Corona Virus: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

[Smoove_B]

In case you wondering whether or not Nate Silver was going to continue to be a horse's ass in 2022 - yes.

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1478964285044924417

Nate Silver says schools temporarily closing because of a raging pandemic is as bad (perhaps worse!) as the invasion of Iraq. Words fail.

[RunningMn9]

It's nice that we finally have a 80s style Republican administration again.

What further relief is needed? Most of the relief was given to keep the economy afloat, and that is no longer an issue. I’m not clear as to why you and Smoove think more relief is needed.

I don’t want to speak for Smoove per se, but I don’t know if “relief” is the right word. He’s trying to control a pandemic. The Administration has given up on that and is trying to keep the economy in good working order.

If your goal is maintenance of the economy, no further economic relief is warranted.

If your goal is controlling or ending a pandemic, than tools that could allow people to not be compelled into work because that’s the only way to eat is something they’d like to talk about.

Regarding this remote education insanity. The biggest lesson that is eventually going to come out of this is just how utterly useless 98% of the US education system actually is. We’ve been through this before in other threads, but to briefly repeat - the US education system is *not* designed to educate your kids. It’s designed to fill up 13 years of their lives with mostly useless time wasting. Losing out on 2 years of that isn’t going to matter when these kids are 18.

I watched the utter uselessness of my daughter’s senior year in high school. She learned literally nothing. I also watched my son’s senior year in high school (pre-pandemic). Guess what? He learned literally nothing too (despite getting great grades).

Within two weeks of the school year ending, that was all gone anyway.

But I digress. No, remote learning is not anywhere close to the Iraq War in terms of policy decision. I mean really man. The difference (of course) is that the consequences of one decision likely impact Nate Silver directly, and the other didn’t. And the only thing that matters to Nate Silver is Nate Silver.

[malchior]

It's nice that we finally have a 80s style Republican administration again.

What further relief is needed? Most of the relief was given to keep the economy afloat, and that is no longer an issue. I’m not clear as to why you and Smoove think more relief is needed.

It isn't further relief - it's the tone. Get to work layabouts! As if the pandemic isn't still an issue and they should just be happy to get vaccinated and pound out widgets for the oligarchs.

Edit: Or as Smoove_B said compassion/empathy.

Edit 2: Side note about Nate. I've decided to start ignoring him after this round of bullshit. The man has gone full Greenwald. He is clearly looking for attention/clicks. He was mildly interesting as a data guy in the past but he has realized the lesson that many others have. It is better to traffic in feelings rather than truth.

[YellowKing]

Yeah the most disappointing thing about the last few years is watching people you used to respect turn into raving lunatics. Not only public personalities but friends and family members.

I had to endure a rant the other day from my dad who was afraid my sister-in-law (who is openly liberal) was going to raise her new baby as a transgender.

[ImLawBoy]

Why the hell does someone working from home need a printer?

It's easier to mark up a print out of something than it is to do it all on a computer.

Pure insanity! Redline in Word or add comments as notes in PowerPoint or something. I don't want to waste time and resources printing and then going back and incorporating my edits electronically when I can just make my edits electronically in the first place.

[Zaxxon]

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

[$iljanus]

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

Hey all the cool kids are doing print and play board games!

[Zaxxon]

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

Hey all the cool kids are doing print and play board games!

Next you'll tell me that they meet in person, and actually use physical meeples.

[malchior]

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

We have exactly one use case for our laser printer - address labels for Christmas cards. That's pretty much it. Maybe every once in a blue moon something like a event ticket that isn't barcoded and those are becoming extremely rare now too.

[stessier]

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

We have exactly one use case for our laser printer - address labels for Christmas cards. That's pretty much it. Maybe every once in a blue moon something like a event ticket that isn't barcoded and those are becoming extremely rare now too.

Our printer has been broken since October. Only thing I've been asked to print at work are blank music sheets and music lesson song sheets.

[stessier]

Anyone who still lives in a pandemic area needs to move to SC. My governor tells me we're all set!

COLUMBIA, S.C. —
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said there is no need for a state of emergency due to the omicron variant of COVID-19 and the state is not going to shut down.

McMaster spoke about the omicron variant on Wednesday after an event in Columbia.

"Of course, we are now in a very different situation than we faced a year ago or longer. But there is no need for a state of emergency in South Carolina to address the increase in COVID infections caused by the omicron virus," McMaster said. "There is no need for a state of emergency. There is no need for us to shut down. We are not going to close schools. We haven't and we will not close businesses. We will not impose mandates for face masks, vaccines or anything else."

McMaster said the state has an ample supply of vaccines, plenty of vaccination sites and enough testing sites.

He said the state has more than 1,000 vaccination sites across the state and more than 320 testing sites.

"Don't go to the emergency room to get tested. That's not the place to go. The emergency rooms at the hospitals are for other things. And of course, we know there is a shortage of nurses," McMaster said. "So that's putting a burden, a load on the hospitals."

McMaster said the hospitals are "doing well." He said they were prepared and the occupancy rates are lower than the previous wave of the pandemic.

He also said the state's economy is booming.

"One reason we are doing well is because we were careful and we did not shut down because it was not necessary to shut down," McMaster said.

“South Carolina is on a positive path. There’s no need to panic. Be calm. Be happy,” McMaster said “We just had a great Christmas season. Business is booming. Our path to prosperity is brighter and brighter.”

I mean, just look at our prosperity (clickable)!

[The Meal]

This is exactly my one and only case for physical print outs.

[$iljanus]

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

Hey all the cool kids are doing print and play board games!

Next you'll tell me that they meet in person, and actually use physical meeples.

Are you insane? People suck!

[pr0ner]

Why the hell does someone working from home need a printer?

It's easier to mark up a print out of something than it is to do it all on a computer.

Pure insanity! Redline in Word or add comments as notes in PowerPoint or something. I don't want to waste time and resources printing and then going back and incorporating my edits electronically when I can just make my edits electronically in the first place.

Some documents I might want to mark up aren't available to me to mark up unless I print them out.

Plus sometimes it's just easier to work, even with two monitors, with some things printed out.

[LordMortis]

was afraid my sister-in-law (who is openly liberal)

Yeah, this thread has inadvertently revealed to me that the OO cohort is collectively 'the olds' now. Printing to mark stuff up, or even *gasp* just to read it? Insanity.

now? I prefer to read hard copy. It's easier on my eyes. I can read an old book with tiny print with reading glasses for hours and not strain my eyes. Monitors, which non includes television, will stress my eyes within a few hours and will take quite some time to recuperate.

That said, I rarely print anything. The convenience of everything in electronic format trumps the abuse my eyes take on a daily basis, I guess. However, I'll never buy an ebook when a printed version is a reasonable alternative.

We have exactly one use case for our laser printer - address labels for Christmas cards. That's pretty much it. Maybe every once in a blue moon something like a event ticket that isn't barcoded and those are becoming extremely rare now too.

I haven't owned a printer in 20 years. The rare occasions I need one, I print at work. As I am trying to check out, I'm thinking I'm going to be forced to get a "cheap" laser printer for those rare occasions. I still print my taxes every year and keep physical copies. I might need to start printing receipts for tax purposes post work and occasionally some horrible contact will force me to print something stupid like proof of insurance or charge me $15 to mail me physical copy. That decision is coming up soon. You used to be able to get and HP 1102 for about $80 but being old, that sort of pricing is long gone. I'll figure it out... sometime...

[Grifman]

Sounds pretty accurate to me. What do you feel today s lacking?

Compassion? Empathy?

So you are are just concerned with tone, not substance?

[Isgrimnur]

I'm pretty sure he's concerned about unnecessary deaths.

[Isgrimnur]

Isg_trolley.gif

[Smoove_B]

So you are are just concerned with tone, not substance?

I think they are connected. It's very clear the economy is the driving decision for everything happening right now. Either you start contributing to it or you're going to be crushed by the effort of those that are. I have lost track of the number of local businesses that have been advertising crap wages over the last year and marveling that no one wants to take their crap job offering. The language above mirrors the sentiment I've seen expressed by local business owners that I will now go out of my way to avoid using.

In a nation that has no universal health care, doesn't provide paid parental leave and has legislators seriously trying to argue that in order to receive benefits you should be working, we have become monsters. Is it hard to imagine there are parents right now grappling with how to address a school system that requires in-person learning but won't enforce or require masks or vaccinations? As I mentioned up-thread, my SIL has Lupus but her local Pennsyltucky BOE just removed the masking mandate as of 1/1/22, because freedom. So now she's forced to go into a working environment that is absolutely putting her health at risk? Or should she just be happy to have a job and be contributing to the economy?

[malchior]

I'm pretty sure he's concerned about unnecessary deaths.

Yup. And it hasn't escaped many (beyond here) that the people suffering - service jobs, health care workers, etc. have been put on the firing line over and over. When they balk they are told they are lazy and don't want to work. And that distilled distain is what I hear in that quote.

So now she's forced to go into a working environment that is absolutely putting her health at risk? Or should she just be happy to have a job and be contributing to the economy?

And if she isn't happy she has a legion of elite moralizing pricks clucking at them while they hold their remote meetings and telework.

[El Guapo]

It's nice that we finally have a 80s style Republican administration again.

What further relief is needed? Most of the relief was given to keep the economy afloat, and that is no longer an issue. I’m not clear as to why you and Smoove think more relief is needed.

It isn't further relief - it's the tone. Get to work layabouts! As if the pandemic isn't still an issue and they should just be happy to get vaccinated and pound out widgets for the oligarchs.

Edit: Or as Smoove_B said compassion/empathy.

Edit 2: Side note about Nate. I've decided to start ignoring him after this round of bullshit. The man has gone full Greenwald. He is clearly looking for attention/clicks. He was mildly interesting as a data guy in the past but he has realized the lesson that many others have. It is better to traffic in feelings rather than truth.

I'm saving my outrage for Joe Rogan, who has a lot more power with regards to the pandemic than Nate Silver (or, to be honest, 99% of people).

[Smoove_B]

I'm saving my outrage for Joe Rogan, who has a lot more power with regards to the pandemic than Nate Silver (or, to be honest, 99% of people).

I've discovered that I have an endless font of outrage. It might be turning me prematurely gray, but I'm 100% tapped into it. Regardless, they're both gigantic douches that fill a different space and have legions that listen. Both are using their platform to spout sewage. Both are awful.

[Zaxxon]

Is it hard to imagine there are parents right now grappling with how to address a school system that requires in-person learning but won't enforce or require masks or vaccinations?

It is not hard, as several of us have detailed this stuff on this very website.

I'm pretty sure he's concerned about unnecessary deaths.

Yup. And it hasn't escaped many (beyond here) that the people suffering - service jobs, health care workers, etc. have been put on the firing line over and over. When they balk they are told they are lazy and don't want to work. And that distilled distain is what I hear in that quote.

Remember the halcyon days of checks notes the same pandemic that we're still stuck in, when these folks were considered front-line, essential-worker heroes?

[malchior]

It's nice that we finally have a 80s style Republican administration again.

What further relief is needed? Most of the relief was given to keep the economy afloat, and that is no longer an issue. I’m not clear as to why you and Smoove think more relief is needed.

It isn't further relief - it's the tone. Get to work layabouts! As if the pandemic isn't still an issue and they should just be happy to get vaccinated and pound out widgets for the oligarchs.

Edit: Or as Smoove_B said compassion/empathy.

Edit 2: Side note about Nate. I've decided to start ignoring him after this round of bullshit. The man has gone full Greenwald. He is clearly looking for attention/clicks. He was mildly interesting as a data guy in the past but he has realized the lesson that many others have. It is better to traffic in feelings rather than truth.

I'm saving my outrage for Joe Rogan, who has a lot more power with regards to the pandemic than Nate Silver (or, to be honest, 99% of people).

Right. Joe Rogan is far, far worse but he was always a bonehead. Nate Silver was at least one time someone I used to think had interesting ideas. He just lost it and it's just sad.

[El Guapo]

I'm saving my outrage for Joe Rogan, who has a lot more power with regards to the pandemic than Nate Silver (or, to be honest, 99% of people).

I've discovered that I have an endless font of outrage. It might be turning me prematurely gray, but I'm 100% tapped into it. Regardless, they're both gigantic douches that fill a different space and have legions that listen. Both are using their platform to spout sewage. Both are awful.

Are you letting your hate flow through you? I hear that makes you strong.

[LawBeefaroni]

Why the hell does someone working from home need a printer?

It's easier to mark up a print out of something than it is to do it all on a computer.

Pure insanity! Redline in Word or add comments as notes in PowerPoint or something. I don't want to waste time and resources printing and then going back and incorporating my edits electronically when I can just make my edits electronically in the first place.

I won't get into the minutiae of some of the contracts I have to work but I'd either need a 6 monitor setup or some sci-fi holographic projector to do the job if I were denied paper. As it is I have something akin to a JFK Conspiracy Wall on the desk. Multiple systems, multiple hospitals, dozens of amendments, multiple reimbursement methodologies...

Not everyone has the benefit of a robust contract management system. Though I'm working on it.

[ImLawBoy]

I work with multi-billion dollar federal contracts on a daily basis. Where there's a will there's a way.

[LawBeefaroni]

I work with multi-billion dollar federal contracts on a daily basis. Where there's a will there's a way.

It's not the size, it's the convoluted nature and historical lack of stewardship. And lack of a CM system. Getting Acrobat DC was a huge victory for me when I could finally OCR.

My first week on the job I was handed a Blue Cross contract from 1965 and asked, "What do we do this this?" We've come a long way since then but I still have to drop to paper a lot.

Oh, and keeping this on topic, WFH during COVID means tunneled citrix desktops which really suck for working multiple versions at once. Cannot download locally, and dual monitors are wonky.

[malchior]

tunneled citrix desktops which really suck

This is enough right here. My condolences.

[malchior]

One of my friends just told us he has COVID...he got tested 7 days ago and got the results today. It was the free state of NJ test...you can't make this stuff up.

[TheMix]

citrix

Now there is a name I haven't heard in a long time...

[Smoove_B]

One of my friends just told us he has COVID...he got tested 7 days ago and got the results today. It was the free state of NJ test...you can't make this stuff up.

Lots of reports of people being told to just come back to work. Also lots of employers refusing to pay for time off until a PCR test result is provided.

[malchior]

The delay sort of makes sense from a pure logistics point of view. He got the kit late in the day on Thursday. Then he had to wait for a collector to be available for the Zoom call, then he mailed it but it was New Year's Eve. I'm not sure what courier it was (USPS?) but it didn't get from where he lives (Whitehouse Station) to wherever it is processed until Tuesday. Then add 2 days for the lab. It just underlines how stupid the whole scheme is. Let's say there wasn't weekend/holiday involved it still is at least a 3 day wait.

[LordMortis]

Remember the halcyon days of checks notes the same pandemic that we're still stuck in, when these folks were considered front-line, essential-worker heroes?

I still do. I just hope the "7.1%" inflation costs are going to them. I hate that most of my food costs are up nearly 50% (or much more) in the last two years but I'm so thankful I'm still getting fed. To say nothing of medical care. I'd not want to be the person at the checkout dealing with 100s germ factories a day, many arrogant and/or deceitful about their "immunity". As "an essential" but still isolated worker, I'da probably quit much before my intended exit date if I had to be around the people I see oot and aboot all the time.

I can even have anger at the heroes who refuse to vaccinate and wear a mask, but they're still heroes. They're still the reason I have food on the table in a warm house.

citrix ... dual monitors are wonky.

It is known

[Alefroth]

Our mandatory testing if not vaccinated policy starts at work on Monday. It's one test a week which just seems pointless to me.

[Zaxxon]

citrix ... dual monitors are wonky.

It is known

Yes, this qualifies as an exception from the 'olds' comment.

[Smoove_B]

Someone should start a printer thread.

Here's another perfect example of the disconnect between policy and action. NJ is on fire - every county in the state is high transmission. When this all started, the plan that was ultimately created to guide practice tried to use data to help make informed protocol decisions. This makes sense - assuming the data collection is robust and timely, having the data to drive decisions is a solid plan.

However, going back to NJ being on fire, the current plan was modified over the summer so that once a region was in very high transmission, it was no longer mandatory that the governor close the schools. Instead, it was left up to the local school district to decide. This was a political smoke bomb and it would likely surprise no one to learn that the school districts that closed in advance of what happened this week were in Blue parts of the state while schools in Red parts have been dragging their feet.

The punchline (and why I'm posting this) is the the new requirement. Once an area is in very high transmission:

schools in red counties are advised to:

Limit participation in extracurricular activities to vaccinated students and staff.
Conduct COVID-19 testing of all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, twice weekly for participation in all extracurricular activities.

Note the "are advised to". Not mandated. Not required. So the data is telling us we're in very high transmission but the schools can (1) decide to be open and (2) let extracurricular activities continue without any restrictions on participation (like vaccinations).

What is the fucking point of all this? We want nice things but we can't work to have nice things.

Oh hey look, it's drink o'clock.

[LordMortis]

Someone should start a printer thread.

Corona Virus: It's an E-Manual, Not for Print

[Zaxxon]

Oh hey look, it's drink o'clock.

It's been drink o'clock for years now.

[Octavious]

Someone should start a printer thread.

Here's another perfect example of the disconnect between policy and action. NJ is on fire - every county in the state is high transmission. When this all started, the plan that was ultimately created to guide practice tried to use data to help make informed protocol decisions. This makes sense - assuming the data collection is robust and timely, having the data to drive decisions is a solid plan.

However, going back to NJ being on fire, the current plan was modified over the summer so that once a region was in very high transmission, it was no longer mandatory that the governor close the schools. Instead, it was left up to the local school district to decide. This was a political smoke bomb and it would likely surprise no one to learn that the school districts that closed in advance of what happened this week were in Blue parts of the state while schools in Red parts have been dragging their feet.

The punchline (and why I'm posting this) is the the new requirement. Once an area is in very high transmission:

schools in red counties are advised to:

Limit participation in extracurricular activities to vaccinated students and staff.
Conduct COVID-19 testing of all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, twice weekly for participation in all extracurricular activities.

Note the "are advised to". Not mandated. Not required. So the data is telling us we're in very high transmission but the schools can (1) decide to be open and (2) let extracurricular activities continue without any restrictions on participation (like vaccinations).

What is the fucking point of all this? We want nice things but we can't work to have nice things.

Oh hey look, it's drink o'clock.

It should shock you that the band director still wants to do Jazz band practice in person next week. My daughter isn't going.