Getting used to WFH

I want to make a counterpoint to some recent news headlines that seem to be designed to foster fear and despair.

• “Coronavirus forces New York City schools into daunting experiment with teaching from afar”
  There is nothing “daunting” about Skype, Zoom, Facetime, etc… People have been using the internet for real-time video conferences since the mid-90s. And if it is not possible for real-time classroom discussions, having a teacher recording a lecture and uploading it to youtube isn’t all that hard. Kids do it all the time.


• “U.S. delays immigration hearings for migrants in Mexico amid coronavirus”
  The US is delaying all hearings and most trials. We’re in the midst of a pandemic for cripes sake, don’t you think people have better things to do than listen to some Columbian without any trustworthy or legitimate means of identification try convince us they aren’t really a murderous drug runner?


• “Exclusive: U.S. axed CDC expert job in China months before virus outbreak”
  We’ve been hearing about this for a few weeks now. Seriously? This is news? The government eliminates and creates positions all the time. I’m willing to bet that Obama eliminated hundreds of jobs when his administration took over.


• “The Latest: Trump order makes it crime to stockpile supplies”
  No, the Trump order makes it a crime to stockpile “medical/protective" supplies. You can stockpile all the beef jerky you want but if you’ve got a thousand boxes of N95 masks or nitrile exam gloves, you deserve to be in prison in the same cell as the coronavirus guy.


• “New York coronavirus cases surge 38% overnight to 20,875”
  No, they have increased the availability of testing. They have the same number of infected people, they just know about more of them now.

When you read the news, try to remember that they are using words designed to sensationalize the story and make you want to read it, thus getting them more clicks and increasing their advertising revenue. I’m not saying they are lying to you but take what they say with a grain of salt.

Applying simple common sense will go a long way in making your day a little less stressful.

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Here's a thought:
When Charlie Baker justifiably shut down thousands of “non-essential” businesses across the state, tens of thousands of people lost their jobs. He also ordered the closure of most state buildings and told “non-essential” state employees to stay home. Funny thing is I have not heard of a single state employee losing their job.

Seems like the state thinks it’s employees more important than the residents of state.

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I have a suggestion: Since the market is down 30% and thousands, if not millions, of people are out of work because of this, I suggest we cut the salaries for elected federal officials to $5.00 per day until they come up with a solution that has a chance of working. I figure $5.00 is enough to buy a cup of soup each day.

Wouldn’t want them to starve to death…

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I realize I've been kinda wordy the last few days. I blame it on this whole "work from home" thing. I'll shut up now and give you some links:

• We got a better supply of these things than we do of toilet paper.



• This is the best definition of social distancing.



• When you're chewing on life's gristle,
  Don't grumble, give a whistle!



• Only in Pennsylvania.