damont

(Originally posted to my GoFundMe less than 16 hours ago, so I didn't bother to change the timestamp. This is basically copied verbatim (modulo formatting), including the fundraising stuff at the end; I *was* posting to GoFundMe after all. Feel free to ignore those bits if you want. Link to the fundraiser will be provided in the comments and upon request.)

For the first time in a while, I've got semi-random Links From All Over to share in this "SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 related PSA / traditional weblogging and the usual begging post mashup" post. These cover a very wide range of topics relating to the pandemic, and are in no way intended to be related to each other except in that they all deal with the ^%$#@!* modern plague.

First up, with people now receiving the second dose for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, reports of side effects are coming in. THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED. Side effects are just a sign that protection is kicking in as it should.

The Second COVID-19 Shot Is a Rude Reawakening for Immune Cells

Next, some scary news about how SARS-CoV-2 is using some humans as its own experiment lab.

Extraordinary Patient Offers Surprising Clues To Origins Of Coronavirus Variants

Social distancing, masks, and ventilation are still major issues, and are going to remain so for quite some time. Herewith the latest from the CDC mandating mask use on all public transportation:

Requirement for Face Masks on Public Transportation Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs

A study with hard data on the riskiest jobs during this crisis:

Line cooks have the highest risk of dying during pandemic, plus other riskiest jobs: study

And a sordid warning that, while aimed locally at metro NYC, indirectly points out dangers of gathering in ANY poorly ventilated space:

The Indoor-Dining Debate Isn’t a Debate at All

Check out the half dozen links at the end of the above article.

Warning on this next one from the person I got this link from: "Article is not as positive as the headline appears. I'll keep my expectation of 2022 for my kid to get a vaccine."
Fauci: Vaccines for Kids as Young as First Graders Could Be Authorized by September

And lastly for now... I predicted, somewhere around May or June 2020, that this was likely to turn into another "gotta get your flu shot every year" situation. I am not happy to report that this prediction may be accurate.

Virus expected to last long-term despite global vaccine rollout

Enough links for now; on to the usual PSA-and-begging part of this post. Any of you who have been reading these posts for even a short time can predict what comes next: the plea for those of you who are able to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. Some businesses were essential and never closed during the lockdowns. Others, after having opened back up, are now trying to stay open to what extent they can as the semi-lockdown is being tightened back up in response to pandemic surges. What these businesses have in common is that locally owned and operated businesses give better "bang for the buck" when it comes to keeping the local economy moving. So please do what you can to help keep your local economy a little bit more afloat. Locally owned businesses are, and will continue to be, struggling to survive and get back on their feet, so please patronize them as much as you can. BUY LOCAL. Please however, do so in a safe manner. Keep on wearing masks and other protective equipment when going shopping in person, continue social distancing. Act intelligently, because I know you can.

And now, for ourselves. Rent on the storage units is still about to come due yet again (the first one is due tomorrow), the medical bills aren't going away, and neither are any of the others. And thus, because after so long we STILL can't afford shame, here's my shameless and desperate plea for help. Please PLEASE spread the word as much as you feel able; share this fundraiser on lots of social media, by email, even by writing the link on pieces of paper and passing them around. Encourage folks you know to donate and to spread the word themselves. I've long since estimated that I'll need about 1,000 different contributors to make the goal, so getting the word out is important. And IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, please donate! We know that some of you have done so over the last ten months (for which A GREAT BIG THANK YOU) and lots of you just can't. For those of you who can, even a spare 5 or 10 bucks, if that's all you can afford, is appreciated. Every little bit helps. (Remember, NO FEELING GUILTY if you don't have the means to contribute, or enough spoons to spread the word as far as you'd like.) And as I also keep saying: unlikely as it may be in these times of pandemic-fueled recession, if you have any job leads for either of us, PLEASE contact us! Relocation is TOTALLY an option. (90-plus-percent remote-work is the best option in the current circumstances, at least through 2021.)

Again, if anyone here actually is in a position to help out, right now would be a truly awesome time to do so. If you can't, you can't; I understand that better than most... thanks in advance for whatever you are able to do. And remember to take care of yourselves, folks. Whatever the local restrictions may be now where you are, please practice the UTMOST caution: stay home as much as you can, go out to do what you must, and as I've been saying, keep tabs on the infection rate for your vicinity, not just your state/province/country. STAY SAFE. Wash your hands, keep hydrated, boost your immune system by whatever means works for you. Practice social distancing as much you realistically can. WEAR MASKS THAT COVER THE NOSE AND MOUTH and make sure you're actually COVERING both your nose and mouth with them. Keep in touch with your friends and loved ones from a safe distance. Tell them you care and that you're thinking of them. And as always, thank you for your continued support.