Mostly Apolitical Thread for Discussing/Venting our Rational/Irrational COVID-19 Fears and Experiences in 2020

Regarding the slowing down of physical media mentioned upthread, I'm of two minds. On the one hand, yes, obviously these are far from essential items that should be pushed back in favor of essential items delivery. That said, I am bombarded daily with requests from bookstores, record stores and indie labels telling me that the best way to support them is to order direct from them to keep them going. So I have done some physical media ordering.

I bought a couple books from both a local and a Michigan bookstore I want to support, then ordered a couple CDs from Reckless Records (my usual weekly stop) to keep helping them out. I've also ordered some stuff from Trouble In Mind and Riding Easy labels. Everything has come a little slower than usual (except the Trouble In Mind package came in two day!). So I'm torn between not wanting to add to the system right now, but also wanting to support shops and labels.

Interestingly enough, the only shipping delay I've encountered was for an album I pre-ordered back in February. The label (Astral Spirits) shipped it to me on March 20th, but since March 25th it's been sitting in the USPS system as "in transit to the next destination". It's clearly not the label's fault so I'm not gonna bug them, but I'm not sure I feel good about inquiring with the USPS right now either. Guess I'll just wait and hope it shows up someday.

Sending good vibes Neanderthal!

Regarding the slowing down of physical media mentioned upthread, I'm of two minds. On the one hand, yes, obviously these are far from essential items that should be pushed back in favor of essential items delivery. That said, I am bombarded daily with requests from bookstores, record stores and indie labels telling me that the best way to support them is to order direct from them to keep them going. So I have done some physical media ordering.

Last time this came up someone answered "go digital". In purely moral terms I think that's correct, much as it pains me aesthetically.

I've done some of that as well, especially labels. But digital doesn't do anything to help local bookstores and record stores that I'd also like to help support. I've bought a couple of gift certificates to use (very hopefully) in the future, but it's tough to delay that gratification, esp when I have more open time to spend.

I was dumb/unlucky enough to order a CD from fucking Japan right before the world shut down. It was supposed to have hit my PO box sometime between March 20 and last Monday, but I haven't seen it yet.

This is obvious to say really, but there's a difference between directly ordering from stores & labels and ordering through a place like Amazon that is clearly abusing its workforce.

Of course, it's more from the perspective of not overwhelming the delivery system with non-essential goods - that's where I was coming from.

I would further say that there's an ethical difference between delivery via USPS and via other delivery providers.

Where I live, the USPS mail carrier has to go to every house no matter what.

Most days it's just junk, but it's comparatively little extra burden for him or her to bring me something that I've actually ordered and actually want.

If I don't have a UPS or FedEx package coming on a particular day, the FedEx or UPS delivery person doesn't have to come to my house.

From this I guess the ethical thing to do is encourage vendors to use USPS instead? It still sucks for all these workers, but at least with USPS you're incurring no additional viral exposure than they would already be getting. Maybe? I dunno.

go digital! buy ebooks! i've made some of them

They're talking possible sepsis/gallstones with dad and suggesting home health/rehab.

Sigh..... I'm sure it's mild but he is a fucking sliver of the man he was even 4 years ago. I'm still in denial about it.

After my mental health has declined at a troubling rate throughout my late 30s (esp since 2015), the thought that I'm now in two situations that are alien territory to me which might push it further in the wrong direction isn't making me feel very rosy.

Send booze folks

Ok actually I don't know if that's the issue... that's just what online test results say

xps but: This is a very new ethical calculus: Should you get stuff delivered because you like delivery people and want them to have jobs? Or should you not get stuff delivered because you like delivery people and want them to not die?

And if you like an independent bookstore (say) is it better to patronize them so that they have an income stream? Or not patronize them so as to not endanger their employees and the delivery services they use?

If you switch exclusively to ebooks and other digitally delivered media, are you a good person (because you're not making a worker come to your house)? Or are you a bad person (because you're helping starve out the few remaining bricks-and-mortar businesses that deal in physical media)?

If you try to buy nonessential stuff from small local businesses, are you a good person (because you're helping them weather the storm and stay economically viable) or are you a bad person (because you oughtn't be buying ANYTHING so frivolous as a book or a record or a pastry or a hand-knitted tea cozy or whatever)?

brb, I'm texting Peter Singer. I'll let you know what I find out.

don't really like buying eBooks b/c I can't stare at their covers while gazing around the living room

love and booze to you neanderthal <3

Sorry to hear that, Neanderthal. <3

But digital doesn't do anything to help local bookstores and record stores that I'd also like to help support.

Nothing will, though - they're fucked.

With book/record stores it seems like there could be a system with ordering and paying online, then you go there. The salesperson can set your order on a table at the door, which you pick up and leave. The salesperson doesn't interact with you besides getting your name, you pick up the package but can wash your hands when you get home.

tl;dr: just like at restaurants doing take-out.

my fav bookstore is currently fulfilling online orders both by mail and curbside pickup

There were a few shops doing curbside pickup near me, but it only lasted a week or so before it got clamped down on. My local comic shop has a delivery van with non-touch transactions for local customers.

I don't really know anything about this site, but it was recently recommended to me: https://bookshop.org/

absent any compelling evidence to suggest that anyone anywhere has contracted coronavirus from a 30sec interaction with a delivery person (or their blighted freight), i'd say you're ethically in the clear to receive deliveries.

rn it really seems like the vast majority of community transmission is happening in the context of shared indoor airspace over several minutes

absent any compelling evidence to suggest that anyone anywhere has contracted coronavirus from a 30sec interaction with a delivery person (or their blighted freight), i'd say you're ethically in the clear to receive deliveries.

GBX, I think the ethics relate not to the recipient, but the deliverer (who is moving about all over the place and potentially coming close to hundreds of people a day).

They don't have the luxury to stay home for weeks at a time. It's probably preferable for them to have jobs instead of not, but at what cost in terms of their health risk, etc.?

And a further layer of complexity hinted at upthread: should the supply chain and delivery mechanisms be reserved only for essentials? Or should we be using these preexisting systems to get things that are not, strictly speaking, essential?

And if we limit our purchases to only those things that are deemed essential, what are we doing to people whose livelihoods depend on making and/or selling things like records, books, tea cozies, trinkets, bibelots, bijoux, frippery, and gewgaws?

Also knickknacks. Don't forget the knickknacks.

Work Zoom meetings are so tonally all over the place:

Manager: So what’s everyone been up to?
Co-worker 1: I’m watching the Tiger King
Co-worker 2: ugh, I can’t watch that. I love animals too much.
Co-worker 3: I’m mad I can’t get a haircut
Co-worker 4: I envy you having that problem.
Co-worker 5: My sister and two of my friends died of corona virus this week

My coworkers just like to talk about virus conspiracy theories.

Is it a secret plot by China?

Does stay at home mean we are under martial law?

Makes you think....

tk care and best wishes to you, Neanderthal; I have no booze

(ok just one bottle for me)

No updates. We're watching Barry to distract ourselves

Quality distraction.

dad's gallbladder has been taken out, as well as his rectal blockage.

now a pathologist is going to concern where his sepsis seems to be originating, and treating him with antibiotics.

at the same time, my mom thinks dad doesn't want to live.

fun times. but she's felt this way for 2 years, and it's hard to tell because he can barely talk anymore.

He's still in there....strokes have made it hard for him to communicate.

*determine

i'm really sorry.

was going to apologize for my inappropriately goofy display name, but then saw yours.

<3 hang in there Neanderthal.

thanks Karl.

lol u don't gotta apologize for being goofy. the goofiness is keeping me afloat.

Ugh, take care man, that sounds really rough.

Yup, take care.

Sorry Neanderthal. must be hard to keep an even keel rn. Hang in there.

Floridians stick together, Neanderthal. I'm here if you need me.

Hang in there Neanderthal. Wishing you and your family the best.

THree are apparently overwhelmed so you can't get through to their website and ringing them takes half an hour at least, which is an internal line for most of it so may lead to charge.
BUmmer.

Is that true of all phone networks at the moment or is my service special?

So I got my stimulus check. Yea?

Me too. Of course I don't understand the amount at all - something to do with children surely. Once the dust has settled from our tax returns we will find some do-gooders to donate it to.

I keep receiving direct mail from the "Alfred Lord Sotosyn Campari Sustainment Fund." Not sure if this is a legit charity; advice is welcomed

Expect a newsletter and samples should you join. I'll let my interns know.

we've started referring to foods past their dates as expired, but not yet pandemic expired

also curious about the money but our online banking seems to have crashed, probably from everyone doing the same thing

Still sending good vibes your way Neanderthal!

Gotta say, especially after some of the expert opinions we've seen this week, it's a bit surprising to see all these concert reschedule announcements for September and October. Also not sure I get the impetus at this point. Wishful thinking? Something they have to do to meet insurance/legal requirements to avoid a full on cancellation? Just seems... unlikely.

Hedging their bets just in case, I'd imagine

People need hope to carry on (even if it turns out to have been false hope). Personally, the thought of finally seeing Pantera in October is all that keeps me alive rn

Lol!

Dad doing better today. Getting physical therapy. He called me and sounded doped out of his mind. I told him we love him.

WBC is high, so he has to stay as they fight the infection. But better news

Additionally, i had a credit on Cameo from past purchases, so I booked a Cameo with Bun B and asked him to give a get well to my dad.

Giggling just imagining Bun shouting out my pops, so I hope he completes it.

Once upon a time, chattin with my homie
A n**** like myself said get well to Tony
Now this was Tony in the sense of Montana
But an old Italian man, who fell in the shower in his cabana

wore the mask I have available while inside the grocery store, I kept having to grab it to move it back up over my nose ¯\_(ツ)_/¯