Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) - Effects on the production industry

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From the NY Times - April 1990

"In the largest deal ever between an American corporation and the Soviet Union, Pepsico expects to sign an agreement today to barter Pepsi-Cola for ships and vodka. The accord is valued at more than $3 billion.

The expected deal will greatly expand Pepsi-Cola's availability in the Soviet Union. And for the first time, Pepsico will take out its profits not just in Stolichnaya vodka, but in oceangoing freighters and tankers as well.

Since 1974, Pepsico has shipped its soft-drink syrup to the Soviet Union, made it into cola and sold the bottled product, taking out its profits in Stolichnaya, which is sold through a third party in the United States. Under the new deal, the Soviet Union will trade at least 10 tankers and freighters, ranging in size from 28,600 tons to 65,000 tons, with a total value of more than $300 million."
 
The article seems to overlook the fact that currently, 35 patients are in serious/critical condition. It is entirely possible that the current count of 6 deaths will not stay at 6.
 
Had a gig postponed indefinitely today. We were actually slated to drive up to King County, WA, which is the hot spot in the US right now. I'm kind of relieved that we won't be.

I might have to start offering outdoor, "touch-free" interview/talking head sessions.
 
I've sort of relented to the impossibility of taking any precautions (I mean, not *really* - I am careful). But the whole six degrees of separation thing sort of ruins it.

One of our friends has a roommate who works for Nike. She got back from Italy and Nike quarantined her at home. We learned this while hanging out with the roommate. Umm... if her roommate had it, she had it, and then we were hanging out.

Another friend flew home from Seattle the other day. I'm sure they were in a hub with all sorts of people who had contact with people who had contact, etc.

Went out to dinner tonight, waiting for a table chatting with a couple up from LA. Shook hands. Waiters handling glasses who work with all sorts of peoples glasses.

I'm just too tired of trying to be overly cautious. I can stay in my little bubble in Portland and the reality is I'm basically "in the hot spot" by virtue of our insanely connected world... there is no safe bubble, really.

With that, this is going to be going on for quite some time I suspect. Don't have the energy to stress it. Wash hands, take reasonable precautions, keep living life. I don't think I would decrease my odds of getting the virus much by doing anything further, short of becoming a hermit until 2021.
 
The "percentage play", as one might call it, is to pour a tiny amount of a 40+% liquor (gin, vodka, rum, tequila, cognac, brandy etc.) onto a napkin or paper towel and wipe your nostrils and lips with it. Then have a tea spoon of that drink as an extra-strength mouthwash (actual mouthwash sold in stores has a ~ 24% alcohol content). Swallow it. Do it 4-6 times per day, even without any obvious symptoms of any cold or flu.

Whereas rubbing alcohol is in short supply, for the above, any liquor store will do.

And, if you can't find any antibacterial soap, soak your hands in a bowl with hot water and a few drops of a dish washing liquid. Those make bigger bubbles anyway.

And, as much surgeon friend recommended, if you're at an airport type of a closed space, spray a paper towel with an inexpensive cologne and use a rubber band to keep it over your face.
 
I've sort of relented to the impossibility of taking any precautions (I mean, not *really* - I am careful). But the whole six degrees of separation thing sort of ruins it.

I hear you. I'm not as worried about catching it myself as I am about my parents catching it. My mother has a severely compromised immune system and the outlook would not be good if she contracted Covid-19. Thankfully, she lives alone. I'm washing my hands diligently, and disinfecting heavy-use areas around the home daily. But I'm seeing a lot of people a lot of people who aren't changing their habits at all. I was at Fred Meyer a day ago and saw a woman walk up to the tomato bin, habitually licking her index finger before reaching out to touch them in what I imagine was some kind of an old-timey ripeness test. I'm also seeing people are rubbing their eyes and men in office restrooms who aren't washing their hands at all. Not to mention all of the people on social media still talking about how this is a hoax, or no worse than your run of the mill flu.

I'm also concerned about business. Work isn't really something that I can do from home, unless it's editing. I'm trying to think of ways to adapt my business model so that I can still bring in something if it gets really bad. Though part of me will just want to leave the city and go backpacking in all of the places I've wanted to, but haven't had the time to visit.

Eventually, this will just be a part of the flu shot cocktail and life will go back to normal. Looking forward to that day.
 
Matthew 5:30

Well that's a bit drastic, isn't it? ;-)

According Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the NIH, who I had the opportunity to work with many years ago on some Biotech and Cancer research projects,
we are 12-16 months out from an effective vaccine that's been vetted through clinical trials against Covid 19. I'm sure once it receives approval, it will
take another 6-12 months to ramp up production enough where the vaccine is available to most people. In the meantime, just be reasonable and not
an idiot, stockpiling water and toilet paper like it's the end of the world.

Short of limiting your exposure, washing your hands a lot and acting wisely to limit your exposure profile, what the hell else are you going to do?
I'm not going to get political here but the world is full of panicking Sheeple. Don't get trampled. I find herd mentality not only predictable, but rather sickeningly pathetic.

I believe that when your number is up, your number is up. In my life, I have been literally inches from dying in a car accident, lounging on the surface of the ocean after scuba
diving in poor visibility, in a black wetsuit when there was an 18' Great White less than 25' underneath us that was caught 20 minutes later, I've came incredibly close to having
240V current fry my body. It wasn't my time yet. Don't be a Sheeple. Take precautions, use your brain and live your life.
 
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Here's one for discussion. So, when you cough or sneeze, into what are you to do so? Hand, elbow, open air, etc.? It seems everyone assumes hands and that seems standard practice, but an argument could be made that infecting your hands in such a way will result in more objects and surfaces that other people touch also being infected by your hand than if you had just coughed into the air and let the germs fall to the ground (where people are not likely to touch). Elbow makes more sense.
 
"Don't Be a Sheeple" - That should be a national campaign. If I were running for office, I'd steal that. I'm stealing it anyway. Anytime someone says something stupid to me, I'm using that.

Elbow sneezing has been de rigueur for many years in my area. Remember when people had handkerchiefs for this? No? I think that is so much more classy to rub your nose or sneeze. But then who wants to carry around a snot rag in their pocket.
 
I don't understand the handkerchief. I guess it could handle mild sneezes which are just puffs of air with some small droplets. But when I have a cold, my nose is a fountain, and there's no way one non-disposable handkerchief could contain the literal ounces of fluid coming out.
 
According Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the NIH. who I had the opportunity to work with many years ago on some Biotech and Cancer research projects,
we are 12-16 months out from an effective vaccine that's been vetted through clinical trials against Covid 19.
It may not be that simple.

My understanding is that there is no vaccine against MERS and vaccines for SARS are not very effective, both MERS and SARS are close family members of COVID-19.
Also, there is mutation risk, the common cold is also a coronavirus type and tends to mutate fooling our immune systems.
 
The EPA has released a list of approved house disinfectants, your usual Clorox, etc. variety.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/epa...roducts-approved-kill-covid/story?id=69412861

(it's labeled as "politics" but it's fairly clear of the opinions)

I'll add that one should ventilate the interiors (without getting caught in the draft, as I had earlier this morning) and consume a higher than average amount of Vitamin C (orange/pineapple juices and fruits ... if there's too much sugar in branded boxes, mix it with either a clear Diet drink (7Up, Sprite, etc.) or any carbonated/sparkling water like Pellegrino or St. Croix ... if the body struggles with too much acid, have a slice of bread to absorb it).
 
You ain't seen panicking sheeple yet. 8 weeks ago there were only 300 cases worldwide. Now we're over 100,000. In a months time, this thing will be exploding all over the USA and it's going to be pandemonium. So far it has progressed in pretty much the worst case scenario every step of the way and I don't see that stopping. If you aren't worried yet, you're not paying attention. I pray I'm wrong. But I fear we haven't begun to feel the economic, societal and political strain this pandemic is going to cause.
 
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