by Carl Ballard — ,
King County is in Phase Two of the coronavirus response. The link has what various types of businesses can do. I am still pretty nervous about any indoor gathering for the foreseeable future. Like, you’re only as safe as the worst person around. And card rooms seem particularly no good. Ick.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Man, I don’t know if it’s just me getting older or something to do with the quarantine, but I am not sleeping well at all. I am still going to sleep and getting up at the same time as before. But now I am just exhausted all the time.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Washington. It seems like this is to do with Memorial Day. Grand reopening maybe grand reclosing.
I don’t know if we’ll see future spikes based on the protests. It being outside, with masks, and in some cases spaced out, mitigates the spread. But big crowds and not always being able to keep distance isn’t great. I assume that we would have started hearing about cases if they were happening in large numbers.
Anyway, stay safe and wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
by Carl Ballard — ,
Seattle, COVID-19 testing is available and free. There are locations in SoDo and Aurora Avenue North. If you are showing symptoms or have been exposed to someone with coronavirus (including having been at the crowded protests) you can sign up.
In any case, please wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
by Carl Ballard — ,
I am glad that Tacoma is taking the death of Manuel Ellis at the hands of a Tacoma police officer seriously. It seems to have taken a video (and the work of many people on the ground). Still I hope his family and community get some kind of justice.
And please wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
The other day, a helicopter was circling over my neighborhood. It was during the day, and not particularly close to any protest that I was aware of. The urban core has more helicopters since the George Floyd murder.
Anyway, a crow that lives in one of the trees near my apartment and that crow was not having it. It stayed cawing at the helicopter for like an hour. Wir wir wir. Caw caw caw. Going to protest kind of feels like being that crow. It may or may not be making a difference, but it would be worse to say nothing.
This isn’t a great metaphor, but it would be great if you wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Dear Mayor Durkan (cc Chief Best),
While I have many problems with the police response to the protests over the weekend, this email is about one aspect. I read with horror about the rifles that briefly went missing on Saturday. Shame on the city for bringing rifles to a protest.
Were the police planning on getting into a shootout with protesters? However much property damage and calamity there may have been, there is no situation where having rifles is an improvement. It is horrible policy on its own. It is also bad symbolism at a protest of deadly police violence. I urge you to not bring rifles to future civilian protests.
Thank You
Carl Ballard
(Not included in the letter, wash your hands right now.)
by Carl Ballard — ,
A few months after the initial need, this week the stimulus package finally got help to me. The stimulus check arrived. And, more important to me, the company I work for finally had its PPP loan approved. So that’s good.
It is still frustrating. These things should have happened sooner. I have enough savings and if worst came to worst, I could have moved in with family. So the delay wasn’t bad for me (except for the stress of not knowing about my job) but it really should have been faster for people who needed it right away.
Anyway, go wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
by Carl Ballard — ,
Good for AG Ferguson for getting 2 gyms to close during the stay home order. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine a worse place to choose to be than at the gym right now. Can’t wait to share equipment with people who are heavily breathing, indoors, and depending on the layout maybe impossible to social distance. One of the gyms says that it’s taking precautions, but still ick.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Ti’s very dispiriting that Washington state has hit 1000 confirmed coronavirus dead. Social distancing and hand washing have slowed down the spread. But still, here we are. It’s better than if it had happened weeks or a month ago.
Anyway wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Now that Darryl is doing the polling analysis, I want to remind you that you are a participant in the system. and family. Seeing the polls can make the election seem like it’s a force of nature. But the good news is that you can make a difference. You can donate. You can make calls. You can write about the candidates online or a letter to the editor. Send a postcard to a voter. Talk to your friends.
You are also a participant in washing your hands so wash them right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
King County’s directive for mask wearing goes into effect on May 18. But if you can, please start wearing masks before that. You can help make the community safer.
As a Downtown resident, I find it somewhat amusing that “outdoors where social distancing is difficult” is district from “outdoors.” There are a lot of people outside regardless.
Anyway, please wash your hands right now.
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