The Corona Virus Seems To Be More Intelligent Than Most Humans

Tampa Bay, Fl 
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.     

As the coronavirus tears through the population at an almost unbelievable rate, it would seem the virus itself is more intelligent than most humans.

While it may seem a bit odd to assign intelligence to a virus, you often hear the term morphing used to describe a virus as it changes overtime. So, there has to be some level of intelligence or interpretive analysis present in the virus itself to allow it to identify the necessity to change and then provide the ability to accomplish that change.

It is also interesting to note as news reports are pointing out that the virus is moving down in the population as it relates to age. While the seriousness of the infections seems to be less that may be more related to the overall health of the younger population.

Over the last few days, the state of Florida has seen infection rates exceeding 5000 per day. The positivity rate has been going up; the hospital rate of occupancy has been increasing, but the number of deaths has been relatively stable.

So here are some questions that are worthy of looking at:

1. What is the virus really up to?
2. In younger people with less serious symptoms does the virus leave anything behind?
3. What are the long-term effects of the virus on the younger generation?
4. As the coronavirus adapts, and changes will the death rate among the younger population increase?

There is work going on in these areas as some basic research has scientists looking at the data that is pouring in from all over the country, as a significant number of states see large rises in the number of cases.

A virus that thinks about how it infects and kills sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but if you take a step back and look at how the Corona virus has developed the science fiction movie model is not a bad concept.

It would seem to me that those of you, who think you're smarter than this virus or feel you are capable of surviving its effects may be making a big error. This thing seems to be a lot more adept at changing than we are capable of taking the simple steps to prevent its spread.

So, while you're out there refusing to wear a mask, crying about the intrusion on your personal freedom, ignoring the health and safety of your friends, loved ones and others you come in contact with think about this.

Right now, we have no idea about the long-term effect of this virus on the younger population. In 10, 20, 30 or 40 years from now it might really be nice when you're lying there gasping for breath in a hospital bed, and the doctor asks you did you ever have the Corona virus you can answer no.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

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The Expendable Generation

Tampa Bay, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.     

Well, it looks like Governor Ron DeSanctis Florida is throwing caution to the wind.

Governor Ron DeSanctis, “We’re not shutting down. We’re going to go forward,” he said. “You have to have society function.” 

If you are over 60 and think the Governor has your back, think again. On the important list of Coronavirus impacts, your morbidity(death) rate is right near the bottom.

Which Generation are you?

Generation Name	Births Start	Births End	Youngest Age Today*	Oldest Age Today*
The Lost Generation The Generation of 1914	1890	1915	105	130
The Interbellum Generation	1901	1913	107	119
The Greatest Generation	1910	1924	96	110
The Silent Generation	1925	1945	75	95
Baby Boomer Generation	1946	1964	56	74
Generation X (Baby Bust)	1965	1979	41	55
Xennials	1975	1985	35	45
Millennials Generation Y, Gen Next	1980	1994	26	40
iGen / Gen Z	1995	2012	8	25
Gen Alpha	2013	2025	1	7

(*age if still alive today)

 By Michael T. Robinson
Founder and Career Coach
CareerPlanner.com

It seems like the Xennials and Millennials agree and have decided that a few craft beers are worth killing off a few baby boomers.

I recently saw a report where a millennial Blogger indicated that since baby boomers constitute something less than. 1% of the population, social distancing and business shut down are not worth the effort if the sole intent is to protect the older population.

Easy to say if you are under 60.

I don't know about you, but if you happen to be a baby boomer, I'll bet you never thought you would be considered expendable by your grandchildren for a romp at the beach, a protest or a cold brew at their favorite craft brew hangout.

I used to have some significant sympathy for Xennials and Millennials and who piled up massive college debt getting degrees that don't enable them to get a job and have spent most of their lives living at their parents’ house, isolated from everything that goes on in the world other than their frequent trips to the coffee shop and the brew pub.

Not so much anymore.

This whole I don’t want to work because I don’t want anyone telling ME what to do, and the attitude that the universe owes me a place is getting to be a bit much.

The interesting thing about these new statistics is as the number of cases of coronavirus increases, the often-unreported fact is that as the case count goes up, it increases the number of people out there that can spread the virus to anyone.

What the younger generation doesn't get, it seems, is that's the way these viruses are spread.

It's also important to note that the newest increasing infection rate is actually among the very people who seemed to be the least willing to take the known steps that prevent the virus from spreading.

Viruses are fascinating things.

They seem to have a way of not only infecting their hosts but also figuring out how their host rejects them and adapting as they move from person to person. So as you congregate, protest, hoist a few and enjoy your much needed “social contact” you are creating the ideal scenario for the virus to rapidly spread,

At this rate, it may not be too long before you’re the one in the ICU hooked up to the ventilator gasping for life as your grandparents look on.

I suspect we will have more empathy for you than you have shown for us.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

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St. Pete Pride Revisited

Tampa Bay, Fl

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.     

With St. Pete Pride on hold due to the coronavirus, I thought it might be a great idea to take another look at my photo archives from past Saint Pete Pride events.

If you were at the Pride event, one of these years look through the photos, you might spot yourself or a friend.

These archives are raw photos, sometimes many frames of the same scene shot with multi exposure setting.

A word of caution, each of the links below is to an archive file containing hundreds of pictures from the event. So, unless you have a massive hard drive, you might want to think twice before you click download.

All the pictures here may be copied for your own use and enjoyment and there should be no charge. If there is, please let me know, I hope you enjoy this look at a couple of past pride events.

St. Pete Pride 2013 Pride 2013 was a rainy event, here are the pictures from my files

St. Pete Pride 2014 Pride Flag Flies over City Hall

 

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

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As cases and deaths increase Will DeSantis Start a shut down? Can He Start a new shutdown?

Tampa Bay, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.     

Things seem to be going from bad to worse. As Governor DeSanctis has opened Florida, the coronavirus seems to be taking advantage of the opportunity.

There was always the concern that starting the opening would lead to an increase in cases and COVID-19 related deaths. The worst part of that scenario seems to be playing out.

A lot of people are saying, “Well we're testing more so obviously we're going to have more cases," but more testing does not account for increasing hospitalizations and the rising death rate.

How much longer can the numbers continue to grow, how much higher can the total number of coronavirus-related deaths increase before it becomes incumbent upon the governor to take some action to slow the spread of the virus?

What's at stake practically and politically?

For some additional insight:

Motley Fool by Jeremy Bowman (TMFHobo): There Won't Be Another COVID-19 Lockdown. Here Are 3 Reasons Why

With the current political, unrest would the general population support another shutdown of Florida's economy.

How would President Trump likely react to a Governor DeSanctis decision to begin reversing the opening of Florida?

If Federal, State, County and local officials do act to protect the public from the rapid increase in cases and deaths what will you do?

As cases and deaths rise in Florida, and DeSantis continues to push forward with opening is your right to be protected from the spread of the coronavirus being considered.

Right now, there are a lot of issues on the table regarding the rights, responsibilities, and treatment of all citizens. The question is as it relates to the coronavirus is it practical for us as citizens to rely on any level of government to protect us from a viral illness? Further, to what extent should all governments at all levels be considering balancing their responsibility to public health safety and their responsibility to protect the economic viability of every community in the country? These are tough questions and virtually all our elected and appointed public officials are struggling to find appropriate answers.

In the general population, there seemed to be a lack of concern as the morbidity rate seems focused in the older age group of the population. But now as the number of cases grow and the death rate seems to be moving down in the population pool the question is will those who were more than willing not to wear masks, not practice social distancing; demand tier fights to assemble, and generally feel they weren't threatened by the coronavirus change their mind?

As politics and economics take the center stage in the coronavirus prevention issue, all of us will have to take more personal responsibility to protect ourselves and those we love from an infectious disease for which there is no cure, and the current primary form of prevention is  the management of social activity.

We can no longer count on the government at any level to have our best interest at heart when it comes to dealing with the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus. In fact, I am not really sure they ever had our interest truly at heart.

This is quite likely the most politicized pandemic in human history. And as far as I can tell politics has never really cured anything. If they decide a new partial or total shutdown is needed to protect us from rising medical crisis, I plan to support it.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

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To Cruise or Not To Cruise That is the Question

Tampa Bay, Fl 

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD

Author:  In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.     

I know there are literally thousands of you out there dying to go on your next cruise. OK poor choice of words I agree. However, there are a lot of people with a lot of pent-up demand to get back on the boat and head for the buffet line.

The cruise industry is reeling from the effects of the pandemic, and literally dozens and dozens of cruise ships are sitting empty.

Before you decide to book that next cruise with your favorite travel agent, who is probably calling you frequently, check out the information below.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel

Key Points

CDC recommends that travelers defer all cruise travel worldwide. 

• Widespread ongoing spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been reported in some countries. Other countries have reported sustained community spread.
• Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on several cruise ships.
• Cruise travelers should stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing. See Travelers Returning from Cruise Ship and River Cruise Voyages.

What can travelers do to protect themselves and others?

CDC recommends that travelers defer cruise travel worldwide. For most travelers, cruise ship travel is voluntary and should be rescheduled for a future date. If you do go on a cruise during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Do not board a cruise if you are sick.

Avoid contact with sick people.

Discuss cruise ship travel with your healthcare provider. Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease if infected with the novel coronavirus.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

If you get sick with fever or new or worsening cough or trouble breathing during your cruise, stay in your cabin and notify the onboard medical center immediately

For more information:

From USA TODAY, by Chris Woodyard and Morgan Hines: 'Inherently high-risk setting': Are cruise ships unsafe – and will they change?

The cruise industry does not have a particularly stellar reputation when it comes to dealing with highly contagious viruses on their vessels. One only has to harken back to those news reports of cruise ships infected with one virus or another and the images, tweets and Facebook posts of what were once happy cruisers vomiting over the side.

I don't see anything that encourages me that the cruise industry can anymore contain or control the coronavirus than they have been able to contain, control and prevent previous viral outbreaks on their ships.

Cruise ships are a closed environment with recirculating air with often thousands of people in close proximity and even assuming they can begin to enforce the six-foot separation rule it's highly unlikely that they will.

For now, it's probably wise to pass on the buffet, save your money and wait until a few of the ships get out there with a load of passengers and see how things go. This is especially true if you are in the high-risk category of over 65 and definitely if you have some overriding health conditions.

I know, multiple trips to the buffet with a plate stacked high are a temptation hard to resist. But a long stay in a hospital hooked up to a respirator is just not a buffet.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

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