@xSuicide Squadx Hope you and your missus are doing alright dude, that's a tough call to get. To add to the grimness of events, there are now reports that the virus is more airborne than previously thought. Also, FFS - there is being reported a new unknown form of pneumonia, spreading across Kazakhstan, deadlier than COVID-19.
@toothaction That’s super unfortunate, and I am sorry to hear a friendship was lost over a matter of opinion over an incredibly serious situation. Some people can’t seem to handle being told they’re wrong, or even having the perception of being told they’re wrong in the face of facts. @ultrakaiju The amount of people in my state that are seriously acting like this is either not a big deal, or not a thing at all, is staggering. And grown ass “adults” that are literally stomping their feet, sitting on the floor with crossed arms, or screaming obscenities over wearing a mask around groups...the entitlement is violent inducing in my mind. But I bite my tongue, as I refuse to bring that kind of negative attention to me, or negative energy into me. @The Moog I very much appreciate the sentiment and well wishes, sir. We’re waiting it out about three or four more days before getting retested, as what we read was recommended to wait about eight days to avoid a false negative test. As for the new strain of pneumonia...2020 couldn’t be any more fucked, but I somehow feel the worst is yet to come. Goddamn it, I hope you are all safe and stay safe. <3
And yes, of course just in case it doesn't go without saying, I echo those sentiments Robert. I really hope that you and missus are fine, and this just ends up being a close call. Sadly, the longer the situation carries on, I think the closer to home it hits for many of us. I hope everyone on here is managing to keep safe and healthy.
Had to go down to London last weekend and its like people have instantly forgotten about the last 3 months. No consideration to social distancing on the streets and very few people wearing masks. Even on public transport where the wearing of a mask is mandatory (although bizarrely the drivers and staff weren't), I saw several going without, a couple even holding them but not bothering to actually put them on! The thing that struck me was that we (over in the UK) are being told that CV killing a disproportionate number of Black, Asian and those from ethnic minorities, yet in the 3 days I was down there, these formed the majority of people NOT wearing masks that I saw. Unsure if it's a cultural thing (masks being a sign of weakness) or a 'being a dick' thing, but the correlation as to why the BME bias seemed to scream out to this uneducated visiting Northerner! It was also the weekend that pubs re-opened and they were packed-out solid. Schools reopening for 4-5 year olds who have no self-control and the overwhelming desire to hug everyone was met with uproar and a resistance, but allowing grown men to lose all inhibitions after 5 pints and 5 rounds of Jagerbombs is (literally) met with dancing in the streets! The switch from 3 months of 'Stay home, protect the NHS or you will die' to 'Go out, mix with people and buy random shit because we can't afford for you to stay inside anymore' was just too fuckin' obvious. Never been overly political, but this bunch of catchphrase loving jokers chaff my ass!
I guess being stuck here, I have only seen this side of it, but I completely agree the sheer disregard for even common sense is baffling. They are even handing out free masks throughout London Bridge station [in addition to very clearly posted signs, controls at all the entrances, and ongoing announcements] and yet I, like you, noticed a ton of people inside the station and on trains just.... not bothering. I get it, it is super inconvenient. Kind of like holding a condom is as good a preventive measure as using it. This past weekend's branding as 'super Saturday' was utterly ridiculous. As far as I am concerned, stay inside unless you need to should still be the advice for all.
The resistance to mask wearing has been puzzling to me, especially in confined spaces with no ventilation. The extreme reaction against wearing them makes no sense to me. A coworkers elderly mother (healthy for her age) had to wear a mask recently whilst visiting the doctors. She apparently got so anxious and freaked out about wearing a mask she collapsed in the waiting room. I mean, fucking RELAX FFS!
It's not that they're against wearing masks - it's that they are against the PEOPLE who have told them to wear masks. If it had been Trump (in the US) who had told people to wear them, you can bet that the people who are currently fervently against masks would be wearing red maga diapers on their faces. Conservatism has done a brilliant job of systematically turning a significant portion of their base into mindless cultists.
Honestly, the USA's inability to get this under control only highlights our absolute ignorance and narcissism. These "true patriots" have no understanding what it really means to love this country or respect the ideals of freedom and liberty for all, even if that means wearing a mask. TBH, you'd think all these conspiracy theorists would be pro-mask, as it makes facial recognition technology useless.
Maybe the solution is to convince them that they're victims of a deep state psy op to maintain government tracking programs. Could work.
Facial recognition isn't the only thing being monitored. Some places use software to determine your height and weight, and then there's more complex stuff like gait recognition. Of course, if you're carrying a cell phone, identifying that can provide a wealth of information about you.
I'm fascinated by the large epidemic exercise the US did last August that straight up identified the shortcomings in the system. And they just went: nah, ain't gonna happen, let's party. Fast forward 4 months..
Tests came back negative for the missus and myself. We’re extremely relieved. It was insanely nerve racking to constantly try and decipher is I was having massive anxiety or covid symptoms. On top of that I had a summer cold in the sinuses for four days while awaiting results, which I’m thankful to be over now. Hope you’re all continuing to be safe and cautious.
Well, what you would the government to do, listen to expert advice?? bahaahahahahahahahaa, that is just silly. @xSuicide Squadx Oh wow man, that is excellent news, Robert. I am really happy and relieved for you and the missus. I can only imagine what the stress and anxiety must have been like the least while. Phew. Now if only more people could get the same news, too.
@ultrakaiju Thank you, Steve! Major, major relief. And both of us are extremely thankful for a negative result. Really wish more people could be getting the same good news, especially those that are actively taking precautions, but unfortunately getting hit in the crossfire of mass stupidity.
So, I think I need to update this post as it continues to get liked. I originally posted this in April. At the time, there were generally 2-5 cases a day. On May 17th I actually started keeping track of our hospital's daily numbers on a spreadsheet, to get a better picture of how things trended over time. At that time (5/17) we had just over 200 cases total. So, roughly 100 cases a month during the first two months. Now - two months after I started keeping track - we have had over 1200 cases. So, over 500 cases a month during the past two months! We went from single-digit daily numbers to daily numbers in the 20-50 range!
I can't really dislike your post, but you get the idea. Honestly, even looking at it totally from the outside - but at same time I see this as affecting us all - I find the daily numbers coming out of the US outright shocking. Most countries are tapering off, with isolated lockdowns in place, but the US (speaking as a general whole) still is ever increasing. And not without reason, I would suggest either. But the entire situation is just sort of sad really, as so much could, or at least can, be mitigated.
I remember January, when I pushed to get my Real ID and then get my passport renewed, anticipating a year of travel. What a joke.
I find facial recognition technology and cameras at every street corner creepy and an invasion of privacy. While the security aspects might be useful, you sorta wonder who is tracking whom and what it's being used for. Masks are now a useful solution, but I also admire Howie Woo's approach.... *Love that purple hair tuft! More about the project... https://woowork.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-yo-face-facial-recognition.html
I have been told I have a very unique (unique is the nice word for it btw) gait. Gov. wouldn't even need a software program to know it was me. They'd be all "Oh, that's John. Go get him." Ugh. HB is the fucking Florida of California. Abandon hope all ye who enter (t)here... I just don't know which circle of Hell the city resides in. As a bonus, they have Nazi's