SHP Forums

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:47 pm I can't imagine "controlled" power outages. Obviously I've experienced a few outages, but they're not a normal occurrence where I live. What does a "controlled" power outage mean? Or a "rolling" one?

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Wed Feb 17, 2021 2:03 am Are these normal in urban areas/cities in the US? Here in Australia (at least in the cities), power outages are very rare.

Of course, I'm speaking about "normal" circumstances (e.g. a tree has NOT fallen on the power line, the circuit board is working fine etc.) Equally obviously, the further you go into a rural area, the more likely a power outage will/might occur.

Texas and Mississippi are both lifting their mask mandates and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the states to 100%. This means that social gatherings, including at sports stadiums, concert halls and other large venues, will be allowed in Texas and Mississippi without any restrictions.

Effective March 10, all businesses in Texas will be allowed to open at full capacity for the first time in nearly a year, Gov. Greg Abbott announced. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.

"With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus," Abbott said after issuing Executive Order GA-34. "We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100%.

"Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. Today's announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny."

Mississippi on Tuesday issued a separate executive order to lift the state's mask mandates and give all businesses the green light to reopen at full capacity.

"Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules," Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves wrote on Twitter. "Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!"

More than 3.5 million Texans have so far received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 1.8 million fully vaccinated. In Mississippi, 14.1% of the state's residents have had at least one dose, and 7.6% are fully vaccinated.

Iowa and Montana recently lifted statewide mask mandates, while Massachusetts is completely lifting capacity limits on indoor dining, and allowing concert venues to open at 50 percent capacity.

Late last month, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino said that he was optimistic that large-scale American concerts were closer than ever to returning. He said that "a clear outline to a 75% to 100%” capacity for outdoor U.S. events in 2021 was looking likely to be green-lit."

Rapino added that the prospect capacity re-opening in the largest U.S. markets with over 75% capacity was "within sight." He said: "We are seeing… what we've been talking about: [fans] are excited to get back to the show as soon as we get the green lights in these markets to open up."

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:35 am Um ... is something wrong with Texas and Mississippi opening? =\ I mean, I don't know what it's like there -- I only know they've recently gone through a severe cold snap.

So ... I don't know, but I guess people who live there will know better than me. Unless I've mssed something? *shrug*

Iowa, Montana and Massachusetts are also heading that way.

Here in Melbourne (the capital of Victoria, Australia), we've had a lift on masks too. If you're in a shopping mall, or on public transport, or in a supermarket (i.e. crowded places where you cannot do physical distancing safely), then a mask is mandatory. Otherwise, it isn't.

Then again, we in Melbourne haven't seen the same ravages of COVID that America had seen. Victoria (my state) has had about 800-900 deaths. By comparison, Mississippi had seen over 6,700 and Texas more than 44,000. (Eep!)

Then again, Victoria is not as big (area-wise) as Texas. But it still seems like an awful lot of people dying.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:54 am Wow. Meanwhile, Australia has had 29,000 cases and 909 deaths.

I mean, every death is still a tragedy ... but in comparison to the over 500,000 deaths in the US ... well. One year of COVID = over 500,000 deaths. That's almost as many people as died during the four years of the Civil War.

Something fishy is going on in Taiwan as folk change name to include 'salmon' for free sushi
Youngsters rise to the bait after restaurant chain's promotion

So it turns out there is such a thing as a free lunch – if you're Taiwanese and are OK with changing your ID card to include "salmon".

Thanks to a promotional campaign run by a sushi chain offering an all-you-can-eat feast for anyone with an ID card featuring the Chinese characters "gui yu" and five friends, "about 150 mostly young people" went ahead and made the tweak, Agence France-Presse reports.

The island nation allows citizens to change their name up to three times, and the lure of complimentary seafood and rice was enough to reel in student types.

The ensuing administrative work, dubbed "salmon chaos" by local media, has resulted in such fintastic monikers as "Salmon Prince", "Meteor Salmon King", and "Salmon Fried Rice".

Well, when opportunity knocks...

Explosive Good Looking Salmon told telly news: "I just changed my name this morning to add the characters 'Bao Cheng Gui Yu' and we already ate more than Tw$7,000 (£176)."

Another gillty party admitted: "I've changed my first name to salmon and two of my friends also did. We'll just change our names back afterwards."

Ofishals were quick to raise the salmon of doubt, and deputy interior minister Chen Tsung-yen issued a plea in the media to scale back on the mischief and really mullet over before taking such action. "This kind of name change not only wastes time but causes unnecessary paperwork," he said, adding that people should "cherish administrative resources."

You could say the Taiwan government has been schooled on how their system might be open to abuse. Sadly, the promotion ended today.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Fri Mar 19, 2021 7:22 am Ofishals were quick to raise the salmon of doubt, and deputy interior minister Chen Tsung-yen issued a plea in the media to scale back on the mischief and really mullet over before taking such action. "This kind of name change not only wastes