And he sang as he sat...

[rain_gryphon]

The Chinese Doom proceeds apace. The whole thing is becoming somewhat remniscent of "On the Beach", as I watch Death sweep the world, slowly approaching.

*****

Indianapolis 500 tickets have arrived. Will we be able to go see it, I wonder? I do note that the Australian GP is proceeding normally. It shall, I presume, be less maniacal than the one from the book.

*****

I needed a replacement SS card. I decided to go get one in person, rather than to request one by mail. The entire process was remarkably easy. I brought along all sort of ID, which the website said would be needed, but in the end, all I really had to do was to answer several questions posed by a pleasant young man. I really didn't need the pile of documentation that I'd brought.

While waiting my turn, I watched a sort of government news channel that was showing on the wall screen. They kept taking about "the new virus", which was weird. The entire feel of waiting in that room was like some sort of dystopian novel.

They had a poster advising one that it was strictly against the law, and would result in severe penalties, to kill a federal worker who was performing his duties. Presumably killing one on break is a lesser offense.

*****

Whilst dealing with weeds, I half-cut the cable that provides our internet. Down it went. I patched it up with electrical tape, and so far it seems okay, even after 12 hours of rain. I feel remarkably competent after this episode, especially considering that I'm the one who screwed up to begin with.

Comments

[thewayne]

Data cables exert a psychic force that draw people to destroy them, its strength is inversely proportional to the destructiveness of the tool at hand and the value of the data going through it. Since you were close and handy with a weedwhacker, you were vulnerable to its influence.

When I worked for the police department in the '90s doing IT, we built a new dispatch/911/property warehouse, fantastic and beautiful place. I think it had been open less than a month when a backhoe went through the fiber optic bundle that service it, and down it went.

Fortunately we had a mutual support agreement with the county sheriff and they took over our dispatch until we got it fixed. For that matter, I think their old equipment was still in the basement of 620, our HQ, and some of them came back downtown. I don't remember.

[moonhare]

I got my replacement SS card in person as well. I had given up locating the original after quite a bit of searching.

But, I think I mentioned that while cleaning the basement I found my old card under the stairs of all places. Well, last week I found a second one in a box of old paperwork paper-clipped to an employment security (i.e. unemployment) book. :o) I think they used to give out two cards, or maybe there is no ‘third’ to be found here.

[pyesetz]

Must be a copper cable rather than fibre-optic; you can't patch those.

Here in Ontario we have 13 million people, of whom 36 have the novel virus, and most of those are in hospital or self-isolating, so it seems very unlikely that I will get it.  I avoid large crowds on general principles.

My grad school (in Massachusetts) says sports events will continue to occur, but no audiences will be allowed. The Jeopardy show will continue taping, but without audiences because Alex Trebek is already terminal and doesn't need a virus on top of that.

If you hit someone, and they die, and they were a government worker on duty, and you wee high on illegal drugs on the time, and you have guns in your home, and you shouted "Socialism!" while you did it, then they'll have to execute you and revive you multiple times in order to give you all the hurt you deserve.  Dying just once wouldn't be enough punishment!