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bolverk

Certifiably Surly
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Posts posted by bolverk

  1. 32 minutes ago, Eastwood said:

    I really wish HEB would setup a web cam for their stores so people can see if there is a line or not. That way people can monitor it to see when the best time to go would be.

    Go to Google Maps and do a search on HEB. Once the locations nearest you show up, click the icon for whichever one you want to go to.

    On the left side of your screen, an info box should pop up and, within that, you'll see a blue bar chart showing how busy they typically are by hour. Then, there will be a transparent red bar over the current time which indicates how much more busy it is than normal.

  2. 25 minutes ago, Helobious said:

    PSA: Just driving around the past 2 days, I’ve seen the cops pull over about 10 or 11 people. No exaggeration. I think with reduced traffic, the cops are really struggling to hit quotas. Drive extra careful.

    Buncha fuckers out there driving at full throttle too with traffic so low. I generally drive about five over the limit and have been getting passed left and right as randoms are bobbing in and out of lanes on Ben White between Congress and Brodie (no I haven’t been driving in the far left lane).

  3. 5 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

    Hang tight man.  We will all help each out to recover on the other side. 

    Ditto.

    News story on the supposedly COVID positive woman who went to HEB that got everyone pissed yesterday. If HEB weren't so overwhelmed, I'd think they should double check security cameras.

    https://www.kxan.com/news/coronavirus/facebook-post-about-woman-with-covid-19-visiting-h-e-b-is-false-woman-says

    AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman at the center of a viral Facebook post alleging she visited a south Austin H-E-B grocery store after testing positive for COVID-19 says the post is false, and she has not tested positive for the virus.

    On Wednesday afternoon, KXAN began receiving dozens of emails from people concerned about the Facebook post, which shows the woman saying she visited an H-E-B at Oltorf Street and South Congress Avenue. One commenter says he thought she had tested positive for COVID-19. The woman then answers the commenter and says she stayed in her car and wore a mask while her husband did the shopping.

    In an email to KXAN, the woman said she has never tested positive for COVID-19, and she was only “engaging in joking banter.” KXAN is not disclosing the woman’s name to minimize harassment.

    “In retrospect, I should have just said NO and left it at that,” she said. “The next post in that thread I stated that I have NOT tested positive, but that was not included in the screenshot [a Facebook user] started circulating.”

    The woman said she has not been tested for COVID-19 because she hasn’t qualified for testing or exhibited symptoms of the virus. She said she took a trip, returned on March 7 and has been self-quarantined as a precaution.

    “I have received so many nasty messages and death threats via various means since people posted my personal contact information,” the woman said in an email to KXAN. “My sister has Stage IV cancer, and I am her primary caretaker. We have been taking extra precautions. The entire thing was taken way out of context.”

    The woman said she has not been asked to self-quarantine but decided to do so as a precaution.

    An H-E-B spokesperson released the following statement: “When H-E-B was made aware of the unconfirmed social media dialogue we took immediate precautionary measures and sanitized the shopping area. Additionally, we contacted the individual and were informed that she has not been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is not exhibiting symptoms.”

    COVID-19 is the disease caused by a novel coronavirus discovered last year. The virus has spread across the globe, killed thousands and disrupted businesses worldwide.

    • Like 1
  4. 6 minutes ago, Bookman said:

    Doesn't "midnight tomorrow" mean midnight tonight?

    Technically, yeah, in that 23:59 is today and 00:00 is tomorrow. Is that what I think he meant?

    No, but the traffic to the Governor's website has brought it to a halt, so good luck getting the original press release unless you're on their email distribution list.

    https://gov.texas.gov/

    Texas Tribune clarifies it:

    During a news conference at the state Capitol, Abbott announced an executive order that will limit social gatherings to 10 people, prohibit eating and drinking at restaurants and bars while still allowing takeout, close gyms, ban people from visiting nursing homes except for critical care and temporarily close schools. The executive order is effective midnight Friday through midnight April 3, Abbott said.

    https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/19/texas-restaurants-bars-closed-greg-abbott/

  5. 15 minutes ago, elfenix said:

    00:00 tomorrow or 24:00 tomorrow?

    He said that it starts at "midnight tomorrow" which I can only interpret as the moment the clock strikes 12:00 Friday night. It only makes sense in that it would allow bars/restos a day to adjust.

  6. These are interesting findings and yet another reason why we need more widespread testing. The more data, the better.

    Blood Type and COVID-19

    Today I participated in another radio call in show about COVID-19. I was stumped by a question regarding ABO blood type and susceptibility to COVID-19. Did having Type A blood make you more likely to get sick when infected with SARS-CoV-2?

    1*sXlXexU7jORu_CNjrYutjQ.png

    I was fully prepared to discuss the ibuprofen story, but this was news to me. Thanks to a long commercial break, I was able to look it up. A few days ago, Chinese researchers uploaded a pre-print to medrxiv. They looked at more than 2000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in China, including some who had died. They found that patients with blood type A were associated with a higher risk of infection than those with blood type O. They also had a higher risk of death. Since there are more people in the general population with type O than with type A, this wasn’t simply a reflection of the population. (Types B and AB also had higher risk than O, but the difference wasn’t statistically significant.)

    Does this mean that being Type A is bad? Not necessarily. First rule of epidemiology is correlation does not equal causation. Coincidence happens in science too.
    SARS-CoV-2 infects the lungs, so why would blood type even matter?

    Interestingly, a similar pattern was found for SARS-CoV, the virus that caused the SARS outbreak in 2003–2004. Having Type A blood means you have a molecule on the surface of your cells that Type O lacks. People with Type O blood have naturally occurring antibodies to Type A blood. This is why someone who has Type A blood can’t donate to someone with Type O. The Type O person’s immune system will recognize that A surface molecule as foreign and attack it with “Anti-A antibodies.” Researchers studying SARS-CoV hypothesized that these anti-A antibodies also recognized the spike (S) protein on the surface of the coronavirus, blocking infection, or at least providing some protection.

    So that brings us back to the question, if you have Type A blood, do you need to worry? Maybe, but not necessarily. The difference (37.75% Type A vs 25.80% Type O) is statistically significant. But what this means isn’t really clear. It’s an interesting story and worthy of further research, but maybe not a determining factor in disease. There are other co-morbidities linked to higher risks.
    This story does highlight the importance of understanding the scientific reports during an outbreak in context. medRxiv is an extremely useful resource for scientists. It’s a site developed by Yale and Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory for researchers to upload articles as soon as they write them, before peer-review. In a typical scientific journal, articles go through extensive review by multiple scientists who will point out weaknesses, inaccuracies, or just ask hard questions for clarity. In an outbreak situation, we need information fast, and we don’t have the months available to go through that process.
    That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t trust the articles in medRxiv because they’re not peer reviewed. It means we need to understand that they are preliminary. Such research is often meant to pose more questions than it answers. This is what scientists do- we ask questions. Sometimes those questions lead to groundbreaking research. And sometimes, they don’t.

    So if you have Type A blood (like me), don’t fret. Take all your usual precautions. Wash your hands. Be alert to symptoms. Practice appropriate social distancing. Review the science.

    • Like 3
  7. 8 minutes ago, DDD Dad said:

    The government electing not to order ventilators while other countries do so (and thereby diverting capacity overseas) also leads to a shortage of ventilators.

    It should be considered criminal negligence.

    Btw, vaguely speaking, what neighborhood and city do you live where the junior high is?

    Nvm Saw your other post in DT

  8. Exclusive: Amazon stops receiving non-essential products from sellers amid coronavirus outbreak

    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is suspending sellers from sending non-essential products to its U.S. and U.K. warehouses until April 5 in the latest move to free up inventory space for much-needed supplies that are in shortage as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

    In a note sent to sellers on Tuesday, Amazon said it is seeing increasing online shopping demand from consumers. As its household staples and medical supplies are running out of stock, it will prioritize certain categories in order to “quickly receive, restock, and ship these products to customers.”

    Amazon defined five categories as essential products that can continue shipping, including Baby Product, Health & Household, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Industrial & Scientific, Pet Supplies.

    More:

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-amazon-com-exclusi/exclusive-amazon-stops-receiving-non-essential-products-from-sellers-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN2142IM

  9. 37 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

    Here's the reason for the tweet

    It's mind-bottling I initially thought mind-boggling was the incorrect term, to be honest. That said, she's not wrong.

    And, for the president to in one tweet call her a Failing Governor in one tweet and then turn around in the next one and say he's working well with Governors is some serious cognitive dissonance. 

  10. 3 minutes ago, ChiTownDoc said:

    Yes, completely ridiculous.  Here stateside, I'd be willing to bet we're trending in the hundreds of thousands.  I'm not exaggerating.  There's plenty of facts we can lay out around here but if you start your analysis at the confirmed number of positive cases the whatever point you're trying to make is gonna be bullshit.  

    5-10 cases in the wild for every confirmed one according to this.

     

    • Like 1
  11. Spoke with my mom about a half hour ago. She'd gotten off the phone with my sister who's a PA up in the Denver area with a pediatric practice. According to her, my sister has ordered 8 tests so far and 7 have come back positive.

    Last time I spoke with my mom was Friday, and I thought I'd talked her into isolating herself (78 yo) and my dad (82 yo), but no. They went to fucking church yesterday and have plans to go out for a dinner party at a gotdam restaurant later this week with a bunch of other olds. They live in a small West Texas town and aren't feeling the heat yet.

    I'm really pissed at them.

  12. 11 minutes ago, NoName said:

    BBC: Coronavirus: Plan to ramp up ventilator production 'unrealistic'

    Full Text:

     

      Reveal hidden contents

     

    Coronavirus: Plan to ramp up ventilator production 'unrealistic'

    By Simon Gompertz & Esyllt CarrBBC News

    Image copyrightPENLON

    A medical devices maker has cast doubt on using non-specialist manufacturers to produce more ventilators.

    Craig Thompson, head of products at Oxfordshire company Penlon, said the idea that other firms could switch production was unrealistic.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged engineering firms, including carmakers, to explore if they could make the life-saving equipment.

    Ventilators are critical in the care of some people suffering coronavirus.

    But there is concern the National Health Service will face a shortage of equipment as the virus infects more people.

    The manufacturers association, Make UK, says that it would be possible for some specialist engineers to scale up production under licence.

    Ford, Honda, car parts firm Unipart, digger maker JCB, and aero-engine maker Rolls Royce are among companies looking into the feasibility of switching some production.

    Medical ventilators are used to provide oxygen to patients with breathing difficulties, but there are not nearly enough of them to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

    Skip Twitter post by @MattHancock
     

    Calling all manufacturers who can support our National Effort for #coronavirus ventilator production - to help, contact Government Business Support team: 0300 456 3565 / ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk

     
     
     
     

    End of Twitter post by @MattHancock

    The Department of Health has revealed that in a worst case scenario the NHS will need an additional 20,000 of the machines. The NHS currently has about 5,000 adult ventilators and 900 for children in critical care facilities.

    The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has tweeted asking for help from "all manufacturers who can support our National Effort for coronavirus ventilator production".

    But Penlon, which makes anaesthesia machines that include a ventilator, is cautious about hopes that other companies can start making the equipment.

    "The idea that an engineering company can quickly manufacturer medical devices, and comply with the rules, is unrealistic because of the heavy burden of standards and regulations that need to be complied with," said Penlon's Mr Thompson.

    He said "the focus should be on existing medical device companies increasing supply of ventilators".

    His firm makes 750 machines a year and could double production, given time. In the short term he could provide the NHS with up to 200 more machines.

    "The manufacture of medical devices, such as ventilators, is highly regulated," Mr Thompson adds. "Typically a new medical device takes two or three years to develop and launch."

      The UK's only specialist maker of ventilators for intensive care units, Breas, in Stratford-upon-Avon, has already increased capacity and moved to seven-day working.

    Breas makes a range of ventilators called Nippy, which are widely used in the NHS, but it only has 150 staff worldwide.

    Make UK believes that the solution to the ventilator problem is to use what it calls contract manufacturing.

    "Rather than a particular company trying in their own factory to make thousands and thousands of ventilators - which they would struggle to do - you have around them other manufacturers with capacity," said Stephen Phipson, Make's chief executive.

    Presentational grey line

    What is a ventilator?

    • A ventilator is a machine that helps a person breathe by getting oxygen into the lungs and removing carbon dioxide
    • Ventilators can be used to help a person breathe if they have lung disease or another condition that makes breathing difficult. They can also be used during and post-surgery
    • A tube, connected to a ventilator machine, is placed in a person's mouth, nose or through a small cut in the throat (called a tracheostomy)

    Presentational grey line

    The ventilator makers would licence their designs to other contractors. "There are quite a few companies in the UK which do that sort of work every day of the week," Mr Phipson added.

    Small manufacturers are already responding to the government's appeal for help.

    Jules Morgan, who owns KPM Marine, in Birmingham, making equipment for the marine industry, has offered to see whether he could make ventilator components.

    Image captionJules Morgan says some components would have to be sourced from China

    "The key will be in how it's managed. It'll involve different manufacturers making different parts - and somewhere it can go to be assembled," he says. "It's a big ask, but I think it's doable."

    He said challenges would include sourcing electrical components from China and testing the units, which is a time consuming process.

    But he said expectations may have to change. "These are extraordinary times, so you have to be pragmatic and innovative. We need to speak to medical professionals to find out what the core requirements are, and work to those.

    "We may need to consider using older technology that's easier to produce in high volumes," Mr Morgan said.

    •  

     

     

    Please, for the love of all things holy, use PASTE SPECIAL / PLAIN TEXT!

    • Like 2
  13. I've got a core group of friends going back to high school from the 80s that I group text with. We've been discussing this rationally and apolitically so as to not ruffle feathers. No one had previously mentioned Trump or the shitty response.

    Then, the one virulent Trump supporter could no longer contain himself and had to blurt out this shit yesterday afternoon.

    20200314-080210.jpg

    "S" used to be a surgical nurse in ER rooms and now sells medical supplies.

     

  14. 3 minutes ago, horn4life said:

    Sadly, sadly, sadly so much of the anxiety, hoarding and outright illogical panic could have all been avoided.  IF only we had a President that was able to see past the tip of his own nose when looking at anything. 

    All of this. Collectively, we could've been slowly preparing over the last two months. But, instead, we (as a society) have only begun to frantically prepare over the last couple of days.

  15. 48 minutes ago, Constant said:

    No joke. He used to be your typical East Texas conservative, but he has jumped off the cliff the last few years. Hard to even have a conversation about ice cream without it turning into some political blame game. 

    I don't mean to be a dick, but have you considered taking his keys away since his cognitive reasoning has declined to such a degree?

    Last night, I spoke with my 78 yo mother about this and did my utmost best to describe the seriousness of the situation to her. At first, she tried to downplay it. But since she's a former math teacher, I asked her to recall how exponents work and said this thing seemed to double in cases every 3-4 days. She was under the impression that tests had been widely available, but I told her that Dr. Fauci testified to Congress that the system had been failing and explained to her that there were far more more cases out there than we knew. The lightbulb seemed to go on and she said, "I guess I need to cancel my dentist appointment next week."

    That gave me a sigh of relief, but I'm still going to have to rely on her persuasion skills to convince my utterly brainwashed, die-hard, Trump-supporting, 82 yo dad. If your mom is still around, try to get her to lean on him. If all else fails, issue a Silver Alert on him (kidding/not kidding).

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