waiting out the storm (virus)

[/pine]

Here's something that might take tractor people minds off the current situation for a bit...!

Tonight on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is the flick: 'Earthworm Tractors' 9:30 PM EDT

Earthworm Tractors - Wikipedia

Earthworm Tractors (1936) - IMDb

 

[fried1765]

Since the virus will keep me home and mostly indoors I stocked up on wine and scotch today.

The gov't store had us line up with 3 ft separations and would toke only plastic, no cash.(germs, you know)
Also they refused to touch any CC's or reward cards and used a portable scanner asking us to flip it right side up.

I was amazed on how much beverage some were buying. One had at least 70-80 bottles of wine and hard stuff in his cart.

One person commented on what the birth rates would be like nine months from now.

70-80 bottles?
At Canadian provincial liquor store prices?
Poor bugger must have needed to stop at the local RBC or BMO first.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I am a school teacher, so I will be administering online learning to my students for as long as it takes. School has been cancelled through April 6th here but I have a hard time believing we will be back by then. Kansas has already cancelled the entire rest of the year and I see many systems following suit. So far it has been going well, much more buy in than I had thought. It'll be crazy if they cancel the rest of the year. Feel bad for the seniors; no spring break, no prom, no graduation. Could be worse I guess.

I'm not complaining though!! Still getting paid and will have LOTS of time to check off some of the 761 projects I have on my list.

 

[dragoneggs]

Since the virus will keep me home and mostly indoors I stocked up on wine and scotch today.

Swap the scotch for tequila and we are in the same boat! I travel extensively for business... now none! I canceled 5 trips so far... United Airlines is holding a bunch of my money. Who knows when I will be on the road again to Asia and Europe? Waiting out the storm... working in my home office but no one wants to engage... the business folks I typically meet with are now working from home. Sure is a weird vibe.

The good news is that because of this temporary lull... it is the time for me to get busy with projects around the house, shop, garden, and property. Spring is here and I need to get off my butt and get physically busy!

 

[Diggin It]

There really is no change for me. I've 'self-isolated' about 300 days out of most years since I stopped working 9 years ago. I make 2-3 trips to town per month at the most on average, and am usually only gone 4-6 hours at most. Building this shed has caused more trips recently to get materials, but I still limit to one day a week when possible and hit several stores in a travel 'loop'.

Problem with the plan has been the excess rain that have severely limited outside projects making is far too muddy to work anywhere near safely. I've cut several trees, but can't get the tractor around to push the brush off into piles and what piles I've made are too wet to burn.

Then again, many have been doing exactly the 'waiting the storm out' routine as round after round of severe weather has rolled over much of the country. Another very large area will be doing that today.

Day 1 Risk 	Area (sq. mi.) 	Area Pop. 	Some Larger Population Centers in Risk Area
ENHANCED 	91,857 	7,623,518 	Indianapolis, IN...Omaha, NE...Des Moines, IA...Cedar Rapids, IA...Evansville, IN...
SLIGHT 	257,115 	34,801,553 	Chicago, IL...Milwaukee, WI...Kansas City, MO...Tulsa, OK...St. Louis, MO...
MARGINAL 	226,983 	27,867,114 	San Antonio, TX...Dallas, TX...Columbus, OH...Austin, TX...Memphis, TN...

That's 42 million people at or above 'Slight' Risk and another 27 million people just below.

 

[Diggin It]

One person commented on what the birth rates would be like nine months from now.

When they reach adolescence they will likely be known as "quaranteens"

That's what's known as a groaner.

 

[shooterdon]

We are social animals...well most of us are. Even though I live in the boonies, I still visited with the neighbors regularly. This "lock down" is going to get old after a couple of weeks. In the country, where many of us live, we can easily get outdoors to do things. Imagine being in a city living in an apartment or condo.

But my point is even though I have a very safe area for hundreds of acres around me, not interacting with other folks is going to be tough. Listening to the sermon on TV or the radio is not the same as riding into town to hear it and then having brunch with friends,

I can already see the effect on my fiancé. She is not handling it as well as I am and it is still early.

 

[ultrarunner]

No waiting as I need to go in daily even if I am the only employee clocked in... The entire surgical unit and support staff sent home Monday after a 27 surgery day which down with 6 cancellations.

Instead of going in at 4:30 am my new normal is 6 am to noon and the Administrator covers noon to 6 pm so medical deliveries... etc. are covered.

Today we have 3 emergency surgeries so a skeleton crew called in.

My personal problem is all the arrangements I have to look after Mom have cancelled... even a placement is out now as all the board and care and memory daycare are closed to new residents or simply shuttered.

I've got so many projects around the property I would love to do but Alzheimer's situation makes it impossible.

I am thankful for TBN

 

[RandyT]

I am a school teacher, so I will be administering online learning to my students for as long as it takes. School has been cancelled through April 6th here but I have a hard time believing we will be back by then. Kansas has already cancelled the entire rest of the year and I see many systems following suit. So far it has been going well, much more buy in than I had thought. It'll be crazy if they cancel the rest of the year. Feel bad for the seniors; no spring break, no prom, no graduation. Could be worse I guess.

I'm not complaining though!! Still getting paid and will have LOTS of time to check off some of the 761 projects I have on my list.

Two things that I see occurring from this virus. One school will be cancelled for the remainder of the school year. Second, even if school goes back into session or even after, there will be a much larger part of the population will home school. This will put a much larger burden on the school budgets since less kids will be attending in the future. So I can see a slow death of school districts with building closures, and reduced staff,

 

[Diggin It]

This will put a much larger burden on the school budgets since less kids will be attending in the future. So I can see a slow death of school districts with building closures, and reduced staff,

Think of the reduced burden of operating buildings and busses that could go towards better staffing and servicing of distance learning.

 

[RandyT]

Think of the reduced burden of operating buildings and busses that could go towards better staffing and servicing of distance learning.

I have been saying for years that the money put into maintaining the building and buses could be put toward affordable home internet for students, I think home schooling will go from like 10% of the population to 25%+ due to this crisis.

 

[Diggin It]

They say one of the biggest disadvantages of that is socialization and team building. I think they could still have weekly events or classes rotating at a lesser number of buildings using the same busses. Instead of 75 busses going to 10 buildings 5 days a week, use 25 busses to go to 1 or 2 buildings rotating class groups, 1 (ie. 7th and 8th grade one day, 9th and 10th the next, then 11th and 12th).

The other problem is when both parents work, who takes care of the younger kids? School has become daycare for many.

 

[ovrszd]

I have been saying for years that the money put into maintaining the building and buses could be put toward affordable home internet for students, I think home schooling will go from like 10% of the population to 25%+ due to this crisis.

Who is going to stay home with those kids?

There's no way 25% of child bearing couples have one adult that stays home.

I've never searched this data, but I doubt 10% of kids are home schooled now. Again, you'll struggle to get 10% with one parent home.

 

[RSKY]

Oldest daughter is a school teacher. She is working long hours homeschooling her two AND preparing lessons for her students. Local school county systems are sending buses out on their regular routes with lunches for homebound students. My daughter was worried that some of her students would not get lunch. A couple had told her that the school lunch was the biggest meal they had all day.

Youngest daughter's two are staying with us during the day. The first grader thought she was going to have a vacation and is upset that Granna (retired schoolteacher) is holding class for her. She has a complete lesson plan for weeks and her regular teacher is posting videos on the school website with lessons. So she is watching her teacher on an IPhone while doing work on an Ipad.

Oldest also teaches Chinese kids over the Internet. Has got really attached to some and is on a first name basis with their parents. Some of those kids haven't been out of their apartments since January 1st. Imagine that !!

RSKY

 

[ovrszd]

Our daughter sent us a text yesterday regarding their three girls being home. "If you see me talking to myself don't worry, I'm having a Parent/Teacher conference".

 

[RandyT]

Who is going to stay home with those kids?

There's no way 25% of child bearing couples have one adult that stays home.

I've never searched this data, but I doubt 10% of kids are home schooled now. Again, you'll struggle to get 10% with one parent home.

Adjustments will have to be made. As far as finding actual homeschool data is close to impossible. Most sites are reporting 3-4% but that number is coming from like 21 states that track the numbers. There are several states that do not require registration with the state so therefore the actual numbers are not available. I have some across the 10% number several times when digging into the numbers several years ago. Some states are very homeschool friendly and some are not.

 

[ovrszd]

Adjustments will have to be made. As far as finding actual homeschool data is close to impossible. Most sites are reporting 3-4% but that number is coming from like 21 states that track the numbers. There are several states that do not require registration with the state so therefore the actual numbers are not available. I have some across the 10% number several times when digging into the numbers several years ago. Some states are very homeschool friendly and some are not.

And I don't think the small number is a reflection of faith in the public school system. I think it's more about the logistics of working parents.

 

[RandyT]

I can agree to that ovrszd. Just also thinking that this crisis may lead to a change in the family dynamic partly due to people realizing they can do more with less, and also if this thing drags out like predicted for 12-18 months parents will either not send their kids back to school due to possible risk, or parents that move to homeschooling may decide to stay with it after it ends.

 

[D2Cat]

Here's a link showing some of the research being done to come up with a solution to the virus. Coronavirus outbreak: Top coronavirus drugs and vaccines in development

 

[shooterdon]

With many not able to work due to closures, some can take on home schooling....but some of the people I know are not able to teach much except how to drink, smoke and go to fast food places.

I think there will be a lot of couples splitting up if they are forced to stay in close proximity for a long time and act as adults if one them "grows up".