CoViD-19: Awkward. | Social Distancing Etiquette | Stay Home | Safe Groceries

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park celebrated the hatching of a lappet-faced vulture (photo taken 11.11.2019)

I am in quite a pickle. This morning I got a text message from a guy I know. I say that loosely. In reality, he's a person from a band I saw play one time probably 15 years ago, we had a little flirtation and kissed and that was that. We're 'friends' on social media and I still enjoy his music and have shared some of his projects over the years. The end. But today I got a group text message from him and I wasn't really sure it was intended for me. It specifically said "Rosie," (though the misspelling wasn't a red flag on its own,) but then he wanted some advice on a new project and called me and it became abundantly clear that he probably has the wrong person. But now what do I do? Text back? "Hey, I know we had a full on phone conversation this morning but I think you think I'm someone else?" Also, why do you still even have my phone number? And now it makes me wonder if when we communicated about his books and films and music if he thought I was someone else then, too. So. Awkward.

Other than that, it's been a quiet Easter around here. I didn't sleep much last night, so I've spent the day in and out of sleep, reading my current book (Fleishman Is In Trouble), browsing news per usual, snuggling between my cat and dog, catching up on Below Deck Sailing Yacht with Nova (super inappropriate, but these are funny times), and watching the Loudspeaker live stream on Facebook. Just a few articles today, after the jump.

• The Social Distancer’s Guide to Urban Etiquette and Ethics - CityLab (4.10.2020) A lot of this article isn't relevant since pretty much all of our parks, lots, and boardwalks are closed at this time, but it's got some good reminders for urban exercise when you're in dense neighborhoods.
   
• Turns Out, a Lot of People Don't Even Know They Should Stay Home: A new survey finds that a startling proportion of Americans remain confused or misinformed about the local public-health advice. - Wired Opinion (4.9.2020)

"The sad truth is that members of this population, who are much more likely to be poor and more likely to be people of color, now face a double whammy: Not only are they less informed about how to behave in the face of the largest public health crisis in a century, but they are also at much higher risk of contracting Covid-19, just as they’re at higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease—conditions that make a case of Covid-19 more likely to be fatal. 

In this sense, their leaders and fellow citizens have failed them twice over."

• No, You Don't Need To Disinfect Your Groceries. But Here's How To Shop Safely - NPR (4.12.2020) Look, it's never bad to err on the side of caution, but things like washing your vegetables with soap and water or sanitizing cardboard boxes might actually be bad for your food and for you. I'd also note an important reminder is that the cloth masks are to protect other people from you, not the other way around, so if and when you have to be in public spaces, get in and get out.
  

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