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sweetswesf · 4 years

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It is Done...

Well y’all. After years of trying to make this happen, I did it. I am now a full-time software engineer. Not Software Engineering Bootcamp Student. Not Apprentice Software Engineer. Not Software Engineer Intern. Software Engineer. Period.

(damn, no Yung Miami gifs?!...)

All glory be to God.

This week was tumultuous though. I was calm. I got the word about my offer around 5:18 PM on Monday. I wasn’t stressed that day. I just did my usual routine of working out, eating, calling my family. My mentor spilled the beans after the University Programs coordinator put a meeting on my calendar for the next day with the title, “Update on Offer Letter :)”. I hadn’t know I go the position yet and did not want to get my hopes up too high at the smiley face, but he said they were playing around and drawing this out too long. It would be cruel if the smiley face was there all for her to call the next day and say, “ACTUALLY, you didn’t get it.”

When it came time to have the call about my offer, I just stayed silent. It was $11k more than what I was being paid as an Intern. The shares, because of all that is going on, were on a year-vesting schedule instead of 4, because they did not want new offers to be much more than previous offers, given the whackiness of today’s stock market behavior. When I was ready to speak, I said, "I am going to need a better offer. Is email the best place to communicate the terms.” The Programs rep shot back, “They’re non-negotiable.” Non-negotiable my behind. I said okay and as soon as we got off the phone, chatted with my friends on recruiting for their advice. They said I was in the middle of my band for my level (Software Engineer T3), at my max band for equity, and on the higher end for my sign-on bonus. I asked him if it would be smart to negotiate during the current crisis given many people don’t have jobs and we are doing various cost-saving initiatives at the company. He encouraged me to go ahead and negotiate. His reasoning, “Even if they say no, it will give you practice, and it will be good to know that you did negotiate when it is time for recalibration in your next performance review.”

So, I did. I sent my request via email. I had the research ready. I referenced the Google sheet of the anonymous compensation survey results taken a year back at my company and saw that the base salary I was offered was the same as that of people 3 years prior. Doing the math on the shares, the offered amount was lower than what I was offered as a Financial Analyst. Granted, it was offered 4 years ago, earlier in the company, before IPO, when companies typically offer more anyway, and the vesting schedule was longer (4-years as opposed to my current offer of 1-year vesting). She didn’t have to know that though. I felt I had a great case. And I sat on the offer.

My friend started our conversation talking about a recent discussion on Blind, the app that enables people to talk about confidential or controversial things at their company, that started over the weekend. Discussed in the post on Blind, an email went out to the company about a large amount of furloughs. I considered it but thought, “Yikes...,” but brushed it off as more drama. There have been layoffs in my org before and I figured, “software engineers are safe.” Further more, I thought, “I should be fine. They wouldn’t extend me an offer and then take it away before I even start...would they?...”

I went on my merry way that day, in peace, relaxing, reflecting on the goal accomplished and considering the decade plus year of work done. I even took a nap for the first time on my house’s living room couch. I am pretty much the only one that goes in there anymore. I am just trying to spread out of my room and it is working. Some days, I even go out on our tiny patio to get natural Vitamin D. I had been sitting inside for WEEKS not realizing that I could be missing out on some vital nutrients which I need now that I am vegan. I’m still liking the vegan life y’all. Feel free to toss me any of your questions about it...

Anyway, the University Programs rep never got back to me after I submitted my renegotiated terms, but she was answering questions to my apprentice friend. By the way, only the female apprentices received return offers. No diss to men, or my friend who did not get a return offer. We did not get return offers just because we are women. I’m just encouraging you to blow your ideas of womens’ inabilities in this industry out of the window! We can hold our own!

Anyway, I just figured she would delay and delay. She wanted me to sign in 48 hours but I was determined to finally win a negotiation at my company, after failing almost 6 times at one.

Well, then I heard from my apprentice friend finishing up her last week of her internship. Apparently, the email on Blind was real and my company was laying off 17% of it’s employees. This amounted to about 1,000 jobs. I figured this would just be from a few non-engineering departments but I was wrong. I know at least 8 friends who were let go. Most of those friends were engineers that helped me get in, helped support me during all of my tenures at the company. Even teammates. I got so many questions, “How are you safe and not them.” I wanted to say, “God’s favor,” but figured I’d just humbly say, “I don’t know.” Along with the rest of the company though, I will have to take a paycut when I do return. I decided to just go ahead and sign without my negotiated terms because there was no rhyme to the layoffs. Most of the people were well-performing. Of course, the company’s strategy was probably to go for experimental groups, or groups that were not critical to the survival of the company. For the engineers that were let go that I knew, they had all been with the company for 2-4 years (longer than most) and I know they were making a lot. I know this probably had something to do with why they were let go. It was a little discouraging though. You negotiate well, but when you’re compared with other members on the team, when it’s time for the company to lean up, you’re the first to go.

It reminded me when I was putting the budget together for the AV operations with my manager two years ago. He told me to look at 80% of the budget and look at the top makers. The idea is to be strategic with cuts. If you can get two for the price of one, you’ve gotta consider the people making the most.

One of the people let go was the guy who trained me when I first joined the company in 2016. The guy that was the oldest employee on Finance. He had been there even before all of his managers and even the CFO. I never imagined him leaving. He was making a lot and pretty comfortable in his job. He was already a multi-millionaire though with his rental properties and all his stocks, plus I hear the severance is nice, so he will be fine, but it was tragic.

Another person who was let go was the woman who bullied me when I returned for my Apprenticeship. My apprenticeship buddy from NYC told me. (We’re speaking regularly, even after the end of our internships, and I feel a real connection. I’m so glad for it. I’m making genuine friends y’all! Speaking to her today, laughing about Tiger King, planning to do Jackbox games and become each other’s accountability partners during our break in employment, calmed me a lot.). Her bully was let go as well. I was curious if they were still with the company before she told me, and I felt a sense of relief when she told me they were. Of course, I would not wish them being fired on my worst enemy, but it solidified what I know to be true: just focus on you and yourself and your work and do what’s right and help others, and God will handle your issues. Let him handle it. Revenge is not ours. A lot of people who antagonized me or brought me issues unfairly are not with the company any more. My old manager from AV, the VP from Accounting who wanted to fire me for a mistake but said she couldn’t because I was Black :/.

All these people did not need another unfortunate event during all that is going on. Even the ones who were ready to go, I am SURE they did not want to go out this way...

I felt low that day and the next. A bit of survivor’s guilt. Absolutely grateful for still having my opportunity.

I called my manager after a mentor recommended I have a serious convo with him. I felt secure despite the layoffs, but not 100%. My manager said that the chances for me losing my opportunity were low but that he never even saw this coming. He said directors did not even know and that I should be mindful. I asked him about start date: University Programs wanted me to start in less than 2 weeks. He told me 3 weeks was fine but (kindly) that I had better be ready when I return.

I plan to take these next 3 weeks to get into the mindset I need to for returning. There’s no n00b title I can hide under. I have to perform. It’s the real deal. It is a bit scary, but I will just have to focus and try hard. I put together my standing desk and feel ready. However, Friday came and I had no motivation to look at any code, and that’s okay. Saturday either. I am just going to relax, workout, eat right, and get ready for next week. Ready!

I celebrated by watching Tiger King. I tried to talk myself out of it, but it kept ringing in the back of my mind, “WATCH ME! WATCH ME!” It was entertaining, but I am glad I am not hooked. 7 hours is a lot. Travis was cute. I’m not going to judge Carol, but it aint looking too hot for you sis...I pray Joe gets out. I’m just glad they were not Black. We have enough embarrassing content online!

I fed a homeless man on my block the food in my freezer that was still good but stuff I was not too excited to eat. That included all the meat that I am no longer eating. I was not going to waste it. I was hella paranoid because he was definitely closer than 6 feet without a mask on! I just have to calm myself when I get paranoid about stuff like this and recognize that I am doing my best to social distance, stay healthy, and keep in touch with my fam. Keep your soul strong y’all.

Peace, love, and light.

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hecckyeah · 3 years

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the medic

@vanilla-chip-101 made me do it.

He knows he’s different.

He doesn’t know why or how, but when a brother gets knocked over at lunch, no one else seems to care. No one else drops their tray and pulls him up by his wrists. No one else asks if he’s okay or if he needs to see the med droid.

He knows he’s different.

A six-year tells him he’s surprised the longnecks haven’t noticed his weakness and decommissioned—

The six-year doesn’t get farther than that.

He knows he’s different.

His batchmates don’t understand. They tell him he acts like a med droid sometimes, but he doesn’t mind. He likes the med droids. He likes how the tools flash in the light and how his brothers always feel better after a visit to the ‘bay. He likes standing at attention behind the other cadets and listening to the longnecks drone on about treating blaster wounds.

He knows he’s different.

In seventh year during training, when his brother gets hit four, five, six times, he drags him, groaning and protesting, behind a barrier and out of the way. And he finishes the drill alone, blasting and kicking down every training droid in his path. (It’s how he gets his name.)

The longnecks must have noticed.

The next day, he’s away from his batchmates, sitting in a classroom with fourteen other cadets he doesn’t recognize. And the lecture isn’t on weapons or strategy or regulations.

Now everyone else knows he’s different too.

He wears a small red symbol on his shoulder. He’s taught how to heal his sick brothers. He’s taught about not just blaster wounds but about much worse, much scarier injuries. His eyes open wide at some of the lessons, and he sets his jaw, determined. He’s never let his brothers hurt before, and he won’t start now.

He’s taught that when it comes to the health of his men, he outranks even the generals.

He doesn’t mind being different.

He can still fire a blaster and fight alongside his brothers, but he has a higher purpose now.

The first troopers have shipped out to Geonosis before he completes his training. He watches them go, marching in sync—the way they’ve been taught ever since they could walk. Pride wells up in his chest at the sight.

He completes the final test alongside his batchmates, but he still has one test to go.

After the exam and the surgery demonstration, he’s given a black bag with the red symbol on the side. He grips it as tightly as he can as he salutes the longnecks.

His armor isn’t as shiny as the others. He has the red symbol on his shoulder, and his black bag strapped to his back. He stands rear center, rifle at his side, the world too bright through his helmet. Beside him, his batchmates are like statues, hardly breathing.

They’re assigned to a battalion and he’s ready.

To him, being different is a good thing.

War is worse than Kix imagined.

The longnecks made it sound clinical. As polished as the sterilized scalpel in his med bag.

But war is messy. War is chaos and fire and pain and loss and sleepless nights and not being sure if it’s blood or tears running down his face. War is all they’ve ever been meant for.

When Jesse is too near an explosion and has blistering burns on his lower back and legs, Kix drops everything and hauls his brother back to safety, bacta spray already in his hand.

When the General’s last-minute plan goes just a bit awry, Kix pulls him aside for scans, finding exactly what he feared. But the concussion won’t be debilitating, and with some rest and a short furlough to the Core, he’ll be in good shape again.

When Rex is shot off his speeder, barely able to even sit up in the barn, Kix realizes this is what he’s been prepared for. He pulls rank, ordering his own captain back onto the makeshift bed, leaving him in the capable hands of the farmer.

But he feels helpless most days.

So many brothers dead. So many wounds that couldn’t be treated soon enough. So many unseen injuries that destroyed them from the inside out.

He doesn’t cry. He’s not a cadet anymore. But when Hardcase collapses onto the ground next to him, chest heaving after their day-long run through the wilderness, Kix clasps his brother’s forearm and automatically, by force of habit, feels for a pulse.

He recites procedures to lull himself to sleep on days when he can’t see past the blood and burns and bodies piled high, never to be buried. He uses his med bag as a pillow most nights, letting the rough canvas under his cheek ground him, pulling him back to reality so he doesn’t get lost in the memories.

And in the mornings, he shakes his head and pushes those thoughts away and does the routine inspection of his bag. Ready for another day.

He knows he’s earned Rex’s trust, and for that he’s grateful. Because on Umbara, all they have is each other. The small band of brothers facing a threat greater than they ever could have imagined. Greater than the enemy they were originally sent to destroy.

He can’t keep up with the casualties.

He drags men behind trees, promising he’ll be back and that they’ll be alright. They should be allowed to hear something comforting before their deaths.

None of them will walk away unchanged.

War is worse than any of them could have imagined.

He knows the Captain hasn’t forgotten about Fives and Tup. None of them have.

Two of their closest brothers, gone in the span of a few short days. Kix can’t believe it was just coincidence. He knows it wasn’t a coincidence.

But the war isn’t ending anytime soon, and there are soldiers to care for. He can’t overthink it. Brothers die every day. Fives’ death was tragic, but they still have a job to do. They have a war to win.

He lets his hair grow out and Jesse returns from ARC training with shiny new pauldrons. Kix punches his shoulder. Jesse threatens to headbutt him. Just like old times.

The war gets messier. More scattered. Their forces are still strong, but he wonders how long they’ll be able to keep pressing on.

He takes it day by day, comforting one brother at a time. Healing wounds. Providing some modicum of peace to dying soldiers. Just like he’s always done.

It nags at the edge of his mind.

Rex was so secretive about Fives’ death, and Kix can’t help it. He’s a medic. He knows abnormality when he sees it.

He’s never been one to abandon his duties, so he researches in private. When he has a rare moment of peace, he digs into anything he can. It’s to protect the rest of his brothers. Otherwise he would have forgotten about it. But he’s always looked out for his vode. He was trained to, but more importantly: he’s different. It comes naturally.

It’s his only purpose.

He hasn’t forgotten Fives and Tup.

The air smells different when he wakes.

He hadn’t even realized he was asleep.

They tell him he’s been out of it for over fifty years. That the war is over. That in the end—the very end—they won. That he was right: Palpatine was behind everything. And for a while, it was hopeless. That for twenty-three years, the Empire had the galaxy in a stranglehold. But now they’re free and peace is restored and even the Jedi are back. (Were they gone in the first place?)

His head spins.

They offer him a spot on their crew.

But he needs to think.

Fifty years.

No clone could live that long. That’s more than a lifetime. His brothers were lucky to make it to year twelve during the war. They’re all dead now. He knows that much.

He falls against the wall—doesn’t realize that he hit the floor until he feels the jarring in his neck.

It’s his job to keep his brothers safe.

Keep them healthy. Fix their injuries. Comfort them as the life fades out of their eyes.

The longnecks’ words echo through his head from his early training. They’re your responsibility.

And he failed them.

If only he had been able to fight off the Seppies that captured him. Maybe he could have told Rex what he found.

His mind wanders.

He sees gray walls and dirty floors. He sees the dim lights of the med bay. He sees dying soldiers on cots, sees streams of blood running down pure white armor, sees pale faces and bodies piled high.

But through all the pain and suffering and death, he also sees his batchmates.

He sees their laughing faces and childish scuffles in the hallways. He sees food fights at lunch and accidental naps on the barracks floor. He sees late-night conversations about tattoos they would get and what kind of general they would be assigned to when their time came. He sees the rubber ball they would toss around, which caused more than a few bloody noses.

He sees past the war.

He remembers every name. Not their numbers. Not their ranks. He hears their names as clear as day.

He wasn’t taught to treat soldiers. He was taught to care for his brothers.

And the one time he should have been there for them . . . To help them, to haul them up and drag them to safety . . .

He failed.

He still wears the red symbol on his shoulder, bright and jarring as blood. A stark reminder of his failure. His inability to react quickly enough to save his brothers.

He doesn’t cry as he attaches the symbol to his shoulder pad. He’s not a cadet anymore.

But he repeats the names of his fallen brothers, vowing to honor them and remember them as long as he lives. He’s the only one who remembers what it was like before. Before the pain. Before the death. Before the betrayal.

They deserve that much.

It’s the best he can do.

And he might be different, but he’s always done his best.

#clone medic kix #star wars #clone wars #arc trooper jesse #clone trooper hardcase #anakin skywalker #(mentioned)#character study #idk how to tag this lol #my writing #star wars fanfic #thanks for the inspiration nessa 😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏#i'm not joking i wrote this in one sitting #it's 1.6k words #all your fault #:D

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sunwoovous · 3 years

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happy 1 year of ulting sunwoo to me!

a big thank you to @aethalen for being my bermuda anon and giving me the nudge I needed to get into tbz, to @chansungies for teaching me the members (I still have all the notes I took that you gave me!) and to @leeseungjuns for putting up with me daily as I yell at you 99% about sunwoo, and the remaining 1% is literally everything else in life (I still don’t know how you put up with me!). as much as I didn’t want to “ult or bias an aries boy” it happened, and I have to be thankful because both tbz and sunwoo came into my life at a time last year where things were rough for everyone. my adventures of stanning sunwoo kept me distracted from being furloughed from work during covid, kept my anxiety at bay when I was quarantined, and gave me something to look forward to daily... as much as I yell at him, I do have quite a very large soft mushy spot for him.

#sunwoo #kim sunwoo #m.gfx #yay for one year of ulting sunwoo!!!#please ignore the 1st and 2nd frames idk what happened with the color but aklsjdkfjk it's just not uploading correctly and it looks fiNE in #in ps*** oops the tag got cut off lol #anyway this was completely self indulgent

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littlespoonevan · 3 years

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Hello :) I was wondering (as you happen to be one of my very favorite authors) would you be willing to point me in the direction of some of your favorite works (any fandom/ship, I trust your judgement) if not, that’s completely fine. I still think you’re the bees knees. <3

Firstly anon, thank you for the compliment!!! You’re very sweet and i’m very flattered :’’)))) Secondly, you have just set me a gargantuan task omg sadkjfhs

Alright since you don’t have any fandom preferences, i’m gonna give you a whistle-stop tour of my fandom history and try to give you the link to every fic that has kept me awake at night at some point or another lmao. Some of these are gonna be super old but I’ll group them by pairings/fandoms <3

Sterek/Teen Wolf

Integral to Survival by asocialfauxpas (fuzzytomato)

Say Something by orphan_account

Losers by stilinskisparkles

Tangible Disasters by febricant

Not Your Disney Romance by Rawren (Deshonanana)

I Hope By the Morning by andnowforyaya

Amor Fati by alocalband

a year in sleepovers by sarcasticfishes

There's Monsters at Home by calrissian18

Play Crack the Sky by WeAreTheCyclones

The Price by theroguesgambit

Andreil/All for the Game

Baltimore Blues by SpangleBangle

light fires at night (to push back the void) by inthesea

Back to the Start by fuzzballsheltiepants

Out of the Ashes by puddlejumper99

Signing on the Line by andrewiel

Evak/Skam

Love Me Harder by tech_ftw

would it be a sin if i can't help falling in love with you? by orphan_account

open the pod bay doors by iriswests

stay a minute by grinsekaetzchen

if i knew it were true by smokeshop (orphan_account)

a mental archive of love unwanted by chevythunder

making new clichés by strangetowns

Blanket Fort Gospel by Sabeley

Lovesick by Sabeley

a constant state of closeness by chevythunder

Vivid in Black and White by Fxckxxp

come if you remember the way by teatrolley

12 months of sleeping by teatrolley

Therefore I Am by smokeshop (orphan_account)

though our parts are slightly used by teatrolley

Gallavich/Shameless

to think that we could stay the same by teatrolley

To Enjoy Bodily Warmth by BuickTom

Is There Somewhere by andchaos

Furlough by Loftec

Four Eight by pink_ink

Erasure by grumblesandmumbles

eighty-four by kissteethstainred

wrapped up in wire by biblionerd07

Like Real People Do by grayola

Buddie/911

a leaf falls on loneliness by iimpossible_things

fire on fire by extasiswings

The Space Between Sleep by Tattered_Dreams

the distance to the stars by cloudydaisies

There are so many others I could link you and plenty I’ve also marked as recs in my ao3 bookmarks that I haven’t added here but I tried to keep this somewhat concise! Also there is such an over-emphasis on bed sharing and/or hurt/comfort fics here but i figure if you follow me then that’s not a surprise lmao. happy reading, bud <33

#anon #asks #fic rec #long post #ok now i'm gonna actually reblog stuff lol going through my bookmarks was honestly a trip #basically these are all fics that i think regardless of if you're in the fandom or not #could be read and enjoyed just as /stories/

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overdramaticandtrue · 4 years

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i absolutely hate having to make this post. but right now i dont know any other options that can help. in the beginning of august 2019, i moved to northern california to live with my brother, sister in law, niece, and nephew. I did so to get away from the unhealthy environment I was being forced to live in. Pretty quickly I landed a job that I have learned to love. However, on March 16th my manager told me that our store was closing due to our county’s stay at home order and would last until april 8th. i found out last week that i would be out of a job for much longer than that as all employees have been furloughed for the indefinite future. my county’s stay at home order was just extended until at least may 3rd (which also happens to be the day after my 22nd birthday..sad face) and can very likely be extended after that as well since the bay area is being hit by the virus pretty badly. my brother has also been temporary laid off from his job as well so the two people in the house that bring in income (myself and my brother) no longer have anything to offer. i help out with bills and groceries and other miscellaneous things. we were not able to pay our rent in full for the month of april and i dont know what that means since our landlord has not communicated her expectations during this time. i worry a lot about being evicted and being forced to move back to southern california in a house where the person who sexually abused me throughout my childhood lives. it’s my worst nightmare and it really puts my head in dark places. i dont want to have to worry about being able to pay rent or have food on the table for all of us but especially my niece, Mattingly, and my nephew, Colt, who have brought me nothing but happiness. i really feel guilty making this post at all because i know so many of us are in very similar positions and i know other people have it worse than me..but i try to remind myself that my struggles are valid too. if you are able to, i would really appreciate any help that we can get. every single last dollar will be used to help pay for rent, bills, and groceries. i love you guys and i hope you are all staying safe during this scary time in the world.

paypal: paypal.me/couurtneylynn

venmo: couurtneylynn

#*taylor

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stairnaheireann · 1 year

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#OTD in Irish History | 16 January:

1362 – Birth of Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, Marquess of Dublin, and 9th Earl of Oxford KG. He was a favourite and court companion of King Richard II of England. He was the ninth Earl of Oxford and the first and only Duke of Ireland and Marquess of Dublin. 1700 – Richard Levinge, an Irish MP and later a prominent Tory, is committed by the English House of Commons to the Tower of London until…

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delightfully-ella · 3 years

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My head is in a really weird space right now.

I think really it's been going a little downhill for the past week. I think for the most part I'm good at distancing myself to keep away from an unhelpful pit of despair. I've got a lot to be happy for.

I know I've been a little snappy, kinda snarkie with Badger over the last couple days.

This morning I just felt like I didn't care to try and keep my bad thoughts and gloomy mood at bay. I'm allowing myself to over think it all and worry my day away.

I'm even teary eyed as I write this, hoping that wiring it down will somehow put order in place.

I guess the number 1 issue is work, I don't work right now, and that makes me feel like a layabout, even when I'm not laying about. It doesn't matter how much I do around the house, it never feels enough. Cleaning, cooking, decorating. It doesn't earn money and money means worth perhaps.

I've been looking, I've had a couple of interviews, but since lockdown 3 I've noticed a lot of the kind of jobs I'm looking for are either delaying their interviews or talking about remote working. I just feel like starting out a new job totally remotely will be so hard. I'm kinda a people person when it comes to work and starting that way feels like it will be quite a negative start.

We aren't struggling, Badger earns well and now we are in this house I'm getting a little rent from the old house.

But I want the contribute something more substantial. Yesterday we went through finances, splitting stuff fairly because Badger was paying it all before I started getting rent. But still it doesn't feel like I'm contributing enough.

I told him this and he pointed out that when we discussed me quitting work, he had said he would financially support me, even giving me money so I didn't have to go without, even if that meant silly things like clothes and makeup. He pointed out that in the 4 months I haven't worked he hasn't given me any money, and at that point I didn't have an income at all.

It was the stubborn side of me. He shouldn't have to give me any money, despite him expecting he would. I managed to save enough that I worked out I could live off for about 6-8 months.

Finding a job right now is just so scary, but I'm hoping it will work out.

The other big thing is the pending hospital appointment, which also throws in the worry on weight loss.

I'm still mad about it, and it makes it hard to be motivated. I've lost about half a stone but I've still a way to go.

I feel like I might go to that consultation to be turned away.

I'm thinking about food in such an unhealthy way because I feel so much pressure to not fuck this up because they tell me I'm too fat.

I've but really talked to anyone about this hospital stuff and I don't really have anyone but Badger to talk about it with. And of course it's good to talk to him, but sometimes you want someone who's a little more removed. Or a girlfriend to hash it out with.

There is a couple reasons why I haven't told people. I feel like it adds pressure, it also makes it more real and I just don't want sympathy.

I don't know...

Overall lockdown 3 has maybe hit me the hardest. I suddenly feel more isolated...

I miss everyone and everything so much more.

The first time around I kept so busy, initially on furlough we were doing up the previous house and looking for the new house, then I was busy back at work and despite the horror of a pandemic there were still things to look forward to, and I think in my mind there was an end date to this and soon I'd be back to meeting friends for dinner and drinks...

Now... All the big exciting things happened. And I'm still keeping busy with decorating, that really is one saving grace.

I miss my friends, texting, phone calls, zoom, it's all good, but it's just not feeling enough. I miss being close.

My brother has gone mad, he's basically all about that anti vax life now and he is so aggressive with his opinions that I just can't really talk to him at all anymore. And most of what he is saying is nonsensical.

I've a friend who seems to be distancing herself from me. And I don't want to sound arrogant, but I think it's jealousy. She doesn't seem to care or be happy for me at all. When we talk it's only about her anymore... I've stopped trying to tell her about my stuff.

My Dad... ughh, he doesn't seem to care about covid. He sees the above brother most, so I think that feeds into his already blase way of dealing with covid. He keeps trying to come to the house to do DIY and acts stupid when I explain why he can't. It got to the point I basically had to tell him he was making me uncomfortable with how pushy he is being and how he isn't taking any of this seriously. Technically Badger and I could have seen them for Christmas, but I told Badger how I didn't trust they would actually be sticking to any of the restrictions, so I just didn't want to take that chance.

Essentially I can't really see where it's all going, I'm left feeling lost, a little lonely and like restrictions are endless.

#long story #sorry #thought process #personal

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bunkershotgolf · 4 years

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Golf Retail at Two Club Lengths

By ED TRAVIS

Retailing has taken an unprecedented hit. According to the U.S. Census Bureau the Sporting Goods/Hobby/Musical category had 38% lower sales in April than in March and Adobe’s Digital Economy Index reported online purchasing increased 49% in April.

It is easy to see the most immediate task for all retailers is to figure how to take advantage of the “new normal,” whatever that may be.

As shelter-in-place restrictions are being removed stores of all sizes are faced with figuring out how to attract customers, perhaps in ways never considered previously. E-commerce was already a major factor but due to the recent health requirements the trend is sure to gain momentum. Consumers, many for the first time, are taking advantage of the inventory variety, ease of comparison shopping, speed of ordering and often lower prices.

According to one major golf retailer, PGA TOUR Superstore (PGATSS), the solution is continuing a customer-centered instore experience and doing business at “Two Club Lengths.”

Dick Sullivan, President and CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore, has a reputation for dynamic management that is readily apparent while leading the company for the past decade. PGATSS’s results and his leadership were recognized in 2018 when he was the first retailer to be elected chairman of the National Golf Foundation. We had the opportunity to ask him questions about the present retailing situation and what it means for his operation.

Ed Travis: With store closings forced by the efforts to contain transmission of the COVID-19 virus did PGATSS lay off employees? If so, will they all be eventually reemployed?

Dick Sullivan: Our number one priority remains health and safety of Associates and customers. After that our focus is on preserving jobs. We have not furloughed Associates or had pay cuts. Our vision and business strategy are driven by a long-term approach in everything we do. That means making good, smart decisions for our business for the months and years ahead.

ET: An online ordering program with Curbside Caddie pickup was initiated. Considering the circumstances do you consider it a success?

DS: Absolutely, we were still able to accommodate our customers in our local markets while the stores remained closed to the public. We conceived the Curbside Caddie idea and integrated it into our digital experience in less than 48 hours. It has represented approximately 25-50% of our total e-commerce orders since launch.

ET: During the stay-at-home period were hard goods sales hurt more or less than soft goods?

DS: There has been significant demand in the accessory’s category because the majority of our sales are being driven by people that are out playing golf or practicing at home. Not surprisingly, many Customers have bought training aids, push/pull carts and golf balls, etc.

375% reflects the increase in push/pull cart sales from April of this year, compared to April of last year. With nearly 95 percent of golf courses open across the US, many facilities have put in place walking only protocols. Golf is a game that offers many physical and well-being benefits. Walking nine holes of golf is equivalent to 5,000 steps.

What has been the consistent number one category of products sold online was clubs. Our online club sales were up 120% vs. prior year and we attribute this to excellent blended offering of both repositioned and new clubs. It’s interesting to note, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in women’s packaged sets being purchased. Soft goods have seen smaller comp increases during this time compared to hard goods.

ET: With approximately two-thirds of your locations reopened have there been problems for employees and customers with social distancing and other preventative measures?

DS: We’ve done a good job of “doing the right thing.” Sanitation supplies, on the way in and out of the store, signage to reinforce social distancing, Associates wearing masks and we provided them with individual hand sanitizers in addition to multiple sanitation stations throughout the stores. We are also regularly wiping down clubs that are being demoed, golf balls that are being used in the simulators and on the putting green, and high traffic areas and surfaces.

We implemented a new ‘Starter’ position to help customers navigate the rules and to clean any equipment that is brought in for repairs or regripping. It gives the customer an opportunity to ask questions and hear what we are doing to help make them comfortable and safe.

We have also established a que line at check-out and labeled spacing to ensure social distancing guidelines.

ET: Will the costs of extra cleaning, etc. result in increased prices?

DS: No. Putting people first has always been our top core value. The health and safety of our Associates and customers will always be our top priority. Comfort, care, and cleanliness, has been our operational approach driving us during this time. For example, we have secured disposable masks, reusable masks, gallons of hand sanitizer, individual hand sanitizer, gloves and set up 450 hand sanitizing stations.

We also set up social distancing protocols reminding people to stay “two club lengths” (six feet) away from each other. And, then there is the signage throughout our stores and at the Store Support Center reminding people to practice social distancing, frequently wash hands, etc., all based on CDC and other government guidelines and recommendations.

ET: Before the closings, the growth trend in both instore and online sales had been extraordinarily strong. What special promotions or other initiatives will be done to reestablish that growth?

DS: We will continue to manage online business as we have working different exclusive promotions and offers. For the stores, we will celebrate Father’s Day with our usual focus on gifts for Dad and special offers. After Father’s Day, we will assess the results including what we heard from our customers and Associates and then plan the balance of the year as needed. I think it goes without saying that we are moving into uncharted territory with the season shifting to the second half of the year. The typical playbook is not going to work in 2020 and we want to be as agile and responsive as possible.

ET: Instore sales at the Altamonte Springs, Fla. location have shown a very significant increase since reopening May 4. What were the contributing factors and have similar results been seen in other locations?

DS: We have seen a significant year over year sales increase since re-opening our Altamonte Springs location. This is due to a couple of factors. The first being that a local competitor closed their location prior to and unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, the Altamonte Springs location relies more on its residential community rather than tourists. As you know, when they rank the top cities in the US for golf, Orlando is always in the top-10. http://theaposition.com/golf/courses-and-travel/1526/the-a-list-what-is-the-best-golf-city-in-the-us

ET: Given the depressed conditions some retailers are permanently closing locations while PGATSS is opening a new store in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. What is your thinking about such expansion right now and are more new store openings planned in the near future?

DS: Our brand has tremendous momentum and many markets that are not yet served. We support a game that is well-positioned to serve a higher purpose – particularly right now. Our growth plans have not changed. Not only Palm Beach opening, but we will open a store in Columbus, Ohio the week of the Memorial.

ET: An attraction and strength of PGATSS stores has been the “experience” consumers get when making a visit. How do you see that going forward?

DS: We have a very strong brand and history of consistently delivering positive experiences and trust for our Customers. Customers have thanked us for creating a safe environment for them to continue to enjoy shopping in our store and leveraging all that our store has to offer – putting green, hitting bays, fitting studio and more. We have made many enhancements to continue to facilitate the in-store experience that our customers enjoy. Their feedback and input have validated that they feel comfortable, are easing back in gently but looking forward to getting back into the store.

ET: The stay-at-home rules and retail shut down resulted in an immense increase of online transactions. According to some analysts this means basic changes to retailing in general as many shoppers may have simply gotten the “online habit” rather than making trips out to stores. Do you share that view, or do you see retailing returning with a similar buying pattern as it has had in the past due?

DS: We expect to continue to have strong online sales and will continue to elevate the digital experience – as we always have. That said, given the strong retail results we’ve been experiencing, as well as the feedback and insights directly from our Customers over the past month, we believe that our retail experience will be an opportunity for consumers to get custom fit and connect with others over their shared passion for the game, as well as continue to be mindful of their own self-care – mind, body and spirit. Golf is the game that provides that solution.

#EdTravis #pgatss #golf

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news-of-the-day · 4 years

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3/18/20

Corona news:

Current amount of cases worldwide is ~204K, total amount of deaths is 8,200.

The Trump administration is seeking to send out checks to everyone as an attempt to help the unemployed and buoy the economy. I've seen amounts in the four-figure range.

The IRS would delay taxes by 90 days for Americans who owe $1M or less and businesses that owe $10M or less.

Mayor de Blasio of NYC said he wants to enact a "shelter in place" rule similar to the Bay Area's, but Governor Cuomo of NYS says he doesn't have the authority and only the governor can do that.

Wall Street rallied a bit yesterday but markets are down worldwide today.

Marriott announced it would start furloughing tens of thousands of employees.

Other news:

Biden got all three states: Florida, Arizona, and Illinois. At this point he's more or less won the nomination, so pressure is now being placed on Sanders to end his campaign.

China is expelling almost all journalists who work with The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. It is upset that the Trump administration limited the amount of Chinese journalists from state-controlled media allowed in the US to 100, as well as these newspapers' coverage of the coronavirus, the Hong Kong protests, the Uighurs, etc.

SoftBank is now backing out of its bailout of WeWork, saying it may not buy $3B in stock due to government investigations and such. It's also probably because SoftBank can tell WeWork will need more help in the future due to the coronavirus.

#news #coronavirus #covid-19 #taxes #biden #primaries

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newstfionline · 4 years

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Headlines

Declining Western birth rates (Nikkei Asian Review) Births in many developed countries are poised to crater next year amid the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic and, in many cases, the botched response. Japan is projected to see births drop 10 percent in 2021, accelerating a decline. Last year there were 860,000 births in Japan, the first time the level dipped below 900,000 since tracking began. Babies in the U.S. could decline by 300,000 to 500,000 next year, a 10 percent drop in the 3.7 million average annual births. According to the International Labor Organization, 17.1 percent of people aged 18 to 29 around the world have not worked since the pandemic began, and those who did saw their hours shrink an average of 23 percent.

Mean streets (Bloomberg) Mean streets are getting meaner, and more than 700 cities have said they may cut infrastructure spending due to budget shortfalls. Potholes caused $15 billion in damages to cars over five years, and some states are in a particularly rough stretch of road: in Rhode Island, 48 percent of urban streets are in poor condition according to the Federal Highway Administration, followed by California (46 percent), New Jersey (42 percent), and South Dakota and Hawaii (36 percent each). In some metropolitan areas in particular, most roads are bad: San Francisco-Oakland (71 percent of streets are poor), San Jose (63 percent) and Los Angeles (63 percent).

Big California wildfires burn on as death toll reaches 7 (AP) Firefighters battling three massive wildfires in Northern California got a break from the weather early Monday as humidity rose and there was no return of the onslaught of lightning strikes that ignited the infernos a week earlier. The region surrounding San Francisco Bay remained under extreme fire danger until late afternoon amid the possibility of lightning and gusty winds, but fire commanders said the weather had aided their efforts so far. The three big fires around the Bay Area and many others burning across the state have put nearly 250,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings and authorities renewed warnings for anxious homeowners to stay away from the evacuation zones.

National Guard called out after police shoot Black man (AP) Wisconsin’s governor summoned the National Guard for fear of another round of violent protests Monday after the police shooting of a Black man under murky circumstances turned Kenosha into the nation’s latest flashpoint city in a summer of racial unrest. The move came after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear Sunday night over the wounding of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, who was hospitalized in serious condition. In a widely seen cellphone video made by an onlooker, he was shot [by police seven times] in the back, as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat in the vehicle. The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Sunday and was captured from across the street on video that was posted online. In the footage, Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of his SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns pointed and shout at him. As Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire while Blake has his back turned.

Marco collapses, sets stage for Laura to hit US as hurricane (AP) Tropical Storm Marco began falling apart Monday, easing one threat to the Gulf Coast but setting the stage for the arrival of Laura as a potentially supercharged Category 3 hurricane with winds topping 110 mph (177 kph). While Marco weakened, Laura’s potential got stronger, and forecasters raised the possibility of a major hurricane that would pummel western Louisiana and eastern Texas from late Wednesday into Thursday. The two-storm combination could bring a history-making onslaught of wind and coastal flooding from Texas to Alabama, forecasters said. State emergencies were declared in Louisiana and Mississippi, and shelters were being opened with cots set farther apart, among other measures designed to curb infections.

In Mexico's televised 'return to classes,' parents turn to state schools (Reuters) Millions of students return to classes virtually in Mexico on Monday after a hiatus lasting months caused by the coronavirus pandemic that has sparked an exodus from private schools. Mexico has yet to publish official data, but private-school bodies consulted by Reuters said almost 2 million students at all levels were expected to quit private schools because of the crisis to join an already overcrowded public system. The lack of both in-person teaching and access to facilities has left many parents unwilling to shoulder private-school costs. Supporters of private schools worry the turmoil could stretch the education system, especially after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador last year canceled a reform that the previous government said would improve teaching standards in Mexico, one of the worst-performing countries in the 37-nation Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As state schools reopen, students will start the new academic year with a home-learning program broadcast by major television networks until infection rates are deemed sufficiently low.

Mexico’s coronavirus toll (Financial Times) Mexico has surpassed its “catastrophic” worst-case scenario of 60,000 Covid-19 deaths and is shaping up as one of the worst health and economic casualties of the global pandemic. Latin America’s second-biggest economy, which has the world’s third highest overall coronavirus death toll, hit the grim milestone on Saturday, when the health ministry reported 60,254 and 556,216 confirmed cases. But officials have long acknowledged that the government’s data is an underrepresentation and the health ministry and private studies say the real death tally could be some three times higher.

Sweden’s success in fighting the coronavirus (London Times) Sweden is beating many European countries in the fight against new coronavirus infections, possibly because of its decision not to implement tough lockdown measures. As cases surge across Europe, leading to new restrictions such as the mandatory wearing of masks in many public areas, the infection rate in Sweden is falling. “Sweden is doing fine,” Arne Elofsson, a professor in biometrics at Stockholm University, said. “Strict rules do not work as people seem to break them.” Figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that the infection rate in France is more than 60 per cent higher than that of Sweden. France implemented a strict lockdown in the spring and requires masks to be worn in many public areas but has a fortnightly infection rate of 60 cases per 100,000 people. Sweden, which decided not to implement compulsory measures at that time and which rejected the use of masks, has a rate of 37 cases per 100,000 people. The government is recording between 200 and 300 new cases a day, with deaths down to three last Friday.

German doctors say tests indicate Kremlin critic Navalny was poisoned (Reuters) German doctors said on Monday that medical examinations indicated that Russia opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who is in a Berlin hospital after collapsing on a plane in Russia last week, had been poisoned. The specific substance was not yet known, German doctors said. The outcome remains uncertain but long-term effects, especially to the nervous system, could not be ruled out, it said.

European job cuts coming (The New York Times, McKinsey) A tsunami of job cuts is about to hit Europe as companies prepare to carry out sweeping downsizing plans to offset a collapse in business from the new coronavirus outbreak. Government-backed furlough schemes that have helped keep around a third of Europe’s work force financially secure are set to unwind in the coming months. As many as 59 million jobs are at risk of cuts in hours or pay, temporary furloughs, or permanent layoffs, especially in industries like transportation and retail, according to a study by McKinsey & Company.

At least 100 feared trapped in building collapse south of Mumbai (Reuters) At least 100 people are feared trapped in the debris of a five-storey building that collapsed on Monday in an industrial town in western India, a lawmaker said. Not all the roughly 200 residents of the building in Mahad, about 165 km (100 miles) south of India’s financial capital Mumbai, were at home when it crumbled in the evening, Bharatshet Maruti Gogawale, the local lawmaker, told Reuters. Authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the collapse and the number of casualties, but about 30 people were pulled out by rescue teams and local residents. Old creaky structures and illegal constructions in India often lead to collapses, typically during torrential rain.

In China, Where the Pandemic Began, Life Is Starting to Look … Normal (NYT) In Shanghai, restaurants and bars in many neighborhoods are teeming with crowds. In Beijing, thousands of students are heading back to campus for the fall semester. In Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged eight months ago, water parks and night markets are packed elbow to elbow, buzzing like before. While the United States and much of the world are still struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic, life in many parts of China has in recent weeks become strikingly normal. Cities have relaxed social-distancing rules and mask mandates, and crowds are again filling tourist sites, movie theaters and gyms. The return to normalcy has made China an outlier in the global economy. The United States is facing a potentially long and painful recession, as some places have reimposed restrictions to contend with a surge in cases this summer. Several countries in Europe have been experiencing fresh outbreaks, putting additional pressure on an already weak economy. By contrast, China has been slowly recovering in recent months and its factories are humming again, although its growth is still weaker than before the pandemic and job losses are significant.

COVID-19 scary? Japan group offers coffins, chainsaws for stress relief (Reuters) Finding the pandemic scary? A Japanese group is trying to take people’s minds off COVID-19—by putting them in coffins surrounded by chainsaw-wielding zombies. Customers this weekend in Tokyo can lie in a 2-metre (6 1/2-foot) windowed box, listening to a horror story, watching actors perform and getting poked with fake hands and squirted with water. “The pandemic is stressful, and we hope people can get a bit of relief by having a good scream,” said Kenta Iwana, coordinator of production company Kowagarasetai—“Scare Squad”—which is putting on the 15-minute shows.

With Delay in Afghan Peace Talks, a Creeping Sense of ‘Siege’ Around Kabul (NYT) Mornings in the city begin with “sticky bombs,” explosives slapped onto vehicles that go up in flames. With night comes the dread of hit-and-run assassinations in the nearby suburbs—government employees shot dead by motorcycle-riding insurgents who roam free. As peace talks to end Afghanistan’s long war face delays, the Taliban may be sparing Kabul, the capital, from mass-casualty attacks as part of an understanding with the United States. But the insurgents have instead shifted to a tactic that is eroding the Afghan government’s standing with each passing day: frequent targeted assaults that the country’s security forces seem unable to control. The city has taken on an air of slow-creeping siege. At least 17 small explosions and assassinations have been carried out in Kabul in the past week, according to a tally by The New York Times. Three magnetic bombs went off within one hour on Saturday morning, and at least two more targeted attacks followed before the end of the day.

More U.S. troops pull out of Iraq (Foreign Policy) U.S.-led coalition troops withdrew from Iraq’s Taji base located north of Baghdad on Sunday and transferred control of the facility to the Iraqi security forces, part of a larger drawdown of U.S. troops in the country. The base has held up to 2,000 troops in the past, but most of those stationed there have departed this summer. The final troops are due to leave in the coming days. Sunday’s withdrawal comes as the Trump administration has been working with the Iraqi government to coordinate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. On Friday, after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Trump reiterated his desire to pull out of Iraq. “Frankly, I didn’t think (the Iraq War) was a good idea,” he said. “Now we’re getting out, we’ll be leaving shortly.” The handover of Camp Taji is the eighth such transfer of an Iraqi base to Iraqi security forces.

Beirut faces mental health crisis after blast (Reuters) More than two weeks after a massive explosion tore through Beirut killing 181 people and leaving entire neighbourhoods in ruins, Sandra Abinader still jumps at the slightest sound. “The other day, I was trying to open a jar and the popping sound made me jump back and scream. I felt for a second I needed to run away.” The blast caught Lebanon at an extremely vulnerable point following months of severe economic crisis compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Now practitioners are warning of a national mental health emergency as people begin to show signs of trauma from the explosion, including nightmares, flashbacks, crying, anxiety, anger and exhaustion. Psychologists say this is being exacerbated by the constant stream of images on Lebanese TV and social media showing the blast and its bloody aftermath. “Every time we say it can’t get worse in Lebanon, it somehow does,” said Jad Daou, a volunteer with Lebanese mental health NGO Embrace, who mans the phones at its crisis clinic. “A lot of people are feeling hopeless about the entire situation here in Lebanon.”

#headlines #news

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asraspeaks2 · 4 years

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So my younger one told me the Ex has been furloughed or laid off. He said, "dad isn't working."

He's collecting unemployment because I got the normal child support payment yesterday. When were in court with all the threats and porn he was sending me...my lawyer suggested I drop the child support. It was obvious a lot of his control and rage stemmed from having to pay his fair share. The Asshole's a taker, definitely not a giver. I agreed. I just want to be free and left alone. When we got to court, my lawyer mentioned that to the judge. He said no. He said the Ex is an asshole. "She deserves every penny of the child support."

Flash forward to a pandemic. I'm grateful for the judge's decision. Having the extra cash is helpful and has kept my financial anxiety at bay.

Him being jobless also keeps him off my back. He can focus on his financial issues and figure out frivolous excuses to go to court. My Dad assures there's no way he could drag me to court at this point. The judge is looking for an excuse to put him in jail. I hope he spends the next year collecting unemployment. He can stay broke and I can move forward.

I've had to remind my younger son not to say a word about our home sale and moving. While the Ex has no legal standing in this matter, it won't prevent him from doing stupid shit or saying disgusting things to my younger son.

Alhammdulillah my career is fine. My university is a union shop and I'm tenured. There is always time to be grateful.

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popculty · 4 years

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Surviving the Coronapocalypse: A Masterpost

Living in the current coronavirus capital of the U.S., I’ve been thinking a lot about how woefully unprepared my city was, and how I can help other people who will likely be in the situation we’ve been in within the next few weeks or months. There have been a LOT of posts - from memes to crap advice to solid advice to a misspelled hashtag that somehow blew up without anyone noticing. It’s been all over the place and kind of overwhelming, honestly. So instead of reblogging a million individual posts, I wanted to consolidate some of the most useful information/resources I’ve come across into one handy, update-able reference post. And because this a pop culture blog, there’s gonna be plenty of that sprinkled in. This isn’t going to be an exhaustive list, by any means - that would be impossible, considering how many angles there are to this thing and how quickly it’s evolving. But feel free to use this as a starter, and add to it as you come across other resources worth sharing.

First, protect your health:

1. I can’t believe in the year 2020, 150 years after germs were discovered, that we have to even say this, but: Wash your hands, people. This seems obvious, and we hear it constantly, and yet I keep seeing people use hand sanitizer like it’s the same as hand-washing. Not-so-fun fact: IT ISN’T. Not even close (so double fuck this guy!). First of all, it’s only effective against some types of germs. Secondly, it does NOT kill or remove those germs, it just temporarily neutralizes them, allowing them to resurface later. Hand sanitizer should only be used when hand-washing is not an option. It’s better than nothing, but is not a long-term habit that will save you. If you are going to use hand sanitizer, it needs to contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective. Alcohol, however, dries the fuck out of your hands, and germs love dry skin because they can hide in the cracks. So it’s important to moisturize afterward. But I’ll say it louder for the people in the back (esp. men who still haven’t figured out how bathroom hygiene works and then wonder why they’re dying at much higher rates from this): JUST 👏 WASH 👏 YOUR 👏 DAMN 👏 HANDS! 👏 Scrub for 20-30 seconds, like Kristen Bell told you. There are a million memes for this. Find one that speaks to you, or make your own, and use it.

2. “Social distancing” - By now we’ve all heard of this, and it’s a good thing for everyone to start doing right about now, regardless of whether or not you are feeling symptoms, because as Idris Elba just reminded us (bless), many people do not show symptoms, for weeks or even ever. So: try to stay six feet away from other people as much as possible. If you can’t avoid getting close to people, just make it quick. The latest info is that it’s not airborne (thank god), but transmitted via droplets (i.e. from coughing), so it really doesn’t matter whether you’re inside or outdoors.

3. And now a word from my infectious disease specialist mom who is working on the front-lines of this: 📣 If you have symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), stay home and take care of yourself like you would if you had the flu. Do not go out in public unless you absolutely have to, (i.e. you are literally dying and require medical attention) and if you do, WEAR A SURGICAL MASK. IF YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS, YOU DO NOT NEED TO WEAR A MASK – THEY SHOULD ONLY BE WORN BY PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK/COUGHING (to stop those droplets), AND BY HEALTH CARE WORKERS. DO NOT HOARD MASKS FOR PERSONAL USE - THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY USELESS TO YOU AND IT DIVERTS THEM FROM THE DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO ACTUALLY NEED THEM. 📣 Thank you.

4. If you can stay home, stay home. Simple as that. Sure, flights are cheap and we all love a deal but at what cost, Becky?? Just because you can fly (you’re young! you’re healthy! you’re feeling lucky! you *hair flip* just don’t give a fuck!), doesn’t mean you can’t show some goddamn personal restraint and concern for your fellow (elderly, at-risk) human beings. If you won’t listen to me, listen to Wonder Woman. Participate in the #stayhomechallenge and #dontbeaspreader.

5. Inform yourself. The news is doing a really good job of sowing general panic and not much else. And obviously, the situation is literally changing everyday, but here are the basics you should know, via handy infographics. To keep up with the latest, I recommend this interactive map and Science Vs., an investigative science podcast that is currently doing a series of episodes on the ever-changing COVID-19 situation. It does a really good job of painting a picture of how this virus actually spreads, who is at risk, and what a pandemic would actually look like. The “Pandemic” episode of Explained on Netflix is also proving incredibly prescient right now.

Be a decent human being:

The truth is, if you know the facts, coronavirus isn’t actually that scary. What is scary is uninformed people acting impulsively and selfishly. Like, there is no logical reason for the run on toilet paper (coronavirus doesn’t even make you shit!). The reason there is no toilet paper in your grocery store is because a handful of excitable people panicked and bought up all the Charmin they saw. Then other people panicked when they saw the empty shelf and thought, “I guess I should be stockpiling tp too ??” So they did. Then other people came to the grocery store, saw the empty shelves, and posted pictures of those empty shelves on social media. And now everyone in the entire world is freaking out about toilet paper, for no goddamn reason. This scarcity (of tp, of Purell, etc), is a human-created problem, not an outbreak-created problem. Whereas, if everyone had remained calm and bought only what they needed, we could have avoided this entire headache. But people are gonna people, I guess. (If you’re still freaking out about toilet paper though, you should really just invest in a bidet, which is far more sanitary and better for the environment anyway.)

All this is to say: Think before you act. Stop tweeting pictures of empty shelves - you’re only fueling the fire. And don’t use the climate of fear and uncertainty as an excuse to act like a shitty person. When things return to normal, your actions right now will be remembered by those around you. So:

1. Take a look at this graph. If you’re healthy and young (under 60), don’t be a dick. Before you snatch every last roll of toilet paper or bottle of cold remedy off the shelf, considering leaving some for the grandmother behind you who’s probably terrified and has only just now risked leaving her house for this one grocery run, only to find the shelves bare.

2. Moreover, instead of getting swept up into the panic-buying and selfish hoarding, consider buying/delivering groceries for the elderly and at-risk, who are unable to leave their homes. Find out what volunteer opportunities have sprung up in your community to specifically address outbreak-related needs.

3. Donate to food banks - People who have been furloughed from their jobs will have an even harder time putting food on the table, and kids that depend on free school meals will still need to eat if their school is closed.

4. Support local businesses. Big businesses will weather this just fine, but your mom-and-pop store down the street? Your local grocer? They’re hurting already and might not be able to survive weeks or months of low sales or even closing down for a period of time. So...

Buy from local stores rather than big chains as much as possible.

If you are eating/ordering out, choose local, and especially Asian restaurants, who are really hurting right now, and because again: YOU CANNOT GET CORONAVIRUS FROM FOOD. YOU’RE JUST BEING RACIST.

If you don’t want to eat out at all right now (probably advisable), buy gift cards to local restaurants for yourself or others – This will support struggling business now when they need it, and then you can cash in on them when things calm down a bit.

Likewise, if you have tickets to a play, show, etc that gets cancelled, consider not asking for a refund and instead making that a donation to your local stage company, independent cinema, arts center, etc.

If you live in a city where a large event with many local vendors gets cancelled, find out if there is an alternative pop-up event to support those vendors, or buy from them on Etsy. Many artists and craftspeople depend on one huge, annual event like a fair or Con for their entire year’s earnings, so having that event postponed or cancelled is a huge financial blow to them. For example, when Emerald City Comic-Con got pushed til August, this lovely Twitter thread popped up to support the artists.

Maintain your sanity:

The other big thing we are starting to realize is that this social distancing is going to cause a loneliness epidemic in countries that are already some of the loneliest in the world. We don’t know how long these measures will be in place, so we need to prepare ourselves, mentally/emotionally:

1. Take a breath - Even worst-case scenario, this isn’t the end of the world. Try to keep perspective. Apps like Happify, Calm, or any of these can help keep obtrusive thoughts at bay, provide guided mindfulness meditations and breathing exercises, and help center you when you feel like the world is spinning out of control. This is likely going to be a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourself and be proactive about your mental health.

2. Stay connected – We have more ways to keep in touch virtually now than ever before.

FaceTime, Marco Polo, Discord – Use technology to check in with your friends and family.

Podcasts are a great way to feel connected to others right now. Death, Sex, and Money just did a listener call-in episode, which was a good reminder that this outbreak is affecting people differently across city, state, country, race, class, gender, and ability. Another one of my faves that is going to be applicable to more people than ever in these coming months is The Hilarious World of Depression, in which comedians like Rachel Bloom, Solomon Georgio, and Margaret Cho talk about mental illness and comedy. In one especially relevant episode, Mara Wilson talks about how people with anxiety tend to handle crisis much better than neurotypicals (which explains how I’m so zen right now...)

3. Keep busy - Not being able to go out and socialize like we are used to is likely to make a lot of us stir-crazy. But there are a ton of things you can do and see from the comfort of your own home.

Go on a virtual museum tour, or see the Palace of Versailles.

Take a soothing, 8-hour virtual drive through Iceland.

Watch operas at The Met.

Explore NASA’s stunning media library.

Tackle your book list.

Start writing that novel (or finish that fic!)

File your taxes (Get that return!)

Do your spring cleaning.

Plant a victory garden to reduce the strain on producers and avoid crowded stores.

Binge the shows your friends keep telling you about (follow this blog and podcast for recs!)

If you have kids, here’s a list of all the free educational courses being offered right now.

Libraries may be closed, but you can still get free ebooks, music, movies and TV shows on the Hoopla app, and movies on Kanopy for free if you have a library card or are a student or teacher.

Some upcoming theatrical releases have been postponed (No Time to Die, indeed), but others, like Emma and The Invisible Man, will hit streaming platforms immediately, so you can still get your new movie fix.

So many things to do! Try not to see it as being confined, but rather as an opportunity to do all the things you’ve been putting off. If getting shit done makes you feel good, do it! But hey - remember that you really don’t have to be productive right now just because capitalism tells you to. This is also a great time to be still and relish doing absolutely nothing.

4. Perspective - Remember that this is not the only thing happening in the world right now (psst, the U.S. government is using this distraction to fuck with our privacy, AGAIN.) Also, this is not the first pandemic humanity has endured and it will be nowhere near the worst, so soothe yourself by reading about past pandemics and how we got through them.

Alright. Back to covering pop culture for me (we’re gonna need escapism now more than ever). I’m not gonna even try to update this regularly, that’s just too daunting. But I encourage you to add to this and share as needed in the coming weeks/months.

Stay safe out there, and

#coronapocalypse #coronavirus #resources #advice #health #self care #orig

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