34||0|2592|0| 0|0|0|||1||somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||00:44:48|02/24/2021|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Feb-24-21 AT 00:45 AM (EST)]This sequence of misfortunes is shorter than December%27s%2C at least%2C so there%27s that.%0D%0A%0D%0AFirst%2C and this item%27s connection to the rest will only become apparent at the end%2C I missed class last Thursday through no fault of my own. The university%27s single-sign-on system declined to let me log into any of the school%27s systems%2C including the online classroom where the link to the Zoom conference lives. Thinking my account might have been compromised%2C I ran the password reset tool%2C to no apparent avail. Calling the IT help desk turned up the interesting information%2C which might profitably have been mentioned on the password reset tool%27s page%2C that changing your password that way disables your account for two hours while everything propagates.%0D%0A%0D%0AClass is two hours long.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo that%27s sort of the ultimate %22dog ate my homework%22 story for the digital age%2C but it does at least have the virtue of being true. Not knowing what else to do%2C I wrote up some notes on the chapter of the reading I was supposed to have presented on and emailed them to the professor%2C figuring at least he would know I%27d read it and hadn%27t ducked the class because I wasn%27t prepared. He responded the next day that the session had run long%2C and he%27d have me present next week %28that is%2C this week%2C now%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C that was annoying%2C but it pales in comparison to what happened next.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo. Let me set the scene. It%27s Saturday afternoon in the Fortress of Solitude%2C and I%27m sitting in the kitchen making a pizza when it dawns on me that I%27m hearing something I don%27t normally hear in there. You know that feeling when it%27s something non-obvious%2C like a smoke detector doing the dying-battery chirp%2C and it takes you a while to consciously realize it%27s happening%3F That.%0D%0A%0D%0AI stop what I%27m doing and listen more closely. There it is again. And again. Every few minutes%2C something somewhere in the kitchen is making a mechanical click%2C like a relay tripping%2C followed by about ten seconds of that distinctive hum an electric motor makes when it%27s trying to start%2C but can%27t%2C and then another%2C louder click. Thirty or so seconds of silence%2C and then it happens again.%0D%0A%0D%0AMy immediate thought is that something%27s gone wrong with the water cooler. It%27s a cheap unit I bought at the wholesale club a few years ago%2C and its predecessor only lasted about this long before failing. So I unplug it and wait. ... Nope. Still happening. It%27s not the water cooler. The stove%3F There%27s nothing in there that should be doing that. The only motor is for the convection mode fan%2C and I%27m not using that right now--almost never use it%2C in fact.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe fridge%3F No%2C it%27s running. Can%27t be the fridge... the hell is going on%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI fret about it for a while%2C but don%27t come to a conclusion. My tinnitus makes it hard to hear the direction of an intermittent sound like that%2C so I can%27t tell much besides that whatever%27s making the noise is in the kitchen%2C and I%27ve already ruled out everything that I think could be making it.%0D%0A%0D%0AYou%27ve probably figured it out already. It%27s the fridge. The circ fan is running%2C but the compressor is failing to start.%0D%0A%0D%0AI didn%27t figure it out until Sunday morning%2C when I went to get the day%27s first beverage and found it%2C and everything else in the refrigerator%2C warm.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not sure if you%27re aware of this%2C but you can%27t get a refrigerator repaired on a basis of time not measured in weeks nowadays%2C and acquiring an emergency replacement refrigerator on a Sunday afternoon in rural Maine%2C with a snowstorm in the immediate forecast%2C when you are not%2C yourself%2C physically capable of wrangling a refrigerator%2C is a%29 a non-trivial task and b%29 really stressful.%0D%0A%0D%0AAfter a great many phone calls and visits to balky websites %28Big Retail was apparently suffering a widespread DDOS attack that afternoon%2C I%27ve since found out%21%29%2C I eventually ended up buying a fridge from %28big home improvement store that isn%27t the orange one%29. I had certain constraints to work with%2C principal among them%3A since the only help I was going to get bringing it into the house was my 69-year-old father with his asthma and chronic foot problems%2C it had to weigh as close as possible to 150 pounds or less. That ruled out anything as high-capacity or feature-rich as the one I was replacing--no side-by-sides or French-door units here%2C nothing with an in-door ice dispenser. The one I ended up with is better than its predecessor at one and only one thing%2C but since that one thing is %22keeping things cold inside it%2C%22 well...%0D%0A%0D%0AJust purchasing said fridge turned out to be a mess%2C because the store didn%27t HAVE the one the website originally sold me%2C and arranging a suitable replacement without paying more for it required considerable back-and-forth and waiting for callbacks after management consultation. By the time we got it sorted out%2C Dad declared it too late in the day for him to pick it up and bring it here%3B he would only go get it and take it home with him %28as he lives considerably closer to the city where the big stores are than I do%29%2C then bring it the rest of the way and install it on Monday.%0D%0A%0D%0AOf course it was the right call%3B we would never have been able to accomplish anything other than breaking things%2C hurting ourselves%2C and falling out if we had attempted it that evening. Still%2C when you%27ve got a fridge full of food on the verge of rotting%2C the last thing you want to hear is %22ma%C3%B1ana%2C ma%C3%B1ana%2C%22 you know%3F I was not best pleased. I ended up dragging everything out onto the porch%2C where it wasn%27t cold enough for things to stay frozen %28let alone refreeze%29%2C but everything would at least stay fridge-level cool. I%27d just have to come up with a plan for the thawed meat later%2C and throw out anything that had to stay frozen until cooked %28e.g.%2C frozen pizzas%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AOnce I got all that done%2C I was too drained and pissed off to consider cooking%2C so I decided to go to %28popular fast-food restaurant%29 and get some dinner%2C then call it a day. I got into the truck and discovered I%27d been so out of sorts I left the house without my keys%2C which also meant I%27d locked myself out.%0D%0A%0D%0AFortunately%2C I live next door to my mother%2C who has a spare key to both my house and the truck%2C so I called her. She took a while to find them and get suited up to bring them out%2C and while I was waiting I started shivering violently. I assumed it was because I was cold. It%27s February%2C after all%2C and I was sitting in an unheated pickup.%0D%0A%0D%0ASpoiler%3A I wasn%27t cold%2C I was%2C and remain%2C ill. I have no idea what with. Somehow%2C despite living like a paranoid%2C agoraphobic bubble boy for the past year%2C I%27ve managed to contract what the NP at my doctor%27s office thinks is a viral infection %28although she does not currently believe it is THE Virus%29. It has the following symptoms%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A - a fever that isn%27t really super-high%2C but comes with really strong chills%2C gets higher at night%2C and brings along with it the usual side effects of body aches and headache%3B and%0D%0A - ... that%27s it. There are no other symptoms. No cough%2C no nasal congestion%2C no digestive irregularities %28beyond the ones I already have as a matter of course%29... just the fever and its attendant side effects. Oh%2C and it switches my left hand%27s sensory receptors completely off%2C because the slightest elevation in my body temperature does that thanks to the scars from my second MS attack. So that%27s fun. You have no idea what this looked like before I backed up and typed a bunch of it over again.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo anyway%2C yeah%2C I had to help install a refrigerator%2C move the old one to a holding area in the house %28ironically%2C the new room we built in 2019 that would have become the new bathroom if%2C you know%2C we%27d been able to keep working on it%29%2C triage all the food and get what I thought could be salvaged into the new fridge%2C and so forth in that state. With my father%2C who hasn%27t visited since COVID kicked off in order to avoid exposure to%2C well... %5Bi%5Dviruses%5B%2Fi%5D. We were both masked up the whole time%2C of course%2C and only approached within six feet of each other when we %5Bi%5Dhad%5B%2Fi%5D to because we were%2C say%2C moving the same refrigerator%2C but still. I%27m super fucking paranoid about that now.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s been two days and I%27ve gotten neither better nor worse. I%27m planning to call the NP again tomorrow--uh%2C later today--and report. She may want me to get swabbed%2C although it didn%27t even come up on Monday%3B her clinical tech%2C on the phone%2C literally used the phrase %22coming down with a little virus%22 and seemed decidedly of the opinion that it was NBD. Fluids and rest%2C son%2C you%27ll be fine. Ibuprofen--oh%2C you can%27t take ibuprofen. Well%2C that sucks. Tylenol isn%27t really very good for this kind of thing%2C but I guess you%27ll have to make do.%0D%0A%0D%0AMeanwhile%2C remember that deferred class presentation%3F I have to give that on Thursday. I%27m also on the hook for THIS week%27s reading%2C which I haven%27t been able to concentrate on at all. John Keegan is%2C let me just say%2C a somewhat %5Bi%5Dvexing%5B%2Fi%5D historian at the %5Bi%5Dbest%5B%2Fi%5D of times%2C and this is not the best of times. He%27s an academic of the %22if a thing is worth thinking%2C it%27s worth overthinking%22 clade%2C which I have a hard enough time parsing when I%27m not shivering under two blankets in my recliner%2C wishing biological life on this planet could find a way to do without RNA.%0D%0A%0D%0AFuck%2C as I believe the young persons say%2C my life.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 1|1|0|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|NHO||15:44:24|02/24/2021|This is overwhelming sequence of disasters.%0D%0A%0D%0AAny way we can support you in this time of %2AScreams externally%2A %3F 2|2|1|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||16:39:09|02/24/2021|%3EAny way we can support you in this time of %2AScreams externally%2A %3F %0D%0A%0D%0AOther than putting up with my bitching and lack of posting%2C not that I can think of right now%2C but thanks. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 3|1|0|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||21:32:46|02/26/2021|So%2C an update is probably in order. Some of you may have seen this already%2C since I livetweeted it as it was going on%2C but after being unable to reach my NP on Wednesday and report a lack of progress%2C I decided enough was enough and went to the Emergency Room of my local hospital. Unfortunately%2C Wednesday was a very %5Bi%5Dbusy%5B%2Fi%5D night at the Emergency Room of my local hospital%2C so I didn%27t get back out of there until nearly three o%27clock Thursday morning%2C but at least I did come out with a diagnosis%3A urinary tract infection.%0D%0A%0D%0AThose of you who have been here a while may remember that I had one of those in the summer of 2019%2C too%2C from which I had just recovered when I fell and bashed up my knee. According to the ER nurse%2C that%27s pretty common in MS patients%2C particularly men. So that%27s something to look forward to.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn the plus side%2C that%27s not communicable%2C so Dad%27s probably in the clear. Because one of the key symptoms I was reporting with was fever%2C though%2C they had to handle me as a prospective COVID patient under the protocols currently in force%2C which included taking a test swab. I should hear about that sometime in the next few days.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe COVID protocol had one unforeseen and deeply infuriating side effect%3A As I was getting ready to leave after being handed my discharge paperwork%2C the ER nurse told me%2C %22Since you have a pending COVID test%2C you can%27t leave through the lobby. You%27ll have to go out through the ambulance bay.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThe way the hospital here is laid out%2C the main entrance is in the middle of one of the long sides of the building%2C with the disabled parking places at the end of a little covered portico thing off to the right. The ambulance bay is around the left side of the building.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo%2C to get to the disabled parking--and thus my car--from the ambulance bay%2C I had to basically walk halfway around the building. At 2%3A30 in the morning%2C dog-tired and feverish%2C on my not-always-reliable MS-boy feet%2C through around three inches of freshly fallen snow. Maybe a hundred yards%3F That probably doesn%27t sound like very far to normal people%2C but I don%27t have those license plates because they look cool.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd%2C yeah%2C OK%2C abundance of caution%2C you don%27t want people who Might Have COVID wandering through a crowded lobby%2C maybe passing people in the entryway%2C and so on if you can avoid it. But it was 2%3A30 in the morning%21 There was %5Bi%5Dnobody out there.%5B%2Fi%5D And not%2C like%2C nobody except the night receptionist%2C %5Bi%5Dno one at all%5B%2Fi%5D. After midnight%2C you have to ring a bell and someone comes out of the ER.%0D%0A%0D%0AI was too tired to be properly pissed off about that at the time--it was more a sort of baffled%2C annoyed disbelief with a big dash of resignation--but I%27m pretty riled up about that part now.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C so here I am%2C taking antibiotics and Tylenol%2C and drinking a lot of beverages with %22Cran-%22 in their names%2C and things seem to be settling down. I still feel pretty poor%2C but I%27m not having the heavy chills or noting any significant fever tonight.%0D%0A%0D%0AMeanwhile%2C one of the reasons the ER was busy that night was because my mother was in there%2C having finally broken down and gone in to see if they could find out why her energy levels have cratered these past few weeks. That night%2C all they turned up was acute anemia%2C but not what the cause was. They admitted her for observation%2C with an endoscopy scheduled for Thursday morning in order to check out the leading theory%2C a bleeding stomach ulcer %28something she%27s had before%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe scope revealed that she does not have a bleeding ulcer... she has %5Bi%5Dfour%5B%2Fi%5D bleeding ulcers.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo that%27s special.%0D%0A%0D%0AShe%27s still in the hospital while they try to get a handle on what to do next%2C but I talked to her a bit ago and she said they were probably going to send her home tomorrow.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn the plus side%2C class yesterday wasn%27t %5Bi%5Dthat%5B%2Fi%5D much of a disaster. I only have a week to come up with a topic for the big research paper that is the centerpiece of the whole course%2C but one crisis at a time.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 4|2|3|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Zemyla||22:53:46|02/26/2021|%3EMaybe a hundred yards%3F That probably doesn%27t %0D%0A%3Esound like very far to normal people%2C but I don%27t have those license %0D%0A%3Eplates because they look cool. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ve had to find out how long distances like that are%2C when I had a seizure that fractured the vertebrae in my back. At the time%2C I had no vehicle%2C and thus walked everywhere%2C and all of a sudden everything was like 4 or 5 times as far away somehow.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C they really should have had a nurse there to take you by wheelchair to your vehicle%2C rather than making you walk it. 5|2|3|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Sofaspud||13:04:46|03/01/2021|I don%27t have anything %2Auseful%2A to add%2C but just the observation that your local hospital sounds like it%27s perfected that big-city feel even though it%27s %28presumably%29 not%2C in fact%2C in a big city.%0D%0A%0D%0AHow... lovely.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A--sympathies%2C man 6|1|0|||1||Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|Gryphon||03:25:10|03/15/2021|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-21 AT 03:28 AM (EDT)]A few months ago%2C the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published guidelines for the order in which persons should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as vaccine production came online. If you live in the US%2C you may remember them. It was this complicated tier system that involved multiple Tiers 1 for some weird reason. If memory serves%2C Tier 1A was medical workers and the very old%2C and Tier 1B was to be the slightly less very old plus the younger people at greatest risk of developing life-threatening complications if they catch the virus. Tier 1B was to be vaccinated in February and early March. Based on my laundry list of comorbidities%2C I was told by my neurologist and my primary care provider that I would surely be in that cohort.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn late February%2C not yet having gotten around to Tier 1B%2C the health authorities here in Maine changed course and %5Bi%5Dscrapped the federal system entirely%5B%2Fi%5D. Instead%2C Maine Public Health decreed that vaccination would be scheduled %5Bi%5Dstrictly on the basis of age%5B%2Fi%5D%2C with each month earmarked for a particular decade. February having retroactively been for persons 70%2B%2C that makes this month reserved for those over 60.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf you%27re keeping score at home%2C that knocks me from %22should%27ve been done last month%22 to sometime in the middle of May%2C and means that high-risk Mainers in their %5Bi%5Dtwenties%5B%2Fi%5D have to hold out until %5Bi%5DJuly%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AI am %5Bi%5Dlivid%5B%2Fi%5D about this%2C for a %5Bi%5Dbunch%5B%2Fi%5D of reasons. For one%2C this is the %5Bi%5Dsecond time%5B%2Fi%5D the public health authorities here in the great State of Maine have left me for dead. %28The first was when then-Governor LePage dumped an entire demographic I happened to be in off of MaineCare%2C not that long after my MS diagnosis.%29 For another%2C there%27s the bait-and-switch aspect. Being told %22no worries%2C hang on until February and we%27ve got you%22 and then having that arbitrarily rescinded is doing %5Bi%5Dbad shit%5B%2Fi%5D to my headspace.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut even if I wasn%27t personally affected on such a profound level%2C I think I%27d still be pretty pissed about it%2C because denying vaccination against a life-threatening disease to high-risk people just because of their age is blatant abandonment of the disabled in a time of public emergency. More than that%2C since the most deeply affected are of childbearing age%2C let%27s not mince words here%2C it%27s %5Bi%5Dfucking eugenics.%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AThe fact that they tout it on the state CDC%27s website as a more equitable method of distribution than the federal guidelines is just the cherry on top.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt this point I don%27t just regret coming back to this state%2C I regret having been born here.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 9|2|6|||1||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|ImpulsiveAlexia||01:16:55|03/17/2021|July%2C seriously%3F%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI coulda sworn they were expecting to be at the %22available to anyone willing to take it%22 phase by May here. o.O%0D%0A%0D%0A-IA.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28received information not interpretable%29 10|2|6|||||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|drakensis||03:10:01|03/17/2021|That is severely fucked up%2C Gryph.%0D%0A%0D%0AI mean%2C I%27m about half a decade junior with one minor health issue and I%27m getting vaccinated today. %28And from gossip among co-workers%2C anyone bringing friends%2Ffamily in to be vaccinated is generally getting the shot too as a target of opportunity - which makes sense%2C since it cuts down total number of visits%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AJuly is ridiculous. 11|2|6|||1||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|DaemeonX||13:45:59|03/18/2021|The State of Alaska decided that it is open season on the vaccine. They decided that all adults over 25 or something along those lines are eligible to get the vaccine as of early this week to late last week. In Anchorage there are spots open everywhere now and I am getting mine done on the 23rd as I live in Wasilla and there are less clinics out that way. %0D%0A%0D%0AGovernor got tired of the tiered shit when vaccines were going to waste. %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0ADaemeonX 12|3|11|||1||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|Gryphon||16:13:02|03/18/2021|%3EThe State of Alaska decided that it is open season on the vaccine. %0D%0A%3EThey decided that all adults over 25 or something along those lines %0D%0A%3Eare eligible to get the vaccine as of early this week to late last %0D%0A%3Eweek. In Anchorage there are spots open everywhere now and I am %0D%0A%3Egetting mine done on the 23rd as I live in Wasilla and there are less %0D%0A%3Eclinics out that way. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EGovernor got tired of the tiered shit when vaccines were going to %0D%0A%3Ewaste. %0D%0A%0D%0ANice. The only %28faint%29 hope I%27m holding out for Maine right now is that vaccine production and supply ramps up to the point where more of it starts coming in than the current schedule was calibrated for%2C and that if it does%2C the relevant authorities realize what%27s going on in time to change their plan again.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 16|3|11|||1||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|ImpulsiveAlexia||03:34:00|03/22/2021|%3EGovernor got tired of the tiered shit when vaccines were going to %0D%0A%3Ewaste. %0D%0A%0D%0AThey didn%27t have a %22just find someone who wants it when otherwise it%27ll go to waste%22 clause%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s how I got -mine- early%2C though it looks like the tier I%27m in %28critical infrastructure%29 is up now%2C so it wasn%27t -very- early.%0D%0A%0D%0A-IA.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28received information not interpretable%29 17|4|16|||1||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|DaemeonX||13:11:11|03/24/2021|I hear through the grape vine that there are vaccines that are going to go bad%2C show up at x place and get your first shot free of charge. I believe that we are at 50%25 of all adults are fully vaccinated now. %0D%0A%0D%0ADaemeonX 18|5|17|||||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|dbrandon||13:01:23|03/25/2021|%3EI hear through the grape vine that there are vaccines that are going %0D%0A%3Eto go bad%2C show up at x place and get your first shot free of charge. %0D%0A%3EI believe that we are at 50%25 of all adults are fully vaccinated now. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EDaemeonX %0D%0A%0D%0AUm%2C working backwards%2C no. At least not in the US%3B I don%27t know where you are.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fhealth-shots%2F2021%2F01%2F28%2F960901166%2Fhow-is-the-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-going-in-your-state%0D%0A%0D%0AThe US as a whole is running about 15%25 for both doses. 15%2C not 50.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C the shot is free%2C period%2C no one in the US ever has to pay to get it.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fvaccines%2Ffaq.html%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t have any data about vaccines expiring%3B it%27s definitely happening%2C and I%27m sure that some places are trying alternative routes to avoid it%2C but there%27s no hard data about what percent of doses is being lost. In an operation of this size and scope%2C I%27d be pretty astonished if there weren%27t a few percent loss.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fhealth-shots%2F2021%2F03%2F04%2F973412955%2Faccidentally-trashed-thawed-or-expired-reports-of-covid-vaccine-spoilage-grow%0D%0A%0D%0Adbrandon 19|6|18|||1||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|DaemeonX||11:59:04|04/02/2021|I%27m from Alaska. Yes I know the shot is free%2C my brain added it because it could. Yes vaccines are expiring as we get noticed all the time up here to show up at a place to get the shot. Also%2C why so serious batman. %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0ADaemeonX 26|7|19|||||RE%3A Are You Fucking Kidding Me dep%27t|dbrandon||08:48:12|04/05/2021|Because wrong information about something as important as the vaccine bothers me. Especially wrong information that might lead to people not getting it%2C like the %28incorrect%29 implication that they have to pay for it.%0D%0A%0D%0A--dbrandon 7|1|0|||1||coda%3A the fridge%2C 1997-2021|Gryphon||10:57:30|03/16/2021|The Sears Home Service guy was just here. I had some hopes of a quick and inexpensive fix%2C having found in a web search that a lot of people have had the exact problem I had with this model refrigerator at around this age%2C and it%27s turned out to be the initiator for the compressor%2C which is a %2430 part that takes about 10 minutes to replace.%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t know why I entertained those hopes%2C because when there are two things that can be wrong with a thing%2C and one is cheap and quick to fix while repairing the other is catastrophically expensive or just plain impossible%2C I always get the second one. This time is no exception. The compressor itself has failed%2C and would cost more than a thousand dollars to replace.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo rest in peace%2C side-by-side fridge with ample freezer space and in-door ice dispenser. I may not see the like of you in these parts again. %3A%28%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%222%22%5Dof course that was %24145 and two weeks of virus anxiety for absolutely nothing. of course it was. how could it have been anything else%3F%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 8|2|7|||1||RE%3A coda%3A the fridge%2C 1997-2021|McFortner||21:56:54|03/16/2021|Oh%2C man%2C I%27m really feeling bad for you over that. I know how that feels and it really sucks. Why is it always the more expensive option that happens%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AMichael%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22black%22%5DMichael C. Fortner%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22green%22 size%3D-1%5D%22Maxim 37%3A There is no such thing as %22overkill%22.%0D%0AThere is only %22open fire%22 and %22I need to reload%22.%5B%2Ffont%5D 13|2|7|||||RE%3A coda%3A the fridge%2C 1997-2021|Zemyla||17:11:59|03/18/2021|Well%2C you%27re just in time to get a new fridge with the stimulus money%2C if you want. 14|3|13|||1||RE%3A coda%3A the fridge%2C 1997-2021|Gryphon||18:27:12|03/18/2021|%3EWell%2C you%27re just in time to get a new fridge with the stimulus money%2C %0D%0A%3Eif you want. %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C I noticed the other day that a new refrigerator of about the same size and feature set as the dead one runs almost exactly %241%2C400. I feel like I should be making a model of Devil%27s Tower out of my mashed potatoes. %22This %5Bi%5Dmeans%5B%2Fi%5D something.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 15|4|14|||||RE%3A coda%3A the fridge%2C 1997-2021|dbrandon||09:26:28|03/19/2021|It means your mashed potatoes are getting cold%2C young man.%0D%0A%0D%0Adbrandon 20|1|0|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||18:20:54|04/02/2021|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-02-21 AT 06:21 PM (EDT)]Update %231%3A I bought a new Fancy Fridge to replace the dead one%2C planning to shift the Emergency Fridge to a backup role%2C because a%29 it was on sale%3B b%29 I really miss ice and filtered water in the door%3B and most significantly c%29 Emergency Fridge%27s freezer is %5Bi%5Dtiny%5B%2Fi%5D and after a few weeks I%27ve concluded that I can%27t hang with that long-term.%0D%0A%0D%0AA couple of nice kids from the appliance store tried to delivery it this afternoon... and then had to give up and take it away with them again%2C because it can%27t fit through the only doorway into the kitchen past my clothes washer. In measuring to make sure it would fit%2C I didn%27t think of checking the washer clearance%2C because the new fridge is slightly smaller than the dead one and %5Bi%5Dit%5B%2Fi%5D got in there%2C after all...%0D%0A%0D%0A... forgetting that since that fridge was installed%2C I%27ve gotten a different set of laundry machines%2C which are bigger than the old ones. Which means the delivery team today could neither bring in the new fridge nor take out the dead one without uninstalling the washer%2C which they are not legally allowed to do. Which means I%2C the world%27s least handy man%2C have to find the valves for the washer%27s water supply %28which are in the basement somewhere%2C not right behind the machine like you would expect%29%2C turn them off%2C disconnect everything%2C move the washer out of the way%2C then have them come back and do the fridge shuffle%2C then put the washer back myself as well%2C if I ever want to have a Fancy Fridge again.%0D%0A%0D%0ANaturally%2C they couldn%27t hang around while I did all that %28if indeed I CAN do all that--my bad knee and the basement stairs are not best pals%29%2C so... they left. They%27ll get in touch to schedule another attempt%2C but one is not 100%25 sure arrangments can be made such that there would be any point. I might have to just get a chest freezer instead and resign myself to losing the other Fancy Fridge capabilities for the duration. At least until we can finish the remodel we started before the plague%2C which would have installed an exterior door IN THE KITCHEN and made the whole problem of getting past the washer moot.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat should have been finished LAST SUMMER%2C long before the old fridge died and the whole operation became necessary%2C but%2C plague.%0D%0A%0D%0AUpdate %232%3A In plague news%2C I%27m scheduled to be vaccinated next Wednesday... with the J%26J vaccine%2C which seems to be the only one happening now in these parts for anyone who hasn%27t already had round 1 of one of the others. I remember reading the initial reports of how much less effective that one seemed to be than the others and thinking%2C %22Well%2C that%27s the one I%27ll end up getting%2C then%2C you watch.%22 And here we are. It%27s like life is scripted sometimes.%0D%0A%0D%0AI hear tell it%27s not as bad as initially believed and that one shouldn%27t be picky%2C but it doesn%27t do my peace of mind any good to be told stuff like %22well%2C you%27ll probably still get COVID if you%27ve had this shot%2C but now it won%27t kill you.%22 Thanks%2C news outlet%2C that%27s... really reassuring. Looking forward to that.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh well. At least it%27s pizza o%27clock on Friday.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 21|2|20|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Vorticity||13:27:56|04/03/2021|The J%26J vaccine is probably the most effective one out there now. Remember that it was released months later%2C in an environment with more virus variants. If you look at later studies on vaccine efficacy%2C the Moderna and Pfizer vaxen have definitely become less effective. That said they all seem to make symptoms much less severe even on the weirder variants.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe one not to get is the AstraZeneca vaccine%2C which seems to be both a little less effective and also probably causes blood clots in rare cases. But the good news is that there are treatments for that%2C and effective treatments for COVID itself. Even with cases rising in the US once again%2C death numbers aren%27t going up.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd I know you were frustrated earlier on about being moved out of the line because of your high risk. But from a public policy standpoint%2C that came from two different things%3A We%27ve moved from the phase of vaccine rarity to vaccine abundance. The other is that when you%27re trying to run a large scale vaccine program%2C verifying all sorts of medical information ties up expertise that could be used to put shots in arms. If all you have to do is look at an ID card%2C anyone can do it%2C and it takes less than a minute.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28This is also why age-based programs like Medicare work well%2C but welfare programs like unemployment and Medicaid where you have to verify eligibility are a mess. But enough about why universal basic income is a better idea.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AIt sucks to be the one personally affected by inequitable distribution%2C but hey%2C it probably only cost you a week or two delay%2C and you%27re not dead yet.%0D%0A%0D%0AHave fun with the refrigerator. I had one break down three or four years ago%2C and got another side-by-side model off of Craigslist for about %24400. It doesn%27t go with the kitchen decor %28why is everything silver and black now%3F%29 but it was definitely worth the price. 22|3|21|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|drakensis||03:35:39|04/04/2021|%3EThe one not to get is the AstraZeneca vaccine%2C which seems to be both %0D%0A%3Ea little less effective and also probably causes blood clots in rare %0D%0A%3Ecases.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh great%2C that%27s the one my parents and I have received. 24|4|22|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|DaPatman89||15:52:05|04/04/2021|%3E%3EThe one not to get is the AstraZeneca vaccine%2C which seems to be both %0D%0A%3E%3Ea little less effective and also probably causes blood clots in rare %0D%0A%3E%3Ecases.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOh great%2C that%27s the one my parents and I have received. %0D%0A%0D%0AIf the choice was AstraZeneca or nothing%2C AstraZeneca was by far the better choice. While there have been reports of people getting blood clots after receiving that vaccine%2C there%27s no evidence that a causal link exists %28though it%27s certainly possible%29%2C and the number of cases as a proportion of people vaccinated is miniscule - out of millions of people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine%2C the number of blood clot cases reported is only in the dozens.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn other words%2C as the WHO has already said%2C the benefits of getting the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh any risks.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Blink%3Awww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fhealth-56594189%7C%28Source%29%5D 25|5|24|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|drakensis||04:01:18|04/05/2021|Thanks for the reassurance.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd yeah%2C better any vaccine than none. 30|6|25|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|cw_gilbert||05:42:24|07/05/2021|... Careful with that one.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn Australia%2C we are seeing a trend of people with hypertension and diabetes who get the AstraZenica dying within 48 hours of getting that vaccine. %0D%0A%0D%0AWe buried my mother last Friday %2802-06-2021%29.%0D%0ADead 12 hours after being vacinated. 31|7|30|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|drakensis||02:29:52|07/06/2021|My sincerest condolences on your loss. 32|7|30|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||22:25:10|07/06/2021|Holy cow. I%27m so sorry to hear that.%0D%0A%0D%0AKind of puts my own bitching in this very thread into perspective.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 33|8|32|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|cw_gilbert||03:53:19|07/08/2021|Thank you%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AThe thought is appreciated.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs is the body of work you and all the others have put out.%0D%0AIt%27s been a nice distraction 23|3|21|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||03:51:52|04/04/2021|%3EAnd I know you were frustrated earlier on about being moved out of the %0D%0A%3Eline because of your high risk. But from a public policy standpoint%2C %0D%0A%3Ethat came from two different things%3A We%27ve moved from the phase of %0D%0A%3Evaccine rarity to vaccine abundance. The other is that when you%27re %0D%0A%3Etrying to run a large scale vaccine program%2C verifying all sorts of %0D%0A%3Emedical information ties up expertise that could be used to put shots %0D%0A%3Ein arms. If all you have to do is look at an ID card%2C anyone can do %0D%0A%3Eit%2C and it takes less than a minute. %0D%0A%0D%0AThe second point is likely to be the more operative one in this instance%2C because... %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%28This is also why age-based programs like Medicare work well%2C but %0D%0A%3Ewelfare programs like unemployment and Medicaid where you have to %0D%0A%3Everify eligibility are a mess.%0D%0A%0D%0A... even with a Democratic administration in place%2C the authorities that administer state assistance programs of all kinds in Maine are constantly paranoid about the possibility that they might accidentally help too many people. Better to screw over a thousand who need help than run the risk of allocating resources to one who doesn%27t.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIt sucks to be the one personally affected by inequitable %0D%0A%3Edistribution%2C but hey%2C it probably only cost you a week or two delay%2C %0D%0A%3Eand you%27re not dead yet. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C more like eight to ten %28Tier 1B was supposed to be served in February%2C before the whole plan was abandoned that very month%29. What really galls me about it%2C beyond having been personally screwed %5Bi%5Dyet again%5B%2Fi%5D by the public health authorities of Maine%2C is their blather about how doing it the way they ended up doing it is %5Bi%5Dmore%5B%2Fi%5D equitable. Evenly distributing a finite resource across a population that doesn%27t have a uniform need for it isn%27t equity%2C it%27s laziness at best and backhanded negative selection at worst.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHave fun with the refrigerator. I had one break down three or four %0D%0A%3Eyears ago%2C and got another side-by-side model off of Craigslist for %0D%0A%3Eabout %24400. It doesn%27t go with the kitchen decor %28why is everything %0D%0A%3Esilver and black now%3F%29 but it was definitely worth the price. %0D%0A%0D%0AI looked at trying to find one used%2C but then I would have to get it inside somehow%2C which was barely doable with the much smaller and lighter Emergency Fridge. When the appliance in question tops 250 pounds%2C professional deliverers are really the only way forward when you and literally everyone you know in person is old%2C broken%2C or both%2C and that means buying new.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 27|2|20|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|Gryphon||20:30:56|04/07/2021|The latest%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A - Next attempt at Fancy Fridge delivery%2FDead Fridge removal will be the Friday after next %28the 16th%29. Assistance in moving the washing machine out of the fridge installers%27 way and putting it back when they%27re done has been secured.%0D%0A%0D%0A - Because I went ahead and ordered a bunch of frozen food based on when I originally expected the Fancy Fridge to be delivered%2C having momentarily forgotten that nothing like that ever works out right the first time%2C I had to go yesterday and buy a small chest freezer. So when this is all over with%2C I%27ll have two fridges and a freezer. I am... oddly content with this. I%27ve wanted a chest freezer for years anyway%2C and they%27re cheap%2C so what the hell.%0D%0A%0D%0A - I had my shot this afternoon. Just the one%2C although the card they gave me still has a reminder on the back to return for round 2 %28update your forms%2C CDC%29. The process was not too arduous. Uncannily like voting%2C in some respects %28in my old high school%27s gymnasium%2C a lot of the same people involved in traffic control%2C etc%29. So far%2C nothing much is happening%2C but it%27s only been about four hours.%0D%0A%0D%0A - Someone from a home heating contractor is coming by Friday to look around and give me a quote on installing a mini-split heat pump for my living room%2C which%2C if I can swing it%2C would mean never screwing around with seasonal air conditioning in here again%2C and that would be amazingly good shit.%0D%0A%0D%0A - Tomorrow%27s class meeting involves each member of the class presenting a critique of another member%27s rough draft. If you deliberately set out to create a situation that would cause me %5Bi%5Dsocial agony%2C%5B%2Fi%5D that%27s what you would end up with. So there%27s that.%0D%0A%0D%0A - I%27m starting to get summaries back from the translator I%27m working with of the material we%27re mining out of the POW newspapers%2C and it is shaping up to be really good stuff. Not being able to afford the money or time to just get the whole pile done may turn out to be the best thing that happened to this project.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 28|3|27|||1||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|McFortner||23:45:02|04/07/2021|%3E - I%27m starting to get summaries back from the translator I%27m working %0D%0A%3Ewith of the material we%27re mining out of the POW newspapers%2C and it is %0D%0A%3Eshaping up to be really good stuff. Not being able to afford the %0D%0A%3Emoney or time to just get the whole pile done may turn out to be the %0D%0A%3Ebest thing that happened to this project. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C that sounds promising. Here%27s hoping for the best for you with that project.%0D%0A%0D%0AMichael%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22black%22%5DMichael C. Fortner%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22green%22 size%3D-1%5D%22Maxim 37%3A There is no such thing as %22overkill%22.%0D%0AThere is only %22open fire%22 and %22I need to reload%22.%5B%2Ffont%5D 29|4|28|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|StClair||03:05:29|04/29/2021|I immediately thought of the above when I saw %5Blink%3Axkcd.com%2F2456%2F%7Cthe latest xkcd%5D%2C specifically the top middle.%0D%0A 34|1|0|||||RE%3A somewhat less epic venting|BlackAeronaut||13:32:30|07/22/2021|Man%2C G.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s like as if all the fucking bad juju I managed to live through the last couple years somehow made its way to your door. The sheer degree of %22OF COURSE YOU DID%21%22 whenever something goes wrong is utterly palpable.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot that I%27m entire free myself. You would think that a grinding %22rawrrawrrawrrawr%22 sound from the passenger-front side of a car means %22Tire issue - investigate ASAP%2C possible replacement needed%22%2C right%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AKeep in mind%2C I%27d just done a fair bit of much needed replacing of parts and servicing%3A front and rear struts%2C tierod ends%2C control arms all replaced%2C clutch job along with master and slave cylinders%2C passenger side inner CV joint rebuilt because of cracked boot%2C front and rear main seals replaced%2C and RTV sealant redone for rear main seal assembly%2C oil pan%2C and timing chain cover. %28Why yes%2C I %5Bi%5Ddid%5B%2Fi%5D pull the engine and transmission out together. Why do you ask%7E%3F %3AP %29%0D%0A%0D%0ATires checked and balanced... still noisy.%0D%0AReplaced tire... still noisy.%0D%0AAlignment done... needed%2C but still noisy...%0D%0AReplace CV axle %28suspect due to cracked boot%29... ...you gotta be fucking kidding me - STILL NOISY%21%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AAt this point%2C its going to be one of two things - the CV support bearing on the intermediate shaft%2C or the wheel bearing in the passenger side steering knuckle. So far%2C my investigation online points towards the intermediate shaft bearing... but knowing my luck%2C it%27s probably gonna wind up being something absurd like some part in the differential is going bad... which would fucking suck big brass ones because that will mean a transaxle rebuild. And just after I got done doing all that other work%2C too%21%0D%0A%0D%0AAt the very least%2C people in my apartment complex are %5Bi%5Dgoddamned impressed%5B%2Fi%5D with how I%27ve absolutely gone to town on my little Saturn SC1. While I%27ve been at it%2C I%27ve also replaced the front and rear bumpers %28severely damaged some years by sudden unexpected LAKE ON THE GODDAMNED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY%21%21%21%29%2C the front seats %28utterly worn and nasty - managed to upgrade by snagging much nicer seats from more recent vintage SC1%29%2C and a bunch of other various little things.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn top of all this%2C I now have to be careful about how and how much I eat because now I apparently have gallstones. And with me having the freakish liver from hell that%27ll metabolize narcotics like its nobody%27s business combined with a relatively high pain threshold %28thank you ever so much%2C abusive childhood%21%29 I have to tell the ER nurses to not waste precious Morphine on me %28I will literally not even feel it%29 and just skip straight to the Dilaudid.%0D%0A%0D%0AFortunately%2C they gave me a prescription of Tylenol-3 for flareups. Doesn%27t happen often%2C though%2C because I%27ve been fairly paranoid about my eating habits ever since. Mostly I wind up using it to help out with the arthritis in my cervical spine because the 500mg Naproxen Sodium tabs they prescribed me barely manage to take the edge off. BIG DIFFERENCE between an anti-inflammatory and an actual pain reliever. Though they definitely work best together than just one or the other.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s been slow progress%2C but progress all the same. Just that for once I wish I could do a major repair on a vehicle without having some ridiculous BS stymie me.%0D%0A%0D%0ASuffice to say%2C I definitely know the feeling when it seems the universe itself is trying to stack the deck against you. %28For a while%2C shit was so bad for me that my hard-ass%2C Type-A persona%2C self-made-man of a step-father who was terribly fond of setting ridiculous double-standards between me and my half%2Fstep-siblings was all %22GodDAMN son%2C that%27s fucked.%22%29%0D%0A