COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

[Monsters For Sale]

...  But that was back in the olden days, before the Great Darkness settled upon the land.  That golden age of abundance, when throughout the land bottled water ran like rivers and toilet paper and SPAM was had by all.

[Monsters For Sale]

I am fascinated by the developing story of COVID-19, especially because most reliable information is so scarce and erratic, and the people we would normally trust are so often contradictory.  I have always loved reading or watching a good mystery unravel.  All the better, when the people directly dealing with the puzzle are dressed like the military examining E.T.

Italy has told about a quarter of their population to stay home.  Milan and surrounds are looking like Muhan.  While they effectively hamstring their norther economy, down in the south a case has sprung up in Naples.  And this in an economy that relies so heavily on tourism of a more vibrant past.

Several sources are reporting that the World Health Organization has warned that the virus is being spread with banknotes.  One place even said that the virus could survive on the paper for "months".  An exaggeration.  A cursory check revealed that WHO made more of a passing mention of the possibility of the virus surviving for a few days - just like on other surfaces - and suggested using credit cards might not be a bad idea.

As I was watching the Black Friday shoppers strip store shelves of bottled water and toilet paper, I couldn't help wonder what the American pioneers, braving the unknown land ahead in their Conestoga wagons, would think of their great, great, great, great grandchildren who would inherit the fruits of all their hardships.  Probably just turn around and go back.

Who could look upon the crowds massed around Costco's and not proclaim, "Truly this is the new 'Greatest Generation'."

I do get the concern - really.  I did temporarily quarantine the toy I ordered from a Chinese town with reported cases.  I did take the time to look up the town and see for myself if they had any reported cases.  But a friend's friend received something she ordered in a package from China and threw it, unopened, straight into the trash.  I think she is the same one that said she was considering buying a gun.  (Probably to protect the SPAM and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese she is hoarding from her less prepared neighbors in these desperate End Times.)


Everyone stay healthy.  But also stay sane.

[aura of foreboding]

"Preppers"? Is that the same thing as survivalists?

Yes.

[Mord]

  We had a brief scare the last two days. My girlfriend insisted we go to a memorial service for her a$*h*l** uncle, who passed away a week ago. I told her it was risky being in a crowd of people coming in from all over the state. The thing lasted three hours, and we were among older people coughing and sobbing.
  The next day, my girlfriend was not feeling well and threw up all night. Then, we were both down with a 100° fever. I was preparing to leave this world, and saying goodbye to all my monster toys.
  This morning, we both woke up feeling great, as if nothing had happened. Close call, the end.

[Mike Scott]

This morning, we both woke up feeling great, as if nothing had happened. Close call, the end.

Yikes!! Don't go to no mo funerals, or the next one may be yours!

[Monsters For Sale]

  We had a brief scare the last two days. My girlfriend insisted we go to a memorial service...  ... The next day, my girlfriend was not feeling well and threw up all night. Then, we were both down with a 100° fever. ... 

Too soon to show symptoms.  Sounds more like improperly refrigerated refreshments.

[Mord]

Too soon to show symptoms.  Sounds more like improperly refrigerated refreshments.

So, we're still not out of the woods. I hate funerals, though, not as much as I hate weddings. At least funerals are permanent.

[Hepcat]

But a friend's friend received something she ordered in a package from China and threw it, unopened, straight into the trash.

i wonder where she thinks most of the crap she typically buys at Walmart and Costco was made?

Everyone stay healthy.  But also stay sane.

Sane!? I object!  I come here to get away from killjoys like that.

[fearliath]

It's like everyone looked at what the preppers had been doing for years and decided they needed to do the same thing.  This isn't an earthquake.  This isn't a volcanic event.  This is a virus. 

I mostly agree with this but with the nuance that I think people are looking at what the preppers do on TV shows, not what actual "preppers" do. None of this bears any resemblance to what a prepper would do but is exactly what the Walking Dead would script during the initial outbreak. The sad thing is people are spending money they probably don't have to buy stuff they probably won't use (this is exactly the opposite of prepper philosophy). They would probably be better served saving their money for would could possibly be an economic downturn (short turn or long term).

By 99% of Americans perception I would be considered a prepper. 99% of preppers would consider me an amateur. For example, if the water keeps running and the natural gas keeps flowing I could go for over a year without leaving my house (no problem). If the water stopped running I'd be good for about 2 months without leaving. I don't have a bunker or a tank. I have a storage room full of non-perishable food (built up over time) that my family actually eats (including some SPAM & Mac & Cheese as well as green beans, chili, rice, beans and other things normal people eat), and as we eat it, we replace it. We rotate through it. We also have a few Costco cases of TP, paper towels and other household items.

My reason for doing this has nothing to do with an end of the world scenario (or zombies, or a pandemic - even though it is convenient at time like this). It's actually to assure we're okay if I lost my job or became disabled and couldn't work for a time. Just like my savings account and my 401K, I use it as a safety net. And it came in very handy 11 years ago when I graduated from school but couldn't start my job for 1 month and I wasn't allowed to work elsewhere without losing my prospective job (long story). After paying the bills (which I could only do after borrowing $50 from my infant daughter) I had zero dollars for food or anything else. Literally, ZERO dollars. We lived 100% off the food and household supplies in the pantry (we didn't have as much at that time but we had enough to make it through, barely).

[Mord]

 Sounds reasonable. I think everybody should prepare as you have. Nothing that you mentioned would go to waste. Peanut butter is something we always keep a good supply of. It can be a lifesaver, and is good to go right out of the jar.

[aura of foreboding]

Latest information from some of the most recent deaths locally: People go from showing no symptoms to symptoms to being hospitalized to dying in a few hours.  They are also warning if you feel ill and then start feeling better and then become sicker than before, you should report to the hospital.  Interesting.

[Monsters For Sale]

Latest information from some of the most recent deaths ...   ... Interesting. 

Just one more example of the ways we are living in "Interesting times".

Aside from lines for supplies, has anyone been "inconvenienced" by the whole reaction to this illness?  Anyone scrub vacation plans to other areas, have places/events they were planning to visit cancel on you?  Has your work, school, etc. announced any changes?
__________________

I don't go to Bingo.  But a friend my age (73) who does, practically seven days a week, tells me the bingo halls are still as crowded as ever.  That bothers me. 

She is exposing herself nightly to many hundreds of people, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in folding chairs at cafeteria-style tables.  They hand around papers all night and order food from volunteer-manned kitchens that probably have less than commercial restaurant-rigorous sanitation and practices.  That bothers me. 

A large percentage of the regular players are much older than my friend and are experiencing typically lousy end-of-life health already.  Many of those physically fragile people are addicted to gambling, and will not even consider saving their money 'til things blow over.  That bothers me.


What bothers you?

[BigShadow]

I know a lot of my friends with young kids are having trouble buying necessities such as diapers, bleach, disinfectant wipes, etc.  Myself and my wife have stocked up on supplies over the years, and will continue to do so.  There's been several times where my preparing has come in handy.  So I'm not worried for whatever is coming.  People should look at "prepping" the same they do as insurance or savings accounts. 

[fearliath]

A large percentage of the regular players are much older than my friend and are experiencing typically lousy end-of-life health already.  Many of those physically fragile people are addicted to gambling, and will not even consider saving their money 'til things blow over.  That bothers me.

What bothers you?

I know a lot of people in their 70's and 80's (visited a couple of them in the ER last night (they were there for unrelated reasons) and I am stunned how little the 60+ age group cares about foregoing stuff they want to do. It seems the much younger crowd is being much more cautious. I'm not saying panic and get in a bunker but I have an older co worker (who was in the hospital and almost died of the flu last year) and a neighbor (both with serious underlying health conditions) leaving on cruises this week. The respective cruise lines they are traveling on offered them full refunds if they wanted to cancel and they are still going. I have a retirement (55+) community a couple of blocks from my house and I know all of them. You'd think they were in college and it were spring break. They are going more places then ever. Travel, mass transit just to go on a ride. I'm having difficulty understanding their carefree attitude.

My opinion is it would behoove them to chill out for a minute until this settles down but people make their own choices.

[Monsters For Sale]

.... I'm not saying panic and get in a bunker but...  .... it would behoove them to chill out for a minute until this settles down ....

I don't wnt to start a panic, either.  (Won't see me in line at Costco.)  But, I also think it is a good time to reassess what is most important until this, too passes.