(no subject)

1. Just got directive from the head honchos at Crazy-Workplace, the March 15th order for all non-essential workers to work at home, is still in effect until further notice and has not been rescinded. This doesn't surprise me at all. I looked at the plan, and my workplace and my home are in the areas that have only met 4 out of 7 of the criteria and the hardest hit. I'm not kidding when I tell you that I'm reporting from epidemic central.

This has relieved my anxiety tremendously. I don't want to go back to the office until there are 0 new cases, and 0 new deaths. I'm playing the doctor appointment by ear - that's not until June 16, about a month away.

2. Bit of interesting gossip...

* Apparently Amanda Palmer informed her followers on Patreon that she had separated from Neil Gaiman and that he'd returned to the UK, leaving her and Ash in New Zealand, without telling him

* Apparently it was an open marriage and not a monogamous one - which Amanda Palmer openly talked about in various publications

* Gaiman apparently was not pleased she told everyone without informing him first - and provided a snarky reply on Twitter

Then... Neil Gaiman claims his account on Good Reads was hacked to diss Palmer - "On Saturday, Gaiman's Goodreads account indicated he was reading a book by the title Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder in what could clearly be read as a diss at Palmer. It was just last Sunday that Palmer announced on Patreon that the couple were separated. "

I believe him - it was definitely hacked. Gaiman is a very quiet and private person who rarely if ever says an unkind word to anyone. So I can't imagine him doing that, but I can imagine quite a few other people doing it.

Neil reminds me a little bit of Crowley in Good Omens. And I can't help but think sometimes, his one true love was Terry Prachett, his close friend and writing partner.

As an aside? I adore Neil, Palmer makes me twitchy.

3. What Shakespeare Actually Wrote About the Plague?

( excerpt )

I didn't know that William Shakespeare lived his entire life in the shadow of the bubonic plague - it kind of explains a lot.

Also, they kind of employed the same practices we are now - social distancing, trace gathering, and data collecting.

4. General Hospital is about to run out of episodes. It's last episode airs on May 22. After that date it will be airing old Nurses Ball episodes from 2014-2015 - the performances.

Then...who knows. Apparently taping is not slated to begin again until September. And they'll do only two to three scenes at a time, with less actors present - maybe two or three people in a scene if that. And less crowd scenes or large groups. Also the Nurse's ball will be done differently - without an audience.

I have a feeling in the post-COVID world, until a cure is found, we're not going to be seeing much sex or kissing on television and movies, or physical contact. Also, films may be smaller, as will television shows.

They are already experimenting. Roundabout Theater Company in NY is doing online plays - that are filmed and done remotely, also entertaining small video plays from students. And a lot of documentaries are being filmed - because you can do that remotely as well.

It's a brave new world we're entering into. I'm trying not to worry too much. Because I don't drive - I'm terrified that I'll get stuck. But as my mother put it - they can't ground planes and they haven't - there are other people who have to fly to get to one place or another. And still are flying. (Very true.)