|
Post by impulse on Jun 26, 2020 14:00:40 GMT -5
I have a lot of thoughts in response, but as this forum frowns on political discussions, I am just going to be depressed and stressed about it for a while before trying to distract myself and moving on with my day while I isolate at home. They may not be young, but I am rather fond of my parents and would like to keep them around a good bit longer.
|
|
|
Post by Prince Hal on Jun 26, 2020 14:02:23 GMT -5
Yeah, a lot of states here that reopened prematurely are shutting down again now effective immediately because cases, unsurprisingly, have been skyrocketing unabated as hordes of people are ignoring expert advice because... I don't know why, actually. I would think self-preservation instincts would kick in at some point, but here we are. There's also the contradictory messages that the population receives, depending on who they trust. Some higher-ups (not in the medical field, but still in a position of authority) insist that the crisis is over and that we should just resume our lives as if nothing had happened. Enough people believe that, I'm sure, to make a difference in terms of new infections. This is the one that is at the root of the problem. It's compounded by the vast numbers of people who believe science is basically a collection of opinions; that even just ad vice to wear a mask is the final step before government completely controls your life, and the steady corrosive destruction done to the public schools over the last 40 or so years. And enough people want to believe that.
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 26, 2020 14:04:30 GMT -5
Of all things to politicize, I do not understand why pandemic survival strategies are on the list, or why there is such an appetite for conspiracy theories. If people need to escape their mundane lives so much they should read more comic books.
|
|
|
Post by Roquefort Raider on Jun 26, 2020 14:20:05 GMT -5
I suspect that they're going to find that this virus' incubation period can be much longer than anyone thought. People can catch it and infect others for several weeks before they notice that they're sick. And apparently get sick again. The antibodies aren't lasting as long as they'd hoped. On that front, I'm not overly worried. Even if Sars-cov-2 is not strongly immunizing, (which remains to be seen), we know that it does trigger an adequate T-cell response, and so there should be no problem in our developing memory cells. Sure, some people could get ill again anyway, especially if they're exposed frequently to different strains of the virus... but just as with seasonal flu, the chances of getting infected by the same strain are heavily diminished if we already have antibodies present, and the new infection would then act as a booster against an eventual third encounter. We will always find people who get infected twice (and in this day and age, we'll learn aaaaaaall about them in the media) but it's not worrying right now. MERS (which is also caused by a coronavirus) induced long-term immunity; there is no reason to believe that its cousin would not be immunizing. Plus we have vaccines against coronaviruses that target non-human animals; there doesn't seem to be any problem there. That being said, the elderly are pretty bad at mounting an adequate immune response. They tend not to mount new defenses against antigens they haven't encountered before, their memory T-cells are less reactive than they used to, and they also tend to suffer cytokine storms when the system finally wakes up. That, alas, goes with our species not being built to last more than a few score years. That's the main reason we should control the epidemic ASAP, to limit their chances of being exposed.
|
|
|
Post by Prince Hal on Jun 26, 2020 22:55:53 GMT -5
And apparently get sick again. The antibodies aren't lasting as long as they'd hoped. On that front, I'm not overly worried. Even if Sars-cov-2 is not strongly immunizing, (which remains to be seen), we know that it does trigger an adequate T-cell response, and so there should be no problem in our developing memory cells. Sure, some people could get ill again anyway, especially if they're exposed frequently to different strains of the virus... but just as with seasonal flu, the chances of getting infected by the same strain are heavily diminished if we already have antibodies present, and the new infection would then act as a booster against an eventual third encounter. We will always find people who get infected twice (and in this day and age, we'll learn aaaaaaall about them in the media) but it's not worrying right now. MERS (which is also caused by a coronavirus) induced long-term immunity; there is no reason to believe that its cousin would not be immunizing. Plus we have vaccines against coronaviruses that target non-human animals; there doesn't seem to be any problem there. That being said, the elderly are pretty bad at mounting an adequate immune response. They tend not to mount new defenses against antigens they haven't encountered before, their memory T-cells are less reactive than they used to, and they also tend to suffer cytokine storms when the system finally wakes up. That, alas, goes with our species not being built to last more than a few score years. That's the main reason we should control the epidemic ASAP, to limit their chances of being exposed. Well, this is reassuring, especially since my brother-in-law -- he's 60 -- survived a bout with it a month ago and has been back at his hospital (in NJ, more's the pity) since then without incident. I know he tested as having the antibodies midway into his confinement. Neither my sister nor any of their three kids (young adults) contracted it, but also no sign of antibodies in my sister and one daughter, also in the medical field, who were tested as part of the protocol when the clinic where they work reopened. Two neighbors made it through back in March, one in her 50s and her mom, in her early 80s! The daughter is a school employee and she'll be headed back, so this is good news for them, too. Thanks, RR! I am in awe of your range of knowledge and erudition. Oh, and according to someone on the task force I heard down here today, we are controlling things quite nicely, masks or no masks.
|
|
|
Post by BigPapaJoe on Jun 26, 2020 23:47:36 GMT -5
I found this elsewhere online regarding the topic of negative thinking, and why it's easier to dwell on negative thoughts compared to positive ones.
I'm thinking of starting a thread here called "The Motivation thread". Just to post images, quotes, and commentary around the basic principle of positive thinking. Might be good for the community to share optimistic outlooks on life, when there is so much darkness that exists to stop us from going forward.
|
|
|
Post by brutalis on Jun 29, 2020 12:39:54 GMT -5
Well, was expecting it and waiting and Email finally arrived today that the September 2020 scheduled Phoenix Fan Fusion has been officially cancelled. So no comic book convention this year. They did the smartest and best thing by cancelling. They hope to go ahead as planned for the Memorial Day Weekend of 2021 as normal. All purchases for 2020 will automatically roll over or you can submit for reimbursement. Since I payed already in October of 2019 for 2020 I am just letting it roll over while waiting and hoping things have calmed down next year for the convention continuing. And with another 11 months to put away those extra dollars I can enjoy even more spending craziness! YEEEHAAAAAAAAAAW!!! Wait and see as they say. So now I can spend some time browsin at MyComicshop.com for spending a few dollars on more back issue goodness. Always have a list to peruse through in looking for cheap deals! Watch the Latest Purchases thread to see what the future holds in store!
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 29, 2020 12:55:28 GMT -5
Well, after a tentative and partial reopening, my office has slammed the doors shut again until further notice. Is it really a second wave if we never really left the first one?
|
|
|
Post by Batflunkie on Jun 29, 2020 13:10:29 GMT -5
I was hoping this whole Covid thing would be over and done with by November, but it really doesn't look that way (Yes, I'm aware that such a disease doesn't just "vanish"). The fact that people are ignoring safe procedures in an open act of defiance isn't helping things either
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2020 14:29:06 GMT -5
I tried a subscription box called Taffy Mail. There are different tariffs available, but you get a selection of US chocolate each month (plus, candy - or, as we Brits call them, sweets). I believe the highest tariff also gets cereal and Twinkies.
I tried the middle tariff. Box came early in June.
Inside was the following:
Act II microwaveable popcorn Dr Pepper Cherry Orange lolly pop Blue Razz popping candy Airheads Chewy Bar (grape) Airheads Chewy Bar (white) Snowball Cakes Chewy Cubes Milk Duds Chocolate Rocky Road Chocolate Bar
I don’t like Dr Pepper or popcorn so gave them away.
Haven’t eaten all of that yet, but did enjoy the Rocky Road Chocolate Bar - and the Snowball Cakes.
You Americans have some interesting-sounding chocolate/candy - and your chocolate companies have interesting names, too.
Subscription boxes are a big thing over here, as I suspect they are in other countries.
I did subscribe to a monthly book crate years ago. Was never disappointed in the book choices, but over time, the other gifts got samey, e.g. bookmarks, coasters, stationery, mugs.
I also tried WrestleCrate. I’m sure you can guess what was in there.
There are so many now for beers, wines, chocolate, teas, books, merchandise, etc. The most peculiar one I saw was a monthly crate for razors. Yes, razors. Razors are simply a means to an end for me, I cannot imagine I’d ever get excited about razor/shaving accessories in a monthly box, but someone is obviously buying it.
Does anybody here subscribe to any mystery boxes?
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 29, 2020 14:46:32 GMT -5
I need to sign up for a coffee subscription at some point. I am tired of my grocery store varieties.
|
|
|
Post by Batflunkie on Jun 29, 2020 14:56:26 GMT -5
There was this one I found sometime ago that I forgot the name of that sent you test samples of art supplies like pencils and paintbrushes and such. Think it was Artsnacks
|
|
|
Post by brutalis on Jun 29, 2020 15:51:39 GMT -5
Did an international Candy Box for about 6 months 2 years ago with far too much repetition of the same candies, many of which after once tried I could care less about and too much of it was candy from Mexico because it can be bought cheaply, but I live in Arizona and can get that at any store I shop at. Had a 3 month subscription last summer to Loot Crate, a birthday gift from my bosses at work. It was interesting but not really worth the cost I thought. Sadly only about 3 things were worth keeping from those 3 months, 2 t-shirts and one Hulk figurine, the rest was like you said; cheaply produced bookmarks, key clips, erasers, pens, posters, etc.
Only subscription I do now is from Canada's Tea Sparrow where each month for $20 ($15 Canadian) you receive 4 (sometimes 5) sample packages of dried tea leaves from countries all around the world. Each month is a different grouping of seasonal flavors to try out and each package will make 6-10 cups of tea depending on how strong you make them. All the samples have been very flavorful and tasty so far. certain flavors/companies come around 1-3 times a year but it all tastes so good I don't mind. Companies contract with Tea Sparrow for these samplers in the hopes you will find a FEW to your liking and order them bulk from Tea Sparrow or from those individual companies. I prefer the samplers and they are great hot in the winter and cold in the summer for sun tea. Being they are all dried and sealed individually in recyclable packaging these Tea's can last a very long time. I now have an amazon box I use to save all the new arrivals and separate by flavors. I will usually have 4 packs open at a time for alternating pitchers of sun tea each week.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Jun 29, 2020 16:25:24 GMT -5
Well, after a tentative and partial reopening, my office has slammed the doors shut again until further notice. Is it really a second wave if we never really left the first one? I'm in much the same situation. My company was supposed to move our power plants to the lowest restriction level on July 6, but with the upswing in cases here in PA (not as drastic as many others, but still a slight uptick), we are probably looking at Labor Day at the earliest to relax things. I'm not complaining, mind you, as it means two more months of me working remotely 100%, but it also means that society as a whole isn't taking this thing as seriously as it should, and that is not a good thing. And no, this is not a "second wave". This is still the first one, just extended because people suck. I need to sign up for a coffee subscription at some point. I am tired of my grocery store varieties. I haven't bought grocery store coffee in two decades. My wife and I found this little local place in an area of Pittsburgh called "The Strip District", which is where the wholesale fruit and vegetable markets used to be and which is now a collection of ethnic markets, specialty food stores, funky little shops, and some really good restaurants. This place roasts their own beans and has become the only place in the city that I will buy coffee from. When I needed to get another batch of beans at the end of May, I placed my order online and swung by two days later to pick it up, and they had just ground them that morning for me. Love them!
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jun 29, 2020 16:29:12 GMT -5
And no, this is not a "second wave". This is still the first one, just extended because people suck. That's what I was trying to say without saying it, but why sugarcoat it. This is exactly what is happening. I wish I had done the legwork to find a good local place before the pandemic blew up. I knew we have quite a few in the area, but this is not the best time to go exploring new stores. Oh, well.
|
|