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shadowkat1. Stayed up late last night to finish reading X of Swords Cross-Over Event - which was much better than expected. It did a rather good job of rebooting the Apocalypse character. Shame Oscar Issacs couldn't have played this character in an animated version, instead of in the The X-Men Apocalypse movie. Prior to this arc, Apocalypse was kind of a one-note bad guy, and more thematic than a character in his own right. By the way, I recently discovered via a church that in the original Greek - Apocalypse doesn't mean what we think.
Apocalypse (ἀποκάλυψις, apokálypsis) is a Greek word meaning "revelation", "an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling".
The writer seems to go with this definition in X of Swords. And threads a story that is far less violent than anticipated, and far more character driven in places, with lots of world-building going on in the background.
It took me a while to get into it - but once I did, I was impressed with the art, consistency of story-telling and the characterization for the most part.
Like in all long-running serials taken over by new writers - the writer creates new characters, who turn out to be more interesting than old ones.
Also he focuses more on them - because it's easier than trying to figure out how to write for characters that others have written for, and created, and you didn't. I will however give this team credit in that at least they aren't killing off the characters they don't want to play with at the moment - so much as letting them to do something else, it's just not on the page. Or have them play a key role - but not a major one.
I do however wish the writers like Jean and Cyclops more than Wolverine and Cable, who don't do a lot for me. But apparently, I'm in the minority on that one. I want more of Magick, Cyclops, Jean, Kate Pryde, Nightcrawler,
Rogue, Gambit, Storm and Beast, and less of Betsy, Wolverine, Xavier, Apocalypse, Sinister, and Shaw. But whatever. Sinister and Apocalypse were actually really entertaining.
Overall? A satisfying read. Much better thane expected.
2. Watched television, surfed the net, and did the doctor thing. First gynecologist visit in years. Yes, I pick a pandemic to finally see a gynecologist. I liked her. Hopefully she'll last. The last three didn't.
I've had really bad luck with gynecologists. Got the requisite blood work done - hormones, and thyroid. Because I keep sweating profusely whenever I exert myself at all physically. It's becoming annoying. Also, my last period was 85 days ago and counting.
Also ran errands in the rain. It's cold drizzle or mist. So not that bad. Just annoying. And dark now at 4:45, so not all that pleasant. There were people walking dogs (which made sense), and couples with strollers (which didn't). Neither used umbrellas. Actually very few people had umbrellas. I've been noticing fewer and fewer people carry umbrellas any longer when it rains - making me wonder if they think the rain washes away the virus or something. They do at least wear masks for the most part. (Although the NY Times confused me this morning when they stated you don't need to wear a mask walking about out doors. Upon careful reading - I realized they meant if you are six feet away from others. (Hard to do on a city sidewalk).
Picked up groceries at Union Court, and went to bank to deposit the check I got from the neurologist - who is thisclose to retirement. Good news? The neurologist who works with my primary care doctor and gynecologist does take my insurance. I may do all my health care with them. They are only about thirty minutes away by subway and walking. I don't have to leave Brooklyn.
Win-win.
Added bonus? They can do all my labwork and bloodwork on site. I don't have to hunt down a lab any longer. Or make separate appointments. And they were kind enough to do my lab work after hours today.
The subway ride to the doctor's was almost empty. There were about six -ten people in the whole car (it seats up to fifty) if that. Also very clean. And everyone wore masks. The subway ride home - was a bit more crowded, with about thirty people in the car, and one person without a mask. That person, as luck would have it, sat directly across from me, with about a six feet distance between us. He had a bear, was dressed poorly, and was playing with something, while holding his skateboard. He refused to put on a mask - shaking his head as if he didn't have one. When I tried to give him one of the masks I brought with me in plastic bags, he refused. I gave up and scooted as far from him as possible. So one maskless wonder sighting. Actually make that three - saw two on the sidewalk - in my area.
It's surreal riding the subways now. We have announcements to wear masks constantly. And they are so clean. And everyone is wearing the masks and sitting as far from each other as humanly possible. Also you can put a bag next to you - because you don't want anyone next to you.
Even the stations are clean. No rats. No garbage. Pristine. The MTA is doing a great job in that department.
3. New York vs. the Corona Virus
Another segment of the on-going saga of New York vs. the Corona Virus.
Per the Governor's email - which I'm posting here, because it's the only way I'll have a historical record of it.
I understand COVID fatigue—we all are tired and exhausted by this pandemic. But we can't give in to it. We can't let hospitalizations climb. Contact tracing data suggests that small indoor gatherings are a source of as much as 70 percent of infections. While I can understand why there is a desire to gather, we can't give in to it this holiday season. We have regulations in place for a compelling reason: to safeguard the public health, keep people out of hospitals and save lives.
Local governments must enforce compliance. If they don't enforce the restrictions it will not help us. But each of us needs to help too. How? It's simple: Follow health guidelines, avoid gatherings where COVID can spread and (you guessed it) wear a mask—including in all indoor settings when outside of your own household.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. There were over 10,000 positive cases yesterday. Of the 208,297 tests reported yesterday, 11,271, or 5.41 percent, were positive. The positivity rate in the micro-cluster focus areas was 7.35 percent. Excluding these areas, it was 4.79 percent. [Damn, we're back to the Spring numbers. Except we were doing less testing back then. Back then we could only do 500 tests a day, and we're guessing based on deaths and hospitalizations. Now, we are doing 208,297 tests daily - which is more than we thought would ever be possible in April. So yay team!]
2. Total hospitalizations rose to 4,222. There were 795 patients in ICU yesterday, up 12 from the previous day. Of them, 403 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 60 New Yorkers to the virus. [So, we're not quite as bad as the spring - in the spring it was so much higher. Also the deaths were higher.]
3. New York State will opt in to a federal program to vaccinate nursing home residents and staff. The state expects to have enough vaccines for one-third of high-risk health care workers, assuming the federal approval process happens on schedule. [I'm leery of the vaccine, as is basically everyone. That's going to be the biggest challenge - convincing a wary and skeptical, not to mention highly confused public to take the damn thing. Considering how much trouble they had with the flu shot...]
4. The CDC today recommended the "universal use of face masks" to fight COVID, further backing up New York's mask policies. The agency stressed the need for people to wear masks in all non-household indoor settings. As a reminder, New York State law requires everyone over age 2 who can medically tolerate a face covering to wear one when in public if unable to maintain at least six feet of distance from others. It's also an excellent practice in private settings outside of your own household. [I wear one whenever I leave my apartment, or open the door to another person. If there's a possibility, even an outside chance that I will get within one-six feet of someone, I put on the mask. The only place I feel I can safely remove it is at Greenwood Cemetery. Now that it is winter, mask wearing should be easier. It keeps your face warm and is easier to breath in cold weather.]
5. As cases across the country continue to rise, the American people need support from the federal government. Today, National Governors Association Vice Chairman Asa Hutchinson and I issued a statement calling for Congress to deliver a COVID relief bill before recessing. This is a national crisis, cutting across geographic, economic and demographic lines, and it demands a national, bipartisan solution. Congress should not leave Washington for the holiday recess without enacting a much-needed COVID relief package. Read the full statement here. [I don't foresee much happening until after January, to be honest. Why? We have a lot of vindictive libertarian assholes, who see sending relief as socialist and taking money from their greedy pockets.]
6. New York reached a testing milestone today, with 20 million COVID tests conducted to date. For context, there are about 19 million New Yorkers. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to someone positive for COVID, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location. [This is a major accomplishment. We've come a long way. In April, we thought this would be impossible. In March we could barely get 10 people tested in one day. It's also proof that many of these tests are just repeats. People getting tested multiple times. I've not been tested yet, nor has my brother or his wife, to my knowledge. My parents have and my niece has. So has Wales. I haven't because I've not been exposed to it or in a situation in which I could have legitimately been exposed. Unless you count sitting on a subway with a guy six feet away who wasn't wearing a mask or getting a doctor's exam, where everyone is wearing masks. They aren't wearing the face shields any longer, just the masks. I'm not afraid of the test - I'm just not sure I should do it unless I have a reason to, alson you have to wait in line for a while.]
Apocalypse (ἀποκάλυψις, apokálypsis) is a Greek word meaning "revelation", "an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling".
The writer seems to go with this definition in X of Swords. And threads a story that is far less violent than anticipated, and far more character driven in places, with lots of world-building going on in the background.
It took me a while to get into it - but once I did, I was impressed with the art, consistency of story-telling and the characterization for the most part.
Like in all long-running serials taken over by new writers - the writer creates new characters, who turn out to be more interesting than old ones.
Also he focuses more on them - because it's easier than trying to figure out how to write for characters that others have written for, and created, and you didn't. I will however give this team credit in that at least they aren't killing off the characters they don't want to play with at the moment - so much as letting them to do something else, it's just not on the page. Or have them play a key role - but not a major one.
I do however wish the writers like Jean and Cyclops more than Wolverine and Cable, who don't do a lot for me. But apparently, I'm in the minority on that one. I want more of Magick, Cyclops, Jean, Kate Pryde, Nightcrawler,
Rogue, Gambit, Storm and Beast, and less of Betsy, Wolverine, Xavier, Apocalypse, Sinister, and Shaw. But whatever. Sinister and Apocalypse were actually really entertaining.
Overall? A satisfying read. Much better thane expected.
2. Watched television, surfed the net, and did the doctor thing. First gynecologist visit in years. Yes, I pick a pandemic to finally see a gynecologist. I liked her. Hopefully she'll last. The last three didn't.
I've had really bad luck with gynecologists. Got the requisite blood work done - hormones, and thyroid. Because I keep sweating profusely whenever I exert myself at all physically. It's becoming annoying. Also, my last period was 85 days ago and counting.
Also ran errands in the rain. It's cold drizzle or mist. So not that bad. Just annoying. And dark now at 4:45, so not all that pleasant. There were people walking dogs (which made sense), and couples with strollers (which didn't). Neither used umbrellas. Actually very few people had umbrellas. I've been noticing fewer and fewer people carry umbrellas any longer when it rains - making me wonder if they think the rain washes away the virus or something. They do at least wear masks for the most part. (Although the NY Times confused me this morning when they stated you don't need to wear a mask walking about out doors. Upon careful reading - I realized they meant if you are six feet away from others. (Hard to do on a city sidewalk).
Picked up groceries at Union Court, and went to bank to deposit the check I got from the neurologist - who is thisclose to retirement. Good news? The neurologist who works with my primary care doctor and gynecologist does take my insurance. I may do all my health care with them. They are only about thirty minutes away by subway and walking. I don't have to leave Brooklyn.
Win-win.
Added bonus? They can do all my labwork and bloodwork on site. I don't have to hunt down a lab any longer. Or make separate appointments. And they were kind enough to do my lab work after hours today.
The subway ride to the doctor's was almost empty. There were about six -ten people in the whole car (it seats up to fifty) if that. Also very clean. And everyone wore masks. The subway ride home - was a bit more crowded, with about thirty people in the car, and one person without a mask. That person, as luck would have it, sat directly across from me, with about a six feet distance between us. He had a bear, was dressed poorly, and was playing with something, while holding his skateboard. He refused to put on a mask - shaking his head as if he didn't have one. When I tried to give him one of the masks I brought with me in plastic bags, he refused. I gave up and scooted as far from him as possible. So one maskless wonder sighting. Actually make that three - saw two on the sidewalk - in my area.
It's surreal riding the subways now. We have announcements to wear masks constantly. And they are so clean. And everyone is wearing the masks and sitting as far from each other as humanly possible. Also you can put a bag next to you - because you don't want anyone next to you.
Even the stations are clean. No rats. No garbage. Pristine. The MTA is doing a great job in that department.
3. New York vs. the Corona Virus
Another segment of the on-going saga of New York vs. the Corona Virus.
Per the Governor's email - which I'm posting here, because it's the only way I'll have a historical record of it.
I understand COVID fatigue—we all are tired and exhausted by this pandemic. But we can't give in to it. We can't let hospitalizations climb. Contact tracing data suggests that small indoor gatherings are a source of as much as 70 percent of infections. While I can understand why there is a desire to gather, we can't give in to it this holiday season. We have regulations in place for a compelling reason: to safeguard the public health, keep people out of hospitals and save lives.
Local governments must enforce compliance. If they don't enforce the restrictions it will not help us. But each of us needs to help too. How? It's simple: Follow health guidelines, avoid gatherings where COVID can spread and (you guessed it) wear a mask—including in all indoor settings when outside of your own household.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. There were over 10,000 positive cases yesterday. Of the 208,297 tests reported yesterday, 11,271, or 5.41 percent, were positive. The positivity rate in the micro-cluster focus areas was 7.35 percent. Excluding these areas, it was 4.79 percent. [Damn, we're back to the Spring numbers. Except we were doing less testing back then. Back then we could only do 500 tests a day, and we're guessing based on deaths and hospitalizations. Now, we are doing 208,297 tests daily - which is more than we thought would ever be possible in April. So yay team!]
2. Total hospitalizations rose to 4,222. There were 795 patients in ICU yesterday, up 12 from the previous day. Of them, 403 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 60 New Yorkers to the virus. [So, we're not quite as bad as the spring - in the spring it was so much higher. Also the deaths were higher.]
3. New York State will opt in to a federal program to vaccinate nursing home residents and staff. The state expects to have enough vaccines for one-third of high-risk health care workers, assuming the federal approval process happens on schedule. [I'm leery of the vaccine, as is basically everyone. That's going to be the biggest challenge - convincing a wary and skeptical, not to mention highly confused public to take the damn thing. Considering how much trouble they had with the flu shot...]
4. The CDC today recommended the "universal use of face masks" to fight COVID, further backing up New York's mask policies. The agency stressed the need for people to wear masks in all non-household indoor settings. As a reminder, New York State law requires everyone over age 2 who can medically tolerate a face covering to wear one when in public if unable to maintain at least six feet of distance from others. It's also an excellent practice in private settings outside of your own household. [I wear one whenever I leave my apartment, or open the door to another person. If there's a possibility, even an outside chance that I will get within one-six feet of someone, I put on the mask. The only place I feel I can safely remove it is at Greenwood Cemetery. Now that it is winter, mask wearing should be easier. It keeps your face warm and is easier to breath in cold weather.]
5. As cases across the country continue to rise, the American people need support from the federal government. Today, National Governors Association Vice Chairman Asa Hutchinson and I issued a statement calling for Congress to deliver a COVID relief bill before recessing. This is a national crisis, cutting across geographic, economic and demographic lines, and it demands a national, bipartisan solution. Congress should not leave Washington for the holiday recess without enacting a much-needed COVID relief package. Read the full statement here. [I don't foresee much happening until after January, to be honest. Why? We have a lot of vindictive libertarian assholes, who see sending relief as socialist and taking money from their greedy pockets.]
6. New York reached a testing milestone today, with 20 million COVID tests conducted to date. For context, there are about 19 million New Yorkers. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to someone positive for COVID, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location. [This is a major accomplishment. We've come a long way. In April, we thought this would be impossible. In March we could barely get 10 people tested in one day. It's also proof that many of these tests are just repeats. People getting tested multiple times. I've not been tested yet, nor has my brother or his wife, to my knowledge. My parents have and my niece has. So has Wales. I haven't because I've not been exposed to it or in a situation in which I could have legitimately been exposed. Unless you count sitting on a subway with a guy six feet away who wasn't wearing a mask or getting a doctor's exam, where everyone is wearing masks. They aren't wearing the face shields any longer, just the masks. I'm not afraid of the test - I'm just not sure I should do it unless I have a reason to, alson you have to wait in line for a while.]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-05 04:47 pm (UTC)I see very few umbrellas around these days, I've wondered how odd I am to still sometimes use one.