COVID-19

[Drunk Monk]

I did see a notice come through that Santa Clara is banning any gatherings of over 1000 people.

That was just a 'call for' last week but yesterday it was upgraded to an 'order'.

They just cancelled classes here until the 13th, and told faculty to use that time to put classes online, at least until 3/27 (that's the last day of classes before Spring Break). However, all staff has to be at work. So I guess it would be a tragedy if a student got sick, but not if we do.

UCSD goes completely online next quarter.  They are entering finals next week.


It's been pretty weird here.  There's a very active program to sterilize the office every day which I totally support (should be that way always) and Gigi just smudged the office with moxa (which I also support after reading some lit about its disinfecting properties).  I'm a bit relieved about TCEC actually.  I'm on damage control, responding to emails and such, but people have been understanding overall.

[cranefly]

The Nebulas are 80 days away and every day brings us a better understanding of what's happening with COVID-19.

Our challenge is that the hotel will not allow us to cancel the event without paying penalties unless it is "illegal or impossible" to host it. Similarly, they will not offer us any refunds. This limits our choices. 

Needless to say, the situation continues to evolve...

[Drunk Monk]

One of the reasons we postponed TCEC yesterday was because our deadlines to make more deposits were coming.  All the venues are suffering too however - that's a lot of infrastructure.  My Hell's Angel Kung Fu brother who works as a roadie and such just lost his 10th gig today.  

UCSD just switched to no in-person classes, even for finals next week.  Tara works at a U cafe, which is still open at this point.  She thinks it'll remain open as long as campus dining is open. 

I've been working at convincing my mom not to go out.  I know she's getting really stir crazy here.  She watches the news every day, morning and evening, but the impact of this is barely sinking in.  She's in her own weird bubble.

[cranefly]

I've been working at convincing my mom not to go out.  I know she's getting really stir crazy here.  She watches the news every day, morning and evening, but the impact of this is barely sinking in.  She's in her own weird bubble.

LCF and I were planning to hit Costco this afternoon, but she suggested I stay home.  Not only am I of a certain age, but a recent blood test flagged me with a possible autoimmune problem.  Of late my extremities  (especially hands/fingers) get very cold even in 45 to 50 degree weather.  To think I have to wear gloves while doing Tai Chi.

But yeah, maybe not a good idea for me to pick this one up.  As well as a whole lot of other people.

I remain flabbergasted by maps that designate the US as the most prepared nation for such an outbreak.  I'm just not believing it.  So many diverse and errant opinions coming from people in power here.  Too many people doing pretty much as they please in the name of so-called freedom.  I'd feel far safer in China.  Unfortunately, our dictator would never accept advice or help from that nation.

Still trying to grok how blue collar workers who absolutely cannot work from home and who must work in groups are going to cope with this.

Anyway, stay safe.  Stay sane.

[Drunk Monk]

I feel ya.  I'm flagged too (hypertension, diabetes & over 50).  Actually most all of DOOM is to some degree although most measures are saying over 60, some over 70.  The data is unclear.  

The U.S. is the most prepared in that 'on paper' sense, meaning we have access to plenty of medicine, however a hidden factor there is cost.  We got it, we just can't afford it.  Also we have one of the lowest testing numbers in the world now so it's a sampling error.  If we don't test, we don't show as positive.  The U.S. numbers may be considerably larger.  

Most of TC falls under that 'blue collar' class - phone operators, seamstress/screeners, warehouse.  It's just our graphic team that are remote capable.  However, our graphic team doesn't pull in the bulk of the money.  It's sales.  If our company does gets quarantined for two weeks, that will have a dramatic impact upon us.

[Greg]

Madera County, my county, has it's first reported case of Covid19. Fortunately the patient is already feeling better.

[Drunk Monk]

I can't remember now - how's your blood pressure, Greg?  You're in that over 50 diabetic demographic too.  Apparently we're prone to it.  I have additional respiratory issues having collasped a lung like 4 decades ago.  It manifested in a pneumonia when I was living at Saint Barbarian, after Castle Highland, for which I was hospitalized.

[Greg]

"I've been smoking since I was twelve. How are my lungs? Perfect!"


My blood pressure is GOOD! Probably the only one in the family with good blood pressure. It's the walking. Although I need more of it. Since I live in the heart of 'Where the Fuck are we" it's going to be tough for it to get to me. Unless the Queen brings it back from one of her jaunts.

[Drunk Monk]

Since I live in the heart of 'Where the Fuck are we" it's going to be tough for it to get to me. Unless the Queen brings it back from one of her jaunts.

There was a confirmed case on a oil platform on the Norway sea.  That beats your 'where the fuck are we' times ten.

Glad to hear your BP is good tho.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Anaheim tournaments called off. One was a regional with national points, being held to fund the other tournament, which was a world cup Grand Prix and Olympic Trial. Both were called off today. Fortunately for me, all those who paid to get their weapons fixed had already ponied up and hauled away their springy blades.

The club remains open, and with the cancelation of this weekends tournaments, we had big classes, about 25 in each. Social distancing for us is good distance. We’ll stay open as long as we can, even though the schools are closing.

My GF teaches at Stanford, and they went all University of Phoenix this week. Her classes have primarily First Gen Low Income kids and most of them do not want to go home at all. They worked hard to leave home. All sorts of unintended consequences coming in with this

[King Bob]

My wife had her first client cancellation due to virus fears. Personally I'd be more worried about going someplace like the grocery store.

[Drunk Monk]

Stacy is a total germaphobe which is making her job at Well Within very challenged.  She's cancelled all her extra shifts and is hunkering down.  

Martial arts tournaments are cancelling across the board.  Only the asshole promoters are soldiering on (including one of TCEC's past partners).

[Greg]

Shark City?

[Drunk Monk]

Shark City?

yep.  good guess.  

He runs a league called imaginatively 'The League" - like half a dozen tournaments over the year.  These are all small, maybe 200+ attendees tops, but it culminates in an annual final, which he does with according pageantry and raised prices.  His event is slated for next weekend and he's determined to go for it.  There's another major TKD event that's teetering - lots of banter on their facebook page with negative posts getting deleted.  That's a bigger one and we suspect they will bow down to the pressure.

[Drunk Monk]

Rock Med shut down all the events in the wake of Live Nation and AEG shutting down everything.  I spoke to RM's director this morning about our TCEC cancellation.  He had a somewhat pat response.  I'm sure he's had to give a lot of those over the last week.