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Now in case you're wondering (and of course you were, unless you already knew this) the “KF” stands for “Korean filter,” and the “94” means that according to South Korean government standards, it is 94% effective at filtering out airborne particles.
Now I lived in Asia from February of 1976 to June of 1982, six years and change, in Japan (Okinawa to be precise) and Korea (see above). During the cold and flu season, a lot of city folk in Japan (and I suppose Korea) would wear masks similar to that depicted above. I didn't see it much in Korea, then again, Kunsan Air Base is kinda in the boondocks.
So the mask thing, required at work and, due to an "order" from the governor of Little Rhody, required in larger stores in the area (grocery, Home Depot, and the like). When I was out in Sandy Eggo to work on the ship, had to wear 'em there as well. Orders dontcha know?
Now scientifically speaking I know what they're for, if I sneeze/cough/expectorate, most of it will stay in the mask. If you are also wearing a face diaper mask, then your mask should cover the remaining airborne stuff.
Now if you're wearing a kerchief pulled up over your mouth (as if you're getting ready to rob a stage coach) then your mask is less effective. Sorry dudes and dudettes, that's actual science. Viruses are really, really, really small and squeeze through cloth fairly readily. Better than nothing? Sure it is.
My Mom likes to say "when this virus goes away." Sorry Mom, not gonna happen. Yes, it will mutate and become different, but it's not really going away. Colds and various strains of the flu aren't going away. They're deuced hard things to find a cure for, that's if big business really wants to find a cure. I mean where's the incentive for them? Sure, they want to sell us a product that makes us feel better (cough medicine, throat lozenges, and the like) and understand that dead people don't buy medicine, but really? Make it go away? Not profitable. (Of course, I could be wrong and in actuality Big Pharma is very altruistic and on the side of the angels. But I don't really think so.)
How 'bout getting the government to look for a cure? Those inefficient bastards? It would take hundreds of years and zillions of dollars, and the only thing that would really happen would be a staggering increase in the bureaucracy. Governments aren't really good at anything. Change my mind ...
Wearing a mask on a plane? In an airport? Colossal pain in the kiester, been there, done that. I walk out of the terminal and that mask is off. Had a "lady" in Sandy Eggo point out that I wasn't wearing a mask. Outside. All by my lonesome. I suggested that she perform something physically impossible, might have involved a fire truck.
People in cars wearing a mask, alone? Give me a fire trucking break ...
I'll wear it to do what I need to do, then de-mask as soon as humanly possible. It is the Way.
But wear a cloth mask, like I used to, only in low threat areas (as in when The Missus Herself isn't watching) and when the situation merits. If I'm around people with obvious viral symptoms, unless I can un-ass that location rapidly and forego whatever thing I wanted to do in that venue, I'll don the KF94, or higher.
If work says wear or don't get paid, guess what? I'll wear.
Some of this shit actually makes sense, a lot of it doesn't.
But yeah, I'm fire trucking sick of the situation and the continuing government lies about it. Assholes, all of 'em.
Okay, more of a rant than a musing, but there it is.
I have spoken.
In other news ...
I'm thinking of starting another fiction series on World War II. Get the Brits and the Poles back in the game, maybe even go back to September of 1939. What say you? Lemme know in the comments.
I'm out ...
Minneapolis and St Paul went to masks again here in the last couple of days while all the suburbs.......not a peep about using them. Just means I'll be staying out of both even though I live less than half a mile from the border with the capital city. So...business to the 'burbs! See an occasional person walking around the lake wearing a mask..... outside.... wide walking path...alone....outside.....did I mention OUTSIDE?!? Start of WWII with Brits and Poles.....sounds intriguing...in before someone says go for it.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a crazy world now. I'm hoping that someday soon, sanity will reestablish itself.
DeleteNot holding my breath through ...
Even the Commie swill unmask when they come down here to Florida!
ReplyDeleteWell, they unmask up here if they think they're not being watched.
DeleteAyup. And Donkey-Face got Der Covid. Remarkably karmic, dontchaknow.
DeleteIndeed.
DeleteDon't be too quick to judge those wearing masks all by themselves. They could be hiding from their "significant other", robbing or stealing. They could have warrants...or any number of things to avoid arrest, lawsuits, deportation, getting their legs broken by the bookies, serving jury duty, I mean the list is endless.
ReplyDeleteYes! Write about the Brits and the Poles! They are of an area under-reported, it would be good to see the war from their "eyes".
irontomflint
I like your take on the folks alone in a car wearing a mask. Makes 'em seem almost like outlaws rather than idiots.
DeleteI am leaning towards the early days of WWII.
Occam's Stupid Razor - the most stupid and simplest answer is... The Answer. In other words, short of being around certain sections of cities or near courthouses or banks, yep, the answer is the people are simple and stupid.
DeleteCan't argue with that.
DeleteConcur with your mask philosophy. Common sense is uncommon. I am over 80 and have COPD and am now under Q awaiting results of PRC (PCR?) test because I thought an N95 mask would be sufficient to make a 6" cut in red cedar on my table saw. Should have worn the respirator.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you decide to write will be eagerly anticipated. Old Guns.
Hope all goes well for you!
Delete(In reality, common sense never really was common ...)
Cedar oils are vicious. And to be avoided breathing in in large quantities. Along with the very fine sawdust. Could have been worse, could have been oak dust from using a fine blade. That stuff is nasty.
DeleteBut... if the oils and fine sawdust particles defeat an N95 mask...
Beans, do you mean that if the mask can't defeat things you can actually see, it won't defeat things you can't see? Clearly that can't be what you're saying. See, the mask knows that the things you can see are harmless, therefore it lets them in. Alternatively, it knows the things you can't see are harmful, so it blocks them out. Now that you understand that, stop that bad think and get on board with the bestus and brightus. Got it?
Delete😉
Write as the Muses direct you.
ReplyDeleteI "mask up" when I'm cooking at Loaves and Fishes, in places that request it, and when I'm sneezy. SWMBO wants me to wear one much more often. Usually I wear disposables; it makes no sense to me to keep collections of viruses. I have some fabric ones she's gotten for me for dress up (concerts, etc), mostly these have dragon images. I have some from BeauTies in size XL that are comfortable. In a century real science will know that this was part of "The Crazy Years", to steal a phrase.
Ah, real science, I miss it so.
DeleteKF94, check! M48, check! M249, wish!
ReplyDeleteDo it. Your WW2 fiction had me by the nose. Amazingly good read.
Patton, SAW, I need (want) both!
DeleteSarge, Japan is exactly as you state, at least in my limited experience there traveling in Winter during cold and flu season. The last year we were able to train in Japan (2020 - literally as the first cruise ship docked in Japan with The Plague on board) we took a trip to Tokyo for observing the Kobudo Kyokai Taikai (Annual Old Martial Arts demonstration). We were told - not suggested, told - by the head of our school that we would be masking up on the train. Of course we did - whatever Soke directs us to do, we do.
ReplyDeleteMy current employer requires them although I am working from home so it is less of an issue. I wear them wherever they are required because I actually believe in things like the free market and rights to your property: if you define how I need to enter your establishment of business, I can either do so or shop somewhere else (to be fair, I do not go a lot of places, some for his very reason). It for the protection of those around us; to those who are doubtful my response would be how much do they enjoy directly being coughed or sneezed on (the really loud, gross sneezes too from a pre-schooler). The correct answer there is "no-one".
"When the virus goes away". Yes, there seems to be this slow growing awareness among those I know that are very much on the other side of the spectrum in my life that this is not going away, vaccines are not the bullet proof prevention that was advertised, and there have been real and significant social and personal costs to everything done in the name of The Plague. I do not expect it will change things now; what I am hopeful for is that the next time this comes up, people will remember.
1939 Poles and Brits sound great. One of my more favorite WW II novels growing up was Mila 18, about the conquest of Poland and The Warsaw Ghetto uprising by Leon Uris.
I need to read those, I've read a couple of Mr. Uris' books and they were good.
DeleteI didn't believe the hype over the vaccines in the first place, even though I took the jabs (for the same reason I mask up). Threaten a fellow's livelihood and he'll comply. Unless he's independently wealthy, which I'm not.
I read Mila 18 When I was a kid. It steered me towards owning guns.
DeleteI wear a KN-94 for routine errands. I loop the ear-strap over one of the temples of my glasses; otherwise, my glasses tend to slide off.
Sometimes my mask will do that all by itself. Gets exciting when I go to take it off and my glasses depart my face all by themselves.
DeleteI have to wear a mask at work unless I'm in my office by myself. Last week four of us had a meeting. We had to wear a mask in the meeting room and stay 6 feet apart. A couple of times the Safety Clown walked by to check on us. When the meeting was over, we all walked outside, took off our masks and got into the same car to go to lunch.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the Safety Clown. We have one of those too.
DeleteI've worn the mask when in the car alone but only because I was running from store to store and kept forgetting it in the car. That was in 2020 when we "didn't know better" but now, I only wear the damn things where I have absolutely no choice.
ReplyDeleteBack then I wore it in the car if I was hitting a drive-thru. Now it's ready for donning but not actually on my face. But only if I'm going to go through a drive-thru.
DeleteCrusty Old TV Tech here. Masks...every time I hear Little Dora Lennie and her friend Squiggy Turner bloviating about "Oh the horror! The Cases! Code Red! Masks everywhere!", it activates my CRM-114 Bad Word Generator, and commands it to max gain.
ReplyDeleteFor the WW2 series, Operation Market Garden would be most welcome. Brits and Yanks, and I think Poles in there, too.
Oh yes, Market-Garden had Brits, Poles, and Yanks. I might get to that campaign one of these days, but I was thinking of earlier in the war for now. Not saying I won't change my mind though.
DeleteI'm pretty much in agreement with your mask philosophy. Hospital/Dr's office? Yes. Somebody asks politely? Most likely. Political official demands? Unless that person is an elected official i.e. can be voted out of office, not a chance. Gov Abbott said I didn't have to, so there! If somebody wants to wear one, fine by me. But I will think unkind thoughts if worn stupidly e.g. your driving in the car alone example.
ReplyDeleteSarge, I like your writing style, so I'll read whatever you write. Early WWII was a dark time though. People like fiction to end on a high note, as the final scene in the movie "The Battle of Britain". Empty Skies. My $.02
I'm with you. America's Dad (Governor DeSantis) says I don't hafta, but the commissars and apparatchiks here in the Glorious Democratic People's Republic of Alachuacountystan, capital city Gainesvillegrad, have declared 6' separation and mask wearing. Except at Gator Games, demonstrations in the streets or other places where the politics are so bad nothing, especially common sense, lives.
DeleteGator games - ah yes! Maybe next year!
Deletejuvat - The early part of the war was indeed very dark. But, Dunkirk, though a defeat, provided an incredible morale boost to the British. They resolved that no matter what, we won't quit. If you extend the timeline to November of 1942, just after the defeat of the Afrika Korps at El Alamein when Winston Churchill said “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” A high note right there.
DeleteBut I will surely take your advice to heart, I personally don't like stories which don't end well. So I would avoid that.
Beans - You're on a socialist island in a Freedom Sea, sad, very sad.
DeleteLtFuzz - There's always next year (or tomorrow, if you're Little Orphan Annie.)
DeleteSarge, please don't forget the shameful treatment of the poles by the Brits and others at the end of the war, and yes, i"m more than ready for more of your writing.May I offer your muse some Red Breast Irish Nectar for encouragement?
ReplyDeleteDennis the librarian shusher
I remember how the Poles were treated at the end of the war. When Churchill was no longer the Prime Minister.
DeleteIrish whiskey, nice!
Ah, the Maskrova. How convenient. I wear one because otherwise Mrs. Andrew will have to go to her doctors all alone and the idiots in the offices will make her upset. So I wear one. Positive side is that it covers up the stinky smells of stupid ladies who wear too much perfume.
ReplyDelete"Gah, dying of allergies, Doc, and I can't breathe in your office because your staff are all using chemical warfare level perfumes... hack, choke, cough, die..."
Other than that, I've got an actual full face NBC mask. That's the only thing that actually could possibly stop Der Covid or Der Seasonal Flu or Der Whatevers. One of these days Ima gonna wear that just to rock the boat.
Seriously, if the masks were actually about working, the rules would be "No Facial Hair Extending Beyond Mask. Mask must make a firm seal against face."
But it's about, well, like my wife says about the city we live in. It's like a cake that looks pretty from the outside but is moldy and nasty on the inside. Decorative frosting, so to speak. Image over substance.
And nobody in the media is discussing the facts that the last two waves of serious Covid illnesses and deaths are amongst the vaccinated, and for the most part the unvaccinated are more healthy than the vaccinated. That's a broad brush-stroke, individual cases will vary, but on the average...
Also, if the issue was an issue for masks and vaccinations, then why are the CDCs and NIH and Congress exempt from all the rules? And the Postal Service? And other governmental carve-outs? Yeah, no. Won't go too far down the rabbit hole of ranting and non-conspiracy theories that sound like conspiracy theories.
Just gonna point out, saying a paper mask will protect you is like saying a chain-link or chicken-wire fence will stop mosquitos. Ain't happening.
But if that's what I have to do to get Mrs. Andrew to her doctors... But I won't be quiet about it, nosirree, not quiet at all.
It really does depend on the type of mask. That mosquito argument doesn't hold water.
DeleteAs to Britain and Poland and the peoples and armies of those two places, yes, 1939 (or even earlier as the various armies saw the Germans begin to get froggy) would be good.
ReplyDeleteLike how effective the Poles were versus what we've been told. And how did so many Poles escape the fall of Poland (from both Eastern and Western forces.) And how they got started in England.
As to England, be interesting to hear about some of the English forces during the Sitzkrieg and during the initial Winter War with Finland (when the western powers supposedly supported Finland against the Soviets, supposedly.)
And then tie in the 1939 Poles and Brits with the 1944-45 Poles and Brits.
And I second the post-war sellout by the western powers. Must have been bitter for so many Poles to fight so hard and then, after the war, have to decide to go under Soviet Rule or stay in the West that sold them out. Can't imagine how they must have felt. And how to get their families out if said families were still behind?
Okay, now Beans has me thinking. The 1683 Siege of Vienna?
DeleteBeans - I doubt I would jump from say 1941 (or earlier) then to 1945 and create a coherent story, then again, now you've got me thinking,. That could work provided I did it right.
DeleteAh, the Finns, get ahold of The Unknown Soldier (2017 film) and watch it. Not only is it a great film, it sheds some interesting light on the Finns versus the Russians during the "Continuation War." Which is what the Finns called WWII, A very good film.
It was a bitter pill for the Poles to swallow, I wonder if things might have been different had Churchill still been the Prime Minister.
TB - I doubt that I'll go back that far. 😉
DeleteBut the Poles did save Europe at that event.
Needing to commit to having some young people fly me back to Fl, we agreed to mask up. The guy checking bags (outside SFO) reminded me as I walked by. Good for him. The agent made sure we understood that masks needed to cover the mouth AND nose. Good for him. The Flight Attendant (or perhaps someone's child having been brought to work to observe) reminded us that bites and sips needed to be quick and decisive, replacing the mask during mastication and swallowing. Good for that young person. Another someone reminded us that masks were more important than disabling the smoke detector - horrors! After maneuvering for hours on end and wrestling the ship to earth (ATL), the Captain (age? maybe late teens to early twenties) sought congratulations at the flight deck door as we deplaned. He wasn't wearing a mask. Funny to me.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to write for us Sarge it's good.
Did you check on "Kindle Unlimited" at Amazon for the finished tome? I have some friends who seem to like that process.
Yes, the airlines and the airline industry continue to disappoint. The continual announcements of the "Federal government mask order mandate" nearly always makes me want to vomit. Apparently the CDC is now allowed to make law, why do we need Congress? (Yes, that was semi-rhetorical.)
DeleteI haven't foresworn Amazon, but I do have an iron in the fire at the moment concerning publishing the book.
The urge to write fiction is strong right now, just have to pick the right story!
Having to work at checkout line at local hipermarket, I am forced to meet hundreds of individuals daily, and I wish all of them would use masks, as our local emergency rules dictate. Alas, folks have no respect for our health, and while we are forced to wear maks for upwards of 8 hours of tedious work, not so much by orders from above but by eyewitnessing few workers having hard cases of COVID. Thankfully no one has died, but some people spent time in hospital under oxygen therapy. On the other hand as soon as I manage to get outdoors, mask goes off, not only as rules dont enfroce it there, but because combined effects of wind, temperature - be it high or low- and sun if present make viruses task much harder. Too bad much of my road homer is spent in public transport, where I have to wear mask again. Thankfully last click or so is on foot, making my daily walk and fresh air intake much healthier than average city dweller.
ReplyDeleteAlso, loom at this from the more libertarian view, the masks make all of us much more untraceable to the giant system of CCTV present pretty much everywhere... For years police everywhere , regardless of political systems, was doing its best to stop people from using masks of any kind during manifestations or any public gatherings and now we are encouraged. Oh the irony!
Interesting point you bring up in that last paragraph, Pawel. Hadn't thought of that aspect. Thanks and yes...the irony!
DeletePaweł - That has to suck wearing a mask all day, but yeah, having to deal with hundreds of people, you are really taking a chance by not masking up.
Deletejuvat - Definitely ironic, Big Brother hoist upon his own petard!
Delete(Don McCollor)...I was always uncomfortable wearing a mask into a bank or liquor store. Flt like I should have a pistol in my pocket...
DeleteI still feel like that!
DeleteIf you feel that way Don and OAFS you are living in the wrong state. Some banks are a little snotty here in Texas, but the liquor stores aren't.
Delete??
DeleteConcur on masks.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to remember how badly the early years of WW2 were for the good guys, with the western front getting worse through Dunkirk, and eventual Kraut control through France... and the U-boat menace decimating supply (and weapon) shipments. "Fighting them on the landing grounds, etc" was a very real possibility. War on the continent degraded to largely air, occasional raids, and irregular guerilla ops until June 1944. The role of U.S lend lease prior to 7 Dec 1941 is largely forgotten, and the destroyers for bases deal, etc which enabled the Brits to hold on during the dark days. Evacuation of kids to Canada and US.
Light, other than speeding locomotives began to glimmer after the North Africa campaign, the Doolittle raid on Japan, Norwegian ops, etc as the good guys got back on offense. And began to really kick ass after the first few tenuous days at Normandy.
But, buy the muse a couple of drinks and see where she wants to go. We'll be happy to tag along.
John Blackshoe
Prior to Pearl Harbor, how many remember the USS Reuben James? (Torpedoed by a German U-Boat off Iceland in October of 1941. Out of a crew of seven officers and 136 enlisted men plus one enlisted passenger, 100 were killed, leaving only 44 enlisted men and no officers who survived the attack.)
DeleteDD-432 USS KEARNY. Oct 17 1941 LIVERMORE Class. Limped into Hvalfjord in Iceland, after being torpedoed. Split plants are a Good Thing! Having alternating fire and engine rooms allowed fer to survive.
DeleteI knew of Kearny as well.
DeleteThe masks don't protect from facial ID as well as you think. The cheap temperature scanning system where I used to work had almost no problem identifying us with or without the mask when we scanned in for work. I could confuse it more easily with a cap than a mask. That was a cheap commercial system, not an expensive system specifically intended to identify people. Your eyes (spacing, shape, etc) are a big giveaway, as is the general size and shape of your face and head and the size and placement of your ears.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
DeleteDo it, Sarge!
ReplyDeleteWill do!
DeleteSaw this on koobecaf yesterday:
ReplyDelete“ Although Covid-19 spreads mostly by the mouth and nose, scientists now conclude that the greatest risk comes from assholes.”
🤣🤣🤣
DeleteConcur!
The original estimation(?) of the diameter of the COVID virus *spikes and all" way back when was 0.4 µ. I'm certain that a goood mask reduces the number of particles in in/exhaled air: just not to zero. A plastic bag, tightly sealed around the neck, would probbably work quite well.
ReplyDeleteWhat would have to be the viral load before you contract the disease? I don't know, but I strongly suspect that noone else does either, because "contraction of the disease" just depends upon so many other factors.
I myself am a prime, walking (more or less) example of multiple(x4) co-morbidities who shuffles around Publix (FL) hanging on for dear life to his cart, dines indoors in my favorite breakfast joint or sushi bar, and, no, I don't believe playing in Russian roulette.
I do, though, strongly believe that we've been scammed and am amazed at the number of people, of whom I once thought so highly, who fervently believe and accept the fertilizer, which unlike Portia's "quality of mercy", has soaked us to the skin.
BTW: please don't delay: proceed (regress) to 1939; I enjoy reading your style of story telling. Right now, I'm enjoying Volume I of Richard Evans interesting narrative history, The Third Reich Trilogy.
I plan to start writing soon!
DeleteLooks like I need to score a copy of that trilogy, already added to my Amazon "Wish List."
I too don't play Russian roulette.
Please start writing!! I'll even buy you the paper and typewriter ribbons!
ReplyDeleteSoon, very soon.
DeletePaper, typewriter ribbons - very old school, I like it!
I wear a double cloth mask with an insert filter, probably not worth crap. If you can smell smoke through it it won't stop virus, but it does keep ass hats from looking at me cross-eyed. They are nice outside when it is cold and windy.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes idiots hold their water, I'm all for it!
Delete(Don McCollor)...You got to humor them. My opinion is that cloth masks are about as useful as carrying a rabbit's foot. An remember the rabbit had four of them...
Delete"Had" being the operative word ...
DeleteThat's a big fire considering all the fire trucks you called in! Here's one that shows what we either already knew or suspected, and that the mother firetruckers planned it from the start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zgoENmeddA&t=420s
ReplyDeleteTrump's biggest failure - not firing Fauci.
DeleteHah. Pffft. Theater.
ReplyDeleteIt always was.
Delete