Random Ramblings

I hope so.

Not to fear monger as I don't believe that helps but the Corona Virus has a higher death rate percentage wise then other flu. Of course that's in other countries so far so we'll see how it goes. People are also able to spread it while it's incubating and don't know they have it. Just be careful.

alldatndensum wrote:

Influenza has killed 5 times more people (10,000) in just the USA alone this winter.

www.worldometers.info says its 27 times (first two stats)...

https://www.worldometers.info

My computer lives for now. It died right at the end of midterm season, once everything essential was past. Thankfully, my brother found a hack to disable the standalone GPU (graphics processing unit), which was the faulty component, so my laptop is currently running graphics on the CPU's built-in GPU. I've ordered a replacement computer, but this should hold until then. Oh well, it had a good 9-year run.

Geez, 9 years??? That's like 100 years in computer time 

Through The Dark Radio wrote:

Geez, 9 years??? That's like 100 years in computer time 

That does seem to be pretty old, but I've had desktops last 8-11 years before (my current one is only 4 years old).
Laptops on the other hand don't seem to last nearly as long as desktop units,  my wife is lucky to get 6 years out of a laptop.

Black Rider wrote:

Not to fear monger as I don't believe that helps but the Corona Virus has a higher death rate percentage wise then other flu. Of course that's in other countries so far so we'll see how it goes. People are also able to spread it while it's incubating and don't know they have it. Just be careful.

I'm hoping that here in the U.S. and Europe it won't have such a high mortality rate.  It looks like we are up to 10 deaths here in Western Washington, but no details about the last victim's age or health condition prior to getting sick.  At least 8 of the deaths so far occurred in people in their 70's or older, who had other medical issues.  They say there are currently 39 confirmed cases in our state...I'm guessing it could be as much as 100 times that many.  I think most younger and healthier people are getting it and just think they have the flu.  They recover and go back to work, where it has already spread to most of their coworkers.  They think we have had it here for probably the last 6 weeks.

Had my first regular day at my new job today (actual first day was Monday, but that was just new hire orientation). It's definitely nothing like I'm used to (going from 12 years in various positions in the parking industry to working in a warehouse), and it's a lot of work, but I think I'll enjoy it. I learned a lot and still have a lot more to learn. Also discovered that pallet jacks are more difficult to control than you'd think...

Are they electric pallet jacks? Those do take some getting used to but are nice once you figure it out.

Yeah, I used some manual pallet jacks a couple summers ago and the rear wheel steering makes it less intuitive.

We used to race those pallet jacks down a loading ramp when I worked for Walmart.  Great fun!!!

I hope you enjoy the new job Oldiesdude.

Black Rider wrote:

Are they electric pallet jacks? Those do take some getting used to but are nice once you figure it out.

Not electric ones, but fancy scissor-lift ones from ULine (see https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-5441/Pallet-Trucks/Scissor-Lift-Truck-Heavy-Duty-Fork-46-x-27 for more). I think the forklift folks do most of the heavy moving.

Had to spend the last two days working from home while I'm trying to recover from a wicked case of bronchitis (I've never had this before).  Of course with the slew of corona virus victims in our state everyone is worried about my immune system being compromised.  I don't have the corona virus (at least not yet).  But I'm on steroids and antibiotics to get rid of this nasty bronchitis.  Interesting thing is people get out of your way when you start coughing in public now. 

So, my school system was closed most of last week due to the tornadoes.  This week we are in "spring" break, and I just received the official notice that we are closed next week for the Corona virus scare.  We are letting the media drive us into a frenzy over this.  It's crazy!

I think there is overreaction and underreaction to the virus. No, it's not the end of the world and we don't need to empty Costco of its toilet paper, but it's still severe enough that we might as well be cautious for the next bit.

Also, cracking open a beer and trying to do taxes might not have been the best idea. It's taking a little more concentration than usual. (I'm not drunk, don't worry!)

alldatndensum wrote:

So, my school system was closed most of last week due to the tornadoes.  This week we are in "spring" break, and I just received the official notice that we are closed next week for the Corona virus scare.  We are letting the media drive us into a frenzy over this.  It's crazy!

Our governor just shut down all the schools K-12 (public and private) until April 24th for the three largest counties in the state.
Tell me that isn't going to cause some hardship.

Driven wrote:

I think there is overreaction and underreaction to the virus. No, it's not the end of the world and we don't need to empty Costco of its toilet paper, but it's still severe enough that we might as well be cautious for the next bit.

Also, cracking open a beer and trying to do taxes might not have been the best idea. It's taking a little more concentration than usual. (I'm not drunk, don't worry!)

I usually wait to have my glass of wine/cider/beer until after I finish my taxes....to make sure I can afford it. 

Going to shut down the whole country with this fear mongering. What did people do back in the day when there was TB, Cholera, Polio etc.? Sure we need to be careful but this is out of hand.

Staybrite wrote:

alldatndensum wrote:

So, my school system was closed most of last week due to the tornadoes.  This week we are in "spring" break, and I just received the official notice that we are closed next week for the Corona virus scare.  We are letting the media drive us into a frenzy over this.  It's crazy!

Our governor just shut down all the schools K-12 (public and private) until April 24th for the three largest counties in the state.
Tell me that isn't going to cause some hardship.

It will have immediate effects.  Poorer families will have to stay home from work to care for younger children that will result in lost wages or even lost jobs if they are out too long.  

Teachers are typically salaried, so they won't care about staying home.  However, your support staff like educational assistants (like me), cafeteria workers, bus drivers, receptionists, etc. don't get paid when there are no students.  We do get paid for sick/inclement weather days when the school system closes, but there are only 10 days for us built in to our school year.  On Wednesday of next week, we will use our last one.  After that, those support staff people will start losing wages.  Some may have to find other jobs if there is anyone open for business.  

Because of the fear mongering, we have been catapulted to a second world nation as we have a national situation on our hands but no longer have the means to produce everything we need.  Through fear, your freedoms have been limited.  Want to go to a sporting event?  They are gone.  Want to hit a concert?  Shut down, too.  You feel like you want your kid to receive an education?  That's gone as well.  Travel to California and Washington state is being limited meaning that your rights to move around the country has been limited.  If this goes long enough, they will do a forced removal of firearms as well.  The mainstream media should be treated as terrorists as they have attacked the USA and are winning.

Florida has shut down universities and going to online classes. I called FSU yesterday and asked about my daughter coming in next week to get a student ID and was told that she could and that there would be staff there but probably no students. They will still have classes on campus in a limited capacity but are trying to get everything moved over to online classes. This week is Spring Break for FSU and I think they are now being given an extra week or two and then online classes. It's the same with the other colleges in Florida. Nothing has been said about the local school system. My wife's new job is support staff and like you, no students, no pay as she is no longer salary.

Just got an email from our church and they are holding services Sunday morning but no handshaking, no offering, no communion. All activities other than the morning service are cancelled TFN.

The government is going: That was easy, should've done this sooner.