CuriousByNature

I havent had a chance to read through all the posts, so this may have been mentioned already. Given that different countries (and even states and provinces within the same country) have different rates of testing which might suggest different rates of infection, I've been looking at the number of hospitalizations rather than the number of infections. In parts of Canada, particularly Quebec, the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths are quite high compared to other regions. My relatives in BC noted there are about 120 people hospitalized in a province of 5 million inhabitants, and less than half of those are in ICU. Something like 75 deaths in BC, while about 5 times that number in Quebec, even though Quebec has less than 2 times BC's population. Since early March, people in BC have had almost all elective emergency surgeries cancelled (including my uncle's knee replacement) in order to free up beds. I understand over 4000 beds were made available in case of a worst case scenario. Thankfully for them, it looks like the curve has flattened and may have begun to bend downwards. Central Canada isnt there yet... but it certainly could be worse.

I suppose this means I should be buried in a large Big Mac box, or maybe rolled up in a Subway wrapper like a 68-inch Meatball Marinara.

One of the best shows on TV... sad to see it's finished.

I agree that the media tends towards fear-mongering in certain situations, and that this can result in panic and chaos. This is why I prefer to take the advice of the experts rather than commentators. The experts are quite consistent in their messaging about the need for social distancing and isolation. For everyone, but especially for those at higher risk. This is not primarily about avoiding the virus, its about trying to make the numbers predictable and manageable. Without the restrictions, the virus will spread quickly and thoroughly, and this will result in higher death rates because the number of infected people will swamp the system, and many in need of intensive care will not receive it, and die. By trying to build predictability, fewer people will be sick at once, and more people needing care will receive it. Survival rates will be higher. The curve will be longer, but the death rate will be lower. The economy will suffer in either scenario. The question is whether you have a damaged economy with 100,000 deaths, or a damaged economy with 1,000,000 or more deaths. Neither situation is good. But one is far worse than the other.

If time permits and your budget allows, you may want to spend a few weeks at a time at various times of the year so you have a better idea of seasonal differences. If you have a vehicle, maybe do a bit of a road trip each time to see if any other Southwest towns and cities strike you as possibilities...

Yes, that would be scary. But I think one can appreciate what the monarch embodies from a cultural and historical perspecive, and value the job that has been done, without it crossing over into worship. A person doesn't even need to support a system of entitlement from birth (I don't, by the way) to recognize the importance of the monarchy on a variety of levels.

True enough...

Thank you @purplekow. Yesterday I phoned my uncle who has COPD, and I asked him to try using the prone position. His oxygen saturation is normally around 91% or so. My aunt called me back a few minutes after he was prone to tell me his saturation was at 96%. She hadn't seen a number like that since getting him the oximeter a couple of years ago. Your advice is much appreciated - thank you again ?

I had to look twice at picture #4 before I realized he wasnt balancing funiture on his rear end.

Wow... I don't know where I got July from... thanks. Maybe it feels like it should be July by now? I corrected the date

Great Canadian actress, former wife of Donald Sutherland and mother of Kiefer Sutherland. She was daughter of Tommy Douglas, Premier of Saskatchewan, whose Cabinet became the first in North America to introduce single payer universal healthcare, aka Medicare. Passed away today from complications of pneumonia, apparently unrelated to COVID-19 according to her son.

Absolutely... and she'll be 94 in 3 weeks ? Her mother made it to 101 and her great-aunt to almost 98, so heres hoping she outlives them both with ongoing good health and a sharp mind.

I hadn't heard about that... I was under the impression that the Royal Family had stopped all engagements, etc. I agree with @BgMstr4u in his assessment of the speech. Whether or not one is a monarchist or a republican, it is difficult to argue that the Queen is not a calm voice of encouragement and hope in these times. Much as she has been since her first public speech 80 years ago. And recognizing that the Queen is an apolitical figurehead, my intention is not to make any political statement here in this forum, as per the rules ?

She's awesome.

I bet he's never had anyone show up at his door with Windex in hand... ?

Which is why I find it so disheartening when I read comments made about benefiting from potential discounted rates and stuff like that. It also makes me more aware that social distancing, which I do believe is necessary, is still a luxury that not everyone can afford. I think of other parts of the world as well, where it is a necessity to go out every day to get food and water. Social distancing, as necessary as it is, just isnt a viable option for everyone. What bothers me is when people who can afford to stay home and take the experts' advice choose not to.

Sadly I think a lot of people feel they are invincible. And while some of them may be able to handle this virus, most of us know its about more than how we ourselves react to the virus - it's about how it can affect those we pass it on to. Im afraid some people will never take this seriously - either because they are in denial, selfish, or too prideful to take direction and advice from the experts.

I would have been lying on the track somewhere outside of the frame...

Like the Earth's magnetic field every half million years or so... Apologies - wannabe science nerd here

@purplekow I cant express how much it means to be seeing this crisis through your very caring eyes. Your patients and colleagues are blessed to have you. Yesterday I believe you mentioned that you would keep writing these updates as long as people were wanting to receive them. I, for one, would like to continue reading these updates. They have provided us with a dose of humanity during very inhumane times. And for those of us who pray, these updates offer more opportunities for making individualized and specific supplications. My ongoing concern is for your well-being. If writing these updates is cathartic or strengthening to your spirit, please definitely continue. But if writing these updates is causing any additional trauma, or draining your physical/emotional resources beyond what your work is costing you, please prioritize yourself and consider stopping. Your updates are so very thoughtful, but we all need to be thoughtful as well - about the time and energy it must take for you to write them. If you reach a point where updates are not possible, please continue to post a word here and there so we can continue to support you as best as we can. Even a couple of words, like 'hard day today', or 'doing alright' would be appreciated ?

Wow... thank you for sharing this with the group. There are no words to adequately express the appreciation due to you and all the other front line workers. I know you aren't looking for accolades, but I think you and every other front line worker deserves to be commended and recognized. You are being put in an impossible situation with respect to supply chains and decision-making, and my heart goes out to you for what you are enduring now and will be for the coming weeks. My hope is that if this woman does indeed succumb to this pandemic, that her dementia will protect her from realizing her family is not around her. I saw news reports here in Canada that families are now using walkie talkies to say goodbye to relatives in hospital. Heartbreaking. Please take care of yourself. This is a horrendous situation but you will get through. Blessings to you and everyone fighting this pandemic on the front lines.

Im not at all familiar with him, but it sounds like he was already a person of faith before entering porn, made a career choice he came to regret, felt he may have inadvertently harmed others somehow by making that choice, removed himself from the porn industry, and made a public apology as part of his change in directon. I doubt that would have been an easy or comfortable thing to do, and I wish him well on his new journey.

Here's a link https://rent.men/DexterFlex

A good question. I don't think this pandemic has helped define meaning in my life, but rather has reconfirmed values that I had already been trying to live by. We all know there is a tremendous amount of heartache, sorrow and fear associated with this virus, and there have even been those who have used this pandemic to their own benefit. Human nature can be harsh, selfish and unforgiving. But I'm trying to see the silver lining: people risking their own safety to help others; faith groups providing support to communities in ways they hadn't served people before; people taking a necessary pause from their busy lives and realizing the importance of relationships again, now that social-distancing is the norm; the recovery of some ecosystems suggesting that the Earth is far more resilient than we had realized; and, humanity being forced to adapt to changing conditons and waking up to the fact that we are not invincible. These are just a few of the 'positives' I have noticed. This is not to suggest that corona is a 'good' thing by any means - it is a virus, and viruses don't have values, just effects. And corona continues to have many terrible effects, but most challenges we face can also have some positive effects if we are willing and able to recognize them. The question, as I see it, is whether these societal changes are temporary, or whether the pandemic has actually changed people's hearts for the better in an enduring way?

Hmmm... if it was me, probably a destination that rarely has seat sales. On my bucket list: The Seychelles The Maldives Some place in East or South Africa for a safari Manaus for an Amazon cruise Perth for Western Australia and the Ningaloo Reef But $2000 may only get you economy class for those routes.