“Ivanka Trump, who is what you’d get if Veruca Salt’s dad just bought Willy Wonka’s factory for her at the end,”

Goddamn, I like that. 

everything bad in their life is someone else’s fault

Oh please.  Edison did objectively good things and probably wasn't even the worst inventor of his era.  Musk is clearly Tesla.  Overhyped guy who made one thing and has an obnoxious fanbase that won't shut the fuck up about it.  We just need him to say he built a death ray and have a Trump involved and its one for one.

I believe the name roughly translates to “legally emancipated from parents by age 13"

Remember when we thought Apple was a dumb name?  

I remember a time when you really had to search for people babbling incoherently. Now it is delivered to me daily. Thanks, Internet!

“I think it sounds like the name of the main character in the story,” she said. “I hope he vibes with that.”

If a billionaire’s son can’t manage to be self-confident and in charge of his own life, a stupid fucking name isn’t going to help.

(This also goes for non-billionaires who insist on giving their kids a “unique”…

It would appear my original translation of: “We’re both insufferable dumbasses” was correct.

I had a stash of N95 dusk masks (no valve, those are more expensive and I’m a cheapskate) from before.

Viruses are mainly carried by water droplets, which are different from scents. If you’re looking to block viruses and asbestos, you’re using a particulate filter. If you wanted to block organic vapors and gases, you’ll need a chemical cartridge for the mask.

If you are wearing an actual respirator with cartridges and can smell cinnamon buns, it’s not effective. I remember getting fit for one when I was in the Navy. We had to go into a tent that had a rag with banana oil on it. If you could smell bananas, you had to get with the instructor and correct the fitment or try a…

Agreed. 50% effective is exponentially better than 0% effective. If it’s all you’ve got, use it!

Right? If everyone’s wearing masks with a valve, they’re still effective.

Yes yes yes...but any mask is better than none. We need to stop this “well technically this mask isn’t blocking virus” talk. Folks wearing them are better off period. Here in Thailand most are just using loose hospital type masks...less than 3k for 12 million people and 50 deaths...

If it keeps the mask on your face instead of dangling around your neck, it's not worthless. Focus on getting everyone wearing better masks. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Some of these valve masks can be closed. If the interior of the valve has a arrow on it, there’s a good chance that’s a operable valve that can be twisted to close. Then you are using the filter both ways (or if the seal is loose, then you’re using the gap in the seal). 

The hard on some people have for their being no solution but to lock everyone up for the year plus it will take for a vaccine is getting old.

As a front-line healthcare worker, although I agree with much of what you say, what are the alternatives? Yes, as COVID-19 spreads, people will get sick and a horrifying percentage (maybe as low as 0.2%, still A LOT of people) will die.

Wait, aren’t you dead as well?