The Social Distancing Thing Is Likely to Work in Flattening the Curve

[MineralMan]

of the COVID-19 spread. So will the emphasis on attention to hygiene issues like hand-washing. Both are good moves, and people seem to be paying attention, at least to some degree.

As a freelance writer and a hermit-type, I've been doing that for years, really. About the only time I catch a cold is when I fly out to California to visit my 95-year-old parents. There's no way to avoid sick people when I do that.

I'm always conscious of the possibility of catching whatever's going around, so I'm not changing my routine very much. I'm hopeful of avoiding COVID-19, but who knows.

Anyhow, keep practicing good hygiene and avoidance of close contact with people you don't know. That's about the best thing you can do during this pandemic. If those behaviors are new to you, keep them in mind frequently, and do your best to follow the advice you're hearing on the news.

I don't know what others are doing, really, but it seems like a lot of people are taking this seriously, so I'm hopeful.

[underpants]

1. Not a lot of traffic this morning.

A noticeable decrease in traffic while running a needed errand this morning.

It seems like everyone got the message - lay low for at least two weeks, if you can.

[MineralMan]

3. All good.

I have a few things I need to pick up at the supermarket. I'll go early tomorrow morning, I think. I can navigate that store at that time of day without making contact with anyone, really. I carry a touch screen stylus in my pocket, and will probably use the self-check line. I'm sure the store will still be out of some things, but I don't actually need any of those things. Just some food and supplies.

I have disinfection wipes, in case the store is out of shopping cart wipes. I also have hand sanitizer packets and a bottle of Purell in the car. Should be OK for a supermarket run.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I'm basically a hermit myself so I know what you mean.

No real changes to my routine.

Went to breakfast with my bro yesterday, no problem getting a seat.

The waitress said that was their busiest morning in a while. There were a couple of booths occupied, she sat us at a table several slots away from them.

They had definitely changed their routine. No setups on the table, no condiments or anything. Was all brought after we were seated. When we first walked in, one of the staff was spraying the counter and seats and cleaning. They added a digital lock to the bathroom, too, that I don't remember from the last time we went there.

Jus living, day by day.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Interestingly quite this morning.

Very little traffic on the streets this morning,and that is very unusual since Thursday and Friday were the major Paydays here in Vegas. Normally Payday Weekends are noisy noisy with traffic.

Fully understand with all the Layoffs that are happening today at the Hotel's and Casino's at the close of their shifts. Several Casino's stopped Card Games yesterday and sent their Dealers home.

Going to get ugly real quick.

[MineralMan]

5. I hadn't thought about Vegas much.

I stopped going there a few years ago. But, fear of travel is going to slam the casino business for sure. It's hard to see why anyone would go there during this pandemic, really.

If The Strip goes dark, that will be very, very interesting. Not if you live there, I imagine, though.

I used to go to COMDEX and CES every year. It was a petri dish, to be sure.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Reality hit the Big Boy's with a vengence .

Interesting part is,eleven of the Casino's were and are in new ownership deals that are suppose to close next month.

And that Hospitality Industry Bailout is going where? Couple of names to watch,Icahn,Rifkin and of Course Trump.

[MineralMan]

7. Las Vegas is a very, very strange place, indeed.

My wife and I loved our trips there during those big trade shows. It's Fantasy Land for adults.

However, it's not sustainable without affordable travel to get there. It couldn't exist without airline travel for any time at all. At one time, Vegas served the Los Angeles area, primarily. But, cheap air travel expanded its potential customer base. Still, Native American gambling cut deeply into that base, since you can do gaming a lot closer to home these days.

Vegas tried making itself into a resort city, but there are resorts everywhere and it's not 110 degrees during the summer months at most resorts.

One thing is certain though, right now. People won't be coming to Vegas for a while. How long? Who knows?

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Interesting,if it was not for the Locals

the off Strip Casino's would be toast. Old Vegas still atracks many Locals,but the Strip,not so many. Mostly the Young ones.

Watch for Sun Country to crank up the Fly-Stay-and go broke deals within in a couple weeks. Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as Iowa are the three states where Gambling Junkets are Marketed extra heavy. Why,disposable income.

For us,we seldom do the strip scene,only when kids come from Minnesota to visit. Hey,when a Buffet on the Strip costs you 59 bucks a head,not.

[MineralMan]

10. Yeah, Sun Country.

I may end up switching to flights to Las Vegas when I travel to Southern California to see my parents. It's a four-hour drive from Vegas to their house. It takes at least two hours to drive from LAX to their house, and that's in stop-and-go traffic that drives me nuts. I could fly in and out of Vegas, grab a rental car at the airport and skip LA altogether by going through Lancaster from Vegas enroute.

I haven't done that yet, but might start, just to avoid LAX and the LA freeways.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. BTW,when you do use Cheap-O-Air

many times the Delta flights will price out the same coming from MSP. Frontier also as well as Southwest. My Niece used be the Plane Coordinate at Sun Country years ago,lots of cheap Red Eyes because of Relocating Planes from MSP back to Vegas for next day flights.

[MineralMan]

12. Actually, I prefer Sun Country over Delta.

Partly because it flies out of Terminal 2 at MSP, which is much less stressful, and because getting an exit row seat only costs $30 more. My wife and I took Delta to LAX the last trip, and it was a pain. Terminal 1 at MSP is a pain, due to the long walks to the gate and baggage claim.

I'll have to look at their Vegas flights for time considerations, though. Adding a 4.5 hour drive to the trip both ways would change my plans in terms of when to fly. I hate red-eye flights, and don't mind paying to fly at better times for me.

I haven't checked their Vegas flights for a long time, though.

[Wellstone ruled]

13. Understand the Terminal 1

thingee. Got a TSO family member in T 1,here the stories. And Sun Country is laid back compared to Delta. Believe S C still uses Delta Vegas Gates which is faster for Luggage as well as Rentals. BTW,check your Off Site Rates for your rentals. Usually save a ton.

[uponit7771]

9. K&R, How long can we go on with the economy operating at 25 to 50%?

[MineralMan]

14. I have no idea, frankly.

It's going to be challenging, but we don't really know how long this panicky stuff will last, either.

We'll have to make do, though. There is really no alternative.

[JCMach1]

15. Except family groups also spread the virus without the sorts of measures

They are taking in Asia