"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

I've been wondering for some time how long physical college campuses can survive. This might teach us what an unnecessary expense they are. Not that I'll be crowing about it.
The 55th Annual International Medieval Congress has been canceled, of course. It wasn't to start till 7 May, so I indulged the hope that whatever is supposed to happen while we hide under our covers for a few weeks would happen and it would be able to go forward.
Fingers crossed for the vaccine. And the next one.
 
5K Qs said:
Every cloud has a silver lining! ;)

As an instructor, I'm finding that the move to online classes is costing me a couple of hours extra prep per day (and I'm a retiree teaching only 1 class this semester), and so far, I feel like my effectiveness has dropped significantly.:(

- GT
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I can definitely see how it would make things harder on teaching staff, but I rather selfishly shall continue to focus on the advantages that it brings to my own person. ;)
 
Peregrin said:
I was somewhat reckless in my youth, and managed to survive it. I'm old now, not ancient, but old. I've become quite a bit more cautious, as I'd like to maximize my stay on top of the grass.

That said I'm going to err on the side of caution regarding this pandemic. I hope that others will follow the advise of the medical experts. I know I will.
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Gary, when I read your statement above I had to check and make sure that I wasn’t the one who posted it! ;) :thumbsup:

Will Power said:
20 Please Ron, better in these confined spaces ;):D
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Makes sense depending on your circumstances! :thumbsup: :D
 
Not everyone is slugging it out in the supermarkets for toilet paper. The British prime minister gets his delivered o_O

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scrteened porch said:
I've been wondering for some time how long physical college campuses can survive. This might teach us what an unnecessary expense they are. Not that I'll be crowing about it.
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I have a very bad feeling that once this crisis passes, a lot of businesses and institutions will discover it's cheaper for them to remain online only. Teachers and students in a classroom...Going inside the bank lobby to speak to a teller...Picking my own groceries from the shelves and chatting with the clerk...
There are so many mundane social interactions that I don't want to give up, and I'm actually starting to feel depressed and anxious at the idea of everything changing in a way to make us all more and more isolated in the actual world, even if we are more connected in virtual space. I find myself wishing I were either much younger, so I could adapt, or much older, so I wouldn't have to live in that kind of world too much longer.
 
Be well, r8shell r8shell and all the rest of us too. Don't despair, your thoughts abet your health.
Here is some "positive effects" from this pandemic, perhaps to add perspective - localized environments are becoming healthier.

" As the world bands together to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the air and water quality in areas where it is normally polluted is improving considerably, authorities said.

Italy, which has the highest number of cases of the coronavirus outside of China, is seeing clearer water in Venice because the sediment from the normal traffic on the canals has ceased. Italy has mandated a full nationwide quarantine in order to control the virus spreading and due less people on the canals and walkways of the normally heavily tourist area.

"The water now looks clearer because there is less traffic on the canals, allowing the sediment to stay at the bottom," a spokesman for the mayor of Venice told CNN. "It's because there is less boat traffic that usually brings sediment to the top of the water's surface."

A dolphin was seen in the Venice canals for the first time in 60 years. ;)

We are giving the world a rest even as we are being asked to stay close to home for a change. I know - this SUCKS! I'm not glossing over BUT ...

Just sayin'.
 
r8shell said:
I have a very bad feeling that once this crisis passes, a lot of businesses and institutions will discover it's cheaper for them to remain online only. Teachers and students in a classroom...Going inside the bank lobby to speak to a teller...Picking my own groceries from the shelves and chatting with the clerk...
There are so many mundane social interactions that I don't want to give up, and I'm actually starting to feel depressed and anxious at the idea of everything changing in a way to make us all more and more isolated in the actual world, even if we are more connected in virtual space. I find myself wishing I were either much younger, so I could adapt, or much older, so I wouldn't have to live in that kind of world too much longer.
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There has already been a massive push to limit the need for actual human employees - automated phone systems instead of talking to a representative, self-scan checkouts, kiosk systems for ordering fast food, etc. Even more things are requiring the use of smart phone apps for ordering and tracking, making medical appointments, and so on. Do it online, do it online, do it online... Some of these things are very poorly designed and not at all user friendly, and none of them provide as efficient or flexible service as a real live human can give you. I am far from being anti-technology, but I 100% agree with you that human-to-human interactions are essential not just for the sake of efficiency but for also for the preservation of your sanity.

I have been working from home for just 5 days now, and I already miss seeing the people I am accustomed to seeing every day - the guys I pray with every morning on my way to work, the janitor, the cashiers at the store, the guy with Down’s syndrome who comes in to clean the office in the afternoon, even some of my coworkers!
 
GEC shipped out their finished knives, and are closing the factory temporarily, for safety, and by the Pennsylvania Governor's orders to non-essential companies!!:(
Under other circumstances, I would consider them an essential industry!!:)
 
... and on another UP note - BladeForums is completely COVID-19 free - NOT virus free :( but a safe place to hang out nonetheless ;) BINGE BF :thumbsup:
 
I wonder if/when they will finish the Oregon Collectors Show knife???
I have ordered a couple!!:rolleyes:
Sigh . . . . . . .
 
The guy that cuts my grass said he killed a baby copperhead, didn’t look like one to me...but the only ones I’ve seen were grown. It’s about 6” I guess.

 
5K Qs said:
As an instructor, I'm finding that the move to online classes is costing me a couple of hours extra prep per day (and I'm a retiree teaching only 1 class this semester), and so far, I feel like my effectiveness has dropped significantly.:(
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As an Alt Ed teacher, I was already used to posting video lessons and worksheets online. So, my prep time stayed pretty much the same.
What did change is my interaction time with the students. When I was teaching in the classroom, I'd reach all students and take care of all I needed to within that two hour class period. Now I am fielding texts, emails, and phone calls all day long. And like you said, learning has now become more of a struggle for them. Learning online is not as effective as having a teacher who can explain and react to the needs of the students.
 
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