Many words are being written on this current pandemic. For something different, here is an interesting audio take on the pandemic, as done by Matmos bandmember, Drew Daniel. It is 15 minutes of audio compiled from many submissions from the around the world, probably in the first couple of weeks of the pandemic (late March, early April 2020), reflecting what people view as their own personal COVID-19 experience.
We all hear stories about how the world has changed. Let me take that a step further. Maybe we should hope that some changes become permanent because they are better than what's currently happening. Less cars, so less air pollution. More work at home, so less office buildings needed (and less commuting). Is the capitalism model for economics in the west fracturing? If not, it sure has exposed how little margin there is for financial error. Rainy day funds?? How about rainy years? That's what "we" (everyone) all seem to need. More commuting by bicycle? (That's being pushed in London and Paris to avoid crowded public transit.) Drawing back the curtain on a clearly inferior US health care system and maybe more will to fix it. Also, pulling back the curtain on a clearly inferior commander-in-chief. Where do we start with that one? Job losses are rampant, but perhaps that will lead to some people moving out of the Bay Area, taking the pressure off the housing market and general overpopulation? And it also could give first time buyers who are still working less competition and lower home prices in the near future. Many of these forced changes are economic considerations, but how about redefining our lives? Given that we're all being forced to practically come to a full stop with many activities (for 8 weeks so far), there's a chance that these days will give us a chance to reconsider what is most important in our lives. A quieter lifestyle. Relationships. Family. Maybe food, music, nature, more bike rides. Meet more of your neighbors. Many things consumed our time "BC". Some of those activities are gone. People whine about being bored, but I like to look at it as a way to slow down, decide what's really important, and catch up on missed opportunities, friends, and tasks. I consider myself one of the lucky ones of these times. There are few times in life when this "chance" comes around. Let's try and take advantage of this side of it and savor it. Before things go back to "normal". There are parts of BC that might not be that good to return to.
Observed oddities during this crisis include:
- SF is providing liquor, drugs and cigarettes to homeless people housed in city provided hotel rooms during the pandemic to keep them away from others.
- Selective emptying of jails to avoid close quarters and Covid spreading. Makes some sense, but I'm not sure this is going to all end up well. It includes not only no-name misdemeanor criminals, but also many white collar criminals (incl. Trump's convicted buddies Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort). Let 'em rot, I say.
- No bail release of some new criminals for the same no-crowding reason. Can you say repeat offenders??
- Some secondary schools are giving every student an automatic A for their subject grades. The reason is because there is too much inequity among students to receive instruction. So their solution is to give everyone an A? How about gapping the inequities? Many universities went to a pass/fail system. In a pinch, that seems like a better solution.
- Initially, the government sent out $1200 stimulus checks to many people. It was all tied to their tax return information. Funny enough, some of those people had already died and were still sent checks. Did their heirs need to return the checks? Where would they send them? This issue has gone back and forth with blurry statements sent out by the administration. So....are the anti-Socialist republicans throwing money away at dead people?
- Unemployment benefits have been fairly generous and extremely valuable to many folks. In some cases, the benefits are more then the people made in their jobs. I believe I heard that people who are on a job won’t be at all forced to find a job. Where’s the incentive? This appears to be another case of trying to help, but not thinking it through.
- Roads are quieter, but trails are busier with hikers, etc. And the trailheads are jammed with parked cars, some illegally. Where were all of these people BC? They weren’t working out in the parks. If they were getting in shape, I'd say great. Instead, they just seem to be getting in the way.
In some places, masks are starting to be seen as a statement of political identity. Demos wear them and Republicans despise them as government overreach. Wasn’t this supposed to be the time when we all got together to beat this thing? Apparently not. As Frank Brunei said in the NY Times: "Rugged individualism ends where dying on this breathtaking scale begins. There's liberty and then there's death." Better to be 6 feet apart than 6 feet under (said another wise sage).
We seem to be past the peak and on the downslide of virus infections and deaths. That's good news, although there are many opinions about that topic. Let's hope it doesn't rebound. Assuming there is no rebound or we look far enough out, someday there will be a new normal. 60 minutes did a good story this week on what that might mean. It's one of the best stories in awhile.
From 60 Minutes: What will be the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic?
The totals seem to keep increasing, with the current US death count at over 92,000 (May 20). Trump still doesn’t wear a mask and is taking the high risk drug he (and no one else) claims is a COVID 19 cure, hydroxychloroquine. Good luck with that one, Mr. President. (Or is he?)
But isn’t this a biking blog? YES! So, let's finish up this entry with bike material.
I saw a Moots review from back in 2013 in Road magazine. “ It’s like having a Monet in your garage – except you get to ride it!” I love it! Having one of these bikes, this is one of the reasons why I'm one of the lucky ones during these times!
Finally, bike riding has become so popular that there are order backlogs for purchases and repairs and more talk of increasing cycling infrastructure. Silver linings? Yes!
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