COVID19 Thread

[KeithS]

And speaking of Onward - I see they are releasing it onto Disney+ in the US on 2 April!  Amazing that it has only been in cinemas a couple of weeks.  I guess they realise they cannot make any more money from it in the US now so they're releasing it on the streaming service.

I doubt they'll do that here of course - as it hasn't been released and they could just hold it back to the September school holidays or something like that - whenever the cinemas are open again.

[DisneyKaren]

And speaking of Onward - I see they are releasing it onto Disney+ in the US on 2 April!  Amazing that it has only been in cinemas a couple of weeks.  I guess they realise they cannot make any more money from it in the US now so they're releasing it on the streaming service.

I doubt they'll do that here of course - as it hasn't been released and they could just hold it back to the September school holidays or something like that - whenever the cinemas are open again.

It's great that Disney are being so gracious in releasing these movies earlier onto the streaming service.  I have no doubt Disney+ has been financially successful for them and at the moment will be one of their main income streams, along with the online store of course.
I saw a headline that internet will 'be the new toilet paper' as everyone is home.  I admit depending if I get through everything I've recorded I may use any free time to finally get Disney+.

[calisota]

Luckily life for me is little changed from normal. Bars and Clubs and sporting places have been closed down but that doesn't worry me at all. I have plenty of stuff saved to watch so the movies shutting is not a problem. Plenty of projects on my list I can do in my room, from learning to code to building a couple of kit robots I have in a box, which would mean learning to solder. 

Toilet paper is not an issue in this part of the world as "hand held bidets" are the norm and there is no sign of panic buying in the supermarkets for anything.

I have slowly accumulated enough groceries to see me through a few weeks of not being able to go outside but at the moment I am still buying fresh food on a daily basis.

The hardest part is seeing the number of businesses in real strife. Tourism is a really big thing in Chiang Mai, especially the Chinese. Of course Chinese tourists were the first to dry up and that happened quite a while ago, in virus history terms. So many people are doing it tough here and have been for a while and it's sad to see. Songkran (Thai New Year) is a big event on the Thai calendar and huge water throwing parties are a major part of it. All of those have been cancelled this year and it was an important part of the economy.

If all this comes to an end in 12 months time and things go back to "normal" I have a feeling our definition of normal will have changed.


Greg

[KeithS]

I'm with you Karen - I imagine Disney+ and the online store are the only remaining consumer income stream for Disney at the moment.  Sure they are getting advertising revenue from their television affiliates, but direct I can only think of those other two straight from consumers themselves.  So I think it is a good idea to launch new movies directly to Disney+ just to bump up those subscription numbers.

Sorry to hear about all those businesses struggling in Thailand Greg.  Although not much different here either - lots of people laid off and today with the bigger shut down of all clubs, cinemas, pubs and casinos, it is only going to get much worse.  You have to wonder how long this is going to stretch on for...

[DisneyKaren]

I'm with you Karen - I imagine Disney+ and the online store are the only remaining consumer income stream for Disney at the moment.  Sure they are getting advertising revenue from their television affiliates, but direct I can only think of those other two straight from consumers themselves.  So I think it is a good idea to launch new movies directly to Disney+ just to bump up those subscription numbers.

Sorry to hear about all those businesses struggling in Thailand Greg.  Although not much different here either - lots of people laid off and today with the bigger shut down of all clubs, cinemas, pubs and casinos, it is only going to get much worse.  You have to wonder how long this is going to stretch on for...

Meanwhile it's like I'm still working full time as I was in the office today and again tomorrow. I'll work what I have to even if they can't pay me a full wage.  We're working to make sure ours isn't one of the businesses that isn't there on the other side.  Our company does training & consulting for hospitality so our clients are devastated with the full closures; they are all closing up and working out what pay cuts everyone has to take.  Unlike September 11, I feel a lot of people will travel again once borders open up.  Disney will be inundated!!!  Still looking forward to my trip later this year even if I have to swim - actually with pools closing I can't even practice my swimming so I'll need those planes back in the air.  Also I can only dog paddle.

[calisota]

Today is the first day of a serious close down here. They have now closed all shopping centres as well. The only things allowed to stay open in the shopping centres are supermarkets and chemists. Restaurants are also supposed to be closed for eating in, only take-aways allowed. Going to be interesting to see the impact it has here.

I went to my usual supermarket yesterday and, if anything, it was quieter than usual. Then I went to an outdoor market, which is also allowed to stay open, to get fresh veges and it was business as normal, no real change. I was admiring the great piles of garlic in the back of a ute when the guy unloading gave me a big smile and said "Fresh...no virus". 

Has the toilet paper situation settled down at all? The supermarket I was in had an aisle full and absolutely no one buying any.

My mother emailed yesterday to say that she and my father are allowed into the supermarket early if they show their pension cards so it's one less worry to know that they have access to groceries.



Greg

[KeithS]

Hi Greg - the government announced more shut downs last night here.  Beauticians, nail salons, shopping centre food court seating areas, weddings are restricted to five people (the couple, the two witnesses and the celebrant); funerals restricted to 10 people. Schools are still open as are the shopping centre retailers for now.  I think the next step will be to close non-essential shops.

I'm working from home but need to head up to Mitre10 this morning to buy some hardware before they shut. 

I'm still struggling to find toilet paper anywhere - I'll try again this morning when I'm out as I have to get milk too.

We have the early hour shopping for pensioners, but my Dad is trying to get on the Woolworths Priority delivery service instead but he still hasn't heard from them after applying on the weekend.  Coles in also introducing a priority shopping hour for COVID19 responders (health workers, police, fire, doctors) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

[calisota]

Keith - would you be able to continue working from home after this is all over, and would you prefer to if you had the option? This is one of the big changes that may occur in the world with a lot more people finding they are able and happier to work from home.

Last night they essentially declared a state of emergency here which gives the government all sorts of powers, including introducing a curfew. Shutting down Bangkok meant here was a sudden surge of workers heading back to the countryside and their home villages. Already had a report of one bus with an infected person on it. 

Greg

[calisota]

On the subject of Onward...I saw it yesterday. No spoilers but I have to say I was underwhelmed. Not a bad movie by any means but probably not up to the standard we have come to expect from Pixar in terms of story.


Greg

[KeithS]

Keith - would you be able to continue working from home after this is all over, and would you prefer to if you had the option?

We were discussing this at work the other day - I think the way we all work will be changed dramatically after all this as I think we'll prove that it is possible to maintain productivity by working remotely.
I had worked from home on and off while I was doing our renovations here, so I already had a process, but it wasn't generally allowed at my workplace.  Now everyone is having to do it and I think it is genuinely working well - so yes, I think we will see more empty office buildings world wide as a result of this.  This is definitely a world changing event - just as 9-11 was to travel, but I think this will have far greater social outcomes for us.  More work from home, more home delivery - once we get the floaty chair things, it'll be just like Wall-E!

[calisota]

Chiang Mai has always been a bit of a "digital nomad" haven and I was always interested in the concept, at least until I figured out I wasn't interested in working at all.   But digital nomads have been seen as a bit of a hip thing who are just millennial's who don't want to work and instead travel and pretend to work. If there really is a shift after all this is over and more people realise that they don't have to go to the office but can actually work from home or anywhere with an internet connection then things might change a lot.

If you could "work from home" but home could be anywhere at any time then would the need to work to get the white picket fence be as attractive. Maybe cheap rent, relaxed lifestyle and interesting environs before you move on to the the next place could become a much bigger option for a lot of people, especially those who see themselves as never being able to afford to buy a house anyway.

So Keith, can you picture yourself working from an exotic location for 6 months and then moving on to somewhere else?


Greg

[DisneyKaren]

Sounds amazing Greg!  Of course I have too much 'stuff' and would miss decorating each season. Certainly would be a great thing for many people though.

The days I work I'm in the office, however I'm learning different work to assist others.  Hopefully once this is over my boss will trust us more to work from home occasionally.  Yesterday my Pilates instructor did a class in the park.  Personally I loved doing the class outside and hoping we can do this even after the gym opens back up.  FYI we followed guidelines with 10 all up including instructor, we were over 2m apart and the park wasn't busy.

Will be interesting to see if things have changed 12 months after the world starts to reopen, or if life goes back. Demographers will be in their element over the next few years recording the recovery and changes ...... and this nerd will be interested in their reports.

[calisota]

Will be interesting to see if things have changed 12 months after the world starts to reopen, or if life goes back. Demographers will be in their element over the next few years recording the recovery and changes ...... and this nerd will be interested in their reports.

The academic papers that come out of this will fill a library on their own. 

Greg

[KeithS]

Just a bit more Disney+ news.  They will be releasing Onward here on Disney+ on the 24th April!  It never even made it into the cinemas here except for a few sneak peeks.

I felt for sure they would just delay the release until the September school holidays, but no - we'll get to see it on Disney+ in just three weeks time.

[DisneyKaren]

Again, a lovely gesture from Disney.  Perhaps as it had been out overseas for a short while, they didn't want to re-release it later.  I notice they've moved the release dates for other movies including Mulan which I believe has been rescheduled for June.  I wonder if cinemas will be back in action by then?  A few weeks ago I was sure things would be back to normal by June however now I'm just settling in to a new way of life until I'm told otherwise.