Last week I stupidly speculated on how many episodes of ManFlu I’d get this year.
ManFlu episode one for 2020
Sure enough, Wednesday afternoon I started with a headache, sore throat, and mild fever. By Wednesday night I had a cough and a runny nose and I could feel my sinuses getting congested. I didn’t really sleep that night.
Thursday morning I got out of bed feeling like every mucous membrane was hypersecreting. Fortunately, I could work from home and participate in teleconferences and take calls from home as well as answer all the e-mail questions I was getting.
I spent Thursday and Friday working from home and over this weekend I’ll dial into teleconferences and keep abreast of work e-mail.
Panic buying
It’s hard to ignore what is going on in Australia at the moment. Initially, we saw the virtual boycotting of Chinese restaurants which has led me to eat as many meals as possible with chopsticks 🥢 to demonstrate solidarity with other Chinese Australians. Sure it’s a bit of a joke and won’t help anyone but it keeps the ignorant racism real in my mind and I won’t ignore it.
Now we have panic buying in supermarkets. Without wanting to stray into government policy positions, this began when it seemed likely that the World Health Organization would declare COVID-19 as pandemic disease. While countries like Australia, the UK, and the US are trying to delay the inevitable efficient transmission of infection in their own countries, authorities have used 14-day quarantine and 14-day isolation periods to prevent as much local spread as possible. This led to the sensible messaging that because we just don’t know with any precision who will be infected and where and when people should consider as part of the normal shopping to pick up a few extra items in case they found themselves in quarantine or in isolation.
Most Australians from the Top End and FNQ are sensible about these things because of tropical cyclone preparedness every wet season. It seems many other Australians are not as sensible. So we have a situation where supermarket shelves are bereft of toilet paper and kitchen paper. You can’t buy alcohol-based hand rub and antiseptic wipes for love or money. Well, I’ve not tried offering love, but you know what I mean.
I mean why is there no kitchen paper? Are people buying to wipe clean their anuses after defecating? I suppose kitchen paper may be best to remove stubborn Klingons from Uranus 🖖
On Saturday, I noticed a distinct lack of flour and cooking oil. At least there was still Spam, Corned beef, and Frey Bentos pies.
What would I stock up on?
Kate, who is a friend on Twitter, asked me what I’d stock up on.
I’d like to see a blog post from you on your Coronavirus stockpiling – what foods you have bought, and what you recommend
— Kate (@kateisgr8ok) March 7, 2020
Unless things get out of hand and critical infrastructure like power and water are affected, we can assume refrigerators and freezers will work. It’s also important to acknowledge that if you’re in quarantine and get through it, you could end up in quarantine again if exposed again. For someone in isolation, because they have tested positive, the 14 days should be a one-off event.
I’d basically have enough stuff to get by for two weeks at home. I’d make sure my internet access was paid up because there’ll be a lot of streaming and working remotely. There’ll be lots of FaceTime and Skype calls. I’d make sure I had enough washing detergent for clothes, laundry, and dishes. Soap for personal bathing and washing. Enough funny roll for two weeks, which means for most people probably at most a four-pack.
In terms of food, get some fresh food that keeps well in the refrigerator and some meat that will freeze. Why not make some meals that freeze well too. If you can tolerate tinned meat and fish, have some fun making meal plans with tinned salmon, tuna, Spam, and corned beef. Frozen vegetables are also great to have on hand. If you’re not eschewing carbohydrates, put some spuds and pumpkin in a dark spot. A carton of eggs is helpful to have.
I mean none of this is hard. For me, I’d basically double the shopping I do now (because I shop for groceries weekly).
There is no need to buy large packs of toilet paper. There’s no need to buy more alcohol-based hand rub and antiseptic wipes than you’ll ever likely use. Think of people who really need these products like parents with babies.
If you’re buying these things with a view to being able to sell them at an inflated price, then there’s no other word for you than arsehole. I mean seriously, get a life.
What have I watched this week?
Star Trek: Picard
Nepenthe
I find Commodore Oh quite endearing. Why does Marina Sirtis not get credit?
I love the keywords for this episode are mucus and saliva.
There was so much happiness and sadness in this episode. Plus an expectation of a little Seven too.
What have I listened to this week?
NEJM Journal Watch Podcast: Clinical Conversations
This week I was listening to the NEJM Journal Watch Podcast and episode 255 was titled “Salt talks”.
The podcast cites a meta-analysis in the British Medical Journal.
Which basically concludes I should not add salt to my food. Last night I cooked pork and vegetables with no added salt.
What have I eaten and photographed this week?
Photographs
This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.
Yummy Lummy this week
No added salt roast pork belly and vegetables.
Random Yummy
Monday salmon
Tuesday chicken
Wednesday chicken
Thursday pork sausages
Friday pork sausage curry
Final thoughts
- Are you panic buying anything because of COVID-19?
- If you were told to go into quarantine or isolation what would you buy?
- Do you think I brought ManFlu on myself when I wrote last week?
I am not panic buying anything Gary – 99% of the people I saw at the shops the other day had huge packets of toilet paper – I find this hilarious. I did see Spam at the shops Gary and immediately thought of you – ha ha.
I’ve ensured my shelf of shame is not depleted Sue. Yesterday I enjoyed a bit of carb load with a pan-fried slab of spam on a cheesy vegemite scroll with melted mozzarella.
I agree with you, Gary.
This hysterical kind of shopping aren’t necessary for any of us.
Good personal hygiene must be the way and then remember paper, when we bark or use the elbow. I became sick of same in my last travel, just because someone didn’t think, how to act, when they bark.
I hope common sense can prevail Irene.
That would be really nice, Gary.
Great advice Gary. I was appalled yesterday when I stumbled across FB messenger with people selling packs of 24 rolls of toilet paper for a hugely inflated price of $40 or more. WTF?
It’s the sort of exploitation which just results in knee jerk over regulation when a sensible approach to life would allow peace and harmony. I don’t remember this sort of stupidity growing up in the suburbs of Brisbane.
Same! Except i grew up in Adelaide.
Good advice Gary. Maintaining one’s grip on common sense is essential. The panic has hit here in my town and we don’t have any cases yet. My wife is a hoarder and she has purchased enough toilet paper to last 2.5 years for six people with normally functioning systems. I absolutely cannot see what is different with this virus than other contagions we deal with on a regular basis. Basic hygiene and some precaution is required. Panic and mayhem is a direct path to the Zombie Apocalypse dystopia without a Zombie in sight.
Thanks, Daniel. I’d like journalists to attempt to be responsible and understand risk communications rather than writing or presenting news for advertising dollars. Sensible reporting across the totality of life would make human existence more manageable.
I totally agree Gary. The politicizing of everything is solely the mind pollution generated by the mass media. Hysteria starts there and does a lot more damage than any pathogen on the lose.
Hysteria seems to be the aim of modern journalism. It doesn’t reflect well on the collective intellect of people paid to inform the public of the news.
I actually miss the good ole days when news was intended to inform, educate, and professionalism with journalistic courage was the standard for the young. Now, everything is an uninformed opinion with a nefarious intent. The largest majority of writing is poor quality and blatantly false, at least in America. I don’t want to lump everyone in that abysmal group.
The standard of journalism in Australia is poor too. You’d think journalists and communications experts would want to lift and inform and educate. They seem to go for the lowest common denominator. They seem to assume the general public lacks intelligence to think and reason and are too lazy to learn. It’s why I persist with trying to ensure I use the correct words for things rather than going with what is common (vulgar in the true sense) or widely acceptable, because what is widely acceptable may be misleading when critically examined with a scientific eye.
You make a great point Gary. I see a lot of common beliefs regarding hard science that is just Medieval superstition fueled by “reputable sources” when I try to explain facts I’m often shouted down simply because everyone wants to believe their conspiracy theory and the truth is of no interest whatsoever. I like to quote a saying I saw attributed to Mark Twain, the author. The truth remains true whether we choose to believe it or not. I get it that science in its purest and most advanced application is far beyond the grasp of the average person in their daily life but that really doesn’t justify the horrendous abuse of science for profit and rabble rousing by influential people.
The manipulation of science is wrong. We could be having sensible conversations, enlightened policy debate, we could be crafting our own collective future to something more glorious and happy. Yet, because of how our political systems have evolved we get vested interested using the language of science rather than the truth of science to influence and connive. As we’ve discussed before, we need to ensure our offspring have balanced heads, keen minds, love for others, and love for themselves.
I definitely believe shaping young minds in the right way is the best way to turn this current way of doing things around. I’m working on grand kids now and it is working well.
We are in good hands Daniel 😃👍
Keep up the good fight Gary. I meet young people every day that give me faith all is not lost.
Me too. I’m inspired by some young people who I meet through work. Balanced and sensible minds. I hope they stay strong.
They need us seasoned vets to show genuine interest in their learning and skill development and in them personally. That investment in a professional and encouraging environment makes a big difference. I think that might be a rare quality in this frenetic world.
So true Daniel. We can mentor in a kind and gentle way and have that positive influence.
Let’s do it!
I’m with you
We just did our part to save the world. Now if we can find a few good friends to help out. 😎😎
Sensible people are out there, but in this era of lopping the figurative heads off people who want to share a sensible view, I fear they will keep under the radar.
Another malady of instant media. I’ve heard this wide spread tactic of ruining lives that disagree with the left called the Cancel Culture.
It’s a dangerous mob mentality which stifles sensible discourse. No one should be afraid of expressing a view. There should be healthy debate and as a group we can make changes for good.
Agreed. One case that stuck in my mind was when a university professor made a speech that used college level vocabulary in proper context on a non controversial subject, he was attacked by minority activist for using words they found offensive. When asked what the offensive words mean, none could answer the question. The professor was fired and lost a brilliant career educating young people. Trial by public opinion is far mightier than any court system these days.
It demonstrates to me in an age when resilience is a favourite buzz word too many people aren’t strong enough to see the point of a comment or presentation rather they get bound up in being offended.
People need to absorb consider and respond with kindness.
A small act of kindness can go a long way.