FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Philippe Durand]

Keep safe guys, stay at home if you can.
especialy the oldest . Admire your rocks;

The shows will be canceled in your area now or soon. The net will be helpfull.

[Jordi Fabre]

[Jordi Fabre]

[Jordi Fabre]

Let me just add some "rules" for this new style of post in these so special circumstances translating the text that the adminstrators of the Spanish side we published in the twin thread Covid-19 / Coronavirus - Nuestra visión :

Although this is a mineral forum, the administrators have believed that we cannot be left out of a problem that affects us and worries us all.

At this moment, it has just been announced that in Spain the State of Alarm will be decreed for 15 days, with all the restrictions and impediments that this will entail in our daily life. We want this post to be a meeting point and virtual social life now that we will have restricted real social life. Also it aims to be a rigorous information point, without unnecessary alarmism and where we can all express our opinion, as always with education and respect. If at any time the thread becomes aggressive, trivialized with esoteric discussions, or takes unwanted paths, for example with political discussions, the administrators reserve the right to intervene immediately.

Postscript: we post the message in this section 'Comments & Suggestions' as it is out of the ordinary in the forum. In some way this is going to be a small sociological experiment to see how these social issues evolve in FMF outside the topics that usually concerns us.

[Fiebre Verde]

[Dany Mabillard]

Just a few words. I don't know the exact restrictions in each country but in Switzerland the government decisions are confused especially with the three political levels (federal state, cantons and municipalities). Hope that every European countries will take quickly the same restrictions because it's the same virus everywhere.
Concerning my personal situation, I was lucky to change my hip two weeks ago because this week they have postponed these types of operations. So at home for 4 more weeks and out one hour a day to walk but lucky to live in a district where you can walk with only a few persons in the street.
Hope everyone is safe and healthy.

[Susan Robinson]

So far, there is no incidence, locally, of anyone with the COVID-19 virus in our area. We live in northern New York State, on the edge of the St. Lawrence river. Many cars with Ontario license plates are still coming from Canada to shop at our supermarkets and Wal Mart.
Upon entering a medical clinic or hospital, we are now stopped and asked if we have been out of the county (not country) in the last month or if we have been in close contact with anyone from out of this area. Currently, the local stores have no toilet paper, disinfectants, or rubbing alcohol on their shelves, and some of the fresh fruits and vegetables are unavailable.
The Rochester Mineral Sympodium was cancelled this year. The local colleges and universities have extended the spring break vacation time for the students, and the remaining classes will be done online. Sports games and large meetings are also cancelled.

Let's hope we all take precautions and stay healthy.

Susan Robinson

[Pete Richards]

I returned on Tuesday from a week--long trip to Alabama to visit my brother and his family. No reports at that time of CV-19 there or in Ohio where I live. The number of people in the airports definitely seemed smaller than usual.

Thursday we were to fly to Utah to visit my wife's brother and family. Wednesday, there were reports of several cases in Cleveland, Ohio, less than 50 miles (80 km) from here, and of a cluster of cases in Salt Lake City, Utah. Wednesday evening we cancelled our trip. Thursday a state of emergency was declared in Salt Lake City.

How quickly things change!

Now the following are cancelled;:
My church service
The Rochester Mineral Symposium
My Micromineral Group meeting
Oberlin College classes (to be completed at home by remote coursework)
Our Friday Music Club meeting
My recorder group's practice, probably
No doubt that's just the beginning.

The streets are nearly empty. Fortunately, the store shelves are not.

I anticipate a much more solitary life than usual for the next six months. My garden is getting more attention than usual. And maybe I'll finally find the time to write one or two papers that have waited for much too long. Time to bring together the data on my computer and the thoughts in my brain!

Be smart and stay well!

[Ricky hartzog]

Every year a new flu virus or bug causes deaths in the old and young it's sad it's life sorry for anyone that is sick hope yall get to feeling better im going morel hunting today so I'll be in the woods and hope no one gets sick and stay healthy and keep On Rockhounding

[Bob Harman]

Like several others on this forum, I am a doctor. A retired MD pathologist, so I follow this new and novel Coronavirus with more than passing interest.
So why is this new pandemic so much more in the news than the much more common seasonal flu? Simply because we don't know much about the virus and what might happen next. A la the 1918 Spanish Flu which killed more people in 18 months than all the World Wars of the 20th century combined.....


What is of interest to me and this forum might be the significant disruption of just about everything, including the mineral collecting community.

Collectors or dealers who might get seriously ill or worse.
Shows that are cancelled or postponed, disrupting many folk's livelihoods.
Postponed and cancelled seminars and other meetings.
Closed universities slowing students pursuing their research and degrees.
The list goes on and on.

It is of interest that, up to now, the UK seems to be taking a "cavalier" attitude compared to the rest of Europe and the world in it's response to the disease outbreak. Lots of mixed feelings there.
With South Korea one of the hot spots, absolutely no news from North Korea. Other than a hospital for the political and military elite, not much of an advanced healthcare system. I have reason to believe they are being truly brutal towards most of those who are sick.

Thank goodness Tucson was over several weeks ago; what a mess that might have been!! BOB

[Peter Lemkin]

[Tobi]

Hi all,
It's such a horror what happens these days, I fear the worst case and I get more depressed every day thinking that the world we all know is going to end. Having two small children makes this horror even worse, I guess many here feel the same. We can only try to follow some rules like staying at home, don't visit older people, no shaking hands etc., let's hope that science will soon find a way to fight this virus.

Regards from Germany, a country that now finally reacts (schools are closed, soccer and other public events are cancelled) but I fear too late. Most countries, Germany as one of them, should have learned from China or South Korea who reacted immediately and not weeks too late.

So I hope you all are doing well, stay at home and stay healthy!
Tobi

[R Saunders]

South West Michigan by the big lake. So far schools closed and many churches, a Gem and Mineral show in Iowa and in Jackson, Mich. this month canceled as well as a wood carvers show. I can still go to a couple of beaches and collect that were not whipped out by erosion. A close to my house I am getting back to my fossil dig site, with many rocks. Mostly sand from digging a farm pond to 12 feet deep.
Do you think their is a chance that the Jet Stream and or Con Trails from planes can be spreading this or possibly in the near future? Or migrating birds although I have not heard of them possibly eating infected species? Or mainly by coughing or spittle from talking getting on surfaces? Both 74 and retired but I do get to some meetings.

[Michael Shaw]

As of today, our state has 4 confirmed cases of Covid-19, all in persons returning from travel to Europe. Numerous preventive measures have been adopted to prevent the spread of the virus. Most public gathering places have been closed, so our scheduled trip with the grandchildren to a public garden/park in Tulsa is postponed until this crisis passes. Most universities in the state, including Oklahoma State University in the city where we reside, have extended Spring Break an extra week, and will resume classes online when students return. Laura and I would normally have attended church this morning, but decided to play it safe and stay home. So far, grocery shelves have been well-stocked, with the exception of toilet tissue and paper towels. Those aisles are empty. I wonder why someone thinks they will need 4 packages (24 rolls) of TP.

I am thankful that the Tucson show was held in early February during the very early stages of the pandemic; aside from some people experiencing disrupted travel, most attendees seemed to be in remarkably good health this year.

We are planning to spend a lot more time in our garden, catching up on some reading, and taking long walks, since we live in the country. Exercise common sense, good hygiene, and keep safe everyone.

[chris]

Hi Folks,

I casted my vote this morning as Gérard did in the small city where I live (3,000 people). Some people had masks. Washing hands was compulsory before entering the voting room.

At work our company checked who could work from home last week and was setting things up. I will go to work tomorrow morning but just don't know for how long. The French government has decided to pay the wages of people not able to attend work (taking care of their children or businesses locked down).

The French health secretary warned people to avoid Ibuprofen and anti-inflammatory drugs to deal with COVID 19 related symptoms (mostly temperature) after discovering that several young people ending up with severe respiratory syndromes had in common the use of such drugs.

In case of temperature, he advised using paracetamol instead, but warned people requiring anti-inflammatory drugs to cure chronic diseases, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to keep using then and ask medical guidance in case of need.

Take care of you all & let's keep in touch through the forum.

Christophe

[Pete Richards]

[Jordi Fabre]

[lluis]

I side with Pete thinking....

Main trouble is a possible collapse of heath system.
So, to try to be uncontaminated is a must.
But for health risks, well, seems that is like flu, that even been mortal in many cases, no one cares for it. And each year we have an episode..

On another side, there has been announced that in Clinic Hospital in Barcelona, an strategy to deal with infected ones would be tried, and seems that is very promising (well, in short, doses of antiretrovirals (like if it was an AIDS case...), to low level of viruses in blood, and then being the person safe for rest.
Also, a vaccine is nearly to be tested, but that is already for next year to be distributed...

For medicines, has been said that paracetamol is far better than ibuprofen, for side effects.
Maybe aspirine would be better, because is less toxic, but I have no idea.

With best wishes (and remain safe and care!)

Lluís

[Jordi Fabre]

Second day, Sunday March 15 2020

Big surprise. Today in Barcelona hardly anyone is seen on the streets, not even on the large avenues on the outskirts of the city center. We have gone here from indifference to fear and it seems that what remains is the fear.

[alfredo]

Two different internet mineral dealers in the USA reported on Facebook that they were surprised to see their sales have doubled this month from what they normally are this time of year. That does not surprise me, however, because with mineral shows being cancelled all over the world, and many mineral collectors being addicts who need to get their "fix" from somewhere...

So those dealers who mainly sell at shows will suffer great hardship this year, and those who deal over the internet may actually benefit from the virus (as long as the post office and banking systems hold up).

Interesting times. Sorry for those who will inevitably lose loved ones, and those millions who will suffer financially. On Friday I saw a café waitress almost in tears, already anticipating that her place of work would be closed down (It was, one day later.), and her with two kids at home and no other income - It‘s not going to be easy, for very large numbers of people.

As for me personally, I‘m in a small mountain town north of Barcelona. The entire population here has been admirably sensible and cooperative. There is still plenty of toilet paper in the stores, no huge panic shopping. City Hall is coordinating volunteers to do the grocery and pharmacy shopping for the most vulnerable older residents, so that they don‘t need to risk exposure to viruses in busy stores. Apart from food shopping, we‘re pretty much locked down at home. Time to make some micromounts, and finish a Mineralogical Record article, and my book on minerals of Japan... all the things stuck on the back burner for too long.