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Coronavirus discussion thread - NO POLITICS, or "POLITICS by PROXY"

#9,421
kerryg said:
Which is itself perception, rather than reality.
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Nevertheless, all that matters is that *they* perceive it as reality and act accordingly. We can scream at the top of our lungs and get nowhere apart from a ENT doctor visit in order to fix our exhausted vocal cords. So yes, that IS reality.

An agreement what an "objective truth" is was not reached over the past 2000 years and it most certainly won't be reached on a bass-player-forum, where the "P-Bass with tort and flats" is an answer to every question...:D
 
#9,422
ajkula66 said:
For most people, perception IS reality.



I'd wager a guess that a stronger word than "confuses" is needed to describe how a lot of people feel about the situation.



It's not. But I'd bet my last penny that the reverse gear has been disabled, and we're going to roll down this road - not everyone at the same speed, though - whether we like it or not.
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You won't hear me arguing about any of that.
 
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#9,425
"NHS Covid app developers 'tried to block rival symptom trackers'
Developers claim government technology unit was hostile to other groups, hampering the fight against the disease..." From the Guardian.

What does one make of that?
 
#9,426
Lagado said:
"NHS Covid app developers 'tried to block rival symptom trackers'
Developers claim government technology unit was hostile to other groups, hampering the fight against the disease..." From the Guardian.

What does one make of that?
Click to expand...

It sounds like "Not Invented Here" syndrome, combined with not really knowing how mobile devices fundamentally work.

UK abandons contact-tracing app for Apple and Google model

Work (on the NHS proprietary tracing app) started in March as the pandemic unfolded, but despite weeks of work, officials admitted on Thursday that the NHS app only recognised 4% of Apple phones and 75% of Google Android devices during testing on the Isle of Wight.

That was because the design of Apple’s iPhone operating system is such that apps quickly go to sleep when they are not being used and cannot be activated by Bluetooth – a point raised by experts and reported by the Guardian in early May.
 
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#9,427
Here's more info about the NHS app. They were going to rely primarily on "Android herd immunity" because it's easier to control the device and its data. I guess NHS were going to throw iOS users under the bus because it was just too darned hard for them to figure it out.

Critical mass of Android users crucial for NHS contact-tracing app

The NHS’s contact-tracing app will fail unless sufficient numbers of Android phone users sign up, experts who have examined its trial use on the Isle of Wight have said.

They say NHSX, the digital arm of the health service, is relying on an “Android herd immunity” strategy to overcome shortcomings in the app. A critical mass of Android users will be required to ensure iPhone owners remain covered by the app’s contact-tracing ability. If not enough Android users are in any given community, iPhones will eventually stop broadcasting the signals required for the app to work.

“The workarounds NHSX on both iOS and Android are using to create a centralised database seem to be fragile, disruptive to users and risk apps not registering contacts when they should,” said Michael Veale, a privacy expert at UCL.
 
#9,428
I just want to share some positive experience. After more than 3 months I had my 1st rehearsal with my RnB Band today. It took place in the garden at bright sunlight, keeping 2m distance to each other and it was a great fun for all of us, even better than the rehearsals inside. I guess it was a big piece of "normal" life brought back to all of us.

BTW: And our neighbors also had their fun standing at the fence and watching us.
 
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#9,429
A relative was just over who often visits. I was watching something on TV. A guy was on TV talking about an event which I can't mention because it would fall under topics that can't be talked about. A lot of people were going to be gathered together in very close quarters. The man on the TV was saying that would be reckless. I agreed with him. However, the relative suddenly yelled at the TV, "everybody can do what they want to!! So just shut up!

Earlier I had mentioned to her how bad the coronavirus had become in Brazil. She had no idea they were even having any problems. This is the kind of thing I've had to go through for months. People around me living in denial. It sure is frustrating. And there appears to be no way to reason with people like this. You might as well forget it.:banghead:
 
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#9,430
Alkali Ike said:
It sounds like "Not Invented Here" syndrome, combined with not really knowing how mobile devices fundamentally work.

UK abandons contact-tracing app for Apple and Google model

Work (on the NHS proprietary tracing app) started in March as the pandemic unfolded, but despite weeks of work, officials admitted on Thursday that the NHS app only recognised 4% of Apple phones and 75% of Google Android devices during testing on the Isle of Wight.

That was because the design of Apple’s iPhone operating system is such that apps quickly go to sleep when they are not being used and cannot be activated by Bluetooth – a point raised by experts and reported by the Guardian in early May.
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I see it for the debacle it is, and something much deeper that pervades modern society:

"Technopoly is a state of culture. It is also a state of mind. It consists in the deification of technology, which means that the culture seeks its authorization in technology, finds its satisfactions in technology, and takes its orders from technology."

"I am constantly amazed at how obediently people accept explanations that begin with the words “The computer shows …” or “The computer has determined …” It is Technopoly’s equivalent of the sentence “It is God’s will,” and the effect is roughly the same."

Neil Postman - Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology.

Deus ex machina. God from the machine.
 
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#9,433
Alkali Ike said:
Here's more info about the NHS app. They were going to rely primarily on "Android herd immunity" because it's easier to control the device and its data. I guess NHS were going to throw iOS users under the bus because it was just too darned hard for them to figure it out.

Critical mass of Android users crucial for NHS contact-tracing app

The NHS’s contact-tracing app will fail unless sufficient numbers of Android phone users sign up, experts who have examined its trial use on the Isle of Wight have said.

They say NHSX, the digital arm of the health service, is relying on an “Android herd immunity” strategy to overcome shortcomings in the app. A critical mass of Android users will be required to ensure iPhone owners remain covered by the app’s contact-tracing ability. If not enough Android users are in any given community, iPhones will eventually stop broadcasting the signals required for the app to work.

“The workarounds NHSX on both iOS and Android are using to create a centralised database seem to be fragile, disruptive to users and risk apps not registering contacts when they should,” said Michael Veale, a privacy expert at UCL.
Click to expand...

It's a bit low tech, but "unclean bells" might be more reliable.

Medieval-leprosy-genome-explains-sudden-decline.jpg
 
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#9,435
Well, there ya go. You'd almost think I am psychic if you didn't know that I'm just making reasonable predictions based on sound science.

Anyway, surprise, surprise, the rate of new infections in my county tripled overnight with 100 new infections reported in the past 24 hours.

We're shutting down all our "toe-in-the-water" activities at this point. I'm particularly concerned because one of my band mates announced today that he's playing an indoor gig tonight with another band. I was a little uncomfortable with that already, but with this latest news there's no way I'm letting that guy into my house now. Or anyone else.
 
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#9,437
Alkali Ike said:
I have no idea what that technology thing means but hey I’m enjoying my $4 Beam on the rocks.

Every company and organization I’ve worked for in 50+ years has behaved like that sometimes. Anyone remember Cover Oregon?
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Oh man, do I ever. My first job out of college largely involved cleaning up after Cover Oregon.

Anyway, having a lot of fun in my re-opened county as an essential worker! Glad masks are only a suggestion and that everyone is doing a great job looking out for each other regardless. :rollno:
 
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#9,439
Lagado said:
The virus is nothing compared to the mess we are already in. If you found this difficult, you're in for a bad time.
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This thread is for factual data about C-19. Broad-brush anti-technology opinions by self-declared intellectuals I’ve never heard of are not helpful to me at this time. I can’t control any of that. I can control where I go, whether I wear a mask, and try to remember to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer, while keeping up with the science as it evolves.
 
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