Octopus Overlords

Zaxxon wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:35 pm With spring break coming up for most folks, what are thoughts on trips? Obviously flights for elective vacations should largely be nixed. In their place, what about road trips to low-population areas? Is it best to hunker down at home for the week, or is there a middle ground that's 'smart' and social-responsibility-conscious?

Paging Smoove (and others, but def want to hear Smoove).

I was supposed to go on a weekend trip to Cincinnati. I am strongly considering postponing that trip.

Zaxxon wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:35 pm With spring break coming up for most folks, what are thoughts on trips? Obviously flights for elective vacations should largely be nixed. In their place, what about road trips to low-population areas? Is it best to hunker down at home for the week, or is there a middle ground that's 'smart' and social-responsibility-conscious?

Paging Smoove (and others, but def want to hear Smoove).

I have a college reunion in April that is at risk. If it gets cancelled I'm taking the kiddo to DNR land in Indiana or Michigan to get her behind her new .22.

The Meal wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:38 pm

Zaxxon wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:35 pm With spring break coming up for most folks, what are thoughts on trips? Obviously flights for elective vacations should largely be nixed. In their place, what about road trips to low-population areas? Is it best to hunker down at home for the week, or is there a middle ground that's 'smart' and social-responsibility-conscious?

Paging Smoove (and others, but def want to hear Smoove).

Have you read this? Hunker down.

Thanks.

Zaxxon wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:35 pmPaging Smoove (and others, but def want to hear Smoove).

I would be tightening my circle at this point. I've personally already switched to visiting retail locations (for food) during low-volume times (i.e. an hour before the stores close) to minimize contact with others. I would not be getting on a plane or a boat at this time. I would expect anything you would do during Spring Break (public locations - parks, museums, etc...) to potentially be closed. I fully expect more and more events to be cancelled in the coming week - sporting events, concerts, conferences.

Honestly, at this point, I'd be doing everything I could to make sure my family is prepared to not leave our home for 14+ days. What that looks like is going to vary based on location and need, but thankfully there's no reason to assume disruptions of electricity, water or public utilities. I'd still plan for it (because a storm might knock out power), but this is going to be more like a collective stay-cation than anything else.

Everything we're doing now (as the Medium article points out) is trying to save our medical infrastructure from being overwhelmed. The best way to do that is to limit interactions with others to hopefully minimize spread.

pr0ner wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:38 pm

Zaxxon wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:35 pm With spring break coming up for most folks, what are thoughts on trips? Obviously flights for elective vacations should largely be nixed. In their place, what about road trips to low-population areas? Is it best to hunker down at home for the week, or is there a middle ground that's 'smart' and social-responsibility-conscious?

Paging Smoove (and others, but def want to hear Smoove).

I was supposed to go on a weekend trip to Cincinnati. I am strongly considering postponing that trip.

Flights, for sure. No excuse for an elective flight at this point. My question is specifically regarding getting my family, already exposed to itself, into a car and heading somewhere unlikely to expose to a bunch more people in close quarters.

Zaxxon wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:35 pm With spring break coming up for most folks, what are thoughts on trips? Obviously flights for elective vacations should largely be nixed. In their place, what about road trips to low-population areas? Is it best to hunker down at home for the week, or is there a middle ground that's 'smart' and social-responsibility-conscious?

Paging Smoove (and others, but def want to hear Smoove).

My son's school district's doctor sent out an email this morning, requesting anyone planning out-of-area travel for the break to fill out a questionnaire.

We still haven't booked our summer trips yet. Now would be the time to do so...ordinarily. But if shit's still crazy come June, key element of the Florida trip would very likely be unavailable.

LawBeefaroni wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:32 pm Stock up on what you actually need to survive and then find alternatives to whatever the sheep are putting out of stock. Napkins or Kleenex work fine as an emergency alternative. I'd rather be wiping my ass with dinner napkins than be starving atop a pile of bulk toilet paper.

TP is a luxury.

Finally... a sound reason to load up on the local newspaper!

It's almost criminal that the Disney parks are still open and spring break is still in full swing down here. I fear in 2 weeks the entire healthcare system down here will collapse.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:53 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:32 pm Stock up on what you actually need to survive and then find alternatives to whatever the sheep are putting out of stock. Napkins or Kleenex work fine as an emergency alternative. I'd rather be wiping my ass with dinner napkins than be starving atop a pile of bulk toilet paper.

TP is a luxury.

Finally... a sound reason to load up on the local newspaper!

Great minds. There was a newspaper in Australia that printed toilet paper on a few pages.

Coronavirus fears have people stocking up on essentials, including buying up all the toilet paper they can find.

So in response, the NT News printed a special edition of the paper, with a blank 8-page spread that serves as extra toilet paper if anyone runs out.

The paper's editor says it's selling well.

While my work banned business travel earlier this week, they're now putting tentative restrictions on personal travel. They're not saying you can't go somewhere on vacation, but they're saying you may be subject to not coming back for 2 weeks.

YellowKing wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:58 pm While my work banned business travel earlier this week, they're now putting tentative restrictions on personal travel. They're not saying you can't go somewhere on vacation, but they're saying you may be subject to not coming back for 2 weeks.

Something interesting at my wife's. If you get sick, can use sick time. If you take a vacation somewhere and then get sick, you will use vacation time.

The Meal wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:38 pm Have you read this? Hunker down.

Wow that's depressing. Still, my wife and I are going to a local restaurant this evening; it is small and frankly usually pretty empty anyway when we go. I suspect they and a lot of other restaurants will be out of business soon.

I'm much more concerned about my local supermarket, we need to have food after all.

We were all set to take our family on spring break vacation the week after Easter... flying from CT to Miami and taking a cruise to the Caribbean. I canceled the trip a couple days ago. As a primarily hospital-based physician, I didn't have any choice...leave on our cruise and I likely would not be allowed back into the building for another 14 days after we return, and even that return could be delayed if we got stuck on the cruise ship. That would mean 2+ weeks without income because I chose to take the risk...not allowed to use sick time without actually being sick.

So as of now, we have a credit with the cruise line toward a future trip before the end of next year, and the airline gave us credit to use by the end of this year. I don't know if we'll be able to use it all, but at least it's not an automatic loss of almost $9k.

Our bigger concern now is how to cope with the school closures that seem to be coming. What do you do with three kids for 2+ weeks when your job doesn't shut down?

NHL suspends season.

Since my company already primed the pump stating y'all stay home and don't expect to be paid either, I'm pretty sure the next step is the surprise gift of what turns out to be Corona-virus infected company polo shirts.

There are times I'm glad I hoard sick leave like it's going out of style.

This is one of them - I have over 125 days in the bank if need be.

pr0ner wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:11 pm There are times I'm glad I hoard sick leave like it's going out of style.

This is one of them - I have over 125 days in the bank if need be.

Should I wake you up when September ends?

The Meal wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:38 pm Have you read this? Hunker down.

My life is virtually "hunkered" already. I'm a loner who works in a corner office and has almost no contact with the other employees, almost everything I do is remote to desks. I have no real life friends aside from my wife. We have two kids going to school, but I can't see pulling them yet "just because". Could we survive that? Absolutely. My wife works from home 4 out of 5 days a week and the kids are fine with being home alone the other day. Coupled with zero cases in Maine so far I'm not in a huge panic.

I'm not saying I'm immune to it, but I do think I'm not going to be the first, second, or third person or even thousandth to get it up here. We're keeping an eye on everything, like everyone else does, and if there's a hint of concern for our area, we're ready to act as needed.

I’m honestly shocked they haven’t cancelled March Madness yet.

jztemple2 wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:15 pm

The Meal wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:38 pm Have you read this? Hunker down.

Wow that's depressing. Still, my wife and I are going to a local restaurant this evening; it is small and frankly usually pretty empty anyway when we go. I suspect they and a lot of other restaurants will be out of business soon.

I'm much more concerned about my local supermarket, we need to have food after all.

Delivery for our groceries from the local Vons was $11, which is pricey but we are in the high risk category and what's a little money at a time like this?

Lorini wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:19 pm what's a little money at a time like this?

10% more than it was yesterday?

i'm ok with isolation. i am good at staying busy - i have a roster of self-learning activities (now and for the foreseeable future) and i'm really into reading, bicycling, art (making) and music (listening). also haven't taken time to play video games on my own for a while and i'm kinda excited for that.

Skinypupy wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:16 pm I’m honestly shocked they haven’t cancelled March Madness yet.

Kansas and Duke both just announced they are suspending all athletic activities. I’m guessing that will put the dagger in the tourney, if it wasn’t headed that way already.

Isgrimnur wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:12 pm

pr0ner wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:11 pm There are times I'm glad I hoard sick leave like it's going out of style.

This is one of them - I have over 125 days in the bank if need be.

Should I wake you up when September ends?

What you did there. I see it.

I'm genuinely curious when Amazon is going to release some kind of statement regarding deliveries and their inability to meet demand. I have to believe their warehouses are even busier right now than what they normally see in November/December.

I haven't left the house since Monday, and don't expect to go anywhere until next Monday.

This is a completely normal week for me. Isolating for a couple of weeks isn't a challenge. It's routine, save for the missed trip to the grocery store.

Little B 11.0's birthday party is tomorrow. She was supposed to take her closest 10 friends to go see "Onward" at the theater. None of the friends have cancelled yet, but I'm kinda wondering if any of them are going to show up.

I'm debating whether I want to show up, tbh.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:32 pm I'm genuinely curious when Amazon is going to release some kind of statement regarding deliveries and their inability to meet demand. I have to believe their warehouses are even busier right now than what they normally see in November/December.

I work from home and often am standing at the window. I've noticed a noticeable uptick in deliveries in my neighborhood.

malchior wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:51 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:32 pm I'm genuinely curious when Amazon is going to release some kind of statement regarding deliveries and their inability to meet demand. I have to believe their warehouses are even busier right now than what they normally see in November/December.

I work from home and often am standing at the window. I've noticed a noticeable uptick in deliveries in my neighborhood.

I'm curious how much of my Express Lane order that I placed last night that Harris Teeter will be able to fill later today.

hitbyambulance wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:24 pm i'm ok with isolation. i am good at staying busy - i have a roster of self-learning activities (now and for the foreseeable future) and i'm really into reading, bicycling, art (making) and music (listening). also haven't taken time to play video games on my own for a while and i'm kinda excited for that.

My isolation involves two 5 year olds whose favorite activities are coloring and fighting, and not necessarily in that order.

Skinypupy wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:44 pm Little B 11.0's birthday party is tomorrow. She was supposed to take her closest 10 friends to go see "Onward" at the theater. None of the friends have cancelled yet, but I'm kinda wondering if any of them are going to show up.

I'm debating whether I want to show up, tbh.

My oldest was supposed to go to a bar mitzvah on Saturday. He wasn't going to make it anyway due to his (unrelated to coronavirus) illness, but I got an e-mail last night that they were postponing the party. They'll still do the ceremonial stuff with immediate family I guess, but the big shindig will have to wait. I have to imagine that's a tough pill to swallow for a 13 year old, but I guess he's a man now, so he can deal with it.

ImLawBoy wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:59 pm My oldest was supposed to go to a bar mitzvah on Saturday. He wasn't going to make it anyway due to his (unrelated to coronavirus) illness, but I got an e-mail last night that they were postponing the party. They'll still do the ceremonial stuff with immediate family I guess, but the big shindig will have to wait. I have to imagine that's a tough pill to swallow for a 13 year old, but I guess he's a man now, so he can deal with it.

Still tough for the kid, but the smart thing to do. Going to be alot more disruption before we see the end.

MLB just announced a suspension of spring training and a delay of the regular season by at least 2 weeks.

Can we, eh, can we get Disney to not be so tone-deaf?

"BUT ALL THE DOLLARS" is the only reason they could use to keep going. And a government exception for Disneyland? Crazy.

The entire service industry is about to take an beating. Anything entertainment related - movie theaters, concerts, live shows, sporting events. All the hotels and restaurants associated with those events. I don't even think we've begun to understand the economic impact this is going to have.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:31 pm The entire service industry is about to take an beating. Anything entertainment related - movie theaters, concerts, live shows, sporting events. All the hotels and restaurants associated with those events. I don't even think we've begun to understand the economic impact this is going to have.

So much this. And the ripples will be significant.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:31 pm The entire service industry is about to take an beating. Anything entertainment related - movie theaters, concerts, live shows, sporting events. All the hotels and restaurants associated with those events. I don't even think we've begun to understand the economic impact this is going to have.

This. I mentioned in the OOIC thread multiple friends have announced their layoffs from work. While good for the response, this is going to hit the glass jaw of our economy (and the much Trumpeted stock market that sits on it) much harder than I would have guessed three weeks ago.

I just lost geographic immunity. My wife let me know we've had our first positive case in Maine.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:31 pm The entire service industry is about to take an beating. Anything entertainment related - movie theaters, concerts, live shows, sporting events. All the hotels and restaurants associated with those events. I don't even think we've begun to understand the economic impact this is going to have.

I imagine streaming media and video games will do fine. I have cancelled my board game nights, though.

LordMortis wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:35 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:31 pm The entire service industry is about to take an beating. Anything entertainment related - movie theaters, concerts, live shows, sporting events. All the hotels and restaurants associated with those events. I don't even think we've begun to understand the economic impact this is going to have.

This. I mentioned in the OOIC thread multiple friends have announced their layoffs from work. While good for the response, this is going to hit the glass jaw of our economy (and the much Trumpeted stock market that sits on it) much harder than I would have guessed three weeks ago.

Ugh; condolences to your friends (and everyone else in this boat).

Dogstar wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:32 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:31 pm The entire service industry is about to take an beating. Anything entertainment related - movie theaters, concerts, live shows, sporting events. All the hotels and restaurants associated with those events. I don't even think we've begun to understand the economic impact this is going to have.

So much this. And the ripples will be significant.

Live Nation lost $1.8 BILLION in a single day:

Another issue is insurance for cancellations isn’t covering the coronavirus in some cases. Ultra Music Festival has refused to give out refunds, instead offering “benefit” packages such as tickets for next year, and SXSW fired one-third of its full-time staff as some speculate it might not be financially able to return in 2021.

And many artists are unable to shift album releases and promotional events, such as appearances at festivals, to accommodate a delayed concert calendar.

“Everything is in chaos," Against Me! singer Laura Jane Grace told Rolling Stone. "I don’t think there’s any way people can hold back release schedules because of the ridiculous lead times, which in this day and age are still very much planned around vinyl turnaround times for vinyl being pressed.”