Mine get used for everything and washed with soap and water. I have read many articles comparing the various cutting surfaces. Wood is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. I have taken to restoring them when cuts eventually get deep. Sanding followed by Boos oil then board cream.

I would like to add that there is another option for sterilizing: That would be Germicidal light.

I have a Germicidal Lamp that I use for disinfecting certain items. It does work since most everything was never able to defend itself (because of our atmosphere) through evolution, against short wave ultraviolet (I think that's around 250 nm).

It is used in places you cannot imagine.

BTW, in reading the early comments, the tone has changed, has it not?

The new stimulus bill apparently contains coverage for unemployment insurance for independent contractors. Not clear what sort of proof would be needed as proof to file for it. Here's an article I found that discusses it in relation to Uber/Lyft and other "gig economy" workers. IN THEORY, this could mean that mystery shoppers could also file (since we were gig economy workers before the term existed).

[www.axios.com]

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2020 07:05AM by MisterBill.

From what I have gathered, most of this would be based on tax returns, 2019 if available, 2018 if not. I also heard there will be some process for people who were not required to file a return.

Has anyone utilized Walmart, Target, etc.'s senior shopping hours? If so, how has it been?

@shoptastic wrote:

Has anyone utilized Walmart, Target, etc.'s senior shopping hours? If so, how has it been?

I wonder old you have to be. And, do they check IDs?

Kind of like going into bars in college!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2020 11:39PM by French Farmer.

Interesting. According to the axios info, self-employed could range from me (small potatoes in this biz) through the mentioned Uber/Lyft to a private practice attorney or health care provider who has pots and pots of money already and might lose clients due to death of persons and/or businesses. Right? Self-employed has this broad range.



quote=MisterBill]
The new stimulus bill apparently contains coverage for unemployment insurance for independent contractors. Not clear what sort of proof would be needed as proof to file for it. Here's an article i found that discusses it in relation to Uber/Lyft and other "gig economy" workers. IN THEORY, this could mean that mystery shoppers could also file (since we were gig economy workers before the term existed).

[www.axios.com][/quote]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2020 11:42PM by Shop-et-al.

lol! That would be a mystery shop.

@French Farmer wrote:

@shoptastic wrote:

Has anyone utilized Walmart, Target, etc.'s senior shopping hours? If so, how has it been?

I wonder old you have to be. And, do they check IDs?

Kind of like going into bars in college!

I am interested in seeing what the minimum monthly income will be to be eligible to collect this special UE insurance or assistance money. I hope it's LOW, 'cause I don't make a lot per month after deductions.

@MsJudi wrote:

I am interested in seeing what the minimum monthly income will be to be eligible to collect this special UE insurance or assistance money. I hope it's LOW, 'cause I don't make a lot per month after deductions.

The $1200 check is basically sent to anyone paying taxes and making between $2500 and $75,000. The unemployment is a bit of a concern. I'm really not sure how it works to begin with and my taxable income is less than half of my cash flow. I'm curious if everyone is getting the supplemental $600 added or if that will be income based like the base $400.

I can't imagine getting the extra $600 per week plus whatever UE assistance they will provide. That would be a boon to my little economy. Don't think it's going to work that way. We'll have to wait and see. Could they be that generous?

They are giving the extra 600 on top of whatever you would get under state formula. They are aware this means some people will make more sitting home for the 4 month limit to get the money then working, but they expect UI to spike to 20% so it is what it is. Unemployed are making out the most with this bill by far. 1099 and self employed are also doing well if you now find yourself without work. For instance, in Florida the max the state pays on unemployment is 275 a week. So you will get a max of 875 a week in Florida. 600 + however you fit into the formula. They(like most states) will take your highest earning quarter of 2019 and divide that income by 26. If its over 275 you'll get 275+600. If it's less than 275 then you'll get that lesser # plus 600. Max of 4 months.

Packing houses, where produce goes after it's picked, use 6% bleach and water to wash produce. This also extracts the larvae in the skin of the produce. The produce is then rinsed with water to remove any residue. Household bleach is a 3% solution.

@LisaSTL wrote:

The general recommendations are against using bleach or disinfectant on produce. I've checked several sources and so far all have said variations of this.

techman forgot to add this part. The funding is Federal but the individual states have to sign up for it through the Department of Labor. Pay attention to what your state officials are doing. If they are reluctant or dragging their feet for some strange reason, do what you can to get people together to raise some hell.

@HonnyBrown I'm aware. Despite that, all the sources I checked said the same thing. I would have included links but it seems most people here don't want to use them.

@French Farmer wrote:

BTW, in reading the early comments, the tone has changed, has it not?

Not in my house. I was fully aware in January. (See my 2 posts Jan 29th on this thread, page 1) I've been taking precautions since then.

Soooo, the evening news said that China is starting to resume normal activities. Maybe there's hope after all.

re: senior shopping hours

For Walmart, it's 60 years and up. Both Walmart and Target have it on early Tuesday morning (check their hours by calling them).

I don't know if they card, but I'd be prepared for it. In addition to seniors, those hours are also (check with store to be sure) for people who have pre-existing health conditions and those who may be disabled in some way.

They know you could be a high risk person if you have a pre-existing medical condition to the COVID-19 outbreak's severe symptoms. So, they want to let people shop when there are fewer people.

I got permission from Target to take my mom. She is over 60 and handicapped (knee replacement). So, people under 60 and completely healthy can go as well IF you're assisting someone who qualifies. I had to get store manager permission, though. They were very sweet about it. Very, very welcoming. I will be going next Tuesday and can report after that what it was like.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Soooo, the evening news said that China is starting to resume normal activities. Maybe there's hope after all.

Eventually. I'm not sure the U.S. can be comparable because China took dramatic action early. Here it has been more lax and haphazard.

... and it still took them three months to get to this point....

@LisaSTL wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

Soooo, the evening news said that China is starting to resume normal activities. Maybe there's hope after all.

Eventually. I'm not sure the U.S. can be comparable because China took dramatic action early. Here it has been more lax and haphazard.

And they have had less than 600 new cases nationwide in the past week. They also have more than 73,000 folks who have recovered.

I have rental properties. I think I'm going to lose my properties. IDK

But...one house has a group of tenants: mom and dad (in their 50's) and adult son (26-28) The adult son works in the oil fields and works one week on/ one week off. During his off weeks, his two kids stay with him at the house

Two weeks ago, it seems mom got sick. She thought it was flu, but she just felt too crappy for flu, so she got tested and had COVID19. The family was quarantined. The quarantine was to be over today.

On Thurs., adult son got sick. By Fri., he was so sick that he was taken to the ER. Now he's on life support and a ventilator, struggling for his life.

Today, his 8 year old son tested positive....

I pray that we don't get the disease in my house. My teens have been "out" far too much. Today, I told them that they have to stay in because Colorado has a "Lock Down Law" now until 4/11.

My son works at one hospital here. He says that the cases are so numerous that they are taking over entire wings....and now entire floors...of the hospital. The number of beds in that one hospital are 25% the number of "Pos Hospitalized Cases in Colorado" so I think the cases and severity are far more numerous that "officials" are letting on. And if this is true, we should definitely be taking the drastic measures that other countries have taken...

@shoptastic @French Farmer I believe Target has both the Tuesday and Wednesday morning hour set aside for the elderly and at-risk shoppers. It started out last week as only Wednesday, but I think they just added Tuesday in as well. Walgreens also has Tuesday first hour reserved for those 55 years and older and at-risk customers. The 55 years old age stated by Walgreens is the "youngest" I've seen. I can't seem to find it, but I thought I read somewhere that Target set the age as 60 or 65 for their stores.

Most of my local grocery stores also have the first hour of every day set aside for the elderly and at-risk shoppers. I haven't heard of anyone being "carded", because it might be a bit difficult to "prove" you are an at-risk customer if you don't have an outward-apparent disability or condition. I think most stores in my area are operating on the belief that patrons will be honest when using the reserved store hours.

Some libraries use this to scan books upon return.

good to know sstsau - makes sense in terms of an honor code

along with obvious age markers in some people

Spanish Doctors Are Forced to Choose Who to Let Die
[www.bloomberg.com]

@ wrote:

In the emergency room at one of Madrid’s biggest hospitals, Daniel Bernabeu signed the death certificate for one patient and immediately turned to help another who was choking.

People are dying in waiting rooms before they can even be admitted as the coronavirus pandemic overpowers medical staff. With some funeral services halted in the Spanish capital and no space left in the morgues, corpses are being stored at the main ice rink.

Intensive-care wards overflowing and new rules dictate that older patients miss out to younger people with a better shot at surviving, Bernabeu said by telephone. “That grandpa, in any other situation, would have had a chance,” he said. “But there’s so many of them, all dying at the same time.”

This is what we need to prevent in the U.S. - overwhelming of the system.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2020 01:09PM by shoptastic.

Believe me, it is in all likelihood already happening here in the US. If they have 2 patients who need ventilators but only one ventilator, they will use the ventilator on the youngest patient and the other patient will die.

As for grocery shopping I do not understand why any elderly or disabled person would want to go into the store. Walmart, Albertson's and other grocers are doing online shopping and will bring your items to your car. I will continue to use that service and for the time being will skip any fresh produce other than potatoes or fruit like apples that can be easily washed. I can live with canned or frozen veggies and fruit.

I am a prime candidate (anemic, COPD, 2 lung tumors that radiation took care of but left a little scar tissue, high BP and 83) for this nasty virus and the less contact I have with people, the better off I am.

Sam's does online orders but you have to go inside to pay for and get your items. To my knowledge they do not bring to the car.

Hubby went to Costco mid-afternoon yesterday, and said it was quite manageable. He talked with an associate who said it is actually BUSIER (which I took to mean potentially more dangerous) during Senior Hour.

@shoptastic wrote:

Has anyone utilized Walmart, Target, etc.'s senior shopping hours? If so, how has it been?

In my area, all of the delivery times for the grocery delivery services are booked up for 2-3 weeks ahead.