Kevin's Watch

We got shamed on the national news for our failure to take it seriously, and today was a little more dystopian. I got stopped by the police on my way to work, which could have gone worse than it did because I didn't have any company ID on me. Managed to convince them that I would not be out there if I did not need to be. Fewer people on the street in general, but probably still more than strictly necessary. Day 2 and they're already going stir-crazy. It's going to be an interesting three weeks.

Yeah, seems pretty remote right now, especially as I haven't left the house since Monday. Will be venturing to the shops today though...

--A

Today was about the same. Downtown was dead. Still some people wandering around. There seem to be a fair number of lonely retired folks looking for conversation and whatnot - exactly the part of the population that shouldn't be out wandering around right now.

The post office had a very long line (which I fortunately did not need to wait in), but there was some interesting people-watching to be had. Nobody maintaining their /range 6 (pardon the WoW reference - that's a command that puts up a warning if someone comes too close to you) - but a lot of people wearing improvised masks that probably won't offer much protection. One guy looked like he was celebrating Casual Friday on the Death Star. I'm... not sure it was intentional. This city...

Sorus wrote:One guy looked like he was celebrating Casual Friday on the Death Star. I'm... not sure it was intentional. This city...

That's an awesome (good and bad) visual!

Traffic here has reduced dramatically. Schools are still open, but parents may be voluntarily keeping their children home. So far, we aren't in full lock down - but things move rapidly. Because I live on an Island, the government has placed restrictions on anyone coming in - mandatory isolation for non-essential visit reasons. My wife's cake business will die - too many cancellations (understandable). Well, not 'die', but be suspended for a while.

I hope your wife's business bounces back quickly. Bakeries are the closest thing I have to a vice, and I hope my favorites are still around when the dust settles. I know things aren't going to magically spring back to normal when these 3 weeks are up. Our world has changed.

I know it's a selfish thought, but I don't like change.

Who does?

This working from home thing is a bit of a pain though.

Otherwise all good, or at least, as good as it can be...still early days here though I think, they're predicting confirmed cases will exceed 200 today...

--A

We jumped from 70 to 76 since yesterday, just in the city. Which doesn't seem too bad - at least it's not doubling and whatnot. I suspect that number is inaccurate due to the shortage of tests.

Still too many people out and about. The governor put the whole state under shelter in place as of midnight last night, and it still doesn't look like people are taking it seriously. I wouldn't be out there if I didn't need to be. Bloody situation-has-escalated-but-you're-still-expected-to-work robocall woke me up last night.

But I am grateful to have a job. Even though cuts are coming next week, it isn't dire yet. I don't know if my workplace can survive this. So much of our business depends on conventions and tourism in general. The hotels are all closed and the convention center has been turned into an emergency management hub. This isn't going to blow over in two weeks. This isn't going to blow over in two months.

Flippin 'ek! The Shadow of Mordor has now reached Cov, where I live.
Schools are out, bars are closed, even our national sport (soccer) has had an extended cancellation till the end of April.

On the plus side, where I work there's a provisional pay rise with lots of overtime. Meh, I'm kicking it back this weekend.

Well, 21-day national lock-down announced last night...all non-essential services / etc. closed, everybody to stay home, etc. etc. 47% increase in cases between Sunday and Monday nights.

All about slowing the spread now, otherwise our healthcare system will be overwhelmed.

Since I already been working remotely since last Monday, not much change for me, but meh anyway.

--A

Already feeling meh about the whole thing, and the damn lock-down hasn't even officially started yet.

--A

Avatar wrote:Already feeling meh about the whole thing, and the damn lock-down hasn't even officially started yet.

--A

My work that I do from November through April involves banquet service, at events with a lot of people together, so my work has been shut down for a week, already, and is likely to stay that way for the next few weeks. I'm feeling VERY "meh" myself, about practicing all this isolation and social distancing. I will obey, for I understand the reasoning behind it, but I'm itching to go for a hike somewhere and get out of the house!

Yeah, I already been working remotely for 2 weeks before the lockdown, which went into effect at midnight last night.

It's not even about leaving the house...I don't usually leave the house that much anyway, apart from work and shopping. Maybe it's the inconvenience or the uncertainty, I dunno.

It might actually be worse that I can carry on working...wouldn't mind a few days to sleep away etc.

--A

CH, there is no clinical reason why you can't go hike. Park and trail prohibitions are for dense areas where folks either can't practice appropriate distancing or lack the common sense to do so. You are intimately familiar with backcountry where encountering others is rare to begin with, and avoiding proximity is no great challenge.

Go get your outside "fix"; you know you will feel (and be) better for doing so. Just stay safe.

Not here...no leaving even for exercise.

--A

Avatar wrote:Not here...no leaving even for exercise.

That's an excessive degree of control, and will likely prove counterproductive given how long these precautions will need to be in place. Long-term, folks who do not have the training of astronauts or submariners will fare poorly without some mobility and outside exposure. Bad for our deeply-conditioned mental health.

Maybe that degree of martial law is needed there, but CH is in a wonderous wide open land where outdoor solitude is readily available and he is already a good steward of that abundance. He should get out there...safely and discretely, of course.

Yeah, it's expected that as we progress they will modify the regulations as necessary, think they just wanted to get a broad outline in place first. Can still exercise / walk dogs etc. in your yard / complex / whatever, although not in groups obviously.

--A

Chicago shutdown the lakefront completely.

Julie's job sent her home
For two weeks paid. I am
Considered essential.

We've had our hours cut. It's a good option. Most of us work from home anyway, and having something to do stops you from going nuts.

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by French impressionist Georges Seurat

Magnifying Glass

Apart from its scientific purpose to prove that points of colour are brighter than any other form of brushstroke, this painting could easily be viewed as an exercise on how to draw the viewer in, literally.
By this I mean, entering into the mood of the picture until all the senses are engaged - the smell of the pipe and cigar smoke, the warmth of the sun, the cool of the shade, the sounds of a trumpet or barking dog, the voices of the Parisians ... or for that matter, their complete silence.

Georges Seurat restretched the canvas of his painting so he could include a border frame. I certainly wonder if this was to help invert the dark rectangle down the avenue of trees at the far side of the scene. The trees having branches leaning to the left seem to invite a tilt of the head for the additional effect.