Category: health

It’s a Conspiracy!

On By JohnIn health, sociologyLeave a comment

No, it isn’t.

Do not jump immediately to the assumption that everything must be a conspiracy. Hanlon’s Razor always applies: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”

And we, in America specifically, are absolutely floundering in — nay. Swimming… basking? — stupidity, arrogance, and a considerable amount of denial.

We — yes, I’m still looking at you, Fellow Americans — could’ve had this sorted a few months ago within just a few weeks and returned to some semblance or normality. But, oh, no… people get together in large groups to protest, argue, and yell about infringing upon “m’rights!”

No, there’s not some government conspiracy to manipulate you into wearing a hijab and accepting Islam.

No, there’s no government conspiracy to force the AI to learn how to use facial recognition through a mask*.

The situation we’re faced with presently, having endured the death of, so far 150,000 Americans, is the direct result of literally screaming at everybody about your “rights”.

But there’s a fundamental right not being discussed — the right to exist.

Your “rights” are fine… up to the moment that your rights negatively impact another’s right to exist, then the discussion and debate becomes meaningless.

Now, let’s talk about conspiracy for a moment:

Borrowing a quote from an old-ish movie from way back in 1984:

That terminator is out there.

It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear, and it absolutely will not stop. Ever! Until you are dead.

Kyle Reese, Resistance Soldier, The Terminator (1984)

Oh, sorry, let me make one small adjustment to that quote, perhaps it’ll be meaningful — or perhaps it becomes too ‘meta’ for people to comprehend:

That virus is out there.

It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity or remorse or fear, and it absolutely will not stop. Ever! Until you are dead.

You cannot negotiate with a virus. It cares not of your age, gender, race, financial status, political affiliation, or belief system.

Yes, some viruses are rather harmless as far as viruses go — rhinovirus is a good example.

Others are somewhat horrifying. Especially horrifying because there’s a significant pre-symptomatic period (a few weeks) where somebody can be contagious and not even know they’re spreading a virus.

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* It’s an absolutely meaningless argument about how, somehow, your face — or your own name, FFS — could possibly be used against you. I’m still trying to comprehend that line or reasoning. Don’t believe me? Go ask an actual, licensed attorney.

Isolation Day 14?

On By JohnIn health, psychologyLeave a comment

Just because somebody says, “Everything will be back to normal in two weeks” it does absolutely not mean that everything will return to normal in two weeks.

If somebody says an emergency is going to take x-amount of time. Multiply by three. At a minimum. Two weeks becomes six weeks.

When faced with an unknown emergency, then add a zero.

About a year.

And with as much as everyone’s finances (and economies, globally) have been impacted, a year is probably the minimum realistic timeframe.

Also, those savings accounts that people have been amassing for “rainy-days” or “unplanned joblessness” or other health crises — this is rather difficult to hear and comprehend:

This is why you have a savings account. That’s what it’s for. The unexpected. The unplanned. The unknown.

Is it going to be wiped out? Quite possibly. Will you rebuild it? Eventually.

Persevere.

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I just heard that the POTUS has extended the recommended isolation period to the end of April. That’s good. But consider that normality, such as it was, won’t return for many months. If ever.

Another Event…

On By JohnIn finance, healthLeave a comment

It’s been a hell of a couple of weeks.

The markets have tanked. If you have stocks or bonds, leave them be — they’ll rebound eventually.

And don’t even think about looking at your 401k — just let it ride and worry about it in another few years.

Companies are laying people off. Many others are are closing up shop.

It’ll get worse. Much worse.

I’ve not looked closely at the numbers for comparison of markets, but I can’t help but think of the stories of the Great Depression in the 1920s.

I have noticed that petty crimes are up. Truck was burgled yesterday — less than $100 in theft. No doubt petty thefts and malicious acts are on the rise because of the perceived lack of law enforcement.

The latest is an order from Gov. Inslee, to stay home.

No legal authority to enforce it, of course. But there’s a guy named Mr. G. Reaper that will see that it’s sorted… I suppose he’ll also see about sorting those petty crimes as well.

Oh, and in other news, something familiar found its way into the house:

Social Distancing

On By JohnIn education, healthLeave a comment

SCC had changed the end date and final exams by a week — we were expecting to have everything complete by this Thursday instead of next Thursday.

Got an email (and alert) this morning saying that they’ve elected to end the term tomorrow. Not only that, but students and staff will be socially-distancing themselves to reduce risks; we’ll need to schedule a time to attend no more than ten students at a time.

No doubt there are many who will be moderately unprepared with the even shorter notice.

Still, the Spring quarter has been moved almost entirely online except for those portions or courses that need to be in labs or workshops for practical application of skills.

Also, regarding closures…

On By JohnIn health, lifeLeave a comment

So far, in Spokane, we’ve seen every single shop, store, and supermarket have all of the toilet paper bought-up*

We’ve also seen a drop in patronage across the city — customers have dropped off. They haven’t died, they’re just staying home.

Also, Gov. Inslee has ordered schools on the West side (Seattle area) to close, probably for just a few weeks.

On the more sane side of Washington, we’ve seen SCC & SFCC call an early end to the Winter quarter. Also, they’ve made some efforts to ensure there’s a regular start to the Spring quarter.

The instructor or an assistant called me earlier to notify that they’re moving the class online. The only thing I want to know is whether those who’d enrolled in the ($2,400) campus course will see a reduction or credit to the online-only cost ($1,700).

The Bloomsday Run Clinic has been canceled. I was rather looking forward to having other runners to encourage running. No idea if the Bloomsday run will be postponed or canceled, but it’s only about seven weeks out.

Also, on the wider scale, we’re all seeing that the markets have taken an absolute beating — accompanied by panic-sell-offs — over the past ten days or so. 401ks, Roth IRAs, etc. People are absolutely terrified that they’re losing money, so they cut losses and hope for the best.

“We have to take action! We need to do something!”

You’re right, we do.

Patience is a form of action.

It will recover.

Chill.

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*I really can’t comprehend what line of reasoning would lead somebody to buy-up any more toilet paper than they would typically use. It’s a respiratory virus — it has nothing to do with the digestive system or the upper respiratory tract.