Researchers found several mutated strains of 武漢病毒 (SARS-CoV-2) since the start of the epidemic. It appeared that the earlier strain in 武漢 infected only Caucasian. The outbreak in 武漢 started after the virus had mutated to infect Asian population. The epidemic spread to Europe before reaching the U.S. and became a global pandemic that raged across the world for months to come. It showed that how nature always finds a way. Even a virus can find a way to maximize its own survivor rate.
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With the world on working from home mode, we are doing more video conferences and need the ability to take notes with all the meetings we are conducting. An automated captioning system like Otter.ai can help create captions and taking meeting notes at real time. Such a system can be useful when we need to mute a conference, or give a hearing impaired participant ability to “listen in” visually. It can also help create asynchronous meetings where other participants can read the transcripts at their leisure.
Reopen
As the world is getting tired of shelter in place and pushing for reopening, what are the measures we should consider to put us on the path to recovery? All this attention with the number of confirmed case seems that we only care about the acceptable fatality rate. As if, it would all be fine as long as the fatality rate is low enough, not caring about the life already lost.
Herd
Weird dream. Trying to create herd immunity on an island started with a single infected patient.
So, exactly what is herd immunity and how does it work. In summary, it means in a closed system, the majority of the inhabitants are immune from a sickness which prevented the sickness from spreading across the entire population. Here, majority means 90 to 95% of the total population.
The immunity are achieved by nature cause or vaccination. That is, without vaccinations, immunity can be result of anti-body from existing immune system or generated by host body after getting infected. In any case, the immunity may or may not be permanent, thus why certain vaccines need to be administered once every few years.
Referencese
Truth in Knowledge
Reading Home Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari recently. Harari postulated that knowledge which does not change behavior is useless. But knowledge that changes behavior quickly loses its relevance. The more data we have and the better we understand history, the faster history alters its course, and the faster our knowledge becomes outdated.
Which leads to the need for the pursuit of truth, or the approach to the truth. If we change our behavior according to false information the outcome can be detrimental. At the same time, perhaps letting some people follow the false information is a way to approach the truth by weeding out the false information.
Low Density
Over the last few years, many companies are pushing for high density work space. Cubicles and offices have been torn down in favor of open floor plan. Large conference rooms were converted into smaller meeting rooms or just phone booths. As we reopen the work place after COVID-19, we are asking people to keep 2m (6ft) apart, which is complete opposite of such design. How will we do that? How about public transportation? Will society be encouraged to go back to driving, reversing the push for public transportation?
A New Beginning
Watched I am legend again last night. Noticed there is an alternate ending of the movie. Did a little research and realized that the book actually has a complete different ending and Dr. Robert Neville is a very different character in the book. Added the book to my Audible library, will have to read it next time.
Last week recruiters started calling and setting up interviews. Opportunities that were put on hold before started to pick up again. Finally people begin to accept that this will go on for a while and we need to take the situation as is and move forward. Jut like any business opportunity, the early adaptors will win out and take the leave in the new order.
The society and way of life as we know now, or rather, before COVID-19, has ended. This is a new beginning.
Apocalypse Now
Saw high winds, rain storms, hail and snow, one after the other all within the hour. It’s like the end of days scene in an apocalyptic movie. Given what’s going on now, it felt even more real. Still, it is just typical Chicago spring weather.
House Routine
Although we are all staying at home, under the same roof, yet we are all still following our own routines. Almost like we are in parallel universes, occupying the same space, but never intersect with each other. Except when we come together for dinner every night.
From 1 to 10
How are you feeling today? Any one feeling the cabin fever? It is ever more important during this time to reach out to our family and friends to check in on them, see how they are doing. Listen to the subtle hints of stress or depression. Lean on each other (virtually).