Hallo Nancy!

I trust you are well, and not affected much by the coronavirus...?

The entire world here has seriously impacted, especially Vancouver where there have been 13 deaths last I heard. Nobody that I know has got it thank goodness
and where I am has been procticing social distancing as a matter of course for the last 20 years I have been living in this location. We're not exactly hermits as such but wee tend to keep to ourselves along with being neighbourly and friendly. So far so good.

We are fine here, but there are lots of restrictions and closings
to try to stem the spread of the virus....

That sounds very familiar. I do wonder aloud whether it might be a bit of overkill but then again even without any viruses the hospital system has been under strain for decades so something like this is a potential nightmare if and
(probably) when more cases start showing up in emergency rooms.

$90...? They run about $60 or so here....

Definetly your brand is in the $90 range. Glenlivet is around the $60-$70 range.

I remember when one could get a good single malt for $30

Same here but a long, long time ago in a land far, far away.

Nostalgia, no doubt... ;)

I concur. Them were the days ... as long as I only reflect on the good times that is. The reality is that $30 back then is probably worth more than $90 is today for day to day items. The *only* thing I can think of that is cheaper are computers and associated parts, and in most cases the more modern equipment
is vastly better.

Prices don't get rounded here...

Here they are rounded down to the nearest nickle.

... It's working now; I don't want to break it by fixing it

That fits fidonet to a tee.

Het leven is goed,
Maurice

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Quoting Maurice Kinal to Nancy Backus on 25-Mar-2020 04:02 <=-

I trust you are well, and not affected much by the coronavirus...?

The entire world here has seriously impacted, especially Vancouver
where there have been 13 deaths last I heard. Nobody that I know has
got it thank goodness

We've had some deaths in our county, but NYC has been hardest hit... my youngest brother lives and works in NYC, but last I talked to him he was
still fine... I know of a couple people locally that got it but so far
only mild cases...

and where I am has been practicing social distancing as a matter
of course for the last 20 years I have been living in this location.
We're not exactly hermits as such but we tend to keep to ourselves
along with being neighbourly and friendly. So far so good.

I had to chuckle when I read that... from what you've said all along, I
did get that impression of your neighborhood... :) Our neigborhood used
to be more gregarious in the past but now tends to be more socially
distanced as well... :)

We are fine here, but there are lots of restrictions and closings
to try to stem the spread of the virus....

That sounds very familiar. I do wonder aloud whether it might be a
bit of overkill but then again even without any viruses the hospital system has been under strain for decades so something like this is a potential nightmare if and (probably) when more cases start showing up
in emergency rooms.

Pretty much my take on it too... I'm hoping that perhaps the
pencil-pushers that keep telling the hospitals that they had too many
beds will have a wake-up call with this.... Every flu season a doctor
friend of mine complains that they have to airlift severely ill patients
to other hospitals because there are no beds left here.....

$90...? They run about $60 or so here....

Definetly your brand is in the $90 range. Glenlivet is around the
$60-$70 range.

Here Glenlivet's at the lower end of that and Macallan at the higher
end, not that much difference between them, usually....

I remember when one could get a good single malt for $30

Them were the days ... as long as I only reflect on the
good times that is. The reality is that $30 back then is probably
worth more than $90 is today for day to day items.

I suppose so, for at least some things....

The *only* thing I can think of that is cheaper are computers and associated parts, and in most cases the more modern equipment is
vastly better.

The same obtains with other electronic stuff, by and large...

Prices don't get rounded here...

Here they are rounded down to the nearest nickle.

Probably if there was rounding, they'd round up... except that that
loses the psychological advantage of staying below that next dollar....
so maybe it would be rounded down here, too...

ttyl neb

... Not a real tagline, but an incredible soy substitute...

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Hallo Nancy!

We've had some deaths in our county

As far as I know, which isn't much, there haven't been any in this neck of the woods. At least one of the neighbours has heard otherwise but they have an inside source and I certainly am not going out on a limb over it. Another neighbour is in self imposed lockdown but doesn't believe he actually has the virus and is just being cautious given that he works with troubled youth. Also
there are now restrictions as to visitors being allowed into the area as well as closing down schools, public parks, etc.

I did get that impression of your neighborhood...

:-) Yes it hasn't been too much of a lifestyle change here ... as long as you don't go anywhere.

I'm hoping that perhaps the pencil-pushers that keep telling the
hospitals that they had too many beds will have a wake-up call
with this

I am not sure that will solve this particular problem and perhaps setting up temporary hospitals in parks and the such is a better strategy. Also there has
been talk of using cruise ships for temporary hospitals if needed. Things like
this might be the way to go instead of building more infrastructure that nobody
can afford given that these types of catastrophes are temporary. Also there is
a critcal shortage of trained medical people to staff existing hospitals wo building bigger isn't going to make anything better methinks. Also, also most of the deaths I've heard about are in senior's care homes which are also short staffed.

Probably if there was rounding, they'd round up... except that
that loses the psychological advantage of staying below that next dollar.... so maybe it would be rounded down here, too...

I would guess that they would round down especially given the latest economic crisis due to covid-19.

Stay well.

Het leven is goed,
Maurice

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Quoting Maurice Kinal to Nancy Backus on 01-Apr-2020 16:10 <=-

We've had some deaths in our county

As far as I know, which isn't much, there haven't been any in this
neck of the woods. At least one of the neighbours has heard otherwise
but they have an inside source and I certainly am not going out on a
limb over it.

We've also had numerous other cases that people survived from...

Another neighbour is in self imposed lockdown but doesn't believe he actually has the virus and is just being cautious given that he works
with troubled youth.

We have a friend that is likewise in self imposed lockdown, but in her
case she's just paranoid about getting the virus... alternating with
thinking she's already infected and might be a carrier....

Also there are now restrictions as to visitors being allowed into the
area as well as closing down schools, public parks, etc.

I don't think there are restrictions locally as to people being allowed
into the area, but there are state-wide against coming or going, as
there are in a number of other states.... Schools, colleges, restaurants
and bars, concerts, plays, churches (any place where there would be any
sort of gatherings) and non-essential business are all closed down....
churches are livestreaming services, schools and colleges are doing
distance learning via the computers, restaurants are allowed to do take
away and delivery only... Not sure about our public parks, but any
collections of people would be frowned upon... But grocery stores and pharmacies are deemed essential still, so we've been able to get food
and meds... :)

I did get that impression of your neighborhood...

:-) Yes it hasn't been too much of a lifestyle change here ... as
long as you don't go anywhere.

Just as well our next cybertoast isn't for quite a while... you'd not be
able to get out to get yours...

I'm hoping that perhaps the pencil-pushers that keep telling the
hospitals that they had too many beds will have a wake-up call
with this

I am not sure that will solve this particular problem and perhaps
setting up temporary hospitals in parks and the such is a better
strategy. Also there has been talk of using cruise ships for
temporary hospitals if needed.

Down in NYC, they've got a Navy medical ship and have opened up a
convention center to be temporary hospitals... they've needed the extra
space, and even now are at capacity... but at least it's workable

Things like this might be the way to
go instead of building more infrastructure that nobody can afford
given that these types of catastrophes are temporary. Also there is a critical shortage of trained medical people to staff existing hospitals
wo building bigger isn't going to make anything better methinks.

Agreed on the scope of what we are facing right now, that we don't need
that sort of capacity long-term.... But what had happened here was that
needed beds and staffing had been cut to non-flu season levels, so that
even during flu season there's been a severe shortage for our
hospitals... I just think that they should be able to get back to that
level of preparedness....

Also, most of the deaths I've heard about are in senior's care homes
which are also short staffed.

Not so much anymore... that is, the deaths are happening within the
general population as well now.... I do agree that senior care homes
are short staffed, though....

Probably if there was rounding, they'd round up... except that
that loses the psychological advantage of staying below that next
dollar.... so maybe it would be rounded down here, too...

I would guess that they would round down especially given the latest economic crisis due to covid-19.

Meanwhile, much is in short supply anyway.... and we aren't likely to be
losing our pennies anytime soon.... ;)

Stay well.

And you, too, my friend.... :)

ttyl neb

... The abnormal fear of giants is Fee-fie-fo-bia

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Hallo Nancy!

but in her case she's just paranoid about getting the virus

I think that is a very common 'problem' even in this neck of the woods. Also I
believe the mask situation is way out of hand except I don't see it doing any harm, other than it being symptomatic of paranoia or at least false precaution as it pertains to this particular virus. Wash your hands is still the best preventive messure.

But grocery stores and pharmacies are deemed essential still, so
we've been able to get food and meds... :)

Same situation here although there is a shortage of supplies. I heard one woman in Nanaimo complain that she had to make five different stops to get everything she needed. Myself I found the limited quantities one can purchase at one time to be a hinderance to the 'just stay home' message.

Just as well our next cybertoast isn't for quite a while...
you'd not be able to get out to get yours...

You would think so but apparently liquor stores are an essential service ... not that it really matters to me personally ... or at least for another 211 dagen. ;-)

I just think that they should be able to get back to that level
of preparedness

For sure. It should have been taken care of over a century ago. It isn't like
this wasn't a real possiblity of happening.

much is in short supply

Yes, especially common sense. Mind you that always is in short supply methinks.

Stay well and we'll talk soon.

Het leven is goed,
Maurice

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Hallo Maurice!

08 Apr 20 17:36, Maurice Kinal schrieb an Nancy Backus:

Hallo Nancy!

but in her case she's just paranoid about getting the virus

I think that is a very common 'problem' even in this neck of the woods. Also I believe the mask situation is way out of hand except I don't see it doing any harm, other than it being symptomatic of paranoia or at least false precaution as it pertains to this particular virus. Wash your hands is still the best preventive messure.

I find it weird how many experts are all alround that "know" why or why not masks do or don't work. I myself tend to believe that wearing a mask (whatever type) basically decreases the propability of infecting others if you're infected. However, viruses are so small that the best comparison I heard of yet
goes like this: Wearing a mask for protection against viruses is like throwing a golf ball against a soccer goals' net.

But grocery stores and pharmacies are deemed essential still, so
we've been able to get food and meds... :)

Same situation here although there is a shortage of supplies. I heard
one
woman in Nanaimo complain that she had to make five different stops to get everything she needed. Myself I found the limited quantities one can purchase at one time to be a hinderance to the 'just stay home' message.

Drugstores in Germany started to sell through emergeny counters, but you're still easily able to get medical supplies. Grocery stores started to enforce using carts while limiting the amount of available carts for two reasons: 1. This way you satisfy the minimum distance of about 2m at the checkstand and 2. the security guards at the markets' entrances (yeah, right...) easily know how many people are in there at any time.

I myself am shopping on two days a week: Wednesdays for a whole weeks' supplies
and on saturday for fresh supplies on the open air mart. However, for three weeks in a row, I was neither able to purchase regular flour (what I COULD get is chestnut flour for whatever reason I didn't know that it even exists until now) nor fresh yeast. Yesterday I visited our drugstore accidently at the right
time to get a oackage of toilet paper. First time in three weeks...

Stay healthy,
Christian

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Hallo Christian!

Wearing a mask for protection against viruses is like throwing a
golf ball against a soccer goals' net.

Especially the homemade ones which are showing up around town. I can see them being somewhat more useful in some of the major cities where air quality is low
but even then the fine particles are getting through, so I am guessing that it is more of a placebo than anything effective as far as protecting ones lungs.

I myself am shopping on two days a week:

That is more of less my regular habit and the virus hasn't changed anything there. However I just have myself to look out for so it simplifies shopping trips greatly.

what I COULD get is chestnut flour

Interesting. What are your plans for this? Wild hazlenuts would be more doable in most parts of Canada and probably would make a good flour. Also I seem to recall seeing a British documentary about stone age peoples using hazlenuts for cooking so there might be something to it. You've piqued my curiousity.

nor fresh yeast.

I stumbled across an article online about 'growing' your own. I should have paid it more attention so I could pass on the link to it. I am sure a search of this topic would produce a hopefully credible link.

Yesterday I visited our drugstore accidently at the right time
to get a oackage of toilet paper. First time in three weeks...

Me too except it has been more than three weeks since my previous purchase. I decided I had better grab a package while I was at the store as I had to help out a neighbour when she ran out when this whole thing started and toilet paper
was suddenly hard to find. I now should be good for quite some time barring any additional neighbourhood emergencies. So far so good. :::knock on wood:::

Stay well.

Het leven is goed,
Maurice

... Huil niet om mij, ik heb vi.
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Quoting Maurice Kinal to Nancy Backus on 21-May-2020 18:51 <=-

Het leven is goed,

Yup, have to keep the right perspective... :)

I thought it was a statement of fact.

Still somewhat of a perspective all the same... ;) And I was commenting
on the juxtaposition of that usual statement with a less positive one
that had ended the message itself... ;)

ttyl neb

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Hallo Nancy!

Still somewhat of a perspective all the same... ;)

Without life there would be no perspective and therefore no good ... or bad for
that matter.

And I was commenting on the juxtaposition of that usual
statement with a less positive one that had ended the message
itself... ;)

That doesn't matter since life is good even with negative statements. Life is good stands as fact as long as life exists. Life is bad makes absolutely no sense no matter how lousy any individuals lives might be.

Het leven is goed,
Maurice

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Quoting Maurice Kinal to Nancy Backus on 03-Jun-2020 21:53 <=-

Still somewhat of a perspective all the same... ;)

Without life there would be no perspective and therefore no good ...
or bad for that matter.

True.

And I was commenting on the juxtaposition of that usual statement
with a less positive one that had ended the message itself... ;)

That doesn't matter since life is good even with negative statements. Life is good stands as fact as long as life exists. Life is bad makes absolutely no sense no matter how lousy any individuals lives might
be.

Some people might argue that one... but I guess I'll not... ;)

ttyl neb

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