BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Apr 21 - 11:08 AM

I'm visiting Norfolk County in Massachusetts,
outside of Boston (Suffolk County) for a few days.

Last night I stopped at a Walmart super-store
for some laundry detergent.
Don't know what Walmart is like in other regions,
but up here, face-masks were on every person in the store,
including families with small children.
And people were social distancing carefully.
That building can hold a lot of people, even
with the six-foot-distance rule.

Lot of working mothers getting ingredients for food and cooking.
And probably a few working fathers too.

Still quantities of businesses, especially the small ones,
who admit customers by appointment only.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 19 Apr 21 - 09:30 AM

Everything is going bad here, spreading fast all because one person did not follow the rules
All the best from Iceland Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Apr 21 - 10:23 AM

Skarpi, that's very sad. Fingers crossed ...

Ontario is deep in a third wave, with case counts spiking in large urban areas. The worst hit are the sectors of metropolitan Toronto where warehouses, factories and food-processing plants are concentrated, and the neighbourhoods where essential workers live. For the first time, some Canadian regional per-capita infection rates exceed rates in comparable regions in the United States.

The vaccination campaign is too slow and awkward for plenty of reasons, but I think the main one is inconsistent supply. When case counts spike in dense urban areas, especially among essential workers, vaccine doses allocated to thinly populated regions (like Huron-Perth, where I live) are redirected to crisis areas. Consequently, Toronto residents in their 40s are being vaccinated now, while in Huron-Perth the campaign is only now reaching healthy folks in the 65+ cohort.

For the record, I'm fine, and scheduled for my first vaccine dose on Friday.

The news media are full of stories about anger and resistance to the latest lockdown orders -- in Ontario, it's a stay-home directive with travel restrictions until mid-May -- but I note general compliance with mask and distancing rules here in Stratford. It used to be rude to cross the street on spotting another person (the "cut direct"), but now it's as routine as looking both ways before crossing. On heavily travelled arterial roads, the person facing traffic steps off the sidewalk into the curb lane.

When it's tolerably warm in the late afternoon, I sit on my porch with a book and a beverage, and wave at passers-by. When I'm out stretching my own legs, I see that many other people do the same thing. Everyone says hi, even the teenagers.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Apr 21 - 06:37 PM

Yes, Charmion, the "cut direct" -- I learned about that,
not in USA American conversation, but in reading
neo-Regency novelists like Georgette Heyer.

The county where my clinic is, Berkshire County,
has been startled by the coronavirus variants.
Vaccinations are going well in the county,
and there had been no rising 'curve' in infection
until those pesky variants turned up.

But here in Massachusetts, at least where I have traveled,
people are cautious and courteous, and more power to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 24 Apr 21 - 01:04 PM

Hallo all, well because of a foreign tourist infective of Covid, who would no respect staying for 5
Days in a four star hotel paid by the Goverment, we have now massive group of people who are infective of Covid, we should close the border.
All the best from Iceland Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 24 Apr 21 - 06:20 PM

I was looking for this word..better late than ever ... quarantine
, this is far from over, India , Us Europe, Sweden, Iceland , Norway Italia
Africa , South America and many more .
stay save
all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: robomatic
Date: 24 Apr 21 - 08:32 PM

In Alaska we have enough vaccine doses that tourists can get them. There is a significant number of people who will not take the vaccine for political or quasi-religious reasons. Restaurants are open. I am not aware of religious services yet, but that is on the horizon. Our local government has mandated mask wearing but indications are that this will not last through the summer.
Our infection rate is non-zero but I don't think it is high. Our death rate is close to zero.
I've been out to restaurants twice in the last week, for the first times for a year.
Starbucks is still doing everything through drive-thrus, but some local coffee shops are open for seating.

I believe we are as likely as anyone else to be getting the disease variants and I personally think we are not out of the woods due to these and the vaccine resistance of enough people to prevent us getting to a herd immunity. How many tourists we get this Summer will also be interesting. As of this moment we are apparently getting little to no cruise ship visits; and I believe Canada is limiting overland transit across her territory, which kinda puts us at the end of aviation only access.

Interesting Times!

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Apr 21 - 01:58 PM

True, Skarpi,
the North American press is making much of
the pandemic in India at the moment.

And where I am staying,
the variant versions are attracting infection AND attention.

Hope things get healthier soon in Iceland.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Apr 21 - 10:55 AM

Apropos of the tragedy of the Texas ice storm,
there are new journalistic updates online
about the deaths from
carbon monoxide poisoning alone
-- a statewide scandal,
in that there are no requirements in place
for domiciles to have carbon monoxide detectors.
That story haunted me for hours after I read it yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 May 21 - 03:47 PM

Hey, don't stop now,
keep checking in, everybody . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 May 21 - 04:33 PM

The weather here in Annapolis, where I came for my nephew's graduation as his parents are in Tasmania behind closed borders, is absolutely marvy.
I am *on* my first leave-town-visit-people trip since before my hospitalization in Jan 2020, and the ones I took in the year before that, while I was circling the drain, I did not *enjoy* so, yay.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: MudGuard
Date: 17 May 21 - 08:01 AM

got my first vaccination last Wednesday.

And did neither die nor got eaten by Bill Gates (or whatever these anti-vaccination people threaten will happen to vaccinated people ...)

Germany totals:
11.2% got both their vaccinations,
~26% got their first vaccination but not yet the second one.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Donuel
Date: 17 May 21 - 08:30 AM

I have found the liberation of being fully vaccinated to be more gradual than I had imagined but its still fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Charmion
Date: 17 May 21 - 11:06 AM

Infection rates in Ontario are edging down after nearly six weeks of the latest lockdown, and the Premier has just announced that families will be allowed to go camping in provincial parks this summer if they stay away from other people.

I always thought that was the whole point of recreational camping, but I could be wrong.

The current stay-home order, the third (or maybe the fourth?), is scheduled to be lifted on 2 June. When the previous lockdown ended just before Easter, it took less than two weeks for the public health authorities to slam the province shut again as infection rates spiked in all the cities, the dreaded variants made their debut, and young people began showing up in ICUs.

So we'll see.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 May 21 - 08:35 PM

I'm living in 'congregate housing' at the moment, have been for over a year.

A very few members of the, shall we say, community have issues with things like anaphylaxis, did I write it wrong?
and have chosen not to be vaccinated;
the rest of us went and got our two doses.

I still think it is prudent to err on the side of caution.
And this state, Massachusetts,
after a scary lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,
has mostly been careful. Although other places,
including Vermont, have been stricter yet
and have naturally had fewer cases.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 21 - 01:56 PM

Once the Trump nonsense was cleared out and our medical folks allowed to work unimpeded, things have moved forward quickly. Even with a sizable chunk of the population reluctant or recalcitrant about the vaccines, things are moving forward.

It took a lot of work to reach this point, and now that we're looking around we're seeing that much of the rest of the world isn't in as happy a place. India is a hot mass of smoky cremation pyres. Trump was no good at sharing with others and when Biden came into office he was busy trying to counteract the Trump effect. Now it is time to help others - and the fastest way would be to open up the patents so other countries can make the vaccine. This is a point where extremely rich and well-positioned American and European companies must be persuaded to share the bounty and help rid the world of COVID.

Easier said than done.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 05 Jun 21 - 06:48 PM

Hallo again , right this is not over don´t you forget that, the worst is yet to come, but we´ll get there in the end .
My hope is that Humanity will come stronger and united out of this pandemic
but my wish may not come true
from the Elf-land
all the best . Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 07:15 PM

I suspect that COVID and its variants will be with us for a long, long time, and we should get used to the idea.

That would mean frequent re-inoculation, like the annual flu shot but with higher stakes and, consequently, more nagging from the public health authorities (I hope).

And we would get used to bouts of mask-wearing and limitations on gathering and travel, depending on infection rates and the appearance of variants.

Kinda like the olden days, before mass immunization and antibiotics, when quarantine was not a figure of speech.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 08 Jun 21 - 06:57 AM

If I have been able to plan my movements, I do not think I will ever board mass transit again without a mask. I think one effect of this pandemic will be that others will not only not think such a measure odd, but reasonable in the circumstances.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: MudGuard
Date: 14 Jul 21 - 09:56 AM

just got my 2nd vaccination (biontech today, astra zeneca 8 weeks ago ...)

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Jul 21 - 10:44 AM

my second dose is due late August. Our immunisation program is a - I won't say a joke, cos it isn't funny. Even the New York Times has a story about it.

here in Australia's largest city we are in lockdown with only a few reasons to be outside, with masks to be worn inside & outside & long lines at testing & vaccination hubs - delta covid has been running wild & not everyone is taking it seriously.

Parties have been happening, some folks are only fined the basic $1000, but rich "sportsmen" flaunting the regulations also lose tens of thousand from their clubs.

A couple of months ago amusement was caused by a bloke who signed in using QR codes to 51 shops in widespread locations over 2 days, but the contact-tracers loved him.

News item tonight said something like 25 people signed into an establishment where 76 sales were made! Pity the contact tracers.

We even have 2 apartment buildings in different areas in total lockdown as residents have been catching delta from each other. Police are supervising grocery/meal deliveries, & health care worker visits.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Jul 21 - 10:41 PM

Really happy to see this thread still circulating.
Where I am, so many people ARE vaccinated
that the surest way to cause a fuss is
... to show up unvaccinated and wearing a facemask.
Which is a long way from where we were one year ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 10:45 AM

I received my second jab a week ago; only seven more days and I'll be fit to leave town with a clear conscience. But not without a mask -- or several. As with underpants, clean each day is the way to go.

If only Canada would hurry up and issue durable vaccination certificates! The Ontario Ministry of Health e-mailed me a bar code, but I'm afraid the gun-toting guys & gals at the US border will think it's a price tag from Home Depot.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 11:13 AM

keep away from those gun-toters!

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 11:53 AM

Checking in from the State of Texas that has been in the news because of divisive GOP attempts to restrict voting. Gah.

The state has 42% of the population fully-vaccinated, with another 7% receiving at least one dose (of the 2-dose program). So I'm still wearing a mask in open public places, as much in solidarity as in protecting myself (you CAN catch COVID-19 if you have been vaccinated - it will make you sick but probably won't kill you.)

I've managed to build up my social life to the point that I'm out a couple of days a week working in a park or museum. There's something about having to prepare and go out and do whatever that makes the days I spend at home all the more precious. Today, more canning. I might pick enough peppers to make a second batch of salsa - the first batch has been a huge hit with my family.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Madhatters world wide
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 02:27 PM

Every state in the US except Utah have 32%-58% rise in an infection rate over these last 3 weeks. All the deaths (100%) are among the unvaccinated. Many of them are wonderful young people (14 to 40), just scared, misinformed or naive. The real ass holes are the ones who are vaccinated but influence others to not vaccinate. Then there are the stupid left over Trump believers who never will vaccinate.

Morning back pain is keeping me from the cooler morning projects I want to do. Maybe a chiropracter is in order.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 04:34 PM

well , I got two shots of Astra Zeneca and now it seems that all the vaccine s are not working completely, I knew I could get sick, and I knew that I could carry the virus, I am not sick I still wear a mask and sterilize my hand, I try to keep about 2 mtr from other people, and it seems that the 4 wave of the Covid is beginning here in Iceland,

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 17 Jul 21 - 04:44 PM

those who are sick are people who already got 2 shots of either Astra,moderna, Jensen or Pfizer, so the question now is all though
we get less sick after the vaccine, are we just a lab rat´s for the drug firms, think of all the money they get for this, I have a second thought.


I have a feeling that some thing is very off, and when I get a feeling
It often turns out to be right .

Skrúmp !

All the best from me and take extra care of you and yours and remember that what we have today we may not have tomorrow.
Skarpi .

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Jul 21 - 11:00 AM

Skarpi, the advice Canadians are getting from our public health authorities is to expect the current vaccines to keep us out of hospital if we catch the virus. Because COVID-19 mutates quickly, and has different effects on different age groups, the kind of blanket immunity we get from a smallpox vaccination or a polio jab is not yet possible.

Remember that COVID-19 is a new disease, and the scientists are paddling as fast as they can.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Jul 21 - 10:09 PM

what does Skrump! mean?

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Jos
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 03:23 AM

Well 'scrumping' means eating apples off somebody else's tree.
Sorry, that's not much help.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: MudGuard
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 10:31 AM

Icelandic "Skrúmp" translates to English "shrinkage"

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Jos
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 12:36 PM

Maybe 'skrúmp' is linked to the English word 'scrumple', as in squashing cloth or paper up into a smaller mass.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 01:35 PM

Vaccines do prevent death and morbid hospitalization infections.
The Delta Covid will still enter your body and multiply at a rate 1,000 times greater than original Covid. You then pose an even greater risk to unvaccinated people. When vaccinated it can not attach to your lung tissue so you may not even feel sick but boy oh boy are you infectious to others.

Those who know what they are talking about realize the unvaccinated world will be facing many infections for about 4 years. They also know there are lots of unknowns to face.

I have to admit the 'strategy' of this virus is brilliant and from a virus POV ideal. Nothing succeeds like success- which is all it is.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Jul 21 - 01:57 PM

The Canadian Council of Exasperation announced today "I know we said we all can relax lockdowns for the eleventh time but..." ;<]

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 02:53 PM

jabb, we are going into Lockdown soon .
this is getting out of hand here in Iceland, we will be Red on the Map soon.
all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 21 Jul 21 - 03:38 PM

. . . but skarpi,
what do YOU say is the meaning of
"Skrump!" ?

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jul 21 - 09:35 AM

Sounds like the stinky rear end of a skunk.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 22 Jul 21 - 12:36 PM

Skrúmp is another and better word for ( Shit or fuck ) .....Skrúmp can have all those meanings , also it can be like this Skrúmpað , like amazing ...

got it :) ...I use this alot ...and it´s not hurting any one .

All the best Skarpi

P.s I started to use this when my Grandchildren start to come to us for visit .

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Jul 21 - 12:45 PM

All the better, Skarpi!

That gives us non-Icelanders
a new cuss-word to use!

... or honorary Icelanders like Rapparee ...

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Jul 21 - 10:49 PM

Those WHO maps that show the coronavirus prevalence by VARIANT,
one variant per map,
are most instructive.

Although, how you interpret the map makes a difference.
I wonder,
in some countries, the information is lacking
about WHICH variant is present?

Take the Russian Federation: they show
prevalence of alpha, beta, and delta,
but NOT gamma ...

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: skarpi
Date: 07 Aug 21 - 04:25 PM

So, how is Delta doing you ? it´s spreading fast in Iceland, all though we got most of the nation with the vaccine, so lets see if it helps.

take care all
all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Aug 21 - 06:36 PM

The Delta variant is definitely doing us, all right.

I'm staying in Massachusetts, it's summertime, and the
transmission risks have changed accordingly.
The worst place to be is Cape Cod, because of
summer vacations and tourism; the counties around Cape Cod
have the highest risk designations in the state.
(Barnstable County)


My location in western Massachusetts, in New York, is moderate risk.
Could swing in either direction.
Summertime is a big tourist season here in Berkshire County,
so there is transmission of COVID happening.
I observe locally, however, that
businesses are requiring clients and customers to wear facemasks indoors; it had changed to facemask-free, and the restrictions are back.
Good idea. Better to contain transmission than to aggravate it.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 02:51 AM

delta covid is all around Sydney & large parts of the state, also other states.

Our vaccination plan is a shambles due to govt inaction, then people demanding "freedom" plus a smallish but very loud collection of anti-vaxxers have added to the problem.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Aug 21 - 07:49 PM

Keep those updates coming!

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Aug 21 - 12:40 PM

. . . especially
with all those hurricanes/tropical storms/cyclones/typhoons
roaming across the seas today.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Aug 21 - 05:30 PM

We're under a heat alert for another day or two here in Texas. Listening to the reports of the now-tropical storm make landfall in Rhode Island. Stay intact in your houses and stay dry up there, New England Mudcatters!

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Aug 21 - 08:00 PM

Spring is springing out here & as always some are already wearing full(?) summer cgear, a few are wearing CBD/inner Sydney winter clothes which are not the same as winter clothes in colder climates, most of us are betwix & between. My maxi cheesecloth hippie summer skirt is too thin, so I'm still wearing my velvet maxi, & a thin cardigan rather tahn my thin down jacket.

I never needed my thick down jacket this winter as I didn't leave central Sydney! No festivals in cooler climates! sniff - next year!

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: Cool Beans
Date: 25 Aug 21 - 11:59 AM

It's been alternately hot and rainy in Detroit, some flooding and power outages from heavy rains but not in my neighborhood. My small suburb is 97 percent vaccinated. Most people in the area are wearing masks in stores and other indoor spaces. We're good. Hoping you all are.

Subject: RE: BS: Check in Mudcatters world wide
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Aug 21 - 08:43 PM

Tropical Storm Henri made for some fuss
but not nearly as much as feared.

Now Ida, in the Gulf, she bears watching.