Octopus Overlords

And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

Hey Smoove - I've started swimming this year. Is there any reason to think a public pool is any worse of a choice now than under normal circumstances given my general decent health?

stessier wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am Hey Smoove - I've started swimming this year. Is there any reason to think a public pool is any worse of a choice now than under normal circumstances given my general decent health?

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

We're about to see just how absurd our medical/insurance systems are. Anything and everything hinges on medical documentation and doctor's are not focused on getting someone a piece of a paper right now (rightfully so). My wife had a co-worker call their local physician because they had a cough and fever. The local doctor's office told them not to come in and to call the local board of health instead. This is beyond misguided; the system is breaking down.

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

And woe betide anyone that's changed jobs in the past year.

stessier wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am Hey Smoove - I've started swimming this year. Is there any reason to think a public pool is any worse of a choice now than under normal circumstances given my general decent health?

I would love to be part of a study that covers this new virus and use of a public pool. You up for some blood tests?

My gut is that you're no more or less at risk for being in a pool environment, but it's anyone's guess. That being said, I fully expect community-level facilities to start closing down - anywhere larger groups of people can gather or interact. I'm actually kinda surprised it hasn't happened yet in Seattle, but that could be because they don't have the data (official numbers) to justify it.

Chaos is coming.

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:49 am

stessier wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am Hey Smoove - I've started swimming this year. Is there any reason to think a public pool is any worse of a choice now than under normal circumstances given my general decent health?

I would love to be part of a study that covers this new virus and use of a public pool. You up for some blood tests?

My gut is that you're no more or less at risk for being in a pool environment, but it's anyone's guess. That being said, I fully expect community-level facilities to start closing down - anywhere larger groups of people can gather or interact. I'm actually kinda surprised it hasn't happened yet in Seattle, but that could be because they don't have the data (official numbers) to justify it.

Chaos is coming.

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking from what I've read. I'd totally sign up for your tests except for the whole needle thing. I HATE needles. But getting in a medical paper would be kind of cool, even if I'd be the only one that knew it was me.

Isgrimnur wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:44 am

stessier wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am Hey Smoove - I've started swimming this year. Is there any reason to think a public pool is any worse of a choice now than under normal circumstances given my general decent health?

This is my general response when people ask how I've managed to avoid all the colds this year.

Princeton University is apparently taking aggressive actions after Spring break (classes would have resumed on 3/23) and is transitioning to online instruction. This is going to ripple out across the entire state.

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

We're about to see just how absurd our medical/insurance systems are. Anything and everything hinges on medical documentation and doctor's are not focused on getting someone a piece of a paper right now (rightfully so). My wife had a co-worker call their local physician because they had a cough and fever. The local doctor's office told them not to come in and to call the local board of health instead. This is beyond misguided; the system is breaking down.

That's insane, and I hope not a large office or a health systems approved message. Our healthcare system would not send a patient to the health department. We have Telemedicine sites, so you would not even have to be in the same room as someone else. But I mean, come on, the Health Department? I am hoping that was a secretary taking everything into her own hands and making bad suggestions.

Punisher wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:19 am DO I go to work anyway because my family likes to eat?

Feeders are enablers.

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

My comment was follow-up to the discussion about the financial burden on people who have to self-quarantine for two weeks without any income. FMLA keeps your job. It doesn't feed the family.

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:33 am

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

My comment was follow-up to the discussion about the financial burden on people who have to self-quarantine for two weeks without any income. FMLA keeps your job. It doesn't feed the family.

I think this is the real issue. I have savings, and I have almost 6 weeks vacation. So I could take the time off, and if I was the sick one, I have Short term disability that would kick in if warrented. But I think Blackhawk and others have the right of it. What do we do for people who do not have the same luxuary of being able to have that buffer? And frankly, I think we need to make sure we have some type of fund to help with that. But that get's into politics, so I will stop before I say too much.

Oh that? Everyone just figure that out on your own.

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:33 am My comment was follow-up to the discussion about the financial burden on people who have to self-quarantine for two weeks without any income. FMLA keeps your job. It doesn't feed the family.

This is why the discussion is so important. In a perfect world, employees could self-quarantine at home, take care of sick family members, deal with school closures, etc. -- all while getting paid and retaining their job. For many small businesses, let alone ones operating on the edge, that just isn't possible, let alone sustainable. Some of those businesses are being hit with a double whammy with the slowdown in travel business or cancelation of conferences and events. What does a responsible model look like for preventing/limiting transmission while still permitting small businesses to adequately function and employees to still get paid?

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:44 am Oh that? Everyone just figure that out on your own.

For many, that calculus is along the lines of "fuck it, I can't afford to stay home, I'm going to work." The derivative of that calculus is "we're all doomed."

Dogstar wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:48 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:33 am My comment was follow-up to the discussion about the financial burden on people who have to self-quarantine for two weeks without any income. FMLA keeps your job. It doesn't feed the family.

This is why the discussion is so important. In a perfect world, employees could self-quarantine at home, take care of sick family members, deal with school closures, etc. -- all while getting paid and retaining their job. For many small businesses, let alone ones operating on the edge, that just isn't possible, let alone sustainable. Some of those businesses are being hit with a double whammy with the slowdown in travel business or cancelation of conferences and events. What does a responsible model look like for preventing/limiting transmission while still permitting small businesses to adequately function and employees to still get paid?

I think that is where the government has to step in. But we have to see what the impact is. I hope that the government is coming up with something to help.

em2nought wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:14 am

Jeff V wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:20 am So yesterday I went to a Korean supermarket and was greeted by a valet who offered to wipe down my shopping cart handle with a disinfectant wipe and invited me to make use of the Purell dispenser mounted behind him. I had this feeling of standing in the middle of a river, torrents of water raging all around me with remnants of a dike with water dribbling out of a finger-sized hole...

There were new automated Purell dispensers in front of two Walmart stores late last night.

Like, they squirted you down as you walked in?

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:33 am

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

My comment was follow-up to the discussion about the financial burden on people who have to self-quarantine for two weeks without any income. FMLA keeps your job. It doesn't feed the family.

FEMA then. If you thought Brownie did a good job, wait until you see Pete Gaynor handle this ish. Just ask the people in California and Puerto Rico.

DOW is down 1,300+ and Im not sure how low oil is. I think they are flinging barrels of oil to people with catapults.

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 11:33 am

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:46 am

Blackhawk wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:38 am And when your 6-year-old's school is closed for two weeks after that, what do you do?

FMLA

My comment was follow-up to the discussion about the financial burden on people who have to self-quarantine for two weeks without any income. FMLA keeps your job. It doesn't feed the family.

MA has instituted its own PFML program, where "P" stands for "paid," because one needs at least modest wealth to take unpaid leave. We've been chipping in payroll taxes since last Q4. Unfortunately, benefits don't go live until next year; gotta build up the pot first. But the program is in place, so hypothetically we could deficit-fund it and offer benefits now, possibly restricted to the poor for the short term. Bureaucracy being what it is, though, it would probably take months to set that in motion.

Alefroth wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:12 pm

em2nought wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:14 am

Jeff V wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:20 am So yesterday I went to a Korean supermarket and was greeted by a valet who offered to wipe down my shopping cart handle with a disinfectant wipe and invited me to make use of the Purell dispenser mounted behind him.

There were new automated Purell dispensers in front of two Walmart stores late last night.

Like, they squirted you down as you walked in?

This would be a great utilization of those Walmart greeters, "Nobody gets in without getting their hands doused with Purell." It's not like there is more than one open register when I visit anyway so they should have the manpower.

Alefroth wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:12 pm

em2nought wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:14 am

Jeff V wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:20 am So yesterday I went to a Korean supermarket and was greeted by a valet who offered to wipe down my shopping cart handle with a disinfectant wipe and invited me to make use of the Purell dispenser mounted behind him. I had this feeling of standing in the middle of a river, torrents of water raging all around me with remnants of a dike with water dribbling out of a finger-sized hole...

There were new automated Purell dispensers in front of two Walmart stores late last night.

Like, they squirted you down as you walked in?

Presumably it's the touchless ones you just put your hands under and the stuff dispenses.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 1:12 pm

Alefroth wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:12 pm

em2nought wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:14 am

Jeff V wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:20 am So yesterday I went to a Korean supermarket and was greeted by a valet who offered to wipe down my shopping cart handle with a disinfectant wipe and invited me to make use of the Purell dispenser mounted behind him.

There were new automated Purell dispensers in front of two Walmart stores late last night.

Like, they squirted you down as you walked in?

Presumably it's the touchless ones you just put your hands under and the stuff dispenses.

yes

You can also hang a bucket on them and walk away with free hand-san about 10 minutes later. It's like harvesting maple syrup!

I was just at my doctor's office and one of his nurses over-applied some hand sanitizer and said she needs to be more careful, the stuff is $20 per bottle now.

Jeff V wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 2:43 pm I was just at my doctor's office and one of his nurses over-applied some hand sanitizer and said she needs to be more careful, the stuff is $20 per bottle now.

NJ has already been issuing alerts to let their division of consumer affairs know if we see any price gouging. I believe they said anything over 10% of the normal price... Just not sure how that's calculated because except for the big stores (which probably aren't going to do that anyway) the small mom and pops have vastly different pricing. Heck even do a price difference from Walmart to Shoprite and there can be a big difference already.

Three cases in Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Three Ohioans have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday afternoon.

The governor, speaking at a Statehouse news conference, said all three are from Cuyahoga County. They are all in their mid-50s.

Two are a married couple, a man and woman, who recently returned from a cruise on the Nile in Africa. One of the couple is in the hospital, although that person’s condition was unknown, DeWine said.

Punisher wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 3:54 pm

Jeff V wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 2:43 pm I was just at my doctor's office and one of his nurses over-applied some hand sanitizer and said she needs to be more careful, the stuff is $20 per bottle now.

NJ has already been issuing alerts to let their division of consumer affairs know if we see any price gouging. I believe they said anything over 10% of the normal price... Just not sure how that's calculated because except for the big stores (which probably aren't going to do that anyway) the small mom and pops have vastly different pricing. Heck even do a price difference from Walmart to Shoprite and there can be a big difference already.

They aren't using OTC sanitizer, the dispenser was McKesson.

Eventually it will be cheaper to carry around a bottle of Wild Turkey 101.

My son has been in the hospital for over 2 weeks (we're on Day 18th and might be leaving today) Last week someone who came from a cruise, got Corona Virus and was hospitalized at the same hospital. Thankfully not in the same building. A few days later that person died.

On Saturday, our school district, the 3rd biggest district in CA, closed down for all of this week because a family member of a student got the virus. Instead of closing the school where that family had access to, they closed all 67 schools for the week, and made this week our Spring Break. Parents are pissed. It's an over-reaction. Prom has been cancelled this week, trip to disneyland has been cancelled, a science camp has been cancelled, and the high school basketball team had to drop out of the playoffs.

So my question is, what are they going to do next week when another person in the district gets hit with the virus?

Damn here we go....


Fulton County is closing all schools tomorrow due to 1 teacher testing positive who works at 2 different middle schools. They say it's only for tomorrow....

Fulton County is metro Atalanta (I live in Cobb just north of it)and is huge.

I just sent a dept wide email telling everyone to start taking whatever you need to work remotely home with you daily so we are prepared with short notice. fun!

I think if they shut down schools here for a week kids won't graduate. The 11-day strike made sure of that.

RMC wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 3:57 pm Three cases in Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Three Ohioans have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday afternoon.

The governor, speaking at a Statehouse news conference, said all three are from Cuyahoga County. They are all in their mid-50s.

Two are a married couple, a man and woman, who recently returned from a cruise on the Nile in Africa. One of the couple is in the hospital, although that person’s condition was unknown, DeWine said.

Oh man, this is going to result in the cancellation of Origins, isn't it.

https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/statu ... 58882?s=20

ALL of Italy is now under lockdown.

naednek wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 4:31 pmSo my question is, what are they going to do next week when another person in the district gets hit with the virus?

The district will go on double secret probation.

My university announced last week that we all need to develop plans to teach remotely, and that we need to have such plans submitted to department heads this weekend. Even though this week is spring break, there's a full round of instructional sessions for using Zoom and other online meeting tools.

No in-person cancellations have been announced yet, but I feel sure it'll happen soon. I guess I need to do some set-dressing for webcam work.

Meanwhile, my company is planning travel just the same as they always do, because one of our biggest clients has multiple clinics in Southern California that need implementation and training on our software. And this time around I'm getting roped into going because we are too short-staffed. So I'm supposed to travel to LA or thereabouts at the end of April. Hopefully the client comes to their f'ing senses and cancels on us.

Everything normal here.

Got word today that all non customer facing staff will work from home Friday to test capabilities.

I predict...pain.

Pain for the VPN that has never been under such stress.