Last Updated on: 22nd March 2020, 10:01 am
This stupid Coronavirus is ruining all the things. I’m supposed to be getting on a plane to CSUN on Tuesday morning…but am I? Hell nooo! It’s not because I’m afraid of the virus per se. I’m afraid of getting stuck somewhere for an unplanned extended stay because of the virus. I have several prescriptions that, if I suddenly came off them, would probably screw me up extra good, and some of them would be a bit hard to carry two extra weeks of them on a trip. So to play it safe, I’ll be staying right here.
I don’t remember another virus sending everyone into such a tailspin. Do I have a short memory? When SARS happened, I remember there were screening procedures if you were traveling or going into an ER or whatever, but I don’t remember everyone acting like it was the end times. Is it all social media’s fault? Is it the fact that there seem to be so many more mixed messages with this one? Is it both? What is it?
But at least while we’re all busy worrying about how long to wash our hands, we can sing good songs while doing it.
This brings us to another episode of I feel old. I could sing the songs recommended from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s or 90’s, but don’t ask me to sing the recommended songs from the 2000’s and the 2010’s. I’m vaguely aware of them, but I don’t know them.
This is how I felt a few weeks ago when Brad was at our place and we played Song Quiz. I know it says it’s an Alexa thing, but it’s for Google and the iPhone too. Anyway, we all did pretty well at anything before 2000. After that, we all totally suuuucked!
One more random tangent before I get out of here. Someone said a little while ago that You can sing Covid-19 to the tune of Come On Eileen…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC1vtG3oyqg
You can! Now that song is ruined for you all.
So, if you’re stuck at home sneezing your head off with some cold that may or may not be the Coronavirus, you can at least have fun guessing and singing songs I suppose.
I do remember being annoyed by all of the SARS coverage, but this does seem worse. I’m sure social media is to blame to some degree. Back then there was no Twitter or Facebook. the misinformation and silliness still could spread quickly, but not like it does now. But I don’t think we’re being served well by the reliable news coverage, either. In one breath we’re hearing “ohmygod it’s spreading here and here and here and here and here and here and everybody’s getting it and it’s only a matter of time before you get it too,” but then they’ll have an expert on and that guy is just like “yeah, it’s spreading quickly and it’s going to be tough to contain, but if you aren’t a disgusting, dirty pig you’ll be fine.” Makes it hard to know what to think. I know part of that is because nobody truly knows what we’re supposed to think, but it would be great if we could sort out the messaging here and maybe be a little less alarmist. Like there are news outlets that have fucking Coronavirus newsletters you can sign up for now. Do we really need that? No, we do not.
I’ll amend my comment from the other day. Now that the world is rapidly shutting down and there are important developments that non-crazy people might want to keep up with, you can have your Coronavirus newsletter.