It can get confusing

"But we also need to understand that the idea of continuing isolation
indefinitely is simply not a viable option," he added. "At some point,
people simply accept a certain level of risk. In the early days of
automobiles, in some states you had to have a person running ahead of
a car, waving a red flag. No doubt it was safer than driving without
the red flag, but society simply made a decision that some risks were
worth taking.

I love that paragraph from the article.

I read that this morning, too. Packing along two types of masks and all the patience I can muster. I always carry the paper versions along with e-versions of documents because technology fails when you need it most. (There must be a name for that rule.)

Allan, that paragraph is brilliant, isn’t it?

I always carry the paper versions along with e-versions of documents
because technology fails when you need it most. (There must be a name
for that rule.)

Omgosh thank you, Laurel! And here I thought I'd be the lone qualifier for latest Dr. Rick commercial 'cause I take paper copies of EVERYTHING! Yup, I just KNOW tech will fail us at the worst possible moment!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D6SU0HONSw

"But we also need to understand that the idea of continuing isolation
indefinitely is simply not a viable option,"

A bit of a straw man argument since nobody is suggesting indefinite isolation is the way to respond to the surge. To travel abroad or not today is not a simple binary decision for any individual. The decision to cancel or defer international travel at this point in the current surge is not equivalent to a vote for indefinite isolation.

LaurelKathy, my former Dept head called it the belt/rope/suspenders rule. If the presentation was in the “cloud”, she also wanted it on a thumb drive plus a paper copy. No matter what happened with the belt/rope/suspenders approach you were always prepared.

I agree there is wisdom in that statement " . . . At some point, people simply accept a certain level of risk. . ."

But, the key is knowing where we are on the curve. Its a roller coaster right now.

I take notes when Dr Rick comes on.

I think it is also necessary to include the full thought in quotes:

"In fact, we do that every day in a thousand ways. We have to find a way to, on one hand, bring the risk of Covid-19 down to an acceptable level -- which it's not at today -- and on the other hand, accept that, at an acceptable level, life will carry on."

For some, almost 1 1/2 years is a long time, but for some of us, and in history or in medical recovery, it is quite little.

I'll also say that I'm always a belt and suspenders type person when traveling, and in much of life, I think. My tech has failed at inopportune moments and my paper back up has prevented any panic from settling in and for smooth sailing to continue. However, because I am a belt and suspenders person, I didn't wait until more towards the end of life to travel. Life is a balancing act.

Edit: My last sentence sounds a little ______, what I mean is just try to balance things a bit so waiting isn't hard should something happen. Don't save the fun stuff for 'later', as there are no guarantees.

...the belt/rope/suspenders rule.

I LOVE that, Katheryne!
Kind of like being able to use paper maps instead of relying solely on GPS?
Stan, you're crackin' me up. 🤣

Kathy, I love the Dr.Rick commercials! I had a boarding pass on my phone fail in the subterranean reaches of Dulles many many years ago (probably more than 10 so tech may have improved there) and had to leave the security line to go back upstairs and get a paper boarding pass. Lesson learned.

Laurel you can still use your phone if you also screenshot your boarding pass.
Says someone who carries paper, links in OneNote/email, text/app and screenshots :-D