The travel, conference and tourism industry are going to be in recession for a long time after coronavirus is a distant memory.
As Charles Stross notes here in another context, people are going to be reluctant to gather in big groups with other people who’ve come from far away.
He says he doesn’t expect to see much activity in science fiction conventions in 2021 or 2022. I agree and see this going far beyond science fiction conventions.
Most of my career has been closely tied with professional conferences. I’ve gone to one or two a month, mostly traveling by plane to get there. And the companies I work for have been primarily in the conference business, with editorial operations – my work – as a sideline. Those companies are going to be struggling for years.
Yet another reason why I see a career change in my short-term future.
Shopping run: I went to the supermarket yesterday – for the benefit of my local friends, the Vons on University in La Mesa. The crowd seemed about typical for a weekday afternoon, which is to say moderate. Neither heavy nor light. Most people were not wearing masks or gloves. I wore latex gloves – surprisingly light and comfortable, and blue, which made me think of the bad guys on the TV show “Firefly.” I did see a few other gloves-wearers, and a couple of people wearing masks. None of the staff were wearing gloves or masks.
The shelves for toilet paper, sanitizer and wipes were bare. Slim pickings on soup. My favorite pea soup with ham was in, Julie’s tortilla soup was out. Our favorite brand of cat littler had only one box in stock, but I was able to load up on an alternative. Everything else seemed pretty well stocked up, including meats, dairy and produce.
There was a box of hand sanitizers at the front entrance of the supermarket for public use. I think it’s there all the time, not just during the pandemic. Usually I don’t bother. Yesterday I took one and used it to quickly wipe down the handle of the shopping cart, even though I was wearing gloves and my hands wouldn’t be touching the handle.
We mostly kept a six-foot distance. Although we did get closer when we passed each other, we didn’t linger. We kept our distance at the shelves; if one person was taking something, the other hung back until the first was done. No reacharound.
When I got to the cashier, there was one woman in line, behind the person being checked out. She took two steps back and I realized I had been standing too close, and did the same. When it was her turn, and I stepped up to the on-deck position, the cashier said I should load my groceries on the conveyer belt like usual, and then stand at the end of the checkout counter until it was my turn.
I asked when toilet paper would be in stock. She said likely Wednesday, but I should be sure to get there early. When the store opens at 7 am there’s a line of 150 people waiting to get in.
I am slightly concerned as we are legit running low on TP. Got about a week’s supply. Got plenty of facial tissues and paper towels so that’s not a cause for concern. Likewise, while I am running low on my favorite hand soap, we have plenty of other soap.
Our pending possible shortages are like inaudible whispers compared with the jet engine roar of what may be coming in a few weeks.
So like I said, I ordered a new iPad Pro last night. I am a confessed Apple fanboy, so I’m excited to get it and feel like I can barely wait the 2-2.5 weeks until it’s due to arrive.
Last night as I was falling asleep, I found myself wondering what kind of world we’ll be in when the iPad gets here. Things are moving awfully fast.
I excavated my briefcase from where it was buried under cardboard boxes in my office. I thought I had packets of hand sanitizer wipes in there, but it turned out to be Coffee-Mate, which is not a substitute, I think.
"Even during a global pandemic, nobody in Boston eats manhattan clam chowder"
The coronavirus leftovers: Twitter users share grocery store items no one is apparently buying www.foxnews.com/food-drin…
Reminds of college dorm life: Corn nuts would be the last candy left in the vending machine, after the M&Ms, Snickers, and all other candies sold out. This was a weekly occurrence. Eventually I acquired a taste for corn nuts.
"Julia Roberts’ performance is the magic spell that makes Pretty Woman work."
Appreciating “Pretty Woman,” 30 years later www.refinery29.com/en-ca/202…
I didn’t see “Pretty Woman” until years after it came out because chick flick. It’s a delightful movie. Julia Roberts yes but also Laura San Giacomo, who is an underappreciated national treasure. Jason Alexander is the perfect d-bag. And Richard Gere is Richard Gere and Hector Elizondo is Hector Elizondo, two things that are excellent to be.
I see a few social media darwinists saying we should be willing to sacrifice lives in the short term to restart the economy. But nobody’s willing to lead by example.
Protect Yourself From Coronavirus Grocery Shopping
www.consumerreports.org/food-shop…
This is me tomorrow. I wish we had a space suit lying around.
I have committed iPad Pro 13"
My brain has been tempting me with the new iPad Pro, about how nice it will be to have that big screen when I’m sitting and reading or doing social media. Or whatever. I’ve been replying to my brain that hey I just got laid off two months ago and I need to focus on building an income stream or finding another job.
My brain said to me this morning, well, if you had a new iPad Pro it would be a backup computer if the MacBook Pro goes belly-up and needs to spend time in the shop. You’ll be able to continue working. And until then you’ll be able to enjoy the iPad Pro – it won’t just sit on a shelf collecting dust.
I said to myself, ha ha foolish brain you are tempting me again with your ridiculous– wait, that actually makes sense.
So I talked it over with Julie. The iPad Pro arrives in 2-2.5 weeks.
How Biscoff Cookies Became the Snack We Crave on Planes www.cntraveler.com/story/how…
I never eat ‘em on the ground but I love them on planes.
It’s crazy how great it is when the flight attendant comes by with Biscoff or other favorite airplane treats. Same for the Amtrak snack boxes. I’m a grown-ass adult who can afford to buy this stuff for myself if I want it.
How to boost your home’s Wi-Fi www.theverge.com/2020/3/19…
It’s time to track people’s smartphones to ensure they self-isolate during this global pandemic, says WHO boffin.
Professor Marylouise McLaws, a technical adviser to the World Health Organization’s Infection Prevention and Control Global Unit, praises Singapore, which has a system where the government sends an SMS to citizens, who click a link which uses the phone’s location services to report their location.
www.theregister.co.uk/2020/03/2…
It’s an intriguing system, with the advantage that citizens can easily opt out after the crisis, by simply refusing to participate.
We may need to allow government to track everybody’s locations during the duration of the pandemic. But we need to roll back surveillance when the emergency is over. And once government has been given power, it’s really, really hard to roll that back.
Video: Italian mayors berate citizens for breaking quarantine.
“Getting in your mobile hairdressers?! What the fuck is that for? Don’t you understand that the casket will be CLOSED?”
My first multi-person Zoom coffee break this morning. We discussed bronies and the catechism. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a meeting where either was discussed, let alone both.
I saw this excellent sidewalk art near the house. “Just keep walking” can be seen as inspirational or a threat.📷
.
Minnie practices her reading comprehension skills.
The Grass Is Always Greener by George Malcolm-Smith Bantam Books 410, 1948 Cover by Casey Jones
Law firm warns work-from-home employees against eavesdropping by Alexa, baby monitors, etc.
Locked-Down Lawyers Warned Alexa Is Hearing Confidential Calls - Bloomberg
Mishcon de Reya LLP, the U.K. law firm that famously advised Princess Diana on her divorce and also does corporate law, issued advice to staff to mute or shut off listening devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s voice assistant when they talk about client matters at home, according to a partner at the firm. It suggested not to have any of the devices near their work space at all.
Mishcon’s warning covers any kind of visual or voice enabled device, like Amazon and Google’s speakers. But video products such as Ring, which is also owned by Amazon, and even baby monitors and closed-circuit TVs, are also a concern, said Mishcon de Reya partner Joe Hancock, who also heads the firm’s cybersecurity efforts.
We don’t have them in the house. The risk seems high, and the potential benefit seems low.