Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

I think Barnes & Noble will be fine, pretty sure they're the college bookstore for a lot of schools and for that reason alone, they would survive. May go online mostly for some places but still survive.

Well I'm sure they will survive as an online store but the article even said they will not be re-opening some of their stores, and they already closed some stores previous to this whole thing, so I think this virus could put their brick and mortar stores in further jeopardy, which would be a shame. Browsing for books in a real book store is relaxing and fun and an online store cannot replace that experience. Many of the books in my collection were found just be browsing the physical stores.

[Batman1980]

Amazon murdered most large bookstore chains and I think B & N is going to have to go online mostly themselves to compete. I know I wouldn't mind, I would love the option of being able to get my college books online and delivered to me or given the code. Beats having to dig through the shelves and then stand in a long line with other people.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Amazon murdered most large bookstore chains and I think B & N is going to have to go online mostly themselves to compete. I know I wouldn't mind, I would love the option of being able to get my college books online and delivered to me or given the code. Beats having to dig through the shelves and then stand in a long line with other people.

But part of the experience of a bookstore is browsing and discovering. Sure I can go online and spend hours looking at long pages of tiny thumbnails of books, and if I'm lucky I can even get a "preview" of a few pages on some books on Amazon. And I can order any book I want from Amazon and get it in 2 days (normally). But I can walk into B&N and get a preview of virtually any book there just by flipping through them, and take it home instantly. It's the experience of browsing real books (and board games - they have lots of those now) in a relaxing setting versus everything in life being virtual or digital these days. Anything that takes us away from the screens for a while is welcome.

After all, we're all here because we like physical media.

B&N's website is not great, and just try using their coupons around the holidays online.

Plus I like the idea of giving some of my business to a store other than Amazon.

Also, I've had several larger coffee table books from Amazon arrive damaged due to lousy packaging as always from them. I can go to B&N and all their books are in new condition, without all of them having bashed in corners. For a text-book you might not care. For a fancy coffee table book with lots of art, I want it it to be in good condition. I ordered a stack of adult coloring books a few years ago for my girlfriend for Christmas and it cost a good chunk of money, and most of them arrived completely demolished from Amazon. I had to get many of them replaced. They were not in giftable condition. In B&N they are all pristine.

[Dollar Colonel]

My biggest issue with B&N is that they're a lot more expensive than Amazon so they end up being a place to browse for stuff to buy online. At least Best Buy will pricematch Amazon. B&N doesn't even match its own web site.

[Moviefan1203]

Barnes and Nobles will ultimately just be another tombstone in Amazon’s graveyard.

[ctujackbauer]

Saw this on slickdeals and I'm not sure what thread I would post this in. I think Krispy Kreme is doing this for the coronavirus where all the high school and college graduates have had to celebrate at home without a traditional graduation ceremony.

https://www.krispykreme.com/promos/2020seniorweek

Are you a 2020 high school or college senior? Get a FREE 2020 Graduate Dozen on 5/19/20 by visiting a Krispy Kreme shop and wearing or bringing something from the list below!

Cap and gown with 2020 tassel
Class of 2020 apparel (t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc.)
2020 letterman jacket featuring senior status
2020 class ring
Graduation announcement featuring name with matching ID
Student photo ID featuring senior status
Other Class of 2020 senior swag

[ronboster]

Originally Posted by Staying Salty

...logic is one of the characteristics I share with my avatar's name sake.

Attachment 240384

I don't think Spock will follow the social media ramblings of an anonymous person/persons nicked named "Q". Talk about completely illogical.

Do you think Spock would show up at Cosmos Pizza with Phasers on stun?

[Batman1980]

Yeah I would except I have no proof on that list that I'm a senior, too bad it doesn't say something like "Senior Class schedule". Free donuts would've been nice.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I think this fall/winter is going to be disastrous. Think about it. That's when we are most likely to catch the common cold or the "regular' flu. Now imagine tens of thousands of people catching a cold or the flu and at the first sign of a sore throat, fever, or coughing, people start to panic. There will be no way to tell whether you have a common cold or the flu or the virus, without testing, as the symptoms are so similar. Is every shop and restaurant and office going to shut down again every time somebody catches a cold, out of abundance of precaution? Unlikely. So that means many who will end up really having it and assuming it's only a cold will spread it around, leading to more infections. By the time this started to wreck havoc on us, spring was already approaching. It will play out different this fall when it comes back for a second round alongside the common cold and flu.

I think social distancing will keep flu cases lower than normal this winter. That and a continued ban a large gatherings. Also people and the governments will be watching for a second wave and won't be caught sleeping by it.

A big reason why we get the flu in the winter is because people are forced inside due to the weather and that heating lowers the humidity which makes particles travel much easier in the air. Outdoor gatherings become indoor gatherings where viruses are very easy passed to others.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Yeah I would except I have no proof on that list that I'm a senior, too bad it doesn't say something like "Senior Class schedule". Free donuts would've been nice.

No graduation announcement? I graduated a while ago and they were printed back then, but don't they have an online list or online announcement?

Maybe an official email from the college? It might count as the "other".

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I think this fall/winter is going to be disastrous. Think about it. That's when we are most likely to catch the common cold or the "regular' flu. Now imagine tens of thousands of people catching a cold or the flu and at the first sign of a sore throat, fever, or coughing, people start to panic. There will be no way to tell whether you have a common cold or the flu or the virus, without testing, as the symptoms are so similar. Is every shop and restaurant and office going to shut down again every time somebody catches a cold, out of abundance of precaution? Unlikely. So that means many who will end up really having it and assuming it's only a cold will spread it around, leading to more infections. By the time this started to wreck havoc on us, spring was already approaching. It will play out different this fall when it comes back for a second round alongside the common cold and flu.

I'm hoping this will be over by the fall, but I guess that's wishful thinking...

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by MrHT

I'm hoping this will be over by the fall, but I guess that's wishful thinking...

Not a chance in hell it will be over by fall. Round 2 will just be starting up sadly. This is one thing most of the experts agree upon.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

No graduation announcement? I graduated a while ago and they were printed back then, but don't they have an online list or online announcement?

Maybe an official email from the college? It might count as the "other".

Heh I don't think I'm graduating till May but I have 108 credits so I definitely qualify as a senior.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by MrHT

I'm hoping this will be over by the fall, but I guess that's wishful thinking...

More likely fall 2021, but It may never be truly over. We just have to learn to live with this as a vaccine isn't a sure thing and if so, then most of us will end up getting infected eventually.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Heh I don't think I'm graduating till May but I have 108 credits so I definitely qualify as a senior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0cczw5jbDg

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I think this fall/winter is going to be disastrous. Think about it. That's when we are most likely to catch the common cold or the "regular' flu. Now imagine tens of thousands of people catching a cold or the flu and at the first sign of a sore throat, fever, or coughing, people start to panic. There will be no way to tell whether you have a common cold or the flu or the virus, without testing, as the symptoms are so similar. Is every shop and restaurant and office going to shut down again every time somebody catches a cold, out of abundance of precaution? Unlikely. So that means many who will end up really having it and assuming it's only a cold will spread it around, leading to more infections. By the time this started to wreck havoc on us, spring was already approaching. It will play out different this fall when it comes back for a second round alongside the common cold and flu.

Plus you have employers like mine who's 'sick' policy is you get one day per Quarter!!! So despite the risks people are still going to go to work when sick.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Not a chance in hell it will be over by fall. Round 2 will just be starting up sadly. This is one thing most of the experts agree upon.

But I think they're aiming to get a vaccine up and ready by the Fall. Not guaranteed, of course, but that's their hope.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by MrHT

But I think they're aiming to get a vaccine up and ready by the Fall. Not guaranteed, of course, but that's their hope.

That would be the most optimistic scenario. The good news yesterday about vaccine trials was promising enough to drive the stock market up 1000 points. Just gotta hope for the best but be prepared for to settle in for the long haul if it doesn't come to pass.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by MrHT

But I think they're aiming to get a vaccine up and ready by the Fall. Not guaranteed, of course, but that's their hope.

That's highly unlikely though. Vaccines typically take years to develop. More minds and money are going into this so maybe that will contribute to cracking this sooner, but they still need ample time for testing. Rushing an an unproven vaccine could turn out to be devastating and just add to the anti-vax arsenal.

Time will tell.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Since when does the government (any government) have our best interests as their main concern? The recommendations from many of those in charge have been deplorable from the beginning. Have you not heard the recommendation from that lunatic about her idea to fully re-open Las Vegas?

We should be considering what the doctors/scientists are saying about this, not politicians where money/agendas are their driving concerns.

thats also an issue as doctors sole purpose is to protect people at all costs. at all costs.... there needs to be balance otherwise docs would have us stuck inside forever without thinking of other consequences.

Originally Posted by mar3o

Truth be told, he's probably not even really taking it anyways. What doctor would write up a prescription for the President of the United States to take a drug not approved for what it's being taken for, simply as a precautionary treatment, when all signs are pointing to it causing higher mortality rates and no improvement for those that have COVID-19, and may cause heart problems? What doctor would take that responsibility?

take your own advice below...

sound like talking points with no facts to back em up

Originally Posted by mar3o

I don't think it's safe to state all this as fact yet.

[Show spoiler]We hear lots of different information and while I do believe it's safer by far outside than inside, we don't know enough yet to state much of anything as fact. This "15 minute" thing outside could easily change as they learn more.

It does appear to be true that the virus doesn't tend to live long on surfaces in general. We keep hearing it can last _X_ amount of days on cardboard/glass/plastic, etc., but from what I've read, the virus is dying by the hour. It can last on cardboard for up to a day, but much of the virus will be deal before the 24 hours.

Remember too that it seems we need to be exposed to a certain amount of it to get infected. They're saying a trace amount may not be enough to infect us. So while there may be some of the virus still alive on a particular surface, it may not be enough to infect us.

I agree the biggest risk is indoors, though I worry about things like door handles for public places like busy restaurants (Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's) where hands are constantly touching them

.