4/9/20 the law of unintended consequences...
12So. I live on a moderately busy road that heads out of our little town and goes to another road that goes to a popular string of 2 lakes locally. The public lake accesses/beaches have been ‘closed’ much like the Gulf beaches, and besides, there is a stay at home order. Over the past week or so we have had a lot less traffic on my road, and much less boat/trailer traffic. As a consequence, I am noticing a dramatic drop in the amount of litter/trash that is ending up on the roadside in front of my house. I am not sure if that is due to less people tossing shit out the window or less crap blowing out of pickups and boats on trailers. Either way I am happy with the outcome.
How about you? Have you found any silver linings brought on by COVID-19 rules and regs?
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awww come on… you’re not even trying…!
/giphy whine
I live half a block from an elementary school, so my mornings are quieter and my grass is filling in with no little feet tromping back and forth across it.
Also, in the past 2 weeks since the order came down, the drug idiots have only had one 3am round of gunfire.
@sarahsandroid bravo!
@sarahsandroid Odd, the rednecks in my area have really stepped up the gunfire. It’s okay, mostly just shooting up old tin cans out back. Also, they have burned through the leftover New Year Day fireworks. Glad I have fast internet.
The traffic reporter on the local news radio station has taken to talking about how the sky looks in the morning, upcoming celestial events we’ll see because of the clearer air, and, because she’s working from home, what her dog is doing.
When I do go out on my essential trips, it’s refreshing how nice and cooperative people are being - giving up the last roll of paper towels to a young mother, cleaning the handle on the shopping cart before they hand it off to you, and we’ve all learned to smile and communicate with our eyes.
@chienfou and yes, the sides of the roads are much cleaner without all the trashy tourists (and trashy locals) at the beaches.
My morning commute takes about 5 minutes less with the volume of traffic down. And, better parking at work!
Finally getting the clearance to WFH one day a week, to reduce crowding. Have to coordinate, as we need at least one engineer each shift (of two shifts) on hand at all times. Parking is easy though. Traffic is lower. There was a run on International Delights coffee creamer, but not Coffee Mate. Puzzling.
https://themindunleashed.com/2020/04/himalayas-visible-for-first-time-in-30-years-as-india-lockdown-sees-stunning-drop-in-pollution.html
@blaineg That is pretty amazing!! Gosh I’d love to see those mountains in person, walk to base camp…
Once I was in Riverside, CA at a carillon conference. Went to bed. It rained overnight. In the morning there were mountains visible!!! I hadn’t realized there were mountains around there. Brought home to me just how bad air pollution was around there.
@blaineg @Kidsandliz I think the pollution in southern california is probably a lot better than it used to be. The problem is the right weather conditions can trap all pollution and dust for weeks at a time. I think most of the time you can see the mountains now, but my understanding is back in the 70s, you probably rarely could.
Riverside County (which is east of LA County) is a bit of a special case, as there are mountains directly east of it which creates a “bowl effect” and traps the pollution/smog/haze there**.
Much of the rest of SoCal doesn’t have that issue.
(** - This is what I’ve been told. I’m not an expert by any means.)
@kevinrs @haydesigner Any valley traps the pollution, hence the air quality is better in OC versus the IE, or how downtown LA has better air quality that the San Gabriel Valley just to the east or the San Fernando Valley to the north.
California’s topography is unique, hence why we’ve had stricter air quality standards for decades – and it has worked. I remember the days growing up in which playing outside was disallowed because the air quality was so bad.
@haydesigner @kevinrs @narfcake The Salt Lake valley is infamous for pollution trapping inversions. Many times in winter the valley floor (4000-4500 feet) is sub-freezing and Park City is in the 40’s. It’s hazy and gray, and the mountains that are right next to us disappear. But you get above 6000 feet or so and there’s clear air and beautiful sunshine.
@haydesigner @kevinrs @narfcake The first year my stepdaughter came over from England (in winter) they told us they didn’t believe we had mountains, since they couldn’t see them!
Then we got a storm and poof! Clear air and mountains all around us.
Bonus for me: sassed the husband last week and his reply: “You’re lucky I can’t shove you out in traffic.”
/image no traffic
I’m loving working from home and having the two hours/day I used to spend commuting available for myself. I took my car out for a couple mile drive on Sunday because I hadn’t driven for 3 weeks and I wanted to circulate the fluids and keep the battery charged.
@macromeh
No matter what @shahnm says don’t keep it in the fridge…
@chienfou @macromeh If you kept it in the fridge, it would stay fresh and charged. Not sure what kind of monster speaks out against that…
@chienfou @macromeh @shahnm Just put the whole car in the fridge.
@blaineg @chienfou @macromeh That would take up too much space, and where would the other batteries go?!? I’m trying to be rational here, with real-world practical solutions to the most pressing and important issue we face today as a society. Please, no more silly comments. Thank you.
@chienfou @macromeh @shahnm
You must have confused me with someone else.
@blaineg what???
@blaineg @chienfou @macromeh I rest my case.
@shahnm
/giphy so confused
@blaineg @chienfou @macromeh @shahnm The other batteries could be loaded into the trunk, the car interior… Problem solved. You’re welcome!
@blaineg @chienfou @Kidsandliz @macromeh Seems like a lot of work… But still, I like the ingenuity. Really thinking inside the box. (the ice box…)…
Lemons? Demand to see life’s manager!