weatherwiz

Where things are really getting out of control is India...pretty ugly there.

This! This is a fantastic point and something not talked about often. But that is a huge problem. Some of these tests out there are extremely sensitive and result in false positives. A month or two ago, I was listening to a doctor on the radio (or maybe it was something I read from a doctor), but they were explaining that some of these tests are so sensitive they are returning false positives. Something to the idea that even if they hint at a trace of the virus it comes back positive...which can be very misleading. There is a difference between having traces of virus in you and having levels high enough to exhibit symptoms and be able to spread. Our bodies are constantly being attacked by viruses daily...I'm sure if we got tested daily for something the majority of us would test positive for something. But this goes to say...how many of these daily cases are actually anything? Let's look at sports for example...outside of the Vancouver Canucks situation (which they are the culprit of the Brazilian variant) look how many athletes have tested positive and never exhibited symptoms (now that's not to say they can't spread it) or it turned out they were false positives. Now thing of the population size of athletes vs. the entire country. This is certainly key...and with this...it is a little on the concerning side to see hospitalizations continue to increase across many states...even serious/critical conditions numbers have risen. Hell, even here in Connecticut, we have seen a daily increase just about every day over the past 3-weeks...maybe 2 or 3 days where the number dropped.

Swayman has looked very sharp in his two games. Hopefully he can bring some stability in net until Rask comes back (assuming he can remain healthy). I wish data was more widely available (or easily available) for each state where you could see what age brackets are driving numbers...I'm sure that data is available but would require a quite a bit of "research". But...I guess my point was, while there has been an uptick, it's really several states driving it and I think many of those states are also "behind" with the vaccine rollout (with exception of maybe NY).

I absolutely agree with this. Another big challenge we face too is how long "immunity" lasts and it's because it varies from individual-to-individual (speaking about those who have had COVID). With the vaccines that information is unclear as well, but the idea seems to be upwards of 6-months (at least for Moderna). What's really hurting things too I think is there is no consistency in vaccine rollout or guidelines in terms of who's eligible across the country...it's different from state-to-state. I'm kinda stunned here in CT we've been hovering between 3-5% positivity rate and for the most part have seen an uptick in hospitalizations despite our impressive rollout. I think what should have happened for rollout was 1) Do 65+ plus essential healthcare, school teachers, or most at risk 2) Then do 16-30 since that age group seems to be responsible for the majority of spread. This next month will really tell us everything...if we really don't see a significant drop off by mid-May...then something isn't right. Hopefully some boosters will be created which can help with some of the newer variants which seem to be driving things

While daily cases overall have been trending upwards it's literally like 3-5 states responsible for this. For example, yesterday's totals case numbers the top 3 states accounted for about 32% of that number while the top 5 accounted for 43%. But I agree...that variant (perhaps others) are definitely taking charge right now and it's literally a race against time getting people vaccinated. Anyways, the IHME model had been suggesting we see a bit of a spike from like the end of March through mid-to-late April with a rapid decline afterwards...even more rapid then the last decline we saw and this pretty much becoming minor moving through the second half of spring.

I would certainly love to chase a hurricane some day...but after almost dying with Earl I may re-think that lol.

I thought the best part of working from home last summer was going to be easier storm chasing...especially living a 2 minute drive from BDL...BUT WE DIDN'T GET CRAP last summer for thunderstorms outside of the mid-August event. It was a very disappointing summer last year in terms of convection here. That was the only reason I loved working 6-3...I could get done working in time to chase...but we couldn't get crap.

The studies that are going to continue coming out about working from home are going to be extremely interesting. I certainly see alot of positives to be able to work from home...hell, I forget when it was (maybe early summer) but in my hour lunch break I took a shower, got blood drawn for a blood test, and got lunch all in 50 minutes. But to work from home on a permanent basis...IDK. I don't think I could do it or would like it...but I'm sure there are people who absolutely love it.

I know people who have kids and don't like working from home either

I absolutely would love to do that...wake up an hour before work, eat a nice solid breakfast, do a few other things but just too exhausted. I'm currently in the process of finding a primary care doctor b/c it's been so long but I sleep like dog crap at night...wake up every few hours. Sometimes I fall back to sleep right away but then other times I'll wake up like 3:30 AM wide awake and then I fall asleep like an hour before it's time to get up. I always wake up more exhausted then when I go to sleep. When I work at home now I usually get up like 7:50 and when I go in around 6:10. I think when I move closer to work that will help a ton.

I absolutely HATE working from home. Sure there are perks but it freaking blows. I first started working from home Wednesday, March 18, 2020. I found out I may had been exposed to someone with COVID so I immediately notified our HR and then went home thinking I would be working from home for two weeks. Well my job made plans to get as many people remote as possible. At first I loved it...I was working 6-3 and was waking up like 4:15 AM...that was brutal. I had zero energy after work to do anything and weekends I was dead. I got to sleep until 5:45...not to mention all the gas I was saving plus miles on the car. Well...two weeks turned into 4 months...after a couple months I just started to despise it. Finally sometime in July I had started doing one week in the office and one week at home (still currently on that schedule). Sometime in late fall I switched hours and do 8-5 instead of 6-3. But I don't get how people could want to just work from home forever...at least for me I think it lead to me slipping into depression. Waking up like 15-minutes before work, going from the bed to desk, taking a shower during lunch break, then after works shift ends...just pure boredom. Thankfully now the weather is nicer and things are opening but holy crap was winter depressing...plus my gf breaking up with me at the end of October. It was just work, then stare at my walls and I would just go to bed like 8 PM. It's nice to have the luxury of working from home when needed but to do it consistently...I want to rip my head off. I don't know how or why people would want that.

Yeah it's hard to gauge. When my friend got her second dose back in January she woke up in the middle of the night with a fever, chills, and a horrible headache and all of this lasted for like 8-10 hours. She is also quite positive she had COVID (right near when this all started) b/c for a few weeks she couldn't smell or taste (this was really before testing got cranking) and I know there is some indications that if you've already had COVID and get vaccinated the side effects could be enhanced a bit. Another friend felt like crap for a day and I've known a few others who were like knocked out for a few days and then others who barely had anything.

Well almost 29-hours since the first shot...very minor side effects really. Arm got sore through the day yesterday and became quite sore during the evening and overnight but the soreness has really gone down since this morning. I did get this crazy brief spell of fatigue yesterday afternoon like around 3:30...laid down for about 30 minutes and was fine after that. Felt a little nauseous at times (especially earlier in the morning) but not bad! I am anticipating some harsher side effects from the second shot. Has anyone here gotten the second dose of Pfizier yet? If so, did you experience symptoms? From the several I know the signals have been very mixed. I don't care about the side effects, just planning ahead for work purposes as to whether I should take a day off or just plan to work from home.

hmmm that's strange. My friend is a pharmacy tech at a Walgreens and said Walgreens only is dealing with the Pfizier one. Maybe it depends on district?

You can kinda "choose" which shot you want. For example, if you want Pfizier and have your heart set on Pfizier...then work on getting an appointment with Walgreens b/c they only deal with the Pfizier vaccine. On the VAMS site I think it also states which vaccines each location has so you can look for one that only deals with whatever one you're interested in.

16+

hmmm was going to drink my usual beer or two during the Bruins game tonight.

I hope we aren't this dry come May, June, and July

Not surprised at this...had been some decent signals for this dating back to last week.

That's exactly what I was thinking when they told me actually

Got mine at Waterbury Health Center. Process really couldn't have been easier. As soon as I neared the parking garage there was signs directing where to park and signs within the parking garage of where to park. Then they had signs leading into the facility and it was all set up for perfect social distancing. Walked right in, gave them my license, then they directed me where to go. It was a pretty large clinic with at least 15-20 vaccine stations. Waited maybe one minute then they told me which station to go to, they reviewed information and asked a few questions then boom...shot done. Didn't even feel a thing. Went to the next station where they scheduled the second shot and then went into the observation room for 15-minutes and was on my merry way. Biggest stressor was nearly running out of gas...forgot to get gas the other day and while I had enough to get from Windsor Locks to Waterbury, I certainly didn't have enough to get back home...or very far. Made it to a gas station with 7 or 8 miles on the range

Just got my first dose of Pfizer!!! Second dose scheduled for April 27

Might see potential for a few strong tornadoes again later in the week across MS/AL...they can't catch a break

there was a quite a bit of sun in Branford earlier but cloudy now and freaking cold

That continues to be one heck of a NAO block that develops moving through the upcoming week with AO tanking too. Probably see a snow threat for the interior at some point.