Three unexpected effects of C-19

Here are three unexpected effect of C-19 -- or rather, the social isolation policies going on around the globe.

First, that it's actually increasing social cohesion -- particularly in urban areas and in the suburbs.  Because people are now home a lot more than usual, they are becoming aware of the people the next balcony over (in urban areas), and actually stopping to chat with neighbors (across the fence, or on the front walk -- while maintaining proper social distancing, of course).

Second, and related to the neighborhood-level social cohesion -- families are probably spending more time together.  Among other things, I know that in my household I've been seeing more of my kids.  I'm still working nine-to-five, Monday through Friday -- but usually it takes me an hour to get to work, and an hour to get home. Whereas now:  I turn off my PC -- and I'm home!!!  And -- there are my kids!!!  So we're actually running around in the yard more, and etcetera.

And third: now that people are running fewer errands, and working from home if they can, there are a lot of cars not on the roads at the moment:  surely that's good for reducing global warming?


I might not be the only one to have noticed this -- but I haven't directly read or seen anything that has expressly stated this.


--GG

Job typology

I was sitting in a McDonald's a few days ago, and realized that everything I saw around me -- the pillars, the tables, the t.v. commercial on the flat-screen t.v. -- was designed and built by someone.

It got me thinking about how you could break down jobs into a few categories.  Here's what I came up with:  I don't think you can break it down to any fewer categories; and I don't think I missed anything.  But if you have any suggested modifications, please let me know.

1. MAKING (growing, designing) -- farmers, artists, film makers, composers, cooks
2. COLLECTING INFORMATION -- researchers, people who work behind a counter filling in forms, data entry operator
3. WATCHING (monitoring) -- playground monitors, security workers
4. REPAIRING -- plumbers, computer repair folks, doctors, counselors)
5. ORGANIZING (consolidating) -- bookkeepers, managers
6. SHARING (communicating of information, ideas)-- helpdesks, journalists, stand-up comedians
7. EXPLAINING -- teachers, counselors
8. CLEANING -- housekeepers, garbage collectors, groundskeepers
9. TRANSPORTING -- busdrivers, pilots, truckers, waiters

Some occupations might have elements of more than one task.

Hmm -- need to figure out where to put entertainers (e.g. musicians), and athletes.

--GG