What's On Your Mind? (Silly or Serious!)

[Rath Darkblade]

You're right, Tawm. All I can guess is that the lockdown(s) hasn't/haven't helped with empathy.

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?

I hope everyone here is staying warm during the cold snap... *crosses fingers*

[Tawmis]

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?

Controlled/Rolling = Controlling what areas have power to prevent all of the power being drained - and causing an outage for EVERYONE.
So for example: Area A gets power from noon to 4pm, then blacks out from 4pm to 8pm, so Area B can have power.

This prevents everyone turning on heaters (for example, in this case) - and causing a full on power outage for everyone.

[Rath Darkblade]

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.

[Tawmis]

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.

Power outages are common in heat waves or cold fronts. Heat waves, because everyone in San Diego (for example) turns on their ACs - sucking away all the power.
Cold fronts, the opposite - heater sucking away power.

So they can do controlled/rolling - sometimes called "brown outs."

[Rath Darkblade]

Ah, those. Yes, I've heard of "brown-outs" too -- but they usually only happen in summers here. I try not to use the AC, but a fan instead because it takes less power.

Brown-outs happen less often in winter here; we don't get sub-zero temperatures like in the US, and my central heating is also gas-powered, which is cheaper than electricity-powered heating. On the downside, it takes a little longer to warm my entire flat.

[Rath Darkblade]

I found some good winter tips that might help. I've been doing some research about blacksmithing for the past few days, and found this. With the frigid winter temperatures across the south of the US, I hope these will help!

From Popular Mechanics -here's how to stay warm this winter, even if you have to make do without power. Some of these tips sound like common sense to me (I do them in winter), but then I don't have to deal with snow and ice.

And here they show you how to protect your pipes from freezing! Again, I don't have to deal with stuff like this, but I guess it might happens in the US and Europe.

Good luck!

[Tawmis]

Oh, Texas and Mississippi......

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]

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.

[Tawmis]

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.

I, personally, think it's too early to have concerts in crowded areas. There's no way the majority of people have got their vaccine shots.

I mean - this alone... The US has the most... more than double of the one in second place... for once, this is not a race we want to win.

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Cases by Country/Region/Sovereignty

28,719,615 US
11,139,516 India
10,646,926 Brazil
4,220,291 Russia
4,200,700 United Kingdom
3,843,241 France
3,130,184 Spain
2,955,434 Italy
2,723,316 Turkey
2,462,061 Germany
2,259,599 Colombia
2,118,676 Argentina
2,097,194 Mexico
1,719,708 Poland
1,648,174 Iran
1,514,815 South Africa

[Rath Darkblade]

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.

[Tawmis]

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.

Yes. And thus why I don't think the US is ready for "large scale concerts and sporting events."

[DeadPoolX]

Texas (at least the major cities, like Houston and Dallas) have a huge supply of vaccines and have been giving them to as many people as they can lately. My Dad, for instance, got his second injection last week (you need two).

While I agree that it seems a little premature to start allowing large gatherings, I think the basic idea is that if enough people are vaccinated, the chances of transmitting the virus to others is lowered. After all, those with the vaccine won't get it and spread it (by sneezing, coughing, or touching items) so those without the vaccine will be at least somewhat protected.

Unfortunately, herd immunity only works if enough people get vaccinated, which is how moronic anti-vaxxers have given us a resurgence of viruses over the past few years that were previously well-controlled (at least in the US and Canada) by vaccinations.

My worry is that people will think they're safe after the first vaccine injection. Sure, physicians will tell them otherwise, but past evidence has proven that not only are people unbelievably stupid (ask any ER doc or nurse and they can tell you tons of stories of all the objects they've extracted from patients' rectums), but they simply don't listen to or read instructions.

That said... Canada is really behind on vaccinating the public. They've been doing a good job of vaccinating healthcare workers and such, but the everyone else is currently SOL. I might be able to get my first dose within a couple of months because I'm an asthmatic (which puts me into a higher-risk category), but Maia will be lucky to get hers by August.

[Rath Darkblade]

For what it's worth, DPX, I'm 100% behind you on the anti-vaxxers. I've read my history and I know all about Edwin Jenner and Louis Pasteur, and everyone else who worked so hard to develop vaccines in the first place. Before Jenner, smallpox could kill people or, at best, give them disfiguring scars. Before Pasteur, rabies could definitely kill children.

Sure, I'm simplifying the history of vaccines (a lot!), but the point stands: many diseases that, in the past, could kill you are now a thing of the past. But the only way to keep them there is to be vaccinated, which is why these anti-vaxxers make me so angry.

I also agree that some people will hope they're safe after the first injection. Will even the second injection make people "safe"? How safe will that be? I'm curious.

It's good to know that Canada is rallying behind the vaccinations. Australia is the same. For now, they're the best hope we have.

[Rath Darkblade]

Well. Taiwan goes nuts, and it is not e-fish-cient

For those who can't read the article ...

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.

[Tawmis]

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

Intentional typo, I am sure.