Octopus Overlords

MHS wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:26 pm On the subject, my last blood tests show me at .71 creatnine, which indicates a glomular filtration rate of 100...effectively, I have 100% healthy, normal kidney function with no trace of kidney disease or reduced kidney function based on that test. I have tears in my eyes just typing that, since I was at effectively about 16% function 2 years ago at this time. I got a hell of a good kidney!

In what seems like a sea of bad news, that is really awesome to hear!!!

Kurth wrote:

MHS wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:26 pm On the subject, my last blood tests show me at .71 creatnine, which indicates a glomular filtration rate of 100...effectively, I have 100% healthy, normal kidney function with no trace of kidney disease or reduced kidney function based on that test. I have tears in my eyes just typing that, since I was at effectively about 16% function 2 years ago at this time. I got a hell of a good kidney!

In what seems like a sea of bad news, that is really awesome to hear!!!

Wow! Go little kidney, go!

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:34 pm Once the schools shut down, that's going to kick off a need for more people to work at home and the cascade of short-term economic impacts begin.

Our company posted it's policy today.

If the employee tests positive or has reason to believe they've been exposed, they can WFH, take any remaining vacation, apply for short-term disability, or apply for unpaid FMLA leave.

If family members are sick or exposed, or if schools are closed, if they can't work from home or spend vacation, then it's unpaid FMLA or standard unpaid leave-of-absence.

At my wife's job, so many people are calling in sick that she is under constant pressure to work on her days off. She told me today she will work Saturday, after attending several parties that day.

So far our only direct impact is that the conference my wife was supposed to present a paper at in May at the University of Illinois has been cancelled. She hadn't made hotel reservations yet because she figured this was likely to happen.

I have a coworker that thinks this whole thing is overblown and ridiculous. Every new report of a closing is met with laughter and a tirade about how people are just overreacting. I just tell her I can't comment on it as I'm not comfortable with doing so. Any response telling her she's wrong in any way whatsoever is met with rolled eyes and a stern rebuke.

Yesterday, she was laughing while relating a story she'd read about a passenger on an el train in Chicago getting arrested for spraying an Asian citizen with an air freshener. To her, that was absolutely hysterical. However, she stopped telling it after she told one of our bosses and he commented that it must have been humiliating and awful for the victim.

Unlike so many other things that people seem to shrug off, I would be *amazed* if each and every American doesn't have a friend or family member that's potentially impacted by coronavirus when this is all said and done. Not necessarily a death, but that they personally know someone that had to deal with significant negative impacts associated with exposure.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:31 pm Unlike so many other things that people seem to shrug off, I would be *amazed* if each and every American doesn't have a friend or family member that's potentially impacted by coronavirus when this is all said and done. Not necessarily a death, but that they personally know someone that had to deal with significant negative impacts associated with exposure.

We have a hotline now set-up in our internal healthcare system. And we are asking questions whenever we see patients. I think in healthcare we are trying to do what we can to help alleve fears and directly confront the issue. But so many are acting as if this is overblown. How can you know yet??? And isn't it better to be over prepared then under?

hepcat wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:26 pm I have a coworker that thinks this whole thing is overblown and ridiculous. Every new report of a closing is met with laughter and a tirade about how people are just overreacting. I just tell her I can't comment on it as I'm not comfortable with doing so. Any response telling her she's wrong in any way whatsoever is met with rolled eyes and a stern rebuke.

Yesterday, she was laughing while relating a story she'd read about a passenger on an el train in Chicago getting arrested for spraying an Asian citizen with an air freshener. To her, that was absolutely hysterical. However, she stopped telling it after she told one of our bosses and he commented that it must have been humiliating and awful for the victim.

I feel bad you have to work with such a particularly awful person.

RMC wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:41 pm But so many are acting as if this is overblown. How can you know yet??? And isn't it better to be over prepared then under?

My general experience is what we're seeing is a manifestation of whatever the modern credo has become in America, roughly: If it doesn't impact me directly, then I don't care. I think that's why vaccination rates are down (in part) - people don't understand the community/non-self benefits associated with vaccination. There's no greater sense of being part of a larger community that is impacted by our individual decisions. This path starts me down R&P elements, so it's likely best to pause it there.

There's also severe mixed messages right now, which only serves to undermine the entire effort.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:46 pm

RMC wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:41 pm But so many are acting as if this is overblown. How can you know yet??? And isn't it better to be over prepared then under?

My general experience is what we're seeing is a manifestation of whatever the modern credo has become in America, roughly: If it doesn't impact me directly, then I don't care. I think that's why vaccination rates are down (in part) - people don't understand the community/non-self benefits associated with vaccination. There's no greater sense of being part of a larger community that is impacted by our individual decisions. This path starts me down R&P elements, so it's likely best to pause it there.

There's also severe mixed messages right now, which only serves to undermine the entire effort.

Yeah, it really does start going the R&P route. Which is unfortunete. And just got the email, ALL work related travel is canceled. And if you choose to travel, you have to tell you manager, and we have a Corona Virus travel hotline that we(Managers) have to call and discuss our employees travel plans with and determine what we will do.

I get emails from companies telling me how they are handling this 'outbreak'. Today was SaveAlot food. One thing about them is they have always had sanitizer wipes as you go in. I never used them but my wife would off and on. Well I used them yesterday on my hands and the buggy grip.

My company announced today that all office people are to work from home. Non-critical travel for the month of March is cancelled. I'll see my team in April. Crazy times.

Maybe on the upside, when this does settle down, companies will start feeling like there's more value in people working from home and not occupying desk space. Save some gas, still get your job done.

Where my wife works, she only goes in once a week - and that's just for meetings, only because the senior management wants old-fashioned face-to-face meetings. They could do everything remotely and Skype once a week, but it's just not good enough for them.

phhhtzz old folks. Excuse me while I set the clock on my VCR. It keeps me up at night blinking. Is it supposed to do that?????

EDIT: National Guard deployed to contain suburb in New York.

RMC wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:52 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:46 pm

RMC wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:41 pm But so many are acting as if this is overblown. How can you know yet??? And isn't it better to be over prepared then under?

My general experience is what we're seeing is a manifestation of whatever the modern credo has become in America, roughly: If it doesn't impact me directly, then I don't care. I think that's why vaccination rates are down (in part) - people don't understand the community/non-self benefits associated with vaccination. There's no greater sense of being part of a larger community that is impacted by our individual decisions. This path starts me down R&P elements, so it's likely best to pause it there.

There's also severe mixed messages right now, which only serves to undermine the entire effort.

Yeah, it really does start going the R&P route. Which is unfortunete. And just got the email, ALL work related travel is canceled. And if you choose to travel, you have to tell you manager, and we have a Corona Virus travel hotline that we(Managers) have to call and discuss our employees travel plans with and determine what we will do.

I'd argue that it's more the human tendency towards normalcy bias than anything else.

Normalcy bias, or normality bias, is a tendency for people to believe that things will always function the way they normally have functioned and therefore to underestimate both the likelihood of a disaster and its possible effects. This may result in situations where people fail to adequately prepare themselves for disasters, and on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparations. About 70% of people reportedly display normalcy bias during a disaster.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:46 pm

RMC wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:41 pm But so many are acting as if this is overblown. How can you know yet??? And isn't it better to be over prepared then under?

My general experience is what we're seeing is a manifestation of whatever the modern credo has become in America, roughly: If it doesn't impact me directly, then I don't care. I think that's why vaccination rates are down (in part) - people don't understand the community/non-self benefits associated with vaccination. There's no greater sense of being part of a larger community that is impacted by our individual decisions. This path starts me down R&P elements, so it's likely best to pause it there.

There's also severe mixed messages right now, which only serves to undermine the entire effort.

Just had the 1st death in NJ. The hospital in question is about a mile from my house.
I need to go buy all the water, tuna, plastic sheets, duct tape, and TP I can find!

Also...
The wife and I went out to dinner at a buffet yesterday. She's had a cough on and off for several weeks now (no other symptoms and doctor said to just keep taking over the counter stuff for the cough for now.
While we were sitting, she started to have a little cough (turned out to be from the lemon juice she was using on her seafood.)
I ended up giving her a look which caused her to laugh and cough even more which got me to start laughing and coughing until we calmed down.
I kept expecting stares or something, but not one person seemed to look. I was quite surprised by that.. 2 people in a buffet coughing uncontrollably would at least have piqued my interest.

On the other hand, my tenant was in the store 2 days ago and sneezed from allergies and 2 people in front of her gave her a look and then left the line... I may use that trick everyone.. 3-hour lines at Disney? Achoo. excuse me..wait where is everyone going?

Wouldn't work on me because I know the signs.

Punisher wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 3:17 pm Also...
The wife and I went out to dinner at a buffet yesterday. She's had a cough on and off for several weeks now (no other symptoms and doctor said to just keep taking over the counter stuff for the cough for now.

Wife gets an inevitable upper respiratory infection every winter that starts around Thanksgiving and hangs on for 3-4 months. Which is to say that she's been coughing with varying degrees of vigor since November. Our doc pronounced it the same-old, same-old and not a cause for concern, but as we get deeper into Peak Panic, she's gonna get us quarantined.

The Flu doesn't have sneezing?

Kasey Chang wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 3:51 am Someone is spreading rumors that they found a tourist in Chinatown with COVID-19 and sent him to hospital. Now for sure NOBODY will come to Chinatown.

Blaming the Chinese takes a serious economic toll.

We've been going out of our way to patronize our favorite Chinese restaurant as well as the Tibetan place that just opened up and is trying to get its footing.

157 COVID-19 confirmed cases in California as per our governor, 13 in California as per the city.

China's confirmed new cases in past 24 hours: 20 (yes, just 20)

Italy, however, is getting scary... worse than Iran, 1797 new cases in past 24 hours.

Iran either slowed testing or turned a corner: 595 new cases in past 24 hours

US cases have more than doubled with 259 in past 24 hours (this is based on WHO numbers, which is about 1 day behind). I'd expect the numbers to double daily until Friday at least. CDC's number as of 3/10 is 647, and it's probably not updated yet.

Defiant wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:29 pm The Flu doesn't have sneezing?

Not really...at least not in my experience.

Defiant wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:29 pm The Flu doesn't have sneezing?

WHO are you going to believe?

I've been delaying gratification for so long while taking care of aged or infirm family members that it's really going to suck if this kills me when I get it. If it kills my mother I'm going to feel guilty because I'll probably be the one who spreads it to her.

I don't see how buffets will survive. Particularly after watching a guy suck down soup out of a serving ladle.

We went to Costco yesterday, and they had a sign up front that they were out of all TP, Kleenex and paper towels. They also had a limit of 2 on diapers, cough medicine and something else hygiene-related. Everything else seemed mostly at normal stock levels...a few random items seemed a bit thinner than normal, but I also don't usually go there on a Monday night, for all I know they restock on Tuesdays.

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:52 pm Blaming the Chinese takes a serious economic toll.

How is the authoritarian and deceptive response of the Chinese government to the Covid-19 virus not directly to blame for the rapid spread of the disease?

(Not that that provides any justification for spreading irrational rumours against Chinatown commerce within the US).

So colleges in Ohio are now either going to online only or shutting down until as late as April 15th...

This would be a good time to adopt the Thai Toilet Hose for sanitation after using the john, no paper required.

em2nought wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:35 pm I've been delaying gratification for so long while taking care of aged or infirm family members that it's really going to suck if this kills me when I get it. If it kills my mother I'm going to feel guilty because I'll probably be the one who spreads it to her.

I don't see how buffets will survive. Particularly after watching a guy suck down soup out of a serving ladle.

You didn't see the video of the guy sticking his head under the sneeze glass at the buffet so he could smell the aromas?

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:38 pm

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:52 pm Blaming the Chinese takes a serious economic toll.

How is the authoritarian and deceptive response of the Chinese government to the Covid-19 virus not directly to blame for the rapid spread of the disease?

(Not that that provides any justification for spreading irrational rumours against Chinatown commerce within the US).

Your local Chinese restaurant sets policy in Beijing?

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:54 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:38 pm

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:52 pm Blaming the Chinese takes a serious economic toll.

How is the authoritarian and deceptive response of the Chinese government to the Covid-19 virus not directly to blame for the rapid spread of the disease?

(Not that that provides any justification for spreading irrational rumours against Chinatown commerce within the US).

Your local Chinese restaurant sets policy in Beijing?

Emphasis added, in case you missed it.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:00 pm

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:54 pm

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:38 pm

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:52 pm Blaming the Chinese takes a serious economic toll.

How is the authoritarian and deceptive response of the Chinese government to the Covid-19 virus not directly to blame for the rapid spread of the disease?

(Not that that provides any justification for spreading irrational rumours against Chinatown commerce within the US).

Your local Chinese restaurant sets policy in Beijing?

Emphasis added, in case you missed it.

Then why post in the first place? My message was clearly about supporting my local Chinese vendors because they were suffering, not whitewashing Xi's domestic policies.

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:03 pm Then why post in the first place? My message was clearly about supporting my local Chinese vendors because they were suffering, not whitewashing Xi's domestic policies.

Your original statement I was responding to read as follows:

Holman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:52 pm Blaming the Chinese takes a serious economic toll.

...which seemed to imply placing blame upon the Chinese (i.e. not local American vendors of Chinese origin) perhaps ought to be avoided because of the economic toll. Hence my response.

My point being, the spread of fabricated rumours is a regrettable side effect of the FUD that typically surrounds a health crisis such as this. But it certainly ought not absolve the Chinese from blame, despite the economic toll.

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:46 pm There's no greater sense of being part of a larger community that is impacted by our individual decisions. This path starts me down R&P elements, so it's likely best to pause it there.

I'll avoid anything that might be R&P also but I'm certainly having similar thoughts.

Kraken wrote: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:59 pm Shannon needs a different employer. Her job is not worth risking her life. If anybody should be hunkering down....

You're not wrong. Unfortunately she's currently the sole wage earner in the family and reserves have dwindled in a significant lack of preparedness as we head into a pandemic.

There's even news items now that a lot of folks in China (and overseas) are buying into the conspiracy that perhaps COVID-19 did NOT originate in China.

Kasey Chang wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 10:03 pm There's even news items now that a lot of folks in China (and overseas) are buying into the conspiracy that perhaps COVID-19 did NOT originate in China.