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Paul
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Joined: July 20th, 2001, 3:28 pm

Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 5:16 am

1. The exponential function, previously hiding in the shadows, is taking the world by storm. (The role of compound interest has been taken over by a virus.)

2. We know which people are useless in a crisis.

3. No more eating fresh vegetables! They are everywhere but I’m not touching them.

4. I was going to say something about European villas and chateaux. But it might be too soon.

5. No trips to the dentist. But that will have repercussions later I feel.

6. Learning a new skill. Judging by what has sold out in the stores, everyone is skipping and watercolouring. Not simultaneously I hope.
 
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SWilson
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Joined: February 13th, 2018, 5:27 pm

Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 2:48 pm

7.  Excuse to stay away from in-laws
 
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Alan
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Joined: December 19th, 2001, 4:01 am
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 3:13 pm

8. There's a great local prime rib place that hasn't delivered for years. Now they do! 
 
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trackstar
Posts: 3420
Joined: January 1st, 1970, 12:00 am

Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 3:34 pm

9. Discovery of how fast air pollution clears, given extreme changes and reductions in human behavior and industrial activity.

Examples:
Map of NO2 emissions over Europe

Image 

and China:

Image

"Satellite images from NASA show a surprising effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China: less air pollution. 
Using pollution monitoring satellites, NASA measured the air’s concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas that ends up in the air from burning fuel, primarily from cars, trucks, buses and power plants.

From Jan. 1 to 20, and Feb. 10 to 25, researchers saw a “significant decrease” in pollution over Wuhan and the rest of China due at least in part to an “economic slowdown” resulting from the virus outbreak, according to a NASA release."

NASA images show ‘significant decreases’ in air pollution over China amid coronavirus economic slowdown CNBC March 6

As others have remarked, COVID-19 is not good for us, but it may be quite good for the planet. 

Nature rebalances her portfolio too?
 
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Cuchulainn
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 3:54 pm

1. The exponential function, previously hiding in the shadows, is taking the world by storm. (The role of compound interest has been taken over by a virus.)

Yes, but how many people are able to compute [$]e^5[$] to 2 decimal places with pencil and paper?
 
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Cuchulainn
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 3:56 pm

10. Blue skies
11. Silence
12. Online education and conferencing
13. Think twice before you go on a cruise holiday.
14. Not there yet.
 
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Alan
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 4:06 pm

15: Cuomo: NYC has had 40,000 step up as medical volunteers. Inspiring! (link)
 
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katastrofa
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 4:09 pm

Ditto. We are jogging every day along the river with ISayMoo. The sight of relaxed birds on the water and playing animals makes us optimistic about the end of civilisation.
 
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Cuchulainn
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 4:44 pm

16, No more mandatory birthday parties and cheek-kissing.

Image
Last edited by Cuchulainn on March 26th, 2020, 5:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 
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Paul
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Joined: July 20th, 2001, 3:28 pm

Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 5:04 pm

16, No more mandatory birthday parties and cheek-kissing.
I like the first bit. No more worrying about whether to invite child's whole class or just friends!
 
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Paul
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Joined: July 20th, 2001, 3:28 pm

Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 5:07 pm

17. Airplanes are cheap to buy. You'll probably have to get one of the big ones though.
 
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trackstar
Posts: 3420
Joined: January 1st, 1970, 12:00 am

Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 7:12 pm

18. Inspiration from others

Just got back from a brisk trail run. Not a marathon, but very enjoyable.

Also, for our data collection - I isolated completely (except for one trip to an ATM machine) starting last Thursday.

So, one week down and let’s say one to go. Then we’ll see what is what. : )
 
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Cuchulainn
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 26th, 2020, 9:01 pm

I haven't left the house in a long time. Too busy on models.
 
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Alan
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Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 27th, 2020, 9:42 pm

19. Just discovered DoorDash delivers beer! 
 
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Paul
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Joined: July 20th, 2001, 3:28 pm

Re: Good things that come out of this pandemic...

March 27th, 2020, 9:56 pm

Someone's having a good time!