VivianLee2 Blog Comments (524)

RE: Heroes. First responders and hospital staff...

A shop cashier here got home from work to find a note on her door telling her to move out the apartment block as she was endangering the other residents. to me thanks are due too to the ones still facing the public every day and keeping the wheels turning, and our sanitation workers - all quietly working to keep us able to shop, the lights on, the water running and the guys who fixed the internet after the town lost internet for 10 hours

That was a long, long 10 hours. I work online as well as play, and had a long time to think what the future would be if it didn't get fixed until the end of the lockdown.

As for the tyre-slashing, that's been happening to police cars and ambulances too. Yup, catch 'em and hang 'em high. They won't be missed.

RE: The 'Craziest' Idea yet to Fight the Virus

Incidentally and for what it's worth, I've also been impressed by what I've seen of Cuomo.

RE: The 'Craziest' Idea yet to Fight the Virus

Jac, the US is between a rock and a hard place on this one. Both candidates have been accused of having a cavalier attitude and let's face it many CS Americans, including females, saw no problem whatsoever in their man being handsy. I don't think it is an issue there to the same degree. Boys will be boys and all that?

BTW Jim, talking of crazy ideas to fight the virus, you'd better explain to the WHO your professional opinion that they are wasting their time testing BCG. Can you believe it, clinical trials have started. They really should have checked with you first.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

LCBR that is stupendously good news I don't think it could stop people getting it, that would be too much to hope for, but as the article says, it could and hopefully would reduce the impact to something most people could fight off like a case of 'flu.

You've made my Tuesday

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

I think a lot depends on the level of lockdown, plus the effects are insidious and cumulative. It seems to be affecting a few in Spain, I just heard that 650 thousand fines have been issued to Spanish citizens for breaking the rules since the start - don't know whether to laugh or smack my head on the wall.



Agreed but with a billion+ people in varying degrees of lockdown the world over, some won't be as lucky. Many of the poorest are in countries where there don't seem to be many cases, just to add to their frustration. So for their sakes at least, let's hope those TB jabs are finally seen to be offering them enough protection that they can start earning again.



Bedtime for me, night all

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Yes but Molly - we're not all in Ireland. Congrats on that, mind. Good planning.

Here, yes, there's some help. Self-employed who can prove they are directly affected and unable to earn can put in a claim for 700 euros a month. Too bad for anyone whose income has merely halved. Anyone who earns cash - casual income, markets, undeclared cash income - is out in the cold. That's an awful lot of people, especially those on the breadline.

Many employed have been told to enjoy their unpaid leave (and don't expect any more this year). Richard Branson is one who put his staff on 8 weeks unpaid leave weeks ago - what did he know that we didn't

I'm really happy for those on CS who are quite enjoying a little down time. Lockdown is tough on others.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Molly, I think the problem with moving the non-covid patients 100 miles away is that families might protest bitterly not being able to visit. Whatever the reason, they aren't doing it. I think hospitals may be too far apart.

Not sure there will be many family holidays, at least one country is saying that school holidays will be reduced to the minimum once school can start again, to get students back up to speed as fast as possible. Anyway, so many are self-employed or on no-work-no-pay contracts, or on unpaid leave now, that there won't be a lot of money to circulate.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Molly, indeed. I'm afraid this isn't a very glamorous exciting new option and it isn't a cure, but on the bright side it holds out the faint possibility of being a vaccine.

Airlines like Easyjet aren't planning to resume normal service before September.
We've been warned tourists are unlikely to be permitted from other countries this summer
Social distancing is being talked about as an 18 month thing - at least

Lockdown is financially crippling whole areas here which have few cases and empty hospitals which are under no pressure at all. It is devastating to have 10 thousand, 20 thousand, deaths in the country, yes of course. But it is also devastating that millions of us will be more damaged by the lockdown than the virus.

If this theory has any legs at all it could change some of that gloom and doom. So yes let's continue to hope this (or some other reason that explains those maps) pans out really soon.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Red that's a LONG wait order yourself a Kindle as well - I know not everyone likes them but I would have gone crazy without mine since we have no postal deliveries (not considered essential) and my usual source of English books is charity shops (ditto, so not open). As it is I can suddenly realize I don't have enough to read and download a few books, they appear on the Kindle within seconds. Sorted.

Took me a while to get used to reading with one and that ARRGGHHH moment when you've reached a good bit and it suddenly says YOUR BATTERY IS RUNNING LOW but I like that I can change the font size if my eyes are tired and I really like knowing I have 20 or 30 books to choose from depending on my mood. If one turns out to be a bust (and I am downloading free books, so many are turning out to be a bust ) no problem, close that one, try the next. And, if necessary, the next. I still prefer paperbacks and always will but circumstances alter cases, I like having both.

Do NOT snip off your ears with the clippers when they arrive

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Vierk, tempting as the offer is, you really wouldn't want to be locked up with me

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Emmy and Red, yay for your shingles vaccinations because a full-strength attack of that is apparently absolutely horrendous

Red, we do need that picture ASAP, April already and if this is triggered again by cold weather we've really only got 8 months to get the vaccine approved and applied to several billion people to avoid a winter lockdown 8 months isn't really very long. Mind you I'll say one thing for lockdown, I really feel I've got my money's worth out of the last month. It's taken longer to pass than the last 3 years.

You stay safe too ladies

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

LCBR, no, no fun whatsoever.

I've lost even dog-walking as a legitimate reason to go outside and now have the thrill of shopping once a week, and the dizzying excitement of taking my rubbish / recycling to the town's bins, which I eke out as much as I can. I ration myself to a single thrill every couple of days.

We are heading towards some slacking of the rules but the rumbles still say social distancing will continue, borders will remain closed, planes will continue grounded, for some while to come. We'll survive. But if this BCG or some other as yet unnoticed link doesn't pan out, this could all start up again when it gets colder.

I
can't
face
a
whole
winter
in
lockdown

Very much hoping you guys, being reasonably isolated geographically anyway, get off lightly. Got a sister and a couple of old friends living in Oz

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Vier, I need to say again I'm not hoarding BCG vaccines and offering them for sale. This blog is because the WHO and other scientific bodies are actively testing to see if there really is a link between virus resistance and BCG immunisation.

The infamous 1918 Spanish flu a century ago died back in summer, roared back in winter and killed more millions.

I'm frankly not enjoying lockdown - the gilt wore off the gingerbread after about a week. We're doing the full deal in Spain, second only to China in how strictly it is enforced. It is bloody horrible. Maybe summer will subdue the virus in the northern hemisphere and maybe incoming winter will cause devastation in the southern hemisphere, in which case we in the north can all expect to be slapped back into strict lockdown come the end of the year. I can't imagine anyone is enjoying it so much they want to do it again, stricter.


I'm banking a lot of hope in this and the maps should be doing their own support of that.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Pat, yes, could be complete coincidence. Could be our passion for olive oil which is laying us low.

How ironic if poverty was the key and we'd all be safest in crowded conditions with poor hygiene and water shortages - STOP WASHING HANDS THIS MINUTE rub shoulders with neighbours instantly, to save your life! Social distancing will kill you!

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Z, Greenland isn't generally tropical? Nearly as many TB inoculations as Africa. Has 11 cases, last time I looked.

Anyway, I hedged my whole post about with maybe and possibly and if I did think, though, that it would be very good news if there's anything to it because otherwise we're looking at getting scared all over again towards winter. EVERY YEAR.

I'm personally planning on getting my TB shots redone, put it that way, but personal safety is one thing, facing lockdown again is another. A vaccine must be found and maybe, just maybe, it's already there, needing at most a tweak or two.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Jac, if you can see the colours, if not the details, on the two pictures, nearly everywhere (except Australia) which is in pale blue on the TB maps (very low inoculation) is in red on the virus map (virus infection), the two are very nearly reverse images of each other.

Countries which inoculate quite often, including India with its population of over a billion, have tiny percentages of virus infection. The UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, only inoculate at birth - children seem to be untouched by the virus, but adults are getting it wholesale and the US, which doesn't inoculate at all, has the highest number of virus cases in the world at the moment. I don't know yet if children are being affected there, though. I hope not.

China re-inoculates when there are TB outbreaks and despite also having over a billion people, got off more lightly than the European countries being hammered now. India, also over a billion people, is way down on the list of cases. The WHO are taking it seriously and testing thousands of cases in South African townships, coming up empty handed, so it really could be good news.

BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer

Many of those I know on FB are working hard at every ounce of drama about the virus, much as we are here. I put the WHO map up as a comment on one agonized 'we're all gonna die' post saying it may be a game-changer. After a while the slightly disappointed response - well, it could be. I suppose it could be.'

I do get the strong feeling most would prefer the drama to carry on racking up. If it's any consolation it's no quick fix. This at best is more long-term solution than a wave-wand. Better now?

RE: I Don't Get The Gold Thing

Bitcoin was the real roller-coaster

In Feb 2011 it started selling at $1. At the start of 2017 it reached $800, rose to $5000 in September, dipped sharply, then rose again. By the end of 2017 it was nearly $20000 Last time I looked, in Aug 2018, it was sitting at $6800.

So I wish I'd invested a bit in 2011. Very glad I didn't in Dec 2017.

Gold is fairly stable, albeit manipulated. A Kruger Rand in 2000 was selling for $339 and is today $1731 (both prices taken off search engines, E&OE) and I can remember being given one as a gift as a child. It had cost $25.

RE: "Me Too" & "Believe The Woman" Are Dead As Caesar

I think that ship sailed when your man was elected despite his pússy-grabbing boasts. It disappeared over the horizon when Kavanaugh and his supporters laughed off a similarly ancient assault claim.

Biden could pick up some unexpected voters now that he's suddenly one of the boys.

RE: The Dogs

They're lovely

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Oh help Merc you'd said before you're vulnerable to windpipe infections, what awful timing

Take extra special care of yourself

RE: Mailbox Time Limit...

Meanwhile I seem to have lost the facility to block further mails from individuals who love my smile and therefore aren't really kindred spirits?

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Jigsore did you read to the end of the comment?

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Pat, tourists generally are unfashionable and unwelcome however they arrive.

It should be possible to program those teleporters to remove any viruses they find in the stream of atoms before reassembly? I do feel they are the future but then I've thought that for years despite watching The Fly

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Mercedes missed your comment too but still waiting for your video for the truly and abysmally unfit (i.e. me) to start exercising at home

I liked one suggestion I saw - start by lifting 2 x 50 kg potato sacks, gently at first, arms straight, until it is possible to do 10 reps (I have the word right?) - straight-arm lifts until arms are level with shoulders.

Now add a few potatoes to those empty sacks.

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Molly I missed your earlier comment about planes and islands and feel you aren't showing enough enterprise. Z already suggested the cruise ship option, and since airlines are likely to go out of business I feel teleporter research will become a focus really soon

Or you can squeeze on board Riz's teeny-tiny one-trip jet but may have no option but the pink outfit

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Hi Robrt, named after Vivien Leigh because we are practically clones.

It will be interesting to see if your lockdown actually locks, or as hoped business goes back to normal on May 1st. From the point of minimising global recession, sooner back to work the better. From the virus point of view, it comes down to counting the cost - potentially losing 2% of population, but keeping the world going for 98%. Trillion-dollar question of piercing interest to the 2%

You stay safe and smiling too, all too many people are forgetting how to smile

RE: Planned, but random, periodic fasting---CS or otherwise.

The 5-2 fasting plan has been popular for a few years now, fasting 2 days a week.

RE: "CREATION"..("DEAREST ANNE")..(158)

Do you sing your songs, Nam? Maybe time for a youtube video - good to see you back

How locked down is lockdown in your area -

Z, oh yes, good plan. A hotel which bobs up and down and where all the passengers can pass around whatever infections they brought aboard, haud me back