They need traffic spikes. ha.

Honestly, it'd actually be nice, in theory, to have the aisles be one way all the time regardless of the pandemic, especially at the one on 16th.

Or maybe just an employee asking people to go the right way in between their temp checks for the freezers/fridges. But yeah, traffic spikes would be OK with me, lol...

Forgot to mention that the one on 16th (I think it's 18th, actually) is the one I was referring to, and their aisles are actually not bad compared to some other stores - they don't have nearly as many bumpout displays in the aisles that bottleneck things as soooo many other stores do.

...Honestly, it'd actually be nice, in theory, to have the aisles be one way all the time regardless of the pandemic, especially at the one on 16th.

Fun fact: when Sylvan Goldman introduced his new invention - the shopping cart - at his Piggly Wiggly stores he configured the aisles in such a way that you were absolutely required to walk up/down each and every aisle in one direction, end to end. You'd get a cart at the front, enter the first aisle, go to the end, take a jog around an end cap, then back in the opposite direction up the next aisle and so on.

I've been told that the first location for this was the one which now houses Lyric Theater in Plaza District. I suspect it was deemed to be too restrictive and today of course it would not pass fire code.

Fun fact: when Sylvan Goldman introduced his new invention - the very shopping cart - at his Piggly Wiggly stores he configured the aisles in such a way that you were absolutely required to walk up/down each and every aisle in one direction, end to end. You'd get a cart at the front, enter the first aisle, go to the end, take a jog around an end cap, then back in the opposite direction up the next aisle and so on.

I've been told that the first location for this was the one which now houses Lyric Theater in Plaza District. I suspect it was deemed to be too restrictive and today of course it would not pass fire code.

Cool, knew about the shopping cart, but not the aisles! Wonder if there are any pics or diagrams of that, would be interesting to see the design that would actually force people to do that...

I have seen pictures of it in the past. the aisles were incredibly tight also. Probably to keep traffic moving.

Another interesting fact was that when he first introduced them nobody would use them. People were used to carry baskets, so that's what they used. In fact the prototype grocery basket was two carry baskets mounted to a folding chair with wheels screwed onto the bottom. The problem with carry baskets was that people stopped shopping once it got heavy. The shopping cart allowed them to buy more stuff without thinking about it.

So anyway, the way he managed to get people to use them was genius. He figured out that mostly people were insecure about being SEEN pushing the basket around. So he hired attractive, well-dressed young women to come and pretend they were shopping, while happily using carts. Problem solved. Because in the end, people are cattle. Sorry, that last part took a dark turn!

I'll try to find a picture of the aisles but while looking I found this article on Mental Floss (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/26470/brief-history%E2%80%94and-future%E2%80%94-shopping-cart) that goes into a bit more depth regarding what I posted above.


...Sylvan Goldman had a problem. As was customary for grocery stores in 1936, his Standard/Piggly Wiggly locations in Oklahoma City supplied shoppers with a small wooden or wire basket for them to carry as they wandered up and down the aisles. Once the basket got too heavy, though, customers headed for the check-out line, a situation Goldman wanted to avoid. To keep them buying, Goldman was determined to figure out a way to make heavy baskets more manageable.

One night, he happened to look at a wooden folding chair and inspiration struck.

He placed one shopping basket on the seat and another under the chair, then envisioned wheels on the legs, and a handle on the back. He was on to something. It took a few months of tinkering, but Goldman eventually settled on a design that was convenient and flexible. To use a cart, you took a folded-up frame from a row of them stacked side-by-side. In their folded form, they were only about 5” wide, so storage space was minimal — a factor Goldman knew would come into play for his invention to be accepted in other stores. Once unfolded, the shopper would grab two baskets and place them in two holders on the frame - one above and one below. When they were done shopping, the check-out girl simply put both baskets on the counter and rang everything up.

Unfortunately, the big debut of his big invention was a great big flop. Despite having a pretty young woman at the entrance to help customers set up the carts, the only people interested in using them were the elderly. Men were too proud to admit they needed help carrying a basket, and some younger women said they had pushed enough baby buggies that they weren't going to use one for shopping, too. Distraught, Goldman hatched another plan – he hired attractive men and women to push carts around inside the store and pretend to shop. When real customers came through the doors and refused the cart, the young woman at the entrance looked back into the store and said, “Why? Everyone else is using them.” Never underestimate the power of peer pressure.

By 1940, only three years after they were introduced, carts had become so popular, entire grocery stores were being designed around them with wider aisles and larger check-out counters to hold all the food people were buying...

Glad to see you back. By the way, how large is your brain? You are a treasure trove of knowledge -- I always click on any post I see of yours. Cheers, happy new year!

Haha thanks. Mostly I'm just a repository of useless information. Think Cliff Clavin.

Haha thanks. Mostly I'm just a repository of useless information. Think Cliff Clavin.

Was this an intentional reference since I said Cheers in my post?

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/021/464/14608107_1180665285312703_1558693314_n.jpg

Can't wait to go to Homeland today and ask/tell so many of the other customers to follow the f*cking arrows on the floor... Last 4 times I've been there, 75% of the people are oblivious to them, they either need to enforce it (yeah, right) or pull them up, I get tired of being the only one that says anything to the idjits that can't see the 3 yellow arrows on the floor in each aisle or the signs all around the store asking them to follow them. Makes me wonder how they drive if they can't see the signs in the store...

I see people behind their meat counters working with masks below their nose all the time, so yeah, I don't see them enforcing the arrows any time soon.

I'll try to find a picture of the aisles but while looking I found this article on Mental Floss (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/26470/brief-history%E2%80%94and-future%E2%80%94-shopping-cart) that goes into a bit more depth regarding what I posted above.

So, basically, we should have just hired models to wear face masks around back in march, and we wouldn't be in this mess.

Or, maybe, in this case, WWE stars?

Can't wait to go to Homeland today and ask/tell so many of the other customers to follow the f*cking arrows on the floor... Last 4 times I've been there, 75% of the people are oblivious to them, they either need to enforce it (yeah, right) or pull them up, I get tired of being the only one that says anything to the idjits that can't see the 3 yellow arrows on the floor in each aisle or the signs all around the store asking them to follow them. Makes me wonder how they drive if they can't see the signs in the store...

I stopped going to stores with narrow aisles. Also, we go either at 11:45 at night or 6:30 in the morning. It's like we're the only ones there.

And if there happens to be a maskless knucklehead, I go the other way.

^

This is why I love Sam's.

Huge aisles and you don't even have to use their great self checkout; you can do it all on your phone through Scan & Go.

I realize they don't have everything but I make it work; rarely go anywhere else and I live alone. It's been a godsend during this time.

So, basically, we should have just hired models to wear face masks around back in march, and we wouldn't be in this mess.

Or, maybe, in this case, WWE stars?

Sure! Or...hear me out...public officials.

I stopped going to stores with narrow aisles. Also, we go either at 11:45 at night or 6:30 in the morning. It's like we're the only ones there.

And if there happens to be a maskless knucklehead, I go the other way.
Aisles are an enigma. (I hope I used that right) The Homeland on Britton & May had very wide aisles. The Homeland at 122nd & Rockwell has narrower aisles. The May store is bigger than the 122nd store in sq ft. But the 122nd store has more product/selection because there's more shelf capacity and less open floorspace. And I shop both stores so I'm absolutely certain of this.

Sure! Or...hear me out...public officials.

That's crazy talk.

Sure! Or...hear me out...public officials.
You don’t say!

I'll try to find a picture of the aisles but while looking I found this article on Mental Floss (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/26470/brief-history%E2%80%94and-future%E2%80%94-shopping-cart) that goes into a bit more depth regarding what I posted above.

Very interesting read, thanks! And the Homeland on Classen actually does have some kind of cart anti-theft mechanism mentioned in the article, one of the (rear, I believe) wheels looks different from the rest and there are signs around the parking lot warning of inoperable carts if they leave the parking lot.

Yesterday, in the middle of the worst surge in Covid-19 we have yet to see, Oklahoma had more new cases per capita than any state other than Arizona.

In other words, as bad as things are right now in this country (and things are very bad), Oklahoma is just about the worst of the worst.

But our map is still orange instead of red, because while our hospitals are treating folks in hallways and running out of room they have enough non-covid folks to keep the percentage below the trigger.

It doesn’t matter that we don’t have room, as long as enough people without room don’t have COVID and keep on dying from other stuff instead.

The Oklahoman reported today that Integris may have to start rationing covid care.

4,289 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 3,403.

35 additional deaths; 7-day rolling average 30.1, an all-time high.

Hospitalizations are 1,926 (-35).

ICU is 467 (-10).

Whew! I'm glad to see the 2021 Puppy Bowl is going to go on despite the pandemic. Clearly no other news to report. :)

Yesterday, in the middle of the worst surge in Covid-19 we have yet to see, Oklahoma had more new cases per capita than any state other than Arizona.

In other words, as bad as things are right now in this country (and things are very bad), Oklahoma is just about the worst of the worst.

I just got back from Bass Pro and maybe 10% of the customers were wearing a mask. Bass Pro is extreme, but I am seeing less and less people wearing them in other places like the supermarket.

I have found that sprouts and natural grocers have a higher compliance rate.

I just got back from Bass Pro and maybe 10% of the customers were wearing a mask. Bass Pro is extreme, but I am seeing less and less people wearing them in other places like the supermarket.

I have found that sprouts and natural grocers have a higher compliance rate.

It's been still at or near 100% mask compliance at the Perkins Rd. Walmart in Stillwater.

Still don't get why a number of people are willing to increase the risk of getting covid by not wearing a mask. Saw in the news of a man in his early 40's whose lungs were so badly scarred up by the virus that he must get a lung transplant. I don't trust it would just be a mild and brief illness with me. Just being sick for several days would be a drag.

The three grocery stores I rotate have pretty close to 100% correct mask wearing. Everything else I get online.

6,487 (!!!) new cases today; a new record by over 1,200. Crazy.

7-day rolling average now 3,899, an all-time high.

23 more reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 30.6, an all-time high.

We just decided to drive-by those 5,000s...

and jump over the 4000's.

The experts told us and told us; told us months ago and as stridently as they could.

Yet, most people I know still gathered with people outside their households at Christmas, lots of bars are still full, many people are not wearing masks and not being at all considerate of others, and our governor has done next to nothing, our president completely contradicting and even mocking the people that knew the most.

Most people are not going to be fully vaccinated for months; this is going to get worse.

I just got back from Bass Pro and maybe 10% of the customers were wearing a mask. Bass Pro is extreme, but I am seeing less and less people wearing them in other places like the supermarket.

I have found that sprouts and natural grocers have a higher compliance rate.

You are incredibly brave to step foot in that store. Honestly, possibly the worst place you could be right now.

This news is dispiriting. Cannot wait until noon on January 20. Hopefully that is the beginning of the end of this nightmare.

Gotta echo the comment about grocery stores, the Belle Isle Walmart always seems to have near complete customer mask compliance, at least when I go on Sunday mornings.

Edmond still has people not wearing masks. I am not messing with this. Curbside pickup for me or order on line. Nice thing about Sam's club plus membership is free delivery. (not available for perishables or stuff in glass containers. Still a good options for some stuff like paper towels and toilet paper, and some cleaning products.

This is as anecdotal as you could possible get, but I've found that time of day seems to matter somewhat for mask compliance. Going to the grocery store around 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. seems to be the sweet spot for having both good mask compliance and relatively few people in the store.

This is as anecdotal as you could possible get, but I've found that time of day seems to matter somewhat for mask compliance. Going to the grocery store around 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. seems to be the sweet spot for having both good mask compliance and relatively few people in the store.Homeland opens at 7 and I'm there at 6:59!!

3,885 new cases today, a big number for a Monday. 7-day rolling average now 4,068, a new record.

14 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 31.9, an all-time high.


New hospitalizations numbers will be out this evening.

Well, started feeling sick on day 9 after my 1st dose. Started feeling pretty crappy Saturday and then spiked a 101.7 temp Sunday so I got tested. Now I am part of the statistic.

So damn close, almost made it!

Well, started feeling sick on day 9 after my 1st dose. Started feeling pretty crappy Saturday and then spiked a 101.7 temp Sunday so I got tested. Now I am part of the statistic.

So damn close, almost made it!I'm hoping for you that the symptoms stay minor.

It's feeling better today already, so crossing my fingers. I'm gonna hope that even if it was way to early for immunity, maybe the 1st dose primed the immune response a bit.

It's feeling better today already, so crossing my fingers. I'm gonna hope that even if it was way to early for immunity, maybe the 1st dose primed the immune response a bit.Good to hear. Will this have any impact on getting the second dose?

Per the CDC, Oklahoma is in the top ten of states for vaccines administered per 100k people, with 154k first doses administered.

1) South Dakota: 5451 per 100k
2) West Virginia: 5376
3) North Dakota: 5100
4) Alaska: 4788
5) District of Columbia: 4141
6) Vermont: 4128
7) Connecticut: 4128
8) Maine: 4088
9) Montana: 3902
10) Oklahoma: 3900

Vaccinations are accelerating after the roll out of the central scheduling tool. Our rate is currently still limited by the supply we receive from the federal government as there is much more demand than available supply. I expect, however, we will start to see demand plateau around 400-500k and supply will catch up. At that point, we'll probably open up vaccinations to the general population even though we won't be close to completely vaccinating Phase 1, 2, and 3.

Good to hear. Will this have any impact on getting the second dose?

It won’t, for me at last. Previous positives should still get vaccinated, and you shouldn’t show up for a vaccine appointment while positive. My 10 day isolation actually ends the day before my scheduled 2nd shot.

It won’t, for me at last. Previous positives should still get vaccinated, and you shouldn’t show up for a vaccine appointment while positive. My 10 day isolation actually ends the day before my scheduled 2nd shot.Good. And I agree about previous positives. I'm positive for antibodies but I'm still going to get it as soon as I'm notified that I'm eligible and can get an appointment. The only difference with having antibodies is I might be a little pickier about for a site close by since long car rides are painful.

Just general COVID info, but I thought some may be interested:

Record low flu cases show how COVID-19 is more contagious and 'less forgiving,' experts say (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/01/11/amid-coronavirus-flu-cases-record-low/4127197001/)


During the 2019 flu season from Sept. 29 to Dec. 28, the CDC reported more than 65,000 cases of influenza nationwide. During the same period this flu season, the agency reported 1,016 cases.


Health experts said that high vaccination rates against the flu – combined with social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing employed to stop the spread of the coronavirus – played a huge role in preventing influenzatransmission.


Though many experts are relieved to see public health measures working against flu spread, they said the numbers speak volumes about the transmissibility of COVID-19.

“It says that it’s more contagious and that it’s less forgiving of any lapses of these types of prevention measures,” said Dr. David Hooper, chief of the infection control unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Has Oklahoma County stopped the online testing registration? I've done that twice (very easy, no issues) but now I see they only take appointments over the phone? OU drive thru may be my next option

Has Oklahoma County stopped the online testing registration? I've done that twice (very easy, no issues) but now I see they only take appointments over the phone? OU drive thru may be my next option

IMMY Labs is good, but looks like they're only doing it Norman now. They do have slots today there today, though.

Has Oklahoma County stopped the online testing registration? I've done that twice (very easy, no issues) but now I see they only take appointments over the phone? OU drive thru may be my next option

I usually use OU Health's system. They allow for online scheduling and it's always been very easy.

https://covidtest.ouhealth.com/OSDH

I usually use OU Health's system. They allow for online scheduling and it's always been very easy.

https://covidtest.ouhealth.com/OSDH
Their system has been great.

2,210 new cases today; 7-day rolling average a record 4,170.

29 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average a record 33.3

Hospitalizations at 1,902 (-24); all time high is 1,994.

ICU is 471 (+4); all-time high is 499.

I usually use OU Health's system. They allow for online scheduling and it's always been very easy.

https://covidtest.ouhealth.com/OSDH


I went to the drive thru at OU, and it was, as stated, easy and appointment made on line. Actually was closer to my place then the county. Thanks!

My PCP is staying on top of things. Even though my symptoms have been fairly mild, he has me scheduled for an EKG early next month to make sure there aren't any cardiac complications after recovery.

My PCP is staying on top of things. Even though my symptoms have been fairly mild, he has me scheduled for an EKG early next month to make sure there aren't any cardiac complications after recovery.
Sounds like you have a good PCP.

3,907 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 4,256, an all-time high.

44 additional report deaths; 7-day rolling average 30.7.

Hospitalizations are 1,856 (-46).

ICU is 477 (+6).

Had a disappointing experience the other day. Our son has been in an indoor soccer league for the past couple of years. He just turned 6 not too long ago. That facility was offering their classes in a limited form. No league games. Only a couple of classes at a time in the large facility. People could spread out and the little ones could go play. It really was a pretty good setup all things considered. I finally got the courage up to take him the other day (the wife had been taking him), and the day I go, that facility opened up to 100% full operations. The place was PACKED!! Most of the people were wearing masks but there were several that weren’t. It looked like a recipe for disaster. :/

Had a disappointing experience the other day. Our son has been in an indoor soccer league for the past couple of years. He just turned 6 not too long ago. That facility was offering their classes in a limited form. No league games. Only a couple of classes at a time in the large facility. People could spread out and the little ones could go play. It really was a pretty good setup all things considered. I finally got the courage up to take him the other day (the wife had been taking him), and the day I go, that facility opened up to 100% full operations. The place was PACKED!! Most of the people were wearing masks but there were several that weren’t. It looked like a recipe for disaster. :/

At least from my days playing indoor soccer they are the worst ventilated spaces in existence. I wouldn't step foot in that place during a pandemic.

Had a disappointing experience the other day. Our son has been in an indoor soccer league for the past couple of years. He just turned 6 not too long ago. That facility was offering their classes in a limited form. No league games. Only a couple of classes at a time in the large facility. People could spread out and the little ones could go play. It really was a pretty good setup all things considered. I finally got the courage up to take him the other day (the wife had been taking him), and the day I go, that facility opened up to 100% full operations. The place was PACKED!! Most of the people were wearing masks but there were several that weren’t. It looked like a recipe for disaster. :/
I read this just after reading a story on KFOR about restaurants in cities that have shut down orders in place opening dining rooms illegally and doing booming business. There are lots of people all over making very reckless decisions.

I read this just after reading a story on KFOR about restaurants in cities that have shut down orders in place opening dining rooms illegally and doing booming business. There are lots of people all over making very reckless decisions.

make money and survive or don't and go out of business forever ..... year there are some reckless choices ... just maybe not by the people you are talking about

At least from my days playing indoor soccer they are the worst ventilated spaces in existence. I wouldn't step foot in that place during a pandemic.

It wasn’t bad when they had restricted operations. It’s pretty bad now.

It was a tough choice letting him play though. However, we noticed him starting to struggle mentally and given the relatively low risk for kids, we decided to let him play. Usually, everyone wore masks and kept spread out so no big deal.

My PCP is staying on top of things. Even though my symptoms have been fairly mild, he has me scheduled for an EKG early next month to make sure there aren't any cardiac complications after recovery.
Good idea. I've had a home EKG for awhile and my Dr trusts it. We've compared it to a lab EKG a couple times and it has matched. We've been watching closely since November because a slight murmur I've had forever is more pronounced and I now have occasional hour to two hour episodes of hypercardia in the 105 to 110BPM range that I never had before. Thank goodness so far cutting out coffee and eating better seems to be helping the heart rate. My insurance is useless when it comes to lab/testing so I'm thinking about going to a scan place and having a heart/lung scan done to see what it shows.

Well, the timing is working out fairly well because I am due this year for an echocardiogram anyway (heart valve issues) so I'll talk to him about that when I see him for the EKG.

Also signed up for the plasma registry. I was wondering if vaccinations would make you eligible to donate as well, but I guess now I can donate convalescent plasma anyway.