When it really happens: SHTF...

[Ovidio]

Strewth Cinders, I was going blue in the face reading that, haven't you heard of a comma or fullstop?

Sometimes it’s hard, I’ll admit it...

Sorry Ron...

[CINDERS]

Sorry muffet I am pretty passionate about this insidious virus amongst other stuff promise I'll endeavor to watch my puncuation etc.

[fjruple]

Well, yesterday it was back to work at the gunshop in NJ. After being closed for over a week, by our Governor, Dictator, Tryant Murphy the First, who out of the kindness of his heart, NOT, permitted the opening of gunshops on a limited basis, hours and by appointment only after having his arm twisted by the federal government that gun shops were essential to the protection of all Americans. Most of the today appointment were for individuals who had purchased firearms but were left without due to the overload of the background checks. I and my colleagues were all "bunny uped" in our gloves, face masked and eye protection as each customer came in to pick up their firearm and ammunition. Lots of tire kickers (not buying anything just like to finger *uck the guns) came to the door without an appointment who were supposed to be sheltered in place which we turned away. Lots of telephone calls from folks trying to buy firearms who had no license (have little chance of getting the license as most of the PD are closed to walk in customers for administrative items) or were out of state who could not take possession of a firearm over the counter. I did have one "idiot" who showed up with his 2 year old son strapped to his chest without any protection at all. When we pointed this out to him, he stated, "if i get the virus or if he gets the virus we both will have it anyway." What a piece of *hit!! The main roads have been rather empty. It sort of reminds me of an old (End of the World) movie with Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astair, called "On the Beach" which was filmed in Australia. I will have to see if it is on You Tube and watch it tonight. Well folks be safe, secure and vigilant.

Just a follow-up on this week's activities at the Gunshop. We are operating 12:00PM noon until 6:00PM by appointment only. Still getting people who cannot read a sign saying by appointment only. We are turning them away as to keep the social distancing to try to prevent the spread of the virus. Many of these folks still think its business as usual. I am getting the last minute panic buyers looking for a "cheap" pump action shotgun. Those shotguns were the first to go. Ammo is still plentiful at this time. I even had one person trying to do a straw purchase of two shotguns for another person (guy sitting in the car they came in). When I told him if he was doing that it highly illegal and he could go to jail if he was attempting to do a straw purchase for another person. The "buyer" started to shake so badly he could barely walk, being a retired Federal Special Agent it was a true indicator of the person's true intentions. I don't think it has gotten bad yet but if these folks run out of food all bets are off. They will be eating each other, especially those people who have never worked a day in their lives and are fed by the government *it. I did have a lot of correction officers come in to purchase firearms. At least in NJ they appear to be only unloading the prisoners from the local county jails as they do not have to means to protect the inmates from the virus so they are released on the local population. I asked several of the corrections officer how are these "former" inmates are going to provide for themselves in this crisis. They responded, Probably what they did before by socking people in the head and robbing them. I said Niceeee!! Released inmates on an unprotected population. We had several incidents were individuals have spit and coughed on law enforcement officials claiming they have the corona virus. At least in NJ they will be prosecuted for acts of terrorism and assault with a "deadly" weapon, the virus. On lighter note, I found the movie, "On the Beach" and view the movie the other night. Great movie!! But now I have an ear worm from listening to the main song of the movie, "Waltzing Matilda". I have been humming the song while at work. The song does bring back memories of my assignment to the 1st US Marine Division during the first year of the last Gulf War in Iraq as the song is the division song from when the 1st Marine Division was in Australia during WWII. One of these day I will tell you about a surreal incident involving the song, an UAV, flares and RPG rocket fire. Enough for now as I am humming "Waltzing Matilda". Everybody stay safe and healthy.

[Ovidio]

Waiting for your story.
On the light side of all of it: today I had Rib Eye from Sashi and have prepared the dough for pizza napoletana. I’ll light my wood oven in a couple hours. Tomorrow penne alla puttanesca. Yesterday carbonara.
If you like it, I could start a cooking thread here. I’m pretty good, as I’ve had to care for myself and my younger brother from the age of 16.
Parents were and still are ok, but we had rough times then and we (brother and I) hade to care a lot for ourselves at that time.
(And I like to eat good stuff

[Aragorn243]

Our state health director just gave a blanket prescription for naloxone for the entire state on his authority. Not sure what that means or why. It's the drug that reverses opiate overdoses and is normally carried in police cars.

Another large increase in new cases, and a correspondingly large increase in deaths. Up to 136 now. 10% are requiring hospitalization, and about 10% of those are requiring ventilators. We are now to wear masks which is great because most people don't have them and can't get them. I will probably have to make some today.

NY is rapidly moving to 1/2 of all cases in the US and is currently 7 short of being half of all deaths with 3565. The vast majority of them unsurprisingly are in NYC and the surrounding counties.

[Ovidio]

Hold on, mate. It’ll last. I’m driving crazy under “arrest”...

[Havenot]

As far as homemade masks go...my wife showed me a trick with a large handkerchief and a couple little girl 'poneytails'(rubber bands would work)...fold it just so and put the ponytails on and fold those corners put it on and hook it to your ears by the ponytails...looks like you could rob a liquor store mask...but you can have a servicable mask in mere seconds with items onhand

[mrclark303]

Just a follow-up on this week's activities at the Gunshop. We are operating 12:00PM noon until 6:00PM by appointment only. Still getting people who cannot read a sign saying by appointment only. We are turning them away as to keep the social distancing to try to prevent the spread of the virus. Many of these folks still think its business as usual. I am getting the last minute panic buyers looking for a "cheap" pump action shotgun. Those shotguns were the first to go. Ammo is still plentiful at this time. I even had one person trying to do a straw purchase of two shotguns for another person (guy sitting in the car they came in). When I told him if he was doing that it highly illegal and he could go to jail if he was attempting to do a straw purchase for another person. The "buyer" started to shake so badly he could barely walk, being a retired Federal Special Agent it was a true indicator of the person's true intentions. I don't think it has gotten bad yet but if these folks run out of food all bets are off. They will be eating each other, especially those people who have never worked a day in their lives and are fed by the government *it. I did have a lot of correction officers come in to purchase firearms. At least in NJ they appear to be only unloading the prisoners from the local county jails as they do not have to means to protect the inmates from the virus so they are released on the local population. I asked several of the corrections officer how are these "former" inmates are going to provide for themselves in this crisis. They responded, Probably what they did before by socking people in the head and robbing them. I said Niceeee!! Released inmates on an unprotected population. We had several incidents were individuals have spit and coughed on law enforcement officials claiming they have the corona virus. At least in NJ they will be prosecuted for acts of terrorism and assault with a "deadly" weapon, the virus. On lighter note, I found the movie, "On the Beach" and view the movie the other night. Great movie!! But now I have an ear worm from listening to the main song of the movie, "Waltzing Matilda". I have been humming the song while at work. The song does bring back memories of my assignment to the 1st US Marine Division during the first year of the last Gulf War in Iraq as the song is the division song from when the 1st Marine Division was in Australia during WWII. One of these day I will tell you about a surreal incident involving the song, an UAV, flares and RPG rocket fire. Enough for now as I am humming "Waltzing Matilda". Everybody stay safe and healthy.

Now, you can't leave a good story there!
Chapter 2, Iraqi 2003.....

[Flying10uk]

I'll throw this idea out there for anyone that wants to run with it: one of the problems we have is disposable masks that don't fit properly, particularly around the nose and cheeks as they are to some extent stretched over the high points of the face. This is particularly important for health care providers obviously.

This is one of the reasons that I use a proper respirator with disposable filters, when I go shopping, so that the mask has a good fit on the face. Another reason is the thickness of disposable masks, is in my opinion too thin to provide adequate protection if good protection is desired. Disposable dust masks are unsuitable for paint spraying because they provide inadequate protection and, in my opinion, they are unlikely to provide adequate protection against the "virus".

In my opinion going into a grocery shop/supermarket carries a high risk of catching the "virus" and that is why I now wear a proper respirator when I do my grocery shopping. However, every time that I turn the television on the news seems to get grimmer and grimmer and this has got me thinking "Am I under-protected when I do my grocery shopping?" Perhaps I should up my protection and enhance my P.P.E.? Should I wear a full mil spec service respirator and if I do should I stop there or should I also wear a full N.B.C. suit complete with the correct gloves and overboots. Obviously, I would again have to ask, speaking through my respirator, at customer services: "Good afternoon, would it be acceptable for me to wear full Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection when I next do my shopping?"

I witnessed a couple more cases on Friday of "Human Magnetism Syndrome", walking to and back from work. One of those affected by this new phenoqamom was subjected to a double deflection on each side of the road and this was the first case of "double deflection", caused by the "Human Magnetism Syndrome", that I have witnessed. The poor victim got deflected right across the road at an angle of about 45 degrees by the powerful magnetic field of a fellow sufferer, only to be deflected back across the road by another person suffering from "Human Magnetism Syndrome". Fortunately there were no cars heading in this direction at the time of the incident.

[oldpaul]

On my NBC course back in the day and the refresher not so long ago, the masks were either AGA SPIRO or DRAGER it had a constant air cushion around your face pumped by a rechargeable power pack on your belt.
Sadly, with anything Military its not cheap but it certainly gave 100% protection from CS, I know its not the same but it kept the pressure off the face tissues and would for these young ladies suffering at the moment.
The masks they have with double elastics were NEVER made to be worn for long durations as they are now.

I am a retired Respiratory Therapist and my wife is still an ICU primary RT here in south Puget Sound. What you were using sounds similar to the PAPR (powered air purifying respirators) that consists of a hood with an integral shoulder apron that filters room air through a HEPA filter/fan unit affixed to your scrub pants. When I was working it was most often used for TB rule outs and potential or actual airborne MERSA patients. The hoods are reusable to a degree but require careful disinfecting between uses and since there is currently a shortage of all personal protection equipment, hoods are shared between MDs, RNs and RTs. As I am overly fond of my wife I spent some serious time on line and on the phone to finally find three new PAPR hoods for $240 plus shipping which is not a terribly high price all things considered. These hoods are probably the cheapest component of the PAPR system and I think medical equipment prices compare favorably (unfavorably) with military costs. Nonetheless, as you suggest, price and availability are out of reasonable reach for most of us. Best. Tom