1672

This is happening in the service industry at a pretty high rate right now in North Carolina. I know several first hand since my wife works at a bar/restaurant. The hard part here is the rate is happening so fast at a few of these places that they are having problems covering shifts from the mandatory “don’t come to work” period. I’m speculating, but know this: Don’t assume all these open businesses will require people to stay at home, and don’t assume asshole sick people AT work will wear a mask. Get vaccinated, encourage others to do the same if you can.

1673

It really doesn’t matter how careful you are with a R0 of 8. The CDC compared it to measles and chickenpox. If you aren’t vaccinated, leave your house, and go indoors with other people you’re gonna get COVID.

It’s so infectious you have a decent chance of catching it and being symptomatic even if you are vaccinated, you just won’t do poorly with it.

1674

If you get an annual flu shot already I doubt the addition of one other flu variant will make a difference to you. Many jobs already require that shot, which makes it strange to me how many health care workers (who are probably already required to get a flu shot) have not received the Covid shot. Many hospitals here (Kaiser being the biggest) are requiring a Covid shot to keep employment.

1675

COVID isn’t the flu, and more importantly these are not rational people.

1676

We also know this because, in the state of North Carolina, for instance. to attend a public school, kids are required to have 10 different vaccinations. But not COVID vaccination right now, no no, that would just be taking their rights away.

I’m just hoping we can get from, “taking away muh freedumbs,” to point B, everyone gets the fucking vaccination and it’s required for work, school, travel, etc.

1677

I got my second AstraZeneca jab yesterday, yay! I am feeling a bit rough today, but not as bad as the first jab, and definitely not as bad as getting COVID, so all good. It feels like it’s triggering my Ross River Virus symptoms (dizziness, aching joints) which occurs every now and then, but that could just be my body’s way of telling me it would rather be in bed.

1678

Grats, Krok!

Also, TIL, Ross River Virus. Damn.

1679

Some people have very mild reactions to that. Others have the symptoms turned up to 11. I was a 12. Relating this and my leptospirosis story though will require alcohol, a cosy fire, and a comfortable seating arrangement.

1680

Hey, dude. No pressure. It sounds like it can be nasty. And I refuse to look up the second one.:)

1681

A kid in my elementary school class ate bugs for a laugh. He got worms. Wasn’t laughing then!

/ a story in three parts /

1682

I know what ants taste like. Very vinegary. Formic acid to be specific. But not bad.

1683

You ever have to struggle really badly to pee and pull a foot long worm from your dick hole? Me neither!

It’s great that the forum works again.

1684

Green ants are the best ants. Taste like lemon drops. Favourite tour guide trick here, grab one and lick its butt. After stusser’s post I felt I should keep the tone low. Well, not that low.

1685

Aah, dive boat memories…

1686

Ever see the head of a tapeworm close up? Nightmare fuel.

1687

Bad enough when it isn’t rummaging around your urethra!

1688

I hate it when that happens!

1689

My son is in quarantine as one of his friends was exposed (he lives with a bunch of his friends). He is fine. He had just been brought back into the office to work (his job had their people working at home). They told him he is back to working at home and they are sending everyone back home again at least to the end of August.

1690

Fun follow up to this! I did miss the all-hands event, but was one of the few that did. All the remote employees came in from out of town, many in-person un-masked meetings were had, and 3 cases of COVID (out of <100 employees) were the result!

We got the memo yesterday that masking is strictly required in the office, even for the vaccinated, and there will be NO business travel at all without written managerial approval.

1691

My school today sent out an email saying masks are again required in shared indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. While students, who move in in a couple of weeks, don’t have to mask in their dorms, the question of classroom masking is up in the air. That is sort of the big question for us faculty. Personally, I can deal with masks in the classroom as long as we are not doing the social distancing thing with a fraction of the room capacity (requiring simultaneous live and virtual teaching, which is what I did all last year and it sucks).