David, I wholeheartedly agree. I don't think I ever did online ordering/curbside pickup for grocery shopping before the pandemic. But I don't think that I'll ever go back to the old way. It saves much time strolling the aisles and waiting in line, by ordering what you want online, and then have store employees loaded it into the trunk of your car. If the store couldn't fulfill an item due to them being out of stock, then I shop in person for those few things that were out. Being able to do online then curbside for restaurants is nice too. The orders tend to be more accurate than going there, and having someone misinterpret what I verbally said giving my order to them, and getting the wrong things.
And I think the new normal of washing and sanitizing hands is a nice reassurance for those of us who eat at fast food/fast casual restaurants. I always kind of wondered if the youngsters working there washed and sanitized their hands as well as they should. So this renewed emphasis on sanitization is a win-win.
And it's interesting how you mentioned about Asian travelers wearing masks during SARS of 2003. Mask wearing is very much ingrained in their practices. During my trips to Korea, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, and Japan over the past years during late fall/early winter, many people would wear masks as a preventive measure during flu season or whenever they feel their health circumstances warranted it. Sanitization and general cleanliness are also so ingrained in their culture, and I really admire that. Their hotels are immaculate, and I never had to complain about a dirty hotel room there. Hotels here in the US and to some extent in Europe are more hit or miss, but they don't seem as immaculate as the ones over in Asia, generally speaking.
So yes, this "new normal" is one of the silver linings of the pandemic. We are indeed blessed to live in an era where technology makes all this possible.
Speaking as someone on the "inside" of the plexiglass partitions, I hope they do go away. They make it difficult to put your groceries on the belt or counter, they're awkward to clean (or clean around), and they don't stop whatever contact risks we had to take before. They're just in the way.
Leaning on technology to remotely do just about everything will be here to stay. Particularly how we work and what is considered leisure. Corporations will see they can do many activities remote with good result and lower expense. Additionally remote employees will always be at work and sometimes not quite working. It will be an interesting trend to watch.
You forgot the best, the very best outcome of the pandemic induced improvements David. We had the greatest turnout of voters in our country's history. Both parties drew record numbers as states adjusted and relaxed laws helping voters engage and become involved in the process of governance like never before.
But wait, there's more. It worked so well, that one of the parties decided that it worked too good. Who the hell wants voters to make that choice? Why would we want a system that encouraged people to vote? Mail ballots; outrageous. Drop boxes; horrible. Expanded voting hours; shameful. Accepting election outcomes; not in this lifetime. That darned pandemic was all just a hoax, a sham to steal the election.
The irony of it all is almost too much for the human brain to endure, to comprehend. Clearly we as a country made the most of a truly ugly situation. We lost way too many people but as you point out there will be some good come from it. Sadly, as republicans across the red states change voting laws making it more difficult to vote, the best thing that came from it will be flushed down the drain by those who hate the democratic process. What a sad freaking commentary.
David, I wholeheartedly agree. I don't think I ever did online ordering/curbside pickup for grocery shopping before the pandemic. But I don't think that I'll ever go back to the old way. It saves much time strolling the aisles and waiting in line, by ordering what you want online, and then have store employees loaded it into the trunk of your car. If the store couldn't fulfill an item due to them being out of stock, then I shop in person for those few things that were out. Being able to do online then curbside for restaurants is nice too. The orders tend to be more accurate than going there, and having someone misinterpret what I verbally said giving my order to them, and getting the wrong things.
And I think the new normal of washing and sanitizing hands is a nice reassurance for those of us who eat at fast food/fast casual restaurants. I always kind of wondered if the youngsters working there washed and sanitized their hands as well as they should. So this renewed emphasis on sanitization is a win-win.
And it's interesting how you mentioned about Asian travelers wearing masks during SARS of 2003. Mask wearing is very much ingrained in their practices. During my trips to Korea, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, and Japan over the past years during late fall/early winter, many people would wear masks as a preventive measure during flu season or whenever they feel their health circumstances warranted it. Sanitization and general cleanliness are also so ingrained in their culture, and I really admire that. Their hotels are immaculate, and I never had to complain about a dirty hotel room there. Hotels here in the US and to some extent in Europe are more hit or miss, but they don't seem as immaculate as the ones over in Asia, generally speaking.
So yes, this "new normal" is one of the silver linings of the pandemic. We are indeed blessed to live in an era where technology makes all this possible.
Speaking as someone on the "inside" of the plexiglass partitions, I hope they do go away. They make it difficult to put your groceries on the belt or counter, they're awkward to clean (or clean around), and they don't stop whatever contact risks we had to take before. They're just in the way.
Leaning on technology to remotely do just about everything will be here to stay. Particularly how we work and what is considered leisure. Corporations will see they can do many activities remote with good result and lower expense. Additionally remote employees will always be at work and sometimes not quite working. It will be an interesting trend to watch.
You forgot the best, the very best outcome of the pandemic induced improvements David. We had the greatest turnout of voters in our country's history. Both parties drew record numbers as states adjusted and relaxed laws helping voters engage and become involved in the process of governance like never before.
But wait, there's more. It worked so well, that one of the parties decided that it worked too good. Who the hell wants voters to make that choice? Why would we want a system that encouraged people to vote? Mail ballots; outrageous. Drop boxes; horrible. Expanded voting hours; shameful. Accepting election outcomes; not in this lifetime. That darned pandemic was all just a hoax, a sham to steal the election.
The irony of it all is almost too much for the human brain to endure, to comprehend. Clearly we as a country made the most of a truly ugly situation. We lost way too many people but as you point out there will be some good come from it. Sadly, as republicans across the red states change voting laws making it more difficult to vote, the best thing that came from it will be flushed down the drain by those who hate the democratic process. What a sad freaking commentary.