Good news!

[Knot Fast]

Not to minimize the current challenges, but, ever the optimist, what are the silver linings? I bet there are a few. What have you found?

The sky over Tampa Bay is as clear as I have ever seen it. In the past, on a "very clear day" we could see the hazy taller buildings of Tampa from our St Pete marina. Now, every day, we can see the outline of trees on the opposite shore, ~8 mi.

Without taking sides in the battle, air pollution reduction proponents talk about a hypothetical benefit, today we can actually see a tangible difference. I like it!

What are some other silver linings?

 

[healhustler]

For sure, one benefit is the absence of road noise and seasonal back-ups here on Longboat Key for the last month, not that we are going anywhere. Small shore birds like sandpipers were nearly gone after Irma, but are back in increasing numbers now. Pelican nests are busy. Great idea, this thread...focus on the positive!

 

[angus99]

For us, it’s having—or taking—the time to savor life. We feel horrible for the people who are being affected by this. At the same time, we are not missing the constant on-the-go mentality that we picked up during our careers and which somehow continued to be our way of life in retirement. We live on nine acres and our property backs on thousands of acres of wilderness, so isolating is easy.

We miss not seeing our son, daughter-in-law and friends terribly but we do have some hikes planned, with appropriate distancing. Except for that, we’re enjoying the peace and quiet, our connection with nature—it’s a glorious spring day here—and having fun with projects, including the boating kind, that we’ve been putting off. We’re also reading more and catching up on movies and extended series we’ve been meaning to watch. I feel guilty for even thinking this way but the good news for us is that we’re mostly enjoying this period of enforced settling.

 

[HiDHo]

We have noticed the same things here in Citrus county west central Florida. Very quiet, Best am and pm walking. Yesterday a pair of Sand Hill cranes walked thru our backyard showing off their new off spring, we had never seen a baby crane before. Also when we’ve had to drive some where the drivers even seem more civilized.
Bill

 

[healhustler]

I feel guilty for even thinking this way but the good news for us is that we’re mostly enjoying this period of enforced settling.

I didn’t want to admit that, but the same is true for us. Great share.

 

[BDofMSP]

My elderly dog is getting more and more separation anxiety as time goes on. It breaks my heart when I check her on the security cameras and she's barking. Now she has both of us home all day long!

 

[AusCan]

The water seems extra clean at the moment, too.
Here's a video taken a couple days ago of dolphins in super-clear water.

 

[Rusty]

My work commute is short. Just down the hall. Normally, it is a plane back and forth from Seattle to Los Angeles every week. I haven't been at home this much in ten years.

 

[Pete Meisinger]

Gasoline at less than $1.50 a gallon and diesel is following suit.

My money is lasting longer, (what I have left after the stock market mess). I don't shop, spend or go anywhere.

In about 9 months guns are going to be very cheap.

I'm getting my freezer and pantry cleaned out.

It's been a good season for maple sap and syrup.

The government is giving the Admiral and I a couple thousand dollars to spend on the boat.

The pace of life, at least in Northern Wisconsin has really slowed down.

The cruise industry has taken a serious "whack" . Good riddance, I say.

Should I go on?

pete

 

[markpierce]

Gasoline taxes here are 76.7 cents a gallon. No chance of $2 gasoline here.

 

[menzies]

Gas is $1.67 at the street pumps here.

I would say other good news is that everyone's bank balances should be getting healthy - there is no where to spend money!

Also we usually eat out for lunch five times a week and at least three dinners. No more. So even though we may be snacking more, we are losing weight.

Video off our home dock this morning when I was doing some bright work maintenance!

 

[Knot Fast]

I was due for a trim about when the barber shops closed down. I was starting to look very shaggy, like one of those old guys with wild hair and beard you see living on a poorly maintained sailboat boat without a mast...
Amazon delivered the trimmer today and the girlfriend cut my hair with a 1/2" clip on the swim platform. She said I look 10 years younger, and I saved $18!
I told her she was next.
Boy, is that not happening!

 

[MurrayM]

Our daughter is back from college early. Nice to have her back in the nest. Sucks for her, having classes online and no more labs, missing friends, etc, but she recognizes the insignificance of her 'problems' in the grand scheme of things.

 

[healhustler]

I was starting to look very shaggy, like one of those old guys with wild hair and beard you see living on a poorly maintained sailboat boat without a mast...

Heck, I look that way AFTER a fresh haircut. Now, I look more like Nick Nolte’s drunken mugshot, and when the Admiral & I were walking on the beach this morning, I noticed people were maintaining a lot more than the suggested social distance.

 

[bogranjac1]

Gasoline at less than $1.50 a gallon and diesel is following suit.

My money is lasting longer, (what I have left after the stock market mess). I don't shop, spend or go anywhere.

In about 9 months guns are going to be very cheap.

I'm getting my freezer and pantry cleaned out.

It's been a good season for maple sap and syrup.

The government is giving the Admiral and I a couple thousand dollars to spend on the boat.

The pace of life, at least in Northern Wisconsin has really slowed down.

The cruise industry has taken a serious "whack" . Good riddance, I say.

Should I go on?

pete

Yeah go on............
tell me about the cheaper guns .........so that's good ?

 

[Captain Max]

Here on the Florida South East coast the Virgin Trains (aka first known as Florida All Aboard, then Brightline) that has struck and killed over 50 people since its inauguration four years ago running (mostly empty) between Miami and West Palm Beach has shut down. They let go all their employees. I’m guessing Richard Branson will want us to bail him out, the same as he’s wanting GB to bailout his airline and Cruise Ship while he lives on his tax haven private island in the BVI’s. Their press release said they still had employees still working on laying new tracks between West Palm Beach and Orlando, but all the workers disappeared along with their equipment in St.Lucie County on Tuesday..So that’s good. Good in that if so many citizens were killed in just 74 miles, imagine another 190 miles. And all the freight trains carrying double stacked containers with crap from China on the Florida East Coast RR tracks (owned by a Mexican company)have also disappeared, so no longer do we hear super sonic loud train horns from miles away all night long.
Cruise ships are no longer coming and going from Port Canaveral so the UAE Company who has a 30 year lease on it, aren’t profiting from us infidels.
The traffic is very light on the Interstate and Turnpike.
It’s quieter, which is nice.
Oh, according to paramedics I know- they’re no longer having calls to revive junkies 24/7 like they did before this virus business which is rather odd. I called an ex junkie I know and inquired, and he said “either the dealers aren’t selling or” then told me “when I used I never got sick, except when I quit, it’s like the immune system kills everything else”. I said “it must be like all winos having full heads of hair?”. He asked. “What’s a wino?”.. I explained to him that cities used to be full of them.

 

[Miz Trom]

Many years ago around this time the mullet were so thick in the cove behind our house, it felt like we could walk on on water across the thick schools of mullet. Haven't seen that in over 20 years.

This morning the largest school of mullet I've seen since 1999 showed up. I stood on our dock in absolute wonder.

Don't get me wrong, we own an old 1959 one-story typical old-Florida house on an old canal system built on top of wetlands. We are not financially wealthy, but we are incredibly wealthy in the things that matter.

The other thing that has been reinforced this past week is how imperative is is to treat all of our neighbors, friends and fellow citizens with kindness. Especially our friends in the healthcare system, grocery systems, law enforcement and utilities.


Best Regards,
Mrs. Trombley

 

[Portage_Bay]

No one I love is sick with this.

I'm finally slowing down. Since retirement I've just kept going full speed ahead like I did all my working life.

The govt is sending me some $$$ which I'll give to someone who really needs it. So many put out of work by the stay at home orders.

 

[Yahoo 1]

Marshall Burke (mburke@stanford.edu) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth System Science at Stanford University.
Writing on the website G-Feed he said: "The reductions in air pollution in China caused by this economic disruption likely saved twenty times more lives in China than have currently been lost due to infection with the virus in that country".

G-FEED: COVID-19 reduces economic activity, which reduces pollution, which saves lives.

 

[menzies]

Marshall Burke (mburke@stanford.edu) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth System Science at Stanford University.
Writing on the website G-Feed he said: "The reductions in air pollution in China caused by this economic disruption likely saved twenty times more lives in China than have currently been lost due to infection with the virus in that country".

G-FEED: COVID-19 reduces economic activity, which reduces pollution, which saves lives.

Disturbing to see a Ph.D using terms such as "likely...twenty times more,"

Facts and data are what are required now, not guesses.

 

[denverd0n]

Also we usually eat out for lunch five times a week and at least three dinners. No more. So even though we may be snacking more, we are losing weight.

Funny. It's the opposite for us. We normally don't eat out more than about once every 3-4 weeks. I am able to work at home, and still making full salary, though, so to help out local businesses we've been getting take-out several times a week.

 

[AZ2Loop]

Great thread idea. Those are great observations about good news all around us. It is refreshing and wonderful to read. I'll add a couple of thoughts that are even more directly related to the virus rather than byproducts of the actions being taken.



The statistics: PLEASE do not take this as minimizing the pain and suffering of the victims of COVID-19 and their loved ones. That is not my intent, and I recognize I may prove to be one of them before this is over. However, the numbers are actually good news. Compared to where this virus was expected/predicted/modeled to go in terms of spread and # of victims, % of death, etc., we are at basically a statistical ZERO compared to what was expected about a month ago. We are barely above zero when compared to United States H1N1 infections (not deaths, but infections) from 2009/10 (over 60 million infected then vs less than 1 million so far now). You wouldn't know that by the level of panic and fear, but it's true. Comparatively speaking, it is wonderful news.
Working together: Also, look at what companies in the US and abroad are doing. Watch how quickly many companies large and small have switched their business models from what they were doing 2 weeks ago to what they doing now to fight this. In addition to the Fortune 500 level examples, there are small companies stepping up huge, too. One restaurant I know saw their ingredients (groceries to you and me) supply chain being so reliable through this that they switched from being a restaurant to a grocery delivery service for a neighborhood that badly needed it. They aren't cooking, but they just keep ordering/selling/delivering to their community. Win/win.
The Team: You may think I am taking this political in direction. I am not. It is not my intent and I am certain that is not the intent of the OP, but I have to add this. If you see any of these daily press conferences being held at The White House, (and please let's not focus on the hatred some have for POTUS here), there are some truly remarkable people working on this. Watch them. Listen to them. See how professional they are when handling (often stupid) questions. Can you find mistakes and fumbles? Absolutely. By and large, though, this is a team of outstanding, intelligent, and competent managers working on large teams of people to help us through this. I find it impressive. Most of them, anyway. Forget what side of the aisle you may find yourself and watch that team work.
Donations: Can you believe how many companies have stepped up and donated items to this cause? Millions and millions of dollars worth of donations.

We have our faults as a country, but I am thankful we are here when something like this comes along. Actually we are thankful we are here all the time, but we think about that more in times like this.

 

[Yahoo 1]

Disturbing to see a Ph.D using terms such as "likely...twenty times more,"

Facts and data are what are required now, not guesses.

Take time to read the link before criticizing and you receive answers to your questions.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. m. "Disturbing to see a Ph.D using terms..." HAH! You don't know many Phd. holders, do you? Likely, perhaps, all data points to but..." are terms I might question from a layman but I'm QUITE confident Dr. Burke knows of that which he speaks.


He presents a compelling case based on "facts and data" and describes his analysis methods succinctly. Considering, of course that the "facts and data" are what is apparently known when he wrote the article.


If you have ever been to any of the larger cities in China, you will be acutely aware of the horrid air quality on a daily basis. A 2018 paper published in The Lancet reports 8.6% of China's population suffers from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180409185331.htm

From the above article:

"Researchers suspect that those who didn't smoke developed COPD due to other risk factors or environmental exposures such as air pollution, chronic cough during childhood, parental history of respiratory diseases, low bodyweight and low education."

 

[boathealer]

The Team: You may think I am taking this political in direction. I am not. It is not my intent and I am certain that is not the intent of the OP, but I have to add this. If you see any of these daily press conferences being held at The White House, (and please let's not focus on the hatred some have for POTUS here), there are some truly remarkable people working on this. Watch them. Listen to them. See how professional they are when handling (often stupid) questions. Can you find mistakes and fumbles? Absolutely. By and large, though, this is a team of outstanding, intelligent, and competent managers working on large teams of people to help us through this. I find it impressive. Most of them, anyway. Forget what side of the aisle you may find yourself and watch that team work.

Thank you for this. I, too, am amazed and appreciative.

If you dropped me or likely any one of us into this situation. I think I would be paralyzed on what to do next. Would I have thought - "Gee, I better put together a Supply Chain Team", or "Let's drop ship any new medical supplies directly to the hospitals in need"? I don't know, but the range of topics (and team disciplines) to be addressed is phenomenal.

For some, it will always be too much, or never enough, no matter the outcome. I am confident they are doing the very best that can be done with the real-time information available.

 

[menzies]

Regarding "the team."

I just wish the politicians and media would get the hell out of their way.

 

[psneeld]

There have been numerous pandemic studies for decades available and even the military ran a "pandemic" wargame in 2019.


You have to sign in I think to read the link...just including it for those that think I make everything up.


https://www.military.com/daily-news...mic-war-game-2019-conclusions-were-eerie.html

 

[Lollygag1]

Family game night via ZOOM. We have done Yahtzee and cribbage so far. Everyone hanging out with their favorite beverage, significant other and pets.

 

[HiDHo]

Really Good News.
No political ads on tv.
I heard a neighborhood some where had people coming out on there front porches and singing together to show unity during this war on the virus, that’s really good news.

 

[AKDoug]

I am looking forward to an awesome boating summer, without tourists competing for the local resources. 60% of the sport catch allocation fish in Alaska are taken by tourists here on vacation, the other 40% by subsistence and sport fishing by residents. It has gotten harder to put fish in the freezer for the average Alaskan.

I feel bad for the charter businesses who won't have a normal season raking in the tourist dollars, but there is a silver lining for those of us who live here. Charters have grown to over $300 for a day of fishing, not too long ago it was $125 for a full day, and you could come out ahead on the cost with what you put in your freezer.

I am looking forward to quiet days on the water, less competition for the resources, and less competition for a parking place at the dock! My son-in-law is out of work (oil prices coupled with coronavirus) so we will be having some quality time on the water together with his family as well.