A Concerned Scientist @BE@qoto.org

Apparently I started something, because I haven't even told anyone else this yet and I just got a text from someone else:

"He drives a cybertruck now and quotes Elon Musk all day. Sorry, could have warned you "

What a world.

@Bette

I'm sure you're right, but I was terrified to dig into it any further

@donkeyherder

I've looked at my phone at least 5 times thinking "Did that really just happen?" I hired him and worked in science with him for 5 or 6 years. Just mind blowing.

I just had the most mind-blowing conversation with a former colleague. Long story short, we're downsizing on our move and I'm trying not to send a whole bunch of perfectly good used furniture to the dump. I've contacted everywhere that I could theoretically donate it, and they're not taking any furniture. I've contacted every used furniture store, and they all say they're overstocked. One told us, "I'm going to sit here and take this exact phone call all day today." So I reached out to my contact list on my phone to see if anyone needed anything for free.

One person, whom I guess I haven't talked to much lately, ends up saying they could use something and I tell him we'll leave it in the driveway for him next week. The conversation ends up with me saying that we're avoiding as much indoor, face to face meetings as we can during this move.

He says, and I quote from the text, "You don't really believe in COVID, do you?"

I reply, "Yeah, the science is pretty straightforward."

He says, "Scientists are just conspiracy theorists."

I say, "You're a scientist. I know this because I hired you and you have a degree in biochemistry."

He says, "That was before I got my MBA and realized how the world really works. Science isn't real."

@mfennvt

I might try calling U-Haul. I did their online thing and no matter what local zip codes I put in and what dates it told me cargo vans were unavailable.

@Jennifer

The Enterprise person told me they quit renting them out "without a valid reason in the last few years." I guess people were tearing them up off-road. From what I gathered unless it was likely to be icy somewhere that I was driving it they weren't willing to rent it out.

Pretty sure at this point we'll just bite the bullet and let a mover handle the dozen or so things we can't fit. So far they've been pretty unphased by the idea of driving up our half mile dirt "driveway."

@mfennvt

I thought about hosing it down so there was no dust, but in the end neither Enterprise or Penske(who were the two convenient locations) were willing rent it since it wasn't winter time.

It was really like "You want a 4WD? I'm now going to interrogate you about why!"

@lhgmk2

Yeah, we're in the US. Moving up the east coast out of Governor DeSantis' "freedom state"

Moving up into the hills and nature. I'll have to get some photography tips from you in the future to up my game.

@lhgmk2

I'm trying to figure something like this out. It's a 10 hour drive and I only have 12 pieces of furniture that we're bringing that don't fit in our car.

I'm asking for quotes from a couple movers and we'll see if the sticker shock kills me.

@OpenComputeDesign

From what I'm hearing they basically only rent them out in the winter. It's bizarre to me that they own cars that they won't rent out unless you promise never to go off of a paved road, but, here we are.

I'm trying to rent an AWD cargo van to move a few pieces of larger furniture and I'm finding that all of the rental places that have them, put them behind a "call for details" so you can't reserve them online. As soon as I call they ask why I need an AWD or 4WD since it's winter time. I say that I'm moving off grid and I'm up a dirt "driveway"(call it a road and they immediately hang up on you) and they all freak out. "Take it off of the paved road and you're violating our terms of service!"

I'm actually going to be brief here. Shocking, I know.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/climate/pfas-forever-chemicals-industry-lawsuits.html

I think these lawsuits will ramp up. I've been trying to get someone I know who's suffering, and has plenty of money, to start one himself.

I also think, based on discussions with actual lawyers previously, that there will be a day in court where in one room lawyers are saying, "Sure, you're unwell, but, how do you know that's from PFAs and not COVID?" While lawyers in the next room over are saying, "Sure, you're unwell, but how do you know that's from COVID and not PFAs?"

Just a reminder to check your local wastewater testing if it still exists. Ours does not, but the two closest to us on https://data.wastewaterscan.org are both straight vertical lines now. This new variant's wave looks like it's likely to be a big one. At least locally, brick and mortar schools are mostly finishing up this week. Maybe that'll alleviate some of the pressure.