General COVID-19 Talk #4 MOD Warning

[SettlementRichie10]

I hope your daughter comes through aces, and is feeling better soon.

What business are you in Richie?

I am starting to see more colleagues struggle to find work in the aircraft engineering consulting business, and am thankful that I fill a necessary niche in that industry for which not many others have the credentials. Overall I think transport category part of the industry is going to stay down. I don't think business travel is going to recover fully. People have found out remote work is effective. There are still some other areas where I expect growth like autonomous UAVs, especially for cargo.

Oddly enough, owner of a dance studio. It’s been in the family for 28 years now.

Daughter does seem a bit better today, which is a relief. First day was the sickest I’ve ever seen her.

The whole thing is just so stressful. I really hope this omicron peak is finally the end before we enter some kind of low risk endemic phase.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I hope your daughter comes through aces, and is feeling better soon.

What business are you in Richie?

I am starting to see more colleagues struggle to find work in the aircraft engineering consulting business, and am thankful that I fill a necessary niche in that industry for which not many others have the credentials. Overall I think transport category part of the industry is going to stay down. I don't think business travel is going to recover fully. People have found out remote work is effective. There are still some other areas where I expect growth like autonomous UAVs, especially for cargo.

When do you see that coming to fruition though? I'm in the transport industry, and they have been talking about it for years, but it seems more far fetched each and every time, LA - PHX straight shot on I-10...sure, but how do you get them on the I-10, with food cargo reefer systems, what do they do when the reefer unit goes off, etc,

I think they are coming, but I think it's 20-30 years down the road, not the 5-10 that people are talking about...

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

5 year old daughter tested positive last night. So far, very bad headache and nasty fever.

With cases peaking, I really thought we were gonna dodge Omicron like we did Delta and Alpha.

Business is struggling. In-laws are screaming at us to just take Ivermectin and Hydroxychloriquine. Just waiting now until my wife and I show symptoms. The stress is overwhelming, man. I don’t have anything left.

Prayers are with you and yours, my father in law we think got it, and my brother in law tested positive, but up there they won't test unless it's for travel etc, they are literally telling people just assume you have it etc.

We were on pins and needles for two weeks, because father in law lives with us, so waiting to see if anyone else caught it.

 

[KINGS17]

When do you see that coming to fruition though? I'm in the transport industry, and they have been talking about it for years, but it seems more far fetched each and every time, LA - PHX straight shot on I-10...sure, but how do you get them on the I-10, with food cargo reefer systems, what do they do when the reefer unit goes off, etc,

I think they are coming, but I think it's 20-30 years down the road, not the 5-10 that people are talking about...

I think autonomous UAV cargo aircraft for small packages are already becoming a reality. The FAA has developed special certification rules for those type aircraft.

Now the industry is moving on to aircraft that can deliver higher payloads (300 - 500 lbs.). I would say this is probably five to six years away, as there are many problems to solve from an overall industry perspective, with the biggest challenge being sense and avoid for these aircraft.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I think autonomous UAV cargo aircraft for small packages are already becoming a reality. The FAA has developed special certification rules for those type aircraft.

Now the industry is moving on to aircraft that can deliver higher payloads (300 - 500 lbs.). I would say this is probably five to six years away, as there are many problems to solve from an overall industry perspective, with the biggest challenge being sense and avoid for these aircraft.

Ah, got it, so you are referencing more air cargo than land transit etc?

 

[KINGS17]

Ah, got it, so you are referencing more air cargo than land transit etc?

Yes, the industry wants to get the trucks (even the autonomous ones) off the road, except for use on very short distances.

 

[br3ds0x]

Oddly enough, owner of a dance studio. It’s been in the family for 28 years now.

Daughter does seem a bit better today, which is a relief. First day was the sickest I’ve ever seen her.

The whole thing is just so stressful. I really hope this omicron peak is finally the end before we enter some kind of low risk endemic phase.

My kids (7 and 3) both had it in the last couple weeks. They both had 102ish fever for 24 hours and then they were good as new. Hopefully yours follows that same pattern.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Yes, the industry wants to get the trucks (even the autonomous ones) off the road, except for use on very short distances.

Interesting, I don't see that happening....I mean, it's possible I suppose, but that's a shit ton of air cargo, and places where are there are no airports.

 

[KINGS17]

Interesting, I don't see that happening....I mean, it's possible I suppose, but that's a shit ton of air cargo, and places where are there are no airports.

The won't be using "airports" these type aircraft will be vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Instead of a truck driving the highways to get from one FedEx facility to another, it will be loaded on an autonomous aircraft and fly from one FedEx facility to another. This gives companies like FedEx another logistics tool to eliminate the cost of drivers to get something from here to there. The trucks will then be "the last mile", or perhaps a lower weight drone may even be the "last mile".

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

The won't be using "airports" these type aircraft will be vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Instead of a truck driving the highways to get from one FedEx facility to another, it will be loaded on an autonomous aircraft and fly from one FedEx facility to another. This gives companies like FedEx another logistics tool to eliminate the cost of drivers to get something from here to there. The trucks will then be "the last mile", or perhaps a lower weight drone may even be the "last mile".

That will 100% change the trucking industry.....that's....interesting....how many aircraft would they need, for instance, Fedex DC at City ABC, typically will see 30-40 trucks delivering and receiving etc, so would they use that amount of aircraft, etc?

 

[RonM11]

5 year old daughter tested positive last night. So far, very bad headache and nasty fever.

With cases peaking, I really thought we were gonna dodge Omicron like we did Delta and Alpha.

Business is struggling. In-laws are screaming at us to just take Ivermectin and Hydroxychloriquine. Just waiting now until my wife and I show symptoms. The stress is overwhelming, man. I don’t have anything left.

Gut it out, Richie. We are very close to the end of the Omicron surge (should reach manageable levels within the next four weeks). Here's hoping your daughter recovers completely very soon, as well as your business.

As far as your in-laws are concerned, they are morons, and should be treated as such: ignore them completely. Not meaning to be offensive in any way, but they have drunk the kool-aid and can't be trusted with any advice they may be giving.

 

[RonM11]

So clearly we are on the ride down with Omicron. So far, it looks like it is going down as fast as it went up. That will probably level out at some point and if we can get it to level out below where Delta leveled out just a few months ago then maybe we can get back to a normal life.

No, I don't want to talk about the possibility of any future variants. We already know they are coming; we are going to want variants like Epsilon and not Omicron.

 

[KINGS17]

That will 100% change the trucking industry.....that's....interesting....how many aircraft would they need, for instance, Fedex DC at City ABC, typically will see 30-40 trucks delivering and receiving etc, so would they use that amount of aircraft, etc?

It's too early to know these types of details, but I expect the cargo capacity of an autonomous aircraft to grow significantly as the technology moves forward, which will affect the number of aircraft required.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

It's to early to know these types of details, but I expect the cargo capacity of an autonomous aircraft to grow significantly as the technology moves forward, which will affect the number of aircraft required.

Agreed, and definitely interesting to watch out for, especially as that involves what I am doing etc, hopefully be retired in 5 years, so we will see...

 

[Master Yoda]

That will 100% change the trucking industry.....that's....interesting....how many aircraft would they need, for instance, Fedex DC at City ABC, typically will see 30-40 trucks delivering and receiving etc, so would they use that amount of aircraft, etc?

I think the trucking industry is already changing. The fear of autonomous trucks are keeping new drivers out of the industry. And with so many people retiring the last couple of years, and very few new drivers, and no autonomous trucks, the trucking industry is really suffering, or should I say businesses/consumers are suffering because of it. A contributing factor in this whole supply chain nightmare.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I think the trucking industry is already changing. The fear of autonomous trucks are keeping new drivers out of the industry. And with so many people retiring the last couple of years, and very few new drivers, and no autonomous trucks, the trucking industry is really suffering, or should I say businesses/consumers are suffering because of it. A contributing factor in this whole supply chain nightmare.

It's not the fear or autonomous trucks that are keeping new drivers out, it's being away from home, it's the danger of it, it's a lot of things, if I had to list the top 5 or even 10, I don't think feat of autonomous trucking factors in,

Also, new drivers are coming in the past year and a half in one of the hottest markets ever, and they want 3K a week, home every weekend, drive 50 miles a day etc, stuff that's not sustainable etc,

 

[Lt Dan]

There's a new version of omicron but so far it doesn't appear to be more dangerous

As a new version of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads in parts of Asia and Europe, the World Health Organization recommended Monday that officials begin investigating its characteristics to determine whether it poses new challenges for pandemic-weary nations.
Known as BA. 2, the new version of the virus is a descendant of the omicron variant responsible for huge surges of covid-19 in the United States and elsewhere around the globe. Virologists are referring to the original omicron variant as BA. 1.

Viruses mutate constantly, mostly in harmless ways. There is no current evidence that BA. 2 is more virulent, spreads faster or escapes immunity better than BA. 1.
"Variants have come, variants have gone," said Robert Garry, a virologist at Tulane University School of Medicine. "I don't think there's any reason to think this one is a whole lot worse than the current version of omicron."
BA. 2 has been detected in India, Denmark and Britain, among other countries, according to health officials and media reports abroad. In Europe, it appears the most widespread in Denmark, but that may be because the Scandinavian nation has a robust program of sequencing the virus's genome.
At least three cases have been found in the United States at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, which also is studying the genetic makeup of virus samples from its patients

Anders Fomsgaard a virologist at the State Serum Institute in Denmark, said in an email Monday that BA. 2 has become the dominant form of the virus in his nation of nearly 6 million people, where it now accounts for about 65% of new cases as BA. 1 is on the decline.
At the same time, Fomsgaard said, "we are not so concerned, since we so far do not see major differences in age distribution, vaccination status, breakthrough infections and risk of hospitalization. Also, despite the high infection rate of BA. 2, the numbers of hospitalizations [in] ICUs are decreasing."

 

[Master Yoda]

Oddly enough, owner of a dance studio. It’s been in the family for 28 years now.

Daughter does seem a bit better today, which is a relief. First day was the sickest I’ve ever seen her.

The whole thing is just so stressful. I really hope this omicron peak is finally the end before we enter some kind of low risk endemic phase.

Hope she feels better soon.

We had a family friend over for dinner. Their kid tested positive two days after. Our kids were fine.
Then our kids went swimming (indoor pool) with another kid who tested positive the next day. Our kids were fine.
With omicron being so virulent, I thought they would've got it, but maybe they already had asymptomatic cases before.
Or it could have been a false negative? But no symptoms either.
It's just a very strange virus. Or just very lucky.

 

[Lt Dan]

Preface: Tuesday is low case count day

Big drop in hosp today: 1162-----> 1114
ICU down 195----> 191

 

[Master Yoda]

It's not the fear or autonomous trucks that are keeping new drivers out, it's being away from home, it's the danger of it, it's a lot of things, if I had to list the top 5 or even 10, I don't think feat of autonomous trucking factors in,

Also, new drivers are coming in the past year and a half in one of the hottest markets ever, and they want 3K a week, home every weekend, drive 50 miles a day etc, stuff that's not sustainable etc,

But those other factors have always existed and they didn't keep new drivers out because the pay was good.
I have a friend who owns a trucking company and have heard him talk about this being something that's sort of giving a potentially young driver the thought of "if I go into this business, I might not have a job in 10 years so I'll look elsewhere, or I'll ask for higher pay now". So I think it's becoming a factor.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

But those other factors have always existed and they didn't keep new drivers out because the pay was good.
I have a friend who owns a trucking company and have heard him talk about this being something that's sort of giving a potentially young driver the thought of "if I go into this business, I might not have a job in 10 years so I'll look elsewhere, or I'll ask for higher pay now". So I think it's becoming a factor.

It could be, I haven't heard of that anywhere before, until you brought it up...not saying it's not there, just saying I haven't heard it,

I talk to a shit ton of drivers, carriers, brokers, daily....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

But those other factors have always existed and they didn't keep new drivers out because the pay was good.
I have a friend who owns a trucking company and have heard him talk about this being something that's sort of giving a potentially young driver the thought of "if I go into this business, I might not have a job in 10 years so I'll look elsewhere, or I'll ask for higher pay now". So I think it's becoming a factor.

Back when 20 year old me thought I'd have the same career for life rather than swapping every decade anyway

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Back when 20 year old me thought I'd have the same career for life rather than swapping every decade anyway

Shit...20 year old me didn't look that far in the future.....20 year old me was a year removed from f***ing up a college scholarship.....and running hockey leagues, thought that was gonna be my "career" lol

If I had started doing then, what I am doing now, I'd be retired in Italy right now.....

 

[Lt Dan]

Back when 20 year old me thought I'd have the same career for life rather than swapping every decade anyway

You should be a Sherpa next

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

You should be a Sherpa next

? You didn't know, he's the next GM/Coach, taking the Kings old school....lmao