50++ years on, I still get reminders–more and more often of late, as bones age–of the first lesson of horses:
Watch your feet.
Petty Gripes
Trimmed my beard to be what is now called a “circle beard” (a term unknown to this 50-year beard wearer until recently) to better accommodate proper fitment of a respirator*. #gagamaggot Means shaving daily, a task I abhor.
Oh, well. At least what remains of my beard easily accommodates my “scary mask,” now. *heh* (That’s the name given to one of my respirator frames by my Wonder Woman.)
(Yes, the pic was converted to grayscale and deliberately blurred. So? *heh*)
Why Is That?
I know a lot of folks for whom the statement, “I am a sinner” would not be at all offensive, and even viewed by some as a laudable admission, but who would find the statement, “I am an asshole” to be extremely offensive.
Frankly, I don’t get it.
Thanks for the Heads Up
Among other mind-boggling abortions of English literacy in a recently-read screed (including apostrophe abuses/neglects, comma splices, inexplicable “grammar” and syntax, & etc.) was this laughable phrase: “vest interest” (instead of “vested interest”) –attached to a comment that also had no basis in fact, of course.
I appreciated the writer going to such great lengths to let me know his opinion was worthless, so that I could forever after avoid his stupidity. Very helpful.
A Lil “Not-an-Experiment” Quasi-Semi-Sorta Experiment
No protocols for measurement of results, just a combination of procedures from different well-designed-and-conducted (IMO) experiments as presented in several papers downloaded from PubMed, as well as info posted directly on CDC site (no link here; anyone who’d “smarter than a third grader” can find the info for themselves with a simple web search. Not gonna hold hands and be “internet crossing guard” for adults):
Took a used disposable N-95 and (per CDC) subjected it to 170°F temps for 20 minutes (CDC says 165 for 15 mins), after having soaked it in a solution comprised of 75% ethanol, 25% concentrate of a medical-grade disinfectant (compatible with ethanol) that remains after ethanol evaporates.
Stored in disinfected (with above ethanol solution) vacuum sealed bag for use as filtration media–in place of HEPA filtration media-as supplementary filtration in a simple two-layer cloth mask that has the exterior treated with a hydrophobic compound to resist moisture (“droplets” anyone?)
This will be a very slight step down from the HEPA filtration media. . . but is plenty for allergy season. 🙂
N.B. Will also be just fine for wearing into those stores that “can’t” stay open w/o “masked bandits” for customers.
Sense Amid All the Nonsense About COVID-19
Just a couple of observations from my own amateur reading of research papers from PubMed, et al. . .
The severity of illness from a virus depends, to a VERY great extent, on how many viral particles one is exposed to at any one time. A large number of viral particles accumulated over a short period of time usually results in a more severe illness, while a small number of viral particles accumulated over a long period of time usually results in a much less severe illness, often with few or no symptoms expressed at all, with an immune system then able to ward off future infections by that virus.
This is why lowering viral load and spreading that lower viral load out over time is a more sensible strategy than foolishly attempting absolute prevention of infection by a virus (which is impossible unless one LIVES in a Level 4 biohazard lab, with absolutely NO infectious agents present–even in yourself).
Ineffable Mysteries
Among life’s ineffable mysteries: The Pet Shop Boys have apparently sold more than 100 million records. *mind blown* 
Words fail.
How can anyone want to even live in a world where that is possible?
Ah, but life is a constant struggle against the absurd, isn’t it?
Perhaps this question is one for theology to address. . .
Commercial Nonsense
“I’m Jimmy Dean, and I wish I could tell you how I feel about a mornin’ like this.”
I wish you could, too, Jimmy, BUT YOU ARE DEAD.
A Proper Response to Improper Behavior (From 2016)
Calling all septic tank trucks (for use on rioters and looters?)!
Makes me smile. Those “protesters” were trespassing on private property and had refused to leave. This sort of thing is a Very Good response, where “proper warning shots” are not used.
Filed Under: “Things I Did Not Know. . . Until Now”
Just picked up a free ebook on “German cuisine.” I did not know that was a thing. . . *heh*