h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"How're you doing in your true Winter??" [Mad Snacker]

We have temperature swings. It'll be about 25 degrees this afternoon, and 7 degrees tonight.

We can swing from 40 degrees and rainy to 10 degrees and snowy, in just a few hours.

but the sun gets brighter and longerlasting every day.

PaulI agree!
No16, my mam always said - why don't you act your age, I replied every time "Do I have to act something different each birthday ? I'm me! Don't change it."

We are going to get a bit of rain here, and some wind, thunder and lightning as well. An atmospheric river is going to dump 1-3 inches of rain here, and we can surely use it!! The "new" sod has been looking a bit dry, as of late. Not been growing much.

I do fear that the yards will go back to dilapidated patches of soil if we fail to see some needed weeks of rain here. I'm sure that water rationing is going to take place AGAIN, soon.



I hope that you're all doing well .

I've avoided coronavirus so far, and plan to keep doing so.

I wonder how the new virus came about?

Good question!!

Nice to "see" you, Paul. All going well??

Some back trouble, some anxiety, some hope for a nice Spring.

http://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

Basically! Countries that have a variety of food "animals" (hens/pigs etc) living in the same "homes" as humans - harsh winters = more heat with more bodies and limited building space to "house" livestock.

At the end of the day "as they say" all this "panic" over the coronavirus, it's JUST another variation of Influenza!
The difference is:- Years ago, outbreaks were sort of confined to certain areas, but now a days! With world travel for the masses, it's spread is bound to hit the whole world!
Just use the "K.I.S.S." format Keep It Simple Stupid - wash your hands and don't cough in peoples faces etc.
Use surgical type gloves when out, so you don't pick up other's germs off any object/s etc or PASS on your own bugs

My local theater has decided to reduce seating capacity by 50%, to keep viewers separated one from another.

Joe Biden ha spledged to make sure there are enough Coronavirus test kits for everyone. I don't see how he can do that, given that he holds no office as yet. If and when he gets to the White House (a big if), who knows whether the Coronavirus will still be a big deal.

In China, the mortality rate was maybe 2 or 3%. In the U.S. so far, it seems like maybe a third of one per cent so far. Granted, no one wants to be one of the oens who dies. But still, here are some comparisons:

Bubonic plague, fatal 50% to 70% of the time, but if treated the numbers decline to 10 or 15%.

Smallpox, fatal about 30% of the time, but with wide variation depending on type.

The mortality from AIDS has plummeted, but related causes such as cancer can still spell death.

The Flu that ravaged the world between 1918 and 1920 infected about 500 million people, of whom 50 to 100 people died. So, a ten to twenty per cent mortality rate. My sister'smother-in-law caught it and came within a whisker of death. Her doctor thought she was incredibly tough (she had nine children, of which the one she was pregnant with died). He predicted that only a truck could kill her. Coincidentally, that was almost what did happen, when she was 88.

The flu strain that is currently making the rounds in the U.S. has probably infected 34,000,000 – 49,000,000 people, of whom 20,000 – 52,000 have died. Our medical science has figured out how to make vaccines for it. Maybe one for the Coronavirus will be forthcoming soon.

Don't quote me on this, but I think ? the "research" stations of the W.H.O. around the world that monitor flu outbreaks etc, have about 11 hrs to get the info to H.Q. as such.
To start producing the vaccine for THAT particular flu "species" ? in all the countries lab's etc

It's going to be a hassle, that's for sure. I'm hoping that someone will be lucky enough to find that an existing vaccine works well enough to stem the tide of this virus. Keep your fingers crossed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51665497

As do I, Paulh.

And if not, I hope that the social distancing campaign will work well enough so that we're not all permanently psychologically damaged by this thing.

I've a bit of back trouble as well, but I also hope for a good Spring, one that's on time and not too early. Our resodded lawn is appreciating this set of storms. It really is starting to look quite plush now. It had looked quite unhealthy just 2 weeks ago.

When the rain and wind subsides I have to rake and sweep the leaves to make the house look really nice.

It'll give me a chance to exercise a bit as well..

With this new influenza virus outbreak hitting the world - NOW is the time for me to win a fortune to HAVE the money to meet my friends around the world and NOT be allowed to travel anywhere!

I've started a thread on Ask H2G2 about the virus. Maybe the various researchers can fill in some details for mutual benefit.

"we are swamped" with world news/updates etc etc about the "coronavirus/covit 19"
Why ? can't "they" just say it's another Influenza outbreak ? Co's that's all that it is..
It happens throughout history and it'll run it's course as usual.
Only this time, world travel is more more accessible to many and that's why it's spreading..

It's not going to be stopped, but by slowing it now we might keep new cases low enough that they don't swamp the medical establishment. Also, the three weeks of social isolation may give us time to ramp up testing services and let us manufacture more face masks.

"It's not going to be stopped"
"they" know that many are going to cop a dose worldwide
but! "they" are more scared of the financial cost of world/local businesses going bust etc etc and the "claims etc" for government/s £/$ support.

Profit against loss! - Money against life ? so! Life is cheap as they say

Wuhan didn't get a handle on things until they drastically ramped up their testing, to identify nonsymptomatic people in the early stages of the disease.

On the daft side of it, I've seen on our tv teletext pages a few days back - the 1st conspiracy theory "America" introduced it!
Any bets on how many other "theories" are going to appear ? over the coming year or so