcing purell before entering the store.
Imagine that. :rolleyes: Can't wait to quit that place.
Quote from: Zoupa on March 24, 2020, 11:06:13 PM
Well, I was an essential worker til a few days ago :sleep:
I expect my boss is counting the days til I can come back to work, as she has to cover my shifts in the meantime.
Oh, and since she started working in the lab for the first time in years, we now have plexiglass everywhere and a security guard up front screening people and forcing purell before entering the store.
Imagine that. :rolleyes: Can't wait to quit that place.
Yeah, she might as well have printed out a big sign saying "Only looking after No.1"
That's rotten.
BTW Zoupa, how is one declared cured and no longer contagious, do you know?
Essential
Essential. The trains must run.
Quote from: Liep on March 24, 2020, 11:37:57 PM
Essential. The trains must run.
:thumbsup:
Indeed.
Quote from: 11B4V on March 24, 2020, 11:33:03 PM
Essential
Don't you miss the abuse your post would of rightly gotten in the past, from Shsh your know who. :P
I worked from home, but now my employer has shut down its European operations including administration for two weeks, so I only dial in once a day for an hour to check on production issues and to assign work to my Indian colleagues.
No option for nothing has changed, business as usual and still going to work normally.
Job ended Sunday, traversing back to Alaska through the socialist hellhole known as Canada as we speak.
Wondering when work will start up again as pretty much all tv/film is on hold.
Working from home, full speed ahead. At least till Easter, though probably longer.
Quote from: Zoupa on March 24, 2020, 11:06:13 PM
Well, I was an essential worker til a few days ago :sleep:
I expect my boss is counting the days til I can come back to work, as she has to cover my shifts in the meantime.
Oh, and since she started working in the lab for the first time in years, we now have plexiglass everywhere and a security guard up front screening people and forcing purell before entering the store.
Imagine that. :rolleyes: Can't wait to quit that place.
Oh wow.
How are you doing, Zoupa?
I am working from home until further notice like the rest of my company group's offices. Expectation is around three months.
Working from home except when dad calls me up to run the odd print job. It's actually around this time I take off for holiday anyway. Except now I work while only wearing pants half the time and devise ingenious ways to keep my guys from strangling each other. Yeah and I started reading Thucydides last night. :mellow:
Non-essential, working from home. Officially due to last until after Easter and if the numbers keep reasonable, I suspect they will try to open up some schools or work places again.
I quit my job last week, as I have accepted a bigger job elsewhere, which is really awkward in terms of timing, but it all seems to be working out well enough.
Easyish to WFH for me.
Though was meant to be in the midst of a move so getting started has been hard, my whole room is a mess. In this small flat too its not really possible to work when the girlfriend is home too.
Which will make things even harder from tomorrow.
She is working at a school so has been going to work so far, they've got a lot fewer kids though so are on a rota, she took the first shift.
Quote from: Legbiter on March 25, 2020, 04:00:02 AM
Yeah and I started reading Thucydides last night. :mellow:
There are worse ways to pass the time.
Quote from: saskganesh on March 24, 2020, 07:24:39 PM
Essential and not in quotes. I work in a homeless shelter established by the patrician Massey family. Walking to work daily. I just got an extension and increase in hours. We've had staffing issues because of fear and illness, so we had six temps in the kitchen today. They are all good to great.
Happy I am not working at home. Very Happy. Bindir Dundat.
You're a good man, Sask, and not in quotes.
Already worked from home (I've been in to the Office once in the last four months anyway.)
So, working from home waiting to see if the company is going to shut down for a while.
Working from home. All the ghastliness of the pandemic aside, it's very pleasant really.
Quote from: celedhring on March 24, 2020, 04:58:53 PM
I am a freelancer so I technically haven't been laid off, but all my gigs have been suspended/cancelled.
Same-ish. Most of what I was doing has been put on hold or advances at a snail's pace, so I'm using this time to do some training courses.
Quote from: The Larch on March 25, 2020, 06:25:28 AM
Quote from: celedhring on March 24, 2020, 04:58:53 PM
I am a freelancer so I technically haven't been laid off, but all my gigs have been suspended/cancelled.
Same-ish. Most of what I was doing has been put on hold or advances at a snail's pace, so I'm using this time to do some training courses.
Freelancer and/or short-term jobs, on hold for now given the situation. Helping my mom now and some elderly person who cannot go out alone in normal times, let alone now.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on March 25, 2020, 06:38:31 AM
Freelancer and/or short-term jobs, on hold for now given the situation. Helping my mom now and some elderly person who cannot go out alone in normal times, let alone now.
Good on you Duque.
Wife and I are both considered essential but are both working from home. I've been doing the WFH thing for years, though.
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 24, 2020, 05:40:14 PM
Quote from: merithyn on March 24, 2020, 05:27:34 PM
I guess I should be proud that in general they're self-sufficient? :P
My mum always says she wishes she'd raised me to be less independent and needier :lol:
I'm WFH - as is the entire firm I think.
I don't do litigation much but the courts here are experimenting with video conferencing. Seen some barristers say it's very weird to get a judgment in your favour handed down from the Court of Appeal while you're sat in you living room.
Which firm/speciality did you land with Shelf?
I'm a partner in a small, quite new specialist planning firm of solicitors (10 partners 20 others). We shut down last Monday within an hour of Boris made his announcement, so a week an a half in.
It's been going OK so far but cash flow and future business is a constant worry. The business was flying before this but we've had to suspend partner profit distributions, pay rises, recruitment and bonuses for now. Staff have been very understanding.
Quote from: Gups on March 25, 2020, 11:17:28 AM
Which firm/speciality did you land with Shelf?
Information/IT - mainly data and cybersecurity lately.
So far it's still going but very much dependent on the client sector/business.
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2020, 11:33:23 AM
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
They might have been more effective back then. No Schengen/EU politics, no scruples about acting "paranoid/racist" early, no spreadsheet wizardry to give a false sense of control. Effective control measures that have worked since the medieval age. A much more decentralized patchwork with internal firebreaks on movement. All the pharmaceutical/PPE industry not stuck offshore, etc, etc.
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2020, 11:33:23 AM
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
I don't even now how you'd be able to order books/VHS from the shops after lockdown :o :blink:
Quote from: Legbiter on March 25, 2020, 11:49:54 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2020, 11:33:23 AM
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
They might have been more effective back then. No Schengen/EU politics, no scruples about acting "paranoid/racist" early, no spreadsheet wizardry to give a false sense of control. Effective control measures that have worked since the medieval age. A much more decentralized patchwork with internal firebreaks on movement. All the pharmaceutical/PPE industry not stuck offshore, etc, etc.
And more people going mental at home with limited entertainment. :P
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2020, 11:33:23 AM
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
I was told by Polish friends that one of the side effects of the martial law of the early 80s in Poland was a massive baby boom in the following years. :P
Quote from: bogh on March 25, 2020, 04:33:43 AM
Non-essential, working from home. Officially due to last until after Easter and if the numbers keep reasonable, I suspect they will try to open up some schools or work places again.
I quit my job last week, as I have accepted a bigger job elsewhere, which is really awkward in terms of timing, but it all seems to be working out well enough.
We just hired a new person for our team. She starts April 6, and will be fully on-boarded remotely. I'm supposed to be pulling together the stuff to train her, and honestly, I'm not even sure what that should look like. It's really hard to do remotely. :blink:
Working remote from home. Everything is essentially the same for me, except I'm on a lot of conference calls I can barely hear now and that people can't get on due to so many busy signals. :)
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 12:53:40 PM
Quote from: bogh on March 25, 2020, 04:33:43 AM
Non-essential, working from home. Officially due to last until after Easter and if the numbers keep reasonable, I suspect they will try to open up some schools or work places again.
I quit my job last week, as I have accepted a bigger job elsewhere, which is really awkward in terms of timing, but it all seems to be working out well enough.
We just hired a new person for our team. She starts April 6, and will be fully on-boarded remotely. I'm supposed to be pulling together the stuff to train her, and honestly, I'm not even sure what that should look like. It's really hard to do remotely. :blink:
:lol:
Yeah I've been working with a couple of colleagues who started this week. Did their IT training/induction remotely - I imagine it's really weird for them.
I work in wholesale and retail, so I closed shop and am working from home at keeping ties with some clients. And I'm working as social media manager of my company.
L.
Quote from: The Larch on March 25, 2020, 12:12:50 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2020, 11:33:23 AM
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
I was told by Polish friends that one of the side effects of the martial law of the early 80s in Poland was a massive baby boom in the following years. :P
I was going to say...either a lot more domestic violence or a lot more sex.
Or probably both.
Thankfully radiology is amenable to work from home, unlikely most other subspecialties. I have a full workstation but we still trade off working on site in our hospitals about 2 out of 7 days of the week.
Once shit hits the fan like in NYC I won't be suprised if they ask for volunteers to become frontline doctors in COVID-19 wards. If they're desperate enough to ask for a radiologist help I'll of course say yes, but it's been over 5 years since I've done general internal medicine. Better than nothing, I guess. :ph34r:
Quote from: Fate on March 25, 2020, 01:03:30 PMOnce shit hits the fan like in NYC I won't be suprised if they ask for volunteers to become frontline doctors in COVID-19 wards. If theyr'e desperate enough to ask for a radiologist help I'll of course say yes, but it's been over 5 years since I've done general internal medicine. :ph34r:
You'll get plenty of practice.
Quote from: Syt on March 25, 2020, 11:33:23 AM
Btw, can I just add that I shudder to think how this whole lockdown would have looked 30 years ago, in the days before widespread internet? :P
At least Eastern Germany would have had a lot of trained personnel on shutting down borders tightly. :P
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
After a few attempts I found flour for my wife. She was happy, but now wants bread flour. No trace of that stuff anywhere.
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 02:19:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
After a few attempts I found flour for my wife. She was happy, but now wants bread flour. No trace of that stuff anywhere.
I cant find flour or yeast anywhere. :(
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 02:19:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
After a few attempts I found flour for my wife. She was happy, but now wants bread flour. No trace of that stuff anywhere.
Holy shit man! I have missed you :hug:
Yeah it is crazy I think about WWII films where people are scrambling to find shit on the black market.
(https://war-documentary.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/3s.jpg)
I hear you gentlemen might know where I can find some flour...
Quote from: mongers on March 24, 2020, 11:44:35 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on March 24, 2020, 11:33:03 PM
Essential
Don't you miss the abuse your post would of rightly gotten in the past, from Shsh your know who. :P
(https://i.redd.it/72buzjyf0jo41.jpg)
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 12:53:40 PM
Quote from: bogh on March 25, 2020, 04:33:43 AM
Non-essential, working from home. Officially due to last until after Easter and if the numbers keep reasonable, I suspect they will try to open up some schools or work places again.
I quit my job last week, as I have accepted a bigger job elsewhere, which is really awkward in terms of timing, but it all seems to be working out well enough.
We just hired a new person for our team. She starts April 6, and will be fully on-boarded remotely. I'm supposed to be pulling together the stuff to train her, and honestly, I'm not even sure what that should look like. It's really hard to do remotely. :blink:
In the last 12 months we've brought on 3 companies that I had to train remotely. Three main areas; accounting, dispatch, and techs (service mechanics on the road). Its a pain, but you kind of get used to training over the phone and screen share.
Last one I was sent to north battleford Saskatchewan for 4 whole days to start some of the training, then finished it off remotely.
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 02:24:22 PM
Holy shit man! I have missed you :hug:
:hug:
QuoteYeah it is crazy I think about WWII films where people are scrambling to find shit on the black market.
For sure. I mean, it's limited to some weird items but yeah.
Btw, are Languishites all okay so far? I've browsed the forum lightly and haven't heard anyone mentioned as a concern, other than out of understandable caution. Hopefully it stays that way.
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 03:23:42 PM
Btw, are Languishites all okay so far? I've browsed the forum lightly and haven't heard anyone mentioned as a concern, other than out of understandable caution. Hopefully it stays that way.
Zoupa tested positive. Been posting daily since then.
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 03:23:42 PM
Btw, are Languishites all okay so far? I've browsed the forum lightly and haven't heard anyone mentioned as a concern, other than out of understandable caution. Hopefully it stays that way.
Zoupa has it. He's fine so far.
Close but no cigar Frenchy
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 03:23:42 PM
Btw, are Languishites all okay so far? I've browsed the forum lightly and haven't heard anyone mentioned as a concern, other than out of understandable caution. Hopefully it stays that way.
Over here there's no way to tell if you have it unless you are sick enough to warrant admission. And in the current circumstances that means you have to suffer a bad case of pneumonia.
Get well Zoups :(
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 12:53:40 PM
Quote from: bogh on March 25, 2020, 04:33:43 AM
Non-essential, working from home. Officially due to last until after Easter and if the numbers keep reasonable, I suspect they will try to open up some schools or work places again.
I quit my job last week, as I have accepted a bigger job elsewhere, which is really awkward in terms of timing, but it all seems to be working out well enough.
We just hired a new person for our team. She starts April 6, and will be fully on-boarded remotely. I'm supposed to be pulling together the stuff to train her, and honestly, I'm not even sure what that should look like. It's really hard to do remotely. :blink:
We were supposed to hire someone this week, but I convinced my boss to delay it.
I know quite a few people meant to be switching jobs about now. Tis the season even here.
Consider then Japan where the school year begins and proper hiring season is in April.
Quote from: Fate on March 25, 2020, 01:03:30 PM
Thankfully radiology is amenable to work from home, unlikely most other subspecialties. I have a full workstation but we still trade off working on site in our hospitals about 2 out of 7 days of the week.
Once shit hits the fan like in NYC I won't be suprised if they ask for volunteers to become frontline doctors in COVID-19 wards. If they're desperate enough to ask for a radiologist help I'll of course say yes, but it's been over 5 years since I've done general internal medicine. Better than nothing, I guess. :ph34r:
Good on you Fate if push comes to shove, but do insist on proper PPE, which seems to be a disaster over here in so many places.
Quote from: fromtia on March 25, 2020, 02:21:07 PM
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 02:19:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
After a few attempts I found flour for my wife. She was happy, but now wants bread flour. No trace of that stuff anywhere.
I cant find flour or yeast anywhere. :(
You guys don't have this already in the house? :blink:
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 08:02:06 PM
Quote from: fromtia on March 25, 2020, 02:21:07 PM
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 02:19:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
After a few attempts I found flour for my wife. She was happy, but now wants bread flour. No trace of that stuff anywhere.
I cant find flour or yeast anywhere. :(
You guys don't have this already in the house? :blink:
Yes odd isn't Meri. :hmm:
Though not as odd as the people I know who bought bread flour but forgot to buy yeast.:rolleyes:
Quote from: mongers on March 25, 2020, 08:39:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 08:02:06 PM
You guys don't have this already in the house? :blink:
Yes odd isn't Meri. :hmm:
Though not as odd as the people I know who bought bread flour but forgot to buy yeast.:rolleyes:
But... why?? Why would you have flour and no yeast?? :blink:
By the way, I'm starting a sourdough starter tonight to make sure my yeast lasts. ^_^
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 09:29:14 PM
Quote from: mongers on March 25, 2020, 08:39:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 08:02:06 PM
You guys don't have this already in the house? :blink:
Yes odd isn't Meri. :hmm:
Though not as odd as the people I know who bought bread flour but forgot to buy yeast.:rolleyes:
But... why?? Why would you have flour and no yeast?? :blink:
By the way, I'm starting a sourdough starter tonight to make sure my yeast lasts. ^_^
Yes that's a very good idea. :thinks:
Quote from: merithyn on March 25, 2020, 08:02:06 PM
Quote from: fromtia on March 25, 2020, 02:21:07 PM
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2020, 02:19:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 25, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
So we have managed to get all the needed goods so far except for flour and dishwasher detergent. I guess people are baking and washing their dishes a lot during this pandemic :hmm:
After a few attempts I found flour for my wife. She was happy, but now wants bread flour. No trace of that stuff anywhere.
I cant find flour or yeast anywhere. :(
You guys don't have this already in the house? :blink:
We just happened to be running low. My wife and the kids made bread and a bunch of cookies shortly after Spring Break started and well...that might be all the baking we will be doing for awhile. It never occured to us that those things would be hard to find :hmm:
Flourjack :mellow:
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Sometimes yeast can be frozen.
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 02:22:45 AM
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Tamas, not seen any in the shop trips I've done the last two weeks and it's one of the few things I'll need in 3 or 4 weeks time.
Went for my weekly supply run.
The 8th District of Vienna where I live is the smallest district, and it has three main roads - Lerchenfelder Straße and Alser Straße which mark its limits South and North, and the Josefstädter Straße, which is a bit smaller but runs ca. through the center, parallel to the other two.
There was hardly any car traffic (very unusual), and due to the reduced schedule I saw only 1 tram which was not even half full. There were people in the streets, but notably fewer than normal, with everyone trying to keep their distance from everyone else.
There were only a few people at the supermarket. Food that keeps was in plenty supply, but some more perishable goods were quite empty, esp. their shelves of convenience food (freshly made salads, sandwiches, wraps etc.), fruits/vegetables and bread. I guess everyone has stocked up with long term supplies and catches up on the fresh stuff now. :D
There's a decent recipe using beer for yeast doing the rounds.
Also consider souring some milk and going Irish to make soda bread - I don't think there's been a rush on bicarb of soda:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/simple-soda-bread
Quote from: Syt on March 26, 2020, 09:41:08 AM
Went for my weekly supply run.
The 8th District of Vienna where I live is the smallest district, and it has three main roads - Lerchenfelder Straße and Alser Straße which mark its limits South and North, and the Josefstädter Straße, which is a bit smaller but runs ca. through the center, parallel to the other two.
There was hardly any car traffic (very unusual), and due to the reduced schedule I saw only 1 tram which was not even half full. There were people in the streets, but notably fewer than normal, with everyone trying to keep their distance from everyone else.
There were only a few people at the supermarket. Food that keeps was in plenty supply, but some more perishable goods were quite empty, esp. their shelves of convenience food (freshly made salads, sandwiches, wraps etc.), fruits/vegetables and bread. I guess everyone has stocked up with long term supplies and catches up on the fresh stuff now. :D
THE FLOUR AND YEAST MAN! WHAT OF THE FLOUR AND YEAST?!?!
I didn't check. :lol:
There was plenty of yeast at the shops over here. Maybe we can barter? Our yeast for your PPEs.
Anyway, I call my parents every day, and my mother keeps insisting I go and spend the rest of the quarantine with them. She's never had any kind of social life outside of her family, and now she's having a torrid time at home.
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 02:22:45 AM
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Mery mentioned it already but here's a link : https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Yeast
Flour and yeast are also mostly gone in German supermarkets, although flour is coming back. Some really strange product categories were sold out when I went shopping yesterday: all trash bags (looked for biodegradable), fresh cooled juices and smoothies (the cheaper stuff was available), natural yoghurt, frozen fish (specifically salmon), my favorite chocolate (Ritter Sport) etc.
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 26, 2020, 10:20:34 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 02:22:45 AM
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Mery mentioned it already but here's a link : https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Yeast
Yeah thanks, but my wife is not only a biochemist but also did a university course (!!!) on bread-making, so she is aware of alternative options. :)
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 10:38:24 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 26, 2020, 10:20:34 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 02:22:45 AM
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Mery mentioned it already but here's a link : https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Yeast
Yeah thanks, but my wife not only a biochemist but also did a university course (!!!) on bread-making, so she is aware of alternative options. :)
Sometimes simple things are hard to do for experts.
Is anyone else getting hypochondria?
This sore throat that has been bothering me on and off for a while...
And...feels cold....
And I had a headache....
Quote from: Tyr on March 26, 2020, 11:13:15 AM
Is anyone else getting hypochondria?
This sort throat that has been bothering me on and off for a while...
And...feels cold....
And I had a headache....
Usually not prone to it, but in the past couple of weeks... maybe a tiny bit. Temperature has been normal the whole time, though.
With my Crohn's I periodically get some flu-like symptoms every now & then, plus I suspect seasonal allergies are creeping in as I get older.
Yeah, I got mildly paranoid when my youngest came down with a cough and mild fever a week ago. -_- He's fine now. We've tested almost a thousand children here and only found a handful of cases. And they had very mild symptoms.
A reliable source.....ahem, has informed me that Pornhub has made premium content free, worldwide.
So if you can't follow your plan to become an expert home baker because of the flour and yeast hoarding, perhaps you could improve your skills in other areas of, er interest.
BBL
My company announced that we will go to a short work scheme for two weeks in April. The state then pays a considerable part of the wages/salaries, but our net income goes to about 80% of our normal net income.
Quote from: Zanza on March 26, 2020, 03:32:55 PM
My company announced that we will go to a short work scheme for two weeks in April. The state then pays a considerable part of the wages/salaries, but our net income goes to about 80% of our normal net income.
We have a similar set up here. Lots of employers are looking to do that so they don't have to lay everyone off.
We received a notice that our pay freeze is being continued into 2021 (now into it's fifth year!).
Thankfully GOA has not laid anyone off, everyone continues to get full pay. Problem is though we've lost a good chunk of income from my wife. My wife does (or did) before and after school care for up to 8 kids. She doesn't charge a ton but it all adds up. Plus we received a stipend for our exchange student, and she just went home today. At first I thought we might earn more if we were looking after a bunch of kids for full days, but wasn't sure what to charge because we didn't want to gouge. But no - with people working from home all the kids are staying home.
I'm not complaining - I know I have it better than many, but it still hurts.
Oh by the way, the price of oil is usually quoted for West Texas or Brent Sea - those are trading at $23 and $29 respectively. A barrel of Western Canada Select is today trading for $9. (Pipelines - the answer is pipelines) Earlier this week I think it was down to $7. Because some companies structurally can't not shut down production for various technical reasons it wouldn't shock me for the price to go briefly negative.
I wonder why Saudi Arabian Light Sweet stopped being used as a benchmark.
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 10:38:24 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 26, 2020, 10:20:34 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 02:22:45 AM
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Mery mentioned it already but here's a link : https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Yeast
Yeah thanks, but my wife is not only a biochemist but also did a university course (!!!) on bread-making, so she is aware of alternative options. :)
Holy shit, went into the Waitrose on the way home this evening and picked* up the holy trinity:
Toilet rolls.
Bread flour.
And yeast. :gasp:
*none of it for me, but a realitve who can't leave the house.
Precious cargo mongers. Very precious.
(https://preview.redd.it/eyb147scppn41.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=19129a2c9313dbceafa0ebe337dc2cd259a72493)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 26, 2020, 04:22:58 PM
I wonder why Saudi Arabian Light Sweet stopped being used as a benchmark.
Maybe it turned into the modern Saudi Arabian Light, which is sour (high sulfur).
And my May on site project just got canceled. :)
My May gig is in wait and see hold. Two provinces and one state and still can't find TP in stores. Getting really tired of drive through food.
Quote from: Zanza on March 26, 2020, 10:31:44 AM
Flour and yeast are also mostly gone in German supermarkets, although flour is coming back. Some really strange product categories were sold out when I went shopping yesterday: all trash bags (looked for biodegradable), fresh cooled juices and smoothies (the cheaper stuff was available), natural yoghurt, frozen fish (specifically salmon), my favorite chocolate (Ritter Sport) etc.
If you can snag a small bit of this, you can make your own yogurt at home with milk and a crockpot. :)
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 10:38:24 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 26, 2020, 10:20:34 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 26, 2020, 02:22:45 AM
Yeah we thought we had ample yeast but they seem to be going dry. Probably need to a shop run just for that as they had none for our click and collect
Mery mentioned it already but here's a link : https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Yeast
Yeah thanks, but my wife is not only a biochemist but also did a university course (!!!) on bread-making, so she is aware of alternative options. :)
:lol:
Well then where the hell are her suggestions??
Report from Santa Cruz.
The flour and yeast are all gone from Safeway.
Quote from: mongers on March 26, 2020, 04:51:47 PM
Holy shit, went into the Waitrose on the way home this evening and picked* up the holy trinity:
Toilet rolls.
Bread flour.
And yeast. :gasp:
*none of it for me, but a realitve who can't leave the house.
:o
Quote from: PDH on March 26, 2020, 09:17:59 PM
Report from Santa Cruz.
The flour and yeast are all gone from Safeway.
Christ.
I nominate this, in all sincerity, as the single weirdest digression in all of Languish history.
It's true though.
I went throw the local Sobey's to get some milk. No cleaning wipes, no flour (there were a couple packages of self-rising flour, but that doesn't exactly count). Forgot to check for yeast though.
Quote from: Barrister on March 26, 2020, 04:19:39 PM
Oh by the way, the price of oil is usually quoted for West Texas or Brent Sea - those are trading at $23 and $29 respectively. A barrel of Western Canada Select is today trading for $9. (Pipelines - the answer is pipelines) Earlier this week I think it was down to $7. Because some companies structurally can't not shut down production for various technical reasons it wouldn't shock me for the price to go briefly negative.
This... THIS is a headline!
Barrel of Monkeys now worth more than a barrel of Alberta oilhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bitumen-wcs-wti-oil-1.5511386 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bitumen-wcs-wti-oil-1.5511386)
Prince Bonesaw wants to use the crisis to destroy as much competition as possible.
Girlfriend is getting super down and angry.
She is off work rather than work from home and it has given her a lot of time to think and panic about her situation. Insisting that as a foreigner no matter what official qualifications she has she will never find a job as a teacher in the UK. :(
Quote from: Tyr on March 27, 2020, 09:28:18 AM
Girlfriend is getting super down and angry.
She is off work rather than work from home and it has given her a lot of time to think and panic about her situation. Insisting that as a foreigner no matter what official qualifications she has she will never find a job as a teacher in the UK. :(
:( I would like to say she has no reason to worry, but she might have. On the other hand, surely this is well regulated in the UK so information should be readily available.
Quote from: Tyr on March 27, 2020, 09:28:18 AM
Girlfriend is getting super down and angry.
She is off work rather than work from home and it has given her a lot of time to think and panic about her situation. Insisting that as a foreigner no matter what official qualifications she has she will never find a job as a teacher in the UK. :(
Oy. That's tough, Tyr. I'm sorry.
:hug:
I have a small bag of self raising flour, but no yeast. I've made a potato soup. The flatbread (no yeast) recipes I can find call for butter or greek yogurt - I have neither, so I'm considering using some oil as a shortening. Not sure how this is going to work out. :ph34r:
Quote from: Barrister on March 26, 2020, 11:20:35 PM
Barrel of Monkeys now worth more than a barrel of Alberta oil
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bitumen-wcs-wti-oil-1.5511386 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bitumen-wcs-wti-oil-1.5511386)
Utterly tangential story.
My grandfather was, shall we say, an embellisher of his own life. A man who liked tall tales. He relished adding colorful details to his life experiences.
He lied a lot, is what I am saying. And he was a lovely man, so we played along, and learned to disregard his most outrageous claims (he did live an eventful life). So, when he complained that he had been swindled by Milton Bradley for inventing Barrel of Monkeys, we rightly dismissed it.
Many years after his passing, I am doing a genealogy for my mother. And since he lived an eventful life, I googled my grandfather. Unbeknownst to me at the time, google also searches in patents. And it turns out that my grandfather had a patent for a toy, which was bought by Milton Bradley when they acquired the "actual" Barrel of Monkeys, so as to make sure there would be no competitor.
I was shocked that, for once, the story had a lot of truth to it. And one of the most outrageous ones, to boot. Everybody in the family had dismissed the claim as one of his usual stories.
I found a lot of stuff like that too when researching my family history.
My mother and uncle always thought my grandmother was a total bullshitter with family history. She used to tell people that one of our ancestors "captured Benedict Arnold", which she told me once and as soon as she was out of earshot, my mother whispered to me "Mother just makes up stories. Never tell anyone that, it's not true."
However, I eventually found we were descendants of a Nicholas Van Wart, whose grandfather I believe to be Isaac Van Wart (though I have not proven it), who was one of the three NY state militiamen who captured John Andre, which led to Benedict Arnold being exposed as a traitor. So, she probably wasn't lying at all. :)
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2020, 12:34:47 PM
I found a lot of stuff like that too when researching my family history.
My mother and uncle always thought my grandmother was a total bullshitter with family history. She used to tell people that one of our ancestors "captured Benedict Arnold", which she told me once and as soon as she was out of earshot, my mother whispered to me "Mother just makes up stories. Never tell anyone that, it's not true."
However, I eventually found we were descendants of a Nicholas Van Wart, whose grandfather I believe to be Isaac Van Wart (though I have not proven it), who was one of the three NY state militiamen who captured John Andre, which led to Benedict Arnold being exposed as a traitor. So, she probably wasn't lying at all. :)
Benedict Arnold was a patriot! :mad:
Quote from: Barrister on March 27, 2020, 12:38:45 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2020, 12:34:47 PM
I found a lot of stuff like that too when researching my family history.
My mother and uncle always thought my grandmother was a total bullshitter with family history. She used to tell people that one of our ancestors "captured Benedict Arnold", which she told me once and as soon as she was out of earshot, my mother whispered to me "Mother just makes up stories. Never tell anyone that, it's not true."
However, I eventually found we were descendants of a Nicholas Van Wart, whose grandfather I believe to be Isaac Van Wart (though I have not proven it), who was one of the three NY state militiamen who captured John Andre, which led to Benedict Arnold being exposed as a traitor. So, she probably wasn't lying at all. :)
Benedict Arnold was a patriot! :mad:
He was a rebel until he got piqued that Washington was promoted over him.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 27, 2020, 12:41:57 PM
Quote from: Barrister on March 27, 2020, 12:38:45 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 27, 2020, 12:34:47 PM
I found a lot of stuff like that too when researching my family history.
My mother and uncle always thought my grandmother was a total bullshitter with family history. She used to tell people that one of our ancestors "captured Benedict Arnold", which she told me once and as soon as she was out of earshot, my mother whispered to me "Mother just makes up stories. Never tell anyone that, it's not true."
However, I eventually found we were descendants of a Nicholas Van Wart, whose grandfather I believe to be Isaac Van Wart (though I have not proven it), who was one of the three NY state militiamen who captured John Andre, which led to Benedict Arnold being exposed as a traitor. So, she probably wasn't lying at all. :)
Benedict Arnold was a patriot! :mad:
He was a rebel until he got piqued that Washington was promoted over him.
And a pretty good one...he almost made it so that BB could have been a U.S. American. :P
Honestly I would have preferred that we lost the revolution. :ph34r:
*hums God Save The Queen*
Oh, and maybe that way I could be a Sir instead of (or in addition to! :cool: ) a Colonel.
Great....then we'd have Governer-General Trump.
Not if they were still appointed by the Crown. BB would probably prefer that anyway.
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 27, 2020, 12:59:25 PM
Great....then we'd have Governer-General Trump.
At least he would have no power then :lol:
It seems incredibly unlikely he would have been make PM by an American Parliament but then the UK did put Boris Johnson in that position...
Just bought some cinema tickets for next week ... for the drive-in theater. ;) We'll watch The Joker in the social isolation of our car.
I'm surprised drive ins still exist.
There is one in the metro area. Never been there before.
Edit: Seem to be about 10-20 In Germany.
Just been to shops and was basically able to get everything.
Still weird shortage of flour, eggs and hand-wash but otherwise fine.
Should be able, in the next week, to move entirely to delivery services for 90% of stuff so will cut my time going to and being in the shops even more.
I had planned to do my shopping today, but yesterday I remembered that it's a local holiday.
This weekend was supposed to b my hometown's largest local festival.
I got my big Costco delivery yesterday and have scheduled a delivery from the local Giant supermarket next week. No flour, but I still have enough for a few days worth of pancakes. Looked like there was plenty of ground beef available.
My local supermarket was fully stocked today. Yogurt, yeast, loo paper, a treasure trove!
Found a flat bread recipe with oil for a shortening and baking soda (of which I have) - worked out tremendously well. Perfect for dipping in potato and bean soup.
Quote from: fromtia on March 28, 2020, 10:25:56 AM
Found a flat bread recipe with oil for a shortening and baking soda (of which I have) - worked out tremendously well. Perfect for dipping in potato and bean soup.
Thanks Formtia, that's good to know, I'll try that.
I went grocery shopping. A endeavour in itself since I hadn't done that in ~5 years(SO handles that in normal times).
It took hours :bleeding:
I've been working from home, like everyone else in our office.
I had no idea what the pandemic would do to my work. As it turns out, I'm busier than ever, for now: given that I do drug and medical device regulatory work, I guess that is no surprise. 😟
In fact, I have more to do than I want. And I thought I would get some drawing done, but I have zero motivation.
For outdoor exercise, I walk in the local cemetery - every once I a while I find something new and interesting.
Quote from: Malthus on March 28, 2020, 04:31:31 PM
For outdoor exercise, I walk in the local cemetery - every once I a while I find something new and interesting.
Fresh piles of earth?
Ventured out into the wasteland for a supply run...
(https://skeptic78240.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/madmaxbeyondthunderdome-01.jpg)
I was a bit surprised that the local Morrisons was actually pretty deserted at around 5pm on a Saturday evening...so I only got to see the SD infrastructure in place, and not the full human effect.
But...I did get my favorite pizza (yes, the best pizza I've found here in the UK is from a grocery store...and it is pretty good!), and some carrot cake. :licklips:
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 28, 2020, 04:58:41 PM
But...I did get my favorite pizza (yes, the best pizza I've found here in the UK is from a grocery store...and it is pretty good!), and some carrot cake. :licklips:
As long as it wasn't from a gas station. That would be a no no.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 28, 2020, 04:48:57 PM
Quote from: Malthus on March 28, 2020, 04:31:31 PM
For outdoor exercise, I walk in the local cemetery - every once I a while I find something new and interesting.
Fresh piles of earth?
Heh, that would be new, but not very interesting. 😄
I meant new to me.
Example: today I found this headstone:
https://imgur.com/a/97Z4ji2
It marks the grave of "Wally" Flood, the engineer of the Great Escape in WW2.
Depends on what's under them, or no longer under them.
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 28, 2020, 04:58:41 PM
Ventured out into the wasteland for a supply run...
I was a bit surprised that the local Morrisons was actually pretty deserted at around 5pm on a Saturday evening...so I only got to see the SD infrastructure in place, and not the full human effect.
But...I did get my favorite pizza (yes, the best pizza I've found here in the UK is from a grocery store...and it is pretty good!), and some carrot cake. :licklips:
I've only being venturing out after 5.30-6pm, this evening stopped of at Waitrose at 7.15pm and they had quite a lot of provisions, even full milk, but still none of loose tea I like. :bowler:
I get to venture out tomorrow at 7am when the Safeway opens up. Most people in Santa Cruz do not really believe that any time before 10am actually exists on Sundays, so I hope it is like last week and I can find the things I need - like 30,000 rolls of toilet paper, 1 bag of all purpose flour, and some yeast.
Quote from: PDH on March 28, 2020, 06:47:16 PM
I get to venture out tomorrow at 7am when the Safeway opens up. Most people in Santa Cruz does not really believe that any time before 10am actually exists on Sundays, so I hope it is like last week and I can find the things I need - like 30,000 rolls of toilet paper, 1 bag of all purpose flour, and some yeast.
We're attacking the problem and the masses from different ends, but to the same effect. :D
Back home in Anchorage, now have to figure about grocery delivery as not suppose to leave house beyond fresh air.
So my plan worked, 7am in Santa Cruz I felt like Will Smith racing around an empty city (well, town), as I made my way to Safeway. Inside the store shelves were getting the last few item on them, the employees all had a 1000 yard stare - they knew what was coming.
I got trash bags, some fruit, pasta, rice, eggs....and there was FLOUR AND YEAST there.
When I checked there was TP and kleenex there too - likely all are gone by now, but for that glorious moment at 7am everything was like normal. Well, except for the taped lines keeping carts 6 feet apart at the checkout, the clear plexi-glass shields in front of the checkers, and curious lack of canned soup in any way.
Went grocery shopping today. Plenty of flour, toilet paper, paper towels, and yeast (in the jars only, though; no packets).
First time I've left the house since last Sunday's shopping foray except to walk the dog. It's getting.... harder.
Looking ahead to potential trips is helping. Something to hope for is supposed to make all of this easier, right? :unsure:
I'm noticing I'm paying less attention to the news these last few days. It's just too depressing.
Quote from: PDH on March 29, 2020, 03:12:26 PM
I got trash bags, some fruit, pasta, rice, eggs....and there was FLOUR AND YEAST there.
Im so cold.....and the light is fading....tell me the story one last time of the flour and yeast...
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2020, 04:13:34 PM
I'm noticing I'm paying less attention to the news these last few days. It's just too depressing.
Probably a wise move.
Did anyone else get ill earlier in the year?
There is a lot of muttering that loads were sick a few months back and combined with the alternative model... I do wonder whether I had it. Whatever it was absolutely kicked my mams arse and left me out of breath with simple light exercise.
Still assuming that was something completely different and acting as thought I've never had it of course. But the talk of this earlier spread is growing.
Quote from: Tyr on March 29, 2020, 04:56:12 PM
Did anyone else get ill earlier in the year?
There is a lot of muttering that loads were sick a few months back and combined with the alternative model... I do wonder whether I had it. Whatever it was absolutely kicked my mams arse and left me out of breath with simple light exercise.
Still assuming that was something completely different and acting as thought I've never had it of course. But the talk of this earlier spread is growing.
I felt lousy most of January and February. Drained, slept all the time.
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2020, 04:13:34 PM
I'm noticing I'm paying less attention to the news these last few days. It's just too depressing.
Me too, I think it's much better for my sanity.
Quote from: Tyr on March 29, 2020, 04:56:12 PM
Did anyone else get ill earlier in the year?
I did, the first weekend in March. I mentioned it earlier in one of the COVID-19 threads. I thought it was gastroenteritis at the time, but I did have a high fever, chills, and aches. :hmm:
I've decided to limit myself pre-picked boxes like: "essential fruit and veg", "dairy and essentials", "toiletry essentials" etc.
I know I am an impulsive shopper when I go to a supermarket. But nothing really brings it home like an impulsive delivery you wait two weeks for :Embarrass: :blush:
If I need anything that other people haven't considered "essential", then I will go to the shop. I will not take up any more space in the delivery system with my unrestrained nonsense :(
Quote from: Tyr on March 29, 2020, 04:56:12 PM
Did anyone else get ill earlier in the year?
There is a lot of muttering that loads were sick a few months back and combined with the alternative model... I do wonder whether I had it. Whatever it was absolutely kicked my mams arse and left me out of breath with simple light exercise.
Still assuming that was something completely different and acting as thought I've never had it of course. But the talk of this earlier spread is growing.
Tyr, I think this and other similar stories doing the rounds is really wishful thinking rather than anything substantial.
Remember the outbreak in China was spotted by the hospital doctor seeing eight patients with the odd symptoms, he shared this info with other doctors, some of whom were seeing it (?) but then got into trouble with the authorities.
If the disease was in Western countries in January/February, I guarantee you the doctors working in a 'transparent' system would have shared the information with colleagues and the story would have gotten out then.
Though perhaps then it would now be know as the Tyneside, Ohio or Kentucky virus?
Flu season was also fairly bad this year.
They tested several such cases in Germany for antibodies and couldn't find a trace of the virus before late January/early February anywhere in Europe.
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
Quote from: mongers on March 29, 2020, 05:47:40 PM
[
Tyr, I think this and other similar stories doing the rounds is really wishful thinking rather than anything substantial.
Remember the outbreak in China was spotted by the hospital doctor seeing eight patients with the odd symptoms, he shared this info with other doctors, some of whom were seeing it (?) but then got into trouble with the authorities.
If the disease was in Western countries in January/February, I guarantee you the doctors working in a 'transparent' system would have shared the information with colleagues and the story would have gotten out then.
Though perhaps then it would now be know as the Tyneside, Ohio or Kentucky virus?
Probably. We will see when testing becomes widespread.
The whole Oxford / imperial model debate is interesting. Though it does have a bit of a whiff around it with those who would rather we just let people die and close down the nhs.
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
A colleague and his wife have started making sour dough from apples, flour, and water. A week or so to go until they can make bread from it. His wife is an archaeologist, specialized in the neolithic period, so this is kind of working from home for her (that and cataloging boxes of pottery shards). :D
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
I first read it as phallus doll, and had to do a double take. :blush:
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
It's one of those things that possibly could go into the incest and square dancing category.
How do incest and square dancing go together?
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 30, 2020, 09:34:27 AM
How do incest and square dancing go together?
Eddie ever heard of google? :unsure:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=NRSCXsiaFtDYaJeKhqAL&q=incest+and+square+dancing&oq=incest+and+square+dancing&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDFD6rwJY-q8CYKvAAmgAcAB4AIABYYgBYZIBATGYAQCgAQKgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiIie3GxcLoAhVQLBoKHReFAbQQ4dUDCAw (https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=NRSCXsiaFtDYaJeKhqAL&q=incest+and+square+dancing&oq=incest+and+square+dancing&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDFD6rwJY-q8CYKvAAmgAcAB4AIABYYgBYZIBATGYAQCgAQKgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiIie3GxcLoAhVQLBoKHReFAbQQ4dUDCAw)
I don't make a point of googling random combinations of words in the expectation they'll make a reference of some sort.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 30, 2020, 10:56:19 AM
I don't make a point of googling random combinations of words in the expectation they'll make a reference of some sort.
I think it's best if I stop replying to your comments on my posts.
Quote from: mongers on March 30, 2020, 08:22:12 AM
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
It's one of those things that possibly could go into the incest and square dancing category.
What does "making phylo pastry from scratch" belong in the same category as incest and square dancing?
Making phyllo - sounds like fun, probably a hell of a lot of work.
Incest - eww
Square dancing - something dorky but I bet you would have fun with the right group
On square dancing, I've never done it, but Mrs B and I went to a number of these "Jane Austen-type" Balls, wheere you get dressed up in period costumes and do English Country Dancing, a close cousin to square dancing. It was fun.
Quote from: Barrister on March 30, 2020, 11:57:14 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 30, 2020, 08:22:12 AM
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
It's one of those things that possibly could go into the incest and square dancing category.
What does "making phylo pastry from scratch" belong in the same category as incest and square dancing?
Making phyllo - sounds like fun, probably a hell of a lot of work.
Incest - eww
Square dancing - something dorky but I bet you would have fun with the right group
On square dancing, I've never done it, but Mrs B and I went to a number of these "Jane Austen-type" Balls, wheere you get dressed up in period costumes and do English Country Dancing, a close cousin to square dancing. It was fun.
See both of my above posts. :rolleyes:
Making filo pastry at home is not ever worth it.
It's up there with making croissants as someting I thought would be fun but then realised I'm perfectly happy for other people to do for me :lol:
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 30, 2020, 10:56:19 AM
I don't make a point of googling random combinations of words in the expectation they'll make a reference of some sort.
After another week of corn teen you will. Oh yes you will.
Quote from: Barrister on March 30, 2020, 11:57:14 AM
On square dancing, I've never done it, but Mrs B and I went to a number of these "Jane Austen-type" Balls, wheere you get dressed up in period costumes and do English Country Dancing, a close cousin to square dancing. It was fun.
English country dancing was a mandatory activity at my elementary (primary) school in the UK in the 1970's. It was not fun. The Durham Reel in particular has left scars.
I had a moment yesterday when I wondered how long it's going to be before I get to sit on an aeroplane again.
Quote from: fromtia on March 30, 2020, 12:08:26 PM
Quote from: Barrister on March 30, 2020, 11:57:14 AM
On square dancing, I've never done it, but Mrs B and I went to a number of these "Jane Austen-type" Balls, wheere you get dressed up in period costumes and do English Country Dancing, a close cousin to square dancing. It was fun.
English country dancing was a mandatory activity at my elementary (primary) school in the UK in the 1970's. It was not fun. The Durham Reel in particular has left scars.
And I'm telling you that if you're not being forced to do it, do it in a fancy ballroom, with people in fancy costumes, and with live music, it's lots of fun.
I don't remember doing The Durham Reel. In fact the only name I can remember of one of the dances was Mr. Beveriges Maggot!
Quote from: fromtia on March 30, 2020, 12:12:05 PM
I had a moment yesterday when I wondered how long it's going to be before I get to sit on an aeroplane again.
Some of us might be ahead of you, that is when they convert static aircraft to emergency overspill housing/hospital beds. :D
My brother is a surgeon in a hospital in Bavaria. He was now moved to the Covid-19 task force to support. After having the last week off as he was assigned to Team B, he had his first day in the Covid-19 suspected cases unit of his hospital today. There were 11 doctors for 9 suspected cases, so he could go home after two hours.
Quote from: Barrister on March 30, 2020, 11:57:14 AM
Incest - eww
What if it's your step-cousin? Or your sister-in-law? :hmm:
@ Mongers, I am afraid to say we have reached the point that many will not understand what we had thought were general cultural references.
Quote from: Syt on March 30, 2020, 02:19:12 AM
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
A colleague and his wife have started making sour dough from apples, flour, and water. A week or so to go until they can make bread from it. His wife is an archaeologist, specialized in the neolithic period, so this is kind of working from home for her (that and cataloging boxes of pottery shards). :D
Oh, that sounds intriguing! And makes sense, since apples carry a ton of wild yeasts. I'm curious to know how that turns out. :)
Quote from: DGuller on March 30, 2020, 07:46:26 AM
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
I first read it as phallus doll, and had to do a double take. :blush:
:lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 30, 2020, 12:02:44 PM
Making filo pastry at home is not ever worth it.
It's up there with making croissants as someting I thought would be fun but then realised I'm perfectly happy for other people to do for me :lol:
Right??
She and I were like, "WE'RE GONNA DO THE THING!!" And we did the thing and now we're both like, "So.... phyllo dough in the frozen food section is cheap and plentiful...."
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 01:21:00 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 30, 2020, 02:19:12 AM
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
A colleague and his wife have started making sour dough from apples, flour, and water. A week or so to go until they can make bread from it. His wife is an archaeologist, specialized in the neolithic period, so this is kind of working from home for her (that and cataloging boxes of pottery shards). :D
Oh, that sounds intriguing! And makes sense, since apples carry a ton of wild yeasts. I'm curious to know how that turns out. :)
Will do. She named the cultures Adalbert and Svanahilda (after the founder of the monastery in Tegernsee and his mother). :nerd:
Stubble status: itchy.
The longest I've gone without fully shaving previously was 10 days, and I did Movember for one month. My mustache looked terrible. My brother grows awesome facial hair and styles it after various Civil War generals (yes, even including Burnside). He must have taken all the good facial hair genes.
My son is starting to realize something is up. He's just over two, but has been talking about how he misses going to his friend's house and to visit his grandparents. He's noticed that we no longer go to his weekly swim lessons. However, he also really enjoys having me working from home. He's been really good at not going downstairs to disturb me when I'm working, but really enjoys the extra few hours he gets now that I eat lunch with him and no longer need to commute. Transitioning back to normal will be tough on him.
Two supermarket chains in my area offer home delivery. Both don't have any free time slots in the next two weeks :lol:
Seems about right.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EUSffnSXQAMhdGI?format=jpg&name=small)
:lol:
I look at graphs for a living, so it's not really noticeable for me.
I think we've already passed peak exponential graphs. :nerd:
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 01:21:00 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 30, 2020, 02:19:12 AM
Quote from: merithyn on March 30, 2020, 12:20:13 AM
I made phyllo dough from scratch today. My friend and I challenged each other to try it.
:mellow:
We've decided frozen phyllo is just fine. :sleep:
A colleague and his wife have started making sour dough from apples, flour, and water. A week or so to go until they can make bread from it. His wife is an archaeologist, specialized in the neolithic period, so this is kind of working from home for her (that and cataloging boxes of pottery shards). :D
Oh, that sounds intriguing! And makes sense, since apples carry a ton of wild yeasts. I'm curious to know how that turns out. :)
Though I have bread flour, I don't have the skills(or yeast) for fancy breads or loafs. But with some eggs, milk, and baking powder...I can do an endless variety of pancakes.
Or, since I have a muffin tin, pancake-batter muffins. :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 31, 2020, 11:18:38 AM
Though I have bread flour, I don't have the skills(or yeast) for fancy breads or loafs. But with some eggs, milk, and baking powder...I can do an endless variety of pancakes.
Or, since I have a muffin tin, pancake-batter muffins. :P
"Fancy" is just a word. I made rolls yesterday by throwing some yeast in a bowl with warm water until it bubbled. Then, put some amount of flour (I seriously have no idea how much; maybe a cup? cup and a half?) in a bowl, added some amount of salt, poured in the yeast water and stirred it around. I added a bit more water to make it like muddy water, then added flour until it held together. Then I just pushed it around on the counter until it was elastic, adding just enough flour to keep it from sticking. Set it to rise in a bowl, punched it down, made rolls, let it rise again, then baked.
Easy peasy!
Not that pancakes don't sound good, too. ;)
Wait, I have been eating the yeast raw. Shit, I knew there was something I was doing wrong.
Quote from: merithyn on March 31, 2020, 11:25:19 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 31, 2020, 11:18:38 AM
Though I have bread flour, I don't have the skills(or yeast) for fancy breads or loafs. But with some eggs, milk, and baking powder...I can do an endless variety of pancakes.
Or, since I have a muffin tin, pancake-batter muffins. :P
"Fancy" is just a word. I made rolls yesterday by throwing some yeast in a bowl with warm water until it bubbled. Then, put some amount of flour (I seriously have no idea how much; maybe a cup? cup and a half?) in a bowl, added some amount of salt, poured in the yeast water and stirred it around. I added a bit more water to make it like muddy water, then added flour until it held together. Then I just pushed it around on the counter until it was elastic, adding just enough flour to keep it from sticking. Set it to rise in a bowl, punched it down, made rolls, let it rise again, then baked.
Easy peasy!
Not that pancakes don't sound good, too. ;)
That all sounds like a lot of work...much easier to throw stuff into a bowl, mix it, and fry it in a pan. :P
Quote from: PDH on March 31, 2020, 11:46:52 AM
Wait, I have been eating the yeast raw. Shit, I knew there was something I was doing wrong.
Well that's not gonna make for a happy tummy. :x
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 29, 2020, 05:07:31 PM
I've decided to limit myself pre-picked boxes like: "essential fruit and veg", "dairy and essentials", "toiletry essentials" etc.
I know I am an impulsive shopper when I go to a supermarket. But nothing really brings it home like an impulsive delivery you wait two weeks for :Embarrass: :blush:
If I need anything that other people haven't considered "essential", then I will go to the shop. I will not take up any more space in the delivery system with my unrestrained nonsense :(
Shelf, to follow on from your comment about are larger supermarkets still selling all categories, this evening I stopped of in a large Tesco, though not the superstore type and it was selling everything, I could have bought cloths, computer stuff, consumer electronics, birthday cards etc.
Funnily enough the only non-accessible lane was the easter eggs, but that was because the girls putting them out had corralled themselves in so as to not be bothered by too close shoppers.
I've been working from home since last week, as are most in my IT user support group. The last time I was in the office two weeks ago there were few people there. My commute is short, only about four miles, but still it's so nice to not have to leave the house. The over 30 hospitals in the company are very busy but have also cut back or stopped some non-essential procedures such as elective surgeries, so we've seen people being furloughed. So far no one in my group have been furloughed but we're user support across all parts of the health care system so it's not likely we'll get hit with any or many furloughs.
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 09:14:07 AM
I've been working from home since last week, as are most in my IT user support group. The last time I was in the office two weeks ago there were few people there. My commute is short, only about four miles, but still it's so nice to not have to leave the house. The over 30 hospitals in the company are very busy but have also cut back or stopped some non-essential procedures such as elective surgeries, so we've seen people being furloughed. So far no one in my group have been furloughed but we're user support across all parts of the health care system so it's not likely we'll get hit with any or many furloughs.
:hmm: I thought you had retired KRonn?
Zoupa hasn't posted in a bit.
Quote from: Oexmelin on April 01, 2020, 03:01:42 PM
Zoupa hasn't posted in a bit.
He posted two days ago that things were okay. I'd not expect him to post daily while ill.
Thanks. I had not seen that post.
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 09:14:07 AM
I've been working from home since last week, as are most in my IT user support group. The last time I was in the office two weeks ago there were few people there. My commute is short, only about four miles, but still it's so nice to not have to leave the house. The over 30 hospitals in the company are very busy but have also cut back or stopped some non-essential procedures such as elective surgeries, so we've seen people being furloughed. So far no one in my group have been furloughed but we're user support across all parts of the health care system so it's not likely we'll get hit with any or many furloughs.
Heh KRonn, good to hear from you I was going to PM you today with a question about what to do with my garden, but I gave up instead and just watered it. :)
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
:boff:
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 04:18:43 PM
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
good to hear.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 04:18:43 PM
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
Glad to hear you are fine :hug:
But aren't you still going to be contagious? :unsure:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 01, 2020, 04:24:27 PM
:boff:
:hmm: I guess he'll be exempt from the six foot rule.
Huzzah for Zoupa!
So do tell Zoupa, was there a formal all-clear procedure, some sort of test given, or is this something you decided by yourself based on symptoms abating?
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 04:18:43 PM
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
Zoupa what are you doing posting here, you do know this is now the yeast and haircuts thread.
:P
Glad you're on the mend.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 04:18:43 PM
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
:hug::wub:
I'm currently working 2 days at work/3 days at home per week. Much prefer working in the office, particularly since wife and daughter are home, but not missing the commute.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 01, 2020, 05:09:16 PM
So do tell Zoupa, was there a formal all-clear procedure, some sort of test given, or is this something you decided by yourself based on symptoms abating?
The way the public health nurse explained it to me, it's counting 2 weeks since first appearance of symptoms. That's the WHO standard. Uptodate, the kind of Bible of medical resources, apparently suggests 1 week after 1st appearance of symptoms.
In any case, you need at least 24 hours symptoms free, which has been my case for a couple of days now.
Quote from: Caliga on April 01, 2020, 11:50:34 AM
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 09:14:07 AM
I've been working from home since last week, as are most in my IT user support group. The last time I was in the office two weeks ago there were few people there. My commute is short, only about four miles, but still it's so nice to not have to leave the house. The over 30 hospitals in the company are very busy but have also cut back or stopped some non-essential procedures such as elective surgeries, so we've seen people being furloughed. So far no one in my group have been furloughed but we're user support across all parts of the health care system so it's not likely we'll get hit with any or many furloughs.
:hmm: I thought you had retired KRonn?
I am retired, but for going on two and a half years I've been working at the company I retired from. It works out well. Part time, usually a few mornings a week 5 to 6 hours (I start early), though I can work as much as I want. They've been really busy, expanding and buying new hospitals all over the country.
Quote from: mongers on April 01, 2020, 03:57:56 PM
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 09:14:07 AM
I've been working from home since last week, as are most in my IT user support group. The last time I was in the office two weeks ago there were few people there. My commute is short, only about four miles, but still it's so nice to not have to leave the house. The over 30 hospitals in the company are very busy but have also cut back or stopped some non-essential procedures such as elective surgeries, so we've seen people being furloughed. So far no one in my group have been furloughed but we're user support across all parts of the health care system so it's not likely we'll get hit with any or many furloughs.
Heh KRonn, good to hear from you I was going to PM you today with a question about what to do with my garden, but I gave up instead and just watered it. :)
Heya Mongers. I'm going to plant a smaller garden this year. Broccoli and cauliflower in five earth boxes and a few rows in the main part of the garden. Giving most of the soil a rest for a year at least, will just fertilize it for next year. Broccoli and cauliflower generally prefer cooler weather but I have two types of each crop, one of each that prefers cool weather which I'll plant about mid/late April. Then in May will plant the two that are more heat tolerant.
What are you growing this year?
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 01, 2020, 08:08:18 PM
I'm currently working 2 days at work/3 days at home per week. Much prefer working in the office, particularly since wife and daughter are home, but not missing the commute.
wtf
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 08:34:56 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 01, 2020, 03:57:56 PM
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 09:14:07 AM
I've been working from home since last week, as are most in my IT user support group. The last time I was in the office two weeks ago there were few people there. My commute is short, only about four miles, but still it's so nice to not have to leave the house. The over 30 hospitals in the company are very busy but have also cut back or stopped some non-essential procedures such as elective surgeries, so we've seen people being furloughed. So far no one in my group have been furloughed but we're user support across all parts of the health care system so it's not likely we'll get hit with any or many furloughs.
Heh KRonn, good to hear from you I was going to PM you today with a question about what to do with my garden, but I gave up instead and just watered it. :)
Heya Mongers. I'm going to plant a smaller garden this year. Broccoli and cauliflower in five earth boxes and a few rows in the main part of the garden. Giving most of the soil a rest for a year at least, will just fertilize it for next year. Broccoli and cauliflower generally prefer cooler weather but I have two types of each crop, one of each that prefers cool weather which I'll plant about mid/late April. Then in May will plant the two that are more heat tolerant.
What are you growing this year?
That makes sense.
Not organised anything as yet, but given the UK is at least 70.000 foreign agriculture workers down due to the virus, maybe some basic greens might be an idea. :hmm:
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 01, 2020, 08:08:18 PM
I'm currently working 2 days at work/3 days at home per week. Much prefer working in the office, particularly since wife and daughter are home, but not missing the commute.
Hansmeister?!?!?
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 08:16:13 PM
The way the public health nurse explained it to me, it's counting 2 weeks since first appearance of symptoms. That's the WHO standard. Uptodate, the kind of Bible of medical resources, apparently suggests 1 week after 1st appearance of symptoms.
In any case, you need at least 24 hours symptoms free, which has been my case for a couple of days now.
Groovy. So what are you going to do now that you're clean? Find a group of cleans on reddit and organize a big orgy?
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 01, 2020, 08:08:18 PM
I'm currently working 2 days at work/3 days at home per week. Much prefer working in the office, particularly since wife and daughter are home, but not missing the commute.
I don't really understand the point of that :hmm:
But yes it gets crazy working at home when you have your family running around.
Great to know you are alright Hans BTW :hug:
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 01, 2020, 08:08:18 PM
I'm currently working 2 days at work/3 days at home per week. Much prefer working in the office, particularly since wife and daughter are home, but not missing the commute.
Gött in himmel. WB.
Really curious about your thoughts on the Trump presidency.
Quote from: Valmy on April 01, 2020, 10:30:34 PM
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 01, 2020, 08:08:18 PM
I'm currently working 2 days at work/3 days at home per week. Much prefer working in the office, particularly since wife and daughter are home, but not missing the commute.
I don't really understand the point of that :hmm:
But yes it gets crazy working at home when you have your family running around.
Great to know you are alright Hans BTW :hug:
Well, we're trying to minimize the number of people at work as much as possible for social distancing purposes. I can do quite a bit remotely, but there are still some things I have to be onsite for, this applies to several of the managers so we each try to make it so we're not at work at the same time. Though I wouldn't be surprised if I will have to go to nearly complete home base very soon, even if it means some things don't get done.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 04:18:43 PM
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
Good news :cool:
Quote from: Valmy on April 01, 2020, 10:30:34 PM
I don't really understand the point of that :hmm:
It's the same scheme I proposed at work.
On one hand your are reducing direct contact time by 60%, and effectively distancing people in open office settings (our case). On the other, you can organize shifts in such a way that an infection doesn't force you to quarantine everyone in the office at the same time.
Hans! :cheers:
Glad you've recovered, Zoups :)
Quote from: KRonn on April 01, 2020, 08:27:56 PM
I am retired, but for going on two and a half years I've been working at the company I retired from. It works out well. Part time, usually a few mornings a week 5 to 6 hours (I start early), though I can work as much as I want. They've been really busy, expanding and buying new hospitals all over the country.
Nice. :)
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 31, 2020, 11:50:05 AM
That all sounds like a lot of work...much easier to throw stuff into a bowl, mix it, and fry it in a pan. :P
In honor of Toni, I made pancakes for lunch. ^_^
Recipe
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 T sugar
- 2 t baking powder
- 1/4 t salt
- 2 T oil
- 2 overripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup sour dough starter
Mix dry ingredients together. In another bowl, mix wet ingredient together. Mix both together and fry on hot butter in a cast iron skillet. Top with butter, chopped walnuts, and maple syrup.
:mmm:
They were delicious!
https://www.vulture.com/amp/2020/04/frasier-coronavirus-episode.html?__twitter_impression=true
QuoteHow would TV's most beloved characters navigate social distancing? We asked dozens of showrunners and writers to answer that question. Below, Frasier executive producer Christopher Lloyd imagines a scene between Frasier and Niles as they're stuck indoors because of the coronavirus.
FRASIER SITS AT A TABLE WITH A CAPPUCCINO.
FRASIER
Good morning, Niles.
NILES SITS AT A SEPARATE TABLE WITH CAPPUCCINO.
NILES
And to you, Frasier.
NILES, IN RUBBER GLOVES, WIPES HIS CHAIR WITH HIS HANDKERCHIEF, THEN MOVES ON TO WIPE HIS OPEN LAPTOP. WE NOW SEE THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT HOUSES AND SPEAK VIA SKYPE. NILES WIPES HIS CAMERA LENS.
FRASIER
Not that I don't delight to the squealing of your rubber glove across the camera lens, but Dr. Freud might wonder if an excess cleansing of one's physical space didn't bespeak the distinctly unclean state of one's own mind.
NILES
I have had impure thoughts during this confinement. Last night at virtual wine club, I assayed a ripe Bordeaux held more promise than the loose laces on a beer-hall barmaid's peasant blouse.
FRASIER
You apologized, of course.
NILES
I resigned.
FRASIER
You're worried about Maris, I'm sure. There are hard times for the slight. I recall seeing a single sneeze send her rocketing backward through your Japanese dressing screen.
NILES
She does have a place in the house that's sneeze-safe.
FRASIER
Ah, yes, the padded room. We knew it would come in handy one day.
NILES
So, should we be concerned about Dad?
FRASIER
I've given that some thought. Here's where I come out. Imagine the most pernicious bacteria in the dark corners of Madame Curie's lab, black spores so malevolent other spores are afraid to be around them. Even these are no match for what teems in that plaid petri dish of a chair he's spent the last 30 years in. The man is battle-tested.
NILES
Well, you've allayed my concerns. And you, Frasier, you're bearing up?
FRASIER
I am. I've even reconnected with some old friends. A Haydn sonata I first learned in prep school, a volume of bawdy Rimbaud poems I used to recite to Lilith to stoke the fires.
NILES
Stoke the —
FRASIER
Fine, scrape the frost. It got the chopstick out of her bun. Shall I recite one?
NILES
Coming, Daphne! She needs my help.
FRASIER
I heard no cry of distress.
NILES
You would have if you'd started to recite a poem.
FRASIER
Very well. And you're surviving, Niles?
NILES
I am. Better now ... contact is everything, isn't it? Thank you, Dr. Crane.
HE CLINKS HIS CAPPUCCINO TO HIS LENS.
FRASIER
Thank you, Dr. Crane.
HE TOO CLINKS.
NILES
Even a short conversation like that does wonders. I've found myself getting quite neurotic ... wound up ... tight like—
FRASIER
Oh, for God's sake, Niles, just do it. It will kill you if you don't.
NILES
Bless you, Frasier.
NILES FURIOUSLY SCRUBS THE LENS WHERE HIS COFFEE CUP TOUCHED IT, AND WE FADE OUT.
^_^
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2020, 04:13:38 PM
https://www.vulture.com/amp/2020/04/frasier-coronavirus-episode.html?__twitter_impression=true
^_^
:lol:
:thumbsup:
I've gained 1 Kg in 20 days of confinement :cry:
I'm doing home exercises but I have no equipment. I need to step up my improvised cardio...
I've lost 2.5kg. I think its due to me eating better (aka smaller meals) than how I do when I buy lunch while at work.
I'm eating less too, but I tend to gain weight if I'm not active - I have the metabolism of a hibernating bear. I wish jogging was allowed, hopefully outdoors exercising will be one of the first restrictions lifted this month.
Quote from: celedhring on April 03, 2020, 02:43:52 AM
I've gained 1 Kg in 20 days of confinement :cry:
I'm doing home exercises but I have no equipment. I need to step up my improvised cardio...
Checkout body weight exercises on YouTube
Weekly shopping done. Supermarkets are supposed to hand out masks to customers this week. From next week it's mandatory to wear one in supermarkets.
My supermarket didn't hand out masks. But 95% of people wore one. So I felt like a weirdo without a mask. Human herd mentality is a funny thing. Only a month ago it was weird to see people with mask.
Toilet paper was low, but I got my preferred bread this time. Didn't check for yeast. :P It's funny the cravings you can develop. I haven't had fish sticks in probably 20 years, but now I bought several packs. :D Also, Pringles Teriyaki BBQ flavor are awesome and may become my official self isolation snack.
Le Nozze di Figaro is on the Vienna Staatsoper stream today. I caught half an hour of Nixon in China on the Met's channel yesterday, but it was too late so I had to go to bed. Unfortunately it's off the free rotation today. It seemed weird but interesting.
Quote from: Syt on April 03, 2020, 03:33:47 AM
Quote from: celedhring on April 03, 2020, 02:43:52 AM
I've gained 1 Kg in 20 days of confinement :cry:
I'm doing home exercises but I have no equipment. I need to step up my improvised cardio...
Checkout body weight exercises on YouTube
I've done so and do them, but I need to find a good cardio routine. I'm going to try mountain climbers now. My problem is that I can't jump around my living room without breaking something, plus I have bad knees :P
Quote from: Syt on April 03, 2020, 03:46:15 AMI caught half an hour of Nixon in China on the Met's channel yesterday, but it was too late so I had to go to bed. Unfortunately it's off the free rotation today. It seemed weird but interesting.
I've only listened to it - I think by the Met - but liked it a lot. Shame it's not still available to stream.
I found it on YouTube, but without subtitles. :ph34r:
James Maddalena channeled Nixon's mannerisms so well as to be eerie.
Quote from: garbon on April 03, 2020, 03:07:43 AM
I've lost 2.5kg. I think its due to me eating better (aka smaller meals) than how I do when I buy lunch while at work.
Yeah, nothing so dramatic for me but despite the lack of exercise I seem to be trending down.
Probably due to the shortage of pop and chocolate in the house.
Morrisons is apparently now doing food boxes.
https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/how-it-works
Quote from: Tyr on April 03, 2020, 04:11:39 AM
Probably due to the shortage of pop and chocolate in the house.
I ordered some biscuits/baked goods to come from a local bakery next week. :ph34r:
While on the topic of operas, there is a free service with a rotation of performances from smaller production stages: https://operavision.eu/
Quote from: garbon on April 03, 2020, 04:32:25 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 03, 2020, 04:11:39 AM
Probably due to the shortage of pop and chocolate in the house.
I ordered some biscuits/baked goods to come from a local bakery next week. :ph34r:
I have been keeping a stock of biscuits because we need to keep our mood up and just have things to enjoy. Right? :mellow: :ph34r:
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2020, 06:41:43 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 03, 2020, 04:32:25 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 03, 2020, 04:11:39 AM
Probably due to the shortage of pop and chocolate in the house.
I ordered some biscuits/baked goods to come from a local bakery next week. :ph34r:
I have been keeping a stock of biscuits because we need to keep our mood up and just have things to enjoy. Right? :mellow: :ph34r:
I'm relatively well stocked, mainly oaty biscuits, rich tea for the afternoon tea and some ginger nuts bought last night in the co-op and half price too, 14p! :bowler:
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
Damn, Josq that's hard, sounds almost like leaving a family setting. :(
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
:( :hug:
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
:( :hug:
Sorry to hear that, must be really sad for everyone after so long but also that it's like a small community institution shutting down.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 03, 2020, 06:41:43 AM
Quote from: garbon on April 03, 2020, 04:32:25 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 03, 2020, 04:11:39 AM
Probably due to the shortage of pop and chocolate in the house.
I ordered some biscuits/baked goods to come from a local bakery next week. :ph34r:
I have been keeping a stock of biscuits because we need to keep our mood up and just have things to enjoy. Right? :mellow: :ph34r:
That's the reasoning I used with my husband when I bought a box of 160 Yorkshire Gold teabags even though I've still enough loose leaf and assorted other teas to comfortably float a family of four tea addicts for a couple months. -_-
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
Sorry to hear that. :(
Sorry to hear that, Joe. Hope the future is brighter. :console:
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
That sucks. Hope you've other potential stuff in the works.
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
I'm sorry, hon. :hug:
Sorry Jos :(
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
Sad to see another local media source go under :(
Good luck to you Jos :hug:
Sorry to hear that Josephus. Yeah, over here a local magazine has gone under too. Small local media were already having a hard time and this will be a tough test.
Hope you can find something else soon.
Quote from: celedhring on April 03, 2020, 09:55:55 AM
Sorry to hear that Josephus. Yeah, over here a local magazine has gone under too. Small local media were already having a hard time and this will be a tough test.
Hope you can find something else soon.
It is a real civic crisis as Democracy needs good local news.
Austrian government has announced a scheme to support print publications during the crisis. Unfortunately the subsidy is based on circulation, so shitty tabloids and free subway "newspapers" will get the bulk, while smaller ones will get little, if anything at all. <_<
Quote from: Valmy on April 03, 2020, 10:03:38 AM
Quote from: celedhring on April 03, 2020, 09:55:55 AM
Sorry to hear that Josephus. Yeah, over here a local magazine has gone under too. Small local media were already having a hard time and this will be a tough test.
Hope you can find something else soon.
It is a real civic crisis as Democracy needs good local news.
It goes further than that, small communities need their local papers, I'm guessing for a lot of elderly Jewish people there it helps to re-enforce the sense of community.
Quote from: Syt on April 03, 2020, 03:46:15 AM
Weekly shopping done. Supermarkets are supposed to hand out masks to customers this week. From next week it's mandatory to wear one in supermarkets.
My supermarket didn't hand out masks. But 95% of people wore one. So I felt like a weirdo without a mask. Human herd mentality is a funny thing. Only a month ago it was weird to see people with mask.
Toilet paper was low, but I got my preferred bread this time. Didn't check for yeast. :P It's funny the cravings you can develop. I haven't had fish sticks in probably 20 years, but now I bought several packs. :D Also, Pringles Teriyaki BBQ flavor are awesome and may become my official self isolation snack.
Le Nozze di Figaro is on the Vienna Staatsoper stream today. I caught half an hour of Nixon in China on the Met's channel yesterday, but it was too late so I had to go to bed. Unfortunately it's off the free rotation today. It seemed weird but interesting.
Syt, you had a good hunting trip then.
Funny you shoulld mention fish stickers, I bought some 'fish fingers' the other day and really enjoyed them. May beg some more on my next trip.
As I posted on FB, I found bread flour yesterday :showoff:
We already had yeast.
Quote from: derspiess on April 03, 2020, 10:24:52 AM
As I posted on FB, I found bread flour yesterday :showoff:
We already had yeast.
:cool:
Just a suggestion to other posters, open your windows and listen to the birdsong.
I'm gonna get up early tomorrow and record the dawn chorus, hopefully with the pre-virus drone of traffic a mile away.
I'm not all that big on pigeons cooing.
Quote from: mongers on April 03, 2020, 10:29:30 AM
:cool:
Just a suggestion to other posters, open your windows and listen to the birdsong.
I'm gonna get up early tomorrow and record the dawn chorus, hopefully with the pre-virus drone of traffic a mile away.
What is this "birdsong" of which you speak? I don't have that here. :unsure:
My neighbor has the most annoying cockatoo ever, and now I'm subjected to it 24/7.
Thanks for your virtual hugs, guys (and gal). It really does help.
Quote from: mongers on April 03, 2020, 10:29:30 AM
Just a suggestion to other posters, open your windows and listen to the birdsong.
I'm gonna get up early tomorrow and record the dawn chorus, hopefully with the pre-virus drone of traffic a mile away.
Weather has finally gotten decent around here. I've got some of the windows open and am finding more & more excuses to hang out on the deck. Birds are nice but there are a couple damned woodpeckers I'm tempted to eliminate :ph34r:
I get the sounds of seagulls bumping uglies right now. It is like the Santa Cruz seabird sexathon outside these days.
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
Damn. Sorry to hear that.
Makes my own disappointments seem kinda petty. I am retiring at the end of this school year and was kinda bummed that I will never get to teach in my cool classroom (it had an 18' by 6' conference table instead of desks) ever again. I won't get to see any of my students before they graduate. We're still doing an online school, but it isn't the same. On the other hand, it's just the loss of nice-to-have, as opposed to what is happening to people like you.
I have a feeling that there will be a lot of opportunities opening up as this virus thing recedes, and I hope that rising tide lifts your boat.
Quote from: derspiess on April 03, 2020, 11:14:30 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 03, 2020, 10:29:30 AM
Just a suggestion to other posters, open your windows and listen to the birdsong.
I'm gonna get up early tomorrow and record the dawn chorus, hopefully with the pre-virus drone of traffic a mile away.
Weather has finally gotten decent around here. I've got some of the windows open and am finding more & more excuses to hang out on the deck. Birds are nice but there are a couple damned woodpeckers I'm tempted to eliminate :ph34r:
We've had a crazy cold snap. -20c overnight, -10c daytime high, over the last few days. That's pretty crazy for early April.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 01, 2020, 04:18:43 PM
I'm fine folks. Back to the trenches next week.
Good to hear! :)
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
Sorry to hear this. I've had similar happen, as has most or all of us, and it's always rough.
Best of luck. I sure that you'll bounce back nicely, given that you are obviously a great employee having been there for 30 years.
Quote from: derspiess on April 03, 2020, 11:14:30 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 03, 2020, 10:29:30 AM
Just a suggestion to other posters, open your windows and listen to the birdsong.
I'm gonna get up early tomorrow and record the dawn chorus, hopefully with the pre-virus drone of traffic a mile away.
Weather has finally gotten decent around here. I've got some of the windows open and am finding more & more excuses to hang out on the deck. Birds are nice but there are a couple damned woodpeckers I'm tempted to eliminate :ph34r:
Cool and rainy here for a few days, but clearing and warming up over the weekend and into next week. No probs with woodpeckers, but I do have a couple of them that feed at my suet feeder. :cool:
Quote from: grumbler on April 03, 2020, 06:29:05 PM
Makes my own disappointments seem kinda petty. I am retiring at the end of this school year and was kinda bummed that I will never get to teach in my cool classroom (it had an 18' by 6' conference table instead of desks) ever again. I won't get to see any of my students before they graduate. We're still doing an online school, but it isn't the same. On the other hand, it's just the loss of nice-to-have, as opposed to what is happening to people like you.
I have a feeling that there will be a lot of opportunities opening up as this virus thing recedes, and I hope that rising tide lifts your boat.
Grats on retiring, but rather bittersweet as you describe thngs, given the current circumstances. I hope at some point your fellow teachers can give you a belated send off. Maybe a few former students will show up too. :)
Quote from: Josephus on April 03, 2020, 07:04:37 AM
So as a few of you know, I lost my job yesterday. My little weekly jewish paper, which was suffering from a pre-exisiting condition was felled by COVID, and is forced to shutter down permanently.
I've been there for around 30 years, so it's hard, but I'm healthy still and look forward to moving on, at some point.
damn, sorry to hear that. :(
Small newspapers were already struggling, this thing hit everyone at the wrong moment :(
Another cultural streaming thing - can get a free 30 day trial of Marqee TV which has got lots including 17 RSC plays :)
https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/watch-rsc-shows-from-home
@Josephus, sorry to hear about the paper, that's a bummer. I saw that the ranks of the Languish unemployed had gone up by one and wondered who it was.
I'm on day 16 since my place was closed. Starting to lose my mind a little bit, but staying busy cooking for my family, making the yard pretty and going on bike rides.
I'm making peasant food, soups and stews. Still no yeast, so its still homemade flat bread.
Beard is coming in nicely, thinking of doing a quarantine mohawk to go with.
So Mrs B asked when I went to the grocery store to find... yeast. :lol:
I looked. The shelves had a picked over, but present, selection of flour. But when it came to yeast... nothing.
But wait! There was a single plastic container up on the top shelf. Clear plastic, with what looked like yeast in it. Just one.
I picked it up. it had a sticker on it. It had a bar code on it, and a single word - "Yeast". :yeahright:
I took it to the self check-out. I scanned it - it rang up as yeast, $5.99. I bought it.
My best guess is the bakery section of the store had extra yeast, so they just put it out on the store shelves.
Haven't tried baking with it yet. I figure we'll tell right away if it is yeast or not when we try to activate it.
Waited forever for our click and collect pickup with 5 other cars while third of the big parking lot was cordoned off so people can do the loose spread queueing for the store. Don't go shopping during the weekend folks.
No yeast.
And I forgot to check and they didn't include the beer they charged me for. Clearly they were overwhelmed for some reason so I am going to assume it was an honest mistake and not gonna try to somehow get my 4 pounds back but it is sure annoying.
Do you guys have dish soap? Even plastic bags will do. :(
I have nailed down the time when my closest supermarket gets restocked and now I have everything EVERYTHING :menace:
There was plenty of yeast at my local supermarkey when I did some shopping last week. Was it on tuesday? Wednesday? Who remembers anymore?
Quote from: The Larch on April 04, 2020, 12:56:33 PM
There was plenty of yeast at my local supermarkey when I did some shopping last week. Was it on tuesday? Wednesday? Who remembers anymore?
Why are days?
Went for my daily exercise and the weather is beautiful (:weep:) local park far less busy than it would be normally and only saw small groups. Everyone trying to keep their distance.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 04, 2020, 12:55:24 PM
Do you guys have dish soap? Even plastic bags will do. :(
Three bottles of it! :smoke:
Quote from: celedhring on April 04, 2020, 01:05:05 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 04, 2020, 12:55:24 PM
Do you guys have dish soap? Even plastic bags will do. :(
Three bottles of it! :smoke:
You could set up a bustling black market empire, if you also get some yeast on the side.
Quote from: fromtia on April 04, 2020, 12:43:17 PM
@Josephus, sorry to hear about the paper, that's a bummer. I saw that the ranks of the Languish unemployed had gone up by one and wondered who it was.
I'm on day 16 since my place was closed. Starting to lose my mind a little bit, but staying busy cooking for my family, making the yard pretty and going on bike rides.
I'm making peasant food, soups and stews. Still no yeast, so its still homemade flat bread.
Beard is coming in nicely, thinking of doing a quarantine mohawk to go with.
:hug:
thanks. Gonna start on a beard too. I mean, I can't afford these online razor blade deliveries anymore :lol:
Stay well
Why the demand for yeast?
Quote from: Josephus on April 04, 2020, 01:26:30 PM
Why the demand for yeast?
I have plenty of time on my hands and I'm the head of my household.Responsible for feeding son of fromtia, girlfriend of fromtia and brother of girlfriend of fromtia. No one has a job.
I'm pretty okay at cooking and baking so baking bread is a cheap way of getting everyone fed. Apparently the rest of North America has had the same idea, and I have not seen yeast in a store in weeks.
I've broken down and am having beer and cider delivered. I can only drink so much wine. -_-
Quite a bit of contrast between the two posts above mine. :hmm:
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 04, 2020, 01:01:41 PM
Quote from: The Larch on April 04, 2020, 12:56:33 PM
There was plenty of yeast at my local supermarkey when I did some shopping last week. Was it on tuesday? Wednesday? Who remembers anymore?
Why are days?
Went for my daily exercise and the weather is beautiful (:weep:) local park far less busy than it would be normally and only saw small groups. Everyone trying to keep their distance.
Yes surprisingly good social distancing going on here too.
Back from the grocery store; because of the limited number of face masks available several of the shoppers improvised by wearing bandannas over their face. It was like grocery shopping with the Dalton gang. :ph34r::alberta:
Quote from: Savonarola on April 04, 2020, 04:15:15 PM
Back from the grocery store; because of the limited number of face masks available several of the shoppers improvised by wearing bandannas over their face. It was like grocery shopping with the Dalton gang. :ph34r::alberta:
I was in the store this morning and a large black man was coming toward me in one of the aisles. He was wearing a black face mask, the cloth kinds that are being homemade all over the place now. As I approached him, he called out in a really cheery voice, "Hallo there! Good morning to you!" I smiled and returned the greeting. It was only after I walked away that I realized that he may have been trying to not seem scary as much as just needing social interaction (from a distance). :(
So, Saturday click and collect at Sainsburys was a bit of a nightmare. Something went wrong for them inside I guess because me and several other c&c people waited like an hour, meanwhile big queue of shoppers were snaking around the parking lot.
Based on that experience we wanted to book a weekday collection slot for next week, before Easter hits. No chance, suddenly no collection dates available for me. Neither in Asda.
But plenty of delivery slots were open with Sainsburys so that's what we are getting. I tried to avoid them to leave them open for people who have no other option, but ain't be queuing for an hour to discover half the shit I want is not in stock.
Quote from: Tamas on April 05, 2020, 02:05:37 PM
So, Saturday click and collect at Sainsburys was a bit of a nightmare. Something went wrong for them inside I guess because me and several other c&c people waited like an hour, meanwhile big queue of shoppers were snaking around the parking lot.
Based on that experience we wanted to book a weekday collection slot for next week, before Easter hits. No chance, suddenly no collection dates available for me. Neither in Asda.
But plenty of delivery slots were open with Sainsburys so that's what we are getting. I tried to avoid them to leave them open for people who have no other option, but ain't be queuing for an hour to discover half the shit I want is not in stock.
Tamas why not try what I do, I go in the last 10-15 minutes before the sainsburys closes at 8pm, because they're apparently regularly topping up the store throughout the day, I'm usually able to buy the nearly all of the 3/4 days worth of shopping I need and the time spent in store is 3-5 minutes. Also very few people around, staff outnumber them for sure.
It sounds poncey, and it is, but consider the independent retailers too - I've had far more luck arranging deliveries with local independent retailers than any of the big chains. As in, I've been able to arrange deliveries - sometimes next day or same day. This site is helpful:
https://dishpatch.co.uk/
Also since I've been doing this and basically relying on pre-picked fruit and veg boxes I've realised how much better pears are than apples :mellow:
Lies!
I've spent the last two days making masks. They're three layers of tightly woven poly/cotton. Not terribly hard to breath through and I can put them low enough on my nose they don't fog up my glasses.
I've made four so far, two with ties and two with elastic. I prefer the elastic due to ease of use.
I'm also cooking a crazy amount. Made lunches for the week today, as well as cleaned out some smaller appliances I have.
In short, I'm not coping great. At least not today. :(
Quote from: merithyn on April 05, 2020, 08:31:36 PM
I've spent the last two days making masks. They're three layers of tightly woven poly/cotton. Not terribly hard to breath through and I can put them low enough on my nose they don't fog up my glasses.
I've made four so far, two with ties and two with elastic. I prefer the elastic due to ease of use.
I'm also cooking a crazy amount. Made lunches for the week today, as well as cleaned out some smaller appliances I have.
In short, I'm not coping great. At least not today. :(
Meri, sounds like you're firing on all cylinders. :hugs:
Certainly as compared to me, but that's a low bar. :D
I cope by doing. I'm... doing a lot and still feeling like I'm not coping. :(
Hatin' Ass Spurrier has takes on the Coronavirus epidemic. https://www.bannersociety.com/2020/4/1/21199648/hatin-ass-spurrier-coronavirus-thoughts (https://www.bannersociety.com/2020/4/1/21199648/hatin-ass-spurrier-coronavirus-thoughts)
None of it will make sense to non-Americans, I suspect.
Some money quotes:
QuoteYou wanna stop COVID-19, tell Pat Fitzgerald it's a union.
You wanna stop COVID-19, tell Pat Narduzzi it's his offense on the one-yard line.
You wanna stop COVID-19, tell the University of Alabama Board of Trustees it's UAB football.
You wanna stop COVID-19, put it on Miami's depth chart as a QB.
You wanna stop COVID-19, name it the Pac-12's playoff contender.
You wanna stop COVID-19 for a couple weeks, tell Urban Meyer it got charged with a felony.
You wanna make COVID-19 disappear completely, call it Nebraska football.
You wanna limit exposure to COVID-19, put it on the Longhorn Network.
More where those came from.
You suspect correctly. :P
Entering Week 4 of working from home. Have 3 scheduled 1 hour calls today, plus at least one ad hoc one. :zzz
European counter-attack!
Quote
You wanna stop COVID-19, tell Neymar to pass it the ball.
You wanna stop COVID-19, make it Sunderland manager.
You wanna stop COVID-19, tell Guardiola it's a centreback.
You wanna stop COVID-19, put it on Real Madrid's depth chart as striker.
You wanna stop COVID-19, put it on the Juventus starting XI in a CL final.
You wanna stop COVID-19 for six months, give it Ousmane Dembelé's fitness trainer.
You wanna make COVID-19 disappear completely, call it Arsenal title hopes.
You wanna limit exposure to COVID-19, have it play in the Europa League.
Quote from: celedhring on April 06, 2020, 02:51:18 AM
European counter-attack!
Quote
You wanna stop COVID-19, tell Neymar to pass it the ball.
You wanna stop COVID-19, make it Sunderland manager.
You wanna stop COVID-19, tell Guardiola it's a centreback.
You wanna stop COVID-19, put it on Real Madrid's depth chart as striker.
You wanna stop COVID-19, put it on the Juventus starting XI in a CL final.
You wanna stop COVID-19 for six months, give it Ousmane Dembelé's fitness trainer.
You wanna make COVID-19 disappear completely, call it Arsenal title hopes.
You wanna limit exposure to COVID-19, have it play in the Europa League.
:showoff:
This whole "digital learning"* thing in Hungary is not going that well, at least in the one example of my friend's kid (who just started elementary school this year).
e.g. one teacher sends a whole week's topic to the kid and parents on Monday, and that's it - she considers herself done for the week. Not very helpful when some random parent should figure out how to teach basic math to a kid.
* - It is called "digital learning" rather than "school closure" because the schools got closed on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago but just the Friday before Orban was scolding school directors who closed down their schools without government authorisation. So, because Orban is never wrong, ever, the schools are still open, just nobody is allowed to go there (apart from essential workers' kids as usual). :P
For the digital learning thing, I can say that at least for my two kids it's going much better than expected. I think it was announced was around Thursday 3/12 that Ohio schools were to be shut down starting the following Monday. I ordered Chromebooks from Amazon for both kids and received both on that weekend (we could have borrowed them from the school but I'm a fan of self-provisioning and I found a deal). So both kids were ready to hit the ground running that Monday.
The first week was supposed to be a test run and was not mandatory, but it went well for both kids and they effectively did not miss a day of school. Either we got lucky and their teachers had started planning ahead, or the school had a contingency plan that went into effect. Whatever the case, I'm impressed.
Granted, they are probably not getting the same level of instruction that they were while attending school in person, but I'm supplementing with some lessons of my own, and the wife is loading them up with creative activities.
Quote from: derspiess on April 06, 2020, 11:07:21 AM
For the digital learning thing, I can say that at least for my two kids it's going much better than expected. I think it was announced was around Thursday 3/12 that Ohio schools were to be shut down starting the following Monday. I ordered Chromebooks from Amazon for both kids and received both on that weekend (we could have borrowed them from the school but I'm a fan of self-provisioning and I found a deal). So both kids were ready to hit the ground running that Monday.
The first week was supposed to be a test run and was not mandatory, but it went well for both kids and they effectively did not miss a day of school. Either we got lucky and their teachers had started planning ahead, or the school had a contingency plan that went into effect. Whatever the case, I'm impressed.
Granted, they are probably not getting the same level of instruction that they were while attending school in person, but I'm supplementing with some lessons of my own, and the wife is loading them up with creative activities.
That sounds good and your 'ahead of the curve' as far as the risk of boredom is concerned.
Though I don't think all parents will be as dedicated as you two, I imagine a fair few have already stuck the kids in front of screens along with unrestricted access to youtube etc.
I gave my youngest a "radio" - a once popular but now obscure device designed to receive broadcasted "radio" signals over the air.
Kept him occupied for the last couple days.
Funniest part was explaining why there is so much hissing noise. He assumed it was broken.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 06, 2020, 12:04:45 PM
I gave my youngest a "radio" - a once popular but now obscure device designed to receive broadcasted "radio" signals over the air.
Kept him occupied for the last couple days.
Funniest part was explaining why there is so much hissing noise. He assumed it was broken.
:lol:
Quote from: merithyn on April 05, 2020, 09:39:34 PM
I cope by doing. I'm... doing a lot and still feeling like I'm not coping. :(
I think that's natural. I would like an article about why it's okay to be productive and sort of measure you're time in lockdown by doing things. Because, I get the articles on the other side are useful for some people but they don't really resonate with me - and I'm not trying to be, I don't know smug or difficult with it.
They main issue for me is I am quite a social person. I've also been stuck in my flat and hospital with injury before this for a couple of months. And in that time I was sort of making big plans of what I was going to do once I recovered - holiday, exhibition and cinema trips, seeing people etc. That's kind of gone now which is a shame and I feel like I did the accepting empty time and being non-productive when I couldn't move :lol:
My way of productivity is cooking so far. I am planning meals days in advance. All of my food orders are shaped around what I plan to do. I'm having a cooked breakfast of some sort every day. Cooking a big soup for lunches. Cooking all sorts - lately rendangs and laksas and kedgerees because I've had a craving for spice and chilli. And I go for a daily walk. I am aware that a lot of this is me displacing my, like, planning pleasure from what I'm going to do when I get out of hospital to what I'm going to eat next week. And I'm aware that I'm probably doing all this cooking to fulfil those plans and also to avoid more acres of time opening up than I need.
I think it's okay as a way of coping, to do. It feels like there's a bit of pressure to be non-productive and to try and appreciate this "pause" in our daily lives. But I don't think all people work the same. Personally I did that and now I need to be productive and I need to fill my time and I think that's also okay? :mellow: :hmm:
I acutely need red wine and to travel. The otherwise fine travel movie recommendations I got here have done nothing for me.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 06, 2020, 12:04:45 PM
I gave my youngest a "radio" - a once popular but now obscure device designed to receive broadcasted "radio" signals over the air.
Kept him occupied for the last couple days.
Funniest part was explaining why there is so much hissing noise. He assumed it was broken.
I'm sorry, a ... what? A rah-DY-oh? :hmm:
:D
How old is your youngest? I don't think I ever knew that you had children. :)
Quote from: Liep on April 06, 2020, 02:37:10 PM
I acutely need red wine and to travel. The otherwise fine travel movie recommendations I got here have done nothing for me.
Dear gods, yes. All of that... :(
I did join a wine club, so I have wine aplenty. I'm trying to space it out so it lasts, and to give myself something to look forward to. "You can have
that bottle once you've completed this many projects. And
that bottle once you've done X." It's been kind of helpful, for the most part.
I want to hug my parents. See people in the flesh...
Quote from: celedhring on April 06, 2020, 03:02:05 PM
I want to hug my parents. See people in the flesh...
Yes, also that. A lot.
As soon as some restrictions are lifted, I'm biking all the way to the beach.
Besides all the hugging and the like, of course. :P
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 06, 2020, 12:04:45 PM
I gave my youngest a "radio" - a once popular but now obscure device designed to receive broadcasted "radio" signals over the air.
Kept him occupied for the last couple days.
Funniest part was explaining why there is so much hissing noise. He assumed it was broken.
As a kid I tried finding channels from farther away on the lower bands. With the right weather I might occasionally pick up Dutch or Danish stations, with much static. :D
It was easier to get AFN from Bremerhaven, and (at least in the 80s) BFBS.
Quote from: Syt on April 06, 2020, 03:10:01 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 06, 2020, 12:04:45 PM
I gave my youngest a "radio" - a once popular but now obscure device designed to receive broadcasted "radio" signals over the air.
Kept him occupied for the last couple days.
Funniest part was explaining why there is so much hissing noise. He assumed it was broken.
As a kid I tried finding channels from farther away on the lower bands. With the right weather I might occasionally pick up Dutch or Danish stations, with much static. :D
It was easier to get AFN from Bremerhaven, and (at least in the 80s) BFBS.
Mid-90s, dating a girl who lived on Winnipeg's north side - I lived on the south side, so it was a long-ish drive back and forth.
Late at night, after dropping her off at her parents place, I'd love to surf the AM channels to see what I could pick up. I could reliably pick up a Chicago all-news station, but sometimes you could get even further away. I think the furthest I found was a Kentucky or Tennesse station.
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Three :contract:
And I want less human interaction, but I have to keep working here...
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
25 days...
Quote from: celedhring on April 06, 2020, 03:02:05 PM
I want to hug my parents. See people in the flesh...
:hug:
Best I got right now. :(
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
:huh:
This is the beginning of Week 6 for me. I was home with a "flu" March 2, at work for a few days after that, then this is my fourth week at home.
Quote from: merithyn on April 06, 2020, 03:30:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
:huh:
This is the beginning of Week 6 for me. I was home with a "flu" February 24, at work for a few days after that, then this is my fourth week at home.
:hug: Welcome, fellow shut-in :) :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 06, 2020, 03:30:42 PM
Quote from: merithyn on April 06, 2020, 03:30:15 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
:huh:
This is the beginning of Week 6 for me. I was home with a "flu" February 24, at work for a few days after that, then this is my fourth week at home.
:hug: Welcome, fellow shut-in :) :lol:
I had the date wrong. March 2, so not as long as you. But still not "two weeks". :P
All of you people talking about how hard it is to isolate and remain safe.
I am in charge of 4 people dealing with the mail who have to show up, sort mail (admittedly that has been waiting 24 hours), have multiple people come to the warehouse to pick it up each day, and basically run increased risk in all facets of what we do. So I come in each day, I can't not and let the guys do it, knowing that I am increasing the likelihood that I will get this with a compromised system from too many bouts of bronchitis in the past.
Shut the hell up.
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
We're entering the forth week here.
Quote from: Syt on April 06, 2020, 03:10:01 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 06, 2020, 12:04:45 PM
I gave my youngest a "radio" - a once popular but now obscure device designed to receive broadcasted "radio" signals over the air.
Kept him occupied for the last couple days.
Funniest part was explaining why there is so much hissing noise. He assumed it was broken.
As a kid I tried finding channels from farther away on the lower bands. With the right weather I might occasionally pick up Dutch or Danish stations, with much static. :D
It was easier to get AFN from Bremerhaven, and (at least in the 80s) BFBS.
Do you have the equivalent to Clear Channel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear-channel_station) stations in Europe? (In North America a radio station has a boundary which it is legally protected from being interfered in. Due to atmospheric conditions AM frequencies will bounce off the ionosphere at night, clear channel stations are protected in this skip zone. Non-clear channel stations will usually reduce power or switch to patternality at night in order to reduce the odds of interference.)
Quote from: Barrister on April 06, 2020, 03:13:24 PM
Mid-90s, dating a girl who lived on Winnipeg's north side - I lived on the south side, so it was a long-ish drive back and forth.
Late at night, after dropping her off at her parents place, I'd love to surf the AM channels to see what I could pick up. I could reliably pick up a Chicago all-news station
WGN? (World's Greatest Newspaper, it is (or at least was) owned by the Chicago Tribune.)
I honestly have no idea. :)
Quote from: Savonarola on April 06, 2020, 03:50:30 PM
Quote from: Barrister on April 06, 2020, 03:13:24 PM
Mid-90s, dating a girl who lived on Winnipeg's north side - I lived on the south side, so it was a long-ish drive back and forth.
Late at night, after dropping her off at her parents place, I'd love to surf the AM channels to see what I could pick up. I could reliably pick up a Chicago all-news station
WGN? (World's Greatest Newspaper, it is (or at least was) owned by the Chicago Tribune.)
WBBM
Quote from: PDH on April 06, 2020, 03:33:23 PM
All of you people talking about how hard it is to isolate and remain safe.
I am in charge of 4 people dealing with the mail who have to show up, sort mail (admittedly that has been waiting 24 hours), have multiple people come to the warehouse to pick it up each day, and basically run increased risk in all facets of what we do. So I come in each day, I can't not and let the guys do it, knowing that I am increasing the likelihood that I will get this with a compromised system from too many bouts of bronchitis in the past.
Shut the hell up.
We can be sorry for ourselves, and still not wish you to do what you're doing. They're not incompatible.
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Do you live alone?
Start of week 4 here. I'd like a moment alone.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 06, 2020, 04:45:36 PM
Start of week 4 here. I'd like a moment alone.
:lol:
There must be a lot of family members up and down the land thinking that.
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
For me this has been going on since late January. Of course the lockdown isn't as bad in Hong Kong. I still go to restaurants daily. But lots of things have changed since January, and there are warnings that more restrictions may be imposed if things don't improve.
Speaking of car away radio stations, I still get a kick out of hearing French Canadian broadcasts on the car radio during the odd night. Canada is not that far away, but it feels so other-worldly. I've also been able to tune into a station as far south as Baton Rouge.
Quote from: derspiess on April 06, 2020, 09:31:18 PM
Speaking of car away radio stations, I still get a kick out of hearing French Canadian broadcasts on the car radio during the odd night. Canada is not that far away, but it feels so other-worldly. I've also been able to tune into a station as far south as Baton Rouge.
I always did get a kick out of listening to the American radio channels or TVs back in the analog days.
Altho, not surprising most of them had antennas on Mount Royal.
BBC had an article about masks in Austria: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52143873
Article caught my attention because of the images. This is the little corner Spar near me:
(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/D916/production/_111547555_d6abfa48-dd4b-4507-af9c-8a2ca4b932ca.jpg)
Entrance to artisanal cheese shop right next to it:
(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/8AF6/production/_111547553_06260661-2c0e-498a-bc91-6ceb2f5d1083.jpg)
Now I have the urge to dig out my short wave radio from wherever I stored it. I told the kids after dinner we'd sit out on the deck under the supermoon and see what foreign radio signals we can pick up.
I took out the old Sony ICF-2010, a mid-80s design that arguably was never matched in a portable. Picked up Radio Exterior (Spain) from Noblejas with great reception (they played a Bowie song for some reason) and a broadcast from the big Saudi transmitter out of Riyadh.
Unfortunately most of the big state broadcasters are either gone or a lot less active. Most of the SW signals are dominated by evangelical programs.
I remember getting Nuntii Latini (news in Latin) on SW in the 'early 90s before switching to internet radio.
Nuntii Latin was taken off the air some time ago due to cuts in Finnish broadcasting. :(
Wiki has a good summary of the state of the state broadcasters, it's pretty brutal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shortwave_radio_broadcasters
Losing Radio Netherlands was the biggest blow; they were probably the best in terms of programming and not hard to get to North America.
Canada, Australia, Russia all also gone.
The big players like DW and RFI still broadcast on SW but far less than they used to.
Romania is still hanging in there though. They've always been a power in the SW world. Got to be good at something.
In North America Cuba is still very active on SW and some of the programming is quite good.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 07, 2020, 10:27:45 AM
Wiki has a good summary of the state of the state broadcasters, it's pretty brutal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shortwave_radio_broadcasters
Losing Radio Netherlands was the biggest blow; they were probably the best in terms of programming and not hard to get to North America.
Canada, Australia, Russia all also gone.
The big players like DW and RFI still broadcast on SW but far less than they used to.
Romania is still hanging in there though. They've always been a power in the SW world. Got to be good at something.
In North America Cuba is still very active on SW and some of the programming is quite good.
Thanks, so for a time at least this non-internet form of contact with the outside world is a quite tangible 'connection'.
No doubt a bit of a contrast with your family's and many others previous engagement with the world.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 07, 2020, 10:18:13 AM
I took out the old Sony ICF-2010, a mid-80s design that arguably was never matched in a portable. Picked up Radio Exterior (Spain) from Noblejas with great reception (they played a Bowie song for some reason) and a broadcast from the big Saudi transmitter out of Riyadh.
Unfortunately most of the big state broadcasters are either gone or a lot less active. Most of the SW signals are dominated by evangelical programs.
Not quite what it used to be then-- dang. My grandpa was a big radio enthusiast. He would tune into various SW stations and tell us where the stations were located based on the listings he had. He didn't speak any foreign languages, but developed a thing for Spanish-language female vocal songs. When he wanted to scare me he'd tune to the Russian Woodpecker (which we discussed here before) or even worse-- some Russian-language broadcast. The Russians always sounded so mean & aggressive :o
I agreed with my mom to shop this afternoon at the same time in the same supermarket, so it was nice to have some face to face communication, even if at a distance. :)
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 01:02:35 PM
Not quite what it used to be then-- dang.
The last Sony model was the 7600, not quite the radio as the ICF-2010 but a lot more compact. When Sony announced they were halting production a couple years ago and exiting SW entirely I ran over to B&H to grab one. End of an era.
There are still Chinese manufacturers making decent radios. Tecsun, Eton and CCrane most notably.
The big thing now in the hobby are software defined radios that connect to a PC. Usually with a much broader available spectrum, monitoring and recording options etc.
My handheld is a cheap off-brand I got from Woot. But it picked up enough stations to keep me busy.
Gov. DeWine is signing an order to allow restaurants to do mixed drinks (and I guess wine and beer as well) to go or for delivery. Limit 2 per meal.
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 02:57:24 PM
Gov. DeWine is signing an order to allow restaurants to do mixed drinks (and I guess wine and beer as well) to go or for delivery. Limit 2 per meal.
:hmm: I'm sure his last name is completely coincidental. :yeahright:
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 07, 2020, 01:30:35 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 01:02:35 PM
Not quite what it used to be then-- dang.
The last Sony model was the 7600, not quite the radio as the ICF-2010 but a lot more compact. When Sony announced they were halting production a couple years ago and exiting SW entirely I ran over to B&H to grab one. End of an era.
There are still Chinese manufacturers making decent radios. Tecsun, Eton and CCrane most notably.
The big thing now in the hobby are software defined radios that connect to a PC. Usually with a much broader available spectrum, monitoring and recording options etc.
That sony radio of yours looks like the bees knees.
I should certainly look into the SDFs, just need to get rid of other stuff on the list.
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 02:57:24 PM
Gov. DeWine is signing an order to allow restaurants to do mixed drinks (and I guess wine and beer as well) to go or for delivery. Limit 2 per meal.
:lol: O-hio!
A lot of people out walking in my neighborhood, more so than usual. People very friendly even if they don't know each other. We all keep our distance of course. Seems like a camaraderie to some extent, we're all in this together. I do know all my neighbors anyway, and when we talk we've asked if we can do anything for each other, food or supplies.
Quote from: KRonn on April 07, 2020, 07:36:11 PM
A lot of people out walking in my neighborhood, more so than usual. People very friendly even if they don't know each other. We all keep our distance of course. Seems like a camaraderie to some extent, we're all in this together. I do know all my neighbors anyway, and when we talk we've asked if we can do anything for each other, food or supplies.
KRonn, I was just about to post something along the lines of the camaraderie you describe.
Here in this modest small market town of 10,000 people I come and go, unnoticed and largely anonymous, but because there's much less traffic about and nearly everyone is abiding by the social distancing rules, I've noticed a need for people to acknowledge each other, especially as they exchange courtesies over establishing the 6 ft distance from each other.
So people are saying hello to me as I cycle or walk by, I find myself exchange thumbs ups with other walkers, fishermen, car drives as we give each other due distance on the little roads hereabouts.
This evening on a short trip into town, to see the shop opening times for the next few days and be able to plan tomorrow hunter-gathering expedition, I came across a guy walking his dog on the other side of the road and we exchanged a few words about "the strange world we're now living in."
Strange times.
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 02:57:24 PM
Gov. DeWine is signing an order to allow restaurants to do mixed drinks (and I guess wine and beer as well) to go or for delivery. Limit 2 per meal.
Pfft, Newsom passed that in the early days of the Shelter in Place here. What good is delivery without a couple of stiff cocktails?
Quote from: mongers on April 07, 2020, 07:56:55 PM
Quote from: KRonn on April 07, 2020, 07:36:11 PM
A lot of people out walking in my neighborhood, more so than usual. People very friendly even if they don't know each other. We all keep our distance of course. Seems like a camaraderie to some extent, we're all in this together. I do know all my neighbors anyway, and when we talk we've asked if we can do anything for each other, food or supplies.
KRonn, I was just about to post something along the lines of the camaraderie you describe.
Here in this modest small market town of 10,000 people I come and go, unnoticed and largely anonymous, but because there's much less traffic about and nearly everyone is abiding by the social distancing rules, I've noticed a need for people to acknowledge each other, especially as they exchange courtesies over establishing the 6 ft distance from each other.
So people are saying hello to me as I cycle or walk by, I find myself exchange thumbs ups with other walkers, fishermen, car drives as we give each other due distance on the little roads hereabouts.
This evening on a short trip into town, to see the shop opening times for the next few days and be able to plan tomorrow hunter-gathering expedition, I came across a guy walking his dog on the other side of the road and we exchanged a few words about "the strange world we're now living in."
Strange times.
Very nice, isn't it? It's an attitude of working together, looking out for each other. Innovative things as today I saw a bunch of cars at my neighbor's house. Parents with kids with happy birthday signs going off to another kid's house to wish happy birthday. Everyone keeping their distance while getting together. Finding ways for the kids to socialize a bit while doing it safely.
Quote from: PDH on April 07, 2020, 08:58:38 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 02:57:24 PM
Gov. DeWine is signing an order to allow restaurants to do mixed drinks (and I guess wine and beer as well) to go or for delivery. Limit 2 per meal.
Pfft, Newsom passed that in the early days of the Shelter in Place here. What good is delivery without a couple of stiff cocktails?
I know, but we have a full bar here to work with. In any case, the wife is stoked and doesn't know where she wants to order from first :huh:
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 09:16:11 PM
I know, but we have a full bar here to work with. In any case, the wife is stoked and doesn't know where she wants to order from first :huh:
TGI McDrunkies would be my go to order.
Quote from: KRonn on April 07, 2020, 07:36:11 PM
A lot of people out walking in my neighborhood, more so than usual. People very friendly even if they don't know each other. We all keep our distance of course. Seems like a camaraderie to some extent, we're all in this together. I do know all my neighbors anyway, and when we talk we've asked if we can do anything for each other, food or supplies.
That's how things are on my street and I've never felt closer to my neighbors, oddly enough. But for the rest of my part of town-- holy hell, they are on edge. I've seen way more road rage on our main throughfare in the last three weeks than I've seen in the previous year, with much less traffic. And things are tense when you venture into Kroger.
If nothing else, this will have been an interesting social experiment.
Quote from: The Larch on April 07, 2020, 01:06:33 PM
I agreed with my mom to shop this afternoon at the same time in the same supermarket, so it was nice to have some face to face communication, even if at a distance. :)
That's really sweet of you, Larchie. :hug:
Today I:
* ran two miles
* had an asthma attack
* went grocery shopping
* mailed two packages
* caught my oven on fire
* opened a bottle of wine
* made dinner
* cleaned my oven
* finished bottle of wine
* showered (and fell in the shower)
Guys, I'm not coping well. All of this, and I still felt manic, like there were a million more things that I should be doing, when what I really want is human interaction.
Am I'm going insane? No. I'm doing my work regularly. I'm sleeping regular hours. I'm not flipping out at random insanity at the grocery store. But still.... So much I'm doing and still feeling like I'm getting nowhere. :(
A salesman at our company was in Stockholm two weeks ago, now he's gotten it.
So starting today I will try to work from home. During the last weeks I have been preparing my garage, cleaning it out and putting in a desk, bought an extra screen and so on. The kids have a cold, so I take care of them now and when my wife comes home I'll go to the garage.
Quote from: merithyn on April 08, 2020, 01:24:43 AM
Today I:
* ran two miles
* had an asthma attack
* went grocery shopping
* mailed two packages
* caught my oven on fire
* opened a bottle of wine
* made dinner
* cleaned my oven
* finished bottle of wine
* showered (and fell in the shower)
Guys, I'm not coping well. All of this, and I still felt manic, like there were a million more things that I should be doing, when what I really want is human interaction.
Am I'm going insane? No. I'm doing my work regularly. I'm sleeping regular hours. I'm not flipping out at random insanity at the grocery store. But still.... So much I'm doing and still feeling like I'm getting nowhere. :(
Do you really need to go *somewhere* though?
I had issues too because it's rare that I find myself in a situation I have completely no agency in. But feeling that I had to compensate for that only stressed me more.
Quote from: mongers on April 07, 2020, 06:06:00 PM
I should certainly look into the SDFs, just need to get rid of other stuff on the list.
These are 2 of the most popular manufacturers:
https://www.sdrplay.com/products/
https://airspy.com/
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on April 08, 2020, 01:53:21 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 07, 2020, 06:06:00 PM
I should certainly look into the SDRs, just need to get rid of other stuff on the list.
These are 2 of the most popular manufacturers:
https://www.sdrplay.com/products/
https://airspy.com/
Thanks MM, will get online and look.
So, hopefully, by the 26th of April some restrictions will be lifted in Spain, according to the government. Only 18 days to go! :)
The company I work for will start ramping up production in its German plants starting on the 20th April.
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 09:21:14 PM
That's how things are on my street and I've never felt closer to my neighbors, oddly enough. But for the rest of my part of town-- holy hell, they are on edge. I've seen way more road rage on our main throughfare in the last three weeks than I've seen in the previous year, with much less traffic. And things are tense when you venture into Kroger.
I've observed a lot of odd behavior at my Kroger since this thing started.
* One time an old lady was sitting on a patio chair for sale, just staring into space like a statue. She was like that when I went into the store, and also when I left like 45 minutes later.
* I saw two teenage kids walking around chugging soda, pointing to things in freezer cases but not actually opening them or buying anything. I saw them like four times over the space of a half hour on that visit, always doing the same thing.
* Another time I saw what I presumed to be an elderly mother and her middle aged son screaming at each other in the middle of an aisle, because he wanted more pizza and she said there was no more room in the freezer. This argument went on for like five minutes and it was strictly about that very basic topic.
* On that same visit, there was a couple that I guess have their own clever tactic for maintaining social distancing--they stunk so bad I couldn't stand to go anywhere near them, and each time I saw them in an aisle after the first encounter I instantly veered away and waited till well after they had left to go back.
Quote from: Caliga on April 08, 2020, 08:36:24 AM
* On that same visit, there was a couple that I guess have their own clever tactic for maintaining social distancing--they stunk so bad I couldn't stand to go anywhere near them, and each time I saw them in an aisle after the first encounter I instantly veered away and waited till well after they had left to go back.
Here the patchouli people have had that defense for a long time.
:D
How did they know about COVID so far in advance? What else are they hiding?!
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
Zoupa glad you recovered, but it's a good reminder just how hard a job you guys on the front-line have.
I had to go into a pharmacy today, for family prescriptions, all the staff were wearing face masks, full aprons, a long transparent face shield and there was further temporary shielding around the counters and pay-points with just a slot to hand over paper work and receive the items in return.
This in addition to the 2 metre markings, entrance precautions and limits on number of shoppers, I hope would be enough to give them some adequate protection and significantly reduce the risks?
Quote from: derspiess on April 07, 2020, 09:21:14 PM
Quote from: KRonn on April 07, 2020, 07:36:11 PM
A lot of people out walking in my neighborhood, more so than usual. People very friendly even if they don't know each other. We all keep our distance of course. Seems like a camaraderie to some extent, we're all in this together. I do know all my neighbors anyway, and when we talk we've asked if we can do anything for each other, food or supplies.
That's how things are on my street and I've never felt closer to my neighbors, oddly enough. But for the rest of my part of town-- holy hell, they are on edge. I've seen way more road rage on our main throughfare in the last three weeks than I've seen in the previous year, with much less traffic. And things are tense when you venture into Kroger.
If nothing else, this will have been an interesting social experiment.
I haven't driven a lot except to grocery store, pharmacy and occasionally the coffee shop but I haven't noticed (yet) nastiness on the roads. Traffic is light around town and all over really. A neighbor, with an essential job, who goes into Boston says he hits no traffic.
Quote from: The Larch on April 08, 2020, 06:26:45 AM
So, hopefully, by the 26th of April some restrictions will be lifted in Spain, according to the government. Only 18 days to go! :)
I wouldn't be so sure. Perhaps back to work for non-essential workers. But I can't see the lockdown ending so soon.
Car manufacturers here want to start back again this month if allowed to, but at glacial pace. Latest projections are a drop of at least 30-40% for the rest of the year.
And when the guillotine comes there's just one engineer who's my junior in the company, everyone else has been at the plant for 10 to 25 years.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
You'd like to be a penniless lunatic?
A friend went shopping.
AND THE YEAST WAS GONE AGAIN!
Quote from: PDH on April 08, 2020, 09:50:18 PM
A friend went shopping.
AND THE YEAST WAS GONE AGAIN!
Don't let it get a rise out of you.
Really lovely day outside, perfect to just open all windows and let the spring air in while working from home ... except the building management picked TODAY to have a guy sand the metal frame of the little roof over our building entrance. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Iormlund on April 08, 2020, 06:36:19 PM
Quote from: The Larch on April 08, 2020, 06:26:45 AM
So, hopefully, by the 26th of April some restrictions will be lifted in Spain, according to the government. Only 18 days to go! :)
I wouldn't be so sure. Perhaps back to work for non-essential workers. But I can't see the lockdown ending so soon.
Car manufacturers here want to start back again this month if allowed to, but at glacial pace. Latest projections are a drop of at least 30-40% for the rest of the year.
And when the guillotine comes there's just one engineer who's my junior in the company, everyone else has been at the plant for 10 to 25 years.
Oh for sure it's not going to be back to 100% as if nothing had happened, I agree, but a certain easing of the lockdown is possible and maybe even necessary. What I've read so far mentioned allowing people outside for exercise and letting parents take their kids out of the house. Also as you said some industries are already planning to go back into work later this month, even if on a scaled down version, which I guess is also desireable. Maybe it will take place on a regional basis depending on the state of the hospitals and ICU capacity or something, I don't see Madrid going back to normal (or the new normal) at all, for instance.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
Really? You really want to be a civil servant in Hong Kong? No democracy? Super expensive tiny flats? :P
I would give just about anything for a titre test to be widely available. That would mean the world to me right now. :(
Quote from: Monoriu on April 09, 2020, 09:06:27 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
Really? You really want to be a civil servant in Hong Kong? No democracy? Super expensive tiny flats? :P
I'm not changing position with any of you assholes.
:lol: I'd gladly swap with Beeb if I had the skills.
Why does Beeb want to swap assholes?
Maybe his is too oiled up? Alberta's weird.
Quote from: Barrister on April 09, 2020, 12:30:46 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on April 09, 2020, 09:06:27 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
Really? You really want to be a civil servant in Hong Kong? No democracy? Super expensive tiny flats? :P
I'm not changing position with any of you assholes.
How often do you & valmy switch? Once a year?
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
You've never met my kids.
Quote from: derspiess on April 09, 2020, 08:05:11 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 08, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Quote from: Tamas on April 06, 2020, 03:18:19 PM
Get a grip people, except for Sheilbh it's been two weeks at most. For crying out loud.
Yeah. I'd happily trade my position with any of you whiners <_<
You've never met my kids.
You've never worked retail in the middle of a pandemic.
Just went out to the nearest corner shop. As someone who lives in a city because I like business and people and crowds I don't think I'll ever get used to it always look like a weekday at 3am. It's really eerie.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 10, 2020, 03:29:06 PM
Just went out to the nearest corner shop. As someone who lives in a city because I like business and people and crowds I don't think I'll ever get used to it always look like a weekday at 3am. It's really eerie.
All the time in the world to pick that one perfect Easter egg!
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 10, 2020, 03:29:06 PM
Just went out to the nearest corner shop. As someone who lives in a city because I like business and people and crowds I don't think I'll ever get used to it always look like a weekday at 3am. It's really eerie.
Yes warm, still very light, but empty; I don't think many people will get used to it.
Though if the 'lockdown' is fully lifted, it'll make an odd sudden change, though I guess social distancing will continue.
Have to say around where I live, if anything it looks busier than usual.
Probably because rather than being at work people are stuck around home so are spending their time walking the dog or in the garden.
I haven't been to the city centre since this all started though, I expect its quite amazing there. I'm half tempted to go someday.
You know sports news are slow these days when the Austrian state broadcaster's news page has an article about Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. :D
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Does it get worse at night?
Emily sewed me a mask which I wore to Kroger today. I felt like I should have been robbing the place. :)
Quote from: Caliga on April 12, 2020, 06:57:26 PM
Emily sewed me a mask which I wore to Kroger today. I felt like I should have been robbing the place. :)
Don't worry if this virus continues the way it has, you'll be doing that for real in 2 months time.
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Stay healthy Hans. :hug:
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Yeah get well Hans :hug:
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
:(
Damn, Hansie hope it's not the real deal, but get yourself to a medic pronto if things deteriorate.
Quote from: mongers on April 12, 2020, 07:09:53 PM
Don't worry if this virus continues the way it has, you'll be doing that for real in 2 months time.
:cool:
Hans, good to see you and hope you're doing ok. :)
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Get better pal :hug:
The implications of "flatenning the curve" is slowly dawning on me that I will likely eventually get this thing. I guess I need to be prepared emotionally and physically for that as much as possible.
It's not too late to move to a cabin in Idaho.
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:(
What happened?
:o
Quote from: Valmy on April 12, 2020, 11:49:43 PM
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Get better pal :hug:
The implications of "flatenning the curve" is slowly dawning on me that I will likely eventually get this thing. I guess I need to be prepared emotionally and physically for that as much as possible.
You'll be fine.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 13, 2020, 11:23:02 AM
Quote from: Valmy on April 12, 2020, 11:49:43 PM
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Get better pal :hug:
The implications of "flatenning the curve" is slowly dawning on me that I will likely eventually get this thing. I guess I need to be prepared emotionally and physically for that as much as possible.
You'll be fine.
So all that stuff about it being dangerous for the elderly and those with diabetes is false?
Quote from: Valmy on April 12, 2020, 11:49:43 PM
The implications of "flatenning the curve" is slowly dawning on me that I will likely eventually get this thing. I guess I need to be prepared emotionally and physically for that as much as possible.
Be careful. I posted with that line of reasoning a few weeks ago and Tamas and Zoupa labeled me an edgelord. :P
Genius is rarely recognized in one's own time. :(
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
Are you eligible for any of the small business help or any benefits?
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2020, 11:27:15 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 13, 2020, 11:23:02 AM
Quote from: Valmy on April 12, 2020, 11:49:43 PM
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Get better pal :hug:
The implications of "flatenning the curve" is slowly dawning on me that I will likely eventually get this thing. I guess I need to be prepared emotionally and physically for that as much as possible.
You'll be fine.
So all that stuff about it being dangerous for the elderly and those with diabetes is false?
Those two things are high risk factors. So is being a male. Avoid the virus as long as you reasonably can.
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:hug:
Do you qualify for any of the state options while this is ongoing?
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2020, 11:27:15 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 13, 2020, 11:23:02 AM
Quote from: Valmy on April 12, 2020, 11:49:43 PM
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 12, 2020, 06:24:21 PM
Well, my wife started having a fever 4 days ago and I started today. Embrace the suck.
Get better pal :hug:
The implications of "flatenning the curve" is slowly dawning on me that I will likely eventually get this thing. I guess I need to be prepared emotionally and physically for that as much as possible.
You'll be fine.
So all that stuff about it being dangerous for the elderly and those with diabetes is false?
No. Are you elderly and diabetic? :huh:
Quote from: merithyn on April 13, 2020, 05:02:48 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:hug:
Do you qualify for any of the state options while this is ongoing?
Nope, I think I fall between the cracks, but that won't kill me; just need to make sure this virus isn't going to kill any of the family before I eventually get it. :bowler:
For a laugh I tried to sign-up for the government UC benefit, I think come interview time, when I explain what I'm doing I'll not be eligible anyway.
But then I've always got free healthcare to 'fall back on', live in a rural area, I'm not in a vulnerable minority and most of my countrymen seem reasonable and none are buying guns in preparation for social collapse. :bowler:
So I think somehow we'll muddle through, but afterwards I'll notice some of the older people I used to chat to or who were nodding acquaintances aren't out and about anymore.
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 06:34:34 PM
when I explain what I'm doing I'll not be eligible anyway.
:hmm:
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2020, 07:01:00 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 13, 2020, 06:45:04 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 06:34:34 PM
when I explain what I'm doing I'll not be eligible anyway.
:hmm:
Drug dealer.
That's an interesting suggestion; I'd think they'd be making a killing during the lock-downs, what with all those well off people on 'gardening leave' twiddling their thumbs.
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 06:34:34 PM
Quote from: merithyn on April 13, 2020, 05:02:48 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:hug:
Do you qualify for any of the state options while this is ongoing?
Nope, I think I fall between the cracks, but that won't kill me; just need to make sure this virus isn't going to kill any of the family before I eventually get it. :bowler:
For a laugh I tried to sign-up for the government UC benefit, I think come interview time, when I explain what I'm doing I'll not be eligible anyway.
But then I've always got free healthcare to 'fall back on', live in a rural area, I'm not in a vulnerable minority and most of my countrymen seem reasonable and none are buying guns in preparation for social collapse. :bowler:
So I think somehow we'll muddle through, but afterwards I'll notice some of the older people I used to chat to or who were nodding acquaintances aren't out and about anymore.
You're not eligible for something like our equivalent of unemployment benefits, or some state welfare program?
Good luck Mongers, hope things go ok for you and you can weather through all this.
Quote from: KRonn on April 13, 2020, 08:34:24 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 06:34:34 PM
Quote from: merithyn on April 13, 2020, 05:02:48 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:hug:
Do you qualify for any of the state options while this is ongoing?
Nope, I think I fall between the cracks, but that won't kill me; just need to make sure this virus isn't going to kill any of the family before I eventually get it. :bowler:
For a laugh I tried to sign-up for the government UC benefit, I think come interview time, when I explain what I'm doing I'll not be eligible anyway.
But then I've always got free healthcare to 'fall back on', live in a rural area, I'm not in a vulnerable minority and most of my countrymen seem reasonable and none are buying guns in preparation for social collapse. :bowler:
So I think somehow we'll muddle through, but afterwards I'll notice some of the older people I used to chat to or who were nodding acquaintances aren't out and about anymore.
You're not eligible for something like our equivalent of unemployment benefits, or some state welfare program?
Good luck Mongers, hope things go ok for you and you can weather through all this.
Cheers KRonn, I'll do fine.
It's just a weird time to be navigating through, uncharted waters perhaps for many of us.
Lets hope the ship of state doesn't flounder. :bowler:
Good to hear Mongers, that you feel ok and expect to do well. :)
I'm lucky, retired and getting social security, and working part time at the health care company I retired from. I work in user access support for the hospitals and clinics. Lots of furloughs and layoffs there even with about thirty-six hospitals because many non-essential procedures are put on hold. I'm working from home which is pretty nice, preferable, though my commute to the office is a short one.
As I said, I'm lucky but I fear for those who have lost jobs, especially jobs that may not come back. And also for small businesses that won't make it through, even with the new government loans and assistance set up to help. :(
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:(
Been unemployed for a week now. Today for the first time, I woke up after 7 a.m.
Quote from: Josephus on April 14, 2020, 07:02:32 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2020, 10:18:01 AM
Currently I have no income, interesting times ahead. :bowler:
:(
Been unemployed for a week now. Today for the first time, I woke up after 7 a.m.
:(
Jos, I think I'll join you, that's assuming I pass the 'interview'. :)
Anyone found any yeast yet? :unsure:
Our company is starting to ask around if everyone is fully utilized on system critical tasks and is querying people for their remaining vacation days and to look into if they could take a few days off here or there, till end of May. They seem very shy about it; it seems they don't want to make anyone take time off (which they couldn't, technically, by law, but you know ...).
I talked to my team lead about it. I have a balance of 5.5 weeks vacation time (last vacation day I used was July last year, and overtime over Christmas), and I get another 5 weeks on July 1st.
Our project is going through a mandatory lull now, so I suggested I could offer myself as tribute if they look for volunteers. I have way too much vaycay time at the moment, and I'm not much of a traveler or one for going out much. I would still be available for calls etc. where necessary, but I wouldn't mind spending more quarantine time not working from home - I like to keep private and job spheres separate. :P
I'm surprised management has waited for this long (we're on week 5 now). I know from friends that other companies "strongly suggested" people should take vacation time during what is, for many companies, a slow period.
Quote from: Syt on April 15, 2020, 09:40:41 AM
Our company is starting to ask around if everyone is fully utilized on system critical tasks and is querying people for their remaining vacation days and to look into if they could take a few days off here or there, till end of May. They seem very shy about it; it seems they don't want to make anyone take time off (which they couldn't, technically, by law, but you know ...).
I talked to my team lead about it. I have a balance of 5.5 weeks vacation time (last vacation day I used was July last year, and overtime over Christmas), and I get another 5 weeks on July 1st.
Our project is going through a mandatory lull now, so I suggested I could offer myself as tribute if they look for volunteers. I have way too much vaycay time at the moment, and I'm not much of a traveler or one for going out much. I would still be available for calls etc. where necessary, but I wouldn't mind spending more quarantine time not working from home - I like to keep private and job spheres separate. :P
I'm surprised management has waited for this long (we're on week 5 now). I know from friends that other companies "strongly suggested" people should take vacation time during what is, for many companies, a slow period.
Interesting tactics on their part and good on you for 'taking one for the team'.
Syt, I imagine quiet a few people are like you in that respect and are finding the working lockdown an odd blend of tasks.
Quote from: mongers on April 15, 2020, 09:33:05 AM
Anyone found any yeast yet? :unsure:
My brother in law works in the Loblaw (grocery chain) non-fresh ware warehouse & he's seen yeast!
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 15, 2020, 09:58:31 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 15, 2020, 09:33:05 AM
Anyone found any yeast yet? :unsure:
My brother in law works in the Loblaw (grocery chain) non-fresh ware warehouse & he's seen yeast!
:gasp:
I think after reading it so many time yeast is my moist
Quote from: HVC on April 15, 2020, 11:08:18 AM
I think after reading it so many time yeast is my moist
Stay moist long enough, and you can grow your own yeast. 😉
Just continuing to sit it out. Been riding my bicycle and cooking, yard is very well tended. Playing video games.
Unemployment in FL is a bit of a shit show, I've applied but it's been weeks and I don't think anyone has a penny yet. The story from the end of March about mortgage suspensions for up to a year and other assistance seems to have been just a story. My mortgage company will do forbearance for 3 months, and at the end of that you have to pay the outstanding 3 months in full. The opposite of help in fact, so I'm going to use my savings to pay the mortgage for as long as I can.
My girlfriend got her stimulus money, but mine hasn't arrived yet, it will cover a mortgage payment, so that's something.
I GOT YEAST THOUGH!!!
Quote from: fromtia on April 15, 2020, 12:07:21 PM
Just continuing to sit it out. Been riding my bicycle and cooking, yard is very well tended. Playing video games.
Unemployment in FL is a bit of a shit show, I've applied but it's been weeks and I don't think anyone has a penny yet. The story from the end of March about mortgage suspensions for up to a year and other assistance seems to have been just a story. My mortgage company will do forbearance for 3 months, and at the end of that you have to pay the outstanding 3 months in full. The opposite of help in fact, so I'm going to use my savings to pay the mortgage for as long as I can.
My girlfriend got her stimulus money, but mine hasn't arrived yet, it will cover a mortgage payment, so that's something.
I GOT YEAST THOUGH!!!
Well that just casts all of the rest of it into perspective. :P
Anyway, good to hear from you Formtia.
Meanwhile my plans evolve, I've found quite a good tent in the loft, but as yet no decent cardboard. :bowler:
Quote from: HVC on April 15, 2020, 11:08:18 AM
I think after reading it so many time yeast is my moist
TMI
An answer to the yeast question!
https://slate.com/business/2020/04/yeast-shortage-supermarkets-coronavirus.html (https://slate.com/business/2020/04/yeast-shortage-supermarkets-coronavirus.html)
QuoteJohn Heilman, vice president of manufacturing for Fleischmann's Yeast producer AB Mauri, roughly estimates that it'll take a month or two until shoppers will see a consistent supply of dry yeast on shelves. "I've been with the company for five years, and this is by far the highest demand I've ever seen," he said, noting that there's been as much as a 600 percent increase year-over-year.
Found a ton of bread flour. The weird local supermarket/international food section doesn't have any in the supermarket section, but is fully stocked in the Italian section. Wife is happy. Hope she figures out that pizza crust she's trying to perfect.
Quote from: derspiess on April 15, 2020, 07:33:31 PM
Found a ton of bread flour. The weird local supermarket/international food section doesn't have any in the supermarket section, but is fully stocked in the Italian section. Wife is happy. Hope she figures out that pizza crust she's trying to perfect.
I've been trying to find some rye flour for my sour dough, but no luck. :( No one seems to have it.
Quote from: merithyn on April 15, 2020, 07:45:25 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 15, 2020, 07:33:31 PM
Found a ton of bread flour. The weird local supermarket/international food section doesn't have any in the supermarket section, but is fully stocked in the Italian section. Wife is happy. Hope she figures out that pizza crust she's trying to perfect.
I've been trying to find some rye flour for my sour dough, but no luck. :( No one seems to have it.
I could give your two bags of spelt flour if you want; given to me and I've no idea* what to do with them. :hmm:
* I could probably make a brown loaf, but I try and avoid wholemeal bread as it has too much fibre for me to tolerate.
Well, the vacation discussion was had. Till end of the month each team member should take a week off, and I should take two because I have so much residual. I said I have no issue taking three or four if it helps the company. :P
I'll be off next week, and re: the following week we'll play it by ear as regards other team member's tasks. We also agreed to keep things flexible, e.g. if there's a call I should be on then I'll join it and deduct it from vacation time.
Nevada is gonna be a basket case for a while. I've heard unemployment claims numbers as high as 300k. The total workforce is only like 1.5 million.
Also, the biennial budget is in its off-year and can't take any of this into effect. It's going to be nuts when the legislature comes back in next year. I'm going to have to flee. :P
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 16, 2020, 01:37:41 PM
Nevada is gonna be a basket case for a while. I've heard unemployment claims numbers as high as 300k. The total workforce is only like 1.5 million.
Also, the biennial budget is in its off-year and can't take any of this into effect. It's going to be nuts when the legislature comes back in next year. I'm going to have to flee. :P
Are the casinos all closed? How about the hoor houses?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 16, 2020, 02:26:35 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 16, 2020, 01:37:41 PM
Nevada is gonna be a basket case for a while. I've heard unemployment claims numbers as high as 300k. The total workforce is only like 1.5 million.
Also, the biennial budget is in its off-year and can't take any of this into effect. It's going to be nuts when the legislature comes back in next year. I'm going to have to flee. :P
Are the casinos all closed? How about the hoor houses?
Some sports celeb over here in Blighty got shamed for buying a couple "companions" for his self-isolation. The lockdown sinks all boats. :(
Don't forget the seven men (aged 40-60) and three women (aged 23-25) who were on a private jet that got turned back from France.
Everything's closed. I'm sure a lot of them won't open again, at least not under current ownership, so all those people who were "furloughed" are actually never going back.
(https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/13527877_web1_CV-STRIP-SUNRISE-MAR19-204.jpg)
(https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/13527877_web1_CV-STRIP-SUNRISE-MAR19-202.jpg)
(https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/13527877_web1_CV-STRIP-SUNRISE-MAR19-214.jpg)
(https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/13527877_web1_CV-STRIP-SUNRISE-MAR19-208.jpg)
Is that Ghost Venetian?
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
Looks like we'll be back at work on Monday. Still not officially confirmed, though.
The new office layouts look decent. All non-plant staffers are to WFH indefinitely, their desks and the meeting rooms will be used so everyone can seat at a minimum distance of a couple meters. In the shop floor we're staggering breaks and distancing staff as much as possible. Transportation may be a problem, but there should be more buses for less staff (low demand).
Our trim plant will provide masks for everyone. We've been printing face-shields for those who have to move around other people. There should be gel and soap in abundance (we'll see).
Last time I was there there were also disposable gloves to use under work gloves, but I don't quite get the usefulness since you can just as easily touch your face with those. I simply wash my hands thoroughly each time I take my work gloves off (thankfully those are full of grease/oil so you soon lose the reflex of touching your face).
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
:w00t:
How??? From apples?
Quote from: merithyn on April 16, 2020, 08:43:02 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
:w00t:
How??? From apples?
I fear the reply will be TMI. :P
Quote from: mongers on April 16, 2020, 08:47:41 PM
Quote from: merithyn on April 16, 2020, 08:43:02 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
:w00t:
How??? From apples?
I fear the reply will be TMI. :P
Could be.
@Meri, right now just going the sourdough starter route using my mother-in-law's old recipe. Was thinking of trying raisins and honey after the sourdough is well established.
Didn't think of apples-will look that up.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 16, 2020, 03:14:34 PM
Don't forget the seven men (aged 40-60) and three women (aged 23-25) who were on a private jet that got turned back from France.
:lol:
Never got that juicy piece of news, background?
I'm not saying I prefer the lockdown, but the commons outside Copenhagen is blissfully quiet without the air traffic noise that usually comes in two minute intervals.
Quote from: Liep on April 17, 2020, 05:29:54 AM
I'm not saying I prefer the lockdown, but the commons outside Copenhagen is blissfully quiet without the air traffic noise that usually comes in two minute intervals.
Yeah, it's weird; I was in the forest the and I even stopped to take a photo a planes prominent contrails in the evening sky, so unusual was it now.
Quote from: mongers on April 17, 2020, 07:08:48 AM
Yeah, it's weird; I was in the forest the and I even stopped to take a photo a planes prominent contrails in the evening sky, so unusual was it now.
Was the 28 days later theme sounding in your head?
My hair has gotten pretty bushy and frankly uncomfortable. My wife is going to cut my hair this weekend. Pray for me.
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 08:58:48 PM
Could be.
@Meri, right now just going the sourdough starter route using my mother-in-law's old recipe. Was thinking of trying raisins and honey after the sourdough is well established.
Didn't think of apples-will look that up.
What's your sour dough recipe? :) Mine was 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon honey.
It's working so far.
Quote from: The Larch on April 17, 2020, 04:58:16 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 16, 2020, 03:14:34 PM
Don't forget the seven men (aged 40-60) and three women (aged 23-25) who were on a private jet that got turned back from France.
:lol:
Never got that juicy piece of news, background?
I missed it too. Was two week ago. They wanted to have some party in the Côte d'Azur but got rejected on landing at Marseille-Marignane airport. Some helicopters were waiting to transport them to luxury villa in Cannes. Tough luck! :D
9 went back to London, the last one rented a small private plane to go to Berlin.
Quote from: merithyn on April 17, 2020, 03:28:21 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 08:58:48 PM
Could be.
@Meri, right now just going the sourdough starter route using my mother-in-law's old recipe. Was thinking of trying raisins and honey after the sourdough is well established.
Didn't think of apples-will look that up.
What's your sour dough recipe? :) Mine was 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon honey.
It's working so far.
Pretty much the same, there is a bit of an odd sequence about how much to discard before feeding. Not sure it makes a difference but my mother in law thought it did.
Quote from: FunkMonk on April 17, 2020, 03:17:49 PM
My hair has gotten pretty bushy and frankly uncomfortable. My wife is going to cut my hair this weekend. Pray for me.
I finally trimmed it all down to a couple millimeters to see if I could pull the Bruce Willis look when I eventually lose the hair. The guy in the mirror looks weird. :lol:
Quote from: merithyn on April 17, 2020, 03:28:21 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 08:58:48 PM
Could be.
@Meri, right now just going the sourdough starter route using my mother-in-law's old recipe. Was thinking of trying raisins and honey after the sourdough is well established.
Didn't think of apples-will look that up.
What's your sour dough recipe? :) Mine was 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon honey.
It's working so far.
Won't that just make a yeast dough that you can bake with?
I do my sour doughs with flour and water, mix 50ish 50ish, put in a cupboard above the fridge and feed it with water and flour, keeping the consistency, once in a while. After a few days it starts to bubble. I sometimes grate an apple into it from the beginning.
Then I forget to feed it in the fridge :Embarrass:
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 17, 2020, 03:56:50 PM
Quote from: merithyn on April 17, 2020, 03:28:21 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 08:58:48 PM
Could be.
@Meri, right now just going the sourdough starter route using my mother-in-law's old recipe. Was thinking of trying raisins and honey after the sourdough is well established.
Didn't think of apples-will look that up.
What's your sour dough recipe? :) Mine was 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon honey.
It's working so far.
Pretty much the same, there is a bit of an odd sequence about how much to discard before feeding. Not sure it makes a difference but my mother in law thought it did.
That's about building the sourness, I think. I just keep using it and letting it sour in between, so I don't bother with that part.
Quote from: Threviel on April 17, 2020, 04:14:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on April 17, 2020, 03:28:21 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 08:58:48 PM
Could be.
@Meri, right now just going the sourdough starter route using my mother-in-law's old recipe. Was thinking of trying raisins and honey after the sourdough is well established.
Didn't think of apples-will look that up.
What's your sour dough recipe? :) Mine was 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon honey.
It's working so far.
Won't that just make a yeast dough that you can bake with?
I do my sour doughs with flour and water, mix 50ish 50ish, put in a cupboard above the fridge and feed it with water and flour, keeping the consistency, once in a while. After a few days it starts to bubble. I sometimes grate an apple into it from the beginning.
Then I forget to feed it in the fridge :Embarrass:
It's a way to carry the yeast forward for ... well, forever, if you don't forget to feed it. :D
The apple you grate into it will provide the yeast, since they carry so much on their skins.
The sour part is what makes it not just making a dough. When I make bread, yeah, I just use flour, water, yeast, salt, etc, and then make the bread. When I add a cup of sour dough in place of some of the water (or milk), it gives it a different texture and flavor.
Well, yes, I mostly bake my bread with sour dough. It just hadn't occured to me that there's also yeast in the sour dough.
Nowadays, for simplicity, I buy my sour dough at a bakery and then I keep it in the fridge for a few months until I forget to feed it.
I fed my kids mostly this https://myvintagecooking.com/finnish-rye-sourdough/ (https://myvintagecooking.com/finnish-rye-sourdough/) for their first few years, wonderful bread.
My CEO basically just told us that we will be working from home well into the year. My manager interprets that to mean possibly into 2021.
:cry:
Anyone want a Meri on their couch for a week or two? Then we'll both have a coworker for a bit. I offered to go spend a week with Seedy, and he ... was less than generous in his response. :lol:
Quote from: merithyn on April 17, 2020, 05:25:17 PM
My CEO basically just told us that we will be working from home well into the year. My manager interprets that to mean possibly into 2021.
:cry:
Anyone want a Meri on their couch for a week or two? Then we'll both have a coworker for a bit. I offered to go spend a week with Seedy, and he ... was less than generous in his response. :lol:
He was just being polite. :P
Do you want 2 co workers & kids? 😉
It's quaint seeing you extroverts losing your mind 2 weeks in while introverts have to go through 85 years of this shit.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 17, 2020, 11:21:18 PM
It's quaint seeing you extroverts losing your mind 2 weeks in while introverts have to go through 85 years of this shit.
My life hasn't changed much at all, the only real difference is that wear a mask when I go to the store. Well, two masks. I know wear a medical mask under the my normal gorilla mask.
Quote from: Razgovory on April 18, 2020, 01:08:26 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 17, 2020, 11:21:18 PM
It's quaint seeing you extroverts losing your mind 2 weeks in while introverts have to go through 85 years of this shit.
My life hasn't changed much at all, the only real difference is that wear a mask when I go to the store. Well, two masks. I know wear a medical mask under the my normal gorilla mask.
:lol:
Quote from: Zoupa on April 17, 2020, 11:21:18 PM
It's quaint seeing you extroverts losing your mind 2 weeks in while introverts have to go through 85 years of this shit.
I'm very definitely an introvert.
It still sucks.
One can be alone and visit more than one room in a day.
Being trapped in my flat actually means less alone time.
Quote from: Zoupa on April 17, 2020, 11:21:18 PM
It's quaint seeing you extroverts losing your mind 2 weeks in while introverts have to go through 85 years of this shit.
Again, Zoupa, I'm at nearly seven weeks in.
And fuck I'm sick of the smug bullshit from those of you doing just fine. I've nearly died on the operating table twice and have been through more physical bullshit than most of you besides Ed could imagine, but one of you turns an ankle and you don't hear me going on about how easy you have it. Because it's not about me.
I'm hurting. I'm glad that amuses you, but fuck you.
How's Seedy doing?
Quote from: 11B4V on April 18, 2020, 11:42:42 AM
How's Seedy doing?
Not a lot has changed for him. He's essential at the hospital, so he's still going in 3-4 days a week and working from home the rest. He's an introvert, so has never been much on going out and doing stuff, so that's not a lot different. I think he misses the niceties like the rest of us, but in general, his world hasn't changed much. So he's fine.
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
What's with all the yeast makers?
I'm bored. Unemployed. Still making yeast is #287on my to do list. Right after watch the movie Roma and before "take down the Christmas lights."
I hope "put up the Christmas lights" was also low on the list.
Quote from: merithyn on April 18, 2020, 12:33:05 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on April 18, 2020, 11:42:42 AM
How's Seedy doing?
Not a lot has changed for him. He's essential at the hospital, so he's still going in 3-4 days a week and working from home the rest. He's an introvert, so has never been much on going out and doing stuff, so that's not a lot different. I think he misses the niceties like the rest of us, but in general, his world hasn't changed much. So he's fine.
Good to hear.
I've planted Papaya seeds. I have a mohawk. My beard is full.
Quote from: merithyn on April 18, 2020, 09:08:48 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on April 17, 2020, 11:21:18 PM
It's quaint seeing you extroverts losing your mind 2 weeks in while introverts have to go through 85 years of this shit.
Again, Zoupa, I'm at nearly seven weeks in.
And fuck I'm sick of the smug bullshit from those of you doing just fine. I've nearly died on the operating table twice and have been through more physical bullshit than most of you besides Ed could imagine, but one of you turns an ankle and you don't hear me going on about how easy you have it. Because it's not about me.
I'm hurting. I'm glad that amuses you, but fuck you.
Oh trust me, it doesn't amuse me. I just need to stay out of this circlejerk thread.
Quote from: Josephus on April 18, 2020, 12:51:32 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
What's with all the yeast makers?
I'm bored. Unemployed. Still making yeast is #287on my to do list. Right after watch the movie Roma and before "take down the Christmas lights."
Make your own bread, it's worth it.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 18, 2020, 04:48:24 PM
Quote from: Josephus on April 18, 2020, 12:51:32 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
What's with all the yeast makers?
I'm bored. Unemployed. Still making yeast is #287on my to do list. Right after watch the movie Roma and before "take down the Christmas lights."
Make your own bread, it's worth it.
I have a bread maker, and bake bread sometimes. I used to bake bread a lot, especially corn bread and a brown bread made with molasses which is delicious. :)
Quote from: Josephus on April 18, 2020, 12:51:32 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
What's with all the yeast makers?
I'm bored. Unemployed. Still making yeast is #287on my to do list. Right after watch the movie Roma and before "take down the Christmas lights."
Mrs B took down the last of the Christmas lights today. :lol:
A few years ago I attended a wedding in a small town near Castellón, and it was the middle of June and the Christmas lights were still up in the main street. :lol:
Local radio station back home once ran a contest for keeping the decorated Christmas tree as long as possible. (It had to be a - formerly - live tree.) It ended in a draw between two or three people after 12 or 18 months. :D
I'm interested.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 18, 2020, 04:48:24 PM
Quote from: Josephus on April 18, 2020, 12:51:32 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 16, 2020, 03:37:01 PM
Making our own yeast. Been meaning to do it for years.
What's with all the yeast makers?
I'm bored. Unemployed. Still making yeast is #287on my to do list. Right after watch the movie Roma and before "take down the Christmas lights."
Make your own bread, it's worth it.
When my severance runs out, and I can't afford to buy bread...then maybe.
It's not cheaper, that is not why you do it.
You do it so you can get your moist on.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 19, 2020, 11:33:14 AM
It's not cheaper, that is not why you do it.
oh..then for sure not
Thought I might make some Yogurt also. I want to find some cheesecloth and make the Greek yogurt with the fat and the deliciousness. Come to me microbes! But not you, Wuhan Wheezer, you fuck right off!
Quote from: fromtia on April 19, 2020, 01:21:59 PM
Thought I might make some Yogurt also. I want to find some cheesecloth and make the Greek yogurt with the fat and the deliciousness. Come to me microbes! But not you, Wuhan Wheezer, you fuck right off!
Might make a delicious cheese though - the dairy world's version of fugu.
Quote from: PDH on April 19, 2020, 01:25:24 PM
Might make a delicious cheese though - the dairy world's version of fugu.
If cheese making were less stinky I'd seriously consider it. But four people being confined to the house while I attempt my first batch of "quarantine blue" might cause an insurrection and I'd be living in the back yard with my curds.
They deserve a homeland.
Quote from: The Brain on April 19, 2020, 01:45:09 PM
They deserve a homeland.
These Backyard Turks are doing fine. They should follow the law and settle down.
Quote from: fromtia on April 19, 2020, 02:08:02 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 19, 2020, 01:45:09 PM
They deserve a homeland.
These Backyard Turks are doing fine. They should follow the law and settle down.
^_^
Whey to go.
Quote from: fromtia on April 19, 2020, 01:21:59 PM
Thought I might make some Yogurt also. I want to find some cheesecloth and make the Greek yogurt with the fat and the deliciousness. Come to me microbes! But not you, Wuhan Wheezer, you fuck right off!
I use a loosely woven linen for my Greek yogurt. :mmm:
Been to the supermarket for the first time in over 2 weeks. Austrians don't really take to the whole masks thing. In the streets, maybe 10-15% tops are wearing a mask (including those for whom it's mandatory, like police or postmen). Everyone is wearing one in supermarkets, obviously. A few have their own homemade fabric masks, most take the ones that are provided on entry.
And they throw them away as soon as they leave. I saw a few people leave supermarket A, throw their mask in the bin, and then going across the street to supermarket B where they take a new one. Between the two are maybe 30-60 seconds at most.
One guy was wrestling his homemade mask from his pocket and had to untangle it from a used kleenex before putting it on. :x
Obviously, I can only speak for my part of town.
I hope someone who lives in a busier areas has been paying attention to how much people care about corona. Maybe a half hour of people watching a day. Counting the masks and people stopping for a chat.
I want to see the graph. It would be a slow and gradual increase with a sudden spike upwards which then withers over the weeks.
I've observed, even felt myself, going to the shop just doesn't seem the life or death emergency it once did.
People do keep distance in supermarkets, though. Which makes "waiting till the other person stops browsing what I want to browse" a lot more awkward. :D
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2020, 03:49:58 AM
People do keep distance in supermarkets, though. Which makes "waiting till the other person stops browsing what I want to browse" a lot more awkward. :D
I haven't seen that at all here. People queue properly outside, but once in they just behave as normal.
Particularly annoying are those with kids. The children just run around all over the place.
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2020, 03:49:58 AM
People do keep distance in supermarkets, though. Which makes "waiting till the other person stops browsing what I want to browse" a lot more awkward. :D
Same awkwardness here. A local Tesco had switched to one-way only routes through their aisles...which to me seemed somewhat stupid. It basically forces you to walk through every aisle in the store, and had me come in closer contact with far more people than I would during a shopping trip under normal conditions.
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2020, 03:49:58 AM
People do keep distance in supermarkets, though. Which makes "waiting till the other person stops browsing what I want to browse" a lot more awkward. :D
Yeah, I just stare at people choosing between brands then give them a pitying, judgmental look, whatever they pick. Sometimes they even put it back :lol:
Quote from: Tyr on April 21, 2020, 03:51:51 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2020, 03:49:58 AM
People do keep distance in supermarkets, though. Which makes "waiting till the other person stops browsing what I want to browse" a lot more awkward. :D
I haven't seen that at all here. People queue properly outside, but once in they just behave as normal.
Particularly annoying are those with kids. The children just run around all over the place.
Grocery stores here have signs that say "please one person per household" which tries to limit kids, and amount of people in store. We do have that akwardness of waiting until someone finishes browsing first. I do forget sometimes. Some aisles also have "one way signs"
I didn't encounter any kids while shopping today, except one sitting in the shopping cart's kid seat. Only one couple shopping, too.
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2020, 03:49:58 AM
People do keep distance in supermarkets, though. Which makes "waiting till the other person stops browsing what I want to browse" a lot more awkward. :D
Hehe, I noticed that especially early this morning during senior hours shopping. Before people would sometimes walk right past me without distancing.
First time grocery shopping in a couple of weeks as I had enough to get by. I did spend a bit more but was out of a few things like fresh meat/chicken.
I noticed today a guy was practicing his golf swing in the communal backyard (which I guess is somewhat smaller than a tennis court in size).
I've not seen a one way system but people generally try and keep their distance in the supermarkets round me.
But there, in the parks and everywhere else parents with young kids do look more harried than normal as they try to look after children and keep them 2m from everyone else :lol:
My supermarket has the corridors marked one way with arrows, which makes sense so people don't pass close by each other. But I get amused a bit as sometimes I have to pass the aisle I want, go down an adjacent one, to move into the aisle I want in the right direction. :)
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 09:41:43 AM
My supermarket has the corridors marked one way with arrows, which makes sense so people don't pass close by each other. But I get amused a bit as sometimes I have to pass the aisle I want, go down an adjacent one, to move into the aisle I want in the right direction. :)
The solution ---- stop/traffic lights inside supermarkets and malls? :D
I bought a new bicycle. Still hasn't been delivered. Hope I get it before May.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 21, 2020, 10:28:56 AM
I bought a new bicycle. Still hasn't been delivered. Hope I get it before May.
:cool:
Good luck with it and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Quote from: mongers on April 21, 2020, 10:28:32 AM
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 09:41:43 AM
My supermarket has the corridors marked one way with arrows, which makes sense so people don't pass close by each other. But I get amused a bit as sometimes I have to pass the aisle I want, go down an adjacent one, to move into the aisle I want in the right direction. :)
The solution ---- stop/traffic lights inside supermarkets and malls? :D
:D
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 09:41:43 AM
My supermarket has the corridors marked one way with arrows, which makes sense so people don't pass close by each other. But I get amused a bit as sometimes I have to pass the aisle I want, go down an adjacent one, to move into the aisle I want in the right direction. :)
Is there a map app for phones? :D
I see a lot of cases of good intentions going bad. For example, someone is keeping their social distance on the checkout line, but at the cost of standing in the middle of the aisle entry/exit. Anyone who wants to get to the aisle has to rub up against them. :hmm: I'm also still skeptical of the concept of limiting the number of people in the store by making them wait outside. There is not a whole lot of social distancing going there, and not a lot of mask wearing either (at least now it's mandatory to wear masks inside the store).
Quote from: DGuller on April 21, 2020, 11:18:59 AM
I see a lot of cases of good intentions going bad. For example, someone is keeping their social distance on the checkout line, but at the cost of standing in the middle of the aisle entry/exit. Anyone who wants to get to the aisle has to rub up against them. :hmm: I'm also still skeptical of the concept of limiting the number of people in the store by making them wait outside. There is not a whole lot of social distancing going there, and not a lot of mask wearing either (at least now it's mandatory to wear masks inside the store).
Over here there are marks on the sidewalk outside stores so people keep safe distance while in a queue. What I find that truly doesn't work is keeping safe distance inside smaller stores. Event with reduced capacity, the aisles are just too narrow/short.
To be honest even with masks, gloves and social distancing I'm firmly convinced grocery stores are the largest vectors of infection right now.
Quote from: celedhring on April 21, 2020, 11:31:00 AM
Quote from: DGuller on April 21, 2020, 11:18:59 AM
I see a lot of cases of good intentions going bad. For example, someone is keeping their social distance on the checkout line, but at the cost of standing in the middle of the aisle entry/exit. Anyone who wants to get to the aisle has to rub up against them. :hmm: I'm also still skeptical of the concept of limiting the number of people in the store by making them wait outside. There is not a whole lot of social distancing going there, and not a lot of mask wearing either (at least now it's mandatory to wear masks inside the store).
Over here there are marks on the sidewalk outside stores so people keep safe distance while in a queue. What I find that truly doesn't work is keeping safe distance inside smaller stores. Event with reduced capacity, the aisles are just too narrow/short.
To be honest even with masks, gloves and social distancing I'm firmly convinced grocery stores are the largest vectors of infection right now.
Well certainly one of the biggest and I think you're right about the outside queues.
For myself, if the supermarket I want shop in has any form of queue, I'll walk by and go home, then try again later.
I don't see the point of adding the risk of an extra 5-10 minutes in an uncontrolled environment, when I know during a quiter time I'm in and out of the shop in 1-3 minutes. Sometimes just a few 10s of seconds.
Quote from: celedhring on April 21, 2020, 11:31:00 AM
Over here there are marks on the sidewalk outside stores so people keep safe distance while in a queue. What I find that truly doesn't work is keeping safe distance inside smaller stores. Event with reduced capacity, the aisles are just too narrow/short.
Same here on both counts.
Quote from: celedhring on April 21, 2020, 11:31:00 AM
To be honest even with masks, gloves and social distancing I'm firmly convinced grocery stores are the largest vectors of infection right now.
Hospitals are probably worse. And the other big vector should be public transport.
Quote from: Iormlund on April 21, 2020, 12:17:50 PM
Quote from: celedhring on April 21, 2020, 11:31:00 AM
To be honest even with masks, gloves and social distancing I'm firmly convinced grocery stores are the largest vectors of infection right now.
Hospitals are probably worse. And the other big vector should be public transport.
Unless you take the bus at night where there is a grand total of one user (you).
Metros ending sooner means there is always more people.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on April 21, 2020, 12:25:34 PM
Unless you take the bus at night where there is a grand total of one user (you).
Metros ending sooner means there is always more people.
You can still get it if nobody is there though. There was one case I remember of a patient in China whose infection was traced to a person who left the bus half an hour before he/she took it.
My brother is a surgeon who had been assigned to his hospitals Covid 19 taskforce. But there were never enough patients, so he basically idled for four weeks. Next week they will restart regular surgery.
It's a good thing that you guys are weathering the storm. At least some of us will have a plan B. :P
The Midrealm, my former kingdom in the SCA based in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and part of Kentucky, made a quarantine video. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5gyMUKRwqI
These are my people. :wub:
Nasal helms with aventails. :wub:
I approve of the music choice as well.
This is Meridies' response video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHRE5UMudTc
They're in Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida panhandle.
And I've no idea who made this, but it's cute. :)
EDIT: Oh, it's Glenn Abhenn, which is Mississippi and Louisiana.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pZviHdwYOY
Quote from: Syt on April 21, 2020, 11:13:08 AM
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 09:41:43 AM
My supermarket has the corridors marked one way with arrows, which makes sense so people don't pass close by each other. But I get amused a bit as sometimes I have to pass the aisle I want, go down an adjacent one, to move into the aisle I want in the right direction. :)
Is there a map app for phones? :D
Hehe, given that many stores are doing the same with one way aisles, maybe someone will make an app!
One other thing I notice is that I get far fewer spam and robo calls on my home phone and cell. I find that great but odd, as I don't know why spammers are affected? Or maybe their employees can't or won't work because of the shutdowns and lockouts, or they refuse to work.
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 06:44:23 PM
One other thing I notice is that I get far fewer spam and robo calls on my home phone and cell. I find that great but odd, as I don't know why spammers are affected? Or maybe their employees can't or won't work because of the shutdowns and lockouts, or they refuse to work.
You know I wouldn't have thought about this, but for you mentioning it. And you're right, I haven't had any either. A small cause for celebration during the lockdown. :cheers:
Quote from: mongers on April 21, 2020, 06:58:58 PM
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 06:44:23 PM
One other thing I notice is that I get far fewer spam and robo calls on my home phone and cell. I find that great but odd, as I don't know why spammers are affected? Or maybe their employees can't or won't work because of the shutdowns and lockouts, or they refuse to work.
You know I wouldn't have thought about this, but for you mentioning it. And you're right, I haven't had any either. A small cause for celebration during the lockdown. :cheers:
Indeed! :)
I never answer them unless I know who it's from with caller ID. I don't think I've gotten any on my cell phone in at least the last week, though I get fewer on that.
Well, my wife and I recovered from COVID-19, luckily it didn't affect us too severely. I had fever for 8 days, my wife had fever for 2 weeks and some mild respiratory problems.
Good to hear.
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 21, 2020, 08:17:16 PM
Well, my wife and I recovered from COVID-19, luckily it didn't affect us too severely. I had fever for 8 days, my wife had fever for 2 weeks and some mild respiratory problems.
Good news. :)
Though I fear some of us won't be as lucky, as you say you were.
Good to hear Hans. Glad you both recovered ok, though you both were sick for a while.
I wonder if I had Covid in mid-January. I had a sore throat and congestion for a few days over the long Martin Luther King Holiday weekend. At the time I figured just a cold or something and likely a cold is what it was.
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 21, 2020, 08:17:16 PM
Well, my wife and I recovered from COVID-19, luckily it didn't affect us too severely. I had fever for 8 days, my wife had fever for 2 weeks and some mild respiratory problems.
:cheers:
Just received the Ok to go to plant from the doc. Got assigned a meeting room* as a makeshift office for myself so contact should be minimal.
* All meetings are now to take place via Skype.
PS. Good to hear that Hans!
Quote from: Iormlund on April 21, 2020, 01:36:07 PM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on April 21, 2020, 12:25:34 PM
Unless you take the bus at night where there is a grand total of one user (you).
Metros ending sooner means there is always more people.
You can still get it if nobody is there though. There was one case I remember of a patient in China whose infection was traced to a person who left the bus half an hour before he/she took it.
Assuming it's not airborne, bus stop buttons are indeed traps. Plus whatever handlebars people. So either bus drivers stop at each station or gentle elbowing to minimise exposure.
The buses over here are preferred by the elderly over metro hard stairs so I can see how it could become a death trap. I still see some taking it for a couple of stops, because they can hardly walk.
Quote from: KRonn on April 21, 2020, 06:44:23 PM
One other thing I notice is that I get far fewer spam and robo calls on my home phone and cell. I find that great but odd, as I don't know why spammers are affected? Or maybe their employees can't or won't work because of the shutdowns and lockouts, or they refuse to work.
I hear people saying the same, and I'm jealous. I'm getting as many Credit Card Rate Reduction, Car Warranty, and whatever the hell they're saying in Chinese calls on my cellphone as I did pre-Covid.
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 21, 2020, 08:17:16 PM
Well, my wife and I recovered from COVID-19, luckily it didn't affect us too severely. I had fever for 8 days, my wife had fever for 2 weeks and some mild respiratory problems.
Glad to hear it. Can you spare some antibodies? :P
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 21, 2020, 08:17:16 PM
Well, my wife and I recovered from COVID-19, luckily it didn't affect us too severely. I had fever for 8 days, my wife had fever for 2 weeks and some mild respiratory problems.
:punk:
Quote from: Iormlund on April 22, 2020, 03:10:54 AM
Just received the Ok to go to plant from the doc. Got assigned a meeting room* as a makeshift office for myself so contact should be minimal.
* All meetings are now to take place via Skype.
First day went pretty well.
The (10) cotton masks we got are a bit crappy and we'll need to find a way to secure them in place (I'm thinking wire). But at least everyone was wearing either those or some other kind of mask (surgical, n95) and generally following the safety distancing guidelines. Lots of work going on to isolate each worker in time for restart of production this Monday. We seem to be well-stocked of gel, pre-set routes have been marked on the floor, we're drafting new operating procedures, 3D printing a lot more visors and implementing automated temperature readings prior to entry.
All in all pretty good impression. Though only a reduced and "elite" part of the staff were present (engineers, techs, supervisors and lead operators) so we'll see how it goes when more people show up.
Also a surprising amount of people have given up smoking. :)
Quote from: Iormlund on April 22, 2020, 05:19:07 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on April 22, 2020, 03:10:54 AM
Just received the Ok to go to plant from the doc. Got assigned a meeting room* as a makeshift office for myself so contact should be minimal.
* All meetings are now to take place via Skype.
First day went pretty well.
The (10) cotton masks we got are a bit crappy and we'll need to find a way to secure them in place (I'm thinking wire). But at least everyone was wearing either those or some other kind of mask (surgical, n95) and generally following the safety distancing guidelines. Lots of work going on to isolate each worker in time for restart of production this Monday. We seem to be well-stocked of gel, pre-set routes have been marked on the floor, we're drafting new operating procedures, 3D printing a lot more visors and implementing automated temperature readings prior to entry.
All in all pretty good impression. Though only a reduced and "elite" part of the staff were present (engineers, techs, supervisors and lead operators) so we'll see how it goes when more people show up.
Also a surprising amount of people have given up smoking. :)
Sounds good Iorm and weird to think people are now having to carefully think out everyday inactions in a way not seen before.
Also, good on those giving up smoking; personal, societal and health service benefits all round.
At the risk of offending Zoupa with my whining...
The last couple of days have been particularly hard. I don't know why. Maybe because it's already a shit season for me? I don't know. Spring is my least favorite for a lot of reasons that generally begin and end with men fucking me over this time of year. And allergies. Regardless, this year follows the pattern of the last three years, only worse because it's affecting everyone.
Given half a chance, I'd lose myself in wine, ice cream, sleep, and hot baths, but since that's not an option, I'm going to muddle through until I can hole up in my room and cry myself to sleep.
Also, as a public service announcement, Uber Eats delivers Dairy Queen. Yer welcome.
We don't have Uber eats here, so fuck you. :(
Quote from: katmai on April 22, 2020, 08:21:06 PM
We don't have Uber eats here, so fuck you. :(
Bugger eats aren't here either.
I have a doctor tele-appointment tomorrow, just a phone call actually. For an issue with my ankle, probably tendinitis in my Achilles heel. Today also I had to re-schedule an appointment with another doc from this week to July. My primary care doctor office has been open though not very active.
I spoke to a neighbor/friend who is a cop. His wife is a nurse, says they're really busy with Covid. If someone is on a respirator for it then it could be a week or several weeks, where if the flu requires a respirator it's for a much shorter time.
A co-worker who's son is a nurse says that his hospital is finding it hard to get staffed as some people are afraid to work. Probably those with existing conditions that make them more susceptible to Covid. Can't blame them.
My health care company is still doing furloughs for people who aren't essential, including medical people who aren't working on Covid. Same at many other medical facilities. A friend at a big Boston hospital says his place is also furloughing or laying off many people. He's in IT support but considered essential for what he does.
Quote from: katmai on April 22, 2020, 08:21:06 PM
We don't have Uber eats here, so fuck you. :(
Guess you're going to have to go get it yourself.
Quote from: merithyn on April 22, 2020, 09:14:50 PM
Quote from: katmai on April 22, 2020, 08:21:06 PM
We don't have Uber eats here, so fuck you. :(
Guess you're going to have to go get it yourself.
Chill, Meri. I have seen him when he is hungry, it is not something to face lightly.
I've always wanted to get DQ fast food. The DQ here is only sells the ice cream products.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 23, 2020, 08:58:07 AM
I've always wanted to get DQ fast food. The DQ here is only sells the ice cream products.
Don't bother. Maybe the worst chain burger on offer. IIRC it's because Yum! fucks up any companies they take over.
A pity, because I thought they made a good burger when I was a kid.
I've never been a huge fan of DQ's food. They even managed to screw up a hotdog last time I got something from there.
Some local places here are stepping up their carryout game though and have updated their menu with some good family-sized meals. I'm eating more restaurant food than I ever have, in an effort to try and help my favorite places stay afloat.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 23, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 23, 2020, 08:58:07 AM
I've always wanted to get DQ fast food. The DQ here is only sells the ice cream products.
Don't bother. Maybe the worst chain burger on offer. IIRC it's because Yum! fucks up any companies they take over.
A pity, because I thought they made a good burger when I was a kid.
Yum! doesn't own DQ. They bought A&W and totally fucked that up, so maybe that's what you are thinking of. I do agree with your general sentiment about Yum! and like to refer to it as 'Restaurant Destroyer'. :)
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 23, 2020, 08:58:07 AM
I've always wanted to get DQ fast food. The DQ here is only sells the ice cream products.
Also I agree that the burgers at DQ suck, but I really like their chicken tenders, and at least down here you can get sawmill gravy to dip them in. :cool:
Quote from: Caliga on April 23, 2020, 11:45:43 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 23, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 23, 2020, 08:58:07 AM
I've always wanted to get DQ fast food. The DQ here is only sells the ice cream products.
Don't bother. Maybe the worst chain burger on offer. IIRC it's because Yum! fucks up any companies they take over.
A pity, because I thought they made a good burger when I was a kid.
Yum! doesn't own DQ. They bought A&W and totally fucked that up, so maybe that's what you are thinking of. I do agree with your general sentiment about Yum! and like to refer to it as 'Restaurant Destroyer'. :)
A&W Canada is awesome though - though it's an independent company oddly enough. A&W is the 4th largest chain restaurant in Canada (behind Tim Hortons, Subway, and McDonalds).
Lately they really stress the quality of their ingredients - that it's raised without hormones and steroids.
Yes, right, I should have clarified that Yum! doesn't own (and hence has failed to destroy) A&W Canada. I did know that but failed to mention it as Canadians are rarely worthy of mention. :sleep:
Yum! doesn't own A&E (ROTW) either. Apparently it was sold to a consortium of franchisees in 2011.
Although as I look at the wiki page, the one thing A&E (ROTW) has that Canada doesn't is the Great Root Bear mascot. That darn bear was even invented in Canada (together with the tuba theme) and imported into the US, but the Canadian chain hasn't used him in a couple of decades.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 23, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 23, 2020, 08:58:07 AM
I've always wanted to get DQ fast food. The DQ here is only sells the ice cream products.
Don't bother. Maybe the worst chain burger on offer. IIRC it's because Yum! fucks up any companies they take over.
A pity, because I thought they made a good burger when I was a kid.
The DQ burger is my favorite fast food burger.
Quote from: Barrister on April 23, 2020, 12:25:07 PM
Yum! doesn't own A&E (ROTW) either. Apparently it was sold to a consortium of franchisees in 2011.
Yeah I know, I guess I also should have mentioned the sale. They sold off Long John Silvers at the same time. I believe A&W is now based in Lexington, KY, and Long John Silvers is based in Louisville. In fact, Long John Silver's corporate HQ occupies my company's old corporate office, and their Treasurer is sitting in my old office. :D I only know that because a former admin of mine now works there.
I'd like to imagine their treasurer's office really went big on pirate theming.
Remember when Long John Silver's had a little dignity? 😀
https://twitter.com/Super70sSports/status/1249876624289533953?s=19
Quote from: derspiess on April 23, 2020, 05:20:27 PM
I'd like to imagine their treasurer's office really went big on pirate theming.
How do you make an old HR office exciting?
Just figured out my personal secret to low effort house cleaning. Keep your projects limited in size. One room a day. :)
I'm making potato pancakes. I've played war Thunder for 5 days straight and talked to all the people I haven't seen for twenty or thirty years on facetime. The walls are closing in.
Quote from: fromtia on April 24, 2020, 04:51:58 PM
I'm making potato pancakes. I've played war Thunder for 5 days straight and talked to all the people I haven't seen for twenty or thirty years on facetime. The walls are closing in.
:D :(
My sleep cycle has moved 24 hours through the clock face the last 12 days or so. I've read the natural human sleep cycle is about 24.4 hours long. Tested in undersea conditions.
I've been finding all these odd little places in my neighborhood - the other day I found a somewhat-hidden trail that runs under some hydro lines - it runs for quite a long way, bounded on one side by people's back yards and on the other side by some rail tracks, and is basically deserted. At one end it sort of peters out into a bunch of untended brush, and on the other it crosses a major road and appeared to disappear- but as it turns out, it has a pretty well hidden entrance and continues all the way to the Humber.
It's weird, because you are so close to a bustling city, yet it is utterly deserted by people. At the end where it meets the river, there is an awesome view, as you are on top of a high cliff overlooking the river - I could see no way to get down, and the only way to cross was to walk over he rail bridge, which looked like a seriously bad idea.
My life's not radically different. Most of my habits are the same. There are just more people here throughout the day.
Quote from: Malthus on April 24, 2020, 07:18:15 PM
I've been finding all these odd little places in my neighborhood - the other day I found a somewhat-hidden trail that runs under some hydro lines - it runs for quite a long way, bounded on one side by people's back yards and on the other side by some rail tracks, and is basically deserted. At one end it sort of peters out into a bunch of untended brush, and on the other it crosses a major road and appeared to disappear- but as it turns out, it has a pretty well hidden entrance and continues all the way to the Humber.
It's weird, because you are so close to a bustling city, yet it is utterly deserted by people. At the end where it meets the river, there is an awesome view, as you are on top of a high cliff overlooking the river - I could see no way to get down, and the only way to cross was to walk over he rail bridge, which looked like a seriously bad idea.
:cool:
Nice hidden place exploring, Malthus.
I've sort of been doing a bit of this, went to a part of the forest here, just 4-5 miles away that I'd never been to before, because it's not on the way to anywhere I usually go.
But now my horizons are limited to the local 5-10 miles, I guess I'll have do some more exploring like you.
Quote from: Malthus on April 24, 2020, 07:18:15 PM
I've been finding all these odd little places in my neighborhood - the other day I found a somewhat-hidden trail that runs under some hydro lines - it runs for quite a long way, bounded on one side by people's back yards and on the other side by some rail tracks, and is basically deserted. At one end it sort of peters out into a bunch of untended brush, and on the other it crosses a major road and appeared to disappear- but as it turns out, it has a pretty well hidden entrance and continues all the way to the Humber.
It's weird, because you are so close to a bustling city, yet it is utterly deserted by people. At the end where it meets the river, there is an awesome view, as you are on top of a high cliff overlooking the river - I could see no way to get down, and the only way to cross was to walk over he rail bridge, which looked like a seriously bad idea.
Cool. :)
If I go back, I'll take some pics. It's an interesting deserted place, the more do as one side of the trail is bounded by a bunch of condo constructions that are on hold at the moment.
I got slightly sunburnt at work. :blush:
I'm pale as it is, and after a month cooped up in the dark I clearly enjoyed the outdoors break-"room" a little too much.
I noticed I have some slight photosensitivity, particularly after I wake up. This hadn't happened to me in decades, my eyes always have adjusted quickly.
Successfully moved house in spite of the lockdown. Will be camping for a while as the shops being closed has messed things up and the old owners left it a pig stye so most of the prep time was cleaning. But woo.
:w00t: Congrats! :hug:
Quote from: Tyr on April 25, 2020, 04:44:31 PM
Successfully moved house in spite of the lockdown. Will be camping for a while as the shops being closed gas messed things up and the old owners left it a pig stye so most of the prep time was cleaning. But woo.
Congratulations Tyr.:cheers:
You're probably one of only a dozen people who managed it this week. :)
Today is the 75th anniversary of Austria regaining its independence (it's not a holiday, that's 26th October, because on that day in 1955 the Allies withdrew and Austria regained full sovereignty).
For the small official act at Hofburg, the Austrian military wore facemasks:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWm0THFWAAEao5I?format=jpg&name=900x900)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWmOnYiXYAA-jsp?format=jpg&name=medium)
Those look really cool. :cool:
Ohio is going to start to open back up. Medical procedures not requiring an overnight stay can start May 1. Manufacturing, distribution & construction can open May 4 (I thought construction was already allowed). On May 12 all retail can open, but we all have to wear those dumb masks.
Restaurants, gyms, and salons are to remain closed. So I can't get my hair did :(
Quote from: Syt on April 27, 2020, 02:05:47 PM(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWmOnYiXYAA-jsp?format=jpg&name=medium)
:lol: They call their contribution to the Second World War "Kampf für Österreichs Freiheit"? That reminds me of Peter Struck's "Deutschlands Freiheit wird am Hindukusch verteidigt". Or is that actually for some kind of Austrian Resistance that I never heard of so far?
It reminds me of Tony Judt opening Postwar with a two-footed challenge on Austria:
"After Germany was defeated Austria fell into the Western camp and was assigned the status of Hitler's 'first victim'. This stroke of doubly unmerited good fortune authorised Vienna to exorcise its past. Its Nazi allegiance conveniently forgotten, the Austrian capital - a 'Western' city surrounded by Soviet 'eastern' Europe - acquired a new identity as outrider and exemplar of the free world."
Quote from: Zanza on April 27, 2020, 03:22:15 PM
:lol: They call their contribution to the Second World War "Kampf für Österreichs Freiheit"? That reminds me of Peter Struck's "Deutschlands Freiheit wird am Hindukusch verteidigt". Or is that actually for some kind of Austrian Resistance that I never heard of so far?
Wikipedia says it is the latter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96sterreichische_Freiheitsfront (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96sterreichische_Freiheitsfront)
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 27, 2020, 03:43:15 PM
It reminds me of Tony Judt opening Postwar with a two-footed challenge on Austria:
"After Germany was defeated Austria fell into the Western camp and was assigned the status of Hitler's 'first victim'. This stroke of doubly unmerited good fortune authorised Vienna to exorcise its past. Its Nazi allegiance conveniently forgotten, the Austrian capital - a 'Western' city surrounded by Soviet 'eastern' Europe - acquired a new identity as outrider and exemplar of the free world."
He also goes on to observe that Austria supplied more SS men and camp guards than Germany per capita. Austria sucks in that way.
Yes, it refers to Austrian independence from Germany. Needless to say, Austria's relationship with the period is complicated. For a long time they liked to style themselves as "Hitler's first victim", and only since the 70s/80s has that view changed. But whether there should be a monument to honor Wehrmacht deserters was still a big controversy a few years ago.
Why was that controversial?
I hope they made it in the end.
Yeah, they erected it. Looks like an X-Files fansite, though. :P
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj6Utub9Zl8/VEvCZ4iB5oI/AAAAAAAABQg/yjjR-rg4z2E/s1600/plomperg%2Bdeserteursdenkmal.jpg)
Officially, it's "Memorial for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_for_the_Victims_of_Nazi_Military_Justice
Criticism came mostly from (unsurprisingly) the right and especially conservative military circles arguing that desertion is a crime in every military of the world and is not just a dereliction of duty against the country, but also against one's brothers in arms and should therefore not be honored.
Gov. DeWine changed course and said customers will not be required to wear masks in stores, just employees. I will probably wear one if I can find something that doesn't look too dorky.
Quote from: derspiess on April 28, 2020, 01:55:49 PM
Gov. DeWine changed course and said customers will not be required to wear masks in stores, just employees. I will probably wear one if I can find something that doesn't look too dorky.
Seems like a dumb decision. If people really want to exit lockdown as fast as possible, mandatory mask wearing for everyone is the way to go. Starting a second wave is not an effective way to return to business as usual.
Quote from: derspiess on April 28, 2020, 01:55:49 PM
Gov. DeWine changed course and said customers will not be required to wear masks in stores, just employees. I will probably wear one if I can find something that doesn't look too dorky.
So you can get them sick but then they are less likely to get the other customers sick. Makes sense.
Went shopping and took the subway for the first time in almost 7 weeks (two stops, though I have to change trains). For it being 8:20 am on a weekday both trains were deserted like on an early Sunday morning.
The supermarket I went to is in the basement of a (currently closed) department store on Vienna's main shopping street. It connects directly to the subway and you pass it when you go from subway to the store. It has a street level entrance but it's not well marked. Alternatively, you can access it by driving into the parking garage.
That said, while it was far from empty, it was nowhere near as busy as it normally is. I like going there because of the range of products on offer, but I dislike how busy it normally is. I presume their somewhat unique location hits them harder than supermarkets that you can access directly from the street and which are frequented at near normal levels AFAICT.
Quote from: derspiess on April 27, 2020, 02:48:26 PM
Ohio is going to start to open back up. Medical procedures not requiring an overnight stay can start May 1. Manufacturing, distribution & construction can open May 4 (I thought construction was already allowed). On May 12 all retail can open, but we all have to wear those dumb masks.
Restaurants, gyms, and salons are to remain closed. So I can't get my hair did :(
Massachusetts Governor just extended the shutdown to at least May 18. This state is about in the middle of the curve of virus cases.
I did some grocery shopping this morning at 6am, during my local Stop and Shop senior hours. Last week meat and chicken were scarce, no burger and little chicken. Just some pork and not much of that. This week it was full up with everything, a bit to my surprise. I've been wanting to make a meat loaf or hamburgers so I bought two one pound packages of burger. Limit on fresh meat was two but I wouldn't have bought anything else anyway.
No hand sanitizer. Milk case was stocked pretty well. Paper aisle was low as usual but I bought a small pack of toilet paper, as I was getting a bit low on that.
The strap on my mask broke as I was checking out in the self service line. I have some new and some old face masks that I had for doing household and outside work, such as mowing lawn during allergy season. Some masks are just old, elastic straps getting weak, so I discarded those. Also bought some other type masks on Amazon and waiting for those to arrive. I looked for made in the US on those.
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2020, 02:36:07 AM
Went shopping and took the subway for the first time in almost 7 weeks (two stops, though I have to change trains). For it being 8:20 am on a weekday both trains were deserted like on an early Sunday morning.
The supermarket I went to is in the basement of a (currently closed) department store on Vienna's main shopping street. It connects directly to the subway and you pass it when you go from subway to the store. It has a street level entrance but it's not well marked. Alternatively, you can access it by driving into the parking garage.
....
Syt, that was brave of you, I think I'm going to swear off public transport for the duration.
Quote from: KRonn on April 29, 2020, 06:52:11 AM
I did some grocery shopping this morning at 6am, during my local Stop and Shop senior hours. Last week meat and chicken were scarce, no burger and little chicken. Just some pork and not much of that. This week it was full up with everything, a bit to my surprise. I've been wanting to make a meat loaf or hamburgers so I bought two one pound packages of burger. Limit on fresh meat was two but I wouldn't have bought anything else anyway.
No hand sanitizer. Milk case was stocked pretty well. Paper aisle was low as usual but I bought a small pack of toilet paper, as I was getting a bit low on that.
The strap on my mask broke as I was checking out in the self service line. I have some new and some old face masks that I had for doing household and outside work, such as mowing lawn during allergy season. Some masks are just old, elastic straps getting weak, so I discarded those. Also bought some other type masks on Amazon and waiting for those to arrive. I looked for made in the US on those.
So someone's keeping those meat packing plants going. :D
Here it's still certain categories that are in short supply, like most things to do with home baking. Though last night I popped out to a nearby supermarket 10mins before close and it had no end of eggs, something that's been like hens teeth for the last month or more. :hmm:
Yes I should follow you example and start wearing a mask whilst shopping, if only for others sake.
I've been wearing a mask, for my own good and especially out of consideration of others.
We are expecting shortages of meat and pork as some facilities have shut down due to workers with Covid.
Quote from: KRonn on April 29, 2020, 10:04:32 AM
I've been wearing a mask, for my own good and especially out of consideration of others.
We are expecting shortages of meat and pork as some facilities have shut down due to workers with Covid.
I felt really awkward wearing a mask at first, I go to the grocery store about once every ten days for potatoes and rice (lols) but once I grasped the mask isn't for me, it's for the people who work in the store I felt bolder.
I felt pretty much the same way, felt odd wearing a mask. I have some newer ones to wear, and ordered some more on line. Most people that I encounter are wearing them but not everyone. But in some parts of Boston, namely Cambridge and Somerville, there are hefty fines for not wearing one. Also required in a few other towns/cities, like Lawrence.
Quote from: KRonn on April 29, 2020, 10:29:25 AM
I felt pretty much the same way, felt odd wearing a mask. I have some newer ones to wear, and ordered some more on line. Most people that I encounter are wearing them but not everyone. But in some parts of Boston, namely Cambridge and Somerville, there are hefty fines for not wearing one. Also required in a few other towns/cities, like Lawrence.
Here in St.Augustine, FL, when I go to the store its about 50/50 maybe? As my purse strings have tightened I've gone from Publix to Wal Mart and Aldi. About 50/50 mask versus non mask across the board. I've made perhaps two trips to the local Lowes and it was about the same. All the stores have sneeze guards and one way systems and lots of disinfecting of carts and so forth.
I have a couple gaiters/balaclavas/masks/wraps/whatever I ordered from Amazon that should be here hopefully Saturday. Most of what was available had some jingoistic design/slogan on it or was camo, so I had to click through to find something plain-ish.
Thought about getting a Gadsden flag one or somesuch just to post on here about, but the truth is I'm not much on drawing attention to myself in public.
I admit I felt really weird going into a gas station wearing a mask. "I'm not here to rob you, I just need a soda."
Quote from: Razgovory on April 29, 2020, 12:16:18 PM
I admit I felt really weird going into a gas station wearing a mask. "I'm not here to rob you, I just need a soda."
Two years ago, the government introduced a ban on wearing face cover in public. This week the conservative interior minister announced that participants at demonstrations must wear masks. :lol:
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2020, 12:19:33 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 29, 2020, 12:16:18 PM
I admit I felt really weird going into a gas station wearing a mask. "I'm not here to rob you, I just need a soda."
Two years ago, the government introduced a ban on wearing face cover in public. This week the conservative interior minister announced that participants at demonstrations must wear masks. :lol:
This has been noted in the UK - especially by some young Muslim women reporters :lol:
Quote from: Syt on April 29, 2020, 12:19:33 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 29, 2020, 12:16:18 PM
I admit I felt really weird going into a gas station wearing a mask. "I'm not here to rob you, I just need a soda."
Two years ago, the government introduced a ban on wearing face cover in public. This week the conservative interior minister announced that participants at demonstrations must wear masks. :lol:
In Germany wearing masks at demonstrations is still forbidden. I guess the police's ability to identify protesters is somehow more important than their health. :rolleyes:
Tomorrow I am taking a day off. This might not seem like much, but this is the first time since the Shelter in Place orders that I have been able to take a moment. Setting up the PPE storage and distribution for the campus, changing over to receiving all the UPS and Fedex, trying my best to take care of the 5 workers I have.
I am mentally exhausted by this. Emotionally I am a beaten dog.
Still haven't been able to buy a single mask. Three orders from Amazon for the disposable ones were cancelled after a week. Finally, I just went with the washable cloth kind, because they were supposed to deliver in three days. Today was the third day, and i just got notified that delivery would be made May 12. <_<
I see lots of people walking around in masks. How are they getting them? Is there some secret store that i just don't know about?
Quote from: PDH on April 30, 2020, 08:28:51 PM
I am mentally exhausted by this. Emotionally I am a beaten dog.
This too shall pass. Hang on old bean.
Quote from: grumbler on April 30, 2020, 08:54:10 PM
I see lots of people walking around in masks. How are they getting them? Is there some secret store that i just don't know about?
I've been using the same one for weeks. I only use it maybe once a week for 45 minutes to get groceries, but I think it's more of an enviromental hazard at this point than anything else. My girlfriends mother is a pharmacists assistant, she got us the mask in early march, and brings us toilet paper from time to time.
I get one free with every dialysis treatment.
I treat them like office supplies, so I take them home.
I've got a few masks I got in early February and the washable cloth ones my employer got us (each employee gets 10). A surprising amount of colleagues are using surgical or N95 masks, so there must be some way of acquiring them.
As part of the disinfection process I leave masks exposed to sunlight for a few hours after each use.
Quote from: grumbler on April 30, 2020, 08:54:10 PM
Still haven't been able to buy a single mask. Three orders from Amazon for the disposable ones were cancelled after a week. Finally, I just went with the washable cloth kind, because they were supposed to deliver in three days. Today was the third day, and i just got notified that delivery would be made May 12. <_<
I see lots of people walking around in masks. How are they getting them? Is there some secret store that i just don't know about?
Gray market would be my guess. In NYC area you can buy them in many stores, regardless of what merchandise they usually deal in, or even from street merchants, as long as you're willing to pay $1-$1.5 per surgical mask. The shadier the neighborhood, the more available they are.
Well, both my wife and I are fully recovered and back to work.
Quote from: PDH on April 30, 2020, 08:28:51 PM
Tomorrow I am taking a day off. This might not seem like much, but this is the first time since the Shelter in Place orders that I have been able to take a moment. Setting up the PPE storage and distribution for the campus, changing over to receiving all the UPS and Fedex, trying my best to take care of the 5 workers I have.
I am mentally exhausted by this. Emotionally I am a beaten dog.
:(
I'm so sorry, my friend. I truly am.
Quote from: grumbler on April 30, 2020, 08:54:10 PM
Still haven't been able to buy a single mask. Three orders from Amazon for the disposable ones were cancelled after a week. Finally, I just went with the washable cloth kind, because they were supposed to deliver in three days. Today was the third day, and i just got notified that delivery would be made May 12. <_<
I see lots of people walking around in masks. How are they getting them? Is there some secret store that i just don't know about?
I made mine, and about a dozen others for friends. I know there are a ton of sellers on Etsy if you don't know anyone who sews.
You can now buy surgical and FFP1 (sometimes FFP2) masks in normal shops here (like Aldi or Lidl), but they cost a lot and you can only buy small amounts and they are often sold out. Masks are mandatory in super markets here now and as far as I can tell, everybody is wearing them - except the cashiers who are behind glass now.
The company I work for has bought a machine to make 100k+ masks per day. I guess they will add more such machines in our international locations to protect the assembly line workers.
Cheapest I've seen is 50 for EUR 30 here. Or 3 for 10, if you want washable cloth ones.
Meanwhile, in Vienna: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austria/comments/gb58qs/wenn_der_fernseher_während_der_quarantäne_den/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
They are sold on pharmacies over here (IIRC, packs of 5 of the disposable kind), and my mom bought some reusable ones at a nearby medical supplies shop that was advertising them.
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 30, 2020, 10:33:41 PM
Well, both my wife and I are fully recovered and back to work.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: Hansmeister on April 30, 2020, 10:33:41 PM
Well, both my wife and I are fully recovered and back to work.
That's great man!
I planted a Passion Vine and a Bleeding Heart Vine on my newly constructed (but unfinished by budget constraints) back yard fence at the beginning of April and they are both charging along. I'm pinching and training every other day! The Passion Vine I've wanted for years but I've actually never found one for sale, but they had some at Lowes in March, and I scored.
Went on a grocery run and almost everyone is masked here. I felt like a militia goon for not having one on.
We bought masks. I think we have 20 purchased for $25. The thin single-use disposable kinds.
But I don't think we could find more, so I haven't been using them.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 01, 2020, 01:45:07 PM
Went on a grocery run and almost everyone is masked here. I felt like a militia goon for not having one on.
Someone posted a nice pic of six militia goons with automatic rifles. They all had masks on. :P
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 01, 2020, 01:45:07 PM
Went on a grocery run and almost everyone is masked here. I felt like a militia goon for not having one on.
Last weekend there was a significant minority covering their faces when I did the weekly grocery shop at the supermarket. It probably will be more this week. Certainly, when the lockdown restrictions are eased in the UK, I will definitely be using some sort of face-covering for long-distance public transport.
I saw a 50-pack on Amazon today. They have about 25% 1-star review rate. Reason: the masks are made in Wuhan, China. Some reviewers even claimed to have thrown them out once they found out. :rolleyes: If anyone wants a 50-pack, the delivery date seems pretty good here: https://www.amazon.com/Face-Mask-Pack-of-50/dp/B086KMYNSS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8.
A friend of mine has an adult daughter who is 28 and a chef in Chicago. She is, obviously, out of work at the moment, and without question stressed. My friend decided to help her the same way that she did when her daughter was a little girl; by reading to her. She's been taping herself reading Little Women, her daughter's favorite book, a chapter at a time, one chapter a day.
She found out that I wasn't handling this whole lockdown thing well, and so she started sending me the chapters, too.
You guys... these chapters are the best thing to come out of this whole mess. They are the most calming, soothing things I do every single day.
:wub: :blush:
Quote from: fromtia on April 30, 2020, 08:58:40 PM
Quote from: PDH on April 30, 2020, 08:28:51 PM
I am mentally exhausted by this. Emotionally I am a beaten dog.
This too shall pass. Hang on old bean.
The resting began with waking at 9:30, and a breakfast of a cheese omelette with a mimosa to drink. This will be a breather, but I get to hit the ground again on Monday.
Quote from: PDH on May 01, 2020, 03:54:19 PM
The resting began with waking at 9:30, and a breakfast of a cheese omelette with a mimosa to drink. This will be a breather, but I get to hit the ground again on Monday.
Excellent approach.
Quote from: PDH on May 01, 2020, 03:54:19 PM
Quote from: fromtia on April 30, 2020, 08:58:40 PM
Quote from: PDH on April 30, 2020, 08:28:51 PM
I am mentally exhausted by this. Emotionally I am a beaten dog.
This too shall pass. Hang on old bean.
The resting began with waking at 9:30, and a breakfast of a cheese omelette with a mimosa to drink. This will be a breather, but I get to hit the ground again on Monday.
Sounds like the perfect break. ^_^
(https://i.postimg.cc/wjJGdNG7/MarMay.jpg)
:lol:
Like Yi, I did a grocery run. Barely any one was mask, not even the staff. I have 2 reusable ones, haven't wore them yet.
Here, one cannot get into a store without a mask.
Well Monday is the beginning of the end of Floridas lockdown. I ventured out today for groceries, hitting Aldi and then Wal Mart in a two pronged value driven assault on the supply chain. I secured enough to get the four (five if you count my cat, Eddy Merckx) of us through the next ten days or so for about $80. They call me frugal mcfuck and we are having beans and rice for dinner again!
Stores were pretty busy, although still observing social distancing. Less masks, perhaps a third of people? The auto-cashiers in Wal Mart malfunctioned so I was stuck in a throng of impatient shoppers for a while. May as well have been in the insect pit in Peter Jacksons King Kong. "I'm in danger" in my best Ralph Wiggum chuckle.
No yeast.
Now the washing machine is behaving like it's about to die. It's a Maytag too, and only 6 years old, a bit of a frustration.
Perfect day, weather-wise. Good a time as any to smoke my last Cuban cigar.
Amazon Fresh had let me down with no shopping slots available the last two days.
This morning, after checking what sites had availability on a free telegraph article, ending up splitting all purchases between Co-Op (1st time shopper) and Iceland (1st time shopper).
Then, after all was done, Amazon has a slot available. :D
So amazon fresh should be full groceries?
I ordered some stuff from amazon last week and to boost up my order to the magic £20 free delivery I threw some beers in. It seems they're being delivered separately as part of amazon fresh though. Coming all the way from Leicestershire. I feel a dick.
Here an awful lot of people are living life as normal as if the lockdown is over.
Thus far the ignorance hasn't bit us in the arse and given a massive breakout, fingers crossed.
I've been sort of breaking it too with my dad coming over to help with getting my house livable. We figure my mam works in a school and does the shopping for my parents so if there's to be an infection vector it's through her, the most at risk person, anyway.
Yesterday we put down laminate in the bedroom so I could sleep there last night. It does feel much better to sleep somewhere spacious. Also... It frees up my PC room.... Gaming day ho. Finally.
Quote from: PDH on May 02, 2020, 04:19:34 PM
Here, one cannot get into a store without a mask.
I bought a couple reusable masks. Like GF I haven't used them. But I am convinced that when they open things up here, in Ontario, they will make you wear one. Which is good.
Quote from: fromtia on May 02, 2020, 06:37:40 PM
Well Monday is the beginning of the end of Floridas lockdown. I ventured out today for groceries, hitting Aldi and then Wal Mart in a two pronged value driven assault on the supply chain. I secured enough to get the four (five if you count my cat, Eddy Merckx) of us through the next ten days or so for about $80. They call me frugal mcfuck and we are having beans and rice for dinner again!
Stores were pretty busy, although still observing social distancing. Less masks, perhaps a third of people? The auto-cashiers in Wal Mart malfunctioned so I was stuck in a throng of impatient shoppers for a while. May as well have been in the insect pit in Peter Jacksons King Kong. "I'm in danger" in my best Ralph Wiggum chuckle.
No yeast.
Now the washing machine is behaving like it's about to die. It's a Maytag too, and only 6 years old, a bit of a frustration.
Yep same here, curse the great british bake off.
Formtia, thanks forth washing machine 'tip-off' I think that's next to go here; the last two weeks here have been the boiler going down and the roof leaking, both of which I manage to 'sort'. :)
Quote from: fromtia on May 02, 2020, 06:37:40 PM
Well Monday is the beginning of the end of Floridas lockdown. I ventured out today for groceries, hitting Aldi and then Wal Mart in a two pronged value driven assault on the supply chain. I secured enough to get the four (five if you count my cat, Eddy Merckx) of us through the next ten days or so for about $80. They call me frugal mcfuck and we are having beans and rice for dinner again!
Stores were pretty busy, although still observing social distancing. Less masks, perhaps a third of people? The auto-cashiers in Wal Mart malfunctioned so I was stuck in a throng of impatient shoppers for a while. May as well have been in the insect pit in Peter Jacksons King Kong. "I'm in danger" in my best Ralph Wiggum chuckle.
No yeast.
Now the washing machine is behaving like it's about to die. It's a Maytag too, and only 6 years old, a bit of a frustration.
Lockdown here in Massachusetts until May 18 is the latest from the Governor. But MA is in the midst of the pandemic curve. Surrounding states New Hampshire and Vermont have started opening or will be soon.
I still haven't seen anyone with a mask, but they do have the glass inf front of the cashiers.
A few people with masks when I'm out and about, but not many.
Quote from: Threviel on May 03, 2020, 01:36:19 PM
I still haven't seen anyone with a mask, but they do have the glass inf front of the cashiers.
Most shoppers and workers in stores where I go are wearing masks. Most cash register counters have plexiglass or other material shields set up.
Quote from: KRonn on May 03, 2020, 02:11:12 PM
Quote from: Threviel on May 03, 2020, 01:36:19 PM
I still haven't seen anyone with a mask, but they do have the glass inf front of the cashiers.
Most shoppers and workers in stores where I go are wearing masks. Most cash register counters have plexiglass or other material shields set up.
Same.
I went out for groceries this morning early and nearly everyone had on masks. The check out workers also all had them. The guy running the floor cleaner had one on his chin. :rolleyes:
The number of people wearing their masks on their chins, foreheads, or under their nose, is a little unsettling. I don't think many people get the point of masks.
Yeah, I saw that at Kroger last night from a few people. It's like they think wearing a mask is a magic talisman, and wearing it correctly doesn't matter. :hmm: I also saw two idiots standing in the middle of aisles with their masks pulled down, talking on cell phones. Ever heard of texting? :rolleyes:
The lady in line in front of me was probably mid-60s, no mask, with a smoker's voice as heavy as the chick who voiced Pazuzu. She was there to buy a two liter of Coke and two cartons of Marlboros. It's like, are you trying to kill yourself? :wacko:
Week or two ago a friend of mine in Hungary saw two ladies meeting in front of a grocery store, both wearing masks. They greeted each other by removing the masks and kissing each other on the cheek. :lol:
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 07:58:29 AM
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
But surely you have the common sense to know not to do these things? I mean, if you MUST talk on your cell phone while wearing a mask, if you hold it right up to your mouth I very much doubt the person on the other end won't be able to hear you, for example. :hmm:
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 07:58:29 AM
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
We all wear masks.
Quote from: Caliga on May 04, 2020, 08:01:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 07:58:29 AM
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
But surely you have the common sense to know not to do these things? I mean, if you MUST talk on your cell phone while wearing a mask, if you hold it right up to your mouth I very much doubt the person on the other end won't be able to hear you, for example. :hmm:
You would think so but I also know I'm not supposed to touch my face & I keep doing it. All the time.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 08:22:30 AM
Quote from: Caliga on May 04, 2020, 08:01:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 07:58:29 AM
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
But surely you have the common sense to know not to do these things? I mean, if you MUST talk on your cell phone while wearing a mask, if you hold it right up to your mouth I very much doubt the person on the other end won't be able to hear you, for example. :hmm:
You would think so but I also know I'm not supposed to touch my face & I keep doing it. All the time.
is your penis there
Quote from: The Brain on May 04, 2020, 08:27:41 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 08:22:30 AM
Quote from: Caliga on May 04, 2020, 08:01:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 07:58:29 AM
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
But surely you have the common sense to know not to do these things? I mean, if you MUST talk on your cell phone while wearing a mask, if you hold it right up to your mouth I very much doubt the person on the other end won't be able to hear you, for example. :hmm:
You would think so but I also know I'm not supposed to touch my face & I keep doing it. All the time.
is your penis there
Just a drawing of one.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 08:34:13 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 04, 2020, 08:27:41 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 08:22:30 AM
Quote from: Caliga on May 04, 2020, 08:01:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 07:58:29 AM
You know that is why I don't really want to wear a mask. I have no self-discipline.
But surely you have the common sense to know not to do these things? I mean, if you MUST talk on your cell phone while wearing a mask, if you hold it right up to your mouth I very much doubt the person on the other end won't be able to hear you, for example. :hmm:
You would think so but I also know I'm not supposed to touch my face & I keep doing it. All the time.
is your penis there
Just a drawing of one.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: Barrister on May 01, 2020, 02:01:56 PM
We bought masks. I think we have 20 purchased for $25. The thin single-use disposable kinds.
But I don't think we could find more, so I haven't been using them.
Try Canadian Tire - our local store had boxes of the good kind.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 04, 2020, 08:22:30 AM
You would think so but I also know I'm not supposed to touch my face & I keep doing it. All the time.
That's just a compulsion... I do it too, unless I am wearing a mask. :)
Yeah, the mask is very useful to keep my compulsion to touch my face in check.
It's my father's birthday in two weeks and I wonder if I should drive through most of Germany to celebrate a bit with him. As I've been in social distancing for like six or seven weeks now, I am certain that I don't have the virus, so there is no real risk. It still feels wrong somehow.
Quote from: Zanza on May 04, 2020, 02:29:29 PM
It's my father's birthday in two weeks and I wonder if I should drive through most of Germany to celebrate a bit with him. As I've been in social distancing for like six or seven weeks now, I am certain that I don't have the virus, so there is no real risk. It still feels wrong somehow.
Because it is.
Do you stand to inherit a lot? :P
Experiencing quite a few obvious signs of stress these days. I'm guessing the state of constant alert at work is taking its mental toll. It's been ten days since we restarted production and there's hundreds of people around.
On a brighter note there's talk of the company's health insurer administering tests to the workforce, which would rock. I'd be especially interested if they included an antibody test.
Quote from: Iormlund on May 04, 2020, 06:44:05 PM
Experiencing quite a few obvious signs of stress these days. I'm guessing the state of constant alert at work is taking its mental toll. It's been ten days since we restarted production and there's hundreds of people around.
On a brighter note there's talk of the company's health insurer administering tests to the workforce, which would rock. I'd be especially interested if they included an antibody test.
:(
Yes, I think that's going to be a problem for a lot of people in workplaces that they might have previously thought safe or even given a thought to the numbers around them.
I'd love to have an antibody test. Just to know. And I'd love for all the people who swear they had Covid back in October to get the test so they'd shut the hell up about it.
Our CMO said that the antibody tests aren't very accurate, and we have no idea if the antibodies will still be in the body after three months anyway.
I'm guessing better tests will be coming soon, but no point in bothering with them right now.
Welp, I guess it's back to work on Friday. I received a call from my employer which I will respond to shortly. They are essentially "inviting" a portion of the team to come back to work to open for limited hours at 25% seating capacity. It's not clear yet whether just a few of us will be working 40 hours, or whether all of us will be working ten hours and so forth. I'll find out in due course.
Quite a few concerns obviously, I'm 50, I supplement for a pretty good quality vitamin D deficiency, which is apparently a risk factor with Covid19, and I'm going to be in a confined space with lots of people. On the flipside, Floridas outbreak has been smaller and mostly in Miami-Dade, not where I am. Fingers crossed I suppose. I jump into the petri dish of freedom!
Good luck, fromtia. Hope people tip generously :thumbsup:
Quote from: mongers on May 04, 2020, 04:55:36 PM
Quote from: Zanza on May 04, 2020, 02:29:29 PM
It's my father's birthday in two weeks and I wonder if I should drive through most of Germany to celebrate a bit with him. As I've been in social distancing for like six or seven weeks now, I am certain that I don't have the virus, so there is no real risk. It still feels wrong somehow.
Because it is.
Do you stand to inherit a lot? :P
It is allowed again in Germany and I don't really see a risk. Let's see, I still have a few days to think about it. I would have to drive anyway as I don't want to sit in a train for six hours or so and flights are scarce and expensive.
So, my mother's employer is testing their employees for Covid antibodies and she's got the appointment tomorrow - the testing center is in my town so I'd get to see her for the first time in two months.
Can't say I'm not looking forward to it.
Quote from: fromtia on May 06, 2020, 10:53:08 AM
Welp, I guess it's back to work on Friday. I received a call from my employer which I will respond to shortly. They are essentially "inviting" a portion of the team to come back to work to open for limited hours at 25% seating capacity. It's not clear yet whether just a few of us will be working 40 hours, or whether all of us will be working ten hours and so forth. I'll find out in due course.
Quite a few concerns obviously, I'm 50, I supplement for a pretty good quality vitamin D deficiency, which is apparently a risk factor with Covid19, and I'm going to be in a confined space with lots of people. On the flipside, Floridas outbreak has been smaller and mostly in Miami-Dade, not where I am. Fingers crossed I suppose. I jump into the petri dish of freedom!
Fromtia, good to get back to work. I hope it works out well for you. Is your employer doing any testing or other precautions? I've seen some companies taking certain measures, distancing, testing, etc.
I'm still working from home which I like. I went in last week to get updates on my work computer, as apparently I need the company network for that. There were three people in my office area. One prefers to work there, and another one will start working from home.
I'll be curious to know if I had Covid, as I had a mild cold or flu in mid January. I work for a health care company and I'm wondering or assuming they'll do some testing on employees when the offices fully open. Then also, monthly I go to my doctor office lab for testing levels for the blood thinners I'm on, and I figure they'll have Covid testing at some point.
Quote from: celedhring on May 06, 2020, 01:13:09 PM
So, my mother's employer is testing their employees for Covid antibodies and she's got the appointment tomorrow - the testing center is in my town so I'd get to see her for the first time in two months.
Can't say I'm not looking forward to it.
:wub:
Hug her tightly. :)
Quote from: merithyn on May 06, 2020, 10:12:33 PM
Quote from: celedhring on May 06, 2020, 01:13:09 PM
So, my mother's employer is testing their employees for Covid antibodies and she's got the appointment tomorrow - the testing center is in my town so I'd get to see her for the first time in two months.
Can't say I'm not looking forward to it.
:wub:
Hug her tightly. :)
Not yet, we still have to keep social distancing. :P
After seeing how people have taken to the streets I've changed my mind, the safest place (other than home) is at work. At least there everyone wears a mask, proper distances are marked on the floors and I have gloves, mask and faceshield.
I fully expect another lockdown within a month. :bash:
I'm *trying* to give maskless people here the benefit of the doubt and assume at least some of them simply don't have access to a mask. It's hard to believe that after two months people can't figure out how to get their hands on one.... but then again it's also hard for me to believe that there are still people who are hardcore supporters of Trump, so I guess I would suggest that if you are clueless enough to think he is doing a TREMENDOUS JOB, then you probably also lack the wherewithal to figure out how to procure even the most basic of face coverings.
People in my area wear masks I'd say 50/50, but very few of my friends are or are planning to (and weirdly my NHS friends are very dismissive of its benefits :mellow:)
But there's also a weird poll that basically has the UK as a bit of an outlier in that it is concerned about covid-19 but very unlikely to wear masks :hmm:
(https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2020-05-01/Face%20masks%20grid-01.png)
Quote from: Caliga on May 07, 2020, 09:21:05 AM
I'm *trying* to give maskless people here the benefit of the doubt and assume at least some of them simply don't have access to a mask. It's hard to believe that after two months people can't figure out how to get their hands on one.... but then again it's also hard for me to believe that there are still people who are hardcore supporters of Trump, so I guess I would suggest that if you are clueless enough to think he is doing a TREMENDOUS JOB, then you probably also lack the wherewithal to figure out how to procure even the most basic of face coverings.
I have 2 masks because my workplace gave them to me. Those I bought are still AWOL. Access is still not universal, I would say.
Quote from: Caliga on May 07, 2020, 09:21:05 AM
I'm *trying* to give maskless people here the benefit of the doubt and assume at least some of them simply don't have access to a mask. It's hard to believe that after two months people can't figure out how to get their hands on one.... but then again it's also hard for me to believe that there are still people who are hardcore supporters of Trump, so I guess I would suggest that if you are clueless enough to think he is doing a TREMENDOUS JOB, then you probably also lack the wherewithal to figure out how to procure even the most basic of face coverings.
Why are you worried about that when the murder hornets have already reached the Louisville area (according to a shady FB post someone made).
I think masks are a critical mass thing.
Here you only see 1 in 30 at most with a mask. I think the key thing is people don't want to stand out and look like a nutter. If it passes a certain point it would take off sharply.
Here you aren't allowed in businesses without a mask.
Quote from: Tyr on May 07, 2020, 09:42:08 AM
I think masks are a critical mass thing.
Here you only see 1 in 30 at most with a mask. I think the key thing is people don't want to stand out and look like a nutter. If it passes a certain point it would take off sharply.
Yes, one of my employees said he wouldn't want to feel awkward. Because not feeling awkward (which I thought was the resting English state? :hmm:) is worth endangering people's health.
Quote from: derspiess on May 07, 2020, 09:42:02 AM
Why are you worried about that when the murder hornets have already reached the Louisville area (according to a shady FB post someone made).
OH SHI
Quote from: garbon on May 07, 2020, 10:05:42 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 07, 2020, 09:42:08 AM
I think masks are a critical mass thing.
Here you only see 1 in 30 at most with a mask. I think the key thing is people don't want to stand out and look like a nutter. If it passes a certain point it would take off sharply.
Yes, one of my employees said he wouldn't want to feel awkward. Because not feeling awkward (which I thought was the resting English state? :hmm:) is worth endangering people's health.
It's mainly feeling awkward about if we're being awkward :P
(https://preview.redd.it/us2ip34zp9x41.png?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=03a41bbea93a48942490170c969985b1e1d936bf)
Did my weekly supply run. More people in the streets with all shops being open again. Still mandatory to cover nose/mouth in shops. Outside I saw maybe 10% wearing a mask, felt less than last week.
Quote from: Caliga on May 07, 2020, 09:21:05 AM
I'm *trying* to give maskless people here the benefit of the doubt and assume at least some of them simply don't have access to a mask. It's hard to believe that after two months people can't figure out how to get their hands on one.... but then again it's also hard for me to believe that there are still people who are hardcore supporters of Trump, so I guess I would suggest that if you are clueless enough to think he is doing a TREMENDOUS JOB, then you probably also lack the wherewithal to figure out how to procure even the most basic of face coverings.
Speaking of masks...
I don't really need one, as I can easily put 2m between me and anyone, but for the few times I may need one, I've looked at a few designs.
Now, regular cotton masks need to be washed each time we wear it, and they can be washed only for 5-10 times, right?
And I've seen incredible designs for masks designed to filter out pollution particles (forgot the name, PM2.5, I think). Since we're told home made masks can help, I figure these two can help too, to prevent infecting others in case I have it? They seem reusable a lot more than other types of masks, and I only need to change the carbon filters every once in a while (in my case, not that often).
Quote from: Syt on May 07, 2020, 10:23:32 AM
(https://preview.redd.it/us2ip34zp9x41.png?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=03a41bbea93a48942490170c969985b1e1d936bf)
I hope we're going to see a lot of overturned convictions now. :unsure:
I think that level of introspection is beyond most prosecutors.
Would "being black" be more or less evidence in his view? :unsure:
Quote from: Tyr on May 07, 2020, 09:42:08 AM
I think masks are a critical mass thing.
Here you only see 1 in 30 at most with a mask. I think the key thing is people don't want to stand out and look like a nutter. If it passes a certain point it would take off sharply.
Yes and I think that's the situation here, maybe only 1 in 100 wear a mask here.
Oh and I'd be happy to wear one whilst shopping etc, but they seem near impossible to find/buy online as grumbler and grey fox mentioned.
Up until yesterday masks were active discouraged. Now they will be mandatory in public transport, as distancing just isn't possible there. But otherwise I'm not expecting people to wear them much.
Quote from: Syt on May 07, 2020, 10:23:32 AM
(https://preview.redd.it/us2ip34zp9x41.png?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=03a41bbea93a48942490170c969985b1e1d936bf)
Wait...what? What is he trying to say?
That he looked like a bank robber. The evidence bit is hyperbole.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 07, 2020, 01:35:32 PM
That he looked like a bank robber. The evidence bit is hyperbole.
Well that is just an incompetent criminal then, always cover your eyes.
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 07, 2020, 09:24:29 AM
People in my area wear masks I'd say 50/50, but very few of my friends are or are planning to (and weirdly my NHS friends are very dismissive of its benefits :mellow: )
But there's also a weird poll that basically has the UK as a bit of an outlier in that it is concerned about covid-19 but very unlikely to wear masks :hmm:
(https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2020-05-01/Face%20masks%20grid-01.png)
I wonder if fear of the corona virus is related to trust in government. I can't help but notice that many of the countries with a high fear of the virus also have inept and corrupt governments.
Italy? Corrupt? C'mon.
(https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2011/10/berlusconi-shrugs.jpeg)
What's Thailand's secret? :hmm: Almost 70 million people, first fatality in January, yuuuge travel links with China yet hardly any epidemic to speak of. What specifically are they doing on the ground?
Quote from: Legbiter on May 07, 2020, 02:11:14 PM
What's Thailand's secret? :hmm: Almost 70 million people, first fatality in January, yuuuge travel links with China yet hardly any epidemic to speak of. What specifically are they doing on the ground?
Those governments didn't believe anything that the Chinese government was saying and sent their own observers to Wuhan and observed the situation for themselves and then planned accordingly months ago. Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea and the other countries in the area. They have been through this type of situation before and had a plan.
So what is their secret? Experience.
Valmy, speak more of this "planning".
Who are you, that you are so wise in the ways of science?
Imagine having a mature president who recognizes the need for egghead advice, like Camacho. :wistful:
On the subject of masks, since I read a lot of nonsense these past few days:
Everyone of you should be wearing one outside of your house. 2 meters or 6 feet distancing notwithstanding. Do not bother going for surgical or medical grade. The point of masks for the public is to protect other people, not yourself. Any kind of face covering works.
Even if you respect 2 meters at all times, your secretions will end up on your hands and clothes if you do not wear a mask, and then you might infect other people indirectly.
That is all. Carry on.
Do you wear one, Zoupa?
Fuck it. I'm grilling pizzas this week end.
Quote from: 11B4V on May 07, 2020, 07:11:22 PM
Fuck it. I'm grilling pizzas this week end.
So today. ;)
Quote from: Zoupa on May 07, 2020, 06:09:02 PM
On the subject of masks, since I read a lot of nonsense these past few days:
Everyone of you should be wearing one outside of your house. 2 meters or 6 feet distancing notwithstanding. Do not bother going for surgical or medical grade. The point of masks for the public is to protect other people, not yourself. Any kind of face covering works.
Even if you respect 2 meters at all times, your secretions will end up on your hands and clothes if you do not wear a mask, and then you might infect other people indirectly.
That is all. Carry on.
Not a problem when you wash your hands. And not a problem with the clothes when everyone respects the 2 meters.
But the situation is different in crowded cities, I recognize that. It's hellish to go to the pharmacy or grocery store here, I can't imagine what it will be in Montreal.
Speaking of Montreal, I heard people in Rosemont were having deconfinement parties in their backalleys last week-end. No wonder we still have a problem there.
Quote from: fromtia on May 07, 2020, 03:52:20 PM
Valmy, speak more of this "planning".
Who are you, that you are so wise in the ways of science?
Totally conventional planning. Contact tracing and testing.
I am not especially wise in the ways of science. Just that this very subject about China's neighbors has been discussed many times for a few months now.
Sounds like.....book learning! KILL HIM
I hear nylon stockings work well as masks. I need to go to my bank today. Think I'll wear a nylon stocking over my head.
Quote from: Josephus on May 08, 2020, 08:01:33 AM
I hear nylon stockings work well as masks. I need to go to my bank today. Think I'll wear a nylon stocking over my head.
Just tell them you're limb-self defining, should be fine then.
Quote from: viper37 on May 07, 2020, 10:46:51 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on May 07, 2020, 06:09:02 PM
On the subject of masks, since I read a lot of nonsense these past few days:
Everyone of you should be wearing one outside of your house. 2 meters or 6 feet distancing notwithstanding. Do not bother going for surgical or medical grade. The point of masks for the public is to protect other people, not yourself. Any kind of face covering works.
Even if you respect 2 meters at all times, your secretions will end up on your hands and clothes if you do not wear a mask, and then you might infect other people indirectly.
That is all. Carry on.
Not a problem when you wash your hands. And not a problem with the clothes when everyone respects the 2 meters.
But the situation is different in crowded cities, I recognize that. It's hellish to go to the pharmacy or grocery store here, I can't imagine what it will be in Montreal.
Speaking of Montreal, I heard people in Rosemont were having deconfinement parties in their backalleys last week-end. No wonder we still have a problem there.
It is a problem, countryside or big city. Not everyone can wash their hands everytime they touch something outside their home. Not realistic.
Just wear a mask. I wear one for 12 hours at a time at work. I think you can manage 30 minutes at the grocery store once a week.
Careful, if the message that masks protect others gets out usage may go down.
I wear a full nuke suit 24/7. I think I'm fine.
Quote from: The Brain on May 08, 2020, 08:36:06 AM
I wear a full nuke suit 24/7. I think I'm fine.
Hehe, I'm sure you do. You work in a nuke electrical plant or something like that, right?
Quote from: KRonn on May 08, 2020, 05:27:59 PM
Quote from: The Brain on May 08, 2020, 08:36:06 AM
I wear a full nuke suit 24/7. I think I'm fine.
Hehe, I'm sure you do. You work in a nuke electrical plant or something like that, right?
Maybe I do, maybe I don't. But I certainly work in style.
Quote from: The Brain on May 08, 2020, 05:34:16 PM
Quote from: KRonn on May 08, 2020, 05:27:59 PM
Quote from: The Brain on May 08, 2020, 08:36:06 AM
I wear a full nuke suit 24/7. I think I'm fine.
Hehe, I'm sure you do. You work in a nuke electrical plant or something like that, right?
Maybe I do, maybe I don't. But I certainly work in style.
:D
BB & I did a very Canadian thing separate but together on Saturday.
Went to Canadian Tire :yeah:
You can buy more than just tires at Canadian Tire right? :hmm: Tell me about this legendary store you people love so much.
Quote from: Caliga on May 11, 2020, 12:28:11 PM
You can buy more than just tires at Canadian Tire right? :hmm: Tell me about this legendary store you people love so much.
Yes, it sells household related things.
From Kitchen needs to Engine oil, from Power tools to Barbecues, from bikes to lawnmowers, from footballs to Dyson vacuums, from pools to patio furniture. Also has some junk food items.
It is also notorious for it's points program that for decades was giving out fake money bills. It is also a store where buying full price means you were ripped off. Always wait for a sale.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 11, 2020, 12:33:07 PM
Also has some junk food items.
Now you've done it.
Quote from: The Brain on May 11, 2020, 12:36:26 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 11, 2020, 12:33:07 PM
Also has some junk food items.
Now you've done it.
At one time, when Target was moving into Canada, it spoke of selling milk! Milk! In a tire store! We came so close but Target chicken shit out of Canada & no milk was introduced.
Quote from: Caliga on May 11, 2020, 12:28:11 PM
You can buy more than just tires at Canadian Tire right? :hmm: Tell me about this legendary store you people love so much.
It's a funny store - I don't know of any other that has the same mix of merchandise.
So yes, they do sell tires. And auto parts and accessories more generally. Plus it has a auto garage. Plus sporting goods. And home goods. And it'll have a garden centre attached to it. So it's kind of a auto garage / hardware store / sports goods kind of mix.
They also hire a ton of foreign workers, and service is usually terrible.
Quote from: Barrister on May 11, 2020, 12:39:43 PM
They also hire a ton of foreign workers, and service is usually terrible.
Here, it's 16 year olds left & right.
Also service is terrible.
Richard E. Grant has been quoting Withnail & I daily during isolation. The sweetest thing is how he inevitably cracks up after each delivery. :lol:
https://twitter.com/RichardEGrant
Quote from: mongers on May 07, 2020, 10:53:12 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 07, 2020, 09:42:08 AM
I think masks are a critical mass thing.
Here you only see 1 in 30 at most with a mask. I think the key thing is people don't want to stand out and look like a nutter. If it passes a certain point it would take off sharply.
Yes and I think that's the situation here, maybe only 1 in 100 wear a mask here.
Oh and I'd be happy to wear one whilst shopping etc, but they seem near impossible to find/buy online as grumbler and grey fox mentioned.
I didn't see a single mask on Tuesday or today (yes, I've had to leave my home twice this week...god-damn the need for bread and a postbox... :( )
I do, however, now have a mask for if I want to go on a bus - a lovely home-made one stitched up by my Aunt, the retired nurse that she posted to me for me to test.
Who had very unkind things to say about the advice in some papers about making them from old T-Shirts.
And the less said about what she said about the person she saw on TV crocheting one the better...
There's supposed to be a study coming out next week that compares the different materials for cloth masks. From everything I've found so far, a cotton/poly blend for the two outer layers with a cotton flannel for the inner layer is the best to use. It's what I've been making my masks out of because of that. It has the bonus of being highly breathable with also have a bit of a vapor barrier in the polyester threads.
I tried it with a coffee filter in the middle and could barely suck any air in. Since I'm really claustrophobic, I tore it off in seconds and threw it away. :Embarrass:
We recieved a package of masks from Switzerland today.
Half medical masks and half homemade ones made of whatever random ugly cloth an elderly relative had lying around :lol:
Quote from: merithyn on May 14, 2020, 02:22:48 PM
There's supposed to be a study coming out next week that compares the different materials for cloth masks. From everything I've found so far, a cotton/poly blend for the two outer layers with a cotton flannel for the inner layer is the best to use. It's what I've been making my masks out of because of that. It has the bonus of being highly breathable with also have a bit of a vapor barrier in the polyester threads.
I tried it with a coffee filter in the middle and could barely suck any air in. Since I'm really claustrophobic, I tore it off in seconds and threw it away. :Embarrass:
:cool:
No masks to be had here at all.
Have been thinking about making some, but might just go with the red/black bandanna tied across the mouth/nose. :ph34r:
Quote from: mongers on May 14, 2020, 05:47:21 PM
Quote from: merithyn on May 14, 2020, 02:22:48 PM
There's supposed to be a study coming out next week that compares the different materials for cloth masks. From everything I've found so far, a cotton/poly blend for the two outer layers with a cotton flannel for the inner layer is the best to use. It's what I've been making my masks out of because of that. It has the bonus of being highly breathable with also have a bit of a vapor barrier in the polyester threads.
I tried it with a coffee filter in the middle and could barely suck any air in. Since I'm really claustrophobic, I tore it off in seconds and threw it away. :Embarrass:
:cool:
No masks to be had here at all.
Have been thinking about making some, but might just go with the red/black bandanna tied across the mouth/nose. :ph34r:
The rectangular ones are pretty easy to make, and you only need two layers because they're fan-folded.
(https://www.sortiraparis.com/images/80/69688/555297-coronavirus-carte-de-france-du-deconfinement-par-departement-le-9-mai-2020-2.jpg)
North, Greater East i.e Burgundy (both duchy and Free county) plus Champagne, Lorraine and Alsace and last not but least, Île-de-France.
Still in the red zone, map has not changed since May 11th, the end of the lockdown.
The Prussians may have Paris surrounded, and the disgraced Imperial regime may have lost two armies. but I'm sure the Republic can prevail.
I need Grand Est to be green by September, kthxbye
Quote from: Caliga on May 11, 2020, 12:28:11 PM
You can buy more than just tires at Canadian Tire right? :hmm: Tell me about this legendary store you people love so much.
To be honest, tires are the last thing I'd buy at Canadian Tire.
Quote from: The Brain on May 15, 2020, 06:55:58 AM
The Prussians may have Paris surrounded, and the disgraced Imperial regime may have lost two armies. but I'm sure the Republic can prevail.
Amiens, Macron's city, has been lost by the Armée du Nord, again. :hmm:
Quote from: Josephus on May 15, 2020, 07:08:22 AM
Quote from: Caliga on May 11, 2020, 12:28:11 PM
You can buy more than just tires at Canadian Tire right? :hmm: Tell me about this legendary store you people love so much.
To be honest, tires are the last thing I'd buy at Canadian Tire.
Makes sense to leave the bulkiest items for last.
Quote from: Josephus on May 15, 2020, 07:08:22 AM
Quote from: Caliga on May 11, 2020, 12:28:11 PM
You can buy more than just tires at Canadian Tire right? :hmm: Tell me about this legendary store you people love so much.
To be honest, tires are the last thing I'd buy at Canadian Tire.
:yes:
currently a good place to get masks though
True story: I was like 18 or 19. I had an old car that badly needed tires, so my dad lent me some money and I went to Canadian Tire to get tires. I picked some Motomaster ones from the catalogue and said to the guy, I'll have four of these, and gave him the size.
So I wait, and pay, and then I see some guy wheeling out for tires for me. I'm like "Uh....don't they come installed?" and the guy says, "You didn't say so."
I know some people are DIYers, but isn't the default when buying tires, getting them installed?
Heh I had fun trying to buy aftermarket roof racks to hold a cargo pod on the old car at Canadian tyre.
Did you know you need a specific hardware kit that depends on the make and model of car to attach those? I didn't. Neither, apparently, did anyone at Canadian Tyre. 😄
When questioned how to attach the racks, it took them hours to figure out that the parts required and more hours to find out where these were located - they said they could ship them the next day. A couple of weeks went by, the parts did not show despite repeated statements that they could have them the next day; one day, I called the store, and the guy I'd been dealing with no longer worked there; the new guy had never heard of these attachment fittings, wasn't sure they actually sold any such things ...
I gave up and bought one at Rack Attack instead. More expensive, but they knew how to attach the things, and had the right fittings.
So if you're curious how well the current crop of COVID-19 antibody tests works: my wife tested positive. Which I believe - she had a really nasty "flu" in late February which came back with a vengeance in mid-March. I tested negative, despite having been around my wife for the entire duration... :huh:
Quote from: ulmont on May 15, 2020, 08:07:01 PM
So if you're curious how well the current crop of COVID-19 antibody tests works: my wife tested positive. Which I believe - she had a really nasty "flu" in late February which came back with a vengeance in mid-March. I tested negative, despite having been around my wife for the entire duration... :huh:
A lot of tests have a pretty bad false positive rate. FDA allowed pretty much allowed antibody tests with very little assessment as to reliability.
Quote from: Malthus on May 15, 2020, 06:05:01 PM
Heh I had fun trying to buy aftermarket roof racks to hold a cargo pod on the old car at Canadian tyre.
Did you know you need a specific hardware kit that depends on the make and model of car to attach those? I didn't. Neither, apparently, did anyone at Canadian Tyre. 😄
When questioned how to attach the racks, it took them hours to figure out that the parts required and more hours to find out where these were located - they said they could ship them the next day. A couple of weeks went by, the parts did not show despite repeated statements that they could have them the next day; one day, I called the store, and the guy I'd been dealing with no longer worked there; the new guy had never heard of these attachment fittings, wasn't sure they actually sold any such things ...
I gave up and bought one at Rack Attack instead. More expensive, but they knew how to attach the things, and had the right fittings.
That would be the "terrible customer service" GF and I mentioned earlier...
Quote from: Barrister on May 15, 2020, 08:29:09 PM
A lot of tests have a pretty bad false positive rate. FDA allowed pretty much allowed antibody tests with very little assessment as to reliability.
1. Yes, although from what I have seen it's the tests for "do you have the 'Rona now" more than the tests for "did you have the 'Rona then".
2. I live in one of the earliest US hotspots (New Orleans), so it's more likely here that my wife caught it than elsewhere (other than my friend the Georgia State Senator, who caught it because another asshole State Senator came to the capitol to vote while coughing profusely).
Quote from: ulmont on May 15, 2020, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: Barrister on May 15, 2020, 08:29:09 PM
A lot of tests have a pretty bad false positive rate. FDA allowed pretty much allowed antibody tests with very little assessment as to reliability.
1. Yes, although from what I have seen it's the tests for "do you have the 'Rona now" more than the tests for "did you have the 'Rona then".
2. I live in one of the earliest US hotspots (New Orleans), so it's more likely here that my wife caught it than elsewhere (other than my friend the Georgia State Senator, who caught it because another asshole State Senator came to the capitol to vote while coughing profusely).
No, it's specifically the antibody tests (the "did you have the 'Rona then" tests) that have been reported as having a shitty false-positive rate. The test was reported as being useful in assessing an overall population, but useless on the individual level.
Quote from: Barrister on May 15, 2020, 11:53:00 PM
No, it's specifically the antibody tests (the "did you have the 'Rona then" tests) that have been reported as having a shitty false-positive rate. The test was reported as being useful in assessing an overall population, but useless on the individual level.
You got a link? This was the article I saw, which is definitely "now": https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/14/856531970/fda-cautions-about-accuracy-of-widely-used-abbott-coronavirus-test
I'm using my last work from home day to clear my apartment of some clutter and bring it to my basement storage. I could have done that at any point during the last 3-6 months, but I finally did it. :D The fact that I've asked my cleaning company to come again starting tomorrow might have to do something with it.
Well, it's not quite true that today is last WFH day. We will work from home Mondays and Fridays, and at the office Tuesdays through Thursdays.
I was able to get a haircut this past weekend :showoff:
Got a haircut today. First time in... I don't know how many months.
Self-quarantine to be on the safe side, just in case? :tinfoil:
Trimmed mine yesterday. I still try to keep distancing as much as possible. Haven't asked the lady that cleans my flat to come back either. As much as my flat needs a good cleaning, my mind needs to relax for a few hours a day somewhere where I know it's 100% safe.
The pandemic has had a few upsides though. Went to get some blood drawn and it was the fastest I've ever seen the process work. I barely waited for 5 minutes whereas sometimes it takes half an hour.
Quote from: Iormlund on May 18, 2020, 10:28:40 AM
The pandemic has had a few upsides though. Went to get some blood drawn and it was the fastest I've ever seen the process work. I barely waited for 5 minutes whereas sometimes it takes half an hour.
Who did you have them draw it from?
The Catalan government has finally asked the Spanish government to begin descalating my area, so if it's approved I'll be able to meet most of my family by next week (some of them live in other areas and we aren't allowed to cross the borders for non-essential stuff). Really looking forward to it, since I missed my mother's birthday, my brother's birthday, their wedding anniversary... we'll probably organize a family gathering (we're a small family so it won't break the 10 person limit :P) by the end of the month to make up for it.
Quote from: celedhring on May 19, 2020, 05:41:30 AM
The Catalan government has finally asked the Spanish government to begin descalating my area, so if it's approved I'll be able to meet most of my family by next week (some of them live in other areas and we aren't allowed to cross the borders for non-essential stuff). Really looking forward to it, since I missed my mother's birthday, my brother's birthday, their wedding anniversary... we'll probably organize a family gathering (we're a small family so it won't break the 10 person limit :P) by the end of the month to make up for it.
I was able to meet my parents last week for a beer in a bar near their house, and this past saturday we had lunch (outdoors) together for the first time since the lockdown started. :)
I met my mom last week, when she came to town for Covid testing (she tested negative). But haven't seen anyone else in the flesh since March.
A bunch of my friends live in Barcelona, which will remain off-limits until late June it seems, but I will be able to meet those that can't afford Barcelona rents :D
Quote from: celedhring on May 19, 2020, 05:59:42 AM
I met my mom last week, when she came to town for Covid testing (she tested negative). But haven't seen anyone else in the flesh since March.
A bunch of my friends live in Barcelona, which will remain off-limits until late June it seems, but I will be able to meet those that can't afford Barcelona rents :D
So Barcelona itself will stay in Phase 0 while the metropolitan area moves to Phase 1? :hmm:
They all move to phase 1, but Barcelona is its own area and we can't cross borders until the end of descalation, IIRC?
Quote from: celedhring on May 19, 2020, 06:11:17 AM
They all move to phase 1, but Barcelona is its own area and we can't cross borders until the end of descalation, IIRC?
No, you can move between different areas as long as they're in the same situation and within the same province.
Quote from: The Larch on May 19, 2020, 06:14:36 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 19, 2020, 06:11:17 AM
They all move to phase 1, but Barcelona is its own area and we can't cross borders until the end of descalation, IIRC?
No, you can move between different areas as long as they're in the same situation and within the same province.
But here the regional government decided provinces were too Spanish and they're using a different demarcation, which puts me in a different zone than Barcelona.
Ah well, I'll check the rules once it gets passed.
Quote from: celedhring on May 19, 2020, 06:27:10 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 19, 2020, 06:14:36 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 19, 2020, 06:11:17 AM
They all move to phase 1, but Barcelona is its own area and we can't cross borders until the end of descalation, IIRC?
No, you can move between different areas as long as they're in the same situation and within the same province.
But here the regional government decided provinces were too Spanish and they're using a different demarcation, which puts me in a different zone than Barcelona.
Ah well, I'll check the rules once it gets passed.
But that's for decision making, as in other regions (Galicia also asked to use those at first but provinces have been finally used, although there are no differences in practical terms as they've all moved ahead at the same pace), mobility is within the province as unit, unless there are some regional particularities. For instance, over here the regional government will ask for people to be able to move to a different province within the region for Phase 2, something that IIRC was only possible initially on Phase 3. In any case it's better to wait until rules are passed, yeah.
Did a late evening grocery shop yesterday:
THERE WAS YEAST !! :boff:
I didn't buy any as it was the 'easy' yeast with the booster designed I'd guess primarily for bread machines. <_<
I was in a restaurant tonight, meeting another couple. We had dinner and a few beers. :w00t:
Quote from: Zanza on May 19, 2020, 04:40:22 PM
I was in a restaurant tonight, meeting another couple. We had dinner and a few beers. :w00t:
Edgy :P
I had my parents over for a visit on Sunday. They seem to be utterly incapable of social distancing, we need to have a talk about that. The adults have become the children <_<
Does social distancing even work when you're sharing the same living room for 2+ hours?
Quote from: celedhring on May 20, 2020, 02:23:16 AM
Does social distancing even work when you're sharing the same living room for 2+ hours?
We were supposed to meet outside, in the park. But then my mom insisted on bringing cake and all kinds of crap so we had to go inside. There was an emergency plan for this situation too, but that went out the window quickly because they just do whatever they feel like.
These old people are impossible, I haven't seen any friends or family in the last ten weeks and they're happening visiting people almost on a daily basis.
I wasn't worried because I'm pretty sure I don't have it at this point (I'm much more likely to get it from them, in fact). But when things start opening up, I'm going to be more worried about seeing them.
With the UK's current clear as mud rules, anyone know if it's now allowed to have a beer in the park or is that still verboten?
Thinking of meeting up with two friends over the weekend. They live together so no issue between them but I'll sit 2 metres away.
Not sure whether we'd have to do it in the garden or the park would be OK.
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 02:53:55 PM
With the UK's current clear as mud rules, anyone know if it's now allowed to have a beer in the park or is that still verboten?
Thinking of meeting up with two friends over the weekend. They live together so no issue between them but I'll sit 2 metres away.
Not sure whether we'd have to do it in the garden or the park would be OK.
Erm.
It's okay to sit and grab a beer alone, or with your household, or with one person from another household (I have no idea the logic of this :blink:). Last one obviously have to stay 2m apart.
Speaking of which I just had my first socially distanced can in a park with a (singular) friend :)
Edit: I think.
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:01:05 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 02:53:55 PM
With the UK's current clear as mud rules, anyone know if it's now allowed to have a beer in the park or is that still verboten?
Thinking of meeting up with two friends over the weekend. They live together so no issue between them but I'll sit 2 metres away.
Not sure whether we'd have to do it in the garden or the park would be OK.
Erm.
It's okay to sit and grab a beer alone, or with your household, or with one person from another household (I have no idea the logic of this :blink:). Last one obviously have to stay 2m apart.
Speaking of which I just had my first socially distanced can in a park with a (singular) friend :)
Edit: I think.
Wait, in metric?! This is not the Brexit people voted for!
:lol: No-one under 50 uses yards.
Personally I use metric for beer and milk, (human) weight, long distances (miles) and very small distances (inches); metric for baking measurements and moderate distances (metres) I have no idea how any of these relate to each other or if other people are a bit more regimented :blush: :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
:lol: No-one under 50 uses yards.
Personally I use metric for beer and milk, (human) weight, long distances (miles) and very small distances (inches); metric for baking measurements and moderate distances (metres) I have no idea how any of these relate to each other or if other people are a bit more regimented :blush: :lol:
Metric for beer ?! The pint (not metric) ?! Heretic! :lol: Don't you know in 1984, there is only the metric pint and the litre for beer? :thumbsdown:
OTOH, you are a young Remainer. :P
:secret:
You forgot to mention guns for our resident gun nuts.
Ireland, despite all his protests as not being Anglo-Saxon, is much more into imperial than its former colonial overlord. :P
He meant imperial for the first batch.
Yeah, sorry :blush:
First batch = imperial, second batch = metric.
I use metric for track and field.
Dividing by 10 is hard.
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
:lol: No-one under 50 uses yards.
Personally I use metric for beer and milk, (human) weight, long distances (miles) and very small distances (inches); metric for baking measurements and moderate distances (metres) I have no idea how any of these relate to each other or if other people are a bit more regimented :blush: :lol:
In Canada we typically use imperial for human height and weight, CFL football, lumber, baking and beer. Milk though is in litres, long distances are kms.
The traditional Swedish mile is just over 10 km. The modern Swedish mile is 10 km exactly. Distances are commonly given in (modern Swedish) miles in Sweden. :)
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
Personally I use metric (human) weight,
Ok, hand back your British credentials on your way out, thank you.
You are the first native I know who isn't using stones to describe human weight. I still have no idea how many kilograms that is.
Quote from: Tamas on May 21, 2020, 04:09:28 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
Personally I use metric (human) weight,
Ok, hand back your British credentials on your way out, thank you.
You are the first native I know who isn't using stones to describe human weight. I still have no idea how many kilograms that is.
:lol: Yeah sorry that was a mistake. I use stone :blush:
Good to know that throughout all that's happened, the English are still the English.
I completely lost track of stone when I was a teenager. Kg is the only human weight that makes sense to me.
But still. Stones beat pounds. Hate it when people use that. Or worse when people mix the two :bleeding:
Quote from: Tamas on May 21, 2020, 04:09:28 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
Personally I use metric (human) weight,
Ok, hand back your British credentials on your way out, thank you.
You are the first native I know who isn't using stones to describe human weight. I still have no idea how many kilograms that is.
Yeah, brit friends and stones always drove me nuts. You already have pounds! Why the need for yet another, unrelated, weight measure? :lol:
Isn't stones divisible by pounds?
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 21, 2020, 04:23:04 PM
Isn't stones divisible by pounds?
Apparently.
Can never remember by what arbitrary number.
Most people when using stone just use stone.
Quote from: celedhring on May 21, 2020, 04:19:23 PM
Yeah, brit friends and stones always drove me nuts. You already have pounds! Why the need for another, unrelated and not particularly precise, weight measure? :lol:
:lol:
It's very mixed, but weird which bits of a metric curriculum for 40 years have made an impact and which haven't. Except for babies, or fractions of a stone, I would never use pound for weights - so I have to do the math when I hear Americans talking about their weight. Like in the butchers I'll order a kilo of something or 500g not 1 or 2 pound. No idea how the division worked out as I say at school, everything was metric.
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 04:23:55 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 21, 2020, 04:23:04 PM
Isn't stones divisible by pounds?
Apparently.
Can never remember by what arbitrary number.
Most people when using stone just use stone.
1 stone = 14 pounds.
Quote from: Tamas on May 21, 2020, 04:09:28 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
Personally I use metric (human) weight,
Ok, hand back your British credentials on your way out, thank you.
You are the first native I know who isn't using stones to describe human weight. I still have no idea how many kilograms that is.
Aren't stones something like 14 pounds (just checked - they are). So they're just a weird British imperial unit.
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 04:23:55 PM
Apparently.
Can never remember by what arbitrary number.
Most people when using stone just use stone.
So you just round it up or down? In books I've read it mentioned it always seemed to give change; i.e. "7 stone 2 pounds."
Of all the bizarre base numbers to choose, 14 has got to top them all.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 21, 2020, 04:29:09 PM
So you just round it up or down? In books I've read it mentioned it always seemed to give change; i.e. "7 stone 2 pounds."
Of all the bizarre base numbers to choose, 14 has got to top them all.
You don't round it up. As you say you'd be like "12 stone and a half stone". I think unless it's an infant or someone dieting, you probably wouldn't care about the individual pounds :P
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 04:31:01 PM
You don't round it up. As you say you'd be like "12 stone and a half stone". I think unless it's an infant or someone dieting, you probably wouldn't care about the individual pounds :P
You don't round it to the nearest stone, you round it to the nearest
half stone. Important distinction.
Quote from: The Brain on May 21, 2020, 04:01:44 PM
The traditional Swedish mile is just over 10 km. The modern Swedish mile is 10 km exactly. Distances are commonly given in (modern Swedish) miles in Sweden. :)
Lots of countries have metric pounds as well. :)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 21, 2020, 04:54:27 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 04:31:01 PM
You don't round it up. As you say you'd be like "12 stone and a half stone". I think unless it's an infant or someone dieting, you probably wouldn't care about the individual pounds :P
You don't round it to the nearest stone, you round it to the nearest half stone. Important distinction.
It works. With more normal measurements most of the time you don't say you're 78kg. 75 or 80 will do for most uses.
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 05:49:01 PM
It works. With more normal measurements most of the time you don't say you're 78kg. 75 or 80 will do for most uses.
Fair enough.
I get my weight in tenths of kilograms.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 21, 2020, 04:29:09 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 04:23:55 PM
Apparently.
Can never remember by what arbitrary number.
Most people when using stone just use stone.
So you just round it up or down? In books I've read it mentioned it always seemed to give change; i.e. "7 stone 2 pounds."
Of all the bizarre base numbers to choose, 14 has got to top them all.
It isn't as there are 4 stone to 'half a hundred weight', in turn there are 8 stone in one hundred weight, as it's actually 112 lbs.
And obviously there are twenty hundred weights to a long ton, which is 2240 lbs. See simple, just so long as I don't mention the short ton*. :bowler:
Oh don't you Americans use something like 2,000 to one of your tons?
Though personally I do approve of your use of 7 barrels to a ton, especially appropriate as I think you Yanks popularised that with measuring crude oil. :unsure:
* which I used to know, but have now forgotten. :(
The short ton is the American ton, 2k lbs.
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 21, 2020, 05:55:30 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 05:49:01 PM
It works. With more normal measurements most of the time you don't say you're 78kg. 75 or 80 will do for most uses.
Fair enough.
No it isn't, with kilograms you don't have to go for the ballpark option. 14 pounds per stone? FOURTEEN?! WHY?!
Quote from: Tamas on May 22, 2020, 01:07:48 AM
No it isn't, with kilograms you don't have to go for the ballpark option. 14 pounds per stone? FOURTEEN?! WHY?!
14 per stone is different than rounding. Maybe it's different in kilograms, but when people talk about weight in pounds (not stone) they usually talk in increments of five pounds. "I ate so much last Christmas I got up to 190!" Not 191 or 192.
Quote from: Tamas on May 22, 2020, 01:07:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 21, 2020, 05:55:30 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 21, 2020, 05:49:01 PM
It works. With more normal measurements most of the time you don't say you're 78kg. 75 or 80 will do for most uses.
Fair enough.
No it isn't, with kilograms you don't have to go for the ballpark option. 14 pounds per stone? FOURTEEN?! WHY?!
There must have been a big stone that weighed exactly 14 pounds; probably during the Heptarchy. Just count yourself lucky that it didn't weigh 15.76325 pounds :P
:D
How high does the stone scale go? I'm asking for a katmai.
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, never seen dekagrams used everyday life before.
When I was a kid, some grocers still used the Spanish pound.
As said I've never used pounds for anything. I have no concept of them.
Oddly however I always grew up using, and still do use, quarters. Which is a quarter pound though never thought of that way.
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, in Italy they use "etto" also for cold cuts, which is 100 grams.
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 04:43:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, never seen dekagrams used everyday life before.
When I was a kid, some grocers still used the Spanish pound.
We still use ons (ounce) and pond (pound), but they have been recalibrated for the metric system. A pond used to be rougly 480 grams and was changed to 500 grams. Ons, like the ounce, used to be a 16th of a pond (~30 grams), but is now one decagram.
No idea about quarters. Also obvs I use imperial for human heights. So thinking about it, it's basically imperial = human size measurements, distance and things that are measured in pints and metric = everything else.
Quote from: Maladict on May 22, 2020, 04:55:23 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 04:43:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, never seen dekagrams used everyday life before.
When I was a kid, some grocers still used the Spanish pound.
We still use ons (ounce) and pond (pound), but they have been recalibrated for the metric system. A pond used to be rougly 480 grams and was changed to 500 grams. Ons, like the ounce, used to be a 16th of a pond (~30 grams), but is now one decagram.
In Germany we still used Pfund, i.e. 500 g. Mostly when buying groceries (apples, ground beef, potatoes ...). Austrians looked at me weird when I described the default 500g bag of coffee beans as "a pound". :D
Quote from: The Brain on May 22, 2020, 04:07:59 AM
How high does the stone scale go? I'm asking for a katmai.
Always looking out for me. :hug:
Quote from: The Brain on May 22, 2020, 04:07:59 AM
How high does the stone scale go? I'm asking for a katmai.
53. 53 stones is a rock.
In a addition to the pound, the hundredweight ("Zentner") is used in Germany to indicate 100 pound (i.e. 50kg).
Inches are used to measure tires and screen sizes here.
Quote from: Tyr on May 22, 2020, 05:24:36 AM
Quote from: The Brain on May 22, 2020, 04:07:59 AM
How high does the stone scale go? I'm asking for a katmai.
53. 53 stones is a rock.
katmai = 30 rock?
Are pounds and inches the same everywhere?
I know there's multiple different tonnes but at the lower end is it all the same?
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 05:49:52 AM
Are pounds and inches the same everywhere?
I know there's multiple different tonnes but at the lower end is it all the same?
The pound is slightly different everywhere. But I'm not sure if the countries that still kinda use it (besides US/UK) have standardized it.
Spanish pound was 460 grs, for example.
Interesting - apparently UK and US measurements are the same for ounces and pounds and then start diverging. So a pound is 453g here and there :hmm:
This would be useful if US cookbooks didn't use cups as the measurement which can present challenges :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 05:49:52 AM
Are pounds and inches the same everywhere?
Inches are relative to the beholder.
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 06:05:27 AM
Interesting - apparently UK and US measurements are the same for ounces and pounds and then start diverging. So a pound is 453g here and there :hmm:
This would be useful if US cookbooks didn't use cups as the measurement which can present challenges :lol:
You don't have measuring cups in the uk? Or I guess if you do, cups isn't a measurement on it.
Quote from: HVC on May 22, 2020, 06:31:47 AM
You don't have measuring cups in the uk? Or I guess if you do, cups isn't a measurement on it.
They exist. But they're not used as a unit of measurement generally, I think probably because they're not that universal. So I cook a lot and can bake, but I don't have measuring cups. I have a set of scales and a jug.
I am stupid and it took a lot longer than it should have for me to realise it but it drove me crazy when I realised that you couldn't just convert a cup measurement to x grams, which has made some US cookbooks I have challenging. More modern ones seem to include cup measurement and weight.
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 04:43:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, never seen dekagrams used everyday life before.
When I was a kid, some grocers still used the Spanish pound.
So Spain has stopped using the arroba (@) and the almud? Allahu akbar!
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 06:05:27 AMThis would be useful if US cookbooks didn't use cups as the measurement which can present challenges :lol:
Or a bewildering amount of different kinds of spoons. :lol:
In Sweden recipes still use a lot of various spoons etc, but they are standardized to milliliters etc (unless you read some grandmother's old recipe).
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on May 22, 2020, 06:50:57 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 04:43:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, never seen dekagrams used everyday life before.
When I was a kid, some grocers still used the Spanish pound.
So Spain has stopped using the arroba (@) and the almud? Allahu akbar!
Arrobas are really old-timey. I just had to check that it's 11'5 kilos. Apparently it corresponds to how much stuff a donkey can carry.
in Galicia we used to have a really particular unit for field size, the "ferrado" (somehow equivalent to the Castillian "celemín"), which changed from one village to the next. It amounted to the minimum size of a field able to produce a certain amount of cereal (between 12 and 20 kilos, depending on the particular cereal), also called "ferrado". It is still used informally by older people in the countryside.
I hate having to weight liquids when using recipes from european sources. Either tell me cups or ml quantity, ffs.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 22, 2020, 07:36:52 AM
I hate having to weight liquids when using recipes from european sources. Either tell me cups or ml quantity, ffs.
1g of water = 1ml :)
Same would go for most liquids used in cooking.
Quotein Galicia we used to have a really particular unit for field size, the "ferrado" (somehow equivalent to the Castillian "celemín"), which changed from one village to the next. It amounted to the minimum size of a field able to produce a certain amount of cereal (between 12 and 20 kilos, depending on the particular cereal), also called "ferrado". It is still used informally by older people in the countryside.
I think the origin of acre is similar. It's the amount of land that could be ploughed in one day
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 04:58:39 AM
No idea about quarters. Also obvs I use imperial for human heights. So thinking about it, it's basically imperial = human size measurements, distance and things that are measured in pints and metric = everything else.
Imperial for everything except temperature for me but reasonably bilingual
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 07:53:16 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 22, 2020, 07:36:52 AM
I hate having to weight liquids when using recipes from european sources. Either tell me cups or ml quantity, ffs.
1g of water = 1ml :)
Same would go for most liquids used in cooking.
Yeah, I love how they tied volume to weight of water, metric system :wub:
Why in the fuck would anyone use weight for liquids?
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 22, 2020, 07:36:52 AM
I hate having to weight liquids when using recipes from european sources. Either tell me cups or ml quantity, ffs.
I use my scale.
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 08:45:54 AM
Yeah, I love how they tied volume to weight of water, metric system :wub:
Beautiful French rationalism :wub: :frog:
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 09:07:56 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 08:45:54 AM
Yeah, I love how they tied volume to weight of water, metric system :wub:
Beautiful French rationalism :wub: :frog:
But then they went too far and messed up the calendar. that was the turning point of the revolution. all was lost on that crazy day.
Quote from: The Brain on May 22, 2020, 08:51:05 AM
Why in the fuck would anyone use weight for liquids?
Savages.
Quote from: HVC on May 22, 2020, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 09:07:56 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 08:45:54 AM
Yeah, I love how they tied volume to weight of water, metric system :wub:
Beautiful French rationalism :wub: :frog:
But then they went too far and messed up the calendar. that was the turning point of the revolution. all was lost on that crazy day.
I love the French revolutionary calendar, hate the French revolutionary working week <_<
Quote from: HVC on May 22, 2020, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 09:07:56 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 08:45:54 AM
Yeah, I love how they tied volume to weight of water, metric system :wub:
Beautiful French rationalism :wub: :frog:
But then they went too far and messed up the calendar. that was the turning point of the revolution. all was lost on that crazy day.
/Valmy
Shame Napoleon discarded the revolutionary calendar.
Quote from: The Brain on May 22, 2020, 08:51:05 AM
Why in the fuck would anyone use weight for liquids?
Only works for water, as in matches, under specific standard circumstances.
More niceties, such as volume/capacity and
masse volumique vs
volume massique.
I'm seeing some businesses open up in the town center. My favorite bakery had a big flag with "open" on it. At least one barber shop though my usual shop isn't open yet. The governor's open policy is confusing but he opened up some businesses this week and I think barber shops and hair salons can open next week. So we're seeing some signs of life in my bucolic town. :)
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 09:36:41 AM
Quote from: HVC on May 22, 2020, 09:22:53 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 09:07:56 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 08:45:54 AM
Yeah, I love how they tied volume to weight of water, metric system :wub:
Beautiful French rationalism :wub: :frog:
But then they went too far and messed up the calendar. that was the turning point of the revolution. all was lost on that crazy day.
I love the French revolutionary calendar, hate the French revolutionary working week <_<
The
décade of decadence. :( i.e one Sunday (holiday) less.
Quote from: The Larch on May 22, 2020, 07:07:50 AM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on May 22, 2020, 06:50:57 AM
Quote from: celedhring on May 22, 2020, 04:43:14 AM
Quote from: Syt on May 21, 2020, 10:51:47 PM
Austria uses metric of course, but has a minor quirk. When ordering cold cuts at the deli counter in a supermarket you will not order in grams but dekagrams instead, or deka for short, i.e. instead of 60 grams of prosciutto you'd ask for 6 deka of it.
Heh, never seen dekagrams used everyday life before.
When I was a kid, some grocers still used the Spanish pound.
So Spain has stopped using the arroba (@) and the almud? Allahu akbar!
Arrobas are really old-timey. I just had to check that it's 11'5 kilos. Apparently it corresponds to how much stuff a donkey can carry.
in Galicia we used to have a really particular unit for field size, the "ferrado" (somehow equivalent to the Castillian "celemín"), which changed from one village to the next. It amounted to the minimum size of a field able to produce a certain amount of cereal (between 12 and 20 kilos, depending on the particular cereal), also called "ferrado". It is still used informally by older people in the countryside.
Libra/livre, both as £ and weight are somewhat old-fashioned but would be understood by most people over 20, I guess. Metric pounds only, of course.
Countryside folks might still use alqueire in Portugal, a varying capacity unit (13 to 22 l) but it still known thanks the idiom of "cabeça de alqueire" (empty-headed person).
Up north, cântaro may be more commonly used than almud. It's half an almud.
France has still uses more often than not soup spoon (15 ml) and coffee spoon (5 ml) in recipes, sometimes giving the info in ml between brackets.
That's
cuillère à soupe et
cuillère à café respectively.
PS: reformed orthography, as per Académie française recommendations, for le Loup Gris.
Love that it's soup and coffee - we use teaspoon (5ml) and tablespoon (also 15ml).
In the crazy half of both world that is Quebec, we mostly use teaspoon & soupspoon.
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 11:06:45 AM
Love that it's soup and coffee - we use teaspoon (5ml) and tablespoon (also 15ml).
German has Esslöffel (literally "eating spoon") and Teelöffel (tea spoon).
Two raises so far and I am now one of the "go to" people at work. :huh:
Even better: I get to be called brave. And heroic. :huh: :huh:
Of course, adjectives are cheap. :hmm:
Quote from: saskganesh on May 22, 2020, 05:35:46 PM
Two raises so far and I am now one of the "go to" people at work. :huh:
Even better: I get to be called brave. And heroic. :huh: :huh:
Of course, adjectives are cheap. :hmm:
That's two more raises than I've had in 5 years.
you still make much more than me. :cheers:
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 21, 2020, 03:23:51 PM
:lol: No-one under 50 uses yards.
Personally I use metric for beer and milk, (human) weight, long distances (miles) and very small distances (inches); metric for baking measurements and moderate distances (metres) I have no idea how any of these relate to each other or if other people are a bit more regimented :blush: :lol:
I have a really hard time figuring people's height in metric. 1,82m tells me nothing. 6' is a tall person :P
But really, if we're talking about a wall, I can easily figure 3,05m or 3,66m or 4,88m.
Length are in mm/cm/m/km. Miles tels me absolutely nothing, I have to convert in my head, same with speed. Half inches, quarter inches... I hate these. Working with construction guys "give me 1/32".. euh? wtf is that??
Any kind of cooking has to be done in metric, or cups (imperial). Any other measure tells me nothing (gallons, ounces, pints), etc. I know a cup is 250ml, so I can easily adjust from that.
Human weights is in lbs, but I can't figure anything else than kg for any kind of objects. Tell me a box weights 2kg and I know it's not heavy (4.4lbs), but tell me it's about 4.5lbs and it tells me nothing.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 21, 2020, 06:11:09 PM
I get my weight in tenths of kilograms.
Monday: 425 3/10kg
Friday: 425 1/10kg
woo-hooo!!! I've finally lost weight!!! :yeah:
Quote from: Tyr on May 22, 2020, 04:49:37 AM
As said I've never used pounds for anything. I have no concept of them.
Oddly however I always grew up using, and still do use, quarters. Which is a quarter pound though never thought of that way.
I wonder what's a quarter-pounder in France...
:P
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 06:05:27 AM
This would be useful if US cookbooks didn't use cups as the measurement which can present challenges :lol:
the best recipies of boiled meat with minth sauce accompanied by warm beer or chilled red wine are in Great Britain anyway :P
Quote from: viper37 on May 22, 2020, 06:21:02 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 21, 2020, 06:11:09 PM
I get my weight in tenths of kilograms.
Monday: 425 3/10kg
Friday: 425 1/10kg
woo-hooo!!! I've finally lost weight!!! :yeah:
You're kidding.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 22, 2020, 06:38:32 PM
Quote from: viper37 on May 22, 2020, 06:21:02 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on May 21, 2020, 06:11:09 PM
I get my weight in tenths of kilograms.
Monday: 425 3/10kg
Friday: 425 1/10kg
woo-hooo!!! I've finally lost weight!!! :yeah:
You're kidding.
It's been a rough quarantine for all of us. Don't judge.
(https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5ec6b287250000011eeb1e15.jpeg)
Really, South Carolina? :huh:
What's wrong with sushi? :unsure:
Texas is WEIRD
Utah wins for weirdness.
Man I could go for a gyro.
Quote from: Syt on May 23, 2020, 02:45:27 AM
Hot wings? Why? :unsure:
My bad, I meant Nevada.
Quote from: Syt on May 23, 2020, 02:16:22 AM
What's wrong with sushi? :unsure:
Just unexpected.
FWIW, in the past few weeks when I ordered food I had pad thai, burritos, curry, fried noodles, and burgers. Not at the same time.
Only ordered twice during the lockdown... Pizza and Pad Thai.
I hope biscuits means something else than cookies, if it doesn't DC would be taking it.
Where in the fuck are people in Wyoming getting naan from?
Quote from: Maladict on May 23, 2020, 09:13:50 AM
I hope biscuits means something else than cookies, if it doesn't DC would be taking it.
(https://images-gmi-pmc.edge-generalmills.com/feb947f7-763d-409a-b474-dc68f17df23b.jpg)
Not unlike the Hamburg classic, "Rundstück Warm", a roll with pork or beef roast, with gravy.
(https://images.lecker.de/,id=e79b0294,b=lecker,w=610,cg=c.jpg)
Oklahoma's croissant diet also seems peculiar.
Will say back on topic I guess it's a good thing we've got this storm going on. I fear people are still on a high from ve day and there would be bank holiday silliness otherwise
We went out to a nice trail for a day of hiking. We first saw it a few weeks ago and have gone a few times. It's pretty nice for us and our son: very few people, wide trails, and not too busy. Unfortunately when we finished, we found that some dickhead and broken into our car by smashing the rear passenger side window. Nothing was stolen and some others there had called it in. Not the best start to a three day weekend. :mad:
I visited some relatives in other parts of Germany as we had a four day weekend. There was pretty heavy traffic on the autobahn today, lots of returning tourists, especially camper vans. I went to two beach resorts on the Baltic Coast and while it was not like summer high season, there were plenty of tourists out. Let's see if this works out...
I've done nothing but watch TV and eat since I logged off work on Friday.
This morning I got up and cut my hair, because why the fuck not? (No, I didn't shave my head, though it was tempting. Just bangs.) I was supposed to go on a hike today and I was just like.... no. That seems like a crapload of effort right now.
There will be a trip to the liquor store so that I can make a frozen lemon coconut rum drink a friend mentioned. And whisky because I'm out.
That's healthy, right? Asking for a friend.
As long as you haven't made more than 2 drinks (or one blender full) at a time, you are being responsible.
One blender full of rum may be a bit much though.
I am not here to judge.
Quote from: PDH on May 24, 2020, 04:33:07 PM
I am not here to judge.
Then what the hell are you here for? :mad:
:P
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 22, 2020, 04:58:39 AM
No idea about quarters. Also obvs I use imperial for human heights. So thinking about it, it's basically imperial = human size measurements, distance and things that are measured in pints and metric = everything else.
Quarters used to be the way to order cooked meat from a deli counter in the supermarket or market when I was younger; these days people seem to ask for a certain number of slices etc.
In fact, uncooked meat was always order in pounds from the market...although there was the one time my mother asked for her normal 2 pounds in weight of beef and the young man serving her thought she meant two pounds in value.
Also, Sheilbh, I thought the normal rounding for a pound was 454 grams, not 453?
That's what they use for burgers, anyway.
Baptisms 2020
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY0KEc3WAAMP2ry?format=jpg&name=900x900)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY0KEc1XQAIf97q?format=jpg&name=small)
Had my first lunch out in months. Paella and sangría under the sun. Cliché, but awesome.
Great uncle, what did you do in the First Great Virus War?
[Mongers]
I stayed at home and moaned about the disruption to my holiday plans.
[/Mongers]
Quote from: celedhring on May 25, 2020, 08:31:43 AM
Had my first lunch out in months. Paella and sangría under the sun. Cliché, but awesome.
:mmm:
So I went to the pub with a friend. The pub basically serves one litre plastic bottles (old milk bottles) of IPA, lager, cider or a bottle of wine, plus plastic cups. It looks onto a typical London square so you then go and sit on the benches or the floor with your drinks. They also rent out petanque sets if you want to play that. It was a delight. Sat in a early summer London (and I've always thought London improves with the sun more than any city I know) square, light dappling through the leaves with a pint :wub:
It was a very young crowd - everyone in their 20s/30s so no-one who looked particularly high risk. I don't think I saw any groups over 6 but I think it's fair to say 2m has gone out the window, but people generally seemed to stay about 1m (maybe little bit more) away except for the obvious couples. People arriving on bikes and doing little laps round the square - just everyone very happy to be in human company.
I think this will be what happens as we move into different stages of lockdown. As the government has lost authority in this area, I think people will make a judgement and follow the rules they feel make sense rather than strictly follow all rules.
Also used buses for the first time and it is extraordinary the changes as double-deckers (which at maximum capacity have about 130 people on them) are down to 20 maximum capacity. It's very weird. Most people are wearing masks and trying to leave 2m away from each other on the seats. Again, this seems like people deciding to follow the rules that they think are sensible.
I took the RER (S-Bahn for the Teutons) for the first time in 2-3 months for a picnic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Réseau_Express_Régional (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9seau_Express_R%C3%A9gional)
I took the metro for the first time in two months a couple of weeks ago.
Thankfully, not at peak hours in both occasions.
I went out yesterday morning for the first time in 10 weeks. Had a pleasant stroll through the cemetery, though on the way home had to share the sidewalk with more runners than I would have liked. Saw a lack of social distancing among a couple different exercise groups.
QuoteBrazil stops releasing Covid-19 death toll and wipes data from official site
Government accused of totalitarianism and censorship after Bolsonaro orders end to publication of numbers
The Brazilian government has been accused of totalitarianism and censorship after it stopped releasing its total numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths and wiped an official site clean of swaths of data.
Health ministry insiders told local media the move was ordered by far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, himself – and was met with widespread outrage in Brazil, one of the world's worst-hit Covid-19 hotspots, with more deaths than Italy and more cases than Russia and the UK.
"The authoritarian, insensitive, inhuman and unethical attempt to make those killed by Covid-19 invisible will not succeed. We and Brazilian society will not forget them, nor the tragedy that befalls the nation," said Alberto Beltrame, president of Brazil's national council of state health secretaries, in a statement.
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest number of cases, at 672,846, according to the John Hopkins university site, and has overtaken Italy, with 35,930 deaths. John Hopkins removed Brazil from its global count on Saturday but later reinstated it.
On Friday night, Brazil's government stopped releasing the cumulative numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases and obits in its daily bulletin and only supplied daily numbers. A health ministry site was taken offline and returned on Saturday without the total number of deaths and confirmed cases, as well as numbers of cases under investigation and those that recovered. The death counts were reported as 904 on Saturday, 1,005 on Friday and 1,473 on Thursday.
The move was widely criticised across Brazilian society, with doctors, medical associations and state governors attacking what they called an attempt to control information. Federal prosecutors announced an investigation on Saturday and gave the interim health minister 72 hours to explain the move, using the Brazilian constitution and freedom of information law as justification.
"The manipulation of statistics is a manoeuvre of totalitarian regimes," tweeted Gilmar Mendes, a supreme court judge. "The trick will not exempt responsibility for the eventual genocide." Rodrigo Maia, speaker of the lower house of Congress, called for the data to be replaced for "transparency".
"You can't face a pandemic without science, transparency and action," Paulo Câmara, governor of the north-eastern state of Pernambuco, posted on Instagram. "Manipulation, omission and disrespect are the striking marks of authoritarian administrations. But this won't destroy the effort of the whole nation. We will continue producing, systematising and releasing the data."
Moves to control Covid-19 numbers began earlier in the week. On Wednesday, the ministry pushed back the release of its daily bulletin from 7pm to 10pm, after the nightly television news. "That's the end of Jornal Nacional reports," Bolsonaro said on Friday, referring to Brazil's biggest TV news programme.
The data was "adapted" because it did not "portray the moment the country is in", tweeted the president, who has flaunted isolation measures, dismissed the disease as a "little flu" and shrugged off Brazil's rising death toll because, he said, death was "everybody's destiny".
Health ministry technicians told Brasília's Correio Braziliense that "Bolsonaro freaked out" and blamed the president for the decision to "misrepresent" the numbers.
The country currently has no health minister, having lost two since the pandemic began. The acting health minister, Eduardo Pazuello, is an army general with no health experience who has stuffed the ministry with military officers.
On Friday, Carlos Wizard, a billionaire Mormon businessman with no health experience who is taking over as secretary of science, technology and strategic supplies at the health ministry, called the current data "fanciful or manipulated".
"There are many people dying for other causes and public managers, purely interested in having bigger budgets for their towns, their states, were putting everybody as Covid. We are revising these obits," he told the O Globo newspaper. In fact, health specialists have argued that there is widespread under-reporting of cases and deaths in Brazil, in part due to a lack of testing.
"Only someone who does not know the public health system could make this statement," André Longo, health secretary of Pernambuco state, told the Guardian. "It stains the history of Brazilian public health."
Doctors across Brazil said the lack of information would hinder management of the pandemic as cases moved from big cities into its vast interior. "How is a manager going to reallocate resources and organise vacancies and transporting the sick if they don't have data?" said Guilherme Pivoto, an infectious diseases specialist in Manaus, one of Brazil's worst-hit cities.
Pressure on hospitals in big cities like Manaus, Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro has eased and states like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have begun slowly allowing shops and businesses to reopen.
But managing that transition requires accurate and clear information, said Alberto Chebabo, an infectious diseases specialist at Rio de Janeiro's Federal University hospital and vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases.
"We have room in intensive care ... but the hospital still has many patients," he said. "Many decisions are taken on basis of these numbers not just in Brazil, but in whole world ... It is an inadmissible lack of transparency."
Quote from: garbon on June 07, 2020, 04:14:04 PM
I went out yesterday morning for the first time in 10 weeks. Had a pleasant stroll through the cemetery, though on the way home had to share the sidewalk with more runners than I would have liked. Saw a lack of social distancing among a couple different exercise groups.
:cool:
Garbon you've shown commendable restraint, I couldn't have done that.
We had great weather here this past weekend. Got to see my son play 3 baseball games and my nephew in one as well. I'm sunburnt but I'll take it :)
How did they do?
The weather now is so nice, so I took a couple of long walks outside. Jersey City is quickly becoming a very green city. Thanks for the geese, Canadians, much appreciated.
It is brutally hot right now. It may be June but summer is already in midseason form.
Traffic has picked up a bit around town, still not real heavy. I got a haircut first time in about 3 months. Paid the barber double to help make up some of their losses. I've known both these guys for a long time, was in boy scouts with one and the father of the other barber was a friend of or knew my father. Both veterans of WW2. They told me that in the two weeks since opening that they had 400 customers! Way over the usual number. They do appointments but when I got there there were no customers, first time the place was empty in two weeks, so it was no problem getting me in.
There's more activity around town but still a lot more quiet than usual of course. I still see a lot of walkers all around, up town, in my neighborhood, etc. For one of my neighbor's kids across the street there was a birthday parade of cars and police cars, honking horns and sirens. That's become normal for birthdays and is kind of cool for the kiddies.
I've noticed also that the number of spam phone calls is picking up again. <_< That had been real quiet.
My work has picked up a bit this week. I think the hospitals are getting ready to start up more procedures and services that were on hold during covid. Also, we're getting going again on bringing about eighteen more hospitals onto our main medical system. Looks like through late summer into autumn that will be going on if the schedule keeps up. I'm still working from home and it looks like that'll be the norm for a good while as they figure out how to get us back into the office. I don't think the company has a good idea how to proceed on that, and seem not too concerned with people continuing to work from home. As it was many people could already work from home one or two days a week.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on June 08, 2020, 04:20:19 PM
How did they do?
Son's teams lost all 3 games (I have him on 2 teams to make up for a shorter season) and nephew's team won. Both boys played well. Son's team won tonight.
Basically between practices and games we are set to have baseball every day of the week but Friday the next 4 weeks, weather permitting.
I am looking forward to MLB starting up again in July...presuming that is still happening.
It is kind of sad not being able to watch the Orioles be terrible all this time.
I miss sports, all of them. So much actually, that I have watched Nascar.
Can't bring myself to watch Nascar. Watched some Korean baseball. And the brewery nearby usually has some ESPN-8 "The Ocho"-type sport on so I'll watch crap like marble racing, cornhole, etc.
About all I get is to wear my "Wyoming Football" hat and have the locals look at me with confused expressions...
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 05:51:37 AM
I miss sports, all of them. So much actually, that I have watched Nascar.
My son is signed up for a once a week hockey practice. The rink is on a reserve, so exempt from provincial legislation for the most part. Only 10 kids on the ice, you have to show up fully dressed in your gear, parents not allowed.
But even so - I was very excited just to go through and make sure all his gear was ready to go, re-taped his stick. I miss hockey.
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 05:51:37 AM
I miss sports, all of them. So much actually, that I have watched Nascar.
Bundesliga
Quote from: PDH on June 09, 2020, 09:37:10 AM
About all I get is to wear my "Wyoming Football" hat and have the locals look at me with confused expressions...
I think it is the speedo rather than the hat
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 09, 2020, 11:02:55 AM
Quote from: PDH on June 09, 2020, 09:37:10 AM
About all I get is to wear my "Wyoming Football" hat and have the locals look at me with confused expressions...
I think it is the speedo rather than the hat
Could be...
Quote from: Josephus on June 09, 2020, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 05:51:37 AM
I miss sports, all of them. So much actually, that I have watched Nascar.
Bundesliga
I tried that, the timing is really bad. I watch sports at night, not in the morning.
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 12:12:01 PM
Quote from: Josephus on June 09, 2020, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 05:51:37 AM
I miss sports, all of them. So much actually, that I have watched Nascar.
Bundesliga
I tried that, the timing is really bad. I watch sports at night, not in the morning.
record the games?
Quote from: crazy canuck on June 09, 2020, 12:32:03 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 12:12:01 PM
Quote from: Josephus on June 09, 2020, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 09, 2020, 05:51:37 AM
I miss sports, all of them. So much actually, that I have watched Nascar.
Bundesliga
I tried that, the timing is really bad. I watch sports at night, not in the morning.
record the games?
I don't miss it THAT much.
:lol:
Premier league is meant to be starting soon with daily games.
Complete cluster fuck lower down the pyramid.
Our CEO made the offer to anyone in the company who wants to WFH fulltime permanently to be able to do so.
I'm considering this option so that once things ease up and a vaccine is available, I can travel without having to worry about vacation days.
Quote from: merithyn on June 12, 2020, 12:53:02 PM
Our CEO made the offer to anyone in the company who wants to WFH fulltime permanently to be able to do so.
I'm considering this option so that once things ease up and a vaccine is available, I can travel without having to worry about vacation days.
:cool:
Go for it Meri, though I'm guessing you're someone who does enjoy the company of Some of your fellow workers?
Alstom is re-opening its offices in waves. I'm back in the office as part of the New Wave (https://keithandthemovies.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/outsiders2.gif) second wave; which is supposed to be 50% capacity. Only a fraction of the second wave showed up, so there's five people on my entire floor (out of a capacity of 75) and we're all wearing masks :ph34r:. It's like an episode of "The Twilight Zone" where after the apocalypse everyone still shows up to their desk job in the office.
Quote from: merithyn on June 12, 2020, 12:53:02 PM
Our CEO made the offer to anyone in the company who wants to WFH fulltime permanently to be able to do so.
I'm considering this option so that once things ease up and a vaccine is available, I can travel without having to worry about vacation days.
That's awesome. I'd take it.
Quote from: mongers on June 12, 2020, 01:19:22 PM
Quote from: merithyn on June 12, 2020, 12:53:02 PM
Our CEO made the offer to anyone in the company who wants to WFH fulltime permanently to be able to do so.
I'm considering this option so that once things ease up and a vaccine is available, I can travel without having to worry about vacation days.
:cool:
Go for it Meri, though I'm guessing you're someone who does enjoy the company of Some of your fellow workers?
Yes. Very much so. It would likely be more of a "this month I'll be wfh" kind of thing than a "I'm a fulltime wfh person".
Think depression is hitting me. So sleepy and hard to get enthusiasm to be remotely productive with work. I dont cope with enforced sameness. Was already so overdue for a holiday.
Quote from: Tyr on June 12, 2020, 03:34:23 PM
Think depression is hitting me. So sleepy and hard to get enthusiasm to be remotely productive with work. I dont cope with enforced sameness. Was already so overdue for a holiday.
Might be Covid!
I've received my stimulus voucher. €25 for a meal and (non-alcoholic) drinks in participating restaurants. :)
I agree with Squeeze's point about the Ground Hog Dayishness.
Quote from: merithyn on June 12, 2020, 12:53:02 PM
Our CEO made the offer to anyone in the company who wants to WFH fulltime permanently to be able to do so.
I'm considering this option so that once things ease up and a vaccine is available, I can travel without having to worry about vacation days.
Sounds good. I'm wondering if my company will do something like this also. Pre-Apocalypse they were allowing people to work from home two days a week. I never did with such a short commute and only working mornings a few days a week. But now I want to work from home all or most of the time.
Traffic around town has picked up to about normal, also the spam phone calls have been back. Damn, and things had been so quiet, and traffic so light!
Went to the Regal Beagle to pick up some take out. Place was pretty crowded for 6:45. I was the only one with a mask. Felt kind of out of place. No social distancing was evident. Hope we don't go Texas.
Is Regal Beagle the actual name of the establishment or just a nick you created?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 26, 2020, 08:24:46 PM
Went to the Regal Beagle to pick up some take out. Place was pretty crowded for 6:45. I was the only one with a mask. Felt kind of out of place. No social distancing was evident. Hope we don't go Texas.
I can't help but think of the mice with toxoplasmosis, who become attracted to cats rather than afraid of them. I wonder if there is an equivalent among people that makes them seek out Covid-19 rather than steer clear of it.
Quote from: DGuller on June 26, 2020, 08:40:17 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 26, 2020, 08:24:46 PM
Went to the Regal Beagle to pick up some take out. Place was pretty crowded for 6:45. I was the only one with a mask. Felt kind of out of place. No social distancing was evident. Hope we don't go Texas.
I can't help but think of the mice with toxoplasmosis, who become attracted to cats rather than afraid of them. I wonder if there is an equivalent among people that makes them seek out Covid-19 rather than steer clear of it.
The opposite, thick-as-shit people like to clump together with other equally thick people; Coronavirus profits.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on June 26, 2020, 08:36:29 PM
Is Regal Beagle the actual name of the establishment or just a nick you created?
The actual name of the establishment is American Legion Post 17. The Regal Beagle was the bar in Three's Company that Larry always wanted to go to.
Quote from: mongers on June 26, 2020, 09:05:08 PM
The opposite, thick-as-shit people like to clump together with other equally thick people; Coronavirus profits.
I know and get a along with lots of these folks so let's drop it down a notch.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 26, 2020, 09:05:38 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on June 26, 2020, 08:36:29 PM
Is Regal Beagle the actual name of the establishment or just a nick you created?
The actual name of the establishment is American Legion Post 17. The Regal Beagle was the bar in Three's Company that Larry always wanted to go to.
There's a couple of bars in Calgary that go by the name the Regal Beagle (not sure if they're related or not).
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 26, 2020, 09:06:42 PM
Quote from: mongers on June 26, 2020, 09:05:08 PM
The opposite, thick-as-shit people like to clump together with other equally thick people; Coronavirus profits.
I know and get a along with lots of these folks so let's drop it down a notch.
Ooops, I wasn't referring to your bar friends, but to the people floating the virus guidlines and the distancing advice;the perfect example of which were the Brits deluging our seaside towns over the last couple of days with their pollution, rubbish and bad behaviour.
Went down town last night with a couple buds after 9 holes of golf. Dinner and drinks.
Uber is working, if maybe a little slow to respond. Drivers both masked, we wore masks, no one in the front seat.
Most wait staff in the resto and bar we went to were masked. I got temperature zapped at the resto. I asked the dude and he said no one has been rejected yet.
I dropped by my jailbait karaoke joint and dude I know says they were doing karaoke and place was pretty crowded but then last week customers disappeared, around the time Texas's bad numbers made the news.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 28, 2020, 11:26:54 AM
Went down town last night with a couple buds after 9 holes of golf. Dinner and drinks.
Uber is working, if maybe a little slow to respond. Drivers both masked, we wore masks, no one in the front seat.
Most wait staff in the resto and bar we went to were masked. I got temperature zapped at the resto. I asked the dude and he said no one has been rejected yet.
I dropped by my jailbait karaoke joint and dude I know says they were doing karaoke and place was pretty crowded but then last week customers disappeared, around the time Texas's bad numbers made the news.
Is a karaoke joint a safe place to be in this time and age? One would think that somewhere in which many people will be singing indoors would have a relatively high risk of contagion if somebody sick with Covid is present.
(https://i.redd.it/0qpx06778o751.jpg)
Quote from: The Larch on June 28, 2020, 01:04:46 PM
Is a karaoke joint a safe place to be in this time and age? One would think that somewhere in which many people will be singing indoors would have a relatively high risk of contagion if somebody sick with Covid is present.
I imagine so.
I imagine so high risk, not safe place. :)
Quote from: Zanza on June 28, 2020, 01:15:18 PM
(https://i.redd.it/0qpx06778o751.jpg)
Says it all
Picked up this week's click and collect. Staff was helpful as always but they seemed to have stopped caring about social distancing, or I just got unlucky with the two people I interacted with. Especially the one that came up as I was waiting sitting with my car door halfway open and sort of leaned over the car door, well within accidental spitting distance :P
It's going to be more challenging to keep yourself uninfected if society at large decides to stop caring.
First trip inside the supermercado since C19. One way aisles. One bro looking doofus was going the wrong way on every single one. Maskage was around 95%.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 30, 2020, 07:20:26 PM
First trip inside the supermercado since C19. One way aisles. One bro looking doofus was going the wrong way on every single one. Maskage was around 95%.
Wow, here masks are entirely out of fashion, I've only seen a handful and those were at the late night opening in Waitrose the other evening. :bowler:
In Santa Cruz people wear masks at the grocery store (100% as far as I have seen), other stores (from what I have been told nearly 100%), and even when pumping gas for the car (Sorry, NJ and non-rural late night Oregon, we are real humans here).
The only time people feel no need to wear a mask is when AT THE BEACH IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER AND ALL THOSE FROM ALL OVER.
So, we're doomed.
Oh, look at you, being able to fill up without setting the gas station on fire. That's all it takes to be a human, right. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 30, 2020, 07:20:26 PM
First trip inside the supermercado since C19.
Bro how were you staying alive till now? :huh:
I've been going to the grocery once a week since this shit started, just like I was before.
Curbside pickup of your online order I imagine.
My gym reopened a week ago with a "mask up at all times" policy, except when doing cardio, for which they have set up isolated cubicles. The mask policy has lasted exactly one week, nobody cares anymore.
Quote from: Caliga on June 30, 2020, 10:44:55 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 30, 2020, 07:20:26 PM
First trip inside the supermercado since C19.
Bro how were you staying alive till now? :huh:
I've been going to the grocery once a week since this shit started, just like I was before.
What Zoupa said
I've left my apt complex twice since 23rd of March. :hmm:
Quote from: garbon on July 01, 2020, 06:03:38 AM
I've left my apt complex twice since 23rd of March. :hmm:
wtf. You don't take walks? :wacko:
Quote from: PDH on June 30, 2020, 09:36:40 PM
The only time people feel no need to wear a mask is when AT THE BEACH IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER AND ALL THOSE FROM ALL OVER.
you don't need a mask underwater. well, not that kind of masks :P
Well, my brother got laid off due to Covid-19. Just got off the phone with him.
His company was a piece of shit anyway so he's not exactly sad about leaving it, but he does very specialized work (regulatory compliance in the telecom industry) and there's basically no other work whatsoever for someone in that field in Richmond.
Dish Network is trying to recruit him, but they are insisting he would have to move to Denver, which would mean my sister in law would need to quit her very secure/stable job as a chemical engineer. :hmm:
I told him to tell the recruiter that he'll only consider taking that job if they let him work remote for a year, so that way if it's not a good fit he doesn't ruin their lives by uprooting them for no reason... not like either of them has any family in Denver or any other reason to be there, really.
I am in Austria right now and mask wearing is even less here than in Germany. You don't have to wear the mask here in restaurants or hotels. But disinfectants everywhere. Hmm. :huh:
Let's see how it is in Italy. I expect it to be much stricter.
Quote from: Zanza on July 02, 2020, 11:14:04 PM
I am in Austria right now and mask wearing is even less here than in Germany. You don't have to wear the mask here in restaurants or hotels. But disinfectants everywhere. Hmm. :huh:
Let's see how it is in Italy. I expect it to be much stricter.
Summer is hard for Covid-19 compliance in Italy. Beaches are full of people, there's quite a lot of foreigners (not many as usual, though), and masks are not seen anywhere in proximity of the beaches.
On the other hand, shops, markets and every establishment open to the public are very strict: people can get in only by wearing a mask, every shop has sanitizer distributors around, and people are usually really careful about it.
In theory it's forbidden to use air conditioning in public places, but in the last days temperature rose up to a humid 34° C, so AC has become essentially mandatory even in public spaces.
Last friday I went to have a couple beers with friends, and in the central squares of the city there were, I think, 5K young people :wacko: drinking and having fun and doing young people things with total disregard of social distancing - and this is without the usually great number of university students, that are still home because UniPd will reopen probably in september.
There was quite the number of really attractive girls prancing around, by the way.
L.
I am a bit worried that previous concerns over what the developed world is going to do with an aging population are going to be solved in a very cruel way by this virus.
Quote from: Caliga on July 02, 2020, 09:50:12 PM
not like either of them has any family in Denver or any other reason to be there, really.
Legal weed?
The spike in cases in Upper Austria has been traced to large families from Romania who are part of a Christian sect that believes in spirit healing over traditional medicine, and it's estimated that members who were infected turned to laying on of hands in the community for treatment.
Quote from: Caliga on July 02, 2020, 09:50:12 PM
Well, my brother got laid off due to Covid-19. Just got off the phone with him.
His company was a piece of shit anyway so he's not exactly sad about leaving it, but he does very specialized work (regulatory compliance in the telecom industry) and there's basically no other work whatsoever for someone in that field in Richmond.
Dish Network is trying to recruit him, but they are insisting he would have to move to Denver, which would mean my sister in law would need to quit her very secure/stable job as a chemical engineer. :hmm:
I told him to tell the recruiter that he'll only consider taking that job if they let him work remote for a year, so that way if it's not a good fit he doesn't ruin their lives by uprooting them for no reason... not like either of them has any family in Denver or any other reason to be there, really.
In the current situation moving across the country is pretty dumb even if she didn't have a job, working remote for a while is wise even for a job an hour away.
This is not the kind of economy where you give up the one secure job of the household to gamble on a new one, IMHO.
Perhaps The lockdown highlight in the mongers household over the last few weeks has been reading the tracking info for the radio I ordered from China.
It' left Southern China by rail, got to the Kazakh border, changed trains and gauges the the Dzhurong Gate, travel across russia, changed gauges again somewhere in E.Europe, arrived in Brest, went to Duisburg, got stuck there in a warehouse for ten days, then made it to Belgium, I think it then went through the tunnel and eventually arrived Yesterday. :)
I saved the tracking data if anyone wants me to post it, it's really that exciting. :D
Oh and the radio is brilliant for what it does.
Quote from: mongers on July 03, 2020, 09:04:30 AM
Perhaps The lockdown highlight in the mongers household over the last few weeks has been reading the tracking info for the radio I ordered from China.
It' left Southern China by rail, got to the Kazakh border, changed trains and gauges the the Dzhurong Gate, travel across russia, changed gauges again somewhere in E.Europe, arrived in Brest, went to Duisburg, got stuck there in a warehouse for ten days, then made it to Belgium, I think it then went through the tunnel and eventually arrived Yesterday. :)
I saved the tracking data if anyone wants me to post it, it's really that exciting. :D
Oh and the radio is brilliant for what it does.
That is pretty cool. :D
My very first e-bay (and also non-Hungarian wargame) purchase was a used copy of the old AH game War and Peace. As I was cheap back then I had the guy ship it via surface mail. :D Unfortunately there was no such tracking info back then as I recall, but I could imagine the adventures the parcel went through during the month it got to me.
Quote from: Tamas on July 03, 2020, 09:20:15 AM
That is pretty cool. :D
My very first e-bay (and also non-Hungarian wargame) purchase was a used copy of the old AH game War and Peace. As I was cheap back then I had the guy ship it via surface mail. :D Unfortunately there was no such tracking info back then as I recall, but I could imagine the adventures the parcel went through during the month it got to me.
:cool:
OK, Tamas since you 'insisted':
Quote
Thu, 2 Jul 2020 2:31 AM GREAT BRITAIN DELIVERED
Tue, 30 Jun 2020 9:38 PM N/A F SCAN RECEIVED : DEPARTURE FROM OE TO DISTRIBUTION NETWORK : CLEARANCE RELEASE
Tue, 30 Jun 2020 7:30 PM GREAT BRITAIN ARRIVAL OFFICE OF EXCHANGE
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 2:23 PM N/A ARRIVED AT DESTINATION WAREHOUSE
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 1:35 PM BELGIUM DEPARTURE TO COUNTRY OF DESTINATION
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 12:23 PM N/A DEPARTURE FROM DUISBURG
Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:23 AM DUI ARRIVED IN DESTINATION CITY
Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:23 PM N/A DEPARTURE FROM MALA
Sun, 14 Jun 2020 10:24 AM N/A ARRIVED IN MALA
Sat, 13 Jun 2020 8:24 PM N/A ARRIVED IN BREST
Mon, 8 Jun 2020 6:24 PM N/A DEPARTURE FROM DSTK
Sun, 7 Jun 2020 4:24 PM N/A ARRIVED IN DSTK
Sun, 7 Jun 2020 2:00 PM N/A UPLIFTED FROM TRANSSHIPMENT HUB
Wed, 3 Jun 2020 10:24 PM N/A ARRIVED IN ALASHANKOU
Sat, 30 May 2020 3:00 PM N/A DEPARTURE FROM WAREHOUSE
Sat, 30 May 2020 12:00 PM N/A EXPORT CUSTOMS CLEARED
Thu, 28 May 2020 7:47 PM SHENZHEN ITEM DESPATCHED TO TRANSSHIPMENT HUB
Thu, 28 May 2020 7:39 AM N/A SHIPMENT READY FOR TRANSPORT
Thu, 28 May 2020 7:36 AM SZ PROCESSED AT ORIGIN HUB
Thu, 28 May 2020 7:35 AM SZ RECEIVED SHIPMENT
Tue, 26 May 2020 3:34 AM N/A ITEM IS ANNOUNCED / BPOST RECEIVED THE INFORMATION
:P
Quote from: Syt on July 03, 2020, 03:57:55 AM
The spike in cases in Upper Austria has been traced to large families from Romania who are part of a Christian sect that believes in spirit healing over traditional medicine, and it's estimated that members who were infected turned to laying on of hands in the community for treatment.
Spirit healing is good for some things. I'm sure it's more effective at providing herd immunity than everything science tried so far.
Quote from: Tamas on July 03, 2020, 05:26:37 AM
This is not the kind of economy where you give up the one secure job of the household to gamble on a new one, IMHO.
Right, which is why I told him to do what he did.
He sounded convinced that if he doesn't take this job (assuming it's actually offered), his career would be seriously stalled though... which I think he could be right about.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on July 03, 2020, 03:49:56 AM
Legal weed?
He's a square who won't even drink, let alone do drugs of any kind. :sleep:
To my amazement, we've ordered the machines I have been working on for the past couple years. I really thought corporate was going to clamp down on investment.
This makes me feel a bit more secure on the job front. It's going to take one to two years to build, commission and validate them.
OTOH, word from the powers that be is to make processes as labour efficient as possible.
My company put out guidelines for those wishing to return to their work places. Nothing definite about returning yet, but they'll limit numbers in offices, have sign-in sheets, and other stuff. But it'll be hard to social distance for those of us in cubicles. So there isn't any haste to return to work places anyways. I think I'll be working from home for a good while yet.
I have had a few days taken off but I have decided against visiting home start of August.
It feels like a second wave is brewing and I don't want to bring it home to my parents and grandmother.
My gf is in a similar place Tamas. Her dad has a awakened immune system and apparently a second wave already starting up in Switzerland. Really wants to see them but not if she risks being trapped there, or worse putting him in danger.
Plus flying is massively unreliable at the moment. A friend of hers trying to make a similar trip ended up booking flights with two airlines only for both to cancel the same leg.
Why corona isn't bigger in Japan. This is something that has intruiged me
BBC News - Coronavirus: Japan's mysteriously low virus death rate
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-53188847
The theory that particularly stands out is that something similar but less bad may have passed through previously.
It may be wishful thinking at work like my interest in the theories of illness earlier in the year being corona, but I will say in the 3 years I was in Japan, I caught the flu seriously 2 of those. Perhaps the only time in my life, certainly of adulthood.
It could just be bad luck on my part of course. And I don't care too much to bother others about their experience. But if such diseases are so rampant in Japan it would explain things.
And makes me wonder whether they could be a path to vaccination.... But then they're so unknown so probably not.
I am curious if anyone, particular Americans, have thought chicken has tasted weird during the pandemic.
I've had chicken three times (twice from the Thai joint and once from the Regal Beagle) and all three times the chicken had this styrofoam texture, like it had been sitting in a deep freeze for three years.
I'm thinking all the meat packing plant problems meant they had to dig into the Strategic Chicken Reserve.
Haven't noticed any unusual taste lately. I'd remember, since dysgeusia/anosmia are the best indicators of 'rona infection. I'd probably be freaking out. :blush:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 07, 2020, 09:53:09 AM
I am curious if anyone, particular Americans, have thought chicken has tasted weird during the pandemic.
I've had chicken three times (twice from the Thai joint and once from the Regal Beagle) and all three times the chicken had this styrofoam texture, like it had been sitting in a deep freeze for three years.
I'm thinking all the meat packing plant problems meant they had to dig into the Strategic Chicken Reserve.
I guess you don't feel like chicken tonight then...
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 07, 2020, 09:53:09 AM
I've had chicken three times (twice from the Thai joint and once from the Regal Beagle) and all three times the chicken had this styrofoam texture, like it had been sitting in a deep freeze for three years.
isn't this wad for fast-food? :sleep:
No, I did not notice anything like that up here.
What I did notice however was that food on the groceries' shelves is awfully close to peremption date. I've lost a lot of meat and I'm no the only one. Can't leave steak or pork in the fridge more than 1-2 days otherwise it smells awful.
Neither of those is a fast food joint.
Actually now that you mention it the Wendy's chicken samwishes I've had were much better.
Asiago Ranch :licklips:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 07, 2020, 09:44:52 PM
Actually now that you mention it the Wendy's chicken samwishes I've had were much better.
I'm guessing Wendy and other chains have dedicated farms and don't rely on a distributor/intermediary.
It might have been unfrozen and refrozen somewhere along the chain of distribution. Spent a little too much time in the plant, spent a little too much time in the truck, spent a little too much time in the wholesaler, spent a little too much time in the final delivery to the restaurant, everytime unfreezing a little and refreezing later during processing.
Could give that impression, especially if it wasn't packaged right to begin with. It could also be that, not being packaged correctly before freezing.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 07, 2020, 09:44:52 PM
Neither of those is a fast food joint.
Actually now that you mention it the Wendy's chicken samwishes I've had were much better.
Fat pills. Avoid, Danger Will Robinson.
Can't say I've noticed a difference, but don't eat out much, mostly cooking at home.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 07, 2020, 09:53:09 AM
I am curious if anyone, particular Americans, have thought chicken has tasted weird during the pandemic.
Nope. Last night I grilled chicken suya (African style kebabs) and they tasted fine, and last week I cooked Singapore chicken rice, and the chicken was perfect... the latter is a pretty light/delicate recipe so I'm sure if there was something up with the chicken I would have noticed.
I feel like you're overcompensating for the gas station food. :hmm:
Quote from: Eddie Teach on July 08, 2020, 09:01:46 AM
I feel like you're overcompensating for the gas station food. :hmm:
I live in the city now and we do not have gas station cafes here. That's a rural phenomenon in KY. :)
Still no yeast, well at least the more traditional type I need. :(
Quote from: Caliga on July 08, 2020, 09:58:48 AM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on July 08, 2020, 09:01:46 AM
I feel like you're overcompensating for the gas station food. :hmm:
I live in the city now and we do not have gas station cafes here. That's a rural phenomenon in KY. :)
we used to have some of that, in the past. They're mostly gone now, though.
Quote from: mongers on July 08, 2020, 11:25:19 AM
Still no yeast, well at least the more traditional type I need. :(
We managed to score some this week, although we stopped trying for several weeks before that.
Quote from: mongers on July 08, 2020, 11:25:19 AM
Still no yeast, well at least the more traditional type I need. :(
I've been sourdoughing for the past few months - but yeah I still don't see yeast in the supermarkets.
I never tried to join the bread craze / only had a few weeks where it was challenging to get online orders of bread from standard outlets.
Quote from: Caliga on July 08, 2020, 09:58:48 AM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on July 08, 2020, 09:01:46 AM
I feel like you're overcompensating for the gas station food. :hmm:
I live in the city now and we do not have gas station cafes here. That's a rural phenomenon in KY. :)
My gas station around the corner has a food truck most days :punk:
Quote from: derspiess on July 09, 2020, 03:24:23 PM
My gas station around the corner has a food truck most days :punk:
What kind of food truck? :cool:
Quote from: Caliga on July 09, 2020, 03:41:57 PM
Quote from: derspiess on July 09, 2020, 03:24:23 PM
My gas station around the corner has a food truck most days :punk:
What kind of food truck? :cool:
Name of the truck is Burger World (not a Beavis & Butthead reference, sadly). Burgers and fries are good, but the best thing about them are their inarticulate, unintentionally hilarious FB posts. I want to help keep them in business for the entertainment value :)
There's a food truck guy down here called Holy Smokes, The BBQ Cowboy. I don't buy his stuff anymore (I no longer live anywhere near where he typically parks) but it was fantastic. But I still follow him on FB for the LOLZ too. :lol: I'm pretty sure he has some sort of brain damage based on the stuff he posts, or maybe he's inhaled too much hickory smoke.
Only about 70% maskage at the supermercado today.
Drug store was closed. C19 outbreak?
What's starting to freak me out a bit is not being able (well, willing) to visit home.
It's been 7 months now that I was back in Hungary, it's a record by a long stretch. I was considering going at the start of August but seeing the numbers build up around Europe I have decided against it. Hungary's decision to quarantine people arriving from the UK kind of confirmed it was a good call.
I am not really worried about myself, the small chance of me catching it and then the even smaller chance of it becoming really serious would worth it, but I dread the thought of gathering up the virus at the airport or the plane and then spreading it to my parents and grandmother, the latter being 98 years old, my father over 70, and my mother in less than stellar health.
So, running that risk for a long weekend of a visit seems silly. But I feel like I'll just have to go for a couple of weeks around Christmas, probably going to risk buying the ticket and then not going if things get too bad. My homesickness is reaching levels where I caught myself seriously contemplating moving back home, a couple of times. :P
Tamas, why don't you just drive? I looked it up - it's scarcely longer than the distance between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which I've done a whole bunch of times.
Could you work from Hungary? That way you could go for, say, a month and do the quarantine then have a few weeks with the family?
I've friends who have gone back to home countries for a while because if we're all working from home the location of that home doesn't really matter that much.
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:02:16 AM
Tamas, why don't you just drive? I looked it up - it's scarcely longer than the distance between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which I've done a whole bunch of times.
Spoken like a true American (the continent, of course). :lol:
Besides that, I'd assume that a similar trip in Europe would be much more expensive.
Quote from: The Larch on July 14, 2020, 11:17:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:02:16 AM
Tamas, why don't you just drive? I looked it up - it's scarcely longer than the distance between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which I've done a whole bunch of times.
Spoken like a true American (the continent, of course). :lol:
Besides that, I'd assume that a similar trip in Europe would be much more expensive.
I was going to say that it was so typically European that Tamas wouldn't have even considered driving. :lol:
I've done a few big driving trips in Europe: biggest was Frankfurt, to Prague to Krakow to Budapest to Vienna and back to Frankfurt. Also drove from London to the northern tip of Scotland and back, and Frankfurt down to Rome and back. Gas is more expensive, but you have smaller more fuel-efficient cars so it's really not too bad.
Now all of that being said, I don't know what crossing borders is like now due to Covid, so maybe it's not much of an option - in particular if they want you to quarantine for 2 weeks for each country you go through.
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:21:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on July 14, 2020, 11:17:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:02:16 AM
Tamas, why don't you just drive? I looked it up - it's scarcely longer than the distance between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which I've done a whole bunch of times.
Spoken like a true American (the continent, of course). :lol:
Besides that, I'd assume that a similar trip in Europe would be much more expensive.
I was going to say that it was so typically European that Tamas wouldn't have even considered driving. :lol:
I've done a few big driving trips in Europe: biggest was Frankfurt, to Prague to Krakow to Budapest to Vienna and back to Frankfurt. Also drove from London to the northern tip of Scotland and back, and Frankfurt down to Rome and back. Gas is more expensive, but you have smaller more fuel-efficient cars so it's really not too bad.
Now all of that being said, I don't know what crossing borders is like now due to Covid, so maybe it's not much of an option - in particular if they want you to quarantine for 2 weeks for each country you go through.
If you want to spend half of your holidays on the road, more power to you. :P
The appropriate European way to travel from London to Budapest is by train and includes at least one night on a couchette :wub:
Quote from: The Larch on July 14, 2020, 11:35:24 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:21:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on July 14, 2020, 11:17:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:02:16 AM
Tamas, why don't you just drive? I looked it up - it's scarcely longer than the distance between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which I've done a whole bunch of times.
Spoken like a true American (the continent, of course). :lol:
Besides that, I'd assume that a similar trip in Europe would be much more expensive.
I was going to say that it was so typically European that Tamas wouldn't have even considered driving. :lol:
I've done a few big driving trips in Europe: biggest was Frankfurt, to Prague to Krakow to Budapest to Vienna and back to Frankfurt. Also drove from London to the northern tip of Scotland and back, and Frankfurt down to Rome and back. Gas is more expensive, but you have smaller more fuel-efficient cars so it's really not too bad.
Now all of that being said, I don't know what crossing borders is like now due to Covid, so maybe it's not much of an option - in particular if they want you to quarantine for 2 weeks for each country you go through.
If you want to spend half of your holidays on the road, more power to you. :P
It's a great way to see a country. :)
Yeah, road trips are fine if you max out at 200 miles a day stopping for a long lunch. I love taking a couple of days to get to the Dordogne or Provence. But it's just miserable if you want to get somewhere quick.
Quote from: Gups on July 14, 2020, 11:38:05 AM
Yeah, road trips are fine if you max out at 200 miles a day stopping for a long lunch. I love taking a couple of days to get to the Dordogne or Provence. But it's just miserable if you want to get somewhere quick.
Yeah, those trips I mentioned were all done at a relaxed pace.
But sometimes you just need to get in the zone and drive for 12+ hours. Mrs B and I once did Whitehorse-Edmonton in a 24 hour continues run in order to make it back for a funeral (I think the flights were all booked up).
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:37:51 AM
Quote from: The Larch on July 14, 2020, 11:35:24 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:21:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on July 14, 2020, 11:17:15 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 11:02:16 AM
Tamas, why don't you just drive? I looked it up - it's scarcely longer than the distance between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which I've done a whole bunch of times.
Spoken like a true American (the continent, of course). :lol:
Besides that, I'd assume that a similar trip in Europe would be much more expensive.
I was going to say that it was so typically European that Tamas wouldn't have even considered driving. :lol:
I've done a few big driving trips in Europe: biggest was Frankfurt, to Prague to Krakow to Budapest to Vienna and back to Frankfurt. Also drove from London to the northern tip of Scotland and back, and Frankfurt down to Rome and back. Gas is more expensive, but you have smaller more fuel-efficient cars so it's really not too bad.
Now all of that being said, I don't know what crossing borders is like now due to Covid, so maybe it's not much of an option - in particular if they want you to quarantine for 2 weeks for each country you go through.
If you want to spend half of your holidays on the road, more power to you. :P
It's a great way to see a country. :)
Driving by regional roads maybe, but that takes ages. Highway driving tends to be rather boring.
I have seriously considered driving. I would need to stop halfway though. I have friends in Germany on the way so it's an option but I don't want to impose myself on them at a time like this.
I did the drive the other way as a bus passenger 20 years ago without stopping (two drivers). took 23 hours.
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 12:44:42 PM
I did the drive the other way as a bus passenger 20 years ago without stopping (two drivers). took 23 hours.
:x
Doing the bus ride to Morocco and back for a holiday was the point I decided I needed to just get over my fear of flying.
Quote from: Tamas on July 14, 2020, 12:44:42 PM
I have seriously considered driving. I would need to stop halfway though. I have friends in Germany on the way so it's an option but I don't want to impose myself on them at a time like this.
I did the drive the other way as a bus passenger 20 years ago without stopping (two drivers). took 23 hours.
Ordinarily I'd say get a hotel room, but in this case just pull over to a rest area when you get too tired to drive and sleep for a few hours.
I was in the office the first time since mid March today. It felt a bit like those pictures of deserted cities near Chernobyl. Except for all the new Corona signage, disinfectants, cleaning material and of course wearing a mask if away from your own desk.
Driving on a German autobahn, which would be like a third of Tamas' total distance is significantly more stressful than a North American highway.
Social distancing discipline has pretty much collapsed at our office. The reasoning seems to be that if one of us gets/has it, we'll all get it, anyways.
We had a doctor review our arrangements last week. He said that we should keep the windows open at all times, especially if there's more than one person in a room.Also, there shouldn't be more than two people in any room at any time. Like in our office where we sit with 4-5 people most days (soon 6!).
He will write an official report for management who will likely ignore it citing government requirements and regulations.
I'm scheduled to hold a quick training session for an hour with 10 or so participants in our normal meeting room tomorrow. :)
:bleeding:
Quote from: Zanza on July 14, 2020, 01:16:13 PM
Driving on a German autobahn, which would be like a third of Tamas' total distance is significantly more stressful than a North American highway.
DIsagree. The Autobahn was a delight to drive because everyone followed the rules so precisely.
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 14, 2020, 11:36:56 AM
The appropriate European way to travel from London to Budapest is by train and includes at least one night on a couchette :wub:
:yes:
Once you get to Central/Eastern Europe trains get significantly slower anyways so night trains are more much interesting, thanks namely to the Austrian Nightjet service lately.
I've seen movies of people pulling trains in Eastern Europe. Do you have to do that?
You can camp in the slow lane on the autobahn, can't you?
Quote from: The Brain on July 14, 2020, 01:50:10 PM
I've seen movies of people pulling trains in Eastern Europe. Do you have to do that?
Only if you want to get somewhere.
Quote from: DGuller on July 14, 2020, 02:37:07 PM
Quote from: The Brain on July 14, 2020, 01:50:10 PM
I've seen movies of people pulling trains in Eastern Europe. Do you have to do that?
Only if you want to get somewhere.
:console:
Not true. Some make it one customer at a time.
Quote from: Zanza on July 14, 2020, 01:16:13 PM
Driving on a German autobahn, which would be like a third of Tamas' total distance is significantly more stressful than a North American highway.
:lol:
Yeah... no. Not even close. The autobahn was a fucking delight compared to driving in Chicago/NYC/Seattle. :contract:
Quote from: Barrister on July 14, 2020, 01:20:24 PM
Quote from: Zanza on July 14, 2020, 01:16:13 PM
Driving on a German autobahn, which would be like a third of Tamas' total distance is significantly more stressful than a North American highway.
DIsagree. The Autobahn was a delight to drive because everyone followed the rules so precisely.
I have regularly driven at 200+ kph on German autobahns and I can't think of any time I was particularly stressed. I was really
focused, though. It's the only way to drive at those speeds.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 14, 2020, 01:46:20 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 14, 2020, 11:36:56 AM
The appropriate European way to travel from London to Budapest is by train and includes at least one night on a couchette :wub:
:yes:
Once you get to Central/Eastern Europe trains get significantly slower anyways so night trains are more much interesting, thanks namely to the Austrian Nightjet service lately.
I've been on enough Ukrainian sleepers to also confirm that your fellow passengers make it so much more interesting.
I'm thrilled by the Austrian train company launching/buying all these old routes falling into disrepair. Hope we see a lot more of it especially if people start flying less for a variety of reasons.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2020, 02:30:16 PM
You can camp in the slow lane on the autobahn, can't you?
Yeah, but you really want to check your mirrors before changing lanes to pass.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 14, 2020, 02:30:16 PM
You can camp in the slow lane on the autobahn, can't you?
Slow lane on the autobahn has some really slow-moving Euro trucks though, so unless you want to go 80 kph you're going to want to do some passing.
I ain't going to do a straight 20 hours drive all by myself in a right-side steering wheel car on the continent if I don't have to. I am no stranger to long drives (9 hour drive to Poland in winter snow comes to mind, or a 24+ hour one with my father from Barcelona to Hungary) but just doesn't strike me as a good idea.
Also I am not keen on leaving my wife on her own in England for two weeks or even more if further restrictions are introduced by either country while I am away.
Probably just going to hope it will remain a managed pandemic during the winter.
Maybe but I think this is about as managed as it's going to get and the risk of a winter second wave (when everyone is shoved back inside next to each other) is not insignificant.
Maybe 50% maskage at Wally World.
I was at Home Depot and Kroger on Sunday and mask usage was 100% at both. Is Kentucky: smarter than Iowa.
Or maybe Kroger and Home Depot are smarter than Wal-Mart.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on July 15, 2020, 04:32:25 PM
Or maybe Kroger and Home Depot are smarter than Wal-Mart.
I find that the caliber of customer at all three is roughly the same around here.
I wonder if that says something about me... :Embarrass:
Off to Whole Foods with the likes of you! :mad:
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 15, 2020, 04:38:35 PM
Off to AssWhole Foods with the likes of you! :mad:
Fixed. :)
Quote from: Caliga on July 15, 2020, 04:25:19 PM
I was at Home Depot and Kroger on Sunday and mask usage was 100% at both. Is Kentucky: smarter than Iowa.
I went to Hy-Vee twice while in Des Moines, and it was probably 95% masks both times. :)
Quote from: Caliga on July 15, 2020, 04:25:19 PM
I was at Home Depot and Kroger on Sunday and mask usage was 100% at both. Is Kentucky: smarter than Iowa.
Does Kentucky: know how to use the question mark?
I don't know. Does it.
Your masking rate is: very impressive, though?
My boss sent around an email - the Government of Alberta is looking into "hoteling" for employees - where you would have no permanent office, just work from home and be given a temporary docking station when you do have to come in to work.
I have registered my displeasure at the idea. :mad:
Quote from: Barrister on July 20, 2020, 12:24:54 PM
My boss sent around an email - the Government of Alberta is looking into "hoteling" for employees - where you would have no permanent office, just work from home and be given a temporary docking station when you do have to come in to work.
I have registered my displeasure at the idea. :mad:
And so it begins... :ph34r:
Quote from: Barrister on July 20, 2020, 12:24:54 PM
My boss sent around an email - the Government of Alberta is looking into "hoteling" for employees - where you would have no permanent office, just work from home and be given a temporary docking station when you do have to come in to work.
I have registered my displeasure at the idea. :mad:
Last Friday we were told that if we'd like to do something similar, we can. Our team in particular is looking for everyone to WFH full-time.
Company-wide survey went out asking what people want going forward. 57% said they wanted to WFH full-time, 27% said that they wanted to do a hybrid like what you're describing, and 8% said that they want to be in the office full-time.
My middle management is freaking out over WFH. We're supposed to all be back full time in the office the Tuesday after Labor day.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 20, 2020, 01:56:27 PM
My middle management is freaking out over WFH. We're supposed to all be back full time in the office the Tuesday after Labor day.
That was our first goal date. It's been moved out to November for those who want to go back. No one will be required to go back unless or until COVID has a vaccine and is "no longer a threat".
Yeah, my american leader ship & my GFs american leadership is much more sensible to the vaccine talk & health threat.
A culture of a liability suing is my theory on this.
On another subject.
I haven't had an haircut since early February, I have reached the bandana stage of hair growth.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 20, 2020, 02:24:35 PM
Yeah, my american leader ship & my GFs american leadership is much more sensible to the vaccine talk & health threat.
A culture of a liability suing is my theory on this.
I suspect that we will be looking to condense the office down from multiple floors in multiple buildings to hotel desks and 75% WFH.
Productivity hasn't waned, people appear to be happier, and they're getting more work hours out of people who are no longer having to commute.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 20, 2020, 02:24:35 PM
I haven't had an haircut since early February, I have reached the bandana stage of hair growth.
I'm giving thought to a scrunchee or something (what's that alligator clip looking thing women use) to keep hair out of my eyes while golfing.
My daughter says that the alligator thing hurts, so I got large elastic band off of Amazon instead.
Time for that 80's comback!
(https://i1.wp.com/archzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/80-s-fashion-for-men-blonde-man-mullet-headband-big-eyebrows-smiling-holding-tennis-racket-black-background-neon-sports-jacket.jpg)
Image is everything.
My body is ready.
Turns out a makes a pretty fair bandana.
Isn't that Byorn Bork or some shit like that?
Andre Agassi.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 20, 2020, 02:24:35 PM
Yeah, my american leader ship & my GFs american leadership is much more sensible to the vaccine talk & health threat.
A culture of a liability suing is my theory on this.
On another subject.
I haven't had an haircut since early February, I have reached the bandana stage of hair growth.
Just had first haircut since February this past weekend.
100% maskage at supermercado and pharmacia. :showoff:
Suck on that Kentucky.
I'm starting to develop a taste for the sexiness of women in masks.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 21, 2020, 07:13:20 PM
100% maskage at supermercado and pharmacia. :showoff:
Suck on that Kentucky.
I'm starting to develop a taste for the sexiness of women in masks.
You should invest in studios making mask specific medical themed porn. :P
It is my observation that women look much better with masks on. This way I may maintain my fantasy that they look good underneath the mask.
The same reason most women sound sexy on the phone.
It is my belief that a certain admiral needs to get laid.
Am I: wrong?
Dunno, he's always given off a puerile horniness IMHO.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 21, 2020, 07:13:20 PM
100% maskage at supermercado and pharmacia. :showoff:
Suck on that Kentucky.
I'm starting to develop a taste for the sexiness of women in masks.
This road leads to joining ISIS. :mad:
Everywhere in Hamilton County I've seen 100% while inside a public place of business. On Monday I absent-mindedly walked into Chipotle without mine on. Dude yelled at me before I could even get through the door.
Clermont County, which is about 2.5 miles from my house, is also under a mandatory mask order (though looking at their case numbers I'm not sure why), but you do not see nearly as much maskage there.
City of Anchorage just announced new order reducing indoor capacity 25% for bars and clubs, 50% for restaurants and general establishments. Churches and gatherings back down to no more than 50 people.
All comes on announcement a few days ago that city (and pretty much state) is projected to max out icu beds by September 1 with current pace of new cases. Prior to that announcement it was projected to be ok til like Halloween at old projections.
Sexy women's eyes are sexy. Masks accentuate that. I'm with Yi.
Quote from: 11B4V on July 20, 2020, 07:14:00 PM
Isn't that Byorn Bork or some shit like that?
:lol:
No, it's not Byorn Borg.
Btw, Agassi said he wore a hair piece for much of his career to have his at the time "rebel" look; and he didn't like it at all after a while. :)
Also, if you'd told me 80s me that in the future I would be having video calls with people around Europe and North America on a regular basis I would have been excited and wowed.
As is often the case, the future turned out to be more boring than we imagined it to be.
Quote from: Syt on July 24, 2020, 12:44:45 AM
Also, if you'd told me 80s me that in the future I would be having video calls with people around Europe and North America on a regular basis I would have been excited and wowed.
As is often the case, the future turned out to be more boring than we imagined it to be.
"You'll be connected to people and ideas all over the world - able to hear opinions from any corner of the globe at any time."
*opens literally any social media site*
:bleeding: :bleeding: :bleeding:
Open languish. :hmm:
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
And we're even the elite. :sleep:
Right? :(
Right.
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 05:00:20 AM
"You'll be connected to people and ideas all over the world - able to hear opinions from any corner of the globe at any time."
*opens literally any social media site*
:bleeding: :bleeding: :bleeding:
I remember thinking when posting on boards back in the 1990s internet that maybe if we all could have been posting on the internet in 1914 maybe World War I might not have happened.
Then, over time, I realized that actually no it would have been worse :P
I distinctly remember shortly after 9/11 visiting the Afghan web and seeing the Pashtuns and Tajiks brutaly flaming each other in the middle of an actual civil war. Yeah the internet isn't going to bring us all together after all.
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 08:18:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
:hug:
Even those of you I don't like I actual kind of do like.
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 08:18:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
Wait, what part of me is there not to like? :P
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 08:59:39 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 08:18:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
Wait, what part of me is there not to like? :P
:lol:
QuoteI distinctly remember shortly after 9/11 visiting the Afghan web and seeing the Pashtuns and Tajiks brutaly flaming each other in the middle of an actual civil war. Yeah the internet isn't going to bring us all together after all.
Alternate (optimistic?) take: we're all trash flaming each other about the same bullshit everywhere.
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 08:59:39 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 08:18:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
Wait, what part of me is there not to like? :P
Do you want the list alphabetical or in order of importance?
Quote from: Barrister on July 24, 2020, 11:18:52 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 08:59:39 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 08:18:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
Wait, what part of me is there not to like? :P
Do you want the list alphabetical or in order of importance?
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/l3q2XD22XRBvmEw6c/giphy.gif)
Quote from: Valmy on July 24, 2020, 08:49:33 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 24, 2020, 08:18:02 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 24, 2020, 05:03:51 AM
Open languish. :hmm:
:lol: I like all (most) of you :P
:hug:
Even those of you I don't like I actual kind of do like.
Like the siblings you love, but still hate to deal with. :P
Well I'm annoyed.
Had to go to Ikea today. Always a bit of a hell hole at the best of times.
They've changed the roads in the area so finding it was a pain, then there was a big queue to get in, and got completely misdirected by their signage so got myself locked away from where I wanted to go by their one way system.
Totally get why some people flout the rules.
Because they can't handle minor inconveniences and are thoughtless about the risk to others?
It's an Ikea. He's not doing a u-turn in the middle of a highway. :P
I'm surprised the Afghans were flaming each other in English.
Quote from: Tonitrus on July 24, 2020, 02:16:54 PM
It's an Ikea. He's not doing a u-turn in the middle of a highway. :P
I've gotten lost in Ikea every time I've gone in one. If they made the whole store one-way, I'd have to move in. <_<
I've only been to Ikea once in my life, and I don't recall much of it. I bought towels, I guess.
Quote from: Syt on July 25, 2020, 12:10:08 AM
I've only been to Ikea once in my life, and I don't recall much of it. I bought towels, I guess.
closest I ever made was parking lot, it was so full I said fuck that noise.
In my opinion, it is one of the few 'affordable' furniture retailers in London.
Most of my apartments (including the ones where I lived in Madrid, NY, and Barcelona) were all Ikea, I traded cities but my furniture has stayed the same :D
Ikea is great. I usually shop from home though, rarely visit in person.
Quote from: garbon on July 25, 2020, 05:04:06 AM
In my opinion, it is one of the few 'affordable' furniture retailers in London.
the closest location to Alaska is in Seattle. They won't or didn't ship up here so some enterprising Local folks started up a business where order through them and they would have their agents in Seattle purchase and then put the furniture I'm guessing by barge or cargo plane sent up here for an additional fee. :lol:
Edit: looks like they are still in business https://furniture.greatlandgrocery.com/ (https://furniture.greatlandgrocery.com/)
Quote from: celedhring on July 25, 2020, 05:21:53 AM
Most of my apartments (including the ones where I lived in Madrid, NY, and Barcelona) were all Ikea, I traded cities but my furniture has stayed the same :D
It seemed pretty ubiquitous in Barcelona.
The supermarket today was completely the opposite of IKEA. The only indication of corona was checkouts working from a singular queue down the ale aisle.
So many people without masks despite them being mandatory from yesterday.
I did my weekly shop at Morrisons today and found the opposite. All of the shoppers I saw were masked, and about 90% of the employees.
The only exceptions were at the checkouts when behind their plastic barriers...all of those roaming about the store were masked.
Bought some pizza ingredients at Lidl today; pretty busy, but all the customers were wearing masks apart from one standout.
Quote from: merithyn on July 25, 2020, 12:03:04 PM
Quote from: celedhring on July 25, 2020, 05:21:53 AM
Most of my apartments (including the ones where I lived in Madrid, NY, and Barcelona) were all Ikea, I traded cities but my furniture has stayed the same :D
It seemed pretty ubiquitous in Barcelona.
A whole generation of young people in big cities all over the globe has furnished their appartments through Ikea, so it's become a bit of a universal style. Not to mention almost every single AirBnb in the world.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 26, 2020, 06:17:13 AM
Bought some pizza ingredients at Lidl today; pretty busy, but all the customers were wearing masks apart from one standout.
Plot twist: RH was the one.
Haircut chat: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07145GM4B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RFBhFbD1DYQSP
I've had my hair short and cool for the whole pandemic. :cool:
I haven't been out much, but the few times I've been to stores or shopping centers, mask usage has been nearly 100%. All stores require masks as well.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on July 26, 2020, 11:55:29 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 26, 2020, 06:17:13 AM
Bought some pizza ingredients at Lidl today; pretty busy, but all the customers were wearing masks apart from one standout.
Plot twist: RH was the one.
I like to think i look really cool in my black facemask, mirrorshades and widebrimmed hat :P
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 26, 2020, 06:17:13 AM
Bought some pizza ingredients at Lidl today; pretty busy, but all the customers were wearing masks apart from one standout.
Ever since I started using the bbq for cooking homemade pizza, that is the only pizza for me now.
Quote from: Syt on July 22, 2020, 12:22:27 AM
Dunno, he's always given off a puerile horniness IMHO.
Yea, but good luck finding puerile these days.
Iowa has extended unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks. :w00t:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 26, 2020, 10:53:57 PM
Iowa has extended unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks. :w00t:
I thought you were working.
Quote from: merithyn on July 26, 2020, 11:19:42 PM
I thought you were working.
On and off, as per usual.
We have those mandatory registrations at restaurants meant to track people in case of outbreaks. Police now used these to track people for completely unrelated issues in multiple cases. The consequence is that people now give wrong names and contact data. Destroying the trust of people in data security means it will be harder to fight this virus...
Quote from: Zanza on July 29, 2020, 12:12:50 AM
We have those mandatory registrations at restaurants meant to track people in case of outbreaks. Police now used these to track people for completely unrelated issues in multiple cases. The consequence is that people now give wrong names and contact data. Destroying the trust of people in data security means it will be harder to fight this virus...
:bleeding: Sometimes the cops just can't help being themselves, regardless of country.
My son's middle school football team is proceeding as if they're going to have a season. Helmet fitting is tonight and first practice is this Saturday. I waited til the last minute to buy ~$250 worth of gear for him, so the governor had better not pull the rug out from under us.
On the baseball front, we were super lucky to get a season plus tournament in. We were thinking weather would screw us out of about half our games that we wouldn't be able to make up in the condensed schedule, but we got in all 16 regular season games and then 6 tournament games. His team won the championship and he got to score the winning run from 2nd base in a walkoff :)
Still noticing a lot of maskless folks and lax enforcement.
Quote from: derspiess on July 29, 2020, 09:00:41 AM
My son's middle school football team is proceeding as if they're going to have a season. Helmet fitting is tonight and first practice is this Saturday. I waited til the last minute to buy ~$250 worth of gear for him, so the governor had better not pull the rug out from under us.
On the baseball front, we were super lucky to get a season plus tournament in. We were thinking weather would screw us out of about half our games that we wouldn't be able to make up in the condensed schedule, but we got in all 16 regular season games and then 6 tournament games. His team won the championship and he got to score the winning run from 2nd base in a walkoff :)
I am impressed they finished the season. Our season got called after 6 games last Spring and with the situation far worse I am thinking no fall ball either.
Just tested negative after testing positive two weeks ago. Fortunately I had returned to working from home at the beginning of July, Alstom takes safety so seriously that they burn your desk if you could have been Covid positive while in the office. (Not really, but there's an enormous disinfecting procedure they go through.)
It was just the luck of the draw; CB and I always wear masks and rarely go out. While Florida has been hit hard by Coronavirus, our county has had only about 5000 cases since March (about the same as the daily total in the greater Miami area.) Fortunately our symptoms were mild, no more than headaches, fatigue and the occasional dry cough.
Awesome :cheers:
Now you can go bravely striding through the infected zones.
I needed a night out, but safely, so I went to a food court for tacos tonight for dinner. Everyone is wearing masks except when actually eating. Most of the tables and seats are well separated.
A nice evening out after two weeks of quarantine.
Quote from: Tyr on July 30, 2020, 01:33:46 PM
Still noticing a lot of maskless folks and lax enforcement.
The north of England must be overrun with lawless Picts and Norsemen. Down here in the civilized middle-realm, mask wearing at the local Morrison's tonight was 100%.* :sleep:
*Though before the legal requirement, that was around ~5%. :P
So, going to Barcelona for the first time in nearly a month. It's a work meeting that I could probably have moved to zoom, but damn I hate the friggin' thing by now, and in-person meetings are more productive anyway.
F.
Siempre foreaba.
Quote from: Valmy on July 30, 2020, 01:46:16 PM
I am impressed they finished the season. Our season got called after 6 games last Spring and with the situation far worse I am thinking no fall ball either.
The "guidance" being handed down from the OHSAA (state organization that oversees high school and middle school sports) on fall sports seems to be updated/clarified each day. First they said they can go ahead and start practice but no guarantees on actually having a season. Then they said no scrimmages with other schools, without saying anything about actual games. Now they're saying still no scrimmages through August, but games can continue on as planned. But no spectators :(
At one point they said each player on a team had to have a negative Covid-19 test before each game but they've backed off on that.
Quote from: celedhring on August 03, 2020, 03:45:22 AM
So, going to Barcelona for the first time in nearly a month. It's a work meeting that I could probably have moved to zoom, but damn I hate the friggin' thing by now, and in-person meetings are more productive anyway.
Stay safe. Any idea how packed the train will be?
Thanks to the lack of tourists, pretty empty.
Covid is surging in my brother's town.
Him and his wife actually got tested two days ago and came out negative, but we're supposed to have a family celebration this weekend (my birthday) and I don't know what to do.
So looks like my Malta holiday is off. Was originally gonna go end of May, but with all going on then, decided to postpone till October.
Now my travel agent calls and says Alitalia (I was flying though Rome) cancelled all flights to Canada for 2020.
I could find other flights but they have me flying all over the world (Toronto-Newark-Paris-Malta) etc. I don't really want to do that. Plus, it's partially a relief.
The problem with Canada right now for travellers is that no country is white listed, and when we get back we'll have to self-isolate for 14 days. Which is why lots of airlines aren't bothering with Canada anymore, since so few people are travelling.
I guess I'll reschedule for next year.
Quote from: celedhring on August 04, 2020, 04:35:21 AM
Covid is surging in my brother's town.
Him and his wife actually got tested two days ago and came out negative, but we're supposed to have a family celebration this weekend (my birthday) and I don't know what to do.
:hug:
I'm sorry. These kinds of decisions suck so much. I hope whatever you decide you have a lovely weekend.
Quote from: Josephus on August 04, 2020, 06:29:34 AM
So looks like my Malta holiday is off. Was originally gonna go end of May, but with all going on then, decided to postpone till October.
Now my travel agent calls and says Alitalia (I was flying though Rome) cancelled all flights to Canada for 2020.
I could find other flights but they have me flying all over the world (Toronto-Newark-Paris-Malta) etc. I don't really want to do that. Plus, it's partially a relief.
The problem with Canada right now for travellers is that no country is white listed, and when we get back we'll have to self-isolate for 14 days. Which is why lots of airlines aren't bothering with Canada anymore, since so few people are travelling.
I guess I'll reschedule for next year.
Will you be able to do something in Canada at least? Go camping/glamping/hiking?
Things out here seem to be spiraling out of control. Perfect time to schedule the plant shutdown (and thus mandatory vacation). :glare:
Quote from: Iormlund on August 04, 2020, 11:50:14 AM
Things out here seem to be spiraling out of control. Perfect time to schedule the plant shutdown (and thus mandatory vacation). :glare:
Paid? :unsure:
Yes, of course. Unpaid vacations are not really a thing here, except for the likes of Celed (self employed workers).
Regarding the outbreak, I just found the figures for every city health area. Basically I live at the very center of the current epidemic. :ph34r:
Quote from: Iormlund on August 04, 2020, 12:14:07 PM
Yes, of course. Unpaid vacations are not really a thing here, except for the likes of Celed (self employed workers).
Yeah. I've had unpaid leave once. When you qualify as a lawyer it's common that you'll be offered qualification leave by your firm and where I am that was that I take two weeks (paid) holiday but can then add an additional three weeks of unpaid leave onto the end of it.
Needless to say they earn that unpaid leave back :P
Quote from: celedhring on August 04, 2020, 04:35:21 AM
Covid is surging in my brother's town.
Him and his wife actually got tested two days ago and came out negative, but we're supposed to have a family celebration this weekend (my birthday) and I don't know what to do.
Tough one, yeah.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 04, 2020, 12:17:48 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on August 04, 2020, 12:14:07 PM
Yes, of course. Unpaid vacations are not really a thing here, except for the likes of Celed (self employed workers).
Yeah. I've had unpaid leave once. When you qualify as a lawyer it's common that you'll be offered qualification leave by your firm and where I am that was that I take two weeks (paid) holiday but can then add an additional three weeks of unpaid leave onto the end of it.
Needless to say they earn that unpaid leave back :P
Is "gardening leave" still a thing? :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 04, 2020, 12:46:21 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 04, 2020, 12:17:48 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on August 04, 2020, 12:14:07 PM
Yes, of course. Unpaid vacations are not really a thing here, except for the likes of Celed (self employed workers).
Yeah. I've had unpaid leave once. When you qualify as a lawyer it's common that you'll be offered qualification leave by your firm and where I am that was that I take two weeks (paid) holiday but can then add an additional three weeks of unpaid leave onto the end of it.
Needless to say they earn that unpaid leave back :P
Is "gardening leave" still a thing? :P
Yes - the dream :o
Had my first experience with a hoaxer. Was picking up dinner at the Regal Beagle and this crusty old fart drives up and asks me why I'm wearing a mask. I say because of Covid, and he says "there ain't no virus."
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 05, 2020, 07:08:37 PM
Had my first experience with a hoaxer. Was picking up dinner at the Regal Beagle and this crusty old fart drives up and asks me why I'm wearing a mask. I say because of Covid, and he says "there ain't no virus."
Was he convincing?
:D
Damn tooting there ain't no virus. It's very real.
Nobody has ever seen the virus :P
Our office updated the Covid guidelines. People in the office "should" keep a distance of 2 meters at all times (up from 1.50 m), and it's "highly recommended" to wear masks and disposable gloves in all communal areas (hallways, meeting rooms, restrooms, kitchen) and during face to face meetings.
Of course nobody follows it, but I guess the company is covered. :mellow:
I mean, the rule that only one person should be in the kitchen at any time lasted for a hot minute at best.
Do they provide masks and gloves?
Quote from: Iormlund on August 06, 2020, 02:19:50 AM
Do they provide masks and gloves?
Available at the reception.
My company was planning to (mostly) return to office mid-September, but as I understand they struggled to make sensible arrangements. So with the uncertainty of restrictions and their timelines, and in general feeling that the world of work might have changed for good, they have decided to go all in and turn into a remote working company, with office spaces that they keep to be converted into hot-desk based meeting places, as opposed to where you have to show up daily.
Considering the length of my commute I am very happy about this. It is going to be an interesting experiment as it is a fairly big company.
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2020, 02:18:21 AM
Our office updated the Covid guidelines. People in the office "should" keep a distance of 2 meters at all times (up from 1.50 m), and it's "highly recommended" to wear masks and disposable gloves in all communal areas (hallways, meeting rooms, restrooms, kitchen) and during face to face meetings.
Of course nobody follows it, but I guess the company is covered. :mellow:
I mean, the rule that only one person should be in the kitchen at any time lasted for a hot minute at best.
I didn't realize that there were people who didn't give up on the glove nonsense by May. This is a classic case of flooding people with so many rules that the few sensible ones are going to drown in noncompliance.
Quote from: Tamas on August 06, 2020, 02:31:53 AM
My company was planning to (mostly) return to office mid-September, but as I understand they struggled to make sensible arrangements. So with the uncertainty of restrictions and their timelines, and in general feeling that the world of work might have changed for good, they have decided to go all in and turn into a remote working company, with office spaces that they keep to be converted into hot-desk based meeting places, as opposed to where you have to show up daily.
Considering the length of my commute I am very happy about this. It is going to be an interesting experiment as it is a fairly big company.
Interesting. I wonder how it will look in 5 years time.
My work is currently scheduled to bring us all back full time on Septembre 14. Idiots.
My company has moved us to after the new year, and they did a survey to see how people want to move forward. Most people want WFH full-time in perpetuity. My manager has already said that it's an option for anyone on our team that wants to do that.
Quote from: Syt on August 06, 2020, 02:18:21 AM
Of course nobody follows it, but I guess the company is covered. :mellow:
legally, it's usually not enough to give rules, a company has to make sure they are followed to be covered. With a paper trail to prove it.
Yes. It's the company that has to police health and safety risks, unless Austria does things very differently (and I'd imagine there's a EU directive about it).
Quote from: Iormlund on August 06, 2020, 04:14:29 PM
Yes. It's the company that has to police health and safety risks, unless Austria does things very differently (and I'd imagine there's a EU directive about it).
And the company that you'd probably sue for negligence if things went bad, no?
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 06, 2020, 04:15:22 PM
Quote from: Iormlund on August 06, 2020, 04:14:29 PM
Yes. It's the company that has to police health and safety risks, unless Austria does things very differently (and I'd imagine there's a EU directive about it).
And the company that you'd probably sue for negligence if things went bad, no?
Yes. IIRC in Spain the boss can be held criminally responsible if the company is not following the rules.
Usually companies hire external auditors & inspectors to catch cases of non-compliance, which leads to fines and other administrative penalties for the worker (I imagine it's also probably the easiest way to get rid of an employee, which is usually extremely hard here).
In our case we do COVID management in-house, since we've got an existing structure already set up. Most of the monitoring is done by shift supervisors, some dedicated exclusively to the task. Engineering (that's me) set up layouts and adapt processes. HS&E and HR document shit.
Quote from: Iormlund on August 06, 2020, 04:14:29 PM
Yes. It's the company that has to police health and safety risks, unless Austria does things very differently (and I'd imagine there's a EU directive about it).
I honestly have no idea, but I know we're not unique in how we handle it. I think a lot of it comes down to the government offering recommendations but not making them legal requirements.
Am I the only one exhausted all the time?
I get sleep, usually around 7-8 hours every night. I have a routine, I walk regularly, and it's sunshiney and beautiful outside. And still, I'm ready to nap at literally a moment's notice. Right now, I'm struggling to stay awake long enough to finish up some work before I log for the weekend. Like, I may have to lay down for an hour or so before I can even consider working on it. This has been the same every day this week. :(
Like I told Seedy, life feels heavy, and I'm tired of carrying it around.
Just me? :unsure:
Not entirely. But the biggest issues with return to work for me will be that my, now typical, mid-afternoon might be frowned on in an office environment :( :weep:
Nope, as much as I actually often enjoyed the 2*1 hour drive each day, being rid of the commute and waking up later made me more fresh.
What is a bit of a constant struggle though is reminding myself to have some physical activity.
I was at Ikea today to buy an electrically height adjustable desk for home office work. I arrived 10 minutes before they opened and there was already like 100 people waiting, which grew to 200 until they opened. They had ushers and everything. I was out again after about twenty minutes. Not an enjoyable shopping experience. And the hotdog station is closed.
Quote from: merithyn on August 07, 2020, 04:36:19 PM
Am I the only one exhausted all the time?
I get sleep, usually around 7-8 hours every night. I have a routine, I walk regularly, and it's sunshiney and beautiful outside. And still, I'm ready to nap at literally a moment's notice. Right now, I'm struggling to stay awake long enough to finish up some work before I log for the weekend. Like, I may have to lay down for an hour or so before I can even consider working on it. This has been the same every day this week. :(
Like I told Seedy, life feels heavy, and I'm tired of carrying it around.
Just me? :unsure:
Not just you. Every day for the last few months has just been "day," except Fridays, when I get to go to work. I've been taking naps to kill time and to stop being so tired all the time, but it screws up my sleep schedule, so here I am at 430am on Saturday doing the same thing I do at 430am on nearly every other day: staring all red-eyed at a computer monitor.
E: Hi again Languish, btw. Been a couple years. :)
Hello there.
Still working from home, no real plans for that to end, though the company did put out some guidelines for returning to the office. Includes limiting the number of people and keeping six feet apart which will be hard to do, so there seems no rush to return. That's fine with me as even though my commute to the office is just a few miles, it's so great to work from home. I usually get as much done from home as I would at my work place.
One bad thing though has been the return of spam, spam, spam and more spam phone calls.... I just never answer the phone, but it's such an annoyance.
As for energy and tiredness as some mention, I'm doing ok mostly. Last weekend I had all kinds of energy and got most of my shed painted even though I intended to take my time, pace myself. This weekend I wasn't as enthused but completed the painting, got that job done.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on August 09, 2020, 04:33:38 AM
Quote from: merithyn on August 07, 2020, 04:36:19 PM
Am I the only one exhausted all the time?
I get sleep, usually around 7-8 hours every night. I have a routine, I walk regularly, and it's sunshiney and beautiful outside. And still, I'm ready to nap at literally a moment's notice. Right now, I'm struggling to stay awake long enough to finish up some work before I log for the weekend. Like, I may have to lay down for an hour or so before I can even consider working on it. This has been the same every day this week. :(
Like I told Seedy, life feels heavy, and I'm tired of carrying it around.
Just me? :unsure:
Not just you. Every day for the last few months has just been "day," except Fridays, when I get to go to work. I've been taking naps to kill time and to stop being so tired all the time, but it screws up my sleep schedule, so here I am at 430am on Saturday doing the same thing I do at 430am on nearly every other day: staring all red-eyed at a computer monitor.
E: Hi again Languish, btw. Been a couple years. :)
:hug:
Welcome back, though I really wish it were with better tidings. :(
Quote from: merithyn on August 09, 2020, 11:48:22 AM
:hug:
Welcome back, though I really wish it were with better tidings. :(
:hug: Yeah, me too.
The best thing to do is to make it into a game:
Try to make the day you're living in seem like and entire lifetime of angst, boredom, and ennui. Then try to do that again the next day.
Found this on the BBC page, somehow it managed to make me feel both relieved and miserable :lol:
Wonder which are the 12 jobs with even less human contact than mine.
(https://i.imgur.com/0k3RJ2E.png)
:lol: I'm one :(
Solicitors. Exposure to disease: 140 out of 359 (between yearly and never).
Closeness to other people: 353 out of 359 :ph34r:
My job never exists on those things. :(
It's true for freelance translators, not so much for the lucky ones who work in a business or organisation though.
I'm right up there with you, cel! :D
Finance and investment analysts and advisers
Exposure to disease
Never
Rank: 338 out of 359 jobs
Closeness to other people
Between slightly close and not close
Rank: 337 out of 359 jobs
Quote from: merithyn on August 04, 2020, 11:18:29 AM
Quote from: Josephus on August 04, 2020, 06:29:34 AM
So looks like my Malta holiday is off. Was originally gonna go end of May, but with all going on then, decided to postpone till October.
Now my travel agent calls and says Alitalia (I was flying though Rome) cancelled all flights to Canada for 2020.
I could find other flights but they have me flying all over the world (Toronto-Newark-Paris-Malta) etc. I don't really want to do that. Plus, it's partially a relief.
The problem with Canada right now for travellers is that no country is white listed, and when we get back we'll have to self-isolate for 14 days. Which is why lots of airlines aren't bothering with Canada anymore, since so few people are travelling.
I guess I'll reschedule for next year.
Will you be able to do something in Canada at least? Go camping/glamping/hiking?
Yeah, planning a trip to a chalet in Quebec.
So our intern just went to the doctor's with cough, sore throat, and fever. After spending all day in the office and having lunch with us. :rolleyes:
Our manager said she needs to get tested for Covid. "Oh, that's not necessary, I'm off next week, anyways."
Our manager insisted that she gets tested today AND has to inform us about the results.
We'll be working from home tomorrow ....
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 07:02:19 AM
So our intern just went to the doctor's with cough, sore throat, and fever. After spending all day in the office and having lunch with us. :rolleyes:
Our manager said she needs to get tested for Covid. "Oh, that's not necessary, I'm off next week, anyways."
Our manager insisted that she gets tested today AND has to inform us about the results.
We'll be working from home tomorrow ....
Jesus F. Christ the stupidity and carelessness of people never ceases to amaze and outrage me. WTF was she thinking going to work in the middle of a pandemic sporting all the pandemic's symptoms?
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 07:02:19 AM
So our intern just went to the doctor's with cough, sore throat, and fever. After spending all day in the office and having lunch with us. :rolleyes:
Our manager said she needs to get tested for Covid. "Oh, that's not necessary, I'm off next week, anyways."
Our manager insisted that she gets tested today AND has to inform us about the results.
We'll be working from home tomorrow ....
Oh that's nice...
Give her a full-time offer before someone snatches that superstar.
Yeah, big brain power on that one (she's with us for a summer job, nothing permanent).
That said, if it's Covid-19, and if she's showing symptoms now, she might have been carrying/spreading it for 10 days or so. Heck, she might have caught it from one or some of us. The virus might have run through our office and we just were all asymptomatic. It would be doubly weird, because she's by far the youngest in our group.
Or maybe she just wanted to leave work early and came up with the worst excuse at this time. ;)
So, its true. The corona induced rush on bikes is very real.
Went around 3 bike shops this week and none of them have much of a selection in.
Quote from: Tyr on August 12, 2020, 12:28:46 PM
So, its true. The corona induced rush on bikes is very real.
Went around 3 bike shops this week and none of them have much of a selection in.
:lol: I saw a lady today on my street clearly learning to ride so it is definitely a thing.
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 07:57:35 AM
Yeah, big brain power on that one (she's with us for a summer job, nothing permanent).
That said, if it's Covid-19, and if she's showing symptoms now, she might have been carrying/spreading it for 10 days or so. Heck, she might have caught it from one or some of us. The virus might have run through our office and we just were all asymptomatic. It would be doubly weird, because she's by far the youngest in our group.
Or maybe she just wanted to leave work early and came up with the worst excuse at this time. ;)
If she's been showing symptoms that long, she may test negative even if she has it. That's been the case for a bunch of folks out here. I guess the optimum time to get tested is 3-5 days of symptoms.
I hope it's allergies or a cold. :( Stay safe, Syt.
(https://i.imgur.com/meuDzOs.jpg)
:glare:
I had the foresight to pick the right field for 2020. And JR thinks you can't predict the future. :rolleyes:
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2020, 01:58:33 PM
I had the foresight to pick the right field for 2020. And JR thinks you can't predict the future. :rolleyes:
Misanthrope isn't a field.
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 07:57:35 AM
Or maybe she just wanted to leave work early and came up with the worst excuse at this time. ;)
We have a lot of issues covering shifts. In Spain all you have to do is call a hotline and you'll get paid leave until you test negative (or positive followed by two negatives). Lots of workers are taking advantage of this to get a few days off.
Quote from: PDH on August 12, 2020, 02:45:24 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2020, 01:58:33 PM
I had the foresight to pick the right field for 2020. And JR thinks you can't predict the future. :rolleyes:
Misanthrope isn't a field.
Misanthropy isn't a field, it's a universe.
Quote from: PDH on August 12, 2020, 02:45:24 PM
Quote from: DGuller on August 12, 2020, 01:58:33 PM
I had the foresight to pick the right field for 2020. And JR thinks you can't predict the future. :rolleyes:
Misanthrope isn't a field.
That's not my field, that's my hobby.
Quote from: Syt on August 12, 2020, 07:02:19 AM
So our intern just went to the doctor's with cough, sore throat, and fever. After spending all day in the office and having lunch with us. :rolleyes:
Our manager said she needs to get tested for Covid. "Oh, that's not necessary, I'm off next week, anyways."
Our manager insisted that she gets tested today AND has to inform us about the results.
We'll be working from home tomorrow ....
That's on your boss and his misplaced faith in office work in the middle of a pandemic.
Well, she tested negative, so we dodged that bullet.
Today at the supermarket seemed to be a lot more wearing masks than not to the extent that those without stood out.
One that came in at the same time as me.... I am jumping to conclusions and judging my appearances here..... But a key reason anti maskers are so bad was really hammered home.
The guy...did not look unhealthy. He very much looked like uncooked gammon; on the young side, not yet lost all his hair, still relatively trim and muscled. When he came in the shop he showed the security guard some kind of card and proclaimed he "wasn't being funny but he didn't have to wear a mask".
I swear he said it with a bit of a smirk as well...
Now, could be this guy actually does have an invisible health condition. No judgement against him in particular.
But a big thing that annoys me about so many that don't wear masks is that they have this idea that they are somehow "winning" by doing so. They're owning teh libs and being very smart and awesome by carrying around a fake card saying they don't have to wear a mask.
The politics of selfishness is bad enough in regular times. That they'll even do it about this.... and we all know karma won't be so perfect and they won't be the ones to suffer for it.,
Quote from: Tyr on August 15, 2020, 07:28:28 AM
But a big thing that annoys me about so many that don't wear masks is that they have this idea that they are somehow "winning" by doing so. They're owning teh libs and being very smart and awesome by carrying around a fake card saying they don't have to wear a mask.
The politics of selfishness is bad enough in regular times. That they'll even do it about this.... and we all know karma won't be so perfect and they won't be the ones to suffer for it.,
Pretty much sums up my opinion on things, too, Tyr.
Quote from: merithyn on August 15, 2020, 02:13:49 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 15, 2020, 07:28:28 AM
But a big thing that annoys me about so many that don't wear masks is that they have this idea that they are somehow "winning" by doing so. They're owning teh libs and being very smart and awesome by carrying around a fake card saying they don't have to wear a mask.
The politics of selfishness is bad enough in regular times. That they'll even do it about this.... and we all know karma won't be so perfect and they won't be the ones to suffer for it.,
Pretty much sums up my opinion on things, too, Tyr.
I see it as non maskers being thinned out of the gene pool. Most of those fucks I've seen, should be wearing a mask just looking at their outward health appearance. Plus they should be throat punched too.
Quote from: 11B4V on August 15, 2020, 03:23:36 PM
Quote from: merithyn on August 15, 2020, 02:13:49 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 15, 2020, 07:28:28 AM
But a big thing that annoys me about so many that don't wear masks is that they have this idea that they are somehow "winning" by doing so. They're owning teh libs and being very smart and awesome by carrying around a fake card saying they don't have to wear a mask.
The politics of selfishness is bad enough in regular times. That they'll even do it about this.... and we all know karma won't be so perfect and they won't be the ones to suffer for it.,
Pretty much sums up my opinion on things, too, Tyr.
I see it as non maskers being thinned out of the gene pool. Most of those fucks I've seen, should be wearing a mask just looking at their outward health appearance. Plus they should be throat punched too.
Problem is that masks are there primarily to protect others. Innocent people may not spread their Covid further to other strangers if the asshole infects them, but they'll still get it themselves.
Quote from: DGuller on August 15, 2020, 04:00:18 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on August 15, 2020, 03:23:36 PM
Quote from: merithyn on August 15, 2020, 02:13:49 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 15, 2020, 07:28:28 AM
But a big thing that annoys me about so many that don't wear masks is that they have this idea that they are somehow "winning" by doing so. They're owning teh libs and being very smart and awesome by carrying around a fake card saying they don't have to wear a mask.
The politics of selfishness is bad enough in regular times. That they'll even do it about this.... and we all know karma won't be so perfect and they won't be the ones to suffer for it.,
Pretty much sums up my opinion on things, too, Tyr.
I see it as non maskers being thinned out of the gene pool. Most of those fucks I've seen, should be wearing a mask just looking at their outward health appearance. Plus they should be throat punched too.
Problem is that masks are there primarily to protect others. Innocent people may not spread their Covid further to other strangers if the asshole infects them, but they'll still get it themselves.
Quite.
There's an anti-vaxxer/plandemic/anti-mask protest in Madrid tomorrow. The organizers aim to gather 1 million people (rofl) but I doubt even the far right will atend in significant numbers, this lot is possibly even nuttier than them. :hmm:
Anti-vaxxer/plandemic/anti-mask/alternative medicine draw the libertarian and Green crowd as well, so it will more than the a sub-section of the far right. OTOH, I doubt there will be one million. :P
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2020, 05:46:34 PM
There's an anti-vaxxer/plandemic/anti-mask protest in Madrid tomorrow. The organizers aim to gather 1 million people (rofl) but I doubt even the far right will atend in significant numbers, this lot is possibly even nuttier than them. :hmm:
The 20k or so in Berlin a few weeks ago claimed to have been 1.3 million after the fact. :lol:
While there was an initial reflex of reaching out and engaging with then, the overwhelming public opinion appears to be that not every group of nutters requires much national debate (though some media still gladly offer them a stage).
Quote from: Syt on August 16, 2020, 06:13:01 AM
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2020, 05:46:34 PM
There's an anti-vaxxer/plandemic/anti-mask protest in Madrid tomorrow. The organizers aim to gather 1 million people (rofl) but I doubt even the far right will atend in significant numbers, this lot is possibly even nuttier than them. :hmm:
The 20k or so in Berlin a few weeks ago claimed to have been 1.3 million after the fact. :lol:
While there was an initial reflex of reaching out and engaging with then, the overwhelming public opinion appears to be that not every group of nutters requires much national debate (though some media still gladly offer them a stage).
The organizers cite the "1 million" in Berlin as an example that it is possible to reach that number. :lol:
Just a few hundred in attendance. I saw a clip of them and they were chanting in favor of bleach :lol:
Scariest thing is that it's not an ellaborated parody.
French "mainstream" media spoke of 15-17k people in Berlin. Obviously sold out. :P
My hometown is one of the top stories on BBC news. Not even local news. Big outbreak in the working men's club my uncle used to go to.. No surprise really considering many of the people who go there are very much of the I know what's good for me variety.
Quote from: celedhring on August 16, 2020, 01:33:57 PM
Just a few hundred in attendance. I saw a clip of them and they were chanting in favor of bleach :lol:
Scariest thing is that it's not an ellaborated parody.
Then they all drank the bleach in Spains biggest ever mass suicide?
Had a weird cough over the weekend so getting a test delivered :ph34r:
If I wanted to get tested I wouldn't know how to go about it.
They're setting up to jam the swab into my brain once a month. God bless the University of California.
My brother has Covid-19. He's mostly over it now but he was pretty sick for a week or so.
Quote from: Caliga on August 16, 2020, 08:40:50 PM
My brother has Covid-19. He's mostly over it now but he was pretty sick for a week or so.
:(
Glad to hear he's on the mend, but a reminder it's much more than just regular flu.
My sister in law insisted on sending my nephew back to daycare because "he needs the socialization". :bleeding:
Yeah, but he needs a dad too. :rolleyes:
Of course she showed no symptoms. :sleep:
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 16, 2020, 05:32:09 PM
Had a weird cough over the weekend so getting a test delivered :ph34r:
Test is here - quite a lot of steps but fairly clear :ph34r:
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 18, 2020, 10:24:50 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 16, 2020, 05:32:09 PM
Had a weird cough over the weekend so getting a test delivered :ph34r:
Test is here - quite a lot of steps but fairly clear :ph34r:
You have to nasal swab yourself and send it back?
Quote from: Legbiter on August 18, 2020, 12:11:06 PM
You have to nasal swab yourself and send it back?
Tonsils and nostrils up to the point you feel resistance. It is not comfortable.
Mine wasn't so bad but I came in expecting much worse. It's almost September and we still don't have a rapid test for it.
Quote from: Legbiter on August 18, 2020, 12:30:06 PM
Mine wasn't so bad but I came in expecting much worse. It's almost September and we still don't have a rapid test for it.
I saw today news about a new test created by Yale University that is being trialed in the US that is supposed to be much faster and less intrusive, based on saliva samples. Apparently it's being tried out in the NBA bubble, and the league and the players' union actually funded a good chunk of the research.
Edit: Here's an article on it:
QuoteYale researcher says new coronavirus saliva test 'might miss' people with low infection levels
Yale researcher Anne Wyllie told CNBC on Tuesday the school's new saliva-based test for the coronavirus may not always detect people who have low infection levels.
"There's more of a chance that we might miss that very, very low viral load, so when the virus is only starting to pick up in an individual," Wyllie said on "Squawk Box."
But that potential weakness can be offset by regular testing, Wyllie emphasized.
Yale University researcher Anne Wyllie told CNBC on Tuesday that the school's new saliva-based test for the coronavirus may not always detect people who have really low infection levels.
"There's more of a chance that we might miss that very, very low viral load, so when the virus is only starting to pick up in an individual," Wyllie said on "Squawk Box."
But that potential weakness can be offset by regular testing, Wyllie emphasized.
"We're wanting that frequent testing. So if you're being tested twice a week — even better if you can be tested more — you might get missed one day if you've got very, very low amounts of the virus in you. But if that viral load starts to increase, because you're having frequent testing, we'll quickly pick that up the next time," she said.
Yale describes its test, which received emergency approval Saturday from the Food and Drug Administration, as "simpler, less expensive, and less invasive" than common nasal swab tests. In a press release, Yale said it hoped to make testing more widely available by keeping costs low and developing a test that can be processed more quickly.
Yale's test was developed in conjunction with the NBA and its players union, which provided more than $500,000 in funding, according to ESPN. The test was used on NBA players and staff in the run-up to the league's restart in Florida.
Results of Yale's study of its test have not yet been peer reviewed.
Wyllie, an associate research scientist in epidemiology, said Yale's test has ability to detect the coronavirus that is "quite on par with many of the other traditional [polymerase chain reaction] tests that are already out there."
PCR tests, which detect a virus' genetic material, are seen to be the most accurate type on the market. The Yale test relies on PCR but simplifies the process.
The sensitivity of Yale's test decreases slightly in patients who have lower levels of the virus, Wyllie said. "It's about 90% sensitive in patients. About 88% to 90% in asymptomatic, healthy individuals," she added.
Sensitivity is the rate at which a test will correctly identify someone who has the virus.
The U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic has been hampered by testing challenges, including supply chain shortages and delays in turnaround time for results. Tests that are more widely available and can give results quickly yet accurately are seen as important as communities try to reopen workplaces and schools.
Wyllie noted that Yale's test is not one of the so-called rapid tests that can produce results in 10 to 15 minutes, for example. Saliva samples still must go to a lab. But because of the way the test was designed, she said labs should be able to run more samples than other variations.
"We do hope that we can see, maybe in some situations, same-day results. If not, what we're really striving for is to get below that 24-hour time frame that we're just not seeing in many places at the moment," she said.
Yale hopes its test can be introduced at laboratories around the U.S. more broadly within a couple months, Wyllie said. Labs must contact Yale so the university can "make sure that it's set up properly, to make sure they've got the equipment that's available."
"So I'm hoping that we'll see, at least within the next month, more and more labs starting to roll this out, starting to make it available," she said. "Clearly, we really do just need more testing at the moment."
Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Monday he believes Yale University's saliva-based coronavirus test is an important development in the United States' pandemic response. "It's easy to use. It's unlikely to be in limited because of shortages in the testing supply chain," the former FDA chief added. "It's something that we can roll out on a very wide fashion."
Virus hit one the old folks homes in my town. Half the residents have the illness.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 18, 2020, 10:24:50 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 16, 2020, 05:32:09 PM
Had a weird cough over the weekend so getting a test delivered :ph34r:
Test is here - quite a lot of steps but fairly clear :ph34r:
How did you get it? Just called the 111 number and confirmed you have some symptoms?
Quote from: Razgovory on August 18, 2020, 01:11:49 PM
Virus hit one the old folks homes in my town. Half the residents have the illness.
:(
Yikes.
Quote from: Tyr on August 18, 2020, 03:08:45 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 18, 2020, 10:24:50 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 16, 2020, 05:32:09 PM
Had a weird cough over the weekend so getting a test delivered :ph34r:
Test is here - quite a lot of steps but fairly clear :ph34r:
How did you get it? Just called the 111 number and confirmed you have some symptoms?
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
The form is lengthy - my parents went on holiday to Italy and said the UK form when you re-enter the country is also very lengthy, I think she said it was about 8 pages.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 16, 2020, 06:25:26 PM
If I wanted to get tested I wouldn't know how to go about it.
I had that problem once and then I googled it.
High School/Middle School football is on in Ohio :cheers:
Or at least we're going to start the season. My son's first middle school game is a week from tomorrow.
I think it works fine to play with the pros where you can bubble them but school kids playing seems a bit more...difficult.
But here is hoping everything goes fine.
How will they determine the league champion when they have to shut down the season after 2 weeks?
Quote from: Valmy on August 19, 2020, 01:43:28 PM
I think it works fine to play with the pros where you can bubble them but school kids playing seems a bit more...difficult.
But here is hoping everything goes fine.
Have sports in the US looked at the experience of leagues in Europe? I did not expect they'd be able to come back and have been very impressed - as I say it's not often you salute a sports league but the Bundesliga, Liga, Serie A, Premier League, EUFA etc have done a really good job. (Bundesliga deserve like 90% of the credit because I think everyone copied them)
But yeah I'm not sure there's a way that can apply to college/high school sport.
Quote from: derspiess on August 19, 2020, 01:35:48 PM
High School/Middle School football is on in Ohio :cheers:
Or at least we're going to start the season. My son's first middle school game is a week from tomorrow.
I truly hope that no one comes to regret this decision.
Sigh. The wife works for a local school/sports photography company- unemployment has finally gotten testy about the on-again/off-again way she's been brought back and laid off in 2-week bursts... and now pretty much all the schools in the county where they're based have gone virtual-only until at least the end of October.
Tension in this household? Never! :rolleyes:
I wonder how it will be next month when the professional leagues start again. The lower leagues will start this time too. Well and good for top teams to be on TV only but in the lower leagues gate receipts are the bulk of a teams income, playing behind closed doors just isn't viable.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on August 19, 2020, 03:18:10 PM
Sigh. The wife works for a local school/sports photography company- unemployment has finally gotten testy about the on-again/off-again way she's been brought back and laid off in 2-week bursts... and now pretty much all the schools in the county where they're based have gone virtual-only until at least the end of October.
Tension in this household? Never! :rolleyes:
Finally made an honest woman out of her, eh? :cheers:
Quote from: PDH on August 19, 2020, 01:45:52 PM
How will they determine the league champion when they have to shut down the season after 2 weeks?
One of the middle school football teams (they have 4 total in that school) already had a case a couple weeks ago and the team suspended practice for two weeks. My hope is that my son's 7th grade team and nephew's 8th grade team can get at least 4 games in this year (there are 8 on the schedule). Wouldn't be much of a season but would at least be something. These kids need their fall sports.
Looks like we've hit a problem with corona.
Scotland has added Switzerland to its quarantine list starting from a few hours before my gf flies to Edinburgh from Geneva. She is panicking thinking this means she will be a prisoner in Scotland for 2 weeks and won't be able to come home.
Surely this quarantine only applies if you're actually staying in Scotland?
Quote from: Tyr on August 20, 2020, 04:00:34 PM
Looks like we've hit a problem with corona.
Scotland has added Switzerland to its quarantine list starting from a few hours before my gf flies to Edinburgh from Geneva. She is panicking thinking this means she will be a prisoner in Scotland for 2 weeks and won't be able to come home.
Surely this quarantine only applies if you're actually staying in Scotland?
Yes. It applies if you are travelling to Scotland, I think the advice is that you self-isolate in your "final destination in Scotland".
And if the final destination isn't in Scotland?
Quote from: Tyr on August 20, 2020, 04:18:21 PM
And if the final destination isn't in Scotland?
Then my read would be it doesn't apply and you have to follow the guidance of the location of the final destination.
My brother still has a lingering cough and is constantly fatigued and gets tired really easily.
Pretty impressive for what's a fake disease according to the Trumpers. :hmm:
Quote from: Caliga on August 21, 2020, 08:23:32 AM
My brother still has a lingering cough and is constantly fatigued and gets tired really easily.
Pretty impressive for what's a fake disease according to the Trumpers. :hmm:
I've heard from people that they've taken a while to fully recover, including lingering loss of taste and smell. Hope your brother gets over it all fast.
My town schools are going to have on site classes two days a week, and remote the rest of the time. That's what's planned so far. Schools are also going to require flu shots for all kids by end of the year. That's getting a very mixed reaction by parents.
The state governor goes back and forth on opening things up more and shutting things down, depending on even small increases or decreases in Covid cases. But still there's a lot more activity and open businesses. In the town center they blocked off a short stretch of road between between the town common and theater with picnic tables setup there. Several restaurants close by. The main street through town has sidewalks and some parking blocked off for restaurant outside dining. Those areas are getting good business too, looks like.
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 20, 2020, 04:20:27 PM
Quote from: Tyr on August 20, 2020, 04:18:21 PM
And if the final destination isn't in Scotland?
Then my read would be it doesn't apply and you have to follow the guidance of the location of the final destination.
We found the relevant guideline. Only the official government article was enough (Swiss :rolleyes:)
If you leave Scotland right away nothing applies.
Though looks like I am going for a 6 hour drive tomorrow....
Schools and districts in Ohio that had canceled or delayed fall sports are reconsidering that action. One district reversed course yesterday and said football's a full go.
Going to have to pick and choose who gets to go to my son's middle school games. They are only allowing two tickets per player, so my parents are going to attend this Thursday's game and my wife & daughter will go to the following week's game. I don't (or shouldn't) need a ticket since I volunteered to film.
42 kids on this team. My son is starting at right guard and Will LB :showoff:
I hope all that Bengals experience can help you here :P
Quote from: Valmy on August 25, 2020, 08:36:21 AM
I hope all that Bengals experience can help you here :P
Well I was trained by the meanest SOB video director in the league, so hopefully I can meet the middle school game film standard :D
I Have Yeast.
Mission Accomplished.
:ccr:
Your next project should be to clean your desktop.
Maskage continues along at 100% in retail spaces in my part of town. I guess the stores are doing a good job of enforcing it and people are adjusting to the annoyance of masking up. My county is down to yellow, which is level 2 of 4 so we're doing a bit better. The next county over, which has a fair number of hilljacks, is orange/level 3 and I'd say they're at maybe 50% maskage, with some stores enforcing it strictly and some not at all.
It's still a state-level mandate.
State mask mandate here, mainly for places where you can't social distance. Most or all stores post messages that masks are required. Last weekend I drove by some soccer fields and kids were out there playing, wearing masks. There's a good amount of activity around town.
I had my first dental teeth cleaning appointment in a while which was several months delayed. All the dental workers were in full protective gear head to toe, face masks, etc.
Kind of a weird deal here in the People's Republic of Johnson County which I have not seen getting a ton of media coverage. A lot of stores have signs up saying "the city has ordered the wearing of masks," but I've also heard that the Republican governor has made it illegal for local governments to require masks.
Maybe it's being argued in the court and there's a temporary stay on the order; maybe cities like Iowa City are just saying fuck you to the order and the governor isn't pushing it; maybe I heard wrong.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 27, 2020, 04:25:37 PM
Kind of a weird deal here in the People's Republic of Johnson County which I have not seen getting a ton of media coverage. A lot of stores have signs up saying "the city has ordered the wearing of masks," but I've also heard that the Republican governor has made it illegal for local governments to require masks.
Maybe it's being argued in the court and there's a temporary stay on the order; maybe cities like Iowa City are just saying fuck you to the order and the governor isn't pushing it; maybe I heard wrong.
You didn't imagine it.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/506449-iowa-governors-says-cities-cant-require-masks
Dunno about the current status of said statement.
We're doing the whole "list out your job duties" thing right now. Super fun.
Bars in Iowa essentially shut down. All bars that don't serve food are closed as of yesterday. That's pretty much every college bar. Bars that do serve food can stay open till 10 PM. To get a drink, you have to order some food. I had a little bag of Doritos.
Apparently prompted by a flare up of positive tests on college campuses.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 28, 2020, 05:43:44 PM
Bars in Iowa essentially shut down. All bars that don't serve food are closed as of yesterday. That's pretty much every college bar. Bars that do serve food can stay open till 10 PM. To get a drink, you have to order some food. I had a little bag of Doritos.
Apparently prompted by a flare up of positive tests on college campuses.
Our emergency order that went into effect beginning of august expires Sunday night. They are allowing reopen of bars and inside dining at 50% capacity, but no live or amplified music.
Will have to see if we end up in a third lockdown or not.
You will
Alcohol+people= social distancing failure
Quote from: 11B4V on August 29, 2020, 04:53:16 AM
Alcohol+people= social distancing failure
Great pickup line.
Usually when people are getting together with alcohol, I figure they're trying to make social distancing fail as much as possible.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 28, 2020, 05:43:44 PM
Bars in Iowa essentially shut down. All bars that don't serve food are closed as of yesterday.
Louisiana did this about 6 weeks ago, and then due to a massive span of take-out drinks from restaurants + in-street parties, New Orleans banned to-go drinks.
So of all cities you can't get a drink to-go in New Orleans.
Quote from: ulmont on August 30, 2020, 09:16:11 PM
So of all cities you can't get a drink to-go in New Orleans.
Short of maybe Vegas, New Orleans is I thought the only city you could get a drink to-go. :huh:
Quote from: Barrister on August 30, 2020, 10:18:44 PM
Quote from: ulmont on August 30, 2020, 09:16:11 PM
So of all cities you can't get a drink to-go in New Orleans.
Short of maybe Vegas, New Orleans is I thought the only city you could get a drink to-go. :huh:
Fucking Covid, man.
Today I left my apartment for errands. The masks were largely being used. For the first time ever, every person that I saw in the grocery store had a mask on. I only saw three people - out of something like 150 people in the store - wearing them on their chins. In Walgreens, all but one person had a mask on. One, the pharmacist, wore her mask on her chin. :glare:
I even went to my favorite diner for breakfast. First time since March I've been there. Of their usually packed nine tables and nine bar seats, they only had five tables available for seating, two servers (not the usual older ladies, but two younger guys), and a skeleton crew in the kitchen. I had to wait 30 minutes for a seat, then the server totally screwed up my order. I still tipped him well, but I won't be going back for a while. It was creepy and a totally different experience than it used to be.
My daughter's university - Iowa State - has the most per capita positives in the country right now, followed by the University of Alabama, and then the University of Iowa. Luckily, all but two of her labs are virtual. The labs have been split into two classes so there's plenty of space between the students, and she says that she's very diligent with her mask and hand washing.
How much longer before we have that vaccine? This all kind of sucks a lot. :(
I want a Covid Vaccine for Christmas. Only a Covid Vaccine will do.
So no election dispute and street battles then? :hmm:
First day back at work after 5 weeks off.
First email I see is someone in the office has tested positive for Covid. Name not provided. If you're a close contact you will be notified.
Just great. <_<
Quote from: merithyn on August 30, 2020, 11:38:38 PM
Today I left my apartment for errands. The masks were largely being used. For the first time ever, every person that I saw in the grocery store had a mask on. I only saw three people - out of something like 150 people in the store - wearing them on their chins. In Walgreens, all but one person had a mask on. One, the pharmacist, wore her mask on her chin. :glare:
I even went to my favorite diner for breakfast. First time since March I've been there. Of their usually packed nine tables and nine bar seats, they only had five tables available for seating, two servers (not the usual older ladies, but two younger guys), and a skeleton crew in the kitchen. I had to wait 30 minutes for a seat, then the server totally screwed up my order. I still tipped him well, but I won't be going back for a while. It was creepy and a totally different experience than it used to be.
My daughter's university - Iowa State - has the most per capita positives in the country right now, followed by the University of Alabama, and then the University of Iowa. Luckily, all but two of her labs are virtual. The labs have been split into two classes so there's plenty of space between the students, and she says that she's very diligent with her mask and hand washing.
How much longer before we have that vaccine? This all kind of sucks a lot. :(
Yup, went to a nice little place with excellent food about a month ago. Sat outside and service was great. It just gave me the willys. Haven't been out to eat since. Just not worth it yet.
Quote from: 11B4V on August 31, 2020, 06:33:24 PM
Yup, went to a nice little place with excellent food about a month ago. Sat outside and service was great. It just gave me the willys. Haven't been out to eat since. Just not worth it yet.
Hell, I was watching reruns of the Tour de France last week and I was amazed at all the people beside the road...NOT WEARING MASKS (in 2019...). Perceptions change.
Quote from: PDH on August 31, 2020, 06:58:54 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on August 31, 2020, 06:33:24 PM
Yup, went to a nice little place with excellent food about a month ago. Sat outside and service was great. It just gave me the willys. Haven't been out to eat since. Just not worth it yet.
Hell, I was watching reruns of the Tour de France last week and I was amazed at all the people beside the road...NOT WEARING MASKS (in 2019...). Perceptions change.
:D
Yeah I catch myself thinking that also.
Incidentally this year's Tour seems pretty good, here's hoping it gets to Paris.
Quote from: Barrister on August 31, 2020, 10:47:18 AM
First day back at work after 5 weeks off.
First email I see is someone in the office has tested positive for Covid. Name not provided. If you're a close contact you will be notified.
Just great. <_<
I haven't yet been back in the office, and not many of us have in IT user support. They do have a process in place if we want to go in though.
Still alive.
But with a slipped disc and a depression to brag about. :glare:
Sally!!
Found myself sanitising the land-line telephone; if you'll excuse me I need to book a travel ticket, there's a good discount for those that book early.
Quote from: Saladin on September 01, 2020, 04:46:23 AM
Still alive.
But with a slipped disc and a depression to brag about. :glare:
Get well! :( :console:
It seems because of the corona banks all close at 2 now.
Ffs.
Quote from: Tyr on September 01, 2020, 09:05:18 AM
It seems because of the corona banks all close at 2 now.
Ffs.
Oh yeah - and the Royal Mail office to pick up parcels in my area is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7am-9am and Saturday 9am-11am. Which I refuse to consider as "opening hours" <_<
That must suck for the workers. You commute to the office and open up and then wait a few minutes and then shut down again and commute all the way home. I hope they are not paid by the hour.
Quote from: Saladin on September 01, 2020, 04:46:23 AM
Still alive.
But with a slipped disc and a depression to brag about. :glare:
Sorry about the sipped disk, bu good to see you.
Old posters never die, they just slip a disk.
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 01, 2020, 09:10:46 AM
Quote from: Tyr on September 01, 2020, 09:05:18 AM
It seems because of the corona banks all close at 2 now.
Ffs.
Oh yeah - and the Royal Mail office to pick up parcels in my area is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7am-9am and Saturday 9am-11am. Which I refuse to consider as "opening hours" <_<
That's why I have stuff delivered to the office or the 24/7 postal pick up station. :)
Quote from: Valmy on September 01, 2020, 09:18:35 AM
That must suck for the workers. You commute to the office and open up and then wait a few minutes and then shut down again and commute all the way home. I hope they are not paid by the hour.
I think they're probably for the workers because they have a lot more parcels to deliver from those offices in the normal day.
Quote from: grumbler on September 01, 2020, 09:23:31 AM
Quote from: Saladin on September 01, 2020, 04:46:23 AM
Still alive.
But with a slipped disc and a depression to brag about. :glare:
Sorry about the sipped disk, bu good to see you.
Old posters never die, they just slip a disk.
Thank you. Luckily enough the disc isn't putting any pressure on the spinal nerves. :)
Quote from: Syt on September 01, 2020, 07:09:51 AM
Quote from: Saladin on September 01, 2020, 04:46:23 AM
Still alive.
But with a slipped disc and a depression to brag about. :glare:
Get well! :( :console:
Thank you. :)
Heal up, Sal :)
Hey Sal. Get healed up and stay around so I can mock you again.
So we're having an NFL season after all. I go to the stadium this afternoon to get my Covid test. With all the new protocols in place, the league wants my crew there 6 hours before kickoff for the first game.. Thankfully our game Sunday starts at 4:00pm.
Quote from: derspiess on September 11, 2020, 09:26:08 AM
So we're having an NFL season after all. I go to the stadium this afternoon to get my Covid test. With all the new protocols in place, the league wants my crew there 6 hours before kickoff for the first game.. Thankfully our game Sunday starts at 4:00pm.
Those noon games are going to suck :console:
Very glad we are having some college football tomorrow to take my mind off all the nonsense this year. I hope the Big 10 and PAC 12 decide to start up again later this Fall.
Quote from: Valmy on September 11, 2020, 09:28:00 AM
Those noon games are going to suck :console:
After Week 1 it is supposed to return to business as usual, in which we have to arrive 4 hours before kickoff. It ends up pretty much being an 8 hour day.
QuoteVery glad we are having some college football tomorrow to take my mind off all the nonsense this year. I hope the Big 10 and PAC 12 decide to start up again later this Fall.
Yep, although I know WVU is going to do with EKU what they usually do against IAA teams-- start out slow, barely ahead 10-7 at the half and then finally get some momentum in the 3rd quarter, finishing with an ugly 42-26 win. Marshall blew them out like 52-0, so I'm sure I'll hear crap from my friends when WVU's win is less huge.
But it's football. Some semblance of normalcy-- bring it on.
My son's middle school team has gotten through their third week and have a symmetrical 1-1-1 record :D
To those of you with employees you oversee, how are you handling issues with them? Specifically regarding stress due to 2020 trying to kill everyone and everything?
I ask because I'm pretty much at boil-over limit. Between COVID, the fires, the protests, and an inability to breathe, not to mention grad school, my brain is shot. I'm struggling to remember the names of my coworker and boss at any given moment. But at the same time, I feel like that's not a valid excuse for why I'm unable to accomplish somewhat simple tasks. Which adds to my stress/anxiety/depression.
What is it okay to say? How do I tell them that life is really, really hard right now?
Quote from: merithyn on September 11, 2020, 11:54:44 AM
To those of you with employees you oversee, how are you handling issues with them? Specifically regarding stress due to 2020 trying to kill everyone and everything?
I ask because I'm pretty much at boil-over limit. Between COVID, the fires, the protests, and an inability to breathe, not to mention grad school, my brain is shot. I'm struggling to remember the names of my coworker and boss at any given moment. But at the same time, I feel like that's not a valid excuse for why I'm unable to accomplish somewhat simple tasks. Which adds to my stress/anxiety/depression.
What is it okay to say? How do I tell them that life is really, really hard right now?
You tell them life is really hard right now, and it has made you sick. Sick days are given and to be used, in my opinion. At where I am UC unless it is multiple days in a row or affecting the overall team there are no questions asked.
As some words of advice, this is not the time to take on more things. Slow down the MBA, take mental health days, and find something wildly distracting.
Quote from: PDH on September 11, 2020, 12:04:38 PM
You tell them life is really hard right now, and it has made you sick. Sick days are given and to be used, in my opinion. At where I am UC unless it is multiple days in a row or affecting the overall team there are no questions asked.
As some words of advice, this is not the time to take on more things. Slow down the MBA, take mental health days, and find something wildly distracting.
I've told my advisor that due to real-life stress, I'm going to work at "typical" speed for the time being. If it takes me two years to complete the MBA, then that's what it's going to take. I simply can't push myself on that right now.
As for mental health days, those will be few and far between due to work deadlines but the moment that I can swing an afternoon off, you can bet your ass I'm going to do so. Maybe load the dog up and head east to breathe.
I would make your manager and HR aware of what you're going through, in case you hadn't already.
We received an email late last night from our manager that we're free to work from home till end of next week (which incidentally is how long our manager is out of the office :P ), to be reassessed next week, though he also said the measures within the office will be reassessed to make sure we can return to the office a.s.a.p.
Our team decided to meet up today and coordinate how we go about the next two weeks.
Quote from: Syt on September 15, 2020, 12:51:04 AM
We received an email late last night from our manager that we're free to work from home till end of next week (which incidentally is how long our manager is out of the office :P ), to be reassessed next week, though he also said the measures within the office will be reassessed to make sure we can return to the office a.s.a.p.
Our team decided to meet up today and coordinate how we go about the next two weeks.
Isn't working from home recommended by the health authorities? What kind of organization goes against that kind of recommendations?
It's "recommended where possible", but it's just that: a recommendation, and requires consent by employer and employee. Just like it's "recommended" to wear a mask in meetings and when you're not at your desk at our office and to avoid any "unnecessary" travel.
A lot of companies don't allow their people to work from home, because ... old fashioned?
We were looking forward to an undisturbed day with few people at the office, but the strategy meeting in Switzerland was last-minute canceled, so everyone is here, no one wearing masks. Yay.
That is such idiocy. The whole bloody world has awakened to the fact that people actually do perform well working from home and not just slacking off as many bosses thought. But by your example Syt it sounds like some employers cling to that notion and are afraid of losing control.
"We are a people business, and face to face meetings are so much more productive."
Well. Thats big.
My company is looking at moving offices in 2022. I've always been happy with this. They're moving from a horrible edge of the city business park with nothing around it to the city centre.
On corona we've been pretty much told expect not to return to the office anytime this year....
Well, just got a mail sent out saying they're going to be handing out 30 minute appointments to everyone to go and clear out the office of their personal things.
This is odd. Its too early to plan for the new office move. Could we be just going officeless? :/
REI, the sporting/adventure goods company had planned/built a brand new HQ to move into in my home town back in Washington state...they've pretty much completely shelved the move there, are selling it off, and appear to be planning on going mostly work-from-home (with some regional, small office locations if needed) for their corporate branch.
My employer currently calculates with a 65% maximum attendance rate for offices, i.e. there will only be enough desks for 65% of the employees. You have to pick a desk in the morning and completely clean it in the evening. Your personal stuff goes into a locker. They are already decreasing office space by ending rental agreements.
There will be much less demand for office space in.the future. The landlords already start their "socialize our losses" campaign. Same as the owners of now too expensive high street shop spaces.
Quote from: Tyr on September 15, 2020, 07:04:59 AM
Well. Thats big.
My company is looking at moving offices in 2022. I've always been happy with this. They're moving from a horrible edge of the city business park with nothing around it to the city centre.
On corona we've been pretty much told expect not to return to the office anytime this year....
Well, just got a mail sent out saying they're going to be handing out 30 minute appointments to everyone to go and clear out the office of their personal things.
This is odd. Its too early to plan for the new office move. Could we be just going officeless? :/
Maybe the plan is to temporarily rent places in the meantime as necessary, or make use of coworking spaces?
I guess part of the reason why management is more reluctant to permit WFH is that we're a pretty small outfit of about 15 people. If we were a larger, more anonymous operation things might be different.
On the plus side, Vienna is offering free flu shots this year; this will be the first time in my life that I go and get one :)
That's not many. Who are the lucky free?
Quote from: Syt on September 16, 2020, 01:58:10 AM
On the plus side, Vienna is offering free flu shots this year; this will be the first time in my life that I go and get one :)
I did not know you were that old. :D
What does it have to do with age? They're offering it to everyone in Vienna.
Risk populations have been getting flu shots for free for quite a while now, depending on the countries.
The way it works is you have to pay the vaccine, but the shot is free.
Quote from: merithyn on September 11, 2020, 01:08:52 PM
Quote from: PDH on September 11, 2020, 12:04:38 PM
You tell them life is really hard right now, and it has made you sick. Sick days are given and to be used, in my opinion. At where I am UC unless it is multiple days in a row or affecting the overall team there are no questions asked.
As some words of advice, this is not the time to take on more things. Slow down the MBA, take mental health days, and find something wildly distracting.
I've told my advisor that due to real-life stress, I'm going to work at "typical" speed for the time being. If it takes me two years to complete the MBA, then that's what it's going to take. I simply can't push myself on that right now.
As for mental health days, those will be few and far between due to work deadlines but the moment that I can swing an afternoon off, you can bet your ass I'm going to do so. Maybe load the dog up and head east to breathe.
Meri, does your job provide an EAP? I know ours is through a third party that's been paid up-front, so it takes away the perverse incentive for them to steer you back to work when things get tough, as opposed to trusting HR who are there to look out for the company first and the employee as an afterthought.
My company has extended working from home thru to January.
Quote from: Caliga on September 16, 2020, 07:53:42 AM
My company has extended working from home thru to January.
We're starting to bring people back in, but only volunteers and, soon, low performers who may improve from working less independently. Apparently, 2 CEOs ago, we had a real old-school guy who didn't want to hear any part of WFH, and the new guy sees this as a win-win in terms of cutting leasing costs and attracting choosier talent in management and development.
Sadly, since I only came in-house in June, once we have a mandatory return date, I won't be eligible to apply for any WFH days until mid-December. :(
Yeah, if you want you can go in to the office now, but I have to fill out a bunch of paperwork to do it, so I haven't bothered yet. I really do miss being in there sometimes, though.
Quote from: Caliga on September 16, 2020, 07:53:42 AM
My company has extended working from home thru to January.
I have a court date for a transmission line right before Christmas. I am hoping for a pre-Christmas miracle and hoping we can all be in court for that date but I have a feeling I will still be testifying from home :(
Come on Big Pharma! All I want for Christmas is a Covid vaccine!
Quote from: Zanza on September 16, 2020, 12:49:17 AM
My employer currently calculates with a 65% maximum attendance rate for offices, i.e. there will only be enough desks for 65% of the employees. You have to pick a desk in the morning and completely clean it in the evening. Your personal stuff goes into a locker. They are already decreasing office space by ending rental agreements.
There will be much less demand for office space in.the future. The landlords already start their "socialize our losses" campaign. Same as the owners of now too expensive high street shop spaces.
We're still at 25% in any area (e.g. by floor). But they're starting to ease the restrictions so you don't need very senior approval to go into the office (from October), just approval based on capacity levels. Apparently no expectation that anyone'll be back in the office this side of December unless they really need/want to be (and I wouldn't be surprised if we're all in full lockdown again come December).
Also I get the impression that basically no big company in the city is moving fast on this - they're all being very cautious no matter how much exhortations they receive to bring people back to work. Speaking to friends I know two people who have actually been back to the office since this started. One works in a small company and has stuff they need to do physically, the other one does research so needs to go to the lab so again there's a physical need.
Quote from: Valmy on September 16, 2020, 08:12:58 AM
Come on Big Pharma! All I want for Christmas is a Covid vaccine!
:lol:
Quote from: Caliga on September 16, 2020, 08:19:08 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 16, 2020, 08:12:58 AM
Come on Big Pharma! All I want for Christmas is a Covid vaccine!
:lol:
Hells yeah. If I can't fly home on Christmas it is going to be one year without seeing my family and friends. Not acceptable.
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 16, 2020, 08:16:58 AM
We're still at 25% in any area (e.g. by floor). But they're starting to ease the restrictions so you don't need very senior approval to go into the office (from October), just approval based on capacity levels. Apparently no expectation that anyone'll be back in the office this side of December unless they really need/want to be (and I wouldn't be surprised if we're all in full lockdown again come December).
Also I get the impression that basically no big company in the city is moving fast on this - they're all being very cautious no matter how much exhortations they receive to bring people back to work. Speaking to friends I know two people who have actually been back to the office since this started. One works in a small company and has stuff they need to do physically, the other one does research so needs to go to the lab so again there's a physical need.
Yeah, we're being absolutely glacial at this. We started with allowing 4% as volunteers, 10% this week also as volunteers, and then 20% of our office capacity on a mandatory basis starting mid-next month... we're projecting to up that to 40% (the most we can maintain social distancing) at the beginning of January and stay there for the foreseeable future.
My work place started to going back in early June & were ready to bring us all back on a full time measure this last monday. It took weeks of pressure but that plan was scrapped when management finally understood that we were capped at a max 25% capacity for office workers by Public Health rules.
As we are in the midst of going to back isolation measures in the next weeks here in Quebec, I expect that capacity to not be raised at all before January or anything higher than 50% until the spring. So I'm home for the foreseeable future.
I just blow dryed and picked out my hair for the first time since lock down. Have a decent junior sized afro.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 16, 2020, 07:24:43 AM
Quote from: merithyn on September 11, 2020, 01:08:52 PM
Quote from: PDH on September 11, 2020, 12:04:38 PM
You tell them life is really hard right now, and it has made you sick. Sick days are given and to be used, in my opinion. At where I am UC unless it is multiple days in a row or affecting the overall team there are no questions asked.
As some words of advice, this is not the time to take on more things. Slow down the MBA, take mental health days, and find something wildly distracting.
I've told my advisor that due to real-life stress, I'm going to work at "typical" speed for the time being. If it takes me two years to complete the MBA, then that's what it's going to take. I simply can't push myself on that right now.
As for mental health days, those will be few and far between due to work deadlines but the moment that I can swing an afternoon off, you can bet your ass I'm going to do so. Maybe load the dog up and head east to breathe.
Meri, does your job provide an EAP? I know ours is through a third party that's been paid up-front, so it takes away the perverse incentive for them to steer you back to work when things get tough, as opposed to trusting HR who are there to look out for the company first and the employee as an afterthought.
Yes, but I don't think you understand.
We are a small team of three. I am the only one on my team that understands what we do. It is our "busy season" with over 150 extensive, highly technical, and stupidly manual reports due before December 31. Taking time off would force us to miss multiple contractual deadlines.
Yes, I could take time off, but that will just cause more stress rather than less.
Quote from: merithyn on September 16, 2020, 03:29:01 PM
Yes, but I don't think you understand.
We are a small team of three. I am the only one on my team that understands what we do. It is our "busy season" with over 150 extensive, highly technical, and stupidly manual reports due before December 31. Taking time off would force us to miss multiple contractual deadlines.
Yes, I could take time off, but that will just cause more stress rather than less.
You're reading too much into my question- I'm suggesting EAP as an alternative to just taking a mental health day, not as a quick way to get one.
I totally understand the pressure. My job shifted amazingly fast from "the tech support guy" to "IT manager" for a 350-person office like
that [snaps fingers]. I'm involved with plans to expand the office, I'm the messenger between our office and corporate IT, and they insist on coming to me for approvals on things no matter how much I try to stay out of the office politics. To a lesser degree, I'm also having to get creative at just being functional enough to do my job under the current stress levels.
One of my home village's kindergarten teachers back in Hungary is in isolation after she tested positive. She also happens to be the wife of the village's only GP, so considering the number of people they are in contact with daily I am quite certain like half the bloody village has it by now.
My neice (brother's daughter) came down with symptoms over the weekend, and then so did my other neice (ages 6 and 1). So everybody in the family was isolating. My mom who looks after the girls during the week suddenly couldn't come over.
Thankfully she got a negative test result last night. It did manage to ruin my mom's 70th birthday yesterday though.
We're bringing everyone back. All who remained where those who deal with stuff through phone or email. Logistics, Finance, Change Management, that sort of stuff.
It's going to make things a lot more crowded, and I'm losing my private office. :( :glare:
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 16, 2020, 08:16:58 AM
Quote from: Zanza on September 16, 2020, 12:49:17 AM
My employer currently calculates with a 65% maximum attendance rate for offices, i.e. there will only be enough desks for 65% of the employees. You have to pick a desk in the morning and completely clean it in the evening. Your personal stuff goes into a locker. They are already decreasing office space by ending rental agreements.
There will be much less demand for office space in.the future. The landlords already start their "socialize our losses" campaign. Same as the owners of now too expensive high street shop spaces.
We're still at 25% in any area (e.g. by floor). But they're starting to ease the restrictions so you don't need very senior approval to go into the office (from October), just approval based on capacity levels. Apparently no expectation that anyone'll be back in the office this side of December unless they really need/want to be (and I wouldn't be surprised if we're all in full lockdown again come December).
The 65% are the planning for the post-Covid time in my company, so they already cut office space (previous rule was 80+%).
Right now, my employer has a general policy to work from home where possible. But you can go to office if there is a reason (a meeting, poor work conditions at home, feeling lonely etc.) as long as capacity is available. The buildings were all prepared to allow for that. You just have to put your name into an online list the day before. I have been a few times, but the length of the commute, ease of WFH, lack of colleagues actually onsite for meetings, and the closure of the can find and coffee shop make going to the office a bit unattractive.
I tested negative last weekend :showoff:
At least, negative enough for me to work the game.
Son's football team has completed half their season. Fingers crossed for the last 4 games...
Quote from: derspiess on September 17, 2020, 10:30:42 AM
I tested negative last weekend :showoff:
At least, negative enough for me to work the game.
Son's football team has completed half their season. Fingers crossed for the last 4 games...
Negative enough? Huh I guess I thought the test tended to produce rather binary results :P
Hope everything continues to go well for your son and you doing great work for the Bungles.
Very excited / terrified because kids hockey is going into full swing this weekend. It's always an exciting time when the kids meet their new teammates for the first time. My winter months the last few years have the weekends spent almost entirely at hockey rinks, so it's kind of fun to get back into that routine.. It's also a blast being out there on the ice with the kids.
But... Covid-19. Edmonton's numbers are increasing. Schools are back. And while they're taking steps to minimize risk (masks everywhere except on the ice, put your gear on at home to minimize time in the locker room) it's going to inevitably increase the potential for exposure.
The club manager mentioned to my wife today that she kind-of expects us all to be shut down again by December.
Quote from: Valmy on September 17, 2020, 10:43:12 AM
Negative enough? Huh I guess I thought the test tended to produce rather binary results :P
Yeah, well it would have been nice for them to tell me when they got my results. It's a "no new is good news" kinda thing. I got into the stadium, so I presume I'm negative.
QuoteHope everything continues to go well for your son and you doing great work for the Bungles.
:hug:
Though technically I work for the league.
What is it like to work in an empty stadium? And what effect do you think it has on the players - not having to deal with crowd noise on the road is a big plus for the offence but I wonder if the lack of a crowd is noticed in other ways.
Sensing that this might not only be the last weekend of summer-ish weather but also the last lockdown-free one for a bit, we went for a stroll in a forested park close to our previous home and not too far from our current one either, that we used to frequent (the one between Saville Gardens and the Virginia Water lake for those in the know).
I am not sure how busy it's been the last few months but I'd assume we were not the only one with this train of thought because it was PACKED. The main parking lot I aimed for was closed already for being full, the other one was still just 3/4 loaded. The main, paved walking patch was crammed, we walked around the non-paved one where you could keep a decent distance as there were far less people on it. But nobody really seemed to care. Best I can tell is that nobody actively tried to get close to us. :P People were perfectly fine to pass next to each other and us as close as pre-pandemic. God forbid they take a sidestep when it's only us on a road wide enough for a car.
So, getting out was nice and I am 99.99999999999% sure we did not get infected, but the general behaviour does not bode well for things to come.
Quote from: Tamas on September 20, 2020, 12:48:25 PM
Sensing that this might not only be the last weekend of summer-ish weather but also the last lockdown-free one for a bit, we went for a stroll in a forested park close to our previous home and not too far from our current one either, that we used to frequent (the one between Saville Gardens and the Virginia Water lake for those in the know).
I am not sure how busy it's been the last few months but I'd assume we were not the only one with this train of thought because it was PACKED. The main parking lot I aimed for was closed already for being full, the other one was still just 3/4 loaded. The main, paved walking patch was crammed, we walked around the non-paved one where you could keep a decent distance as there were far less people on it. But nobody really seemed to care. Best I can tell is that nobody actively tried to get close to us. :P People were perfectly fine to pass next to each other and us as close as pre-pandemic. God forbid they take a sidestep when it's only us on a road wide enough for a car.
So, getting out was nice and I am 99.99999999999% sure we did not get infected, but the general behaviour does not bode well for things to come.
I had the exact same experience this evening at the fairly quiet beach, me standing close to the railings on the promenade, which is about 8 ft wide, so couples are walking past, not moving at all and passing within a 1-1.5ft of me standing at the very edge. It's like they don't care. :hmm:
Quote from: Tamas on September 20, 2020, 12:48:25 PM
Sensing that this might not only be the last weekend of summer-ish weather but also the last lockdown-free one for a bit, we went for a stroll in a forested park close to our previous home and not too far from our current one either, that we used to frequent (the one between Saville Gardens and the Virginia Water lake for those in the know).
I am not sure how busy it's been the last few months but I'd assume we were not the only one with this train of thought because it was PACKED. The main parking lot I aimed for was closed already for being full, the other one was still just 3/4 loaded. The main, paved walking patch was crammed, we walked around the non-paved one where you could keep a decent distance as there were far less people on it. But nobody really seemed to care. Best I can tell is that nobody actively tried to get close to us. :P People were perfectly fine to pass next to each other and us as close as pre-pandemic. God forbid they take a sidestep when it's only us on a road wide enough for a car.
So, getting out was nice and I am 99.99999999999% sure we did not get infected, but the general behaviour does not bode well for things to come.
But is there any evidence yet of outdoor transmission. I thought the evidence was that the chances of transmission outdoors are really, really low in everyday life. It does happen but it needs to be for an extended period of time, very dense and sort of people moving around - basically like an outdoor gig or, say, the marathon (now cancelled I think)?
Surely the chance of infection when a carrier is inches from you is larger than zero. In which case I think it can be considered common courtesy and survival instinct to take a step to the side.
Plus when you have a bunch of people closely together I don't think it can matter that drastically that they are not indoors.
Finally, I am no expert but wouldn't it be far harder to prove and trace an outdoor transmission than an indoor one?
If you get it from a passing stranger you won't be able to trace regardless of the setting.
Quote from: Tamas on September 21, 2020, 01:24:46 AM
Surely the chance of infection when a carrier is inches from you is larger than zero. In which case I think it can be considered common courtesy and survival instinct to take a step to the side.
Plus when you have a bunch of people closely together I don't think it can matter that drastically that they are not indoors.
From everything I've read it matters hugely whether you're indoors or outdoors. It really spreads in enclosed spaces. So it will spread outdoors - but it's more of an issues at, say, a barbecue in someone's back garden or a kids birthday party.
There was a paper in the BMJ on risks which had this graphic that I quite like:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgTqRTHXoAABrJv?format=jpg&name=small)
Outdoors is a far safer environment than indoors and stuff like hiking or chatting in a park is very low risk even without masks. Going to the pub or a restaurant or a big shop are more of an issue. But if you're outdoors you're almost always in low-medium risk territory.
QuoteFinally, I am no expert but wouldn't it be far harder to prove and trace an outdoor transmission than an indoor one?
Yeah - but my understanding is people have done studies of big mass events from before and during the pandemic - so Champions League games, BLM protests etc.
Thanks for looking it up Sheilbh, but I doubt people are mass-ignoring the guidance (1m plus) after carefully researching the possible impact of doing so. :)
Ignoring the currently in effect pandemic rules may have far less impact when clogging a park walking path than piling up in a pub, but it still is ignoring it.
Is medium risk now something to scoff at? :hmm:
Quote from: Tamas on September 21, 2020, 04:25:15 AM
Thanks for looking it up Sheilbh, but I doubt people are mass-ignoring the guidance (1m plus) after carefully researching the possible impact of doing so. :)
No but I think people have a sense - outdoors is safer than indoors, masks are safer than not - and basically doing their own risk evaluation for how the behave, what do they feel comfortable doing. I think that's in part inevitable once things move from simple lockdown to a more nuanced world - I also think people will just ignore the government after Cummings. I think they sacrificed credibility and trust so people will make their own judgements now.
Well yes exactly and that's my problem :p
Feels like we have gotten past a critical mass of people who have made the judgement call that it is no concern of theirs and this is why we see this resurgence Europe-wide
Quote from: Tamas on September 21, 2020, 05:29:09 AM
Well yes exactly and that's my problem :p
Feels like we have gotten past a critical mass of people who have made the judgement call that it is no concern of theirs and this is why we see this resurgence Europe-wide
Yeah, I think people look at the low casualty rates and think "see? Not a big deal anymore" and lower their guard.
That's a fair question though. How big of a deal is it when comparing to the definitely disastrous effects of a second full-scale lockdown? Definitely something we should try to quickly get an idea about...
Quote from: crazy canuck on September 17, 2020, 05:15:57 PM
What is it like to work in an empty stadium? And what effect do you think it has on the players - not having to deal with crowd noise on the road is a big plus for the offence but I wonder if the lack of a crowd is noticed in other ways.
Feels like a practice where they hosted another team, as would sometimes happen in preseason. I'm able to hear a lot more of what is said on the sideline (and field, for that matter). But it's also a little disorienting. If I'm working on a tablet or something and am not able to watch a play, I don't have a crowd reaction to tell me how the play went. They have fake crowd noise over the speakers but it rarely matches up to what is going on in the game.
I think it's generally helping visiting teams with not having to deal with crowd noise as you mentioned. For individual players, some guys get all hyped up by a large noisy crowd (even if they're the visiting team), but you'd have to think for some guys it takes a little pressure off.
Quote from: Zanza on September 21, 2020, 07:58:42 AM
That's a fair question though. How big of a deal is it when comparing to the definitely disastrous effects of a second full-scale lockdown? Definitely something we should try to quickly get an idea about...
Yes. It seems like we won't be going into "lockdown" again, because from everything I've read schools, workplaces and public transport will stay open. But there might be closures in the hospitality/leisure sectors (presumably with targeted economic support for those businesses).
I've said before I think it's really key that we do everything we can to keep schools open now.
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 21, 2020, 08:04:16 AM
Quote from: Zanza on September 21, 2020, 07:58:42 AM
That's a fair question though. How big of a deal is it when comparing to the definitely disastrous effects of a second full-scale lockdown? Definitely something we should try to quickly get an idea about...
Yes. It seems like we won't be going into "lockdown" again, because from everything I've read schools, workplaces and public transport will stay open. But there might be closures in the hospitality/leisure sectors (presumably with targeted economic support for those businesses).
I've said before I think it's really key that we do everything we can to keep schools open now.
I don't think a full lockdown would be necessary either, if people could be bothered to keep to existing restrictions. Having limits/closures of leisure stuff, wearing masks, and keeping your distance whenever possible should be plenty enough.
Quote from: Tamas on September 21, 2020, 08:54:04 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 21, 2020, 08:04:16 AM
Quote from: Zanza on September 21, 2020, 07:58:42 AM
That's a fair question though. How big of a deal is it when comparing to the definitely disastrous effects of a second full-scale lockdown? Definitely something we should try to quickly get an idea about...
Yes. It seems like we won't be going into "lockdown" again, because from everything I've read schools, workplaces and public transport will stay open. But there might be closures in the hospitality/leisure sectors (presumably with targeted economic support for those businesses).
I've said before I think it's really key that we do everything we can to keep schools open now.
I don't think a full lockdown would be necessary either, if people could be bothered to keep to existing restrictions. Having limits/closures of leisure stuff, wearing masks, and keeping your distance whenever possible should be plenty enough.
We have done all that since late july and you can see our graphs...
(https://i.imgur.com/qbMHnju.png)
I mean, mortality is still really low given the infection rate, but it's creeping up slightly. Yes, lockdown isn't really an alternative given the damage it caused, but I feel like we're walking in a bit of a tightrope here.
One of the many theories I'm seeing regarding the low mortality rates is that extensive mask usage also diminishes viral loads if you get infected.
Munich is now under stronger mask and distance rules again, as they crossed 50/100000 infections in the last week
So the ersatz-Oktoberfest they had just started will likely falter. Too bad for the event business.
I am currently on vacation in Tuscany and it feels like this was the right time to go as limitations seem to get worse in the next week's.
I went to a local ersatz Oktoberfest (Mocktoberfest?) yesterday that a local German club had. Wasn't in the mood to put on the lederhosen, but sported my Bavarian flag gaiter as my mandatory face covering. They limited the crowd to a certain amount, had lots of space to socially distance. Great event, considering everything.
Quote from: derspiess on September 21, 2020, 11:38:43 AM
I went to a local ersatz Oktoberfest (Mocktoberfest?) yesterday that a local German club had. Wasn't in the mood to put on the lederhosen, but sported my Bavarian flag gaiter as my mandatory face covering. They limited the crowd to a certain amount, had lots of space to socially distance. Great event, considering everything.
Did they serve food? :)
Yes, really just the Oktoberfest basics-- Mettwurst, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, potato salad, and potato pancakes. And a delicious-looking chicken dinner I didn't see at first. For dessert, strudel and cream puff. All of it I'm sure done to some German grandmothers' exact specifications.
Beer selection was on point as well.
Quote from: derspiess on September 21, 2020, 06:48:33 PM
Yes, really just the Oktoberfest basics-- Mettwurst, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, potato salad, and potato pancakes. And a delicious-looking chicken dinner I didn't see at first. For dessert, strudel and cream puff. All of it I'm sure done to some German grandmothers' exact specifications.
Beer selection was on point as well.
:mmm:
Quote from: derspiess on September 21, 2020, 06:48:33 PM
Yes, really just the Oktoberfest basics-- Mettwurst, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, potato salad, and potato pancakes. And a delicious-looking chicken dinner I didn't see at first. For dessert, strudel and cream puff. All of it I'm sure done to some German grandmothers' exact specifications.
Beer selection was on point as well.
How were the tits?
So while the numbers in Vienna keep going up up up, our manager hasn't decided yet whether the offer to work from home will be extended beyond this week.
He has ordered, however, plastic separators to put between desks for all offices that are occupied by more than one person. :rolleyes:
EDIT: Just heard our manager isn't worried much, because Cvid-19 doesn't survive long on surfaces. My understanding is that this is currently not entirely certain, and that it can survive on some surfaces for days?
I went for a walk to the nearby town today. Been days since I've left him. I do feel a lot better for it. Should try to force myself out for a walk more often. Though I had a definite mission of buying some things from the supermarket, how it'll be without a mission considering there aren't really any scenic areas within walking distance and the coming of winter....
On the positive side in town masks were plentiful. Many old people even wearing them outside the shops. Even the little cash only discount supermarket had a masks are mandatory sign up.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 21, 2020, 09:16:43 PM
Quote from: derspiess on September 21, 2020, 06:48:33 PM
Yes, really just the Oktoberfest basics-- Mettwurst, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, potato salad, and potato pancakes. And a delicious-looking chicken dinner I didn't see at first. For dessert, strudel and cream puff. All of it I'm sure done to some German grandmothers' exact specifications.
Beer selection was on point as well.
How were the tits?
Disappointing. The ones in dirndl were, at least.
Quote from: Syt on September 22, 2020, 01:54:18 AM
EDIT: Just heard our manager isn't worried much, because Cvid-19 doesn't survive long on surfaces. My understanding is that this is currently not entirely certain, and that it can survive on some surfaces for days?
The early studies that indicated the virus surviving for days were in a lab where they started with a far bigger viral load than you'd expect to find in the real world.
Heard an update on our office situation. Our external IT has been asked to set up working spaces so that people are distanced as much as possible (which also means splitting up our office of four - which is going to be dumb, because we constantly coordinate/discuss things). Personally, I will get used to wearing masks in communal areas and during meetings (as our policy "recommends", and probably skip lunch breaks where we sit 6-10 people around a relatively small lunch table).
Quote from: Barrister on September 22, 2020, 04:48:53 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 22, 2020, 01:54:18 AM
EDIT: Just heard our manager isn't worried much, because Cvid-19 doesn't survive long on surfaces. My understanding is that this is currently not entirely certain, and that it can survive on some surfaces for days?
The early studies that indicated the virus surviving for days were in a lab where they started with a far bigger viral load than you'd expect to find in the real world.
My totally unscientific feeling is that if surface transmission was in play we'd have been much worse off (yes, that's certainly possible).
These electricians our flat's estate agents work with must be starved for work because all they could find during their half-day check of the flat were 2 light switches without a proper "box" in the wall and connections to the meter being from the 60s but without any sign of wear, but still after less than two weeks they are eager to come in and fix them.
Well, I told them I'd prefer these delayed post-pandemic as I fail to see the urgency. Not that I am actually that worried (although having a guy again here whose job is to tour households on a daily basis can't be risk free), but I don't like being taken advantage of this way, even if I am not the one paying for it.
The estate agents can still force it through though as we are supposed to give them reasonable access. But I'll have them send it to me in writing that they consider this necessary right now.
I guess I should be happy that they don't insist on their bi-monthly visits now and instead of them creating their photo report of our home, they are content with me uploading pictures online every two months.
They sure don't trust your immigrant self.
Sorry, T.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 23, 2020, 07:42:56 AM
They sure don't trust your immigrant self.
Sorry, T.
:P Yeah I do wonder if they are this strict on all tenants but they probably are. It makes them look like they are working for their money. I find it humiliating and hostile but there's little choice, especially when the flat is a relatively good deal. Took us like a year of looking before we found something so much matching what we wanted and where and for how much. So I am just taking it on the chin and push back at times for my dignity's sake.
My son had a sore throat and cough Monday morning, as did a few of his football teammates. A kid on the school's other 7th grade team had been confirmed to have Covid (and that team is in a 10 day shutdown), so we were naturally a little freaked out. Got our results this morning-- all negative.
Hope my kid enjoyed his 2 days off of school. Back to the grind, and he has a game this afternoon.
New Covid rule for Kentucky high school basketball-- no jump ball to begin game or overtime :lol:
Quote from: Tamas on September 23, 2020, 07:51:51 AM
:P Yeah I do wonder if they are this strict on all tenants but they probably are. It makes them look like they are working for their money. I find it humiliating and hostile but there's little choice, especially when the flat is a relatively good deal. Took us like a year of looking before we found something so much matching what we wanted and where and for how much. So I am just taking it on the chin and push back at times for my dignity's sake.
I've never had checks like that. But my experience of landlords has been as a student (including one flat where the landlady would drop by regularly for no apparent reason and looked terrifyingly like the woman who runs the bath house in Spirited Away) and fairly indifferent/hands off London landlords who only want to know if something breaks but otherwise have zero contact with me :lol:
I've not had a really bad landlord experience though I know they're out there.
Well crap. Overnight developed a cough, sore throat, runny nose.
Alberta Health Services guidelines are clear. I am to self-isolate and get tested. Already booked a test for tomorrow at 11 (not testing slots open for today). Hopefully I can get results over the weekend.
Now to see if I can get someone in my office to grab a couple of files and my laptop and bring them out to me in my car...
Hope it's a false alarm. Best of luck.
Quote from: Barrister on September 24, 2020, 09:25:50 AM
Well crap. Overnight developed a cough, sore throat, runny nose.
Alberta Health Services guidelines are clear. I am to self-isolate and get tested. Already booked a test for tomorrow at 11 (not testing slots open for today). Hopefully I can get results over the weekend.
Now to see if I can get someone in my office to grab a couple of files and my laptop and bring them out to me in my car...
It is an odd to say this, but I hope you have a bad cold :)
Quote from: Barrister on September 24, 2020, 09:25:50 AM
Well crap. Overnight developed a cough, sore throat, runny nose.
Alberta Health Services guidelines are clear. I am to self-isolate and get tested. Already booked a test for tomorrow at 11 (not testing slots open for today). Hopefully I can get results over the weekend.
Now to see if I can get someone in my office to grab a couple of files and my laptop and bring them out to me in my car...
Good luck!
Hope you are okay, BB.
Runny nose means it's very likely not covid. Good to get tested in any case.
Quote from: Zoupa on September 24, 2020, 01:08:33 PM
Runny nose means it's very likely not covid. Good to get tested in any case.
Yeah I know, but did the AHS (Alberta Health Services) self-check and it said to self-isolate and test with my symptoms.
Been hearing a couple different things about timeline to get results. Assuming a negative test, hoping to get back to actual work on Monday, maybe so I can even make it to the boys hockey practices on Sunday.
Took over a week for me to get result back, but that was in the early days when everything was chaotic. I think the response time has decreased significantly by now.
Quote from: Zoupa on September 24, 2020, 01:28:03 PM
Took over a week for me to get result back, but that was in the early days when everything was chaotic. I think the response time has decreased significantly by now.
Yeah things are much improved from the spring. I think they were up to 24 hour turnaround by August, but I think things have slowed since kids returned to school.
I've had a few scares over these past few months. It does tend to make everything in the slightest similar seem like potential corona.
Hope it's not.
Quote from: Zoupa on September 24, 2020, 01:28:03 PM
Took over a week for me to get result back, but that was in the early days when everything was chaotic. I think the response time has decreased significantly by now.
Quebec time is back to ~8 days now. The test gets done quickly, informing people is the weak link in the chain.
@BB I'm surprised they recommend testing without a fever.
Quote from: Tyr on September 24, 2020, 02:01:14 PM
I've had a few scares over these past few months. It does tend to make everything in the slightest similar seem like potential corona.
Hope it's not.
Supposedly Alberta has the highest testing per capita in Canada. In August they were offering tests to anyone, no questions asked (again with schools back they've backed off on that a bit).
Which is good for me at least. I can return to work with a negative test. Otherwise I'd be stuck here for 10-14 days.
Off for my test shortly. Not sure what result I'd prefer - a negative so I can get back to the office, or a positive so I can "get it over with".
Meh -probably still prefer a negative.
We'll be back at the office on Monday, on rotation. In our team of 4, only 2 are permitted into the office, so it will be working from home 2 days, and working at the office 2 days.
Went to grab a bite at the restaurant by the factory, for the first time since February.
Both waitresses looked worried at me and asked if I was sick. And it's not the first time that's happened lately. :hmm:
I guess I've lost more weight than I thought during lockdown.
We got results from my son's test in less than a day and a half. His teammates got theirs in less than 24 hours.
Very busy roads today, massive queue on the way back from picking up our weekly shopping, probably some road works. Stopped for fuel, probably the busiest I have seen that petrol station, although I normally stop there on the weekends.
About 2/3rd of people put on a mask as required by the signs, rest were too cool for that. Latter included a young couple browsing the booze section, and the girl had a REALLY terrible cough. She sounded in high spirits otherwise so may have been just a very heavy smoker. Luckily didn't come near me.
Quote from: Barrister on September 24, 2020, 01:12:33 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on September 24, 2020, 01:08:33 PM
Runny nose means it's very likely not covid. Good to get tested in any case.
Yeah I know, but did the AHS (Alberta Health Services) self-check and it said to self-isolate and test with my symptoms.
Been hearing a couple different things about timeline to get results. Assuming a negative test, hoping to get back to actual work on Monday, maybe so I can even make it to the boys hockey practices on Sunday.
Test came back negative. :yeah:
So back to work tomorrow, but missed an entire weekend of hockey practices. :weep:
:cheers:
Quote from: Tamas on September 26, 2020, 08:38:53 AM
Very busy roads today, massive queue on the way back from picking up our weekly shopping, probably some road works. Stopped for fuel, probably the busiest I have seen that petrol station, although I normally stop there on the weekends.
About 2/3rd of people put on a mask as required by the signs, rest were too cool for that. Latter included a young couple browsing the booze section, and the girl had a REALLY terrible cough. She sounded in high spirits otherwise so may have been just a very heavy smoker. Luckily didn't come near me.
Yeah, traffic seems to back to 'normal', but with the added 'benefit' of a few more people driving recklessly, a habit they might have picked up on the quiet roads during lockdown. <_<
I haven't had my hair cut since February, and I really really really should get it done. Covid has held me back from going to the hairdresser, but I'm starting to look like a balding version of Cousin-It.
Quote from: celedhring on September 28, 2020, 03:23:54 PM
I haven't had my hair cut since February, and I really really really should get it done. Covid has held me back from going to the hairdresser, but I'm starting to look like a balding version of Cousin-It.
:lol:
I haven't had an hair cut since February too. My flow is pristine.
I look like Andre Agassi in '84 with his hair piece.
My high school buddy said I look like Steve Bannon. :(
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 28, 2020, 04:07:25 PM
My high school buddy said I look like Steve Bannon. :(
:pinch:
I had mine cut over the summer, but it's getting shaggy again.
Thank hod I went bald a long time ago.
There, I finally got to say that.
One of the first things I did when lockout restrictions started to get lifted back in spring here was getting a haircut and a proper beard trim, and since then I haven't had any problem in getting one every couple of months or so. How come do you guys take so long to get it cut?
1) Laziness
2) Safety concerns
Ah fuck. Booked it for tomorrow.
So mostly laziness then. :lol:
Or a good excuse to go for the hobo look?
Single guys have an excuse, the rest of you should buy a trimmer and have your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/husband give you a buzz cut. If it's short enough it's not that complicated, just need to do finishing touches with a pair of scissors. Easy.
Quote from: Tamas on September 29, 2020, 03:47:03 AM
Single guys have an excuse, the rest of you should buy a trimmer and have your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/husband give you a buzz cut. If it's short enough it's not that complicated, just need to do finishing touches with a pair of scissors. Easy.
Heh, that reminds me of a comment made by a Polish female friend of mine about one of the good things of moving to Spain, and it was that men had more than two haircuts, as it happened back home (buzzed and shaven).
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 03:46:02 AM
So mostly laziness then. :lol:
Or a good excuse to go for the hobo look?
A big part of it, I admit, is that I barely see anyone outside of my parents (and my mom always wanted me to go for the long hair look, so she isn't going to call me on it) and I kinda lost the sense of my self-appearance. Oddly enough, I shave a lot. I think I might be starting to lose my mind, actually :lol:
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 03:53:58 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 03:46:02 AM
So mostly laziness then. :lol:
Or a good excuse to go for the hobo look?
A big part of it, I admit, is that I barely see anyone outside of my parents (and my mom always wanted me to go for the long hair look, so she isn't going to call me on it) and I kinda lost the sense of my self-appearance. Oddly enough, I shave a lot. I think I might be starting to lose my mind, actually :lol:
Seriously, how did you isolate yourself so much? I mean, restrictions have been off for a while already.
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:01:39 AM
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 03:53:58 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 03:46:02 AM
So mostly laziness then. :lol:
Or a good excuse to go for the hobo look?
A big part of it, I admit, is that I barely see anyone outside of my parents (and my mom always wanted me to go for the long hair look, so she isn't going to call me on it) and I kinda lost the sense of my self-appearance. Oddly enough, I shave a lot. I think I might be starting to lose my mind, actually :lol:
Seriously, how did you isolate yourself so much? I mean, restrictions have been off for a while already.
It's not all by choice. My closest friends have shut off completely, and outside of them a sizable part of my social life was socializing with people I work with - and everything is now on Zoom. The only person outside my family that I have been seeing in those two last months was that girl that ultimately friendzoned me :lol:
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 04:13:41 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:01:39 AM
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 03:53:58 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 03:46:02 AM
So mostly laziness then. :lol:
Or a good excuse to go for the hobo look?
A big part of it, I admit, is that I barely see anyone outside of my parents (and my mom always wanted me to go for the long hair look, so she isn't going to call me on it) and I kinda lost the sense of my self-appearance. Oddly enough, I shave a lot. I think I might be starting to lose my mind, actually :lol:
Seriously, how did you isolate yourself so much? I mean, restrictions have been off for a while already.
It's not all by choice. My closest friends have shut off completely, and outside of them a sizable part of my social life was socializing with people I work with - and everything is now on Zoom. The only person outside my family that I have been seeing in those two last months was that girl that ultimately friendzoned me :lol:
What about your gaming group? Or are them the ones who shut off completely?
These are the ones. We used to meet weekly to play live. Now, we still play remotely via Tabletopia, but it's just more people on screens.
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 04:22:25 AM
These are the ones. We used to meet weekly to play live. Now, we still play remotely via Tabletopia, but it's just more people on screens.
Paranoid much? I mean, we've been having our gaming sessions back in schedule since june or so already.
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:25:53 AM
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 04:22:25 AM
These are the ones. We used to meet weekly to play live. Now, we still play remotely via Tabletopia, but it's just more people on screens.
Paranoid much? I mean, we've been having our gaming sessions back in schedule since june or so already.
-_- What can I say? Two of them still live with their parents and are really super-careful about exposing them to this shit. Can't really push them to meet. Over here the situation is worse than in your turf, too.
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 03:26:15 AM
One of the first things I did when lockout restrictions started to get lifted back in spring here was getting a haircut and a proper beard trim, and since then I haven't had any problem in getting one every couple of months or so. How come do you guys take so long to get it cut?
Some of what Celery said, plus performance art.
I've seen the same with tabletop games here. The local board game cafe looks set for closing down because nobody is coming out.
It doesn't help that they're ordered to clean and quarantine their games after use.
I cut my hair myself 5 times during lockdown :blush:
And went to a barbers in the first week restrictions were lifted.
I've not cut my hair once since lockdown though I have cut my husband's hair a few times.
I've only met up with friends twice since this all began.
Beard trimming also makes wearing a mask much more comfortable. At times towards the end of lockout I had a pretty bushy beard and wearing a mask in those situations was not a good look.
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 04:44:42 AMI've only met up with friends twice since this all began.
That sounds a bit crazy to me. Aren't you getting some kind of cabin fever?
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:50:54 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 04:44:42 AMI've only met up with friends twice since this all began.
That sounds a bit crazy to me. Aren't you getting some kind of cabin fever?
:unsure:
You bunch of recluses. :P
Cabin fever??!? :o https://youtu.be/xsezrzS27UY?t=33
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 05:17:25 AM
You bunch of recluses. :P
:lol: This is another different people experiencing lockdown differently.
I've been out quite a lot to see people or just go to the pub or a cafe etc. I had an extra couple of months of basically being in lockdown with my injury in January which probably made me a little more stir-crazy/needing human interaction :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 29, 2020, 05:23:50 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 05:17:25 AM
You bunch of recluses. :P
:lol: This is another different people experiencing lockdown differently.
I've been out quite a lot to see people or just go to the pub or a cafe etc. I had an extra couple of months of basically being in lockdown with my injury in January which probably made me a little more stir-crazy/needing human interaction :lol:
Well you get a pass because of your injury but in general this might be going smoother if people could have refrained from non-essential contacts for the time being. Quite clearly the rush back to normalise was premature.
I am also getting now a bit antsy over when we can resume to move without wanting to avoid crowds, although for me it is mostly about visiting my family finally, as that's the main routine of my old life that this thing have destroyed that I actually really miss.
Quote from: Tamas on September 29, 2020, 05:35:29 AM
I am also getting now a bit antsy over when we can resume to move without wanting to avoid crowds, although for me it is mostly about visiting my family finally, as that's the main routine of my old life that this thing have destroyed that I actually really miss.
I am slightly concerned about Christmas given my dad's age makes him very high risk. I just don't feel it's going to be possible or safe :(
I also, selfishly, really miss not having a proper holiday.
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 29, 2020, 05:43:36 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 29, 2020, 05:35:29 AM
I am also getting now a bit antsy over when we can resume to move without wanting to avoid crowds, although for me it is mostly about visiting my family finally, as that's the main routine of my old life that this thing have destroyed that I actually really miss.
I am slightly concerned about Christmas given my dad's age makes him very high risk. I just don't feel it's going to be possible or safe :(
I also, selfishly, really miss not having a proper holiday.
Yeah I am really worried. :( Not only my parents are a couple of years from/past 70, my grandma who is practically the same household, is closing in on 99. How will I be able to justify going through two airports to visit them? Not to mention my in-laws who are in a third country, and either we'd visit both families further increasing risk on everyone, or my wife and I fly to our respective families only and risk being separated for weeks or even months if the winter makes more draconian measures necessary.
It is just a mess. Hence my frustration with people who just could not stop partying for a few more months. Screw them all.
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:50:54 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 04:44:42 AMI've only met up with friends twice since this all began.
That sounds a bit crazy to me. Aren't you getting some kind of cabin fever?
It has been quite tedious. However, for a while, many things I liked to do outside the home (travel, restaurants, bars, museums, theatres, cinemas) were closed. And while they have now re-opened, I mostly tend to think is this activity something I'm willing to take a chance getting sick doing taking into account my African-American heritage and hypertension. And thus far, no activity has seemed appealing enough to want to risk it.
Quote from: Tamas on September 29, 2020, 05:50:39 AM
Yeah I am really worried. :( Not only my parents are a couple of years from/past 70, my grandma who is practically the same household, is closing in on 99. How will I be able to justify going through two airports to visit them? Not to mention my in-laws who are in a third country, and either we'd visit both families further increasing risk on everyone, or my wife and I fly to our respective families only and risk being separated for weeks or even months if the winter makes more draconian measures necessary.
Yeah it is the travel bit that worries me.
What's the situation in Hungary when you arrive? Do you have to quarantine or do you have the option (like, I want to say, Greece) of staying in a hotel in quarantine for 72 hours while you're tested? Because I suppose if you confirm you're okay once you land you can then travel on by car without any increased risk.
Quote from: Tamas on September 29, 2020, 05:50:39 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 29, 2020, 05:43:36 AM
Quote from: Tamas on September 29, 2020, 05:35:29 AM
I am also getting now a bit antsy over when we can resume to move without wanting to avoid crowds, although for me it is mostly about visiting my family finally, as that's the main routine of my old life that this thing have destroyed that I actually really miss.
I am slightly concerned about Christmas given my dad's age makes him very high risk. I just don't feel it's going to be possible or safe :(
I also, selfishly, really miss not having a proper holiday.
Yeah I am really worried. :( Not only my parents are a couple of years from/past 70, my grandma who is practically the same household, is closing in on 99. How will I be able to justify going through two airports to visit them? Not to mention my in-laws who are in a third country, and either we'd visit both families further increasing risk on everyone, or my wife and I fly to our respective families only and risk being separated for weeks or even months if the winter makes more draconian measures necessary.
It is just a mess. Hence my frustration with people who just could not stop partying for a few more months. Screw them all.
My family has now moved to a plan for a digital Christmas. We've another conference call tomorrow to talk over some of the different activities we plan to do remotely (gingerbread house competition, hosting photos of Christmas decorations/food prep, digital advent calendar, etc...).
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 06:18:01 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:50:54 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 04:44:42 AMI've only met up with friends twice since this all began.
That sounds a bit crazy to me. Aren't you getting some kind of cabin fever?
It has been quite tedious. However, for a while, many things I liked to do outside the home (travel, restaurants, bars, museums, theatres, cinemas) were closed. And while they have now re-opened, I mostly tend to think is this activity something I'm willing to take a chance getting sick doing taking into account my African-American heritage and hypertension. And thus far, no activity has seemed appealing enough to want to risk it.
Pretty much our case as well. Do I want to go out travel/cinema/restaurant? Absolutely. Do I want to do these when there is a non-negligible risk that I end up with a sever case of flu for a few weeks? No. I am not THAT eager for these activities.
The lockdown helped me make the decision to transition from a balding man to a bald man. Some may say though that the transition happened a lot earlier than that.
I have a great head of hair.
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 03:26:15 AM
One of the first things I did when lockout restrictions started to get lifted back in spring here was getting a haircut and a proper beard trim, and since then I haven't had any problem in getting one every couple of months or so. How come do you guys take so long to get it cut?
I am growing it out.
My son had 4 haircut in the same time period.
Quote from: DGuller on September 29, 2020, 07:21:40 AM
The lockdown helped me make the decision to transition from a balding man to a bald man. Some may say though that the transition happened a lot earlier than that.
Not there yet, but I did try the buzz look as a preview.
After that I've trimmed it every couple months (one cm at the top going shorter as you go down). It's kind of tricky without help, but it seems to be working out.
With the help of Youtube, I taught myself to cut my own hair 3-4 years ago. Admittedly, my employer-mandated haircut rules make it pretty easy...but I don't wimp out and go with the easy buzzcut either.
It's a bit nerve-wracking the first time...you gotta be ready to commit to a full reset (i.e. that buzzcut) and start over...but then it gets easier and easier.
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:25:53 AM
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 04:22:25 AM
These are the ones. We used to meet weekly to play live. Now, we still play remotely via Tabletopia, but it's just more people on screens.
Paranoid much? I mean, we've been having our gaming sessions back in schedule since june or so already.
My gaming group still doesn't meet in person, and we've had far fewer cases than you guys. Online works, and why potentially expose ourselves/others needlessly? Yeah, we prefer to meet in person, but there will be time enough for that later.
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 06:18:01 AM
Quote from: The Larch on September 29, 2020, 04:50:54 AM
Quote from: garbon on September 29, 2020, 04:44:42 AMI've only met up with friends twice since this all began.
That sounds a bit crazy to me. Aren't you getting some kind of cabin fever?
It has been quite tedious. However, for a while, many things I liked to do outside the home (travel, restaurants, bars, museums, theatres, cinemas) were closed. And while they have now re-opened, I mostly tend to think is this activity something I'm willing to take a chance getting sick doing taking into account my African-American heritage and hypertension. And thus far, no activity has seemed appealing enough to want to risk it.
Same. Other than to go grocery shopping or walking the dog, I rarely leave the apartment. I did go to dinner with a friend earlier this week. It's my third time in a restaurant since March, I think.
Taking the risk to fly to Illinois this summer felt so wrong that I'm still trying to pay it forward by exposing myself - and therefore others - as little as I can.
5.5 millions out of the ~8 millions Quebec resident are in social lockdown. No visiting friends & family inside or outside, no restaurant, movies or anything art related.
Government is trying to get the cops to give more tickets (1500$) than warnings.
Good news! Alberta is not cancelling Halloween! Instead they've come out with a whole bunch of suggestions for how to do it safely.
https://www.alberta.ca/halloween-during-covid19.aspx
Quote from: Barrister on October 02, 2020, 12:45:30 PM
Good news! Alberta is not cancelling Halloween! Instead they've come out with a whole bunch of suggestions for how to do it safely.
https://www.alberta.ca/halloween-during-covid19.aspx
I have to ask, BB. Is this really good news? Like, are you planning to take your boys around?
Quote from: merithyn on October 02, 2020, 12:53:20 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 02, 2020, 12:45:30 PM
Good news! Alberta is not cancelling Halloween! Instead they've come out with a whole bunch of suggestions for how to do it safely.
https://www.alberta.ca/halloween-during-covid19.aspx
I have to ask, BB. Is this really good news? Like, are you planning to take your boys around?
I imagine so, yes. Halloween is like the 2nd biggest day in the kid calendar.
The steps suggested make sense (stay within your cohort groups, hand out candy outside, give candy bags rather than bulk candy)
Dr Hinshaw, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, pointed out that because trick or treating happens outside it's safer than a lot of other holidays. Besides, she said, her own kids would never forgive her if she cancelled Halloween.
Quote from: Barrister on October 02, 2020, 01:03:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 02, 2020, 12:53:20 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 02, 2020, 12:45:30 PM
Good news! Alberta is not cancelling Halloween! Instead they've come out with a whole bunch of suggestions for how to do it safely.
https://www.alberta.ca/halloween-during-covid19.aspx
I have to ask, BB. Is this really good news? Like, are you planning to take your boys around?
I imagine so, yes. Halloween is like the 2nd biggest day in the kid calendar.
The steps suggested make sense (stay within your cohort groups, hand out candy outside, give candy bags rather than bulk candy)
Dr Hinshaw, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, pointed out that because trick or treating happens outside it's safer than a lot of other holidays. Besides, she said, her own kids would never forgive her if she cancelled Halloween.
Hopes and prayers that no one regrets this decision.
We are taking our kids around. Everybody is going to leave their candy in bowls six feet outside their homes.
Quote from: merithyn on October 02, 2020, 01:21:40 PM
Hopes and prayers that no one regrets this decision.
Sending them back to school, and sending them back to hockey, are probably much bigger risks because those are ongoing, and not just one day for an hour or two.
Edmonton's number are fairly stable, there have been zero cases in the kids neighbourhood school which has been open for one month now.
Mrs B and I aren't Covid-deniers. We wear masks, we wash our hands, we social distance. But a vaccine likely won't be available and distributed till next summer. We can't just be in lockdown till then. We'll accept some increased level of risk where appropriate.
We're on semi lockdown until the 28 of October. So far Halloween is happening. It's bigger than Christmas for my children, so we will be giving out candy and trick or treating.
Sounds like you don't spend enough on presents. :lol:
I recommend you pass this around to your neighbors, and build one yourselves. :)
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/09/16/trick-or-treat-candy-chute-coronavirus/
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 03:37:31 AM
Ah fuck. Booked it for tomorrow.
How did your haircut go, btw? I just got another this morning. :P
Quote from: The Larch on October 05, 2020, 07:27:36 AM
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 03:37:31 AM
Ah fuck. Booked it for tomorrow.
How did your haircut go, btw? I just got another this morning. :P
I had the kind of haircut so I don't need to have another until another six months. :P
Quote from: celedhring on October 05, 2020, 07:51:36 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 05, 2020, 07:27:36 AM
Quote from: celedhring on September 29, 2020, 03:37:31 AM
Ah fuck. Booked it for tomorrow.
How did your haircut go, btw? I just got another this morning. :P
I had the kind of haircut so I don't need to have another until another six months. :P
So, shaven head? :lol:
No, but the shortest hair I have sported since I was a rebellious teenager. :P
Quote from: celedhring on October 05, 2020, 08:44:02 AM
No, but the shortest hair I have sported since I was a rebellious teenager. :P
No flowing locks anymore?
City of Edmonton adds 276 new cases in the last 24 hours, pushing our total to 1,250 active cases - our highest number ever (total population of almost one million).
Cripes. Government really, really doesn't want to shut down the economy again, but it does feel like they're going to need to take more drastic steps then what they've been doing.
So who are we going to get through the next 5 or so months of Autumn/Winter and the likely coming 'lockdowns' or the virus becoming widespread?
Same way we got through the last seven.
I went to the Clemson Miami game...attendence was 18,885. People were spaced out fairly well.
Obviously I was repping the U, but my girlfriend is a lifelong Clemson fan. I kind of thought we might get on TV because the sad boyfriend in a rainstorm with the celebrating girlfriend seems like something a cameraman might like, and obviously there were less fans than normal, but we escaped.
Masks were mandatory, but my girlfriend was the only person I saw that consistently wore it correctly the whole game (I'm sure there were many others but I was more watching the game). I wore mine after the first 5 minutes, because she made me. I normally wear a mask, but I was the only Miami fan in the area and didn't want the Clemson fans to think U nation was scared of the 'Rona. My girlfriend did not accept this as a valid reason to not wear a mask.
Mask wearing was super weird. Most people wore them some, and not other times, but a decent number just never wore them except when security walked by. The rule seemed to be that you got 2 visits from security asking you to wear your mask, then the police would ask you to wear a mask, but we didn't see anyone asked to leave the stadium. Security and the police were satisfied if you put the mask on your chin, which was the common solution and of course useless. I couldn't figure out how they chose the people to ask to wear masks--there was widespread noncompliance. We think they targeted people on the ends of rows (easy for security to access) and those that didn't reach for a mask when security walked by.
I will remind all visitors not to feed the troll please!
Trolling or not, that's how a lot of people are behaving.
Which helps explain why we are facing rising cases again...
Yeah I mean it seems all over the place in England, at one hight street mask usage was pretty widespread even outside.
I drove through a small town high street yesterday, people were all packed up on the tight sidewalks with seemingly nobody giving second thought to socially distance. And I know Sheilbh will come and say the virus is afraid to leave when there is open air :p but still.
Based on what I hear read and see it appears perfectly reasonable that cases are rising quickly. Why would they not?
Quote from: Zoupa on October 12, 2020, 12:42:42 AM
I will remind all visitors not to feed the troll please!
Cool if you think everyone not posting about how they are staying home is trolling, but it is easily verifiable that Clemson and Miami played and attendance is what I said it was. If you think that I made up the part about mask use, I googled "mask use among fans at college football games" and this was the first story that came up (an AP story centering on last weekend's Georgia-Auburn game, probably 100 miles from the game I was at):
https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-college-football-football-georgia-archive-f60bfef27ffb2709bb5eb15255207b77
Quotehardly anyone was wearing a mask while watching a 27-6 victory over Auburn in the first top 10 matchup of the season.
And the pictures in the article and linked in the article seem to corroborate that. A difference is that in that game masks weren't mandatory.
Quote from: Tamas on October 12, 2020, 03:47:44 AM
Yeah I mean it seems all over the place in England, at one hight street mask usage was pretty widespread even outside.
I drove through a small town high street yesterday, people were all packed up on the tight sidewalks with seemingly nobody giving second thought to socially distance. And I know Sheilbh will come and say the virus is afraid to leave when there is open air :p but still.
:lol: We've not had as strict mas wearing as other places. But looking at the second wave in Europe (the US looks to be entering its third wave now) it doesn't seem to make a wild difference.
QuoteBased on what I hear read and see it appears perfectly reasonable that cases are rising quickly. Why would they not?
Interesting comment fro Deputy Chief Medical Officer - which reflects what Andy Burnham etc was saying. Basically lockdown was lifted at a time when cases were very low in London and the South, but still higher and probably not low enough in the North. As I say, leaders like Andy Burnham were pointing this out at the time <_<
Yes but despite us starting lockdown weeks/a month later we just HAD to ease at the same time as the rest of Europe because of avoiding Boris looking bad that week.
Quote from: Tamas on October 12, 2020, 07:22:06 AM
Yes but despite us starting lockdown weeks/a month later we just HAD to ease at the same time as the rest of Europe because of avoiding Boris looking bad that week.
We were in lockdown for longer than most of Europe, by some distance. It was right to ease lockdown in London and the South but wrong to do it in the North. But we are not capable (still) of doing things on an organised regional way in England.
Were we though? There was a bloody street party here on VE day.
Quote from: Tamas on October 12, 2020, 07:25:28 AM
Were we though? There was a bloody street party here on VE day.
Which we all predicted might cause an uptick in cases and it didn't - same with the various beaches getting crowded (after lockdown). Now I might use this moment to repeat my point about outdoor spaces being so much safer :P But I won't.
On the other hand I think it's insane that we can now have events at the Albert Hall at 60% capactiy but all the trials and re-opening of stadiums up to 25% capacity have been cancelled :blink:
Quote from: Sheilbh on October 12, 2020, 07:06:31 AM
But looking at the second wave in Europe (the US looks to be entering its third wave now) it doesn't seem to make a wild difference.
Are we, though? I mean, there might have been a dip in July in cases, but in truth, we've pretty much stayed in the same badly handled situation that we've been in for months. See: AR's post.
Quote from: merithyn on October 12, 2020, 12:26:33 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on October 12, 2020, 07:06:31 AM
But looking at the second wave in Europe (the US looks to be entering its third wave now) it doesn't seem to make a wild difference.
Are we, though? I mean, there might have been a dip in July in cases, but in truth, we've pretty much stayed in the same badly handled situation that we've been in for months. See: AR's post.
I get that and I don't mean anything about how the US has handled it. But it feels like the US is in a cycle of cases rise, people change their behaviour in response to cases rising, cases start to fall, people change their behaviour because they feel more comfortable. This is the point that I don't think the anti-lockdown people get - part of it is definitely about government measures, but part of it will be people changing based on how safe or not they feel. That seems especially the case in the US.
If you look at the numbers in the NYT it does look like there's a tick-up at the minute and possibly entering a third wave:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
My point is that I don't think it's a "third wave" so much as a continuation of the same. To have a wave, we must have had a drop off, which I don't think has happened.
Quote from: Sheilbh on October 12, 2020, 12:37:22 PM
I get that and I don't mean anything about how the US has handled it. But it feels like the US is in a cycle of cases rise, people change their behaviour in response to cases rising, cases start to fall, people change their behaviour because they feel more comfortable. This is the point that I don't think the anti-lockdown people get - part of it is definitely about government measures, but part of it will be people changing based on how safe or not they feel. That seems especially the case in the US.
I definitely get that. I don't see why that is bad either--it is a reason government action may be unnecessary.
QuoteIf you look at the numbers in the NYT it does look like there's a tick-up at the minute and possibly entering a third wave:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
The US is a massive area--state by state it doesn't look like very many areas are going through or entering a third wave. It seems more like those that haven't gone through a second wave are entering their second.
In Georgia there have been about 7k deaths so if you figure 1 person is dying for 200 infected we probably have about 1.5 million cases--or 15% of the population. That isn't enough to explain why cases aren't going up now that schools have started and life seems to be returning to normal.
On Friday we went to a 270 person wedding--it was outside for Covid reasons. It was on a Friday because there is apparently a crush of people getting married now because of all the covid postponements earlier in the year so Saturday and Sunday weddings are difficult to schedule.
I can't help but think of this article from March criticizing the lax approach in the South: the punchline being if we don't get our act together we will lose the college football season.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/if-the-south-cant-straighten-out-its-coronavirus-response-there-wont-be-a-college-football-season.html
I'm sure that slate.com would opine that the south did not get its act together. And some games have been canceled, and stadiums have "social distanced" seating -- signficantly less than capacity. But the south is playing college football right now while other regions (such as the west coast and midwest) are not--and in Georgia without a mask requirement. What slate.com didn't consider is an option of "just roll with the coronavirus" and resume something more like a normal life.
Through all this it is worth pointing out that your NYT charts have Georgia categorized as "low and staying low" in its covid status so the results don't seem so bad.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 12, 2020, 01:43:30 PM
I definitely get that. I don't see why that is bad either--it is a reason government action may be unnecessary.
Maybe. I think it probably helps if there's clear, easy to understand government guidance on what is and isn't risky so people can make informed judgements, and businesses can make their premises safer. There may be a need for more government intervention, but I think the priority should be
QuoteThe US is a massive area--state by state it doesn't look like very many areas are going through or entering a third wave. It seems more like those that haven't gone through a second wave are entering their second.
Agreed - but we've been talking about a second wave in Europe that may be more clear here because there was a more significant case drop in Europe over the summer. So you could be right that this isn't quite a third wave and is just a second wave continuing (arguably you could make the same argument that the second wave was really just the virus hitting areas that weren't initially hit). Though I'm not sure what it adds whether it's all one big wave, a delayed second wave or a third wave. The point is cases fell for a bit, bottomed out so people feel safe and take riskier options, and then cases have started climbing again.
QuoteIn Georgia there have been about 7k deaths so if you figure 1 person is dying for 200 infected we probably have about 1.5 million cases--or 15% of the population. That isn't enough to explain why cases aren't going up now that schools have started and life seems to be returning to normal.
On Friday we went to a 270 person wedding--it was outside for Covid reasons. It was on a Friday because there is apparently a crush of people getting married now because of all the covid postponements earlier in the year so Saturday and Sunday weddings are difficult to schedule.
I can't help but think of this article from March criticizing the lax approach in the South: the punchline being if we don't get our act together we will lose the college football season.
Yeah I don't think schools or outdoor events are that unsafe. I find it insane that we are having events in the Royal Albert Hall with almost 60% capacity but can't even have people at socially distanced sporting events (where safe) with a maximum capacity of 25%, which was the government's plan until this second wave. Similarly I don't get the American obsession with masks (especially outdoors). We have numerous examples in the UK of things that were getting a lot of panic as super-spreader events like crowded beaches or VE parties that didn't lead to a second wave.
The big drivers based on track and trace data are hospitality (especially now the weather's turned and everyone's indoors) - in the UK the approach is staff wear masks and you wear a mask if you're not at your table - the workplace and universities. It feels like we probably need to focus on that.
One of the dudes at the game was arguing with security about putting on a mask: "if masks really do much then why can't we bring in 80,000 fans?"
Turns out the Florida Gators coach wants to bring in 90,000 for their next game, and the governor won't stop it--but the school administration is.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30101539/florida-gators-coach-dan-mullen-stands-desire-see-90000-fans-saturday-game
It's amazing how the nirvana fallacy manages to infect people's internal thinking.
One of the new measures going into effect tomorrow has been leaked. All bars, cafes and restaurants to close for at least two weeks. Here we go again.
"If airbags work so well why do we need seatbelts?
If seatbelts and airbags are so awesome why do we need brakes?"
Quote from: Zoupa on October 12, 2020, 06:11:36 PM
"If airbags work so well why do we need seatbelts?
If seatbelts and airbags are so awesome why do we need brakes?"
"Since over a million are killed on roadways every year, we should shut them down."
Quote from: alfred russel on October 13, 2020, 10:19:38 AM
Quote from: Zoupa on October 12, 2020, 06:11:36 PM
"If airbags work so well why do we need seatbelts?
If seatbelts and airbags are so awesome why do we need brakes?"
"Since over a million are killed on roadways every year, we should shut them down."
But if we could make them permanently safer by shutting them down temporarily? :hmm:
Quote from: Valmy on October 13, 2020, 10:37:49 AM
But if we could make them permanently safer by shutting them down temporarily? :hmm:
If you did a vigorous cost/benefit analysis, inclusive of all the negatives created (such as economic impacts, the lost recreation opportunities of the general public, lost educational opportunities of children unable to get to school, health impacts -- mental and physical, as well as those unable to get to the hospital to receive care, cultural damage from people unable to gather and institutions unable to support themselves), and the benefits exceeded the costs, I'd be open to it.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 13, 2020, 10:56:16 AM
and the benefits exceeded the costs, I'd be open to it.
but you don't know either because you are operating in the unknown.
One option is extremely risky and delivers a certain result: hospitals are overwhelmed.
The other option is less risky, delivers an uncertain result but let hospitals cope with it.
You disagree with the 2nd but agree to the 1st in the absence of evidence. Yet, you are asking for absolute evidence for the 2nd.
Quote from: viper37 on October 13, 2020, 03:18:02 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 13, 2020, 10:56:16 AM
and the benefits exceeded the costs, I'd be open to it.
but you don't know either because you are operating in the unknown.
One option is extremely risky and delivers a certain result: hospitals are overwhelmed.
The other option is less risky, delivers an uncertain result but let hospitals cope with it.
You disagree with the 2nd but agree to the 1st in the absence of evidence. Yet, you are asking for absolute evidence for the 2nd.
I think the burden of proof should be on the side of the argument wanting to legally confine people to their homes.
In either case you can use best estimates.
I don't think it is at all clear that a shutdown was needed to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed in most communities. Certain very urban locations with major outbreaks in the early days before much public awareness -- north italy and NYC - arguably had hospitals get overwhelmed. Areas like Stockholm never shutdown so severely and were never overwhelmed, and I think almost everywhere has reopened without hospitals getting overwhelmed.
So my boiler's broken down and I have no hot water or heating. This has happened a few times with this flat <_<
What's particularly annoying is that apparently all the home-owners (and none of the landlords <_<) have used their reduced costs from lockdown on getting new bathrooms fitted. So it is impossible to get any of the normal plumbers to do a half hour visit to me because it's just not worth their time.
I've managed to get someone who can do it in about a week - so here's hoping we have unseasonably warm weather :cry:
Quote from: alfred russel on October 13, 2020, 03:48:47 PM
I think the burden of proof should be on the side of the argument wanting to legally confine people to their homes.
There no proofs, only evidence based on statistical analysis, which happen to be only valid for the date you submit to your model. As it turns out, we had flawed and inconsistant data the first time. But we did not know that. That explains why elementary and high schools remain open now, unlike what happenned this spring. Besides, when the govt wanted to re-open schools in some places this spring, the medias and the population were dead set against it. Not easy to do this.
Quote
In either case you can use best estimates.
Which is what most governments did. Except for the US of course, which did nothing, and has the worst results of all occidental countries.
Quote
I don't think it is at all clear that a shutdown was needed to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed in most communities.
We knew what happenned elsewhere with no confinement. We also knew what happenned when they were confined: slightly less worst results.
It ain't perfect, but it was the least worst option on the table.
Quote
Certain very urban locations with major outbreaks in the early days before much public awareness -- north italy and NYC - arguably had hospitals get overwhelmed. Areas like Stockholm never shutdown so severely and were never overwhelmed, and I think almost everywhere has reopened without hospitals getting overwhelmed.
Stockholm did not need to shutdown because people stayed at home by themselves, and practice distanciation by themselves without the need for cohersive orders by their government. And yet, they had 2x the number of deaths than their neighbours.
If you want to compare the US, you should compare with a country who has a dysfunctional health care system like yours, a country like Canada. Sweden should be compared to other scandinavian countries, France should be compared to Italy, Spain, Germany and Austria. They fared better than Italy and France, worst than Germany and Austria. Apparently, the German healthcare system is highly decentralized and that allowed local health authorities to react quickly to what was going on in the field, rather than wait on a bloated bureaucracy to decide after multiple studies what it should do.
Quebec and France both are fans of an highly inefficient and bloated bureacracy and we both struggle through this crisis.
As to the US, I hardly think it can be qualified as a success. Confinement early on would have prevented the spread of the disease, and contact tracing is essential to isolate the sick individuals when there's a superspreading event. You lacked and still lack in both.
To avoid mandatory confinement, you'd need a population willing to obey directives by public health authorities like in Sweden and a population willing to isolate on its own to avoid spreading the disease. And even then, if you can't protect your vulnerable population, you suffer multiple casualties.
We all went into this like the Titanic speeding through a sea of icebergs but some of us decided to at least slow down a little, and we avoided the fatalaties you are experiencing. I think it's evidence enough.
Quote from: viper37 on October 13, 2020, 08:33:09 PM
There no proofs, only evidence based on statistical analysis, which happen to be only valid for the date you submit to your model. As it turns out, we had flawed and inconsistant data the first time. But we did not know that. That explains why elementary and high schools remain open now, unlike what happenned this spring. Besides, when the govt wanted to re-open schools in some places this spring, the medias and the population were dead set against it. Not easy to do this.
Bullshit.
There were extensive studies in mid March that showed the estimated fatality ratio is trivial for thus under 20 (less than 0.006%) and didn't get over 0.1% until reaching 40. The overall fatality rate in actual literature was known to be under 1%. The second waves was also anticipated if a lockdown approach was taken.
This was actually linked to on this website but you dumbasses were in full panic mode and assuming there was a 4% or greater fatality rate because our media outlets have gone full Tim on us.
Yeah, the fatality rate panic did get a bit ridiculous.
Are there any economic costs associated with catching the disease, or is everyone either dead or perfectly fine?
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 14, 2020, 10:26:33 AM
Are there any economic costs associated with catching the disease
Of course there are.
Quote from: derspiess on October 14, 2020, 09:08:20 AM
Yeah, the fatality rate panic did get a bit ridiculous.
I mean... look at Brazil. They did nothing, and their death rate is 7.5%. I'm glad the fatality rate panic got ridiculous. It probably saved lives.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on October 14, 2020, 10:26:33 AM
Are there any economic costs associated with catching the disease, or is everyone either dead or perfectly fine?
I believe most patients who were on a ventilator and survived have some level of permanent damage, usually around the heart.
Quote from: derspiess on October 14, 2020, 09:08:20 AM
Yeah, the fatality rate panic did get a bit ridiculous.
Yeah I mean I think it's always been estimate to be around 0.75%-1% infection fatality rate. There was a lot of talk about case fatality rate which seems to me a really useful metric unless everywhere is testing at a similar level - then it could tell you differences about treatment or healthcare or whatever. So I understand the CFR varied a lot between different hospitals here and that's probably super-relevant and iinteresting. But outside of that sort of context it's a useless stat.
Edit: Although thinking about it I'm not sure how IFR works either because presumably that's just on a sort of average age profile, but actually it may be higher in, say, Italy (who had a bad outbreak) or Japan (who didn't) because the population is higher. Similarly the IFR is likely to be lower in sub-Saharan Africa because they have a younger population - I've got a friend who works in South Sudan and the Ministry of Health is doing relatively well and there are lots of risk factors like multi-generation households, cramped conditions in refugee camps etc. But because they have far fewer people in the most at risk age group (70-75+) they are seeing far fewer bad cases or deaths. Which is good because I understand nationwide they have 20 ventilators :ph34r:
I had dinner with my son and his fiancé last night. She was telling me this story about her uncle's family.
Last month, he, his wife, their two children, and his mother-in-law all decided to go on vacation to Los Angeles. (They live in Colorado Springs.) They flew there, had a "lovely" vacation, and then headed to the airport to fly home. At the airport, however, when he showed the desk his ID, the counter clerk typed in his name, and immediately went white in the face and hit some button on the counter. He asked why they were there, at the airport, and backed away slowly. Jeff, Jordyn's uncle, was perplexed, and than panicked when they were surrounded by a crowd of people in hazmat suits.
Jeff and his family (including their now terrified 5 and 7 year old children) were ushered to a quarantine room in the basement of the airport and left there. That's when Jeff's mother-in-law said, "I didn't think they meant it." He looked at her and asked what she meant.
Apparently, the day before they were meant to fly out of Colorado Springs, she found out that she'd tested positive for COVID through her regular testing at work. She told no one. While on vacation in LA, the CDC contacted her and asked why she'd left the state with a positive test. They informed her that they were halting all flights for her and her family, and they were to remain in place for 14 days. She completely disregarded this directive, continued on with the vacation, and didn't bother to tell her daughter or Jeff what had happened.
When they were finally released at the airport, they were told that the family was banned from flying for two years per the federal restrictions list, and that they were to remain in quarantine for 14 days. Jeff rented a car (entirely online and without seeing or speaking to anyone), drove the family home (letting the rental agency know that they were COVID-positive when he dropped the car off), and ushered the family into the home to quarantine for two weeks. He told his mother-in-law in no uncertain terms that she was not to go home, as her husband was severely immuno-compromised. She argued, he refused to relent, and even when his wife tried to argue, put his foot down, taking her keys.
The next morning, his mother-in-law was gone, his wife having given her the car keys. Two days later, when Jeff was asleep, his wife went out and taught a Yoga class to 10 students with their 7-year-old daughter, prior to receiving their own COVID results.
Jordyn said that he's right now considering divorce because of how stupid his wife is being/has been about this whole thing.
I don't know that I blame the man. :blink:
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 10:47:26 AM
Quote from: derspiess on October 14, 2020, 09:08:20 AM
Yeah, the fatality rate panic did get a bit ridiculous.
I mean... look at Brazil. They did nothing, and their death rate is 7.5%. I'm glad the fatality rate panic got ridiculous. It probably saved lives.
What are you talking about?
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/coronavirus/
According to the data here, 0.072% of Brazilians have died, and the deaths per cases detected is .0295 - not 7.5%. They have also only conducted about 1/7th of the tests the US has despite having about 60% of the population--so they are probably missing more cases than we are and we are missing a bunch.
I don't see any reason to assume they have a fatality rate for those infected much different than we do, and the deaths as a percent of the population is almost identical to ours.
If doing nothing like Brazil results in no discernable advantage, why should we bother?
I read the data incorrectly. Brazil is at 3% per Johns Hopkins.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality
Mexico, however, is at 10%, Italy is at 9.9%, Ecuador is at 8.3%, and the UK is at 6.5%.
Yes, let's do nothing because AR doesn't see the value in doing anything.
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 11:28:12 AM
I read the data incorrectly. Brazil is at 3% per Johns Hopkins.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality
Mexico, however, is at 10%, Italy is at 9.9%, Ecuador is at 8.3%, and the UK is at 6.5%.
Yes, let's do nothing because AR doesn't see the value in doing anything.
Meri, those numbers are dependent on how many people you detect with covid. Large numbers of positive cases are not identified.
Deaths as a percent of the population in the countries you just identified:
USA: 0.067%
Brazil: 0.072%
UK: 0.065%
Mexico: 0.067%
Italy: 0.060%
Ecuador: 0.071%
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 10:59:40 AM
I had dinner with my son and his fiancé last night. She was telling me this story about her uncle's family.
Last month, he, his wife, their two children, and his mother-in-law all decided to go on vacation to Los Angeles. (They live in Colorado Springs.) They flew there, had a "lovely" vacation, and then headed to the airport to fly home. At the airport, however, when he showed the desk his ID, the counter clerk typed in his name, and immediately went white in the face and hit some button on the counter. He asked why they were there, at the airport, and backed away slowly. Jeff, Jordyn's uncle, was perplexed, and than panicked when they were surrounded by a crowd of people in hazmat suits.
Jeff and his family (including their now terrified 5 and 7 year old children) were ushered to a quarantine room in the basement of the airport and left there. That's when Jeff's mother-in-law said, "I didn't think they meant it." He looked at her and asked what she meant.
Apparently, the day before they were meant to fly out of Colorado Springs, she found out that she'd tested positive for COVID through her regular testing at work. She told no one. While on vacation in LA, the CDC contacted her and asked why she'd left the state with a positive test. They informed her that they were halting all flights for her and her family, and they were to remain in place for 14 days. She completely disregarded this directive, continued on with the vacation, and didn't bother to tell her daughter or Jeff what had happened.
When they were finally released at the airport, they were told that the family was banned from flying for two years per the federal restrictions list, and that they were to remain in quarantine for 14 days. Jeff rented a car (entirely online and without seeing or speaking to anyone), drove the family home (letting the rental agency know that they were COVID-positive when he dropped the car off), and ushered the family into the home to quarantine for two weeks. He told his mother-in-law in no uncertain terms that she was not to go home, as her husband was severely immuno-compromised. She argued, he refused to relent, and even when his wife tried to argue, put his foot down, taking her keys.
The next morning, his mother-in-law was gone, his wife having given her the car keys. Two days later, when Jeff was asleep, his wife went out and taught a Yoga class to 10 students with their 7-year-old daughter, prior to receiving their own COVID results.
Jordyn said that he's right now considering divorce because of how stupid his wife is being/has been about this whole thing.
I don't know that I blame the man. :blink:
OMGWTF :bleeding:
When I saw "Colorado Springs", I could already guess where that was going. This is what happens when you don't have moral leadership at the top. Lots of people are marginally stupid, which means that with the right leadership they'll act in a non-stupid way, and with an enabling leadership they'll let their stupidity out in full force. Putin couldn't have invented a better Manchurian candidate if he tried.
Jesus Christ :bleeding:
I really wonder what kind of explanation they gave to act as they did...
Quote from: The Larch on October 14, 2020, 11:52:02 AM
I really wonder what kind of explanation they gave to act as they did...
They being his mother-in-law and wife?
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Quote from: The Larch on October 14, 2020, 11:52:02 AM
I really wonder what kind of explanation they gave to act as they did...
They being his mother-in-law and wife?
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Yeah, I meant the two culprits. Oh dear...
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Fuck you Meri.
I've made very clear that I understand covid-19 is worse than the flu. I've specifically mentioned this to you multiple times when you have brought up the lie that I think this is equivalent to the flu, so I know that you are aware of it.
I know it is a tactic that when you can't hold your own in a discussion on the merits, a strategy is to just lie about what the other guy is saying, but it is pretty fucking disgusting.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2020, 12:51:54 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Fuck you Meri.
I've made very clear that I understand covid-19 is worse than the flu. I've specifically mentioned this to you multiple times when you have brought up the lie that I think this is equivalent to the flu, so I know that you are aware of it.
I know it is a tactic that when you can't hold your own in a discussion on the merits, a strategy is to just lie about what the other guy is saying, but it is pretty fucking disgusting.
Well to be fair your position might not be "it's just a flu", but "muh freedoms, ppl die all the time, who the fuck cares about the old lulz".
So, you know, not much better. So fuck you too.
Curfew between 21 hours and 6 hours for the next 4 weeks, starting next Saturday, for Paris and 8 other cities.
Private meetings should not gather more than 6 people. I guess I can still organise or go to a small movie night as long as it is an all-nighter. :hmm:
I think the way AR looks at the effects of the measures and statistics of the pandemic is legitimate and necessary. A lot of the measures seem completely nonsensical here (and probably elsewhere), whereas some really bad side effects for health, economy, education or interpersonal relations seem to be ignored.
The political consequences you derive of these analysis depend not just on the statistics though, but also on your personal values. I tend towards the majority opinion, but I can see where AR is coming from as I get more critical about the measures here as well as they seem to be more for show and reduce compliance as people don't buy in.
Numbers in Alberta have hit our spring peak again, but government seems determined not to do any more to close down the economy. I hope that's the right call...
Quote from: Zanza on October 14, 2020, 01:54:38 PM
I think the way AR looks at the effects of the measures and statistics of the pandemic is legitimate and necessary. A lot of the measures seem completely nonsensical here (and probably elsewhere), whereas some really bad side effects for health, economy, education or interpersonal relations seem to be ignored.
The political consequences you derive of these analysis depend not just on the statistics though, but also on your personal values. I tend towards the majority opinion, but I can see where AR is coming from as I get more critical about the measures here as well as they seem to be more for show and reduce compliance as people don't buy in.
I agree with all of this - and I do look at Sweden a lot because their clear rules are still the same and still in place and still getting broad compliance. Also, and I know AR accepts this, I think the main driver is voluntary lockdowns - people adjusting their behaviour based on what feels safe. There's been recent polls in the UK with something like 70% of people not comfortable going to a pub, similar figures for cinemas etc. Until that shifts the legal lockdown is sort of a secondary driver in my opinion.
In general I support lockdown measures and part of this is moral for me because I don't think the risk is distributed equally and I don't think we can treat the elderly as if their lives are worth less so let's just carry on. There's a sort of human principle there for me about the worth of lives of people of all ages. But I don't think it's easy and I don't want schools shut again whatever happens.
Related to that the one public health message that annoyed me was the one from Dr Birx for a while about the risk to young people because I think there's been really strong evidence from very early that this disease doesn't affect young people anywhere near as severely and children are far, far less at risk (unlike flu). Though obviously there will be really awful individual cases it just felt like the wrong message from a public health figure and slightly misleading.
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Quote from: The Larch on October 14, 2020, 11:52:02 AM
I really wonder what kind of explanation they gave to act as they did...
They being his mother-in-law and wife?
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
So she would go teach a class with the flu? That seems like a shitty thing to do.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2020, 12:51:54 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Fuck you Meri.
I've made very clear that I understand covid-19 is worse than the flu. I've specifically mentioned this to you multiple times when you have brought up the lie that I think this is equivalent to the flu, so I know that you are aware of it.
I know it is a tactic that when you can't hold your own in a discussion on the merits, a strategy is to just lie about what the other guy is saying, but it is pretty fucking disgusting.
I didn't say "exactly the same as AR". I said "similar to AR". Which is to say, you and they believe that your freedoms and rights are more important than some disease. Your desire to do what you want trumps what's objectively safer for everyone, regardless of what laws are in place.
You've openly stated multiple times that the value of a shut down and the lives saved aren't worth the cost to economics and mental health. You've openly stated that you think governmental shut downs - and the rules surrounding those - are stupid and invaluable.
Whether you state the same thing as these women or not, you are acting - at least on this forum - like them. I'm sorry if that offends your delicate sensibilities.
And you know, fuck you, too. :) You've acted like a spoiled child for six months on here, and it's gotten old. Whatever you believe, what you're presenting to Languish is that you know better than health experts and government officials, and your wants are more important than saving the lives of the medically fragile. You should be allowed to go about your business unhindered.
Much like Jeff's mother-in-law.
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2020, 02:28:42 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Quote from: The Larch on October 14, 2020, 11:52:02 AM
I really wonder what kind of explanation they gave to act as they did...
They being his mother-in-law and wife?
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
So she would go teach a class with the flu? That seems like a shitty thing to do.
She'd had no symptoms. The flu, without symptoms, isn't really the flu, is it?
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 02:57:49 PM
She'd had no symptoms. The flu, without symptoms, isn't really the flu, is it?
Yeah...hence why COVID is not like the flu :P
But if it was like the flu, and you knew you could spread the flu around, you wouldn't right? You would be an asshole to do so. So saying it is just like the flu is not much of a defense :lol:
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 02:53:39 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2020, 12:51:54 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Fuck you Meri.
I've made very clear that I understand covid-19 is worse than the flu. I've specifically mentioned this to you multiple times when you have brought up the lie that I think this is equivalent to the flu, so I know that you are aware of it.
I know it is a tactic that when you can't hold your own in a discussion on the merits, a strategy is to just lie about what the other guy is saying, but it is pretty fucking disgusting.
I didn't say "exactly the same as AR". I said "similar to AR". Which is to say, you and they believe that your freedoms and rights are more important than some disease. Your desire to do what you want trumps what's objectively safer for everyone, regardless of what laws are in place.
You've openly stated multiple times that the value of a shut down and the lives saved aren't worth the cost to economics and mental health. You've openly stated that you think governmental shut downs - and the rules surrounding those - are stupid and invaluable.
Whether you state the same thing as these women or not, you are acting - at least on this forum - like them. I'm sorry if that offends your delicate sensibilities.
And you know, fuck you, too. :) You've acted like a spoiled child for six months on here, and it's gotten old. Whatever you believe, what you're presenting to Languish is that you know better than health experts and government officials, and your wants are more important than saving the lives of the medically fragile. You should be allowed to go about your business unhindered.
Much like Jeff's mother-in-law.
I think this posts misrepresents AR's position with even greater dishonesty than the prior post, not to belittle the incredible dishonesty of your prior post.
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:28:36 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 02:53:39 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2020, 12:51:54 PM
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 12:35:58 PM
Apparently, they think the whole thing is just like the flu, no big deal, and entirely blown out of proportion. Very similar to AR.
Fuck you Meri.
I've made very clear that I understand covid-19 is worse than the flu. I've specifically mentioned this to you multiple times when you have brought up the lie that I think this is equivalent to the flu, so I know that you are aware of it.
I know it is a tactic that when you can't hold your own in a discussion on the merits, a strategy is to just lie about what the other guy is saying, but it is pretty fucking disgusting.
I didn't say "exactly the same as AR". I said "similar to AR". Which is to say, you and they believe that your freedoms and rights are more important than some disease. Your desire to do what you want trumps what's objectively safer for everyone, regardless of what laws are in place.
You've openly stated multiple times that the value of a shut down and the lives saved aren't worth the cost to economics and mental health. You've openly stated that you think governmental shut downs - and the rules surrounding those - are stupid and invaluable.
Whether you state the same thing as these women or not, you are acting - at least on this forum - like them. I'm sorry if that offends your delicate sensibilities.
And you know, fuck you, too. :) You've acted like a spoiled child for six months on here, and it's gotten old. Whatever you believe, what you're presenting to Languish is that you know better than health experts and government officials, and your wants are more important than saving the lives of the medically fragile. You should be allowed to go about your business unhindered.
Much like Jeff's mother-in-law.
I think this posts misrepresents AR's position with even greater dishonesty than the prior post, not to belittle the incredible dishonesty of your prior post.
you need to switch back to your AR account.
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:28:36 PM
I think this posts misrepresents AR's position with even greater dishonesty than the prior post, not to belittle the incredible dishonesty of your prior post.
Interesting that you - and AR - assume that I'm being dishonest rather than actually listening to what I'm saying, which is this is how what he's saying looks. At least to me.
If you want to call that dishonest, feel free, but it's an honest interpretation of his posts from my perspective, as well as several others.
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 03:45:51 PM
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:28:36 PM
I think this posts misrepresents AR's position with even greater dishonesty than the prior post, not to belittle the incredible dishonesty of your prior post.
Interesting that you - and AR - assume that I'm being dishonest rather than actually listening to what I'm saying, which is this is how what he's saying looks. At least to me.
If you want to call that dishonest, feel free, but it's an honest interpretation of his posts from my perspective, as well as several others.
So I can claim anything I want about someone, as long as I preface it with "It looks to me like"?
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 14, 2020, 03:45:26 PM
you need to switch back to your AR account.
That actually is the most clever thing you came up with in recent memory. I'm not even being ironic.
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:49:48 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 14, 2020, 03:45:26 PM
you need to switch back to your AR account.
That actually is the most clever thing you came up with in recent memory. I'm not even being ironic.
Social media has dramatically shortened memory spans.
It looks to me like this argument is a waste of time and energy.
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:48:15 PM
So I can claim anything I want about someone, as long as I preface it with "It looks to me like"?
You know what I find very disheartening is the various claims of "dishonesty". Maybe it's because I'm a criminal lawyer but it's incredibly hard to prove that someone is being dishonest - you need proof that the person knows what they are saying is not true. And in particular amongst a group of people who have been virtually hanging out for over 15 years you'd think maybe we could assume a certain level of good faith by everyone here.
So year, why don't you try something lower key like "it looks to me like".
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 14, 2020, 03:53:47 PM
It looks to me like this argument is a waste of time and energy.
100% agree.
Quote from: Barrister on October 14, 2020, 04:01:10 PM
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:48:15 PM
So I can claim anything I want about someone, as long as I preface it with "It looks to me like"?
You know what I find very disheartening is the various claims of "dishonesty". Maybe it's because I'm a criminal lawyer but it's incredibly hard to prove that someone is being dishonest - you need proof that the person knows what they are saying is not true. And in particular amongst a group of people who have been virtually hanging out for over 15 years you'd think maybe we could assume a certain level of good faith by everyone here.
So year, why don't you try something lower key like "it looks to me like".
AR has been clear that he disagrees with the laws but still abides by them, and yet he's been equated with people who knowingly exposed others to Covid? Oh, sorry, it looks that way to them. That seems like good faith to you?
It looks to me like abusive behavior by people who can't hold their own in debates on merit. Maybe if you're on the receiving end of such "good faith" enough times, you'll be less disheartened by accusation of dishonesty than you will be by good posters doing nothing while abusive posters misrepresent their opponents' views to the point of libel.
Quote from: merithyn on October 14, 2020, 02:53:39 PM
I didn't say "exactly the same as AR". I said "similar to AR". Which is to say, you and they believe that your freedoms and rights are more important than some disease. Your desire to do what you want trumps what's objectively safer for everyone, regardless of what laws are in place.
You've openly stated multiple times that the value of a shut down and the lives saved aren't worth the cost to economics and mental health. You've openly stated that you think governmental shut downs - and the rules surrounding those - are stupid and invaluable.
Whether you state the same thing as these women or not, you are acting - at least on this forum - like them. I'm sorry if that offends your delicate sensibilities.
And you know, fuck you, too. :) You've acted like a spoiled child for six months on here, and it's gotten old. Whatever you believe, what you're presenting to Languish is that you know better than health experts and government officials, and your wants are more important than saving the lives of the medically fragile. You should be allowed to go about your business unhindered.
Much like Jeff's mother-in-law.
Highlighting the bolded section.
I assume you mean the health and government officials that you want us to listen to, and not the ones I want us to listen to.
Zoupa said I was trolling for posting about going to a football game last weekend (and presumably talking about wearing masks during it). In South Carolina, they are saying it is okay to attend but you need to wear a mask.
We are talking about going to a game in Georgia this weekend where it is okay to attend without a mask.
In Florida the state is cool without wearing a mask when you go to games, and they are also fine with selling out the stadiums (though no team has tried this yet).
In NY, Syracuse is limiting itself to like 25 fans.
In California, the main teams aren't even playing right now.
That is just college football. From the start Sweden has had their approach. There was also skepticism in some parts of the public health community about locking down.
The only thing worse than this pandemic itself is the endless Dorsey fighting about it in this thread. I hope both will be over at some point in the near future :P
Dorsey, as I have stated before, you may be right. And if you are I hope the scientists who advise politicians on these matters take that into consideration before our next pandemic...should that day ever come.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2020, 04:17:24 PM
In California, the main teams aren't even playing right now.
I wish Texas wasn't playing right now :weep: and actually I would like to include our team on the short list of things worse than the pandemic :P
But fortunately we will have PAC 12 after dark back in November.
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 04:15:18 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 14, 2020, 04:01:10 PM
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 03:48:15 PM
So I can claim anything I want about someone, as long as I preface it with "It looks to me like"?
You know what I find very disheartening is the various claims of "dishonesty". Maybe it's because I'm a criminal lawyer but it's incredibly hard to prove that someone is being dishonest - you need proof that the person knows what they are saying is not true. And in particular amongst a group of people who have been virtually hanging out for over 15 years you'd think maybe we could assume a certain level of good faith by everyone here.
So year, why don't you try something lower key like "it looks to me like".
AR has been clear that he disagrees with the laws but still abides by them, and yet he's been equated with people who knowingly exposed others to Covid? Oh, sorry, it looks that way to them. That seems like good faith to you?
It looks to me like abusive behavior by people who can't hold their own in debates on merit. Maybe if you're on the receiving end of such "good faith" enough times, you'll be less disheartened by accusation of dishonesty than you will be by good posters doing nothing while abusive posters misrepresent their opponents' views to the point of libel.
Dude I'm a criminal prosecutor.
I just had a case where a defence lawyer applied to get off the record "because of a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship" on the day this sex assault trial was to start. Judge very reluctantly granted that request and adjourned the trial. The Accused now spoke (since he no longer had a lawyer) and the first thing he said was "yeah, I couldn't afford to pay my lawyer" (hint - these are two completely different things).
So, I point out the very obvious discrepancy, but I don't accuse anyone of lying. That just never helps things. The judge can draw their own conclusions.
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2020, 04:22:14 PM
Dorsey, as I have stated before, you may be right. And if you are I hope the scientists who advise politicians on these matters take that into consideration before our next pandemic...should that day ever come.
They already have. I mean--6 months ago the atlantic is running an article titled "georgia's experiment with human sacrifice" and today restaurants and gyms are open across the country. No one is saying that Georgia was right and they were wrong of course. Everyone still screams about the irresponsibility the MAGA governors reopening, but everyone is quietly following their lead a bit later.
Quote from: Barrister on October 14, 2020, 04:25:01 PM
Dude I'm a criminal prosecutor.
I just had a case where a defence lawyer applied to get off the record "because of a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship" on the day this sex assault trial was to start. Judge very reluctantly granted that request and adjourned the trial. The Accused now spoke (since he no longer had a lawyer) and the first thing he said was "yeah, I couldn't afford to pay my lawyer" (hint - these are two completely different things).
So, I point out the very obvious discrepancy, but I don't accuse anyone of lying. That just never helps things. The judge can draw their own conclusions.
So how should one react in response to a severe misrepresentation against their person? Okay, maybe the other person is not dishonest, maybe they're just incredibly bad at comprehending things that go against their preconceived notions, the end result is the same.
Is there a level of misrepresentation that is worse than calling out said misrepresentation? And a separate question, is there a level of misrepresentation that should compel the people on the sidelines to really call it out, the same way that you're calling out the accusations of dishonesty from the sidelines?
Quote from: alfred russel on October 14, 2020, 04:31:45 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2020, 04:22:14 PM
Dorsey, as I have stated before, you may be right. And if you are I hope the scientists who advise politicians on these matters take that into consideration before our next pandemic...should that day ever come.
They already have. I mean--6 months ago the atlantic is running an article titled "georgia's experiment with human sacrifice" and today restaurants and gyms are open across the country. No one is saying that Georgia was right and they were wrong of course. Everyone still screams about the irresponsibility the MAGA governors reopening, but everyone is quietly following their lead a bit later.
Heh. See this is what I mean. You just cannot even be nice when I try to bury the hatchet with you. Very Hansian. It is so tiresome.
But still much less tiresome and more fun than watching Texas attempt to play football.
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 04:36:59 PM
So how should one react in response to a severe misrepresentation against their person? Okay, maybe the other person is not dishonest, maybe they're just incredibly bad at comprehending things that go against their preconceived notions, the end result is the same.
The end result is not the same.
Quote from: Barrister on October 14, 2020, 04:52:41 PM
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 04:36:59 PM
So how should one react in response to a severe misrepresentation against their person? Okay, maybe the other person is not dishonest, maybe they're just incredibly bad at comprehending things that go against their preconceived notions, the end result is the same.
The end result is not the same.
In what way? In either case, in this situation, AR is falsely made out to be Typhoid Mary.
In any case, here is a way out of this situation so that it doesn't escalate to such levels of toxicity. In poker, there is a rule that every player at the table is responsible for upholding the integrity of the game. For example, if there are ten players at the table, and only two are involved in a hand at the end, but the winning player misreads his hand and the pot starts going to the losing player, everyone has the responsibility to speak up and correct the situation. It's not just the business of the two players involved, everyone is in the wrong if they spot the error and say nothing. We can apply the same concept here.
I'm sure that most of us visit this place because we enjoy discussing things. However, it's hard to enjoy discussions when you're up against someone who misrepresents you to the point where you have to be actively defending your reputation. When that happens, I think everyone here has the responsibility to speak up and say "hey, that's not a fair characterization", just like I'm doing here. And, yes, if some genius makes a "joke" about me being AR, likewise other people should pipe in and point out that it's not a fair way to dismiss my arguments.
This place here is a club, and every member of the club is responsible for upholding the norms of the club. If calling out gross mischaracterizations is not left to the person being mischaracterized, then it's less likely to devolve to a mortal combat where the mischaracterization and the accusation of mischaracterization are just two arguments in the arsenal. I personally think that equating, or sort of equating, or "seems liking", AR to people who knowingly exposed others to Covid is so over the line that it really deeply disappoints me that I'm the only bystander here who directly calls it out.
Whatever, fucknuts.
(I hope that was in the spirit of your post)
I miss playing Poker.
I hate how people say it's just the flu. The good old H#N# flu is a big deal. It kills thousands every year & yet it's easily treatable.
What if we don't care about dismissing your arguments but just want to wind you up, Dorsey?
Quote from: DGuller on October 14, 2020, 04:36:59 PM
So how should one react in response to a severe misrepresentation against their person? Okay, maybe the other person is not dishonest, maybe they're just incredibly bad at comprehending things that go against their preconceived notions, the end result is the same.
Is there a level of misrepresentation that is worse than calling out said misrepresentation? And a separate question, is there a level of misrepresentation that should compel the people on the sidelines to really call it out, the same way that you're calling out the accusations of dishonesty from the sidelines?
You can point out the mischaracterization without calling someone dishonest.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 14, 2020, 05:50:23 PM
What if we don't care about dismissing your arguments but just want to wind you up, Dorsey?
:rolleyes: There comes a point where you should respect reasonable requests, stated repeatedly, unless it is your intention to disrespect someone. I made it clear multiple times that I regard the Dorsey jokes as an attack on my integrity, and you don't ever joke about someone's integrity, just like you don't joke about someone being a child molester or things of that nature. You just don't.
Even if you think that I'm way overly sensitive on this issue, if you believe that I genuinely regard such jokes as an attack on my integrity, it may just be a decent thing to do to respect that. Maybe if I regard a hundred different things as an attack on my integrity, then at that point my peevishness is excessive and shouldn't be honored, but a one-off request? Just be a decent human being and respect that, it's not like you're going to come off as funny or clever in any case.
Quote from: Valmy on October 14, 2020, 04:51:03 PM
Heh. See this is what I mean. You just cannot even be nice when I try to bury the hatchet with you. Very Hansian. It is so tiresome.
But still much less tiresome and more fun than watching Texas attempt to play football.
I really don't get the tiresome angle. This is basically a forum that started and exists to talk about politics and current events. And in the grand scheme of things, the 21st century has been a complete dud for politics and events. Everyone gets worked up about elections--but in the end those epic Bush tax cuts caused the top tax rate to go from 39.5% to 35%. 9/11 has probably been the major event, but it hasn't really affected our lives. We followed up with a couple stupid wars, and for that we are a trillion or so poorer, a few thousand volunteer army guys got killed, and we bombed a bunch of brown people, but that is really it.
I've been right here arguing with everyone else, but in the grand scheme of things politics hasn't impacted the first world to any great extent. Until covid-19, even the election of the bad orange man didn't really impact day to day life. People were worked up because he said and tweeted dumb shit, but the economy was doing okay and else nothing really changed.
When this century started, I was working in a restaurant without a degree. While you guys have known me, I took out loans to go back to school and study accounting. Then became an accountant. Absolutely nothing that has happened politically has really mattered to me (or until now changed anything for someone trying to follow in my footsteps). Sometimes tax rates change and I pay a bit more or less, the healthcare system changed somewhat, when the economy has struggled I worry about layoffs and when it does well I get bigger bonuses. But nothing has really mattered. Maybe the change that annoyed me the most over the past 20 years was the initiation of and then expansion of targeting penalties.
Now: everything is on the table. Traditionally democrats and republicans argue about how much to fund schools and how to do it (such as with private school vouchers). Changes are at the margins. Now we are talking about if schools should be open and to what extent--the stakes are potentially lots of dead people vs inadequate education for a year and especially for the most at risk segments of society. Outside of education, in a period of months we are spending more than for all of our recent wars. We used to debate the funding of the arts by the government, now we are debating whether public establishments should be open at all. Obviously this list could go on much longer.
I think I can admit when I'm wrong. I admitted many times I was wrong about Trump's electoral chances in 2016. I used to vociferously argue with DGuller that the housing market wasn't overvalued in the run up to 2008, and started a thread later on admitting I was wrong about everything on that topic (though maybe I was too quick to admit I was wrong as housing prices so quickly rebounded :P). On this topic, I know the person that thinks he can convince people of stuff on the internet is a fool, but I just don't see why you people aren't convinced. :P Everywhere I look I see the world as vindicating what I was saying back in March and April.
Also, my girlfriend made it clear after about our first week in lockdown that she didn't want to hear my opinions on covid anymore, so languish is my outlet.
I'm okay with ramping up targeting penalties. Helmet-to-helmet cheap shots have no place in the game.
Also, Valmy: Texas will beat WVU this year. I am concerned as to whether WVU can even beat Kansas.
My heating is fixed! :w00t:
My son's 7th grade team and nephew's 8th grade team were able to complete their football seasons last night with no Covid interruptions. Did not have a game or practice cancelled. Parents were generally pretty good about social distancing and masking up during games. The state's 15% capacity restriction for an outdoor venue was dumb but whatever.
So now we get to worry about whether we'll have a basketball season :lol:
Quote from: garbon on October 16, 2020, 05:25:51 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on October 16, 2020, 04:45:18 AM
My heating is fixed! :w00t:
:thumbsup:
As an aside - I find it really weird that in the middle of a pandemic loads of people have decided to re-do their kitchens and bathrooms and basically invite strange workmen into their home for weeks at a time :hmm:
I'd like someone to finish renovating my bathroom, right now.
I was DIY it but I'm over it*.
*I'm not patient enough for tiling.
Quote from: derspiess on October 15, 2020, 08:41:15 AM
I'm okay with ramping up targeting penalties. Helmet-to-helmet cheap shots have no place in the game.
I'm annoyed because they tossed two Hurricanes out for hits on the golden boy Trevor Lawrence. Neither was called on the field and neither were helmet to helmet.
I can't find it on youtube, but the first was a late hit as Trevor Lawrence slid. A Miami guy hit him as he slid, obviously late--three officials threw flags--but the hit wasn't that hard and he didn't lead with his helmet (led with his shoulder). If that is targeting, every late hit on a QB sliding is targeting--you can't hit a guy low that is sliding. And yeah, I get that you shouldn't hit late, but I have a lot of sympathy for guys trying to stop QBs that are running downfield and weigh 220 pounds and slide when they get close.
The second had Trevor Lawrence hit as he threw from the pocket. No flag on the play, and Lawrence was hurt. As he was being medically attended to, the review booth came in and said it was targeting. Basically from my vantage point it might have been spearing--Lawrence was hurt because the Miami guy planted his helmet into his ribcage/abdomen. The thing about "don't lead with your helmet" that never gets addressed is if you want to tackle your opponent squared up / in his center and get any sort of leverage (moreso the lower you go) you have to lead with your helmet. It is physics--a human being is basically a stick and if he tilts forward his head is the leading part of his body.
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 16, 2020, 09:08:50 AM
I'd like someone to finish renovating my bathroom, right now.
I was DIY it but I'm over it*.
*I'm not patient enough for tiling.
I'm with you on that. I'm all about DIY but sometimes there is a learning curve for home improvement that I'm not patient enough to overcome. I can't caulk to save my life. Watched my dad do it a million times but I just can't get it right.
I've got a tonne of works still need doing here. Really need to get a move on with my extension plans.
(https://i.imgur.com/eC89C2l.jpg)
My summer project, new tile on walls...need to regrout the floor which was done 3 years ago.
Lockdown Curfew in Paris and 8 other big cities starts at midnight CET tonight. So Friday is the last day to go out a bit at night.
There were big noticeable gaps in the toilet paper section in the supermarket today. :ph34r:
Quote from: Zanza on October 17, 2020, 09:26:24 AM
There were big noticeable gaps in the toilet paper section in the supermarket today. :ph34r:
The number of people waiting for their click and collect today picked up considerably compared to previous weeks and months. We probably need to order a pile of toilet paper next weekend, just in case. :D
132 rolls in the Hakluyt strategic reserve :cool:
Quote from: Tamas on October 17, 2020, 09:40:31 AM
Quote from: Zanza on October 17, 2020, 09:26:24 AM
There were big noticeable gaps in the toilet paper section in the supermarket today. :ph34r:
The number of people waiting for their click and collect today picked up considerably compared to previous weeks and months. We probably need to order a pile of toilet paper next weekend, just in case. :D
:unsure:
What's that?
You order online, a supermarket employee collects the things and you pick it up without having to go into the supermarket (or maybe just briefly).
Quote from: Zanza on October 17, 2020, 12:40:24 PM
You order online, a supermarket employee collects the things and you pick it up without having to go into the supermarket (or maybe just briefly).
Even the Fred Meyer and Safeway in this hick town has that now.
With cases spiking in Vienna and Austria, I'm scheduled for two large in person meetings next week. One with external vendors, where we try to find a better location than their office which has a small meeting room without windows, or our office. The other is between our team and management, the latter of which have been traveling a fair bit throughout Europe (Germany, Czech Rep, Italy, Switzerland) in recent weeks).
:ph34r:
Quote from: Syt on October 22, 2020, 10:37:06 AM
With cases spiking in Vienna and Austria, I'm scheduled for two large in person meetings next week. One with external vendors, where we try to find a better location than their office which has a small meeting room without windows, or our office. The other is between our team and management, the latter of which have been traveling a fair bit throughout Europe (Germany, Czech Rep, Italy, Switzerland) in recent weeks).
:ph34r:
Tell them you've developed a cough.
Quote from: Maladict on October 22, 2020, 11:33:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 22, 2020, 10:37:06 AM
With cases spiking in Vienna and Austria, I'm scheduled for two large in person meetings next week. One with external vendors, where we try to find a better location than their office which has a small meeting room without windows, or our office. The other is between our team and management, the latter of which have been traveling a fair bit throughout Europe (Germany, Czech Rep, Italy, Switzerland) in recent weeks).
:ph34r:
Tell them you've developed a dry cough.
Fixed!
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on October 22, 2020, 11:41:46 AM
Quote from: Maladict on October 22, 2020, 11:33:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 22, 2020, 10:37:06 AM
With cases spiking in Vienna and Austria, I'm scheduled for two large in person meetings next week. One with external vendors, where we try to find a better location than their office which has a small meeting room without windows, or our office. The other is between our team and management, the latter of which have been traveling a fair bit throughout Europe (Germany, Czech Rep, Italy, Switzerland) in recent weeks).
:ph34r:
Tell them you've developed a dry cough.
Fixed!
Not being able to appreciate food as much because of sudden loss of smell might also help.
US air travel hit 1 million for the first day since March - that is still down from the ~2.6 million a day in 2019 but activity is picking up.
Quote from: Maladict on October 22, 2020, 11:33:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 22, 2020, 10:37:06 AM
With cases spiking in Vienna and Austria, I'm scheduled for two large in person meetings next week. One with external vendors, where we try to find a better location than their office which has a small meeting room without windows, or our office. The other is between our team and management, the latter of which have been traveling a fair bit throughout Europe (Germany, Czech Rep, Italy, Switzerland) in recent weeks).
:ph34r:
Tell them you've developed a cough.
Problem with that idea is Syt would be told to isolate for 10-14 days and get a Covid test. And probably still expected to work from home.
Quote from: Barrister on October 22, 2020, 11:54:23 AM
Quote from: Maladict on October 22, 2020, 11:33:28 AM
Quote from: Syt on October 22, 2020, 10:37:06 AM
With cases spiking in Vienna and Austria, I'm scheduled for two large in person meetings next week. One with external vendors, where we try to find a better location than their office which has a small meeting room without windows, or our office. The other is between our team and management, the latter of which have been traveling a fair bit throughout Europe (Germany, Czech Rep, Italy, Switzerland) in recent weeks).
:ph34r:
Tell them you've developed a cough.
Problem with that idea is Syt would be told to isolate for 10-14 days and get a Covid test. And probably still expected to work from home.
But he will avoid the two in person meetings.
His employer won't have any power to enforce quarantine.
Quote from: Barrister on October 22, 2020, 11:54:23 AM
Problem with that idea is Syt would be told to isolate for 10-14 days and get a Covid test. And probably still expected to work from home.
I once "faked" illness to get out of school. My mom insisted against my protest to go to the doctor. Turned out I had measles (vaccination against measles was not a thing when I grew up). :D
I'm kinda worried to jinx it. I will go and probably wear a mask during meetings. :P
Quote from: Syt on October 22, 2020, 01:17:06 PMI once "faked" illness to get out of school. My mom insisted against my protest to go to the doctor. Turned out I had measles (vaccination against measles was not a thing when I grew up). :D
How Karmic.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 22, 2020, 01:01:21 PM
His employer won't have any power to enforce quarantine.
If he wanted to keep his job they do.
How are they gonna know?
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 22, 2020, 02:40:32 PM
How are they gonna know?
Presumably they notice when someone comes into the office
There's a whole world outside of the office. Point being, the company doesn't have the capability to force someone to self-isolate.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 23, 2020, 12:40:24 PM
There's a whole world outside of the office. Point being, the company doesn't have the capability to force someone to self-isolate.
If that is the point, then you are wrong. If an employee is told to self isolate it is to ensure that they do not come back to the office and, importantly, to ensure they are not exposed again prior to their return to the office. If the employer found out the employee did not follow that direction, which btw is trivially easy now that everyone voluntarily puts their life on display through social media, then the employer would have reason to terminate.
The only thing you have to fall back on his the hope that they don't find out.
So just don't put your life on social media while playing hooky from work? This should be trivially easy.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 23, 2020, 01:25:28 PM
So just don't put your life on social media while playing hooky from work? This should be trivially easy.
Like I said, its not that the employer can't, your point is that you hope you won't get caught.
With that logic the state also does not have the capability to make criminal laws. People will just try not getting caught.
I think Syt is in a country with functioning contact tracing. So I imagine he'd be rumbled if the public health authorities didn't get in touch with his employers to tell them and ask for contact details of everyone who'd been in the office.
So he'd probably have to lie to his employers and the public health authorities. No-one can object to pulling a sickie but I feel like telling the authorities you have covid when you don't is possibly a waste of their resources that I'd feel bad about :lol:
Edit: BUT! He could say I've got symptoms and have requested a test so I'm self-isolating (but, again, Austria is probably a system with a more functioning testing system so that might not work)...
The state has more active observers though.
Anyway, I agree that it's a bad idea.
Germany is now cancelling Christmas markets. Where shall I get overpriced mulled wine and poor unhealthy food now while freezing my ass off? :huh:
Quote from: Zanza on October 26, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Germany is now cancelling Christmas markets. Where shall I get overpriced mulled wine and poor unhealthy food now while freezing my ass off? :huh:
The freezing ass off part was not really true in recent years much, was it? :unsure:
Quote from: Syt on October 26, 2020, 12:00:57 PM
Quote from: Zanza on October 26, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Germany is now cancelling Christmas markets. Where shall I get overpriced mulled wine and poor unhealthy food now while freezing my ass off? :huh:
The freezing ass off part was not really true in recent years much, was it? :unsure:
Yeah, at least we should get an old school winter if we're going to be stuck at home anyway.
Hmm, I do wonder whether the lower pollution levels this year may have some weather impact.
Likely too small in the grand scheme to alter that much but its curious to think about.
Quote from: Tyr on October 26, 2020, 04:40:30 PM
Hmm, I do wonder whether the lower pollution levels this year may have some weather impact.
Likely too small in the grand scheme to alter that much but its curious to think about.
I think in the short term it'll lead to warmer temperatures - as the particulates and water vapour put into the atmosphere has the effect of reflecting out heat from the sun.
As you say long term it means nothing.
The DC area had the best air quality this year in decades.
It was on an improving trend in recent years already, but a combination of pandemic-induced WFH and favorable weather patterns push this year to the top.
Lockdown 2.0 in France starting Friday. En marche! :glare:
So in the spring we had shortages of masks, disinfectant, then we went through the flour / yeast shortage, and the ongoing shortage of workout equipment.
Next thing we're going to have a run on is firewood.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/cant-find-firewood-market-hot-covid-19-to-blame-shortage-1.5779479
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on October 28, 2020, 03:40:51 PM
Lockdown 2.0 in France starting Friday. En marche! :glare:
Those rules are again much tougher than here. I hope we will not need such an escalation...
Numbers from Switzerland are pretty horrific apparently. Over 1000 per 100k in some cantons. Second wave is truly hitting the world. The UK seems to have got it early and is maybe moving out of it. Looks like any thought of connecting with there before babygeddon is done.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on October 28, 2020, 03:40:51 PM
Lockdown 2.0 in France starting Friday. En marche! :glare:
:(
We need that here, rather than Johnson's silly-shallying around.
Quote from: Tyr on October 28, 2020, 06:18:58 PM
Numbers from Switzerland are pretty horrific apparently. Over 1000 per 100k in some cantons. Second wave is truly hitting the world. The UK seems to have got it early and is maybe moving out of it. Looks like any thought of connecting with there before babygeddon is done.
The numbers in Belgium are really bad again.
And from what I've seen it looks like it's getting very bad in Czech Republic too.
Edit: I keep thinking about the modelling done in that Imperial paper which said you could stop the first wave but would then get a bigger and more dangerous second wave in winter - as it feels like that's what we're going through.
I'm still working from home. Some of us can go into the office but there are restrictions, masks when near someone, limited numbers of people. I like working from home and for the foreseeable future there's no push for us to go back to the office building.
Quote from: KRonn on October 28, 2020, 07:25:47 PM
I'm still working from home. Some of us can go into the office but there are restrictions, masks when near someone, limited numbers of people. I like working from home and for the foreseeable future there's no push for us to go back to the office building.
Good to hear from you, KRonn, stay safe. :cheers:
We're in a bit of a funny situation over here. My region has not restricted movement to other regions after the state of alarm was decreed in Spain earlier this week, but the two regions that border us have done so, as well as Portugal during this weekend, so even if we haven't restricted these trips, on practical terms it's as if we had, as we don't really have anywhere to go. :lol:
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on October 28, 2020, 03:40:51 PM
Lockdown 2.0 in France starting Friday. En marche! :glare:
Asseyez-vous :frog: !
"Jupiterian" slogan, sorry. cf. the name of his party, la République (more like la raie publique) en Marche.
:P
QuoteFrench PM Castex details new Covid-19 nationwide lockdown rules
Issued on: 29/10/2020 - 08:18
French Prime Minister Jean Castex in a photo taken on October 7, 2020, was to announce the details of the new Covid-19 lockdown measures on October 29, 2020.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday detailed before parliament new restrictions under a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, a day after President Emmanuel Macron said the drastic measure was necessary to curb a second wave of the virus that has been deadlier than expected.
Castex addressed the National Assembly, France's lower house, on Thursday morning and was then to address the Senate, where the measures will be put to a vote, before unveiling the new lockdown measures in a televised address Thursday evening.
France goes into a second nationwide lockdown this year starting midnight Thursday, amid a surge in Covid-19 cases that has threatened to overwhelm French hospitals.
In an address to the nation Wednesday night, Macron noted that, "the virus is spreading across France at a speed that even the most pessimistic did not predict."
The new nationwide lockdown would be enforced initially until December 1, Macron said, although schools and creches will remain open.
He said the lockdown might start to ease once Covid-19 infections fell back to about 5,000 per day from around 40,000 per day at present.
But the government's scientific adviser, Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, said on Thursday that the lockdown may have to extend beyond December 1.
Speaking on France Inter radio, Delfraissy said the goal of bringing infections down to 5,000 a day was unlikely to be achieved by end of November.
"By December 1, we will not be at 5,000 contaminations per day. I can tell you that straight away today. We will need more time," said Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the French government on the pandemic.
"The scenario is rather to have this lockdown period of one month, to look at the different types of markers and then to exit this containment through, by example, a curfew that could continue through December, possibly covering also Christmas and New Year's Eve, and to end it only in early January", he said.
Earlier this month, Paris and other major French cities went into an overnight curfew from 9pm to 6am in a bid to stem the spread of the virus. But on Wednesday, Macron admitted the overnight curfew failed to slow down the second wave, which has sent the death toll in France to nearly 35,000.
He admitted that a curfew for Paris and other major cities imposed two weeks ago had failed to slow down a second wave of cases that has sent the death toll in France to nearly 35,000.
"As elsewhere in Europe, we are overwhelmed by a second wave that will probably be more difficult and deadly than the first," Macron said.
"If we did nothing... within a few months we would have at least 400,000 additional deaths," he said.
Already more than 3,000 intensive care patients are forcing hospitals to scramble for beds, and "no matter what we do, nearly 9,000 people will be in intensive care by mid-November," he warned.
France on Wednesday reported 244 new virus deaths over the past 24 hours, and more than 36,000 new positive tests.
Macron sends France back to lockdown as cases spiral out of control
Cafes, restaurants shut
The new measures, which come into force on Friday, will mean people have to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or use their daily one-hour allocation of exercise.
Cafes, restaurants and shops will shut down unless they are deemed to be selling essential goods, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
People will still be allowed to go to work if their employer deems it impossible for them to do the job from home, Macron said.
"Like last spring, you will be able to leave your home only for work, for a doctor's visit, to help a relative, do essential shopping or go out shortly for air," the French president added.
Anyone outside their home will need to carry a written statement justifying their presence outside.
'The economy must not stop'
The new measures echo the eight-week lockdown that France enforced in the spring, when hospitalisations and deaths caused by the Covid-19 virus reached a peak.
But unlike during the two-month lockdown imposed last spring, students up to high-school level will continue to go to school.
Universities, which have been the source of several virus clusters since September, will have online classes only.
Factories and farms will also be allowed to operate, and some public services will function, to limit the economic damage that would come from shutting down the country completely.
Professional athletes will also be permitted to continue training and competing.
"The economy must not stop, nor collapse," Macron said, though working from home will be the norm for companies that can manage it.
He has promised additional financial relief for businesses, acknowledging that many were hoping to stay open ahead of the crucial holiday season that now seems jeopardised.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
Aaand we're entering semi-lockdown here too. Gyms closed, alongside malls, theaters, etc... Also we can't leave our town on weekends. I guess it's okay if we catch Covid during the week, I guess. :lol: :(
Quote from: mongers on October 28, 2020, 09:15:03 PM
Quote from: KRonn on October 28, 2020, 07:25:47 PM
I'm still working from home. Some of us can go into the office but there are restrictions, masks when near someone, limited numbers of people. I like working from home and for the foreseeable future there's no push for us to go back to the office building.
Good to hear from you, KRonn, stay safe. :cheers:
You too, stay safe! :)
Virus has finally breached our defenses. Seven positives and counting in an outbreak at maintenance in the last week, all from the same shift.
Up till now every other case I'm aware of could be explained as coming from outside the plant.
Seeing as we all wear masks my best guess is this was airborne transmission.
Well, Lockdown 2 - Electric Boogaloo is coming and will be announced today.
Our office sent an email that everyone should work from home until further notice. If anyone wants to work at the office, the usual rules apply (one per office), plus keeping 2 meters distance at all times, wearing a mask in public areas and during face to face meetings, though such meetings are strongly discouraged.
The details of the lockdown will be announced by the government today, but the key details that have seeped through are:
- restaurants, bars are closed down (they will receive last year's revenue for the close down period from the state as compensation)
- shops, supermarkets stay open, but we're back to max. 1 customer per 10 square meters
- hairdressers stay open this time
- curfew from 8 pm till 6 am (except for going to work if necessary, prevent danger to life or limb, buying necessities of life, or to get some fresh air/exercise)
Doesn't sound much like a curfew if "getting fresh air" is a valid reason to be out.
Yeah, but it is what it is. It's pretty near impossible to properly enforce, anyways.
Quote from: Tyr on October 28, 2020, 06:18:58 PM
Numbers from Switzerland are pretty horrific apparently. Over 1000 per 100k in some cantons. Second wave is truly hitting the world. The UK seems to have got it early and is maybe moving out of it. Looks like any thought of connecting with there before babygeddon is done.
True. Many of my friends here in Switzerland got it, luckily with mild symptoms. But the Swiss lockdown is quite mild in comparison with the countries around us.
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on November 02, 2020, 01:47:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on October 28, 2020, 06:18:58 PM
Numbers from Switzerland are pretty horrific apparently. Over 1000 per 100k in some cantons. Second wave is truly hitting the world. The UK seems to have got it early and is maybe moving out of it. Looks like any thought of connecting with there before babygeddon is done.
True. Many of my friends here in Switzerland got it, luckily with mild symptoms. But the Swiss lockdown is quite mild in comparison with the countries around us.
Woah, Gaijin welcome back, good to hear from you.
Hope everythings well with you and your family :cheers:
Hello there! :)
Quote from: mongers on November 02, 2020, 01:58:58 PM
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on November 02, 2020, 01:47:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on October 28, 2020, 06:18:58 PM
Numbers from Switzerland are pretty horrific apparently. Over 1000 per 100k in some cantons. Second wave is truly hitting the world. The UK seems to have got it early and is maybe moving out of it. Looks like any thought of connecting with there before babygeddon is done.
True. Many of my friends here in Switzerland got it, luckily with mild symptoms. But the Swiss lockdown is quite mild in comparison with the countries around us.
Woah, Gaijin welcome back, good to hear from you.
Hope everythings well with you and your family :cheers:
Thanks, indeed all is good on my end. Trust you're doing well, too!
Was drinking some nice sake wife brought, and thought of you guys half way through the bottle. Glad to read from so many old timers!
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
What is this, 2011?
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on November 02, 2020, 02:20:09 PM
Quote from: mongers on November 02, 2020, 01:58:58 PM
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on November 02, 2020, 01:47:19 PM
Quote from: Tyr on October 28, 2020, 06:18:58 PM
Numbers from Switzerland are pretty horrific apparently. Over 1000 per 100k in some cantons. Second wave is truly hitting the world. The UK seems to have got it early and is maybe moving out of it. Looks like any thought of connecting with there before babygeddon is done.
True. Many of my friends here in Switzerland got it, luckily with mild symptoms. But the Swiss lockdown is quite mild in comparison with the countries around us.
Woah, Gaijin welcome back, good to hear from you.
Hope everythings well with you and your family :cheers:
Thanks, indeed all is good on my end. Trust you're doing well, too!
Was drinking some nice sake wife brought, and thought of you guys half way through the bottle. Glad to read from so many old timers!
Excellent, Gaijin enjoy your tea. :)
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
:rolleyes:
People don't respect tradition anymore. :(
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
:D
Some things never change!
Quote from: mongers on November 02, 2020, 02:29:16 PM
Excellent, Gaijin enjoy your tea. :)
Haha, thanks! :cheers:
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on November 02, 2020, 04:47:45 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
:D
Some things never change!
Welcome back G.
And Syt and Garbon...I'm making languish great again you insufferable boobs.
Hola Gaijin. :cheers:
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
Thank God you were on today. What the hell was Brain thinking - "Hello there"
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 02, 2020, 06:28:57 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 02, 2020, 02:24:55 PM
Wow I'm so ashamed by these people people...the correct greeting is
who the fuck are you?
Thank God you were on today. What the hell was Brain thinking - "Hello there"
I was going for a "General Kenobi!".
Has that meme ever been referenced on Languish before?
Quote from: Eddie Teach on November 02, 2020, 08:13:07 PM
Has that meme ever been referenced on Languish before?
AFAIK no.
Quote from: The Brain on November 03, 2020, 03:45:29 AM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on November 02, 2020, 08:13:07 PM
Has that meme ever been referenced on Languish before?
AFAIK no.
My memory may be foggy on this, but I seem to recall this is how I was welcomed back the last time I disappeared.
In spirit if not in words :D (kidding).
Had to go and get toothpaste on Saturday evening, only Lidl open, quite quiet but noticed nearly all the eggs, most flour and most pasta had sold out. At least they had their Xmas stuff out so I bought a few extra things.
Yesterday did an early evening shop, no milk, few eggs, no sausages, little bread and much of the vegetables had sold out; seems the stupidity has started again. <_<
Austrian supermarkets report that you can tell people are preparing to cook more themselves again instead of going out. No shortages of any kind reported. I went to my local corner supermarket yesterday for a normal shopping run. It was as busy or quiet as always.
Quote from: Syt on November 03, 2020, 09:29:23 AM
Austrian supermarkets report that you can tell people are preparing to cook more themselves again instead of going out. No shortages of any kind reported. I went to my local corner supermarket yesterday for a normal shopping run. It was as busy or quiet as always.
Same here in Switzerland. No shortages, no lines, food delivery works like clockwork, can even still get very niche Japanese food we usually order.
Outbreak at the plant continues. Newest positive comes from one of the shift supervisors in my production area.
I spent most of my day holed up in my office. :ph34r:
So while the company sent an email strongly encouraging everyone to work from home, I just heard all senior people - and those who consider themselves to be - are at the office (which is about half our office). :lol:
Quote from: Syt on November 04, 2020, 09:05:02 AM
So while the company sent an email strongly encouraging everyone to work from home, I just heard all senior people - and those who consider themselves to be - are at the office (which is about half our office). :lol:
:lol:
My observation at my work - the only people who have gone back into the office who don't literally need to be in the office are partners who I might suggest have some work/life balance issues :P
Well, our boss goes to the office because at home he has a wife and three small kids aged 10 months through 12 years. Everyone else .... no idea. :D
I go in to my office from time to time and two of our tax guys (including our SVP of Tax/Chief Tax Officer) are always there, and both admitted to me it's to get away from their families. :lol:
You got to understand, for some people the love of their life IS their job. Definitely true for those two guys.
In case of our boss his wife also hates him working from home. There's been many emails/phone calls he's had from the bathroom so the wife won't notice :lol:
A lot from my office chose to go in. I don't think they're the workaholics of the office. I think it's more just they don't have a good space to work from home. Flat shares, young kids, etc...
My new manager remarked that he has so little to do in his personal life now that he told his wife he just wishes he could work on weekends/looks forward to the week. :wacko:
Quote from: Tyr on November 04, 2020, 09:20:44 AM
A lot from my office chose to go in. I don't think they're the workaholics of the office. I think it's more just they don't have a good space to work from home. Flat shares, young kids, etc...
Yeah - those people I understand, they kind of need to work in the office. But there's just a weird split in my office: people with young kids, very junior people, very senior people and that's it :lol:
Quote from: garbon on November 04, 2020, 09:22:00 AM
My new manager remarked that he has so little to do in his personal life now that he told his wife he just wishes he could work on weekends/looks forward to the week. :wacko:
Oh my Christ :blink: :bleeding: :weep:
I may be unfocused and not see private projects through to the end, but not once in my working life have I been in a position where I was so bored with my free time that I would choose to work instead. There's gazillions of things to do. My book and movie backlog alone would keep me busy for the next 20 years, I reckon.
Yes thankfully the other directors my level all looked on a bit shocked.
Quote from: garbon on November 04, 2020, 09:22:00 AM
My new manager remarked that he has so little to do in his personal life now that he told his wife he just wishes he could work on weekends/looks forward to the week. :wacko:
His wife must be thrilled to hear that. :lol:
Quote from: The Larch on November 04, 2020, 09:33:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 04, 2020, 09:22:00 AM
My new manager remarked that he has so little to do in his personal life now that he told his wife he just wishes he could work on weekends/looks forward to the week. :wacko:
His wife must be thrilled to hear that. :lol:
She's having a lot of affairs :)
Sounds like a murder-suicide waiting to happen. :(
So, new measures for the next month have been announced for my region's cities:
- No meeting anyone from outside your home.
- Restaurants, bars, pubs, etc. all to close for the month.
- Curfew still in place.
- No team sports, you can only practice sport individually.
- No leaving the city + a few neighbouring towns, unless for work or essential travel.
Went for a bit of a walk this afternoon. Was surprised how busy the streets were. Tons of people milling about, not less than usual. I did see more people wearing masks in the streets. Maybe 10% of people?
My region of Sweden, Halland, has new local regulations. Covid is on the rise and we're more or less back to the close-downs from spring, but more serious since Covid is far more prevalent locally now.
So my employer announced new rules. Those that can should work from home if at all possible. Except us developers, we are to work normally since there's so much to do.
First day of new English lockdown, perhaps there is a small reduction in car traffic on my usual route, but not major.
Nowhere near the amazing near-desolate roads of the first lockdown.
Quote from: Tamas on November 05, 2020, 07:35:15 AM
First day of new English lockdown, perhaps there is a small reduction in car traffic on my usual route, but not major.
Nowhere near the amazing near-desolate roads of the first lockdown.
Also in the run-up to the last lockdown people stopped going out (the biggest fall in people going out was actually before lockdown was announced). This time bookings were up because people went out for one last hurrah.
I think the risk calculation people are making is different, so this may actually need a bit more enforcement.
Ok so this is the stuff I hate:
I am busy unpacking the trunk of the car, on my right on the road this lady in her 30s comes running (as in jogging). I can hear her laboured mouthbreathing from like 2 meters away. But she just wouldn't use the entirely empty open road and side-step, no, she has to run almost scraping against the side of my car and run past like 30cm of me (thanks for me stepping aside) while she loudly labours to get enough air in and out of her lungs via her mouth.
Don't be so paranoid.
Quote from: Tamas on November 05, 2020, 08:18:29 AM
Ok so this is the stuff I hate:
I am busy unpacking the trunk of the car, on my right on the road this lady in her 30s comes running (as in jogging). I can hear her laboured mouthbreathing from like 2 meters away. But she just wouldn't use the entirely empty open road and side-step, no, she has to run almost scraping against the side of my car and run past like 30cm of me (thanks for me stepping aside) while she loudly labours to get enough air in and out of her lungs via her mouth.
I can understand what you feel, but also accept what Larch implies about the risk invovled, but her real failure is showing a lack of 'respect' for others during lockdown.
So in most of her other social encounters she's very unlikely to give any consideration to others and the social distancing requirements.
Precisely.
I would also add that runners are the worst :)
I am a very considerate runner. :mad:
We got caught napping with click and collect. My wife went online just now to shop expecting a largely free choice of Saturday pickup timeslots like the last several months. Nope, closest available is on Monday. Bloody hell.
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 05, 2020, 11:35:02 AM
I would also add that runners are the worst :)
I politely counter with cyclists.
Is this an inner city gripe I am too suburban to understand? :P
Quote from: Eddie Teach on November 05, 2020, 03:16:15 PM
Is this an inner city gripe I am too suburban to understand? :P
I think everyone can hate on runners :)
They give cars going 30 mph a wide berth.
Quote from: HVC on November 05, 2020, 03:03:08 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 05, 2020, 11:35:02 AM
I would also add that runners are the worst :)
I politely counter with cyclists.
e-scooter riders are worse.
Car drivers are the worst.
Very still air over Preston today and sure enough https://aqicn.org/city/united-kingdom/preston/
Iowa is 6th in US for new cases/million in new report.
So my wife's friend wanted to go get a Covid test. She bugged Mrs B to go with her. So even though Alberta is not doing asymptomatic testing right now she lied and got a test.
You know where this is going... Positive. Still feeling no symptoms, but is kind of freaking out.
And the rest of us are going for tests tomorrow, and are ordered to isolate for 14 days.
<_<
Sorry B, that's really unlucky.
Quote from: Barrister on November 07, 2020, 12:31:35 AM
So my wife's friend wanted to go get a Covid test. She bugged Mrs B to go with her. So even though Alberta is not doing asymptomatic testing right now she lied and got a test.
You know where this is going... Positive. Still feeling no symptoms, but is kind of freaking out.
And the rest of us are going for tests tomorrow, and are ordered to isolate for 14 days.
<_<
I hope all turns out well.
Here's hoping it is a mild case and the rest of you don't have it.
Isolating with three young boys for a fortnight..........that is going to be "fun" :(
Went for an eye test today. Interesting how much less extreme this lockdown is than the spring one.
Quite sad to see the market in my hometown, long on the decline anyway, reduced to a burger van and one guy selling keys and batteries.
On the way home went by my parents and aunts place and talked across the fence.
Back in February exactly a month before the latish UK lockdown, I declared my own lockdown, so no unnecessary shop visits, no social visits, etc. It lasted 7 months and I called it operation Fortitude. :bowler:
Three weeks ago I got a bit nervous and decided on a new lockdown, haven't decided on a name yet, but given the projected length of it, till the end of March 2021, I'm thinking of calling it Operation Last Gasp. :D
sorry to hear that BB. Hope all goes well :)
Took the boys for a Covid test while Mrs B hunkered down in our bedroom all day. Boys took the tester up the nose like champs.
Still very sorry we missed the boys first hockey games of the years. :(
Found out Friday that a guy from work died from COVID. Apparently was sick with something else for a while. He was 44 years old. Fuck. I didn't know the guy, but as an immunosuppressed 42 year old that's truly too close for comfort.
Doesn't look like my Christmas trip home is going to happen. Even if my wife was let in at the border (not a citizen and we don't count as married in Hungary), they do a "temperature check and questioning" to ascertain whether you are an infection risk and it they decide you are, your mandatory 10 days quarantine won't be at home but at the facility (i.e. hospital) they send you to.
No way I am going to roll the dice on having my wife stuck in a foreign (and Hungarian to boot) hospital for two weeks locked up with positive cases.
First Christmas in England it is.
I think I have a cold. Sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, slight mental haze, the works. I'm not worried it could be Covid, seems like the symptoms point to a run of the mill cold, but it does make me think about how protected I am from Covid.
Shouldn't the measures you take against getting Covid also work at protecting you from cold? I haven't let my guard down, I still wear masks all the time outside, and don't go anywhere high risk. If I can still get a cold, that makes you think.
Quote from: Tamas on November 08, 2020, 07:17:38 AM
Even if my wife was let in at the border (not a citizen and we don't count as married in Hungary),
Wut? :blink:
Quote from: Tyr on November 08, 2020, 10:16:04 AM
Quote from: Tamas on November 08, 2020, 07:17:38 AM
Even if my wife was let in at the border (not a citizen and we don't count as married in Hungary),
Wut? :blink:
Well legally, I mean when it comes to what Hungarian law enables to spouses of Hungarian citizens, the marriage must be validated in Hungary, foreign marriages are not accepted carte blanche.
In this particular case, I'd expect the border officials to let her through based on the British paper, but as far as I am aware, they would be not legally forced by a UK legal document to do so.
That sounds odd. Mutual recognition of legal docs is fairly standard in the EU and marriage is one of those I would have thought would be pretty universal across most of the world.
I guess some kind of workaround to stop them recognising gay marriages?
So, given that libraries, coworking spaces, bars, everything... is closed, I can't work anywhere that it's not my home.
My neighbor has decided this is the bestest time of all to start renovations in his apartment AND THE NOISE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.
Drilling/banging somewhere in my vicinity has been going on for months, Mon-Sat, 8 am - 6 pm. I'm not sure if it's one of the adjacent buildings which has scaffolding around it, or if it's related to the subway expansion nearby. I only know it's A LOT louder in the hallway, and downstairs, and it's not coming from our building.
Here it's coming from the building next to mine. There's no scaffolding or anything but there's workers coming in and out the building. Even if I just plug music on my headphones I can't have zoom meetings with all that noise in the background.
It's fortunately not that bad ... more like an annoying low frequency noise that goes up and down in volume depending on how close to my apartment they're working. I'm quite easily annoyed by such low noises, so it's been tiring.
The drilling sounds most of the time (like now) like there's a vibrating phone in my apartment.
My neighbor gets railed almost every night. I don't... mind the noise though.
Quote from: celedhring on November 09, 2020, 03:05:24 AM
So, given that libraries, coworking spaces, bars, everything... is closed, I can't work anywhere that it's not my home.
My neighbor has decided this is the bestest time of all to start renovations in his apartment AND THE NOISE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.
Yeah I know, everyone who can't work from home has decided to go all out on DIY. :rolleyes:
Quote from: celedhring on November 09, 2020, 03:05:24 AM
So, given that libraries, coworking spaces, bars, everything... is closed, I can't work anywhere that it's not my home.
My neighbor has decided this is the bestest time of all to start renovations in his apartment AND THE NOISE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.
I had that in spring. They mechanically opened the reinforced concrete to put electric cables into the wall. Nerve-racking noise. :ultra:
The sister of one of our good friends died of COVID. She had been active and healthy. She was in her early 50s and living in the NE of the US. My friend was trying to figure out a way to go down and see her but was not able to get there in time because of how quickly the virus took her.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 09, 2020, 11:46:23 AM
The sister of one of our good friends died of COVID. She had been active and healthy. She was in her early 50s and living in the NE of the US. My friend was trying to figure out a way to go down and see her but was not able to get there in time because of how quickly the virus took her.
I'm so sorry. :(
That's terrible. :(
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 09, 2020, 11:46:23 AM
The sister of one of our good friends died of COVID. She had been active and healthy. She was in her early 50s and living in the NE of the US. My friend was trying to figure out a way to go down and see her but was not able to get there in time because of how quickly the virus took her.
I'm so sorry, cc. :( That's awful.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 09, 2020, 11:46:23 AM
The sister of one of our good friends died of COVID. She had been active and healthy. She was in her early 50s and living in the NE of the US. My friend was trying to figure out a way to go down and see her but was not able to get there in time because of how quickly the virus took her.
I'm sorry, CC. :(
Quote from: Barrister on November 07, 2020, 10:40:57 PM
Took the boys for a Covid test while Mrs B hunkered down in our bedroom all day. Boys took the tester up the nose like champs.
Still very sorry we missed the boys first hockey games of the years. :(
Boys and I all came back negative.
Quote from: Barrister on November 09, 2020, 01:43:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 07, 2020, 10:40:57 PM
Took the boys for a Covid test while Mrs B hunkered down in our bedroom all day. Boys took the tester up the nose like champs.
Still very sorry we missed the boys first hockey games of the years. :(
Boys and I all came back negative.
Phew! Here's hoping Mrs B manages this fairly easily.
Quote from: merithyn on November 09, 2020, 01:48:26 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 09, 2020, 01:43:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 07, 2020, 10:40:57 PM
Took the boys for a Covid test while Mrs B hunkered down in our bedroom all day. Boys took the tester up the nose like champs.
Still very sorry we missed the boys first hockey games of the years. :(
Boys and I all came back negative.
Phew! Here's hoping Mrs B manages this fairly easily.
Still symptom-free and feeling pretty bored.
Quote from: Barrister on November 09, 2020, 01:54:22 PM
Still symptom-free and feeling pretty bored.
she knew what she signed up for with you!
Quote from: Barrister on November 09, 2020, 01:54:22 PM
Quote from: merithyn on November 09, 2020, 01:48:26 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 09, 2020, 01:43:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 07, 2020, 10:40:57 PM
Took the boys for a Covid test while Mrs B hunkered down in our bedroom all day. Boys took the tester up the nose like champs.
Still very sorry we missed the boys first hockey games of the years. :(
Boys and I all came back negative.
Phew! Here's hoping Mrs B manages this fairly easily.
Still symptom-free and feeling pretty bored.
What a relief for you. Sucks for Mrs. BB but still a lot better than the alternative.
Good on the boys for taking the test well. :thumbsup:
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 09, 2020, 11:46:23 AM
The sister of one of our good friends died of COVID. She had been active and healthy. She was in her early 50s and living in the NE of the US. My friend was trying to figure out a way to go down and see her but was not able to get there in time because of how quickly the virus took her.
Damn, CC I'm sorry, that very sad.
And a good reminder how all of us should remember how this virus could take almost anyone of a mature age.
My best friend's cousin, 35 years of age with two teenage kids, was last month diagnosed with leukemia and started treatments. Last week they caught covid. Last night, they died.
This is a shitty, shitty disease and a pox on all those who do not follow the rules.
:(
So sorry to hear that :(
Quote from: PDH on November 09, 2020, 04:02:48 PM
My best friend's cousin, 35 years of age with two teenage kids, was last month diagnosed with leukemia and started treatments. Last week they caught covid. Last night, they died.
This is a shitty, shitty disease and a pox on all those who do not follow the rules.
Sad to hear that PDH.
Also it's a perfect example of why we should all follow the rules and social distance / cut down out mobility and social interactions.
New restrictions imposed in Alberta for a 2 week period.
-no team sports (aka NO HOCKEY)
-restaurants/bars to close by 11
-ask no social gatherings in homes
-businesses asked to reduce numbers of employees at work
Premier suggests its our last chance to avoid even more restrictive conditions
Woke up to emergency alert text with a link to Governor's YouTube video where he didn't announce or enact any new measures, basically just reinforce that hey this virus is serious. :frusty:
We've hit the huge infection rates we knew would come this fall/winter. More people we know are going to get it, and that means more people we know are going to die from it. Suddenly, it's more real for a lot of people out there.
What makes me angry is how many people need to see that before they start acting responsibly.
Quote from: merithyn on November 12, 2020, 06:37:33 PM
We've hit the huge infection rates we knew would come this fall/winter. More people we know are going to get it, and that means more people we know are going to die from it. Suddenly, it's more real for a lot of people out there.
What makes me angry is how many people need to see that before they start acting responsibly.
Congressman Don Young ( age 87) announced he has COVID, after winning re election yesterday to his 25th term might not live to see the end of it.
I'm on day 3 of a low grade fever (37.5-38°C). Not much in terms of other symptoms. Slightly runny nose, fatigue, but no cough (bit of phlegm every now and then)sense of smell/taste is not affected.
I called the central phone number, but they say it's very unlikely to be Covid so they won't send a test team to me. Vienna is starting to set up mobile check stations where people with cold/flu symptoms can have themselves checked out, esp. since I've been in home office for two weeks now with very limited contact. They first do a quick antibody test, and if it's positive they do a full swab. They give appointments three days in advance, so I got one for Monday afternoon.
I looked at getting the test done at a private lab, but they all seem very insistent to not come to them if you have symptoms.
Oooh speedy recovery Syt.
Thanks. It's probably not Covid. I've been working from home for the past two weeks, and only stepped out for shopping (where I mask up), and went for a longer walk once, keeping distance from people.
Mom tested negative for Covid antibodies this week. Given that her and dad are the only persons I have regular contact with I guess I can assume I would test the same :hmm:
Quote from: Syt on November 13, 2020, 03:28:36 AM
Thanks. It's probably not Covid. I've been working from home for the past two weeks, and only stepped out for shopping (where I mask up), and went for a longer walk once, keeping distance from people.
I figured, but still wishing best. I hate having colds and am biggest baby (shut up Brain) when suffering through them.
Getting another covid test after a couple of days of a weird cough <_<
No other symptoms though - and I've no idea where I picked it up as I've barely left the flat in the last fortnight.
QuoteThanks. It's probably not Covid. I've been working from home for the past two weeks, and only stepped out for shopping (where I mask up), and went for a longer walk once, keeping distance from people.
Yeah - get well soon.
Does anyone else find it weird being ill when you're WFH all the time? Like I've had a couple of things in the last few months and I sort of feel like I should still try and work in a way, but I know I'd probably call in sick and not go into the office.
Good point Sheilbh, I am guessing I would tell my manager that I can't really work but that I would try and keep email flows going, letting them know if I couldn't even do that.
My company has just now announced new policies re. WFH, they will come into effect from next year officially, but we are asked to start keeping to them already. They are about people having trouble separating working and private hours, and the seemingly ever escalating number of online meetings. So we are introducing daily time periods where meetings are forbidden unless absolutely necessary, and we are supposed to be exact with timeboxing them.
Makes sense overall. I always try to keep it to emails and text chat if that's viable but often it is easier to have a call. But that's been increasingly harder as even technical people started to have their calendars filled up, and managerial people have had nightmarish calendars for a while now. I am not sure if removing several hours in a day where I can talk to them will help that, but it is a good idea to try and address it.
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 05:04:59 AM
Does anyone else find it weird being ill when you're WFH all the time? Like I've had a couple of things in the last few months and I sort of feel like I should still try and work in a way, but I know I'd probably call in sick and not go into the office.
Yeah, very weird, I had what felt like a cold a couple of days ago as well. Given that I didn't do any Covidiot stuff and never eased up the distancing stuff, I was puzzled as to how I could get it. Now I'm wondering whether it was just a bad allergy with post-nasal drip giving me symptoms. I also wonder if some colds could be sticking with you permanently, waiting for your immune system to slacken to flare up.
Yeah I had a cold back in September (runny nose, sneezing, negative Covid test). I did everything you're supposed to do - social distance, wear a mask, etc. so I was like "how the hell did I catch a cold"?
QuoteDoes anyone else find it weird being ill when you're WFH all the time? Like I've had a couple of things in the last few months and I sort of feel like I should still try and work in a way, but I know I'd probably call in sick and not go into the office.
Definitely.
When sick in the regular work world though doesn't everyone work from home very lazily?
Its been years since I had an actuall full-on can't work sick day.
As a shut-in, I'm not quite sure how I'd get sick. :hmm:
Quote from: garbon on November 13, 2020, 11:28:50 AM
As a shut-in, I'm not quite sure how I'd get sick. :hmm:
Current status?
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KxcrM1ms1U8/hqdefault.jpg)
Have you got sick at all in you shut in phase?
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 11:44:25 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 13, 2020, 11:28:50 AM
As a shut-in, I'm not quite sure how I'd get sick. :hmm:
Current status?
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KxcrM1ms1U8/hqdefault.jpg)
Have you got sick at all in you shut in phase?
I think at issue here is our own definitions of sick and how those might have been warped by the lockdown/coronavirus lens.
My own view is runny noses and occasional periods of coughs are normal for Autumn and Winter.
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 11:44:25 AM
Quote from: garbon on November 13, 2020, 11:28:50 AM
As a shut-in, I'm not quite sure how I'd get sick. :hmm:
Current status?
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KxcrM1ms1U8/hqdefault.jpg)
Have you got sick at all in you shut in phase?
No, just a few allergies but nothing else.
It felt like I had a cold for a week or so a couple of months back but maybe it was some kind of allergies.
I don't think that it's specifically because of the COVID spike - though I know it doesn't help - but I have matching cold sores on my top and bottom lips. :( That's forever how my body reacts to stress, and right now, things are at a crazy, all-time stressful moment.
Also, trying to calm my anxious son down who is worried that the latest lockdown in Portland is going to break him right as he's getting ready to move into his own place again while trying to explain to his sister why getting on a plane to Portland with her boyfriend just after Christmas isn't the wisest move at the moment... I'm so worn out over the whole COVID thing.
EDIT: Oh, and Oregon is on a two week "freeze" of social stuff, while Portland one-upped that and froze stuff down for four weeks.
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
Be careful how you use the term "constitution" on Languish. :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 13, 2020, 06:41:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Meri strikes me as a 7-50 type gal. :)
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
I'm exactly the same, but with work.
Quote from: Barrister on November 13, 2020, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 13, 2020, 06:41:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Meri strikes me as a 7-50 type gal. :)
:huh:
(https://i.redd.it/mzut8ihcn1z51.png)
Steam user statistics. I think it is fair to assert causation, not just correlation.
My cousin is in the hospital, but not because of covid. She has covid, but she's in the hospital because she also had a stroke.
This is nothing new for her though. 30 years ago she had breast cancer, a brain aneurysm and severe abdominal lesions all within one year.
:(
Picked up the weekly click and collect at Sainsburys around noon. Far from as many fellow collecters as during the Spring lockdown, but the store parking lot was absolutely choke full.
In general if traffic is down since the new restrictions a week ago, it is by the sligthest amount. I just don't think it is taken much seriously this time around.
Quote from: Zanza on November 14, 2020, 07:56:29 AM
[ :hmm:1024]http://http.redd.it/mzut8ihcn1z51.png[/img]
Steam user statistics. I think it is fair to assert causation, not just correlation.
Interesting. As I've said elswhere for me I think my gaming has gone down after an initial peak. Sitting at the same desk looking at the same screen in my free time I'd be looking at in my work time... Not great.
Has me thinking to step up switch plans.
Quote from: merithyn on November 13, 2020, 10:41:00 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 13, 2020, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 13, 2020, 06:41:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Meri strikes me as a 7-50 type gal. :)
:huh:
It's a Canadian constitutionalist joke :)
It was pretty good.
25-30 years ago there was a lot of debate in Canada about amending the Constitution in order to get Quebec's signature on it. One of the sticking points was the amending formula. Quebec did not sign on to the 1982 Constitution, and felt they should have a veto.
Anyways, the amending formula then as it is now is the 7-50 formulation - you need the consent of 2/3 of the provinces (so 7) representing 50% of the population of Canada.
Quote from: Barrister on November 16, 2020, 08:31:08 PM
Quote from: merithyn on November 13, 2020, 10:41:00 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 13, 2020, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 13, 2020, 06:41:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Meri strikes me as a 7-50 type gal. :)
:huh:
It's a Canadian constitutionalist joke :)
I now know why Canadian comedians immigrate to the US if that passes as humor in the frigid south.
Quote from: Barrister on November 16, 2020, 08:31:08 PM
Quote from: merithyn on November 13, 2020, 10:41:00 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 13, 2020, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 13, 2020, 06:41:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Meri strikes me as a 7-50 type gal. :)
:huh:
It's a Canadian constitutionalist joke :)
Still don't get it, even after your explaination, but regardless, how did I get tagged in the conversation at all? :huh:
Quote from: merithyn on November 17, 2020, 11:16:19 AM
Quote from: Barrister on November 16, 2020, 08:31:08 PM
Quote from: merithyn on November 13, 2020, 10:41:00 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 13, 2020, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 13, 2020, 06:41:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 13, 2020, 12:58:57 PM
Maybe - though I am also fundamentally of a weak constitution and collapse at the merest sign of illness :Embarrass:
What is your amending formula, we might be able to fix you.
Meri strikes me as a 7-50 type gal. :)
:huh:
It's a Canadian constitutionalist joke :)
Still don't get it, even after your explaination, but regardless, how did I get tagged in the conversation at all? :huh:
Looks like my mistake. -_-
At least you weren't shocked that some people didn't wash their rice. WTF was Tyr thinking anyway?
My wife has COVID. She started feeling sick last week and lost her sense of smell/taste a day or so into it. She just got back a positive test result this morning.
Quote from: Caliga on November 23, 2020, 10:49:12 AM
My wife has COVID. She started feeling sick last week and lost her sense of smell/taste a day or so into it. She just got back a positive test result this morning.
Oh shit :(
I hope it's a mild case and she gets well soon, Cal. All the best.
You know the ironic thing? Given the timing and the fact that she virtually never leaves the house these days, she almost certainly got it at a Kentucky leadership forum she's in for this year. In fact, she probably caught it from Wendell Ford (former governor of KY and US senator)'s grandson. :rolleyes:
They insisted on continuing to do the program (monthly meetings all over the state) in person despite the pandemic. She really didn't feel comfortable attending meetings but didn't want to miss out, and now there's an outbreak amongst the attendees, which started with the guy I mentioned and I'm sure will impact others than just her. They did the first meeting remotely, but then were like "ok, cases are going down" and made them in-person again. :mad:
These political types are super-spreaders. I hope she gets well soon.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on November 23, 2020, 11:01:24 AM
These political types are super-spreaders. I hope she gets well soon.
Paul Patton (another former KY governor) was at another one of the meetings and he refused to mask up... and he's 83. <_<
My daughter's class was shutdown for a week starting last Thursday. I had her tested & it was negative. Contact with the positive case was on November 12th, so if the rest of her class also tested negative, they should be back in class in person on Friday.
Both of my parents seem to be recovering. Same with everyone else in their care home.
Quote from: Maximus on November 23, 2020, 11:12:40 AM
Both of my parents seem to be recovering. Same with everyone else in their care home.
:)
Max, Glad to hear that.
The Louisville Department of Public Health just called me and ordered me to quarantine until next Wednesday.
MAH RAHTS
So, ATS all weekend?
btw, do you play ATS with a wheel?
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 25, 2020, 09:55:06 AM
So, ATS all weekend?
btw, do you play ATS with a wheel?
Lately I've been playing ATS, ETS2, CK3, and some Flight Simulator (though not a ton as it's so damn buggy).
...and yes, I do play the former two with a wheel/pedals. Thrustmaster TMX.
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 25, 2020, 09:55:06 AM
So, ATS all weekend?
btw, do you play ATS with a wheel?
Advanced Tobruk System. :cheers:
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
Tough luck mate. We have made the pandemic recede by decree for Christmas, should have done the same.
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
What are you going to do without your bingo? :console:
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
No retail for you. :(
Quote from: Tamas on November 25, 2020, 05:52:27 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
Tough luck mate. We have made the pandemic recede by decree for Christmas, should have done the same.
yeah I was surprised they are going for month long hunker down mandate as well.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 25, 2020, 05:55:59 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
What are you going to do without your bingo? :console:
me? I'll be fine. There are a lot of bingo parlors in this town though :huh:
Quote from: The Brain on November 25, 2020, 06:21:31 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
No retail for you. :(
online shopping is where it's at!
Four people sick on the office today. Three stayed home but the fourth decided to come anyway. :glare:
Meanwhile my boss was finally admitted to the hospital with pneumonia after a week dealing at home with low oxygen levels. :ph34r:
Quote from: Caliga on November 23, 2020, 10:49:12 AM
My wife has COVID. She started feeling sick last week and lost her sense of smell/taste a day or so into it. She just got back a positive test result this morning.
My wife is feeling better today for the first time this week... her fever got up to 105 at one point but finally broke overnight. So far, I still have no symptoms and feel fine.
Oh, and her sense of smell/taste has started improving already, which is nice since some people with this thing haven't recovered it after months.
Quote from: Caliga on November 27, 2020, 04:33:26 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 23, 2020, 10:49:12 AM
My wife has COVID. She started feeling sick last week and lost her sense of smell/taste a day or so into it. She just got back a positive test result this morning.
My wife is feeling better today for the first time this week... her fever got up to 105 at one point but finally broke overnight. So far, I still have no symptoms and feel fine.
Oh, and her sense of smell/taste has started improving already, which is nice since some people with this thing haven't recovered it after months.
Glad to hear it Cal. :)
Quote from: Caliga on November 27, 2020, 04:33:26 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 23, 2020, 10:49:12 AM
My wife has COVID. She started feeling sick last week and lost her sense of smell/taste a day or so into it. She just got back a positive test result this morning.
My wife is feeling better today for the first time this week... her fever got up to 105 at one point but finally broke overnight. So far, I still have no symptoms and feel fine.
Oh, and her sense of smell/taste has started improving already, which is nice since some people with this thing haven't recovered it after months.
Yikes, that's scary. Good to hear she is recovering.
Yeah, she came very close to calling 911 with that fever... but I don't know that she would have really been any better off at the hospital... liable to catch something else to compound the COVID with there.
Quote from: Caliga on November 27, 2020, 06:07:26 PM
Yeah, she came very close to calling 911 with that fever... but I don't know that she would have really been any better off at the hospital... liable to catch something else to compound the COVID with there.
Just converted it to proper numbers via Google, 40C, wow! Sounds like she has hopefully beaten it though, if the symptoms have started going away.
Yeah, that's a dangerously high fever. That was her peak temp... most of the times where I had her check her temp for me, it was running 101 or 102.
Quote from: Caliga on November 27, 2020, 04:33:26 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 23, 2020, 10:49:12 AM
My wife has COVID. She started feeling sick last week and lost her sense of smell/taste a day or so into it. She just got back a positive test result this morning.
My wife is feeling better today for the first time this week... her fever got up to 105 at one point but finally broke overnight. So far, I still have no symptoms and feel fine.
Oh, and her sense of smell/taste has started improving already, which is nice since some people with this thing haven't recovered it after months.
That's great! So glad she's okay.
Quote from: Maximus on November 23, 2020, 11:12:40 AM
Both of my parents seem to be recovering. Same with everyone else in their care home.
This makes my heart glad.
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 08:55:48 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 25, 2020, 05:55:59 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
What are you going to do without your bingo? :console:
me? I'll be fine. There are a lot of bingo parlors in this town though :huh:
Tracy signed up to work a bingo about a month ago. She just left to work it. To benefit minor hockey, which is shut down right now.
2020 man. *shakeshead*
UMass' hockey season has been postponed. I guess the basketball team turning into a Covid convention has had an impact. They still hope to re-open campus in January, but I'm not gonna hold my breath.
I feel whatever sanity I had diminishing more with every passing month.
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
Do people really go out much when it is dark 23 hours a day anyway?
Quote from: Valmy on November 29, 2020, 08:56:11 PM
Quote from: katmai on November 25, 2020, 05:25:56 PM
City of Anchorage is going under lockdown starting Tuesday, December 1 through January 1. No in store dining only take out or delivery, all bars & clubs, theaters, bingo hall closed. 25% capacity for retail stores.
Do people really go out much when it is dark 23 hours a day anyway?
I'd say in a typical winter, they go out more. :P
And for Anchorage, the darkness is more like 18-19 hours. :sleep:
And Alberta hits yet another new record for number of cases reported in a day.
My office also reported another positive test.
Restrictions are being eased in my region starting this friday. My city is still in the medium-high group of restrictions, but bars and restaurants will be able to open with capacity limits until 17h and up to 4 people can meet. I will finally be able to see my friends face to face after a month. :)
Catalonia eased restrictions a week ago, and infections are rising again <_<
Quote from: celedhring on December 02, 2020, 08:19:03 AM
Catalonia eased restrictions a week ago, and infections are rising again <_<
It does really feel like it's worth just holding on with strict restrictions for another few months while the vaccines are rolled out and then go fucking wild in spring/summer. All the world on spring break behaviour :lol: :w00t:
And I do think there's a real chance we're underestimating the size of an economic rebound. I think there's a real chance that consumers just go crazy once things are safe again because most people (not me :weep:) have saved money in the last year and have a lot of cash to burn.
I'm not sure there's that many people out there with wads of cash waiting for fun things to do...
Quote from: celedhring on December 02, 2020, 08:28:09 AM
I'm not sure there's that many people out there with wads of cash waiting for fun things to do...
I don't know. I read a piece that in the UK and US most people have more money in their accounts than they had pre-covid and in the UK the average household saving rate is 25% - and that's unsustainable. We are naturally spenders who rely on credit cards not saving accounts :P
Obviously lots of people have been really badly hit financially and that will carry on in the recovery. But most people kept on working and cut their spending by a lot over the course of a year (no holidays etc). I feel like we could be surprised how much pent-up demand there is - there's a reason the 20s roared etc (and then there were lots who were on the outside of that).
Edit: I should say I have somehow managed to increase my household spending through all this - largely I think by buying books I'd finally have time to read (left unread) and signing up for remote fitness subscriptions (unused) :weep: :(
Quote from: celedhring on December 02, 2020, 08:28:09 AM
I'm not sure there's that many people out there with wads of cash waiting for fun things to do...
There are, it's just that it's quite probably people we don't know. :P
I mean, anyone with a steady income (think public servants, for instance, or retirees with cushy pensions) has kept getting it all this time, while having way less options to spend that money.
You remember TV preacher Kenneth Copeland who prayed Covid away?
Well, someone added a metal track. Works surprisingly well. :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JPRvxTjfOk&ab_channel=AndreAntunes
(to skip the intro, this is where the remix starts: https://youtu.be/0JPRvxTjfOk?t=41)
Tested negative after having mild symptoms for a couple of days. I didn't know you could stick something that far up your nose :lol:
Quote from: The Larch on December 02, 2020, 08:53:27 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 02, 2020, 08:28:09 AM
I'm not sure there's that many people out there with wads of cash waiting for fun things to do...
There are, it's just that it's quite probably people we don't know. :P
I mean, anyone with a steady income (think public servants, for instance, or retirees with cushy pensions) has kept getting it all this time, while having way less options to spend that money.
I think pretty much everyone at my old job and at my current one are in that boat. Commute expenses disappeared as did chances for travel, pub-restaurant expenditure, cultural expenditure. As long as your job didn't disappear (or pay isn't dependent on volume of work completed), there was savings to be had.
Quote from: garbon on December 02, 2020, 09:25:19 AM
Quote from: The Larch on December 02, 2020, 08:53:27 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 02, 2020, 08:28:09 AM
I'm not sure there's that many people out there with wads of cash waiting for fun things to do...
There are, it's just that it's quite probably people we don't know. :P
I mean, anyone with a steady income (think public servants, for instance, or retirees with cushy pensions) has kept getting it all this time, while having way less options to spend that money.
I think pretty much everyone at my old job and at my current one are in that boat. Commute expenses disappeared as did chances for travel, pub-restaurant expenditure, cultural expenditure. As long as your job didn't disappear (or pay isn't dependent on volume of work completed), there was savings to be had.
Not sure about that. True, expenses for restaurants and days out and about are down, and I haven't bought any clothes this year iirc.
But cancelled trips did come at a cost, not to mention two cancelled weddings (although I accept that will not be a common experience). And I have done a lot of online buying from lack of diversion, like books, games, food deliveries.
So overall I'm probably having a normal year financially. Which, considering the circumstances, I'm not complaining about.
Quote from: Maladict on December 02, 2020, 09:45:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on December 02, 2020, 09:25:19 AM
Quote from: The Larch on December 02, 2020, 08:53:27 AM
Quote from: celedhring on December 02, 2020, 08:28:09 AM
I'm not sure there's that many people out there with wads of cash waiting for fun things to do...
There are, it's just that it's quite probably people we don't know. :P
I mean, anyone with a steady income (think public servants, for instance, or retirees with cushy pensions) has kept getting it all this time, while having way less options to spend that money.
I think pretty much everyone at my old job and at my current one are in that boat. Commute expenses disappeared as did chances for travel, pub-restaurant expenditure, cultural expenditure. As long as your job didn't disappear (or pay isn't dependent on volume of work completed), there was savings to be had.
Not sure about that. True, expenses for restaurants and days out and about are down, and I haven't bought any clothes this year iirc.
But cancelled trips did come at a cost, not to mention two cancelled weddings (although I accept that will not be a common experience). And I have done a lot of online buying from lack of diversion, like books, games, food deliveries.
So overall I'm probably having a normal year financially. Which, considering the circumstances, I'm not complaining about.
Well, I doubt that too many people had two cancelled weddings this year. :P
I mean, I had a big trip to Japan go down the drain because of this, and I could cancel everything with no penalty, except the plane tickets, which will be valid next year, so even if that was a net negative for me, it was not a total loss. And yeah, I might do more online shopping, but all I've saved on social stuff (uncountable beers and plenty of dinners out) completely make up for that.
I'm actually down for the year. I've been spending much less, but also got a lot of cancelled work. Most of my friends are on that boat, but then again most of them work in covid-sensitive sectors (film, culture, higher education...)
Myself, I spend a lot less money. I didn't buy too many things & I've put off most car related expenses since it barely sees any use. So far, I gas up my car 3 times in 2020. I don't expect there will be a 4th time.
Quote from: Syt on December 02, 2020, 08:56:44 AM
You remember TV preacher Kenneth Copeland who prayed Covid away?
Well, someone added a metal track. Works surprisingly well. :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JPRvxTjfOk&ab_channel=AndreAntunes
(to skip the intro, this is where the remix starts: https://youtu.be/0JPRvxTjfOk?t=41)
Holy shit :lmfao:
What's your Covid vaccine priority? Here's a NY Times tool to tell you.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/03/opinion/covid-19-vaccine-timeline.html
It's US-based, so you have to enter some kind of US county - I'm sure you can pick one. I entered Hennepin County, Minnesota (home of Minneapolis) but it really doesn't matter if you're only interested in the national figures anyways.
Saying I'm an essential worked I am behind 126 million people. If I'm not an essential worker I'm behind 268 million people.
Interestingly, if I said I was obese (which is a listed Covid health risk) I'd be behind 23 million people.
Nice. I am only 20,600th in line in my county.
I had to scroll way down to see myself in the NJ crowd. Seriously, even children are more special than I am? Based on that tool, once I get the vaccine, everyone will know that we're done here in New Jersey with vaccinations. I think I need to start hitting all the Burger Kings around me daily, it's for my health.
Mine said I was already effectively dead, so I should just give up.
Quote from: DGuller on December 03, 2020, 05:03:21 PM
I had to scroll way down to see myself in the NJ crowd. Seriously, even children are more special than I am? Based on that tool, once I get the vaccine, everyone will know that we're done here in New Jersey with vaccinations. I think I need to start hitting all the Burger Kings around me daily, it's for my health.
You could find some mild offence that lands you in jail for a few months, instead.
I suppose the children/young adult preference over middle aged guys is because they might be stronger spreaders? (due to their levels of activity).
EDIT: Harlan County looks like a lovely place to live... (Justified already taught me that).
QuoteBased on your risk profile, we believe you're in line behind 23.0 million people across the United States.
When it comes to Kentucky, we think you're behind 295,500 others who are at higher risk in your state.
And in Jefferson County, you're behind 66,800 others.
Quote from: celedhring on December 04, 2020, 02:15:41 AM
EDIT: Harlan County looks like a lovely place to live... (Justified already taught me that).
:hmm:
I chose Essex County in Vermont because that's where my fake US address is.
Based on your risk profile, we believe you're in line behind 268.7 million people across the United States.
Based on the current outlook for the Vaccine in Canada, that's actually true.
Fucking Mulroney & Chrétien.
Mine is a gas station in Oregon.
With no regular hockey on the horizon, I'm contemplating signing my oldest up for outdoor hockey in January/February.
Look, in times gone by all kids played hockey outdoors but since widespread indoor rinks started being built in the 60s-70s pretty much all organized hockey has moved inside. It can get pretty cold outdoors in Edmonton in January...
Reported.
Since the situation does not improve as planned, less than 5,000 new cases per day while it's closer to 10,000-15,000, lockdown restrictions won't be really alleviated from December 15th, as planned. Christmas will still see some tolerance but not New Year's Eve. Since the police is a bit upset with Macron's perceived duplicity in a couple of not related cases of alleged police brutality, the strictness of enforcement is not certain.
Cinemas, theatres and museums won't reopen till January 7th, at the earliest, while December 15th was still planned until yesterday.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on December 11, 2020, 09:20:01 AM
Since the situation does not improve as planned, less than 5,000 new cases per day while it's closer to 10,000-15,000, lockdown restrictions won't be really alleviated from December 15th, as planned. Christmas will still see some tolerance but not New Year's Eve. Since the police is a bit upset with Macron's perceived duplicity in a couple of not related cases of alleged police brutality, the strictness of enforcement is not certain.
Cinemas, theaters and museums won't reopen till January 7th, at the earliest, while December 15th was still planned until yesterday.
Meanwhile Britain during that period will largely let it all hang out, like out beer guts at the Costa del Sol. :bowler:
:hmm:
:(
Apparently London (and I imagine other areas) going back into Tier 3 on Monday. There's a lot of new cases and London's apparently rising fast (which it didn't really during the second wave).
On the upside based on ONS survey it looks like most of the rise is among kids and high schoolers.
Numbers in BC are going back down. The restrictions that started at the end of October seem to be working. But we still have our freedom fighters who want the right to infect others.
The state I live in will now issue a nightly curfew and probably close down all shops other than "daily needs", which is not yet defined. You are only supposed to leave your house for a "just" cause.
A colleague and i are scheduled to drive to Switzerland for 2 weeks in January to train new colleagues. I'm not too fussed about it, since we will go by car, will get tested before leaving, and I will spend time only in my hotel room and at the office, but I'm kind of curious what the travel situation will be in general after the holidays. :unsure:
We are due new restriction tomorrow or Tuesday, probably a German-style lockdown.
Ran out to get some panettone, Christmas is saved.
And I'm hoping against hope the gyms will be allowed to stay open.
Entering personal lockdown now. Think ten days of zero contact (plus a couple of tests) should be enough to feel safe getting in a car with my mum to go down to theirs for Christmas. Then, obviously no outside contact until I travel back. I'm comfortable travelling back by train because I'm low risk and will, obviously, be masked. Main worry is making sure I have nothing when I go down.
Mass just rolled back the re-opening. Which means UMass probably won't open to the extent that they were hoping in January. Probably another furlough coming up. :(
Quote from: Maladict on December 13, 2020, 01:22:31 PM
We are due new restriction tomorrow or Tuesday, probably a German-style lockdown.
Ran out to get some panettone, Christmas is saved.
And I'm hoping against hope the gyms will be allowed to stay open.
Oh, good cal Mal, I'll have to go get some on Monday evening. :)
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 13, 2020, 01:34:17 PM
Entering personal lockdown now. Think ten days of zero contact (plus a couple of tests) should be enough to feel safe getting in a car with my mum to go down to theirs for Christmas. Then, obviously no outside contact until I travel back. I'm comfortable travelling back by train because I'm low risk and will, obviously, be masked. Main worry is making sure I have nothing when I go down.
Thought this would just be me but I've just had WhatsApp with friends on meeting up (which I couldn't make because isolating) and it turns out basically all of them are voluntarily isolating next week before Christmas. Slightly surprised as I hadn't heard of people talking about it but I wonder if that'll be a trend.
One day into second lockdown, and talk among friends and family is decidedly more negative and depressing than the first time round. In some cases worryingly so. :(
Quote from: Maladict on December 15, 2020, 07:13:13 AM
One day into second lockdown, and talk among friends and family is decidedly more negative and depressing than the first time round. In some cases worryingly so. :(
Part of it has to be the time of year. Winter is depressing even in the best of times.
Quote from: Tamas on December 15, 2020, 09:14:11 AM
Quote from: Maladict on December 15, 2020, 07:13:13 AM
One day into second lockdown, and talk among friends and family is decidedly more negative and depressing than the first time round. In some cases worryingly so. :(
Part of it has to be the time of year. Winter is depressing even in the best of times.
Yeah 100%.
March was bad but the days were getting lighter as time went on and the weather turned beautiful in April. Now it's dark by 4 - really need the Christmas tree and festiveness right now.
I drink a lot more now.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on December 15, 2020, 12:24:20 PM
I drink a lot more now.
Me too, and oddly my company has been actually encouraging that.
Like yesterday we had a 'Holiday-themed' (Zoom) meeting and they encouraged us to show up at the meeting with drinks in hand. My boss scolded me for not having one, even though I told him I was holding off because I had a stored proc to finish rewriting and I really don't think I should code while drunk. :wacko:
Cal if you are not going to take your most important job duties seriously they will find somebody who will :lol:
police had to interrupt two more private gatherings in my immediate area, again.
people never fucking learn anything.
Apparently, Christmas is also cancelled in our area, despite being orange instead of red. I really wish I had known before buying my gifts.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 15, 2020, 09:19:42 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 15, 2020, 09:14:11 AM
Quote from: Maladict on December 15, 2020, 07:13:13 AM
One day into second lockdown, and talk among friends and family is decidedly more negative and depressing than the first time round. In some cases worryingly so. :(
Part of it has to be the time of year. Winter is depressing even in the best of times.
Yeah 100%.
March was bad but the days were getting lighter as time went on and the weather turned beautiful in April. Now it's dark by 4 - really need the Christmas tree and festiveness right now.
It's not as cold as Alaska...but the winter is far more dark/depressing here. The brightening effect of the persistent winter snow layer is a real one.
Stockholm hasn't seen the sun in weeks. And with the sun setting before 3 PM you really need that brief sunshine. It's also warm and therefore no snow, so the darkness is oppressive.
Quote from: Valmy on December 15, 2020, 02:10:32 PM
Cal if you are not going to take your most important job duties seriously they will find somebody who will :lol:
:D
Quote from: The Brain on December 15, 2020, 03:09:35 PM
Stockholm hasn't seen the sun in weeks. And with the sun setting before 3 PM you really need that brief sunshine. It's also warm and therefore no snow, so the darkness is oppressive.
ewwwww
Quote from: katmai on December 15, 2020, 10:05:37 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 15, 2020, 03:09:35 PM
Stockholm hasn't seen the sun in weeks. And with the sun setting before 3 PM you really need that brief sunshine. It's also warm and therefore no snow, so the darkness is oppressive.
ewwwww
I'm gonna be the bigger man here, however impossible that seems.
:lol:
Quote from: The Brain on December 16, 2020, 04:02:35 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 15, 2020, 10:05:37 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 15, 2020, 03:09:35 PM
Stockholm hasn't seen the sun in weeks. And with the sun setting before 3 PM you really need that brief sunshine. It's also warm and therefore no snow, so the darkness is oppressive.
ewwwww
I'm gonna be the bigger man here, however impossible that seems.
I meant having to deal with dark and no snow, knowing how miserable it can be here with similar circumstances.
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
:hug:
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
:hug:
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
I'm jealous you still have grandparents alive. Mine started dying in 1980. :(
Quote from: Caliga on December 18, 2020, 09:44:46 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
I'm jealous you still have grandparents alive. Mine started dying in 1980. :(
:(
My grandpa (her husband) died back in 1993. I have always considered it a big shame because I was too young (13 when he died) to really appreciate him, and I feel like I have missed out on a lot of quality time, so I "have the feels".
My maternal grandparents died in fairly quick succession two years ago. They were both well into their 80s, so overall can't complain I guess. But they had a lot of health problems by then and quite frankly they were tired of living. I am very grateful for the extra time I got to spend with them compared to my grandpa above, but if someone offered me the choice to go out suddenly and relatively painlessly at grandpa's age at the time, or endure on for another decade as nature batters away relentlessly at my body and mind, there's a good chance I'd go with the quick and early version.
Anyways, apologies for the off-topic.
My two grandmas passed away very close from each other two years ago, and in a way it is a relief that they didn't live up to the covid crisis, as they would surely be scared senseless and all the family would be extremely stressed about it.
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
I have one grandmother left - she's 90. She really valued her independence but her growing dementia meant she had to be moved into a nursing home over the winter (before she was in an assisted-living place where she still maintained her own little apartment). We were going to visit her last summer but of course Covid made that impossible.
I've been told she has good days and bad days (and the bad days are pretty bad), so I hope I can see her at least one more time. She lives in Regina which is a 7-8 hour drive (and I have no other reason to visit Regina) so I don't get to see her often.
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 10:49:41 AM:(
My grandpa (her husband) died back in 1993. I have always considered it a big shame because I was too young (13 when he died) to really appreciate him, and I feel like I have missed out on a lot of quality time, so I "have the feels".
Yeah my paternal grandparents died before I was born so I never knew them.
Having said that all of my grandparents were apparently quite "difficult" at the most generous. Can confirm that's definitely true on my Mum's side. We tended to be closer to great aunts and uncles - I speak to my great uncle on the phone (he doesn't do facetiming etc) but it's very tough. I don't know why (British emotional issues probably) but he always feels he's being an imposition if he's on the phone and you must have something better to be getting on with, even if you assure him that the reason you phoned was to speak with him :(
Alternately he's got a very exotic other life and is sick to fuck of me nattering on :lol:
Here's hoping you get to see your grandma soon, Tamas. :hug:
In First World issues: I asked my cleaning company to do my apartment today, a last time before Christmas. Normally they come weekly, but it's been patchy this year due to lockdown, me being at home a lot etc.
So I left my apartment and ... had no idea what to do. Normally I would just grab a book go to the café on the corner and while away a few hours. I didn't really want to go shopping, but nothing else is open. So I just went for a walk. Nowhere specific. Put on my headphones with an audio book and kept walking. I made 15 km (almost 10 miles) in 2.5 hours today according to Google maps (I took the subway back :P ). :lol:
I get the first Modern a shot tomorrow. Ill keep you all posted for any side effects.
I'm more interested in the brain control chip.
I'm confused. Which one is the Bill Gates mind control chip one and which is the one that turns you into a monkey?
Quote from: Tyr on December 28, 2020, 06:36:28 PM
I'm confused. Which one is the Bill Gates mind control chip one and which is the one that turns you into a monkey?
All of them. Don't you watch OANN...
Is it possible to return to monke?
Quote from: 11B4V on December 28, 2020, 05:08:57 PM
I get the first Modern a shot tomorrow. Ill keep you all posted for any side effects.
What put you to the front of the line?
Quote from: DGuller on December 28, 2020, 09:10:29 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on December 28, 2020, 05:08:57 PM
I get the first Modern a shot tomorrow. Ill keep you all posted for any side effects.
What put you to the front of the line?
First Responder US Govmint.
Also, his nasty elbows.
Quote from: Barrister on December 18, 2020, 10:57:55 AM
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
I have one grandmother left - she's 90. She really valued her independence but her growing dementia meant she had to be moved into a nursing home over the winter (before she was in an assisted-living place where she still maintained her own little apartment). We were going to visit her last summer but of course Covid made that impossible.
I've been told she has good days and bad days (and the bad days are pretty bad), so I hope I can see her at least one more time. She lives in Regina which is a 7-8 hour drive (and I have no other reason to visit Regina) so I don't get to see her often.
It's so sad that many families with elder relatives have been unable to see each other or especially get together which is so meaningful for people, especially elders. I have elder relatives and they take many precautions but have been able to spend a few minutes seeing the grand kids, but there haven't been any Holiday family meals or get togethers.
I hope you get to see your grandmother soon. Hopefully the vaccine will make that happen sooner than later.
Quote from: Tamas on December 18, 2020, 06:27:40 AM
Managed a video call with my just-turned-99 grandma. :cry:
It's not easy as I haven't been able to convince my parents to get smartphones for themselves. But my brother-in-law setup a hotspot for a laptop on his mobile, plus a speaker so she could hear me ok. It was great but also gut-wrenching. Can't wait to hop on a plane once this mess subsidies.
Very nice! :hug:
My health care company is starting to get vaccines and are going by the CDC guidelines in vaccinating people. It'll be the front line health care workers first, then those of us in support jobs but I assume that'll be in February at the soonest, unless for those in support who go into the hospitals.
Ugh, Inslee extended the current restrictions. Prob for the best, but still :bash:
Quote from: 11B4V on December 30, 2020, 11:47:55 PM
Ugh, Inslee extended the current restrictions. Prob for the best, but still :bash:
As of midnight 5 hours ago, here we've gone into the highest tier 4 restrictions; but those won't be enough.
I expect the government to invent a new tier 5 in the next few dasy and put most of the country into it, a fig leaf to avoid calling it a national lockdown.
No doubt
So... Does tier 4 practically change anyrhing?
I already don't have any school age kids or go to non food related shops....
You're still allowed tradesmen in right?
Quote from: Tyr on December 31, 2020, 04:06:04 AM
So... Does tier 4 practically change anyrhing?
I already don't have any school age kids or go to non food related shops....
You're still allowed tradesmen in right?
Tier 4 does change things - at least in London. You can't meet people outside your household, shouldn't be outside your home without a reason (like first lockdown) and not travel etc.
But yes. As a single man who doesn't do much shopping in many ways this gruelling public health emergency looks a lot like my normal life :lol: :P But I do miss cafes, pubs, restaurants, social contact, travel, holidays outside of London, indoor spaces etc :(
I think you've always been allowed tradesmen (thank God because my hot water and heating's broken multiple times in various levels of lockdown :lol: :weep:).
QuoteAs of midnight 5 hours ago, here we've gone into the highest tier 4 restrictions; but those won't be enough.
Of course nothing might be enough with the new strain :ph34r:
But I don't understand why they're still only rolling out Tier 4 region by region when it's clear eveywhere will end up in Tier 4 eventually. It's just pissing in the wind <_<
Curfew starting at 20.00 hours, unlike Christmas' Eve with 100,000 policemen and gendarmes to enforce it, allegedly. Might result in less cars burned as well (stupid banlieue tradition).
Watching old Japanese cartoons of my childhood/youth (Coucou Ségolène !) I guess with port, champagne and chocolate cake for New Year's Day while watching an empty New Year's Concert in Vienna.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 31, 2020, 05:27:32 AM
Quote from: Tyr on December 31, 2020, 04:06:04 AM
So... Does tier 4 practically change anyrhing?
I already don't have any school age kids or go to non food related shops....
You're still allowed tradesmen in right?
Tier 4 does change things - at least in London. You can't meet people outside your household, shouldn't be outside your home without a reason (like first lockdown) and not travel etc.
But yes. As a single man who doesn't do much shopping in many ways this gruelling public health emergency looks a lot like my normal life :lol: :P But I do miss cafes, pubs, restaurants, social contact, travel, holidays outside of London, indoor spaces etc :(
I think you've always been allowed tradesmen (thank God because my hot water and heating's broken multiple times in various levels of lockdown :lol: :weep:).
That's good. There's a few things I need my dad to take care of here
But yes. I miss pubs. Should have gone out more in summer when I had the chance.
Wanted to go for a leisurely walk down Ringstraße and around the museums while listening to a podcast. If you didn't know it, you wouldn't think there's a strict lockdown (well, you'd be wondering why most shops and all restaurants are closed). Lots of people milling about. Large groups of kids in the soccer and basketball cages.
Went to buy groceries, and the shop was the busiest I've seen it in half a year.
I need different places to go for a walk, because it was way too busy to feel relaxing.
Germany is now limiting private meetings to one household plus one other person, also a ban of going more than 15km from your residence in high incidence areas. Schools and kindergartens remain closed.
In the spirit of strict lockdown tomorrow I'll drop off a parcel return at a gas station, drive to another one to have an (automatic) wash of the car because it is putrid on the outside, then on Friday will have my MOT done at a local garage because otherwise I'll be forced off the roads.
Last night, I started to feel tired, exhausted, and my muscles started to hurt. I went to bed and woke up at 2:30 am with 38.5°C fever and a light cough. This morning the temp has dropped by a degree, but I still feel bad. I did the online check on the city of Vienna homepage which says there's a high chance it might be Covid, so I'm now queued up for someone to come to my apartment for testing.
Seriously, I can't imagine it's Covid. For months now I've not met friends, and the only people I ran into were when I went to the supermarket, for a walk, or the occasional food or Amazon delivery. And I diligently wash my hands every time I step inside. :unsure:
EDIT: They'll come between 9:15 am and 12:15 pm. And I'm not supposed to eat after 7:15 am. They texted me at 7:51 am. :rolleyes:
(I haven't eaten anything, anyways.)
Quote from: Syt on January 06, 2021, 01:48:08 AM
Last night, I started to feel tired, exhausted, and my muscles started to hurt. I went to bed and woke up at 2:30 am with 38.5°C fever and a light cough. This morning the temp has dropped by a degree, but I still feel bad. I did the online check on the city of Vienna homepage which says there's a high chance it might be Covid, so I'm now queued up for someone to come to my apartment for testing.
Seriously, I can't imagine it's Covid. For months now I've not met friends, and the only people I ran into were when I went to the supermarket, for a walk, or the occasional food or Amazon delivery. And I diligently wash my hands every time I step inside. :unsure:
EDIT: They'll come between 9:15 am and 12:15 pm. And I'm not supposed to eat after 7:15 am. They texted me at 7:51 am. :rolleyes:
(I haven't eaten anything, anyways.)
Best of luck Syt!
The no eating thing is odd, haven't heard that before.
Thanks!
It's because it was a gargle test. Guy was here half an hour ago. I guess I will get a notification some time this afternoon or so.
Fingers crossed. :)
Crossing my fingers. It might be something else or just a weird day under the weather, hopefully nothing to worry about.
Quote from: Syt on January 06, 2021, 04:43:41 AM
Thanks!
It's because it was a gargle test. Guy was here half an hour ago. I guess I will get a notification some time this afternoon or so.
Syt, hoping it goes OK for you.
Thanks, I'm not overly worried. I feel mostly fine except for the fever, exhaustion and a light cough. :)
I got a rapid test a few days ago and a negative result, that's good. Because I work in a busy restaurant I have been sort of anticipating getting this thing at some point, but I'm as diligent as I can be under the circumstances. The vector of my potential exposure was not work though.
My dearly loved 19 year old cat had kidney failure (Eddy Merckx) so I called my ex wife and let her know it would be a good time to say good bye to her old cat if she wished too, and she came and spent an hour with this beautiful old friend. She called me a day or two later and said she got a positive covid test. Oh poo. I don't generally get very close to my ex, but I spent an hour talking with her in the living room with my son.
My son and I get the rapid test (6 days after potential exposure) both negative. My ex wife is fine, very healthy, dance instructor, 45, probably in no danger and doesn't have too difficult symptoms.
Very alarmingly though her mother now has it, and her mothers and her mothers husbands health are not optimal. She is not doing well so far.
I had my cat euthanized, to give her a better death than the one kidney failure brings, my girlfriend and I were both with her when she died. I had loved that cat and cared for it diligently , I cried for days after she went.
:(
Sorry, fromtia! :(
:(
19. Wow. It had a good run. Poor cat.
Quote from: fromtia on January 06, 2021, 11:35:12 AM
.....
Very alarmingly though her mother now has it, and her mothers and her mothers husbands health are not optimal. She is not doing well so far.
I had my cat euthanized, to give her a better death than the one kidney failure brings, my girlfriend and I were both with her when she died. I had loved that cat and cared for it diligently , I cried for days after she went.
:(
Sorry Formtia, must have been a very trying time for you, but take comfort from having done the right thing all that time.
Still waiting for my test result. Feeling ok today - scratchy throat, just elevated temperature. Muscles still very tired.
My new fridge arrived today. Yay! (The old one had a coolant leak from which gas escaped.) My landlord is paying for it, so that's good. But it also meant figuring out my food situation for a few days without a refrigerator.
So I ordered sushi for dinner. I rarely order it myself, because it's such a staple of lunch meetings at work that I have it usually every other week or so, when there's no lockdown. :D
Quote from: Syt on January 07, 2021, 01:47:46 PM
Still waiting for my test result. Feeling ok today - scratchy throat, just elevated temperature. Muscles still very tired.
My new fridge arrived today. Yay! (The old one had a coolant leak from which gas escaped.) My landlord is paying for it, so that's good. But it also meant figuring out my food situation for a few days without a refrigerator.
So I ordered sushi for dinner. I rarely order it myself, because it's such a staple of lunch meetings at work that I have it usually every other week or so, when there's no lockdown. :D
Hopefully you'll be in the clear either way in a few days.
On Christmas Eve I gave myself a new haircut, not for the non-family get together, but because I reasoned I should look presentable if I had to go into hospital over the next few weeks.
Also got myself some new underwear for the same reason,though I don't know if hospitals allow one to use underwear as opposed to letting it all hang out in those diaphanous blouses patients wear. :Embarrass:
Quote from: mongers on January 07, 2021, 05:22:44 PM
On Christmas Eve I gave myself a new haircut, not for the non-family get together, but because I reasoned I should look presentable if I had to go into hospital over the next few weeks.
Also got myself some new underwear for the same reason,though I don't know if hospitals allow one to use underwear as opposed to letting it all hang out in those diaphanous blouses patients wear. :Embarrass:
The usual thinking is that if they have to cut your underwear off you you, it should at least look nice and not full of holes. :ph34r:
Friend of mine that works at a hospital has become the first person I know that's got vaccinated.
So I called the hotline today, asking where my results are. "Oh, they were done two days ago, it's negative." :rolleyes:
"So, can you send it to me?"
"You need to send an email to [address], they will send you a link in the next few days."
:rolleyes:
Still having a light fever, but feel fine enough for the 8 hour roadtrip on Sunday. :bleeding:
Quote from: celedhring on January 08, 2021, 03:39:59 AM
Friend of mine that works at a hospital has become the first person I know that's got vaccinated.
Buddy of mine from my hockey team (who is a nurse) got vaccinated the other day. First person I know.
Going to stay with health care workers for a while yet.
Stimulus received last week, unemployment top up not received this week. :unsure:
Hearing about the infections going up in Ontario - be safe Malthus and Sask :)
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 08, 2021, 07:24:37 PM
Hearing about the infections going up in Ontario - be safe Malthus and Sask :)
I think the whole world is gonna 'burn' before we eventually get the measure of this virus.
So today's test was not a nose stab, just a throat stab, and apparently that's enough? :unsure:
If we're rejected at the German border tomorrow, I'll let you know. :P
People in my health care company have been getting the vaccine. Corporate folks have been sending out emails and videos explaining the process and how to sign up. Health care workers are getting the vaccine first but also others an those of us in IT support can sign up for later dates. Some support persons like techs go into hospitals or meet with doctors and nurses. Even though my group doesn't go into hospitals very often, a few people have gotten vaccines. I work from home like most do now but also waiting a bit as I need to check with my doctor first.
Good to read the vaccines are slowly getting out there.
We're in curfew from 8pm to 5am starting tonight. And I think it's the first time in my life that I don't hear cars on the highway while being home.
Quote from: Tamas on January 10, 2021, 12:18:04 AM
Good to read the vaccines are slowly getting out there.
Yeah, it's getting out and more slowly than projected but my company has it and scheduling people for it while vaccine supplies last. I have a cop friend who got it. So from what I've seen reported in my state the idea is for medical workers, elderly especially in nursing homes and first responders to be mostly the first getting it.
Colleague of mine took his mother in law out of a residential home for the elderly before Christmas due to high infection rates there. By now, one sixth of the inhabitants there died of Covid and more are infected. I fear that Germany is now living through what our neighbours had earlier in the year. Makes it even less understandable, why the vaccination ramp up is so slow here.
Quote from: Zanza on January 11, 2021, 06:27:25 AM
Colleague of mine took his mother in law out of a residential home for the elderly before Christmas due to high infection rates there. By now, one sixth of the inhabitants there died of Covid and more are infected. I fear that Germany is now living through what our neighbours had earlier in the year. Makes it even less understandable, why the vaccination ramp up is so slow here.
Grim news. :(
You still couldn't tell based on our immediate area (quite leafy and suburbian area next to a major road), but driving into central Slough earlier today, traffic was definitely down from normal, seems like the numbers are becoming scary enough for people to take notice (or I was driving at a particularly quiet time).
My company partners with senior living communities, and last week in a meeting one of our partners reported that slightly over half of their workers based in senior living communities are resisting being vaccinated, either because they think the vaccine is unsafe or because they believe it's an infringement on their freedom to be forced to be vaccinated in order to go to work. :bleeding:
Quote from: Caliga on January 11, 2021, 09:55:31 AM
My company partners with senior living communities, and last week in a meeting one of our partners reported that slightly over half of their workers based in senior living communities are resisting being vaccinated, either because they think the vaccine is unsafe or because they believe it's an infringement on their freedom to be forced to be vaccinated in order to go to work. :bleeding:
Are they able to fill the now open positions?
"Partners"
Mum was vaccinated last week. She's in the 75-80 age bracket so was surprised it was that early.
Quote from: Gups on January 11, 2021, 10:03:11 AM
Mum was vaccinated last week. She's in the 75-80 age bracket so was surprised it was that early.
City/urban areas doing better than rural ones?
Here I've not heard of anyone yet getting it.
Franchises to avoid legal liability? :hmm:
Does Cal work for Soylent? :hmm:
Quote from: alfred russel on January 11, 2021, 02:43:00 PM
Franchises to avoid legal liability? :hmm:
Not exactly. :sleep:
had my fourth test today. A co-worker has it.
Quote from: saskganesh on January 11, 2021, 09:04:31 PM
had my fourth test today. A co-worker has it.
Good luck Sask, hope it's a negative.
One of my friends in my boardgaming group (we've been playing remotely since March) is down with Covid. His brother got it, they met during the holidays and now the whole family has tested positive.
Quote from: Caliga on January 11, 2021, 09:55:31 AM
My company partners with senior living communities, and last week in a meeting one of our partners reported that slightly over half of their workers based in senior living communities are resisting being vaccinated, either because they think the vaccine is unsafe or because they believe it's an infringement on their freedom to be forced to be vaccinated in order to go to work. :bleeding:
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
They have been ordered to get the vaccine... or else. :menace:
Quote from: Caliga on January 12, 2021, 12:42:06 PM
Quote from: Caliga on January 11, 2021, 09:55:31 AM
My company partners with senior living communities, and last week in a meeting one of our partners reported that slightly over half of their workers based in senior living communities are resisting being vaccinated, either because they think the vaccine is unsafe or because they believe it's an infringement on their freedom to be forced to be vaccinated in order to go to work. :bleeding:
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
They have been ordered to get the vaccine... or else. :menace:
They'll have to talk to HR? :o
Quote from: The Brain on January 12, 2021, 12:42:59 PM
They'll have to talk to HR? :o
(https://media1.tenor.com/images/f61772aa48db447752fa7bce3fb4b8df/tenor.gif?itemid=15887626)
:D
:lol: You're a funny guy.
So now I know a couple of people who have lost relatives. A neighbor's uncle and a co-worker's relative. I think those are the first Covid deaths I've heard about from people close to me.
Quote from: KRonn on January 12, 2021, 08:46:42 PM
So now I know a couple of people who have lost relatives. A neighbor's uncle and a co-worker's relative. I think those are the first Covid deaths I've heard about from people close to me.
Sorry bud.
So far my cousin's wife's aunt has died from it, and the stepfather of one of my friends (who incidentally was a 'COVID IS FAKE NEWS' person, right up till the very end).
Quote from: Caliga on January 12, 2021, 08:48:13 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 12, 2021, 08:46:42 PM
So now I know a couple of people who have lost relatives. A neighbor's uncle and a co-worker's relative. I think those are the first Covid deaths I've heard about from people close to me.
Sorry bud.
So far my cousin's wife's aunt has died from it, and the stepfather of one of my friends (who incidentally was a 'COVID IS FAKE NEWS' person, right up till the very end).
Sorry to hear that. My condolences.
Curfew advanced to 18.00 hours from today on, still ending at 06.00 the following day. Previously, it started at 20.00.
Back to exemption certificates, due to the change.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on January 16, 2021, 08:00:39 AM
Curfew advanced to 18.00 hours from today on, still ending at 06.00 the following day. Previously, it started at 20.00.
Back to exemption certificates, due to the change.
Why doesn't the UK have a curfew?
Maybe we 'like' a daily death toll three or four times that of France? :hmm:
Curfew here is at 22h at the moment, used to be 23h. Some regions are implementing (or trying to implement) a curfew at 20h, and the possibility of it being at 18h has also been flouted.
I have returned, hale and hearty!
On Sunday we drove to Switzerland, with several border crossings (you generally drive from Vienna via Linz and Munich to avoid the Alpine roads, drive is about 7 hours without breaks, and takes longer through the mountains; our rental car was a BMW 530d; the 4 wheel drive came in handy during the snowfalls this week; we saw about 70cm of snow in a day):
Austria => Germany => Austria => Switzerland
Germany had mandatory online registration, unless just transiting, plus mandatory negative PCR test. We were just waved through. (They pulled over a lot of Romanians, though.)
Going back to Austria (you cross into Bregenz/Vorarlberg before entering Switzerland), police asked us the purpose of our trip, we explained it was business, showed them the company letter to that effect, and we could continue.
On the Swiss border the guards asked us if we were importing tobacco or alcohol, our purpose of the journey, and then waved us through, without any check of papers or contents of the car.
While we were in Switzerland we basically spent time only in our respective hotel rooms and in the office. We ordered breakfast and dinner to our rooms (we went to meet colleagues in the hotel restaurant on Monday and it was crazy crowded and no one seemed to take any precautions whatsoever).
We did our next PCR test on Thursday. Meanwhile, Austria also added mandatory online registration with mandatory quarantine, unless you fall under any exception (which we do). So we were curious about the journey back.
Switzerland => Austria: no checks, no guards.
Austria => Germany: nothing, not even a checkpoint.
Germany => Austria: there was a queue, but we were just waved through.
Yay for "tough" controls? :unsure:
Quote from: The Larch on January 16, 2021, 10:05:24 AM
Curfew here is at 22h at the moment, used to be 23h. Some regions are implementing (or trying to implement) a curfew at 20h, and the possibility of it being at 18h has also been flouted.
It's impossible to enforce a 18h curfew in this country. Most people leave work at 19h.
More and more rumors of an incoming lockdown in France, as in March-April of last year.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on January 25, 2021, 05:25:57 AM
More and more rumors of an incoming lockdown in France, as in March-April of last year.
This doesn't surprise me. I've been a little worried about France since I saw comments by the health minister that there are hundreds of infections of the new UK variant every day, but there was no sign that they needed a stricter lockdown (especially in schools).
I think looking at a lot of Europe from here it basically reminds me of this time last year. I just don't feel enough countries have taken the risks of this new variant seriously enough and tried to get ahead of it and fully lockdown before they've got hundreds of new community infections daily.
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 25, 2021, 05:34:14 AM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on January 25, 2021, 05:25:57 AM
More and more rumors of an incoming lockdown in France, as in March-April of last year.
This doesn't surprise me. I've been a little worried about France since I saw comments by the health minister that there are hundreds of infections of the new UK variant every day, but there was no sign that they needed a stricter lockdown (especially in schools).
I think looking at a lot of Europe from here it basically reminds me of this time last year. I just don't feel enough countries have taken the risks of this new variant seriously enough and tried to get ahead of it and fully lockdown before they've got hundreds of new community infections daily.
Indeed.
Incidentally - and the same happened in the last lockdown - one of the saddest things about lockdowns is the rise in domestic violence. I do some pro bono work with a domestic violence charity (basically to help get restraining orders so if an abuser turns up you can call the police). Last lockdown we all got an email from them for help because they were drowning in cases and people asking for help - and I've just received the same email again :(
Quote from: 11B4V on December 28, 2020, 05:08:57 PM
I get the first Modern a shot tomorrow. Ill keep you all posted for any side effects.
Second Moderna shot basically a kick in the ass. Out of 15 officers receiving the second shot 10 have had varying degrees of side effects, 1 had none, 4 are unknown at this time.
Common side effects to all
Bad headache
Fever
Chills with uncontrollable shaking.
Onset 8-12 after injection lasting for Up to 24 hours or so.
So in my region we're now in a lockdown in almost everything but name. From wednesday and for at least 3 weeks, all bars and restaurants will have to close except for take away orders and deliveries, gyms have to close, all shops except those considered essential have to close by 18h, no socializing with those outside your home, all cultural venues to fully close, most sporting events will be cancelled as well (excepting professional sport), physical lessons in university cancelled, etc. Except primary and secondary schools remaining open, not much else will be happening.
I noticed that the sausage stand near me which serves excellent food offers take away and delivery during the pandemic. Since it's been a while since I had a proper sausage from a Würstlstand I partook in the offer yesterday for lunch. It was glorious.
(Though the proper experience is to have it at the stand, with a beer, in silence, or chatting with whoever else is there.)
In other culinary lockdown news, Five Guys Burger opened yesterday in Vienna, in the most touristy part of town. Couldn't have picked a better time. :D
I may order some over the weekend, though.
It's worth it atleast once.
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 26, 2021, 09:06:54 AM
It's worth it atleast once.
Meh, I'd say it's massively overpriced for what is fairly standard fast food.
Quote from: Maladict on January 26, 2021, 09:58:34 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 26, 2021, 09:06:54 AM
It's worth it atleast once.
Meh, I'd say it's massively overpriced for what is fairly standard fast food.
I'd say it is a cut above the basics like BK and McDonald's but agree it's price point is on premium side for its class.
Thats why I've never tried it. Came close once, but didn't get beyond a meter in the door.
Its not like their restaurant is even designed nicely. It really just looks like McDonalds but 3x the price.
Quote from: Tyr on January 26, 2021, 10:23:44 AM
Thats why I've never tried it. Came close soon, but don't get beyond a meter in the door.
Its not like their restaurant is even designed nicely. It really just looks like McDonalds but 3x the price.
It's probably comparable to quality of food at GBK or Byron.
I'm starting to think that UK Five Guys is different than Canada Five Guys.
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 26, 2021, 10:31:56 AM
I'm starting to think that UK Five Guys is different than Canada Five Guys.
I've had it in both US and UK. I don't think I'd say there was much difference though UK had even higher price tag.
Last Friday, I made a Lockdown mistake of going to a grocery store (Sainsburys) located near a McDonalds. The massive vehicle lineup at their drive-thru for what is apparently the UK's craving for a Friday-night Big Mac fest was blocking the grocery parking lot. :mad:
Pretty sad grocery parking lot then.
Quote from: garbon on January 26, 2021, 10:34:47 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 26, 2021, 10:31:56 AM
I'm starting to think that UK Five Guys is different than Canada Five Guys.
I've had it in both US and UK. I don't think I'd say there was much difference though UK had even higher price tag.
It's more expensive than the vastly superior Honest Burgers
Wendys now. Wendys I miss. Used to go to the Harajuku one about once a month for a short while. It was pretty good and not massively expensive.
Quote from: Tyr on January 27, 2021, 12:35:09 PM
Wendys now. Wendys I miss. Used to go to the Harajuku one about once a month for a short while. It was pretty good and not massively expensive.
They are planning to relaunch in the UK in the Summer. I remember having them in the 90s but can't really remember if they were any good or not
As a kid/teenager, Wendys was always the go-to chain burger place for me and my brothers.
Wendy's has good salads. i mean, not exactly what you'd go to a burger place for normally, but their competition sucks so wholly that i just wanted to give Wendy's their due.
I think it must be 2 years since I went to a burger joint; I'm starting to get cravings :)
I've had pub (veggie) burgers here in the UK. And just from those experiences, I am convinced you guys suck at hamburgers. :)
how do you mess up a hamburger?
Had a look at Five Guys' menu here. Cheapest, most basic burger is 13.50. :lol: Yeah, no.
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2021, 01:17:22 PM
Had a look at Five Guys' menu here. Cheapest, most basic burger is 13.50. :lol: Yeah, no.
That's for a combo, right? That's about what I paid at O'Hare.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 27, 2021, 02:12:52 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2021, 01:17:22 PM
Had a look at Five Guys' menu here. Cheapest, most basic burger is 13.50. :lol: Yeah, no.
That's for a combo, right? That's about what I paid at O'Hare.
Not as far as I can see. Actually, cheapest burger is the "Little Hamburger" for EUR 10. Medium fries are 6.50. Milkshake (0.4 liters) is EUR 7.
For comparison, Triple Whopper combo with drink and fries is 10.70 at BK.
Damn.
But then again about half of that is VAT, right? :P
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 27, 2021, 03:43:58 PM
Damn.
But then again about half of that is VAT, right? :P
VAT on food is 7% :P
But yeah, for the price of a Five Guys menu I can go to a little Beisl and have a schnitzel with potato salad and a beer, or a pork roast with dumpling and a beer.
Quote from: Syt on January 27, 2021, 03:44:37 PM
But yeah, for the price of a Five Guys menu I can go to a little Beisl and have a schnitzel with potato salad and a beer, or a pork roast with dumpling and a beer.
Yeah exactly, I can have a real meal in a place that doesn't look like a dump for that amount.
Got the first jab today. Not a zombie yet. :(
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 01, 2021, 01:00:14 PM
Got the first jab today. Not a zombie yet. :(
How did you get so far up the line? Special deal for military?
I checked Iowa's rules and I'm stuck in with everyone above 18.
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 01, 2021, 01:00:14 PM
Got the first jab today. Not a zombie yet. :(
:cool:
My frail housebound 91 year old mother had the first jab this afternoon, apparently the vaccinator said she had another 11 people to do and that was about 4pm.
I guess the NHS is now catching up on the last few over 80 old outs, apparently the old dear has had three or four central NHS calls asking about what she's planning to do.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 01, 2021, 01:05:44 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 01, 2021, 01:00:14 PM
Got the first jab today. Not a zombie yet. :(
How did you get so far up the line? Special deal for military?
I checked Iowa's rules and I'm stuck in with everyone above 18.
Probably. We're definitely not in the local/UK queue...and I am sure the military got a certain allotment for us here overseas, and I know all of the front-line military medical folks/first-responders over here have been getting it for a while.
- We were just asked a short while back "do you want it when available, or not?" (it is actually voluntary for us), I said "sure, I'll get it".
- Last week I get an email "we've got eight spots available on this day/time, can you make it?"..."yes".
- Show up and get it.
No 1st vaccinations happening in Alberta due to lack of vaccine. <_<
Canada vaccinated a whopping 5,017 people yesterday. Over one month after vaccines were approved, we've done 2.2% of our population. At that rate it'll take over 4 years to do everyone.
https://covid19tracker.ca/vaccinationtracker.html
Is it a supply issue or an utilization issue? Over here we're at just 3.4%, but we've used everything we got.
100% supply. Moderna only ships every 3 weeks or so, Pfizer did not ship anything last week.
Not helped by the fact we have to get all our supply from the EU as the US won't let any vaccine leave their country.
Meanwhile I bet Sheilbh already got the AZ, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and is waiting to snack on J&J.
Not sure why Canada hasn't approved AstraZeneca yet, but we haven't. Hopefully J&J will go through soon as well.
Quote from: Barrister on February 01, 2021, 01:42:53 PM
Canada vaccinated a whopping 5,017 people yesterday. Over one month after vaccines were approved, we've done 2.2% of our population. At that rate it'll take over 4 years to do everyone.
https://covid19tracker.ca/vaccinationtracker.html
I think that's an overly pessimistic projection, you're assuming that none of the unvaccinated will die in the next four years.
Quote from: DGuller on February 01, 2021, 02:10:30 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 01, 2021, 01:42:53 PM
Canada vaccinated a whopping 5,017 people yesterday. Over one month after vaccines were approved, we've done 2.2% of our population. At that rate it'll take over 4 years to do everyone.
https://covid19tracker.ca/vaccinationtracker.html
I think that's an overly pessimistic projection, you're assuming that none of the unvaccinated will die in the next four years.
:lol:
Fuck you.
Hey Beeb, is anti-masking a thing in Canada?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 01, 2021, 02:13:51 PM
Hey Beeb, is anti-masking a thing in Canada?
Minimally.
We (at least in Alberta) are getting more protests about forced closures - restaurants opening when they're not supposed to, churches having big unauthorized services, that kind of thing. But masking is pretty well accepted (except for the number of times I see people's noses being uncovered). <_<
Quote from: celedhring on February 01, 2021, 01:51:51 PM
Meanwhile I bet Sheilbh already got the AZ, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and is waiting to snack on J&J.
:lol: Just safely locked down, waiting.
Waiting for my dad to get his but he should get it in the next fortnight.
QuoteIs it a supply issue or an utilization issue? Over here we're at just 3.4%, but we've used everything we got.
Becoming a bit of an issue in Scotland as they've used less than 50% of their supply and are way, way behind the pace of the other nations of the UK - no idea why.
I presume is Westminster's fault somehow.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 01, 2021, 02:13:51 PM
Hey Beeb, is anti-masking a thing in Canada?
Kinda.
But it's too cold right now to actually do protests. Quebec's got a curfew too.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 01, 2021, 03:18:42 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 01, 2021, 02:13:51 PM
Hey Beeb, is anti-masking a thing in Canada?
Kinda.
But it's too cold right now to actually do protests. Quebec's got a curfew too.
I get my first shout at 10am on Wednesday.
Being a part-time teacher has its benefits.
Are part time teachers the only ones allowed to shout at their students?
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 01, 2021, 05:38:15 PM
Are part time teachers the only ones allowed to shout at their students?
Only if the students don't answer when you call roll:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7FixvoKBw
Quote from: Valmy on February 01, 2021, 08:01:35 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 01, 2021, 05:38:15 PM
Are part time teachers the only ones allowed to shout at their students?
Only if the students don't answer when you call roll:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7FixvoKBw
That's the one, Vee Almweigh
I think this is the only time where Grumbler quotes me and doesn't give me shit.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 01, 2021, 03:18:42 PM
Kinda.
But it's too cold right now to actually do protests. Quebec's got a curfew too.
I was asking more about people bitching and squawking inside stores. You know, Karens.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 01, 2021, 08:57:57 PM
I think this is the only time where Grumbler quotes me and doesn't give me shit.
:huh: I may sometimes disagree with you, but I don't give you shit. I never, for instance (unlike others) given you shit when you use a wrong word in English. I give shit to the arrogant (being arrogant myself sometimes), but think you are a great guy who adds a lot to the forum.
I'd be glad to see evidence to the contrary. Maybe you are seeing something I am doing inadvertently.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 02, 2021, 03:51:08 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 01, 2021, 03:18:42 PM
Kinda.
But it's too cold right now to actually do protests. Quebec's got a curfew too.
I was asking more about people bitching and squawking inside stores. You know, Karens.
:hmm: Not that I know of. Our covidiots bitch on social media. Our most vocal issue is those that want to go on vacation in the south anyway.
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 01, 2021, 01:00:14 PM
Got the first jab today. Not a zombie yet. :(
Only side effect so far is the sore arm...feels like when I had a bruise on the arm from being nipped by a horse a year or so back...but without the bruise discoloration.
But most of the effects (flu-like symptoms, cold chills, etc) are supposed to come after jab #2.
As long as the side effects aren't worse than the 2nd Shingles Vaccine I got - that sucked for about 10 hours.
Addendum - on the Google reviews page for Five Guys, someone posted the full menu if people want tot see the prices. Reviews are either 1 or 5, with nothing in between. :lol:
(https://i.postimg.cc/FKDtt2zs/fgp.jpg)
There is a Five Guys in my hometown that opened a few weeks before the pandemic. Never went there, but before the virus, there were queues outside. There are plenty of good burger places in my town though. Not sure what makes them supposedly special.
There's a few in Barcelona, they opened them a couple years ago. I wasn't a fan when I lived in the US, so haven't checked them out.
Then again, I loved Jack In The Box :blush:
@Syt What's the Oil use for the frying?
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 02, 2021, 01:54:48 PM
@Syt What's the Oil use for the frying?
I have no idea.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 02, 2021, 01:54:48 PM
@Syt What's the Oil use for the frying?
I'm guessing peanut oil, based on the fact that underneath fries it says "cooked in peanut oil."
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 02, 2021, 02:33:29 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 02, 2021, 01:54:48 PM
@Syt What's the Oil use for the frying?
I'm guessing peanut oil, based on the fact that underneath fries it says "cooked in peanut oil."
You have a keen eye!
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 02, 2021, 05:29:48 PM
You have a keen eye!
I found it strange that a menu in Austria (I assumed) would be written entirely in English, so I was reading through it to see if there were any cases where they had translated.
Picture the scene. A family run restaurant in a small town in Northern Italy. The grandmother, who does all the cooking, comes out to see us. She is very happy we are there. Her grandson, who speaks passable English, translates for us. I ask her what her specialty is. She absolutely glows with pride as she points to the menu item which is translated as "overcooked horsemeat".
What is one to do, I order it. And it turns out to be an amazing slow cooked dish.
On the way out I leave a written note of the correct translation for the grandson.
What in the fuck? Syt has a five guys and I don't. Life is unfair
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 02, 2021, 06:01:22 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 02, 2021, 05:29:48 PM
You have a keen eye!
I found it strange that a menu in Austria (I assumed) would be written entirely in English, so I was reading through it to see if there were any cases where they had translated.
It's in one of the most touristy areas in Vienna, they'll be making most of their revenue from foreign travelers once this is over. Locals don't visit establishments in that area much, and if they do they're in the minority.
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 02, 2021, 06:17:17 PM
Picture the scene. A family run restaurant in a small town in Northern Italy. The grandmother, who does all the cooking, comes out to see us. She is very happy we are there. Her grandson, who speaks passable English, translates for us. I ask her what her specialty is. She absolutely glows with pride as she points to the menu item which is translated as "overcooked horsemeat".
What is one to do, I order it. And it turns out to be an amazing slow cooked dish.
On the way out I leave a written note of the correct translation for the grandson.
I've eaten guinea pig, dog, ox, bison, alligator, and fermented yak's milk, but never horse. I've heard its good and would love to try it.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 02, 2021, 06:01:22 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 02, 2021, 05:29:48 PM
You have a keen eye!
I found it strange that a menu in Austria (I assumed) would be written entirely in English, so I was reading through it to see if there were any cases where they had translated.
Here is the German version from my hometown, not as international as Vienna:
(https://hubert-testet.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Fiveguys-stuttgart7-900x675.jpg)
Prices are way lower I see.
But not for fries I see. :hmm:
These are fried in öl. :mmm:
Quote from: Syt on February 02, 2021, 01:44:48 PM
Addendum - on the Google reviews page for Five Guys, someone posted the full menu if people want tot see the prices. Reviews are either 1 or 5, with nothing in between. :lol:
(https://i.posg.cc/FKDtt2zs/fgp.jpg)
Looks pretty comparable to what I remember from Newcastle.
edit- OK, I can just check google maps for Lausanne. No need to check manually.
(https://i.ibb.co/Tvt1JVy/5guys.png)
So the prices have scaled up with the Swiss premium, albeit not quite as much as might be expected.
Heh, indeed the menu is exactly the same over here. Slightly cheaper though!
(https://i.ibb.co/dKkP4wY/Five-Guys-07.png)
It's pretty expensive as well in Paris, from what I saw in their Champs-Élysées joint.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipMPmTOmMm0_RKaoy9EjVX1mkrnRqaEpKRZgoUrd=w529-h298-k-no)
Just North of Montreal Price.
Lets rename this thread the 5 guys menu thread
I like how my menu doesn't include the peanut oil warning because they have a 4th item.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 03, 2021, 08:14:58 AM
I like how my menu doesn't include the peanut oil warning because they have a 4th item.
I was thinking "and that item is probably poutine" before I scrolled back and confirmed it. :P
Gyms are set to reopen next Monday. Not sure if I'll go, IA is still at over 500 and with nasty variants out there...
Might try go at 7am or such, place should be empty at that time.
Shops will reopen on the 8th. FFP2 masks mandatory, 1 customer per 20 square meters.
I look forward to going to a book shop.
Meanwhile, Austrian economy took the biggest dive in Europe. Mostly because of the loss of tourism (GDP/cap from tourism is quite high for AT).
Quote from: Syt on February 04, 2021, 03:58:17 AM
Shops will reopen on the 8th. FFP2 masks mandatory, 1 customer per 20 square meters.
I look forward to going to a book shop.
Meanwhile, Austrian economy took the biggest dive in Europe. Mostly because of the loss of tourism (GDP/cap from tourism is quite high for AT).
We still beat you year-on-year :menace:
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 02, 2021, 01:38:35 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 01, 2021, 01:00:14 PM
Got the first jab today. Not a zombie yet. :(
Only side effect so far is the sore arm...feels like when I had a bruise on the arm from being nipped by a horse a year or so back...but without the bruise discoloration.
But most of the effects (flu-like symptoms, cold chills, etc) are supposed to come after jab #2.
Arm soreness peaked yesterday...down significantly today, but still a bit tender. Still no other side effects so far.
(for those keeping score at home, I/we got the Moderna vaccine)
Scheduled to get the vaccine tomorrow. I am going to ahve to drive about 4 hours to get it, but its worth it to not have to wait IMO.
Quote from: Berkut on February 04, 2021, 12:36:08 PM
Scheduled to get the vaccine tomorrow. I am going to ahve to drive about 4 hours to get it, but its worth it to not have to wait IMO.
If it is reducing risk of you getting sick, it is.
OK I've been tested 4 times this year, still working in the shelter, cooking and shipping food, wearing a mask for upto ten hours a day. Opiate deaths are on the upswing, we have lost 6 tenants in 4 months.
We make 700 hundred meals a day and have now blown our budget. :cheers:
Over Christmas, which was a crazy time, I asked my friend, mentor and direct boss how he keeps it together. He told me " I don't have a choice."
And there we are. This year (2021) will be the year of the 1000 yard stare.
I got a pack of 50 stylee black masks that actually fit my face and big nose. 15$ and a pack of banned menthol cigarettes.So things are looking up. :ph34r:
Might get my vaccine soon! I take some immune suppressing medication so I'm in one of the high-risk low-risk group (cohort 6).
Asked to send my preferences through to the NHS which is done :w00t:
Quote from: saskganesh on February 06, 2021, 12:49:28 AM
OK I've been tested 4 times this year, still working in the shelter, cooking and shipping food, wearing a mask for upto ten hours a day. Opiate deaths are on the upswing, we have lost 6 tenants in 4 months.
We make 700 hundred meals a day and have now blown our budget. :cheers:
Wow that's some sterling work Sasks. :cheers:
My uncle just passed away. While not directly covid related, the lock down and lack of social contact was really effecting him. He committed suicide last night. He was in his 80s
I am sorry HVC. :(
:console:
:(
I am sorry HVC :(
Quote from: HVC on February 12, 2021, 02:04:54 PM
My uncle just passed away. While not directly covid related, the lock down and lack of social contact was really effecting him. He committed suicide last night. He was in his 80s
:( Just when there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you everyone.
:console: :hug:
:(
Quote from: HVC on February 12, 2021, 02:04:54 PM
My uncle just passed away. While not directly covid related, the lock down and lack of social contact was really effecting him. He committed suicide last night. He was in his 80s
God so sorry to hear that HVC :( :console:
That really sucks man. Sorry to hear that.
I'm so sorry. :(
So sorry about that, HVC :(
This shit eats at you sometimes. Living alone, I feel hanging by a thread from time to time.
Os meus pêsames, HVC.
Quote from: HVC on February 12, 2021, 02:04:54 PM
My uncle just passed away. While not directly covid related, the lock down and lack of social contact was really effecting him. He committed suicide last night. He was in his 80s
So sorry to hear that HVC. :(
I'm going to sign up with my company to get the vaccine. I work for a large health care company and they've had sign-ups for the vaccine for a while now. I go the OK by my doctor to get the vaccine - I'm on blood thinners so wanted to ask about that if it might have any issue with the vaccine.
Quote from: KRonn on February 13, 2021, 08:31:21 PM
I'm going to sign up with my company to get the vaccine. I work for a large health care company and they've had sign-ups for the vaccine for a while now. I go the OK by my doctor to get the vaccine - I'm on blood thinners so wanted to ask about that if it might have any issue with the vaccine.
:thumbsup:
Austrian government said yesterday that due to the continued high level of infections the current form of lockdown (shops and most non-gatro businesses open with FFP2 mask + distancing rules; hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters, etc. closed) will continue till "around Easter" with a reevaluation on 1st March. They hope that with more vaccinations and warmer weather the situation becomes a bit easier.
At the moment the 7 day incidence per 100,000 people is steady at around 113 (the goal was to get below 50, but with the more easily spread mutations this is being reevaluated whether it's realistic). Restaurants, bars etc. have been closed for 15 weeks now. Non-essential shops reopened last week, so in two weeks or so we will see the impact of that (if any).
Carnival season is Krapfen season. A bakery chain added the "Mayor Krapfen" this year, in reference to several mayors jumping the vaccination queue.
(https://www.leadersnet.at/resources/images/2021/2/15/91529/felber-anti-corona-krapfen-impfkrapfen.jpg)
Comes with green sugar lumps (the virus) and a syringe of egg nog for the filling.
Christ, if I lived in Austria I'd be so obese.
No doughnuts in Spain?
Of course, but after visiting Austria a couple times they would get my vote for "nation with best cakes/pastries" :mmm:
The bakery in my supermarket has an awesome moist and dense chocolate cake with cherries that I like to partake in on cheat days. :blush:
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
Quote from: celedhring on February 17, 2021, 06:37:40 AM
Of course, but after visiting Austria a couple times they would get my vote for "nation with best cakes/pastries" :mmm:
How often have you been to Portugal? :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 07:30:28 AM
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
-_-
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 07:30:28 AM
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
I think UK cakes/desserts are often quite good - they are in no way sophisticated, or technically impressive as in Austria but they are tasty :blush:
In particular a custard tart, treacle tart or sticky toffee pudding :mmm:
WEll, I got the first shot of the vaccine on the 5th, and just teted positive for Covid yesterday. Yeah!
Nasty cough, headache, generally very achy, but no fever.
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 17, 2021, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 07:30:28 AM
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
I think UK cakes/desserts are often quite good - they are in no way sophisticated, or technically impressive as in Austria but they are tasty :blush:
In particular a custard tart, treacle tart or sticky toffee pudding :mmm:
Oh man, I tried sticky toffee when I visited Scotland and that was quite the revelation. That and salted caramel.
Quote from: Berkut on February 17, 2021, 08:00:40 AM
WEll, I got the first shot of the vaccine on the 5th, and just teted positive for Covid yesterday. Yeah!
Nasty cough, headache, generally very achy, but no fever.
Yikes! Get well soon and rest up!
Quote from: The Larch on February 17, 2021, 08:51:14 AM
Oh man, I tried sticky toffee when I visited Scotland and that was quite the revelation. That and salted caramel.
Milka used to have (still has?) milk chocolate with a salted TUC cracker on top. Surprisingly tasty.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Pz4loY2uL._AC_SX569_.jpg)
:berkut:
Take care, man! :console:
Quote from: The Larch on February 17, 2021, 08:51:14 AM
Oh man, I tried sticky toffee when I visited Scotland and that was quite the revelation. That and salted caramel.
Honest to God the greatest thing Britain's contributed to the world in the last 50 years :mmm:
Also love a banoffee pie which is a similarly 1970s invention.
As I say I realise our desserts are not as elegant as, say, French patisserie or Austrian. But I think there is an enormous amount going for just adding melted sugar to everything and see if it works :lol:
Quote from: Syt on February 17, 2021, 08:54:08 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 17, 2021, 08:51:14 AM
Oh man, I tried sticky toffee when I visited Scotland and that was quite the revelation. That and salted caramel.
Milka used to have (still has?) milk chocolate with a salted TUC cracker on top. Surprisingly tasty.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Pz4loY2uL._AC_SX569_.jpg)
I'll have to take a look next time I go to Lidl. :P
Quote from: Berkut on February 17, 2021, 08:00:40 AM
WEll, I got the first shot of the vaccine on the 5th, and just teted positive for Covid yesterday. Yeah!
Nasty cough, headache, generally very achy, but no fever.
Oh no! Such annoying timing. Hope you get well soon.
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 17, 2021, 09:00:28 AMBut I think there is an enormous amount going for just adding melted sugar to everything and see if it works :lol:
Argentinians do the same with dulce de leche. :P
Quote from: The Larch on February 17, 2021, 09:07:30 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 17, 2021, 09:00:28 AMBut I think there is an enormous amount going for just adding melted sugar to everything and see if it works :lol:
Argentinians do the same with dulce de leche. :P
One of many reasons I really loved Argentina :lol:
It's a shame about the unpleasantness because we could otherwise be great friends. See also the only Harrods outside of London (now shut), Torre de los Ingleses, rugby, distinctive "teas" etc :(
Quote from: Berkut on February 17, 2021, 08:00:40 AM
WEll, I got the first shot of the vaccine on the 5th, and just teted positive for Covid yesterday. Yeah!
Nasty cough, headache, generally very achy, but no fever.
Christ.
Keep us posted Berkut.
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 17, 2021, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 07:30:28 AM
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
I think UK cakes/desserts are often quite good - they are in no way sophisticated, or technically impressive as in Austria but they are tasty :blush:
In particular a custard tart, treacle tart or sticky toffee pudding :mmm:
Maybe the pickings are better around London, but I suppose to balance the scales...you guys suck at ice cream.
I've only encountered few decent ice creams, and the primary one is an Irish import of Italian ancenstry.
Quote from: garbon on February 17, 2021, 07:44:01 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 07:30:28 AM
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
-_-
I am not sure if you're agreeing with me, or mocking me. :hmm: :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 10:02:09 AM
Quote from: garbon on February 17, 2021, 07:44:01 AM
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 07:30:28 AM
I've been impressed with the carrot cake at my local Morrison's. :sleep:
(I've been very impressed with UK carrot cakes in general, really)
-_-
I am not sure if you're agreeing with me, or mocking me. :hmm: :P
The latter. :hug:
Best carrot cake I've tried is the one made at a Barcelona coffee house ran by two Danish ex-pats. Stuff of dreams.
Quote from: Tonitrus on February 17, 2021, 09:56:30 AM
Maybe the pickings are better around London, but I suppose to balance the scales...you guys suck at ice cream.
I've only encountered few decent ice creams, and the primary one is an Irish import of Italian ancenstry.
Fair and I am not a fan of ice cream except in specific contexts.
But best ice cream in the UK are very different. It's either from Scots-Italian ice cream shops (e.g. Capaldi's of Brora) or the great classics of Glasgow - I feel like the Irish-Italian import probably is linked to this little diaspora (our local bishop in the Highlands was Bishop Mario Conti, from Aberdeen and the recently deceased Archbishop of Glasgow was Philip Tartaglia :lol:):
https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/features/history-of-italian-ice-cream-in-scotland
Or generally quite local West Country ice cream which is just based on the local cream and clotted cream production and amazing dairy.
Outside of that it's very meh.
Quote from: celedhring on February 17, 2021, 10:09:11 AM
Best carrot cake I've tried is the one made at a Barcelona coffee house ran by two Danish ex-pats. Stuff of dreams.
My wife makes excellent carrot cake, and it's gluten free to boot. :cool:
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 17, 2021, 10:10:21 AM
Fair and I am not a fan of ice cream except in specific contexts.
Right, it's only good if placed in one's mouth. Kinda sucks as face cream or a painting material.
Quote from: Berkut on February 17, 2021, 08:00:40 AM
WEll, I got the first shot of the vaccine on the 5th, and just teted positive for Covid yesterday. Yeah!
Nasty cough, headache, generally very achy, but no fever.
Hopefully the first shot was enough to lower the risk of having a severe case.
So this is weird.
Started out with symptoms yesterday, mostly just normal flu stuff. Really bad cough (I suffer from chronic bronchitis - it is very much like that). Headache, achy, very tired. And my memory isn't working right.
But no loss of taste or smell at all.
Until just now. Like literally, in the last couple of hours, my sense of taste went from not noticeably changed to almost completely gone.
My sister sent me a pizza. I got it about 6:30, and had a slice. Was not super hungry. But it tasted fine. Put it away. Had another slice right before my DnD session started at 8, tasted fine.
Just had another slice at 9:45, and it tastes, well...almost tasteless.
Ugh, sorry.
My wife had this symptom too when she had COVID, and it was really hard on her. :console: Hope it doesn't last too long for you.
Did the loss of taste go away when her other symptoms went away?
Quote from: Berkut on February 17, 2021, 11:19:13 PM
Did the loss of taste go away when her other symptoms went away?
It persisted for a while after, then came back, but it was abnormal (she described it as 'muted') and is now completely back to normal. It took about a month for hers to completely return to normal.
Fwiw my two friends that had covid and loss their sense of taste recovered it pretty quickly. One had a very mild case and the other a "nasty flu" equivalent.
Anyone else had a profound experience as a result of the covid crisis?
Mine came a few weeks ago, going to bed late I realised I'd not shaved in 3 or 4 days, by the time I'd wake up next day it would be like a forest, so TINA.
So I had a shave with my electric shaver at 4am; best ever results I've had with it. :)
Due to lock-down laziness, I've now done this a couple of more times and it's quite the revelations. :D
Quote from: mongers on February 19, 2021, 11:15:31 AM
Anyone else had a profound experience as a result of the covid crisis?
Mine came a few weeks ago, going to bed late I realised I'd not shaved in 3 or 4 days, by the time I'd wake up next day it would be like a forest, so TINA.
So I had a shave with my electric shaver at 4am; best ever results I've had with it. :)
Due to lock-down laziness, I've now done this a couple of more times and it's quite the revelations. :D
Yeah. Plus the cleanliness of the house. I'd have thought not going out and not running around would leave more time for housework. It has, but sucked away all the desire to bother.
My car was full of trashtoo. I didn't think much of it until I blew a tire and needed repair. I was almost embarrassed by what the mechanic thought of me. But the general apathy took care of that. That's what I call a win.
Yes, standards have definitely been lowered across the board.
I used to invite people over to make myself clean the place properly, that strategy worked really well up until a year ago :lol: :(
I started having my cleaning lady come in again. So every Friday I have to leave the apartment for 2 hours or so. Which is a bit of an issue, because nothing is really open, and it's not warm enough yet to plop onto a bench with a book or a podcast. :D So currently Fridays are my "go for an extended walk" day.
I'm thinking of going full bourgeoisie and hire a cleaning lady when I move back to California. :sleep:
You know Syt you could just clean your flat on your own. :P
Quote from: Syt on February 19, 2021, 01:49:36 PM
I started having my cleaning lady come in again. So every Friday I have to leave the apartment for 2 hours or so. Which is a bit of an issue, because nothing is really open, and it's not warm enough yet to plop onto a bench with a book or a podcast. :D So currently Fridays are my "go for an extended walk" day.
I can't wait till I can get my cleaner back :blush: :ph34r:
Just how big properties you guys are living in exactly? :p
A one bed flat :ph34r:
Quote from: mongers on February 19, 2021, 11:15:31 AM
Anyone else had a profound experience as a result of the covid crisis?
I discovered I could just say fuck it, I'm mostly bald now anyway, and give myself a 2mm buzz with Remington clippers.
Quote from: Tamas on February 19, 2021, 04:30:43 PM
You know Syt you could just clean your flat on your own. :P
And deprive a small company and a middle aged Eastern European lady of income in this day and age? :o
Quote from: ulmont on February 19, 2021, 04:40:22 PM
Quote from: mongers on February 19, 2021, 11:15:31 AM
Anyone else had a profound experience as a result of the covid crisis?
I discovered I could just say fuck it, I'm mostly bald now anyway, and give myself a 2mm buzz with Remington clippers.
:lol: In hair discoveries, my hair is longer than it's ever been and I've discovered that naturally it would fall into a sort of 90s rom-com/Take That curtains look.
I might need to buy an alice band if the barbers don't open soon.
Quote from: Syt on February 19, 2021, 04:43:24 PM
Quote from: Tamas on February 19, 2021, 04:30:43 PM
You know Syt you could just clean your flat on your own. :P
And deprive a small company and a middle aged Eastern European lady of income in this day and age? :o
You're right, Tamas is a monster :o
Quote from: ulmont on February 19, 2021, 04:40:22 PM
Quote from: mongers on February 19, 2021, 11:15:31 AM
Anyone else had a profound experience as a result of the covid crisis?
I discovered I could just say fuck it, I'm mostly bald now anyway, and give myself a 2mm buzz with Remington clippers.
I've been doing that for ages, anyways. Once a week or every other week is plenty.
A house cleaner is one of the best investments a guy will ever make. Even just once a month for 4 hours.
I could never trust a cleaner. I leave too many things lying around.
My mam had her vaccine.
She's under 65 and just has standard asthma. She works in a school though so by rights should be a priority.
Had to wait 15 minutes after getting it in case of a reaction and apparently they made sure somebody would drive her.
No side effects or super powers reported.
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 19, 2021, 04:31:37 PM
I can't wait till I can get my cleaner back :blush: :ph34r:
Same here.
Quote from: Tyr on February 19, 2021, 05:20:00 PM
I could never trust a cleaner. I leave too many things lying around.
I've turned into my mum so quickly tidy up/clean the flat before the cleaner arrives :ph34r:
Mine keeps coming around once per month, without any significant problem.
Our regional president has just announced that, starting on friday, many of the most egregious lockdown restrictions will be lifted, with cities being placed in a 3 tier system (mine will be in the 3rd one, the more relaxed). Starting then, in my city we will be able to:
- Meet in groups of up to 4 people (from separate households).
- Go back to bars & restaurants until 18h (reduced capacities both indoors and outdoors).
- Move between municipalities that are on the same level.
- Go back to gyms & swimming pools.
On top of that, in the whole region universities will re-start physical lessons in March, and shopping malls will be able to re-open on weekends.
Here's a fun stat: US is inoculating more people per day against Covid-19 than Canada has in total.
https://www.cp24.com/news/usa-now-vaccinating-more-people-against-covid-19-in-one-day-than-canada-has-in-total-1.5317891?fbclid=IwAR1lcZC_OClbrHE3i-aFHLMRbjzSg3yZThOugTQZP9kNGP84DPHAx2ugciI
<_<
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 12:07:28 PM
Here's a fun stat: US is inoculating more people per day against Covid-19 than Canada has in total.
https://www.cp24.com/news/usa-now-vaccinating-more-people-against-covid-19-in-one-day-than-canada-has-in-total-1.5317891?fbclid=IwAR1lcZC_OClbrHE3i-aFHLMRbjzSg3yZThOugTQZP9kNGP84DPHAx2ugciI
<_<
That is what happens when a country prohibits vaccine leaving its borders. Is there another point you were making?
Annoyance at Joe Biden? It's how I feel.
Also, continued hatred towards Jean Chrétien.
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2021, 12:41:20 PM
That is what happens when a country prohibits vaccine leaving its borders. Is there another point you were making?
I believe BB is suggeting that if we all vote Conservative next election, O'Toole will retroactively make it easier to source vaccines.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 01:29:04 PM
Annoyance at Joe Biden? It's how I feel.
Also, continued hatred towards Jean Chrétien.
What, is the tie in with Chretien?
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2021, 01:39:59 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 01:29:04 PM
Annoyance at Joe Biden? It's how I feel.
Also, continued hatred towards Jean Chrétien.
What, is the tie in with Chretien?
Deficit Zero implementation. They, him & Martin, devalued Canadian ownership of Industry so much that now almost everything that is big is foreign own.
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 01:39:50 PM
I believe BB is suggeting that if we all vote Conservative next election, O'Toole will retroactively make it easier to source vaccines.
:huh:
My point is simply this: that Trudeau has dropped the ball when it came to vaccines. O'Toole clearly has no power to reverse the flow of time.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 01:47:55 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2021, 01:39:59 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 01:29:04 PM
Annoyance at Joe Biden? It's how I feel.
Also, continued hatred towards Jean Chrétien.
What, is the tie in with Chretien?
Deficit Zero implementation. They, him & Martin, devalued Canadian ownership of Industry so much that now almost everything that is big is foreign own.
Ah, fair enough
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2021, 12:41:20 PM
That is what happens when a country prohibits vaccine leaving its borders. Is there another point you were making?
It was not like we had to re-elect Trump to put America first.
Quote from: Valmy on February 22, 2021, 02:12:15 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on February 22, 2021, 12:41:20 PM
That is what happens when a country prohibits vaccine leaving its borders. Is there another point you were making?
It was not like we had to re-elect Trump to put America first.
I don't blame the US for taking that stance so much as Canadian Conservatives pointing to the relative numbers with the US as being somehow meaningful.
Canada has no vaccine producing capacity. The Conservatives under Harper are as much to blame for that as anyone given all the health care cuts that happened during their tenure in office. I recognize that this is really a topic for the Canadian Politics thread. My only defence is BB started it :D
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 01:49:56 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 01:39:50 PM
I believe BB is suggeting that if we all vote Conservative next election, O'Toole will retroactively make it easier to source vaccines.
:huh:
My point is simply this: that Trudeau has dropped the ball when it came to vaccines. O'Toole clearly has no power to reverse the flow of time.
So I was pretty close. Your point is "Trudeau sucks, vote Conservative" with no reference to changing temporal causality. Fair enough :cheers:
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 02:52:29 PM
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 01:49:56 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 01:39:50 PM
I believe BB is suggeting that if we all vote Conservative next election, O'Toole will retroactively make it easier to source vaccines.
:huh:
My point is simply this: that Trudeau has dropped the ball when it came to vaccines. O'Toole clearly has no power to reverse the flow of time.
So I was pretty close. Your point is "Trudeau sucks, vote Conservative" with no reference to changing temporal causality. Fair enough :cheers:
:huh:
Why do you read in rabid partisanship into everything I say or do? Managing a country in the midst of a global pandemic is incredibly challenging and I've been loath to criticize any leader of any political stripe. But I have been critical of Trudeau on the vaccine front as far as as late last spring when he seemed to pin his hopes on the CanSino vaccine from China.
I don't see how this is a point of argument. I'm not making an unfair comparison - I'm not expecting Israel's vaccination rates. But we're sitting as of right now 44th in the world. Putting aside the vaccine high-flyers, most of Europe seems to be in the 6-8 doses per 100 people. Canada is at 3.8.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html
One of my Twitter follows is Warren Kinsella. He is (or was) a huge Liberal Party hack - worked with Chretien. I don't actually like the guy, but sometimes he has interesting things to say. Anyways he's been relentless on Trudeau and vaccines.
I'm not making any political point beyond this - Trudeau has dropped the ball when it came to vaccines.
That's the point. Trudeau didn't drop the ball. Canada dropped the ball. When Harper was PM.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 03:22:31 PM
That's the point. Trudeau didn't drop the ball. Canada dropped the ball. When Harper was PM.
Good grief - you people accuse me of being a rabid partisan?
Harper hasn't been PM since 2015. Covid-19 first emerged in 2019.
Yes, perhaps if we had taken a variety of different policy paths we could be world leaders now in vaccine production. But that's in the past. I'm not demanding perfection from Trudeau - I just want us to vaccinate as many people per capita as, let's say, Turkey (#12 in the world).
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 03:32:55 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 03:22:31 PM
That's the point. Trudeau didn't drop the ball. Canada dropped the ball. When Harper was PM.
Good grief - you people accuse me of being a rabid partisan?
Harper hasn't been PM since 2015. Covid-19 first emerged in 2019.
Yes, perhaps if we had taken a variety of different policy paths we could be world leaders now in vaccine production. But that's in the past. I'm not demanding perfection from Trudeau - I just want us to vaccinate as many people per capita as, let's say, Turkey (#12 in the world).
I have posted a number of articles explaining the problem with creating our own vaccine production facilities.
Maybe if the Conservative argument was not just facile comparisons, they would get more traction.
Certainly there are things that could have been done better. But the Conservatives need to be a bit more detailed in both their criticism and the alternative they represent.
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 03:32:55 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 22, 2021, 03:22:31 PM
That's the point. Trudeau didn't drop the ball. Canada dropped the ball. When Harper was PM.
Good grief - you people accuse me of being a rabid partisan?
Harper hasn't been PM since 2015. Covid-19 first emerged in 2019.
Yes, perhaps if we had taken a variety of different policy paths we could be world leaders now in vaccine production. But that's in the past. I'm not demanding perfection from Trudeau - I just want us to vaccinate as many people per capita as, let's say, Turkey (#12 in the world).
Game recognize game.
We can't. Because we have, for 30 years!, made bad policy decision.
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 03:21:05 PM
:huh:
Why do you read in rabid partisanship into everything I say or do? Managing a country in the midst of a global pandemic is incredibly challenging and I've been loath to criticize any leader of any political stripe. But I have been critical of Trudeau on the vaccine front as far as as late last spring when he seemed to pin his hopes on the CanSino vaccine from China.
Because you usually can be relied upon to take the anti-Trudeau and/ or Conservative Party line position on every issue. Turns out that's the case here too.
QuoteI don't see how this is a point of argument. I'm not making an unfair comparison - I'm not expecting Israel's vaccination rates. But we're sitting as of right now 44th in the world. Putting aside the vaccine high-flyers, most of Europe seems to be in the 6-8 doses per 100 people. Canada is at 3.8.
It is not a point of argument where we are sitting comparatively when it comes to vaccination rates. The numbers are what the numbers are. We are in agreement.
The question is the degree to whether it's down to Trudeau's alleged incompetence versus structural factors beyond his control and/ or larger policy decisions on which the Libs and Cons have largely been in agreement these last many decades (which is Grey Fox's point).
QuoteOne of my Twitter follows is Warren Kinsella. He is (or was) a huge Liberal Party hack - worked with Chretien. I don't actually like the guy, but sometimes he has interesting things to say. Anyways he's been relentless on Trudeau and vaccines.
At first I read that as Kinsella following you on Twitter :lol:
QuoteI'm not making any political point beyond this - Trudeau has dropped the ball when it came to vaccines.
How so? What should he have done differently? What would a Conservative government have done that would have avoided the issues we're having now? We've contracted for significantly more doses than we've received, with the producers cutting shipments for a number of different reasons. What could Trudeau have done to not drop the ball here?
QuoteGood grief - you people accuse me of being a rabid partisan?
Harper hasn't been PM since 2015. Covid-19 first emerged in 2019.
If the reason we can't produce domestic vaccines is due to decisions taken during the Harper years, then it's absolutely fair to lay some of the blame there... isn't it?
QuoteYes, perhaps if we had taken a variety of different policy paths we could be world leaders now in vaccine production. But that's in the past. I'm not demanding perfection from Trudeau - I just want us to vaccinate as many people per capita as, let's say, Turkey (#12 in the world).
... but Turkey is relying heavily on Chinese originated vaccinations. I thought you were against those?
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 04:51:51 PM
It is not a point of argument where we are sitting comparatively when it comes to vaccination rates. The numbers are what the numbers are. We are in agreement.
The question is the degree to whether it's down to Trudeau's alleged incompetence versus structural factors beyond his control and/ or larger policy decisions on which the Libs and Cons have largely been in agreement these last many decades (which is Grey Fox's point).
For what it's worth the UK did not have vaccine manufacturing capacity at the start of the pandemic. The UK government supported an experimental manufacturer for the Oxford/AZ vaccine in February last year (so the research could work in the context of mass production) which is now the most productive site in the UK and have supported the establishment of numerous vaccine manufacturing sites in the UK (including fill and finish) for multiple companies (AZ, Valneva, Curevac). This was in part driven by concerns about the Trump administration restricting supplies of vaccines.
Now that may not be replicable because the UK does have a decent pharma sector (just not vaccine manufacturers) and it has a centre of vaccine research in Oxford. But it doesn't seem that longer term policy decisions meaning there was no vaccine manufacturing capacity in February 2020 necessarily means you have no capacity now.
I think in the long run most reasonable size countries are going to want some form of vaccine manufacturing capacity - especially because of the risk of new variants requiring booster shots.
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 04:51:51 PM
At first I read that as Kinsella following you on Twitter :lol:
Certainly not. I have a whopping 15 followers, mostly other lawyers.
QuoteHow so? What should he have done differently? What would a Conservative government have done that would have avoided the issues we're having now? We've contracted for significantly more doses than we've received, with the producers cutting shipments for a number of different reasons. What could Trudeau have done to not drop the ball here?
What Trudeau should have done is right from early on is worked with Connaught Labs. This is the company that was sold by Mulroney and still very much exists in Toronto. Through both carrots and sticks it should have ensured that once a suitable vaccine was developed that it would be sub-licensed to Connaught Labs to be manufactured in Canada. We should have pulled our very own "Operation Warp Speed".
The reason we bought so many different vaccines is because we were working from behind - other countries had already bought vaccines and had conditions to be amongst the first developed.
Quote... but Turkey is relying heavily on Chinese originated vaccinations. I thought you were against those?
I'm not against things from China. I think it was obvious though that we couldn't rely on the Chinese, that they would inevitably use the vaccines as a way to obtain leverage over Canada.
Quote from: Barrister on February 22, 2021, 05:15:02 PM
What Trudeau should have done is right from early on is worked with Connaught Labs. This is the company that was sold by Mulroney and still very much exists in Toronto. Through both carrots and sticks it should have ensured that once a suitable vaccine was developed that it would be sub-licensed to Connaught Labs to be manufactured in Canada. We should have pulled our very own "Operation Warp Speed".
That seems reasonable. I wonder why this wasn't done.
QuoteI'm not against things from China. I think it was obvious though that we couldn't rely on the Chinese, that they would inevitably use the vaccines as a way to obtain leverage over Canada.
Fair point.
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2021, 05:07:07 PM
Quote from: Jacob on February 22, 2021, 04:51:51 PM
It is not a point of argument where we are sitting comparatively when it comes to vaccination rates. The numbers are what the numbers are. We are in agreement.
The question is the degree to whether it's down to Trudeau's alleged incompetence versus structural factors beyond his control and/ or larger policy decisions on which the Libs and Cons have largely been in agreement these last many decades (which is Grey Fox's point).
For what it's worth the UK did not have vaccine manufacturing capacity at the start of the pandemic. The UK government supported an experimental manufacturer for the Oxford/AZ vaccine in February last year (so the research could work in the context of mass production) which is now the most productive site in the UK and have supported the establishment of numerous vaccine manufacturing sites in the UK (including fill and finish) for multiple companies (AZ, Valneva, Curevac). This was in part driven by concerns about the Trump administration restricting supplies of vaccines.
Now that may not be replicable because the UK does have a decent pharma sector (just not vaccine manufacturers) and it has a centre of vaccine research in Oxford. But it doesn't seem that longer term policy decisions meaning there was no vaccine manufacturing capacity in February 2020 necessarily means you have no capacity now.
I think in the long run most reasonable size countries are going to want some form of vaccine manufacturing capacity - especially because of the risk of new variants requiring booster shots.
Canada did something similar. The problem is we backed the wrong (Chinese) horse. When Canada tried to change to another vaccine producer, it had trouble finding someone who would licence it hear (other countries had already tied those rights up). We do now have a licensing agreement but it will take some time to get the manufacturing facility for that product built.
There are valid criticisms to make. Rather than pursuing a strategy that relied on the Chinese, at a time when the relationship was already very difficult, the government should have been pursuing another vaccine options to for development in Canada. Also, regardless of the licencing problems the government out to have started construction with an eye to retooling to meet the specifications of a particular vaccine as and when necessary.
What makes the Conservative criticism hypocritical is the proper approach required the government owning and operating the facility. Something the Cons would never have done for ideological reasons. They would have done exactly what the Liberals did - go out and purchase the vaccine on the open market.
Getting vaccinated tomorrow on the "old git" criterion. The NHS has a very simple online form (helpful if you know your NHS number) and you get to choose your vaccination centre and dates/times. second jab is in 11 weeks. Took about two minutes and both times and place are very convenient.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 23, 2021, 03:48:28 AM
Getting vaccinated tomorrow on the "old git" criterion. The NHS has a very simple online form (helpful if you know your NHS number) and you get to choose your vaccination centre and dates/times. second jab is in 11 weeks. Took about two minutes and both times and place are very convenient.
:hmm:
I didn't realise you were north of 65. But good news.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 23, 2021, 03:48:28 AM
Getting vaccinated tomorrow on the "old git" criterion. The NHS has a very simple online form (helpful if you know your NHS number) and you get to choose your vaccination centre and dates/times. second jab is in 11 weeks. Took about two minutes and both times and place are very convenient.
:thumbsup:
At this rate about 1% of the UK is getting jabbed every day.
A friend of mine who is younger than me but works as a teacher got the first vaccine dose yesterday, as teachers are starting to get vaccinated in my region.
Quote from: Tyr on February 23, 2021, 05:30:24 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 23, 2021, 03:48:28 AM
Getting vaccinated tomorrow on the "old git" criterion. The NHS has a very simple online form (helpful if you know your NHS number) and you get to choose your vaccination centre and dates/times. second jab is in 11 weeks. Took about two minutes and both times and place are very convenient.
:hmm:
I didn't realise you were north of 65. But good news.
For some reason they recently lowered that to 64, so I just qualify :cool:
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2021, 06:09:39 AM
A friend of mine who is younger than me but works as a teacher got the first vaccine dose yesterday, as teachers are starting to get vaccinated in my region.
Teachers with a medical condition such as asthma get vaccinated earlier in Portugal, as well.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on February 23, 2021, 06:57:54 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2021, 06:09:39 AM
A friend of mine who is younger than me but works as a teacher got the first vaccine dose yesterday, as teachers are starting to get vaccinated in my region.
Teachers with a medical condition such as asthma get vaccinated earlier in Portugal, as well.
Over here they're vaccinating teachers straight up, regardless of medical condition.
I guess the local teachers' unions did not do their homework then. :P
Since the AZ vaccine is not cleared for people over 55 in Spain, they are using it to vaccinate essential public services (education, police, firemen, etc...).
I am out of isolation on Friday, and scheduled to get my second vaccine dose on Friday. Then heading to Virginia to help out my sister with my nephew, who just got out of the hospital after his shooting. It's been an interesting year.
Quote from: Berkut on February 23, 2021, 09:01:28 AM
I am out of isolation on Friday, and scheduled to get my second vaccine dose on Friday. Then heading to Virginia to help out my sister with my nephew, who just got out of the hospital after his shooting. It's been an interesting year.
Moderna?
Quote from: Berkut on February 23, 2021, 09:01:28 AM
I am out of isolation on Friday, and scheduled to get my second vaccine dose on Friday. Then heading to Virginia to help out my sister with my nephew, who just got out of the hospital after his shooting. It's been an interesting year.
:hug:
Interesting for sure. Hopefully this is the start of things getting better.
Quote from: 11B4V on February 23, 2021, 09:25:50 AM
Quote from: Berkut on February 23, 2021, 09:01:28 AM
I am out of isolation on Friday, and scheduled to get my second vaccine dose on Friday. Then heading to Virginia to help out my sister with my nephew, who just got out of the hospital after his shooting. It's been an interesting year.
Moderna?
Nope, Pfizer.
This is worse than the Cola wars.
I get the 1st jab (Pfizer) today at Noon. I expect to get Covid shortly thereafter as Berkut has tainted the entire run.
I registered for the vaccination waiting list in Vienna. There's roughly 570,000 people ahead of me, so I expect to be vaccinated around June or so. :P
Just checked the vaccination tracker. 2.69% of people have received both doses so far (4.21% have received at least one dose)
Got round 1, didn't turn into a zombie.
Quote from: PDH on February 24, 2021, 03:26:48 PM
Got round 1, didn't turn into a zombie.
*relieved Brain sounds*
My wife is getting her first shot tomorrow. :cool:
Quote from: PDH on February 24, 2021, 03:26:48 PM
Got round 1, didn't turn into a zombie.
Exactly what a zombie would say, if a zombie could access the internet.
Are we sure PDH wasn't always a zombie?
Purge PDH!
Hmm, you raise a fine existential question. Given the basic logic of the situation, I will have to assume that I have always been a zombie, just a really crappy one that is too lazy to eat brains.
It looks like I'll be getting my first vaccination on Thursday afternoon. :cool:
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 09:51:46 AM
It looks like I'll be getting my first vaccination on Thursday afternoon. :cool:
Actually I'll be getting it on Wednesday afternoon instead. :cool:
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 03:44:28 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 09:51:46 AM
It looks like I'll be getting my first vaccination on Thursday afternoon. :cool:
Actually I'll be getting it on Wednesday afternoon instead. :cool:
Why won't you fuckers share your vaccines? :mad:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biden-vaccine-help-canada-mexico-1.5932176
Quote from: Barrister on March 01, 2021, 03:46:00 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 03:44:28 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 09:51:46 AM
It looks like I'll be getting my first vaccination on Thursday afternoon. :cool:
Actually I'll be getting it on Wednesday afternoon instead. :cool:
Why won't you fuckers share your vaccines? :mad:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biden-vaccine-help-canada-mexico-1.5932176
Just goes to show you that total reliance on international trade is an act of strategic stupidity. In time of extreme hardship, your family comes first. It works on a personal level, and it works on a country level. Yes, some economist can do the math and show you how inefficient self-sufficiency is, but insurance isn't efficient either, and yet people somehow still need it.
Quote from: Barrister on March 01, 2021, 03:46:00 PM
Why won't you fuckers share your vaccines? :mad:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biden-vaccine-help-canada-mexico-1.5932176
Ain't up to me, son.
Quote from: Barrister on March 01, 2021, 03:46:00 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 03:44:28 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 01, 2021, 09:51:46 AM
It looks like I'll be getting my first vaccination on Thursday afternoon. :cool:
Actually I'll be getting it on Wednesday afternoon instead. :cool:
Why won't you fuckers share your vaccines? :mad:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biden-vaccine-help-canada-mexico-1.5932176
America First!
Also, we are much filthier than Canadians, so probably better that we get vaccinated first.
I am sorry but how could Europe get all those vaccines with the US hoarding them?
Quote from: Tamas on March 01, 2021, 05:33:40 PM
I am sorry but how could Europe get all those vaccines with the US hoarding them?
What do you mean?
Quote from: Jacob on March 01, 2021, 05:53:40 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 01, 2021, 05:33:40 PM
I am sorry but how could Europe get all those vaccines with the US hoarding them?
What do you mean?
That American hoarding can't be the main reason for Canada dropping the ball.
Quote from: Tamas on March 01, 2021, 06:27:15 PM
That American hoarding can't be the main reason for Canada dropping the ball.
From what I read on the BBC Canada has agreed to get lots of vaccine from Europe - precisely because of the risk of Americans hoarding. Unfortunately I think one of the big issues is that all of the vaccines they're getting from Europe have been hit by big supply issues - Pfizer, AZ and Moderna - it's similar in Japan from what I understand.
I think Canada's now started buying at least the AZ vaccine from the Indian manufacturer (who I think are also now supplying Europe because from what I understand AZ's European manufacturing is hugely improved but still about 50% of where it needs to be). Similarly Moderna is, from what I understand, at very early stages in ramping up their production (the UK isn't expecting any until April I don't think - and EU supplies are very low).
But I think Pfizer are going to be delivering a lot more in March (at least to the UK which is supplied by the same factory) because the re-fit of their Belgian factory should be finishing soon. I think the dip in production while they were doing the re-fit basically hit everyone using Pfizer outside the US.
Quote from: Tamas on March 01, 2021, 05:33:40 PM
I am sorry but how could Europe get all those vaccines with the US hoarding them?
Europe has its own production facilities. They are getting none from the US.
We have no production and we did not pay the premium Israel paid. So not much mystery actually.
There is news out there that the J&J vaccine is made from abortions, so our moral consistency should make a large excess available soon. :sleep:
I feel bad for Canada. I mean, really and seriously.
They are at the end of the day, probably our closest ally, and that ought to be worth something in a time of crisis.
I cannot help but wonder if Trump had not been President, what the US could have done to help out more as far as getting them more vaccine faster - some kind of very early licensing and technical help setting up an emergency production capability, or some kind of politically palatable way to allocate some vaccine production there in return for some nominal assistance from Canada.
I mean, I get that there is no way right now the American public would tolerate any allocation going to Canada from US produced vaccine. But given some agressive cooperation early, couldn't we be in a spot where we have some agreement that in return for Canadian assistance, we would have a shared roll out of the vaccine?
All speculation at this point. Maybe a lesson for the future though - but I suspect any sane Canadian lesson is going to be "Don't count on the fucking Americans for shit!"
Isn't that the lesson of the entire Trump thing? The US cannot be trusted.
The EU gets a lot of deserved criticism for its vaccine rollout. However, if the EU had acted like the US and stopped all vaccine exports, the stories for Israel and the UK would look rather different too.
Quote from: Berkut on March 02, 2021, 09:13:56 AM
I feel bad for Canada. I mean, really and seriously.
They are at the end of the day, probably our closest ally, and that ought to be worth something in a time of crisis.
I cannot help but wonder if Trump had not been President, what the US could have done to help out more as far as getting them more vaccine faster - some kind of very early licensing and technical help setting up an emergency production capability, or some kind of politically palatable way to allocate some vaccine production there in return for some nominal assistance from Canada.
I mean, I get that there is no way right now the American public would tolerate any allocation going to Canada from US produced vaccine. But given some agressive cooperation early, couldn't we be in a spot where we have some agreement that in return for Canadian assistance, we would have a shared roll out of the vaccine?
All speculation at this point. Maybe a lesson for the future though - but I suspect any sane Canadian lesson is going to be "Don't count on the fucking Americans for shit!"
If Trump had not been President, I think it very likely that Canada and the US would have created an integrated approach, if for no other reason than our economies are so closely intertwined. And Canada would not have had to try to forge a strategy with China - which was always precarious at best.
Quote from: Zanza on March 02, 2021, 11:53:30 AM
The EU gets a lot of deserved criticism for its vaccine rollout. However, if the EU had acted like the US and stopped all vaccine exports, the stories for Israel and the UK would look rather different too.
Not to mention Canada - we would be completely screwed without the vaccines coming from Europe.
If Trump had not been President, we would probably be talking about the Oxford/Merck vaccine not AstraZeneca and I think there would have been an attempt to engage around a global strategy. That may not have worked in any event - but I think it would have been different.
It is fascinating the impact that Trump had on other countries' approaches. In the UK it moved the government block the Merck cooperation because they would guarantee an ability to supply the UK and there was a fear that Trump would basically seize production for the US. Similarly I understand the EU vaccine strategy was basically kickstarted by Trump trying to broker that deal to buy Curevac - again for American production.
So ironically without Trump it is possible the UK and the EU could be in a worse position - the UK because it's possible the US would still have export restrictions even without Trump (see now for example) and the EU might have been slower in actually buying up vaccine/never jolted into a single position/strategy without the Curevac story :hmm:
Quote from: Tamas on March 01, 2021, 06:27:15 PM
That American hoarding can't be the main reason for Canada dropping the ball.
Okay
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 02, 2021, 12:28:42 PM
If Trump had not been President, we would probably be talking about the Oxford/Merck vaccine not AstraZeneca and I think there would have been an attempt to engage around a global strategy. That may not have worked in any event - but I think it would have been different.
It is fascinating the impact that Trump had on other countries' approaches. In the UK it moved the government block the Merck cooperation because they would guarantee an ability to supply the UK and there was a fear that Trump would basically seize production for the US. Similarly I understand the EU vaccine strategy was basically kickstarted by Trump trying to broker that deal to buy Curevac - again for American production.
So ironically without Trump it is possible the UK and the EU could be in a worse position - the UK because it's possible the US would still have export restrictions even without Trump (see now for example) and the EU might have been slower in actually buying up vaccine/never jolted into a single position/strategy without the Curevac story :hmm:
Yeah, there would be much more of an international joint effort, Trump created the dog eat dog world where long standing alliances did not matter and as result we are left with a fractured uncoordinated vaccine response. The Americans would probably have prioritized their population in any event, but that may have been a lot less noticeable if everyone was getting a greater supply at this point.
I figure the US needs about 350 million doses. Roughly.
Canada needs 1/10th that number.
Had it been coordinated right from the start, say the way we coordinated WW2 weapon production (and given the scale of the crisis that is NOT an unreasonable comparison), then a basic narrative of the US and Canada both being together in the effort to deal with this, and the follow on of "The new Pfzier vaccine is ready, and initial shipments have been arriving in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto...." or wherever would be pretty accepted. Might be some grumbling, just like there was grumbling during WW2 that we were sending weapons needed by the Marines in the Pacific off to Australians or whatever, but it would have been mostly ok.
Canada's need is great, but not so great that shuttling off 8% of our production to them until they are all set would really have been that noticeable, especially if what goes along with that is a presumed commitment from Canada to help bear some of the cost.
Quote from: Berkut on March 02, 2021, 09:13:56 AM
I feel bad for Canada. I mean, really and seriously.
They are at the end of the day, probably our closest ally, and that ought to be worth something in a time of crisis.
I cannot help but wonder if Trump had not been President, what the US could have done to help out more as far as getting them more vaccine faster - some kind of very early licensing and technical help setting up an emergency production capability, or some kind of politically palatable way to allocate some vaccine production there in return for some nominal assistance from Canada.
I mean, I get that there is no way right now the American public would tolerate any allocation going to Canada from US produced vaccine. But given some agressive cooperation early, couldn't we be in a spot where we have some agreement that in return for Canadian assistance, we would have a shared roll out of the vaccine?
All speculation at this point. Maybe a lesson for the future though - but I suspect any sane Canadian lesson is going to be "Don't count on the fucking Americans for shit!"
Yeah Trump really set the tone really early on, when he sent Americans out to grab every bit of PPE they could from around the world, no matter what effects it might have on other countries. It was all very on-brand for Trump, but it meant every single other country was left looking out for themselves. And in a world where supply chains are as international as they are that was only ever going to lead to problems.
What should have happened from very early on is something like the Covax program, with the goal to ensure that everyone on the planet is vaccinated. Because even if everyone in the westner world is vaccinated, if the virus is still spreading wildly in the global south it's still mutating and there's always the risk that it comes back.
Not that I don't still continue to hold Trudeau to blame for the vaccine mess - I've been harping on this since last summer. But he knew what he was dealing with and should have done more to ensure domestic production in Canada.
Quote from: Barrister on March 02, 2021, 01:33:52 PM
What should have happened from very early on is something like the Covax program, with the goal to ensure that everyone on the planet is vaccinated. Because even if everyone in the westner world is vaccinated, if the virus is still spreading wildly in the global south it's still mutating and there's always the risk that it comes back.
Totally agree - and I think the big gap, where coordinated US and Canadian efforts might help, is Latin America. Not many of those countries are poor enough, I don't think, to qualify for Covax but unlike Africa or Asia are having really bad outbreaks.
There needs to be some coordination to get vaccines to those countries and I think there is an argument for prioritising Europe and the Americas because we have lost control more than anywhere else in the world. There is more transmission (and death) here which means the variants are more likely to occur here - but the bit that seems totally missing at the minute is Latin America.
Here's a story about one US Congressman saying that once the US is vaccinated, they should be shipping vaccines to Canada and Mexico.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gonzalez-vaccines-canada-1.5933445
He makes the point:
Quote"I think we have five vaccines for every American, so we certainly have some extra vaccines that we could share with other countries — especially somebody like Mexico or Canada who we do a lot of business with ... where a lot of commerce and tourism flow on a regular basis," Gonzalez said in the interview.
"So we don't live in this world, isolated. It's a global community, and certainly North America is a very tight-knit community. We have relatives on both sides of the border, we do business on both sides of the border, whether it's Canada or Mexico."
Except you could re-open borders a lot faster if you co-ordinated vaccine distribution between the three countries right from day one. I mean you could probably re-open the border as soon as all the old people are vaccinated, even while you're in the midst of vaccinating younger populations.
[As an aside, this is a shittily written article. The text of the article only identifies Vincente Gonzalez as a "US Lawmaker". The photo caption says he "serves a Texas-Mexico border community in the House of Representatives". And nowhere does it identify which party he is with (Dem)]
Quote from: Barrister on March 02, 2021, 01:45:00 PM
Here's a story about one US Congressman saying that once the US is vaccinated, they should be shipping vaccines to Canada and Mexico.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gonzalez-vaccines-canada-1.5933445
He makes the point:
Quote"I think we have five vaccines for every American, so we certainly have some extra vaccines that we could share with other countries — especially somebody like Mexico or Canada who we do a lot of business with ... where a lot of commerce and tourism flow on a regular basis," Gonzalez said in the interview.
"So we don't live in this world, isolated. It's a global community, and certainly North America is a very tight-knit community. We have relatives on both sides of the border, we do business on both sides of the border, whether it's Canada or Mexico."
Except you could re-open borders a lot faster if you co-ordinated vaccine distribution between the three countries right from day one. I mean you could probably re-open the border as soon as all the old people are vaccinated, even while you're in the midst of vaccinating younger populations.
[As an aside, this is a shittily written article. The text of the article only identifies Vincente Gonzalez as a "US Lawmaker". The photo caption says he "serves a Texas-Mexico border community in the House of Representatives". And nowhere does it identify which party he is with (Dem)]
And that is shitty because?
Quote from: garbon on March 02, 2021, 01:54:24 PM
And that is shitty because?
Because this congressman is the sole source of the story, so you'd think he should be fully identified in the opening of the story, not just in a picture caption. And party affiliation counts - Democrat means he's with the majority which is important to know, but Republican would be good to know too because it would be a partial break from the Trumpist "America First" language.
Quote from: Barrister on March 02, 2021, 01:45:00 PM
And nowhere does it identify which party he is with (Dem)]
Generally if you represent a Texas-Mexico border community that is a given. Though the gargantuan 23rd district has bucked that trend recently, but that one is kind of designed to get a Republican elected.
I agree Beebs that this should have been agressively coordinated as a global response. That doesn't mean the US President doesn't place US interest first, but it does mean they recognize that there is no truly "national" solution in isolation.
Of course this was impossible for Trump. Sadly though, the GOP of just a couple decades ago would have been fine with such an approach.
Also - and this is just me saying things that make sense in my head and might not tally with science - once you start vaccinating in a country it makes sense to me that you kind of need to finish pretty quickly. As I say this might be nonsense but it feels to me like the risk of a variant that doesn't respond to the vaccine is highest in a country with say the 20% or so of high risk people vaccinated but then the virus still circulating among the other 80% - or is that wrong?
So as part of any global effort it feels like once shipments start to a country they need to carry on until it's done.
I also think that it's not just Trump's actions that were harmful but his refusal to do any of the normal transition stuff. I know that all the European and American leaders at the Munich conference talked up the need to cooperate on vaccine roll out globally but it feels like we're starting from 0 now, when even once Trump lost we could have started working more closely on this 4-5 months ago if it was a normal transition.
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 02, 2021, 02:28:27 PM
Also - and this is just me saying things that make sense in my head and might not tally with science - once you start vaccinating in a country it makes sense to me that you kind of need to finish pretty quickly. As I say this might be nonsense but it feels to me like the risk of a variant that doesn't respond to the vaccine is highest in a country with say the 20% or so of high risk people vaccinated but then the virus still circulating among the other 80% - or is that wrong?
So as part of any global effort it feels like once shipments start to a country they need to carry on until it's done.
Two thoughts:
1. I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that the virus is more likely to mutate in lower risk people than higher risk people. The virus just has a set chance of mutating no matter who it infects. So, your best use of the vaccine is to go after those with the higher risk of illness / death.
2. EVen if I'm wrong... morally how to do chose which country goes first, and which goes last? How on earth do you expect the world to come together on a global co-ordinated response, and then start telling certain countries they're at the end of the list. 'Sorry Zambia and Zimbabwe, we're vaccinating alphabetically. You should get your vaccines starting in March 2022'.
I think that is right Sheilbh. I mean it is not ideal for anybody to get the virus but once the most at risk people are vaccinated the chances of it killing is so dramatically reduced we can probably open back up which is the ultimate goal.
But then I am not medical expert.
Quote from: Barrister on March 02, 2021, 02:35:15 PM
'Sorry Zambia and Zimbabwe, we're vaccinating alphabetically. You should get your vaccines starting in March 2022'.
Probably quicker than the actual Zambia and Zimbabwe are going to get it if the countries with the manufacturing are hoarding.
Quote from: Barrister on March 02, 2021, 02:35:15 PM1. I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that the virus is more likely to mutate in lower risk people than higher risk people. The virus just has a set chance of mutating no matter who it infects. So, your best use of the vaccine is to go after those with the higher risk of illness / death.
Agreed you should prioritise the high risk people.
My point was more once you start vaccinating, infection will carry on in lower risk people and it's more likely to try and escape the vaccine (because there are also people who are vaccinated in that community). So - and as I say I don't know if this is right from a scientific perspective - wouldn't the highest risk of a variant emerging that escapes the vaccine be if you had a country/community with all the high risk people vaccinated but then no roll-out into lower risk groups? So once you've started you need to finish, you can't just stop at the high risk people even if on a global/macro level there are high risk people in other countries who will still be at risk while you are vaccinating low risk groups - and once Covax starts shipping to Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire etc that supply needs to keep going until those programs are "done".
Quote2. EVen if I'm wrong... morally how to do chose which country goes first, and which goes last? How on earth do you expect the world to come together on a global co-ordinated response, and then start telling certain countries they're at the end of the list. 'Sorry Zambia and Zimbabwe, we're vaccinating alphabetically. You should get your vaccines starting in March 2022'.
True - we're currently doing it based on wealth in a semi-coordinated way. You're right though if you were coordinating globally - how do you prioritise? I can see an argument for prioritising Europe and the Americas (counter-intuitively given we always assume a global health problem will primarily be felt in the global south - which isn't the case here) because that's where the most death and transmission are happening. Flipside is there are other populations that face as high risk even if the public health risk is lower, for example African healthcare workers.
I've no idea what would be right and ethical. In my head I think the two key questions would be what has the biggest impact on the number of deaths and what can be done quickest. But, honestly, I don't know if those are the priorities for say the WHO or GAVI.
Quote from: Barrister on March 02, 2021, 02:35:15 PM
1. I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that the virus is more likely to mutate in lower risk people than higher risk people. The virus just has a set chance of mutating no matter who it infects. So, your best use of the vaccine is to go after those with the higher risk of illness / death.
I read that some evidence seems to point at infected who have a somewhat compromised immune system but don't croak for a while. In these patients the virus can reproduce (and thus mutate) for weeks or even months.
I guess if you're vulnerable the virus just kills you whilst if you've a strongish immune system it lingers a long time and develops ways to get around that?
Quote from: Iormlund on March 03, 2021, 12:55:31 PM
I read that some evidence seems to point at infected who have a somewhat compromised immune system but don't croak for a while. In these patients the virus can reproduce (and thus mutate) for weeks or even months.
Yeah - I think that's definitely the theory around the UK variant. In particular why it made such a big leap with multiple mutations in one jump.
Minor difference with lockdown last year as I (again :weep:) need physio. This time you can get in-person physio appointments if that's your preference.
Got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. I had to drive to Frankfort to get it (no appointments available in Louisville), and it was pretty weird because before I got to the place, there was a military checkpoint. :huh: Then once I cleared that, the place was crawling with troops, along with (I guess) public health officials and then the nurses administering the doses. It was really well organized, though, and I got in and out pretty quickly considering all the people that were there.
The vaccine hits you hard though, man. I felt fine for a couple of hours after the shot, but eventually my arm started hurting really bad at the injection site... like it was smacked with a 2x4 really. I was exhausted last night and collapsed on the couch despite having tons of work to do, and this morning I feel like I have a cold and the lymph nodes around my right armpit (arm I got the shot in) are all swollen, and I have a persistent headache and my joints are all achey.
Maybe you just hit old age, and it's unrelated to the vaccine?
Quote from: The Brain on March 04, 2021, 11:28:44 AM
Maybe you just hit old age, and it's unrelated to the vaccine?
:sleep:
Quote from: Caliga on March 04, 2021, 08:40:31 AM
Got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. I had to drive to Frankfort to get it (no appointments available in Louisville), and it was pretty weird because before I got to the place, there was a military checkpoint. :huh: Then once I cleared that, the place was crawling with troops, along with (I guess) public health officials and then the nurses administering the doses. It was really well organized, though, and I got in and out pretty quickly considering all the people that were there.
The vaccine hits you hard though, man. I felt fine for a couple of hours after the shot, but eventually my arm started hurting really bad at the injection site... like it was smacked with a 2x4 really. I was exhausted last night and collapsed on the couch despite having tons of work to do, and this morning I feel like I have a cold and the lymph nodes around my right armpit (arm I got the shot in) are all swollen, and I have a persistent headache and my joints are all achey.
Did they tell you which brand you got?
Yeah, Moderna.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 04, 2021, 02:29:52 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 04, 2021, 08:40:31 AM
Got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. I had to drive to Frankfort to get it (no appointments available in Louisville), and it was pretty weird because before I got to the place, there was a military checkpoint. :huh: Then once I cleared that, the place was crawling with troops, along with (I guess) public health officials and then the nurses administering the doses. It was really well organized, though, and I got in and out pretty quickly considering all the people that were there.
The vaccine hits you hard though, man. I felt fine for a couple of hours after the shot, but eventually my arm started hurting really bad at the injection site... like it was smacked with a 2x4 really. I was exhausted last night and collapsed on the couch despite having tons of work to do, and this morning I feel like I have a cold and the lymph nodes around my right armpit (arm I got the shot in) are all swollen, and I have a persistent headache and my joints are all achey.
Did they tell you which brand you got?
If you keep reading his post up to the second half of the first sentence, you'll have your answer.
Quote from: DGuller on March 04, 2021, 06:42:06 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 04, 2021, 02:29:52 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 04, 2021, 08:40:31 AM
Got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. I had to drive to Frankfort to get it (no appointments available in Louisville), and it was pretty weird because before I got to the place, there was a military checkpoint. :huh: Then once I cleared that, the place was crawling with troops, along with (I guess) public health officials and then the nurses administering the doses. It was really well organized, though, and I got in and out pretty quickly considering all the people that were there.
The vaccine hits you hard though, man. I felt fine for a couple of hours after the shot, but eventually my arm started hurting really bad at the injection site... like it was smacked with a 2x4 really. I was exhausted last night and collapsed on the couch despite having tons of work to do, and this morning I feel like I have a cold and the lymph nodes around my right armpit (arm I got the shot in) are all swollen, and I have a persistent headache and my joints are all achey.
Did they tell you which brand you got?
If you keep reading his post up to the second half of the first sentence, you'll have your answer.
No, he said which brand he got.
Quote from: The Brain on March 04, 2021, 06:44:27 PM
Quote from: DGuller on March 04, 2021, 06:42:06 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 04, 2021, 02:29:52 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 04, 2021, 08:40:31 AM
Got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday. I had to drive to Frankfort to get it (no appointments available in Louisville), and it was pretty weird because before I got to the place, there was a military checkpoint. :huh: Then once I cleared that, the place was crawling with troops, along with (I guess) public health officials and then the nurses administering the doses. It was really well organized, though, and I got in and out pretty quickly considering all the people that were there.
The vaccine hits you hard though, man. I felt fine for a couple of hours after the shot, but eventually my arm started hurting really bad at the injection site... like it was smacked with a 2x4 really. I was exhausted last night and collapsed on the couch despite having tons of work to do, and this morning I feel like I have a cold and the lymph nodes around my right armpit (arm I got the shot in) are all swollen, and I have a persistent headache and my joints are all achey.
Did they tell you which brand you got?
If you keep reading his post up to the second half of the first sentence, you'll have your answer.
No, he said which brand he got.
He is not in Texas
Quote from: DGuller on March 04, 2021, 06:42:06 PM
If you keep reading his post up to the second half of the first sentence, you'll have your answer.
My bad. :weep:
Relax, I myself forgot I had mentioned it in my initial post. My brain is a bit foggy today. :)
Quote from: Caliga on March 04, 2021, 08:15:09 PM
Relax, I myself forgot I had mentioned it in my initial post. My brain is a bit foggy today. :)
If I plead mea culpa then I get to maintain the right to slag on other people's poor reading comprehension. :)
A case of Delta-8 gummies arrived in the mail today, so I will probably remain fuzzy through to the end of the weekend. :)
Quote from: Caliga on March 04, 2021, 02:18:29 PM
Quote from: The Brain on March 04, 2021, 11:28:44 AM
Maybe you just hit old age, and it's unrelated to the vaccine?
:sleep:
I'm about the same age, and only had a sore arm...none of those other side effects at all. Getting dose #2 today...I should be a zombie by Monday.
Quote from: Zanza on March 02, 2021, 11:53:30 AM
The EU gets a lot of deserved criticism for its vaccine rollout. However, if the EU had acted like the US and stopped all vaccine exports, the stories for Israel and the UK would look rather different too.
Saw some figures:
QuoteSince Jan. 30 more than 8 million vaccines were shipped from the EU to Britain, a third EU source said.
Britain has so far prevented the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to the EU, using a UK-first clause in its supply contract with the Anglo-Swedish firm, EU officials have said.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2AW19S?__twitter_impression=true
Of course that will never be mentioned in the British government propaganda while at the same time obsessively comparing with Europe.
Quote from: Zanza on March 05, 2021, 06:34:21 AM
Saw some figures:
QuoteSince Jan. 30 more than 8 million vaccines were shipped from the EU to Britain, a third EU source said.
Britain has so far prevented the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to the EU, using a UK-first clause in its supply contract with the Anglo-Swedish firm, EU officials have said.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2AW19S?__twitter_impression=true
Of course that will never be mentioned in the British government propaganda while at the same time obsessively comparing with Europe.
The 8 million sounds roughly like that's the volume of Pfizer we've had. I think from what I understand the rollout's been roughly 50/50 Pfizer and AZ.
And I saw VDL recently run through jurisdictions and noted the EU which was being open with vaccine exports, the US wasn't and she said the UK is also restricted like the US. Which I just disagree with - and this may be the lawyer in me - but there's a world of difference betwen having a contract that says you have to supply us x amount from these factories before you can use them for anyone else and export controls.
The UK government hasn't publicly commented much on Europe's vaccine roll-out because the message is generally that we want everyone to get innoculated. The exception to that is when European regulators such as figures in the EMA, or VDL, or Macron etc have made comments that basically imply the UK is being unsafe or using ineffective vaccines or taking too many risks. And it's right to push back against that because it may just be explaining to a domestic European audience why things are slower, but it could impact trust here too. I think some European politicians have been irresponsible in their language about vaccines in an attempt to avoid responsibility - it seems to me that it is probably one of the factors in some reluctance around the AZ vaccine.
And I think whatever happened there would be comparisons. The Guardian and the Lancet and the BMJ all had a number of pieces last year about how not joining the EU procurement scheme was a huge mistake that would make it very difficult for the UK to get enough vaccines quickly, Labour and the Lib Dems both opposed that decision. If that was correct there would be other obsessive comparisons just in the Guardian etc. The only way there would be no comparisons would be if there was no difference - and then I think we'd all be paying more attention to the success in the US and Israel.
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 05, 2021, 06:09:02 AM
I'm about the same age, and only had a sore arm...none of those other side effects at all. Getting dose #2 today...I should be a zombie by Monday.
I've heard it varies a lot... but since you are in the military I am sure you're in much better shape than me, so that's probably part of it. :Embarrass:
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 05, 2021, 07:03:55 AM... this may be the lawyer in me - but there's a world of difference betwen having a contract that says you have to supply us x amount from these factories before you can use them for anyone else and export controls.
It is the lawyer in you.
Got my second jab of Moderna today. I had no adverse effects from the first (other than the standard sore arm) so keeping my fingers crossed on the second.
I'm hoping that the word "Moderna" is Italian for "immortal."
Woke up this morning (got the 2nd Moderna shot yesterday) with a slight temperature and congestion...and the sore arm again. Otherwise fine so far.
Dunno if putting this on the dream thread or here... today I dreamt that I went out and realized halfway that I had forgot my mask. I rushed home, but the police caught me and I was fined. It's not the first time that I have a "oh no, you're not wearing a mask" nightmare :hmm: <_<
Nice weather today. Not going to step out, though, as there's again (like many a Saturday) an anti-government protest against Corona measures (with big support from the far right), and apparently "protest tourists" from Germany, and I'd rather not mingle.
People are still arriving, FPÖ is holding a gathering, and the peak is expected for 3 pm.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Evy0VG-XAAI8Hdj?format=jpg&name=medium)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Evy4CboWYAc4pdY?format=jpg&name=medium)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Evy8TTvXcAw7KPz?format=jpg&name=large)
Quote from: celedhring on March 06, 2021, 05:03:13 AM
Dunno if putting this on the dream thread or here... today I dreamt that I went out and realized halfway that I had forgot my mask. I rushed home, but the police caught me and I was fined. It's not the first time that I have a "oh no, you're not wearing a mask" nightmare :hmm: <_<
I have had it too.
Both vaccinations booked :w00t:
Thursday and then the first week of June.
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 06, 2021, 09:21:32 AM
Both vaccinations booked :w00t:
Thursday and then the first week of June.
How's that? You have asthma or so?
Quote from: Tyr on March 06, 2021, 09:25:31 AM
How's that? You have asthma or so?
Yeah I'm one of the more medium-risk people due to medication I take. I'm not particularly at risk I don't think but good to get it done anyway :)
Quote from: Tonitrus on March 06, 2021, 05:01:23 AM
Woke up this morning (got the 2nd Moderna shot yesterday) with a slight temperature and congestion...and the sore arm again. Otherwise fine so far.
Feeling better over the course of the day...even went for a 2.5 mile run. Will see if I regret that later. :sleep:
The little wheel on the bottom of the cross is a convenient feature. Makes it much easier to bear that cross, for sure.
Demonstration by right-wingers and Covid deniers went as usual. Police reminds them to wear masks, keep distance. This gets ignored, and police fine a handful of people. Police dissolves demonstration. Protesters ignore it, continue marching through the streets. Police accompany them "to deescalate the situation", but otherwise do nothing. They try to lock off a few streets with a dozen police or so, but the protesters just walk through.
Antifa organized a peaceful bicycle protest, trying to block the protest route. They were dispersed by police.
Today they gathered in Prater (a big park area). On Twitter, police advised people who asked if it was ok to still go to Prater with their kids to stay home. Afterwards police accompanied protesters back. The majority of protesters are from outside Vienna, so they're getting back on buses, trains, etc., ignoring mask mandates (quote police officer: "Well, I already asked; what else can I do?"
Same thing almost every other weekend. This week head of FPÖ Kickl also held an anti-Israel speech to round things off.
:bleeding:
EDIT: Police estimate around 10,000 participants today.
Quote from: Jacob on March 06, 2021, 11:30:20 AM
The little wheel on the bottom of the cross is a convenient feature. Makes it much easier to bear that cross, for sure.
It is handy to be able to drag your martyrdom from protest to protest.
QuoteAntifa organized a peaceful bicycle protest, trying to block the protest route. They were dispersed by police
For when you don't think you've triggered the trumpies enough.... Antifa.... ON BIKES
My dad got his vaccine appointment. He's a diabetic 77 y/o so I'll feel much better about this whole shit once he gets the shot.
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 01:54:49 PM
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
Almost the same for me, last flight was March 10th. We spent a few days in London in early March 2020. Before we flew, we had checked infection numbers, but UK was lower than Germany. So we went to full pubs and a full West End theatre. Only on our flight back from Heathrow it was eerily quiet in the half-empty terminal. A few days later the lockdown here started...
Quote from: Zanza on March 09, 2021, 02:03:10 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 01:54:49 PM
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
Almost the same for me, last flight was March 10th. We spent a few days in London in early March 2020. Before we flew, we had checked infection numbers, but UK was lower than Germany. So we went to full pubs and a full West End theatre. Only on our flight back from Heathrow it was eerily quiet in the half-empty terminal. A few days later the lockdown here started...
Similar for me, I went on a week long family trip to Norway, which had been a present for my mom, and everything was completely normal, just business as usual. When we left rumours of restrictions were swirling but did not seem inminent, and once we were back the full national lockdown was enacted in a few days.
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 01:54:49 PM
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
Christ, you probably avoided being stranded by the skin of your teeth then. The lockdown anniversary (yay!) is in 5 days.
Quote from: celedhring on March 09, 2021, 02:32:46 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 01:54:49 PM
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
Christ, you probably avoided being stranded by the skin of your teeth then. The lockdown anniversary (yay!) is in 5 days.
Yeah, we joked that if we had scheduled the trip for just a few days later we'd have been stranded in Norway. :lol:
My 96 year old grandpa - in Denmark - was "vaccine hesitant" but the family prevailed upon him and he got his vaccine last week.
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 02:36:07 PM
Yeah, we joked that if we had scheduled the trip for just a few days later we'd have been stranded in Norway. :lol:
My brother was in Patagonia when everything closed down. It took them a while to get back to Germany.
Quote from: celedhring on March 09, 2021, 02:32:46 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 01:54:49 PM
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
Christ, you probably avoided being stranded by the skin of your teeth then. The lockdown anniversary (yay!) is in 5 days.
We got back from Aruba a week or two before the borders started to close. It was good timing.
Quote from: The Larch on March 09, 2021, 01:54:49 PM
Just realized that today it's been a year since I've last been on a plane.
March 7-8, a one day work trip to Las Vegas from New Orleans. I probably spread asymptomatic covid across three time zones.
We cancelled a trip to China in Feb-Mar last year.
I was supposed to travel to Madrid that March... to interview the staff at a hospital :lol:
Quote from: celedhring on March 10, 2021, 09:41:27 AM
I was supposed to travel to Madrid that March... to interview the staff at a hospital :lol:
:lol:
We cancelled our trip to Scotland - we were going to visit our son who was spending a term there (he also had to come back) and spend most of the time with some Canadian friends in their family home in the Orkneys. We are definitely looking forward to giving it another go, probably next year (except our son will be somewhere else and so will not have to put up with spending a couple of days with us :D).
Friends from Australia had spent a few years planning their grand year long walkabout of Canada (and a few select parts of the US). We were going to spend a couple of weeks with them on a cruise and tour of Alaska. But they had to cancel all their plans. Really hoping they get a redo on that when all is clear.
I reckon travel and hospitality is going to be in for a boom once things are deemed safe.
Yeah. Though I'm still worried about mutations. We've failed completely to screen travelers for the past year. I don't think that's going to change.
Quote from: Jacob on March 10, 2021, 12:37:44 PM
I reckon travel and hospitality is going to be in for a boom once things are deemed safe.
YES. I cannot wait to get back in pubs, restaurants and holidays :lol:
QuoteYeah. Though I'm still worried about mutations. We've failed completely to screen travelers for the past year. I don't think that's going to change.
Yeah - we're still titting about. No serious controls or screening or quarantine :bleeding:
Re. mutations and such - I think this now will just be a new way to die we'll learn to live with, and if you are over 40 when you get a serious case of the flu you'll be wondering if this is going to land you in the hospital, the same way how over-80s might think about the old type of flu. Maybe through enough mutations it will eventually become mild enough to just be that, another version of the usual flu.
Hopefully it will also mean that it will be socially unacceptable to "soldier on" in the office when you have a serious cold/flu and you are spraying virus/bacteria around you. I'd be fine with that.
That'd be great for salaried office workers. Still leaves a lot of people choosing between going to work sick and staying home broke.
I dreamed I got the vaccine last night. AstraZeneca to be specific.
It was a smaller part of a larger dream, but I still remember I felt quite relieved in the dream.
I could really, really do with some shoe and outdoors kit shops being open now. <_<
I desperately need new:
walking boots
interview shoes
activity shoes/ lt.boots
Outdoor waterproof waxed coat.
waterproof cycling jacket.
and slippers :pipe:
You do not need 4 new pairs of shoes. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 14, 2021, 12:17:27 PM
You do not need 4 new pairs of shoes. :rolleyes:
By now, a year without such shopping, I certainly do. :bowler:
Quote from: mongers on March 14, 2021, 02:36:27 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 14, 2021, 12:17:27 PM
You do not need 4 new pairs of shoes. :rolleyes:
By now, a year without such shopping, I certainly do. :bowler:
How many pairs of shoes do you go through in a year?
Further North you live, more shoes you need.
Quote from: The Larch on March 14, 2021, 04:04:33 PM
Quote from: mongers on March 14, 2021, 02:36:27 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on March 14, 2021, 12:17:27 PM
You do not need 4 new pairs of shoes. :rolleyes:
By now, a year without such shopping, I certainly do. :bowler:
How many pairs of shoes do you go through in a year?
Not that many, but as I want to take up longer distance walking I need a new pair for that, indoor shoes/slippers last less than a year, activity shoes/boots for cycling only last a year max due to the amount I do.
So being reasonably active means it adds up.
I was meant to be going to Jersey a few days after all flights were stopped here.
Though my gf did manage a trip home last August in the brief window of "it's over right?"
My 99 years old grandma will receive her first Moderna shot on Friday. I am both happy and really nervous. I am worried if her body can take the (however minor) shock, but on the other hand, risking this is surely better than living the rest of her life in fear of catching the virus.
Agreed I think that's very good news.
I was incredibly relieved when my 90 something uncle got his (we don't get on with grandparents in my family :lol:). He needs a visit every few days from a nurse and some support from a daily visit by a carer to support him living alone. It has felt like he's just been super at risk for the last year, especially given the problems in the care sector - so whatever the risks of a vaccine it felt lower than that.
He made the comments during a meeting with Babis (Czech Rep), Jansa (Slovenia) and Borisov (Bulgaria), so he can happily pretend to be speaking for the disadvantaged. I'm actually quite disgusted with his behavior these last weeks (from attacking state prosecutors who investigate his government's members for corruption to the vaccine debacle).
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 16, 2021, 01:12:45 PM
Agreed I think that's very good news.
I was incredibly relieved when my 90 something uncle got his (we don't get on with grandparents in my family :lol:). He needs a visit every few days from a nurse and some support from a daily visit by a carer to support him living alone. It has felt like he's just been super at risk for the last year, especially given the problems in the care sector - so whatever the risks of a vaccine it felt lower than that.
Which one did he get?
I don't know.
After he refused the Chinese water vaccine a few weeks ago, my Dad was contacted again by the GP to get a Russian shot, but he said no again.
I am not happy, it is probably worst of the legit bunch but still should be fine. To be fair, I think there's a long list of "not recommended when" list coming with it, a number of which he'd tick. Still, I am not happy.
Can't say about the Chinese as I don't know enough about it (or better them, as there's more than one Chinese vaccine around at this point), but the Russian vaccine is indeed acceptable and better than not getting anything, so unless your dad would fall into the groups for which this vaccine is not recommended he should have received it, unless he can get an alternative one relatively soon.
From everything I've read I'd get Sputnik (if it was approved and available in the UK) - they've had good trial data in reputable international journals.
Apparently there are ways by choosing your vaccine centre that you can choose what you get here. I don't really care so just went for the one that was most convenient (and near Borough Market so I could get some nice lunch too :blush:). And when you signed in the lady was like "we're doing AstraZeneca today".
I generally do think cultural difference explanations are nonsense - but I do think the idea of not really having much choice in your healthcare/take what you're given and be thankful style of the NHS is possibly a genuine and relevant cultural difference :lol:
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 01:45:08 PM
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Except that the Chinese one does look very iffy so I am glad my dad could refuse that one. Not so much as adverse effects, but rather no effect at all.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:20:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 01:45:08 PM
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Except that the Chinese one does look very iffy so I am glad my dad could refuse that one. Not so much as adverse effects, but rather no effect at all.
How do you know that the Chinese vaccine you mention isn't effective enough? Where did you get that information from? I mean, this could be an example of the first kind of scenario about prejudices that I mentioned. I mean, I don't know enough about that particular one to say antything one way or the other, much less to come strongly against it as you're doing.
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 02:28:01 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:20:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 01:45:08 PM
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Except that the Chinese one does look very iffy so I am glad my dad could refuse that one. Not so much as adverse effects, but rather no effect at all.
How do you know that the Chinese vaccine you mention isn't effective enough? Where did you get that information from? I mean, this could be an example of the first kind of scenario about prejudices that I mentioned. I mean, I don't know enough about that particular one to say antything one way or the other, much less to come strongly against it as you're doing.
I have read up on it. Brazil, when they included mild cases in their studies (which I think all western ones do) measured 51% efficacy. Hong Kong measured the same. The United Arab Emirates recently started administering 3rd doses of the Chinese vaccine because a lot of people they tested did not show any immune reaction even after the 2nd shot.
And yeah, I know, 51% is much better than 0. It is also significantly worse than the other vaccines, and once you have accepted the Chinese one you can't just get yourself another one, not in a year or two.
Oh, and there's a small matter than not even China is using it on over-60s, and my father is over 70.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:31:34 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 02:28:01 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:20:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 01:45:08 PM
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Except that the Chinese one does look very iffy so I am glad my dad could refuse that one. Not so much as adverse effects, but rather no effect at all.
How do you know that the Chinese vaccine you mention isn't effective enough? Where did you get that information from? I mean, this could be an example of the first kind of scenario about prejudices that I mentioned. I mean, I don't know enough about that particular one to say antything one way or the other, much less to come strongly against it as you're doing.
I have read up on it. Brazil, when they included mild cases in their studies (which I think all western ones do) measured 51% efficacy. Hong Kong measured the same. The United Arab Emirates recently started administering 3rd doses of the Chinese vaccine because a lot of people they tested did not show any immune reaction even after the 2nd shot.
And yeah, I know, 51% is much better than 0. It is also significantly worse than the other vaccines, and once you have accepted the Chinese one you can't just get yourself another one, not in a year or two.
Are you aware that there are at least two different "Chinese vaccines" in the market at the moment? The one supplied to Hungary (manufactured by Sinopharm) is different from the one trialled in Brazil (manufactured by Sinovac).
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
You think it's wiser to trust the Hungarian health authorities?
I laugh at Tamas sometimes because of his tendency to view the entire world as a web of Kafkaesque duplicity, but there are times when that world view is warranted.
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:31:34 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 02:28:01 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:20:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 01:45:08 PM
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Except that the Chinese one does look very iffy so I am glad my dad could refuse that one. Not so much as adverse effects, but rather no effect at all.
How do you know that the Chinese vaccine you mention isn't effective enough? Where did you get that information from? I mean, this could be an example of the first kind of scenario about prejudices that I mentioned. I mean, I don't know enough about that particular one to say antything one way or the other, much less to come strongly against it as you're doing.
I have read up on it. Brazil, when they included mild cases in their studies (which I think all western ones do) measured 51% efficacy. Hong Kong measured the same. The United Arab Emirates recently started administering 3rd doses of the Chinese vaccine because a lot of people they tested did not show any immune reaction even after the 2nd shot.
And yeah, I know, 51% is much better than 0. It is also significantly worse than the other vaccines, and once you have accepted the Chinese one you can't just get yourself another one, not in a year or two.
Are you aware that there are at least two different "Chinese vaccines" in the market at the moment? The one supplied to Hungary (manufactured by Sinopharm) is different from the one trialled in Brazil (manufactured by Sinovac).
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
Fair enough, but Hungarian cleptocracy forcing the national authorities to approve the vaccine by rushing through usual steps is also not the right way.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 18, 2021, 03:22:47 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
You think it's wiser to trust the Hungarian health authorities?
I laugh at Tamas sometimes because of his tendency to view the entire world as a web of Kafkaesque duplicity, but there are times when that world view is warranted.
Ideally yes, but I get what you mean. I guess that it boils down to fears and expectations, as well as particular situations and possible alternatives.
Why would you reject the Chinese vaccine? In my mind there'd be two reasons, fear of harm and the vaccine not providing good enough results. In the first case, at this point these vaccines have been administered to millions of people, and possible side effects would be well known, so I don't think you can make a safety argument for rejecting it, at least with the available information. If you'd reject it because it's not good enough then it depends on what alternatives do you have. If you have no other alternative vaccine available, then you're better off still taking the Chinese one, as even 50% eficacy is better than anything. If you can wait it out for one with better %, then it's up to you, but it depends on your risk profile and how amenable the health system would be to this kind of cases.
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:09:23 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 18, 2021, 03:22:47 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
You think it's wiser to trust the Hungarian health authorities?
I laugh at Tamas sometimes because of his tendency to view the entire world as a web of Kafkaesque duplicity, but there are times when that world view is warranted.
Ideally yes, but I get what you mean. I guess that it boils down to fears and expectations, as well as particular situations and possible alternatives.
Why would you reject the Chinese vaccine? In my mind there'd be two reasons, fear of harm and the vaccine not providing good enough results. In the first case, at this point these vaccines have been administered to millions of people, and possible side effects would be well known, so I don't think you can make a safety argument for rejecting it, at least with the available information. If you'd reject it because it's not good enough then it depends on what alternatives do you have. If you have no other alternative vaccine available, then you're better off still taking the Chinese one, as even 50% eficacy is better than anything. If you can wait it out for one with better %, then it's up to you, but it depends on your risk profile and how amenable the health system would be to this kind of cases.
Obviously if you can either have a Chinese vaccine or none, it's an easy choice. But when you can get AZ, Moderna, Pfizer instead if you wait, that also seems like an easy choice for me.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 03:28:50 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:31:34 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 02:28:01 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 02:20:08 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 01:45:08 PM
Yeah, I'm not 100% convinced that giving people a choice on which vaccine they get is a good idea. The NHS way of "you get this one (as long as approved by the regulators, of course) and be grateful for it" seems the right approach. The general public is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice, and it plays too much on prejudices ("no way I'm getting the Chinese/Russian one" for instance) and whichever controversy is fresher in their minds (like the current AZ "panic").
Except that the Chinese one does look very iffy so I am glad my dad could refuse that one. Not so much as adverse effects, but rather no effect at all.
How do you know that the Chinese vaccine you mention isn't effective enough? Where did you get that information from? I mean, this could be an example of the first kind of scenario about prejudices that I mentioned. I mean, I don't know enough about that particular one to say antything one way or the other, much less to come strongly against it as you're doing.
I have read up on it. Brazil, when they included mild cases in their studies (which I think all western ones do) measured 51% efficacy. Hong Kong measured the same. The United Arab Emirates recently started administering 3rd doses of the Chinese vaccine because a lot of people they tested did not show any immune reaction even after the 2nd shot.
And yeah, I know, 51% is much better than 0. It is also significantly worse than the other vaccines, and once you have accepted the Chinese one you can't just get yourself another one, not in a year or two.
Are you aware that there are at least two different "Chinese vaccines" in the market at the moment? The one supplied to Hungary (manufactured by Sinopharm) is different from the one trialled in Brazil (manufactured by Sinovac).
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
Fair enough, but Hungarian cleptocracy forcing the national authorities to approve the vaccine by rushing through usual steps is also not the right way.
That would give reasons to be hesitant at first, but how long has this vaccine been administered already? At least a couple of months, right? If there were any red flags they would be known by now.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:18:38 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:09:23 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 18, 2021, 03:22:47 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
You think it's wiser to trust the Hungarian health authorities?
I laugh at Tamas sometimes because of his tendency to view the entire world as a web of Kafkaesque duplicity, but there are times when that world view is warranted.
Ideally yes, but I get what you mean. I guess that it boils down to fears and expectations, as well as particular situations and possible alternatives.
Why would you reject the Chinese vaccine? In my mind there'd be two reasons, fear of harm and the vaccine not providing good enough results. In the first case, at this point these vaccines have been administered to millions of people, and possible side effects would be well known, so I don't think you can make a safety argument for rejecting it, at least with the available information. If you'd reject it because it's not good enough then it depends on what alternatives do you have. If you have no other alternative vaccine available, then you're better off still taking the Chinese one, as even 50% eficacy is better than anything. If you can wait it out for one with better %, then it's up to you, but it depends on your risk profile and how amenable the health system would be to this kind of cases.
Obviously if you can either have a Chinese vaccine or none, it's an easy choice. But when you can get AZ, Moderna, Pfizer instead if you wait, that also seems like an easy choice for me.
Depends on how long you have to wait and how urgent it's for one to get vaccinated. And imagine the mess this causes if everybody did the same.
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/chinese-vaccines-sweep-world-concerns-76195474
QuoteTAIPEI, Taiwan -- The plane laden with vaccines had just rolled to a stop at Santiago's airport in late January, and Chile's president, Sebastián Piñera, was beaming. "Today," he said, "is a day of joy, emotion and hope."
The source of that hope: China – a country that Chile and dozens of other nations are depending on to help rescue them from the COVID-19 pandemic.
China's vaccine diplomacy campaign has been a surprising success: It has pledged roughly half a billion doses of its vaccines to more than 45 countries, according to a country-by-country tally by The Associated Press. With just four of China's many vaccine makers claiming they are able to produce at least 2.6 billion doses this year, a large part of the world's population will end up inoculated not with the fancy Western vaccines boasting headline-grabbing efficacy rates, but with China's humble, traditionally made shots.
Amid a dearth of public data on China's vaccines, hesitations over their efficacy and safety are still pervasive in the countries depending on them, along with concerns about what China might want in return for deliveries. Nonetheless, inoculations with Chinese vaccines already have begun in more than 25 countries, and the Chinese shots have been delivered to another 11, according to the AP tally, based on independent reporting in those countries along with government and company announcements.
It's a potential face-saving coup for China, which has been determined to transform itself from an object of mistrust over its initial mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak to a savior. Like India and Russia, China is trying to build goodwill, and has pledged roughly 10 times more vaccines abroad than it has distributed at home.
"We're seeing certainly real-time vaccine diplomacy start to play out, with China in the lead in terms of being able to manufacture vaccines within China and make them available to others," said Krishna Udayakumar, founding director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. "Some of them donated, some of them sold, and some of them sold with debt financing associated with it."
China has said it is supplying "vaccine aid" to 53 countries and exports to 27, but it rejected a request by the AP for the list. Beijing has also denied vaccine diplomacy, and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said China considered the vaccine a "global public good." Chinese experts reject any connection between the export of its vaccines and the revamping of its image.
"I don't see any linkage there," said Wang Huiyao, president of the Centre for China and Globalization, a Beijing think tank. "China should do more to help other countries, because it's doing well."
China has targeted the low- and middle-income countries largely left behind as rich nations scooped up most of the pricey vaccines produced by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna. And despite a few delays of its own in Brazil and Turkey, China has largely capitalized on slower-than-hoped-for deliveries by U.S. and European vaccine makers.
Like many other countries, Chile received far fewer doses of the Pfizer vaccine than first promised. In the month after its vaccination program began in late December, only around 150,000 of the 10 million Pfizer doses the South American country ordered arrived.
It wasn't until Chinese company Sinovac Biotech Ltd. swooped in with 4 million doses in late January that Chile began inoculating its population of 19 million with impressive speed. The country now has the fifth highest vaccination rate per capita in the world, according to Oxford University.
Chilean Vilma Ortiz got her Sinovac shot at a school in Santiago's Nunoa neighborhood, along with about 60 other people. Although she considers herself "kind of a skeptical person," she said she researched the Chinese vaccines on the Internet and was satisfied.
"I have a lot of faith and confidence in the vaccine," she said.
———
In Jakarta, the sports stadium was abuzz as masked healthcare workers filed in to receive their Sinovac shot. Wandering the rows of vaccination stations was Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the first person in the Southeast Asian country to get the Chinese shot, 140 million doses of which he has ordered for his people.
Among those at the stadium was Susi Monica, an intern doctor receiving her second dose. Despite questions over its efficacy, getting the shot was worth it to her, particularly because she didn't have any adverse reactions to the first dose.
Besides, she said, "Do I have another choice right now?"
The choices are limited for Indonesia and many other low- and middle-income countries clobbered by COVID. Vaccine deployment globally has been dominated by wealthier countries, which have snapped up 5.8 billion of the 8.2 billion doses purchased worldwide, according to Duke University.
China's vaccines, which can be stored in standard refrigerators, are attractive to countries like Indonesia, a sweltering nation that straddles the equator and could struggle to accommodate the ultracold storage needs of vaccines like Pfizer's.
The bulk of Chinese shots are from Sinovac and Sinopharm, which both rely on a traditional technology called an inactivated virus vaccine, based on cultivating batches of the virus and then killing it. Some countries view it as safer than the newer, less-proven technology used by some Western competitors that targets the coronavirus' spike protein, despite publicly available safety data for the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines and none for China's.
"The choice was made for this vaccine because it is developed on a traditional and safe inactivated platform," said Teymur Musayev, an official with the Ministry of Health in Azerbaijan, which has ordered 4 million Sinovac doses.
In Europe, China is providing the vaccine to countries such as Serbia and Hungary -- a significant geopolitical victory in Central Europe and the Balkans, where the West, China and Russia are competing for political and economic influence. This stretch of Europe has offered fertile ground for China to strengthen bilateral ties with Serbia and Hungary's populist leaders, who often criticize the EU.
Serbia became the first country in Europe to start inoculating its population with China's vaccines in January. The country has so far purchased 1.5 million doses of Sinopharm's vaccine, which makes up the majority of the country's supply, and smaller amounts of Russia's Sputnik V and Pfizer's vaccines.
Donning heavy coats against the winter chill, masked-up Serbians have been waiting in long lines for their turn to get the vaccine.
"They have been vaccinating their own people for (a) long period, I assume they have more experience," Natasa Stermenski, a Belgrade resident, said of her choice to get the Chinese shot at a vaccination center in February.
Neighboring Hungary, impatient over delays in the European Union, soon became the first country in the EU to approve the same Chinese vaccine. On Sunday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban got the Sinopharm shot, after recently saying he trusted the Chinese vaccine the most.
Many leaders have publicly supported the Chinese shots to allay concerns. Early on, "people had all these microchip theories in their heads, genetic modification, sterilization, running around on social media platforms," said Sanjeev Pugazhendi, a medical officer in the Indian Ocean island nation of the Seychelles, whose president recently received a Sinopharm shot on camera. "But the moment we started giving out the vaccines to leaders, religious leaders and health workers, that started to subside."
Beijing's vaccine diplomacy efforts are good for both China and the developing world, experts say.
"Because of the competition for influence, the poor countries can get earlier access for vaccines," said Yun Jiang, managing editor of the China Story Blog at the Australian National University. "Of course, that's assuming that all the vaccines are safe and delivered in the right way."
——————
China's vaccine diplomacy will only be as good as the vaccines it is offering, and it still faces hurdles.
Ahmed Hamdan Zayed, a nurse in Egypt, was reluctant to receive a vaccine, especially a Chinese one. The frontline health worker would be among the first in the country to get Sinopharm's shot as part of a mass vaccination campaign. Over 9 million Sinopharm shots have been given outside China.
"We had concerns about vaccines in general," the 27-year-old father of two said in a phone interview from the Abu Khalifa hospital in the northeastern part of the country. "The Chinese vaccine, in particular, there was insufficient data available compared to other vaccines."
But Zayed ultimately decided to get the shot after conducting more research. A doctor at his hospital called colleagues in the United Arab Emirates, which had approved the same shot, and they met with Egyptian health officials.
Sinopharm, which said its vaccine was 79% effective based on interim data from clinical trials, did not respond to requests for an interview. Sinopharm's chairman has said they have not had a single severe adverse event in response to their vaccine.
Chinese vaccine companies have been "slow and spotty" in releasing their trial data, compared to companies like Pfizer and Moderna, said Yanzhong Huang, a global health expert at the U.S. think tank Council for Foreign Relations. None of China's three vaccine candidates used globally have publicly released their late-stage clinical trial data. CanSino, another Chinese company with a one-shot vaccine that it says is 65% effective, declined to be interviewed.
China's pharmaceutical business practices also have raised concerns. In 2018, it emerged that one of China's biggest vaccine companies falsified data to sell its rabies vaccines. That same year, news broke that a Sinopharm subsidiary, which is behind one of the COVID-19 vaccines now, had made substandard diphtheria vaccines used in mandatory immunizations.
With Chinese vaccines, "for a lot of people, the first thing you think about is 'Made in China,' and that doesn't give you much assurance," said Joy Zhang, a professor at the University of Kent in the UK who studies the ethics of emerging science.
Russia and India have faced similar skepticism, partly because people have less trust in products made outside the Western world, said Sayedur Rahman, head of the pharmacology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Bangladesh.
"China, India, Russia, Cuba, whenever they develop a vaccine or conduct research, their data is questioned, and people say their process is not transparent," he said.
A December YouGov poll of 19,000 people in 17 countries and regions on how they felt about different vaccines found that China's received the second-lowest score, tied with India's. In the Philippines, which has ordered 25 million Sinovac doses, less than 20% of those surveyed by a research group expressed confidence in China's vaccines.
Those concerns have been exacerbated by confusion around the efficacy of Sinovac's shot. In Turkey, where Sinovac conducted part of its efficacy trials, officials have said the vaccine was 91% effective. However, in Brazil, officials revised the efficacy rate in late-stage clinical trials from 78% to just over 50% after including mild infections.
A senior Chinese official said Brazil's numbers were lower because its volunteers were healthcare workers who faced a higher risk of infection. But other medical experts have said exposure would not affect a vaccine's effectiveness.
Sinovac's trials were conducted separately in Turkey and Brazil, and the differences in efficacy rates arise from differences in the populations, a spokesman for the company said in a previous interview with the AP. The company declined to be interviewed for this article. An expert panel in Hong Kong assessed the efficacy of the vaccine at about 51%, and the city approved its use in mid-February.
Globally, public health officials have said any vaccine that is at least 50% effective is useful. International scientists are anxious to see results from final-stage testing published in a peer-reviewed science journal for all three Chinese companies.
It's also unclear how the Chinese shots work against new strains of the virus that are emerging, especially a variant first identified in South Africa. For example, Sinopharm has pledged 800,000 shots to South Africa's neighbor, Zimbabwe.
There are concerns among receiving countries that China's vaccine diplomacy may come at a cost, which China has denied. In the Philippines, where Beijing is donating 600,000 vaccines, a senior diplomat said China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, gave a subtle message to tone down public criticism of growing Chinese assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
The senior diplomat said Wang did not ask for anything in exchange for vaccines, but it was clear he wanted "friendly exchanges in public, like control your megaphone diplomacy a little." The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue publicly.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly said in a news conference on Sunday that China did not ask for anything, as the donations were flown in.
Meanwhile, opposition legislators in Turkey are accusing Ankara's leaders of secretly selling out Uyghurs to China in exchange for vaccines after a recent shipment delay. The legislators and the Uyghur diaspora community fear Beijing is trying to win passage of an extradition treaty that could see more Uyghurs deported to China.
Despite all the worries, the pandemic's urgency has largely superseded hesitations over China's vaccines.
"Vaccines, particularly those made in the West, are reserved for rich countries," said one Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. "We had to guarantee a vaccine. Any vaccine."
———
Gelineau reported from Sydney.
Associated Press researcher Chen Si in Shanghai, and AP reporters Patricia Luna in Santiago, Chile; Sam Magdy in Cairo; Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines; Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia; Aida Sultanova in London; Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary; Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia; Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya; Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Diane Jeantet in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:22:38 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:18:38 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:09:23 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 18, 2021, 03:22:47 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
You think it's wiser to trust the Hungarian health authorities?
I laugh at Tamas sometimes because of his tendency to view the entire world as a web of Kafkaesque duplicity, but there are times when that world view is warranted.
Ideally yes, but I get what you mean. I guess that it boils down to fears and expectations, as well as particular situations and possible alternatives.
Why would you reject the Chinese vaccine? In my mind there'd be two reasons, fear of harm and the vaccine not providing good enough results. In the first case, at this point these vaccines have been administered to millions of people, and possible side effects would be well known, so I don't think you can make a safety argument for rejecting it, at least with the available information. If you'd reject it because it's not good enough then it depends on what alternatives do you have. If you have no other alternative vaccine available, then you're better off still taking the Chinese one, as even 50% eficacy is better than anything. If you can wait it out for one with better %, then it's up to you, but it depends on your risk profile and how amenable the health system would be to this kind of cases.
Obviously if you can either have a Chinese vaccine or none, it's an easy choice. But when you can get AZ, Moderna, Pfizer instead if you wait, that also seems like an easy choice for me.
Depends on how long you have to wait and how urgent it's for one to get vaccinated. And imagine the mess this causes if everybody did the same.
I am fine with people taking either of the Chinese vaccines, having the population taken a 50% chance vaccine -I imagine- still yields considerable result in reducing hospitalisations and the spread of the vaccine. Way to go. But taking a chance of continuing to avoid catching it for a time to receive near-certain protection, instead of taking the 50% chance of receiving protection or not, seems like a good choice.
Incidentally just inspired by that article - Chile has done astonishingly with its vaccine roll-out. No idea how or why Chile in particular but it's really striking and great news given how bad covid has been in Latin America.
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 18, 2021, 04:44:40 PM
Incidentally just inspired by that article - Chile has done astonishingly with its vaccine roll-out. No idea how or why Chile in particular but it's really striking and great news given how bad covid has been in Latin America.
In many parameters Chile is one of the most functional Latin American countries, if not the most, so it's no wonder that they're doing well in their roll out.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:42:57 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:22:38 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:18:38 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:09:23 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 18, 2021, 03:22:47 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 03:17:28 PM
I mean, and don't get me wrong, there are issues with the different Chinese vaccines about their lack of public data regarding eficacy and safety (there's a reason why they haven't been approved yet by either EMA or FDA), but individual patients doing their own research is not the right way to do things.
You think it's wiser to trust the Hungarian health authorities?
I laugh at Tamas sometimes because of his tendency to view the entire world as a web of Kafkaesque duplicity, but there are times when that world view is warranted.
Ideally yes, but I get what you mean. I guess that it boils down to fears and expectations, as well as particular situations and possible alternatives.
Why would you reject the Chinese vaccine? In my mind there'd be two reasons, fear of harm and the vaccine not providing good enough results. In the first case, at this point these vaccines have been administered to millions of people, and possible side effects would be well known, so I don't think you can make a safety argument for rejecting it, at least with the available information. If you'd reject it because it's not good enough then it depends on what alternatives do you have. If you have no other alternative vaccine available, then you're better off still taking the Chinese one, as even 50% eficacy is better than anything. If you can wait it out for one with better %, then it's up to you, but it depends on your risk profile and how amenable the health system would be to this kind of cases.
Obviously if you can either have a Chinese vaccine or none, it's an easy choice. But when you can get AZ, Moderna, Pfizer instead if you wait, that also seems like an easy choice for me.
Depends on how long you have to wait and how urgent it's for one to get vaccinated. And imagine the mess this causes if everybody did the same.
I am fine with people taking either of the Chinese vaccines, having the population taken a 50% chance vaccine -I imagine- still yields considerable result in reducing hospitalisations and the spread of the vaccine. Way to go. But taking a chance of continuing to avoid catching it for a time to receive near-certain protection, instead of taking the 50% chance of receiving protection or not, seems like a good choice.
In any case, this 50% is just us playing with numbers (it's the bare minimum for a vaccine to be approved by regulators, AFAIK), we don't know if that's the real eficacy of this vaccine. It might be 60%, or 70%, and even if it's in the lower range if it still keeps people out of hospitals and ICUs it already fulfills its duty.
Quote from: Sheilbh on March 18, 2021, 04:44:40 PM
Incidentally just inspired by that article - Chile has done astonishingly with its vaccine roll-out. No idea how or why Chile in particular but it's really striking and great news given how bad covid has been in Latin America.
Do they have any statistics on the practical effect of it on number of hospitalisations and such?
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:49:09 PM
In any case, this 50% is just us playing with numbers (it's the bare minimum for a vaccine to be approved by regulators, AFAIK), we don't know if that's the real eficacy of this vaccine. It might be 60%, or 70%, and even if it's in the lower range if it still keeps people out of hospitals and ICUs it already fulfills its duty.
That's just part of the problem though, we have no way of knowing. Why are the Chinese companies so secretive about their research and studies? What possible reason is there for it other than it being crap?
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:46:43 PM
In many parameters Chile is one of the most functional Latin American countries, if not the most, so it's no wonder that they're doing well in their roll out.
This is very true - but it is incredible. They only started their program at the start of February and have already overtaken the US and UK. I think they're already up to over 40% which is a hell of an achievement in six weeks.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:50:31 PM
Do they have any statistics on the practical effect of it on number of hospitalisations and such?
No idea - and it's probably too soon to tell given that they've got to 40% in 6 weeks and it takes 2-3 weeks for vaccines to be effective. From what I can see they got to 20% of the population in 4 weeks and then another 20% in the last two weeks. It's up there with Israel in terms of impressiveness but more because Chile is not a small country and they've not done it, so far as I'm aware, in close cooperation with any specific pharma company.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:51:33 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:49:09 PM
In any case, this 50% is just us playing with numbers (it's the bare minimum for a vaccine to be approved by regulators, AFAIK), we don't know if that's the real eficacy of this vaccine. It might be 60%, or 70%, and even if it's in the lower range if it still keeps people out of hospitals and ICUs it already fulfills its duty.
That's just part of the problem though, we have no way of knowing. Why are the Chinese companies so secretive about their research and studies? What possible reason is there for it other than it being crap?
Hell if I know, but here's an area where Hungary could prove useful, as it's (AFAIK) the only EU country providing this vaccine, and should monitor closely the people being vaccinated with it in order to have first hand data about its eficacy.
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 05:18:34 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:51:33 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:49:09 PM
In any case, this 50% is just us playing with numbers (it's the bare minimum for a vaccine to be approved by regulators, AFAIK), we don't know if that's the real eficacy of this vaccine. It might be 60%, or 70%, and even if it's in the lower range if it still keeps people out of hospitals and ICUs it already fulfills its duty.
That's just part of the problem though, we have no way of knowing. Why are the Chinese companies so secretive about their research and studies? What possible reason is there for it other than it being crap?
Hell if I know, but here's an area where Hungary could prove useful, as it's (AFAIK) the only EU country providing this vaccine, and should monitor closely the people being vaccinated with it in order to have first hand data about its eficacy.
Yes I am sure China is also grateful for the human trials.
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 05:28:07 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 05:18:34 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:51:33 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:49:09 PM
In any case, this 50% is just us playing with numbers (it's the bare minimum for a vaccine to be approved by regulators, AFAIK), we don't know if that's the real eficacy of this vaccine. It might be 60%, or 70%, and even if it's in the lower range if it still keeps people out of hospitals and ICUs it already fulfills its duty.
That's just part of the problem though, we have no way of knowing. Why are the Chinese companies so secretive about their research and studies? What possible reason is there for it other than it being crap?
Hell if I know, but here's an area where Hungary could prove useful, as it's (AFAIK) the only EU country providing this vaccine, and should monitor closely the people being vaccinated with it in order to have first hand data about its eficacy.
Yes I am sure China is also grateful for the human trials.
:rolleyes:
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 05:30:57 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 05:28:07 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 05:18:34 PM
Quote from: Tamas on March 18, 2021, 04:51:33 PM
Quote from: The Larch on March 18, 2021, 04:49:09 PM
In any case, this 50% is just us playing with numbers (it's the bare minimum for a vaccine to be approved by regulators, AFAIK), we don't know if that's the real eficacy of this vaccine. It might be 60%, or 70%, and even if it's in the lower range if it still keeps people out of hospitals and ICUs it already fulfills its duty.
That's just part of the problem though, we have no way of knowing. Why are the Chinese companies so secretive about their research and studies? What possible reason is there for it other than it being crap?
Hell if I know, but here's an area where Hungary could prove useful, as it's (AFAIK) the only EU country providing this vaccine, and should monitor closely the people being vaccinated with it in order to have first hand data about its eficacy.
Yes I am sure China is also grateful for the human trials.
:rolleyes:
Exactly. They have plenty of Uighurs to test their drugs on. Don't need Hungarians.
Friends spent 12 days in quarantine last month due to a Covid case at the younger daughter's Kindergarten.
They now spend another 12 days in quarantine this month, because first the older daughter's school was hit.
Or as they put it in their text: Double Jackpot! 24 days quarantine in 5 weeks!
That's unlucky.
Oh that's grim :lol:
I know schools re-opening has been a moment of great joy for my colleagues who've been homeschooling since Christmas.
Yeah. Several schools and kindergarten grups are currently closed because of Covid cases. About 16.67% of cases in Vienna (800-1000 per day in recent days) are from educational institutions.
My step bro got all 4 of his children home because of covid-cases. Luckily, it was 1 at a time & the other children were allowed to go to school.
If I had my choice, I think my preference would be the J&J vaccine. I'd also prefer not to have a Chinese or Russian vaccine for reasons that are probably political more than anything else.
Bottom line, however, is that I'll take whatever is offered when it's my turn... which looks to be May, according to the current (and much improved) schedule.
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:04:09 PM
If I had my choice, I think my preference would be the J&J vaccine. I'd also prefer not to have a Chinese or Russian vaccine for reasons that are probably political more than anything else.
Bottom line, however, is that I'll take whatever is offered when it's my turn... which looks to be May, according to the current (and much improved) schedule.
Aren't the mRNA vaccines supposed to be the gold standard (even if they have a higher chance or getting a reaction after injection)?
But not like either of us will get a choice.
Quote from: Barrister on March 19, 2021, 02:08:24 PMAren't the mRNA vaccines supposed to be the gold standard (even if they have a higher chance or getting a reaction after injection)?
But not like either of us will get a choice.
For what it's worth the Scottish study of over 1 million people (mainly elderly) who'd received the vaccine in the real world actually showed the best results were with the AZ vaccine, especially among the over 80s. But they messed up their clinical trials data and have had numerous PR issues since, so they don't get a positive perception :lol: :(
If I had a choice I'd probably also go for the J&J because it's single shot - and I don't have an issue with needles but it would be nice to have once and you're done thing. I'd take anything that was approved as soon as I got the chance because my view is generally the best vaccine is the one that I can get :lol:
This think isn't really over yet, I've seen blue-lighting ambulances 3 out of the 5 times I've cycled the 0.75 mile alongside the local A-road (A338 Salisbury to Bm'th) in the last week or so.
Also the small town cemetery I passed today had flower evidence for 2-4 recent funerals. :(
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:04:09 PM
If I had my choice, I think my preference would be the J&J vaccine. I'd also prefer not to have a Chinese or Russian vaccine for reasons that are probably political more than anything else.
Bottom line, however, is that I'll take whatever is offered when it's my turn... which looks to be May, according to the current (and much improved) schedule.
I got shot one of Moderna vaccine. I would have liked to get J&J also for the one shot, but I'm fine with whatever is available. I do know people now who have gotten the J&J vaccine, such as my cousin's wife who is a teacher. The state is pushing for teachers to get vaccinated so schools can open.
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:04:09 PM
I'd also prefer not to have a Chinese or Russian vaccine for reasons that are probably political more than anything else.
I have no reason to believe Chinese or Russian scientists are worse than those in the West.
However I have ample experience in safety-critical applications, and lack of transparency or wide-spread corruption are not exactly the best indicators for top-notch quality control.
Often times individual companies have to provide this credibility (eg. you trust Mercedes or Audi to properly audit their manufacturing base in México). That's very hard to pull off when the consumer has never heard about Sinopharm or Sinovac.
The Russians have already started the review process with EMA, which is somewhat reassuring. As for quality control, I read they were looking to build capacity in the EU, which in my view would put them on par with AZ, J&J etc.
Quote from: Iormlund on March 21, 2021, 05:51:50 AM
Quote from: Jacob on March 19, 2021, 02:04:09 PM
I'd also prefer not to have a Chinese or Russian vaccine for reasons that are probably political more than anything else.
I have no reason to believe Chinese or Russian scientists are worse than those in the West.
I have very good reason to believe they are not.
I believe that an open, transparent, and liberal society is better at fostering the kind of curiousity, intellectual stimulation, education, and desire to break through accepted dogma that is critical to doing actual science.
To the extent that China is able to even keep up is, IMO, largely driven by their radically different standards around simple stealing knowledge they cannot create themselves, and their being very content to outsource their science education to the US and Canada.
Russian and Chinese quality control, I would not fucking trust for a second. Russia especially. I have no doubt that the decision to release any Russian vaccine goes through the desk of one V. Putin, and his decision has little to do with any actual evaluation of its efficacy or safety, and any report of the same is based on his review. If the numbers for its utility and safety are aligned with its ACTUAL utility and safety, that is a matter of blind luck then anything else.
I would not take a Russian vaccine until there was some evidence from outside of Russia that it works and was safe. Anything else, and I would assume that my knowledge of its safety and utility amounts to "Because Vladimir said so". Pass.
Quote from: Berkut on March 21, 2021, 07:40:30 AM
I would not take a Russian vaccine until there was some evidence from outside of Russia that it works and was safe. Anything else, and I would assume that my knowledge of its safety and utility amounts to "Because Vladimir said so". Pass.
Their trial data has been published in peer-reviewed Western medical journals. There's no reason not to think the Sputnik vaccine is safe and effective. And it still needs to be approved by our own regulators before it would be offered to us - in Europe I think they've applied for the approval from the EMA.
Plus it's like AstraZeneca the big question is supply chain because it's not being manufactured in one or two big centres in Russia but around the world. So I don't think it'd be relying on Russian manufacturers either (although they also need to be approved and batches are tested). I think they're looking at factories in Germany and Italy as well as other locations.
While I am largely ok with the Russian vaccine, as I understand the Western peer review has been the review of data provided by tests made in Russia. And they started using the stuff before clinical trials finished. Meaning, there had to be considerable political pressure/concern not to find anything wrong at that stage, considering it was already in use. I still think it's ok (as you know I am miffed at my father not accepting it) but I can totally understand reservations considering which country produced it under what circumstances.
The Chinese vaccines I have zero trust in. The Russians at least published their trial data for others to review. The Chinese have refused to do so / haven't actually completed all trials. The only reason to hide such a thing is if you have something to hide.
If Chineses & Russians vaccines were the only available I would assume that a Covid-19 vaccine didn't exist yet.
I'm pretty exhausted. Except shops (and recently reopened museums) pretty much everything has been closed since November.
The first lockdown, where we worked from home for 3 months was easy enough. Being an introvert, I was ok with spending more time by myself.
This time it's 5 months home office going on 6, with no real end in sight (except for a one week work trip to Switzerland that was all work and no free time). I'm talking to friends, of course, but except for shopping for groceries I barely step outside and spend my days between work computer, couch, and private computer. Not being able to plan my working hours doesn't really help with calls often being scheduled on short notice - I might learn at noon that I will be on a call at 2. At least my Fridays remain free.
I've been dieting and working out a bit and lost some weight. I try to stick with it, but it ain't easy. Having a nerve issue that causes a near-permanent itch under my left shoulder blade that gets exacerbated by workout doesn't help.
The last two or three weeks I've been feeling myself slipping into depression again. I'm conscious of it and work against it, but I really look forward to 2 weeks off in April where I don't have to look at any work related stuff.
Quote from: Syt on March 23, 2021, 01:13:56 PM
I'm pretty exhausted. Except shops (and recently reopened museums) pretty much everything has been closed since November.
The first lockdown, where we worked from home for 3 months was easy enough. Being an introvert, I was ok with spending more time by myself.
This time it's 5 months home office going on 6, with no real end in sight (except for a one week work trip to Switzerland that was all work and no free time). I'm talking to friends, of course, but except for shopping for groceries I barely step outside and spend my days between work computer, couch, and private computer. Not being able to plan my working hours doesn't really help with calls often being scheduled on short notice - I might learn at noon that I will be on a call at 2. At least my Fridays remain free.
I've been dieting and working out a bit and lost some weight. I try to stick with it, but it ain't easy. Having a nerve issue that causes a near-permanent itch under my left shoulder blade that gets exacerbated by workout doesn't help.
The last two or three weeks I've been feeling myself slipping into depression again. I'm conscious of it and work against it, but I really look forward to 2 weeks off in April where I don't have to look at any work related stuff.
:hug:
Sorry to hear that. I've been seeing this around me more and more lately, it's starting to really get to some people.
But the longest stretch of this is certainly behind us now, and the dark season, too.
I've been doing the workout from home as well, every work day. Me and a friend are keeping tabs on each other to make sure we actually do it. That helps a lot, I would have dropped the ball long ago otherwise. Those workouts, and a morning and mid-day stroll, really help me from sinking to a place I don't want to be.
I know a lot of the feeling there - except in relation to dieting or working out which I have not done through lockout with somewhat inevitable results :ph34r:
And I do wonder if there's been an element of depression in me going through lockdown - especially during this lockdown because winter doesn't help. As someone who is fundamentally quite lazy and happy to just veg out in front of the TV a lot of the time I'm not sure if my mood of no motivation and sort of apathy is just me with no plans or some form of lockdown depression. I'm not sure. I find the change of the seasons very helpful though which makes me think it might have been a bit without me realising.
Separately (though related to the lack of dieting) my favourite local restaurant (Xinjiang Chinese :mmm:) has, after a year, re-opened for takeaway. This is dangerous news :ph34r:
Syt, lots of people have similar feelings - depression, loneliness, routine so messed up. Hang in there, many of us are in similar condition. I have a couple of older cousins who have barely left the house. They get food delivered by a service which has been a popular service in this shutdown.
I think I'm feeling ok. Working from home has been fine with me. I do get out as I pretty much can go to the places I used to - grocery store, hardware stores, coffee shop and even the mall closest to me has been open for a while. But I haven't seen some older relatives for a while nor have there been any family gatherings, so I do miss those and seeing those people.
Thanks guys - I've suffered from depression in the past (last time I used a serotonin absorption blocker to help get through it).
I've been feeling better the last few days, and it's only this and next week (which is shortened due to Easter Monday) before a bit of a work break at least, which is something I greatly look forward to. :)
We've got some nice spring weather coming up, and those longer evenings should help, too.
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 05:13:56 AM
We've got some nice spring weather coming up, and those longer evenings should help, too.
Yes, those are going to help many of us. :bowler:
Quote from: mongers on March 29, 2021, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 05:13:56 AM
We've got some nice spring weather coming up, and those longer evenings should help, too.
Yes, those are going to help many of us. :bowler:
Not those who are going into full lockdown again.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on March 29, 2021, 10:54:13 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 29, 2021, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 05:13:56 AM
We've got some nice spring weather coming up, and those longer evenings should help, too.
Yes, those are going to help many of us. :bowler:
Not those who are going into full lockdown again.
Sprint lockdown was far better than winter lockdown.
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2021, 11:14:18 AM
Sprint lockdown was far better than winter lockdown.
Yes - and the combination of the clocks going forward and the sun today have made the last couple of days noticeably better.
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2021, 11:14:18 AM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on March 29, 2021, 10:54:13 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 29, 2021, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 05:13:56 AM
We've got some nice spring weather coming up, and those longer evenings should help, too.
Yes, those are going to help many of us. :bowler:
Not those who are going into full lockdown again.
Sprint lockdown was far better than winter lockdown.
When it's winter, not going outside is not that sorely missed.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on March 29, 2021, 11:49:32 AM
Quote from: Tamas on March 29, 2021, 11:14:18 AM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on March 29, 2021, 10:54:13 AM
Quote from: mongers on March 29, 2021, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 05:13:56 AM
We've got some nice spring weather coming up, and those longer evenings should help, too.
Yes, those are going to help many of us. :bowler:
Not those who are going into full lockdown again.
Sprint lockdown was far better than winter lockdown.
When it's winter, not going outside is not that sorely missed.
You can still be outside, in gardens or on balconies.
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 12:51:21 PM
You can still be outside, in gardens or on balconies.
... if one has a place with such amenities. -_-
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2021, 01:11:22 PM
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 12:51:21 PM
You can still be outside, in gardens or on balconies.
... if one has a place with such amenities. -_-
You don't have any outside space, at all? That's required by law here.
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 01:21:25 PM
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2021, 01:11:22 PM
Quote from: Maladict on March 29, 2021, 12:51:21 PM
You can still be outside, in gardens or on balconies.
... if one has a place with such amenities. -_-
You don't have any outside space, at all? That's required by law here.
Not here. My building has an inner courtyard but that's all stone and a tree, and certainly not inviting to sit outside. :D
Quote from: Syt on March 29, 2021, 02:54:17 PM
Not here. My building has an inner courtyard but that's all stone and a tree, and certainly not inviting to sit outside. :D
Don't you have one of those VR things? Get creative man :P
Exactly, get creative. Buy a ton of potting soil and make your living room into a lawn.
So with vaccinations starting to really ramp up, and most places in the US offering adults vaccines, we are talking about what we should do with the office at work.
It is currently costing us about $70,000/year for the space. We don't really use it at all right now.
Nobody really wants to go back to being in the office full time, but most people do want to go back to some kind of office environment.
But several employees have stated that if they go back to the office, they want to be assured that everyone else in the office has been vaccinated.
This is something of a problem. Our management position is
1. If you do not want to get vaccinated, that is your business. But if that is the case, please continue to work from home.
2. If you want to come into the office, only do so if you are comfortable with whatever reality that exists.
3. We cannot, legally, ask anyone if they have been vaccinated, so far as I am aware. HIPAA laws still prohibit that.
So how can we even tell anyone that everyone else in the office has been vaccinated? We can tell people to not come in if they have not, but we cannot actually check, or even ask, so far as I know. So how can I tell employee A that employee B has or has not been vaccinated? All I can say is that we have asked people to not come in if they are not vaccinated...but I can't stop anyone from pretty much doing whatever they like.
Try to avoid focusing on vaccinations, rather assume that everyone, even if vaccinated, is a potential carrier and follow your local health guidelines as to what protocols you should put in place. We have a long way to go before we approach herd immunity. That is when the protocols won't be needed, and of course the concerns being expressed won't be relevant.
Just a heads up for anyone here thinking of a Covid-19 forced career change, from today ESA's Astronaut training program is accepting applications form suitable candidates. :hmm:
Quote from: Berkut on March 31, 2021, 09:32:22 AM
So how can we even tell anyone that everyone else in the office has been vaccinated? We can tell people to not come in if they have not, but we cannot actually check, or even ask, so far as I know. So how can I tell employee A that employee B has or has not been vaccinated? All I can say is that we have asked people to not come in if they are not vaccinated...but I can't stop anyone from pretty much doing whatever they like.
My company's way around HIPAA was to indirectly ask that anyone who had been vaccinated could register for a raffle to win AirPods, a big screen TV, and some other prizes. Nobody was required to enter it, and no proof was asked for either. :contract:
I wonder if there is some kind of HIPAA exemption for vacinnations. I mean, lots of places ask you to show you have been vaccinated for measles, for example - right?
Quote from: Berkut on April 01, 2021, 08:05:40 AM
I wonder if there is some kind of HIPAA exemption for vacinnations. I mean, lots of places ask you to show you have been vaccinated for measles, for example - right?
TYRANNY
Quote from: Berkut on April 01, 2021, 08:05:40 AM
I wonder if there is some kind of HIPAA exemption for vacinnations. I mean, lots of places ask you to show you have been vaccinated for measles, for example - right?
I googled it after your post and it seems like it varies/is still evolving on exactly what should happen.
So essentially same place as to how EU GDPR does and does not apply in specific instances. :D :(
Under GDPR it would need to be based on explicit consent of the individual or you'd need some sort of authorising legal act (for the purposes of substantial public interest, or public health) such as a regulation.
So that's not impossible - but I would note that, for example, the Dutch when updating their data protection law forgot to include the public health exception which has caused issues in the last year (and some creativity by Dutch privacy lawyers) :lol:
I just stepped outside to do my weekly groceries run and it made me genuinely uncomfortable. You wouldn't know there's a lockdown going on. Hardly anyone making even a token effort to keep their distance in the streets, with maybe 15% wearing masks (generally people who just stepped out of public transport). Several groups talking to each other hardly 50cm apart without masks. A group of friends meeting, hugging and kissing. A mom telling her little, not well looking, heavily coughing son to finally take that mask off.
In the supermarket, maybe half the people keep their distance at the checkout (doubly annoying if someone has two items and insists using the cashier instead of the self check out). People mixing their used carts and baskets in with the cleaned/disinfected ones.
Yeah, not surprised Vienna keeps posting 1000+ daily new cases. :ph34r:
Quote from: Syt on April 02, 2021, 03:16:32 AM
I just stepped outside to do my weekly groceries run and it made me genuinely uncomfortable. You wouldn't know there's a lockdown going on. Hardly anyone making even a token effort to keep their distance in the streets, with maybe 15% wearing masks (generally people who just stepped out of public transport). Several groups talking to each other hardly 50cm apart without masks. A group of friends meeting, hugging and kissing. A mom telling her little, not well looking, heavily coughing son to finally take that mask off.
In the supermarket, maybe half the people keep their distance at the checkout (doubly annoying if someone has two items and insists using the cashier instead of the self check out). People mixing their used carts and baskets in with the cleaned/disinfected ones.
Yeah, not surprised Vienna keeps posting 1000+ daily new cases. :ph34r:
Yes, not good, here people are also getting fairly lazy about regulations.
Anyone else forgotten how or why to buy things?
Or is it just me? :)
Quote from: mongers on April 10, 2021, 09:55:10 AM
Anyone else forgotten how or why to buy things?
Or is it just me? :)
What are these "things" you speak of?
Quote from: Maladict on April 10, 2021, 10:35:07 AM
Quote from: mongers on April 10, 2021, 09:55:10 AM
Anyone else forgotten how or why to buy things?
Or is it just me? :)
What are these "things" you speak of?
:D
Things, baubles; the stuff we used to buy as good citizens of our consumer economies. :)
Mongers, check this out: www.amazon.co.uk
Quote from: Tamas on April 10, 2021, 11:21:42 AM
Mongers, check this out: www.amazon.co.uk
:D
I think i've successfully kicked my amazon habit, despite being an early adopter during the last century*
* was it available then?
Through pigeon mail post I believe.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on April 10, 2021, 11:28:57 AM
Through pigeon mail post I believe.
Change of tact, tomorrow I'm going to attempt to buy some shoes online if I can't get to an open* shoe shop in the area.
* supposedly all non-essential shops can open up tomorrow for the first time, but several shoe or outdoor shops seem to have gone bust or cut their number of stores.
I know what you mean Mongers, the amount of "stuff" we buy is dramatically reduced.
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 12, 2021, 12:32:25 PM
I know what you mean Mongers, the amount of "stuff" we buy is dramatically reduced.
Yeah it now feels like a real chore to go and buy something.
Yeah, I'm spending way less on stuff than pre-pandemic. One of the reasons is that my income has shrunk a bit, but also the lack of social/work life is playing a big part. Boardgames? I haven't played a physical boardgame in a year. Clothing? There's a blazer I bought one week before last year's lockdown that I've used just once. On the other hand, I've bought 4 sweatpants since then :cry:
Yeah, leisure and travel basically disappearing from my agenda really helped me cut down my expenses for the past year. :P
On the other hand takeaway meals :ph34r:
I've made a really strong effort not to get delivery meals too often and keep cooking myself. I don't even have any food delivery app installed in my phone.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 13, 2021, 04:23:40 AM
On the other hand takeaway meals :ph34r:
We've cooked basically every day (including advanced lunches now) and built up a decent repertoire.
I haven't really bought any clothes in the last year. Now I really need to, everything is falling apart.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2021, 05:48:34 AM
I haven't really bought any clothes in the last year. Now I really need to, everything is falling apart.
Same :lol:
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2021, 05:48:34 AM
I haven't really bought any clothes in the last year. Now I really need to, everything is falling apart.
Isn't it the rule that after about 28 you just stop buying clothes? :unsure:
Quote from: Tyr on April 13, 2021, 07:50:47 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2021, 05:48:34 AM
I haven't really bought any clothes in the last year. Now I really need to, everything is falling apart.
Isn't it the rule that after about 28 you just stop buying clothes? :unsure:
Yes. The particular item do fall apart & you need a new one but you want the samething.
You are all monsters of self-restraint. I've spent lockdown sadly expanding my waistband and wardrobe :( :ph34r:
Edit: And in new directions in fashion - I bought a bomber jacket over the winter :ph34r:
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2021, 08:37:54 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 13, 2021, 07:50:47 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2021, 05:48:34 AM
I haven't really bought any clothes in the last year. Now I really need to, everything is falling apart.
Isn't it the rule that after about 28 you just stop buying clothes? :unsure:
Yes. The particular item do fall apart & you need a new one but you want the samething.
This is the way.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 13, 2021, 08:46:19 AM
You are all monsters of self-restraint. I've spent lockdown sadly expanding my waistband and wardrobe :( :ph34r:
:lol: No, not really. You bought clothes. I bought tvs, monitors, videogames & garden accessories.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 13, 2021, 08:46:19 AM
You are all monsters of self-restraint. I've spent lockdown sadly expanding my waistband and wardrobe :( :ph34r:
Edit: And in new directions in fashion - I bought a bomber jacket over the winter :ph34r:
Hehe, sounds more fun though. :) But I've been pretty restrained, eating habits stayed the same even though working from home near the fridge. :) At first I spent very little, didn't even go for coffee or drive my car much.
I stopped buying any kinds of snacks outside the weekend. Working from home, it always ends in tears.
Just got an email from my gym that they are dropping a mask requirement.
They earlier opened up a bunch of the blocked cardio equipment (they were blocking every other machine).
Quote from: alfred russel on April 19, 2021, 10:03:58 AM
Just got an email from my gym that they are dropping a mask requirement.
They earlier opened up a bunch of the blocked cardio equipment (they were blocking every other machine).
Do they also have an indoor climbing wall?
:P
Quote from: mongers on April 19, 2021, 11:42:55 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on April 19, 2021, 10:03:58 AM
Just got an email from my gym that they are dropping a mask requirement.
They earlier opened up a bunch of the blocked cardio equipment (they were blocking every other machine).
Do they also have an indoor climbing wall?
:P
No, my climbing gym still has a mask requirement.
Yesterday I went to the cinema for the 1st time since this all began. :)
May 5th was Children's Day, so I really went out for the first time in over year. It's Korea, so everyone was wearing their mask correctly, and most of that time was spent outdoors at the park/zoo. But still kind of worried.
Vaccination is going very slowly here.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 06, 2021, 07:08:13 AM
May 5th was Children's Day, so I really went out for the first time in over year.
:o
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 06, 2021, 07:08:13 AM
May 5th was Children's Day, so I really went out for the first time in over year. It's Korea, so everyone was wearing their mask correctly, and most of that time was spent outdoors at the park/zoo. But still kind of worried.
Vaccination is going very slowly here.
Its Cinco De Mayo
S. Korea doesn't matter.
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/childrens-day-second-sunday-in-june/
I think AR is on to something with his criticism of people being too risk averse; there's a lot of people out there having difficulty reconnecting with society and overcoming covid induced reluctance to accept even 'tiny' risks.
Tyranny of Choice.
Since last Wednesday (May 19th), lockdown has been alleviated with cafes, cinemas (35 % gauge), museums, theatres etc. reopening. Also, the curfew starts at 2100, instead of 1900.
Next phases, if the situation keeps improving: June 9th and June 30th.
Austria opened bars, restaurants etc. this week. You need to provide proof that you've been tested, have had an infection and been healthy in the last 6 months or have a first vaccination at least 3 weeks old.
With numbers further dropping, the government is thinking aloud about lowering distancing requirements, mask rules etc. in summer if enough people get vaccinated and numbers stay down.
I've posted this graph a few times for Alberta. Daily cases since the pandemic started (stats released by Alberta Health Services, graph prepared by a CBC reporter):
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E13Klh5XMAUhAgP?format=jpg&name=large)
Holy Crap can you just see the vaccine coming in and kicking ass the last couple of weeks. We're up around 50% now (first dose). You can see the decline over December-February (under fairly strict lockdown) - noticeable decline week over week, but still took time (you can even see the wobble in mid-January - almost certainly a result of some people breaking the rules over Christmas).
But now the daily numbers are dropping like a fucking stone. And the red line is the 7-day rolling average - you can see from the dots below it's almost certainly going to continue to drop.
:punk:
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on May 21, 2021, 11:34:49 AM
Since last Wednesday (May 19th), lockdown has been alleviated with cafes, cinemas (35 % gauge), museums, theatres etc. reopening. Also, the curfew starts at 2100, instead of 1900.
Next phases, if the situation keeps improving: June 9th and June 30th.
Nice, good to have more positive news coming out of France. :)
Vaccination programme here still seems to be going at a fair pace, the centre I went to was doing well and plenty of people were turning up after work on a Friday.
Same is true of the family, I had my 2nd jab today, just got a text from my younger brother to say he also had his today and apparently my sister is booked for her 2nd jab tomorrow. We're each in a different covid age group from 50 to 60+ :bowler:
I think vaccine hesitancy in the UK has been firmly kicked into touch, other than the medically disadvantaged, I think the few 'holdouts' are probably ring-fenced within quite formidable social media bubbles.
One week before liberation. Well, partial liberation anyway :P
As long as I have to wear the stupid mask at work, I won't be free. But I have survived, thanks to cheap chinese masks that probably don't do anything for those around me, but hey, I can breathe.
Apparently vaccines have been open to me for a week or more already and I recieved no notification? :unsure:
Just hope I can get Pfizer and not the low quality made in England trash.
Quote from: mongers on May 21, 2021, 04:17:10 PM
Vaccination programme here still seems to be going at a fair pace, the centre I went to was doing well and plenty of people were turning up after work on a Friday.
Same is true of the family, I had my 2nd jab today, just got a text from my younger brother to say he also had his today and apparently my sister is booked for her 2nd jab tomorrow. We're each in a different covid age group from 50 to 60+ :bowler:
I think vaccine hesitancy in the UK has been firmly kicked into touch, other than the medically disadvantaged, I think the few 'holdouts' are probably ring-fenced within quite formidable social media bubbles.
Yeah - all my friends in their early thirties are getting appointments now.
I don't think vaccine hesitancy was ever a significant issue here - it still is in the US mind.
Yeah the wife is getting her jab next week as well. According to her GP's office nobody under 40 is getting AZ.
Quote from: Tyr on May 22, 2021, 04:50:51 AM
Apparently vaccines have been open to me for a week or more already and I recieved no notification? :unsure:
Just hope I can get Pfizer and not the low quality made in England trash.
:blink:
This maybe the most Tyr-like thing you've ever posted here?
Quote from: Tamas on May 22, 2021, 08:14:39 AM
Yeah the wife is getting her jab next week as well. According to her GP's office nobody under 40 is getting AZ.
Over here, it's nobody under 55, unless they volunteer for it.
Quote from: Tamas on May 22, 2021, 08:14:39 AM
Yeah the wife is getting her jab next week as well. According to her GP's office nobody under 40 is getting AZ.
Pretty much everyone I know this week under 40 has been getting Pfizer.
Quote from: Tamas on May 22, 2021, 08:14:39 AM
Yeah the wife is getting her jab next week as well. According to her GP's office nobody under 40 is getting AZ.
Yeah everyone I know is getting Pfizer. The only people who got AZ were the people at risk because of pre-existing conditions/working in the NHS :lol:
Neither AZ nor Pfizer for me. I got Moderna a little while back.
Austrian restaurant and hotel owners are complaining that they find no personnel post-lockdown.
The owners were during lockdown compensated by the state, giving them 80% of last year's revenue. Additionally, many fired their staff (though the state created incentives for people to stay employed, with the state taking over a large part of the salary).
Now the owners demand that unemployment benefits need to be lowered so people apply to their jobs again.
Sympathy for their demands is ... limited.
(n.b. that Austria has among the lowest unemployment benefits in the EU, in % of last salary and that serving and hotel staff are among the worst paid in the country)
Booked a week to go and see family during my gap between jobs - first time I'll have seen them in person since before Christmas and the first time I'll have actually gone to stay with them/see them for more than a couple of hours in 18 months :mellow:
Also booked a little trip to somewhere sunny between jobs so I have a holiday outside of London/my flat :w00t:
I got my post covid haircut! :w00t:
There were some four pound bricks of knotted hair in the back. Poor girl had to work over them for 20 minutes. I tipped her 20 bucks.
Do you not wash or brush your hair? :unsure:
Wash yea brush no.
It is a beautiful thing when men of our age bracket can even grow that much hair on our heads.
I still haven't cut my hair. It is past my shoulders. It also has revealed it self to be quite wavey. Big curls.
So not only do we have to wait till August for the vaccine but I've just learned that the Borough next door, the boundary is about 5 minutes on foot, is one of the Indian variant hot spots :lol: :frusty:
I don't get it. I thought You Kay was crushing it on vaccinations.
Quote from: Tyr on May 24, 2021, 05:31:11 PM
So not only do we have to wait till August for the vaccine but I've just learned that the Borough next door, the boundary is about 5 minutes on foot, is one of the Indian variant hot spots :lol: :frusty:
So just how YOUNG are you what the hell? :P
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2021, 05:34:13 PM
I don't get it. I thought You Kay was crushing it on vaccinations.
That's what they wanted everyone to think.
Denmark is doing this weird thing we're they're vaccinating old people and young people first, and people in the middle last. So if you're in your 30s you getting vaccinated dead last.
Quote from: Tamas on May 24, 2021, 05:38:25 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 24, 2021, 05:31:11 PM
So not only do we have to wait till August for the vaccine but I've just learned that the Borough next door, the boundary is about 5 minutes on foot, is one of the Indian variant hot spots :lol: :frusty:
So just how YOUNG are you what the hell? :P
I mean on current trends every adult will have been offered one by the end of June :lol:
I thought Tyr was just joking about the booking process being a bit of a nightmare. It's not my experience but I was in the higher risk category where I imagine a significant number of people were still being called to book their appointments because the elderly are less online. I can imagine the online booking system now is a bit of a nightmare as the young all log on - I've had that experience just trying to book a test locally <_<
QuoteI don't get it. I thought You Kay was crushing it on vaccinations.
Wales is - the rest of the UK is still doing okay though. Working down the population by age and down to the early thirties now. Take-up is still very high (95%+ in the over 50s) for the adut population overall we're at (depending on the nation) around 70-85% of the adult population have had their first dose and 40-45% have had their second dose. It's less rapid than it was at the start but that's because we need to catch up on second doses - but the latest daily average is over 500k doses a day (rough split of 170k first dose/350k second dose).
From everything I've read it should be speeding up now because the authorities are now comfortable they have enough supply of the different doses (AZ largely for second doses/Pfizer and Moderna for first doses). England, Scotland and NI slowed down to focus on second doses and build a stockpile but are speeding up again now.
I was being very literal.
Got a letter saying I am allowed to sign up...but not many vaccination centres nearby and no free slots in the few that there are until August.
Quote from: Tyr on May 25, 2021, 01:18:29 AM
I was being very literal.
Got a letter saying I am allowed to sign up...but not many vaccination centres nearby and no free slots in the few that there are until August.
That's crazy - I've not heard of anyone having that problem.
Might be worth trying all the different channels - I never got a letter but I got loads of texts from different bits of the NHS with slightly different links - so national, local GP, hospital (I have chronic condition so I'm under their care too for specialist treatment) and council. I know there's also been walk-in centres in other bits of town if you're eligible and take ID. It might be worth doing a quick search of what's around because I think the national booking site is just the big vaccine centres (I have a friend getting vaccinated in a stadium function room :lol:) - but I don't think it covers all the pharmacy/GP/hospital sites.
Yes, I got a text after I'd booked that had a very different list of sites.
It could be that all the slots on Tyneside are currently being given to people resident in the Indian variant borough.
Quote from: Tyr on May 25, 2021, 01:18:29 AM
I was being very literal.
Got a letter saying I am allowed to sign up...but not many vaccination centres nearby and no free slots in the few that there are until August.
Are you registered with a GP? For my wife and I the GP practice sent us a signup link before the generic registration notification came in.
Quote from: Tamas on May 25, 2021, 02:56:43 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 25, 2021, 01:18:29 AM
I was being very literal.
Got a letter saying I am allowed to sign up...but not many vaccination centres nearby and no free slots in the few that there are until August.
Are you registered with a GP? For my wife and I the GP practice sent us a signup link before the generic registration notification came in.
.
My girlfriend got a text from her gp but nothing from mine, I just got the letter.
Her text led to the same place as my letter though.
Quote from: Tyr on May 25, 2021, 03:01:39 AM
Quote from: Tamas on May 25, 2021, 02:56:43 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 25, 2021, 01:18:29 AM
I was being very literal.
Got a letter saying I am allowed to sign up...but not many vaccination centres nearby and no free slots in the few that there are until August.
Are you registered with a GP? For my wife and I the GP practice sent us a signup link before the generic registration notification came in.
.
My girlfriend got a text from her gp but nothing from mine, I just got the letter.
Her text led to the same place as my letter though.
You could just phone up your GP practice and ask if they've any local slots?
That's what I did on Thursday and was offered a jab for the Friday, also it was a local centre 7miles away, which never appear on the NHS booking site when I checked, that was only offering me places within the big conurbation.
So the plan is that we will return to the office middle of June, but everybody only one day per week for now, and coordinated so that there's no more than one person per office (which is somewhat useless for our team: we're 4 people in one office and there's no benefit to one of us sitting there alone and still being on Zoom or Slack all the time to talk to the rest of the team.
Distance rules and mask rules will apply if people have meetings.
Also, everyone will need a valid recent Covid test when coming to the office, including people who have been vaccinated.
(It's still 3 weeks till then, with the government planning further relaxation of rules by then, so we will see if these policies come into effect or not.)
I went to the supermarket unmasked for the first time yesterday.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 26, 2021, 06:32:24 AM
I went to the supermarket unmasked for the first time yesterday.
Here it was dropped as a legal requirement yesterday. Gonna ritually burn a mask or something once I get vaccinated.
Government of Alberta announces re-opening plan. (this, by the way, is their third set of re-opening conditions).
Starting June 1 the really hard restrictions are released (outdoor dining, haircuts etc.). This is because we're about to hit 50% of all Albertans with 1st dose vaccine.
Stage 2 hits two weeks after we hit 60% vaccination. Some big ones: indoor eating with minor restrictions, post-secondary indoor learning, weddings / funerals with restrictions.
Stage 3 hits two weeks after we hit hit 70% vaccination. ALL restrictions lifted.
They estimate we could hit Stage 3 by July.
That seems... aggressive.
I was worried we might not hit 70% (since that's all Albertans, and ages 0-11 can't get the vaccine yet, plus throw in vaccine hesitancy).
But apparently we already have enough vaccine appointments booked to hit 70% - maybe by June 28.
Just for Shelf and Tamas, Bournemouth beach this bank holiday monday:
(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1255/production/_118739640_gettyimages-1320949138.jpg)
For me the funniest is a packed beach just because the temperate crawled up to touch 20C :D
Otherwise, I think vaccination will just have to hold the line now - I don't think there is any appetite to continue any sort of lockdown and hopefully no need for it either.
:lol: I was actually in Bournemouth and it was heaving.
But the fact that it was getting national news/shaming people outside shows how we are still not talking enough about how this is spread by aerosols and how important ventilation is (not hand-washing etc) :bleeding:
If it isn't a photo of an indoor crowd/no open windows I don't care :lol:
QuoteFor me the funniest is a packed beach just because the temperate crawled up to touch 20C :D
It was 25 in Bournemouth - perfect weather :w00t:
And the beaches, the square, the gardens were all very busy. But - crucially - all outside.
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:06:59 AM
:lol: I was actually in Bournemouth and it was heaving.
But the fact that it was getting national news/shaming people outside shows how we are still not talking enough about how this is spread by aerosols and how important ventilation is (not hand-washing etc) :bleeding:
If it isn't a photo of an indoor crowd/no open windows I don't care :lol:
QuoteFor me the funniest is a packed beach just because the temperate crawled up to touch 20C :D
It was 25 in Bournemouth - perfect weather :w00t:
And the beaches, the square, the gardens were all very busy. But - crucially - all outside.
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:33:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
When you are all that close, disingenuous to talk about being split up groups.
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 04:12:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:33:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
When you are all that close, disingenuous to talk about being split up groups.
Looks like the concentration of people you could see in the high street, or in department stores. Having them mostly stationary on a beach seems preferable, if anything.
Besides, no amount of policing will get people to stay indoors this week.
Quote from: Maladict on June 01, 2021, 04:55:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 04:12:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:33:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
When you are all that close, disingenuous to talk about being split up groups.
Looks like the concentration of people you could see in the high street, or in department stores. Having them mostly stationary on a beach seems preferable, if anything.
Besides, no amount of policing will get people to stay indoors this week.
Not sure how that relates to what I said.
The only really bad experience with a needle was when I was in hospital for a while and they would give us a daily anti-thrombosis injection. Usually they would put in the needle vertically into your stomach, and it's barely noticeable. One male nurse set it almost horizontally - I had a huge itchy bruise on my stomach for well over a week. <_<
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 05:10:32 AM
Quote from: Maladict on June 01, 2021, 04:55:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 04:12:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:33:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
When you are all that close, disingenuous to talk about being split up groups.
Looks like the concentration of people you could see in the high street, or in department stores. Having them mostly stationary on a beach seems preferable, if anything.
Besides, no amount of policing will get people to stay indoors this week.
Not sure how that relates to what I said.
You seemed to imply there shouldn't be more than 30 people in a given space, including a beach.
Quote from: Maladict on June 01, 2021, 05:15:29 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 05:10:32 AM
Quote from: Maladict on June 01, 2021, 04:55:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 04:12:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:33:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
When you are all that close, disingenuous to talk about being split up groups.
Looks like the concentration of people you could see in the high street, or in department stores. Having them mostly stationary on a beach seems preferable, if anything.
Besides, no amount of policing will get people to stay indoors this week.
Not sure how that relates to what I said.
You seemed to imply there shouldn't be more than 30 people in a given space, including a beach.
The government has guidelines on how many people can be in a group outdoors. I think it seems odd to then suggest this isn't an obvious breach of guidelines because people are sitting on their own groups back to back with other groups.
I think my credentials as a proponent of lockdowns are beyond question, but at some point we will have to roll the ball down the hill and hope the vaccination level will keep it slow and manageable. The time might not be here just yet (seeing the Indian variant and all) but we got to be close.
Quote from: Tamas on June 01, 2021, 05:19:07 AM
I think my credentials as a proponent of lockdowns are beyond question, but at some point we will have to roll the ball down the hill and hope the vaccination level will keep it slow and manageable. The time might not be here just yet (seeing the Indian variant and all) but we got to be close.
Certainly.
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 05:18:46 AM
Quote from: Maladict on June 01, 2021, 05:15:29 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 05:10:32 AM
Quote from: Maladict on June 01, 2021, 04:55:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 04:12:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:33:24 AM
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 03:27:31 AM
I think what it does is make mockery of the restrictions on meeting in groups. That feels like a gathering of more than 30.
How? It doesn't look like they're all one group to me. It looks like lots of groups - of families, friends etc - on the same beach.
And the rule has never been that we have individual responsibility to make sure that us and the groups around us don't, in aggregate, mean 6+ or 30+ because that's impossible. Pub gardens or beaches or parks aren't, to my understanding, limited to a cap of 30 people.
When you are all that close, disingenuous to talk about being split up groups.
Looks like the concentration of people you could see in the high street, or in department stores. Having them mostly stationary on a beach seems preferable, if anything.
Besides, no amount of policing will get people to stay indoors this week.
Not sure how that relates to what I said.
You seemed to imply there shouldn't be more than 30 people in a given space, including a beach.
The government has guidelines on how many people can be in a group outdoors. I think it seems odd to then suggest this isn't an obvious breach of guidelines because people are sitting on their own groups back to back with other groups.
But isn't the rule you need to keep 2 meters from other groups (of up to 30)? Which is something people will typically already do on a beach, even before Covid.
I'm sceptic of all Beach photos showing they are crowded. Angles & lenses matter. When taken from ground level, they rarely paint an accurate picture of what is actually happening.
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 01, 2021, 05:55:32 AM
I'm sceptic of all Beach photos showing they are crowded. Angles & lenses matter. When taken from ground level, they rarely paint an accurate picture of what is actually happening.
Yeah exactly. Also these whiny, moralistic Daily Mail takes are both cringe and counterproductive. You could personally always be more cautious, triple-masking while under 5 layers of canvas while outdoors, what, don't you want to to stop covid?
Personal behavior for instance here was only one aspect of the response to covid. Collective action like border controls, test & trace, etc were really what managed to curtail social spread.
.
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:06:59 AMBut the fact that it was getting national news/shaming people outside shows how we are still not talking enough about how this is spread by aerosols and how important ventilation is (not hand-washing etc) :bleeding:
It behaves like a highly contagious airborne/aerosol virus at this point. Kinda like measles. The clusters we're seeing here are all indoors, highly random depending on whimsical air currents and time the infected individual spent in the indoor environment. :hmm:
Went to the city centre yesterday.
It was weird.
And still can't just walk into somewhere to eat which is sad.
But shops open as normal, nice.
Lots more shutter gaps than before hand though....
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 01, 2021, 03:06:59 AM
:lol: I was actually in Bournemouth and it was heaving.
It was 25 in Bournemouth - perfect weather :w00t:
And the beaches, the square, the gardens were all very busy. But - crucially - all outside.
Did you enjoy the traffic jams on the way home? :P
Or if you went on the train, shelf how was the SWT service and level of crowding, I ask as I'm gonna start using them next week.
I went to Seaham on Saturday.
As soon as we got there the fog closed in and nothing could be seen.
Quote from: Tyr on June 01, 2021, 07:56:48 AM
I went to Seaham on Saturday.
As soon as we got there the fog closed in and nothing could be seen.
Did you See ham?
There was a woman who moved here named Ruth Funk from New York City who (like many, many New Yorkers) to retire. She had been an artist in Greenwich Village back in the Bohemian days, before there were even Beatniks. She grew bored in her retirement and found there weren't many art stores in costal Florida back in those days (the 1970s); but there were a lot of fabric stores so she switched media and became a fashion designer. She designed jackets like this one:
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/14/11/64/1411641a481c34cc4117238593a06e45.jpg)
and met with some critical success. Near the end of her life she donated about 80 pieces to the local university (Florida Institute of Technology) and they founded a textile museum (Ruth Funk Textile Center.) Last year that became a victim of covid and the university is planning to repurpose the museum as an Esport arena.
(https://flx-editorial-wordpress.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/26111052/Sign-o-the-Times-Title-Card.jpg)
I went to an extended family gathering for Memorial Day. 12 people there, one vaccine hesitant, not yet vaccinated.
Not bad for rural Iowa.
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 05:18:46 AM
The government has guidelines on how many people can be in a group outdoors. I think it seems odd to then suggest this isn't an obvious breach of guidelines because people are sitting on their own groups back to back with other groups.
They aren't. Most likely they're reasonably far away from each other.
(https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/different-perspective-telephoto-lens-vs-wide-angle-philip-davali-olafur-steinar-ry-fb64.png)
https://www.boredpanda.com/different-perspective-telephoto-lens-vs-wide-angle-philip-davali-olafur-steinar-ry/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
Thank you for showing me something that was already disseminated and discussed on Languish.
It's a bad example anyhow because on the left they don't appear to be standing that close AND it looks photoshopped.
Quote from: garbon on June 01, 2021, 05:18:46 AM
The government has guidelines on how many people can be in a group outdoors. I think it seems odd to then suggest this isn't an obvious breach of guidelines because people are sitting on their own groups back to back with other groups.
But we've only ever been responsible for our group (unless we're organising a group - like a party or a festival). So a pub garden in May was not a single table with six chairs, it was multiple tables even though the rule of six applied. It wasn't on the pub (or park or beach) or the individuals to check how many people were in the group in aggregate. I don't think that's ever been the guidelines - it's more stay two metres from other groups and don't mingle from group to group.
I can't work out who in that picture is actually in breach.
QuoteDid you enjoy the traffic jams on the way home? :P
Or if you went on the train, shelf how was the SWT service and level of crowding, I ask as I'm gonna start using them next week.
So my mum was getting her second dose in Bournemouth. I went down from London by train and then went home with her. The train from London was okay - as ever a little bit busier until Winchester/Woking. But not crowded.
The traffic was bad around the seafront/carparks for the beach but actually not too bad once you left the immediate beach area.
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 02, 2021, 04:22:04 AM
So my mum was getting her second dose in Bournemouth. I went down from London by train and then went home with her. The train from London was okay - as ever a little bit busier until Winchester/Woking. But not crowded.
The traffic was bad around the seafront/carparks for the beach but actually not too bad once you left the immediate beach area.
Thanks for the update, I'm definitely giving them a go next week. :)
So headed downtown for the first time since Covid. Took the bus, mandatory masks. I had to take a loaner.
My jailbait karaoke joint didn't give a shit.
The gay bar karaoke didn't give a shit.
The last call Irish bar didn't give a shit.
The immigrant cab driver didn't give a shit.
We'ze open again paysanos.
Just had my first Covid test since the epidemic began - it came out negative. Also had a serologic one that came out negative too. I've had an upset stomach for weeks and the GP threw it in during a batch of tests, just to make sure.
I'm expecting to get my first shot this June so it would have sucked to get it so close to the finish line... :hmm:
Went to a museum for the first time in .... 690 days. :bleeding:
It was only Rockbourne roman villa, local and mainly outdoors, but baby steps and hopefully I'll do a few national ones over the coming weeks. :bowler:
Support your local museums and places of culture.
I think a pigeon has laid an egg in a pitiful attempt at a nest on my balcony.
Quote from: garbon on June 10, 2021, 04:37:30 PM
I think a pigeon has laid an egg in a pitiful attempt at a nest on my balcony.
It's not, pigeons are also called rock doves, and I'd hazard* that it's just it replicating behaviour they have traditionally carried out on cliff faces and other inaccessible breading locations.
*this is merely my own guess, not backed up by any googling etc.
It didn't lay an egg?
Used some trains and buses today, first time I've been on public transport* in .......
497 days. :bleeding:
* for that matter, inside any vehicle. :hmm:
Official office policy was sent today.
- Spend one day per week at the office
- Only one person per office
- Provide a valid negative Covid test (max. 48 hours old)
- Observe distancing and mask rules in meetings, common areas etc.
The first two items are to be coordinated amongst ourselves. For our 4 person team having one person at the office is pretty useless, since 80+% of our communication is within the team, so even when one person comes to the office, they'll spend most their time in calls, anyways. We brought this up to management, and they suggest we should try to coordinate with others so that at least two of us can be at the office (but still in separate rooms). OK ... :rolleyes:
Quote from: Syt on June 15, 2021, 02:45:59 AM
Official office policy was sent today.
- Spend one day per week at the office
- Only one person per office
- Provide a valid negative Covid test (max. 48 hours old)
- Observe distancing and mask rules in meetings, common areas etc.
The first two items are to be coordinated amongst ourselves. For our 4 person team having one person at the office is pretty useless, since 80+% of our communication is within the team, so even when one person comes to the office, they'll spend most their time in calls, anyways. We brought this up to management, and they suggest we should try to coordinate with others so that at least two of us can be at the office (but still in separate rooms). OK ... :rolleyes:
:bleeding: what is the point of all this?
"To ease us back into being at the office."
That kind of stuff is just...why?
Come into the office even though we're explicitly banning the main advantage of being in the office.
I hope once everyone at the office is vaccinated things will become less silly.
Lack of social distancing is kind of the whole point of being in the office. :rolleyes:
Two of my cousins, late 30s/early 40s, just came out as anti vax :bleeding:
Quote from: Tyr on June 15, 2021, 09:53:36 AM
Two of my cousins, late 30s/early 40s, just came out as anti vax :bleeding:
:bleeding:
I've only had one distant connection. A friend was saying that she was chatting to a friend of hers who basically said "I'm not getting vacccinated, are you?" and my friend replied she'd already had two AZ doses. Then the other person - "I just don't want to talk about it!" despite bringing it up :lol:
I can only assume she's getting lots of push back/challenge from people and wants reassurance. She's late 20s/early 30s.
I am just baffled by the recent success of the anti-vax propaganda. How can you convince people that something that has worked with almost miraculous results for hundreds of years doesn't work? With zero evidence besides the fact that, like virtually everything, some people might have allergic reactions to them?
Yet they are having tons of success convincing people. But why? Why do this? Don't we have more pressing things to spread lies and fear monger about?
I've mentioned two. My sister-in-law is "waiting" to get her vaccine shot.
Also the lawyer across the hall is "undecided". He's Trump-adjacent (dude we live in Canada) so I'm pretty sure he gets it from social media.
Quote from: Barrister on June 15, 2021, 12:21:21 PM
I've mentioned two. My sister-in-law is "waiting" to get her vaccine shot.
Also the lawyer across the hall is "undecided". He's Trump-adjacent (dude we live in Canada) so I'm pretty sure he gets it from social media.
I kind of feel bad for Trump. He wants to take all the credit for his project warp speed but his supporters are rapidly deciding that vaccines are evil.
I mean for no reason at all. That is what is so baffling. I guess it is possible to fear monger about anything.
Quote from: Valmy on June 15, 2021, 12:30:22 PM
I kind of feel bad for Trump.
https://youtu.be/l60MnDJklnM (https://youtu.be/l60MnDJklnM)
I don't know anyone personally but of conversation I've over heard :
1) It's fear of needles
2) mistrust of big pharma for years compounded with these vaccines not being properly tested
3) Would rather have treatment than a vaccine.
4) Listening to Didier Raoult (Don't google him, he's a french idiot)
Quote from: Valmy on June 15, 2021, 11:31:46 AM
I am just baffled by the recent success of the anti-vax propaganda. How can you convince people that something that has worked with almost miraculous results for hundreds of years doesn't work? With zero evidence besides the fact that, like virtually everything, some people might have allergic reactions to them?
Yet they are having tons of success convincing people. But why? Why do this? Don't we have more pressing things to spread lies and fear monger about?
The wider social thing is mind-blowing from a UK perspective because Dr Andrew Wakefield and his MMR-autism link started here in the late 90s/early 2000s and it was a huge deal. It was published in the Lancet (the editor is still in place) who later withdrew it and apologised so it looked credible. But it was then promptly discredited in the medical press and the wider media and he was struck off by the General Medical Council. After that it kind of died a little bit.
It's incredible to see him since then basically take the same theory - and despite being discredited in the UK - being able to convince people to take it seriously again in France and the US. Then we get it again from a slightly more spurious "natural healing" and maybe there's something about autism from the US even though - to use the virus metaphor that's really just a new variant of Wakefield's original in many ways.
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 15, 2021, 12:58:19 PM
Quote from: Valmy on June 15, 2021, 11:31:46 AM
I am just baffled by the recent success of the anti-vax propaganda. How can you convince people that something that has worked with almost miraculous results for hundreds of years doesn't work? With zero evidence besides the fact that, like virtually everything, some people might have allergic reactions to them?
Yet they are having tons of success convincing people. But why? Why do this? Don't we have more pressing things to spread lies and fear monger about?
The wider social thing is mind-blowing from a UK perspective because Dr Andrew Wakefield and his MMR-autism link started here in the late 90s/early 2000s and it was a huge deal. It was published in the Lancet (the editor is still in place) who later withdrew it and apologised so it looked credible. But it was then promptly discredited in the medical press and the wider media and he was struck off by the General Medical Council. After that it kind of died a little bit.
It's incredible to see him since then basically take the same theory - and despite being discredited in the UK - being able to convince people to take it seriously again in France and the US. Then we get it again from a slightly more spurious "natural healing" and maybe there's something about autism from the US even though - to use the virus metaphor that's really just a new variant of Wakefield's original in many ways.
It is not even about the autism thing anymore, that would only impact babies. If that has you deciding to delay your kids vaccinations until they are a few years old to avoid all the autism, then ok that is crazy but ok. I get it. Giving all those shots to babies might be scary.
But we now have full grown adults, who are never going to develop autism, being terrified of all kinds of spurious things. Vaccines will make you sterile. Vaccines will get other people sick via "vaccine shedding". I don't know. All kinds of weird unsubstantiated things.
Now maybe they want to just wait a bit to see if these new Covid vaccines are kosher. I guess I could get that. But instead it is almost a principled stand, to just not take them.
And of course now it is becoming a culture and identity issue. If you are a conservative you will refuse vaccines because the left wants to force them on everybody. So now it might not even be about being scared of medical issues, just general culture something something.
Yeah I get the point on these vaccines being different but I think the growth in the US and France especially of anti-vaccine sentiment from the autism thing is sort of the seed bed for this. It prepares the ground for it - and I wonder if part of the reason the UK doesn't have this to the same extent is, while we've not met our MMR targets, the autism is discredited and people know it is discredited and the guy who was pushing has been struck off.
And I still think there's a really important distinction between vaccine hesitant and anti-vax. It is entirely legitimate to ask if these have been tested enough given the speed they were developed, or whether the tests were sufficiently diverse (or did they only include white people in which case we might not know about adverse effects for other ethnicities), or whether the manufacture of the vaccine is halal or if it presents moral issues for Catholics, or whether it's safe for me with pre-existing condition x to get the vaccine. All of those questions can and should be addressed by public health officials, by religious leaders etc - and they are absolutely fine worries for people to have.
But the actively anti-vax stuff I find baffling and in the UK it is the definition of a horseshoe issue where it is the far-right and left being nutters about this together.
I was in central London recently and without realising it anti-vaxxers had a big demonstration that day. I walked through an area they'd been marching and they'd just plastered it with absolutely crazy stickers about vaccines and lockdown and social control etc. It was slightly heartening when I spotted that there was a girl of about 14 walking by with her friends and she was picking the stickers off walls and some of her friends had marker pens to paint over them - I was really struck by it :)
Oh I agree being hesitant or very cautious about vaccines, or certain vaccines, is understandable if not justified IMO. I certainly am not bothered by when you take your vaccines, or how much research and caution you feel the need to use. And for some people with allergies and conditions, they shouldn't take certain vaccines.
But that is not the problem I am seeing. I am seeing passionate and angry anti-vax people who work to convince everybody to stop taking them. Also the assertion of malicious intent to everybody who is not anti-vax, just like you said with those stickers.
I've just had my first face-to-face work meeting scheduled for July 8th.
I'm actually looking forward to it, which highlights the fact that the lockdown has slowly devoured my sanity :bleeding:
Hbomberguy recently did a really hefty piece on anti-vaxers. It was interesting, some things I didn't know there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIcAZxFfrc
TLDR: The anti-vax people are in it for the money. That dr preaching against MMR? He owned the patent for another measles vaccine.
Quote from: Tyr on June 16, 2021, 07:44:32 AM
Hbomberguy recently did a really hefty piece on anti-vaxers. It was interesting, some things I didn't know there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIcAZxFfrc
TLDR: The anti-vax people are in it for the money. That dr preaching against MMR? He owned the patent for another measles vaccine.
The part where the one guy was taking blood from the kids at the birthday party was a bit messed up. :wacko:
In France, anti-vaccine/"vaccine hesitancy", ©Sheilb, is far from being a right-wing nutter cultural war issue.
It's pretty common among Greens supporters and even their leadership e.g Michèle Rivasi, number 2 for the Greens in the last European elections, trying to organise a screening in the European Parliament of a Wakefield anti-vaccine propaganda movie.
I didn't say it was :P :)
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on June 16, 2021, 01:36:30 PM
In France, anti-vaccine/"vaccine hesitancy", ©Sheilb, is far from being a right-wing nutter cultural war issue.
It's pretty common among Greens supporter and even their leadership e.g Michèle Rivasi, number 2 for the Greens in the last European elections, trying to organise a screening in the European Parliament of a Wakefield anti-vaccine propaganda movie.
Oh the left has always had vaccine shit going on. Evil corporations and evil western medicine and all that stuff.
Just now we also have a right wing culture war against them as well.
Also the fact that no covid vaccines are french.
Quote from: Grey Fox on June 16, 2021, 03:35:17 PM
Also the fact that no covid vaccines are french.
Anti-vaccine people don't care if it's Pfizer-BioNTech, Sanofi or Institut Pasteur.
In other news, restrictions lifted in advance. Starting next Sunday, no more 23.00 curfew, itself not very enforced lately. Plus no compulsory mask outdoors, except in crowded areas, from today oN.
Work from home order to be lifted next week. I'm not ready to go back :(
Quote from: Maladict on June 17, 2021, 07:48:19 AM
Work from home order to be lifted next week. I'm not ready to go back :(
Allegedly the government here is considering making work from home a basic employee right meaning the employer must prove its essential the job in question is done in the office.
Would be pretty easy to get around of course, but could be an important step, and can protect people from insecure bosses ordering them back together the moment restrictions are lifted.
Quote from: Tamas on June 17, 2021, 08:01:42 AM
Allegedly the government here is considering making work from home a basic employee right meaning the employer must prove its essential the job in question is done in the office.
Would be pretty easy to get around of course, but could be an important step, and can protect people from insecure bosses ordering them back together the moment restrictions are lifted.
I think it'd be pretty tough to get around - essential is a very high bar even for employment lawyers to try and clear. No doubt some employers will do it as a risk decision and should probably hope they don't end up in a tribunal :lol:
Quote from: Sheilbh on June 17, 2021, 08:07:57 AM
Quote from: Tamas on June 17, 2021, 08:01:42 AM
Allegedly the government here is considering making work from home a basic employee right meaning the employer must prove its essential the job in question is done in the office.
Would be pretty easy to get around of course, but could be an important step, and can protect people from insecure bosses ordering them back together the moment restrictions are lifted.
I think it'd be pretty tough to get around - essential is a very high bar even for employment lawyers to try and clear. No doubt some employers will do it as a risk decision and should probably hope they don't end up in a tribunal :lol:
Just read that Hancock denied there are such plans, which is pretty much a confirmation. :D
Under Alberta's re-opening plan we're set to remove virtually all public health orders 2 weeks after 70% of all eligible Albertans (so everyone 12+) gets their first dose of vaccine. Yesterday we were at 69.9% so today appears to be the day they'll announce - which would mean July 2. we're wide-open. There would still be a requirement to isolate if you have a positive case of Covid-19 but that's it.
We shall see... Cases and hospitalizations have definitely dropped dramatically, but we're still at around 100-ish / day new cases so it is still circulating out there, and that 70% is first-dose only.
In fact given the date I wonder if the province won't cheat on it's own rule and declare all restrictions lifted as of July 1 - Canada Day.
Yup - they're saying Alberta hit 70% first vaccine doses as of yesterday, so everything lifted as of July 1.
:cool:
Quite impressed with the testing efficiency here. Since I'm at the office tomorrow I needed to do a Covid test. Since the big walk in testing facilities are 15 minutes or so by tram I opted for a pharmacy around the corner. Had an appointment, but there was only two persons in front of me. Arrived at 8:15, got the nose jab 5 minutes later. Went to the grocery to pick up lunch (where I waited longer at the checkout than at the testing site), got home at 8:40 and already had my result in my inbox.
Quote from: Syt on June 21, 2021, 02:51:30 AM
Quite impressed with the testing efficiency here. Since I'm at the office tomorrow I needed to do a Covid test. Since the big walk in testing facilities are 15 minutes or so by tram I opted for a pharmacy around the corner. Had an appointment, but there was only two persons in front of me. Arrived at 8:15, got the nose jab 5 minutes later. Went to the grocery to pick up lunch (where I waited longer at the checkout than at the testing site), got home at 8:40 and already had my result in my inbox.
[BoJo]
Ah, but does that make it a World Class test and trace system? :bowler:
[/BoJo]
So first day back at the office. There's also an off site management meeting, so it was just me and my two team mates, plus our external IT guy. Spent the morning in calls. We went for lunch together which was nice. The afternoon, our external IT was supposed to install various updates on my laptop. It took him 4.5 hours to get the basics done, because my account was set up weird way back in the day and was never fully fixed, so it was a nightmare for him to get everything sorted out. (It was set up by his boss, so he couldn't grumble too much.) So I spent the afternoon completely unproductive, chatting with my team mates, reading, and surfing the web on my phone. :lol:
I habe started going back to my office on an ad hoc basis. 1 day a week. Its a strange wasteland. A handful of people doing the same, receptionists, security, tech support guys.
A change of space definitely helps clear my head. But going all that way when I barely speak to anyone as everyone is busy... Pff
Met up with my cousin and her husband, outside of course; the first time I've had a social event with anyone outside the immediate family in about 17 months.
Likely back to more restrictions in Monday. Jupiter can't get Aesculapium to stay long enough. Oh, and PCR and antigenics tests will probably not be free anymore at some point in the near future, in case of pure leisure reasons, as to incite vaccination.
Plus some kind of compulsory vaccination for nurses and elderly care workers which have very low vaccination rates compared to medical doctors. GPs being 90 % while elderly care workers are more like 30-40 %. Truth be said, they are not that well paid, and elderly care houses have trouble finding labour (surprise, surprise).
So the "little flu" is not that dangerous, except for the people they work for, yet they won't "risk" the vaccine since we lack hindsight, specially RNA-based. Others are either dangerous (AZ) or not efficient enough. :hmm:
edit: for clarity in this bit of a mess.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 09, 2021, 06:51:31 PM
Likely back to more restrictions in Monday. Jupiter can't get Aesculapium to say long enough. Oh, and PCR and antigenics tests will probably not free anymore in case of pure leisure reasons as to incite vaccination.
Plus some kind of compulsory vaccination for nurses and elderly care workers which have very low vaccinations compared to medical doctors. GPs being 90 % while elderly care workers are more like 30-40 %. Truth be said, they are not that well paid, and have trouble finding labour (surprise, surprise).
So the "little flu" is not that dangerous, except for the people they work for, yet they won't "risk" the vaccine since we lack hindsight, specially RNA-based. Others are either dangerous or not efficient enough. :hmm:
Sounds like a bit of a mess.
Anyone else getting lockdown induced hypochondria? Or is that just me?
Or are the doctors wrong and I'm actually screwed. :ph34r:
Quote from: Tyr on July 20, 2021, 10:53:45 AM
Anyone else getting lockdown induced hypochondria? Or is that just me?
Or are the doctors wrong and I'm actually screwed. :ph34r:
It's neither; you're just dying.
Had to drop by a co-op to pick up a couple of things. Several people there, mask wearing was sort of typical of what you'd expect. People my wife and I call "mates" and young people without masks, old people and people dressed for the office with masks.
Quote from: Tamas on July 20, 2021, 12:24:49 PM
Had to drop by a co-op to pick up a couple of things. Several people there, mask wearing was sort of typical of what you'd expect. People my wife and I call "mates" and young people without masks, old people and people dressed for the office with masks.
Last week I did about 200 miles on the buses and a few dozen on trains, mainly at the weekend and late afternoon/evenings; overall not impressed, plenty of younger people not bothering with the then mandatory masks and the 'selfish' ones of all ages talking loudly into their phones for most of the journey.
Thus I've decided to not use public transport for the next 5-6 weeks, till the schools go back/universities start.
Freedom day for me, is my decision to have a new 'lockdown'. :bowler:
Starting tomorrow July 21st in France
QuoteFrance adjusts plans for Covid-19 health pass, announces fourth wave of epidemic
The French government adjusted its new plan to fight COVID-19 on Monday, slashing planned fines and postponing them to an unspecified date, spokesman Gabriel Attal said.
The measures, which include requiring a health pass in a wide array of venues from the start of August and making vaccination mandatory for health workers, will still account for some of the toughest in Europe.
The health pass provides proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recently had a negative coronavirus test or has newly recovered from the virus.
What changes is that a planned 45,000 euro fine for businesses which do not check that clients have a health pass will be much lower, starting at up to 1,500 euros and increasing progressively for repeat offenders.
Besides, checks will initially be meant to help people apply the measures but the fines will not be imposed immediately. Government spokesman Attal told a news conference he could not say exactly when the "run-in period" would end and fines would be imposed.
He said it might be more than a week but would be less than a month, to give everyone the time to adapt to the new rules.
"We have entered the fourth wave of the epidemic," Attal said after a meeting of the French cabinet.
A health pass will be required in venues including cinemas, bars, restaurants, hospitals and long-distance train and planes, a decision that led to protests at the weekend.
The plan, set to be voted on by parliament, was announced a week ago by President Emmanuel Macron as infections rose and vaccination rates slowed down. The plan also foresees that people who test positive for coronavirus will need to self-isolate for 10 days.
Toughening up, assuming it will be enforced. Already some leeway for the fines. "Free-minded entrepreneurs" are already offering fake vaccination certificates. Some of them already got caught.
I had my two shots, so this could be better for me in a way with less crowded cinemas, bars etc. :hmm: Some opponents to the health pass even compared to the yellow star, not the 1215 Latran Council version, but the WWII.
Mandatory vaccination for health workers is only from September 15th on. They have two months to be vaccinated.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 20, 2021, 02:12:42 PM
Starting tomorrow July 21st in France
QuoteFrance adjusts plans for Covid-19 health pass,
Is that the same as the AntiCovid app? I've finally got that one set up on my phone.
Yep, you can have your smart phone scan your vaccination certificate or negative PCR test and keep the QR codes in the "wallet" of the Tous anti Covid app.
The app was in a half dozen languages not so long ago, including Portuguese, but now only French and English, so my parents have it all changed to English. :hmm:
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 20, 2021, 02:52:00 PM
Yep, you can have your smart phone scan your vaccination certificate or negative PCR test and keep the QR codes in the "wallet" of the Tous anti Covid app.
The app was in a half dozen languages not so long ago, including Portuguese, but now only French and English, so my parents have it all changed to English. :hmm:
Great, thanks!
Trying out the British testing system with our visitor is a shambles. Day 2 posted Saturday lunchtime and day 5 before 9 today.
Just got one notification that something has reached them.
Extra was paid to leave quarantine tomorrow. Hoping for a miracle.
They're perfectly healthy and vaccinated so it's just a shambles.
Quote
The app was in a half dozen languages not so long ago, including Portuguese, but now only French and English, so my parents have it all changed to English.
:lol:
Quote from: Tyr on July 20, 2021, 04:05:17 PM
Quote
The app was in a half dozen languages not so long ago, including Portuguese, but now only French and English, so my parents have it all changed to English.
:lol:
They had the app, as their smartphone, in Portuguese and the app itself switched to English when other languages were removed, presumably for quicker updates.
For an app mostly designed for people living and working in France, that's surprising. :tinfoil:
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on July 20, 2021, 04:47:22 PM
Quote from: Tyr on July 20, 2021, 04:05:17 PM
Quote
The app was in a half dozen languages not so long ago, including Portuguese, but now only French and English, so my parents have it all changed to English.
:lol:
They had the app, as their smartphone, in Portuguese and the app itself switched to English when other languages were removed, presumably for quicker updates.
For an app mostly designed for people living and working in France, that's surprising. :tinfoil:
I think it adapts to the system language, it went to English automatically for me.
We're still working from home with a general "If you feel like coming to the office, you can do so."
We have an in person meeting tomorrow, so we all need to get tested again. We have one colleague where the doctors said she should hold off on the vaccine for now (no idea why), so this will remain a thing every time we go to the office. I've gone for a PCR gargle test this morning. (They recommend the PCR tests for vaccinated people, because if infected they generally have lower viral loads and might not be detected by an anti-gene nasal swab.) Fortunately there's a test site within a few minutes' walk from me.
I had my first day in the office today :o
Was weird but all fine. I've been doing lateral flow tests for the last few days. I'm in a small team and we are all vaccinated (but I think asking about vaccination status is a bit taboo except for people you actually know - "don't want to pry" etc).
We're moving to four days in September and then two days a week in October - assuming nothing changes.
Evening before last I popped into a supermarket, first time in a week; seems that mask wearing is really dropping off, I counted 6 masked customers, incl.me, out of at least a couple of dozen, so about a 25% rate. <_<
I've seen a significant increase in mask usage in the last few weeks. From zero maybe 10%.
I'm in Mexico right now and everyone is masked. I haven't seen one Mexican face yet.
Germany still has mask mandates in shops, so there is a 99% mask rate in super markets - 95% if you only co sider those that wear it right. I never understood why people have such a big issue with masks.
Still mask mandates in shops, public transports, movie theaters etc. over here. The vast majority seem to follow along.
Masks are mandatory indoors. Many people still wear them outdoors, too.
Quote from: Caliga on August 20, 2021, 10:42:00 PM
I'm in Mexico right now and everyone is masked. I haven't seen one Mexican face yet.
I guess it's the Santo movies and Lucha Libre. :hmm:
Ha, I wish they were Luchador masks. Just boring old surgical ones. :sleep:
Final had my first covid test so as to go to a work event tomorrow (<_<). Thankfully it was just the kind that didn't need to go all the way back in your nose - as even the small bit for this one set off both my nostrils and I sneezed endless after the swabs. Definitely would have been a biohazard had I been administered that test by someone else. -_-
I was out and about a couple times grocery shopping last week and found:
Gringo supermarket in the low rent district has a masking of about 10%
Gringo supermarket in the high rent district has a masking of about 30%
El supermercado had a masking of about 80% :ph34r:
Mask mandate back on at my supermercado.
Looks like the daily number of people getting their first vaccine dose doubled in BC after the upcoming vaccine passport was announced.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 24, 2021, 06:04:11 PM
Mask mandate back on at my supermercado.
Yeah I am wearing my mask inside again. Sucks but bad times are here again.
Mask wearing inside store is still 100% here.
Still mandated.
Have been running around sorting stuff out in Hungary. Masks are not mandated anywhere and indeed maybe 5% of people wear them. I only put it on just now when the only other waiting patient at the dentist was wearing one and I wanted to be nice. Not that the receptionist nurses were wearing any. :p
Quote from: mongers on August 20, 2021, 08:29:20 PM
Evening before last I popped into a supermarket, first time in a week; seems that mask wearing is really dropping off, I counted 6 masked customers, incl.me, out of at least a couple of dozen, so about a 25% rate. <_<
Its interesting how it differs by area.
I go to one nearby shopping area- firmly working class area.... No masks apart from on a few elderly people.
I go to another, in a weird place in between a working class area, a non-working class area, and a rather more middle class area...everyone has masks.
In a posh area...again no masks
Here in the red neck part of Washington, I see only a few folks not wearing masks in the supermarkets and The Wal-Mart.
Where are you Before? Spokane?
In Massachusetts it's pretty mixed mask wearing, about half wearing and half not. I'm actually a bit surprised at how many are not wearing.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 25, 2021, 08:22:34 PM
Where are you Before? Spokane?
Nah, he is west-side WA redneck. It's not all just Seattle.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 25, 2021, 08:22:34 PM
Where are you Before? Spokane?
Mason County, Western Washington.
Those are hillbillies and weirdos out east.
Think Loren Culp for the East side hillbillies.
Went to my corner café for the first time since the lockdown last year. You need to prove vaccination or that you've been tested negative on entry. The checks were ... very cursory. E.g. the waiter just looked at the QR code on my app but didn't verify that I was the person listed in the document. Restaurants are supposed to take contact details from patrons and store them for 2 weeks for contact tracing purposes. The way they handle it is a QR code on the table that links to a registration website. As far as I could tell I was the only one doing this.
The place was busy between 9 and 10 but not as much as it normally would be. There's usually a mix of tourists and locals (often professionals meeting up in the café). Few locals today, and more tourists (Eastern Europeans, Germans, Swiss, French, from what I heard).
I found France to be very strict, always asking for a QR code when entering a public space or transit. And many people wearing masks on the streets (they don't have to). In Germany, I wasn't asked once in hotels or restaurants, nor on the trains. A very counterintuitive experience :D
So the official guidance here now says that risk groups (including me) should get a third shot 6 months after the second, everyone else nine months later. Guess I will need to get a 3rd shot on Christmas Eve, then. :P
Quote from: Maladict on August 27, 2021, 04:36:42 AM
I found France to be very strict, always asking for a QR code when entering a public space or transit. And many people wearing masks on the streets (they don't have to). In Germany, I wasn't asked once in hotels or restaurants, nor on the trains. A very counterintuitive experience :D
OTOH, they don't nor can't ask for IDs in restaurants so it's very easy to get in with a fake QR code or the one from a friend.
Some really clever ones even bough fake ones for 300 € :lol: or :cry:
Somehow I managed to ignore that in addition to the Amber Country specific stuff we must show negative tests to be allowed boarding our plane back to England. Only noticed it today morning. Ran off for PCR test and in theory the results should arrive in time but barely, and if they are positive we can't enter England despite being fully vaccinated and in my case a citizen. Ridiculous.
Quote from: Tamas on August 28, 2021, 04:56:02 PM
Somehow I managed to ignore that in addition to the Amber Country specific stuff we must show negative tests to be allowed boarding our plane back to England. Only noticed it today morning. Ran off for PCR test and in theory the results should arrive in time but barely, and if they are positive we can't enter England despite being fully vaccinated and in my case a citizen. Ridiculous.
:(
Hope it works out OK for you and family.
Otherwise we'll miss you. :P
An Arizona friend of mine and his wife both got Covid but fortunately only minor symptoms. My friend has diabetes so he worried more about Covid, but both are vaccinated so that must have kept down the symptoms.
A woman I work with, who sits across the aisle from me, was with a friend of hers who found out she had Covid almost a week after they got together. My coworker worked all that week before finding out her friend had Covid. I was only in the office one day that week but several of us stayed out for a couple weeks, worked from home. None of us got any symptoms.
Quote from: Maladict on August 27, 2021, 04:36:42 AM
I found France to be very strict, always asking for a QR code when entering a public space or transit. And many people wearing masks on the streets (they don't have to). In Germany, I wasn't asked once in hotels or restaurants, nor on the trains. A very counterintuitive experience :D
At least for a while (I think they changed or will change soon?) the rule was they only need to ask at a certain level of infections and we were below that level since June. I understood that will change now with rising case numbers.
Quote from: mongers on August 28, 2021, 05:13:14 PM
Quote from: Tamas on August 28, 2021, 04:56:02 PM
Somehow I managed to ignore that in addition to the Amber Country specific stuff we must show negative tests to be allowed boarding our plane back to England. Only noticed it today morning. Ran off for PCR test and in theory the results should arrive in time but barely, and if they are positive we can't enter England despite being fully vaccinated and in my case a citizen. Ridiculous.
:(
Hope it works out OK for you and family.
Otherwise we'll miss you. :P
Both of our tests are negative, so should be allowed to enter the island. :)
On paper you are supposed to wear a mask within Budapest Airport but at least half the people are ignoring it.
Quote from: Tamas on August 29, 2021, 01:53:41 AM
Both of our tests are negative, so should be allowed to enter the island. :)
:w00t:
And you don't have to self-isolate once you get back right because double-vaxxed (unless you test positive on day 2)?
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 29, 2021, 07:42:53 AM
Quote from: Tamas on August 29, 2021, 01:53:41 AM
Both of our tests are negative, so should be allowed to enter the island. :)
:w00t:
And you don't have to self-isolate once you get back right because double-vaxxed (unless you test positive on day 2)?
Correct. Altogether we needed 3 pcr tests and will need two more on day 2. I think these will have cost as around 150 pounds altogether.
Yeah - when I was looking at an overseas trips the PCR tests costed more than the flight. It'd be insanely expensive for a family holiday.
Work from home is gone now, so its my first day back in office since I had to do a few weeks in June for a Security Incident.
We have to wear masks. It sucks. I liked working from home, and we had been expecting to have the option to have flexible schedules. All that is gone now.
We were "Encouraged" to return to work a couple days each week. Since Alstom is a safety focused company we have to wear masks all day, have to skip seats in conference rooms and the stairs and halls are only one way.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on August 30, 2021, 11:24:31 AM
Work from home is gone now, so its my first day back in office since I had to do a few weeks in June for a Security Incident.
We have to wear masks. It sucks. I liked working from home, and we had been expecting to have the option to have flexible schedules. All that is gone now.
We started to work back at the office about a month ago, but I've only been there once. Not many go in very often but everyone has the option to work from home two days a week. Being retired and part time my manager gave me the option to work from home entirely or come in maybe once a week. We have to wear masks too, and Covid Delta started up about the same time we were requested to go back, so it's a bit odd right now going in.
Quote from: Savonarola on September 07, 2021, 05:19:18 PM
We were "Encouraged" to return to work a couple days each week. Since Alstom is a safety focused company we have to wear masks all day, have to skip seats in conference rooms and the stairs and halls are only one way.
Don't you feel lucky working for a company that takes such care of its employees? :P :P
Hey, thinking of it, now that Alstom has fully integrated my hometown's plant, will you be visiting soon? Will they let you practice your French or keep insisting you go to siesta land? :P
Quote from: Savonarola on September 07, 2021, 05:19:18 PM
We were "Encouraged" to return to work a couple days each week. Since Alstom is a safety focused company we have to wear masks all day, have to skip seats in conference rooms and the stairs and halls are only one way.
Been doing that since March 2020 only five days a week. No big deal.
Returned to the office yesterday and wasn't just in back-to-back meetings. Everyone has to do two days in September and then two days a week in the office from October. I think my team have bid for our days but it's all still being planned - apparently almost everyone's trying to get their two days to be between Tuesday and Thursday :lol:
Got so much more done and felt very sort of energised/happy just to see people I'd only previously seen as flat faces on the wall of Zoom. Also just very nice to be emailing on a problem - ask to have a quick chat and realise that person's in the office so we can go and run through it in person in 10-15 minutes.
It's interesting to read the stories of those who've been working from home so long. I've been at the factory for the whole pandemic, barring the first few weeks of total confinement, so it feels like a whole different world to me.
Still home, could go to the office but no one seems incline into forcing me & I cannot be bothered to go into so much traffic.
*sigh*
Alberta is back to cancelling most surgeries as ICU beds fill up. And we're not talking elective surgeries - instead they're triaging which cancer surgeries are going ahead versus being postponed.
So we have another announcement with more restrictions of one kind or another.
Please don't cancel indoor kids sports again...
Quote from: viper37 on September 08, 2021, 09:05:44 AM
Don't you feel lucky working for a company that takes such care of its employees? :P :P
Hey, thinking of it, now that Alstom has fully integrated my hometown's plant, will you be visiting soon? Will they let you practice your French or keep insisting you go to siesta land? :P
In the past we've handled Quebec projects out of France. We've been led to believe that language is something of a contentious issue in La Belle Province. Would you care to comment on that?
:P ;)
That may change now with the Bombardier acquisition and as a result our North America Headquarters has moved to Montreal. As it looks most of my work in the immediate future will be in Toronto. (Famous last words, but) I don't think I'll be heading back to Latin America any time soon; mining is down right now and our largest Latin American Office, São Paulo, is starving for work.
Quote from: Barrister on September 09, 2021, 01:53:43 PM
*sigh*
Alberta is back to cancelling most surgeries as ICU beds fill up. And we're not talking elective surgeries - instead they're triaging which cancer surgeries are going ahead versus being postponed.
So we have another announcement with more restrictions of one kind or another.
Please don't cancel indoor kids sports again...
Instead of cancer patients, they should triage covid patients by whether they have had the chance to get the vaccine and didn't take it. If I wasn't getting my cancer operation because beds are filled up with people who couldn't be arsed to get the bloody vaccine, I would be miffed.
Quote from: Savonarola on September 07, 2021, 05:19:18 PM
We were "Encouraged" to return to work a couple days each week. Since Alstom is a safety focused company we have to wear masks all day, have to skip seats in conference rooms and the stairs and halls are only one way.
Maybe a quarter of the office has returned, if that.
One of my co-workers (the Glen from my various stories) wore shorts to the office on his first day back. The very next day the fashion police (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-z6u5hFgPk) sent the "Proper attire is required at the office," e-mail. Glen hasn't been back since.
Quote from: Savonarola on October 04, 2021, 02:46:26 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on September 07, 2021, 05:19:18 PM
We were "Encouraged" to return to work a couple days each week. Since Alstom is a safety focused company we have to wear masks all day, have to skip seats in conference rooms and the stairs and halls are only one way.
Maybe a quarter of the office has returned, if that.
One of my co-workers (the Glen from my various stories) wore shorts to the office on his first day back. The very next day the fashion police (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-z6u5hFgPk) sent the "Proper attire is required at the office," e-mail. Glen hasn't been back since.
I worked 4 days straight from home. Ah, no shirt, just a pair of shorts. I remembered the goold old days when I worked all week-end like that. 2 days of it being Saturday and Sunday helped too. :P
There have been a number of cases of PCR tests giving false negatives here in the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58921280
I think my family may have been personally affected. Having been exposed to a colleague with covid my wife had a series of lateral flow tests that came up weakly positive (I also took one it was negative). On each occasion she isolated and went for the more reliable PCR tests, which came out negative (three times). The week this happened we felt slightly "under the weather" but with no reall classic covid symptoms. We now suspect that we both had covid but in the asymptomatic form; which would be fair enough but she went into the office for a couple of those days (following the advice of the time after a negative PCR test) :huh:
Quote from: Valmy on June 15, 2021, 11:31:46 AM
I am just baffled by the recent success of the anti-vax propaganda. How can you convince people that something that has worked with almost miraculous results for hundreds of years doesn't work? With zero evidence besides the fact that, like virtually everything, some people might have allergic reactions to them?
Simple. You attack the idea of a credible, reliable source of information and news. You call into question the veracity of the sources of information the people you want to lie to would have to use to fact check your lies.
I don't find the success even a little bit baffling. This has been going on for a very long time. Creationism/denial of evolution. Climate science denial. Other anti-vax bullshit. Rejection of stem cell research. There is a long and treasured history of attacking the idea of credible sources of information and science.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/10/what-caused-the-u-s-anti-science-trend/
It's an article from Harvard, so of course is just liberal bias, cannot be trusted, I am sure. :P
It is impressive what you can accomplish once you successfully attack the idea of science and objectivity.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 15, 2021, 01:01:35 AM
There have been a number of cases of PCR tests giving false negatives here in the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58921280
I think my family may have been personally affected. Having been exposed to a colleague with covid my wife had a series of lateral flow tests that came up weakly positive (I also took one it was negative). On each occasion she isolated and went for the more reliable PCR tests, which came out negative (three times). The week this happened we felt slightly "under the weather" but with no reall classic covid symptoms. We now suspect that we both had covid but in the asymptomatic form; which would be fair enough but she went into the office for a couple of those days (following the advice of the time after a negative PCR test) :huh:
Slightly related but these Day 2 travel tests are such pointless money grabs. I mean, maybe I am a natural born self-PCR tester but I have serious doubts about whether the self-jabbing I could force myself to do on myself collected a proper sample on the now 2 occasions I had to do this. Yet they came back negative not as invalid, so I guess I did. But £48 a pop and then the individual gets to self-test and that's accepted - it's just silly.
And the government site has a very user-unfriendly list of providers, including what seem to me shameless rip off middlemen. e.g. I have been using Randox for my tests. Their closes drop-off point is like 18 miles away but they are among the cheaper ones. Anyways, I spotted one or two "providers" on the government list which had a disclaimer like "via Randox and XY" - in other words they would have taken my money to order me a test kit I can just order for myself. Bastards.
But, it's fresh news that this system is going away for fully vaccinated people from the 24th, replaced with lateral flow tests. Too bad that's a week after my next trip. :P
Yeah. Absolute scandal they're still going. Those day 2 tests really stink. Some people are getting seriously rich from the system.
Did they ever get around to cracking down on those lying about costs?
Quote from: Tyr on October 15, 2021, 03:13:00 AM
Yeah. Absolute scandal they're still going. Those day 2 tests really stink. Some people are getting seriously rich from the system.
Did they ever get around to cracking down on those lying about costs?
No idea. It is ridiculous though. I have had to plan in two quick flights back home this month, and the most expensive single item for both have been the PCR tests. :lol: My Wizzair tickets are like £20 per flight, airport parking £32, PCR test £48.
I'm glad Vienna still has a tight network of places where you can get tested (antigene and PCR), for free.
Actually, this was a good reminder to schedule a PCR test for Monday as we have a workshop on Tuesday. :P
Quote from: Syt on October 15, 2021, 04:25:16 AM
I'm glad Vienna still has a tight network of places where you can get tested (antigene and PCR), for free.
Actually, this was a good reminder to schedule a PCR test for Monday as we have a workshop on Tuesday. :P
You can still get tested for free with the NHS tests either mailed or in the walk-in centres - and there's lots of testing (about 4-500,00 PCR a day and similar on the lateral flows).
But you're not allowed to use the free NHS tests for your travel/return testing, which is annoying (for people who are going on trips).
Ok, that seems weird.
As of today, PCR and antigenic tests are no longer part of free healthcare in France, save for duly medical prescriptions.
Antigenic tests cost between 22 and 45 € for instance.
Vaccination coverage has plateaued at around 85 % of the eligible population.
Quote from: Syt on October 15, 2021, 04:33:08 AM
Ok, that seems weird.
I can see a sense to it.
If you want to go on holiday then you should pay for what you need to be covid compliant, that's not a social priority. I think it's shifted now that so many people have been vaccinated and that the rules on travel have relaxed a lot.
I went to London on Friday.
I survived.
The train down was super empty. True its Friday so probably not the top day for it, but I took the 7am Edinburgh then newcastle then non stop train which is usually packed with people going down for the day on business.
It's a wonder how many business trips have been forever killed by zoom.
I'm finally going to try and go home for Christmas. Apparently the family gathering has been bifurcated with a planned gathering of the vaccinated and a planned gathering of the unvaccinated.
Quote from: garbon on November 16, 2021, 01:44:37 PM
I'm finally going to try and go home for Christmas. Apparently the family gathering has been bifurcated with a planned gathering of the vaccinated and a planned gathering of the unvaccinated.
I can't not imagine this as a split screen land of contrasts with fun and frivolity and colour on one side and black and white drab misery in the other.
Maybe the parable of the long spoons comes into it somewhere.
Quote from: garbon on November 16, 2021, 01:44:37 PM
I'm finally going to try and go home for Christmas. Apparently the family gathering has been bifurcated with a planned gathering of the vaccinated and a planned gathering of the unvaccinated.
That's pretty frustrating. How large is the gathering usually, and how does it break down? 50-50? 70-30?
There are rumors they are going to implement vaccine passport checks in Catalonia, for restaurants and such. This can potentially spoil our Christmas plans, since my sister-in-law is unvaccinated (she's pregnant and since she already had a miscarriage she's very hesitant about getting vaccinated until she gives birth).
Quote from: Jacob on November 17, 2021, 08:07:09 PM
Quote from: garbon on November 16, 2021, 01:44:37 PM
I'm finally going to try and go home for Christmas. Apparently the family gathering has been bifurcated with a planned gathering of the vaccinated and a planned gathering of the unvaccinated.
That's pretty frustrating. How large is the gathering usually, and how does it break down? 50-50? 70-30?
Smaller and smaller as my generation has been pretty terrible with regards to having children. But yeah isnahking out roughly 50/50. Good news is that everyone I'm close with is vaccinated.
50% is terrible.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 19, 2021, 06:20:25 AM
50% is terrible.
Agreed but then these are also family members who stayed Republican under Trump and many voted for him twice.
Christmas markets cancelled in Bavaria. :(
Also sprach Söder.
Had my booster shot yesterday evening, Pfizer; not sure of any effects besides being a little tired today, but that's more likely to be because Friday was a long day for me rather than the vaccine.
Got the Moderns booster on tuesday. Side effects weren't as bad as second shot.
Seems like a common experience to have no side effects after the booster, even if you had serious side effects after the second shot. It was the same for me.
Quote from: DGuller on November 20, 2021, 11:11:24 AM
Seems like a common experience to have no side effects after the booster, even if you had serious side effects after the second shot. It was the same for me.
Good to know for my siblings who're having theirs this week.
Quote from: 11B4V on November 20, 2021, 11:08:38 AM
Got the Moderns booster on tuesday. Side effects weren't as bad as second shot.
So I've got that to look forward to when I get my 2nd booster (Moderna) in late May 2022. <_<
Michigan is now leading the United States in terms of weekly number of infection and Covid related deaths. (It's the tenth largest state, with about 10,000,000 people - so it does have a disadvantage compared to smaller states in terms of those metrics.) Since we're going up there for Thanksgiving CB and I got our boosters (Moderna) yesterday. This one left me sorer than the first two; but no other side effects so far.
I noticed that my work is more frequently doing check-ins about whether people want to come to the office (though no pressure). And that is despite caseloads still being high (though dropping) and at best only a handful of people are coming to office (I see two people scheduled through rest of month).
Sure feels like pressure.
My company/boss isn't even allowing a colleague to work from home after her partner tested positive.
Only those who themselves test positive get sent home now. But primary care is completely overwhelmed, so only antigen tests are available, and only if you actually manage to get ahold of them (they are sold-out in most pharmacies here).
The whole plant is a superspreader event.
Quote from: garbon on January 14, 2022, 05:57:09 AM
I noticed that my work is more frequently doing check-ins about whether people want to come to the office (though no pressure). And that is despite caseloads still being high (though dropping) and at best only a handful of people are coming to office (I see two people scheduled through rest of month).
Sure feels like pressure.
Yeah that does sound like pressure and against guidance.
I hadn't heard for a while but we had a big HR email today that it's still WFH unless you absolutely have to come in until the end of January. No indication for Feb.
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 14, 2022, 11:59:26 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 14, 2022, 05:57:09 AM
I noticed that my work is more frequently doing check-ins about whether people want to come to the office (though no pressure). And that is despite caseloads still being high (though dropping) and at best only a handful of people are coming to office (I see two people scheduled through rest of month).
Sure feels like pressure.
Yeah that does sound like pressure and against guidance.
I hadn't heard for a while but we had a big HR email today that it's still WFH unless you absolutely have to come in until the end of January. No indication for Feb.
We have also had many juniors who recently came down with it.
I know they are recently making a push as new people are starting and think those new people won't feel part of the team if nobody comes in.
Wanted to go get a PCR test later this afternoon, but then I remembered that it's Saturday, so the city will be full of non-masked, non-distancing "concerned citizens" marching with neo-nazis, LIKE EVERY FUCKING SATURDAY, so I canceled and re-booked for tomorrow morning. :rolleyes: <_<
T-shirt from today's demonstrations:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJI5aBaXwAEbk8-?format=jpg&name=900x900)
No to mandatory vaccinations.
Yes to death penalty for criminal politicians.
Last week there was a guy with a (fake) axe and a bloody plastic head and a sign "Get your traitors. We need work." and photos of politicians etc.
(https://i.ds.at/FIcayw/rs:fill:1600:0/plain/2022/01/08/DemoWien9.jpeg)
The FPÖ is leading one of the main gatherings, one of their speakers announced "We will take them [the evil politicians] to Nuremberg 2.0 and find them guilty in all points!" A not-Identitarian-movement-anymore-honest leaader posted on Twitter that police should be careful how they handle things or they will see complete chaos in the city. :wacko:
So this has been going on for months now, a couple tens of thousands (usually 20-40k, mostly from out of town, and even a substantial number from outside Austria), from late morning till evening around the Ringstraße and main downtown shopping areas. Meanwhile, a demonstration to commemorate the dead of the pandemic a few weeks ago had to reschedule for late in the evening "to not disrupt traffic and businesses." :rolleyes:
Last week (as usual) the police and public transports said they would make sure the mask etc. rules would be followed. Instead there were images of unmasked throngs of people pushing police out of subway stations.
It's a stark contrast to how police usually handle much more peaceful protests from the left.
Also this week: a couple of folks dressed as "security" in gear that at first glance looks similar to police uniforms, here being getting looked at by the real police (in the back).
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJJB3yxXsAEy8di?format=jpg&name=large)
You can tell the difference by the ice tea bottle in place of where the police equipment would normally be.
I am sure they really believe they are the police. Did anyone ask them?
Quote from: Berkut on January 17, 2022, 02:21:06 PM
I am sure they really believe they are the police. Did anyone ask them?
They've been charged with impersonating police officers.
Quote from: Syt on January 17, 2022, 02:24:48 PM
Quote from: Berkut on January 17, 2022, 02:21:06 PM
I am sure they really believe they are the police. Did anyone ask them?
They've been charged with impersonating police officers.
Good. What a bunch of fucking tools.
Now with plan b and mask mandates disappearing, my company is moving full speed ahead with plan to have people returning 1 Feb (in fact most of the juniors showed up at work yesterday). My new employee told me it is fine to start coming in as "everyone has had covid already anyway."
Quote from: garbon on January 21, 2022, 03:42:12 AM
Now with plan b and mask mandates disappearing, my company is moving full speed ahead with plan to have people returning 1 Feb (in fact most of the juniors showed up at work yesterday). My new employee told me it is fine to start coming in as "everyone has had covid already anyway."
My higher ups were also quick to start organising a 1 Feb big in-person meeting in our remote-based company. We must resign ourselves that if we have not had covid already, we are going through it in the next month or so. It does seem like time to ease restrictions, and more importantly we must sacrifice ourselves to save Johnson's seat. Godspeed.
I foresee me getting into a fight.
Quote from: garbon on January 21, 2022, 03:42:12 AM
Now with plan b and mask mandates disappearing, my company is moving full speed ahead with plan to have people returning 1 Feb (in fact most of the juniors showed up at work yesterday). My new employee told me it is fine to start coming in as "everyone has had covid already anyway."
From being guided by government scientific advice to relying on hearsay in one easy step.
We are still in a phase where Omicron goes up fast, much less people here had Covid then in the UK. So home office is still the rule, at least in my company. I was in the office yesterday and the two other persons I saw sat on the other side of the building.
Provincial government held a press conference to remind people that we are ~4 weeks behind Europe and to stop expecting our restrictions to ease when theirs do.
Ontario framing everything around dates is not helping.
At my work we're sticking to our guns - remote, with an option to come in for people who want to. I think out of my 100 people I have around 6 who are in every day and another 10 who come to the office a few days a week. I think the rate is roughly the same across the company's ~300 staff.
Personally, I've been in a couple of times and it's pretty empty, so it feels pretty safe. In any case, I've been advocating for a permanent hybrid model and it looks like that's what we're sticking to.
A little worse, there were just a couple of cases in my boy's after school care, as well as in his grade (but not in his specific class). It feels like it's just a matter of time before he gets it, given the lower rate of vaccination among children (he's had his first shot and we anticipate him becoming eligible for the second one in the next few weeks).
Restrictions in France to be alleviated in February, just after passing controversial Vaccine Pass law (upgraded Health Pass). :hmm:
Ah, lucky you.
Here in Switzerland, they've extended the limitations through end-Feb.
Ireland's also getting rid of basically all restrictions tomorrow. As is so often the case they're keeping a couple that make absolutely no sense to me as really helping from a public health perspective - so there's still going to be a rule of six for people sitting at tables in a pub (but nightclubs are open :hmm:) and they're keeping mandatory table service in pubs :huh:
QuoteAt my work we're sticking to our guns - remote, with an option to come in for people who want to. I think out of my 100 people I have around 6 who are in every day and another 10 who come to the office a few days a week. I think the rate is roughly the same across the company's ~300 staff.
Personally, I've been in a couple of times and it's pretty empty, so it feels pretty safe. In any case, I've been advocating for a permanent hybrid model and it looks like that's what we're sticking to.
I do not think that in my role and sector I will ever go back to being in the office 5 days a week. It'll be different for different sectors, but with what I do I just don't see that it'll ever be necessary again and I would be shocked if it was a request from an employer.
Quote from: Jacob on January 21, 2022, 11:24:04 AM
At my work we're sticking to our guns - remote, with an option to come in for people who want to. I think out of my 100 people I have around 6 who are in every day and another 10 who come to the office a few days a week. I think the rate is roughly the same across the company's ~300 staff.
Personally, I've been in a couple of times and it's pretty empty, so it feels pretty safe. In any case, I've been advocating for a permanent hybrid model and it looks like that's what we're sticking to.
A little worse, there were just a couple of cases in my boy's after school care, as well as in his grade (but not in his specific class). It feels like it's just a matter of time before he gets it, given the lower rate of vaccination among children (he's had his first shot and we anticipate him becoming eligible for the second one in the next few weeks).
Given all the benefits most businesses saw when their workers were given the option to work remotely, I am not sure why some are not adapting to implement flexible models which will go on past COVID - if we ever get past COVID.
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 21, 2022, 12:31:13 PM
At my work we're sticking to our guns - remote, with an option to come in for people who want to. I think out of my 100 people I have around 6 who are in every day and another 10 who come to the office a few days a week. I think the rate is roughly the same across the company's ~300 staff.
Personally, I've been in a couple of times and it's pretty empty, so it feels pretty safe. In any case, I've been advocating for a permanent hybrid model and it looks like that's what we're sticking to.
I do not think that in my role and sector I will ever go back to being in the office 5 days a week. It'll be different for different sectors, but with what I do I just don't see that it'll ever be necessary again and I would be shocked if it was a request from an employer.
Exactly the same for us. The office remains open in case someone wants to use it, but we're all working from home.
Which is why I personally returned to Languish, I got lonely and bored after years of intense global travel.
We've already declared to our employees we'll unlikely ever return to 100% working from office. We're funding a mix of home/office highly beneficial.
Quote from: crazy canuck on January 21, 2022, 12:50:33 PM
Quote from: Jacob on January 21, 2022, 11:24:04 AM
At my work we're sticking to our guns - remote, with an option to come in for people who want to. I think out of my 100 people I have around 6 who are in every day and another 10 who come to the office a few days a week. I think the rate is roughly the same across the company's ~300 staff.
Personally, I've been in a couple of times and it's pretty empty, so it feels pretty safe. In any case, I've been advocating for a permanent hybrid model and it looks like that's what we're sticking to.
A little worse, there were just a couple of cases in my boy's after school care, as well as in his grade (but not in his specific class). It feels like it's just a matter of time before he gets it, given the lower rate of vaccination among children (he's had his first shot and we anticipate him becoming eligible for the second one in the next few weeks).
Given all the benefits most businesses saw when their workers were given the option to work remotely, I am not sure why some are not adapting to implement flexible models which will go on past COVID - if we ever get past COVID.
Yes we are going to a flexible model but also acting as though we are past COVID.
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on January 21, 2022, 12:28:16 PM
Ah, lucky you.
Here in Switzerland, they've extended the limitations through end-Feb.
Only two weeks or so after Macron declared, and I quote :
"les non-vaccinés, j'ai très envie de les
emmerder. Et on va continuer jusqu'au bout".
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/pass-sanitaire/video-emmerder-les-non-vaccines-la-phrase-d-emmanuel-macron-remise-dans-son-contexte_4905605.html (https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/pass-sanitaire/video-emmerder-les-non-vaccines-la-phrase-d-emmanuel-macron-remise-dans-son-contexte_4905605.html)
I don't think he learned that kind of French with his granny French theatre teacher wife. :P
PS : for the Anglos, emmerder means "to be a pain the arse" or "piss (them) off" and it's considered vulgar since it has a very strong scatological connotation (merde).
We had an entire day of discourse in Britain about that word, don't worry :lol:
So French media stating Anglos had trouble translating precisely what Jupin said were right. Well, once in a while, why not. :) :smarty:
I hope the English media mentioned this was likely typical Jupin thinking the hoi polloi needs to be adressed in crude, strong words, in order to be understood. :P
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on January 21, 2022, 12:53:30 PMWhich is why I personally returned to Languish, I got lonely and bored after years of intense global travel.
For what it's worth it has been great having you here.
Quote from: Valmy on January 21, 2022, 02:48:02 PM
For what it's worth it has been great having you here.
Thanks, Valmy. The feeling is mutual, I missed the educated debate of Languish.
:cheers:
Quote from: garbon on January 21, 2022, 01:04:09 PM
Yes we are going to a flexible model but also acting as though we are past COVID.
To me the advantage of the flexible model is that individuals can adjust their behaviour based on their risk tolerance - so being "past covid" isn't a fixed point of the calendar but subjective. Sounds to me that in some places "flexible" means "we're still going to override your sense of comfort re: covid", which is just... well, I don't think highly of that.
The trouble with being flexible is going into the office has zero advantage if everyone else isn't there too.
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on January 21, 2022, 12:53:30 PM
Exactly the same for us. The office remains open in case someone wants to use it, but we're all working from home.
Which is why I personally returned to Languish, I got lonely and bored after years of intense global travel.
We've already declared to our employees we'll unlikely ever return to 100% working from office. We're funding a mix of home/office highly beneficial.
That's curious. I'd heard Switzerland was really not big on wfh. Most people I know there have had to keep going into the office.
Though the potential if it becomes the norm...swiss salaries without having to live in Switzerland on the surface.... Or companies just avoiding paying Swiss salaries.
Quote from: Tyr on January 21, 2022, 04:55:34 PM
That's curious. I'd heard Switzerland was really not big on wfh. Most people I know there have had to keep going into the office.
Though the potential if it becomes the norm...swiss salaries without having to live in Switzerland on the surface.... Or companies just avoiding paying Swiss salaries.
Oh, but you must live in Switzerland for personal and corporate tax reasons, if you're on a Swiss contract. Also, there are types of jobs which you must keep here, again for tax reasons — advertising, for example.
The first reaction of many of our employees was "yay, I get to keep my salary and live in Portugal/Poland/whatever!"
But no, we had to bring everyone back, no exception. Even if they have to work from home. The governments are super strict on this.
ah, I'm in some kind of soft-lockdown now.
I'm considered a moderate risk of transmission due to covid exposure.
I went to deliver meds to a sick friend (covid-negative), stayed for supper, then received a call yesterday evening that her daughter had tested positive for covid.
I can still go out of the house but must avoid any close contact and wear a mask at all time for 5 days.
Quote from: Tyr on January 21, 2022, 04:55:34 PM
The trouble with being flexible is going into the office has zero advantage if everyone else isn't there too.
Not true.
Advantages include:
- More social contact than you'd get at home.
- A reason to leave your home, if you need one.
- (Potentially) more space and better infrastructure than what you have in your home.
- The ability to arrange in-person meetings with other folks who are amenable.
QuoteThat's curious. I'd heard Switzerland was really not big on wfh. Most people I know there have had to keep going into the office.
Though the potential if it becomes the norm...swiss salaries without having to live in Switzerland on the surface.... Or companies just avoiding paying Swiss salaries.
We're seeing a bit of that, with some folks getting recruited at Silicon Valley salaries without having to move to Silicon Valley.
Quote from: viper37 on January 21, 2022, 06:58:43 PM
ah, I'm in some kind of soft-lockdown now.
I'm considered a moderate risk of transmission due to covid exposure.
I went to deliver meds to a sick friend (covid-negative), stayed for supper, then received a call yesterday evening that her daughter had tested positive for covid.
I can still go out of the house but must avoid any close contact and wear a mask at all time for 5 days.
Good luck :hug:
Quote from: viper37 on January 21, 2022, 06:58:43 PM
ah, I'm in some kind of soft-lockdown now.
I'm considered a moderate risk of transmission due to covid exposure.
I went to deliver meds to a sick friend (covid-negative), stayed for supper, then received a call yesterday evening that her daughter had tested positive for covid.
I can still go out of the house but must avoid any close contact and wear a mask at all time for 5 days.
Oh, best wishes not to get sick :)
Being a manufacturing plant, there's a very low percentage of the employees working from home. Corporate rules are still to WFH when possible, maybe because the higher ups are in the US and the situation there has been quite bad for months (our hospitals OTOH have just peaked with about 60% of total ICU beds still available).
Current perception is that the pandemic is almost over. We've basically shrugged our collective shoulders and the only measure still in place is wearing a mask (but nobody gets fired for doing so it incorrectly). Those who live with someone confirmed positive have to come to work regardless.
Over 25% of the office has tested positive in the last month. Realistically the infection rate is probably closer to 50-70%, since our health system hasn't actively tested anyone for a month (all positives are from home kits).
I must be in a small minority, I've not taken any corona-virus tests, pcr or rapid. :hmm:
Quote from: mongers on January 23, 2022, 08:15:30 AM
I must be in a small minority, I've not taken any corona-virus tests, pcr or rapid. :hmm:
I'm right there with you in this minority — never had a single Covid test.
Never had any symptoms either...
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on January 23, 2022, 11:55:59 AM
Quote from: mongers on January 23, 2022, 08:15:30 AM
I must be in a small minority, I've not taken any corona-virus tests, pcr or rapid. :hmm:
I'm right there with you in this minority — never had a single Covid test.
Never had any symptoms either...
Odd isn't.
Though given how much public transport, trains and buses I've had to use in the last 3 months, I must have been exposed to a lot of omicron and very likely had it without noticing.
Don't know how many tests I've had at this point. Needed some for traveling (to Switzerland), plus my workplace requires a recent test result on those days we want to come to the office. And when meeting friends we all get tested. Vienna has a very good infrastructure at this point, so I can decide to get a (free) PCR test on short notice, though results still take up to 24 hours (and are considered valid 48 hours after testing). The anti-gene nose swabs are obviously much faster, but it's recommended to get PCR tested if you're fully vaccinated/boostered as the viral load might be too low for detection (not sure if this is still the case for, say, Omicron)l. I also had a medic come to my home twice when I had Covid-similar symptoms, but they were negative each time.
Quote from: mongers on January 23, 2022, 01:08:13 PM
Quote from: Gaijin de Moscu on January 23, 2022, 11:55:59 AM
Quote from: mongers on January 23, 2022, 08:15:30 AM
I must be in a small minority, I've not taken any corona-virus tests, pcr or rapid. :hmm:
I'm right there with you in this minority — never had a single Covid test.
Never had any symptoms either...
Odd isn't.
Though given how much public transport, trains and buses I've had to use in the last 3 months, I must have been exposed to a lot of omicron and very likely had it without noticing.
Same here. I try to use not so busy public transport lines though.
Only had regular cold symptoms at times but nothing really COVID-specific.
Has anyone else had a dry cough this winter? I started coughing at the beginning of the year (it's finally gone) and I've noticed a lot of people I encounter have a cough too.
Quote from: Syt on January 23, 2022, 01:29:12 PM
Don't know how many tests I've had at this point. Needed some for traveling (to Switzerland), plus my workplace requires a recent test result on those days we want to come to the office. And when meeting friends we all get tested. Vienna has a very good infrastructure at this point, so I can decide to get a (free) PCR test on short notice, though results still take up to 24 hours (and are considered valid 48 hours after testing). The anti-gene nose swabs are obviously much faster, but it's recommended to get PCR tested if you're fully vaccinated/boostered as the viral load might be too low for detection (not sure if this is still the case for, say, Omicron)l. I also had a medic come to my home twice when I had Covid-similar symptoms, but they were negative each time.
From my friend in the NHS if you've been vaccinated and you get omicron the viral load is often so low it can be difficult for the antigen tests to pick up - it still picks up most but if you've any symptoms it's apparently worth getting a PCR.
I can't even think how many boxes of lateral flow tests I've gone through - although it goes up and down depending on how sociable I'm being/how often I go into the office because I normally get them when I'm going to be mixing with people physically.
I have done several tests due to travelling, all negative, but only two made in Hungary were performed by somebody else, so what do I know if I did them right?
The closest I have felt having it was a few days after my November flight back to England. I had a slight temperature for over a week and in general didn't feel too well although wasn't any dramatic either. But even when I went to test centre for a PCR test I was shown into one of the rooms to do it myself. Thank you very much.
I did my first self test over Xmas in Switzerland at the request of a relative of my gf organising a party where everyone has to test. Otherwise only had to do them a few times when travelling.
Glad I don't have to do many myself. It makes me feel guilty to see so much plastic waste.
I'm still pretty sure I had covid just before it became a big deal in the west. And been a bit shitty feeling that might have been a moderate version once or twice over the lockdown. But testing myself was never considered.
Ugh, I got COVID, probably from the office but maybe elsewhere. I had a fever Tuesday but my home test was negative, then I tested again today and it's positive.
I didn't catch it at all when my son had it in Feb, but I guess either my booster immunity has worn off enough or it's a different strand.
Now I'm isolating in the basement like a cave creature. On the plus side, I may finally be able to mess around with some of my neglected computer hobbies.
Started feeling like shit yesterday; sore throat, runny nose, dizziness and general malaise. But I've done two lateral flows, yesterday and today, and they both came out negative.
It's really weird to catch a nasty cold this time of the year, but gonna trust the Chinese manufacturers of these tests...
Well, this time, I got it.
Thank got it's that small time variant you don't feel. Jesus, what a fever. I'd swear it was -45C outdoor.
Quote from: celedhring on May 14, 2022, 04:27:29 AMStarted feeling like shit yesterday; sore throat, runny nose, dizziness and general malaise. But I've done two lateral flows, yesterday and today, and they both came out negative.
It's really weird to catch a nasty cold this time of the year, but gonna trust the Chinese manufacturers of these tests...
Not that weird anymore with mismanaged A/C.
I was in Montreal for the July long weekend and I got COVID there. I blame GF.
It's fair. My SO & children all got it & I am still resistant.
I am: mutant.
Well I've cancelled my travel plans, not worth risking getting a 'nasty flu-like' illness and infecting other more vulnerable family.