Top 10: Concrete and flight

Nice perspective and depth. Is that Prussian blue? Would be a leap for Cerulean. (© Image)

The least likely to find item on a Top 10 List?

(Oh, it does too deserve a listing.)

Parking garages.

(Probably an oversight – or concern others might think you’ve parked your brain and lost the exit ticket.)

With the far too many trips recently to the Med. Center and various doctors, I’m getting to be a connoisseur of parking garages.

This particular one is one of my favorites for multiple reasons

•  There are little green or red lights over each parking spot so it’s easy to find an available spot (but they are always “full”/red, so we don’t really bother to look because…)
• We like the 9th floor – on the roof. Wide open. Roomy spots with a view.
• On a clear blue day, the sun is welcome (As opposed to cold hallways and offices)
• And the 9th level entry door to the elevators is usually stuck open so you don’t have to touch it.

This garage is for Staff’s broken arm doc who is the 14th floor and looks out over where the car is parked. (So if you are uncertain if you locked the car, you can stand by the window and “beep” it for reassurance. Oh, you know that happens HA HA)

Below you to the west, is the main attraction of both garage and office: the view.

Tall buildings creating aa3-D contemporary larger-than-sofa-size painting – abstract art of lines, shapes, and colors.

Just to the right and past the Medical (serious) Research Building, is Rice University: red tiles of the older buildings among the massive spreading oaks, the newer contemporary sleek ones(at least they are keeping the same color tones) popped in like dropped children’s blocks, and the oval track bordering an emerald green infield. That day there was a social distancing track team meeting in the middle and one person practicing in the pole vault lane.

A feast spread out before you like a picnic.

Pole vault is cool: run, run, run, spring and fling across the air.

Defying gravity and as close to flying like a bird as you can get. It must be a real rush when just starting out.

Then come the contortions to grab every fraction of height. Competition may overshadows the exhilaration.

Easy to lose excitement with too much attention to tiny details.

Might get a little wet in this dreary parking spot, but better waiting here than in the grim, dark, dungeon parking garage under the building off to the left. That one’s got to be on the Top Ten List for horror movie sets. (© image)

At the “good” parking garage/doctor’s office, those accompanying patients can also come in.

With some of the others I have to sit in the parked car and wait. (I am not parking in that dark grey corner where there’s no cell phone service ’cause it’s probably under some heavily shielded treatment machines. Just too spooky, grim, and depressing…and hard to read my book. That parking garage definitely on the “Top 10 Worst”)

This last week was weird in that always before at the “prove you’re healthy” screening point, everyone has been handed a surgical mask and told to double mask in the building. No matter what mask you had on, you had to double mask. (Which is such fun…I swear my eyeballs actually fog up and refuse to focus)

This time single masks were no problemo.

Things are always evolving. So much conflicting information.

Fauci says people should be double masking (Jan 25 and last week.) Yet in 2020, both Fauci and others mentioned masks may not protect – for several reasons. (It’s not the mask’s fault! Human error!…they always say that about plane crashes, too).

The CDC hasn’t recommended double-masking …,yet.

Recently Fauci said they were going to rank effectiveness of masks (and so next you’ll be told which kind to wear where?).

Well, people have brains. Spit out the factual info and let everyone analyze it and their personal risks considering their own comfort levels. That’s all I ask. 

Can’t decide. Are the bare branches reaching for the light or discouraging the born to be earthbound from aspiring to do the same? (© image copyrighted)

Anyway. Being stuck in med. and mask mode, a couple of recent articles/real science research worth reading. These are the primary source for a good number of media stories…and you’ll recognize the language emerging from the administration. For those who want to know actual science, not just the parts some want to share with you.

• An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19 (National Academy of Science) here. “The science around the use of masks by the public to impede COVID-19 transmission is advancing rapidly. In this narrative review, we develop an analytical framework to examine mask usage, synthesizing the relevant literature to inform multiple areas: population impact, transmission characteristics, source control, wearer protection, sociological considerations, and implementation considerations.”

Usually general readers skim the first paragraphs, scroll through reading the bold headings/look at pictures and graphs, then read the conclusion at the end. (Oh, FYI research always ends with “further research”…it’s a standard closing. Funding.)

You might be interested in reading the sections on Sociological Considerations like “Risk Compensation”, “Managing the Stigma Associated with wearing a mask”, and “Creating New Symbolism Around Wearing a Mask” Hmmmm? The “Implementation Consideration” section is also intriguing with references to other countries, global shortages of masks, and gotta love that “Mandatory Mask Wearing” section – Hmmm.

• “Uniting Infectious Disease and Physical Science Principles on the Importance of Face Masks for COVID-10” (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation)

“This commentary will summarize the evidence on face masks for COVID-19 from both the infectious diseases and physical science viewpoints; standardize recommendations on types of masks that afford the best protection to the public; and provide guidelines on messaging for this important non-pharmaceutical intervention as we await widespread vaccine distribution.”

Easy to read, but also real science. Pictures of which masks work and why (Mentions you can add vacuum bag material for filtration if there’s a pocket…and there’s always the coffee filter in the pocket approach as seen on the local news…the downside is either restriction of air does limit incoming particles, but also make it darn hard to breath…and your eyeballs may fog up or for some reason it becomes hard to hear…) Includes some easy to read consumer-friendly charts.

Discusses “Ways to effectively provide public health messaging on importance of facial masks during COVID-19”. Mask shaming discouraged, “Harm Reduction” discussed, and Biden administration.

No masking there are more fun ways to accessorize your outfits – and spend your time.

Hope some fun is parked on your current Top Ten List.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

It doesn’t matter what that groundhog says, watch for the sunny early adopters willing to take the risk. Molly is still getting her walks despite the hour in and hour back commutes to the med center for Sr. Staff’s treatments. About the half-way point which is a bit brutal, so MIA from blogging right now. Not going to deny the dog her walks or getting outside. Never know what sunny things you’ll find and Super Bowl time is tree trimming time here. Yep. Have ladder, will saw.(© image)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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