20 May, 2020 – Episode 774 – What’s in an Octopus’ Garden

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?

Interview w/ Chad King on Octopus Gardens, COVID Update, Pain In The Brain, Fungis On Twitter, Bird Spys, Eyes On, Irreproducible Results, Dr. Google, Funny Penguin Poop, And Much More…

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Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!

The world is close

Closer than you think perhaps

to opening up, unlocking, to just not staying home…

But are we ready?

The answer, I can assure you,

Is maybe at best, And most likely,

no.

Yes, we have social distanced and it has been working.

Yes we are washing hands, wearing masks,

avoiding handshakes, and distancing in public places.

But now we have millions out of work,

in a system that heavily relies on workplace insurance.

And while the advice from public health officials is sound:

“If you think you have symptoms, consult your primary physician.”

More people lack a primary physician than ever before in the history of this nation.

Look it, that is a fact, most likely.

Not everywhere in the world, but definitely here in the United States this is the case

If we learn no other lesson from this epidemic,

let this at least be the take away:

Employer based healthcare fails in an emergency.

What if 911 emergency services only operated during bankers hours?

Or paramedics only carried solar powered defibrillators?

It’s like a fire extinguisher with an automatic shut off valve if it detects smoke.

And the thing is, it’s already a system that has been like this for anyone who gets sick and can’t work so…

We need a better way to care for ourselves than being dependent on sectors of industry that may or may not exist in a crisis situation.